The Chief Medical Officer wants health care workers to get the vaccination

Frontline health workers in Northern Ireland have been urged to get their winter flu vaccination, after three quarters of staff skipped getting the jab in one health trust last year.

It emerged on Friday that just 29% of health care workers in the Western Trust heeded calls from the Chief Medical Officer to get vaccinated in 2019.

Dr David Irwin from the Public Health Agency said work was continuing to make it easier for staff working under pressure to get time for a vaccine appointment.

While the flu winter vaccine is not mandatory for front line workers, he said as an individual he would "actively encourage" staff to make time to protect themselves, loved ones and patients.

He was speaking to the BBC's Nolan Show, which reported on the low up-take at the Western Trust.

Stormont currently has a target of vaccinating 75% of vulnerable health groups below the age of 65, but just 58% of that group received it last year while the proportion of at-risk under-65s fell by 13% between 2015 and 2020.

The UK government has also pledged to double flu vaccinations this year from 15m to 30m, with Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride estimating that one million will be available here.

In Northern Ireland, the flu vaccination programme will be extended to:

Household contacts of those who received shielding letters during the Covid-19 pandemic;

Staff in independent care and nursing homes;

And children in school year 8.

The programme may be further expanded later in the year to include those in the 50-64 year old age group, starting with the oldest first.

With the surge in demand expected, the SDLP's health spokesman Colin McGrath said a huge effort would be needed to increase capacity.

"It seems to be that the medical advice being offered is the uptake of this year's winter flu is critical," he said.

"Not only will it prevent an additional strain on the health service, people getting winter flu will also be more vulnerable to catching coronavirus.

"I do think there needs to be a discussion about the capacity. There has been talk today about drive-through vaccinations and

"I do think this is the sort of infrastructure that we're going to have to be looking at to deliver this in order to ensure there is the maximum uptake.

"Not everyone is going to feel safe about going into a clinical setting at the moment, so perhaps that will be more acceptable to people."

On encouraging more front line health workers to get the flu jab, he added: "Obviously the worry for them will be the impact of a potential second wave of coronavirus.

"So we need to make sure more people aren't being sick for regular reasons, enabling them to be fully functional to fight any second wave.

"It's also vital they don't have a lower immune system when working in clinical settings."

On the scale of the challenge, he said: "It's no small obstacle, in Northern Ireland we're looking at trying to get close to two million people immunised.

"So we will need large-scale, almost medical camps set up in places to access the vaccine. In a way it will also be a practice run for when we hopefully do get a Covid-19 vaccine."

Mr McGrath said the fast response earlier this year to setting up a Nightingale hospital in Belfast was an encouraging sign.

He added: "When we put our minds to it I'm very sure that we can achieve massive things.

"I've every faith we can do that but we would certainly want to see evidence that we're progressing towards that quickly."

This week, experts have also warned that complacency over the flu jab could risk overwhelming the NHS across the United Kingdom.

Analysis showed a decline among vulnerable groups in England to getting the vaccine.

Local authorities in England had an average of 45% of people with serious health conditions under 65 getting the jab, a 50% drop since 2015. In Northern Ireland the respective figure for vulnerable groups under-65 was 58% - the target here is 75%.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said this week: "The vaccine is more vital than ever."
NATO Secretary General discusses situation in the eastern Mediterranean with President Erdogan

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

28 Aug. 2020

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke by telephone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday (28 August 2020). They discussed recent developments in the eastern Mediterranean.

They also discussed exploring deconfliction mechanisms to prevent incidents and accidents. The Secretary General reiterated the importance of dialogue and de-escalation, and stressed that the situation must be resolved in a spirit of Allied solidarity and in accordance with international law. Mr. Stoltenberg also recalled that Turkey and Greece have been committed NATO Allies for decades, working together with all other Allies to address common security challenges.

This follows the Secretary General's recent discussions on the Eastern Mediterranean with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and with the Greek foreign and defence ministers earlier this week.

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As a series of federal trials sent leaders to the gray-bar hotel, the GDs splintered into smaller but still vicious gangs. Some of them provoke todays bloodlust. We dont know that, if he makes it back to Illinois, Hoover can rebuild his gang nation. But it took an uncommonly gifted leader to run an interstate organized crime ring from prison for two decades. We dont underestimate his ability to settle old scores or cause fresh havoc. We also dont want Chicago to bear the risk. Homicides and shootings have surged through the first seven months of this year, with young children caught in the line of fire among the victims.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 01:38:22|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- UN special coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis expressed on Friday his concerns about the violent events that took place a day earlier in Khalde area, south of capital Beirut.

"Gravely concerned about the events in Khalde area. The last thing the tormented Lebanon needs is sectarian strife -- a sure way to disaster," Kubis tweeted.

Two people were killed and three injured on Thursday evening in armed clashes between Sunni Arab tribes and supporters of Shiite parties in Khalde.

The conflict was caused by attempts of Sunni tribes to prevent Shiite parties' supporters from hanging banners in the area for Ashura, a Shiite festival which marks the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Enditem
Sometimes dreams do come true, even after tragedy and heartbreak.

Reality star Kara Keough Bosworth had long wished to see a wild manatee up-close and personal since her childhood.

Well, on Thursday, her wish was granted when she and her husband and daughter headed out in search of one of the so-called sea cows this week -- and she's giving all the credit for the sighting to her infant son McCoy, who passed away in April just days after his birth.

Scroll down to video

Heartfelt: Kara Keough Bosworth, 31, realized a life-long dream of meeting a manatee in the wild after she asked her late son McCoy to send her one

'I've lived in Florida since 2011 and I've never seen a manatee in the wild,' Bosworth wrote in a post she shared on her Instagram Stories Friday.

'Yesterday, our captain drove us around to multiple marinas and waterways in search of them. He mentioned they've been MIA for weeks now.'

She went on to explain how she asked McCoy to send her one, in light of the fact that she has loved the large marine mammals since she was a little girl.

'Then today, my boy answered my request,' The Real Housewives Of Ocean County alum added.

Family united: The former reality star went out in search of a wild manatee in Florida on Thursday with her husband, Kyle Bosworth and their four-year-old daughter Decker

Mother's wish: Bosworth shared her emotional story about how she asked McCoy to send her a wild manatee on her Instagram Stories Friday

Happy ending: The Real Housewives Of Ocean County alum credited her boy with living out her dream of meeting a wild manatee

Gentle giants: Bosworth posted several photos and videos of her family greeting one of the massive sea cows near a dock in Florida

Bosworth went on to share several photos and video clips of the manatee, and her husband Kyle Bosworth and daughter Decker interacting with it.

Their 4-year-old little girl was giddy with excitement as she and her daddy reached down to touch the massive marine mammal that can top over 13-feet long and weigh around 1,300 lbs.

The Bosworths welcomed their son McCoy to the world on April 6, but by April 12 he tragically died due to complications from 'shoulder dystocia and a compressed umbilical cord' that happened during his birth.

Memorable meeting: Decker, four, was giddy with excitement when she and her daddy reached out to touch the manatee

Massive: The marine mammals can top over 13-feet long and weigh around 1,300 lbs

Adorable: The family watched as the manatee enjoyed a water shower from a hose

Persistence: The Bosworths drove around to several marinas on Thursday and luckily stumbled on one where a sea cow had come to a dock to say hi

Since McCoy's death, Bosworth has penned several heartbreaking tributes to her boy; the latest being when he would have turned four-months old.

'At four months old, wed be seeing the Real McCoy by now, the face we could look back on later and say 'Oh, see, right here, thats when he starts looking like Mack.' Instead, every bulky blonde boy I see is you,' she wrote in a lengthy Instagram post on August 6, along with a black-and-white photo of McCoy.

'Thats just one of the million cuts of losing you so soon, Im forced to imagine the faces of your stolen future. Your first gummy smile is a mystery. The sound of your voice, like the roar of the ocean in a seashell: its just in my head and only if I listen really closely.'

She went on to talk about how her son was beginning to feel like a 'dream,' but added that she and her husband 'love the way youre showing up for us and opening our eyes to the beauty all around us.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 21:12:32|Editor: huaxia

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Chen Mingzhong works at the fig orchard in Xingzhuang Village of Zipeng Town in Feixi County, east China's Anhui Province, Aug. 29, 2020. Chen Mingzhong, a 55-year-old farmer in Xingzhuang Village, went back to his hometown in 2018 after working outside for over two decades. He contracted a land of over 150 mu (about 10 hectares) to set up a family farm and planted over 10 kinds of fruit trees. Now his farm is running smoothly as various kinds of grapes he planted have been sold well in the market. It also provides working opportunities to many poverty-stricken people and helps them increase their income. (Xinhua/Liu Junxi)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 14:32:28|Editor: huaxia

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SHANGHAI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's largest-ever oceanographic research and training vessel, named after Sun Yat-sen University, entered into commission in Shanghai on Friday.

The vessel departed from the Jiangnan Shipyard Group under the China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited. Luo Jun, president of Sun Yat-sen University, announced the name at the commissioning ceremony.

With a length of 114.3 meters and a width of 19.4 meters, the vessel boasts global navigation capability. It has a maximum trial speed of 16 knots and an economical cruising range of 15,000 nautical miles, which can facilitate 60-day expeditions and carry 100 crew members.

Chief designer Wu Gang said the research and training vessel had the largest displacement, strongest comprehensive scientific capacity and most innovative design in China.

It can be described as "a large mobile laboratory at sea." According to chief construction engineer Zhang Wenlong, apart from a 760-square-meter stationary laboratory, the vessel's quarterdeck can carry more than 10 mobile container laboratories. It also has a landing platform for helicopters and drones, which can increase its transport efficiency and expand the observation scope of scientific research.

In addition, its advanced research equipment enables scientists to process, test and analyze samples and data onboard.

The construction project of the vessel began on Oct. 28, 2019. The vessel will undergo debugging and be delivered to the university in the first half of 2021.

Since the 1920s, Guangzhou-based Sun Yat-sen University has conducted marine scientific research in the South China Sea. In 1928, China's first scientific research examining the Xisha Islands was completed by researchers from the university.

"We humans' understanding of oceans is far less than that of space, and the main reason behind this is the lack of exploration equipment and talent. The newly commissioned vessel is expected to play an important role in understanding, exploring and safeguarding the oceans," Chen Dake, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said at the ceremony. Enditem
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Kabul, Aug 29 (UNI) At least 44 Taliban militants have been killed in northern Afghanistan's Kunduz province over the past couple of days as security forces stepped up operations in the area, said an Army statement on Saturday.



According to the statement, three local commanders of the armed group identified as Qari Abdullah alias Hijran, Mullah Khairullah nickname Qari Ahmad and Qari Hafiz were among those killed in the operations backed by warplanes in the restive Imam Sahib district.



Citing a senior army commander General Adam Khan Matin, the statement said that 37 more insurgents had been injured during the ongoing crackdown, news agency Xinhua reported.



Taliban militants who are active in parts of Kunduz province with Kunduz city as its capital 250 km north of Kabul, have yet to make comment on the report.

UNI XC GNK SB 1222
JERSEYVILLE  An additional charge related to a fire at a mobile home in Fieldon was filed against a Jersey County man recently accused of hitting a woman in the head with a shovel.

Jon G. Deneef, 34, was charged Aug. 12 with criminal damage to property/fire/explosives/$500-$10,000, a Class 4 felony. On Aug. 3 he had been charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony.

The latest charge stems from allegations that on Aug. 1 he damaged a mobile home owned by another person by setting a fire. It was also noted that the mobile home was given as his address.

The additional charge was based on Deneefs actions on the same night of the prior charged event, said Jersey County States Attorney Ben Goetten. The defendant admitted to carelessness extinguishing a cigarette in the residence that started the blaze and ultimately destroyed the structure. The statute allows for recklessness as an element, which does not require we prove intent.

The previous charge stems from allegations that he hit a woman in the head with a shovel on the same day.

Bail on the previous charge had been set at $25,000. The latest charge had no bail set.

In an unrelated matter, Mike Wilson, 53, of Harrisburg, Illinois, was charged Aug. 10 with unlawful possession of controlled substance, a Class 4 felony.

According to court documents, on Aug. 7 he was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of cocaine. Bail was set at $5,000.
Experts on wildfires say the safety of Californias nearly 40 million residents will require a multipronged approach, including thinning overgrown forests, better community planning and adapting to a warming climate.

Forestry officials say it will take years to thin out the huge expanses of parched brush, chaparral and woodlands that are now vulnerable to fire.

This is not a matter of raking some leaves, said Keith Gilless, a forest economist at UC Berkeley and chairman of the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, referring to President Trumps much-ridiculed suggestion that California rake the forest floors. This is a matter of untold tons of biomass from decades of fire suppression.

So California has a long way to go before its citizens are safe. Here are six ways to get there:

More prescribed burning: Controlled burning is the cheapest way to clear dry brush and excess debris in woodlands. Cal Fire increased its winter burning regimen from 3,200 acres in 2013 to 27,000 acres this past year. The recently signed pact between the state and federal governments would dramatically increase the amount of prescribed burning, but that creates new problems.

Many people worry about prescribed burns getting out of control or polluting the air. Residents and environmental organizations often sue to stop them. Opponents have also halted salvage logging and bio-fuels projects, potential money-making activities that incentivize private participation in wildfire reduction work.

Such a lawsuit delayed a plan by the Forest Service to log 3,000 acres of charred trees inside the massive burn scar left by the 2013 Rim Fire, which swept through the Stanislaus National Forest and parts of Yosemite National Park. The Forest Service wanted to burn the salvaged wood in a biomass plant, which would have created electricity.

Streamline the permitting process: Red tape has often slowed prescribed burning, selective logging, forest clearing and other projects that reduce wildfire risk, according to experts. It is something the joint fire prevention agreement hopes to reduce.

Bill Stewart, a forestry specialist at UC Berkeley, said foresters must now prepare environmental documents, timber harvest plans and go through water quality and wildlife agencies to obtain permits for sustainable logging and forest clearing projects.

Theres an amazing level of frustration because projects are designed, but implementation gets stalled, Stewart said.

The state-federal stewardship agreement signed this month sets as one of its goals a more cost-effective approach, but provides no specifics.

Sara Gobets / Special to The Chronicle

Create incentives for industry to get involved: Regulations and liability concerns often discourage timber companies and biomass industries from buying into the states fire prevention strategy, said Keith Gilless, a forest economist at UC Berkeley and chair of the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Gilless said timber companies would be more eager to help with thinning projects if it cost less to get involved.

One goal of the state-federal forest plan is to create those incentives and ensure economic stability in the industries working on fire safety and sustainability projects.

We are working on ways to encourage the development of industries to make products that can be used in innovative ways, like sequestering wood and other low-value material in buildings, Gilless said. The goal is to create a cash flow with selective logging for fire resilience and still preserve critical habitat for wildlife while also creating a situation where catastrophic wildfire is less probable.

Improve building and design codes: Local and state design codes should make homes more fireproof and prevent new development in areas where there is extreme fire danger, according to the experts.

To guide development, fire experts recommend using risk maps that pinpoint areas where wind, heat, vegetation and other factors pose a fire threat.

Max Moritz, a specialist in wildfire with the University of California Cooperative Extension, said defensible space should be designed into neighborhoods that also have stringent fire-resistant building codes.

Many homes were built before the standards took effect, and state and federal grants to retrofit have been too low.

Implement policies of adaptive resilience: Adaptation is important, Moritz said, because the playing field changes every year as a result of climate change. Adaptive resilience includes retrofitting homes to reduce flammability and building in less fire-prone areas. But it also means including green spaces and escape routes in fire-prone communities.

Reduce carbon emissions: If nothing is done to combat global warming, Moritz said, things will likely get worse no matter what California does. As temperatures rise, he said, winters are getting shorter, less rain and snow are falling, vegetation is drying out and the frequency and intensity of wildfires is increasing.

Thats why fossil fuels need to be phased out in vehicles, transportation and in industry. And homes must be as energy efficient as possible, he said.

The move toward clean fuels means more electric vehicles will come on the market  and that requires a reliable electric grid. The hope is that the state and federal governments will work better with agencies like PG&E, which is working to fix an electric grid blamed for starting numerous fires in Northern California.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite
TDT | Manama

Bahrains two-month outdoor work ban which began on 1 July will come to an end this Monday. This years work ban which came amid the deadly coronavirus outbreak presented several unprecedented challenges especially to the construction industry, which employs over 150,000 labourers in about 30,000 worksites.

The annual ban, first introduced in 2007 and kicks off on the first of every July, prohibits working in open worksite from midday until 4:00 pm. Though limited initially to construction workers, the law was later expanded to included labourers in all sectors, considering the successful reduction in workplace incidents.

This year, the Labour Ministry said it carried out 6,315 inspections, while also recommending legal actions against 27 establishments for violating restrictions put in place to safeguard workers from soaring temperatures. The ministry also announced referring 37 workers to the judiciary for similar violations, a report by Albilad quoting Labour Ministry said.

Explaining other actions taken during the ban period, the ministry said it conducted several awareness-raising campaigns and virtual-workshops to educate employers and workers on the negative impacts of working under high temperatures. The ministry said it also distributed multilingual brochures and leaflets as part of campaigns.

Earlier in July, Jameel Humaidan, the minister of labour and social development, described the work ban as the best means for safeguarding workers against heat exhaustion, sunstroke, summer-related diseases and several occupational incidents. He also said that in the past 98 per cent of private sector companies had complied with the work ban.
FBI investigating possible Turkish plot to assassinate Pastor Andrew Brunson

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The FBI is reportedly investigating a possible assassination plot to murder Pastor Andrew Brunson who was imprisoned in Turkey for two years on false terrorism charges.

Brunson was freed and allowed to return to the U.S. in October 2018 after Turkey came under intense diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration. He had been serving as pastor of Izmir Resurrection Church at the time of his arrest.

Now a mob boss has claimed he was asked by the Turkish government to murder Brunson.

Serkan Kurtulus made the astonishing claim a month after his arrest in Argentina in June, International Christian Concern reports.

He claimed that members of Izmir AKP approached him to assassinate Brunson with the aim of blaming the Gulen movement, an Islamic community in Turkey at odds with the AKP  the party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Brunson was accused by Turkey of links to the Gulen movement, which is named after its leader, the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Turkey is attempting to have Kurtulus extradited from Argentina to stand trial over the alleged supply of illegal firearms in Syria and the death of a Russian pilot in 2015.

While Kurtulus has claimed asylum in Argentina, the FBI is reported to have asked the country to question him over his claims regarding Brunson.

ICC said Argentina has not yet responded to the request.

Commenting on Kurtulus' claims, ICC said: "Many regard Brunson's imprisonment as an attempt by Turkey to force the US to extradite Gulen.

"His imprisonment shows how Christians in Turkey are often used for political maneuvering by the authorities, who have no regard for religious freedom.

"Whether or not Kurtulus' claim is true, it shows how the Turkish authorities' approach towards Christians can be integrated into the social mindset."

Originally published at Christian Today
An Iranian man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for beheading his 14-year-old daughter with an ax in a so-called "honor" killing that prompted widespread outrage in the country.



The ruling was announced on August 28 in the northern province of Gilan, the ILNA news agency reported, adding that the girls mother called for the verdict to be reviewed and changed to "execution."



"Despite the judicial authorities' insistence on a 'special handling' of the case, the verdict has terrified me and my family," Rana Dashti, the victims mother, told ILNA. Dashti said she now fears for the lives of the rest of her family.



Iranian President Hassan Rohani expressed regret following the girl's killing on May 21 and called for the speedy passage of several antiviolence bills.



According to Iranian media reports, the victim, Romina, ran away after her father refused to give permission for her to marry a man 15 years her senior.



But Romina was detained by authorities and taken home despite having pleaded with a judge that she feared for her life if she returned.



When Romina returned home, her father decapitated her in her sleep in their family home in Gilan.



The man Romina wanted to marry was sentenced to two years in prison, local media reported, without specifying the charge.



In Iran, honor killings are only punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Otherwise, murder is punishable by a life sentence or death sentence.

Based on reporting by dpa and AFP
Tusitala Tiny Toese, a member of the Proud Boys and fixture of right-wing demonstrations that typically end in fistfights in Portland and other cities, has been arrested.

He was booked into the Clark County Jail Friday on an outstanding warrant and is due in court at 8:30 a.m. Monday, jail records show.

A Multnomah County judge had previously issued an arrest warrant after Toese was seen walking among self-described anti-Marxist demonstrators in Portland on Aug. 22, a violation of his parole.

Toese pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge in January that stemmed from a 2018 brawl in Northeast Portland.

A judge ruled Toese was barred from attending Portland protests for two years in that case and he was ordered to pay $1,800 to Timothy Ledwith, the man he and an associate attacked.

Toese was long part of the Vancouver, Washington-based Patriot Prayer group and often seen alongside founder Joey Gibson, who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 2018.

His first notable appearance at a Portland protest was in April of 2017 during a march for free speech in a Southeast neighborhood, a demonstration arranged after that years iteration of the long-running 82nd Avenue Parade of Roses was scuttled as event organizers reported receiving threats of violence.

The demonstration, led by Gibson, drew a sizable counter-protest, a dynamic that repeatedly played out in the following years as Patriot Prayer mounted various incursions into Portland that often ended in street brawls.

Toese left Washington for his hometown in American Samoa around the time federal prosecutors filed charges in the 2018 case. He was arrested upon his return to Portland in October of that year.

Toese was later sentenced to 10 days in jail by a Multnomah County Judge for violating the terms of his parole from a harassment charge from 2017. At the time, he claimed that he was done with politics and protests, saying theres no more Tiny or Samoan brawler.

-- Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano | Eder on Facebook

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Police have arrested the owners of the Kerala-based finance firm against which over 200 cases have been filed by various depositors and investors alleging fraud of around Rs 2,000 crore, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on August 29.

Police had earlier issued a lookout notice against the board members, including managing partner Thomas Daniel Roy of 'Popular Finance'.

"Police have arrested Thomas Daniel and his wife Prabha, also a partner, from Changanassery.

A team headed by DySP K G Simon will probe the case.

South zone IG Harshita Attaluri will oversee the probe," Vijayan told reporters. He also said the assistance of the Interpol will be sought as there are "suspicious transactions related to foreign countries."

The police had yesterday taken into custody the two daughters of the owner-couple from New Delhi Airport from where they were allegedly trying to escape to Australia.

Popular Finance, headquartered in Pathanamthitta district, has been engaged in the business of gold loans since 1965 and has 284 branches spread across five states.

The matter came to light after all the branches of the firm were reportedly shut following uproar by customers who sought to withdraw their deposits from the company which has allegedly gone into losses.

According to police, the company owes around Rs 2,000 crore to at least 1,500 depositors.

Cases have been registered under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code including Sections 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating).

Meanwhile, many depositors and investors today staged a sit-in in front of various offices of the firm seeking to withdraw their deposits.
Playhouse hires new Studio 52 director

Anna Kimmel

The Flat Rock Playhouse has hired Anna Kimmell as its new director of education for Studio 52, the program for youth and family theater.

Kimmell comes to the Playhouse with years of performance and theatre education experience, most recently as director of education at Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

Kimmell is an actor, educator, and theatre artist from Atlanta, GA. A former Flat Rock apprentice, she is delighted to return to the beloved place that jump-started her career in professional theatre and instilled the guiding philosophy to "play hard, work harder, and nap wisely."

Since that formative summer in 2007, Anna has performed in regional productions at Rhode Island's Theatre by the Sea, Colorado's Lake Dillon Theatre, Virginia's Mill Mountain Theatre, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Georgia Shakespeare and Theatre of the Stars and on "The Wizard of Oz" National Tour, to name a few.

As an educator, Anna specializes in musical theatre, acting, and dance curricula for students of all ages. She served as the director of education at Mill Mountain Theatre from 2013-2016 and at Arkansas Repertory Theatre, where she developed year-round theatrical training programs for all ages, designed and led theatre outreach initiatives, and directed and choreographed main stage, black box, and touring children's productions. Anna has also led theatre dance courses at Hollins University and the University of Central Arkansas and a series of theatre workshops for rural elementary students in Los Andes, Chile.

Flat Rock Playhouse Artistic Director Lisa K. Bryant told Studio 52 families, students and patrons that exciting things were coming to the Playhouses education program. Bryant also acknowledged the difficulties of moving forward without the Hart of Studio 52. This spring, longtime Vagabond and passionate arts education advocate and youth theater teacher Dave Hart passed away after a long battle with cancer.

As we move forward with education at FRP, because we all must move forward and also because Dave would not want anything less, we move forward with Dave as our guiding light," Bryant said. "We move forward with Dave as our guardian angel. We move forward with gratitude, love, and respect for his contributions to the Playhouse, to families, and to every student who was fortunate to be taught/directed by him.

The Playhouses first step moving forward includes bringing on Kimmell to lead the youth and family theater programs and offering virtual classes to students K-12. Classes will be announced on Aug. 31 and registration will open that same day.
A group of activists toppled a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald in Place du Canada in downtown Montreal on Saturday afternoon in the aftermath of a protest calling for the defunding of the police force.

A handful of people climbed the monument, tied ropes around the statue and held up banners before unbolting it and pulling it down. The falling statue's trajectory caused the head to fly off and bounce onto the cobblestones below. A video posted to social media captured the moment.

The incident took place following a peaceful march through downtown Montreal, one of several demonstrations held across Canada organized by a coalition of Black and Indigenous activists.

It was not clear what affiliation, if any, those who pulled down the statue had with the march. The falling statue appeared to catch other demonstrators, organizers and police by surprise. A march organizer, contacted by CBC Montreal, declined to comment.

A CBC journalist obtained a leaflet from a demonstrator who said it had been distributed to explain the act. The leaflet points to an online petition with more than 46,000 signatures asking Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante to take down the statue.

"Sir John A. Macdonald was a white supremacist who orchestrated the genocide of Indigenous peoples with the creation of the brutal residential schools system, as well as promoting other measures that attacked Indigenous peoples and traditions," the leaflet reads in part.

Because of the city's inaction, "a diverse coalition of young activists" decided to act, the leaflet says, though it does not identify the coalition.

As of late Saturday afternoon, no arrests had been made.

City workers removed the statue from the ground with a crane on Sunday morning.

Marieve Begin/Radio-Canada

Premier, mayor denounce vandalism

The statue of Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, has been the site of repeated acts of graffiti in recent years, and it has often been covered in red paint.

Story continues

It was also decapitated by unknown vandals in 1992. The Montreal Gazette reported at the time that a fax sent to media outlets claimed the act of vandalism was timed to commemorate the anniversary of the hanging of Louis Riel on Nov. 16, 1885.

On Twitter Saturday, Quebec Premier Francois Legault wrote that "whatever one might think of John A. Macdonald, destroying a monument in this way is unacceptable. We must fight racism, but destroying parts of our history is not the solution. Vandalism has no place in our democracy and the statue must be restored."

Earlier in the day, Jason Kenney, Legault's counterpart in Alberta, also used Twitter to decry the act and said Alberta would host the statue if Montreal didn't want it.

In a statement Saturday, Plante wrote that the city's public art office and heritage experts will co-ordinate the statue's restoration.

"I strongly deplore the acts of vandalism that took place this afternoon in downtown Montreal," she said in the statement.

She said some monuments are at "the heart of emotional debates," a reference to contemporary critiques of Macdonald's legacy and record on Indigenous issues  which includes establishing Canada's residential school system.

"I understand and share the motivation of citizens who want to live in a more just and inclusive society," her statement said. "But the discussion and the necessary actions must be carried out peacefully, without ever resorting to vandalism."

Plante said Montreal police would investigate.

WATCH | Activists in Montreal topple a statue of John A. Macdonald:

In an email, Dinu Bumbaru, the policy director of Heritage Montreal, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the city's architectural and cultural heritage, described the act as "very unfortunate, and despite the feelings of those who carried it out, undemocratic."

He noted the city's rich history of political tensions, which are frequently captured in the monuments of the past.

"Many of the historical figures in bronze carry dark memories which our current society sees in a critical eye, which past generations didn't," he wrote, citing Macdonald specifically.

"Montreal deserves an educated public discussion on this for the 21st century. Not vandalism or similar executions. And Montreal deserves more monuments to add new voices. Not less."

A magnet for controversy

In recent years, concerns about Macdonald's actions and policies have made statues of the man targets of activists in cities across Canada.

In Victoria, city council voted to remove the statue from the steps of city hall as a gesture of reconciliation in 2018.

Protesters tied ropes around a statue of Macdonald in Regina in July.

One in Charlottetown has been the frequent target of paint and the subject of a debate, with the city council recently deciding to keep the statue but begin a conversation with P.E.I.'s Indigenous community about how to present it.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians  from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community  check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.
Adjusting to new workplace Covid protocols is among the biggest concerns for employees as businesses prepare to return to work on September 13, according to new research.

The research released today by e-recruitment platform, Jobs.ie, reveals that adjusting to the workplace poses some concerns for employees, with those waiting to go back least looking forward to returning to the daily commute to the workplace (35%), adjusting to new workplace Covid protocols (28%) and using public transport (13%).

Of those with the option to continue working from home once businesses can reopen; two in five (40%) say they would like to continue working from home full time while almost half (49%) would be happy to do a mixture of both.

The remaining one in 10 (11%) want to go back to the workplace full time.

To ensure the safe return of employees to the workplace, businesses are also implementing a number of workplace health and safety protocols in line with HSE and public health guidance. The most common safety measures being introduced include hand sanitising stations (79%), more frequent cleaning schedules (63%) and reduced capacity within the workplace (61%).

Mandatory face coverings (48%) and Perspex partition screens (36%) are also among some of the most popular measures being introduced. A small number of businesses (5%) are introducing additional measures to protect employees based on their specific workplace like assigned seating, one-way entry and exit systems and lift protocols.

According to the survey findings, there are a mixture of return to work policies being put in place by employers. 59% of employees say that they must return to the workplace when it reopens, 23% have the option to work from home for a select amount of days per week, while 18% can continue to work from home full time if they choose to do so.

Commenting on the figures, Christopher Paye, General Manager at Jobs.ie said, For many businesses in Ireland, Covid-19 has made working from home the new normal - even for those who didnt think it would be possible. Equally, for employees who may have been on the fence about it before, it has brought positive benefits such as a reduced commute time, or in some cases, the ability to work flexible hours.

Following the Governments most recent guidelines which require all businesses to return to working from home until 13 September, the question now is whether working from home will continue to be part of our everyday work life.

In response to these findings, Paye added, From our research, it is evident that there is a demand among workers for flexible schedules that allow working from home either on a full time or part time basis going forward. For employers, this should be a key consideration when implementing return to work policies.

While some sectors will inevitably require teams to return to the premises, others will find that there is room for flexibility, and where possible, employers should look to incorporate this into their HR policies to ensure that employees feel safe and secure in their return to the workplace.
The phone calls started to flood in about two weeks ago. In scenes similar to those that played out in early March, patients were listing off their symptoms, worried they might have Covid-19. "Sniffles, coughs, sore throats," Monaghan GP Illona Duffy told the Irish Independent.

"The calls were coming in from families, all with similar viral-type illness and wanting a test for Covid. The problem we have is that we can't clinically say if it's a normal viral illness or whether it's Covid. It means a lot of people are being tested. Before we were only dealing with Covid and although it was a very steep learning curve, we managed. Now we are dealing with Covid and everything else and moving into a phase that will be more challenging than before. The phone lines are jammed and we are already totally overloaded."

It's been six months since the first case of Covid-19 was recorded in Ireland. Since then, there have been more than 28,000 cases and a total of 1,777 Covid-19-related deaths. Without the nationwide lockdown imposed in March and a raft of government-mandated restrictions to suppress the virus, experts say the numbers would have been much higher. Since the peak in April, there has been a welcome fall-off in the numbers of people dying and being hospitalised due to the disease, with the current number in ICU at six.

However, this week Health Minister Stephen Donnelly warned the State is at a "tipping point", and that the coronavirus pandemic is "close to having us lock down the country again".

Against this backdrop of resurgent Covid-19, medics are warning that the individual parts of the perfect storm are brewing on the horizon.

"We are only starting on the incline that the moment," said Dr Duffy. "We are not normally busy at this time of the year, but we are out the door with calls. We are facing into a perfect storm of winter flu, a large backlog of untreated long-term conditions due to the pandemic, as well as Covid.

Expand Close Uncertain future: Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has warned the State is at a tipping point. Photo: Gareth Chaney, Collins / Facebook

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Whatsapp Uncertain future: Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has warned the State is at a tipping point. Photo: Gareth Chaney, Collins

"We are going to move into a period where people won't be able to see a GP and that will have a knock-on effect with A&E departments.

"Winter planning is always about hospitals and keeping people out of them. The plans never include general practice or how GPs can be supported. Nobody is thinking about that. Every winter we talk about the system being close to collapse. Last winter it almost did and this winter I don't see how the system will cope."

Experts warn that even if the virus does not get worse in winter, and people continue to abide by government guidelines, one non-negotiable difference is the strain on the HSE of competing pressures at that time of year. The annual "winter crisis" sees long waits in A&E and a lack of bed space. This year the system will be dealing with the usual caseload as well as a backlog of regular non-coronavirus work that has been pushed back during the pandemic.

According to the HSE, a plan is being made to deal with the added pressure on the system. But Dr Jack Lambert, an infectious diseases consultant at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, has pressed for urgency on its implementation.

"What is the plan for coping with this?" he said.

"We have known this was coming for six months. In the Mater we are totally quiet at the minute and we have no Covid patients in ICU. We used to have about 20 but that is now down to one person every other week.

"It's 100pc quiet because we suppressed the virus in March. Back in January, February and March there were tens of thousands of people running around Ireland with a virus that we did not know about. Now we probably have a few hundred running around the country with Covid. When flu enters into the mix we are going to be back where we were in March. The clusters are still popping up. The plan seems to be to run around putting out fires as they appear."

The current strategy in dealing with clusters has involved localised lockdowns. In counties Laois, Offaly and Kildare, where spikes in cases were linked to outbreaks in meat plants, restrictions were imposed for a two-week period. The timeframe was extended in Kildare, which is still under lockdown.

"The cases are rising and there is a general feeling in Nphet that something needs to be done," said Professor Anthony Staines, head of Health Systems at DCU.

"At the moment we are not getting many cases in older people but that is likely to change. One of the things that we think is happening is that older people are staying in their bubble and avoiding younger people. As time goes by there will be a leakage of the virus from the younger population into the older and that will cause problems."

Alongside his colleagues on the Zero-Covid Island policy group, Professor Staines warns that without a change to the current Covid strategy, Ireland is facing four further waves of the virus until a vaccine is available next June.

Rather than following the current strategy of learning to live with the virus, Professor Staines is proposing a plan to bring the virus down to zero.

"That is the more stable pathway and we're quite confident that that's feasible," he said.

"We have a real challenge coming up, which is a health service that has serious capacity problems, as we all know, and was on schedule for a very difficult winter before Covid ever happened.

"And we're now coming into what will be a very difficult winter with probably 50pc capacity, 80pc capacity in many areas. So the winter is going to be pretty dire in the health services, unless we can stop the circulation of Covid in our communities."

An alternative 'green zone' strategy has been developed by Professor Staines, Professor Gerry Killeen at UCC and Professor Yaneer Bar Yam at the New England Institute for Complex Systems in Boston.

The proposal includes a 14-point actionable plan for achieving elimination by a hybrid approach that combines travel restrictions between sensibly defined regions (towns, rural areas and counties) with brief and decisive localised lockdowns where necessary, and an aggressive programme of 'find, test, trace isolate and support' to "hunt" the virus from the island proactively within one to two months. The scientists' zero-Covid plan includes the creation of green zones where there has been no community transmission for several weeks.

Professor Staines said people from outside green zones would be restricted from non-essential travel into, but not through, green zones.

"The idea is that you would gradually expand those green zones until the entire country was a green zone," he said.

"If we were to implement this tomorrow you could be in a position where GAA matches are being played in front of crowds by November."

As we approach winter, as social interactions increase, more people will start to meet indoors in enclosed spaces which, evidence suggests, increases the spread of Covid-19. Cases will continue to rise.

An effective and robust testing strategy, particularly at airports should be a priority in the weeks and months ahead.

"If I took a testing machine and went up to the airport I could have testing done within 45 minutes," said Dr Lambert.

With a vaccine at least a year away, no herd immunity, and no appetite for another national lockdown, the next phase of Covid-19 is set to be equally, if not more challenging than the first.

"What we are seeing at the moment is largely cases in young people," said Professor Gabriel Scally, president of the public health section at the UK's Royal Society of Medicine,

"Credit goes to older people and those with underlying conditions who have continued to protect themselves.

"I do worry that if we rely on them continuing to do that, we will have an apartheid society where young people can circulate and operate freely but older people and those with underlying conditions cannot.

"We are entering into another unknown phase and the challenge facing society is unprecedented."
By Trend

Russia sends military cargoes to Armenia, and this seriously worries the Azerbaijani state and the public, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said to media representatives, Trend reports on August 29.

The explanations of the Russian side arent convincing enough for us. Azerbaijan is waiting for clarification regarding grounds on which the intensive arming of Armenia continues, Hajiyev said. During the [recent] events related to Azerbaijan's Tovuz, Armenia has demonstrated that it continues its aggressive policy. We arent satisfied with the answer that allegedly the [Russian] planes transport construction materials, since they can be also transported in other ways".

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

--

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President Donald Trump speaks from the South Lawn of the White House on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP Images

Then-candidate Donald Trump promised supporters in 2016 that he would "make America safe again" by cracking down on crime, which had reached historic lows at the time.

Four years later, Trump and the Republican party have embraced a "law and order" message, and declared Americans won't be safe under a Democratic administration, as their ticket to reelection.

Republican political strategists hope fears about violent crime will eclipse concern about Covid-19, the economic crisis it threw the country in and the Trump administration's deeply flawed pandemic response.

Polling hasn't shown that Trump has an edge on "law and order" issues or that Joe Biden will be hurt by Trump's messaging.

"If Donald Trump is premising his entire reelection on winning the fifth most important issue ... that seems less like a genius strategy and more like a Hail Mary," a Democratic strategist said.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

"Our Convention occurs at a moment of crisis for our nation," Donald Trump told a boisterous crowd of supporters. "I have a message for all of you: the crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end. Beginning on January 20th 2017, safety will be restored."

Four years after Trump promised at the 2016 Republican convention that he'd "make America safe again," he's seizing on a virtually identical message while serving as president amid widespread protests over police brutality towards Black Americans.

Even as 1,000 Americans continue to die from Covid-19 every day, tens of millions remain unemployed, and wildfires and hurricanes wreak havoc across the country, the GOP convention this week was dominated by urgent warnings that Americans won't be safe under Biden's leadership.

"No one will be safe in Biden's America," Trump declared from the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday night.

Story continues

Biden, who's come under fire for his role in crafting the 1994 crime bill that exacerbated mass incarceration, has supported the peaceful protests against police mistreatment of Black people and repeatedly denounced looting and rioting.

'Chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence'

The Republican party spent the last four days railing against violence in American cities, which has marred peaceful mass demonstrations against racism and police brutality ever since George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis in May. Meanwhile, other forms of crime, including homicides, have spiked since the pandemic hit.

No matter that the "chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence," as Trump aide Kellyanne Conway put it, has broken out on Trump's watch. The GOP blamed Democratic mayors and governors, and promoted a St. Louis couple who brandished weapons at protesters, while conservative activists praised a 17-year-old accused of murdering two protesters in Wisconsin.

Vice President Mike Pence put it bluntly during his address on Wednesday night: "You won't be safe in Joe Biden's America." Conway argued that violence in America's streets will boost Trump's reelection chances.

"From Seattle and Portland to Washington and New York, Democrat-run cities across this country are being overrun by violent mobs. The violence is rampant," South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said during her RNC address on Wednesday. "There's looting, chaos, destruction and murder. People that can afford to flee have fled. But the people that can't  good, hard-working Americans  are left to fend for themselves."

Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square in central London on June 6, 2020, to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck in Minneapolis. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images

Donald Trump Jr. told a story of good versus evil: "This election is shaping up to be church, work, and school versus rioting, looting, and vandalism."

The president hammered home the same message in his 70-minute closing speech on Thursday night, falsely claiming that Biden plans to defund the police.

"The most dangerous aspect of the Biden platform is the attack on public safety," he said.

Trump boasted of his own criminal justice reform legislation and then slammed Democrats for supporting policies aimed at ending mass incarceration, warning they would release hundreds of thousands of criminals "onto the streets and into your neighborhoods."

Meanwhile, the crowd of 1,500 supporters seated inches apart on the South Lawn were nearly all maskless. The virus' death toll and the ongoing danger it poses went unmentioned.

Republicans are doing their best to conflate peaceful protests against police violence with the riots. Most famously, the president had peaceful demonstrators tear gassed outside of the White House so he could stage a photo op outside a nearby church in June.

While Biden has repeatedly condemned looting and rioting, many Democrats have been reluctant to focus too much attention on the rioters. They fear drawing an equivalence between police brutality and the response to it.

"Burning down communities is not protest," Biden said in a video this week. "It's needless violence."

Black Lives Matter activists and others on the left have called to defund the police, but Biden has rejected the approach and instead proposed boosting funding for social workers to work alongside law enforcement and other community policing efforts. He's also called for a federal ban on chokeholds and a national use of force standard.

Trump's 'Hail Mary'

Recent polling shows that crime is an important issue for Americans, particularly for Republicans. A Pew survey in mid-August found that violent crime was the fifth most important issue for all voters  59% called it "very important." By comparison, 63% of voters said the same of the coronavirus, which has killed 180,000 in the US, infected 6 million, and thrown the country into an economic crisis.

The economy, healthcare, and Supreme Court nominations were the top three issues for registered voters when deciding who support this fall.

But polling hasn't shown that a recent decline in support for the Black Lives Matter movement will hurt Biden, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis. It's not clear that GOP messaging on crime will hit Biden in the way the party hopes.

While Republicans have historically campaigned on "law and order" messaging, a late July poll from The Washington Post and ABC News showed Biden with a nine-point lead over Trump on "crime and safety" issues.

Republican political strategists hope fears about violent crime will eclipse concern about Covid-19 and the Trump administration's deeply flawed pandemic response.

"Fear is a real motivator in politics. In March and April people were afraid of coronavirus  that fear is dissipating," Matt Mackowiak, a Republican strategist, told Business Insider. "The fear about coronavirus is now becoming fear about safety in cities and suburbs and neighborhoods."

Conservatives say violence in Kenosha, Wisconsin following Jacob Blake's shooting by police on Sunday could help spread fear that crime will spread to cities across the heartland.

"Kenosha, to me, feels like a tipping point because it's one thing when it's a large urban area  Portland, Seattle, Chicago, New York  most of middle America has never been to those places," Mackowiak said. "To go from a quiet, suburban, medium-sized town to chaos in 48 hours, I think that wakes a lot of people up."

But Democratic strategists hope voters will blame the uptick in crime on the current president. They say Trump's positioning as an antidote to chaos isn't credible.

"When people see chaos, they don't see Donald Trump as the answer to it," Jesse Ferguson, a Democratic strategist who served as a spokesman for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, told Insider. "He's led a country into chronic chaos for three and a half years."

Democrats and others point out that fear-mongering about crime didn't work for Trump last cycle. Leading up to the 2018 midterm elections, Trump railed against illegal immigration and misleadingly claimed a caravan of migrants, including criminals and members of ISIS, was preparing to invade the country.

Republicans lost their House majority and Trump stopped talking about caravans and border invasions.

"If Donald Trump is premising his entire reelection on winning the fifth most important issue, when it's an issue that he's at best tied with us on, that seems less like a genius strategy and more like a Hail Mary," Ferguson said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
U.S. President Donald Trump reacts at the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, August 24, 2020.

The IRS issued long-awaited guidance on President Donald Trump's payroll tax deferral Friday night. And it appears to put the onus on employers to collect any taxes due after the holiday ends.

The president signed an executive order on Aug. 8 calling for a deferral of the employees' portion of the payroll tax from Sept. 1 through the end of the year.

Currently, employers and employees share responsibility for a 12.4% levy that funds Social Security and a 2.9% tax to support Medicare.

Social Security taxes are subject to an annually adjusted wage cap ($137,700 for 2020), but Medicare taxes are assessed beyond that threshold.

The executive order applies specifically to the Social Security tax and would affect workers whose bi-weekly pay is less than $4,000 on a pretax basis.

The three-page notice the IRS issued on Friday postpones the due date for these taxes until April 30, 2021. After that date, penalties, interest and "additions to tax" will begin to accrue.

Employers  dubbed the "affected taxpayers" in the guidance  "may make arrangements to otherwise collect the total applicable taxes from the employee," the IRS said in its guidance on Friday.

Since there is no guarantee that the employee's share of deferred taxes will be forgiven, employers may not want that responsibility, tax professionals said.

"To me, this says you're telling the employer not to withhold the money, put themselves on the hook and then make 'some arrangement' to get the money back  or trust us that we'll go and forgive it for you," said Adam Markowitz, enrolled agent at Howard L Markowitz PA CPA in Leesburg, Florida.

"I had warned my employer clients that this would be a 'hard no,'" he said.
BENGALURU: Karnataka High Court has appointed retired judge H.S. Kempanna as the claims commissioner to assess the property damage incurred in the recent riots as the state government aims to make the culprits pay up, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said on Friday.

"Today the high court appointed Justice H.S. Kempanna (retired) as the claims commissioner," said Yediyurappa.

Earlier, the state government had approached the high court to appoint a Claims Commissioner to assess the damage caused to public and private properties during the riots on the night of August 11 in DJ Halli, KG Halli, Pulikeshanagar and Kaval Byrasandra.

On August 17, the Chief Minister had said that the state government will approach the court for such an official to look into the damage assessment part.

The state government aims to extract the assessed monetary value from the rioters.

More than 200 two-wheelers and several cars were set ablaze during the riots when mobs ran amok after a derogatory social media post.

On August 11, hundreds of people ran amok after P. Naveen, nephew of Pulikeshinagar Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, posted a derogatory message on social media.

Police resorted to firing to control the mobs, leading to the death of three youths.

The rioters burnt a part of DJ Halli police station, Naveen`s home and also his uncle Murthy`s home.

The mobs pelted stones, injuring 60 policemen, and committed acts of vandalism and arson.
Sherrie Hewson has admitted that it would be 'very difficult' to find a new romance after being on her own for so long.

Although the former Coronation Street star, 69, has joked that she would 'be there' if a 'young Robert Redford or a Clint Eastwood' came along.

The Loose Women star separated from her ex-husband Ken Boyd in 2001 after he admitted to having an affair but they only divorced ten years later in 2011.

Candid: Sherrie Hewson has admitted that it would be 'very difficult' to find a new romance after being on her own for so long (pictured in 2017)

However despite her numerous on-screen romances, Sherrie revealed that she declined the Channel 4 reality show Celebrity First Dates Hotel because she would be 'too embarrassed' to turn someone down.

The Benidorm actress said she 'doesn't know' if she would agree to do the show if asked by producers again but revealed that everyone told her to sign up when she was first approached.

But Sherrie, who starred on Loose Women for 14 years until 2016, said it would be 'difficult' for her to have a new romance after being settled on her own 'for so long'.

Cheeky! Although the former Coronation Street star, 69, has joked that she would 'be there' if a 'young Robert Redford or a Clint Eastwood' came along (pictured in 2018)

Sherrie, who revealed she had found love again with a mysterious new man in 2017 which sadly did not work out, expressed her doubt that it may be 'far too late' for sparks to fly again.

Speaking to The Sun, she said: 'I just don't know who I would meet and who would put up with me.

'I don't think I'd stand any-one being in the same house as me. Maybe it's far too late for somebody like me.'

It comes after Sherrie revealed she started to drink 'too much' at the start of lockdown after her brother Brett Hutchinson, 71, passed away from an incurable brain tumour in April this year, following a battle with pneumonia.

On-screen: Despite her numerous on-screen romances, Sherrie (pictured as Joyce in Benidorm) revealed that she declined the Channel 4 reality show Celebrity First Dates Hotel

Sherrie told that she quit drinking for 'six weeks' and now occasionally enjoys a glass of wine but has 'kind of knocked it on the head'.

She said: 'I was drinking because of my brother's death. I thought, 'If you can disappear, you can forget.'

Back in April, Sherrie expressed her fear that she would never see her terminally ill brother again due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At the time, Brett was in hospital fighting his brain tumour, and due to the threat of the virus, she wasn't able to visit him.

Sober: Sherrie recently told that she quit drinking for 'six weeks' and now 'occasionally' enjoys a glass of wine but has 'kind of knocked it on the head' (pictured in 2019)

Appearing on Loose Women earlier this month, the grieving actress spoke about how her daughter Keeley, 36, has been her 'rock'.

Sherrie told the panel: 'It's been the hardest thing ever and I was completely broken.

'It's been very weird, lockdown has been weird anyway. The last two weeks of his life I wasn't allowed to go and visit him.

'Then the day he actually died, my nieces' husband rang me to say 'you need to come'.'

Sherrie continued: ' I did insist on going to the funeral, in wales 20 people were allowed to go to funerals, so I did go. I broke down and couldn't cope.

Aside from her struggle with losing her brother, Sherrie has been keeping busy with her new YouTube chat show, Wonderbirds, which also stars Harriet Thorpe, Dee Anderson and Debbie Arnold.

The show, which has garnered more than two million views in 12 weeks, features celebrity guests including Gok Wan and Paul O'Grady.

Sherrie revealed the idea came from Debbie who thought they should share their Zoom chats online after TV studios were closed during lockdown.

MailOnline has contacted Sherrie's representatives for comment.
Surrogates tout Biden campaign's farm platform

In support of the Biden-Harris campaign, former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack joined former members of Congress from North Carolina in a virtual roundtable this week to discuss the revitalization of agriculture and economic aid for rural areas in the state.

Pender Sharp, a former chair of the state Farm Service Agency committee, joined the call on Monday night from a farm his family has run in Wilson County for more than a century.

After the last election, the wheels ran off of agriculture in Eastern North Carolina, Sharp said. "If things don't change financially, there will be no way to attract my grandson to stay on this farm. Sharp blamed agricultures problems on bad trade deals by President Trump.

John Ashe, a farmer from the Reidsville area, bought his farm four years ago and grows soybeans and tobacco.

Everything looked so good, he said. We were selling soybeans, 14, 15 dollars a bushel. Now, theyre $8 a bushel. Relief payments the Trump administration sent to farmers hurt by the trade war with China, he said, wont cover half of what he lost. I dont think he has any comprehension of what he has done to agriculture. None whatsoever. And we have got to change that, yall.

Vilsack said, "Trump didn't deliver a good trade deal."

Here is the story, the former ag secretary said. We have the lowest trade surplus in agricultural products that weve seen in quite some time and, potentially, for the first time in 60 years we risk the possibility that we may not have a trade surplus at all in agricultural products.

After flying to Charlotte for the opening day of the Republican National Convention on Monday, Trump boarded Marine One for a ride west to Mills River. There, he touted the Farmers to Families Food Box program, an initiative launched in the spring in which the USDA buys produce, meat and dairy products from farmers to feed families hurt by coronavirus-related job losses.

Commenting on Trumps visit earlier that day, Vilsack said, "I wonder if he had the opportunity to talk about how many broken promises he is responsible for to the people of North Carolina and rural Americans across this great country."

A former Iowa governor who served as agriculture secretary under President Obama, Vilsack said Trump promised better trade deals, agriculture-based sustainable fuels and such infrastructure improvements as broadband internet and better roads in rural areas. "That didn't happen," he said.

Biden and Harris have a plan for dealing with these issues, Vilsack said. They will grow a trade surplus, invest in conservation, create better-paying rural jobs, support renewable fuels, and improve health care in rural areas.

Eva Clayton, a former representative from North Carolinas 1st Congressional District who served on the House Agriculture Committee, said education is a foundation for rural communities. Economic development, combined with structure and investment in education, makes us far more attractive," she said.

I do know one thing about rural folks, Vilsack said, and that is, your word is your bond. The reality is that Donald Trump made a promise to rural America, he made several promises. He promised better trade deals, he promised support for the renewable fuel industry, he promised new opportunities for infrastructure improvements. He delivered on none of those promises.

Jobs, infrastructure, quality of life  that is what Joe Biden can deliver on, he said. The Biden-Harris plan is exactly the roadmap to get it done.
WINSTED  Public works and town leaders  and an architectural firm  have pledged to continue to work with residents to see that their concerns are addressed as the state-funded Whiting Street improvement project begins.

The projects goals include calming traffic, improving pavement, drainage and water quality, pedestrian safety and infrastructure. Primarily, the funding will pay for repaving the roadway; installing new drainage systems, including catch basins and pipes; and installing raised crosswalks to slow traffic and assure pedestrian safety.

A public public information meeting on the project was held this week; it followed a public hearing the Planning & Zoning Commission held in July to consider an 8-24 application from the state. The commission granted its approval for the application, but asked for the public information meeting for interested residents, including Whiting Mills owners and tenants, the American Mural Project, owners of an apartment building and residential homeowners.

Representatives from Weston and Sampson Engineers, including project manager Lisa Slonus, joined Public Works Director Jim Rollins at the meeting. The proposal includes making the road 22 feet wide, curb-to-curb, installing sidewalks from the end of Whiting Mills to South Main Street (Route 44), improving the drainage, paving and an improved bridge. Residents can view drawings and other details of the proposal at https://rb.gy/nojqec.

Slonus reviewed the project in more detail, saying the work is funded by a $500,000 Responsible Growth and Transit Oriented Development Grant, and is focused on uses and reuses of areas where private and public investments have already been made.

The town is in charge of the projects design, and it is administered by the Office of Policy and Management and the state Department of Transportation, she said.

Many who attended the July hearing were disappointed to learn that making Whiting Street one-way was not part of this plan. Rollins and Winsted Fire Chief Jame Lagassie explained why.

The town has reached out to people living on Strong Terrace and Whiting Street, emergency services, and theres a much broader picture to keep in mind, Rollins said. We looked at how (a change would) impact the downtown ... So we revisited this discussion, and the consensus is still to do a two-directional roadway.

Our firehouse is at the intersection of Whiting Street and Holabird Avenue, and having a two-way street for response calls is important, Lagassie said. When we have accidents on Main Street at Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds (near the Whiting Street intersection) there are benefits to keeping it a two-way street.

P&Z Chairman George Closson asked if the department and other emergency service providers, such as the ambulance association, could drive up a one-way street in the wrong direction in an emergency.

We dont do that, Lagassie said. It opens up our liability. Even if theres an accident on Route 8, we get off and come back on. We dont have the ability to close a road.

Winchester Police Chief William Fitzgerald Jr. agreed. Its a liability issue for the fire department, he said.

Whiting Street is home to Whiting Mills, owned by Eva and Jean Paul Blachere, who purchased the industrial buildings in 2004. The Blacheres were most vocal last month about making the street one-way , and Eva Blachere reiterated her disappointment Thursday. The couple are also upset that they are not getting sidewalks on their side of Whiting Street on the northern end.

A crosswalk and bump outs are proposed a bit further along the roadway, but not by the mill building.

We were supposed to get sidewalks on our side of the street, and that hasnt even come up for discussion, she said. Theres going to be a lot of improvements down the road and across the road, but not Whiting Mills, which has brought new tenants to town. It seems like we have no say in this whole project ... I want on the record that we feel we havent been contacted at all, until very recently.

Another stakeholder in the project is Paula Capaldo, who, with her husband, owns the Mill at Still River apartments. Her complaint concerned drainage and flooding, which she says is impacting her tenants.

Weve had some severe drainage issues over a 10-year period, she said. When the American Mural Project was completed, they put in a couple of catch basins, but theyre ineffective. Our tenants are using boots to get into their cars because theres so much water in the parking area when it rains.

Weve lost our pavement, she said. Its been eaten away. That water just sits there. The water flows over the parking lot and into the river, missing the catch basins completely.

Slonus assured Capaldo that the aging drainage system and catch basins would be dealt with by replacing the basins, flattening the road and properly designing a drainage system to handle rainwater. It will properly get the water into the river, she said.

Capaldo also asked if her sidewalks would be replaced. Slonus said there wasnt enough money in the grant to install sidewalks everywhere, but Rollins said he would meet with Capaldo to discuss it.

Public works would be happy to meet with you and get a picture of what your problems are, he said.

That would be great, Capaldo said. I try to provide quality living for the people who live here.

Rollins said he would continue to meet with all the stakeholders in the area.

American Mural Project Executive Director Amy Wynn said she was pleased with the outreach from the town regarding the project.

We love the fact that youre doing traffic calming, and aiming to make the street more welcoming, she said. But we dont want to see our valued neighbors lose parking spaces.

She was referring to J&G Machinery at 100 Whiting St., a company that receives deliveries in large trucks. Its very important that we have good truck and bus clearance for Whiting Mills and AMP, she said.

Rollins also said the towns capital improvement plan could address some of the concerns raised at the meeting.

Wynn said, I encourage people to be responsive and involved in this project and keep the momentum going. Lets remain accessible as we can.

The next step for the project is to for Slonus team to complete the final designs, which will then be sent to OPM and the DOT for review over the fall and winter.

We could go out to bid by spring 2021, she said.
FEMA offering many forms of assistance to residents in disaster areas
The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Saturday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available.

10:30 p.m.: South Korea has reported 299 new cases of the coronavirus as officials placed limits on dining at restaurants and closed fitness centres and after-school academies in the greater capital area to slow the spread of the virus. The 17th consecutive day of triple-digit increases brought the national caseload to 19,699, including 323 deaths.

9:15 p.m.: More than 1,000 University of Alabama students have tested positive for COVID-19 since returning to campus two weeks ago.

Nine university employees have also contracted the virus in that time frame, according to the universitys coronavirus dashboard. Classes began Aug. 19, and 562 students tested positive in the first week, 481 in the second week.

9 p.m.: Los Angeles County public health officials reported 1,339 new cases of the coronavirus and 27 related deaths, but said hospitalizations continue to decline. The county now has recorded a total of 239,828 cases of the virus, and 5,763 related deaths.

There were 1,089 confirmed coronavirus patients in county hospitals as of Friday, with 32 per cent in intensive care. That represented a decline of about 50 per cent from mid-July, when hospitalizations reached 2,200 officials said.

7 p.m.: The Florida Department of Health accidentally released a report on COVID-19 outbreaks at schools across the state  from daycare centres to colleges  and found that nearly 900 students and staffers had tested positive during a two-week period in August as schools had just begun or readied to reopen.

State officials published the six-page draft online, but then quickly took it down. The Miami Herald obtained a copy before it disappeared.

5:40 p.m.: The Hawaii Department of Public Safety says three inmates and one staff member at the Oahu Community Correction Center tested positive for COVID-19. There are now more than 300 people who have tested positive at the Honolulu facility, including 256 inmates and 53 employees, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

Early in the pandemic, several advocacy groups raised concerns about the safety of others crowded in jails and prisons and mentioned the risk of an outbreak.

4 p.m.: Manitoba health officials say a worker at a long-term care facility in Brandon has tested positive for COVID-19.

They say a case previously identified in the Prairie Mountain Health region is a worker from the Hillcrest Place personal care home. While the worker wore personal protective equipment and is self-isolating, the facility is putting additional measures in place to further reduce the risk to residents and staff, including restricting visitation.

3 p.m.: Far-right extremists tried to storm the German parliament building following a protest against the countrys pandemic restrictions, but were intercepted by police and forcibly removed.

The incident occurred after a daylong demonstration by tens of thousands of people opposed to the wearing of masks and other government measures intended to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. Police ordered the protesters to disband halfway through their march around Berlin after participants refused to observe social distancing rules, but a rally near the capitals iconic Brandenburg Gate took place as planned.

Footage of the incident showed hundreds of people, some waving the flag of the German Reich of 1871-1918 and other far-right banners, running toward the Reichstag building and up the stairs.

About 3,000 police officers were deployed in Berlin. The crowds included conspiracy theorists who do not believe COVID-19 exists, and anti-vaccination campaigners.

2:02 p.m.: Two members of the Canadian military who recently flew back to Canada from the Middle East have tested positive for COVID-19, the Defence Department said Saturday.

In a statement, the department said the Canadian Armed Forces members were aboard a flight bringing 35 personnel from Operation IMPACT, a Middle East training mission, back to Canada.

While all COVID-19 health and safety protocols and precautions were observed before, during, and after the flight, there does remain a risk for deployed personnel, the statement read.

The flight stopped overnight at Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay, N.L., on Aug. 24, and all the crew and passengers stayed in isolated accommodations on the base.

1:49 p.m.: School boards need to pick up the pace of air quality improvements as schools reopen this fall, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Friday, urging them not to move on government time as they rush to spend millions in funding allocated earlier this week.

Fords remarks came just days after the province told school boards they should spend $50 million by Thanksgiving to upgrade air quality in schools in an effort to bolster COVID-19 safety measures.

School boards, opposition politicians and school repair advocates said the government timeline will be difficult to meet.

But Ford said Friday that the money is there, boards need to move now as students return to the classroom in weeks.

1:39 p.m.: A Nevada man has become the first person in the United States to be diagnosed with coronavirus for a second time amid similar reports of reinfection out of Hong Kong.

The 25-year-old from Reno initially tested positive for the virus in April. He later recovered, but was again diagnosed in June this time with significantly more severe symptoms, according to a new study from the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine.

1:27 p.m.: The Sofina Foods/Lilydale poultry processing plant in Calgary will remain open despite a growing COVID-19 outbreak.

An Alberta Health official said Friday there had been 19 cases of the virus with 18 of them still considered active.

But an official with the company said the number is now higher than that.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) confirmed that, after we encouraged all our employees to take a second test, 9 additional individuals tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. This brings our total to 27 employees, all from the same shift, said spokesperson Daniele Dufour said in an email to The Canadian Press.

1:26 p.m.: Nurses on the front lines of New Yorks COVID-19 pandemic are calling for the state to enact minimum staffing standards ahead of another wave of infections.

Health care industry leaders, though, warn that passing such a law would saddle facilities with billions of dollars in extra costs they cant afford.

1:25 p.m.: The city of Detroit will hold a memorial to honour residents who have died from the coronavirus.

A memorial drive at Belle Isle State Park is scheduled for Monday. Mayor Mike Duggan declared the day as Detroit Memorial Day to remember residents who didnt have the funerals because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Families will drive in 15 processions past nearly 900 enlarged photos of their loved ones. Hearses will lead the processions. More than 1,500 Detroit residents have died from complications of the virus.

1:24 p.m.: In the city thats lost about 20,000 people to COVID-19, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is staking his legacy on a bet that he can safely open the largest school system in the U.S.

The whole country is looking at New York City and saying, how did they possibly do it? de Blasio said this week, referring to the citys positive-test rate of 1%. The unity that people have shown in this crisis that is what we are going to bring to our next big opportunity to move forward. And thats reopening our schools.

Less than two weeks remain from the Sept. 10 start, though theres no consensus on his plan to do so. The teachers union has threatened a strike unless more than 1 million students and 120,000 teachers and staff get tested. The principals union has pleaded for a delay. Dozens of student leaders have lobbied for remote-only instruction.

De Blasio hasnt budged, presenting his hybrid of in-school and at-home learning as a reward for New Yorkers sacrifices.

12:27 p.m.: Trumps program to cover uninsured COVID-19 patients falls short of promise.

The program has drawn little attention since, but a review by The New York Times of payments made through it, as well as interviews with hospital executives, patients and health policy researchers who have examined the payments, suggest the quickly concocted plan has not lived up to its promise.

It has caused confusion at participating hospitals, which in some cases have mistakenly billed patients who should be covered by it. Few patients seem to know the program exists, so they dont question the charges. And some hospitals and other medical providers have chosen not to participate in the program, which bars them from seeking any payment from patients whose bills they submit to it.

Large numbers of patients have also been disqualified because COVID-19 has to be the primary diagnosis for a case to be covered (unless the patient is pregnant). Since hospitalized COVID patients often have other serious medical conditions, many have other primary diagnoses. At Jackson Health in Miami, for example, only 60% of uninsured COVID-19 patients had decisively met the requirements to have their charges covered under the program as of late July, a spokeswoman said.

12:22 p.m.: Canadas top doctor has warned Canadians not to assume a COVID-19 vaccine will see an end to public-health measures such as mask-wearing and physical distancing.

But a medical researcher from Mount Pearl is not so sure. Dr. Stephen Walsh is on a team in Boston thats in the final phase of human testing on a promising COVID-19 vaccine that may be a first of its kind.

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam told reporters earlier this month that management of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue for at least a year.

(We are) certainly planning for the longer term of the next two to three years during which the vaccine may play a role. But we dont know yet, she said.

12:20 p.m.: Newfoundland and Labrador now has one active case of COVID-19 after a resident of the Eastern Health region returned home from travel in Asia.

The Department of Health said in a news release Friday the person is a female under the age of 19, and she did not show symptoms while en route.

Its the 48th case stemming from international travel since the first COVID-19 case was detected in March. The province has had no more than four active cases at any one time since May 21.

12:18 p.m.: There are 127,614 confirmed cases in Canada.

Quebec: 62,232 confirmed (including 5,755 deaths, 55,235 resolved)

Ontario: 42,083 confirmed (including 2,809 deaths, 38,126 resolved)

Alberta: 13,476 confirmed (including 237 deaths, 12,054 resolved)

British Columbia: 5,496 confirmed (including 204 deaths, 4,310 resolved)

Saskatchewan: 1,611 confirmed (including 24 deaths, 1,543 resolved)

Manitoba: 1,151 confirmed (including 14 deaths, 693 resolved)

Nova Scotia: 1,083 confirmed (including 65 deaths, 1,013 resolved)

Newfoundland and Labrador: 269 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 265 resolved)

New Brunswick: New Brunswick: 191 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 183 resolved)

Prince Edward Island: 44 confirmed (including 41 resolved)

Yukon: 15 confirmed (including 15 resolved)

Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed (including 13 resolved)

Northwest Territories: 5 confirmed (including 5 resolved)

Nunavut: No confirmed cases

Total: 127,614 (0 presumptive, 127,614 confirmed including 9,113 deaths, 113,466 resolved)

11:48 a.m.: Quebec is reporting 156 new cases of COVID-19 as well as five additional deaths. Health authorities say none of the death occurred in the past 24 hours.

The spike in new cases, which is the highest reported since July 30, comes two days after most French-language schools in the province opened.

Hospitalizations remained stable over the past 24 hours at 117, with 17 people in intensive care. In total, there have been 5,755 deaths and 62,232 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

The new case total reflects the fact that 78 false positive tests have now been removed from the calculations after samples were contaminated at a Montreal lab.

11:31 a.m.: Ontario is reporting 148 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths related to the coronavirus.

The total number of cases now stands at 42,083, which includes 2,809 deaths and 38,126 cases marked as resolved.

There were 103 cases newly marked as resolved in todays report. The province says 51 people are currently in hospital with the virus and 17 are in intensive care.

It says five people are on ventilators. The province was able to complete 32,106 tests in the previous day.

7:38 a.m.: California Gov. Gavin Newsom is announcing a new process for reopening businesses that is slower and more gradual than what the state tried earlier this summer.

French President Emmanuel Macron is urging European neighbours to better co-ordinate cross-border virus restrictions as infections resurge. Multiple countries have imposed tests or quarantines on visitors from France.

7:37 a.m.: The British government is encouraging workers to return to their offices amid concern that the number of people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic is hurting coffee bars and restaurants and turning city centres into ghost towns.

7:36 a.m.: South Korea has reported 323 new cases of the coronavirus as health officials prepare to tighten distancing restrictions in the greater capital area.

The 16th consecutive day of triple-digit jumps brought the national caseload to 19,400. Fatalities reached 321 after five more deaths overnight.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Saturday that 249 of the new cases came from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where about half of the countrys 51 million people live. Health workers have struggled to track infections linked to churches, restaurants, schools and apartment buildings.

7:35 a.m.: Malaysia has extended its pandemic movement restrictions including a ban on foreign tourists until the end of the year.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in a televised address late Friday that global cases have been rising and the country has seen sporadic virus clusters even though the situation was under control.

Malaysia has recorded more than 9,000 cases with 125 deaths.

7:30 a.m.: Rental prices have dipped and landlords are facing stiffer competition for tenants in Canadas two hottest housing markets in the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

It seems like a renters market in Toronto and Vancouver for the first time in years... The latest numbers from the listing service PadMapper show the cost to rent in Toronto and Vancouver continued to decline in the last month, while smaller, neighbouring cities saw increases.

The company pegged the median cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Toronto at $2,100, down 8.7 per cent from last August, while the cost in Vancouver was down 6.4 per cent to $2,060.

The costs to rent a two-bedroom unit were also down, according to PadMappers latest rent report that used around 10,200 listings in Toronto and 1,400 in Vancouver to estimate the median prices.

More on this story.

Saturday 7:28 a.m.: There are 127,358 confirmed cases in Canada.

Quebec: 62,124 confirmed (including 5,750 deaths, 55,106 resolved)

Ontario: 41,935 confirmed (including 2,809 deaths, 38,023 resolved)

Alberta: 13,476 confirmed (including 237 deaths, 12,054 resolved)

British Columbia: 5,496 confirmed (including 204 deaths, 4,310 resolved)

Saskatchewan: 1,611 confirmed (including 24 deaths, 1,543 resolved)

Manitoba: 1,096 confirmed (including 14 deaths, 664 resolved)

Nova Scotia: 1,083 confirmed (including 65 deaths, 1,013 resolved)

Newfoundland and Labrador: 269 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 265 resolved)

New Brunswick: 191 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 182 resolved)

Prince Edward Island: 44 confirmed (including 41 resolved)

Yukon: 15 confirmed (including 15 resolved)

Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed (including 13 resolved)

Northwest Territories: 5 confirmed (including 5 resolved)

Nunavut: No confirmed cases

Total: 127,358 (0 presumptive, 127,358 confirmed including 9,108 deaths, 113,234 resolved)

Read Fridays coronavirus news
After covid-19's emergence in Buenos Aires led to a strict lockdown in March, Juliana Cassataro and her fellow vaccine researchers grew concerned. The U.S., Europe and China had already revved up their quests to obtain shots; how far back in line would Argentina have to wait for supplies?

"We did not want to stay in our homes," said Cassataro, a scientist at the National University of San Martin in the nation's capital. "We wanted to use our knowledge to help in this pandemic."

Determined to give Latin America its own protection from the fast-spreading virus, Cassataro's team -- 10 women and two men -- quickly got to work. A government grant of $100,000 in May paid for initial studies, and human trials could start in about six months.

The U.S. and other superpowers have laid claim to billions of covid vaccine doses that are nearing the finish line. That's sparked worries that poorer countries will be left behind and shots will be slow to reach many of the world's 7.8 billion people. Dozens of laboratories, researchers and companies from Thailand to Nigeria are bootstrapping their own work on inoculations.

Groups such as the World Health Organization, the Oslo-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance are working to ensure that coverage extends beyond the developed world. But memories of the 2009 swine flu outbreak, when pandemic vaccines barely made their way past the top tier of wealthy countries, persist.

"There's a fear factor," said Seth Berkley, Gavi's chief executive officer.

Following the big drugmakers into the testing arena may be difficult, especially if an approved vaccine is available. But if the work fails to deliver a product to fight this pathogen, it may still give countries a leg up in future outbreaks.

Argentina's vaccine is among roughly 170 advancing globally, according to the WHO. Airfinity, a U.K.-based analytics firm, has an even higher count -- more than 280 -- including about 50 in lower-income nations such as India, Turkey, Egypt and Kazakhstan.

The urgency is rising throughout the developing world. Argentina's infections have surpassed 350,000 with the death toll climbing to more than 7,000. Neighboring Brazil has 3.6 million cases, while India's have breached 3 million. With 600,000 infections, South Africa has become a fertile testing ground for vaccines.

One of the fastest-moving shots outside the wealthy world is in Thailand, though scientists at Chulalongkorn University said they have been forced to delay the start of human testing by a few months until December. The Thai team, relying on messenger RNA technology similar to that used by U.S. biotech company Moderna, aims to introduce a vaccine in the country by the second half of 2021 if successful.

Leapfrogging them all is Russia's Sputnik V vaccine that President Vladimir Putin authorized before a conclusive test of its effectiveness and safety. The attention the inoculation has received -- Russian officials have said at least 20 countries are interested in obtaining it -- shows the level of desperation.

Latin America got some relief earlier this month when Argentina and Mexico reached agreements to produce as many as 250 million initial doses of AstraZeneca's experimental vaccine, an effort backed by billionaire Carlos Slim's foundation. China has offered to loan Latin American and Caribbean countries $1 billion to purchase shots.

Yet it may take until the end of next year for the first 1 billion vaccine doses to be distributed throughout the world, according to Airfinity. And it's not clear if the front-runners will gain approval, nor how effective they'll be in various situations.

The swelling ranks of developers reflect those concerns, said Paul Offit, who runs the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. A range of inoculations may be needed to protect different groups like the elderly, he said.

"I'm sure there's a component of not wanting to be left out," he said. "One doesn't want to have to rely on the largess of other countries to protect their population. But I think the general interest among scientists in this world is that there's going to be far more than one vaccine that will be in play."

African countries don't want to see a rerun of what happened when vaccines against rotavirus were introduced around 2006, according to Nigerian researcher Oladipo Kolawole. Early versions weren't as effective there as in high-income regions, although subsequent shots have yielded positive results.

With coronavirus infections in Africa surpassing 1.1 million, Kolawole's firm, Helix Biogen Consult, has begun collaborating with other Nigerian researchers on a vaccine. They plan to start animal tests soon and hope to have an impact beyond their country's borders.

"We are not concerned about Nigeria alone," Kolawole said. "We are concerned about Africa and the whole world."

Many nations also face uncertainty over when doses will be available, how many they will be able to obtain and at what cost, according to Marie-Paule Kieny, a former WHO official who's now a research director at Inserm, a French health-science institute. The crisis provides an opportunity to develop new technologies, skills and partnerships that could yield economic returns while also helping to respond to future health threats, she said.

"It's always better when you have a problem to try to do something to resolve it yourself, not to stay there with empty hands," she said.

Still, developing-nation researchers face a number of hurdles. The odds of success are lower in countries without existing vaccine industries, according to Kieny. While countries are keen to build up scant domestic manufacturing capacity, it's a costly and complex business, and difficult to compete with larger producers, Gavi's Berkley said.

Cassataro and her colleagues are pushing ahead. They're developing a "subunit" vaccine that delivers harmless fragments of the virus -- rather than the whole pathogen -- to stimulate immunity. Two approaches are under consideration, including one that could be delivered orally, and more funds would be needed to pay for human testing, she said.

The goal is to achieve "technological sovereignty" so Argentina won't have to watch from afar as others vaccinate their way out of the pandemic.

"Waiting is very frustrating," she said.
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At least 2,000 protesters marched toward Torontos downtown police headquarters late Saturday afternoon, after two peaceful but passionate demonstrations which called for funding to be transferred from police budgets to community organizations.

Several protests were held throughout Eastern Canada, including events in Montreal, Fredericton, Halifax and London, Ont. in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Organizers called upon cities to reduce police budgets by 50 per cent. Demonstrators from the Coalition for BIPOC Liberation said that public money should be shifted to community initiatives such as smaller school class sizes, affordable housing, jobs for youth, better mental health treatment and civilian conflict resolution services.

There were cheers at Christie Pits as a speaker called for an end to the prison system as well. Other demonstrators pushed for the release of prisoners who can be rehabilitated, with only extremely violent offenders remaining in custody.

Some protesters wore pink and red arm bands, signifying they were monitors on call to help anyone in distress.

Were going to take care of each other, a speaker at Christie Pits said, to a chorus of cheers. We keep us safe.

Today we are here to abolish the police, another speaker said, to another round of cheers. Defunding is the first step. It is simply the first step.

Calls to withdraw police funding have amplified and multiplied in Canada and the United States in recent months after the death of George Floyd in May during a police stop in Minnesota. The situation intensified a week ago after a police officer in Kenosha, Wis. shot Jacob Blake in the back seven times, leaving the 29-year-old Black man paralyzed.

In the GTA, some protesters were critical of a report released Wednesday by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which cleared seven Toronto police officers in the death of 29-year-old Regis Korchinski-Paquet, who fell from a west-end highrise balcony with police on the scene in May.

There were megaphones, masks, social distancing and music at a late-morning uptown rally and march at Downsview Park as well as the much larger late-afternoon event downtown. Protesters carried signs such as Defund the police, Defund brutality, fund humanity, Cops arent supposed to kill guilty people either, Abolish the police and Black Lives Matter.

We demand our basic human right to live peacefully with the equitable opportunity to live our best lives, take care of our families and support our communities, Not Another Black Life demonstrators said in a prepared statement. Without the removal of the laws of colonialism, the liberation of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour will cease to exist. Invest in people, not police. Reallocation Committees will ensure funding divested from police forces will be reallocated back to community-based initiatives.

The spectre of COVID-19 hung over the day, with masks, sanitizer and water made available to marchers who largely observed physical distancing. A supporter who identified himself as FuzzyWuzzyTO tweeted, Ill be honest, COVID makes me very nervous about going to the big Defund Police rally today at Christie Pits ... but I figure PoC (People of Colour) risk their lives every day just by breathing, so its kind of the least I can do. Ill be as careful as I can.

The events were promoted by several grassroots community groups using the hashtags #notanotherblacklife, #blacklivesmatter, #blackcanadians, #indigenouslivesmatter, #defundthepolice and ##abolishthepolice.

Among the marchers were supporters of Forward Through Progress and the Afro Indigenous Rising Collective, who said on Facebook about the push for massive cuts to police budgets: We need to DEFUND as a means to ABOLISH.

Local events began with a First Nations cleansing ceremony, acknowledging that the demonstration was taking part on traditional Indigenous lands. Some demonstrators acted as marshals when the groups marched. The events were monitored by Toronto police from a distance while providing traffic control.

With files from The Canadian Press

Peter Edwards is a Toronto-based reporter primarily covering crime for the Star. Reach him by email at pedwards@thestar.ca
Environmental Agency - Food Safety Alert

The public is advised of the ongoing recall of the following product:

Brand: Eat Natural

Product: Brazil and sultana with peanuts and almonds

Best Before End Dates: Aug 2020, Sep 2020, Oct 2020, Nov 2020, Dec 2020, Jan 2021, Feb 2021, Mar 2021, Apr 2021, May 2021 & Jun 2021

Size: 35g Bar 96003787, 4x 35g Multi-pack 5013803666712, 50g Bar 50676262, 3x 50g Multi- pack 5013803666149, 12x 50g Counter pack 50138803621247, 20x 50g Assorted Mix Pack 5013803666385

Eat Natural have decided to withdraw and recall this product due to the possible presence of Salmonella, originating from a third-party supply of ingredient. Salmonella symptoms usually include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. It is important to note that no outbreak of Salmonella has been identified in Gibraltar and the action taken is precautionary.

The recall does not affect any other products from their brand. Importers have been notified and sellers contacted who should have already removed the affected product from sale which will subsequently be destroyed. Point-of-sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these products in Gibraltar.

Consumer advice: Do not eat this product.

Instead:

 Check if you have bought the affected product with the identified best before date(s) of the Brazil and sultana with peanuts and almonds bars.

 Return the product(s) to the store of purchase for a full refund.

Further information can be obtained by contacting the Environmental Agency on Tel 20070620 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Just a matter of time for 9 day encounter in Rajouri-Poonch jungles to end

Guided by ex-Pak army officials, operating in buddy pairs: Why the Poonch encounter has dragged so much

Tire, track eliminate: Why has the Poonch encounter dragged on for so long

3 terrorists killed, 1 soldier martyred in Pulwama encounter

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 29: Three terrorists have been killed in an encounter with the security forces in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. One soldier who was critically injured succumbed to his injuries.

The police said that the encounter started on Friday in Pulwama's Zadoora area at around 1 am. A massive search operation was carried out following the encounter. One AK-47 rifle and two pistols were recovered from the encounter site.

The Kashmir Zone Police said that following the Pulwama encounter, incriminating material including arms and ammunition have been recovered.

On Friday, four terrorists were killed in an encounter in Shopian district on Friday. In all seven terrorists have been gunned down by the security forces in the past 24 hours.

Suresh Raina returns home, to skip IPL | Blow to CSK | Oneindia News

Following the encounter at Shopian, the police said that two of the terrorists killed were involved in the kidnapping and killing of a panchayat member affiliated with the BJP.
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: In a last-minute decision, India withdrew its contingent on Saturday from participating in a multinational military exercise in Russia scheduled in mid-September this year.

A senior officer confirmed, We have withdrawn from Kavkaz 2020 'strategic command post exercise' scheduled to be held in Astrakhan region, Russia from September 15 to September 26.

The reason is the prevailing tension between India and China along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh and reluctance of India to exercise together with the Chinese and Pakistan military troops, added the source.

The Ministry of Defence, however, said, "in view of the pandemic and consequent difficulties in exercise, including arrangements of logistics, India has decided not to send a contingent this year to Kavkaz-2020.

India had confirmed last week the participation of its tri-services contingent of 178 troops with 140 from the Army, 36 of the Air Force and two from Navy. Indian Army was sending troops of the Dogra Regiment, the Special Forces, Armoured, Mechanised, Artillery, Signals, Engineers, Army Air Defence.

In June Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart, Wei Fenghe were in Moscow to attend the victory parade for World War-II but there was no bilateral meeting between the two.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to travel again to Moscow for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Defence Ministers meeting on September 3. This will be his second visit to Moscow since the border stand-off with China began in early May.

Total of 12,500 troops from 18 countries including Iran, Turkey, Syria, Central Asian Nations and all other Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members are going to participate. China is also sending around 3 Frigates of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy.

The scope of the exercise includes joint Counter-terror operation with an aim to empower group of troops (forces) of the coalition of states in the interest of ensuring security in its South-West of Russia.

Around 40,000 soldiers each of the Indian Army and the Chinese PLA has been locked in a tense standoff since the first week of May at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. The Indian army is prepared for a long haul.
He's rumored to be dating the German model (and Angelina Jolie lookalike) Nicole Poturalski.

And now, sources claim to have spotted Brad Pitt and the 27-year-old model visiting the Chateau Miraval in France, according to E! News.

The property in the south of France has great significance for the 56-year-old Oscar winner, as it's where he and his ex-wife Angelina, 45, had their intimate wedding in 2014.

Place of significance: Brad Pitt, 56, and his rumored girlfriend Nicole Poturalski, 27, are reportedly spending time at his Chateau Miraval in France, where he married Angelina Jolie, 45, in 2014

According to a local, Brad is visiting Miraval because he's 'participating in a campaign for his wine.'

The chateau, which he and Angelina purchased in 2011 for $60 million, is famous for its wines, especially its rose.

Nicole is reportedly staying with Brad while he's at the vineyard over the weekend.

The rumored couple were spotted on Wednesday as they stepped off a private plane in the south of France, after flying from LAX in Los Angeles to the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, before transferring.

'They were kissing and Brad was being super attentive to her,' a source told OK! magazine. 'He was in a semi public place but didnt seem to mind people seeing him. Shes a real beauty and obviously a lot younger than him.'

According to a local, Brad is visiting Miraval because he's 'participating in a campaign for his wine.' The vineyard at the chateau is famous for its wines, especially the rose; shown in January

Loved up: 'They were kissing and Brad was being super attentive to her,' a source told OK! magazine after they disembarked from their private plane; shown in 2018

Family ties: Recently, Angelina has been delaying her custody battle with Brad by trying to remove the judge. She also wants to move to the UK with the kids; shown in October 2019

Brad and Angelina were married on August 23, 2014, at the Chateau Miraval, located in the village of Correns, just over six years ago.

The intimate ceremony was only attended by a handful of guests and their six children: Maddox, 19, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12.

The couple filed for divorce in 2016, and they're still engaged in an ongoing custody battle.

Most recently, the Tomb Raider actress moved to have the judge overseeing her divorce trial removed due to business dealings he has with one of Brad's lawyers.

She's also reportedly considering moving with the children to the UK, which would make it considerably more difficult for her ex to spend time with the kids.

Getting close: Brad and Nicole were first spotted in November as they attended a performance of Kanye West's opera Nebuchadnezzar at the Hollywood Bowl; pictured in 2017

Although Brad's potential relationship with Nicole is only now drawing widespread attention, the two may have been together for as long as nine months.

They were first spotted together in November during a performance of Kanye West's opera Nebuchadnezzar at the Hollywood Bowl.

The bombshell, who has a son, has graced the cover of ELLE and is currently signed to Next Management in Los Angeles and A Management in Germany.

She's also married to Berlin-based restaurateur Roland Mary, with whom she's allegedly in an open relationship.

The timeline also raises the possibility that the multi-lingual model may have been leaving messages for the Tree Of Life star on her Instagram.

'Missing my strolls with my Love,' she captioned a since-deleted post from February.

She followed it up with another post from March, which she captioned, 'Saturdays these days for me is self-reflection, reading books spending time with my better half.'

Clues: In March, she wrote that she was 'spending time with my better half,' which may have referred to the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood actor

So far, the two have stayed mum about a possible relationship.

In December, Brad shut down most rumors about his dating life during an interview with The New York Times.

'People always say they don't read about themselves. I never believe it,' he said. 'I don't go out of my way to avoid it; I just don't seek it out. I don't know how many women they've said I've been dating the last two or three years, and none of it's true.'

The Hollywood hunk previously shot down rumors that he was dating Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat.
A man has died and another is in hospital with severe burns after being trapped in two separate unit fires in Sydney overnight.

At roughly 5am, a Fire and Rescue NSW crew pulled an unconscious man out of a smoke-filled unit in south-west Sydney on Biara Avenue, Clemton Park.

The house fire in Kirrawee in the early hours of Saturday. Credit:Nine News

The crew performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but the man died at the scene despite their best efforts, NSW Police said. He is yet to be formally identified.

The unit sustained significant damage and officers from Campsie Police Area Command have established a crime scene. An investigation is underway into the cause of the fire.
BRIDGEPORT  Eleven years after he was convicted of ripping off more than a dozen homeowners across the state, former home improvement contractor Gary Girasulo finally made a restitution payment on Friday.

But even he admitted it was much less than he still owes.

This is a good faith payment, Girasulos lawyer, Ira Grudberg, told Superior Court Judge Kevin Russo announcing they would be turning over a check for $10,000.

I understand this is a lot less than he was accused of taking? the judge asked.

Yes, but Im going to come up with another $10,000 in a month, Girasulo added.

The judge continued the case to Sept. 30.

Grudberg and Girasulo declined comment as they left the Fairfield County Courthouse.

Girasulo, also known as Gary Grenier, was convicted in November 2002 of 10 counts of home-improvement fraud, seven counts of first-degree larceny and a number of other larceny charges for fraud totaling more than $201,000 from more than a dozen homeowners in Fairfield, Easton, Ansonia, Stratford, Redding, Derby, Ridgefield, Norwalk, New Haven and Guilford since April 1999.

He was sentenced to probation on the condition that he make restitution to the clients he stole from.

However, prosecutors later said Girasulo used money that should have paid back those clients to gamble in Atlantic City and the Mohegan Sun Casino.

Girasulo was re-sentenced in 2009 to 12 years in prison  believed to be the highest prison term ever imposed on a home-improvement contractor in Connecticut  for fleecing homeowners, violating his probation and then fleeing on the day he was originally supposed to be sentenced.

Though denied parole after serving seven years of the 12-year prison sentence, a judge in 2016 ruled Girasulo has done enough time and ordered him released on the condition that he make restitution to his victims.

The 58-year-old Girasulo, who now lives in Wallingford, was arrested in October 2019 on multiple counts of violating his probation.

According to the Office of Adult Probation, in addition to failing to make restitution, Girasulo left the state without permission and missed more than a dozen appointments with his probation officer.

Girasulo is free on $50,000 bond.
JasonDoiy/Getty Images

For the second year in a row, Texans reign superior with regard to the attractiveness of their accents, according to international media company Big 7 Travel.

Could it be because of Austin's famous resident Matthew McConaughey's southern drawl? Whatever the reason, a poll done by the travel recommendations website said that individuals from around the world agreed that a Texan accent was the sexiest accent in the United States.
In May 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo rejected a permit for the Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement Gas Pipeline, which was seen by the government as an alternative to acquire much-needed oil supplies.

In his election campaign speech in New Hampshire in the north-eastern US region of New England on Friday, President Donald Trump accused the Democrats of making the US government purchase fuel from Russia, Sputnik reports.

POTUS claimed that New England currently has the highest energy costs in the country because New York Governor Andrew Cuomo did not allow a pipeline to go across the tip of the state so that oil and gas [] can come to the region.

And do you know where you buy energy from? Russia. Did you know that? Trump said, referring to the many Russian ships with fuel that have allegedly been docked at New England ports due to the fact that Cuomo, a Democratic Party member, wont allow the pipeline.

The remarks came after the New York governors administration in May rejected a permit for the Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement Pipeline to supply fracked natural gas to Long Island and New York City.

The local Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said that the construction of the pipeline in the ecologically sensitive, historically contaminated, and recovering areaparticularly near Raritan Baywould have an unacceptable negative impact on water quality.
(Natural News) The ancient Chinese were engaged in aquaculture at least 4,500 years before the Egyptians, the civilization previously considered to be the first to attempt the farming of food fish, an international team of researchers and experts said recently.

The team, made up of researchers from Japan, China, Germany and the U.K., came to the conclusion after examining artifacts and fossils gathered from a Neolithic, or Stone Age, settlement called Jiahu, in the present-day Henan Province in Central China.

The researchers found evidence that those who lived there were farming carp between 6,200-5700 BC. This discovery, the researchers said in an article published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, pushes the genesis of aquaculture beyond 1,500 BC, the year in which the ancient Egyptians were believed to have started farming the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

The researchers chose to excavate at Jiahu given its rich history as a metropolitan area, at least by Stone Age standards.

First discovered in 1962, the ruins of Jiahu have since produced many relics signifying a complex society, such as flute fragments carved from the wing bones of red-crowned cranes, which, according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, are considered to be some of the earliest examples of playable musical instruments. The site has also produced evidence of early attempts at animal husbandry, food fermentation and even the development of a written language. (Related: Aquaculture could be the answer for sustainability of seafood supply chain, according to new study.)

For this particular study, the team of experts, which included researcher Mark Hudson of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, excavated the sites ancient trash heaps using a mesh sieve in order to filter out specimens of pharyngeal teeth  a specific type of bony structure found in many fish species  from the soil.

The collected pharyngeal teeth were compared to remains collected from sites from the same era in China and Japan, as well as modern-day carp sourced from a farm in Japans Matsukawa Village.

According to the researchers, the pharyngeal teeth found in the ancient trash heaps of Jiahu belonged to fish at different points in their lives. Some were from sexually mature fish, while others were from much younger specimens.

This, the researchers said, is indicative of a managed system of carp aquaculture that was previously unidentified in Neolithic China. This system involved catching large numbers of carp and other carp-like fish during the spawning season.

According to the researchers, while a large amount of the caught fish would be processed and preserved, several individual fish would be kept alive and then released into artificial ponds where they were allowed to grow and spawn. The fish in the artificial ponds would then be harvested once autumn rolled in.

Aside from the differences in the fishes size, the researchers also found that 75 percent of the pharyngeal bones gathered at Jiahu belonged to the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), a species of medium to large-sized freshwater fish native to central Europe and several parts of Asia.

According to the experts, common carp, despite its name, is much harder to catch than another native species called the crucian carp (Carassius carassius). This suggested that the people of Jiahu developed aquaculture to make the harder-to-catch common carp much more accessible as a food source.

This seems to indicate a cultural preference for common carp, even though these would not have been the most abundant, said Tsuneo Nakajima of the Lake Biwa Museum in Japan, who led the research team.

The teams findings suggest that three stages of aquaculture were developed in prehistoric East Asia. The first stage involved fishing in the marshy areas where carp gather during spawning season. By the second stage, these marshes would be managed by digging channels and controlling both water levels and circulation to trigger spawning in the fish.

According to the research team, by the time it reached its third stage, aquaculture became heavily dependent on constant human management such as the use of spawning beds to control the fishes reproduction, as well as the construction of fish ponds or paddy fields to manage the growing spawn.

There has been a lot of research on domesticated plants and animals, but fish have been poorly understood. This paper shows that humans started to manage fish very early, Hudson said.

According to experts, the rudimentary attempts at aquaculture at Jiahu could have informed the further development of Chinese aquaculture, which peaked with the practice of Chinese Rice-Fish Culture, a farming method in which farmers stocked flooded rice fields with carp.

This practice, which was immortalized in the form of a Han Dynasty-era clay model of a rice paddy that held tiny clay fish, was dependent on the symbiotic relationship between the two organisms: when grown together, the carp feed on weeds and insect pests, while also providing natural fertilizer for the rice plants.

For more stories on fossils and other ancient discoveries, visit Artifacts.news.

Sources include:

ScienceDaily.com

Nature.com

FAO.org

ArsTechnica.com

BBC.co.uk

MetMuseum.org

TheHinduBusinessLine.com

ScienceDirect.com

AtlasObscura.com
"The draft didn't live up to its submission to the AU Bureau due to the continued contention over many legal and technical points," read the Egyptian statement.

Cairo, Khartoum and Addis Ababa didn't reach consensus on the legal and technical points of contention drafted in the preliminary integrated agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Egypt's Ministry of Irrigation stated on Friday night.

Friday's meeting, held as part of talks brokered by the African Union (AU), was attended by the three countries' ministers of irrigation in addition to observers and experts from the AU, US, EU Commission, and the AU Commission.

The three countries' technical and legal committees were scheduled to come up with a unified draft from a collective report of the three capitals' proposals to be presented on Friday to South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, the current AU chair.

"The draft didn't live up to its submission to the AU Bureau due to the continued contention over many legal and technical points," read the Egyptian statement.

After a lengthy discussion on future negotiations, the irrigation ministers agreed each country will send a letter to the AU president expressing its vision for the next stage of talks, the statement added.

The Sudanese irrigation ministry said in a separate statement on Friday "after carefully evaluating the development of negotiations and reviewing the work of experts over the past days, it has become clear merging the three proposals had stalled.

"Continuing the talks in their current form will not achieve practical results," the Khartoum statement quoted the Sudanese irrigation minister Yasser Abbas as saying.

Abbas reiterated that reaching an agreement "requires a political will."

On Monday, the three legal and technical committees convened to negotiate the draft proposals compiled by the three sides on 21 August. They were scheduled to work on the compiled report until 28 August with the target of reconciling viewpoints over the points of contention to reach a binding accord.

"The three countries agreed to conclude the current round of negotiations without agreeing on the integrated draft agreement that was scheduled to be submitted to the AU president on 28 August," the Sudanese statement read.

Sudan stated that negotiations are the only way to reach an agreement and that "it will be ready to resume negotiations anytime after communicating with the AU presidency."

Egypt and Sudan have been in talks with Ethiopia for years now to reach a legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the massive hydropower dam Addis Ababa is building on the Blue Nile.

The concluded round of AU-sponsored talks between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia was launched last month. There was a hiatus between 27 July and 3 August after Ethiopia had announced it had completed the first phase of filling the GERD reservoir. The talks were further halted when Sudan called for a suspension of meetings to allow for consultations after Addis Ababa had proposed a package of non-binding guidelines for the filling and operation of the mega-dam.

Downstream countries Egypt and Sudan are seeking a legally binding deal on the filling and operation of the dam.

The $4.8 billion hydropower project, built 15 kilometres from the Ethiopian border with Sudan, has been a source of contention between the three countries. Cairo fears the project will significantly cut its crucial water supplies from the River Nile, while Sudan fears it could endanger the safety of its own dams.

Ethiopia, on the other hand, says the project is key to its development and hopes to become Africas biggest electricity exporter with the GERD, which is set to be the continents largest dam.

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Stepan Svetlov's NEXTA Live, a Telegram channel with 2.1 mm subscribers helps mobilise protesters and shares information from the ground

Stepan Svetlov is the founder of NEXTA, a Telegram channel with 2.1 million subscribers that helps mobilise protesters and shares photo and video content from the demonstrations. (AFP)

Warsaw: A fresh-faced 22-year-old blogger is using nothing more than his keyboard to run the main communications hub for protesters in Belarus as they mount an unprecedented challenge to the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko, often dubbed Europe's last dictator.

Stepan Svetlov is the founder of NEXTA Live, a Telegram channel with 2.1 million subscribers that helps mobilise protesters and shares photo and video content from the demonstrations.

"It started out as a school project," Svetlov told AFP in an interview in the Polish capital Warsaw where he has been living in exile under police protection after having received death threats.

'A mark of respect'

Svetlov originally set up NEXTA Live in 2015 as a YouTube channel for sharing funny, satirical music videos about Belarus and President Lukashenko, who has ruled with a heavy hand since 1994.

NEXTA which means "somebody" in Belarusian, began putting out weekly video news videos in 2017 that got tens of thousands of views.

The switch to Telegram -- a messaging app used by protest movements worldwide because of its strong encryption and anonymity -- came in 2018 when police raided Svetlov's house in Belarus.

"It was the first sign that the authorities appreciated my work. Like a mark of respect," said a self-assured Svetlov, whose father is a journalist at the Belarusian channel Belsat, also based in and backed by Poland.

Protesters 'not alone'

The charge of organising mass unrest for which NEXTA is now being investigated in Belarus carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

"Of course it's not true. We want exclusively peaceful protests.... It was the authorities that started beating, shooting, using water cannons."

But Svetlov admits that NEXTA does have a role in co-ordinating the current protests since "nobody except us can do this since they would be immediately detained and arrested".

"Even though we are 500 kilometres from the border, we do not stop being citizens of Belarus who want to have their own role, their own contribution in bringing about change," he said.

"Nexta and other Telegram channels play a very important role in bringing people together. People can see that they are not alone," he said.

At the peak of the protests after the disputed August 9 election, Svetlov said NEXTA was receiving around 200 messages a minute.

The volume of information -- some 100,000 messages a day -- meant the team of four people working on NEXTA had to focus on photo and video content, which Svetlov said was easier to verify.

The channel uses other forms of verification such as asking for pictures of ID documents or using multiple unconnected sources but Svetlov said trusted, regular sources are the best.

Valery Karbalevich, an analyst from Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, said NEXTA played a "crucial role" in the logistics of protests such as giving timings and meeting places.

"All the once popular bloggers in Belarus have been in prison for a while and only a Telegram channel operating from abroad is able to co-ordinate the demonstrations," he said.

Independent analyst Vladimir Matskevich agrees, describing NEXTA Live as having "the most influence and largest audience" in relation to the ongoing wave of protests.

'Our deepest hope'

The channel is now planning a major expansion.

"We need at least eight people to deal with the amount of information we are receiving," Svetlov said, outlining plans for a video editing studio and more content on events in Russia and Ukraine.

"We want to expand to a Russian-speaking audience more fully," he said, pointing to surveys of the channel's subscribers that showed 40 percent of them were from countries outside Belarus -- mainly in Russia and Ukraine.

NEXTA is also looking for more funding sources.

Svetlov said that before the protests the channel was financed solely through ad revenue but this would not be enough for the expansion.

Asked for his prediction for the future of Belarus, he said he hoped his homeland would become "a normal democratic European country".

"Protests will continue until the people win."
Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Judith Ncube will be assisted by Mr Paul Nyoni, who has extensive experience from both the public and private sector. He joined Government in 1990 as an administrative officer in the then Ministry of National Affairs, Employment Creation and Co-operatives, before joining the then Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunications as research and planning officer in 1993. Mr Nyoni, who holds a Masters in Social Science (Development Administration) and a Masters of Business Administration in Public Management, joined the private sector in 2014 as director of Momentum Insurance Brokers.
Gradually, however, the club and street styles offered at the school lured her in, and one day she found herself in a waacking class. It was feminine, it was sexy, it was strong, and I was hooked, she said. Shortly thereafter she was introduced to Mr. Proctor and Mr. Burnett, and threw herself into their classes.

As a straight woman of Jewish and Dominican ancestry, Princess Lockerooo had little in common with waackings queer roots. But she said the underground gay culture from which it had emerged accepted and empowered her in a way that more conventional dance forms rarely did.

The repetition of embodying confidence, which is required to do the dance  whether you feel it or not, you have to imitate it or fake it  that repetition eventually allows that feeling to live inside your body, and it becomes your reality, she said.

Princess Lockerooo adopted her alter ego and started competing in dance battles, gradually winning the respect of her peers. She also posted tutorials on YouTube where she both demonstrated waacking and shared its history. She appeared on the television show So You Think You Can Dance, though she was cut after the second round.
Ah, teenagers. Mouthing off, flouting rules, pushing boundaries. Raking mom and dad over the social-media coals in front of the whole country, forcing them off their respective political ramparts, rocking the White House and the resistance.

Thank goodness they grow out of it.

You wouldnt have thought the saga of George and Kellyanne Conway could possibly have gotten any stranger. But add a teenager to the mix, and it will always get stranger.

It was already strange enough. Remember that movie where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie play a married couple who happen to both be professional assassins, and they get assigned to kill each other, prompting a running gun battle through their suburban home? That was kind of unbelievable  but the plot of the Conway marriage really stretches credulity.

George is a high-profile lawyer with longstanding Republican ties. He wakes up one morning to discover that the party of fiscal responsibility and family values is now in the thrall of thrice-married philanderer, business cheat and prodigious liar intent on remaking America in the image of one of his bankrupt casinos, except with more disease.

So George breaks from the party to become a leader of the resistance. Small problem: Hes married to Kellyanne, a top adviser to President Caligula. In her endless fealty to Donald Trumps endless malfeasance, Kellyanne continually promotes alternative facts, the real ones being untenable. Hijinks ensue.

For political junkies, its been like guilt-watching a cage match: Ms. Conway, aggressively defending Trumps daily flood of toxic tweets; Mr. Conway, co-founder of the never-Trump Republicans Lincoln Project, just as aggressively spotlighting the presidents lies and degradations  and, by implication, his own wifes enabling of those lies and degradations.

Its as if your neighbors have left their window open during a marital screaming match. You dont want to listen, but how can you not?

Kellyanne Conway was a prominent political consultant long before Trump sullied the White House (her clients have included Missouri Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin, of legitimate rape infamy). Its a profession, serving paying clients, so who knows how much she believed of what she said on Trumps behalf? In any case, she was adept enough to dodge the bus under which so many other Trump loyalists have been thrown.

Theres no such ambiguity about George Conways true feelings. In an interview taped before the Conways recently announced their exit from the political stage, he called Trump a racist beyond any question, and described him with a word serious politicos seldom use publicly, for fear of being sidelined: Evil.

So it was a bombshell last Sunday when both Conways announced, separately but clearly in coordination, that they were leaving their opposing political perches and returning to private family life together. Less drama, more mama, as Kellyanne memorably put it.

The postscript is the Conways 15-year-old daughter, one of their four kids, who seems to have been the impetus for her parents exit from political battle. Because shes 15, I hesitate to use her name here, though she has cultivated national media attention and a massive online following. Shes rallied that following to a cause that is every teenagers dream: to get her parents to shut up, already.

On social media she has staked out a position that is at once horrified at her mothers Trumpism yet unimpressed with her fathers resistance. Her politics are clearly left-leaning (she has jokingly asked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to adopt her), but her primary political objective seems to be to irritate mom and dad.

im officially pushing for emancipation, the teenager tweeted last Saturday. buckle up because this is probably going to be public one way or another, unfortunately. welcome to my life. She later wrote on Tik Tok: just found out my mom is a speaker at the RNC, referring to last weeks Republican National Convention. ... thats it. im out. running away phase 1 starts at 7 am.

Like any self-respecting teenager, this one made sure to spread the bile to both parents. As for my dad, politically, we agree on absolutely nothing, she tweeted last Saturday. We just both happen to have common sense when it comes to our current president. Stop stanning him. (Stanning means to obsess over a celebrity. And yes, I had to look it up.)

It was the next night that the Conways announced their retreat from politics. They didnt specifically mention the 15-year-old. They didnt have to.

In these deeply divided times, theres something redeeming about a couple willing to put down the swords and walk away from the fight for the good of their family. To me, having raised two teenagers, its perfectly believable that this particular challenge is greater than any that presidential politics could offer.

But lets be clear: Redemption-wise, Mr. and Ms. Conway are not two sides of the same coin. He took a principled stand that required him to break with the political party hed supported all his adult life. She shilled for a sociopath. Only one of them needs redeeming. Maybe the kids will help her with that.

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Russian Fighters Scrambled to Intercept US Bomber B-52H Over Black Sea

Sputnik News

18:57 GMT 28.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Two Russian fighters Su-27 were scrambled to intercept US Air Force strategic bomber B-52H over the Black Sea, the Russian Defence Ministry's National Defense Control Centre said on Friday.

"On 28 August, Russian air defence control systems detected an air target approaching the Russian state border over the neutral waters of Black Sea. To identify the air target and prevent violation of the Russian state border, two Su-27 fighters from the Southern Military District's air defence forces on duty were scrambled", the statement says.

The Russian fighters approached the airborne object at a safe distance, and their crews identified it as a US Air Force strategic bomber B-52H. After the foreign military aircraft turned away from the Russian state border, the Russian fighters returned safely to the home airfield.

"The entire flight of Russian fighters Su-27 was conducted strictly in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace", the statement says, adding that the US plane was not allowed to violate the state border of Russia.

Earlier today, a Russian fighter jet was scrambled to intercept a US reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea. The crew of the Russian fighter approached the aerial object at a safe distance and identified it as US Air Force strategic reconnaissance aircraft RC-135.

A Sputnik

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To the editor:

By now we know whether, for the first time in recorded history, there were two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time. We already know the fire season in California has had an early and horrific start. The last intact North American ice shelf just collapsed into the Arctic Ocean, and Death Valley just recorded the hottest temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth. And its not all far away: in May, thunderstorms dropped 6-8 inches of rain in the upper reaches of the Tittabawassee watershed and ruptured two dams, nearly wiping Sanford off the map.

The cost of these climate-related disasters has risen, decade by decade, in lockstep with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, heat content of the oceans, and average land temperatures. The disasters can be measured by the hundreds of billions of dollars or in the suffering of millions of people and the deaths of thousands. And we have not yet reached the 2-degree Centigrade rise when scientists say it will get serious.

Because Mr. Trump ignores the advice of scientists on all subjects, we are in the midst of a viral pandemic that is far more widespread and lethal than it needed to be. This human health disaster can also be measured in huge dollars; the government has now spent trillions to rescue citizens and businesses, and a vaccine is still, at best, months away.

So, its time for some out-of-the-box thinking. How about a policy that begins to address climate change and economic desperation at the same time? How about we put a steadily rising price on carbon and give all that money back to citizens? It would put money in the pockets of people who would spend it. It would be revenue neutral, and, without subsidy or additional regulation, it would give a strong economic signal to move toward carbon-free energy. Go to CitizensClimateLobby.org for all the details you could ever want.

Its way too late to prevent climate change. Its not too late to stop making it worse. Vote like your life depends on it.

JAMES W. CRISSMAN

Midland
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 29)  The Philippine Coast Guards request to send a representative to the embassy in Washington has been rejected outright by the countrys senior diplomat.

I see no reason for it. We have a defense attache for national defense issues, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Teddy Boy Locsin, Jr. told CNN Philippines The Source.

In an earlier tweet, Locsin revealed that the Philippine Coast Guard sought an attache in Washington just after he denied their request to have one in Beijing. He said doing so would jeopardize the countrys sovereignty over its coastal waters.

READ: Locsin to recommend ending contracts with Chinese firms involved in South China Sea militarization after US move

Locsin also stressed that these policy issues can only be decided by the Department of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Defense Department and National Security Council.

The Philippine Coast Guard explained that the proposed Beijing attache was in line with a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Coast Guard on the establishment of a joint committee to enhance cooperation. It said fully respects Locsins decision and will continue to find ways to further secure the countrys maritime domain.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday it had detained a serviceman in Siberia for having allegedly passed state secrets to Ukraine.

The serviceman, from Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, was detained in the Siberian city of Barnaul, some 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) east of Moscow, as he was walking out of a grocery store, FSB footage carried by Russian news agencies showed.

In a statement carried by Russian agencies, the FSB said the serviceman had allegedly passed state secrets to the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's defence ministry.

It did not provide further detail on the nature of the information that had allegedly been passed.

It said a criminal case had been opened for state treason. If convicted, the serviceman could face up to 20 years in jail.

Relations between Russia and Ukraine have soured since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and pro-Kremlin separatists seized a swath of eastern Ukraine.

Russia has spent heavily to integrate Crimea into its territory, and it has been the focus of espionage and military tensions since its annexation.
Travelling just three miles down the road could bag you a bargain, according to Which? Photo: Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images

Swapping UK holiday locations for similar destinations just a few miles away could save holidaymakers hundreds of pounds.

As staycations become the order of the day, with foreign travel off the table, research by Which? Travel compared the average hotel room rates in towns in 10 of the UKs most popular destinations, including Cornwall and the Cotswolds, before comparing these to other similar nearby resorts.

The largest savings were found in Devon, where an average of 59 could be saved by swapping one costal destination for another just 20 miles away.

Salcombe hotel rooms came in at an average of 209 a night, while further down the coast in Dartmouth, staycationers could save almost 30% on that. Hotel rooms in Dartmouth average at around 150 a night.

Over a week, this means a saving of more than 400.

Another swap, at a distance of just three miles could save customers 301 over the course of the week. A night in Saundersfoot could set you back an average of 155, while down the road in Tenby costs 112.

Tenby also outflanked Saundersfoot in Which?s seaside survey, scoring a customer rating score of 79% versus 71%.

READ MORE: How the jobs market fared this week

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: These destination swaps arent just a chance to save money  travellers can expect to find fewer crowds and more space to breathe, with holidaymakers ranking many of the cheaper destinations as not only better value, but a better overall stay than their pricier and more popular counterparts.

As we come towards the end of a holiday season like no other, holidaymakers will be pleased to learn they can still squeeze the last out of the summer without sacrificing beautiful scenery or great attractions by just travelling a few extra miles along the road.

Some swaps recommended by Which? would mean travelling a bit further.

Holidaymakers looking for a Scottish city break could save an average of 25 a night if they travelled the 47 miles from Edinburgh to Glasgow.

Further savings could be made on a trip to the Cotswolds by staying in Gloucester rather than Cheltenham (average saving of 46 a night), a beach break in East Sussex by swapping Brighton for Eastbourne (average saving of 56 a night), and on a break in Somerset through booking in Wells instead of Bath (average saving of 53 a night).
A recent grant comprised of federal and provincial contributions has brought new homes and job opportunities to the Elizabeth Metis Settlement.

As part of an affordable housing initiative, the settlement, located about 36 kilometres south of Cold Lake, Alta., has received six of 10 new four-bedroom homes, with the other four under construction by Nails Enterprises in Cold Lake to be shipped to the settlement before winter.

The one-story homes will house 10 families with young children. All of the homes contain a large gathering space similar to a living room, but more open for larger family gatherings, which are part of the Metis culture dynamic.

Kathy Lepine, an elected council member and chair of the housing authority on settlement, says that it is integral to give these young families the opportunity to raise their kids in the community.

There will always be the option to leave the community and live somewhere like Cold Lake, but we need to make sure that they have the chance to stay here; to have their own home and go to school in our schools, said Lepine.

While Lepine says that having family close and raising children with aunties and kookums to help care for the kids is important, the over-crowding on settlement is just too much.

Lack of housing is a huge deal. A lot of people want to live here but many have nowhere to go in a place they call home. We needed to do this. It was an avenue for us to keep our young people.

Through the Canada-Alberta bilateral agreement under the National Housing Strategy, a $2.91 million contribution has been made. This includes a $153,000 Elizabeth Metis Settlement land contribution, which was used for the housing.

In addition to the housing itself, Lepine says there has been significant job creation for the Metis people on settlement and in the surrounding area.

Through the agreement with Nails, there was a lot of work for our people. Whether it be plumbers, electrical, construction or learning from the certified carpenters, many people were learning new skills and getting employed.

Alberta Minister of Indigenous Relations, Rick Wilson, said it is important to provide services like job creation and other tangential opportunities for the community members.

They created about 21 jobs getting it done. Plus, the training for the young folks who are interested in getting into trades. I am always knocking on the door of Seniors and Housing to see what kind of funding we can get to communities, Wilson said.

Wilson had the opportunity to meet one of the families that had moved into the homes during his visit to the settlement this month. At this time all of the families have been approved for the 10 home but just two have had the opportunity to move in.

Everyone has such pride in their community and it is great to see them getting involved with the project, said Wilson, who added that overcrowding in many communities is a major issue.

Housing is so critical, especially now with the pandemic. Having multiple families under one roof can influence a spread of the virus.

Minister Josephine Pon of Seniors and Housing, the ministry associated with the grant process for the funding, said that the redesigned Indigenous Housing Capital Program will offer flexibility and autonomy for Indigenous communities to build affordable housing.

We have expanded the types of housing units eligible for funding, and Indigenous proponents will have more autonomy to manage their housing assets, Pon said in a press statement.

Lepine says that she has her eye on grant funding for the seniors at Elizabeth Metis Settlement next. She says that seniors, who are so crucial to the Metis community, are being forced to seek accommodation in senior facilities outside of Elizabeth.

Lots of our seniors, if they have some kind of health issues and they need help, we have no services for them here. They get sent out to local areas and they end up coming back in a coffin. We need to change that.

Lepine says that Elizabeth Metis Settlement intends to have all of the families moved into their new homes before winter and is very grateful for the funding that has given community members the chance to raise their kids in their own Metis community.

This reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.

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Pedigree Texel ram lamb Double Diamond was sold at the Scottish National Texel Sale in Lanark on Thursday.

The lamb was sold by Charlie Boden and family from their Sportsmans flock in Stockport, Cheshire.



He is the best lamb I have ever seen

The price quickly escalated from an opening bid of 10,500 and the animal was bought by a three-way partnership between three farmers.

Jeff Aiken, flock manager at Procters Farm, one of the buyers, told the PA news agency: The Texel for a start is the best breed in the UK and the pedigree side of it is getting bigger. If you want the best you have to try and buy the best.

Its an exceptional animal and the best Texel sheep Ive ever seen. Hopefully hell do a good job on all three flocks.

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He stressed the price is a one-off and said he did not want it to give the wrong impression of the farming industry.





Theres a small percentage of pedigree buyers that can club together and pay big money, but at the end of the day the commercial farmers are just as important if not more important  they are putting food on our tables, he said.

Im in the fortunate position that I can spend that sort of money.

Mr Aiken added: He is the best lamb I have ever seen  so correct on his legs, bright, with a great top.

Hes got it all.

It is said to be the most expensive sheep sold in the world.

The Texel Sheep Society said the previous record was 231,000 paid for a Texel, Deveronvale Perfection, in 2009.

The society said that Texel sheep originate from the island of Texel, one of the north-western islands off Holland and now dominate the UK sheep industry.
Mumbai, Aug 29 : The CBI's Special Investigation Team on Saturday questioned Rhea Chakraborty for over seven hours in connection with the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Rhea, who arrived at the DRDO guesthouse around 1.30 p.m., was quizzed by CBI's Superintendent of Police Nupur Prasad, and left around 8.20 p.m. with a Mumbai Police escort.

According to CBI sources, Rhea was questioned about the claim that she used to splurge on shopping using Sushant's credit card according to the statement of Sushant's flatmate Siddharth Pithani.

"However, Rhea, during her questioning, kept on refuting the allegation of spending a lot from Sushant's credit card," a source said.

The source added that Rhea was also questioned about the details of Sushant's treatment, why he used to stay at Waterstone resort and what he discussed about his dream project.

Rhea remained "defensive" in most of her replies and the agency will again summon her for questioning, the source said.

On Friday, the CBI questioned Rhea for over 10 hours.

Besides Rhea, the CBI has also questioned Pithani and Sushant's personal staffer Neeraj Singh.

The CBI team arrived in Mumbai last Thursday, a day after the Supreme Court gave its nod for the federal agency's probe and has twice visited the Bandra flat, where the actor was found dead on June 14. The CBI has also visited Cooper Hospital twice and took the details of Sushant's autopsy, as well as the Waterstone resort where the actor had spent two months.

The CBI registered a case on August 6 on the order of the Central government after a request from the Bihar government after a complaint was filed by Sushant's father K.K.Singh.

The CBI has booked Rhea, her brother Showik, father Indrajit, mother Sandhya, Sushant's house manager Samuel Miranda, ex-manager Shruti Modi and unknown others in the case.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
Photograph: Mike Segar/AFP/Getty Images

Congressional Democrats have launched contempt proceedings against Mike Pompeo for his refusal to comply with subpoenas for documents connected to the Ukraine scandal that led to Donald Trumps impeachment.

The move is the culmination of a long-running struggle over Congresss authority to conduct oversight of government agencies. The secretary of state, who was a fierce advocate of congressional rights when he was a Republican representative from Kansas, has ignored a string of demands for documentation from the Democrat-controlled House foreign affairs committee (HFAC).

Experts and former officials questioned what impact a resolution declaring Pompeo in contempt would have on a secretary of state determined to defy Congress and undermine its authority, other than to register frustration at his behaviour and the erosion of the constitutional division of power.

A state department spokesperson dismissed the contempt announcement as political theatrics and said the documents could be available to the HFAC, but gave a different version of the conditions attached from those laid down in a letter Pompeo sent to the committee on Thursday.

In that letter, the secretary of state said the documents would be handed over if Engel could confirm he was substantively investigating Ukraines alleged corrupt influence on US foreign policy  an apparent reference to a conspiracy theory that has been debunked by US intelligence agencies.

The spokesperson said on Friday the relevant documents would be produced to Engel on the only condition being that he send a letter explaining what foreign policy issue he is investigating that requires these documents.

Pompeo has swept away a raft of norms as secretary of state. In May, he orchestrated the firing of the inspector general who had been looking into his use of departmental resources for personal errands and his declaration of an emergency to get around a congressional block on arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

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This week, he took part in the Republican national convention with a filmed address from Jerusalem, while on a visit as secretary of state, in what legal scholars said was a likely violation of the Hatch Act, which prohibits public funds from being used for electoral purposes.

Related: Pompeo faces congressional inquiry over RNC speech during diplomatic trip

He seems to think the office he holds, the department he runs, the personnel he oversees and the taxpayer dollars that pay for all of it are there for his personal and political benefit, Eliot Engel, the HFAC chair, wrote.

The trigger for the contempt proceedings was Pompeos refusal to deliver to the HFAC documents about US policy towards Ukraine that the state department provided to the Republican-controlled Senate in the run-up to the impeachment of Trump.

At the end of July, Engel issued another subpoena for documentation on the alleged use of state department resources to collect material to supply to the Senate aimed at discrediting Trumps challenger for the presidency, Joe Biden.

From Mr Pompeos refusal to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry to his willingness to bolster a Senate Republican-led smear against the presidents political rivals to his speech to the RNC, which defied his own guidance and possibly the law, he has demonstrated alarming disregard for the laws and rules governing his own conduct and for the tools the constitution provides to prevent government corruption, Engel said.

The HFAC published a letter Pompeo sent to Engel on Thursday, in which the secretary of state said he would hand over the material if the committee opened an investigation in line with a Republican-led Senate inquiry into allegations of Ukraine exerting influence on Obama administration policy towards the country through Bidens son, Hunter. Hunter Biden was on the board of a Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, from 2014 to 2019.

If you can confirm by letter that the committee is, in fact, substantively investigating identical or very similar corruption issues involving Ukraine and corrupt influence on US foreign policy, the department is ready to commence production of documents, Pompeo said in the letter.

No evidence of any such evidence has been found, and the head of the National Counterintelligence and Security Centre, has issued a warning that a pro-Russian politician in Ukraine has been spreading claims about corruption..to undermine former Vice President Bidens candidacy and the Democratic Party.

The HFAC said Pompeo was seeking to involve the committee in a smear campaign being pursued by Senate Democrats.

I want no part of it, Engel wrote. Under no circumstances will I amplify Putins debunked conspiracy theories or lend them credence. And I wont stand by and see the committee or the House treated with such disdain by anyone.

A state department spokesperson issued a statement setting out less onerous conditions for the delivery of the documents.

We have previously offered to provide copies of these documents to Chairman Engel, with the only condition being that he send a letter explaining what foreign policy issue he is investigating that requires these documents, the spokesperson said. Once this letter is received, the Department will produce the documents. This press release is political theatrics and is an unfortunate waste of taxpayer resources.

Former officials expressed concern the HFAC contempt proceedings might ultimately serve to underline the impotence of a Congress in the face of a defiant, rule-breaking executive.

Rori Kramer, the former deputy assistant secretary of state in the bureau of legislative affairs, said of Engels announcement: Thats wonderful but theres not as much teeth as there used to be with congressional oversight.

Its really shocking. Four years ago, it would have been completely bizarro Twilight Zone, that Congress could subpoena you and hold you in contempt, and the answer of the administration would be: I dont care, said Kramer, who is now director of US advocacy at the American Jewish World Service.

The people who work for the people who say we dont care about oversight [see that] and then his senior leadership and/or political appointees also dont follow the rules and its a race to the bottom.
BRADY ANDERSON, Chariho, Wrestling, Sophomore; Anderson finished first in the 152-pound weight class at the Griswold Midseason Invitational tournament. Anderson went 3-0 in the tournament, pinning all of his opponents in the first period. Anderson is 10-4.

LYDIA LASKEY, Stonington, Gymnastics, Senior; Laskey finished first in all four events in meets against NFA and Westerly. Laskey had an all-around score of 33.75 against NFA and 34.60 against Westerly.

RILEY PELOQUIN, Westerly, Girls Basketball, Sophomore; Peloquin scored 22 points and had 19 rebounds in two games. Peloquin is averaging 7.6 points and 7.5 rebounds a game for the Bulldogs.

DEONDRE BRANSFORD, Wheeler, Boys Basketball, Sophomore; Bransford scored 25 points and had 28 rebounds in a pair of Wheeler victories. Bransford is averaging 10.6 points and 12.1 rebounds per contest for the Lions.

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Police move the truck container where bodies were discovered, in Grays, Essex, Britain, October 23, 2019. Photo by Reuters/Peter Nicholls.

A 40-year-old Irish haulier pleaded guilty on Friday to the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese found dead in the back of a refrigerated truck near London last year.

Ronan Hughes became the second man to plead guilty over a case that shocked Britain and Vietnam and shone a light on the illicit human smuggling trade. The other is Maurice Robinson, from the British province of Northern Ireland, who was driving the truck when the bodies were found.

Appearing at a full Old Bailey courtroom in London, Hughes stood in the dock facing the judge as the names of the 31 men and boys and eight women were read out. He admitted each charge in a process that took more than 10 minutes.

Hughes also admitted conspiring to assist unlawful immigration.

Most of those who died, aged between 15 and 44, were from Nghe An and Ha Tinh Provinces in north-central Vietnam.

They were discovered last October in a container at the back of a truck on an industrial estate in Grays in Essex, about 20 miles (30 km) east of London.

A third man, Eamonn Harrison, 23, also from Northern Ireland, pleaded not guilty to the same charges.

A trial is due to begin on October 5.
Three men are dead, eight others were wounded in shootings across Brooklyn and the Bronx between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, police officials said, AMNY informs.

Law enforcement sources said one of the fatalities, in Brooklyn, resulted from an apparent road rage incident, while the other slayings, in the Bronx, appeared to stem from personal disputes.

According to AMNY, the violence continued unabated as hundreds continued to demonstrate against the police in various parts of Manhattan last night. The march was peaceful; no arrests, looting, vandalism or violence of any kind were reported.
There was much publicity following July 26 death of Olivia de Havilland. It is interesting that her first husband, Marcus Goodrich, was born in San Antonio (1897). He was part of the Ernest Hemingway circle in Paris. Their marriage  his fourth, her first  lasted from 1946 to 1953. (A friend) who lived on nearby Donaldson Avenue recalls that Goodrich owned a house in the 2100 block of West Gramercy during his marriage to Olivia. This is of interest to me because I lived at 2101 W. Gramercy in the 1940s.

 Mary Carolyn George

When actress Olivia de Havilland (1916-2020) married novelist and screenwriter Marcus Aurelius Goodrich (1897-1991) on Aug. 26, 1946, she was described as Hollywoods perennial bachelor girl, and he was pretty much the opposite. She was 30 and never married; he was 48 and had been married four times.

At the time they met, British-born de Havilland had dated some high-profile Hollywood men, including Jimmy Stewart and Howard Hughes, and had been nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Gone with the Wind and had won an Oscar for her role in To Each His Own.

The much-married Goodrich had a few credited screenplays  The Mighty Treve, Navy Born and Night Waitress, according to imbd.com  but specialized in writing treatments or outlines of potential screenplays, according to his obituary in the New York Times, Oct. 22, 1991. His most successful treatment was one that became the hit film, Its a Wonderful Life.

A descendant of Benjamin Briggs Goodrich, a Virginia doctor who came to San Antonio in 1834 and became a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Goodrich was born in San Antonio and attended Stephen F. Austin Elementary School and Main Avenue High School. He was a member of St. Marks Episcopal Church and sang in the choir and belonged to the Boy Scout troop there.

At Main Avenue, Goodrich told a San Antonio Light reporter for a Feb. 16, 1941 story, he led a strike on a snow day and led the students not to play in the snow, as you might suppose, but to attend the old Princess Theater in Marcus company. At about the same time, in 1913, he became president of a newly created Junior Society for the Advancement for Scientific Learning and might have wanted to go on to college but hinted that he couldnt afford it.

Instead, depending on which version you believe, young Goodrich joined the Texas National Guard in 1914 and served on the Mexican border or more likely joined the Navy in 1915 and was sent to China, later going to aviator school. He may or may have actually flown.

Years later, he drew on his World War I experiences aboard an oil-soaked and leaky destroyer in the Asiatic Squadron for the novel Delilah, which became a best seller in 1941, according to the Times obit. After World War I, Goodrich worked at newspapers in New York, including a stint in the drama department of the New York Herald Tribune and migrated to Hollywood during the 1930s. He rejoined the Navy for World War II, participating in campaigns at Salerno, Sicily and Okinawa.

Goodrich and de Havilland visited San Antonio about a month after they were married on the island of the swimming pool on the Westport, Conn., estate of theatrical producer Lawrence Langner. On their way from New York to Los Angeles, the new couple stopped in the Alamo City to introduce de Havilland to her new in-laws, Goodrichs mother Helen French  then living at 2504 W. Gramercy Place  and brother, the Rev. Louis Goodrich, assistant rector of Christ Episcopal Church.

Newspaper and magazine accounts of the de Havilland-Goodrich marriage say they discussed the scripts submitted to her, and he advised her on which roles to take.

A noticeable change has come over Olivia, reported a story in the Light, Nov. 5, 1950. From an assertive, sometimes headstrong young person, she has become serenely indifferent to the outside world and apparently completely dependent on the man she loves.

The couple returned to San Antonio, once again breaking a transcontinental journey, to have their 1-year-old son, Benjamin Briggs Goodrich, baptized by his uncle at St. Marks. The little family traveled incognito on Braniff Airlines, avoiding crowds to protect their son from the polio epidemic raging in Texas (covered here May 9) and were met by Goodrichs mother and brother at San Antonio Municipal Airport and whisked off to their suite at the St. Anthony Hotel.

The ceremony  performed at St. Marks because both Marcus and Louis Goodrich were baptized there  was attended by about 20 relatives and friends and at least one reporter, who noted that de Havilland said there were so many lawyers on both sides of the family, It could just be that hell end up a Supreme Court justice, reported the San Antonio Express, Sept. 22, 1950.

Less than two years later, de Havilland filed for divorce. In her suit, the actress charged that her husband had pursued a course of cruel treatmentduring their married life and had wrongfully inflicted upon her grievous physical and mental suffering, all without provocation or any excuse whatsoever.

About a year later, she was married again, to French journalist Pierre Paul Galant. In her 1961 memoir, Every Frenchman Has One, she said of Goodrich only that by 1952, she had very regretfully come to realize that a divorce from my first husband was necessary. Goodrich never remarried, made several false starts on never-published books and became a near-recluse in Richmond, Va.

Their son became an international banking representative for the Middle East and Africa for Texas Commerce Bank of Houston and worked as a statistical analyst for Lockheed Aerospace in Sunnyvale, Calif. He had earned a masters degree from the University of Texas and had returned to work on his doctorate before falling ill. Benjamin Goodrich died Sept. 29, 1991, of Hodgkins disease in Paris, his mothers home base for the rest of her life.

When the elder Goodrich died a few weeks later, de Havilland was reached by telephone for comment reported in his Associated Press obituary, published Oct. 22, 1991. I have the deepest regard for him as a man, she said. He was a masterful writer and a very remarkable person.

historycolumn@yahoo.com | Twitter: @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn
It's 2020, So Let's Have an Asteroid: Creepy Oregon Coast Science

Published 08/24//20 at 6:11 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Manzanita, Oregon)  Sure, why not? Its 2020 after all, a year thats like 365 days worth of Friday the 13ths. Lets throw a scary asteroid into the mix.

NASA recently released information about a small asteroid that will come unusually close to Earth the day before Election Day  November 2. Its called 2018VP1, one of hundreds of near-Earth objects (NEO) that NASA is tracking, in the hopes of spotting astronomical trouble well ahead of time.

This one was discovered way back in 2018, according to NASA. While its relatively small (about six and a half feet in diameter), its made close flybys before, such as back in 2018 when it was about 280,000 miles away from Earth.

Whats slightly unsettling about this one is that its expected to whiz past our home planet a mere 3,100 miles away, razor-thin by space margins. Because of this, NASA has predicted theres about a 1 in 240 chance (0.41 percent) it could hit Earth on the day before election day.

Luckily, NASA has reiterated that since its so small it would likely  the key here is likely - disintegrate in the Earths atmosphere. They didn't rule it out, again putting the "nasty" in this asteroid.

Still, NASA has reportedly plotted three main possible impact points on Earth if it were to survive entry into the atmosphere. That was first reported by CNN and so far NASA has not returned comment to any news media on which places it looked at.

So, for now, as far as Oregon Coast Beach Connection knows theres no threat to the Oregon coast or Washington coastline. And certainly theres no evidence an alien race sent it hurtling at us packed with explosives (yes, were referring to Stargate: SG1).

Then again, it is 2020. So why not throw the Go'auld in there too?

In any case, NASA has emphasized even if it hit Earth theres no chance of large-scale damage. In fact, with two thirds of the planet covered by ocean, theres a decent chance anything that made it through our skies would find itself taking a good swim.

Which again brings us back to the Oregon coast. Hmmmm.

There is an entire network of eyes and equipment above us and around us keeping a lookout for dangerous asteroid impact possibilities. After all, extinction level events have happened before because of this, such as the demise of the last run of dinosaurs. One of those satellites is called NEOWISE, which discovered the comet that graced the skies of Oregon, Washington and the coastlines last month.

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Ghaziabad: The Uttar Pradesh government, in a directive issued on Saturday, mandated that the district administration can now reserve up to 50% of Covid-19 beds in private hospitals in the city, for patients requiring L2 or L3 category treatment. State officials said the decision was taken as several government hospitals across the district are facing a shortage of beds while the beds in private facilities are lying vacant.

The L1, L2 and L3 category hospitals in UP have come up as part of state governments three-tier structure for treatment of Covid-19 patients. The L1 hospitals are meant for asymptomatic patients, while the L2 hospitals treat patients having moderate symptoms. The L3 category hospitals, on the other hand, treat patients who have severe symptoms.

The order also states that the rates for different category of beds reserved in private hospitals will be charged as per the rates prevalent under Ayushman Bharat Yojna.

In Ghaziabad, there are 598 beds, across 10 private hospitals that offer paid Covid-19 treatment on the basis of rates fixed by the state government on July 10. The government had capped the prices for Covid-19 beds between 8,000 to 15,000 per day. While the cost of a general-ward bed is 1,800 per day, that for a high dependency unit is 2,700 per day. The cost of beds without ventilators has been fixed at 3,600 per day while those with ventilators are fixed at 4,500 per day.

Till August 28, a total of 2,403 patients were admitted in paid private hospitals in Uttar Pradesh.

The state government order means that the district will now have more L2 and L3 category beds available for patients. The rates will be charged as per the prescribed rates under the Ayushman Bharat Yojna and will be paid to the hospitals by the government. The patients who get referred to these reserved beds from government facilities will not be charged, said Ajay Shankar Pandey, district magistrate.

At present, the district has 376 L2 category beds and another 200 L3 category beds available in government or government-acquired facilities. Apart from these, there are 598 beds available in 10 private hospitals in Ghaziabad, of which 274 are occupied by paying Covid patients.

Till now, we have reserved only 19 ICU beds, out of 98 available in the 10 private hospitals. The new order by the government has made it clear that we can reserve up to 50% of the total beds. This will help our patients who are in government facilities. The patients referred from our hospitals will take treatment free of cost and the government rates will be paid from government funds, said Dr NK Gupta, chief medical officer.

Since a majority of asymptomatic patients are now in home isolation, our L1 hospitals have almost shutdown with only one being operational at present. The 50% reservation of beds in private hospitals would mean that we have about 300 more L2 or L3 beds available for our patients, Dr Gupta, added.

In Ghaziabad, a total of 1,103 patients have been allowed home isolation option till August 28, since the option was made available on July 21. So far, 756 have completed their home isolation and have been marked as discharged. There are 347 asymptomatic patients, who are presently being treated in home isolation.

Overall, in Uttar Pradesh, a total of 26,865 asymptomatic patients are in home isolation as per the figures shared by the state health department till August 28. Overall, 93,978 availed the home isolation facility and 67,113 have been discharged so far.

The district magistrate confirmed that the government order was issued and they will hold meeting with private hospitals in a day or two. HT also tried to reach private hospitals in Ghaziabad but they said that they have not received any such order so far.

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Piers Morgan at the 2019 British Academy Britannia Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 25, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Morgan Lieberman/WireImage)

Piers Morgan has taken to social media to hit out at pranksters who have been spreading rumours he has died.

The Good Morning Britain star told how he had become the subject of a sinister practical joke in which trolls attempted to get Morgans celebrity friends to film tributes for his obituary.

However, the 55-year-olds fiery tweet will assure fans and followers there is nothing wrong with his health.

Read more: Piers Morgan calls for Meghan Markle to be stripped of title after US election comments

He said on Friday: To the pranksters currently contacting all my famous friends asking them to tape a contribution to my obituary for ITN... maybe stop being annoying little d***heads?

Morgan has proven a divisive figure in recent months, using his platform to regularly criticise the government for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The tweet to Morgans six million followers had plenty of responses - many showing both sides of how he is perceived by the public.

Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid arriving for the ITV Palooza held at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)

One fan commented: Piers Morgan, he's had the balls to tell the truth and stand up to this absolutely shocking government.. Well done Piers.

One follower, obviously not a fan of the presenter, responded: Obituaries detail a persons contributions in life, and their impact on the world around them. No offence but I don't think yours will be very long.

Read more: Piers Morgan and wife Celia Walden burgled at French holiday home

Death hoaxes seem to be part and parcel for many in the public eye.

Back in June MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis was forced to address rumours he had died after getting messages from concerned pals.

Addressing the hoax on Twitter, he said: Disgusting scum. I've already had upset messages from friends today who've seen this scam advert trading (wrongly obviously) on the fact I've died.

The tweet included an advert on the Guardian website, which showed his picture with caption: Farewell Martin Lewis. The UK is in shock.

Disgusting scum. I've already had upset messages from friends today who've seen this scam advert trading (wrongly obviously) on the fact I've died.@guardian usually pretty good at taking it down, but it's on lots of other sites too.



Thanks to Barbara and all who've notified me https://t.co/eOO9fPPrnL  Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) June 11, 2020

Lewis added: Sadly, this disgusting scam ad is on many legit websites incl newspapers. Clearly I'm not dead. It links to a fake daily mirror site to push bitcoin trader (which isn't bitcoin, it's just a scam). If you see it pls report it to the site provider. I'm reporting to ad networks.

One of the best-known celebrity death hoaxes dates back to the 1960s when some Beatles fans became convinced Paul McCartney had died in a car crash and was replaced with a convincing lookalike.
Cy-Fair Fire Department captain and public information officer Daniel Arizpe said the department reported zero calls related to Hurricane Laura when it made landfall early Thursday, Aug. 27, in Louisiana near the Texas border.

In the event of a major incoming storm, Arizpe said the command staff meets to assess the needs and potential for hazards. He said they met early in the week to approve an instant action plan to respond to any possible threats.

Thankfully we were very fortunate that there wasnt anything major for us, but it was a good practice for future events, Arizpe said.

Some of the equipment ready for crews to use from the new administration office in anticipation of the hurricane included three high-water vehicles, two swift-water rescue boats and six evacuation boats.

Arizpe said the department used to operate in three separate buildings  department administration, operations, and maintenance  but now everybody is under one roof at Telge Road, as of late July, down the street from the old location. The office also includes a command post and backup dispatch center.

As far as training, Arizpe said theres several members in the department who are swift-water trained as boat operators. To respond to threats, department staff is trained in flood-water operations, swift-water and boat operations.

This is something we hit really hard immediately after Hurricane Harvey, Arizpe said. That was a goal, the department was to ensure that theres adequate training with as many members as possible because Hurricane Harvey was a long-extended incident.

After the command staff met Tuesday, Aug. 25, to create an internal plan, Arizpe said later that night and on Wednesday night they contacted crews who were available to staff extra resources for Wednesday, Thursday and potentially Friday, if needed.

Arizpe said the department had three 12-hour shifts of 30 people in each shift scheduled for Wednesday evening, Thursday morning and Thursday evening.

Of course, we did not use the Thursday morning or evening crew, but we used the first shift, he said. So, we had 30 people scheduled on those high-water vehicles, the boats and rescue boats as well.

The three crews were all operating with additional staffing, according to Arizpe, while the fire apparatus and the ambulances stayed the same.

We still had 11 fire trucks in service and 13 medic units in service as they would on a normal day, Arizpe said.

Arizpe said crews were briefed at 6 p.m. when they came in and talked with the rescue coordinator about potential hazards, which were wind-focused and not so much flood water. But they were going to be ready just in case.

He said the operational period started at 6 p.m. Wednesday evening and was active up until 6 a.m. the following morning. When crews realized there was no threat from the storm, they demobilized.

The crews checked off all their equipment at the beginning of their shift and then they were just waiting to see what would happen, Arizpe said. They were here and available, of course, they were never used but they were ready to go. Then about 1-2 a.m. when nothing changed it was kind of the sigh of relief.

Arizpe stresses to residents the importance of having a plan in place in any emergency, no matter if its a hurricane in the gulf or house fire.

With storms like this people maybe wait until the last minute to plan something, Arizpe said. What resources are needed and what their plan is, what options they have to stay home and have adequate supplies for a couple of days, or whether its to find an alternate shelter.

Arizpe said major storm events are not new in this area, especially in recent years, so residents must be ready for the potential that something could happen and probably will again.

Were prepared as an agency and we want the community to be rest assured that the Cy-Fair Fire Department crews are ready to response to all hazards, Arizpe said. Were here to help serve our community.

alvaro.montano@chron.com
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Riots have broken out in Sweden tonight as hundreds of people gather to protest the actions of far-Right activists who had earlier set fire to the Koran.

Dramatic pictures show tyres being burnt in the street and a large plume of smoke rising above Malmo, in the south of the Scandinavian country.

Crowds of protesters, of which there are thought to be around 300, reportedly threw rocks at police as they tried to ease tensions.

Earlier in the day, right-wing extremists had burnt the Koran following the arrest of the leader of a far-Right Danish political party was arrested ahead of a planned meeting in the town.

Police in Malmo have said in a statement that they are attempting to bring the riot under control.

Riots have broken out in Sweden tonight as hundreds of people gather to protest the actions of far-Right activists who had earlier set fire to the Koran

Dramatic pictures show tyres being burnt in the street and a large plume of smoke rising above Malmo, in the south of the country

Crowds of protesters, of which there are thought to be around 300, reportedly threw rocks at police as they tried to ease tensions

Earlier in the day, a copy of the Quran had been burned by right-wing extremists. Police in Malmo have said in a statement that they are attempting to bring the riot under control

A spokesperson said: 'We don't have this under control but we are working actively to take control.

'We see a connection between what is happening now and what happened earlier today.'

The demonstrations had escalated in the same place where the Koran had been burned, the spokesperson added.

According to reports in national newspaper the Daily Aftonbladet, three men had earlier been seen kicking a copy of the Koran, the central religious text of Islam, around a public square during anti-Islam protests earlier in the day.

The anti-Islam protests were sparked after Rasmus Paludan, leader of Danish far-right political party Hard Line, had been denied permission to have a meeting in Malmo and was stopped at the Swedish border, according to the newspaper.

Mr Paludan, who is known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric, had been banned from Sweden for two years, authorities said Friday.

Calle Persson, spokesperson for the police in Malmo, said the force suspected Mr Paludan was 'going to break the law in Sweden'.

The anti-Islam protests were sparked after Rasmus Paludan, leader of Danish far-right political party Hard Line, had been denied permission to have a meeting in Malmo and was stopped at the Swedish border, according to reports

Mr Paludan, who is known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric, had been banned from Sweden for two years, authorities said Friday

Calle Persson, spokesperson for the police in Malmo, said the force suspected Mr Paludan was 'going to break the law in Sweden'

'There was also a risk that his behaviour... would pose a threat to society,' he added.

Paludan was arrested on Friday near Malmo, where he was supposed to take part in an anti-Muslim rally where he had asked people to burn the Koran.

However Paludan's arrest sparked supporters to stage rallies. During the rallies, the Koran was burnt. Three people were arrested for inciting racial hatred.

Paludan, a lawyer who last year sparked controversy when he burnt a Koran surrounded by bacon, a meat which is deemed unclean by Muslims, later put up a scathing message on Facebook.

He wrote: 'Sent back and banned from Sweden for two years. However, rapists and murderers are always welcome.'

According a report by the European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET) last year, the number of incidents of racist and xenophobic hate speech have been rising in Sweden over recent years, in particular in the context of large-scale arrivals of migrants and refugees.

The report says the rise comes despite of serious efforts by the Swedish authorities to prevent such hate speech.
Chadwick Boseman texted his Marshall co-star Josh Gad to 'enjoy the simplicities of God's creation' only a few months ago.

The Black Panther lead died this Friday at the age of 43 after privately struggling against colon cancer for four years.

In response to the tragedy Josh, 39, tweeted a screen-grab of a warm text he received from Chadwick three weeks into the coronavirus lockdowns.

Side by side: Chadwick Boseman texted his Marshall co-star Josh Gad to 'enjoy the simplicities of God's creation' only a few months ago; they are pictured at the 2018 NAACP Image Awards

Entitled 'CATCH THE RAIN,' the lengthy message began: 'If you are in Los Angeles, you woke up this morning to the rare and peaceful sound of a steady precipitation.'

He continued: 'If you're like me, maybe you looked at the week's forecast and found that it's supposed to rain for three straight days; not without breaks of sunlight and reprieves of moist bloom, but yeah it's gonna be coming down like cats and dogs.'

Chadwick noted: 'Great. We're stuck inside these damn quarantines because of the Covid, and now we can't even get no sun in Cali. Come on now!'

He went on: 'But now that the rain has stopped and today's storm has cleared, I urge you to go outside and take a DEEP breath.

'CATCH THE RAIN': In response to Chadwick's death Josh, 39, tweeted a screen-grab of a warm text he received from Chadwick three weeks into the coronavirus lockdowns

'Notice how fresh the air is right now, after our skies have had a 3 week break from the usual relentless barage of fumes from bumper to bumper LA commuters, and now today's rain has given the City of Angels a long overdo and much-needed shower,' Chadwick urged.

'Inhale and exhale this moment, and thank God for the unique beauties and wonders of this day. We should take advantage of every moment we can to enjoy the simplicity of God's creation, whether it be clear skies and sun or clouded over with gloom,' wrote the Marvel Cinematic Universe star.

'And hey, if the air is this clear right now, and it does rain tomorrow, I might even put jars and bins out and catch the rain. Throw that in the water filter and I have a water more alkaline than any bottled brand out there.'

His family's statement Friday revealed: 'Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV.'

'Next-level good': Josh posted an Instagram video Friday night saying tearfully: 'There aren't words to express what an amazing human being Chadwick Boseman was'

Josh posted an Instagram video that night saying tearfully: 'There aren't words to express what an amazing human being Chadwick Boseman was. You come upon people in your life who are next-level good.'

He shared: 'This was a man who was beyond talented and was so unbelievably giving as a - not only as a performer, but as a human being. Beyond just being Black Panther, Chadwick was T'Challa in real life. He was somebody who just gave and gave and gave and never stopped giving.'

Josh went on: '2020 has been so devastating for so many reasons. This one hurts because it's taking away somebody who's honestly one of the greats.'

He concluded: 'I don't know how to process this but wanna send my love to his entire family and to all the fans out there. He's gonna be missed. Love you guys. Stay safe. And Chadwick, rest in peace, my friend. Love you.'

Side by side: The 2017 movie Marshall starred Chadwick as the legendary Thurgood Marshall, who argued Brown v. Board Of Education and became the first black Supreme Court Justice

Basis: The movie is about the 1940 case State Of Connecticut v. Joseph Spell in which Marshall defended a black chauffeur accused of raping his white female boss

The 2017 movie Marshall starred Chadwick as the legendary Thurgood Marshall, the lawyer who fought and won Brown v. Board Of Education as NAACP chief counsel in 1954 and then became the first black U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

The movie is about the 1940 case State Of Connecticut v. Joseph Spell in which Marshall defended a black chauffeur accused of raping his white female boss.

Josh played the lawyer Sam Friedman who joined Marshall in defending Spell and ultimately secured his acquittal in the highly publicized case.

Chadwick also played other historic figures in biopics including Jackie Robinson in 42 and James Brown in Get On Up.
As part of our Women's Month content feature and in the build-up to our panel discussion with some of this year's Gerety Awards all-female South African executive jury members, taking place in September, Jessica Tennant, senior editor: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity, interviews this year's jury to find out what a woman has to do to get onto an advertising jury, what the opportunity means to them and the significance of these Awards given the current state of gender equality...

LifeDesign's founder and director/producer Linda Notelovitz.

The Awards recognise the best advertising (not just advertising made for women) through the female lens. Comment on the significance of this given the current state of feminism / gender equality / womens empowerment.

As part of its call for entries campaign, the Awards sent purple moustaches to prominent female leaders in the advertising industry, and asked them to pose for a picture with the question: What does a woman have to do to get onto an advertising jury? How would you answer that question  what does a woman have to do to get onto an advertising jury?

What did you think of the campaign?

What are you most looking forward to or excited about with regards to taking part in this years Gerety Awards judging?

What is your hope for the next or future generations of women in advertising / the advertising industry?

And what is your key message to fellow women in advertising this Womens Month?

The Gerety Awards, founded by Joe Brooks and Lucia Ongay is relatively new, having launched in 2019. It brings together all-female juries from across the globe to shortlist the best in advertising  all advertising, not just advertising made for women  through the female lens.The Awards was named after Frances Gerety, the copywriter who coined the slogan a diamond is forever. So, instead of categories, the Awards are judged by cuts (as in diamond cuts), of which there are 10.This year, there are a total of 180 new jury members from 30 different countries. Pre-Covid-19, judging sessions were hosted in each host city and the shortlists submitted to the international grand jury of creative experts for final evaluation, but of course this years judging sessions are having to take a different format. Joe Brooks explains that the judging would have taken place at the VMLY&R offices, with Jacquie as the ambassador. The date had been set for Monday, 1 June and we would have judged and discussed a number of categories of entries from around the world. The same week judging sessions would have taken place in London, New York, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Melbourne, Milan, Istanbul, Helsinki and Berlin. Due to the Corona, all judging is taking place remotely and online over a four-week period with group calls in the middle of the judging to discuss favorite pieces.This years South African executive jury includes: Jacquie Mullany, ECD, VMLY&R; Mpume Ngobese, MD, Joe Public; Sanche Jansen van Rensburg, ECD, Avatar; Simone Bosman, founder and creative, Osu & Kumalo; Neo Segola, ECD, FCB Africa; Sarah Dexter, CEO, Mullen Lowe; Nadia Mohamed, marketing director, McCain; Emma Strydom, head of design, Network BBDO; Juliet Honey, creative, Freelance; Suhana Gordhan, ECD, FCB; Linda Notelovitz, director/producer and founder, Life Design; Liezel Bygate, marketing director, Bliss Brands; Monalisa Zwambila, CEO, Riverbed; Loli Bishop, producer, Freelance; and Fiona O'Connor, creative director, Havas. Look out for our online panel discussion featuring some of these remarkable women in advertising in September after the shortlists have been announced.Here, LifeDesign's founder and director/producer Linda Notelovitz says thatFirstly, I reject any notion of women being inferior. I do, however, embrace our difference. There is no need for outrage nor division, but support in how to better embrace this difference and utilise the beauty of this very difference as the contribution that opens hearts and eyes, that finds innovation in the space it creates by its very being and enables the world to produce excellence.Be good at her job, care about how she does her work and what she puts out into the world. Her role as a communicator carries with it a responsibility.Amusing, but I do have an internal struggle with the need to perpetuate the division or apparent disadvantage of being a woman. For as long as we, women recognise it as such, it retains a power over us. However, I do not necessarily have a solution to the patriarchal norms that exist within all industries and society's view of the world...An opportunity to be authentic when judging work or questioning the role of advertising and looking for feeling in the communication in order to encourage the next right action.To not have to have special organisations in place in order to be recognised nor to enforce selection of women creators, but for the benefit of our, women's natural contribution to be known.Stop apologising. Support one another to be better humans so that we can be better creators.The assumption that women did not do work traditionally held by society is simply untrue. Woman either hid it or did not talk about it much. The notion that women in powerful positions are less likeable than men in similar positions should not be entertained, and if so, soon the notion will disappear altogether. Female accomplishment should be seen as accomplishment, not as an accomplishment by a woman.
Donald Trump Jr. speaks during the first day of the Republican convention at the Mellon auditorium on 24 August 2020 in Washington, DC: (2020 Getty Images)

Donald Trump Jr retweeted a post that claimed the Department of Justice is dropping the hammer, as 74 protesters face federal charges over Portland demonstrations.

On Friday, the presidents eldest child retweeted a post from former Vice journalist and self described disaffected Liberal Tim Pool, which claimed the DOJ is dropping the hammer over protest arrests in Portland, Oregon.

Mr Pools tweet linked to a press release from the US Attorneys Office in Oregon, which read: 74 people facing federal charges for crimes committed during Portland demonstrations.

In the statement, Oregon US attorney Billy J Williams wrote: Violent agitators have hijacked any semblance of First Amendment protected activity, engaging in violent criminal acts and destruction of public safety.

He added: The US Attorneys Office and our federal law enforcement partners are expeditiously working with local and state law enforcement to identify, arrest, and prosecute these individuals that are disrupting the rule of law in our communities and physically attacking our law enforcement officers and destroying property.

The DOJ is dropping the hammerhttps://t.co/yoziFcPXMV  Tim Pool (@Timcast) August 28, 2020

Violent agitators not only delay real reform, but make our community less safe by keeping law enforcement from responding to other critical calls for service.

Black Lives Matter protests have been taking place in Portland for the last three months, following the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis.

Mr Floyds death sparked protests in every state in the US in opposition to police brutality against African Americans, and protesters in Portland have called for reform of the citys police department.

Last month, the Trump administration deployed federal agents to the city, after the federal courthouse became a target of nightly violence.

Story continues

Portland police have arrested more than 500 people at protests since late May, while the federal agents arrested an additional 100 people during demonstrations at the courthouse last month.

During his speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC) earlier in the week, Mr Trump Jr said that anarchists have been flooding our streets, in relation to the Portland protests.

He added that: Every American must be free to live without the fear of violence in their communities, in their homes, and said that police forces across the US should not be defunded.

No matter what the Democrats say, when we dial 911, we cant have it going to voicemail, Mr Trump Jr said.

The Trump administrations decision to deploy federal agents in the city was criticised by mayor Ted Wheeler last month, who told demonstrators: We dont want them here, and added: We demand that the federal government stop occupying our city.

However, as the violence increased at some protests over the last month, the mayor called for demonstrators to stop the violence.

After some demonstrators started a fire outside the Police Bureaus East Precinct building, Mr Wheeler pleaded for violence to stop and said he will not tolerate similar actions during future demonstrations.

When you commit arson with an accelerant in an attempt to burn down a building that is occupied by people who you have intentionally trapped inside, you are not demonstrating, you are attempting to commit murder, Mr Wheeler said.

The mayor added: I believe that city staff could have died last night. I cannot and I will not tolerate that. This is not peaceful protests. This is not advocacy to advance reforms.

However, violence has continued during some protests in the city, and 23 arrests were made on Monday, as Portland authorities declared a riot when fires were started outside of its North Precinct.

In a press release about the federal charges filed on Friday, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Seattle, Eben Roberts, claimed the community in Portland needs to work together.

The special agent said: Progress can only be made if community leaders, law enforcement and the public come together in the name of social change, justice and peace.

Read more

Portland protesters burn Maga hats on eve of Trump convention
Israel, Hamas trade fire amid flare-up in Gaza tensions

Iran Press TV

Friday, 28 August 2020 10:31 AM

The Israeli military has carried out airstrikes and artillery attacks on various sites across the besieged Gaza Strip over what it cited as a volley of rockets launched from the Palestinian enclave into occupied territories.

The military said in a statement that underground infrastructure and military positions belonging to Hamas resistance movement were targeted in strikes by Israeli tanks and military aircraft on Friday morning, after resistance fighters in the besieged enclave fired six rockets at southern Israel overnight.

The statement added that the projectiles triggered sirens in the Nahal Oz and Alumim settlements, east of the northern Gaza Strip, sending hundreds of residents settlers to bomb shelters.

An unnamed Israeli military spokesman said he did not have any information on where the Gaza rockets landed, but that none of them were intercepted by Iron Dome missile system.

The rockets came shortly after the Israeli military initially bombed Hamas facilities in Gaza over alleged launch of incendiary and explosive balloons into occupied lands throughout Thursday.

There have been no immediate reports on possible damage or casualties in the attacks.

Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip almost nightly for the past two weeks, saying it would not tolerate the balloons coming from the enclave.

Mediators from the United Nations, Egypt and Qatar have been working to restore calm. Qatari envoy Mohammad al-Emadi has been in Gaza since Tuesday, holding talks with Hamas leaders.

Israel on August 11 closed Kerem Shalom crossing  the main crossing into the Gaza Strip, citing the launch of incendiary balloons from the besieged enclave as the cause.

Israeli authorities slashed Gaza's permitted fishing zone the next day, halving the area from 15 nautical miles to eight.

The Tel Aviv regime also halted fuel imports into the coastal strip, leading to its only power plant shutting down last week.

Palestinian health officials have voiced serious concern that the power plant shutdown could aggravate a novel coronavirus outbreak in Gaza Strip, which is home to two million Palestinians.

The Gaza Strip has been under Israeli land, air and sea blockade since June 2007, after Hamas, which has vowed to resist Israeli occupation, rose to power in the enclave.

Since imposing the siege, Israel has has also waged three wholesale wars against Gaza, killing thousands of Palestinians in each.

The crippling blockade has caused a sharp decline in the standard of living as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty in the strip.

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Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 29 : Kerala Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday said that the fire which broke out in the State Secretariat earlier this week should be probed by an independent agency.

"The present probe by two different teams will never bring out the truth as by now itself they have come out with a theory that the main villain in the fire is an old fan, which cannot be arrested. This is really hilarious, said Chennithala.

"The fire that broke out at a very crucial department in the State Secretariat, contained secret files. Only a probe by an independent agency will bring out the truth. In this particular office, there is centralised air-conditioning and now we are told that a fan was the cause of fire. It baffles how could an age old fan hanging in that room catch fire," added Chennithala.

Meanwhile, the probes by two agencies - one headed by a senior bureaucrat A. Kaushik and another one by the police have now concluded that there was nothing untoward in the fire and it was caused by the old fan. The fan caught fire due to overheating and sparks fell on to a window curtain and some files were burnt.

Both the agencies also examined the CCTV footage and found out that there was no foul play and at present all the files are being examined and scanned for e-storage. With the Onam holidays starting, the probe teams are expected to submit their final report soon after Onam.

What has upset the Pinarayi Vijayan government is the way State BJP president K.Surendran arrived at the scene moments after the fire broke out. Swinging into action was Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta, who first chased away the media and later the police took Surendran into custody.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Present at the ceremony were Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Permanent member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man, among others.



Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Saadi Salama, head of the diplomatic corps, foreign ambassadors, charges d'affaires and heads of international organisations in Hanoi also attended the event.



Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the ceremony (Photo: VNA)



Speaking at the ceremony, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc said over the past 75 years, Vietnam has reaped a range of important achievements with high economic growth, improved living conditions of people, maintained socio-political stability, ensured defence and security, expanded external relations, active and responsible contributions to peace and cooperation in the region and the world.



These great and historical achievements proved the strong spirit and will of the Vietnamese nation and affirmed its role as a reliable friend and partner of the international community, he said.



The PM said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also lauded Vietnams contributions since its admission in 1977, saying that the 75th anniversary of National Day of Vietnam is concurrent with its ASEAN Chairmanship Year and non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council, proving its increasingly strong presence on the international arena.



PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc took this occasion to express his wish to continue receiving invaluable support and effective cooperation from the international community.



Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnams economic growth neared 2 percent in the first half of 2020 while trade surplus reached around 11 billion USD. According to the Economists financial health rankings in May, Vietnam ranked 12th out of 66 emerging economies in terms of strong financial system, he said.



The Vietnamese Government is determined to restructure the economy sustainably and switch to a digital economy, with the public satisfaction as an effective measurement, PM Phuc added.



Amid the complicated developments of the pandemic, Vietnam has stepped up diplomatic activities and donated medical supplies to 40 countries and organisations. Since February 2020, 30 teleconferences and phone talks were held between top leaders of Vietnam and foreign countries and international organisations, he said.



The PM called for joint efforts to make globalisation more sustainable, humanitarian and safer in the near future, as well as reforming multilateral mechanisms in a more effective manner.



He also called on countries to work closely together to fight COVID-19 more effectively, cope with other epidemics in the future, and stay alert against non-traditional security risks such as pollution, climate change and natural disasters.



The leader once again affirmed Vietnams foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of external relations, active and proactive global integration; being a friend and responsible member of the international community, promoting cooperation with countries on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, equality and mutual benefits, settling differences via peaceful measures in line with international law.



He also expressed his belief in a bright future of Vietnam and countries in the international community.



Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Saadi Salama, head of the diplomatic corps, highly evaluated Vietnam's contributions in its capacity as Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.



The Ambassador also affirmed the willingness and determination to further develop friendship and multifaceted coordination between Vietnam and countries and organisations for a world of peace, equality, prosperity, cooperation and development./.
Washington, Aug 29 : The death toll due to the Category 4 hurricane Laura, that lashed the US states of Louisiana and Texas, has increased to 14, authorities said.

Ten of the victims were in Louisiana and four in Texas, the BBC reported.

Laura has now been downgraded to tropical storm status, but heavy rain is still pounding several states.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has asked the federal government for immediate financial assistance in dealing with the fallout.

"Hurricane Laura is the fifth strongest storm to make landfall in the US in recorded history and the first in memory to maintain major hurricane strength as it travelled through Louisiana, bringing catastrophic destruction to many parishes," Edwards said in a statement on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference later in the day, he called Laura "the strongest storm to ever hit Louisiana".

President Donald Trump is scheduled travel to the two states on Saturday to meet people affected by the hurricane, the White House said.

Around 8,000 homes were possibly destroyed in the two states, according to the Red Cross.

More than half a million homes also faced power outages.

Some 1,500 people, including National Guard troops, are being deployed in rescue and clean-up missions.
San Francisco students could start heading back to classrooms in two weeks after the city gained a new state coronavirus classification allowing more businesses and community activities to resume.

The state classified San Francisco as a red county Friday, allowing schools to conduct in-person classes if that status holds steady for 14 days.

Napa County, which has 20,000 public school and 2,500 private school students, was also put in red status. All other Bay Area counties are purple, which is more restrictive and means they will need to use a waiver process to reopen schools.

A red classification doesnt mean all schools will reopen, because counties can still place stricter rules on the process than the state requires. In addition, schools would still need to meet all health and safety guidelines required by health officials.

Still, the news was likely to be well received by those concerned about children losing ground academically in distance learning and struggling emotionally as they remain isolated from peers and dependent on a screen for school work and social activities.

At the same time, the states announcement was sure to create tension across San Francisco, with many parents pushing for schools to reopen, while some health officials and unions are expected to push back, fearing the safety of workers and a surge in COVID-19 cases.

It could take weeks if not months for San Francisco Unified public schools, serving 53,000 students, to reach reopening agreements with local labor leaders, including those representing teachers, who have urged administrators to remain cautious in reopening. Officials from the United Educators of San Francisco said they were not ready to comment on the citys new status.

Following Gov. Gavin Newsoms announcement, San Francisco health officials didnt bar reopening, but rather said that any school that wants to reopen for in-person instruction would need to submit an application that includes a safety and protocol plan.

A top priority for the City is to return all children to learning developments so they continue to grow and develop, San Francisco Department of Public Health officials said in a statement. While the state provides guidance, local jurisdictions must make decisions based on our current health indicators that monitor the spread of the virus in our communities and assess our ability to respond to the pandemic.

In other words, San Francisco public schools and many private schools are unlikely to open when the state says they can.

San Francisco has more than 100 public schools, many with space constraints, poor ventilation and other issues that still need to be addressed. But more importantly, the teachers will have to agree to come back to in-person instruction. The California Teachers Association has generally opposed a return until case counts are very low and resources are in place to protect staff and students.

This is a dynamic situation, said Superintendent Vincent Matthews. We are looking forward to returning to in-person instruction as soon as data and science suggest it is safe enough to do so.

Permission from the state is just one factor in the process, he said, which also requires getting sites ready, getting health and safety supplies and other steps.

Reopening while the pandemic is still present is not going to happen with the flip of a switch in Sacramento, Matthews said. I wish it were that simple.

Most counties across the state remained in the purple range, but students in those regions could also return to in-person learning after applying for a waiver with county health officials, which requires local and state approval.

In San Francisco, private schools are more likely to open before public ones. Already, 50 private and parochial schools and three charter schools are expected to apply for a waiver, city officials said Friday, representing 10,000 students.

The waiver review would continue in San Francisco, health officials said, with approvals expected to take two to four weeks. Applications went out Friday to the 53 schools that expressed intent to apply.

At Adda Clevenger School in San Franciscos Mission neighborhood, administrators said they would still pursue the waiver process despite the new red status, given the possibility the county wont follow the state recommendation. A waiver would guarantee reopening in the coming weeks.

The 130-student school has 20,000 square feet of space to maintain social distancing, and the staff was tested Friday for the coronavirus  and will continue to be tested at least once a month, exceeding county requirements, said Ben Harrison, director of operations.

Were very eager, he said. We really think we can do it.

All schools reopening will be expected to mandate face coverings, space desks at least 6 feet apart and ensure good ventilation, San Francisco health officials said. In addition, all staff must test negative for COVID-19 before the reopening, with teachers and other workers tested at least once every two months.

County health officials said they will likely visit sites to ensure compliance before the schools can reopen.

Until all public schools in San Francisco reopen full time for all kids, however, at least 6,000 children are expected to attend city-run learning hubs placed at libraries, parks or other facilities. Up to 40 hubs are expected to start opening across the city on Sept. 14. The hubs would offer supervision, internet access and academic support to students participating in distance learning.

Initially, priority for a space in a hub will be given to homeless students, children in foster care, English learners and children from low-income families.

Waiver approvals and hub openings will be done on a rolling basis, officials said.

As San Francisco continues to expand the reopening of businesses and other activities, the priority will be on the needs of families and students, Mayor London Breed said.

It pains me that there are parks, there are playgrounds that are empty, Breed said. That we dont hear the noise and sounds of children in schoolyards.

The district started the school year Aug. 17 in universal distance learning, with plans to phase in in-person instruction.

Its possible that even after reopening, many schools will maintain a hybrid schedule to limit the number of students in classrooms each day.

Until the state and counties allow classrooms to reopen, waivers for schools in purple counties will be granted only to elementary schools or for students in grades K-6.

State officials recommended that waivers be considered only when coronavirus infection rates fall below 200 cases per 100,000 people for a two-week period.

San Franciscos case rate was 127.7 for the past two weeks, which was low enough to grant waivers, but not low enough to get off the state watch list before Friday, which required a rate of less than 100 cases per 100,000 people.

Across California, 112 schools have been granted waivers by the state and local counties, the vast majority in Orange and San Diego counties. San Diego, however, was removed from the state monitoring list, allowing all schools to reopen on Sept. 1.

So far, only one Bay Area school has reopened classrooms, Sunnyvale Christian School, which was granted a waiver on Monday.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
A common sight on American warships is a green-light laser that can be used to communicate between ships or discourage, or even temporarily blind, operators of small boats that get too close to the ship. The British were the first to equip their warships with these lasers and they were used during the 1982 Falkland Islands war against Argentine fighter pilots. Those British lasers were capable of blinding people at close range and that was one of the situations that led to a 1995 international treaty banning military use of lasers that permanently blinded people. Most nations have observed that treaty but a notable exception is China, which equips its warships with a more powerful laser that can cause permanent blindness under some conditions. These lasers have been used against American patrol aircraft in the South China Sea.

These lasers were initially developed as pointing devices and became popular with teachers and anyone giving a presentation. These were the eye safe green lasers and by 2005 U.S. troops in Iraq discovered that the green laser pointer could be used to force oncoming drivers to halt. These commercial pointers had a range of about two kilometers and cost about $70. Eventually, the U.S. Army bought them in bulk and distributed them to troops manning checkpoints or base entrances. By 2006 green lasers were mounted on M-4 assault rifles (in place of the grenade launcher under the barrel) to make it easier to aim at the driver of an oncoming vehicle.

The U.S. Department of Defense also began developing more capable laser devices and encouraged commercial firms to manufacture them for the military. This led to such popular devices as the LA-9/P, which became available in 2010. This device can be mounted on a rifle, or simply a rifle stock, and used by individuals. The LA-9/P weighs less than a kilogram (1.6 pounds) and is powered by three AA batteries. This device is visible up to 1,500 meters in daylight and 4,000 meters at night. At 500 meters the LA-9/P can dazzle or blind, which is especially effective against operators of small boats. The LA-9/P can be set to disable the dazzle/blinding option if it is not needed.

Another 2010 laser tech development was a U.S. Army green laser dazzler device, This was used in Afghanistan, mounted in the CROWS RWS (remotely controlled gun turret) found in many hummers and most armored vehicles. The main function of the dazzler was to get vehicles approaching checkpoints at high speed to stop. Troops dont know if an approaching vehicle, especially at night, was a suicide bomber or a driver simply seeking to buzz past the check point. Without the dazzler, the only option is to open fire. This often gets civilians killed. Most Afghans dont appreciate the security aspect, and believe a driver has the right to try and zip past a checkpoint. The dazzler can also be used on hostile gunmen to ruin their aim.

These new American lasers are called GLEF (Green Laser Escalation of Force). Unlike the earlier handheld green lasers GLEF, when mounted in CROWS, is easier to aim and use, and also can quickly add machine-gun fire if the dazzled target turns out to be hostile.

Similar green lasers have been around for a while. In 2009 Canada bought 750 similar VWT (Visual Warning Technology) systems, for about $7,500 each. These are eye safe (they won't blind you permanently) green laser pointers mounted in a weather proof, articulated enclosure, that enables the troops to operate the laser remotely, to flash the laser light at oncoming drivers, to get them to stop at checkpoints or other locations.

Unlike urban Iraq, where information gets around quickly, the Canadians in Afghanistan also launched a publicity campaign there to get people, especially those in rural areas where the troops operate, informed about the green lasers. Even if people don't get the message, they will know enough to hit the brakes if they get an eye full of green laser.

Warships most often use the LA-9/P just to warn small boats away to avoid collision or to keep them outside of a security zone. On land the special laser dazzlers are used to blind the fire control systems of hostile armored vehicles. Yet the most common use of the eye-safe lasers is still as an alternative to opening fire with bullets at checkpoints or aboard ships.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the country has controlled the spread of locust swarms using modern technologies like drones.His remarks came after he inaugurated the College and Administration Buildings of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi through video conference. After 30 years, the Bundelkhand region witnessed locusts attack. More than 10 states were affected due to locusts attack. It was very difficult to control locust attacks with traditional methods. India got rid of locust swarms and controlled it in a scientific way. Had there not been coronavirus, this would have been discussed in media in a very positive manner, PM Modi said.

The government purchased modern machines and gave it to districts. Drones and helicopters also used to sprinkle medicines. With all these efforts, India can save farmers from suffering big losses, he said.The Prime Minister said it is important to take education related to agriculture and its practical application and explained the benefits of this move.

It is important to take agricultural education and its practical applications to the school level. Efforts are on to introduce the agricultural subject at middle school level in villages. It has two benefits. One, it will help children in villages to expand their scientific knowledge about farming. Another benefit is, they will be able to impart knowledge about farming and its techniques and trade to their families, he said.

It will also encourage the agro enterprise. Under the New Education Policy, necessary reforms have been done in this regard, he said.When we talk about self-reliance in agriculture then it is not limited to self-sufficiency in food grains but encompasses self-reliance of the entire economy of the village, Modi said.He said the aim of self-reliance in agriculture is also making farmers entrepreneurs.When farmers and farming move forward like industry, then employment and self-employment opportunities near village will increase, Modi added.

ALSO READ : States slam centres proposal to give two borrowing options to states to meet GST shortfall, call it betrayal of federalism

The Prime Minister highlighted that two central agricultural universities were created in the last six years.Six years ago, where there was only one central agricultural university in the country, today three central agricultural universities are functioning in the country. Apart from this, three more national institutes are being established at Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Integrated Farming at IARI-Jharkhand, IARI-Assam and Motihari, he said.

The Prime Minister said more than Rs 700 crores have been spent so far in Uttar Pradesh under the Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan, under which employment is being provided to millions of workers.

I have been told that under this campaign, in Bundelkhand, hundreds of ponds have also been repaired and new ponds were constructed, he said.Modi underlined that around 500 water-related projects worth Rs 10,000 crores have been approved.

In all districts of Bundelkhand, work is underway to develop new sources of water and laying water pipeline. Around 500 water-related projects worth Rs 10,000 crores have been approved. The work on Rs 3,000 crores projects has started, he said.

When these are ready, it will directly benefit millions of families of Bundelkhand. Not only this, in Bundelkhand, work is also going on for the Atal Ground Water Scheme to raise the level of ground-water, he said.

The Prime Minister said that projects like Bundelkhand Express Way or the Defence Corridor worth thousands of crores of rupees will work to create thousands of employment opportunities.

The day is not far when this land of heroes, this area of Jhansi and its surroundings will become a big centre to make the country self-reliant in defence sector, he said.

In a way, the mantra of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan and Jai Vigyan will be echoed in all four directions in Bundelkhand. The central government and the government of Uttar Pradesh are committed to enriching the ancient identity of Bundelkhand, the pride of this earth, he added.

ALSO READ: KCRs daughter and Former MP Smt. Kavitha extend aid to a Differently Abled
More than 100 guests took part in the seminar

Making the opening speech, Giorgio Aliberti, head of the Delegation of the EU to Vietnam emphasised that, The signing and ratification of the trade agreement is an historic milestone in EU-Vietnam cooperation. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will be an important factor to nurture opportunities for economic recovery for Vietnam in the aftermath of COVID-19. The reduction of tariffs is among the top priorities of this agreement.

Giorgio Aliberti, head of the Delegation of the EU to Vietnam

According to Dr. Vu Tien Loc, president of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vietnam's economy is facing many difficulties under the negative impact of COVID-19 but the signing of the EVFTA has brought confidence and rare opportunities for businesses during this period.

The agreement has opened up a 'highway to Europe' for Vietnamese businesses. However, not only has the EVFTA brought opportunities but also challenges by putting local companies in the same arena with giants. Overcoming these great challenges will lay a solid foundation for the development of Vietnamese businesses in the current highly competitive integration context, Loc noted.

In his speech at the seminar, Dr. Carsten Schittek, Minister Counsellor and Head of the EU Trade Section of the Delegation shared his opinion about the EVFTA and its contributions to accelerating Vietnams integration into the EU's global value chains (GVCs) after COVID-19. Meanwhile, Jean-Jacques Bouflet, vice president of the European Business Association (EuroCham) focused on strengthening linkages between Vietnamese and European companies in in the context of the EVFTA post-COVID-19.

Truong Chi Binh from the Institute of Industry Strategy Policy (IPSI) of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) cum vice president, general secretary of the Vietnam Association for Supporting Industries (VASI), said that integration into the GVCs will roll many challenges in the way of Vietnamese enterprises so they will need ample support such as access to credit (concessional loans and non-collateral guarantees), stabilisation of costs and labour sources, reduction of administrative procedures and informal costs, and more (and better prepared) enterprises in the supporting industry.

He added that local companies will also need help with reaching international standards, improving management processes, lean administration, cost reduction, trade capability and connectivity, setting up clusters of businesses to produce complete sets of components, and with penetration opportunities to new markets.

Also at the seminar, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, director of the WTO's International Trade Center (WITC) of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) discussed the opportunities and challenges from the EVFTA and COVID-19 relating to the objectives of attracting foreign investment, improving domestic added value, as well as reducing and eliminating barriers to GVCs.

Along with the opportunities, he highlighted the intrinsic drawbacks Vietnamese enterprises face in human resources, infrastructure, logistics, as well as challenges relating to the business environment and the connectivity and capabilities of domestic firms (especially in the supporting industries).

As part of the seminar, participants discussed the actions that should be taken by Vietnamese enterprises and by the government in order to seize the opportunities brought by the EVFTA to integrate further into the GVCs in the aftermath of COVID-19.

The seminar was the first of three round-table events to be organised by the EU Delegation until the end of 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 20:19:50|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reported two new cases of COVID-19 infection on Saturday, bringing its total confirmed cases to 1,040 along with two more deaths from the disease, according to its Ministry of Health.

The new cases include a 20-year-old man recently returning to the country from abroad and being quarantined upon arrival, and a 55-year-old man treated in Da Nang Hospital in Vietnam's central city of Da Nang where a number of COVID-19 patients have been reported, said the ministry.

The ministry announced that two more COVID-19 patients aged 28 and 67, who had underlying medical conditions, had died, bringing the death toll to 32.

Meanwhile, 14 more COVID-19 patients have been given all-clear, raising the total cured cases in the country to 677 as of Saturday while there are 61,100 people being quarantined and monitored in the country, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Enditem
U.S. Military 'Closely Monitoring' Russian Submarine That Surfaced Off Alaska

By RFE/RL August 28, 2020

U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Command are closely monitoring a Russian submarine that surfaced near Alaska on August 27.

"We closely track vessels of interest, including foreign military naval vessels, in our area of responsibility," U.S. Northern Command said on Twitter.

It was unclear why the submarine surfaced. U.S. Northern Command said it had not received any requests for assistance from the Russian Navy or other mariners in the area.

"We always stand ready to assist those in distress," the command's tweet said.

It added that "Russian maritime activity" is taking place in international waters well outside the U.S. territorial sea.

U.S. military officials told the Associated Press that the submarine surfaced during a war-game exercise.

The presence of Russian ships caused concern among U.S. commercial fishing vessels in the Bering Sea on August 26, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Multiple fishing vessels notified the Coast Guard that they had come across the Russian ships and were concerned, Coast Guard spokesman Kip Wadlow said earlier on August 27, according to AP.

The Coast Guard contacted the Alaskan Command at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, which confirmed the ships were there as part of a preplanned Russian military exercise that was known to some U.S. military officials, Wadlow said.

Wadlow did not have information about the scope of the exercise or how many Russian vessels were involved.

Based on reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30806756.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.

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The only thing he asks is that he gets a fair chance to make his case. I understand that my family means an awful lot to an awful lot of people. And I understand the people will project onto me certain things, positive and negative. I have been trying to be very clear throughout all of my campaigns and throughout my professional life, given my chosen profession, that I am who I am. Voting for me doesnt mean you get Robert Kennedy. It doesnt mean that you get Ted or Jack. It doesnt mean you get my dad. It means you get me.
An attorney representing the Kenosha police union issued a statement saying Jacob Blake forcefully fought before he was shot.

Blake, 29, was shot Sunday by Officer Rusten Sheskey. The shooting, captured on video, ignited protests and counter-protests, rioting, the presence of armed militias in the city and a shooting by a 17-year-old Antioch teen acting as a member of a militia. That shooting left two men dead and another seriously injured.

The video recorded by a bystander and widely circulating on social media shows Blake walking around a parked vehicle followed by Sheskey who has his gun drawn, a second officer following behind Sheskey. As Blake opens the vehicles door and leans in, Sheskey, who is holding Blake by his shirt, fires his weapon seven times.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice on Friday identified the two other officers who were at the scene with Sheskey as Vincent Arenas and Brittany Meronek. Sheskey, a Kenosha Police officer for seven years. Arenas has been with the department since February 2019, and was previously employed by the United States Capitol Police Department. Meronek the department in January 2020.

Since the shooting, Blake has been hospitalized at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa. He was left paralyzed by the shooting, according to his family and attorneys.

In a statement representing the Kenosha Professional Police Association, attorney Brendan Matthews said there are wholly inaccurate statements about the shooting circulating.

The purely fictional depiction of events coming from those without direct knowledge of what actually occurred is incredibly harmful, and provides no benefit to anyone whatsoever, other than to perpetuate a misleading narrative, Matthews stated.

The police shooting is under investigation by the Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation, the state agency acting as the outside investigator required by state law.

Official information about the shooting has been limited. Kenosha Police will not comment while it is under investigation, and the DOJ has released few details while the investigation is ongoing.

The DOJ stated that police were called to the 2800 block of 40th Street by a woman who said her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises. They also have stated that Blake admitted that he had a knife in his possession and that a knife was found on the floor of his vehicle.

According to the statement from Matthews, officers were told before they arrived that Blake had a felony warrant for his arrest for a domestic violence incident that included a charge of third-degree sexual assault. Officers who encounter people with active warrants are required to take them into custody.

Although people at the scene told media that Blake was breaking up a fight between two women, the statement from the association disputes that. It also disputes statements that Blake was unarmed.

Mr. Blake was not unarmed. He was armed with a knife. The officers did not see the knife initially, Matthews said in his statement. The officers issued repeated commands for Mr. Blake to drop the knife. He did not comply.

Matthews stated that officers went hands-on with Blake and two officers used tasers. Mr. Blake forcefully fought with the officers, including putting one of the officers in a headlock.

None of the officers involved wished for things to transpire the way it did, Matthews said.
Karanvir Bohra is all set to welcome his third child with wife Teejay Sidhu. The couple are already parents to twin daughters, Vienna and Raya Bella. Karanvir even claims he had the best time during lockdown as he spent all of it playing with his four-year-olds. The actor also utilised his free time by making his directorial debut with the sci-fi web series Bhanwar, shot entirely at home.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Karanvir opened up about the web show which talks about time travel and has been shot by a five-member team, who also doubled up as spot boys and lightmen. He also spoke about the death of TV actor turned Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput and the insider-outsider debate that followed. Excerpts:

How is it going with your kids at home?

Im loving it! I have nothing to complain about. I am with my family and really enjoying. I have almost grown with them and I love being a father. Time has passed so fast in this lockdown phase. I time travel six months into the future in my web series. In real life, we have already spent five months of the pandemic.

Watch: Karanvir Bohra opens up about his directorial debut, his daughters and Sushant Singh Rajput

Tell us about your new web series, Bhanwar?

It premiered on ZEE5. Its based on the concept of time travel. We travel six months into the future and realise that we are already dead. So we have to figure how we have to come back in time to save ourselves.

Bhanwar stars Karanvir Bohra and Priya Banerjee.

How did you manage to shoot during lockdown?

We started shooting for the show during lockdown. All our actors were quarantining in the same building. I thought that since we all are here, lets make this happen. It has been shot in our building itself. Besides me, Teejay is there, Priya Banerjee is there and my friend Payal -- who stays opposite my building.

Who came up with the idea?

It was my writer friend Deepak Pachori who came up with the story idea during lockdown and I found it to be an amazing concept. I was telling him to create something where a man is stuck in a house -- and what if he has an opportunity to time travel in the same house. Its fantasy where you can think anything. I am a fan of sci-fi so thought of tapping this space.

This is my directorial debut because there was no other option. Only five people were there in the team, including the director. No production, no spot dada, no lights, nothing. We shot on Sony Alfa and iPhone but we did not face any restrictions of any kind.

Things are looking bright for you in the OTT space. Do you have any more projects lined up?

Who would believe in this concept on TV, because its a different genre. OTT gave me this opportunity to explore this concept. So in season 2, I would go even more deeper. There is Casino 2 and Bhanwar 2 coming up. There is another series that I will be working on. Its shooting will begin by September end. So things are looking good on the digital front.

Do you believe TV actors often get typecast? Have you faced a similar situation?

Its very difficult when a production house wont take a chance on a face the audience has already seen, even though if you are a very big star. I completely negate that kind of thinking because its not because of the star value that the audience is coming. They are coming because of the content. There is lot of content with big stars which hasnt worked on OTT. And lot of content with unknown people has worked. OTT is content driven and I have always said that give content a chance.

Also read: Karanvir Bohra, Teejay announce pregnancy: We are beyond grateful that He has chosen us to become parents again

Share your views on the insider-outsider debate.

The outsider tag hasnt been put on me. This TV industry tag is always there but its breaking now. Whats happening in the news these days after Sushant, people dont care who the star is. They now want only content. They go for that more than anything else. I feel very bad that Sushant has gone but he has opened this huge Pandoras Box and gates for those actors who were not seen as stars. He must be watching all of us from up there and taking care of a lot of us as an angel.

How do you deal with difficulties in life?

I always see the brighter side, we all have problems but its easy to dwell on the problem. We must not think of it as if this is the worst part of life. The other way is you reinvent yourself. What is the positivity of this! How can we turn this thing around for us  that is the way to live your life. Instead of sitting at home and worrying about not working, I created Bhanwar. The whole thing that was going against us  I worked it out for us.

My family is also very supportive, which is the most important thing in everybodys life. I am having a great time with my children, trying to be a patient father.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Government says it has spent over GHC76 million towards the disinfection, fumigation and cleaning-up of markets, lorry parks and public toilet facilities across the country.

The first phase of the disinfection and clean-up exercises formed part of the governments response towards preventing the spread of the Coronavirus disease in the country.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, announced this in Accra when she took her turn of the Meet-the-Press series.

She said the Ministry set up disinfection teams at the local level, disinfected and fumigated more than 2,000 market centres and 2,000 public toilet facilities.

The amount went into purchasing of disinfectants, spraying machines, personal protective gears for sprayers, and other useful items secured for the exercise.

The Minister said the contract for the second phase of disinfection had been signed and would soon begin.

Giving accounts of financial inflows to the MMDAs for development, the Minister explained that GHC4.5 billion was transferred to the 260 Assemblies for infrastructural development including; education, healthcare, water and sanitation facilities and expressed satisfaction over the utilisation and work done so far with the funds by the MMDAs.

She noted the Ministry was mandated to promote good governance, equitable and balanced development across the country and was delivering its mandate through the formulation of policies on rural and urban development and designing systems to monitor the implementation of those projects.

Hajia Mahama assured of governments unalloyed commitment to implement socio-economic interventions across the country to ameliorate the suffering of the masses, especially the poor and vulnerable.

The Minister indicated that in the second term of the Akufo-Addo led government, it was poised to engage all stakeholders towards building a consensus and amending the entrenched provisions in the 1992 Constitution for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives on partisan basis.

That, she said, would enhance transparency and accountability at the local governance set up.

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THE Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum celebrated what would have been Maureen O'Hara's 100th birthday on August 17.

We at the Holman Lee Agency were absolutely thrilled to be part of this fantastic event as we showcased the Hollywood stars iconic personal collection which consisted of clothing, hats, bags and shoes.

This unique event was live streamed to thousands of viewers online across the world. As I sat and watched the phenomenal collection of her clothes, she was undoubtedly a style icon in her day. Any of the looks showcased could be seen on trend even now, no matter where you are in the world. She was known as the Queen of Technicolor and starred in some of the most iconic movies which I continuously watch such as the Christmas special Miracle on 34th Street and the iconic The Quiet Man which was set in the beautiful west of Ireland.

She co-starred with some of the greatest Hollywood film stars such as John Wayne and was winner of an honorary Oscar in 2014 presented by Clint Eastwood and Liam Neeson, and also a winner of IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.

Her connection with Foynes is due to her marriage with famed US Air Force Pilot Brigadier General Charles Blair who flew flying boats into Foynes during WWII. The story and history is so immense and I think there is one lady in particular who deserves all our praise, the incredible company secretary Margaret O'Shaughnessy who was director and driving force behind this event.

If you missed out on the live stream, the full fashion show is now available to view on the Foynes Flying Boat Museum Facebook page.

Also make sure to keep an eye out for the Nationwide special for more insight of the event.

Chat to you next week.

-Celia xx
Airline operator, the Aero Contractors, is set to begin shuttle services from Kaduna to Abuja from Tuesday, Sept. 1, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Capt. Ado Sanusi, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday.

Sanusi said the operation was in response to the yearnings of airline customers.

He said the airline realised that the train service cannot accommodate many people that would want to travel, due to high demand.

So, it has decided to introduce this shuttle service''.

The airline chief said Aero would deploy its Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft and would fly from Kaduna to Abuja twice daily  in the morning and in the evening.

He said: A flight with our Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft will take about 30 minutes to get to Abuja, which is against two hours by rail.

In order to serve our customers better, we decided to respond to the call to deploy aircraft between these two major cities.

We are starting with two flights daily and will review as demand increases.

We know that economic activities are picking up, especially in Kaduna after the COVID-19 lockdown.

This is our contribution to the speedy economic recovery of the state and Nigeria''.

The airline chief noted that travellers from some northern states had shunned travelling by road due to security threats.

After shunning travelling by road, Nigerians from Kaduna resorted to travelling to Abuja by rail but the rail system can no more meet the high demand of commuters, thereby making air shuttle necessary.

The airline's decision to shuttle between the two cities has become a huge relief to business people, administrators and many others,'' he stated. (NAN)
Joe Biden's childhood friend Jimmy Kennedy chartered a bus to Wilmington with other Biden supporters from Scranton in 1988 when Biden launched his first bid for the presidency. A Times-Tribune photographer captured him holding a banner at the campaign kickoff in Wilmington that read, Scranton, Pa. Claims Biden. Read more

Joe Biden abandoned Scranton.

President Donald Trump, at a rally in Old Forge, Pa. on Aug. 20, 2020

Hours before Joe Biden accepted the Democratic presidential nomination, President Donald Trump held a campaign rally just outside Bidens childhood hometown and accused him of having abandoned the place. Biden was 10 when his family moved away from Scranton.

Speaking to supporters gathered in Old Forge, Pa., Trump said this about Biden and Scranton:

He keeps talking about, I was born in Scranton. I lived in Scranton. Yeah, for a few years, and then he left for another state. You know the state. But this Scranton stuff. Thats why I figured Id come here and explain to you one thing. But I think you people know it better than I do. He left! He abandoned Pennsylvania. He abandoned Scranton.

Bidens family did move to Delaware when he was a kid. But Trumps retelling is a distortion of Bidens enduring relationship with his hometown. Our research shows that Biden maintained close personal relationships and professional ties to Scranton in the more than six decades since he left.

Trump and his campaign also say Biden abandoned the people of Scranton less literally by supporting free trade policies that decimated the citys manufacturing sector. Well get to that one in a bit.

Bidens Scranton roots trace back to 1851, when his paternal great-great-grandfather, Patrick Blewitt, left Ireland after the potato famine and immigrated to the city. He was an engineer who helped design the layout of Scrantons streets. Bidens maternal great-grandfather, James Finnegan, also came to Scranton after his father immigrated from Ireland in 1849.

Bidens parents and both sets of grandparents met in Scranton.

He lived in the city until 1953, when his father, who had been commuting to Wilmington to clean boilers for a heating and cooling company, decided to move the family there. But Biden continued to spend most of his summers and holidays with his mothers family in Green Ridge, the predominantly Irish Catholic Scranton neighborhood of his early childhood.

In a 2010 interview with GQ, Biden said he visits Scranton often and quipped that he shows up anytime Scranton needs something.

I dont know how to say no to them. For real. I really dont, Biden said. You know, its still home.

He returned to Scranton at least half-a-dozen times in the 1970s after he became a U.S. senator from Delaware, Scranton Times-Tribune clips show.

Biden spoke at the annual Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County dinner in 1973, a few weeks after losing his first wife and his daughter in a deadly car accident and being sworn into office at his sons hospital bedside. In 1976, he was the University of Scrantons undergraduate commencement speaker. And in 1978, he held a campaign fund-raiser dubbed a Scranton Salute, where then-Mayor Gene Hickey gave him a key to the city. Two Republicans, former Lackawanna County commissioner Robert Pettinato and former sheriff Joseph Wincovitch, helped host the fund-raiser.

 READ MORE: Trump says Biden abandoned Scranton in Pa. visit just before Bidens Democratic convention speech

Throughout his time in Congress, Biden was often called the states third senator. Bidens Scranton ties have even been satirized twice by Saturday Night Live.

During his tenure as vice president and while campaigning for office, Biden visited the greater Scranton area at least 15 times, his official schedule shows, including in 2011 after flooding from Tropical Storm Lee caused hundreds of millions of dollars of property damage in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

After touring the damage, Biden did what he often does when he visits Scranton on business: He caught up with childhood friends. The Times-Tribune reported that Biden met with friends from Green Ridge and their families at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport before boarding Air Force Two.

One person who wasnt there that day in 2011 was Charlie Roth, whom Biden had described as his closest friend for 54 years when he returned to Scranton to eulogize him in 2000.

Another childhood friend of Bidens was Jimmy Kennedy, a former Scranton district magistrate whom he called the maestro of our little gang. Kennedys front porch overlooked the backyard of Bidens childhood home on North Washington Avenue.

And when Biden entered national politics, his Scranton friends were there to support him.

Kennedy chartered a bus to Wilmington with other Biden supporters from Scranton in 1988 when Biden launched his first bid for the presidency. A Times-Tribune photographer captured him holding a banner at the campaign kickoff in Wilmington that read, Scranton, Pa. Claims Biden. (Kennedy died last year.)

Two other close friends, Larry Orr and Tom Bell, went to the same school, worshiped at the same parish, and played in the same little league. Both men still live in the greater Scranton area and were quoted in a recent Times-Tribune story remarking that it feels like Biden never left.

We used to joke about it, Bell, 77, a semi-retired insurance agency owner, told the Tribune. He was always here.

Theres nothing phony about him, Orr, 77, a retired union electrician, who was an usher at Joe and Neilia Bidens wedding in August 1966, told the Tribune. As far as our friendships, as far as Scranton, hes not just saying that, hes not just giving you lip service.

Bill Conaboy grew up in Scranton, too, and said he saw Bidens compassion first-hand when his 93-year-old father, a former federal judge, had a heart attack in 2018. Biden drove to Scranton that night and sat at the judges hospital bedside with his family. Bill recalled how Biden kissed his fathers forehead and knelt beside him. Former U.S. District Judge Richard P. Conaboy died the next day.

For President Trump to suggest that Joe Biden has anything other than deep Scranton roots is just ridiculous, said Conaboy, 62, who is president of a regional health-care system in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Were honored to know him and honored to consider him a friend.

 READ MORE: The Biden the boys from Scranton know

Theres another, less literal way to assess whether Biden abandoned Scranton. Did the trade policies he supported harm the citys workers? Did Biden let other countries steal our jobs, as Trump claimed in Old Forge? The answer to that question is more nuanced  and central to the economic debate between the two candidates.

The North American Free Trade Agreement that Biden supported in 1993 had a direct impact on Scrantons manufacturing sector, said Iordanis Petsas, who leads the economics department at the University of Scranton. Almost 20,000 manufacturing jobs disappeared in the region between January 1994 when NAFTA took effect, and December 2016, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows.

But economic policy is complex and multifaceted. Scrantons manufacturing sector was already in decline before NAFTA, losing 6,000 jobs between 1990 and 1994, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And Petsas noted that Scrantons education and health sectors exploded over that same period, with 14,000 new jobs added.

We lost a lot of manufacturing jobs while gaining in other areas, Petsas said. That result doesnt mean its bad trade policy.

Our ruling

Trump claimed Biden abandoned Scranton. Bidens family moved from Scranton to Wilmington when he was 10, but he has remained deeply connected to his birthplace for more than six decades. He has returned for commencement speeches and little league games. Hes come back for fundraisers and after floods. He went home to eulogize his childhood best friend and to comfort a mentors family as the man lay dying. And while one sector, which was already on the decline, struggled in the wake of policies Biden supported, a leading local economist notes that other sectors have thrived.

Trumps version of what happened after Biden moved away is not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim. We rate it Pants on Fire.

Our sources

The Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe Biden accepts Democratic presidential nomination, vows to unite the nation, Aug. 20, 2020

The Philadelphia Inquirer, Trump says Biden abandoned Scranton in Pa. visit just before Bidens Democratic convention speech, Aug. 21, 2020

Rev, Donald Trump Speech Transcript August 20: In Joe Bidens Hometown, Aug. 20, 2020

The New York Times, Fathers Tough Life an Inspiration for Biden, Oct. 23, 2008

Politico, Democrats itching to take down Biden over free-trade past, May 2, 2019

Ancestry.com, Vice President Biden Answers Your Family History Questions, June 27, 2016

The Times-Tribune, Biden Slated to Address Friendly Sons, Feb. 18, 1973

The Washington Post, Trump says Biden deserted Pennsylvania. In Scranton, hes a hometown boy, May 21, 2019

GQ, $#!% Joe Biden Says, Nov. 19, 2010

University of Scranton, Honorary Degree Recipients, Accessed Aug. 28, 2020

The Times-Tribune, Biden Gets Welcome, Key, Funds, Aug. 28, 1978

The Morning Call, OBAMA - BIDEN **VP choice often called Pennsylvanias third senator, Aug. 24, 2008

YouTube, VP Debate: Sarah Palin and Joe Biden - SNL - YouTube, Jan. 7, 2020

The Patriot News, Vice President Joe Biden promises federal aid to northeast Pa. residents beleaguered by record flooding, Sept. 16, 2011

The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Biden the boys from Scranton know, Aug. 31, 2008

The Times-Tribune, World changing woman got start in city, May 5, 2001

The Times-Tribune, Former Scranton Magisterial District Judge James Kennedy Dies at 78, Jan. 11 2019

The Times-Tribune, The Roots Are Real, Aug. 16, 2020

AP, Federal judge Conaboy dies in Pennsylvania at age 93, Nov. 9, 2018

Email interview, spokesperson for the Biden campaign, Aug. 25, 2020

Email interview, spokesperson for the Trump campaign, Aug. 26, 2020

Phone interview, Bill Conaboy, Aug. 27, 2020

Phone interview, Iordanis Petsas, Aug. 28, 2020

Politifact, Donald Trump wrong that Joe Biden abandoned Scranton, May 21, 2019

PolitiFact is a nonpartisan, fact-checking website operated by the nonprofit Poynter Institute for Media Studies.
The sessions court said the statements of protected witnesses in the case reflected the role of many accused including Devangana Kalita in planning the activities at the anti-CAA protest sites as part of a 'conspiracy' which led to the Delhi riots

New Delhi: A Delhi court has dismissed the bail application of Pinjra Tod member and JNU student Devangana Kalita, who has been booked under the stringent anti-terror law, UAPA, in a case related to the communal violence in northeast Delhi in February.

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat said the statements of protected witnesses in the case reflected the role of many accused including Kalita in planning the activities at the anti-CAA protest sites as part of a "conspiracy" which led to the riots.

"The accused had planned and done chakka-jam resulting in riots as part of the plan. The statements clearly point out the role of the accused Devangana (Kalita) as also other co-accused persons and various actions taken by them in pursuance of the conspiracy.

"Considering the statement of such witnesses regarding the role of the accused Devangana and other accused persons whose conduct is also highlighted by various statements, I have no hesitation to hold that there are reasonable grounds for believing that accusation against accused are prima facie true," the judge said in his order passed on August 28.

It further said that since the present case was of a conspiracy resulting in riots, there were various individuals, organisations and groups which are inter-linked and from the statements working in tandem.

"Thus, the statements or acts by the other co-conspirators in furtherance of common object of the conspiracy will be admissible against the present accused Devangana, and the statements and evidence will have to be read in entirety since it is a case of conspiracy.

"Moreover, the assertion that the accused herself physically and directly did not resort to violence as understood in common parlance would not be germane in the context of various acts committed by different individuals including accused in the commission of riots," the court said.

It further noted that the investigation in the case was still continuing.

During the hearing, advocate Adit Pujari, appearing for Kalita, told the court that the stringent provisions of bail would not be attracted since there was no conspiracy and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was wrongly invoked in the case. He claimed the prosecution has failed to show any prima facie case against her.

He said expression of dissent was not an offence under the law and Kalita has a history of resorting to cause-based peaceful expression of dissent.

The court said that though the accused has a right to protest against any legislation and that was the freedom granted to her by the Constitution of India, it is subject to reasonable restrictions.

"The said assertion was correct to the extent that freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution of India grants her the power and right to voice her opinion about any legislation and thus, to peacefully protest," it said.

The court further said in terms of the investigation, the present case was of a preplanned, multi-layered and deep-rooted conspiracy by blocking the roads and chakka-jam and other means at preplanned sites, inciting people, disturbing law and order, creating communal tension, etc leading to the riots in Delhi.

It said that as per the case of the prosecution, Kalita was a part of organization 'Pinjra Tod' which actively participated in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register for Citizens (NRC) and instigated riots in Delhi.

"Her location is also found at protest sites at Jafrabad at the time of protest. She was in constant touch with other co-accused persons like Amit Prasad and other suspected persons," it said.

Pujari argued that Kalita was a law-abiding member of society and an academic with credentials.

The prosecution was not able to make out as to what was the offence against her as what she was alleged to have said was also narrated by many other public personalities, the lawyer claimed.

The prosecution has not filed any video to substantiate their assertion regarding the involvement of the accused in the conspiracy, though it was the best evidence, Pujari claimed.

Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad opposed the bail plea saying there was freedom to contest and oppose law but violent protest and conspiracy was not allowed.

The public prosecutor alleged that it was clear from the examination of case file and case diaries that there was adequate material on record to suggest the role of Kalita in the conspiracy and the riots in Delhi.

He told the court that on March 6, source information was received in the Crime Branch that the communal riot incidents of February 23- 25 in Delhi were allegedly preplanned and was hatched by one Umar Khalid, a student of Jawahar Lal University (JNU) and his associates, all linked with different groups.

He alleged that during the investigation, technical and manual evidence were collected and it was revealed that Kalita played an important role in spreading recent Delhi riots by way of roadblocks, hate speeches, instigating protesters to get violent against the government of India.

Her name was also revealed during the interrogation of the co-accused, Prasad claimed.

The public prosecutor claimed that during police custody remand, Kalita disclosed her involvement in the conspiracy of the present case.

The role of accused Devangna Kalita in the protests and riots in Delhi has been specifically stated in the statements of protected witnesses, who have alleged that Kalita was one of the organizers of Jafrabad/Seelampur protest site and actively participated in planning, conspiracy and incitement of recent Delhi riots, he claimed.

He argued that it was also revealed from the statements of witnesses that Kalita along with other associates allegedly provoked the residents of the area to gather chili powder, lathies, acid, glass bottles and stones and used at the time of confrontations.

He said that investigation of the present case was at a very crucial stage and some key accused were yet to be arrested.

The communal riots had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after clashes between the supporters of the new citizenship law and the protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured.

Kalita was arrested on May 23 in a case related to rioting in northeast Delhi. While the court had granted her bail the next day in the case, she was arrested by the Crime Branch in connection with a murder case related to the riots.

On May 30, she was arrested in a case related to violence in old Delhi's Daryaganj area in December last year. The court had granted bail to her in the case.

She was rearrested and slapped with UAPA in early June for her alleged role in inciting the communal riots in Northeast Delhi in February.

Pinjra Tod (Break the Cage) was founded in 2015 with an aim to make hostels and paying guest accommodations less restrictive for women students.
Libya's UN-backed gov't accuses eastern-based army of attacking its forces in Sirte

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:18, August 28, 2020

TRIPOLI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The UN-backed Libyan government on Thursday accused the rival eastern-based army of attacking its forces in Sirte city.

Spokesman of the Libyan government forces, Mohamed Gonono, said in a statement that the eastern-based army fired 12 Grad rockets at the positions of the government forces in west of Sirte, some 450 km east of the capital Tripoli.

"The Operations Command awaits instructions of the Supreme Commander to deal with and respond to the fire sources at the right place and time," the statement said.

However, the eastern-based army denied the attack.

A few days ago, the UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj and the Speaker of the eastern-based House of Representatives Aguila Saleh issued calls for a cease-fire in the country, reopening the oilfields and ports, holding elections, and turning Sirte and Jufra into demilitarized zones.

However, the eastern-based army denounced Serraj's initiative as merely "media marketing," while accusing the UN-backed government of preparing to attack its units in Sirte.

The UN-backed government has been engaged in a deadly armed conflict with the eastern-based army, which is allied with the eastern-based House of Representatives, for more than a year over control of Tripoli.

After the eastern-based army withdrew from western Libya recently, the UN-backed government has been trying to take control of Sirte and Jufra in central Libya.

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New Delhi: The Ganpati festival is celebrated with much gusto in the country and especially in Maharashtra, it holds a greater significance. Like many others, Karisma and Kareena Kapoor's aunt Rima Jain brings Bappa home every year and the celebrations are marked with the attendance of the familia.

Karisma Kapoor posted a few photos from their Ganpati Darshan at aunt's place today and we must say that everyone looks picture perfect. She wrote in the caption: Ganapati Darshan #familytime

Karisma, with her kids Samiera and Kiaan, Kareena with Taimur Ali Khan, Randhir Kapoor, Babita, Rima and Mohan Jain, Armaan Jain with wife, Aadar Jain - everyone looked festive happy dressed in bright traditional attire.

This year, however, the celebrations have been low key all around due to the deadly novel coronavirus outbreak. The pandemic has called for restraining, social distancing and all festivals are being celebrated with precautions in place against the COVID-19 health crisis.

Ganeshotsav is a 10-day long festival, starting with Ganesh Chaturthi on August 22 this year. Devotees bring Bappa home, pray to him, seek his blessings before bidding him a teary-eyed farewell with a promise to return the next year.

Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudchya Varshi Lavkar Ya!
A group of 10 aspiring Tcho entrepreneurs gathered this week to workshop their business ideas, but used a unique tool designed specifically for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

A three-day workshop by EntrepreNorth  an organization with the goal of "empowering Indigenous and community-based entrepreneurs" to build sustainable businesses across the North  started Tuesday.

The 10 entrepreneurs put together business plans, and used a new tool called the multidirectional business compass. That tool is an "Indigenous-centred business model," developed to help braid Indigenous worldviews and community values into building a successful business.

Benjamin Scott, project director with EntrepreNorth, developed the multidirectional business compass.

"We really put a lot of effort and time into developing a tool that we hope resonates with these entrepreneurs in a way that incorporates and acknowledges Indigenous ways of knowing and being," said Scott, who's Tcho.

She gave me my sense of belonging and my purpose of who I was as a Tcho woman. - Katrina Drybones, entrepreneur

He said the tool was developed to help provide a culturally relevant experience for northern entrepreneurs.

Submitted by Katrina Drybones

Misty Ireland, associate director of EntrepreNorth, is Dehcho Dene from Jean Marie River and owns a business called Dene Roots. She sells smokeless smudge sprays inspired by elders from her region.

"You hear words defined in English but they don't always match with your worldview, or your Indigenous perspective on things," explained Ireland.

"Through the ... compass, I believe Indigenous entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to use culturally relevant definitions on what things like success and wealth actually are from an Indigenous perspective."

Ireland said for her, wealth means health, community, her family's well-being.

"Being able to use business tools that define wealth from that perspective, makes it easier and more relatable," she said.

Story continues

A Behchoko entrepreneur's story

Katrina Drybones, who's originally from Behchoko, N.W.T., was one of the participants at the workshop and said it was "very helpful."

"This workshop was actually invented by and for the Tcho people, so it was really nice to see that that connection," said Drybones, a 30-year-old entrepreneur.

Her proposed business name is "Made by Kahtreenah," and she focuses on handmade, traditional clothing and accessories "with a modern touch." For example, she said she's making hair accessories and ribbon skirts out of granny scarves.

Drybones's journey started a decade ago, but she said she struggled to keep her business idea going.

Submitted by Katrina Drybones

"I was just a woman with no ambition, so confused in my sense of belonging, I had no patience in wanting to learn about my culture and my people," she wrote in her business proposal.

"My confidence, my anxiety, my emotional mental health were being affected in many ways. I [sought] help from doctors and professionals and yet I was still lost.... Who am I? Why am I here?"

Things took a turn for her when she sought help from the women in her family.

"This is where a shiny blue and green colourful bead caught the corner of my eye. I saw my dad who was wearing my late grandmother's caribou hide gloves," she wrote.

Drybones said she began beading with the help of her late auntie.

"I thank her for this. She didn't give up on me. She gave me my sense of belonging and my purpose of who I was as a Tcho woman," wrote Drybones in the proposal.

Drybones told CBC she "struggled a lot" to meet demands from customers, and didn't have the resources to handle challenges that came up in her business.

Now, with the help of workshops and more education, Drybones said she wants to open an online shop and, eventually, a store in Behchoko or Yellowknife. She also wants to obtain a diploma in business administration.

"It was very empowering to know that there are other programs and workshops like [EntrepreNorth's] across the North," she said.
Right-wing pundit Ann Coulter caused outrage after claiming in a tweet she wished the Kenosha shooter was her president.

Twitter quickly removed the tweet after social media users jumped to criticize Coulter for praising the teenager accused of the murder of two Black Lives Matter protesters on Tuesday night.

Coulter, 58, was tweeting early Thursday morning in response to a follower who said 'I want Kyle Rittenhouse to be my bodyguard'.

'I want him as my president,' the controversial pundit wrote.

Right-wing pundit Ann Coulter, 58, claimed she wants Kyle Rittenhouse to be president. The teenager is accused of the murder of two protesters in Wisconsin on Tuesday night

'I want him as my President,' she wrote Thursday morning. Twitter quickly removed it

Twitter deemed that the tweet violated the platforms' rules about violence after other users complained.

'The tweet glorified violence, specifically condoning an act of violence that may be replicable by a civilian,' a spokesperson told Salon.

Yet even after the tweet was deleted, Coulter's comments were widely condemned as protests and unrest following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin on Sunday continued throughout the country.

'In case @AnnCoulterdeletes it, here's the tweet. Please report this vile woman & her vile tweet,' said actress Yvette Nicole Brown.

'@jack& @twitter please help. If these hateful people with large followings are allowed to continue to declare #OpenSeason on Black lives, on YOUR platform, more people will die, she added.

'This goes beyond being provocateurs. Ann Coulter, Tucker Carlson and Fox News are encouraging Americans to murder one another,' said gun reform activist Shannon Watts.

'America is sick,' claimed actress Alice Evans.

Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, is accused of the murder of two protesters Tuesday night

'Why is it ok for Ann Coulter and Tucker Carlson to celebrate cold-blooded murder JUST because of the weapon used to commit it? There is no other reason. If Kyle Rittenhouse had knifed or poisoned two innocent men there would be no celebration.'

One Twitter user named @theidlevice asked Coulter why she is 'supporting domestic terrorism'.

'They're not even saying the quiet part loud anymore, they're shouting it,' another user wrote.

Author John Pavlovitz hit out at Coulter wanting a 'murderous, gun-loving, bigoted adolescent to be her President'.

'Wish granted, Ann,' he added, comparing Rittenhouse to Trump.

Coulter has not commented on the removal of her previous Rittenhouse tweet but has continued to be vocal in her support of the teenage shooter, sharing pictures of him cleaning graffiti and bashing Jacob Blake.

'Please submit photo of Jacob Blake cleaning graffiti,' she tweeted.

Coulter is among several conservative voices who have been slammed for their praised of Rittenhouse. Fox Host Tucker Carlson and former San Francisco Giants player Aubrey Huff were also criticized for lauding him.

Coulter faced backlash on social media for the comment

Coulter continued her praise of Rittenhouse after the first tweet was removed

Rittenhouse, 17, was arrested Wednesday accused of killing two people with an assault rifle in Wisconsin the previous night as violence broke out at protests in Kenosha.

His actions have since become the focal point of a debate over anti-racism demonstrations which have gripped many American cities and the vigilantism that sometimes meets them.

On Tuesday, Kyle Rittenhouse grabbed an AR-15 style rifle and joined several other armed people in the streets of Kenosha, where businesses had been vandalized and buildings burned following a police shooting that left the 29-year-old black man Blake paralyzed.

By the end of the night, Rittenhouse had killed two people and wounded a third.

At a hearing on Friday, a judge postponed a decision on whether Rittenhouse, who is in custody in Illinois, should be returned to Wisconsin to face charges including first-degree intentional homicide that could land him in prison for the rest of his life.

To some, Rittenhouse is a domestic terrorist whose very presence with a rifle incited the protesters.

Rittenhouse, once part of a youth cadet program for aspiring police officers, can be seen in a social media photo posing in a blue police uniform with a silver badge and broad-brimmed hat

Much of Rittenhouse's Facebook is devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter - the movement that supports police. He also previously participated in a youth public safety cadet program (pictured), according to social media

Images of Rittenhouse cleaning graffiti in Kenosha have been widely shared by his supporters

But to a handful of other  who have become frustrated with demonstrations and unrest across the country  he is seen as a hero who took up arms to help people who were left unprotected.

The protests in Kenosha are the latest to erupt during a reckoning over policing and racial injustice following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police earlier this year.

As they have in other cities, rallies devolved into violence and vandalism at some points, and the National Guard was called in.

The commander of the force said on Friday that more than 1,000 guard members have been deployed, and more are on the way.

Rittenhouse, once part of a youth cadet program for aspiring police officers, can be seen on his Facebook page posing in a blue police uniform with a silver badge and broad-brimmed hat.

In other online photos and videos, he takes target practice and brandishes a rifle above the caption: 'Blue Lives Matter.'

On Tuesday night, as Rittenhouse stood in front of a boarded-up building, he spoke to a reporter from the Daily Caller news site.

'People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business,' Rittenhouse said.

'And part of my job is to also help people. If there is somebody hurt, I'm running into harm's way. That's why I have my rifle.'

The two men who were killed were Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, (left) and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, (right) about 15 miles west of the city. Rittenhouse is accused of their murder

Kyle Rittenhouse (pictured Tuesday night) armed himself on Tuesday and made his way to a garage whose owner had put out a call for protection, according to a statement from John Pierce, a lawyer representing the teenager. He handed himself in to police on Wednesday

Rittenhouse and a friend armed themselves on Tuesday and made their way to a garage whose owner had put out a call for protection, according to a statement from John Pierce, a lawyer representing the teenager.

In the attorney's description of events, Rittenhouse tried to offer medical help to injured people before he was 'accosted by multiple rioters', leading him to open fire.

The hashtag #FreeKyleRittenhouse has trended on Twitter, while a self-described Christian fundraising site says it has raised more than $100,000 for Rittenhouse's defense, and a post including photos of the teenager cleaning up graffiti in Kenosha before the shooting was shared and liked thousands of times.

The night of the shootings, Rittenhouse is seen on video as a green-shirted figure running across a car park with a rifle followed by a man later identified as Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, according to a criminal complaint.

It adds that Rosenbaum throws a plastic bag at Rittenhouse and misses, before five shots ring out and Rosenbaum falls to the ground. He was later declared dead.

'I just killed somebody,' Rittenhouse says into his mobile phone, according to the complaint, before he starts running with several people giving chase.

'Beat him up,' one person in the crowd says, according to the complaint. Another yells: 'Get him! Get that dude!'

Rittenhouse then trips and falls. One man holding a skateboard appears to try to grab the gun from Rittenhouse. A shot rings out, and the man, Anthony Huber, 26, staggers away. He also died.

In the scuffle, lasting just seconds, Rittenhouse shoots a third person armed with a handgun, according to the complaint. That man, Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, survived with a deep wound to his arm.

After the shootings, Rittenhouse can be seen walking toward police with his gun slung over his shoulder and his hands in the air.

Police officers in tactical vehicles then roll right past him.

The teenager later turned himself in in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois, according to Kenosha police chief Daniel Miskinis.

The police have faced questions about their response.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 11:37:03|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to promote women's participation in peacekeeping operations.

Resolution 2538 calls on UN member states, the UN Secretariat and regional organizations to strengthen their collective efforts to promote the "full, effective, and meaningful participation" of uniformed and civilian women in peacekeeping operations at all levels and in all positions, including in senior leadership positions.

It encourages member states to develop strategies and measures to increase the deployment of uniformed women to peacekeeping operations.

It encourages cooperation among member states and between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations in advancing greater participation and role of women in peacekeeping operations.

The resolution calls on member states and the UN Secretariat to ensure safe, enabling and gender-sensitive working environments for women in peacekeeping operations and to address threats and violence against them.

It expresses concerns over allegations of sexual harassment in peacekeeping operations and affirms its support for the UN secretary-general's zero-tolerance policy on all forms of sexual harassment.

It encourages member states and the UN Secretariat to enhance partnerships to support targeted training and capacity building programs for uniformed women personnel. It further encourages member states to nominate uniformed women personnel to participate in such training activities and to promote their deployment to peacekeeping operations.

It urges peacekeeping operations to promote the full, effective and meaningful participation of women in all components and functions and at all levels. Enditem
Workers Bobby Ore and Steve Piersall remove a tree which fell onto a house in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S., August 28, 2020. The residents of the home escaped injury. Image taken with a drone. REUTERS/Adrees Latif (Photo : Reuters Connect )

Hurricane Laura is counted among the most powerful storms in US history. In its wake, it ravaged Louisiana, killed six people and left massive damage and destruction.









Destructive Hurricane

Laura struck the state and caused widespread destruction across Louisiana. Six people were reported dead from the storm, and maybe more have been killed who were not yet presently said. The mortalities include a 14-year-old teenager and a 68-year-old male senior citizen.

The destructive storm weakened later on and became downgraded into a tropical depression. But it has already destroyed a lot of homes and business establishments.

It also knocked out the power of almost a million residents and businesses in Louisiana and Texas.

Also, the state of Arkansas was put in a state of emergency. It was lashed by Hurricane Laura's howling winds and caused massive floods.

Now a Tropical Depression

According to the NHC or National Hurricane Center, as of last night, Hurricane Laura already weakened into a tropical depression, after wreaking destruction in Louisiana when it hit the state as a storm Category 4. As of last night, Laura was located in the vicinity of 30 miles north-to-northeast from Little Rock in Arkansas, having up to 35 mph of sustained winds.

READ: Chemicals Plant in Lake Charles on Fire Due to Hurricane Laura





No Power

Widespread power interruptions left hundreds of thousands of Louisiana residents without electricity last night, and no water as well. Entergy, the area's power company, reported that as of 4 PM last Thursday, over 540,000 power customers had no electricity. The power supplier also said that they have already deployed 16,750 restoration teams to put back power in as many areas as possible and as quickly as they can.

No Water

Louisiana state's Department of Health issued a tweet regarding residents facing outages of water supply. The locals reportedly number over 220,000. Their communities have no access to water, and the destructive effects of Hurricane Laura caused 67 of the water outages.

Tropical Storm Laura reportedly reached the area 35 miles south from Little Rock in Arkansas as of 7 PM CT, with maximum recorded sustained winds reaching 40 mph. The NHC forecast Laura's center moved over the state of Arkansas last Thursday night and reached mid-Mississippi Valley by Friday. On Saturday, it is expected to be in the mid-Atlantic area states, and by Sunday, it will be over western Atlantic.

READ ALSO: Real Estate Website Provides Flood-Risk Score for Every American Home





Destruction

Laura caused a fire in a chemical plant owned by BioLab, and it blew out the windows of the Capital One Tower. Both of these buildings are located in Louisiana.

It crossed to the state of Arkansas by 19:00 local time last Thursday. Even if it is already a tropical depression, it still brought heavy rains.

According to John Bel Edwards, Governor of Louisiana, Laura was not as catastrophic and destructive as they expected, but there was still tremendous damage. He warned the residents to continue being vigilant.

President Trump's Statement

President Trump had been briefed about the catastrophe by Washington's FEMA or Federal Emergency Management Agency. He said he would be going to the affected states this coming weekend to see to the victims of the damage brought about by Hurricane Laura, which ranks among the most powerful storms in US history.

READ NEXT: Explaining Today's Hyperactive Hurricane Season: Storm Trends and Implications

Check out more news and information on Hurricanes and Hurricane Laura on Nature World News.
Kristi Nix

Fort Bend County officials voiced careful optimism during this weeks commissioners court meeting citing a decline in the number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and a decrease in the countys active case count.

We continue to see the positive results of universal face coverings as we move about with decreased hospitalizations and less people in the ICU in both Fort Bend County and in the Texas Medical Center, Dr. Jacqueline Minter, director of Fort Bend County Health and Human Services Department told commissioners Tuesday (Aug. 25). The Texas Medical Center is important to us because they do give numbers for our region which does include a lot of Fort Bend County residents. This is good news as our schools are reopening and as our nursing homes are accepting visitors for the first time in several months.
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New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday hit out at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman by claiming that the Indian economy has been "destroyed" by three actions -- demonetisation, flawed GST and a failed lockdown.

Sitharaman on Thursday had said the economy has been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is an 'Act of God', and it will see a contraction in the current fiscal.

Gandhi tweeted his reponse along with a news report, saying: "India's economy has been destroyed by three actions: 1. Demonetisation 2. Flawed GST 3. Failed lockdown. Anything else is a lie."

Indias economy has been destroyed by three actions: 1. Demonetisation

2. Flawed GST

3. Failed lockdown Anything else is a lie.https://t.co/IOVPDAG2cv  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 28, 2020

During the 41 GST Council meet on Thursday, Sitharaman revealed that the pandemic has severely impacted GST revenues which have widened to Rs 2.35 lakh crore this year from a shortfall of Rs 70,000 crore last fiscal. The Center gave the option to the states that they can take a loan for the required revenue in the current financial year.

The former Congress president has been critical of the Narendra Modi-led government in its handling of the economy.

Gandhi is also lending his support to the students who want the NEET-JEE postponed, he started an online campaign so that the demands of the students can be conveyed to the government.
Mother-in-laws are masters of the 'pop in' God gives a special gift to every woman who becomes a mother-in-law. She is endowed by her...

Republicans care only about themselves Six-hundred eighty-four. That is the number of deaths in Madison County as a result of COVID-19....
Social care leader warns there is no automatic right for indoor care home visits

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Aug 29th, 2020

A social care leader has warned there is no automatic right for indoor visits to care homes for relatives and friends of residents.

Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, spoke out about the relaxation of the restrictions announced on Thursday by the Welsh Government.

The changes, which came into place yesterday, allow indoors visitors to care homes for the first time in six months.

However Mr Kreft has said that it was clear there is a great deal of misunderstanding and confusion around the issue.

While indoor visits where now permitted they would only be allowed at the discretion of the care homes who had the right to make the final decision, after taking into account a whole range of factors including local circumstances.

According to Mr Kreft, protecting the health and safety of vulnerable residents and staff would always be the first and absolute priority of care homes in considering requests for indoor visits.

Every request would be subjected to a rigorous risk assessment and any visits would have to be undertaken with great caution.

Mr Kreft said: Quite rightly, care homes are taking an extremely cautious approach to any indoor visits.

The lifting of the blanket restrictions by the Welsh Government does not give the green light to an open door policy for visitors. It is important to stress this is not an instruction to care homes to allow indoor visits.

The new policy allows visits under very strict conditions at the discretion of the care homes concerned. Indoor visiting can only happen if it can be achieved safely.

We still have to take into account all the relevant health and safety legislation and employment law because the safety and wellbeing of our residents and staff is our paramount concern. There is an overriding legal responsibility on all providers to ensure to protect them.

Every setting is different and each request will have to been considered individually with a rigorous risk assessment carried out.

When they happen the message from the Welsh Government about how tightly indoor visits are controlled is very clear and leaves the ultimate decision as to whether they go ahead to the care home concerned.

Over the last six months providers have come up with a whole host of innovative ways of reuniting residents with their families and friends, with outdoor visits and the use of technology which has been invaluable.

When they happen, indoor visits are also likely to be staff intensive so they will be limited and visits that can be conducted outdoors will continue to be done there.

Providers will continue to work hard to ensure that it is possible to stay in touch with loved ones because this is important in so many ways.

Care homes across Wales and the wonderful staff who work in them have done a remarkable job in shielding social care and saving lives and this will remain as our number one priority.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on his popular monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat at 11 AM on Sunday.

This will be the 68th edition of PMs extremely popular monthly radio programme

PM Modi took to Twitter and sought ideas and suggestions from people about the issues to be addressed in his radio programme where he addresses the country and range of issues.

The Prime Minister had tweeted to ask people to send their inputs by writing to him using NaMo or MyGov App or by recording their messages by calling on 1800-11-7800. Phone lines have been opened from August 10.

Tune in at 11 AM on 30th August. #MannKiBaat, a tweet from PM Modis Twitter handle said.

Tune in at 11 AM on 30th August. #MannKiBaat pic.twitter.com/PuaZEqmT78  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 29, 2020

In the previous edition of Mann ki Baat, which was also a date when India celebrates Kargil Vijay Diwas, PM Modi had paid tributes to the soldiers who fought valiantly against Pakistans forces during the Kargil War.

He also said that despite efforts to establish cordial relations Pakistan remained resolute in pushing cross-border terrorism.

PM Modi also reminded citizens to not let their guard down amid the rising cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). He said that it is necessary to wear masks when outside and asked those who think wearing them is troublesome to reflect upon the amount of time frontline workers have to spend in a day wearing masks. He reiterated that people need to follow all precautions to prevent Covid-19.
Washington

Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. famously laid out a vision for harmony between white and Black people 57 years ago, his son issued a sobering reminder about the persistence of police brutality and racist violence targeting Black Americans.

"We must never forget the American nightmare of racist violence exemplified when Emmett Till was murdered on this day in 1955, and the criminal justice system failed to convict his killers," said Martin Luther King III, speaking to thousands that gathered Friday to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

"Sixty-five years later (after Till's murder), we still struggle for justice  demilitarizing the police, dismantling mass incarceration, and declaring as determinately as we can that Black lives matter," King said.

Even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, many felt compelled to join civil rights advocates in Washington to highlight a scourge of police and vigilante violence that gave way to what many feel is an overdue reckoning on racial injustice. Some stood in sweltering temperatures in lines that stretched for several blocks, as organizers took temperatures as part of coronavirus protocols. Organizers reminded attendees to practice social distancing and wear masks throughout the program, although distancing was hardly maintained as the gathering grew in size.

They gathered following another shooting by a white police officer of a Black man  this time, 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Sunday  sparking demonstrations and violence that left two dead. As peaceful protests turned to arson and theft, naysayers of the Black Lives Matter movement issued calls for "law and order."

Rev. Al Sharpton, whose National Action Network, planned Friday's commemoration, said:

"Some say to me, 'Rev. Al, y'all ought to denounce those that get violent, those that are looting. All of the families (of victims of police and vigilante violence) have denounced looting. What we haven't heard is you denounce shooting."

Sharpton asked, "We will speak against the looting, but when will you speak against wrong police shooting?"

King stood with relatives of victims: Blake, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner.

"There are two systems of justice in the United States," said Jacob Blake Sr., the father of the man whose shooting by police in Kenosha left him paralyzed from the waist down. "There's a white system and a black system  the black system ain't doing so well."

Philonise Floyd stared at the massive march and said he wished his brother George was there to see it.

Friday's march shaped up to be the largest political gathering in Washington since the pandemic began. Many attendees wore T-shirts of the late Rep. John Lewis who, until his death last month, was the last living speaker at the original March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It went on to become one of the most famous political rallies in U.S. history, and one of the largest gatherings with over 200,000 people in attendance.

Organizers wanted to show urgency for federal policing reforms and demand voting rights protections before the November election. Satellite marches were held in South Carolina, Florida, Nevada, Utah and Colorado.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, in a video, said: "I have to believe that if they were with us today, they would share in our anger and frustration as we continue to see Black men and women slain in our streets, and left behind in our economy and justice system that has too often denied Black folks our dignity and rights."

Former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted his support.

Pres. Donald Trump did not comment on the march Friday; the Republican National Committee marked the anniversary by touting him as a "champion for the Black community."

Activist Frank Nitty, who said he walked 750 miles for 24 days from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Washington for Friday's march, spoke to the audience about persistence in the fight for justice.

"Are y'all tired? Because I'm tired," Nitty said. "They think this is a negotiation, but I came here to demand change. My grandson ain't gonna march for the same things that my granddaddy marched for."

Navy veteran Alonzo Jones-Goss, 28, who traveled from Boston to participate in the march, said the nation has seen far too many tragic events that claimed the lives of Black Americans and other people of color, and "that needs to come to an end."

Following the rally, participants marched to the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in West Potomac Park, next to the National Mall, then dispersed. Some headed to Black Lives Matter Plaza, right outside of the White House, which was renamed from Pennsylvania Avenue during protests in June. That month, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act banning police stranglehold maneuvers and ending qualified immunity for officers. A GOP reform bill, introduced in June by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who is Black, failed a vote in the Senate because Democrats felt it didn't address officer accountability.

Following Lewis' July death, Democratic senators introduced legislation restoring the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Fifty-seven years ago, on 28 August 1963, Larry Fink was zooming down the highway from New York to Washington DC, an American flag streaming from the back of his motorcycle. The highway was busy with fellow motorists with the same destination in mind. Every time we would pass each other by, there would be a tremendous outroar of comradery, he tells The Independent.

Fink, then a young photographer in his early twenties, was heading to the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. He didnt know it then, but it would become one of the defining moments of the American civil rights movement. Fink was one of the 250,000 people to gather in the capital that day for a black-organised peaceful march that culminated in Martin Luther Kings famous I Have a Dream speech.

Fink wasnt on assignment that day. He was at the march as a young Marxist: Everything I did back then, I felt, was for the revolution, he says. His photographs are full of compassion for the people around him, and they capture a weary but unwavering determination. In one picture, titled Many Shades of Concern, a southern sharecropper at the march stands watching and waiting with his arms crossed, flanked by a number of American flags. As he gazes ahead, his expression reflects the hardships that bought him to this moment, as much as his hope for change.

Poor Peoples Campaign, Washington DC, May 1968 (Larry Fink)

Freedom Now, Washington DC, August 1963 (Larry Fink)

Malcolm X, Harlem, May 1963 (Larry Fink)

Poor Peoples Campaign, Washington DC, May 1968 (Larry Fink)

Almost 60 years later, as Black Lives Matter protests explode across the US and around the world, it is clear that the dream manifested on that day is still yet to be realised. At 79 years old and vulnerable to the coronavirus, Fink isnt out on the streets photographing this latest wave of protests. Instead, he is releasing a charity print edition of Many Shades of Concern, with all proceeds going to the Until Freedom Organisation.

He recalls his early involvement with the civil rights movement with joy. It was a magnificent time, he says. The passion that was given to a certain kind of innocence, the sense that there was hope in the air and that freedom could be sustained.

Thats not to say there werent some hairy moments. One time I was in Washington Square Park photographing a big march, he says. I was on the sidewalk and all of a sudden a plainclothes policeman came up to me. As Fink tells it, the policeman hit him over the head with a billy club, punched him in the stomach and crushed his camera. He threw me in the paddy wagon, Fink says, I went to jail for the day. The same policeman called him a commie faggot and told him his life was in danger at a later police tribunal. For about two years after I was living with a certain degree of paranoia, he says.

March On Pentagon, Washington DC, October 1967 (Larry Fink)

Poor Peoples Campaign, Washington DC, May 1968 (Larry Fink)

Freedom Now, Washington DC, August 1963 (Larry Fink)

When asked about how much he thought about his role as a white man photographing black protests, he says his belief in the movement meant he didnt feel like an outsider. We were all in this together, he says. However, not everyone around him felt the same. Two weeks after Malcolm X had given his famous 1964 speech The Ballot or the Bullet, Fink attended another of his speeches in New York. A young woman got up and said, You just gave that speech The Ballot or the Bullet. And she pointed at me. She said, I have a bullet for that man back there! As Fink recalls, Malcolm X intervened. He said to her, Sit down sister! That mans going to vote with you.

Despite being a Marxist, there was nothing dogmatic about Finks work. Im a human person, not just a political person, he says. I like people actually. Although I think theyre a pain in the ass! Compassion is the main entry point from which he makes his work, which has largely focussed on gatherings and social situations. His best-known work, Social Graces, contrasted working class and elite parties during the 1970s. He later went on to photograph Oscar parties and other big events for Vanity Fair, which are collected in the book The Vanities: Hollywood Parties 20002009.

He says he felt like an infiltrator to this world of dazzling wealth, although he always saw the humanity in everyone. Emotions are primary to all of us, and its that which allows us the empathy factor, he says. In my way of thinking thats how I need to photograph, to go inside the other person somehow and find what it is about them which is also about me.

Easter Peace March, Harlem, April 1963 (Larry Fink)

Freedom Now, Washington DC, August 1963 (Larry Fink)

Malcolm X, Harlem Rally for Birmingham, May 1963 (Larry Fink)

With digital today I dont use flash. I use a tiny camera to get really, really close. Just be calm, you can get real close as long as you can allow the person youre photographing dignity  people can feel when youre against them. Despite his left-wing credentials, he refuses to judge the very rich. Even though I might be astounded by wealth, Im not revolted by the people in it, he says.

One person resists his empathic gaze. I was photographing for Vanity Fair when Trump got inaugurated. They would have liked me to photograph his inaugural ball. And I refused. I didnt want to photograph him. I didnt want to give him my attention. I thought he was a horrible person, Ill give him nothing. I dont want to see that motherfucker! Instead, he photographed the Womens March the following day.

Due to the coronavirus, Fink isnt taking photos much at the moment, using the time to archive his lifes work for the University of Arizona instead. Going back over his old prints, he has time to reflect even as he watches the protests carry on in the streets outside. Every protest you think you get a roadmap, but then greed and capitalism and the Republicans and their white identity just keep on beating you back, he says. However, its the nature of human kind to keep on fighting. Even through bitterness. One does fight for hope, thats all we live for basically.

Larry Fink will release a charity print edition of his photograph Many Shades of Concern via the David Hill Gallery with all proceeds going to the Until Freedom Organisation.
A sheep said to be the most expensive in the world has sold for 367,500 (412,168).

Pedigree Texel ram lamb Double Diamond was sold at the Scottish National Texel Sale in Lanark on Thursday.

The lamb was sold by Charlie Boden and family from their Sportsmans flock in Stockport, Cheshire, England.

The price escalated from an opening bid of 10,500 (11,776) and the animal was bought by a three-way partnership between three farmers.

Jeff Aiken, flock manager at Procters Farm, one of the buyers, told the PA news agency: "The Texel for a start is the best breed in the UK and the pedigree side of it is getting bigger... It's an exceptional animal and the best Texel sheep I've ever seen. Hopefully, he'll do a good job on all three flocks."

He stressed the price is a "one-off" and said he did not want it to give the wrong impression of the farming industry.

"There's a small percentage of pedigree buyers that can club together and pay big money, but at the end of the day the commercial farmers are as important if not more important - they are putting food on our tables," he said.

Mr Aiken added: "He is the best lamb I have ever seen -so correct on his legs, bright, with a great top. He's got it all."

It is said to be the most expensive sheep sold in the world. The Texel Sheep Society said the previous record was 231,000 (259,074) paid for a Texel, Deveronvale Perfection, in 2009.
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
Speaking to The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age, the minister explained he had left to speak to aged care providers, one who was "looking to get some assistance with testing his staff" and another, in the grips of an outbreak, whose concerns he was pursuing with the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre set up by the national cabinet last month. "I didn't walk out on any questioning," Colbeck says, pointing out he had answered about 60 questions throughout the sitting week as the target of Labor's relentless offensive. "It's not as if there hadn't been scrutiny of me and the portfolio." Attending to the crisis at hand had taken priority over "sitting there listening to them making speeches about me", he says. But for many of those watching at home, including family members of elderly Victorians who had died in the state's second wave of COVID-19, the damage was already done. Spiros Dimitriou, whose 73-year-old father, John, died in hospital this month after being infected with COVID-19 at St Basils Home for the Aged in the northern Melbourne suburb of Fawkner, described Colbeck's exit from the chamber as "very disrespectful."

Dimitriou says it was "frustrating" to hear the Prime Minister backing his minister and both stating community transmission had made COVID-19 deaths in aged care inevitable. "The prime minister said in March that 'we must protect the vulnerable'," he says. "They weren't prepared ... someone's got to be held accountable." ''Someone's got to be held accountable'': Spiros Dimitriou at his father John's grave in Glenroy. Credit:Joe Armao He blasted state and federal politicians for engaging in a "blame game" over who was responsible for the Victorian aged care disaster, saying: "Let's fix it." Klery Loutas lost her mother Filia Xynidakis, also a St Basil's resident, despite the fact that she did not contract the coronavirus.

In the chaos of the outbreak that killed more than a quarter of St Basils 120 residents and caused its entire workforce to be sent home, the 77-year-old suffered dehydration and malnutrition that accelerated her dementia in what doctors have described as a case of neglect. "If you can't man up and face up, you need to leave - you're not right for the job," Loutas says of the minister. "If I walked out on a meeting with the board of directors where I work, I'd be sacked ... The only issue is, someone new to the portfolio would have to go through the whole process of learning everything." Loutas says the government should have heeded lessons of earlier aged care outbreaks after being handed a report in April outlining the failings at Newmarch House in Sydney's west, and that the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission had failed to enforce standards. She called on the minister to implement the changes needed to prepare for "the next outbreak" and "not wait for the Royal Commission" to hand down its recommendations.

The failures in aged care are now the subject of a fierce political stoush over who should be held responsible, though it is clear both state and federal authorities were involved in managing the pandemic response in the sector. As the death toll from the virus climbed, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews emphasised the federal government's role in funding aged care and regulating standards, while Morrison and his minister pointed the finger at Victorian health authorities. Loutas says to her it was simple: "You paid for it, you're responsible." Federal politicians should not try to "deflect or diffuse" their culpability, she says. National cabinet last month unveiled a plan to set up Aged Care Response Centres in each state and territory as needed, to rally surge workforces to fill rosters and ensure that hospital beds were ready to accept elderly patients, through the federal government's partnership with private hospitals. A senior government source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, says the prime minister's faith in Colbeck was "rock solid" and that rumours of his impending demise in the next cabinet reshuffle were false.

Morrison, asked multiple times over the past week if Colbeck's position was tenable, repeated on Friday: "I do have confidence [in him]." A Coalition source with knowledge of the portfolio says the prime minister "has a major problem" after failing to give it priority, with the pandemic in full swing and the Royal Commission into Aged Care making a ministerial switch problematic. "He needs someone who is a change agent ... with a degree of understanding and empathy," the source says. The problem was the aged care portfolio had been so neglected that "nobody takes it seriously and, unfortunately, nobody wants it. Unless you've got political standing, you can't enforce reform." Aged care providers and Labor have bemoaned the government's failure to elevate the aged care portfolio to the cabinet level, where it once sat with health in a combined portfolio.

"There should be a minister who is singularly responsible for this portfolio, and they should be a member of the cabinet," says Leading Aged Services Australia chief executive Sean Rooney. A number of federal politicians on both sides of the aisle see Colbeck's appointment as Aged Care Minister in May 2019 as a political fluke. Colbeck was appointed to the Senate in 2002 to fill a vacancy. In 2016 he lost his seat after being demoted to fifth place on the Coalition ticket in Tasmania, but unexpectedly returned in February 2018 after the parliamentary eligibility crisis forced Stephen Parry, a dual British citizen, to resign. Coalition convention dictates that a minister should be drawn from Tasmania and factional allegiances meant Colbeck, who had supported Malcolm Turnbull, was elevated over his conservative state colleagues by Morrison in his reshuffle after the 2019 election. Asked if he felt he had been handed a poisoned chalice, the minister says he had "never looked at it like that" but, rather, had seen "an opportunity to actually do something" about the troubled sector.

Secretary of the Department of Health Professor Brendan Murphy and Minister Colbeck appearing via video-conference, during a Senate select committee hearing on COVID-19, at Parliament House on August 21. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Colbeck says he entered the portfolio determined to "work out what it is that might actually change the way the system operates". Albanese pointed out the Coalition had "churned through seven ministers with responsibility for aged care - one for every year they have been in power". The portfolio's lowly status was highlighted on Monday when The Australian ran a front page story alleging that Colbeck had been "benched" over his performance at the August 21 committee hearing, when he was unable to say how many Victorian aged care residents had died. The newspaper pointed out the decision of when to activate new Aged Care Response Centres in each state lay with Health Minister Greg Hunt, not Colbeck, a detail seized upon by Labor - despite the fact the pandemic response had always been led by the health department.

As a cabinet minister, it is Hunt who attends meetings of the national cabinet, where decisions are made in concert with state and territory leaders. Colbeck says Labor senators were using "cute language" when they grilled him over whether he had briefed national cabinet on the crisis, saying he spoke with the prime minister daily about the situation in Victoria. "I can talk to the prime minister anytime I want, I have his full attention," he says. Morrison, who has announced $1 billion worth of aged care funding during the pandemic, promised more in the October federal budget, with further investments to be made next year after the Royal Commission delivers its recommendations. "We need to be able to act quickly off the back of that and seize the momentum," Colbeck says. "The current situation creates a mood where people are more prepared to accept some change than they might have been. I want to see benefit from the pain."
Japans PM Abe resigns for health reasons

WORLD: Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced yesterday (Aug 28) he will resign, ending his record-breaking tenure in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership race in the worlds third-largest economy.

politicshealth

By AFP

Saturday 29 August 2020, 11:11AM

Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has faced growing speculation about his health after two visits to hospital for medical checks. Photo: AFP

Abe said he is suffering a recurrence of the ulcerative colitis that forced him to cut short a first term in office, and that he no longer felt able to continue as prime minister.

Now that I am not able to fulfil the mandate from the people with confidence, I have decided that I should no longer occupy the position of the prime minister, he said.

While speculation about Abes political future has grown in recent weeks, after two hospital visits for unspecified health checks, the resignation nonetheless came as a surprise.

Even as recently as yesterday morning, the government spokesman had appeared to dismiss concerns about Abes health and suggested he would stay on.

But Abe made clear that would not be possible, apologising for once again cutting short his tenure.

I would like to sincerely apologise to the people of Japan for leaving my post with one year left in my term of office, and amid the coronavirus woes, he said, bowing deeply.

A big surprise

Abe said he would firmly execute my duty to the end, and until the next prime minister is appointed, possibly through a leadership election involving ruling party lawmakers and members.

The resignation shocked the markets, with Tokyo stocks plunging more than 2% towards the end of afternoon trade when reports of Abes decision first emerged.

It was a big surprise, said Shinichi Nishikawa, a professor of political science at Meiji University in Tokyo.

His resignation comes at a time when Japan is facing tough issues, including measures against the coronavirus, Nishikawa told AFP.

Abe had been expected to stay in office until the end of his term as LDP leader in September 2021, and the jockeying for position to succeed him was still in its early stages.

Still, some potential successors have already emerged, among them Finance Minister Taro Aso, chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga, former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida.

Kishida is rumoured to be Abes personal choice, while Aso commands one of the strongest blocs within the ruling party.

Most of the potential successors are seen as unlikely to break significantly with Abes policies.

Bitterly familiar decision

Abe declined to be drawn on who he would like to see take the top job, saying he had no intention of influencing the election, and that those often floated as candidates were all highly capable.

Experts said the election process was likely to happen in the coming weeks, with a new parliamentary session possible by October.

Abes decision to step down will be bitterly familiar for the man who was forced to leave office just one year after becoming the countrys youngest-ever prime minister.

He has since become Japans longest-serving premier, forever associated with the economic policy that bears his name: Abenomics.

He said his legacy would be for others to decide but pointed to his efforts to bring Barack Obama to Hiroshima, making him the first sitting US president to visit the site of the atomic bomb attack, as among his proudest achievements.

Among his greatest disappointments, he said, was his inability to bring home Japanese people kidnapped by North Korea decades ago.

Tributes poured in from leaders around the world, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising Abes wise leadership for strengthening ties and wishing him a speedy recovery, while the Kremlin hailed Abes invaluable contribution to relations.

Britains Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted he had achieved great things.

A spokesman for the presidential Blue House in Seoul praised Abe for his many meaningful achievements.

China was more circumspect, with a foreign ministry spokesman saying the resignation was an internal affair on which it would not comment.

US President Donald Trump paid his highest respect to a very great friend of mine.

Abes time in office will end with his government facing slumping approval ratings over its handling of the coronavirus crisis, including a U-turn on stimulus and a widely-mocked policy to issue cloth face masks to every household.

Some in Tokyo were quick to criticise Abe after his resignation was announced.

He has been in the prime ministers office way too long. I dont want to see his face honestly. Seven years and eight months, too long! said Tetsuya Daimon, 54.

Abes departure also means he will not be in charge as the country prepares to host the coronavirus-delayed Tokyo Olympics next year.
Key Highlights:

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal assures that 'Acting East' is central element in India's Indo-Pacific vision

Calls for restoration of the functionality of the appellate dispute resolution body of WTO

Joint statement of 18 nations highlights COVID-19 induced global economic downturn

India is willing to collaborate with the 10-member ASEAN bloc to produce generic drugs and medical technologies used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, Union Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal has said. "India is privileged to be able to serve the world by producing 70 per cent of the global vaccines and being trusted as the pharmacy of the world", he added.

Addressing the 8th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers' Meeting (EAS-EMM) through a video conference on August 28, Goyal welcomed the initiatives of ASEAN to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and the establishment of the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund. The member countries of ASEAN are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Goyal said that 'Acting East' is now a central element in India's Indo-Pacific vision. "India wants to see a strong, unified and prosperous ASEAN playing a central role in the emerging dynamics of the Indo-Pacific as it contributes to India's prosperity and security as well. We see a great deal of convergence between India's vision for the Indo-pacific and the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific," he said.

In addition to India and ASEAN, economic Ministers from Australia, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation and the United States were part of virtual EAS-EMM conference.

Goyal also called for the restoration of the functionality of the appellate dispute resolution body of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and expressed India's willingness to partner with all countries to ensure fair, transparent and balanced trading systems, and to enhance connectivity, for national, regional and global economic growth.

"India supports the reform of the WTO while preserving the centrality, core values and fundamental principles of the WTO, including special and differential treatment for the developing countries", he said.

Later, a joint statement signed by all the 18 participating economic ministers acknowledged that the COVID-19 global pandemic has created unprecedented challenges that have caused not only loss of lives but also economic downturn for most countries around the world. The ministers underscored the importance of further strengthening regional economic cooperation, and resolved to take actions aimed at mitigating the economic impact of the pandemic on global and regional trade and investment, ensuring macroeconomic and financial stability and restoring business confidence in the region, the joint statement said. The EAS-EMM meet also underscored the importance of strengthening regional supply chains to make them resilient and less vulnerable to shocks and to advance sustainable economic growth. "The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to promote trade and investment, minimize disruptions to trade and global supply chains and facilitate supply chain connectivity, including for essential goods such as medical supplies, medicines, including vaccines, food, commodities and other essential supplies and services in the region", the joint statement said.

The ministers also welcomed the increasing trade and strong investment performance among the EAS economies, with the combined nominal GDP reaching $ 51.6 trillion in 2019, an increase by 4.1 per cent from the previous year. The ASEAN merchandise trade with non-ASEAN EAS participating countries amounted to $ 1.3 trillion in 2019, accounting for 48.1 per cent of ASEAN's total trade while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) reached to $ 61.2 billion, representing 38.1 per cent of ASEAN's total FDI inflows, signifying the importance of the economic engagement between EAS participating nations.

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Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

For many Kenosha residents, Saturday morning was starting like the five mornings before them since Jacob Blakes shooting by the police last Sunday, after a night of large, peaceful protests demanding justice and equality.

Hundreds took to the streets, some working to patch damage and doll up the blistered city, 40 miles south of Milwaukee in Wisconsin, on the shore of Lake Michigan, by painting rainbows and hearts on boarded-up businesses.

Related: A tale of two videos: Jacob Blake, Kyle Rittenhouse and two types of policing

Others continued with marches in honor of Blake, who is severely wounded and in hospital, and Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum, two protesters shot dead when armed outside agitators appeared on the streets and caused chaos on Tuesday night.

A 17-year-old, white, self-styled vigilante and pro-police campaigner, Kyle Rittenhouse, from Antioch, Illinois, is in custody charged with two murders.

But for the more than 56 people related to the protests who have been arrested in Kenosha since Sunday night, the days have been anything but predictable.

On Friday evening, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) activist group, along with its Milwaukee and Chicago chapters, held a rally and press conference in Kenosha alongside local protesters who have been out on the ground all week. The protest called for community control of policing, limiting the scope of police power and an end to repressive and inhumane jailing tactics that disproportionately incarcerate Black Americans.

After the national guard and federal agents were deployed to the city, videos began to circulate on social media of what are believed to be federal agents in unmarked vehicles apprehending people.

Two of those apprehended were Kenosha residents and college students, Adelana Akindes, 25, and Victor Garcia, 23. Since released, they gave their accounts at the rally on Friday of being shoved into unmarked cars and transported to jail cells holding as many as 14 people  without ever being charged with a crime.

Story continues

Adelana Akindes cries after she was released from jail in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police officers, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Photograph: Matt Marton/EPA

What if no one knew I was in there? What if no one knew we were alive? Akindes wondered aloud as she fought back tears while addressing the crowd.

Akindes, who was arrested late on Wednesday night, claims she was not allowed a phone call for more than 24 hours while she sat in jail. She described how the detainees were denied medical care, medicine and access to the bathroom.

When Garcia was arrested, he said he didnt know if he was being taken away by an armed, white supremacist militia group or the police because none of his arresting officers wore any identification.

They didnt just arrest us, he said.  They kidnapped and abducted 30 of us [Wednesday] night. They picked the wrong people to do that to. They picked the wrong community to do that to.

Frank Chapman, executive director of the NAARPR, urged the young protesters to press on with their campaign.

What youre doing here in Kenosha is working towards liberation for us all. There are more of us than there are them, remember that, he told the rally.

Police on Wednesday had charged in Swat-style when a group of people filled cans at a gas station and then hopped into a minivan with Oregon plates.

A bystanders video shows officers leaping out of black SUVs with guns drawn shattering the vans window with a baton, unlocking the door, pulling people out and taking them into custody.

The group turned out to be members of Riot Kitchen, a Seattle-based organization that serves food at demonstrations.

A woman hands flowers to a member of the Wisconsin national guard standing by as people gather for a vigil for Jacob Blake on Friday. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Jennifer Scheurle, a director of the group, said her members were buying gas to power a generator for their food truck.



The Riot Kitchen members were charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, but all were free by Friday morning.

We reject all claims that our crew was there to incite violence or build explosives, said Scheurle. Our non-profit organization has always been and will always be about feeding people.

The American Civil Liberties Union on Friday called on Wisconsins governor, Tony Evers, and the state attorney general, Josh Kaul, to investigate the actions of law enforcement officers in Kenosha during protests. The shooting of Jacob Blake is already under state and federal investigation.

This week, however, the Kenosha police chief, Daniel Miskinis, asserted that more people will be arrested if they continued to break curfew, which was imposed after Blakes shooting and begins at 7pm.

Miskinis also said that Tuesday nights deadly shootings would not have happened if people were not out after curfew.

Kenosha alderman Anthony Kennedy, who spoke in support of Miskinis this week, told the Guardian that actions ranging from Blakes shooting to the brutality against protesters and the mishandling of Kyle Rittenhouse, who walked through police lines without being apprehended after opening fire on protesters on Tuesday, were not representative of the Kenosha police department he knows.

I was shocked and horrified and disgusted after seeing that video [of Jacob Blake] especially given what we just saw with George Floyd, said Kennedy. But what I saw is not reflective of the professionalism I see when I interact with the police or when my constituents need them.

A woman reacts at a vigil, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, on Friday. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Following the rally led by mainly Black and brown organizers and speakers, the organization led a march through the city with mainly white participants. About 15 cars followed behind as protesters marched through the residential neighborhood surrounding Kenosha county courthouse. Organizers handed out political education flyers and pamphlets to homeowners as they marched through the racially diverse middle-class neighborhood.

As the protest exited the housing neighborhood and made it to the courthouse as curfew approached, two large trucks carrying more than a dozen national guard troops drove through. Though a few protesters attempted to form a wall to stop the trucks, organizers reminded them that they werent there to escalate violence.

Kobi Guillory, an organizer with the Chicago NAARPR chapter and a recent college graduate, emphasized the importance of putting Kenosha residents at the center of the protests after the incidences of outside agitators causing trouble in the city.

The easiest way to know what people want and need is to ask them, and what Kenosha organizers said they needed was more people, he said. They didnt want anyone coming in here and escalating anything in their community.

We saw the power in that when the national guard drove through the protest and they didnt mess with us because there were so many people here. We have safety and power in numbers, he told the Guardian.

The goal of the night was to leave their mark while making sure no one else had to endure mistreatment in Kenosha county jail, he said.

Akindes reminded the crowd that inequality in the criminal justice system and unlawful tactics for apprehending people at recent protests is widespread.

There are so many people who are in [jail and prison] for years just because theyre Black, just because theyre Latino, just because theyre Indigenous, Akindes shouted.

Just because theyre not part of the capitalist, white supremacist class that runs this country.

The Associated Press contributed reporting
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Lucknow: A depressed minor girl allegedly shot dead her mother and brother at their residence in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow on Saturday, a senior police official said.

The incident took place in the high-security Gautampalli area, which is a few kilometres away from the official residence of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

According to a police official, the deceased have been identified as Malini Bajpai (45), wife of a senior railway official, and son Sharad (20).

Police got information about the murders around 3.30 pm.

Lucknow Police Commissioner Sujeet Pandey said they had got information that the wife and son of R D Bajpai, Executive Director, Railway Board, Delhi, have been murdered.

"It was found that the mother and son died of gunshot injuries. The son was shot on the head. During the investigation, it was found that his daughter, who is a juvenile, has committed the crime, Pandey said.

She confessed to the crime, Pandey said, adding that the weapon used in it has been recovered. Police said Bajpiai's inflicted wounds on herself using a razor, which too has been recovered.

She had her right bandaged and on opening it, her wounds were visible.

"Till now, it has been found that she is in depression. We will send the girl to a juvenile home. Her father is on his way to Lucknow," Pandey said, adding that the bodies were found in a bedroom.

Sujeet Pandey said their servants told them that the entire family had breakfast together in the morning. After that, they went to sleep. Later, the girl woke up and brought out the weapon, Pandey said.

Pandey said the girl told them that she loaded five bullets into the weapon. Of those, three were used," he said, adding that one was shot at a glass, on which the girl had written "disqualified human" for herself.

"After this, she shot her mother and brother," Pandey said.

The police commissioner said a DCP-rank police officer was present when they questioned the girl. Her grandfather was present throughout," he said.

The police commissioner said there was no forced entry into the house as all doors were closed.

Pandey said six teams were pressed into action to crack the case. UP DGP H C Awasthy was also present at the spot of the crime.
After it came to an end, Thomas and Mariah Pisha-Duffly werent sure what to do with their pandemic-time pop-up, Omas Takeaway. The Chinese-style roast meat platters with pickles and five-spice tater tots were selling well, but didnt really make sense with the menu at the couples modern Indonesian restaurant, Gado Gado, after the latter reopened for outdoor dining in July.

Then the Pisha-Dufflys got in touch with Pok Pok chef Andy Ricker, who was beginning the process of contracting down his formerly bicoastal restaurant group. The Gado Gado team was originally hoping to snag the Pok Pok Wing location in Southeast Portland, a former teriyaki stand that would be ideal for Omas Takeaway. But that location had already been claimed. According to Thomas Pisha-Duffly, Ricker countered with a different offer: Would the Gado Gado team consider taking over one of Pok Poks Southeast Division Street flagships?

The Gado Gado team couldnt afford the price tag on Pok Poks original home, but the Whiskey Soda Lounge, a former bar and Pok Pok waiting room across the street with ample foot traffic and a breezy back patio? That was intriguing. And so, later today, Omas Takeaway will take over the bar that Ikes Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings built, serving Southeast Asian-inspired barbecue platters, Indonesian rice dishes and Arnold Palmer-inspired bourbon slushy cocktails from a sneeze-guarded window off Southeast Division Street.

It all happened really quickly, Thomas Pisha-Duffly said. We went from No, no, we cant do this, to All right, why not, lets do this.

When it opened in April, Omas Takeaway was a pandemic-driven pivot, a chance for the Pisha-Dufflys to have some fun in the kitchen. The Gado Gado team, including sous chef Ian Schoening, began selling to-go containers filled with -- in Thomas Pisha-Dufflys words -- Asian stoner food, including an Indonesian spin on KFCs infamous Famous Bowl and dan dan noodles tossed with blood sausage crumbles, from the restaurants Hollywood District parking lot.

We were looking for comfort food, but as cooks we soon got bored of deep frying everything and covering it with cheese, Pisha-Duffly said. So we started doing these farm salads, but keeping them fun and cheeky, plus some noodle bowls that I thought were pretty awesome and didnt make us feel disgusting. And then we started doing these barbecue plates, with brisket and pork jowl done Chinese barbecue style, as these to-go platters with pickles and tater tots.

That evolution pointed the way for the menu at the new Omas Takeaway, where Schoening will run the kitchen. There, the menu draws inspiration from Southern American barbecue joints, only instead of smoked brisket or ribs, customers will find slow-roasted char siu and crispy pork belly. Fun salads, sour curries, corn fritters, Indonesian-style fried chicken and Jell-O salad cups fill in the edges of the menu. And at its center, just above an illustration of the restaurants namesake, Oma, or grandmother, who passed away from COVID-19 complications in spring, is nasi lemak, the national dish of Malaysia, here with garlic rice, fried egg, sambal, crispy peanuts and candied anchovies.

The new restaurant actually has two slushy machines, one filled with that boozy jasmine tea and lemongrass Arnold Palmer, the other blending vodka, guava, soursop and other tropical fruit topped with a bitter Underberg float. Mariah Pisha-Duffly was also amused to find a soda gun behind the bar. At Omas Takeaway, thats filled with cucumber-cilantro limeade and other fun house-made syrups. They also inherited Whiskey Soda Lounges famed jelly beer barrel, which turned countless bottles of Singha into frozen beer slushies, though its not clear when or how that will come into play at Omas Takeaway.

For Mariah Pisha-Duffly, opening a second location is an attempt to create some kind of model thats sustainable going forward.

There are all these games where the secret is knowing the perfect time to switch your strategy, Mariah Pisha-Duffly said. If you only focus on your mothership, thats all that youre going to have left in a couple of years.

The Pisha-Dufflys recognize the odd synchronicity behind the Gado Gado team taking over an old Pok Pok location. Both restaurants have their doubled names, with each referencing a Southeast Asian salad. And after moving to Oregon from New England, the Pisha-Dufflys worked briefly at Pok Pok, where they met the Thai restaurant groups then-president, Toby Roberts, now a partner at Gado Gado.

Taking over Whiskey, we could be setting ourselves up for a really public disaster, Thomas Pisha-Duffly said. But if you think about it too much, you wont ever do anything.

Omas Takeaway will open at 5 p.m. this Saturday, Aug. 29, at 3131 S.E. Division St. Online orders are available via omastakeaway.com. Going forward, the restaurant plans to open from 5 to 10 p.m., Thursday-Sunday, with Wednesday service possibly coming later this year. Take a look at the opening menu below:

Courtesy of Oma's Takeaway

Oma's Takeaway

-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell

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The most advanced attack submarine of the U.S. Navy is prowling the seas of the Barents and Norway. Even the Russian navy is not at ease. One of the places the sea wolf class lies in wait is on the Kola Peninsula watching over the activities of the Russian Navy.

Submarine operations are the most shadowy services in the navy, even where subs surface is a closely guarded secret. Known only to a few, seeing it surface, especially this attack class sub makes it a rare occasion.

The vessel doesn't come with a cheap price tag, with only three of the original 29 that was planned. Each one costs about $3 billion that comes with all features that make it a fearsome weapon, reported The Barents Observer.

The naval base at Bangor located on the west coast of the U.S is the homeport. On this occasion, the nuclear power attack submarine just appeared in Troms in the North of Norway. This is much farther than its pacific destination.

Its location for the surfacing is in a narrow channel with high mountain ranges on the coast that conceals the sub. This covered location is right for crew changes and getting resupply from Norwegian Coast Guard or Navy ships. In Troms there is an airport, and development as well.

One of the entry points to the Bear Gap that is a few hours away is the place where Russian subs enter the deep Norwegian Sea. NATO considers it crucial to keep tabs on the Soviets, this area is a line that is between the North Cape via the Bear Island until the tip on the Southern Spitsbergen. Subs that enter this part of the Norwegian Sea will be hard to detect than in the Barents.

Also read: Chinese Submarines Using Underground Base in Hainan Island Captured in Satellite Photos

USS Seawolf is a design of the Cold War that can dive deeper than most attack subs made to kill Russian ballistic missile subs in the Kola Peninsula. It has eight torpedo tubes with 50-capacity weapon storage, armed with a Tomahawk cruise missile.

Its length is 353-feet long and with a single nuclear reactor that powers it. A total of 45,000 horsepower or (34 Megawatts), crewed by 14 officers and 126 enlisted sailors are onboard the Seawolf.

The attack sub is with the U.S. 6th fleet as the overseer of all U.S. naval operations from Europe to Africa.

According to Vice-Admiral Daryl Caudle, Commander of the Submarine Forces has made public the surfacing of the ship outside of Troms. A move geared to show how far the U.S. submarine force can project U.S. interests anywhere in the world.

Announcing the surfacing outside Troms, Commander of the Submarine Forces, Vice-Admiral Daryl Caudle said USS Seawolf demonstrates the global reach of the undersea forces and its unique readiness to execute worldwide and unrivaled readiness, confirmed The Drive.

The Vice-Admiral added that the American sub-warriors are the best and with equipment to carry out the objective of the U.S. Navy.

When the most advanced American attack submarine surfaced at Troms, overhead was six U.S. B-52 long-range bombers in the Arctic. Accompanying them were Norwegian F-16s from Bod airbase.

Related article: Japanese Subs Will Blunt Chinese Excursions in Japanese Waters



@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police condemns in the strongest terms the involvement of police officers in criminal acts. Police officers who connive, abet and act as accomplices to the commission of offences which include robbery, will be severely dealt with in terms of the countrys laws, Asst Comm Nyathi.
Turkey on Saturday launched new military drills in the eastern Mediterranean and Greece accused Turkish jets of an incursion as tensions mount in a maritime standoff between the NATO members.

The confrontation has reignited a longstanding rivalry over disputed maritime rights and gas resources between Greece and Turkey and they have begun staging competing naval drills.

In a message on NAVTEX, the international maritime navigational system, Turkey said it would carry out "gunnary exercises" from Saturday until September 11 in a zone off the southern Turkish town of Anamur, north of the island of Cyprus.

Ankara had already announced on Thursday that military exercises would take place on Tuesday and Wednesday in a zone further east.

In another sign of the volatility, Greece's national defence agency, HNDS, said Turkish fighter planes had on Friday entered the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR), the area where Greek authorities are responsible for air traffic.

The incursion happened while four Greek F-16 fighter aircraft were escorting a US strategic B-52 bomber plane as part of the "Allied Sky" mission, in which six US bombers are flying over all 30 NATO nations in Europe and North America in a single day to display the Alliance's solidarity.

The Turkish aerial intrusion was a "provocative and anti-ally" stance, and Greek fighters chased away the Turkish planes, the HNDS said.

The crisis has split members of the NATO alliance and in a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg stressed the need for "dialogue and de-escalation".

- EU warns Turkey -

Greece and Turkey were already divided on significant issues including migration and Byzantine heritage in Istanbul and tensions over the island of Cyprus.

But the discovery of hydrocarbon reserves in the eastern Mediterranean has further strained relations, with Turkey rejecting calls from the EU and Athens to immediately stop energy exploration in disputed waters.

Story continues

It was the deployment of the Turkish research vessel Oruc Reis into Greek waters accompanied by Turkish warships on August 10 that caused the current spike in tensions.

On Friday Turkey's defence ministry said that the day before its fighter jets had intercepted six Greek aircraft which were approaching a zone where a Turkish research ship was deployed, forcing them to turn around.

The European Union on Friday warned Turkey it could face fresh sanctions -- including tough economic measures -- unless progress is made in reducing soaring tensions.

Turkey responded angrily to the warning.

"The fact that the EU is appealing for dialogue on the one hand and at the same time making other plans reflects a lack of sincerity," Vice President Fuat Oktay said Saturday.

"Turkey will not hesitate to defend its interests," he said.

Greece has also riled Turkey with plans to expand its coastal zone into the Ionian Sea by six nautical miles under international maritime law.

- 'Casus belli' -

"You think we would accept such a thing?" thundered Otkay on Saturday, referring to Greece's maritime border plans.

"If this is not casus belli, then what is it?" he said using a Latin term for an act or event used to provoke or justify war.

This immediately sparked a strong response from Athens.

"We urge Turkey to understand that the international law is binding for all countries of the world. It's not applied selectively," the Greek foreign ministry said in an English statement.

The Turkish presidency said Erdogan has told Stoltenberg that "NATO should fulfil its responsibility against unilateral steps that disregard international law and harms regional peace."

gkg/pvh/pma/har
Achieving a diverse workforce is a major goal of leading organizations in the West. Management gurus passionately market diversity as a strategy to boost firm performance, with some even implying that it solves the problem of institutional racism. Promoting a diverse workforce is not an unworthy objective, after all, an environment conducive to fostering eclectic perspectives will yield new insights. For example, if Estee Lauder only solicited the opinions of white women during focus groups, this would be extremely troubling, since it caters to all women. Therefore, we must acknowledge that there is a case for some interpretations of diversity. Because justification for some forms of diversity is plausible, it seems more likely that what critics oppose is not diversity, but rather the claims undergirding the diversity movement. Few recognize that arguments in favor of identity-based diversity are inherently contradictory and, in some scenarios, racist.

When liberals argue that an organization lacks diversity, they are usually noting that women and minorities are underrepresented. Yet they fail to assert why the paucity of women or blacks, for example, in STEM is objectively bad. One concurs that foreign ideas can enrich the quality of scientific research, though the relevant issue is the observation of the individual providing the breakthrough, not his race or sex. Noted black biologist Ernest Everett Just made significant contributions to science, due to talent and grit. Being black did not endow Just with any special intuition unique to black people, thus making him a stellar biologist. More women and blacks flocking to STEM would not be a negative, however, increasing the representation of these groups is no reason for celebration. Quality in all areas depends on the competence of the actors involved; therefore, diversity based on race, gender, or sexual orientation is irrelevant. Nevertheless, in specific situations accounting for ethnic diversity when assembling research teams may prove fruitful. Admittedly, international institutions seeking to discover why some indigenous groups oppose modern medicine should ascertain the views of native scientists for firsthand testaments.

Furthermore, assumptions of the diversity movement are also contradictory. Prominent thought leaders like Angela Saini argue that race is a social construct. Hence if advocates of diversity agree that this assertion is true, then how can they legitimately promote racial diversity, when race is just a social artifice? Since races do not exist, then the notion of racial diversity is a misnomer. As such, when liberals deny the fact of race and by extension racial differences among different populations, then their argument for diversity appears illogical. Because races do not exist, there are no intrinsic personality differences attributed to race, as a result, we are left with only individuals of various hues. Therefore, in this context activists should clamor for intellectual diversity, but this is unlikely since most of them are only interested in identity politics.

Yet many identitarians continue to invoke the fiction of racial diversity to garner support for their initiatives, which promote discrimination on the grounds of race. In a recent piece, Heather Mac Donald clearly explains the reverse racism of diversity programs in America: Mandatory diversity statements are now ubiquitous in hiring for science, technology, engineering and mathematics jobs. An Alzheimers researcher seeking a position in a neurology lab must document his contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion. At the University of California, Berkeley, the life sciences department rejected 76% of the applications it received last year because they lacked sufficiently effusive diversity, equity and inclusion statements. The hiring committee didnt even look at the failed applicants research records.

Ir onically, diversity is supposed to be an antidote to systemic racism, but instead, proposals of reformers explicitly promote racism. Activists are simultaneously denying and affirming the primacy of race. On the one hand, race does not exist, yet nonwhites bring a distinct outlook to science on an account of their skin color. These contradictory positions are obvious to normal people. Careful analysis, however, reveals than when examining their claims for gender diversity, the inconsistencies are even more prevalent.

Being woke requires us to believe that gender differences do not exist and if they do, they are insignificant. Indeed studies have shown that the tendency of women to display empathy, sympathy and other features of nurturing is effectively corroborated by evidence. So, we ought to be unsurprised that in advocating female representation, supporters often contend that women bosses are more supportive of their staff. Clearly, if research suggests that women are inclined to be nurturing, then female managers would naturally create a welcoming environment. Appreciating the uniqueness of men and women does not justify sexism. It is inane to reject gender differences between the sexes and argue in the same light that women possess special attributes thus making them superior bosses.

Similarly, some believe that by citing reports showing that having more female employees boost profitability, they are doing women a favor. But the profitability argument may, in fact, reinforce discrimination. Making competitiveness the reason for hiring women also presupposes that if women workers are unproductive then they should not be recruited. On the flip side, one study finds that women are about 15% less productive than men. Lower productivity levels among women may be a consequence of a litany of causes, including an inflexible climate for working mothers. Now, suppose employers were to embrace these results uncritically by discriminating against women, the outcome would be less diversity.

Additionally, the belief that women have better prospects under female bosses is still very common. This conclusion, however, is not backed by evidence. Reviewing the literature on the subject matter, the Economist notes: Women managers do not appear to be partial to female underlings, which may help explain why female board quotas have no effect on managements gender mix. Likewise, we frequently hear that women experience more incivility than men, but according to Allison Gabriel, assistant professor of management and organizations at the University of Arizona, the perpetrators are mainly other women.

In contrast to how many may feel, diversity based on identity politics is not intrinsically valuable. For example, minorities who studied at Ivy League schools have more in common with upper-class whites than their working-class peers. So, we cannot therefore automatically assume that identity based diversity would be an asset to the corporate world.

Image: Pixabay
WB: Sunny Leone's name in college merit list for the third time

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Kolkata, Aug 29: Bollywood actor Sunny Leone's name appeared on the college merit list in West Bengal for the third day on Saturday and the authorities of the institute have lodged a complaint with the police against mischief makers.

The actor's name featured in the third place in the list for English honours in Barasat Government College on Saturday. Her name was preceded by that of US pornstar Dani Daniels and webcam model from Lebanon, Mia Khalifa.

The names were accomapnied with application and form numbers. A college official said an FIR has been lodged at Barasat police station against mischief makers. The college students union run by Trinamool Chhatra Parishad filed a separate FIR at the police station alleging that vested interests are at work to malign the educational institution.

On Friday the name of Leone, a Canada-born actor, had appeared in the 151st position in the list of 157 candidates selected for BA (Honours) in English at Budge Budge College in South 24 Parganas district. This was preceded by her name topping the merit list again for English Honours at Asutosh College in the city on Thursday.

Asutosh College filed a complaint with the cyber cell at Lalbazar, the headquarters of Kolkata Police, and also ordered an internal probe, a college official said.

The reaction of Budge Budge College was not immediately known. But its students union demanded a probe by college authorities to find out how the online application system could be misused this way.

The West Bengal government had earlier announced that admission to undergraduate courses will be completely online this year and no processing fee will be charged due to the hardship caused by the pandemic situation.
Shaleahk Wilson (20) wanted to make sure incoming first-year students at Northwestern Engineering have the same meaningful experience he did at the University despite their first semester being largely remote.

For him, the precollege experience at The Melville and Jane Hodge EXCEL Scholars Program helped smooth the transition to college life, and he wanted to give backeven if the program worked differently in 2020.

Established in 1978, the Hodge EXCEL Scholars Program recruits around 20 incoming McCormick School of Engineering first-year students who have demonstrated a commitment to diversity issues. Typically, students spend five weeks on campus to earn two credits toward their engineering degree by doing academically rigorous work during the programs that includes many social outings and inter-personal mentoring.

This summer, however, the precollege program went virtual in response to the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining high standards for academic and social programming.

This year, it was still as educational and enjoyable as it always has been, said Wilson, who served as head counselor. The students walked away from the program really prepared for the academic aspect but also for what its going to be like learning in online lectures.

Program director Ellen Worsdall altered the program to fit the realities of 2020. Working with Luke Flores, director of Bio&ChemEXCEL, a partner program from the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, in-person classes were replaced by Zoom sessions. The social events were swapped for group chats and more Zoom gatherings.

Incoming first-year student Ting Ting Li said the program served as an introduction to Northwesterns quarter system and the pacing of the academic year. She also learned how to interact and engage with other people, despite being virtual. The social element, she said, was also valuable.

I got a lot out of the program and was able to refresh my knowledge and learn more about teamwork, said Li, a 2020 Hodge EXCEL Scholar from Louisville, Kentucky, majoring in biomedical engineering. It was really important for me to get adjusted for this incoming school year."

The academic portion remained challenging, with classes in chemistry, calculus, and engineering analysis, plus a course in leadership where students work as part of a team to solve a real-world engineering problem. Graduate-student instructors attended a practicum in remote and online teaching at the Searle Center for Advancing Learning & Teaching. Consultants were also available for instructors to help guide the transition out of classrooms and onto the screens.

We realized in talking with alums of the program, this is a really important step in the students college careers. We made the virtual program just as meaningful, said Worsdall, assistant dean for student affairs at Northwestern Engineering. The scholars learned how to be college students, and they walk in the first day with friendships and relationships that will help them feel at ease from day one.

Based on feedback, the Hodge EXCEL class of 2020 will feel the same way.

Aliyah Tenner, an incoming first-year student from Fort Worth, Texas, majoring in computer science, entered the program to meet new people at Northwestern Engineering and get a sense of future courses.

I saw how I would react when I was pushed to challenge myself, Tenner said. The engineering problems definitely made me think outside the box. Outside of academics, I met an entire group of people I really enjoy and already hold close to me. Im usually very reserved, so to have people that I can already look forward to meeting on campus means the world to me.

Interest in the online evening social sessions picked up as the summer went on. By the end of the program, Wilson recalled, he would go to sleep and wake the next morning to 500 notifications from the group text. And even though the program concluded July 31, Hodge EXCEL Scholars are still communicating on Zoom calls.

Humans are very adaptable, Li said. Even though the program was virtual, we were able to connect and learn a lot about each other. Im really looking forward to starting the school year with my new friends.
At least four in five of Hong Kongs 52 international schools received more than HK$180 million (US$23.22 million) in government wage subsidies as part of the coronavirus relief package, a Post analysis has found.

The top beneficiary was the citys biggest international school group, the English Schools Foundation (ESF), which received more than HK$71 million, while dozens of other schools received help to the tune of millions of dollars each for the period from June to August.

Graphic: SCMP

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With face-to-face classes suspended for four months because of the pandemic, some schools offered fee discounts in recent months and introduced financial assistance schemes for students who need help. Some have frozen tuition fees for the 2020-21 academic year

But some with children in international schools have urged the institutions to do more, saying parents are going through difficult times, including facing pay cuts and lay-offs.

The governments HK$81 billion Employment Support Scheme is designed to save jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic, offering a monthly subsidy to cover up to 50 per cent of employees wages, capped at HK$9,000 per worker. The first round extended from June to August. Employers had to apply for the subsidy and pledge not to lay off any staff.

The ESF received the money to help the school community as a whole, and this should be passed onto the parents, because parents have not stopped paying school fees

A parent with children at English Language Foundation schools

The international schools received help under that first instalment, extended to more than 149,000 employers. A second phase covering September to November will open for applications on Monday.

Most of the citys universities, primary and secondary schools are not eligible, as they are funded or run by the government. But private institutions, including international schools, can apply, as they are mostly self-financed.

Story continues

About 40,000 of the citys 700,000 primary and secondary students study at international schools, which charge tuition fees of up to HK$200,000 (US$25,800) or more per year.

A check of the subsidies given out from June to August showed that at least 78 private primary and secondary schools received about HK$280 million for about 10,000 employees.

Among them were 42 international schools which received more than HK$180 million, or an average of about HK$25,000 per employee over the three months.

The Independent Schools Foundation Academy received HK$12.1 million towards wages for 448 staff members. Photo: Dickson Lee

The ESFs HK$71 million subsidy was for 2,954 staff across its 22 kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, including those running its after-school programmes. Fourteen of the groups primary and secondary schools are classified as international schools and the rest are private schools, kindergartens and a special school.

Hong Kong International School, which provides kindergarten, primary and secondary education, received HK$14 million for 528 workers, while Yew Chung International School, whose programmes run from infant-care and pre-nursery to secondary levels, received HK$13.8 million for 575 employees.

The Independent Schools Foundation (ISF) Academy received HK$12.1 million for 448 staff members, while Chinese International School and French International School each received more than HK$9 million for 370 and 415 employees, respectively.

Some expat parents have taken their children out of school after months of classes being suspended, and some have sent their kids back to their home countries

Education sector lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen

Although face-to-face classes have been suspended for more than four months, many schools still charged the full tuition fees. Some rolled out financial assistance packages or offered discounts over recent months.

A spokeswoman from Hong Kong International School said the government subsidies had helped avoid lay-offs and keep jobs.

But some parents felt the schools that received subsidies should offer more financial help, as many of them have been facing difficulties of their own.

Parents who send their children to international and private schools include expatriates and those who are relatively wealthy, but education sector lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen said some are not as well-off and could be spending a significant proportion of their income on their childrens school fees.

Nord Anglia International School, which has about 1,000 kindergarten, primary and secondary students, received HK$4.6 million in subsidies for 178 staff. Photo: Handout

He pointed out that some of these parents have taken pay cuts or lost their jobs because of the pandemic.

Some expat parents have taken their children out of school after months of classes being suspended, and some have sent their kids back to their home countries. This has also affected the schools income, he said.

ISF Academy, which has about 2,000 students attending its pre-primary, primary and secondary programmes, said its own financial help arrangements for parents far exceeded the sum it received from the government.

A spokeswoman said all students could receive financial help of HK$10,000 to cover fees in the 2020-21 academic year, and the academy has set aside funds to support families in need.

The ESF group announced a 45 per cent discount for Junes tuition fees, but one parent with three children in its schools said there ought to be further fee reductions as face-to-face lessons had been suspended for more than four months.

The ESF received the money to help the school community as a whole, and this should be passed onto the parents, because parents have not stopped paying school fees. The whole amount should be passed on to parents, he said.

An ESF spokeswoman said the group dipped into reserves to provide grants and financial help to families in need, including 160 families who received financial support through its financial assistance scheme, which amounted to more than HK$18 million. She added that the group would continue to consider ways in which we can financially support our families.

Nord Anglia International School, which has about 1,000 kindergarten, primary and secondary students, received HK$4.6 million in subsidies for 178 staff. It announced a 12 per cent discount in fees for its third term from April to June.

A parent with a child at the school said it should apply for a second instalment of the scheme, to offer more financial relief to parents.

The Post posed questions to Nord Anglia, but the school did not respond.

An Education Bureau spokeswoman said that aside from the Employment Support Scheme, all private and international schools also received a one-off grant of HK$80,000 in April.

She added that the bureau would stay in touch with those in the education sector and provide further help when necessary.

This article HK$180 million in subsidies help Hong Kong international schools save jobs during pandemic, but parents appeal for fee discounts first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020.
By PTI

COLOMBO: The reform process of the Sri Lankan Constitution would be underway very soon after the government abolished the 19th Amendment that curtailed the powers of the president and strengthened the role of Parliament.

Minister of Information Keheliya Rambukwella said the new government will first abolish the 19th Amendment "which created a lot of confusion and instability within the government.

"The people have given us a mandate to bring in a new Constitution which will address all issues", Rambukwella insisted. He said the Constitution reform process would be underway very soon, he told reporters on Friday.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa outlined his commitment to abolish the 19th Amendment during his ceremonial address to Parliament last week.

The 19A Amendment adopted in 2015 by the then reformist government was subject to much criticism by the Rajapaksa clan as it prevented dual citizens from contesting elections.

At the time, two of the Rajapaksa family members including the current president were dual citizens of the US and Sri Lanka.

President's younger brother and SLPP founder and its National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa is a dual citizen of US and Sri Lanka.

There are 5 of them already in government.

During the August 5 election, the Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) sought two thirds parliamentary mandate or 150 seats in the 225-member assembly to effect constitutional changes, the foremost of them was the move to abolish the 19A.

The SLPP and allies won 150 seats and have a two-third majority to effect the constitutional change they desire.

While Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected as the Sri Lankan President in November last year, his eldest brother Mahida Rajapaksa won the general election and assumed charge as Prime Minister on August 9.

The Opposition has accused the government of trying to abolish 19A to make room for another member of the Rajapaksa family to enter Parliament.

The 19A was the main election plank of the previous government.

The 19A depoliticised the government administration by ensuring the independence of key pillars such as the judiciary, public service and elections.

The reformists in 2015 argued that the 19A was needed to correct the power imbalance created by the 18A which the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2010 had introduced.

The 18A lifted the two-term bar for a president to run for office.

The 19A brought in the reversal bringing back the two terms bar and reducing the presidential term from 6 to 5 years. It pruned the powers of the presidency and empowered Parliament.
New Delhi, Aug 29 : The Supreme Court will on Monday pronounce the order on the quantum of sentence in the contempt case against activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who has been held guilty of tweets against the judiciary.

On August 25, a bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, B.R. Gavai and Krishna Murari had reserved the order on the sentence, after Bhushan declined to apologize for the tweets.

The bench referring to Bhushan's refusal to apologize for his tweets said, "What is wrong in apologizing? Is this word so bad?" During the hearing the bench also gave 30 minutes to Bhushan to think over his stand for not expressing regret in connection with the tweets.

Attorney General K.K. Venugopal submitted before the bench that his suggestion would be to close the matter without punishing Bhushan. A contemnor can be punished with simple imprisonment of up to 6 months or with a fine of up to Rs 2,000 or with both. On August 14, the top court held Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his derogatory tweets against the judiciary.

Justice Mishra observed that for how long the system would suffer this. The bench noted that judges are condemned and their families are humiliated. "They cannot even speak," noted the bench.

The top court told Bhushan's counsel that it expects him to be impartial. "You may have love and affection for anyone... but we want you to be fair. Don't take sides," said Justice Mishra.

Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, representing Bhushan, argued that the apex court could say in the judgment that it did not agree with Bhushan. Dhavan also insisted that nobody can be forced to tender an apology in a contempt proceeding and added that the Harley Davidson remark made by Bhushan was hardly a criticism.

Dhavan contended that the top court could say in the judgment about the kind of code people should follow, but the idea should not be to silence Bhushan.

The top court asked Bhushan during the arguments why is he so averse to apologize for the tweets. Dhavan reiterated that the bench should not make him a martyr, as he has not committed murder or theft.

The AG insisted that the top court should forgive Bhushan and take a compassionate view on the matter. The bench noted that a person should realise his mistake and cited that it gave time to Bhushan, but he refused to apologize.

The AG added that Bhushan should withdraw all statements and express regret.
(Reuters) - Japan plans to secure enough coronavirus vaccines to inoculate its population four times over, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the European Commission was working on signing further contracts to secure vaccines.

DEATHS AND INFECTIONS

* For an interactive graphic tracking the global spread, click https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7

* For a U.S.-focused tracker with state-by-state and county map, click https://tmsnrt.rs/2w7hX9T

ASIA-PACIFIC

* India reported 76,472 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, slightly lower than the record breaking numbers of the past couple of days, but extending a run that has made the country's outbreak currently the world's worst.

* South Korea recorded its 16th consecutive day of triple digit rises in new cases on Saturday, extending a second wave of infections that is fanning concerns about a shortage of hospital beds in Seoul.

* Australia's Victoria state reported its lowest rise in cases in almost two months, but authorities said there would be no rush to lift social distancing restrictions.

EUROPE

* Berlin police disbanded a mass protest in the German capital against coronavirus curbs a few hours after it had begun after marchers failed to keep their distance and wear masks as instructed.

* France reported 7,379 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday, the most since lockdown, in what the health ministry described as an exponential surge just days before millions of children are due to return to school for the first time since March.

* The Tour de France gives cyclists many tests from gruelling climbs to furious sprints but it is the one for COVID-19 that could hold the key to victory when the race starts on Saturday, says three-time champion Greg LeMond. If riders are to reach the finish line on Sept. 20 they must first navigate 3,484 km (2,165 miles) COVID-19 free.]

AMERICAS

* President Donald Trump is willing to sign a $1.3 trillion coronavirus relief bill, a top Trump aide said on Friday, marking a $300 billion increase from an initial $1 trillion offer from the White House and Senate Republicans.

Story continues

* Four people at the Republican National Convention in North Carolina this week tested positive for coronavirus, officials said.

* Argentina registered its highest number of new daily COVID-19 cases on Friday as the government partially relaxed nationwide lockdown measures.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

* Namibia will lift lockdown restrictions, allowing international travel, schools to reopen and onsite alcohol consumption from September, President Hage Geingob announced Friday, but he extended an overnight curfew as COVID-19 cases continue to rise

* Gambia extended by 21 days a state of emergency in mainland Africa's smallest nation as infections surged.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS

* Sinovac Biotech Ltd's coronavirus vaccine candidate CoronaVac was approved for emergency use as part of a programme in China to vaccinate high-risk groups such as medical staff, a person familiar with the matter said.

* Johnson & Johnson's Janssen unit will begin mid-stage trials for its coronavirus vaccine in Spain, the Netherlands and Germany next week, Spain's health minister said.

(Compiled by Frances Kerry)
Over the past two weeks, the two major U.S. political parties held their presidential conventions  the Republicans renominated Donald Trump for his job and the Democrats officially sent Joe Biden to take him on in the Nov. 3 election. Because of COVID-19, both conventions were unconventional, you might say, as packed arenas full of delegates gave way to remote digital broadcasts. Heres a comparison of how they went down.

WHEN AND WHERE

Democrats: Aug. 17-20, Milwaukee, WI and Wilmington, DE

Republicans: Aug. 24-27, Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC

IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE

Democrats: 22-35 in the Wisconsin convention centre for speeches; about 30 members of the media in the Delaware hall for Bidens speech.

Republicans: 336 in the North Carolina hall; about 100 at Mike Pences speech at Fort McHenry in Baltimore; approximately 1,500 outdoors on the White House lawn for Trumps speech.

TV RATINGS FOR NOMINEES SPEECH

Democrats: 23.6 million

Republicans: 21.6 million

PLATFORM

Democrats: A 91-page document developed by a committee including members of the Biden and Bernie Sanders teams, outlining policies on topics including the economy, climate change, universal health care and criminal justice reform.

Republicans: None. A single page resolution to declare no new platform would be adopted in 2020, but reassert the partys strong support for President Donald Trump and his administration. Trumps campaign issued a 50-point agenda.

SLOGAN

Democrats: Build back better.

Republicans: The best is yet to come.

ROLL CALL IMAGES

Democrats: Scenes from across the country  on beaches, in front of mountain ranges, next to food trucks, and a plate of deep-fried calamari.

Republicans: Delegates in Charlotte stood in front of a white backdrop featuring the hashtag #RNC2020. Some wore distinctive hats or scarves.

PREVAILING THEMES

Democrats: The most important election of our lifetimes; Trumps mishandling of coronavirus; Trumps threat to democracy; light vs. darkness; Bidens basic decency.

Republicans: In Joe Bidens America, you will never be safe,; coronavirus as a thing of the past after Trumps magnificent response; fighting legal abortion; Biden as a Trojan horse for radical socialism; Trump is not racist and is actually a caring person away from the cameras.

LENGTH OF NOMINEES ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

Democrats: 25 minutes

Republicans: 71 minutes, plus a 55-minute speech in North Carolina on Monday

FACT CHECK

Democrats: CNN fact-checkers say, Major speakers mostly spoke in generalities or offered subjective opinions  and when they did make assertions of fact, they have largely been accurate.

Republicans: CNN fact-checkers say, CNN counted more than 20 false, exaggerated or misleading claims from Trump on Thursday night. Thats in addition to a number of falsehoods from other speakers.

CELEBRATORY IMAGES

Democrats: Celebratory images: Streamers and balloons in a library as members of the Biden family celebrated the nomination to the tune of Kool and the Gangs Celebration; fireworks over a parking lot in Delaware where supporters honked horns and waved signs outside Bidens speech venue.

Republicans: Trumps name spelled out in fireworks over the Washington Monument before he and his supporters stood at attention for a cover version of Leonard Cohens Hallelujah.

MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING

Democrats: Evident, including Biden and VP nominee Kamala Harris staying apart while onstage together, wearing masks in most appearances.

Republicans: Virtually none. Few people appeared wearing masks, attendees sat close together at outdoor venues.

WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY

Democrats: Archival video of Barack Obama awarding Biden the Presidential Medal of Honour.

Republicans: Donald Trump pardoned a reformed convict and conducted a citizenship ceremony during a broadcast from the White House.

QUESTIONABLE QUOTE

Democrats: Some Canadians thought Biden came close to plagiarizing Jack Laytons farewell letter when he said in his speech, For love is more powerful than hate. Hope is more powerful than fear. Light is more powerful than dark. This is our moment. This is our mission.

Republicans: Lara Trump, the presidents daughter-in-law, inaccurately attributed a quote to Abraham Lincoln that has been featured in a Facebook meme.

MOST MEMORABLE QUOTES

Democrats:

Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is.  Michelle Obama

I am also asking you to believe in your own ability, to embrace your own responsibility as citizens, to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure, because that's what at stake right now  our democracy.  Barack Obama

The Irish poet Seamus Heaney once wrote: History says, / Dont hope on this side of the grave, / But / then, once in a lifetime / The longed-for tidal wave / Of justice can rise up, / And hope and history rhyme." This is our moment to make hope and history rhyme. With passion and purpose, let us begin  you and I together, one nation, under God  united in our love for America and united in our love for each other.  Joe Biden

Republicans:

Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime, and thats why I believe the next American century can be better than the last.  Tim Scott

Its almost like this election is shaping up to be church, work and school versus rioting, looting and vandalism  or, in the words of Biden and the Democrats, peaceful protesting.  Donald Trump Jr.

And this election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life or allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it. It wont happen. At the Democrat National Convention, Joe Biden and his party repeatedly assailed America as a land of racial, economic and social injustice, so tonight, I ask you a simple question: How can the Democratic Party ask to lead our country when it spent so much time tearing down our country?  Donald Trump

Read more about:
 Flash

U.S. President Donald Trump's acceptance speech drew fewer viewers than that of Joe Biden, former vice president and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, according to data released by Nielsen Media Research on Friday.

An estimated 19.9 million Americans watched Trump's speech from the White House South Lawn during the finale of the Republican National Convention (RNC) Thursday night on television, while Biden drew 21.7 million viewers a week ago.

By comparison, 34.1 million tuned in to watch then Republican presidential candidate Trump deliver his keynote speech during the 2016 RNC.

The ratings were based on nine television networks for the fourth night of both the Republican and Democratic conventions. These figures do not include the number of people who watched the presidential nominees' speeches online.

Fox News led all networks in viewership, drawing 9.9 million viewers in total for four nights of the convention, and beating ABC, NBC, CNN and MSNBC combined. ABC came in second, with 2.58 million viewers, followed by NBC with 2.28 million viewers.
LIMERICK Person of the Month for August, Denise Chaila is joined by fellow Limerick artists Blindboy from the Rubberbandits, God Knows, Strange Boy and Murli help to tell the story of Irish Hip Hip.



'Origins: The Story of Irish Hip Hop' is a new documentary that chronicles the journey of the genre in Ireland over the past four decades, it's been in the works for several years and is the most comprehensive oral history of hip hop in Ireland to date.



The 52-minute documentary which is presented by Red Bull and produced by Collective Films, premieres on RTE One on Thursday, September 3 and features interviews with journalists, music industry figures, musicians, archivists, fans and more, as they explore the reasons behind the booming Irish hip hop scene in 2020 and how exactly it arrived at this point.



Actor Emmet Kirwan and rapper/author/podcast host Blindboy discusses how hip hop became a voice for the Irish working class and how the playing field changed when artists found the courage to rap in their authentic accents.



Denise Chaila, God Knows and more discuss the infusion of their African backgrounds with their Irish upbringing and how it impacts their music and the stories they tell in their songs.



This documentary captures the beauty of how different voices can come together to make something unique and powerful  something that may not have originated here, but which has arguably captured the essence of modern Ireland like no other genre.
Scene: The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were discovered on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex; Inset: Ronan Hughes

A haulier has pleaded guilty to his part in the deaths of 39 migrants in a trailer on the back of a lorry.

The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were discovered on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex, England, shortly after the lorry arrived in Purfleet on a ferry in the early hours of October 23 last year.

Among the men, women and children were 10 teenagers, two of them 15-year-old boys.

An inquest heard their medical cause of death was asphyxia and hyperthermia - a lack of oxygen and overheating - in an enclosed space.

Yesterday haulier Ronan Hughes (40), from Co Armagh, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey in London to 39 counts of manslaughter.

He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration between May 1, 2018, and October 24, 2019.

It was alleged he played a leading role in the operation, with his trailers and drivers used to transport migrants.

Hughes appeared in the dock alongside Eamonn Harrison (23), of Mayobridge, Co Down, who is alleged to have driven the lorry trailer to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before it sailed to Purfleet in England.

Mr Harrison pleaded not guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Mr Harrison and Hughes appeared at the Old Bailey after being extradited from the Republic of Ireland in July.

On April 8, lorry driver Maurice Robinson (25), of Craigavon, Co Armagh, who discovered the bodies after transporting the container from Purfleet to an alleged pick-up point in Grays, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to 39 counts of manslaughter.

He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration of non-European Union citizens between May 1, 2018, and October 24, 2019, and acquiring criminal property. He denied a further charge of transferring criminal property.

In June, Romanian Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga (28), of Hobart Road in Essex, admitted one count of conspiring to assist unlawful immigration between May 2018 and October 2019.

During the hearing yesterday, Gazmir Nuzi (42), of Barclay Road, Tottenham, north London, appeared at the Old Bailey by video link and pleaded guilty to a single charge of assisting unlawful immigration on or before October 11, 2019 and April 18, 2020.

Mr Harrison now faces an Old Bailey trial on October 5 with three other defendants.

Gheorghe Nica (43), of Langdon Hills, Basildon, Essex, who is alleged to have been a key player, has previously denied 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Valentin Calota (37), of Birmingham, and Christopher Kennedy (23), of Co Armagh, have denied being part of a people-smuggling conspiracy.

Remanding the defendants into custody, Mr Justice Sweeney said the trial would go on for five weeks instead of eight.

A further hearing was fixed for September 21 for a pre-trial review.
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I was recently invited to present an award on behalf of the Ohio Optometric Association as part of their Ohio Vision Project Student Loan Repayment Program.

Eye doctors who provide pro bono care, volunteer in their community, serve Medicaid beneficiaries and practice in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) and/or a Medically Underserved Area/Populations are eligible for this award.

Dr. Scott Sedlacek, who runs a practice in Olmsted Falls, was honored with this award for his commitment to his patients and the community. He volunteers to educate and serve the public, provides free care to those in need and treats Medicaid beneficiaries.

Not only does Dr. Sedlacek care for hundreds of our neighbors as their primary eye-care provider, he also is a small business owner and an important part of our local economy. The average eye doctor employs between four and five workers, indicating that nearly 10,000 Ohioans work directly in optometric practices statewide.

It was a fantastic opportunity to be part of this presentation. It is my goal to work throughout my district to recognize and help our neighbors who go the extra mile for our community.

Dr. Sedlacek, thank you for your commitment to our community, and I wish you the very best in your practice here in Olmsted Falls.

Sincerely,

State Sen. Matt Dolan,

Columbus
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

Pashinyan: UK has been strong partner of newly independent Armenia

Israel hopes UN will unanimously condemn Holocaust denial

Armenia, Ukraine depositories sign memorandum of cooperation

Azerbaijan advises Armenia to correctly assess the new geopolitical realities and draw conclusions

Australia, UK to fight back against cyberattacks from China, Russia and Iran

Protesting residents of Armenias Parakar community march to territorial administration ministry

Armenia government approves protocol on implementation of readmission agreement with Lithuania

Iran suspends gas supplies to Turkey

MFA: Armenia has no preconditions for border delimitation

621 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Paris to have place named after Hrant Dink

Armenias Parakar enlarged community residents protesting outside government building

Turkey opposition party MPs petition for parliamentary inquiry into Hrant Dink assassination

France, Germany, Italy and Spain call on Israel to halt construction in East Jerusalem

Armenia parliament speaker in US, meets with Nancy Pelosi

Iranian MFA: Relations between Iran and Russia have moved into a new diverse, intensified direction

Biden says invasion of Ukraine will be disaster for Russia

Newspaper: Armenia PM Pashinyan plans to hold Presidents office

Newspaper: Opposition Armenia bloc, led by ex-President Kocharyan, starting new processes

Taliban PM calls on Muslim countries to be first to formally recognize their government

Saudi Arabia records lowest temperature in 30 years

Erdogan's visit to Ukraine scheduled for February 3

Russian peacekeeping contingent establishes order of passage through Lachin corridor

French Senate votes to ban hijab at sporting events

Armenian FM: All necessary conditions to be created for Demarcation Commission work

Olaf Scholz: Borders in Europe cannot be changed by force

Lavrov presents Armenian Ambassador to Russia, with the Order of Friendship

Bill Gates warns of pandemics far more serious than COVID-19

FM on mirror withdrawal of troops: Not a single Armenian village will be left without proper protection

Macron: EU countries must work together on agreement for stability and security

PM Pashinyan assumes accountability for Armenia special representative for negotiations with Turkey

Turkey Central banks and UAE sign agreement worth almost $5 billion

Blinken: Western countries need unity to stop Russian aggression against Ukraine

Iranian President performs evening namaz in Kremlin after talks with Putin

Turkish police detain women protesting price hikes in hygiene products

Delegation headed by Chief of the Cypriot National Guard General Staff has meetings in Armenia

Merkel refuses job in UN structure

Greece receives the first batch of French Rafale fighters

NEWS.am daily digest: 19.01.22

Azerbaijan hopes Pope to mediate in relations with Armenia

Talks between presidents of Russia and Iran start in Kremlin

Armenian FM: This is not first time Baku makes nonconstructive statements

Armenian Investigative Committee: 3,809 people die in the 44-day war

Ombudsman: I urge not to give in to Azerbaijani manipulations, to visit Artsakh

Armenian FM: Armenia passes a package of proposals to Azerbaijan

France names the main favorite of presidential election

Garo Paylan concludes address in Turkey parliament in Armenian

Russian Foreign Ministry believes there is no risk of large-scale war in Europe

Dollar goes up in Armenia

Sharmazanov: Armenia ex-President Sargsyan did not decide to hold press conference, he did not change his mind

Blinken: Russia has plans to increase force on Ukraine borders

:       

Azerbaijani military participate in Turkish drills

Taliban say all conditions for recognizing legitimacy of government are met

Azerbaijan MFA statement distorts events of Armenian massacres in Baku 32 years ago

Karabakh ombudsmans office: Azerbaijans anti-Armenian, genocidal policy has clear chronology

US official, Barzani are photographed against backdrop of Greater Armenia and Kurdistan map

Armenia ex-defense minister, army General Staff chief, some others criminal case court hearing kicks off

FM: Most important direction continues to be international recognition of Artsakh

Armenia revenue committee chief on opening of Turkey border: Shall we live with closed borders? In fear?

US selects Los Angeles to host Summit of the Americas in summer 2022

Karabakh Foreign Minister: Return of refugees can only be like mirror

Iranian president arrives on official visit to Moscow

All CSTO peacekeepers leaves Kazakhstan

Artsakh Foreign Minister: Unacceptable to bracket NKAO and NKR together
He recently agreed to let his ex-wife Heidi Klum take their four children to Germany after she filed a request for an emergency court hearing.

And Seal stepped out alone as he headed out to pick up groceries in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, on Friday.

The British musician, 57, cut a casual figure as he donned a loose white T-shirt, baggy grey shorts and Nike sliders.

Low-key: Seal, 57, cut a casual figure as he stepped out to pick up groceries in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, on Friday after reached an agreement with ex-wife Heidi Klum

The star appeared to have his hands full as he juggled his iPhone, a pair of statement shades and a carrier bag of supplies.

Seal also wore an elasticated black face mask in line with current guidelines amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

He spent around an hour shopping in the area before strolling across the car park and heading home.

Understated: The star appeared to have his hands full as he juggled his iPhone, a pair of statement shades and a carrier bag of supplies

Last week his ex-wife Heidi Klum filed a request for an emergency court hearing seeking to force Seal to allow her to take their children to Germany with her in October.

But it seems the couple have since been able to reach an agreement without needing a judge to rule on the matter.

While Seal expressed concerns about the kids travelling to Europe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, he has now agreed to allow Heidi to take them with her, People reported Thursday.

Battle: Last week his ex-wife Heidi Klum filed a request for an emergency court hearing seeking to force Seal to allow her to take their children to Germany with her in October

In return, Seal will get expanded visitation with the children both before they leave and upon their return, according to the publication, as well as being able to see them while they are in Germany if he so wishes.

Klum, 47, is going to Germany to film a new season of the country's Next Top Model reality show.

In her previous court filing, she explained that the series is normally filmed in the USA but the German cast and crew are not permitted currently to enter America due to the pandemic.

Klum and Seal, who married in 2005 and finalized their divorce in 2014, share joint legal and physical custody of daughters Leni, 16, and Lou, 10, and sons Henry, 14, and Johan, 13.

Klum married German guitarist Tom Kaulitz, 30, in February 2014.

Exes: The former couple, who married in 2005 and finalized their divorce in 2014, share joint legal and physical custody of daughters Leni, 16, and Lou, 10, and sons Henry, 14, and Johan, 13

Family: Heidi has agreed to let Seal gave expanded time with the kids (pictured in 2019) before they leave and upon their return as well as allowing him to visit them in Germany

In legal documents obtained by TheBlast.com on August 20, the German model and TV personality explained that the children did not want to be parted from her for the three-and-a-half months she's contracted to be in Germany but that Seal had not signed off on the trip.

Instead, she stated, he preferred the children to remain in Los Angeles, where he also resides.

The Kiss From A Rose hitmaker - real name Henry Samuel - has previously permitted the kids to travel with their famous mother, but after initially agreeing in April to the fall trip to Germany, Heidi said he changed his mind.

She explained: 'My work in television supports our family. Neither Henry (Seal) nor I pay child support to one another, and because our children are with me the vast majority of the time, I take on a larger portion of their regular expenses.

'I am well aware of all the necessary precautions associated with the Covid-19 virus, and would never put our children at risk. I have taken all the precautions for Germany the same way I do in the US.'

Family: The German model and TV personality explained that the children did not want to be parted from her for the three-and-a-half months she's contracted to be in Germany

In his own legal filing, Seal responded that he was suspicious of his ex's motives.

'Heidi is a celebrity and a German national and I am concerned that if she is allowed to take the children to Germany, she may unilaterally decide not to return them to the United States,' Seal said.

He also stated: 'Notwithstanding Heidis request, if granted, could in effect move the children away from me and their home here in Los Angeles to Germany for what could be an indefinite period of time given the uncertainty of the impact of COVID-19 on this countrys and Germanys travel restrictions which could change at any time and prevent the children from leaving Germany or entering the United States.'

The new agreement he has reached with Klum states that should the coronavirus crisis escalate to the point where the US decides to shut down its borders, Klum must 'immediately make arrangements in an effort to return home with the children before the borders close.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 21:16:18|Editor: huaxia

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BISSAU, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) launched on Friday a major awareness campaign called "The Correct Use of Protective Masks" to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Guinea-Bissau.

This campaign involves about 300 religious and traditional leaders who would contribute to raising awareness among their communities about the wearing of masks and the correct use of face masks.

Since the authorities decided that the wearing of masks is mandatory in public places and transport, some residents of the capital city of Bissau refuse or neglect to abide by this measure.

In public places, such as markets, recreational areas, as well as streets, masks are poorly worn by locals, regardless of the risk of contamination.

It was reported some people lower their masks under their noses and others put it down to their necks.

"Those who neglect to wear their masks properly risk contracting easily the virus," said Mario Mboma, an infectious disease specialist. He urged the public to "be cautious and use the masks properly."

In Bandim market, the largest in the Bissau-Guinean capital, many visitors and vendors neglect to wear their masks properly, according to local correspondent.

"This indifference is explained by the fact that some Bissau-Guineans think that the virus has already gone," Fatumata Djalo, a fruit seller, told Xinhua.

This is also the case on the streets of the capital where "masks are starting to fall."

According to Mboma, this type of behaviour "is unacceptable and inappropriate if we want to contain the spread of the virus."

Recently, the authorities have threatened severe sanctions against those who do not comply with the measure of wearing masks or those who fail to wear masks properly.

In addition, WHO officials in Guinea-Bissau guaranteed that the awareness campaign would help people understand the importance of "properly wearing the mask in public places and transport."

"Sometimes, people neglect things because they don't understand the importance," a WHO official told Xinhua, adding that "in rural areas, many people have been infected because they don't know the barrier measures to prevent disease."

In Safim, a suburb about 14 km from downtown Bissau, the local community is complaining about the lack of information on prevention measures, said Antonio Ca, the town's traditional leader.

The same warning calls are heard in the Gabu region, eastern part of the country, where the incorrect use of the mask has been noted by health authorities.

The awareness campaign is quite in time, because it will help inform the public of the importance of wearing the protective masks properly in public places and transport, a health official said. Enditem
Thousands of people gathered in Berlin on August 29 to protest against the coronavirus restrictions imposed by the German government. According to BBC reports, nearly 18,000 people took part in the 'anti-corona' protest organised by a group 'Lateral Thinking 711', which believes COVID-19 restrictions violate the basic rights provided to the people by the constitution of Germany.

Berlin police, in a statement, said that the protest was mostly peaceful but they had to make numerous arrests for criminal offences such as throwing bottles on security personnel. German authorities had tried to stop the march fearing it would trigger mass transmission, but protestors went to court which then overturned the ban.

Read: Merkel Says Germany Can Afford Economic Relief Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Mass protest

The group that organised the protest had taken out a similar march on August 1 in Berlin, which was attended by several far-right leaders, including those who think COVID-19 is a hoax and the government is using it to clamp down on basic rights of people. Protestors were seen wearing t-shirts and holding flags of various far-right movements.

As per reports, the protest was also attended by Robert F Kennedy Jr., the nephew of the assassinated former US President John F Kennedy. While addressing the crowd, Kennedy told them to stand against "totalitarianism" while mentioning his uncle's famous 1963 Berlin speech on the same subject.

Many parts in the world have also witnessed similar protests in the recent past, including the United States, where people had taken to streets to demand an end of COVID-19 restrictions, echoing similar sentiments that the disease outbreak in a hoax spun by the government to control people.

Read: Germany To End Mandatory Tests For Travelers, Bans Protests

COVID-19 in Germany

Meanwhile, Germany has fared much better than some of its peers in the European Union when it comes to handling the COVID-19 outbreak. As per data by Johns Hopkins University, Germany has recorded over 2,42,000 confirmed cases so far and more than 9,300 deaths. The infection rate in the country has started to increase in the fast few weeks and new cases are reaching highs last seen in April when the pandemic was at its peak.

Read: Netizens Weigh Both Sides Of Germany's Move To Mandate Outdoor Walks For Pet Dogs

Read: Netherlands Extradites Far-right Suspect To Germany
WASHINGTON - Confusion over Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's planned cost-cutting changes has gripped the nation's mail service and threatened to bring even more delivery delays, say postal workers and union officials.

Days after DeJoy testified before Senate and House committees, vowing to prioritize election mail, postal workers disputed his assertions that pandemic-related challenges were to blame for widespread mail slowdowns. They say the holdups are tied to the postal leader's crackdown - since partially suspended - on overtime and other operational changes, as well as the lack of clarity about which of his proposals will ultimately stick.

In Philadelphia, some letter carriers have gone two weeks without a day off, said one postal worker who, like 11 others interviewed for this piece, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fears of reprisal from their superiors. Processing facilities in other parts of Pennsylvania - Scranton, Harrisburg, Lancaster, the Lehigh Valley - have week-long package backlogs. In Florida, some workers are being instructed not to log mail that arrives after carriers have left on their routes, an anathema to long-serving agency employees.

In the Great Lakes region, which includes parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, managers are unsure whether DeJoy's realignment of the agency will continue, further slowing the daily movement of hundreds of millions of mail items.

"Everyone's clueless," said one region mid-level manager.

In other areas, including California, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, postal workers say previous delays have been resolved, but employees are bracing for the election and holiday season, and additional changes DeJoy could institute after the Nov. 3 vote. The plans under consideration, described by four people familiar with Postal Service discussions, include geography-based pricing, lower mail delivery standards and raising prices.

Questions about DeJoy's intentions - both in the run-up to the election and long-term - have raised suspicions among some postal workers, as well as the agency's powerful unions. The former logistics executive and GOP megadonor also has drawn the ire of Democrats and voting rights advocates, who worry postal slowdowns will interfere in an election in which nearly 180 million Americans are eligible to vote by mail.

His connection to the White House added to the tensions, especially after President Donald Trump vowed to block USPS funding to impede its ability to process ballots. Trump has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that mail ballots lead to widespread voter fraud.

Conservatives have long viewed the Postal Service as ripe for privatization, or at least a private-sector style haircut. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who chairs the committee in charge of postal oversight, said the Senate may consider fulfilling the USPS's $25 billion pandemic funding request in a future relief spending package in exchange for "true reforms."

"I think everybody's just confused. They don't know where it's going," said Mike Stephenson, president of the Pennsylvania Postal Workers Union. "And what I'm afraid of the most is, I believe, this is all part of a bigger picture to sell the post office."

DeJoy has denied those claims, saying he accepted the role of postmaster general to fix the Postal Service's long financial issues while preserving universal service to the public. The agency is nearly $161 billion in debt, three-fourths of which is tied to its pension obligations.

The Postal Service has spent months reeling from changing consumer habits during the pandemic. Volumes of paper mail - the Postal Service's most profitable revenue stream - fell after businesses closed in the name of social distancing. Package volumes soared as consumers turned to online shopping and delivery to avoid venturing out.

That shift in volumes wrong-footed the USPS, which was designed to handle more paper than boxes, even before DeJoy arrived June 15. But within a month of taking over the agency, he required mail transit trucks to leave processing plants for distribution centers even if workers hadn't finished sorting the mail. He also told letter carriers to begin their routes at specific times even if it meant leaving mail behind.

Those changes have benefited USPS dispatch schedules, he testified. "In just a few weeks, we have substantially improved our on-time dispatch schedule from 89.4% to 97.0% on time," he submitted to the House Oversight Committee in written testimony. "We have also focused on decreasing the number of extra trips we operate."

DeJoy also banned workers from making extra trips to deliver mail processed later in the day. Memos circulated to mid-level managers and obtained by The Washington Post stated that DeJoy planned to eliminate overtime hours. Postal workers in Pennsylvania, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Florida and Iowa have told The Post they were warned overtime would be curtailed in official USPS lectures on shop floors.

DeJoy denied issuing any such direction in sworn testimony before a House panel on Monday and a Senate committee on Aug. 21, and also said he was not involved with decisions to remove roughly 700 high-speed mail sorting machines or dozens of public collection boxes, or cutting hours at retail windows.

"I had nothing to do with the collection boxes, the sorting machines, the post office hours or limiting overtime," he told the House Oversight Committee. "The change I made was I asked them to run the transportation on time and mitigate extra trips based on a review of an [Inspector General] audit."

But it's the changes DeJoy takes credit for that postal workers say have created the worst problems. A post office in Iowa in July left Amazon boxes sitting on the delivery dock, a worker said, when supervisors told mail handlers not to sort the items because they arrived 15 minutes late from a processing center. The boxes arrived just before 5 a.m., more than three hours before letter carriers arrived to begin preparing for their routes.

"Even though carriers are leaving on time, they're leaving mail behind," said a postal worker in Florida. "In the past, that was late mail. That mail got delayed. Now it's called something else. It's called 'tomorrow's mail.' "
US obviously does not understand law or UN after thrice being defeated: Iran FM

Iran Press TV

Friday, 28 August 2020 4:08 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the United States has once again threatened to impose restrictions on 'anyone and any entity' dealing with the Islamic Republic despite being dismissed by the United Nations Security Council three times.

"After thrice being rejected by SC, US now threatens 'sanctioning anyone & any entity that comes between US' & 'its snapback'," Zarif said in a post on his Twitter account on Friday.

He once again reminded US authorities that they "divorced" the landmark nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018.

"Your name on the marriage certificate is irrelevant," the top Iranian diplomat tweeted.

Zarif incorporated the Thursday interview of US Representative to the United Nations Kelly Craft with the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television news channel.

She said in the interview that the US is still on track to re-imposing all sanctions on Iran next month. "We are going to lead," she said.

The president of the Security Council on August 25 dismissed attempts by the US to reinstate all UN sanctions against Iran due to a lack of consensus in the 15-member body.

Indonesia's UN Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, the Security Council's president for August, said the body was "not in the position to take further action" on the new US push to trigger a 'snapback' of all UN sanctions on Iran due to a lack of consensus among the member states to take such measures.

The United States is trying to invoke the snapback mechanism in the multilateral nuclear agreement despite its withdrawal from the accord in May 2018 in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorses the deal.

The United States' most prominent Western allies have refused to fall into step with the push, which follows Washington's humiliating defeat in securing an extension of the UN arms embargo against Iran at the UNSC.

Only the Dominican Republic voted 'yes' to Washington's resolution calling for the extension of the embargo beyond October 18.

The United Kingdom, France, and Germany, all signatories to the JCPOA, say the US does not have the legal right to trigger the provision set out in the JCPOA because it pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

The Security Council on August 14 unanimously rejected a US resolution to extend an arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in October in line with the JCPOA.

President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that America's failure in its attempts to make the UN Security Council extend the arms embargo against Tehran was a political success that displayed the power of Iran's diplomacy.

"We are capable of standing up to the US at the United Nations, confront it, and achieve success," Rouhani said.

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Israeli and UAE flags line a road in the Israeli coastal city of Netanya, on August 16, 2020. Photo: Jack Guez / AFP via Getty Images

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have officially scrapped the economic boycott on Israel, after president Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi issued a decree.

Sheikh Nahyans move allows for trade and financial agreements between Israel and the UAE  a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula  in another step towards normal ties.

On 13 August, the nations agreed the Abraham Accord to open up relations after the US brokered a deal, in exchange Israel will halt its controversial plans to annex occupied West Bank land sought by the Palestinians.

It comes as Israels El-Al Airlines (ELAL.TA) prepares to operate its first flight from Tel Avivs Ben Gurion Airport to UAEs capital, Abu Dhabi on 31 August. Although it is unclear whether it will be able to fly over Saudi Arabia, which has no official ties with Israel  to cut down on flight time.

The flight will carry an Israeli government delegation and top aides to US president Donald Trump, including White House top adviser and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner.

READ MORE: The legacy of Abenomics explained as Japans Shinzo Abe steps down

Before the two countries officially sign a deal, they must first agree on issues such as trade, travel links and the opening up of embassies.

UAE's state-run WAM news agency said the decree opens doors for Israelis and Israeli companies to do business in the UAE, as well as allowing for the purchase and trade of Israeli goods.

Following the abolition of the Israel boycott law, individuals and companies in the UAE may enter into agreements with bodies or individuals residing in Israel or belonging to it by their nationality, in terms of commercial, financial operations, or any other dealings of any nature, WAM quoted the decree as saying.

Adding, that it lays out a roadmap toward launching joint cooperation, leading to bilateral relations by stimulating economic growth and promoting technological innovation."

Story continues

READ MORE: Hong Kong, UAE and Indian buyers push prime London property market to busiest in over five years

Arab countries heavily criticised the UAE after the Abraham Accord was announced, with Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa telling US secretary of state Mike Pompeo his country remains committed to the Arab Peace Initiative. Sudans prime minister Abdalla Hamdok also rejected establishing relations with Israel.

The Arab Peace Initiative calls for Israel's complete withdrawal from Palestinian territories occupied after 1967, in return for peace and normalisation of relations.

Saturdays announcement formally abolishes a 1972 law in UAEs books, which banned business between the nations.

In May, Etihad Airways made history after becoming the first UAE carrier to fly to Israel. It flew from UAE to Tel Avivs Ben Gurion Airport, to provide supplies for Palestinians amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The deal makes the UAE the third Arab country to agree established ties with Israel, after Egypt reached a deal with the country in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.
Half of Illinois high school students reported using an electronic tobacco product last year, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found, erasing gains made by health advocates in recent years to curb tobacco use.

That trend of increasing e-cigarette, hookah and vape pen use is on par with the U.S. at large, which the nations wellness protection agency noted was a factor that prompted the surgeon general to proclaim electronic tobacco use an epidemic.

Fighting traditional cigarette, cigar and smokeless tobacco use has always been a multi-prong approach, Shana Crews, Illinois government relations director for the American Cancer Societys Cancer Action Network, said in an interview. State officials and advocates passed strong smoke-free laws and secured increased funding for tobacco cessation and education programs.

But in Illinois, electronic cigarettes are not included in a statewide ban of smoking at virtually all public places, taxes on the products are not at parity with traditional tobacco products and legislative proposals to ban flavored electronic products were not addressed by the General Assembly this session.

We need to make sure that were treating electronic cigarettes just as we are combustible cigarettes, said Sen. Julie Morrison, a Democrat from Deerfield and longtime anti-tobacco advocate. We were doing so well on changing the culture of smoking and now, especially the younger generation has gone backward.

Crews added that funding for education programs is abysmal. An analysis performed by her organization found Illinois cancer reduction policies compared favorably to other states in all but one area  funding for its cessation program.

The CDC recommends the state spend $136.7 million on related initiatives, but Illinois allocates just $9.1 million  6.7 percent of the recommended level  according to the American Cancer Society report.

Although current use of cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco among U.S. high school students has decreased, tobacco product usage has evolved, and the increasing prevalence of electronic vapor product use among youths during recent years is concerning, according to the CDC survey. Implementing evidence-based tobacco control strategies, combined with (the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations) regulatory efforts, is important for preventing and reducing all forms of tobacco product use among youths.

The federal agency also found roughly one in five Illinois high school students used electronic tobacco products at least one day during the 30-day period before responding to its survey. Nationwide, that number was approximately one-third of high school students.

Results also indicated that half of Illinois high school students surveyed did not attempt to quit using tobacco products in 2019.

The fact that half of all high schoolers surveyed say they have used an electronic tobacco products (e-cigarette) and the frequency with which current e-cigarette users are using these products shows we need to do better to keep these products out of kids hands, Lissa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, said in a written statement. There is no safe level of use of tobacco products, and no reason for a child to be using an e-cigarette.

The CDC report was released less than two weeks after preliminary research conducted at Stanford University suggested those who sometimes use e-cigarettes are five times more likely to be diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease.
Queensland's Health Minister Steven Miles has condemned politicians he says were using the tragic death of a baby twin from Ballina for political purposes.

"In the past 24 hours watching politicians use this tragic event to further their political arguments has left me feeling sick," Mr Miles said.

News Corp is reporting that doctors in Ballina wanted to send pregnant Ballina woman Kimberley Brown to Brisbane on August 13 for specialist surgery after the twins developed blood-sharing complications the day before.

One twin subsequently died.

Queensland Health insists it did not receive a request to send Ms Brown to Brisbane for emergency surgery.
Los Angeles Serviced Apartments Hollywood and Los Angeles retain much of their mystique, especially for foreigners and short-term visitors.

Key Housing, the leader in finding hard-to-find corporate and short term housing in Los Angeles and all of Southern California at https://www.keyhousing.com/, is proud to announce its SoCal designee for September is the 'Vantage Hollywood' property located at 1710 North Fuller Avenue in Los Angeles, California. The property offers a plethora of apartment types and incredible amenities in the heart of Hollywood, making it very popular with Europeans and British visitors who are looking for so-called serviced apartments (termed 'furnished apartments' in American lexicon).

Hollywood and Los Angeles retain much of their mystique, especially for foreigners and short-term visitors, explained Bob Lee, President of Key Housing. There is simply no better way to experience the advantages of Hollywood than to book a serviced apartment via our service into Vantage Hollywood, whether what brings you to LA is business or pleasure, or both.

Interested persons can view the Los Angeles property directly at https://www.equityapartments.com/los-angeles/west-hollywood/vantage-apartments. It can also be viewed on the Key Housing website at https://www.keyhousing.com/rightside.asp?action=form3&ID=343. It is highly recommended that interested persons not only read the online information but reach out to the experts at Key Housing to book a serviced apartment. Availability varies by date, and so an expert can help the interested person explore all available options for serviced apartments not just in Los Angeles or Hollywood but throughout Southern California. Nearby communities such as Glendale or Burbank are also viable options for persons coming to Southern California either on business or pleasure.

KEY HOUSING AND THE POST-CORONAVIRUS WORLD IN LOS ANGELES

Here is background on this release. Business travelers and even tourists are returning to the United States including Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank, and other Southern California cities. That said, Europeans and Brits are shying away from big hotels and big crowds due to fears of the Coronavirus. Fortunately, Key Housing offers a solution that involves staying in a real apartment complex in which everything is changed out between guests, and thus the risks of contracting the virus are as small as humanly possible. In addition, meals can be consumed in the apartment which (unlike a hotel room) is set up for real living. Reach out to Key Housing and its experts for a consultation on the best serviced apartment in Los Angeles for one's needs.

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Based in Folsom, California, Key Housing Connections Inc. specializes in corporate housing and serviced apartments in large cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Diego as well as smaller cities like Fresno, Burbank, and Carlsbad. Key Housing is a leader in affordable, friendly, short-term and corporate housing in places like Bakersfield, Encinitas, Hermosa Beach, and just about every city in California. Whether it's a San Diego serviced apartment or a San Francisco furnished rental, just search, click or call today!

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Elizabeth Chambers filed for divorce from Armie Hammer in July, after 10 years of marriage.

But the TV personality still wished the Call Me By Your Name actor happy birthday, posting to her Instagram story for his birthday on Friday.

'Happy 34th birthday @armiehammer,' she wrote alongside a photo with their children. 'You are loved.'

Loved: Elizabeth Chambers still wished Armie Hammer a happy birthday, posting to her Instagram story for his birthday on Friday, weeks after filing for divorce

For his birthday, the newly-minted 34-year-old shared that for the last two months he has been living with a friend and working construction.

He seemed to be with a friend in Joshua Tree National Park as he tagged the location, alongside the picture of his friend walking.

'This one of my best friends, Ashton,' he wrote. 'For the last 2 months or so I have lived with Ashton, worked construction with Ashton, and hiked with Ashton every day.'

Hammer went on to thank his friend and send him love.

Simple life: For his birthday, the newly-minted 34-year-old shared that for the last two months he has been living with a friend and working construction. He seemed to be with a friend in Joshua Tree National Park as he tagged the location, alongside the picture of his friend walking

Growing apart: Hammer's birthday wishes from his estranged wife come weeks after she filed for divorce citing 'irreconcilable differences' and is seeking primary physical custody of their two children (pictured January 2018)

'He has been such a good friend (and boss) and has been the most supportive friend anyone could ever ask for,' he continued. 'Today might be my birthday, but I just wanna say thank you to @ashtonramsey and say I love you dude.'

Hammer's birthday wishes from his estranged wife come weeks after she filed for divorce citing 'irreconcilable differences' and is seeking primary physical custody of their two children.

The actor, and Chambers, 38, announced earlier in the month that they were 'moving on' from their marriage after 10 years.

Chambers had already filed a divorce petition before the couple shared the news of their split via their Instagram accounts.

Over: Elizabeth Chambers has filed for divorce from Armie Hammer, citing 'irreconcilable differences' and is seeking primary physical custody of their two children (pictured March 2018)

In the petition, she lists the date of separation as July 6 and is seeking primary physical custody of the couple's children, daughter Harper, five, and son Ford, three.

She says she wants joint legal custody with Hammer of the kids and is requesting spousal support from the Call Me By Your Name star.

The now former couple had been quarantining in the Cayman Islands during the coronavirus pandemic.

Hammer has been spotted in Los Angeles and now has flagged his location as Joshua Tree, while Chambers continues to post videos in the Cayman Islands.

Official: In the legal documents, Chambers states that she wants primary physical custody of the couple's children, daughter Harper, five, and son Ford, three

At the time, a source claimed to UsWeekly that the marriage breakup had been a long time coming.

'They have been having trouble in their marriage for quite a while and each doing their own thing,' the outlet's source shared.

Another insider shared: 'Right now, their biggest concern is their children and how this change will impact them. Their children are their top priority and always will be.'

The insider added: 'The split is amicable and they will work through this difficult time with love and respect.'

Happier times: The now former couple had been quarantining in the Cayman Islands during the coronavirus pandemic. Hammer has been spotted in Los Angeles and now has flagged his location as Joshua Tree, while Chambers continues to post videos in the Cayman Islands

Alongside a throwback snap of himself and his wife on Friday, Hammer had shared the news of the split on his Instagram, explaining in the caption: 'Thirteen years as best friends, soulmates, partners and then parents. It has been an incredible journey, but together, we've decided to turn the page and move on from our marriage.'

'As we enter into this next chapter, our children and relationship as co-parents and dear friends will remain our priority,' the actor added.

'We understand this news lends itself to public dialogue, but in the interest of our children and our family, we're asking for privacy, compassion and love during this time.'
Actor Rhea Chakraborty in her recent interview had revealed that Sushant Singh Rajput had been to Thailand on a trip on which he spent 70 lakhs. Now, the late actors former assistant Sabir Ahmed told India Today TV that Sara Ali Khan also went on that trip with them. He had added that the trip had been undertaken for the PRO team of the late actor but they had to cut it short.

Sara had worked with Sushant on their film Kedarnath with director Abhishek Kapoor. Sabir said: We were seven people -- Sushant, Sara Ali Khan, Siddharth Gupta, Kushal Zaveri, Abbas, Sushants bodyguard Mushtaq, and me. It was Sushants trip with his PRO team, Sara Ali Khan and two staff members. It was in December 2018 and we travelled by a private jet.

He said that first day all of them went to the beach together. Only on the first day, all of us went to the beach. But later, Sushant and Sara were in the hotel for the rest of the trip, while his friends went out to explore. They stayed at a luxurious island hotel in Bangkok.

Also read: Indian Idol 10s Renu Nagar admitted to hospital in critical condition after boyfriend dies by suicide

He added that the trip had to be cut short as there was a tsunami warning. He added that while the rest of them returned, Mushtaq and he stayed on in Bangkok for a month and that Sushant had given his ATM card to them for their expenses.

On the question that she was a social climber and having used his money, Rhea had said in the interview, Much before I came into the picture, Sushant with six other men, had been on a trip to Thailand where he spent 70 lakhs. He took them in a private jet. Those were his lifestyle choices. He lived like a star, he lived like a king.

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Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has called for calm, the application of the rule of law and the preservation of the rights of all citizens to peacefully express their views
Inner Strength Can Give Great Purpose Awarded with the Global Womens Outstanding Leadership Award for being an exemplary leader. During Covid-19 crisis she helped with giving free stress release meditation sessions to those experiencing fear and anxiety and distributing food to those in need in her community.

The Power House Human: Lani Bernard

"PRESENTED WITH THE PRESTIGIOUS HUMANITARIAN AWARD"

Leader, Inspirational Speaker, and a bright star in the world of positive transformation, Lani Bernard has helped inspire thousands across the globe. Now in light of Covid-19 she is gifting for free mind calming meditation methods to those in need.

With an extensive list of qualifications including world class training as an inspirational speaker, vocalist, and performing artist, transformational meditation teacher, along with degrees in the fields of Ornamental Horticulture & Gemology Lani Bernard possesses the skills of a true visionary. During Covid-19 she is helping with gifting free stress release meditation methods for free to those who are experiencing stress and anxiety due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She is also finding ways to give food to disabled seniors and the needy in her community.

Lani Bernard was nominated and awarded with the Global Womens Outstanding Leadership Award by The Womens Information Network (WIN) for being an exemplary leader who helped, empowered, and strengthened women, children, youth and their families. WIN strives to support and help women and families globally and shares the voice and efforts of strong women who are working non-stop as community leaders; contributing their skills and lives to help and inspire their communities, the less fortunate and the gifted.

Lani Bernard has also raised millions of dollars for various charities to support their cause and given meaning and purpose to the lives of thousands in her community as well as around the world. In addition, she is credited with producing conducting/arranging inspirational seminars and workshops with the likes of New York Times Best Selling Authors and Grammy Winners, that have drawn and impacted hundreds of thousands of individuals.

Over her 40 year career Lani Bernard has served numerous leadership roles, including serving as the Director of non-profit organizations as well as creating her own educational and transformative projects that have gained international recognition such as award winning community outreach programs, music productions, academic curriculums, festivals, seminars, and concerts. Lani Bernard is also recognized for having worked with the globally accredited organization World Hunger she coproduced internationally publicized events that received rave reviews and was successful in providing notable funding for the outreach programs of World hunger.

She also has received television acclamation being featured on PBS, America One Television and national and international talk shows like Good Morning Australia, National Malaysia TV and The Mike Douglas Show. Being a talented motivational inspirational speaker, actress, influencer, vocalist, dancer & Humanitarian, Lani Bernard has shared the stage, recorded or performed with celebrated personalities such as Grammy Winning Composer Micheal Narada Walden, Grammy Winning Composer Peter Kater, Grammy Winning Composer David Darling & New York Times Best Selling Authors: Wayne Dyer, Harold Bloomfield and Ramdas.

Pullout Quote:

Lani Bernard after winning the Humanitarian Award.

Lani Bernard won this and several other awards after being internationally recognized for her efforts to transform the lives of thousands as a compassionate, strong, and skilled individual with leadership characteristics that set her apart from the rest. Its wonderful giving human beings like her that make the world a much better place to live.
Days before the election, Bolivian authorities and their contracted firm for providing administration and support during the electionNeotechad said that they would not be able to publish all the results on October 20 due to the lack of internet connectivity in rural parts of Bolivia.





by Vijay Prashad and Manuel Bertoldi





Three political scientists from the United States closely studied allegations of fraud in the Bolivian election of 2019 and found that there was no fraud. These scholarsfrom the University of Pennsylvania and Tulane Universitylooked at raw evidence from the Bolivian election authorities that had been handed over to the New York Times. They suggest late-counted votes came from rural regions where the candidacy of incumbent President Evo Morales Ayma was popular; the character of these votes, and not fraud, accounts for the margin of victory announced by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) on October 21, 2019.









Allegations of fraud were made most sharply by the Organization of American States (OAS). It is the OAS report that is closely scrutinized by Professors Nicolas Idrobo, Dorothy Kronick, and Francisco Rodriguez, and it is found wanting on statistical and analytical grounds. If what the professors say is correct and if the OAS allegations were incorrect, then Evo Morales should have been serving his fourth term as president of Bolivia rather than be exiled to Argentina. Because Morales was removed from power by a coup detat, his countrys democratic system is being suffocated by an interim presidency.





What Happened in October 2019





As the Idrobo, Kronick, and Rodriguez study published in July 2020 reports, at 7:40 p.m. on October 20, after the voting ended, Bolivias TSE paused the public transmission of the results for the election. The government had previously announced that the transmission would be paused so that the 7:50 p.m. press conference by election officials could be held in a calm manner. At this press conference, the officials said that 83 percent of the voting booths had reported to the central office, and that of these votes Morales (with 45.71 percent) was in the lead over Carlos Mesa (with 37.84 percent). The gap between the two at that point was 7.87 percent, short of the 10 percent margin needed for Morales to avoid a runoff.





The election officials did not publish any more results until the following evening; they said that they had no intention of posting any more results on October 20. On October 21, the officials said that Morales had a lead of 10.15 percent; three days later (on October 24), the Plurinational Electoral Organ announced that Morales (with 47.05 percent) had defeated Carlos Mesa (with 36.53 percent) by 10.52 percent, above the 10 percent threshold. Morales had won the election.





What the OAS Said





At 10:35 p.m., two and a half hours after the TSE held its press conference on October 20, the OAS sent out a tweet asking the TSE to explain why the transmission of results had been stopped. Here begins the mischief.





Days before the election, Bolivian authorities and their contracted firm for providing administration and support during the electionNeotechad said that they would not be able to publish all the results on October 20 due to the lack of internet connectivity in rural parts of Bolivia. On the day of the election, Marcel Guzman de Rojas, manager of Neotec, said that it would take one or two more days to confirm the official numbers; he had made this point as early as October 9. This simple explanation for the delay was not considered by the OAS or by European and U.S. ambassadors who began to whisper the phrase election fraud to the media.





During the break from the transmission of the results on October 20, the Panamanian cybersecurity firm Ethical Hacking that had been hired by the Bolivian government to oversee the process issued a maximum alert about activity on the servers. We were told by a former TSE official that Morales partyMovement for Socialism (MAS)had objected to the work of Neotec, which had overseen the Bolivian elections for years; Neotec was hired to do the election five weeks before October 20 at the urging of the opposition.





The TSE brought in Ethical Hacking on September 19, 2019, just a month before the election, according to former TSE officials. The first meeting between Neotec and Ethical Hacking did not take place before October 4. The process was fraught, and any implementation was going to produce trouble. This was the backdrop to Ethical Hackings alert; simpler explanationssuch as a lack of communicationbetter explain the chaos. Continued conflict into the present between Neotec and Ethical Hacking demonstrates the deep rot in the system.





Neither the timeline laid out by Neotec nor the open evidence of confusion between Neotec and Ethical Hacking entered the mainstream news. The focus was on the OAS tweet from October 20 and the OAS statement of October 21. The OAS statement spoke of its deep concern and surprise at the drastic and hard-to-explain change in the trend of the preliminary results revealed after the closing of the polls. There was nothing hard-to-explain if Neotecs own timeline is taken seriously: no final numbers would be released before October 21, and the results followed the already established trendline.





The United States government (and its allies in Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia) issued a statement against the election results based on the OAS report; Carlos Mesa and Luis Fernando Camacho of the Committee for Santa Cruz used the OAS claims to call the election results fraudulent. The OAS report was used as the instrument to overthrow Morales.





What the Professors Say





The day before the election, the TSE held a press conference where its president Maria Eugenia Choque said that the system for the transmission of election results was safe. She responded to a news report that anonymously quoted a TSE official who complained that the TSE had hired Ethical Hacking to deliberately slow the process of the transmission down. The TSE tried desperately to defend the integrity of the process, but it was already clearas many of us knewthat the accusation of fraud was going to be used to overthrow the government of President Morales.





Two U.S. scholars from the MIT Election Data and Science LabJack R. Williams and John Curielpublished a paper in February 2020 that showed no evidence of an irregular trend. It was clear to these scholars that the precincts that remained to be counted already highly favored Morales. Williams and Curiel found that after the interruption on October 20 there was no clear change in favor of a single party. Because of this analysis, Williams and Curiel wrote, We find it is very likely that Morales won the required 10 percentage point margin to win in the first round of the election on October 20, 2019.





The new paper by Idrobo, Kronick, and Rodriguezpublished in July 2020went further. It demonstrated two main points. First, building on Williams and Curiel, it argued that the precincts being counted after the pause in the transmission were largely in the highlands of Bolivia and in its rural districts, both areas that favored Morales by a landslide. The changing composition of voting boothsrather than fraudexplains the pro-Morales shift in vote share over the reporting window, the more recent paper stated.





Second, looking at the models used by the OAS and others, Idrobo, Kronick, and Rodriguez showed that the jumps found by the OAS were the artifact of using an estimator not designed for regression discontinuity analysis; in other words, the statisticians who claim fraud used the wrong analytical framework for their assessment. Looking at one precinct in the town of Llallagua, Potosi, the scholars found that MASs margin increases with reporting time even before the government stopped transmitting updated results. This is not an isolated case.





What Morales Wanted





On November 10, 2019, Morales offered an important concession: he announced new elections that would be overseen by a new electoral body. The oligarchy and its parties smelled blood. They were uninterested in strengthening Bolivian democracy. Two hours after the announcement, the commander of Bolivias armed forces General Williams Kalimantrained by the U.S. militarysuggested that Morales resign.





Morales offered a re-election. It was rejected in place of a coup. There has been no election for a year in Bolivia since the coup.





This article was produced by Globetrotter, a project of the Independent Media Institute.





Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter, a project of the Independent Media Institute. He is the chief editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest book is Washington Bullets, with an introduction by Evo Morales Ayma.





Manuel Bertoldi is a leader at Frente Patria Grande (Argentina) and Alba Movimientos. He is a coordinator of the International Peoples Assembly.
When COVID-19 completely took over our nation, everything changed for us. Whether it was something as simple as stepping out of our homes to shop for groceries or even our office work that we were now forced to do from home.

This caused a massive shift in the education field too, with kids studying from home, attending school on their laptops or their parent's phones.

Representational Image: Google

A need for a streamlined platform arose where institutions could be connected to one central hub for resources and content, especially those institutions -- like government-funded schools -- that couldn't afford a setup of their own.



Educating kids from home

For this, Delhis Department of Education which had already teamed up with Intel on several projects in the past seeking a solution for this. Later they brought onboard an EdTech startup that is known to teach professionals online dubbed Career Launcher, that had a solution dubbed Aspirational.ai, backed by Amazon Web Services or AWS.

But Career launcher didnt have resources to take onboard 160,000 students. Thats where Intel came in and provided their cloud computing infrastructure, collaborating with AWS to help educate students across the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

We got to interact with Prakash Mallya, VP and MD  Sales, Marketing and Communications Group at Intel India as well as Rahul Sharma, President  Public Sector, India and South Asia, Amazon Web Services to understand the challenges and experiences they faced in this joint venture.

The need for a quality tech-powered experience

With so many students and teachers, and other school users, signing in every day onto the platform, the load on the service would have been immense. This is where mission critical software and services merge with a robust hardware-software system to pull it all off without a glitch.

Prakash Mallya explained, "Academic institutions around the world are responding to the pandemic with a shift to digital learning. Schools and colleges have adapted to technologies like video conferencing, instant messaging tools and more, to keep students and parents engaged. From uploading video lectures, students chatting with teachers on WhatsApp, group classes held on Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams, to educational forums, tech has begun to bridge the education gap virtually. Cloud is becoming a service model; the network is being transformed from fixed-function to open standard, and innovation at the edge has the potential to recast access to education.

He added, For underprivileged children, affordable, accessible and holistic EdTech solution enablement could become a great equalizer. This, however, requires a solution mindset in the industry at large. Public-private partnerships to enable end to end innovation across content, teacher training and IT infrastructure are critical to ensuring that the children of India dont miss out on education during times like this and elevating learning outcomes in the longer term.

Reuters

A glimpse into the backend

We were curious to know what goes on behind the scenes on the technology backbone that educates 160,000 kids every day. Intel's Mallya explained, The Department of Education of Delhi engaged Career Launcher to find a fast-scaling solution to not only ensure educational continuity but to also serve as a platform for long-term educational transformation. Career Launcher enlisted the help of Intel and Amazon Web Services (AWS) and together we worked with educators to adapt aspiration.ai, Career Launchers learning portal, to address the needs of Delhis schools.

He added, Aspiration.ai is built on AWS Cloud, which offers scalable performance and built-in artificial intelligence acceleration with Intel Xeon Scalable processors. AWS scaled up quickly and seamlessly while offering a wide array of services and delivering the needed performance for very large groups of users. For intensive workloads that involve video, analytics, AI, and more, Intels Xeon Scalable processors deliver extensive compute headroom to cost-effectively scale platforms like aspiration.ai to meet the future learning needs of students.

How this approach is unique on scale

One of the most unique elements of CareerLaunchers platform is the ability for a child to go back and see a missed session.

Mallya shares, To ensure that the special connection between teachers and students could continue, Career Launcher is using cloud technology to offer live streaming of classes as well as archival and replay of past recordings. By offering both synchronous and asynchronous learning content, the program is inclusive of students who have limited access to broadband internet. While these students are unable to stream the lessons live, they can view the content on-demand when they are able to get onlineoften via a parents smartphone.

Whats interesting is the access to advanced analytics for teachers to help them track the childs progress and help him/her should they require special attention, with the help of key indicators that they can track and provide a 360-degree approach to education.

Making a solution for students in India

Prakash Mallya shares the challenges they experienced for making an India-centric solution, and how it enabled them to make something that could really help better the lives of Indian kids and parents in future, Today, the use of technology in the education sector remains limited and fragmented. Even with budgets for implementation, educational institutes are often stuck with piecemeal applications resulting in the creation of silos. As a result, technologies used by teachers, students and parents rarely interact with each other. The big opportunity lies in connecting all these strands.

He added, Can students, parents, teachers and other parts of the education ecosystem be given a more holistic view using technology? School operations such as admissions, reservations, transport, classroom learnings, examination, class notes, assignments, timetables, exams and academic records can all be wired to improve education and learnings. In fact, for the less privileged, a technology-powered education experience has the potential of reducing dropouts and improving their chance of building more fulfilling lives for themselves.

Getty Images

Rahul Sharma from AWS too shared his experience while creating a solution while overcoming challenges in India, Building an online education solution has many aspects such as virtual live classrooms, online assessments, and learning management systems (LMS). Important elements here include developing the relevant education content, delivering the learning through an LMS using text, voice and video, and delivering the LMS at scale to lakhs of students through the power of cloud computing. A single organization cannot address this challenge at scale, and multiple stakeholders need to collaborate to effectively enable and deliver effective online education.

He added, CareerLauncher, AWS and Intel have come together to address the need for continued education for students in government schools in Delhi. The collaboration between these organizations and the initiative taken by the Delhi government is a strong example of how technology can be an enabler during these difficult times when the education sector is looking to continue with the teaching and learning process. We are seeing many more such instances across the country.
Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Aug. 27, 2020 shows screens displaying U.S. President Donald Trump delivering his acceptance speech during the 2020 Republican National Convention. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump accepted the Republican Party's nomination for reelection on Thursday night and is seeking to draw contrast between himself and his Democratic rival Joe Biden.

"This is the most important election in the history of our country," Trump said in a speech from the White House South Lawn to a crowd of more than 1,000 people. "There has never been such a difference between two parties, or two individuals, in ideology, philosophy, or vision than there is right now."

Trump went after Biden from economy to foreign policy, trying to paint the 77-year-old moderate political veteran as beholden to the "radical left." The president notably hammered a "law and order" message, a major theme of his reelection bid, as he warned against an America under the Biden presidency.

"The most dangerous aspect of the Biden platform is the attack on public safety," Trump said. "Make no mistake, if you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will defund police departments all across America ... No one will be safe in Biden's America."

Biden, whose campaign has made racial justice a pillar, has said that he supports police reform but not the movement to "defund the police" in response to a nationwide reckoning over what activists have described as police brutality and systemic racism after George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May.

Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States on Aug. 20, 2020 shows screens displaying images of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaking in a video feed of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Floyd's death sparked weeks-long protests and social unrest across the United States. Public anger has been reignited in the wake of the Aug. 23 police shooting of 29-year-old African American Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has led to consecutive days of protests and violence at times in the city.

In Washington, protesters gathered near the White House with the intention of disrupting Trump's outdoor speech, with the Secret Service beefing up security around the presidential residence.

Trump didn't address the shooting or the issue of racism in his acceptance speech. Instead, he touted job numbers for African Americans, doubled down his support of law enforcement agencies, and blamed the unrest in cities like Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, and New York, on Democrats.

"There is violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America. This problem could easily be fixed if they wanted to. We must always have law and order," he said. "All federal crimes are being investigated, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Kate Bedingfield, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, rebuked Trump's remarks in a statement, saying that "In Donald Trump's America, safety is pitted against justice, Americans are pitted against one another, and the violence that Trump warns of plays out on the streets of communities across our country -- stoked by his own words and actions."

Biden said earlier on Thursday that he thinks Trump is "rooting for more violence, not less."

"He views this as a political benefit to him," said the former vice president. "And he's clear about that. And what's he doing, he's pouring more gasoline on the fire."

Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Aug. 27, 2020 shows screens displaying U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. first lady Melania Trump arriving on stage for the 2020 Republican National Convention. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Making his case for reelection clear, Trump also touted what he believes were accomplishments of his first term, made promises for the next four years, and tried to reshape the narrative of his administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In recent months, our nation, and the entire planet, has been struck by a new and powerful invisible enemy," he said. "We are meeting this challenge. We are delivering lifesaving therapies, and will produce a vaccine before the end of the year, or maybe even sooner! We will defeat the virus, end the pandemic, and emerge stronger than ever before."

The United States passed the grim milestone of 180,000 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, with nearly 5.9 million cases -- more than anywhere else in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University. Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the United States is handling the pandemic worse than other countries, according to an NPR/Ipsos poll released earlier this month.

Biden's running mate, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris of California, hit Trump on his response to the public health crisis in a speech on Thursday afternoon.

Images of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris speaking in a video feed of the 2020 Democratic National Convention are displayed on screens in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Aug. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

"It's relentless. You can't stop it with a tweet. You can't create a distraction and hope it'll go away. It doesn't go away. By its nature, a pandemic is unforgiving," Harris said. "If you get it wrong at the beginning, the consequences are catastrophic. It's very hard to catch up ... President Trump got it wrong in the beginning."

The finale of the 2020 Republican National Convention, under the theme "Land of Greatness" on Thursday night, also featured speeches from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, former New York City mayor and Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, and the president's daughter and senior adviser Ivanka Trump.

Trump, 74, was a businessman and television celebrity before entering politics. He won the 2016 U.S. presidential election as a Republican by defeating then Democratic presidential nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Biden, 77, was U.S. vice president from 2009 to 2017 after serving 36 years as U.S. senator for state of Delaware. This is the third time Biden has run for president.

According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Biden leads Trump by 7.1 percentage points nationally. However, Trump has repeatedly dismissed polls showing him falling behind as "fake."

Trump will hold a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire on Friday in the hope of building momentum for his campaign after the White House acceptance speech. Biden said on Thursday he will begin traveling to battleground states after Labor Day, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arizona, and Pennsylvania.

The Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled three debates between Trump and Biden and one between Vice President Mike Pence and Harris in the next two months. The 2020 U.S. presidential election will take place on Nov. 3. 
A Detroit resident is tested for free for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and antibodies at the Sheffield Center in Detroit, Michigan, April 28, 2020. Rebecca Cook | Reuters

Coronavirus cases in the Midwest are beginning to increase following warnings from top U.S. health officials that the country's heartland could be vulnerable to new outbreaks. Coronavirus cases were growing by 5% or more, based on a weekly average to smooth out daily reporting, in 21 states and Washington D.C. as of Saturday, according to a CNBC analysis of data collected by Johns Hopkins University, an increase from 12 states on Monday. Several Midwestern states were among those reporting growing cases Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and South Dakota. Nationally, however, cases continue to decline, though at a slower pace than reported in previous days. The U.S. reported an average of 41,638 new infections a day over the last week, a decline of more than 5% compared with the prior week, according to a CNBC analysis of Hopkins' data. Sun Belt states that have spent the summer months grappling with outbreaks are showing signs of improvement. Texas, Florida, California and Arizona all reported declines greater than 15% compared with a week ago.

Midwest 'is getting stuck'

The nation's top health officials, including White House coronavirus task force members Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, have warned that hotspots could arise in the Midwest, which hasn't witnessed the worst of the nation's outbreak so far. In July, Fauci pointed to the so-called positivity rate, or the percentage of tests run that are positive, that appeared to be rising in those states  an early indication that the outbreak is worsening. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield told Dr. Howard Bauchner with the Journal of the American Medical Association last week that there are worrying signs in the middle of the country where cases appear to be plateauing but not falling. The area "is getting stuck," which is a concern as seasonal influenza threatens to overwhelm hospitals and cause preventable deaths, he said. "We don't need to have a third wave in the heartland right now," Redfield said. "We need to prevent that particularly as we're coming to the fall." The virus is likely to spread in rural America, which has been "largely unaffected to date" by the worst of the nation's coronavirus outbreak, and "every community is vulnerable," former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC last week. "Really, an outbreak can happen anywhere," he said. State officials have taken some action to prevent further spread. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered K-12 students to wear face coverings when they return to school and limited the events at the state's county fair. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered bars to close in some of the states most populated counties on Thursday and continued to urge residents to wear face coverings, though they're not enforced.

Schools return

The troubling hotspots in the Midwest come as universities try to return students to campus this fall, though some have reported hundreds of cases and students in quarantine only a few weeks into the semester. "People need to understand that there are going to be cases of Covid when you have 50,000 people together," said Dr. Preeti Malani, chief health officer and professor of medicine and infectious disease at the University of Michigan. "It's a matter of if you have the infrastructure in place to identify cases  testing, surveillance, random testing of asymptomatic people, quarantine, contact tracing, isolation  and you have done what you can to reinforce public health mitigation efforts," she said. The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, has reported more than 500 cases since the beginning of this month. The university nearly sent students home before deciding on Friday to allow students to return to class once its positivity rate declined from above 10% to nearly 6%. The University of Iowa reported 130 cases after the first week of class for a positivity rate of 13.6%, though the university said it still has "adequate isolation and quarantine housing available." Kansas State University reported an outbreak at four sorority houses on Friday, resulting in more than 20 cases, according to the Riley County Health Department. The university canceled all sorority and fraternity events until Sept. 10. At the University of Kansas, the sorority and fraternity community reported 270 cases for a 10.01% positivity rate, according to an update Friday, though the university said the total cases so far are manageable.
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George K. Whitney, Jr.

Notes on the Oral History of George K. Whitney, Jr.

by John A. Martini

September 6, 2002

On August 13 and 14, 2002, Diane Nicholson and I met with Mr. George K. Whitney, Jr. at his home in Friday Harbor, Washington. Over the course of two days he and I carried out a 3-hour oral history session during which Mr. Whitney answered a number of questions about his family's involvement in the ownership and operations of Playland-At-The Beach, the Cliff House, Sutro Baths, and "Cliff House Properties."

Mr. Whitney was born in 1922 in San Francisco and raised in the City. During his childhood his father and uncle, George and Leo Whitney respectively, became the managers of a growing complex of seaside attractions that had originally been known at Chutes At The Beach. These attractions had always operated as concessionaires until the Whitneys arrived, but during the late 1920s and '30 the brothers purchased most attractions outright and renamed the area Playland At the Beach (sometimes known as Whitney's At the Beach). In addition to Playland, the Whitney Brothers operated the nearby "chicken shack" restaurant known as Topsy's Roost, which was located just north of Playland at the foot of Sutro Heights.

Although Playland's attractions originally sat upon leased land, the Whitneys eventually purchased the land beneath Playland as well as several adjacent lots for future expansion. In 1937, George Whitney, Sr. purchased the then-vacant Cliff House from the Sutro estate and reopened it as an upscale roadhouse that same year.

World War II was a boom-time for the Whitney Brothers, with thousands of on-leave servicemen and their dates boosting concession and ride revenues. George Jr. remembers one of his father's quotes about that period: "Playland is a nickel and dime business, and we'll do well as long as people have nickels and dimes in their pockets."

Mr. Whitney explained that his father was the organizer and financial leader of the Whitney Brothers while his uncle Leo was the creative designer part of the team. He also explained that his father was a "collector of collections" who would buy any manner of esoteric object if he thought he could make money by promoting it as an attraction. Examples included George Sr.'s collections of spinning wheels, antique bicycles, carriages, stuffed animals, music boxes, orchestrions, models of the California missions, the Tom Thumb collection, and coin-operated mechanical attractions.

During World War II George Jr. served in the Army Air Forces as an engineer and armament specialist. Following the end of the war he attended college and then went to work for his father and uncle, beginning his career managing the arcades and rides along the Playland midway. In 1952 Mr. Whitney Sr. purchased the Sutro Baths from the Sutro Estate and consolidated the Whitney holdings, which by then extended from Fulton Street to present-day Louie's restaurant and a small snack stand in the streetcar depot on Point Lobos Avenue.

We discussed at length the Sutro Baths structure and changes made to the building by the Whitneys, especially the decision to close the pools and focus on operating the skating rink and museum. He also explained that his father's "collection of collections" formed the majority of displays in the Sutro Museum of the 1950s, which was a slightly misleading name since many of the original objects collected by Adolph Sutro were no longer on display. (The Egyptian collection being a notable exception.)

Mr. Whitney was careful to point out that the Cliff House-Sutro Baths complex was not a "Whitney Brothers" property, but instead was owned by his father and mother (and later their children) under the title "Cliff House Properties." The Whitney family, it seems, were masters of restructuring their real estate holdings and Mr. Whitney provided us with several documents charting these convoluted legal reorganizations.

From 1954 until 1958, George Jr. went to Anaheim and worked for Walt Disney on the development of Disneyland. He was officially "Disneyland Employee #7" and served as the only person on Walt's development team with practical experience in operating amusement parks. His contributions included organization of line quays leading to the most popular rides and configuring entry and exit routes to maximize visitor flow. (As an example of the latter, he described how he reconfigured the Adventureland jungle ride boats with both entrance and exit doors instead of their original single entry points.)

Mr. Whitney returned to San Francisco in 1958 when his father passed away and he assumed control of the Whitney properties. In the early 1960s, however, he and his mother had a falling out and she sold her controlling interest to a new partner named Bob Frazier (interestingly, Mr. Whitney couldn't remember Bob's last name during the interview) who was able to take control of Playland At The Beach. Mr. Whitney then focused his operations on Sutro's and the Cliff House. Another real estate restructuring took place around this time that resulted in Mr. Whitney relinquishing control of the "back property" of Sutro's (which contained the abandoned pools) to Bob, who hoped to redevelop the land. For a brief period he retained control of the front half of the structure, which contained the skating rink and museum, until he also transferred this property to the developer. In turn, he and his sister took total control of the Cliff House, north annex and adjacent vacant property. George noted they were not the owners of the Sutro Baths structure when it burned in 1966 while being demolished, in what he himself readily admits was a very fortuitous fire for the wrecking company.

Following the transfer of the Baths property Mr. Whitney bought out his sister and assumed sole control over the Cliff House structure and the adjacent attractions such as the restaurants, gift shops, Camera Obscura, Musee Mecanique, etc. We discussed the negotiation that went on between himself and the NPS following the creation of Golden Gate NRA in 1972. Interestingly, Mr. Whitney states he was never approached by anyone on Congressman Burton's staff during the planning for GOGA. His first formal contacts occurred when representatives from Bill Whalen's staff contacted him following 1972 to begin purchase negotiations.

Mr. Whitney claims that he negotiated for five years with the NPS before agreeing to a sale price on the eve of condemnation proceedings. He remembers the sale price as $6,500,000. After selling his Cliff House properties Mr. Whitney states he left the Bay Area "and never looked back." He spent the last twenty years traveling extensively and sailing, and eventually retired to Friday Harbor, Washington, not far from his uncle and father's hometown of Mt. Vernon, Washington.

Read the interview timeline of the interview.



Full transcription of the George K. Whitney, Jr. interview

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-30 01:04:41|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Nguyen Huy Phong, a 50-year-old farmer from a hamlet in Vietnam's central Binh Thuan province, has sold over 10 tons of dragon fruits from his 0.6-hectare farm so far this year, while he still expects a higher price of his harvest.

Phong has managed to sell his most recent batch of first-grade dragon fruits, which are better looking and of higher quality than normal ones, at a price of 10,000 Vietnamese dong (over 0.4 U.S. dollars) per kg.

But the veteran farmer believes that the selling can be improved with a closer link with one of Vietnamese dragon fruits' largest market - China.

"We want more Chinese traders to come here to buy more fruits," Phong, who began to grow dragon fruits in 2006, told Xinhua.

Binh Thuan is one of the most concentrated dragon fruit growing areas in Vietnam, with over 30,000 hectares of land producing an annual output of more than 600,000 tons of dragon fruit, according to the province's department of agriculture and rural development.

According to Pham Thi Xinh, director of Nguyen Thuan Agricultural Product Import-Export Company in Binh Thuan, China has been a major exporting market for them. "Last month, our company bought dozens of tons of dragon fruits on average everyday, which are mostly exported to China," she told Xinhua.

For ordinary dragon fruit growers like Phong, selling their fruits to local traders who then sell the fruits to Chinese buyers is a common practice currently, however, they expect a more direct approach.

"If Chinese traders engage with us directly, we may also benefit from higher selling prices," Phong said, adding that he expects more trade promotion efforts made by Vietnam to facilitate Chinese traders' purchase.

According to the Trade Promotion Agency under the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam has the largest dragon fruit-growing area in Asia, with its dragon fruits exported to a number of countries and regions, mainly China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

"China continues to be Vietnam's key export market of agricultural products," Vo Tri Thanh, former deputy head of Vietnam's Central Institute for Economic Management, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Thanh said the two countries see good trade relations despite the COVID-19 epidemic.

"Both countries have controlled the epidemic well, which is an advantage for import and export activities. We have also seen that in recent months, the customs clearance procedure has been improved, which helps save a lot of time," said Thanh.

China is an important market not only for Vietnam but also for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in general.

In the first seven months of this year, the ASEAN remained China's largest trading partner, with trade up 6.6 percent year on year to 2.51 trillion yuan (about 365.6 billion U.S. dollars), according to China's General Administration of Customs.

The robust bilateral trade growth was applauded by economic ministers from China and the ASEAN members at the 19th AEM (ASEAN Economic Ministers)-MOFCOM (China's Ministry of Commerce) Consultations held via video link on Thursday.

In a media statement of the meeting, the ministers said the growth showed the resilience and huge potential of trade and economic cooperation between China and the ASEAN, reaffirming the importance of strengthened cooperation to promote trade and investment for economic recovery.

This may also be a positive signal for a smoother and more profitable export of dragon fruits from Vietnam, which saw an export value of over 600 million U.S. dollars of the iconic agricultural produce in the first six months this year, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

"I hope that more consumers in foreign markets, especially the giant Chinese market, can enjoy our fresh, sweet and succulent dragon fruits," Phong said. Enditem
A Union County man convicted of serving as the getaway driver in a violent robbery and attack, leading police on a chase through six New Jersey towns, was sentenced Thursday to 28 years in prison, authorities said.

Quinn M. Latney, 37, of Elizabeth, drove the night of Dec. 30, 2018 to the area of Canton Street in Elizabeth, where his unidentified passenger got out, attacked a woman and tried to steal her purse, according to Assistant Prosecutors Jessica Guarducci and Alexandra Pecora.

The attacker, who was never identified, was not successful in stealing the purse. He got back into the car and Latney drove off.

The (ensuing) pursuit stretched through six municipalities, with Latney continuously ignoring all police commands and driving erratically, prosecutors said in a statement.

The chase ended when Latney crashed into a police officers car on Concord Road in Scotch Plains. The officer was injured in the crash, received medical treatment and survived, prosecutors said.

Inside Latneys car, police said they found two plastic toy guns, gloves, crowbar and other items believed used in the Elizabeth robbery.

Key evidence at trial included Latneys DNA on the recovered items and a recorded phone conversation where Latney confessed the crime to a girlfriend, prosecutors said.

A jury convicted Latney earlier this year but the sentencing took several months due to concerns about social distancing amid the coronavirus, prosecutors said.

Union County Superior Court Judge Robert Kirsch on Thursday sentenced Latney to state prison and ruled that he must serve at least 85 percent of his 28-year sentence before he is eligible for parole.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Any tax liability for Irelands new wage subsidy scheme will be handled at source, meaning that employees will not build up a lump sum bill which then falls due at a later date.

That was a key message delivered by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe at a press briefing to remind employers of the new Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which is due to kick in from September 1 and which will see the Government subsidising some workers income well into 2021.

The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme which will come to an end at midnight on August 31 was first announced in late March as a means of bolstering workers income as the country entered two months of lockdown.

The new scheme will be paid at two different levels, 151.50 and 203, both per week, on a sliding scale depending upon a workers wage in non-Covid times.

It will also require that an employer accessing it can show that its turnover will be no more than 70% of what it could reasonably have expected to be if there were no pandemic, while all applicants will need to submit tax clearance certificates guaranteeing their compliance with tax law.

Mr Donohoe told the briefing that the new scheme would be simpler and open to more employees, solving the issue of seasonal workers non-eligibility for the previous scheme.

Read More Nearly a quarter of Government spending is on Social Welfare payments, says new report

He said the new scheme will be viable for a far longer extension than otherwise might have been expected, adding that the decision to launch the scheme at this juncture rather than in mid-September or at Budget time in early October is a strategic one in order to have it up and running ahead of the crucial Brexit deadline at the end of 2020.

A special employers rate of PRSI of 0.5% would be applicable to the scheme in order to keep as many workers in their jobs as possible, the Minister said.

He said that the new scheme will cost in the region of 2.3 billion, as compared with the 2.7 billion paid out to date on its predecessor.

There is a lot more commercial activity taking place now than would have been the case when the TWSS was introduced," Mr Donohoe said.

In terms of an employees tax liability, an issue which emerged with the initial scheme, the minister said that the issue would be dealt with in real time.

He acknowledged that the issue does still exist for the previous scheme, with that money set to fall due to the Revenue Commissioners at some point in 2021.

However, he said that the authorities will be very sensitive to the issue and to the needs of businesses. Rather than being collected in a lump sum, the minister said it would instead be gathered in a phased manner.

Mr Donohoe did acknowledge the fact that a time-lag of about six weeks between an employer applying for the new scheme and receiving the subsidy could cause issues with cashflow for businesses.

He said that his officials and revenue will be considering the causes for the delay and options in relation to how we might be able to deal with this matter.

This is all about how we keep people at work, he said.
Brian Kilmeade would do well to remember President Trump and Joe Biden's houses are very much not created equal.

On Friday morning, the Fox & Friends host and his co-hosts were discussing controversy over Trump's use of the White House for his Republican National Convention acceptance speech. Critics say it was unethical for Trump to use the federal building for a political purpose, and a violation of the Hatch Act for federal employees who participated in the convention. But Kilmeade took issue with criticizing Trump while Biden campaigned from his basement, asking why "Joe Biden can do it from his house but not the president?"

Brian Kilmeade defends Trump using the White House for his nomination speech: "So he wanted to do it from his house. So why is Joe Biden can do it from his house but not the president?" pic.twitter.com/VowKEK6eAO  Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) August 28, 2020

Kilmeade is missing a few important facts here. For one thing, Biden didn't actually give his Democratic nomination acceptance speech from his basement. And while Trump has other properties he could've given his speech from without a problem, the home in question here actually belongs to the federal government.

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Pronab Mandal By

Express News Service

KOLKATA: After maintaining silence for nine years, Maoists in Bengal swung into action in a remote village located in Junglemahal's Jhargram district as the rebels fired at the house of a cooking gas dealer on Friday night forcing him and his wife to jump off the rooftop of their house, police said. The woman suffered a fracture in her leg.

Sources in the state intelligence branch said the Maoists had demanded Rs 2 lakh as levy from the Bidyut Das last month. The rebels threatened Das, a resident of Pocha Pani village in Belpahari, to face consequences if the money was not paid. "It appears the attack was a sequel to the threat," said a police officer.

The attack carried out by the rebel outfit raised eyebrows of security agencies as rebel organisation's activities, which changed the political picture in Junglemahal by ousting the Left front government and paved the way for the ruling Trinamool Congress in the region, surfaced almost after a decade. "It appears, the rebels are trying to regroup in this region and the attack on Das' house is evidence," said a police officer.

ALSO READ | Maoists in Bengal's Junglemahal break silence after 9 years, hoist black flag on Independence Day

The Maoists had been lowing lye in Jungle Mahal since its politburo member and in-charge of Bengal Kishanji was gunned down by security forces in November 2011, five months after the change of guard in the state.

The attack on Das and his wife took place around 9.30 pm when the couple was on the rooftop of their house. "Taking advantage of darkness, the suspects opened fire targetting the couple. Scared of sounds of gunshots, Das' wide Mira jumped off the roof and he suffered the injuries. The attackers fled away before anyone could intercept them," said a police officer.

On July 27, Maoists put up posters on three houses at Pachapani village. Other than Das, a grocery shop owner and a primary school teacher were asked to pay levy within July 29 by the squad led by fugitive rebel leader Madan Mahato.

ALSO READ | Centre agrees to redeploy 5 CRPF companies in Junglemahal as Maoists regroup in Bengal

Sources in the intelligence branch said there was information that footsoldiers of the rebel outfit, who were on the run since Kishanji was gunned down, were camping in forests in Bengal's adjoining East Singhbhum district in Jharkhand and visiting Belpahari region since past few months.

The Maoists' presence in Junglemahal played a crucial role in changing the region's political colour ahead of the 2011 Assembly elections. No political party was allowed to carry out pre-poll campaign in these areas and a large section of electorates shifted their loyalty to the ruling Trinamool Congress overthrowing the Left Front government.
CALGARYPolice in Calgary are investigating a shooting that left two people dead and one person in hospital.

Officers responded to an area in northwest Calgary before 9 p.m. on Friday after reports of shots being fired.

Upon arrival police found two men dead in a vehicle, while a third male was transported to hospital with gunshot wounds.

There are no suspects in custody at this time, but police believe it was a targeted attack.

Police are asking for the publics help in locating a vehicle the suspects may have used.

They say the vehicle is a black Infiniti coupe, with a white sticker across the top of the rear window.

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Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (Photo: Reuters)



Japan is paying close attention to recent activities in the East Sea carried out by China, Motegi said, given the information about Chinas launch of several ballistic missiles in the sea.

He stressed that issues related to the East Sea are directly linked to regional peace and stability and is a legitimate concern of the international community, including Japan. Japan strongly opposes any act that increases tension in the East Sea and always upholds the rule of law at seas.

On August 26, answering reporters questions about Vietnams response to Chinas holding of military exercises in the waters north-northeast of Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang made it clear that Chinas act violated Vietnams sovereignty over the archipelago and ran counter to the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

It also complicated the situation, which is unfavourable for the ongoing negotiations between China and ASEAN on a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) and the maintenance of a peaceful, stable, and cooperative environment in the East Sea, she added.

Vietnam demands that China respect Vietnams sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago, stop and not repeat such violations, Hang said./.
Congressman Will Hurd sees his time serving in the House of Representatives as a learning experience, especially about the regions oil and gas industry.

I never understood getting a molecule out of the ground and getting it from Point A to Point B the way you guys do, he said during the weekly Oilfield Strong webinar presented by OTA Compression, OTA Environmental and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association.

The Republican, who is leaving office at the end of the year, said the Permian Basins energy resources have national security implications.

Look at adversaries like Russia, he told Stephen Robertson, PBPA executive vice president. Theyre more of a regional thug; they use energy policy to extort countries in their region. The fact that we can help our allies with their energy demands and needs is to our advantage.

Hurd, a former Central Intelligence Agency officer, said the energy industry needs to be mindful that adversaries are targeting the industry. Russia is targeting energy companies, and China is trying to access the countrys electric grid, he said. The electric grid is of particular concern because local operators require electricity to produce oil and natural gas. The electric grid is as vital a part of infrastructure as roads and bridges, Hurd said.

When people think of cyberattacks, they think of efforts to steal credit card, bank or Social Security information, he said. But it goes beyond that, he said, citing as an example Russias interference in the 2016 election by spreading misinformation and fomenting discord.

Taking one electric plant offline may not have a broad macro impact on Texas or the U.S., but it can cause people to freak out about the safety of the industry at a time when theres already debate around the industry. That foments more discord and thats a classic covert action. Those are things we need to be concerned with, Hurd said.

RELATED: Hurd introduces legislation to expand Big Bend

China wants resources and tries to supercharge its resources by stealing what others have done so it can mimic them elsewhere, he said. The energy industry, as part of the national security apparatus, is a target, he said.

Hurd said that 10 years ago, the nations relative energy independence would have been unthinkable. Thats why he said its important to continue making the case and explaining why its so important.

Asked what hes heard from his colleagues in Congress about the energy industry, Hurd replied, Whats so interesting about the industry is there are so many factors the industry doesnt have control over that impacts its bottom line, that impacts its operations.

The back of OPEC is broken, and its broken because of the Permian Basin -- period, end of story, Hurd said. We need to ensure our foreign policy is in line with our domestic policies ensuring we have a domestic energy supply. The thing Ive found interesting is that, in 1983 if this had happened, we would have seen the prices of a barrel of oil, of natural gas, of commodities fluctuate more widely, more erratically. If a missile had struck Iran, we would have seen some changes in prices. When a Saudi Arabian production facility was attacked and bombed and 20 percent of the worlds production capacity was taken offline for a day or two, that didnt have some of the tectonic impacts. I still dont understand the ramifications of that, but we have to remember our foreign policy has a role to play in that our adversaries and sometimes our allies are looking to use our still energy dependence on others as a way to compel us to behave or act in a certain way. Thats why energy independence is so important. The case of Said Arabia and Russias fight over market share is a good example of how they tried to compel us to act.

Another thing he learned about the industry during his time in Congress is its focus on safety. Its culture of safety allowed it to quickly adapt new protocols against the novel coronavirus, he said.

As he prepares to leave office, Hurd said, the things I will remember are when I was able to battle bureaucracy for people that needed it. Spectrum News just had a three-part TV series where they followed me around doing constituent outreach. There was the woman, 74 years old, called my office after her husband, a veteran, had died the previous year and she wasnt getting the benefits she was due and about to get evicted from her home and we helped. A young woman with multiple sclerosis and because the type of MS she had required a certain wheelchair and she wasnt getting reimbursed by Medicaid. We helped kids in El Paso, living in colonias without access to sewage and clean water ... We were able to work with the Development Bank.

Those are things I loved doing, Hurd said. I was able to get 16 pieces of legislation signed into law. Thats more than some congressmen with 30-year careers, and I did it under Republican and Democratic presidents, under Republican and Democratic speakers. That shows you can get things done when you put together a coalition.

He said that in crisscrossing the 29 counties in my district, Ive found theres more that unites us than divides us.

Hurd said though he is leaving Congress, he plans to remain active in advocacy. Im not dying, he said.
In route news, United could be canceling more flights on short notice if it doesnt have enough bookings; Alaska Airlines will introduce service to a new ski destination from Mineta San Jose this winter; San Francisco International reopens a number of gates that had been closed due to the pandemic; Delta sets new plans for recovery of its international network; American predicts deeper schedule cuts this fall without more federal aid; and Virgin Atlantic rolls out free insurance to protect passengers from COVID-19.

United Airlines this month started using a sophisticated algorithm that could lead to more flights being canceled on short notice, according to the travel industry news site Skift.com. The report cited an internal United memo to employees that said passenger demand can be hard to predict in the current environment, so to help preserve cash, were now recommending proactive mainline cancelations that focus on consolidating flights with a load factor below 30 percent. The algorithm would cancel low-load-factor flights within seven days of departure provided passengers can be readily re-accommodated on other flights. Along with considering whether customers can be rebooked, the system takes into account variables like where flight crew is needed and whether the airplane is required at the destination for a flight later in the day. Managers can overrule it when warranted, the Skift report noted. It said United is currently using the algorithm on fewer than 1% of flights, mainly in major markets, and that 77% of affected customers get to their destinations within four hours of their originally scheduled arrival time.

Bay Area skiers will gain access to a new destination this winter following Alaska Airlines announcement that it will operate seasonal flights from Mineta San Jose to Jackson Hole, Wyo. The ski service will run twice a week from Dec. 19 through April 10, using E175 three-class regional jets. Tickets are on sale now. Besides the local Jackson Hole ski resort, the area is close to the Grand Targhee ski resort just across the state line in Idaho; Grand Teton National Park; and a bit further to the north, Yellowstone National Park. Alaska said it will also offer seasonal ski service five days a week to Jackson Hole from Seattle and from San Diego Dec. 17 to April 11.



As we noted earlier this week, San Francisco International Airport will reopen the 15 A Concourse gates of its International Terminal on Sept. 1 as more foreign airlines resume flights in the coming weeks. SFO closed the concourse (also known as Boarding Area A) on April 1 after international carriers made deep cuts to their route networks because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport consolidated international flights into the international terminal's G gates on the opposite end of the airport's horseshoe shape. Thats where United Airlines and other Star Alliance flights operate. The closure of the "A" half of the international terminal gave the airport an opportunity to do extensive maintenance on the building. Energy-saving LED lights have replaced older lamps. Ceiling tiles, HVAC filters, doors, fire alarms sprinklers, elevators and escalators have been repaired or replaced.

Given all the uncertainties brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, airlines have generally been pretty cautious about firming up their route plans more than a couple of months in advance  especially their international route plans.

But Delta is starting to take a longer view of things and has issued an overview of its international schedules for this winter and even into next summer. While the airline expects pre-COVID level recovery for international flying to continue to lag U.S. domestic, Delta plans to add over 50 transoceanic flights next summer, compared to the summer 2020 schedule, Delta said. The plan includes the resumption of several transatlantic routes this fall, including the September start of service from New York JFK to Barcelona, Madrid and Rome; Boston to London; and African routes from JFK to Accra, Ghana, and Atlanta to Lagos, Nigeria. October service revivals include JFK to Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt and Zurich; and Seattle to Paris CDG. In November, Delta will begin Boston-Paris flights.

Across the Pacific, Delta said it will continue to focus on Seattle over the next year as its premier gateway on the West Coast, offering daily flights in 2021 from SEA to Tokyo Haneda (will the Tokyo Olympics come back next year as planned?), Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai. The airline said it expects to fly to Tokyo Haneda from seven U.S. cities next summer, and  assuming government approvals are forthcoming  to serve Shanghai from Detroit, Seattle and LAX, and to fly to Beijings new Daxing Airport from Seattle. The airline said it plans to restart three weekly LAX-Sydney flights in November, increasing to daily service in 2021. Click here to see all of Deltas international plans  which are subject to change, of course, depending on government entry restrictions.

Meanwhile, Delta has a new domestic route coming up on Oct. 1, when it will introduce twice-daily E175 flights between Seattle and Ontario, Calif.

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The recent announcement by American Airlines that it will eliminate service to 15 domestic destinations in October could be just the beginning of more substantial cutbacks, AA CEO Doug Parker warned in a letter to employees this week. Unless the federal government comes through with another round of major financial relief for airlines in the near future, he said, American will have to lay off 19,000 employees this fall. Thats in addition to more than 12,000 who have voluntarily left and 11,000 who will be offered voluntary leaves of absence in October. When assistance from the governments CARES Act runs out at the end of September, he said, more schedule cutbacks will have to be implemented  mostly to smaller U.S. cities, but also on international routes. The CARES Act required airline beneficiaries of federal funds to maintain service to all cities on their domestic route maps through September.

Virgin Atlantic

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, airlines keep coming up with new strategies to entice and reassure wary potential passengers. One new twist came this week from Delta partner Virgin Atlantic Airways, which is operating under bankruptcy protection and just won the backing of its many creditors for a complicated restructuring plan that is still subject to court approval. The airline has rolled out a program called COVID-19 Cover  free insurance that now applies to all new and existing bookings through March 31, 2021. It kicks in when a Virgin passenger or travel companion comes down with COVID-19 during their trip, covering emergency medical costs, related transportation and lodging costs, and repatriation expenses, up to a total of $660,000. It even covers denied boarding expenses and the cost of an unexpected mandatory quarantine during the trip. The coverage also applies to passengers on Virgin partners Delta, Air France and KLM if they are traveling on a Virgin Atlantic ticket.

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Saturday: Sully - Miracle on the Hudson (2016) BBC1, 8.30pm. On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 takes off from LaGuardia airport in New York bound for North Carolina with 155 passengers and crew on board.

Three minutes into take-off, a flock of Canadian geese impacts the aircraft, causing multiple strikes to both engines that necessitated an emergency landing.

Captain Chesley Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) glides the stricken Airbus A320 onto the Hudson River in freezing conditions and oversees the evacuation of everyone on board aided by First Officer Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart).

However, the subsequent investigation by the National Transportation casts doubt on Sully's version of events.

Directed by Clint Eastwood, Sully: Miracle on the Hudson is a masterclass in sustained tension, which replays the events of that fateful day from multiple perspectives.

Sunday

The Hangover (2009) ITV2, 9pm

Two days before he walks down the aisle, Doug (Justin Bartha) heads for a stag weekend in Las Vegas with pals Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Stu (Ed Helms) and eccentric future brother-in-law Alan (Zach Galifianakis).

Upon arrival at the luxurious Caesars Palace hotel, several hours of heavy drinking ensue and in the morning, Phil, Stu and Alan wake with pounding headaches and no memory of the night before.

A trashed hotel suite and the presence of a baby in a closet are the first signs that something is dreadfully awry; the absence of the groom-to-be comes a close second.

The Hangover is a bawdy buddy comedy, fuelled by the rapport between the leads - the actors are clearly having a ball, and the hilarity is infectious.

Monday

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) ITV, 8pm

In the musical sequel, Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried) anxiously prepares for the grand opening of Hotel Bella Donna. Thankfully, her mother's best friends Tanya (Christine Baranski) and Rosie (Julie Walters) are on hand to calm Sophie's nerves and encourage her to look to the past for courage.

Cue flashbacks to the young Donna (Lily James, in the role made famous by Meryl Streep) embarking on her lusty Mediterranean odyssey with the young Sam (Jeremy Irvine), Harry (Hugh Skinner) and Bill (Josh Dylan) via Paris.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again lays all of its Abba love on us with platform heels, tongue-in-cheek humour and joy-infused musical performances choreographed to perfection by Anthony Van Laast. The addition of Cher as Streep's impeccably coiffed mother is a masterstroke.
Sri Lanka is facing a nationwide crisis of child abuse. The reports on child abuse, neglect and exploitation are increasing in Sri Lanka as well.





by Dr W. A. Wijesinghe





The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) as the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society. Child Sexual Abuse Is a serious problem of considerable magnitude and it has profound consequences for the child. It is known to interfere with growth and development and has also been linked to numerous maladaptive health behaviours, and poor social, mental and physical health outcomes throughout the lifespan. According to a survey, 90% of people sexually exploiting children are known to the children or are people whom the children trust.













Recently the Police arrested an English teacher on charges of sexually abusing children. He had been identified as a set designer for a childrens reality show on television in addition to being an English teacher. The 54-year-old suspect, Nirantha Edirisinghe, was arrested by the Kollupitiya Police following a tip-off that underage boys were being sexually abused. The offender allegedly sold video footage of him abusing these children to foreign clients. When he was apprehended, the Police seized 135 CDs of such footage, a pen-drive, hard disk, memory card, camera and mobile phones from his house According to the investigations Nirantha Edirisinghe was doing this illegal business with the help of a Sri Lankan Australian named XXX ( Name withheld). The investigators believe that Jayasinhelage Upul Hewa who is living in Adelaide Australia distributed child pornography videos. Nirantha Edirisinghe has been charged with making child pornography, sexual assault, possession of child pornography, and distributing child pornography.





Sri Lanka is facing a nationwide crisis of child abuse. The reports on child abuse, neglect and exploitation are increasing in Sri Lanka as well. According to the figures tabled in the Sri Lankan Parliament in April 2013, there are about 15,000 legal trials pending Nationwide and more than 4,000 (27%) involve some form of violence towards a child..Parents of sexually abused children are scared to tell anyone due to fear of being shamed in society. A recent Audit Report by the National Audit Office said that 42,073 complaints (53%) had not been resolved. The report further said that cases had not been filed for 55 per cent of the complaints submitted to the Attorney General within the previous 10 years. In Sri Lanka there is also a big need for appropriately trained human resources and adequate child protection budgets. Several well-developed countries of the world have well-developed child protection systems, primarily focused at mandatory reporting, identification and investigations of affected children, and often taking coercive action. However, Sri Lanka is not having such facilities. A lack of resources and weak political will have made it difficult for Sri Lanka to to implement past legislation for protecting children.





In 1995, the penal code was amended to require that sexual acts with minors under the age of consent, 16, be tried under the offence of statutory rape, or under Article 365 of the penal code, which defines unnatural sexual acts and grave abuse. But delays in legal proceedings, lack of witness protection and lack of assistance to victims are discouraging families and victims from reporting cases or seeking help. The ultimate responsibility to protect its nations children lies with the Government. The protection of children requires the combined and closely coordinated involvement of key players, with national governments giving the most important lead. The problem of child abuse is considerable in Sri Lanka and there is an urgent need to strengthen the services offered to the victims.




The Youth Congress on Saturday launched a Rozgar Do (Give Jobs) campaign in a bid to reach out to the unemployed youth.

As part of the nationwide campaign, Youth Congress president Srinivas B V said the activists will hold protests in front of residences and offices of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentarians and ministers across the country and also launch signature and letter campaigns to demand jobs for the unemployed youth.

He said the Youth Congress will also stage a Parliament Gherao to press for their demands.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman says that the impact on the economy is due to coronavirus pandemic, but its actually lack of vision which has led to unemployment due to wrong policies of the Modi government, Srinivas said, launching the campaign at the Congress headquarters in Delhi.

Gopal Agarwal, BJP spokesperson said Prime minister is working day and night for fast tracking economic recovery post covid. Those efforts are showing results, starting with uptick in rural and agriculture sector which employs about 60 % of our population. There are green shoots of early recovery sign in many industries also. Further focused reforms on Industrial policy, retail trade and logistics policies are underway. Till they bear results employment benefits are being extended through DBT of MNREGS and 50% salary cover through ESI.

A song for the Rozgar Do campaign was also released in different Indian languages. The Youth Congress activists will also organise wall writing and poster making on the unemployment issue, Srinivas added.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge Krishna Allaveru accused the ruling BJP government of destroying the economy even before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Demonetisation, flawed GST and an unplanned lockdown in March, despite warnings of an economic tsunami by Rahul Gandhi were not act of God but the policies and decisions of the Modi government that have led to unemployment among the youth, he said.

Partys national spokesperson Pawan Khera said the unemployment had assumed fearsome proportions before the Covid-19 and claimed that around 135 million youth are likely to lose their jobs due to the pandemic.

A record of 45 years of unemployment has been broken, he added. We keep warning the government but they are not bothered.
The Steven G. Mihaylo Hall is seen on the California State UniversityFullerton campus in Fullerton, Calif., on Aug. 28, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Donor Says CSUF Limits Free Speech After Name Removed From Business School

A major donor to California State UniversityFullerton (CSUF) said campus hatred of Republicans and conservatism contributed to the withholding of his pledge after his name was removed from the universitys business school.

CSUF announced Aug. 26 that the university and entrepreneur Steven Mihaylo had mutually decided to part waysand that the alumnus name would be removed from its College of Business and Economicsafter Mihaylo balked on fulfilling a $30 million pledge to the school following a 2016 incident.

CSUF said Mihaylos name will remain on the business schools building, adding that the university appreciated the alumnus past philanthropy.

Mihaylo said in an emailed statement provided to The Epoch Times that he will always love CSUF, but that he had long expressed concerns that the school must always be a beacon of free expression and ideas.

I believe that the highest form of freedom is the right to express all ideas, and that a university must be a marketplace where every opinion is allowed, and open dialogue is cherished, Mihaylo said in the statement.

CSUF failed to do that by tolerating an atmosphere that expressed hatred of Republicans and conservatism and stifling free speech, Mihaylo stated.

A student walks under the entry to the California State UniversityFullerton campus in Fullerton, Calif., on Aug. 28, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

A statue of former donor Steve Mihaylo sits in a storage area on the California State UniversityFullerton campus in Fullerton, Calif., on Aug. 28, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

A sign points to the building named after alumnus and former donor Steve Mihaylo on the campus of the California State UniversityFullerton in Fullerton, Calif., on Aug. 28, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

University President Fram Virjee said in a statement that Mihaylo offered to resume payments to the school in 2018 if the university purchased communications equipment from a new telecommunications company he ran called Crexendo.

Virjee said the university had been advised that such a precondition was unethical and potentially unlawful.

I shared that information with Steve a number of times and told him that such a prerequisite would never be acceptable to the university, he stated.

Mihaylo then claimed a lack of support for the First Amendment rights of political conservatism on campus, Virjee said.

The University Did Not Keep Its Commitments

Mihaylo originally donated $4.2 million to the school in 2004 to construct the universitys College of Business and Economics building, which was named after the businessman.

In 2007, he pledged another $30 million to give his name to the college itself. However, he only paid $8 million before refusing to make further payments following a 2016 dispute with some of the schools students.

Jeffrey Korn, Mihaylos attorney, called the claim that Mihaylo linked his donation to a phone system purchase just ridiculous.

Korn told The Epoch Times that Mihaylo made the pledge to the school long before he began selling his new phone system.

Steve is a natural-born salesman. If hes having lunch in a restaurant, he will talk to the restaurant owner and suggest that they could save money by [buying] a phone system from his company. Theres not a single person he doesnt try to sell a phone system to, Korn said.

Mihaylo said he withheld his donation not because CSUF did not buy the phone system, but because the University did not keep its commitments to me.

He said he was promised the school would always present all sides of an issue and that conservatives would be allowed to speak at the school. Instead, the university has stifled free speech and conservative speakers have not been welcomed on campus.

The University began to be something I did not recognize, including an incident where a teacher attacked a Republican student, where opposing views were limited, and hatred was tolerated, he said.

I was actually told once that the University could not keep conservative speakers safe.

Ellen Treanor, a CSUF spokesperson, said in the universitys statement, A core value on campus is free and open expression in support of our diversity, equity and inclusion objectives.

A Heated Twitter Exchange

Mihaylo became involved in a heated discussion with CSUF students on Twitter in 2016 after suggesting a student get a job to pay back his school loan.

CSUFs student newspaper, the Daily Titan, reported in December 2016 that during the exchange, one student wrote, I work two jobs at the institution that you paid millions of dollars to slap your name onto to satisfy your tiny ego????

In another tweet, Marie Watschke, a fourth-year English major, uploaded a picture of herself making an obscene gesture in front of a statue of Mihaylo on campus, with profanities in the caption.

Mihaylo responded, And this is what the university Ive given millions of my hard earned money to teaches? Disgusting!

Mihaylo then offered to help students earn money for their education by promising them 10 percent for product leads and 1 percent for service leads for his company Crexendo, according to the Daily Titan.

Mihaylo acknowledged in his statement that he identified as a Republican, but said that is not my philosophical bent.

Free enterprise and free thought are integral to my success.  I believe that the Governments obligation is to reduce barriers to competition and to allow the best and brightest to succeed and strive irrespective of race, religion, political affiliation or ethnicity, he wrote.

It was because of those promises and principles that I donated money to a public college; that is why I support public education.

The 76-year-old philanthropist grew up poor and was in foster care from around nine years old until the age of 17, when he joined the Army.

Mihaylo then attended CSUF, graduating in 1969 with a degree in accounting and finance. He went on to start the computerized telephone company Inter-Tel, which he later sold for $750 million.
The 36th Annual North Georgia Folk Festival is going to be held virtually this year. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the festival moved from its usual venue in the hills of Athens to a new cyber space for this years festivities.
The Directorate of Revenue and Intelligence (DRI) seized a consignment of 504 smuggled gold bars of foreign origin worth 43 crore and arrested eight persons from New Delhi railway station on Friday.

DRI officials, who didnt wish to be named, described it as the largest consignment of gold the agency ever seized.

The eight persons had arrived at New Delhi by the Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express on Friday. Officers said they had concealed the gold bars in specially tailored cloth vests and were using fake identity cards (Aadhaar cards) to travel to Delhi.

Intelligence inputs indicate that the gold bars had foreign markings and had been smuggled into India from Myanmar through the international land border at Moreh in Manipur. A smuggling syndicate in Guwahati was attempting to dispose of the contraband in several citiesDelhi, Kolkata and Mumbaiwhich have thriving markets for the yellow metal, said one of the officers cited above.

The smuggling syndicate sourced and recruited needy individuals from various parts of the country, to act as carriers of the smuggled gold, by luring them with the prospect of quick and easy money. The smugglers used air, land and rail routes to locally transport the smuggled gold, he added.

The seized gold bars are 99.9% pure and collectively weigh 83.621 kg. Their market value is close to 43 crore, said another officer.

The eight arrested persons are currently being questioned about the organised gang which sent them to Delhi. The DRI suspects that the gang has links to other countries as Myanmar does not produce gold at a large scale, said the officer.

The arrested persons have been booked under the Customs Act, 1962, and have been remanded to judicial custody.

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Daniel Lewis Lee

Daniel Lewis Lee was the first person to be put to death in a federal execution in 17 years

Daniel Lewis Lee, 56, a 46-year-old member of the white supremacist group Aryan Peoples' Republic, was the first person to be put to death in a federal execution in 17 years at Terre Haute prison in Indiana on July 14.

In 1999, Lee was convicted of the 1996 murder of gun dealer William Mueller, his wife, Nancy, and her 8-year-old daughter, Sarah Powell, in Arkansas.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Lee's attorney Morris Moon last year said that his case 'exemplifies many of the serious flaws in the federal death penalty system.'

In the shocking crime, Lee and the ringleader of the Aryan People's Republic, Chevie Kehoe, dressed in police raid clothing and lay in wait for Mueller in his home, according to court documents.

When the Muellers returned, Lee and Kehoe overpowered and incapacitated Mueller and his wife.

They then interrogated the couple's young daughter, Sarah Powell, about where they could find cash, guns, and munitions.

The home invaders found and took roughly $50,000 in cash, guns and ammunition.

After robbing and torturing the victims with a stun gun, prosecutors said Lee covered their heads with plastic bags, sealed the bags with duct tape, weighed down each victim with rocks, and threw the family of three into the Illinois Bayou.

Their bodies were found five months after they went missing.

However, Lee's attorney insisted that 'Kehoe was alone responsible for the death of the child in this case.'

'The prosecution witnesses testified that Mr Lee steadfastly refused to harm the child,' the lawyer said.

On May 4, 1999, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas found Lee guilty of numerous offenses, including three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, and he was sentenced to death.

William Mueller, his daughter Sarah Powell, and wife Nancy (together above) were all tortured and killed in their Arkansas home in 1996, before their bodies were dumped in a river

Kehoe, however, was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences - a disparity that Lee's attorney said illustrates the 'grave injustice' of the federal death penalty.

Lee's attorney said that during the guilt phase of the trial, the government presented a hair they claimed was microscopically similar to Lee's as part of the evidence - though DNA later showed that the hair was not from Lee.

The lawyer also argued that the Psychopathy Checklist - Revised (PCL-R), a psychological assessment that was presented to the jury during the penalty phase, is scientifically flawed.

'Mr. Lee's jury also never learned critical information about his exceptionally traumatic background,' the attorney said.

'Experts have described the physical, psychological, and sexual abuse; neglect; violence; and chronic trauma he suffered throughout his infancy, childhood and adolescence, as 'devastating' and 'simply extraordinary,' he continued.

Lee remained on death row since his conviction.

Kehoe is imprisoned in Florence High Penitentiary in Fremont County, Colorado.

Wesley Ira Purkey

Wesley Ira Purkey, 67, violently raped and murdered a 16-year-old girl, and then dismembered, burned, and dumped the young girl's body in a septic pond

Wesley Ira Purkey, 67, was executed on July 16 for kidnapping, raping and killing 16-year-old Jennifer Long before dismembering, burning and then dumping her body in a septic pond in 1998.

On January 22, 1998, Purkey, drove from his home in Kansas to Kansas City, Missouri for a job interview with a plumbing company.

After the interview, Purkey smoked half a rock of crack cocaine and began driving down the street when he passed 16-year-old Jennifer Long, who was walking on the sidewalk.

He pulled over to ask Jennifer if she wanted to 'party,' then took her to a liquor store and bought her gin and orange juice.

He then told her needed to go back to his home in Kansas. She asked to be let out of his truck.

Instead, Purkey reached into the glove box, grabbed a boning knife, and placed it under his thigh, making it clear she couldn't leave.

When they arrived at his home in Lansing, about 30 miles away, Purkey took Jennifer into his basement.

Holding a knife, he ordered her to take her clothes off and lie down on the floor, where he raped her.

After Purkey finished the vile sexual assault, Jennifer told him that she had been a virgin.

Jennifer Long, 16, was a virgin when Purkey raped, murdered and dismembered her

He confessed that he then grew fearful, and as Jennifer tried to escape his house, he grabbed her leg and forced her to the ground.

The two briefly struggled before Purkey became enraged and repeatedly stabbed Jennifer in the chest, neck, and face with the boning knife, eventually breaking its blade inside her body.

When he confessed, he told FBI Agent Dirk Tarpley, 'it's not like in the movies. They don't die right away. It took her a little time to die.'

Purkey dismembered Jennifer's body with a chainsaw and tried to burn the body parts in his fireplace while his wife and stepchildren were away at work and school.

Nine months after raping and murdering Jennifer Long, Purkey was employed by a plumbing company when he met Mary Ruth Bales, 80, on a service call at her home during the evening of October 26.

Purkey told Bales his employer charged a lot for the job she needed, and he offered to return later to do the work under the table if she would pay him $70 up front.

She paid, and Purkey left, using Bales's money to hire a prostitute and buy several rocks of crack cocaine the next morning.

Purkey and the prostitute retired to a motel room for several hours, where they had sex and smoked the crack cocaine before driving together to Bales's house.

Telling the prostitute that someone who lived in the home owed him money, Purkey went inside with a toolbox from his truck and bludgeoned Bales to death in her bedroom with a claw hammer.

Investigators determined that Bales died from blunt force trauma resulting from repeated strikes to her skull with the claw side of the hammer.

On November 5, 2003, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri found Purkey guilty of kidnapping a child resulting in the child's death, and he was sentenced to death.

Wesley Ira Purkey was executed Thursday after the Supreme Court voted it could go ahead, after he was granted a delay Wednesday.

Purkey was also convicted of killing 80-year-old Mary Bales (above) with a hammer

Lezmond Mitchell

The only Native American on federal death row was put to death Wednesday, August 26, despite objections from many Navajo leaders who had urged President Donald Trump to halt the execution on the grounds it would violate tribal culture and sovereignty.

With the execution of Lezmond Mitchell for the grisly slayings of a nine-year-old and her grandmother, the federal government under the pro-death penalty president has now carried out more executions in 2020 than it had in the previous 56 years combined.

Mitchell, 38, expressed no remorse during the public portion of the execution. Asked by a prison official if he had any last words for victims' family members and other witnesses behind glass at the death chamber, Mitchell casually responded, 'No, I'm good.'

Lezmond Mitchell, 38, (pictured) the only Native American on federal death row - who murdered a nine-year old girl and her 63-year-old grandmother - will be put to death today unless Donald Trump wades in and signs a clemency petition

Mitchell was sentenced to death for the brutal slayings of Tiffany Lee, 9, and Alyce Slim, 63, (pictured) after they offered him and his accomplice Johnny Oslinger a lift in their pickup truck as they hitchhiked on the Navajo Nation in 2001

Daniel Lee, father of Tiffany Lee, wipes tears after a statement by his attorney on Wednesday

Moments later, prison officials began the lethal injection of pentobarbital that flowed to IVs in his hands and forearms in the tiny, pale-green death chamber at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Mitchell lay strapped down on his back, his glasses still on and a medical mask across his face, never moving or tilting his head to look around the room. His chest heaved and his thumb tapped the gurney momentarily, as his breathing became labored and his stomach area began to throb. But after about 10 minutes, Mitchell no longer appeared to move at all and his partially tattooed hands turned pale.

Mitchell, then 20, and an accomplice were convicted of killing Tiffany Lee and 63-year-old Alyce Slim after the grandmother offered them a lift as they hitchhiked on the Arizona portion of the Navajo Nation in 2001. They stabbed Slim 33 times, slit Tiffany's throat and stoned her to death. They later mutilated both bodies.

A bid by tribal leaders to persuade Trump to commute Mitchell's sentence to life in prison failed, as did last-minute appeals by his lawyers for a stay.

Dustin Lee Honken

'Iowa's Walter White' Dustin Lee Honken

Dustin Honken, 52, dubbed 'Iowa's Walter White' after he went from being a nerdy chemistry student to a methamphetamine kingpin and murderer, became the third to be executed this year on July 17.

Honken was sentenced to death in 2004 for the brutal 1993 slayings of five people including two little girls aged 10 and six and government informants.

Honken 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.

In 1993, Honken was operating a methamphetamine lab in Arizona when one of the two dealers he used for distribution, Greg Nicholson, was pinched by police and turned informant, according to court documents.

Honken was arrested on state drug charges, but made bond. Once free, he began a desperate hunt for Nicholson, who went into hiding by staying with Lori Duncan, a single mother raising her two girls, 10-year-old Kandi and six-year-old Amber.

On July 25, 1993, Nicholson, Duncan, Kandi, and Amber suddenly disappeared.

Five days later, Honken appeared for his plea hearing, but declined to plead guilty.

Honken told his attorney he heard a rumor Nicholson had skipped town. Honken also provided his attorney with a VHS tape of Nicholson saying Honken was not guilty of the charges against him.

The government turned its attention to the other possible witness against Honken: his other dealer, Terry DeGeus.

Lori Duncan (left), a single, mother raising her two girls, 10-year-old Kandi (center) and six-year-old Amber (right) were all slain by Dustin Lee Honken

Honken was also convicted of murdering his meth distributors, Gregory Nicholson (left) and Terry DeGeus (right), who were scheduled to testify against him

DeGeus disappeared on November 5, 1993.

After another informant wore a wire and caught Honken referencing eliminating the witnesses against him, Honken's bail was revoked.

While incarcerated, Honken admitted to other inmates he killed witnesses to avoid earlier charges. Honken went into great detail about the murders.

Using prison informants, investigators discovered the bodies of Nicholson and the Duncan family, buried in a single hole located in a wooded area outside Mason City.

Kandi and Amber each had a single bullet hole in the back of their heads.

Nicholson and Duncan were bound, gagged, and shot multiple times, including once in the head.

DeGeus's body was found in a field a few miles away, face down in a shallow hole with a severely fragmented skull having been shot one or more times.

On October 14, 2004, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa found Honken guilty of numerous offenses, including five counts of murder during the course of a continuing criminal enterprise, and he was sentenced to death.

Christopher Andre Vialva

Christopher Andre Vialva, 39, from Texas, is on federal death row for the brutal murders of an Iowa pastor and his wife in 1999.

Vialva, 19 at the time, his accomplice Brandon Bernard, now 39, and others, kidnapped Todd and Stacey Bagley during a carjacking and drove around Bell County with them locked in the trunk for about six hours while using the couple's ATM cards.

Vialva drove the car to a secluded area of Fort Hood, opened the trunk and shot Stacey in the head.

He then shot Todd and ordered his accomplices to pour lighter fluid in the trnk and car.

Bernard set the car alight.

Todd and Stacey Bagley, murdered by Christopher Andre Vialva

Stacey had survived the shooting and died from smoke inhalation.

Vialva was sentenced to death for the carjacking that resulted in death, the murder of Todd and conspiracy to commit murder or attempted murder of Stacey.

Bernard was sentenced to death for the murder of Stacey's murder.

They were sentenced to death in Waco's federal district court.

They were tried in federal court because the murders happened on Fort Hood.

Vialva is scheduled to be executed on September 24.

William Emmett LeCroy

William Emmett LeCroy is on death row for the rape and murder of Joann Lee Tiesler, a 30-year-old nurse, in 2001.

LeCroy broke into Tiesler's home in Gilmer County, Georgia, and lay in wait for her to return.

He then attacked her, bound her, strangled her with an electrical cord, and raped her.

LeCroy, who had a long rap sheet before the murder, then slashed his victim's throat and stabbed her in the back five times.

He made off with Tiesler's vehicle and fled to the Canadian border, where he was arrested.

In March 2004, he was found guilty of carjacking resulting in death and sentenced to death.

LeCroy's execution is scheduled for September 22.
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.
SRINAGAR, India - Indian forces on Saturday fired shotgun pellets and tear gas to disperse hundreds of Shiite Muslims participating in a traditional religious procession in Indian-controlled Kashmir, injuring scores, witnesses said.

Police in the main city of Srinagar said the mourners on the outskirts of the city violated coronavirus prohibitions that restrict all religious processions and gatherings across the disputed region to stem the spread of the disease. Police said they were still confirming the number of injured.

Medics at one hospital said they treated at least 30 people, some of them with pellet and tear gas injuries. Many others were admitted to another hospital.

Videos circulating on social media showed police in armoured vehicles warning the mourners to disperse before taking action. Some in the procession were seen raising slogans seeking an end to Indian rule in Kashmir, where an insurgency has claimed thousands of lives over the last three decades.

The procession during the Muslim month of Muharram included the faithful who were beating their chests and reciting elegies to mourn the death of the Prophet Muhammeds grandson in the seventh century battle at Karbala, in present-day Iraq.

The procession was not just peaceful but was also following health protocols, said witness Sajjad Hussain. They (government forces) unleashed such violence and did not spare even women mourners.

Officials said at least 200 people were detained in Srinagar this week for participating in Muharram processions, and at least seven were arrested under an anti-terror law for raising anti-India slogans.

Some main Muharram processions have been banned in Indian-controlled Kashmir since an armed insurgency broke out in 1989 demanding the regions independence from India or its merger with neighbouring Pakistan.

Such measures are particularly galling to Kashmiri Muslims. They have long complained that the government curbs their religious freedom on the pretext of law and order while promoting and patronizing an annual Hindu pilgrimage to the Himalayan Amarnath Shrine in Kashmir that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Conditions have worsened in Kashmir since August last year, when New Delhi stripped the region of its statehood and semi-autonomy, setting off widespread anger and economic ruin under a harsh security clampdown.

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The head of the HSE has said that Ireland has reached a more difficult phase of Covid-19 as the country marks six months since the first case was detected.

There have been a total of 1,777 people who died with Covid-19 in Ireland, many of them elderly people living in nursing homes.

As the virus gripped the country earlier this year, care homes bore the brunt of its force with hundreds of lives lost.

Figures provided by the Department of Health show that Ireland recorded its highest death toll on April 20 when 77 people died from the virus.

After health officials confirmed the first case on February 29, there have since been 28,578 people diagnosed with Covid-19.

Ireland hit its highest number of cases in one day when 936 were recorded on April 23.

HSE chief executive Paul Reid said it has been a a long six months since the first Covid-19 case confirmed in the State.

Much learning, hurt, sorrow, grieving and frustration.

But theres also been inspirational responses from the public and healthcare workers, he tweeted.

A more difficult phase now but the same virus.

As society eased out of lockdown restrictions, cases have been steadily rising since mid-July prompting acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn to issue warnings about the spike, particularly among young people.

While alarm bells were sounded over the jump in cases, there has been a fall-off in the number of people admitted to hospital and the number of deaths.

There are currently five people in Intensive Care Units and 30 people in hospital with the disease.

A total of 127 new cases of Covid-19 and no further deaths were reported by the Department of Health of Friday.

It comes as the government said gardai will receive tough new powers to shut pubs which break Irelands coronavirus rules.

Fines of up to 2,500 euros or a maximum of six months in prison will be the sanction if bars infringing social distancing regulations refuse to close for a day.

Closure orders could be issued by a district court resulting in a pub being shut for up to 30 days.

Plan to reopen drink-only hostelries have been put on hold again as the government attempts to contain the cases.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar announced a 16 million support package for pubs, bars and nightclubs which are enduring a prolonged wait to raise shutters.

The new initiatives included waiving court fees and associated excise and stamp duties relating to the renewal of pub and other liquor licences and waiver of excise duty on on-trade liquor licences on renewal this year.
A book like this comes along once every few years and obliterates every clear definition of genre and form. I mean no exaggeration here: A Ghost in the Throat is astounding and utterly fresh.

When Tramp Press announced that it was publishing the multi-award-winning poet Doireann Ni Ghriofa's prose debut, I was expecting something wild and beautiful, but this book simply cannot be imagined from the short description, "one woman sets about translating the 18th-century Irish poem 'Caoineadh Airt Ui Laoghaire' by Eibhlin Dubh Ni Chonaill and finds echoes between her life and Eibhlin's".

Although Ni Ghriofa's English translation of the poem runs through A Ghost in the Throat like bright veins in marble, it is only one facet of this remarkable book, which shimmers between historical account, memoir, essay and bilingual conversation.

Peter Levi, a former professor of poetry at Oxford University, referred to 'Caoineadh Airt Ui Laoghaire' as the "greatest poem written in these islands in the whole 18th century", but many will know it better as 'That Long Poem on the Irish Leaving Cert Course'. Neither description imbues the poem with life the way Ni Ghriofa's deft pen does. She has already garnered international literary acclaim as a bilingual poet, and her awards include the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and a Lannan Literary Fellowship. It is her background in poetry that affords her writing such singular grace; each word is considered and weighed, the rhythm assessed, its relationship with neighbouring words carefully balanced.

Ni Chonaill's biography is recounted in a pulsing manner that positively fizzes with action and life. Eibhlin - or Nelly, as she is fondly referred to - blinks up at the reader from the page. It is easy to forget that more than 200 years separate Ni Chonaill and Ni Ghriofa when here they are, conversing.

We are with Eibhlin when she marries at 14 and we are with her when she returns, a widow, to her family home in Derrynane. When she falls in love with dashing Airt, the book reads briefly as a romance. When she finds her husband murdered in 1773, the crisp anger that crackles in the air is palpable. Ni Ghriofa grafts her life to Eibhlin's; she visits Kilcrea, where Airt is buried, and speaks verse after verse of 'Caoineadh Airt Ui Laoghaire' with her daughter in hand. She searches for records of Eibhlin's second son, Ferdinand, all the while translating the poem in to English.

She is a generously truthful narrator of her own life, reminiscent of Nuala O'Faolain, and she recounts her time as an undergraduate determined to be a dentist, her daughter's birth and a near-death collision. She is a wordsmith adept at splicing the ordinary and the marvellous.

"I'll devote myself to luring female lives back from male texts," Ni Ghriofa declares, and she does so with erudition and ease. She has an ear for these polyphonic histories and she cleverly describes the act of reclaiming lost female voices as cutting out a chain of paper dolls: each female narrative is linked to the next. We are introduced to Nora Ni Shindile, without whom 'Caoineadh Airt Ui Laoghaire' would have remained an oral poem passed from woman to woman. It was Ni Shindile who committed the poem to paper.

The natural friction between past and present drives the momentum of the story until it is finished, too soon, too soon, you think.

This is no tepid and stuffy reimagining of an 18th-century life. It is borne of great personal scholarship, without ever seeming polemical. This book has a long life ahead of it, burning bright and inspiring many.
Donald Trump; Colin Kaepernick; US Troops

Trump hugging the American flag, Colin Kaepernick kneeling, and US troops in Afghanistan Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images

For all of his bombast, under the leadership of Donald J. Trump the United States has actually grown more and more to resemble a developing nation.

As it happens, the onset of the pandemic tore the mask off all of the rot that had been festering just below the surface of U.S. politics and society. Donald J. Trump, backed by his Republican Party, is the very face of this decline, which manifests itself in five epic failures.

Failure 1: The great giveaway to the rich

The first reason that the United States is rapidly transforming itself into a developing nation is that its President has made one particularly well-calculated move: He has been able to harness the rapacious greed that is at the heart of Republican politics and simultaneously trample on the tepid moderation that is inherent in Democratic politics.

This had already fully manifested itself prior to the extraordinary fiscal interventions related to the pandemic. Soon after Trump took office in 2017, the United States already embarked on a course of fiscal profligacy.

It successfully enacted tax cuts that baked trillion-dollar deficits into the U.S. economy for as far as the eye can see.

As a consequence, U.S. federal debt has become unsustainable without the Fed's printing press  which has pushed past the limits of rational monetary policy.

More and more, the United States' fiscal and monetary accounts have come to resemble those of poorly managed developing nations.

Instead of following long-accepted socio-economic practices, President Trump uses lies and illusion to create a febrile web of illicitness  part oligarchy, part plutocracy and part kleptocracy  that is characteristic of so many developing nations.

Living from paycheck to paycheck

This has manifested itself more and more in income disparities that leave the vast majority of Americans barely able to hang on from paycheck to paycheck, while a privileged few reap the rewards of a system rigged in their favor  again a characteristic of developing nations.

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In fact, if the United States were a developing nation and did not play a central role in the governance of the world's multilateral institutions, it surely would have come under scrutiny by the International Monetary Fund for pursuing policies and practices that have in the past forced intervention.

Failure 2: Police it like it's Baghdad

This past summer, the United States was literally torn apart by racial strife that often resulted in rioting. The root cause of this strife was the pervasive level of systemic poverty that besets so many Americans living in inner cities.

But if poverty was the cause, an out-of-control police force, facile in the use of strongarm tactics, was the spark. Simply, the United States' inner-city police forces often stop just short of the tactics used by police in many developing countries.

Forget for a moment that African Americans are 2.8 times more likely to be killed by a policeman than an American of European lineage. The reality is that American cities are being subjected to a form of policing that cannot be found in any other developed country in the world.

Supporting police brutality

And, here's the kicker. President Trump, with broad support from his Republican party, comes down squarely on the side of police brutality.

More importantly, Trump has managed to cadge together an extra-legal police force from units connected to the Department of Homeland Security, which for various reasons seems doggedly loyal to the President.

Under his "law and order" mantra, the most lawless of U.S. Presidents mimics the actions of tinpot dictators cracking down on civil unrest in places like Azerbaijan or Cambodia.

Failure 3: A failing U.S. healthcare system

And then there's the Trump Administration's handling of COVID 19. Suffice to say that President Trump presides over a nation reeling from the physical, emotional and economic trauma of a raging pandemic by virtue of promoting snake oil  in this case hydroxychloroquine.

But aside from the President's mindless antics, the coronavirus has unmasked a new reality for all Americans to see. The so-called "greatest health care system in the world" is proving to be every bit as inefficient and ineffective as health care systems in the world's poorest countries.

Despite all the vast amounts of money spent, the U.S. health care system leaves millions of Americans unserved or underserved.

One need only look at the substantially higher COVID 19 death rates among people of color in the United States' largest cities. It constitutes a callous disregard for human life that aligns more closely with Kinshasa than with Berlin, Paris or even Beijing.

President Trump has not only failed utterly to take the steps necessary to repair the system, which he had so stridently promised in the last Presidential election, he has use the office of the President to chip away at key elements of the existing system.

Gutting the Affordable Care Act

Amazingly, he is in the courts trying to eliminate coverage for pre-existing conditions, a popular facet of the Affordable Care Act that he promised to protect.

Again and again, while doing nothing to improve the plight of the United States' disenfranchised, the President callously focused on tearing the system further apart.

Meanwhile, as in so many developing nations, wealthy Americans are completely unfazed. They have access to some of the world's best research hospitals.

Failure 4: The extraction economy

The United States' National Weather Service is currently predicting the possibility of approximately 20 named storms coming ashore in the United States this hurricane season.

Such a violent hurricane season does not come as a surprise to anyone who closely follows the impact of global warming on the U.S. ecosystem.

Devastation from climate events, whether brush fires in California, heat waves in the Southwest, inundations in states bordering the Gulf of Mexico and tornadoes sweeping through the Southeast, has become a staple of U.S. news reports.

Death and physical deprivation have become commonplace  with victims of climate change largely left to fend for themselves.

So far, 2020 is on track to become the hottest year on record in the United States, with dozens of U.S. cities setting all-time records for high temperatures. But then, nine of the 10 hottest years on record globally have occurred in the past ten years.

Denying the undeniable

There is no longer much ambiguity in these weather patterns. Nor is there any ambiguity in the statistics that measure them. They dovetail precisely with the direst of climate predictions.

And yet, the current President of the United States, with the full backing of the Republican Party, denies climate change and presses forward in promoting the unrestricted extraction and use of fossil fuels.

Within the Trump Administration, environmental problems are not confined to climate change. Since taking office, the Administration has orchestrated a systematic gutting of environmental regulation overall.

Favoring extraction industries every step of the way, Trump  again with the full backing of the Republican Party  has placed the country's water systems, wetlands and wilderness areas at extreme risk.

It puts in place an environmental infrastructure common to developing rather than developed nations.

This pattern of denial and deceit puts the United States on track to increase rather than reduce its dependence upon natural resource development, making the United States a target for all the corruption that extraction industries bring with them.

The United States aside, environmental degradation at the hands of extraction industries is a characteristic common in many developing nations, which base their ongoing development on the exploitation of their natural resources.

Failure 5: Crumble in the infrastructure jumble

Extraction is one side of the coin. The other side is the state of the United States' infrastructure.

As is the case in so many developing nations, U.S. infrastructure has been widely neglected, despite President Trump's extravagant campaign promises in the last election.

The lack of adequate infrastructure became most evident with recent storms  Hurricane Isaias in the northeast and the derechos in the Midwest  when above-ground power grids were devastated along with crops.

Few if any developed nations maintain above-ground power grids as the United States still does.

And the decrepit state of the U.S. electrical grid does not even address the jumble of problems with crumbling roads, bridges, rail lines and waterways.

Maintaining a sound infrastructure is a collective national endeavor. It is therefore especially telling  and tragic  that any sense of nationhood has been totally abandoned by President Trump and his Republican cohort in the U.S. Congress in favor of prosperity for the privileged few.

Instead of pouring precious federal resources into national restoration, money in the form of tax cuts is channeled to a new made-by-Trump kleptocracy overseen by legions of lobbyists.

Corruption in Washington

Corruption in Washington, D.C. is akin to the kinds of corruption one finds in places like Lagos or Kabul  albeit on a more sophisticated level.

Instead of foreign entities bribing local officials as happens in developing nations, U.S. companies bribe U.S. officials in the U.S. federal capital city, as well as state capitals.

In the meantime, the United States' crumbling infrastructure looks more and more like what one would find in other developing countries.

The transformation is underway

The five epic failures of the contemporary United States under the Trump regime are:

1. Out-of-control U.S. fiscal and monetary policies

2. The rise of the police state

3. An inadequate and ineffective health care system

4. A rapidly degrading environment and

5. A deteriorating infrastructure.

These failures are also among the classic characteristics of a developing nation. It cannot satisfy any American, regardless of partisan stripe, that they constitute five epic failures for the Trump Administration.

Failure 6? Shredding democracy

These five epic failures are bad enough. But they would exclude one more characteristic of developing countries that actually represents the Trump Administration's biggest failure  or rather deliberate act of brazenness: It is Donald Trump's assault on democracy itself.

The fact is that the President seeks to put in place a form of government that is no longer anchored in the basic principles of democracy. It has become detached from the tenets that shape duly elected governments in other developed nations.

Like despots in so many developing countries, Trump governs more and more by decree in the form of executive orders. In so doing, he bypasses almost entirely the people's elected representatives in the Congress, which itself has grown increasingly dysfunctional.

Attacking the election

And as the next presidential election approaches, Trump busies himself casting doubt on its legitimacy and throws up impediments within the U.S. Postal Service that are aimed at suppressing the vote, a tactic common in the most corrupt developing nations.

In fact, the polarization that one currently sees in U.S. politics and society, which is stoked to a fever pitch each and every day by a President determined to hold onto power at any cost, inches the United States toward a potentially cataclysmic level of civil strife, the contours of which already became evident this past summer.

And yet, a large cross-section of the U.S. electorate seems content to tag along for this ride in reverse toward a Great Leader  the very notion the founding father of the United States wanted to avoid.

Most astonishingly, like pre-pubescent children sitting in the back seat of the car during a long ride, they happily ask one question over and over: "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

This article is republished from The Globalist: On a daily basis, we rethink globalization and how the world really hangs together. Thought-provoking cross-country comparisons and insights from contributors from all continents. Exploring what unites and what divides us in politics and culture. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And sign up for our highlights email here.

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Operations at the The Studley Park Quarry in Tobago are to be put on a path that would make 
Walter Carter said he had perched himself on a tree halfway down the Washington Monuments reflecting pool to hear Dr Martin Luther King Jr address on 28 August 1963.

Fifty-seven years later, holding a tall sign reading get your knee off our necks and wearing a black face covering with the words I Will Vote scrawled in white, he leaned against a barricade steps away from the Lincoln Monument, more than 800 yards closer, to listen to Dr Kings son.

Whats so interesting, and Id say sad, are the core issues being discussed today are the same issues discussed then, he told The Independent. The words are different, but the issues remain the same.

At times joyous and sombre, with the catharsis of a gospel service and street parade, the 2020 March on Washington and nearly six-hour-long rally in a heavy August heat followed a summer of protests demanding justice in the wake of police killings of black Americans.

The Memorial Day killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis galvanised an international campaign to not only build on a Black Lives Matter movement against racial injustice but also caught fire to a long-kindled effort to dismantle racist institutions.

A 2020 March on Washington  convened by Martin Luther King III and black activist Al Sharpton through his National Action Network  seized on the protests energy to rally around legislative efforts to hold police accountable and combat voter suppression, weeks ahead of a crucial November election to oust Donald Trump from the White House.

The 57th anniversary of the march  where Rev King delivered his I have a dream remarks  is the first following the death of congressman John Lewis, among the Big Six Civil Rights-era leaders and the youngest speaker, at 23-year-old, at the 1963 event.

But it was the names of the victims of police killings and racist violence, echoed in waves from the steps of the memorial to the end of the reflecting pool at the base of the Washington Monument, that rocketed the event into its visceral present.

T-shirt vendors carted around memorabilia commemorating marches through the decades, worn by men and women who lived through them, while refrains from 2020 protests and grim reminders of recent violence reminded the crowd that the anniversary march is not an ending.

The march followed a week of protests after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where an officer fired seven shots into the 29-year-old black mans back, leaving him paralysed from the waist down. A white 17-year-old from Illinois has been accused of killing two protesters and injuring another.

It also served as an informal response to a week of Republican National Convention remarks dismissing nationwide protests and demands that have united thousands of people from across the US to march together at the capital.

Milwaukee activist Frank Nitty started his 750-mile walk from Wisconsin to Washington DC earlier this month, picking up supporters along the way. By the time he reached the Lincoln Memorial after 7.30am on Friday, he was surrounded by dozens of people.

A few hours later, he was behind the podium addressing thousands of people surrounding the memorial steps and reflecting pool.

We need to get organised together as a nation as activists so we can call on each other when we need help, he said. This is not a negotiation. This is a demand. ... We just marched 750 miles. Were not going to stop until we see change.

Porsche Taylor, founder of motorcycle group Black Girls Ride, travelled 3,000 miles with 100 women from Long Beach, California to the nations capital.

When a call to march was issued we knew it was time to mount up, she told the crowd. We ride unapologetically for black lives ... In November, [well] lead the ride to the polls.

The realities of a pandemic that has killed 180,000 Americans also planted the event in the present.

By 10am, a line for temperature checks and wristbands to enter the area had wrapped around the entrance to the park.

Im here to live out this mantra, said Rex Ikwueme, lifting his silver face shield and pointing to his sign: White supremacy will end on my watch.

Everything thats going on in the world right now is crazy, and I feel like people need to take a little time out of their life and dedicate some time for this,he said. Were going to need justice for all the things that happened to black people in America, and we need it now.

All the names on this list need justice, said Virginia resident Isis Wallace, holding a sign listing the names of dozens of black victims of police violence. If there is no justice for anyone, then there is no peace.

Mr Sharpton would close his remarks that afternoon leading a chant with those same words, shaking the air through massive speakers placed throughout the park: No justice, no peace.

Melissa Monroe travelled from Chicago to see her two teenage daughters at the event.

Our nation has taken such a turn, I dont even recognise who we are anymore, she said. Its important for me and everyone out here, just through our own presence, make sure America knows were better than whats happening now.

It was really important for us to come out as a family, especially a black family, said her daughter Max. Its important to make your voice known and heard and not just take racism and all the other inequalities we experience lightly, and make sure you are fighting back. Once my sister and I are older its important to tell our kids, our grandkids, that we were fighting for them as well.

The event saw a convergence of several rallies, protests, groups of union leaders, faith organisations and other informally organised acts of civil disobedience not necessarily under the same banner of Mr Sharptons broadly focussed and electorally driven event.

Leading up to a brief march to the Martin Luther King monument, the park erupted from a solemn start with an impromptu brass band leading hundreds of people on one side of the park, while Martin Luther King Jr III and several elected officials carried a banner to take the lead.

A long-running effort to demand prosecutors open cases of police violence broke from the rally to protest in front of the Department of Justice.

The main event focused on the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the restoration of the Voting Rights Act to honour the later congressman John Lewis, whose lifes work sought to enfranchise every American.

Organisers with Every Case Matters and Mass Action Against Police Brutality  representing dozens of families who have lost loved ones to police violence  brought them to the steps of federal prosecutors. Hundreds of people marched to the steps of the Department of Justice to hear from victims families and demand cases involving police brutality be reopened.

Theres a common misconception that if no charges are filed in the case thats the end of the story, organiser Brock Satter told The Independent. But we dont feel that this thing should be left to the whims of a prosecutor  it needs to go to a trial.

Much-publicised efforts to defund the police are not the central demands, he said, but part of a broader campaign to hold systems of power accountable for criminal acts against the communities they serve.

Our fight is not just against the police, he said. Were not just dealing with killer cops. Were dealing with corrupt prosecutors, judges, elected officials -- they all need to be held accountable. Thats why justice is at the centre of it. ... Its a pretty simple demand. Its pretty elementary. The question is, Why isnt it happening?

(Getty (Getty)

Keyona Osborne, an organiser with faith-based group It Ends Now Charlotte, was among 30 members who travelled to the capital from North Carolina.

Beginning on 31 May, It Ends Now grew from a Facebook post that drew thousands of people to a protest into a nonprofit organisation focussed around racial justice and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

This anniversary means so much, she said. Even just walking towards the Lincoln Memorial it felt like 57 years ago. I felt like I heard Martin Luther Kings voice. I felt like I was a part of the crowd. And I do feel the theme of what were feeling now is similar. Im saddened that 57 years later we still have to do something like this, but Im excited to be part of history and part of the fact that this will actually end with this generation.

Walter Carter, who attended the 1963 march, said young people were pivotal to the growth of the movement.

Theres a lot to be done to make the necessary social change, political change, economic change  but what is good of it is the people to do it are the people involved now, he said. The young people involved now need to stay involved. They need to keep on doing what theyre doing. Thats gonna make a big difference towards preventing another this in another 57 years.

Before he carried his sign to the front flank of the march to the King monument, after spending hours under the blistering sun, he said he felt good and inspired for whatever came next.

I feel young, he said. I feel capable of getting things done, but most of all, though, I feel good that in 1963, I was here, and Im here again.
Beijing:

China on Thursday reportedly agreed in principle to include three infrastructure projects in Sindh province, including circular railway for Karachi, at a meeting attended by top officials of the two countries where they reviewed the progress of the USD 46 billion CPEC project.

Top Chinese and Pakistani officials reviewed the progress of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor at the 6th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting of the project in Beijing.

Pakistani delegation was led by Federal Minister for Planning & Development Ahsan Iqbal, while the Chinese team was led by Vice Chairman Wang Xiaotao.

Chinese authorities have in principle approved inclusion in CPEC of three development projects in Sindh including the Karachi Circular Railways, Keti Bandar and Special Economic Zones, Dawn?reported, citing Sindh Chief Ministers office.

The additional projects were being added to address criticism within different provinces that much of the benefits of the CPEC was garnered by the Punjab province.

The project is aimed at connecting Pakistans Gwadar port with Chinas Xinjiang province with a host pipelines, road and rail network through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK).

Earlier, speaking at the Peking University, Iqbal said CPEC is the biggest project under Chinas One-Belt One-Road initiative that will unite the entire region.

He said under CPEC, USD 30 billion worth projects have been implemented. He said that with the addition of new projects in the 6th JCC, investment in CPEC will further increase.

He said China and Pakistan together will defeat all anti-CPEC forces. The participation of high-level officials from the provinces in JCC is the symbol of national unity and commitment for the project, he said.

He said CPEC related industrial cooperation will kick-start an economic revolution in Pakistan.

CPEC economic zones will generate investment and employment opportunities for the country, he said, adding that eight industrial zones will be set up in all provinces of the country.

He said a new security force has been formed to provide the security for people working in Chinese companies involved in the project.

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Online training programs including courses on COVID-19 have been developed, and made available for all Registered Health Professionals in Ghana.

The courses are either entirely free or are highly subsidized with funding from various organizations, institutions and companies. Participants will be given a Free instant and verifiable certificate and earn CPD points already determined by their Council. The CPD points will be automatically submitted to their Councils on their behalf after taking the course. These online courses arehosted by Continuous Education Services (CES), Ghanas leading provider of online CPDs.

CPD is an abbreviation for Continuing Professional Development (more commonly used) or Continuous Professional Development (used to a lesser extent). This refers to the general description given to all the things a professional does during and throughout their career to ensure he/she remains relevant and invaluable to the public or the people being served and remains up to date with current developments in his/her area of practice.

In certain professional circles, its simply known as Professional Development or sometimes; just Continuing Education (CE). In the health and medical circles in particular, its commonly referred to as Continuing Medical Education (CME).

It is common to find groups of health professionals gather at one physical location in their effort to acquire understanding that bridges certain specific knowledge and/or skills gaps. This has always been riddled with several short comings including Participants not having access to CPD courses that are relevant to them, CPDs not being available at convenient times for them to participate in, tiresome, and frustrating travel times, unnecessarily long face-to-face CPD sessions/events, certificates not given on the spot, unreasonably high cost of CPD programs/events/courses, participants who live abroad or out of the geographic area of CPD events being disadvantaged, and many other related challenges continue to hinder easy access to CPD training.

Furthermore, COVID-19 restrictions have made it more challenging and impractical for people to congregate at one location for extended periods. For these and many other reasons which are obvious to anyone who has ever patronized a face-to-face CPD event, CES began providing these courses onlinethrough various partnerships and collaborations from 2018. The work of CES has become even more relevant in this pandemic period.

CES has been able to help thousands of health professional to access lots of such courses conveniently. Some of such premium courses are always available on their platform. These are all accredited by the Medical and Dental Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Pharmacy Council, Allied Health Professions Council, and/or Psychology Council.

To participate in any of these courses, health professionals can visit this link (CLICK HERE) to review the course(s), and enroll on the CES online learning platform. All health professionals are encouraged to participate in these short training programs in order to increase their knowledge of COVID-19 and other related health issues confronting their patients and practice. It is hoped that, this will equip them to better fight against COVID-19, sharpen their skills to better serve their patients/clients, to meet current best practices, and also help them acquire mandatory annual CPD Points.

Ghana continues to make headway on COVID-19, with over 40,000 recoveries and 231 deaths out of 42,063 confirmed casesas of the time of publication of this article. Relevant and timely online courses like these are tailored for Ghanas local health challenges and presented by Ghanaian experts who are leaders in their respective disciplines, for the sole benefit of the Ghanaian health professional covering areas from Medico-Legal Ethics, Health Sector Related Laws, Various Clinical Disciplines, Soft Skills, Healthcare Marketing, Management, etc.
An occasional roundup of unusual OPP news releases:

A herd of cows escaped from a farm in Russell, 40 kilometres southeast of Ottawa, on the morning of Aug. 19 and decided to take a rest in a residential area.

An early morning traffic hazard you wont see in the city! police said. Russell County OPP officers kept an eye on them until the farmer could come and round them up.

In other cow news, on Aug. 14 at 6:20 a.m., police were called after a driver almost struck a cow standing in the middle of Oak Park Road near Brantford.

The driver and other motorists were able to safely slow down and pass the animal without being involved in a collision, police said.

The cows had vanished by the time police arrived.

This bed not for people

Police spotted a woman riding in the bed of a pickup truck on Highway 401 in Kingston on Aug. 25.

She was trying to prevent items from a big box shopping excursion from falling out, OPP said. The woman stated that she was wearing a ratchet strap as a seatbelt.

She was charged with fail to occupy a position with seatbelt. The driver was charged with careless driving. Ages were unavailable.

Sex across from police station

If youre drunk, dont have sex in a car parked across from the police station.

On Aug. 13 at 6:20 p.m., police got several complaints about two people engaged in an indecent act in the parking lot near the OPP detachment on Broadway Street in Paris.

A 60-year-old man in the car was charged with impaired driving.

Chopper to the rescue

A 90-year-old fisherman from Waterloo was rescued after his boat went over a waterfall.

On Aug. 12 at 9:30 p.m. police were called to a report of an overdue fisherman on Thistle Lake, 110 kilometres northeast of Sudbury. He was found three hours later in his boat.

Due to the extreme rough terrain and remote location, neither the OPP Marine Unit nor the OPP helicopter were able to get close enough to the boater, police said.

He was rescued at 5:30 a.m. on Aug. 13 by a Griffon helicopter from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton. The man was in good health but was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Investigation revealed the man was fishing near the rapids when the boat engine shut off and he was unable to restart it, police said

At this time, his boat had drifted and it went down an eight-foot drop to the bottom of the rapids. He attempted to paddle up closer to the rapids with no success, at which point he decided to stay put and wait for assistance.

A video of the rescue was posted on Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/status/1293956566400602113

Put down the (water) gun

An erratic driver pointed a water gun at police when he was pulled over.

On Aug. 14 around 6 p.m., police stopped the driver on Highway 93 near Waverley, 35 kilometres north of Barrie. He pointed the water gun but was convinced to drop it.

Turns out the driver also had a loaded air pistol and cocaine.

A Tay Township man, 22, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, mischief and being a novice driver with blood-alcohol above zero.

Out with a bang

Alleged criminals did a great job of getting the attention of the police.

Officers in Dungannon, near Goderich, were called to a residence on Aug. 7 for reports of a gunshot.

It turned out to be a firecracker. While investigating, police found a stolen pickup truck getting a new paint job. A man was arrested for failing to follow his house-arrest terms. He had a large amount of meth. Two local men, 35 and 40, and a woman, 39, face a variety of charges.

A bad day for thief

First he stole a pickup truck.

When it got stuck on a bridge, he stole a log skidder to dislodge the truck.

Then he lost control of the huge logging vehicle and ran over the pickup truck.

RELATED STORIES Waterloo Region https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2020/08/16/opp-roundup-seven-foot-long-snake-slithers-into-house.html

It all happened on Aug. 14 in the Hat Lake area, 65 kilometres north of Elliot Lake.

An Elliot Lake man, 36, was charged with theft and public mischief.

Sorry about that

The raised dump box of a dump truck collided with an overpass on Aug. 20 on Highway 417 in Ottawa.

The box became wedged there, while the rest of the vehicle kept moving a short distance, police said. The truck had been going close to 100 km/h.

The driver, 53, of Almonte was charged with careless driving.

Scrambled eggs

Police apparently take egg throwing very seriously in Tillsonburg, 35 kilometres south of Woodstock.

On Aug. 23 at 2:30 a.m., OPP were called to investigate eggs thrown at a house.

Although this may seem to be minor in nature, the deliberate act can cause significant damage to surfaces, especially if it is not removed quickly, police said.

Last we heard, the culprit was still on the run.

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Actor and Bigg Boss 13 winner Sidharth Shukla has helped raise funds for a young acid attack survivor. Delhis Laxmi Aggarwal has thanked Sidharth for his help on Instagram. Laxmi, an acid attack survivor herself, posted how Saraswati was attacked by her husband.

Sharing a the survivors story on Instagram, Laxmi had written, Let, Support Saraswati -An Acid attack Survivor. Saraswatis drunkard husband poured acid on her while she was sleeping. She was badly burnt with acid. After that incident she is facing physical and economic issues.After pouring acid on Saraswati, he committed suicide. Now the burnt Saraswati is battling for her treatment and her livelihood. Her two minor children are dependent on her. She has no support. Saraswati was given medical treatment at government hospital , she stayed there for five months but still her treatment for nose, ears and surgeries are pending.

She has no source of income. We need to shift her to New Delhi for her treatment in a private hospital. She needs major surgeries, nose and ear treatment. We need to treat and rehabilitate her so that after recovery she is be able to support her two minor children. The Laxmi Foundation humbly request you all to extend help in this effort of rehabilitating Saraswati. @thelaxmiagarwal, she added.

Sidharth shared the request on his social media feeds and the contributions went from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Thanking the actor, Laxmi wrote in another post, Thank u so much @realsidharthshukla apka Support Saraswati ki life badal sakta hai. Lets Support Saraswati -An Acid attack Survivor.

Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput admitted he was claustrophobic in 2015 interview, had said he had insomnia too. Watch

Recently, he also helped a fan to arrange a hospital bed for his father, who was suffering from Covid19. The fan had tweeted to him, Dear @sidharth_shukla i need your help my dad has been tested positive for covid & he has been shifted to brahmakumaris hospital of andheri but their is a bed problem their can you in any way help if you know someone from the hospital please Folded hands @Sid_ShuklaFC.

Sorry just came across your tweet ... is he good plz give me five mints I will figure out ...let me know if he still needs it ... and a way to contact you  Sidharth Shukla (@sidharth_shukla) August 19, 2020

Spoke to her.. and had arranged for a bed also. But she doesnt need it right now as her dad got admitted to another hospital. Wishing for his speedy recovery. Prayers for him..  Sidharth Shukla (@sidharth_shukla) August 19, 2020

Sidharth arranged the bed and later tweeted to the fan.

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The Conways have called a truce. Kellyanne, a senior adviser to President Trump, is one of his fiercest defenders. Her husband, George, a noted attorney, has become a vitriolic critic. Their increasingly public and poisonous battle has mesmerized the capital. How long could it go on?

Now we know. It couldn't go on any longer. Kellyanne announced she's leaving the White House, and George is withdrawing from the Lincoln Project, a group of anti-Trump Republicans that has been shredding the president with TV ads. Both cited family reasons, with Kellyanne noting that their four children, ranging in age from 10 to 15, would all be learning at home this fall. "For now, and for my beloved children, it will be less drama, more mama," she said.

Now, "more mama" and more daddy are almost always good things for a family, especially one in crisis. But -- and it's a big "but" -- the Conway Family Feud reveals something seriously wrong about politics in the Age of Trump. Civility and tolerance are so rare that even two conservative Republicans, who really seem to love each other, have turned into mortal enemies. Trump pollutes whatever he touches -- even marriage.

As Gil Troy, a presidential historian at McGill University, told Mark Leibovich of the New York Times: "This marriage represents the train wreck that is our current political culture. We are all intertwined as Americans, like we're all in a marriage together and constantly colliding against one another. No one knows who's going to break first and what will be the breaking point." Added Leibovich: "We are all the Conways."

The Conways are often compared to another mixed political marriage: James Carville, who ran Bill Clinton's campaign in 1992, and Mary Matalin, who worked for the man Clinton defeated, George Bush 41. Sure, the couple turned their romance into a profitable shtick, churning out speeches, books and even a TV drama in which they played themselves. Still, they've stayed together for 27 years in part because they share a belief in politics as an honorable endeavor, and a respect for each other's sincerity.

Carville told the Times that the Conway saga reflects how sharply the political culture has shifted since the era when he and Matalin met: "Coming of political age in 1992 is significantly different than coming of age in 2017. Trump people have much more of a sense of personal assault or grievance, and the Trump opponents have a high, high dose of doing the right thing for the country. You can hardly even tell jokes about it anymore."

Both Conways have been fueled by that sense of assault and grievance. Early in Trump's presidency, Kellyanne coined the phrase "alternative facts" to describe his approach to governing -- a deeply dangerous idea that only the president could define reality.

George started out as a Trump fan, weeping with joy on election night, according to Kellyanne. But he grew increasingly alarmed at Trump's erratic behavior, questioning the president's mental stability and deciding that his wife and other Trumpsters were being "brainwashed by a cult," reports the Times.

Their rising hostility was whipped into a full-blown firestorm by the winds of social media, which rewards bad behavior and nasty putdowns with greater audiences and attention. Here's just one of George's tweets aimed at the president: "Congratulations! You just guaranteed that millions of more people are going to learn about narcissistic personality disorder and malignant narcissism! Great job."

The president, no amateur at digital destruction, jumped in gleefully, tweeting that George is "a stone-cold LOSER & husband from hell" who is "VERY jealous of his wife's success."

There's more. The Conways' 15-year-old daughter Claudia is a star on TikTok, proclaiming herself to be a "radical agnostic liberal/leftist" who supports Black Lives Matter and wants to be "emancipated" from her parents. Those parents tried, briefly and futilely, to ban her from social media last month, but she quickly returned to endorse a face mask reading, "CLAUDIA CONWAY IS A BAD BITCH." When her parents announced their retreat from public life, she boasted on TikTok, "Look what I did!"

Carville and Matalin never had to contend with social media kill shots -- from their children, their bosses or each other. Moreover, they moved from Washington to New Orleans in 2008, where they found common ground helping to rebuild the city and teaching at local universities.

If the Conways want to stay sane, and stay married, they should abandon Twitter and TikTok. And maybe look for a house in New Orleans.

Steven Roberts teaches politics and journalism at George Washington University. He can be contacted by email at stevecokie@gmail.com

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A controversial Imam has spoken out urging Muslims not to take a potential coronavirus vaccine, claiming it is 'haram' - meaning forbidden.

Sufyaan Khalifa posted a video this week in which he urged followers of Islam to resist 'tyranny and fascism' - and took a swipe at the Victorian premier along with raising questions over the vaccine.

Other religious leaders have also recently voiced ethical concerns over the Oxford University vaccine candidate, which is made using foetal cells that were sourced from an aborted baby in the 1970s and replicated in a laboratory.

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Sufyaan Khalifa (pictured) has posted a video to YouTube likening Victoria's Stage Four stay-at-home order to 'tyranny and fascism'

AstraZeneca's headquarters in Sydney on August 19 (pictured) where the PM visited to announce an agreement with the company to provide the Oxford University vaccine

The federal government has signed a letter of intent with vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca to provide the Oxford vaccine to Australians should clinical trials proves successful.

'Shame on some Muslim bodies justifying the use of the vaccine. Shame on any imam who did sign this fatwah,' Mr Khalifa said in the video.

'The catholics have stood up against this clearly because they know it's haram, it's unlawful. But you stand with the government instead,' the Perth-based imam said.

'Shame on those who are standing with the government against the religion.'

The Catholic Archibishop of Sydney, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, and the city's Greek Orthodox Archbishop have written to the Prime Minister asking him to reconsider the the deal to secure 25 million doses.

The Oxford University candidate uses a technique in which the vaccine is grown in foetal cells, which are then removed before the medicine is packaged.

The cell line was sourced from a legal abortion in 1973 in the Netherlands and then altered so the cells can divide continuously in a laboratory, so there is no need to source new cells.

The religious leaders claimed the technique is immoral and urged to PM to provide an alternative option.

But other religious leaders have said the risk to human life by COVID-19 signalled their congregations could use the vaccine with a clear conscience.

'At an Islamic principle level, the highest principle is the preservation of its life and its wellbeing,' spokesperson for the Australian National Imams Council, Bilal Rauf, has said.

The Prime Minister announced the government hoped to secure the vaccine (pictured: Scott Morrison tours the Astra Zeneca laboratories in Macquarie Park on August 19

The controversial Australian Imam has called on Muslims to 'stand up and speak out' against 'Dictator' Dan Andrews' (pictured) coronavirus lockdown

Great Synagogue Chief Minister and Senior Rabbi Ben Elton agreed on Tuesday saying: 'We are very much in favour of anything that can save human life, so we're looking forward very much to the development of a safe and reliable vaccine.'

A vaccine being developed by the University of Queensland does not use foetal cell lines and has received Australian government funding.

The technique is used in other common vaccines already in widely in use.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was aware of and respected the concerns though he and his family would take the vaccine and urged other Australians also get the jab.

Mr Khalifa also took aim at the Stage 4 lockdowns being imposed across Melbourne along with Stage 3 lockdowns in the rest of Victoria urging Muslims to question the government.

'(Muslims and) the wider community must stand against this tyranny, against this fascism which is happening in our country Especially what that dictator Dan Andrews is doing to our fellow Australians in Victoria,' he said.

A scientist works on the potential vaccine at the Jenner Institute in Oxford (pictured)

'Wake up because you are in danger. Wake up because Australia is in danger and time is running out.

'We Muslims have to play a major part in saving our country. This is your role as the followers of the prophets. To stand up against any tyranny which is causing harm to humanity.

'This is our job as Muslims to stand up and speak out.'

Mr Khalifa was angered after police issued $15,000 in fines and arrested four men during a wild afternoon confrontation with police in Dandenong on Wednesday.

At least 100 residents in Melbourne's south east clashed with police in a demonstration against the city's Stage 4 stay-at-home orders.

Anti-lockdown walkers were doused with pepper spray and struggled with cops as community frustration with Melbourne's draconian Stage 4 restrictions reached boiling point.

Tensions in the community have been flaring for days after a large group of residents decided to start walking at the same time and place.

Under Stage Four restrictions Melbourne residents can only leave their homes for four reasons, to buy essential items like groceries, for care or to give care, exercise and work.

There is also a nightly curfew from 8pm until 5am.

'In Victoria, they were walking, exercising and singing the Australian anthem, proud to be Australians but the police came to provoke them and put them down and arrest them,' Mr Khalifa said.

'If we Muslims don't go hand to hand with the Christians, the Jews, the Hindus, anyone even if they don't believe in god, to save our community or save our country, we will end up in a dictatorship.

'Most people run from our homeland in Lebanon, Egypt and wherever we come from to escape dictatorship to the land of honey and milk (Australia). But the land of honey and milk is suffering today.'
ALTON  An Alton Police officer was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital early Saturday morning after being struck by a vehicle during a police pursuit.

According to Alton Police Chief Jason Simmons at about 1:45 a.m. Saturday, an Alton Police officer came upon two vehicles driving very fast on Oakland Avenue. He suspected them of speeding or drag racing and pursued them

Simmons said one of the vehicles went into a ditch and the officer continued pursuing the other vehicle. The pursuit continued, reaching Washington Avenue where near the intersection with Sanford Avenue two Alton Police officers deployed a spike strip with a series of spikes designed to disabled a vehicle by causing flat tires.

The suspects vehicle swerved to avoid the spike strip, Simmons said. At the last minute the officer was able to jump out of the path of the vehicle, but was hit and serverely injured by its frot bumper.

Simmons said the other officers placed a tourniquet on the injured police officers leg and an ARCH Air Medical Services Inc. helicopter was summoned to transport the officer to a St. Louis hospital. The officers name was not available Saturday morning; Simmons said the officer summoned very serious but not life-threatening injuries in the incident.

According to Simmons, police continued to pursue the vehicle into Missouri. It was later recovered, unoccupied, in Missouri near Parker Road and Interstate 367.

Illinois State Police accident reconstructionists were at the accident site early Saturday, documenting the area where the Alton Police officer was struck. Police closed Washington Avenue in both directions from the time of the incident until after dawn to conduct their investigation.

Simmons said investigation into the incident continues with leads into who may have been in the car that struck the Alton Police officer.

I think that arrests are imminent, Simmons said.
- A Ghanaian community named Adamrobe located at the foot of the Akuapem hills in the Eastern Region has the highest number of deaf people in Ghana

- What makes Adamrobe different is that, throughout the village, people speak with their hands

- Little is known by way of direct evidence about the incident of deafness in the village

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

In Ghana at community called Adamrobe located in a bowl shape valley at the foot of the Akuapem hills, deaf and dumbness is so common that it could be described as the town with the largest deaf population.

What makes Adamrobe different is that, throughout the village, people speak with their hands.

Gabriel Ahiabor reported that over centuries, a local sign language emerged which was used between deaf and hearing people in their everyday life, rendering the town a very unique place of inclusion of deaf people.

Story of Adamrobe the village around Aburi where people speak with their hands Source: Gabriel Ahiabor

Source: Original

Little is known by way of direct evidence about the incident of deafness in the village.

But there is a lot of circumstantial evidence pointing to both local and medical perspective on the high incidence of the deafness.

Story of Adamrobe the village around Aburi where people speak with their hands Source: Gabriel Ahiabor

Source: UGC

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The most up to date records clearly identifies that out of the 1800 people in the community, 50 are deaf which doubles the global average by World Health Organisation which estimate five out of every 1000 children worldwide are either born with hearing loss or acquire it soon after birth.

In Adamrobe the birth of a child leads to fear and anxiety not only for the parents but for the entire village.

Several researches initiated by private bodies and as well as government institutions revealed the high incidence of deafness. One of the researches suggested that the high number was genetic.

Story of Adamrobe the village around Aburi where people speak with their hands Source: Gabriel Ahiabor

Source: Original

Some of the villagers believe that the high rate of deafness in Adamrobe could be as a result of being cursed, since the adjoining villages have not reported any similar disorders.

Meanwhile, the Gyasehene of the village, Nana Kwame Ayeh believed an age-old custom of marrying within the community, coupled with lack of access to medical facilities and immunisation in the past, probably led to the large number of the deaf and mute.

According to him, in 1975 the former chief of the village Nana Kwakwa Asiampong II passed a law prohibiting marriage between two deaf persons to reduce the number of deaf population in the village.

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Though deaf women seem to have no problem in finding partners for marriage, it is generally believed that marrying a deaf man will result in deaf offspring. As a result, most deaf men have no children.

According to a sociological research conducted by Amedofu, Brobby & Ocansey (1999), some explanations inhabitants offered for the large deaf population was that, the town is ruled over spiritually by a deaf god who makes the offspring of any couple deaf if they have done something to offend him.

A second myth was that, there is a stream on the outskirts of the town whose water must not be fetched by anyone for domestic purposes because of its sacred nature and that anyone who dared to break these taboos are punished with deaf children.

Another story was that long ago, there was a handsome strong deaf young man in the town with whom every woman and girl, irrespective of whether they were married or not, sought to have a child because of his charming looks. This irresistible deaf man, is believed, to have sowed the seed of deafness in town.

These traditional stories were re-enforced by the village Secretary Mr Stephen Akrofi who said some of the children could talk by 3 years and suddenly suffer convulsion and become mute.

READ ALSO: Mafi-Dove, the village in Ghana where childbirth and burial are banned

In other news, Mafi-Dove Community a small neighbourhood located in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region does not allow childbirth, the burial of the dead or the rearing of animals.

Childbirth, burial and rearing of animals are considered a taboo in the neighbourhood and thought to be acts that would offend the gods.

BBC had an interview with the locals in which it was revealed that pregnant women have to be rushed out when about entering labour because of the age-old tradition.

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On Friday evening, the security forces had killed Al-Badrs district commander Shakoor Parray

Against the backdrop of increased activity by militants, the authorities have imposed stringent restrictions on movement in parts of Srinagar to curtail planned Muharram processions. DC Photo: H U Naqash

Srinagar: Hours after the security forces gunned down four Al-Barq Mujahedin militants and captured a fifth one in Jammu and Kashmirs southern Shopian district on Friday evening, a similar fire fight occurred in neighbouring Pulwama leaving three more militants dead.

One Army jawan was also killed in the second clash, the officials said here.

A spokesman of J&K police said on Saturday that its counterinsurgency Special Operations Group (SOG) together with the Armys 50 Rashtriya Rifles and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)s 182 and 183 Battalions launched a cordon-and-search operation in Pulwama Zadoora village overnight.

During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given the opportunity to surrender. However, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter, the spokesman said.

He added that the three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen cadres killed in the clash have been identified as Adil Hafiz, Arshid Ahmed Dar and Rouf Ahmed Mir- all residents of Pulwama.

In the encounter, Army jawan Prashant Sharma received critical injuries. He was evacuated to Srinagars 92-Base Army Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries later.

Defence spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia, said Sepoy Sharma was in the lead element of his party when it came into contact with the terrorists during a specific search operation launched in village Zadoora.

He said that, in the ensuing firefight, the Army jawan suffered multiple gunshot wounds on his chest and that despite being grievously injured, he continued to fight.

Sepoy Sharma, 23, who had joined the 26 Mechanised Infantry Battalion of the Army in November 2016 was a resident of village Khanjapur of Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh and is survived by his parents, the Army said.

On Friday evening, the security forces had killed Al-Badrs district commander Shakoor Parray and his close associates Suhail Bhat, Zubair Nengroo and Shakir-ul-Jabbar in a fire fight in Shopians Kilora village. Their associate Shoab Ahmed Bhat, a resident of Awantipora in Pulwama district, was, however, captured alive.

The Army said that he surrendered before the security forces. In a purported video clip circulated by the security forces through social media, Bhat says that he would now pursue his medical education and bring glory to India.

Kashmirs Inspector General of Police, Vijay Kumar, had said on Friday that Parray was engaged in the J&K police as a Special Police Officer (SPO) in 2014 and subsequently for operational grounds elevated to the post of constable and adjusted in the police district Awantipora.

Later on, he was transferred from Anantnag district where he took away four rifles from the other officials and joined the militant outfit and continued to be on the spree of snatching service weapons from his former colleagues in the police department.

The police claimed that Shakoor and Suhail were involved in the recent abduction and subsequent killing of a Panchayat functionary Nisar Ahmed Bhat whose mortal remains were earlier during the day on Friday found buried haphazardly in an orchard in Shopians Dangam village.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: In a touching gesture, a brother-sister duo raised Rs 3 lakh to ensure officers with the Bengaluru City Police are safe while going about their jobs. They ordered 3,000 high-quality masks with the money and handed them over to Police Commissioner Kamal Pant at his office on Friday.

M Amaan Asim, a 19-year-old student of Ashoka University, was at the forefront of the campaign #MaskOurWarriors on behalf of Humane Trust, an NGO. Amaan told The New Indian Express, I kept reading about cops testing Covid-positive in Bengaluru.

I wanted to do something for them and decided that a mask that is superior in quality would be very useful to them. His sister, Aamina Asim, joined hands. The police force strength in the city stands at 10 lakh, and initially, we had set a target of collecting Rs 10 lakh towards purchasing high-quality masks for them. With the help of corporates and individuals, we were able to collect Rs 3 lakh, Amaan said.

The duo is keen on continuing the drive until they collect Rs 10 lakh. We need more volunteers to come forward and donate, they said. Anyone interested in chipping in can reach Amaan at 99007-81977 or tweet to @humanetouchind.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Police are investigating a Saturday morning drive-by shooting that injured one person in Grand Rapids.

Police were dispatched to the 3900 block of Camelot Drive in Grand Rapids at 9:42 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, Grand Rapids Police Department spokesperson Raul Alvarez told MLive.

Witnesses told police they heard 5-10 gunshots, Alvarez said. Police found shell casings at the scene of the shooting.

While police were investigating at the scene, a victim arrived at a Grand Rapids hospital with a gunshot wound to the foot, Alvarez said.

Police say they believe the victim was outside when a vehicle drove by and fired several rounds. The incident remains under investigation by Grand Rapids police.

There is no suspect or vehicle information available at this time. Police will provide more details about the victim once they become available.

This is a developing story. This post will be updated once more details become available.

More on MLive:

Man airlifted to hospital after being rear-ended into oncoming traffic

Motorcyclist seriously injured in crash after car attempts U-turn in Grand Rapids

Officer fires shots at stolen vehicle after 100 mph chase through Lowell, police say
A massive blaze has engulfed a popular Spanish tourist resort, leaving shops and restaurants devastated.

Footage of the scene in Malaga shows flames tearing across buildings as black smoke billows across the skies.

It is believed the fire broke out in forests surrounding the Laguna Village shopping, restaurant and beach bar complex in Estepona.

Shop manager Kate Ozog, 40, told local news site Olive Press there was nothing left of the once thriving businesses.

The restaurants, the shops, everything is gone. Twenty shops or something  all gone," she said.

Its been such a tough summer and now the fire. We can do nothing. We have to start from scratch.

Authorities were worried at the blazes proximity to a petrol station, fearing a potential explosion, Olive Press reported.

The fire took hold at around 1.45pm, with emergency services declaring an emergency shortly before 4pm, according to local reports.

Fire services used helicopters to extinguish the blaze from the air, which they later confirmed had been contained.

The luxury five star Kempinski hotel, located next to the complex, was forced to evacuate all 80 guests shortly before 3.30pm, according to Olive Press.

They were allowed to return to their rooms once the situation had been brought under control.

Some 30 homes in the vicinity were also forced to evacuate.

Fortunately no one was injured in the blaze.
Strong to severe thunderstorms with up to 50-mph wind gusts are expected to hit central Pennsylvania Saturday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Around 4 p.m., the NWS issued a special weather statement which said storms are moving in a line over parts of Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, Lebanon, York and Lancaster counties.

Along with brief, heavy rainfall, central Pennsylvanians could see wind gusts between 40 and 50 mph, according to the NWS.

Showers and thunderstorms are most likely up until 8 p.m. Saturdays stormy weather is projected as the peak of Hurricane Lauras impact on the midstate, forecasters said. Theres a slight chance of showers afterward between 8 and 9 p.m.

The rain should clear up by Sunday for sunshine and highs in the low 80s.
By Trend





Discussions on reopening the Baku metro are underway, taking into account the sanitary and epidemiological situation, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said.

Hajiyev made the remark at the briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers held on Aug. 29, Trend reports.

He noted that the public will be additionally informed at a later stage.

The department head added that due to the increased level of infection in Baku, Sumgayit and Absheron district, a strict quarantine will be maintained, and public transport will not work on weekends.
In route news, United could be canceling more flights on short notice if it doesnt have enough bookings; Alaska Airlines will introduce service to a new ski destination from Mineta San Jose this winter; San Francisco International reopens a number of gates that had been closed due to the pandemic; Delta sets new plans for recovery of its international network; American predicts deeper schedule cuts this fall without more federal aid; and Virgin Atlantic rolls out free insurance to protect passengers from COVID-19.

United Airlines this month started using a sophisticated algorithm that could lead to more flights being canceled on short notice, according to the travel industry news site Skift.com. The report cited an internal United memo to employees that said passenger demand can be hard to predict in the current environment, so to help preserve cash, were now recommending proactive mainline cancelations that focus on consolidating flights with a load factor below 30 percent. The algorithm would cancel low-load-factor flights within seven days of departure provided passengers can be readily re-accommodated on other flights. Along with considering whether customers can be rebooked, the system takes into account variables like where flight crew is needed and whether the airplane is required at the destination for a flight later in the day. Managers can overrule it when warranted, the Skift report noted. It said United is currently using the algorithm on fewer than 1% of flights, mainly in major markets, and that 77% of affected customers get to their destinations within four hours of their originally scheduled arrival time.

Bay Area skiers will gain access to a new destination this winter following Alaska Airlines announcement that it will operate seasonal flights from Mineta San Jose to Jackson Hole, Wyo. The ski service will run twice a week from Dec. 19 through April 10, using E175 three-class regional jets. Tickets are on sale now. Besides the local Jackson Hole ski resort, the area is close to the Grand Targhee ski resort just across the state line in Idaho; Grand Teton National Park; and a bit further to the north, Yellowstone National Park. Alaska said it will also offer seasonal ski service five days a week to Jackson Hole from Seattle and from San Diego Dec. 17 to April 11.



As we noted earlier this week, San Francisco International Airport will reopen the 15 A Concourse gates of its International Terminal on Sept. 1 as more foreign airlines resume flights in the coming weeks. SFO closed the concourse (also known as Boarding Area A) on April 1 after international carriers made deep cuts to their route networks because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport consolidated international flights into the international terminal's G gates on the opposite end of the airport's horseshoe shape. Thats where United Airlines and other Star Alliance flights operate. The closure of the "A" half of the international terminal gave the airport an opportunity to do extensive maintenance on the building. Energy-saving LED lights have replaced older lamps. Ceiling tiles, HVAC filters, doors, fire alarms sprinklers, elevators and escalators have been repaired or replaced.

Given all the uncertainties brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, airlines have generally been pretty cautious about firming up their route plans more than a couple of months in advance  especially their international route plans.

But Delta is starting to take a longer view of things and has issued an overview of its international schedules for this winter and even into next summer. While the airline expects pre-COVID level recovery for international flying to continue to lag U.S. domestic, Delta plans to add over 50 transoceanic flights next summer, compared to the summer 2020 schedule, Delta said. The plan includes the resumption of several transatlantic routes this fall, including the September start of service from New York JFK to Barcelona, Madrid and Rome; Boston to London; and African routes from JFK to Accra, Ghana, and Atlanta to Lagos, Nigeria. October service revivals include JFK to Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt and Zurich; and Seattle to Paris CDG. In November, Delta will begin Boston-Paris flights.

Across the Pacific, Delta said it will continue to focus on Seattle over the next year as its premier gateway on the West Coast, offering daily flights in 2021 from SEA to Tokyo Haneda (will the Tokyo Olympics come back next year as planned?), Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai. The airline said it expects to fly to Tokyo Haneda from seven U.S. cities next summer, and  assuming government approvals are forthcoming  to serve Shanghai from Detroit, Seattle and LAX, and to fly to Beijings new Daxing Airport from Seattle. The airline said it plans to restart three weekly LAX-Sydney flights in November, increasing to daily service in 2021. Click here to see all of Deltas international plans  which are subject to change, of course, depending on government entry restrictions.

Meanwhile, Delta has a new domestic route coming up on Oct. 1, when it will introduce twice-daily E175 flights between Seattle and Ontario, Calif.

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The recent announcement by American Airlines that it will eliminate service to 15 domestic destinations in October could be just the beginning of more substantial cutbacks, AA CEO Doug Parker warned in a letter to employees this week. Unless the federal government comes through with another round of major financial relief for airlines in the near future, he said, American will have to lay off 19,000 employees this fall. Thats in addition to more than 12,000 who have voluntarily left and 11,000 who will be offered voluntary leaves of absence in October. When assistance from the governments CARES Act runs out at the end of September, he said, more schedule cutbacks will have to be implemented  mostly to smaller U.S. cities, but also on international routes. The CARES Act required airline beneficiaries of federal funds to maintain service to all cities on their domestic route maps through September.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, airlines keep coming up with new strategies to entice and reassure wary potential passengers. One new twist came this week from Delta partner Virgin Atlantic Airways, which is operating under bankruptcy protection and just won the backing of its many creditors for a complicated restructuring plan that is still subject to court approval. The airline has rolled out a program called COVID-19 Cover  free insurance that now applies to all new and existing bookings through March 31, 2021. It kicks in when a Virgin passenger or travel companion comes down with COVID-19 during their trip, covering emergency medical costs, related transportation and lodging costs, and repatriation expenses, up to a total of $660,000. It even covers denied boarding expenses and the cost of an unexpected mandatory quarantine during the trip. The coverage also applies to passengers on Virgin partners Delta, Air France and KLM if they are traveling on a Virgin Atlantic ticket.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently deployed its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas along the countrys western borders. While not heavily reported in the media, the deployment did mark a military milestone for India, which has to stay prepared for a two-front war.

The stationing of these aircraft along the sensitive and tense borders also marks the culmination of LCA Tejas 37-year-long journey from its conception to active duty.

A peep into the past will give a clearer picture of the significance of IAFs move and peoples sentiment attached to the aircraft, which is now to be seen in a Bollywood film.

The Kangana Ranaut-starrer Tejas is set to take off in December, months after the fighter reached the frontlines. The film, celebrating the valour of the armed forces, once again brings into focus the long route Tejas took to take wings.

By the 1980s, the countrys Soviet-origin MiG-21 fleet had been in service for over two decades. The single engine fighter-interceptors had become the lifeblood of the Indian Air Force, but it had become difficult to source spares for them. Repeated accidents highlighted safety worries.

Concerns were being raised over the post-Mig 21 scenario in the IAF. The Long Term Re-Equipment Plan 1981 painted a rather grim scenario by projecting 40% squadron shortage in the force by 1994-95.

It was under these circumstances that in 1983, the DRDO got permission to initiate a programme to design and develop a Light Combat Aircraft. The purpose for developing a homegrown fighter were twin-fold: to fill the deficiency in combat forces as well as the development of a local industry capable of creating state-of-the-art products with commercial spin-offs for a global market.

Many would not know that this was Indias second attempt at indigenisation of flying war machines. Earlier, the HAL had made the HF-24 Marut. However, this fighter programme was winded down because of various limitations the aircraft had in modern warfare.

So, what is the LCA Tejas up against? Since the IAF has deployed it along the Pakistan border, it will most likely take on either the China-made JF-17 or the US made F-16s that the Pakistan Air Force has.

All of these  LCA Tejas, JF-17 and F-16  are multi-role fighter aircraft (MRCA) designed to perform various day/night combat roles. These machines are capable of handling multiple tasks including aerial attacks, air-to-surface attacks, reconnaissance, interception, breaking into the enemys air defence and providing deterrence. And all three are 4th generation aerial combat machines, packing more or less the similar class of technology including engines, avionics, among other things.

The LCA Tejas is among the worlds lightest multi-role combat aircraft of its category. An empty weight of around 6,560 kg and maximum take-off weight of just 13,300 kg gives it unparalleled maneuvering capabilities. JF-17 on the other hand weighs around 6,411 kg with maximum take-off weight of 12,474 kg.

The F-16 is the heaviest of the lot with an empty weight of 9,207 kg and a maximum take-off weight of 21,772 kilograms. The difference in empty and take-off weight is highest for F-16, meaning it can carry more fuel and weapons as compared to competition.

The 13.2 metre long Tejas with a wing span of 8.2 metres and a height of 4.4 meters is the sleekest of the three. The JF-17 is 14.93 metre long, has a wingspan of 9.48 metres and a height of 4.77 meters. The F-16s on the other hand are relatively bigger with 15 metres of length and a wingspan of 9.4 metres.

Additionally, Tejas aerodynamically unstable tailless compound delta-wing configuration, optimised primarily for manoeuvrability, makes it unique. In terms of speed, the Lockheed Martins F-16s have an edge. While the F-16s can fly at a top speed of Mach 2+ or approx. 2,470 km/h, both the LCA Tejas and JF-17 can cruise at a maximum speed of 1.6 Mach or 1975.68 km/ hour. However, the Tejas, can attain supersonic speed at all altitudes.

The JF-17 Thunder can attain a height of little over 54,000 ft while both LCA Tejas and F-16 are enabled with a service ceiling of around 50,000 ft, according to open source data. The service ceiling is the hallmark of an aircrafts efficiency during dogfights and for evading enemys surface-to-air defence.

As far as operational range is concerned, the F-16 is far superior. Depending on the variant, it can fly up to a spectacular range of 3,900 to 4,220 km. The Tejas and JF-17, according to Airforce-Technology.com, have a maximum range of 3,000 km and 2,037 km, respectively.

On the weaponry front, Tejas is designed to carry a number of air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision-guided and standoff weaponry.

The Tejas carries beyond visual range weapons as well as agile high off-boresight missiles to tackle close combat. The aircraft also boasts of the highly-reliable quadruplex digital fly-by-wire Flight Control System.

To ensure effective Human Machine Interface (HMI) the aircrafts new generation glass cockpit is fitted with Multi Function Displays (MFD), Head Up Display (HUD) and Stand by Instrumentation System.

Tejas radar system has been jointly developed by India and Israel. Its Doppler Multi Mode model boosts its effectiveness in Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface combat. The radar can track multiple targets simultaneously while mapping them.

However, despite an early start and the government allocating the first tranche of Rs 575 crore for the LCA programme way back in 1986, it was 15 years later, in January 2001, when the first technology demonstration flight of Tejas took place. Then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee named LCA  Tejas" meaning Radiance in Sanskrit. It took another 14 years before Indian Air Force finally got the aircraft.

Lastly, how much of the machine is Indian? The government informed the Lok Sabha in November 2016 that the indigenous content of LCA Tejas is 59.7% by value and 75.5% by numbers. The government went for the current engine manufactured by General Electric after having spent Rs 2032.22 crore on the Kaveri Engine which eventually failed to give the required thrust.

Despite the fact that it took three decades, it is a matter of pride for the country that now the Made in India LCA has been deployed.
Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu met with his Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau on Friday on the sidelines of an informal Gymnich meeting of EU foreign ministers in Berlin, further to their telephone conversation two days ago, on the day of Rau's taking over the mandate of chief Polish diplomat.

The two ministers discussed concrete ways to deepen the Romanian-Polish Strategic Partnership, at all levels and on supporting the dynamics of security cooperation at the regional level, according to a Foreign Ministry (MAE) release sent to AGERPRES.

Thus, the two discussed the preparation of the next joint meeting of the two governments, scheduled to take place this year.

Minister Bogdan Aurescu and his Polish counterpart also discussed the prospects for the development of strategic interconnection projects under the Three Seas Initiative (I3M), emphasizing the importance of the proper use of the instrument represented by the I3M's Investment Fund. The two heads of diplomacy agreed on the added value that this platform has for strengthening the transatlantic link as a whole, but with a special impact for the region.
Today, August 29, is the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine who died in the struggle for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state.

It was established in support of public initiatives and with a view to worthily honoring the memory of service people and members of volunteer formations who died fighting for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, perpetuating their heroism, strengthening the patriotic spirit in society... in accordance with the presidential decree of August 23, 2019.

These August days of 2014 witnessed the climax of the Ilovaisk tragedy, when the Ukrainian armed units were surrounded as a result of the confrontation with the Russian troops.

The fighting for the important strategic object of Donbas, the town of Ilovaisk, lasted from mid-August. The Ukrainian servicemen almost managed to seize the city, but the Russian army intervened. Moscow did not plan to surrender the important strategic object, so it threw the regular army against the Ukrainians.

The battalions of the Ukraines Interior Ministry "Dnipro-1", "Myrotvorets", "Svityaz", "Kherson", "Ivano-Frankivsk", National Guards battalion Donbas and sector B forces were besieged as a result of invasion of regular units of the Russian Armed Forces and their march in the direction of Ilovaisk town. On August 28, the situation of our military became critical. The same day, President Petro Poroshenko accused Russia of the open armed invasion of Donbas.

According to the report of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry, the invasion of Russian troops of the territory of Ukraine took place during August 24-29, 2014 and the contingent included 3,500 servicemen, 60 tanks, 320 airborne armored infantry fighting vehicles (infantry fighting vehicles), 60 units of weaponry, 45 mortars, 5 anti-tank missile systems.

Meanwhile, on August 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin, pretending to be a peacemaker, suggested that the Russian-backed militants would open a humanitarian corridor for Ukrainian servicemen, which they could escape the siege through. In fact, Putin's "green corridor" became the road of death for Ukrainian troops as a lot of soldiers were killed in it.

The death toll varies even today. According to the official data, 366 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, 429 soldiers were wounded, 128 were taken captive and 158 soldiers more went missing during the Ilovaisk operation and the subsequent shooting in the so-called green corridor.
The best role Keanu Reeves ever had was Theodore (Ted) Logan in the movies Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure (1989) and Bill & Teds Bogus Journey (1991).

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The best role Keanu Reeves ever had was Theodore (Ted) Logan in the movies Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure (1989) and Bill & Teds Bogus Journey (1991).

Ted is a sunny, well-intended knucklehead from San Dimas, Calif., whose credo is: "Be excellent to each other." (Or: "Party on, dude.") The role just squared up with his innate appeal.

In a way, it was such a good fit for the Canadian Reeves, it may have undermined all his subsequent work to some degree or other. (I remember the 1995 Manitoba Theatre Centre audience attending Hamlet, starring Reeves, and chuckling at his delivery of the line "I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy." Because, of course, "most excellent" was a Ted Logan expression.)

VVS PICTURES Bill (Alex Winter, left) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are older, but not necessarily wiser in Bill and Ted Face the Music.

In any case, its mostly a pleasure to have Bill and Ted back, even if this decades-later sequel finds them in the deep throes of middle age.

If you remember the last films, it was foretold by a time traveller named Rufus (played by the late George Carlin) that Bill and Teds band Wyld Stallyns would inspire a Utopian society with their music seven centuries hence, assuming they could circumvent the plans of Teds dad to send him to military school.

Thus begat a time-travel escapade all intended to ensure Ted would pass a history exam.

But now, Bill and Teds own future is looking comparatively dim as they struggle to keep the band going, playing dismal gigs in empty lounges and Elks lodges. Their friendship remains so tight that they have to go to couples counselling with their spouses (youll recall they were medieval princesses snatched from the past), where it transpires the guys are more devoted to each other than their wives.

VVS Pictures Performing at weddings is a long way from saving the world.

Once again, Bill and Ted are visited by a mysterious figure from the future. Kelly (Kristen Schaal), the daughter of Rufus, reminds them they are still "supposed to unite the world with song." In the absence of such a tune, "reality will collapse and space and time will cease to exist."

So... no pressure.

Bill and Ted once again employ the old time-travel phone booth, but this time, their mission is to find older versions of themselves and steal the song they are going to write, only to discover future Bills and Teds are... jerks.

Fortunately Bill and Teds respective daughters Thea (Samara Weaving) and Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine) are a little more proactive (not to say smarter) and they also employ a time machine to track down a killer backup band for the ages. (Lundy-Paine does a lovely job of channelling Reevess voice and gangly physicality.)

VVS PICTURES From left, Thea (Samara Weaving) and Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine), confront their knucklehead fathers Ted (Keanu Reeves) and Bill (Alex Winter).

Alas, there is another killer robot on their tail. Before long, Death himself (William Sadler in Seventh Seal death drag) comes back in the picture when the going gets dire, and this time, hes not playing games.

Dean Parisot was a canny choice of director here, since he had some experience balancing dumb-fun comedy with conceptual kookery on Galaxy Quest. Screenwriters Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon wrote the first two films and theyve managed the trick of transitioning the two lovable stoner-types into the realm of middle age with a kind of goofy grace.

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Theyre still... out there. Dressed in tuxes for a wedding gig early in the film, they announce their intentions to perform their latest composition "That Which Binds Us Through Time: The Chemical, Physical and Biological Nature of Love: an Exploration of The Meaning of Meaning, Part 1."

Its a bit of a joke on how a beloved old band insists on adding new material to its set list. That dynamic is not in play in the film: It is very much of a piece with the previous Bill and Ted movies.

Sure, we may look sidelong on the arrested development of these dudes.

But the timing of the movie feels right. After all, we could all use a little Bill and Ted optimism in the face of catastrophe.

randall.king@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @FreepKing

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Brazil expanded its requirements Friday for rape victims seeking an abortion, including a rule that medical staff must tell the woman she can see the embryo or fetus via ultrasound.

The new regulations published by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's health ministry also stipulate that the rape "must be reported to police" regardless of the woman's wishes, that she must give doctors "a detailed account" of what happened, and that she must be "expressly warned" she can be prosecuted for fraud and aborting illegally if she is unable to prove her claim.

Brazil allows abortion only in cases of rape, danger to the woman's life or the severe birth defect anencephaly.

Even those exceptions are controversial among the religious right in Latin America's largest country, which has powerful conservative Catholic and Evangelical Christian communities.

The new rules issued by interim health minister Eduardo Pazuello, an active-duty army general, came on the heels of an outcry earlier this month over the case of a 10-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by her uncle and was refused an abortion in her home state, Espirito Santo.

She then flew across the country to the northeastern city of Recife, where she was able to undergo the procedure.

However, she was met outside the hospital by far-right activists and politicians who staged a furious protest.

Demonstrators were informed of the girl's identity and the hospital where she was to be admitted in a video posted online by far-right activist Sara Winter, a prominent Bolsonaro supporter with close ties to Women's Minister Damares Alves, an Evangelical pastor.

The new regulations from the health ministry, published in the official gazette, triggered immediate outcry from abortion rights supporters.

"I have just introduced a bill in Congress to block today's health ministry decree, which is an obstacle to legal abortion and constitutes psychological violence against women," leftist lawmaker and doctor Jandira Feghali wrote on Twitter.

Sixteen lawmakers in the lower house, including Feghali, wrote a letter to UN human-rights chief Michelle Bachelet urging her to intervene against the decree as a matter of protecting women's rights.
A handful of the people who didn't evacuate ahead of Hurricane Laura, having weathered Hurricane Rita in 2005, took their chances with the new monstrous hurricane that was hurtling toward the coast.

Todd Miller's shoes and socks were still wet as he shared his family's harrowing experience with AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell. He didn't have the chance to change them after the monstrous Hurricane Laura tore into his apartment and drenched his family during the early hours of that morning.

Like other residents of the Gulf Coast, the Miller family is no stranger to dangerous storms.

"Rita, Humberto, Ike, and then the no-name storms. And then we had the flooding of March 2016," Miller said, listing the storms he and his family had weathered over the years. They had also faced flooding from Hurricane Harvey while living in Deweyville, Texas -- a town situated near the Texas-Louisiana state line. "So, we decided to move over here closer to where I work at."

Todd Miller and his family rode out Hurricane Laura while sheltered in their home in Vinton, Louisiana. (AccuWeather/Bill Wadell)

Vinton, Louisiana, where the Miller family has called home for about a year and a half, sits around 20 miles to the west of Lake Charles. When the latter was slammed head-on by Laura, Vinton was close enough to also get caught up in the hurricane's rampage.

Before moving, people in Vinton who Miller knew had told him the town had recovered after Rita and Ike "in no time."

But Laura arrived with a vengeance. Miller told Wadell he and his family "had to hunker down." They flipped a couch, having their kids crawl inside into what Miller described as the "little cubby hole" under the piece of furniture. They then took a mattress, setting it on top of the opening to protect them from the wrath of the Category 4 hurricane.

"Just rode it out," Miller said. "Just keep watching the ceiling come apart. The bigger the hole got, the more of the storm we could see."

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"Just keep watching the ceiling come apart. The bigger the hole got, the more of the storm we could see," Vinton resident Todd Miller told Bill Wadell while recounting Hurricane Laura. (AccuWeather/Bill Wadell)

Laura had torn the roof from the rental home the Millers had moved to, and what insulation remained was clinging to the exposed wooden beams overhead. Part of the home's exterior had been stripped away as well, and large trees were downed in the road.

"I don't see this getting fixed anytime quick," Miller said.

Hurricane Laura tore the roof from the home the Miller family was renting. (AccuWeather/Bill Wadell)

Similar scenes are reflected across Cameron and Calcasieu parishes in the aftermath of Laura. Aerial footage of Holly Beach in Cameron Parish showed side-by-side comparisons of what the area looked like on Aug. 25 and after Laura made landfall on Aug. 27. Roofs had been stripped from homes, and debris littered partially drowned lawns and fields.

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Maxar Technologies captured satellite images of areas near Lake Charles and Cameron that were impacted by Laura, comparing them to images taken from before the hurricane had hit.

In a close-up of the Lake Charles Regional Airport, at least two buildings seem to be nearly entirely demolished, and the roofs peeled from other structures. Other photos of residential buildings show homes near Grand Lake High School pummeled with debris scattered across the fields.

In Sulfur, Louisiana, a city between Vinton and Lake Charles, a few residents shared their experience with Wadell and expressed that Laura was no Rita.

"This is probably worse than Rita," Sulfur resident Jerry Cole told Wadell, highlighting both the damage it had done, particularly to his property, and that it had sounded worse. Other survivors of the hurricane have likened the sound of Laura to the sound of a freight train.

Sulfur resident Jerry Cole recounts to AccuWeather Reporter Bill Wadell what he had seen while weathering Hurricane Laura, saying the hurricane was "worse than Rita." (AccuWeather/Bill Wadell)

Hurricane Rita, a major hurricane from the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, had made landfall in southwestern Louisiana as a Category 3 hurricane. Like Hurricane Katrina, which had struck New Orleans about a month before Rita, the storm had reached the strength of a Category 5 hurricane before weakening to a Category 3. However, despite the downgrade, Rita's storm surge inundated low-lying areas across the coast, adding insult to injury to the communities trying to rebuild from Katrina.

In Sulfur, the winds had torn into what the water hadn't destroyed. Destruction ranged from that of a wooden stake impaling the front windshield of a car, to a toppled and torn Motel 6 sign. Buildings had been gutted, their parts scattered and interiors drenched. Businesses were physically destroyed, the winds sent utility poles and trees crashing onto roads and even toppled a billboard into a family's home. The destructive power of nature had made itself known to the residents.

The fierce winds of Hurricane Laura sent a billboard crashing down into a family's home in Sulfur, Louisiana. (AccuWeather/Bill Wadell)

"I had to go fix a window over here, and when I did, it looked like I was in the middle of a vortex where water's going down the drain," Cole said. "It was pretty bad. Things were flying everywhere."

He had sheltered in his home when the hurricane hit, though stole a look out the window to see what he described "looked like a tornado coming down the middle" between two nearby houses.

The deafening storm pelted loose objects against his home, tore up his fence and uprooted a weeping willow.

"I had a pretty nice fig tree I've been taking care of for about 25 years," Cole added. "It's gone."

Other Sulfur residents like Chris Guidry and Tram Nguyen had each gone to a shelter before returning home, thinking the worst of the storm had passed, according to Wadell.

It hadn't, and Guidry ended up weathering the rest of the night at home as the storm ramped up.

Sulfur resident Chris Guidry tells AccuWeather Reporter Bill Wadell he went through Hurricane Rita in 2005. (AccuWeather/Bill Wadell)

"I went through Rita. I stayed here for Rita 15 years ago. This one was much more intense," Guidry told Wadell. However, despite the storm's strength, Guidry expressed he was fortunate. His home was seemingly undamaged, though with a few trees down.

For Nguyen, however, Laura was her first experience in a hurricane.

"I don't want to see it again," Nguyen told Wadell.

Hurricane Laura was Tram Nguyen's first experience in a hurricane, Nguyen told AccuWeather Reporter Bill Wadell.

Miller also hopes that this will be his family's last hurricane experience. Laura was the final straw for their life on the Gulf Coast, and he's now looking into a possible transfer with his job to New Mexico.

"I'm too old for this. I've had enough excitement in my life," Miller said. "I don't need to go through this no more. I want to retire one day."

Between rebuilding after a storm and moving around, he expressed he wouldn't be able to retire the way he wanted to, not to mention the fairness to his family.

"It's not fair to my children. It's not fair to my wife. It's not fair to myself," Miller said.

But until then, the community will start to rebuild.

"In southwest Louisiana, everybody's going to help everybody else," Guidry said. "We have a tight-knit community."

Reporting by Bill Wadell.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
The Nationals have agreed to sign former Red Sox utility man Brock Holt, according to a report from Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post. Holt was designated for assignment and subsequently released by the Brewers earlier in the week.

Washington is currently in Boston for a three-game series against the Red Sox but its unclear if Holt will be activated to face his former team. Holt kept his home in Massachusetts after departing the Red Sox, so it stands to reason he could join the Nationals while they are in town for the weekend.

Holt, who spent seven years with the Red Sox and helped the club win World Series championships in 2013 and 2018, departed via free agency over the winter, signing a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Brewers in February. His stay in Milwaukee didnt last long, as the 32-year-old hit just .100 (3-for-30 with nine strikeouts) in 16 games before he was let go.

Though Holt was a productive offensive player for the Red Sox in 2019 (.297/.369/.402 with three homers in 87 games), Boston didnt make an effort to re-sign him over the winter, instead opting to sign Jose Peraza as the primary second baseman and bring in Rule 5 pick Jonathan Arauz as a utility option. Peraza, Arauz, Michael Chavis and Tzu-Wei Lin -- who are all 26 years old or younger -- have all played versatile roles for the Red Sox this year, meaning the club wasnt a fit to bring back Holt once he was released by the Brewers.

Washington will be Holts fourth major-league team. Originally drafted by the Pirates in the ninth round of the 2009 draft, the Rice product has appeared in 24 games for Pittsburgh, 615 for Boston and 16 for Milwaukee.

Related links:

Brock Holt released: Former Boston Red Sox fan favorite now a free agent after being cut by Brewers

Former Boston Red Sox Brock Holt designated for assignment by Milwaukee Brewers

Boston Red Sox rumors: Brock Holt reunion seems unlikely after veteran cut by Brewers (report)

Brock Holt contract: Ex Boston-Red Sox gets $3.25 million on 1-year deal with Brewers (report)

Jonathan Arauz in mix for Boston Red Sox starting second base job after never playing above Double A before 2020; Hes so confident

Jonathan Arauz, Boston Red Soxs Rule 5 pick, collects first 3 major-league hits in loss: He continues to not act like hes out of A-ball
Why is the government so scared of directly negotiating drug prices?

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President Trump recently signed two executive orders directly related to prescription drug prices in the U.S.

One order would allow the reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada. This longstanding idea would allow U.S. pharmacies and drug wholesalers the ability to pay generally much lower prices for their prescription drugs by getting them from Canadian suppliers who benefit from government management of the system. Many consumers have been buying direct from Canadian pharmacies for years since current prohibitions have not been enforced against individuals.

The second order would direct Medicare to pay no more for prescription drugs than a basket of industrialized countries pay for the same drugs.

Both orders would take advantage of the fact that these nations directly negotiate the price their government-run health systems pay the drug companies.

Republicans have long opposed, and Democrats have long supported, the U.S. federal government directly negotiating drug prices with Big Pharma for programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Democrats generally point to the success in lowering costs that these nations have had in direct negotiation. Republicans have generally called this government price controls and worry that it would be one more step on a journey to single-payer government management of the system.

The challenge both sides see is in controlling the prices of drugs on the one hand but continuing to encourage the incredible innovation the pharmaceutical and biotech industry has historically delivered to the American patient.

What everyone can agree on is that it is only the U.S. that pays these high drug prices, and therefore pays for the bulk of the innovation, while the rest of the world free loads on the backs of American consumers, taxpayers, and employers who pay the health insurance bill.

The Trump administration has been talking about these ideas for years. Why sign these executive orders now?

While Trump has consistently underestimated the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, cases and deaths have risen to troubling levels. The voter segment most threatened by the impact of the disease are seniors.

As a result, Trump is in trouble with that group. According to the July 17th Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, Trump beat Hillary Clinton by seven points among seniors in 2016 but is now trailing Biden by one pointan eight-point swing.

Announcing a plan to let seniors cut their drug costs can only help him.

But why this plan?

He doesnt favor government-run health care solutions, but he does favor letting Americans access the drug prices achieved by single-payer government-run health systems the likes of Canada, Great Britain, France, and Germany?

I have never understood the Republican objection to the federal government negotiating drug prices with the pharmaceutical industry.

Why is the drug industry any different than any other technology industry the government buys from?

When it comes to world-class innovation, where is technology more important than in aerospace, for example?

Can you imagine our having bought the F-35 fighter without competitive bidding? Can you imagine NASA buying rockets and space capsules without competitive bidding? Yet, our aerospace technology has led the world for decades. The old astronaut joke in the 60s was about being sent up on top of a rocket built by the lowest bidder! And, they got to the moon in ten short years.

But, the drug industry is too good and too important to be subject to putting their drugs side by side with their competitors in a competition for who provides the most value for the price?

Many of these socialist countries utilize various forms of a drug bid process called reference-based pricing. Simply, drugs in the same class are put on a bid list, and the government health plan will pay for any of the drugs on the list up to the price of the best outcomes adjusted bidwhos got the best drug for the money. If the consumer wants a different drug, they can pay the difference.

That isnt socialismits the best of free market economics.

But Trump just cant bring himself to propose such a plan. He has to try to get the same result by piggybacking on the likes of the French and the Brits and their government-run systems by accessing their value-based competitive bidding through the back door.

At least he is better than most Congressional Republicans who every time they hear about putting drugs out to bid scream, Socialism!

With anything other than the Big Pharma, a no-bid acquisition would lead to a Republican Congressional investigation.

Robert Laszewski is president, Health Policy and Strategy Associates and blogs at Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Children with no COVID-19 symptoms may shed virus for weeks

WASHINGTON-(Aug. 28, 2020)- New research suggests that children can shed SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, even if they never develop symptoms or for long after symptoms have cleared. But many questions remain about the significance of the pediatric population as vectors for this sometimes deadly disease, according to an invited commentary by Children's National Hospital doctors that accompanies this new study published online Aug. 28, 2020 in JAMA Pediatrics. The commissioned editorial, written by Roberta L. DeBiasi, M.D., M.S., chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, and Meghan Delaney, D.O., M.P.H., chief of the Division of Pathology and Lab Medicine, provides important insight on the role children might play in the spread of COVID-19 as communities continue to develop public health strategies to reign in this disease.

The study that sparked this commentary focused on 91 pediatric patients followed at 22 hospitals throughout South Korea. "Unlike in the American health system, those who test positive for COVID-19 in South Korea stay at the hospital until they clear their infections even if they aren't symptomatic," explains Dr. DeBiasi.

The patients here were identified for testing through contact tracing or developing symptoms. About 22% never developed symptoms, 20% were initially asymptomatic but developed symptoms later, and 58% were symptomatic at their initial test. Over the course of the study, the hospitals where these children stayed continued to test them every three days on average, providing a picture of how long viral shedding continues over time.

The study's findings show that the duration of symptoms varied widely, from three days to nearly three weeks. There was also a significant spread in how long children continued to shed virus and could be potentially infectious. While the virus was detectable for an average of about two-and-a-half weeks in the entire group, a significant portion of the children -- about a fifth of the asymptomatic patients and about half of the symptomatic ones -- were still shedding virus at the three week mark.

Drs. DeBiasi and Delaney write in their commentary that the study makes several important points that add to the knowledge base about COVID-19 in children. One of these is the large number of asymptomatic patients -- about a fifth of the group followed in this study. Another is that children, a group widely thought to develop mostly mild disease that quickly passes, can retain symptoms for weeks. A third and important point, they say, is the duration of viral shedding. Even asymptomatic children continued to shed virus for a long time after initial testing, making them potential key vectors.

However, the commentary authors say, despite these important findings, the study raises several questions. One concerns the link between testing and transmission. A qualitative "positive" or "negative" on testing platforms may not necessarily reflect infectivity, with some positives reflecting bits of genetic material that may not be able to make someone sick or negatives reflecting low levels of virus that may still be infectious.

Testing reliability may be further limited by the testers themselves, with sampling along different portions of the respiratory tract or even by different staff members leading to different laboratory results. It's also unknown whether asymptomatic individuals are shedding different quantities of virus than those with symptoms, a drawback of the qualitative testing performed by most labs. Further, testing only for active virus instead of antibodies ignores the vast number of individuals who may have had and cleared an asymptomatic or mild infection, an important factor for understanding herd immunity.

Lastly, Drs. DeBiasi and Delaney point out, the study only tested for viral shedding from the respiratory tract even though multiple studies have detected the virus in other bodily fluids, including stool. It's unknown what role these other sources might play in the spread of this disease.

Drs. DeBiasi and Delaney note that each of these findings and additional questions could affect public health efforts continually being developed and refined to bring COVID-19 under control in the U.S. and around the world. Children's National has added their own research to these efforts, with ongoing studies to assess how SARS-CoV-2 infections proceed in children, including how antibodies develop both at the individual and population level.

"Each of these pieces of information that we, our collaborators and other scientists around the world are working to gather," says Dr. DeBiasi, "is critical for developing policies that will slow the rate of viral transmission in our community."

###

Media contact: Beth Riggs | briggs@childrensnational.org | 301-233-4038

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 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 & 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.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
She has been hunkering down in Los Angeles with her beau Norman Reedus, 51, and their one-year-old daughter amid COVID-19.

And Diane Kruger was joined by her little one on Friday afternoon as she hit up the Farmers Market at the Grove in Los Angeles.

The 44-year-old German actress looked effortlessly cool for her outing in a black tee that featured a hissing cat graphic.

Mommy-daughter day: And Diane Kruger was joined by her little one on Friday afternoon as she hit up the Farmers Market at the Grove in Los Angeles

She paired the edgy oversized shirt with a pair of black short shorts and some metallic sandals.

Diane's bright blonde hair was tied back into a messy bun and she appeared to be wearing little to no makeup.

With the sun blazing, the National Treasure star made sure to protect her eyes with a pair of trendy shades.

She trekked through the shopping center parking lot with a Christian Dior satchel strewn across her body and her baby girl in a collapsable stroller.

Cool cat: The 44-year-old German actress looked effortlessly cool for her outing in a black tee that featured a hissing cat graphic

Sweetie: As Diane popped her trunk and attempted to unload the stroller from her car, her little girl stood nearby with her arms stretched out for a hug

First born: Diane welcomed her daughter in November of 2018 with Walking Dead star Norman Reedus; Norman and daughter pictured on Instagram on August 26

Since entering quarantine, Kruger has been using her Instagram like a virtual day-to-day diary.

On Friday, the blonde beauty stunned her nearly 1million followers when she posted a gorgeous full body snapshot to her Instagram Story.

Diane posed with her back to the camera and put her taut derriere on display in a red one piece swimsuit as she stood up on her tip toes with her hands in the air.

Day in the life: Since entering quarantine, Kruger has been using her Instagram like a virtual day-to-day diary; Diane pictured on Instagram on August 27

Yogi: On Friday, the blonde beauty stunned her nearly 1million followers when she posted a gorgeous full body snapshot to her Instagram Story

The Inglourious Basterds actress welcomed her daughter in November of 2018 with Walking Dead star Norman Reedus.

Though this is Diane's first and only child, Norman happens to have a 20-year-old son named Mingus Lucien with his supermodel ex Helena Christensen, 51.

Diane and Norman first met on the set of their drama film Sky in 2015, but they did not officially begin dating until late 2016.

In July of 2016, she ended her 10-year relationship with fellow actor Joshua Jackson, 42, who recently welcomed his first child, a daughter, with wife Jodie Turner-Smith, 33.
Budapest, Aug 29 : The Hungarian government has decided to reintroduce border controls that were in force during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, an official said.

Gergely Gulyas, head of the Prime Minister's Office, told reporters on Friday that "from September 1, foreign citizens will be barred from entering Hungary, with a few exceptions", reports Xinhua news agency.

"Hungarian citizens returning from abroad must be quarantined for 14 days or have to present two negative (COVID-19) tests taken two days apart," he added.

The measures are designed to ward off infections from abroad, Gulyas said, adding that the government would also tighten the diplomatic exceptions.

The detailed rules will be decided by an Operational Staff meeting on Saturday.

The measures are expected to remain in force for at least one month.

According to official figures, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Hungary stood at 5,511, with 3,759 recoveries and 614 fatalities.
She has treated her followers to a plethora of sizzling snaps during her sun-soaked break to Mykonos following her staggering three-stone weight loss.

And Gemma Collins was at it once again as she struck a sultry pose for a snapshot uploaded to Instagram on Saturday.

The reality star, 39, flaunted her physique in a flowing midi dress which boasted long sleeves and a striking leopard-print pattern.

Sizzling: Gemma Collins flaunted her physique in a flowing midi dress as she struck a sultry pose for a snapshot uploaded to Instagram on Saturday

She finished the look with high-heels with gold studded detailing and a pair of statement sunglasses.

Gemma styled her signature bleach blonde locks in loose curls before posing up a storm in front of the camera.

The TV personality uploaded the photo alongside a caption that read: 'She turned her cants into cans and dreams into plans. Big things coming with @inthestyle!

'Whilst I've been in Greece I've been shooting something exciting that I've been working on for months... can't wait to show you more.'

Exciting: The TV personality uploaded the photo alongside a caption that read 'She turned her cants into cans and dreams into plans. Big things coming with @inthestyle!'

It comes amid reports that Gemma is set to cash in with a mega bucks deal with fashion brand In The Style.

The deal follows the huge success of here meme collection with the retailer, with big names including Little Mix's Jade Thirwall seen wearing clothes from the range.

The blonde apparently raked in 100,000 in just one day earlier this year through sales of her new sweatshirt after Jade was spotted wearing one.

In The Style reportedly flew the TOWIE favourite to the Greek island to get snaps of her latest clothing range.

Big fan: The In The Style deal follows the huge success of here meme collection with the retailer, with big names including Little Mix's Jade Thirwall seen wearing clothes from the range

Meme Queen: The blonde apparently raked in 100,000 in just one day earlier this year through sales of her new sweatshirt after Jade was spotted wearing one

A source told The Mirror: 'Gemma's made a mint for In The Style  her meme range was a sell out and stars like Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall have been seen in her designs.'

They continued: 'They were desperate to get Gemma on board for a whole collection and she signed on the dotted line without hesitation.

'Gemma is so into her fashion and she loves the team at ITS so it was a no-brainer. Gemma flew out to Greece at the start of this week to model her debut line.'

MailOnline have contacted a representative of Gemma for comment.

Meanwhile on Thursday, the self-professed diva took to Instagram once again to show off her slimmed-down figure in a rainbow coloured swimsuit with matching sarong and turban.

The former TOWIE star struck a sultry pose as she gazed into the camera while standing in front of a stunning seascape for the breathtaking snap.

Wow! Gemma Collins, 39, took to the photo-sharing site on Thursday, to show off her slimmed-down figure in a rainbow coloured swimsuit with matching sarong and turban

Yes girl! The former TOWIE star captioned her snap with positive affirmations

Gemma looked incredible in the eye-catching ensemble, with the sarong drawing attention to her hourglass frame.

Showing her stylish side in all its glory, The GC wore a coordinating turban atop her head, while styling her platinum locks into Mermaid waves.

The reality star enhanced her beauty with a full face of make-up and accessorised with large gold hoop earrings.

Gemma captioned her snap with positive affirmations, which read: 'I LOVE MYSELF. repeat repeat repeat. I LOVE MYSELF SO MUCH. I AM BEAUTIFUL. repeat repeat repeat. try it everyone and watch the GLOW UP.'

Confident: On Tuesday, Gemma looked care-free as she posed up a storm on Instagram in a stylish swimwear combo from her getaway

She opted for a bright pink designer Fendi swimsuit and a matching hair wrap for her trip.

Posting a fun video of herself, Gemma exuded confidence as she posed up a storm and proudly showed off her swimwear.

The reality star wore her blonde tresses loose round her shoulders and looked glowing with a natural make-up look.

Gemma also took to her Stories to show her boarding a plane to get to her sun-soaked luxury location where she was staying in a huge villa with an infinity pool.

Glowing: The former TOWIE star opted for a bright pink designer Fendi swimsuit and a matching hair wrap for her trip

Sun-kissed: She has jetted off to a mystery sun-soaked location after denying she had found love with millionaire businessman Nadir Gul

Clearly happy to escape the stormy British weather, she captioned the sizzling post: 'Sending KISSES. GC my VITAMIN D TOUR continues!'

Although not clarifying where she had jetted off too, she played Greek music in one of her Instagram stories as she showed off her incredible villa.

Gemma's holiday comes after she insisted she's single following reports that she had found love with Nadir Gul.

She insisted she's 'just friends' with the millionaire businessman, as Nadir also denied the romance claims, pointing out that he's been in a relationship with someone else for 10 years.

Gemma took to her Instagram stories earlier last week to set the record straight, telling fans that the only person she's in love with is herself, one month after her explosive split from Arg.

Lovely: Posting a fun video of herself, Gemma exuded confidence as she posed up a storm and proudly showed off her swimwear

Getaway: Gemma also took to her Stories to show her boarding a plane to get to her sun-soaked luxury location where she was staying in a huge villa with an infinity pool

Speaking to camera while having fun with friends and family, Gemma added: 'Happy Sunday... and the only person I'm in love with right now is myself.'

Earlier in the day, Nadir took to social media to state that the stories about him and Gemma are 'crazy false' and that he's been with someone else for 10 years.

He wrote: 'Just woke up and seen all these crazy false stories. Gemma Collins and her family have been very loyal customers and friends of Shish meze and myself for many years.

'But please show some respect as I am a family man and had a partner for over 10 year.'

Not a thing! Gemma's holiday comes after she insisted she's single following reports that she had found love with Nadir Gul

Nadir also posted a picture of himself with his longtime love spending time together in Turkey.

Gemma and Nadir have allegedly known each other for years during their time in Essex, and the GC has often found herself eating at his restaurants.

Last month, Gemma announced her split from Arg by posting break up texts on her Instagram account in which James called her a 'hippo'.

In the texts, the musician also called his partner a 'fat f**k', after she suggested that he had bought another woman dinner and not her.

The series of texts began with Gemma saying: 'What man pays for another woman!!!', while Arg responded by saying: 'Insensitive.'

Over: Last month, Gemma announced her split by posting break up texts on her Instagram account in which James called her a 'hippo' and a 'fat f**k' (pictured in 2018)

Gemma later apologised for releasing explosive text messages he had sent her, while friends have urged James to 'sort his life out'.

In a screenshot obtained by MailOnline, the Diva On Lockdown star contacted her fellow reality star in the early hours of the morning.

She wrote: 'I am sorry about putting the messages up, I was just so hurt you suggested an open relationship, it didn't look like a joke when you typed it.

'I was so upset but I shouldn't have put the messages up, that was anger on my part which was wrong. I am so sorry about that x.' (sic)
Fresh from accepting the Republican nomination, US President Donald Trump had harsh words for anti-racism protesters on Friday during a campaign stop in the politically important state of New Hampshire.

Addressing a crowd in an airport hangar, Trump called the demonstrators who sought to disrupt his White House speech on Thursday night thugs and said Senator Rand Paul could have died when he was swarmed by protesters afterwards.

Paul said on Friday he was attacked by an angry mob of more than 100 people near the White House and had to be rescued by the police.

Hed either be in very bad shape, or dead, and that would include his wife, if those policemen didnt happen to be there, Trump said of the Republican senator.

The president has emphasized a law and order theme to motivate his political base and attract more voters as he trails former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, in national polls ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Also read| He doesnt understand presidency: Biden, Harris hit back at Trump

You know what I say? Protesters, your ass. I dont talk about my ass, he said. Theyre not protesters. Those arent protesters. Those are anarchists, theyre agitators, theyre rioters, theyre looters.

Trump has been criticized for not showing empathy in the wake of shootings and killings of Black men by police, including George Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis in May, sparking anti-racism demonstrations worldwide.

New protests erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin, this week after police officers shot Jacob Blake, another African-American man, multiple times in front of his children. He survived.

Thousands of people took part in a march in Washington on Friday to denounce racism.

Trump has not commented extensively about Blake, but he spoke extensively about protesters on Friday without specifying which demonstration he was talking about.

Theyre just looking for trouble. This has nothing to do with George Floyd, has nothing to do with anything. They dont even know who George Floyd is, he said.

Also read: He acted in self-defense, says Kenosha protest gunmans attorney

Biden and his running mate, vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris, said Trump was making America less safe with his rhetoric and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The President incites violence, inspires white-supremacist shooters, and his failed Covid response is costing thousands of lives per day. When you look at the world right now, ask yourself: Do you feel safe in Trumps America? Biden tweeted.

He (Trump) has been obsessed, I think, with spreading fear and using division to protect his own ego, and more fundamentally to erode the foundations of the democracy that he swore to defend, Harris said at a fundraiser on Friday.

CLOSE NEW HAMPSHIRE RACE

Trump, whose speech to the Republican National Convention was low key compared to his rally appearances, seemed to find his footing in New Hampshire, a state he lost narrowly to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 and where he is trailing Biden this year.

He went over some of his favourite themes, including his insistence that Mexico would pay for a wall along the US border and that Democrats would try to slash funding for law enforcement.

Biden has rejected calls from the left to defund the police, but Trump has erroneously suggested that is a policy Biden would embrace.

Trump, who has criticized Biden for campaigning mostly from his Delaware home because of the pandemic, intends to travel extensively in the coming months to boost his momentum.

He has not been able to hold his signature large rallies for most of the virus outbreak. A June rally at an indoor arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma, attracted a crowd that was well below capacity. The area experienced an uptick in coronavirus cases for weeks after the event.

Trump had to cancel a July rally in New Hampshire over concerns about a tropical storm off the East Coast.

Biden expects his in-person campaign travel to pick up after Labor Day on Sept. 7, telling lawyers at an online fundraising event on Thursday he was considering traveling to battleground states including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Arizona.

Were going to get out and meet people where it matters, not at irresponsible rallies or staged for TV to boost egos, but real peoples communities, in real local businesses, in their lives, Biden said. Im going to keep everyone safe.

Some 21.6 million Americans watched Trumps keynote speech on Thursday night, according to preliminary ratings data on Friday that suggested a lower TV audience for Trump than Biden. Trump, a former reality television star, cares deeply about ratings.
Martin Luther King III spoke on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, where his father famously laid out a vision for harmony between white and black people 57 years ago with his I have a dream speech.

On Friday, Mr King told thousands of people who had gathered to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom: We must never forget the American nightmare of racist violence exemplified when Emmett Till was murdered on this day in 1955, and the criminal justice system failed to convict his killers.

Sixty-five years later (after 14-year-old Tills murder in Mississippi), we still struggle for justice  demilitarising the police, dismantling mass incarceration, and declaring as determinately as we can that black lives matter.

Even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, many felt compelled to join civil rights advocates in Washington to highlight police and vigilante violence.

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They gathered after a white police officer shot 29-year-old black man Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Sunday, leaving him paralysed. This event sparked demonstrations and violence that left two people dead.

As peaceful protests turned to arson and theft, naysayers of the Black Lives Matter movement issued calls for law and order.

The Rev Al Sharpton, whose civil rights organisation, the National Action Network, planned Fridays commemoration, told critics: Some say to me: Rev Al, yall ought to denounce those that get violent, those that are looting.

All of the families (of victims of police and vigilante violence) have denounced looting. What we havent heard is you denounce shooting.

Mr Sharpton asked: We will speak against the looting, but when will you speak against wrong police shooting?

Mr Sharpton and Mr King stood with relatives of an ever-expanding roll call of victims: Mr Blake, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner, among others.

Mr Arbery and Mr Martin both were killed by men who pursued them with guns and whose arrests were delayed until residents protested.

There are two systems of justice in the United States, said Jacob Blake Sr, the father of the man whose shooting by police in Kenosha left him paralysed from the waist down.

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Theres a white system and a black system  the black system aint doing so well.

And he proclaimed: No justice, no peace!

Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, stared out at the massive march audience and said he wished his brother had been there to see it.

Fridays march shaped up to be the largest political gathering in Washington since the pandemic began.

Many attendees wore T-shirts of the late representative John Lewis who, until his death last month, was the last living speaker at the original March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

That march went on to become one of the most famous political rallies in American history, and one of the largest gatherings, with more than 200,000 people in attendance.

Organisers said they intended to show the urgency for federal policing reforms, to decry racial violence, and to demand voting rights protections ahead of the November general election. A handful of satellite marches were held in South Carolina, Florida, Nevada, Utah and Colorado.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, in a video, said the original rallys conveners would be disappointed that black Americans are still marching for justice and equality under the law.

She said: I have to believe that if they were with us today, they would share in our anger and frustration as we continue to see Black men and women slain in our streets, and left behind in our economy and justice system that has too often denied Black folks our dignity and rights.

America is at an inflection point.



The calls for racial justice that sparked the March on Washington 57 years ago are ringing out again today.



As we honor the legacy of that day  let's meet this moment with the urgency and action that our heroes marched for half a century ago. pic.twitter.com/Bs0SccjnxN  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 28, 2020

Former US vice president and current Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden tweeted his support for the march.

Although President Donald Trump did not comment on the march, the Republican National Committee marked the events anniversary by highlighting the presidents record as a champion for the Black community.

Organisers of the event took temperatures as part of coronavirus protocols. They also reminded attendees to practice social distancing and wear masks throughout, although distancing was hardly maintained as the gathering grew in size.
Munkey Diaries 1957-1982

Jane Birkin

W&N 20

Rating:

When Jane Birkin was born, at the end of 1946, her mother wanted to call her Georgiana, after the famous duchess, but her father thought it sounded a bit snobbish. Why not Jane, like the sexy strip cartoon in the Mirror? he suggested.

It clearly had an effect. By the late 1960s, Birkin had become what used to be called a sex symbol, particularly in France, where she lived. Jane Birkin was the Parisians ideal of the sweet, toothy, naughty English girl, wrote the journalist Ray Connolly, who interviewed her at the time, and she made a succession of French movies in which, like the cartoon character Jane, she inevitably lost her clothes.

Jane Birkin in 1969. Jane Birkin was the Parisians ideal of the sweet, toothy, naughty English girl, wrote the journalist Ray Connolly

Now in her 70s, she has decided to publish her diaries, which she kept, on and off, from the age of 11. They are called Munkey Diaries because she used to address them (Dear Munkey...) to her favourite toy, a monkey her uncle had won in a tombola. He slept by my side, sharing the sadness of boarding school, hospital beds and my life with John, Serge and Jacques, she writes in the preface.

John is her first husband, the film composer John Barry (Born Free, Goldfinger, etc), whom she married when she was only 18 and divorced barely three years later, with little love lost. Serge is Serge Gainsbourg, the dishevelled French superstar, who was her boyfriend throughout the 1970s, and with whom she recorded the scandalous Je TAime... Moi Non Plus, and Jacques is Jacques Doillon, the film director for whom she left Gainsbourg in 1980.

Birkin has led an extraordinarily glamorous life, meeting everyone from Bette Davis and Brigitte Bardot to Bertrand Russell and Graham Greene, but her diaries, clearly never intended for publication, more often than not jettison descriptions of film sets and parties in favour of more personal reflections, often in moments of angst. The reader will be surprised, as I was, to see how little I talk about my professional life. I hardly mention the films, the plays  not even the songs. When people die, I talk about it months later  the happy times I was too busy living.

She has mislaid some of her diaries  for example, the whole of 1969, which was the pivotal year in her life, when she recorded Je TAime and became a sex symbol. At such times she provides frank commentaries to fill in the gaps. For instance, when it comes to 1969, she relates how Je TAime was banned by the Pope and the BBC, affronted by its heavy breathing, and consequently climbed to No 1 in the charts. Last year, The Guardian elected Je TAime... Moi Non Plus as the sexiest song in the world, she says, adding, When I played it to my parents I lifted the needle every time I started to breathe and, as they didnt understand the text, they thought the melody was very sweet. My brother arrived and put on the whole song. My parents were stoic. My father defended me in front of all his friends, and my mother continued to say that it was the prettiest tune in the world.

From the start, her tone is engaging and endearing and full of insecurities. Aged 12 at boarding school, she mentions that she has been crying in chapel. I have done everything wrong, I have approached everything in the wrong way.

Like many a schoolgirl, she undergoes extreme swings, from boredom to high jinks to misery, with frequent bouts of self-doubt. One Monday, she makes her friend Sylvia an apple-pie bed. A few days later, she notes, I have been crying again, I am a horrid cry-baby. The next day, she wonders, Am I really alive? Is this all a dream?... Susans dream? Or perhaps Gods? On the Saturday, Diana is being beastly, and the following Wednesday is, Dull dull, very dull. Ten days later, Linda was wearing lipstick and powder tonight. I tried to lick a red Smartie to make it look like lipstick but it was no good.

I love all this sort of thing. Others may find entries like, I came second in the potato race ... Mrs Sanderson has given me two disobedience marks a touch pedestrian, but to me they are wonderfully funny and poignant. Aged 14, she is teased by her fellow schoolgirls for being flat-chested. Youre a boy not a girl, they say. To remedy this she tries chanting, I must I must improve my bust, but all to no avail.

Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg in 1972. Now in her 70s, Birkin has decided to publish her diaries, which she kept, on and off, from the age of 11

Nonetheless, there are soon signs that she is becoming increasingly attractive to the opposite sex, particularly after she wears a pink checked bikini on the Isle of Wight, trying my hardest to look alluring, like a mermaid. Accordingly, a boy called John tells her that cider is non-alcoholic and keeps trying to fill her glass. Soon she is being courted by a number of boys, but her heart belongs to Cliff. Cliff Richard to me is perfect ... I would marry him like a shot if he asked me, but he wouldnt.

If only fate had taken a different turn, we might have been able to enjoy Jane duetting with Cliff on Je TAime. Or perhaps, life being what it is, we would have been condemned to Cliff and Janes rendition of Mistletoe And Wine.

IT'S A FACT Serge Gainsbourg first recorded Je TAime... Moi Non Plus in 1967 with his lover, Brigitte Bardot, but she begged him not to release it in case it harmed her career. Advertisement

Aged 16, still unknown, she is chased down the streets of Paris by paparazzi, who are convinced she is the pin-up star Francoise Hardy (I suppose I do look a bit like her). Aged 17, she gains a West End role as a deaf-and-dumb girl who, after being seduced by a doctor, is squashed by a bus and left for dead. Soon she is wearing tight jeans and frequenting trendy nightclubs. In the Ad Lib Club she meets John Barry, a 30-year-old who drives an E-Type Jaguar. Hes much older than me, she notes in her diary, which is wonderful. He asks her to marry him. Her parents try to stop it, but they go ahead with it.

Within a matter of months the marriage is coming apart. I suddenly have energy, and he hasnt, poor thing, and he tells me to be quiet, and then I cry and I am stupid. Soon he has lost interest. Im 19 and I feel old. One bit of love-making, just one, can make me so happy, but he hasnt the time.

But there are plenty of other men who find her gorgeous. At a party, Warren Beatty says he likes her, and then he rings her to tell her that Charlie Chaplin likes her too. The director Michelangelo Antonioni asks her to appear naked in his film Blow-Up, and she says yes.

In 1968 she auditions for Serge Gainsbourg, who she thinks is cold, distant, but not exactly hostile. But later, on the dance floor, she realises he is only shy. Brigitte Bardot has just left him, and he still wears her wedding ring, but he takes it off for Jane.

In their bathroom in Saint Tropez, Janes mother spots JE TAIME JE TAIME JE TAIME SERGE written in steam on the bathroom mirror. Very soon  almost immediately  she and Serge become an item. Their lifestyle is almost impossibly risque and glamorous, taking in Venice, Paris, Kathmandu and Cannes. By 1970, Were the couple of the year. By now, directors are queuing to offer Jane roles in their films, though these parts tend to be much of a muchness. One such film is called Nineteen Girls And A Sailor. Serge, of course, was the sailor, and I was one of the nurses who, on going for a swim naked in a lake, attracted the attention of all the Nazis, which allowed Serge to rush round the back of them with a machine gun and kill them all.

They record any number of sexy songs together. In 1973 a magazine praises her small breasts for their sexiness, which is one in the eye for her old tormentors at school. It made my day! How lovely, now no more complexes  much!

Her relationship with Serge is passionate and tempestuous, though their rows are not only fuelled by sexual jealousy. One day, Serge upbraids her for her messy room, yet He is the one whos filthy. No bath in four months at least and filthy black feet.

By 1980, Jane has grown up, and Serge finds it hard to deal with. Im not the same. I refuse his powerful love, his orders, his superiority. She falls in love with Jacques, a boy who I could talk to. But it is clear that Serge will always have a place in her heart, because though hes such an egoist, such a silly jealous thing, such a dominating character, hes also funny, with his naughty face, his wicked drinking, his sweet charm.

Serge Gainsbourg died in 1991. Jane placed her beloved toy Munkey beside him in his coffin, where he lay like a pharaoh. My monkey was there to protect him in the afterlife.
With over six months left for West Bengal elections, heightened activity by the Central probe agencies since Monday has prompted the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) to allege political vendetta by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

On August 24, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sent notices to five TMC leaders in connection with the 2014 Narada News sting operation, the videos of which were made public before the 2016 Bengal assembly polls, seeking details of their family property. The videos purportedly showed high-profile TMC leaders receiving money to help a fictitious company.

On August 26 and 27, the Kolkata office of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the Narada case as well as the Saradha, Rose Valley and MPS Group Ponzi fund scams involving thousands of crores of rupees, revamped its economic offence wing. Two officers of the rank of superintendent of police flew down from Delhi to join duty, a CBI officer said on condition of anonymity.

On August 28, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) questioned Chhatradhar Mahato, the tribal leader from Jhargram district who headed the Peoples Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), an alleged Maoists-backed outfit launched during the Left government, in connection with the 11-year-old case of hijacking of the Bhubaneswar-Delhi Rajdhani Express.

Also read: Bengal government requests railway board to resume local train, metro services

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee inducted Mahato into her partys state committee in July. The Bengal government released him in February after his life term was commuted by the Calcutta high court.

The back-to-back developments have not gone down well with the TMC leadership. In all her public statements this week, including virtual meeting with the chief ministers of opposition ruled states, Banerjee alleged that the BJP is using Central agencies to crush the opposition.

The chief minister cannot blame the BJP for everything. It is the judiciary that asked Central agencies to probe the Narada and Ponzi fund cases. On the other hand, it is the state government that is using the state police to file criminal cases against BJP leaders. This exposes the difference in mindsets, said Bengal BJP vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar.

Saugata Roy, one of the TMC MPs, who received ED notice on August 24, said, The ED served me a notice after several years. There are clear indications of a political vendetta.

Other TMC leaders to have received ED notices are Kakali Ghosh Dastidar, former Lok Sabha member Aparupa Poddar, minister Suvendu Adhikari, and TMC leader Ratna Chatterjee.

Chhatradhar Mahato who was grilled at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in West Midnapore district on Friday, said, I am a target because I represent the tribal community. The NIA said I will be grilled again.

The Central agency probes in these cases are going on.

In the Narada case, the CBI filed the FIR in March 2017, acting on a Calcutta high court order that was upheld by the Supreme Court. The CBI also registered an FIR against then TMC Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Roy, who later joined the BJP and became the opposition partys election strategist in Bengal. The trial in this case has not started yet.

CBI officials said the agency is also trying to wrap up the probe in the Saradha Ponzi fund case involving an estimated Rs 2,460 crore that was raised from around 1.8 million depositors from West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. Sudipta Sen, who owned the group, is in jail.

Some TMC leaders named in the Saradha case files have tried to come clean.

In 2019, Satabdi Roy, TMCs three-time Lok Sabha member from Birbhum, returned to the ED a sum of Rs 30.64 lakh that she received from the Saradha group for being its brand ambassador, four years after actor Mithun Chakraborty, a former TMC Rajya Sabha member, returned Rs 1.16 crore to the ED. TMCs former Rajya Sabha member Kunal Ghosh spent over two years in jail custody in the case.

The Rose Valley scam, estimated at Rs 17,000 core, is, however, the biggest Ponzi scam in Bengal in terms of money involved. In 2014, the Supreme Court asked the CBI to investigate the scams and the role of influentials in money laundering. The ED is running a parallel probe.

The Calcutta high court, which is overseeing the probes into the Ponzi scams as well as refund of money to investors, around 200 of whom have died by suicide, has taken a strong stand, said lawyer Arimdam Das who represents the cheated investors of Saradha, Rose Valley and MPS groups.

On August 26, while hearing a bail petition filed by MPS Group owner Pramathanath Manna, who is in jail custody for six years, the division bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Suvra Ghosh expressed displeasure and asked the CBI why the trial has not started yet, he said.

Additional solicitor general YJ Dastoor, who is representing the CBI, informed the court that Manna had been delaying the trial by filing multiple cases.

The elections to 294-member West Bengal assembly is scheduled for May 2021, in which BJP is expected to be the main challenger to TMC, which has been ruling the state for the past 10 years. In 2016 assembly polls, the TMC has romped home with 211 seats while the BJP could secure only six. The Left parties got 32 seats and the Congress 44.
According to court records, investigators had been told that Vazquez might be at an apartment at 3255 Vine St., where his family lives.

Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner said members of the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force, the departments gang unit and the criminal division had received information that Vazquez  who was wanted in connection with Edward Varejckas stabbing death in March  was there.

When officers went there Wednesday morning, he was locked in a bedroom.

At a Thursday afternoon press conference, Wagner said officers had been negotiating with Vazquez for nearly half an hour when Vazquez and Ross broke the front window and jumped out. Wagner said Vazquez fired three rounds at Herrera.

The evidence indicates as those two were fleeing the residence, Vazquez fired a semi-automatic pistol at LPD officers who were stationed outside the residence, striking Investigator Herrera, Wagner said.

He said Lincoln police investigator Cole Jennings returned fire, shooting four rounds.

Then the officer down call over the police scanner came just after noon. Rescue workers rushed Herrera to Bryan Medical Centers west campus.
Approximately 40 percent of terrestrial ecosystems are projected to have experienced shifts in temperature during the past 21,000 years that are similar in pace and magnitude to regional-scale future forecasts.

An international team of scientists led by researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Adelaide, has identified and examined past warming events similar to those anticipated in the coming decades, to better understand how species and ecosystems will cope.

Studying locations in regions such as the Arctic, Eurasia, the Amazon and New Zealand can yield knowledge of how climate has changed and how this has impacted plants and animals. Using advanced new methods, including the use of DNA to map biodiversity and precise methods for dating climate change, we have taken advantage of opportunities to find precise causalities. The past climate changes are similar to those that we expect in coming decades." Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, Professor, University of Copenhagen

By mapping the prevalence of species using combined fossil data archives, researchers were able to see how individual plant and animal species -- and entire ecosystems -- have responded to historical temperature increases:

"During large climate shifts of the past, such as the warming from the last ice age to our current interglacial period 11-18,000 years ago, Arctic temperatures have increased by more than 10 degrees Celsius. This is a warming of the same magnitude as the UN predicts can occur in the future, as is described in IPCC reports and forecasts," says Professor Dorthe Dahl-Jensen.

Researchers observed that some species, such as antelope, were able to migrate northward, while others, including the Arctic fox, became extinct in areas of what is now Russia.

This knowledge can be used to predict how plants and animals will respond to future climate changes. During the last interglacial period -- the Eemian Interglacial Stage, from 115-128,000 years ago -- it was warmer, particularly in Arctic regions.

During this time, the central Siberian tundra shifted 200 km northwards, hippos roamed England and giant turtles crawled lazily about the US Midwest.

More accurate forecasts, based upon the past

The new knowledge compiled by researchers can be used to develop more accurate forecasts concerning which plant and animal species are being threatened with extinction.

This in turn can allow for quicker intervention through international conservation measures. The knowledge also makes it possible to map robust ecosystems, which are less sensitive to climate change.

"We have gained access to completely new knowledge about how ecosystems, plants and animals have responded to temperature increases similar to those that we are confronted with today and will be in the future. We can use this knowledge to be at the forefront of protecting and conserving biodiversity. It provides knowledge for us to protect the species that remain," says Associate Professor Anders Svensson of the University of Copenhagen's Niels Bohr Institute.

"Conservation biologists are taking full advantage of the long-term history of the planet as recorded in paleo-archives, such as those gathered by the team, to understand biological responses to abrupt climate changes of the past, quantify trends, and develop scenarios of future biodiversity loss from climate change," says the study's main author, Damien Fordham, of the University of Adelaide and the University of Copenhagen's Globe Institute.

Research into the past demonstrates that many ecosystems are able to adapt to sudden climate change, even when migration is not an option. Thus, it is important to acquire more knowledge and ensure healthy interaction between the planners of future ecosystems and this historical knowledge.

Historical archives also demonstrate that other factors, such as the impact of humans and the establishment of cities, the clearing of forests and changes to ecosystems, also have had a very significant impact on species extinction. Results just published in the journal Science.

The research article illustrates how interdisciplinary research among climate and biodiversity researchers, and the deployment of new methods, better dating and climate models can be used to generate knowledge that will advance our ability to create and preserve ecosystems.
OTTAWAErin OToole and Conservative operator Fred DeLorey huddled over a beer in the corner of the Christmas party as well-connected Tories mixed and mingled around them.

Dec. 12 had been quite a day.

Less than two months after the Conservatives disappointing election loss, an embattled Andrew Scheer had shocked Ottawa by announcing hed step down as the partys leader.

It was a topic of much conversation at that party in Toronto, hosted by TD Bank vice-president and longtime conservative James Dodds.

Premier Doug Ford stopped by with seasons greetings, as did Ontario cabinet ministers like Rod Phillips, Todd Smith and Lisa Thompson. Also in attendance: Walied Soliman, Tausha Michaud, Melanie Paradis and Jim Burnett  the core of what would become OTooles leadership campaign.

After huddling with DeLorey for about an hour, OToole made the biggest decision of his political career: hed once again seek the Conservative leadership.

In the days after OTooles come-from-behind victory, the Star spoke with senior Conservative sources, including some who worked on his campaign. Most would agree to speak only on condition of anonymity  not anxious to publicly relitigate what one called the civil war the party has just been through.

What emerged was a picture of how OToole and his team secured the leadership, and some of the challenges theyll face in replicating that success in the next general election, whenever it comes.

Listen to national politics reporter Alex Boutilier discuss Erin O'Toole

A week before the Conservative leadership vote, an OToole campaign source called the Star to say they were feeling good.

Their internal data showed that OToole and the perceived front-runner, Peter MacKay, were neck and neck in the mid-30 per cent support range. Leslyn Lewis, the outsider surprise of the campaign, was trailing in the low 20s. Derek Sloan was at around 12 per cent.

At the same time, the MacKay campaigns internal data suggested MacKay was at 41 per cent, with OToole trailing at 34 per cent and the two social conservative candidates at a combined 25 per cent.

The 40 per cent bar is what many believed MacKay needed to hit on the first ballot in the Conservatives ranked ballot leadership system. His team was freely sharing that number with journalists on the night of the vote, suggesting a measure of confidence that it would get there. It didnt.

On the night of the vote, the MacKay campaign had scheduled a party at the Metropolitan bar in downtown Ottawa  the premier brasserie for power brokers. As the results finally started coming in late Sunday night, the 75 or so socially distanced revellers were muted in their enthusiasm.

OTooles data team, led by Mitch Wexler and Justin Bumstead, was much closer to the mark  bolstered by 50,000 exit polls they conducted with Conservative members after they sent their mail-in ballots.

The data played a much bigger role, said one OToole source of his campaign.

When we were watching the count come in (on Sunday) on television in (OTooles suite), as the results were coming up, you could hear at one point Fred saying, Thats exactly what our numbers said from across the room, the source said. The modelling that Bumstead and Wexler did was astonishingly close to what the result ended up being.

While the data game played a central role in the outcome of the OToole campaign, its beginnings were very old-school. DeLorey and Dan Robertson sat down in Toronto to map out OTooles strategy a few weeks after that fateful Christmas party.

They charted OTooles path to victory, and the overall strategy and narrative of his campaign. At the time, they assumed OToole would be up against a slate of heavyweights  not just MacKay, but also former interim party leader Rona Ambrose, Ottawa MP Pierre Poilievre and former cabinet minister John Baird.

An OToole campaign source said they planned to contrast their candidate as someone who has had real-life experience outside of politics  unlike Poilievre, for instance, who was first elected at age 25 in 2004. Thats what all that talk of not being a career politician was about during the early days of OTooles bid.

They also knew that MacKays path to victory included a stranglehold on the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec. They needed to neutralize one of those regions  and they chose Quebec.

By Jan. 10, OTooles team was confident enough to bring the candidates nomination papers to the Albany Club, a posh Tory institution in Toronto. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, who would go on to endorse OToole, delivered the keynote that night.

But by mid-January, contenders were dropping out of the race in quick succession. Ambrose, who has enjoyed a successful private-sector career in Calgary since leaving politics, said she wouldnt run. Poilievre bowed out the same week. Baird allowed the speculation to continue for some time after that, but ultimately abstained.

That left MacKay. The last leader of the Progressive Conservatives and a senior cabinet minister from the Harper era announced he was in on Jan. 15. According to a senior member of his team, MacKay announced early  before his campaign was ready  to try to scare away some of those other rumoured contenders.

OTooles true blue moniker  the suggestion that, unlike MacKay, he was a real conservative  was seen as a shtick by his detractors. But according to a senior source on the MacKay campaign, it was brutally effective.

Erins branding of Peter, unresponded to, was to a large degree responsible for MacKays loss, said the source.

The source said that MacKays team was focused on a two-phase process of winning the leadership campaign without burdening MacKay with baggage that would hurt him in a campaign against Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberals.

That came with some difficulty, in being able to characterize others in the same way we were being characterized and staying above the fray, the source said. But also, in tacking to the right then back to the left, we stayed in the centre the entire time  didnt waver from the principles that Peter and the team believe.

But there was internal division within MacKays camp. He had surrounded himself with a team of old-school progressive conservatives, who formed one power structure within the campaign. Underneath them were the people actually doing the campaigning  people like former Barrie MP Alex Nuttall and operatives like Michael Diamond and Emrys Graefe  Harper-era Conservatives who had not known the Nova Scotian politician as long, but were committed to his election.

The team suffered from a lack of direction and a rotating door of communications staffers. One provincial conservative source said that three different people had introduced themselves to him as MacKays campaign manager.

OTooles campaign team was the opposite. Led by DeLorey and Soliman, it was a tight-knit group of people who had known and worked with each other for years.

Paradis handled communications, while Dan Mader focused on OTooles comparatively robust policy platform. Michaud, who has worked closely with OToole over the years and is now his chief of staff in the Opposition Leaders Office, served as principal secretary  speaking for the candidate in senior staff meetings whenever OToole couldnt be there.

They were joined by Jeff Ballingall, a polarizing figure within the conservative movement and the founder of right-wing social media pressure groups Ontario Proud and Canada Proud. Ballingall  who occupies a special, hated place in the psyche of Liberal Twitter  handled OTooles digital campaign.

That side of the campaign turned out to be especially crucial when the global pandemic hit and in-person campaigning was rendered impossible.

We had a plan and a strategy, but we were nimble at the same time, said one source.

The campaign itself was virtually suspended. We werent allowed to fundraise  But the thing is, it was already moving to a virtual campaign prior to this  But then when we were forced into it we were able to adapt quickly, because we were already thinking about the tools we had to use.

So OToole abandoned the rubber chicken circuit for Zoom meetings and telephone calls, particularly to individual Conservative voters in Quebec, the province that ultimately won him the leadership.

According to OToole campaign sources, the only major pivot in their campaign came when Leslyn Lewis started picking up serious momentum.

The Toronto lawyer and social conservative had drawn a lot of attention in the middle to late stages of the race  as a protest vote for Conservative insiders unimpressed with OToole and MacKay, from social conservatives happy with her positions on abortion and the family, and from the general membership for her strong campaign.

In June, the OToole campaign turned its guns on her  despite needing her supporters to endorse OToole as their second or third choice.

OTooles campaign started talking about the necessity of choosing a leader who had a seat in the House of Commons, in order to hold Trudeaus Liberals to account on day one. Most observers assumed OToole was talking about MacKay, who had left politics in early 2015. But one source said they were actually talking about Lewis.

We needed to get her people to either vote for us number one, so switch them, or at least add us (as their) number two (choice), and to drive a contrast, said the source.

But whats interesting is that everyone thought that we were attacking MacKay. Because we were saying things like, If youre going to be ready on day one, you have to have a seat in the House. And MacKay doesnt, but by that point we knew that we werent competing with him anymore.

OToole will now face significant decisions over a short period of time.

He told the Star in July that one of the major issues his party must deal with is how to have a credible position on the climate crisis  no small feat for a party whose power base is in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Hell also have to chart a path for the party on social issues, which caused significant problems for Scheer, and an issue that the Liberals are more than happy to talk about.

More broadly, hell have to figure out how his party can win seats in urban, suburban and exurban ridings around Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal without exposing himself on the right to social conservatives and the nascent Wexit movement in the Prairies.

Hell have to bring caucus together, select a front bench of Conservative MPs to hold Trudeaus Liberals to account, and prepare his party for the potential of a quick election  either this fall or in the spring, depending on how the parliamentary jockeying shakes out.

Hell have to do that while figuring out what the Conservative party is after Stephen Harper  something his predecessor Scheer was not able to do. Is it the same coalition that won a majority in 2011, or is it now something different?

And hell have to do that at a time when Canada and the world are facing the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic leading to a global economic emergency.

Defeating Peter MacKay was the easy part.

Correction - Aug. 29, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly suggested Dan Robertson worked on Premier Doug Fords election campaign. In fact, Robertson did not work on Fords 2018 campaign.

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An exhibition on the Lissarda Ambush has opened this past weekend in the Independence Museum Kilmurry. Pictured is author of a wonderful publication on the ambush, Mary OMahony

Heritage Week 2020, which took place from Saturday 15th to Sunday 23rd August, was a very different occasion this year compared with those of previous years.

Due to a keen commitment by groups in observing public health guidance, very few events were held by organisers and instead they turned their attention towards virtually showcasing and highlighting some wonderful past and present projects that they have engaged with at the local level.

Across Ireland, over 800 projects were highlighted on the National Heritage Week website (www.heritageweek.ie) with 50 projects based right here in the County of Cork. Cork is not only steeped in heritage; it is also endowed with many most notable heritage groups who should be commended for their unfaltering commitment to local history, heritage and culture.

While Heritage Week 2020 was a very different occasion than that envisaged at the start of the year it will remain a most memorable one and for those that have not seen many of the local projects promoted as part of the week, these are still available to view on www.heritageweek.ie. Groups can also enter for a number of Heritage Week awards and of note is that the Irish Landmark Trust also has a Heritage Week competition - visit www.heritageweek.ie for full details as well as a number of heritage week projects highlighted by Cork County Council.

Inchigeelagh videos

Heritage Week highlighted a great variety of different projects and in the County of Cork there are multitudes of local history projects underway at any given time.

On the subject of documentaries, those with an interest in Inchigeelagh should take note that historian Joe Creedon has undertaken a series of short videos, produced by Richard Fensome, which were recorded over the past few months.

The videos were primarily produced for Facebook, but proved so popular to an international audience that they have now been released on YouTube as well.

There are six videos currently uploaded and to watch same visit Joe Creedon's Inchigeelagh page on YouTube. Only a stone's throw from Inchigeelagh is Beal Atha'n Ghaorthaidh and presently a project is underway that seeks to develop a museum of the Irish Language and Gaelic Revival within the settlement. A short video has been undertaken to provide more information, which is available to view on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TgvMEfrX7Q.

Funding for local museums

On the subject of museums, a sector severely hit by the impact of Covid-19 measures, there has been recent good news. The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin T.D., announced a 2m funding scheme for not-for-profit small, regional and specialised museums that are not funded by the Arts Council or Failte Ireland.

This fund is intended to assist these venues in re-engaging with audiences, provide new or redeveloped cultural offerings and further develop online and social media engagement. Criteria and the application form can be accessed at https://www.chg.gov.ie/arts/culture/grants-and-funding/2020-audience-engagement-fund/ and the closing date for applications is 5.30pm Friday 4tth September 2020.

Support for tourism sector

In addition to the Museum Sector, the Tourism Sector has also been severely impacted upon by Covid-19; just think of the tens of thousands of less people that have come to County Cork this summer on holidays. In responding to the adverse impact of Covid-19 on tourist destinations, Failte Ireland has announced a 26 Million Covid-19 Adaptation Fund, introduced to offset some of the costs that businesses have incurred in adapting a variety of premises to ensure safe re-opening. Expenditure on items such as protective screens, outdoor areas, PPE, online apps, technology and sanitisers are all covered.

Failte Ireland anticipates that up to 12,000 tourism businesses will be eligible to receive financial support, making it Failte Ireland's largest funding programme to date in terms of the number of businesses that will directly benefit.

Businesses are encouraged to check eligibility criteria and to apply as soon as possible. Applications are open until October 8th and for more information, visit www.failteireland.ie/covid-19-adaptation-fund.

Bryophytes

In terms of natural heritage, many have noted how well biodiversity has been doing in recent months - one of the few positives we can collectively take from Covid-19. A less studied area of Biodiversity is the world of Bryophytes and more and more people are taking note of these plants recently.

Bryophytes are a group of plant species that reproduce by spores rather than by flowers or seeds and the word "bryophyte" is the collective term that includes mosses and liverworts. Ireland has a rich bryophyte flora and supports nearly 48% of the total European flora.

In recognising the importance of bryophytes the National Parks and Wildlife Service has undertaken a publication titled "Checklist and country status of European bryophytes - update 2020". The publication, as an Irish Wildlife Manual, presents the results of collaborative research, funded and coordinated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service on the conservation status of European bryophytes.

Tables listing all 2,137 bryophyte taxa (species, subspecies and varieties) recorded in Europe, along with their distribution and Red List status by country/territory, are presented. An extensive bibliography and literature list are provided, followed by an appendix with useful references. Appendices with lists of European bryological societies, journals, floras and the country contacts of the European Committee for Conservation of Bryophytes are presented at the end of the report. The report is available to download from https://www.npws.ie/publications/irish-wildlife-manuals.

Cork to host Napoleonic Society Conference

In other news, from a European perspective, Cork has been selected as the Host for the International Napoleonic Society Conference in 2022. The Napoleon Society of Ireland (NSI) is honoured to be chosen and this is the second time Ireland has hosted the INS Congress having hosted the 2016 event at the Stephen's Green Club in Dublin. Cork has many connections to the Napoleonic story, from the Bantry Bay invasion to the Burial of Dr Verhling, and the Conference in 2022 will be one to look forward to with more details provided closer to the date.
Relations between China and Australia have come under recent strain - Maggie Janik/Getty Images Contributor

The Australian government will provide free unlimited English classes to migrants and work to encourage Australian values as part of a move to combat what it calls an unprecedented level of foreign interference in the country.

While officials did not name which state or states had sparked the counter-measures, Australian authorities have previously made clear they are concerned by the activities of Chinese government bodies in the country.

On Friday Alan Tudge, the immigration minister, said members of Australias diverse communities have been both victims of interference and used as vectors to engage in foreign interference.

Despite now being proud Australians, some communities are still seen by their former home countries as 'their diaspora' - to be harassed or exploited to further the national cause, he said in a speech to the National Press Club. Australia is home to a significant population of people of Chinese descent.

The 2016 census found 1.2 million Australians are of Chinese ancestry, more than half a million of whom were born in China. Mr Tudge said foreign interference was at an unprecedented high in Australia.

Foreign actors have multiple objectives, but one is to seek to grow division in our society by pushing people away from Australia and placing their loyalties elsewhere. They seek to sow distrust in government and institutions, he said.

The Australian Government will overhaul a A$1 billion (550million) language programme and citizenship test.

Sino-Australian relations have been increasingly strained this year.

On Wednesday Wang Xining, the deputy head of mission of Chinas embassy in Australia, said that Australias push for an inquiry into the origin and spread of Covid-19 had been shocking and had hurt Chinas feelings.

He dismissed the suggestion the Chinese government was trying to interfere in Australias internal affairs or heavily influence Australian society.

Were not asking Hungry Jacks [an Australian burger chain] to sell Chinese dumplings, he added.

Story continues

In May it was revealed Chinese authorities were considering targeting more Australian exports including wine and dairy, having already barred meat imports from four Australian slaughterhouses for technical reasons and applied tariffs of more than 80 per cent on Australian barley.

In November last year, Wang Liqiang, a Chinese defector, sought asylum in Australia declaring that he had worked as a spy in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

At the time, Asia-Pacific expert Professor Mark Beeson told The Telegraph that if the evidence supporting Mr Wang's claims is compelling and credible... it would be difficult for the Australian government not to give him asylum.

Early that same month, it was revealed that Australia's peak Chinese student body reports to and is partly funded by the Chinese embassy.

Founding documents show the mission of the CSSA in Canberra is to assist the embassy to help and serve Chinese students and the executive board must communicate with the embassy regularly.

Also in November 2019, Australian Government MPs Andrew Hastie and Senator James Paterson were banned from a planned trip to China in response to their criticism of China's human rights record.

In October, the Chinese government responded angrily to claims by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton that China was responsible for interference in Australian universities, as well as cyber hacks and theft of intellectual property.

In September it had been revealed that Government MP Gladys Liu had been a member of two associations with strong links to the Chinese government.
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Berke said LCF provided $1,800 toward the donation, with LRHC and Tyson providing $1,000 each.

With these funds, 1,800 water bottles were ordered and handed out to Lexington elementary and Early Learning Academy students.

The LCF is happy to do what they can to help keep teachers and students in the classroom and provide as normal of a learning environment as possible, said Berke.

COVID-19 has affected each and every one of us in some way. Helping provide the water bottles for the school was one way that the hospital could give back to our community, Bartruff said, We were so amazed by the amount of the community support that the hospital saw in the beginning of COVID that we wanted to give back to our schools who are working with new guidelines.
A Kashmir-based rights group has described the communications blackout imposed by India as digital apartheid and called for an end to the internet 'siege' which began following India's scrapping of the disputed region's special status last year.

The 125-page report published by the Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) claims that the ongoing internet siege enacts digital apartheid, a form of systemic and pervasive discriminatory treatment and collective punishment.

Digital sieges are a technique of political repression in Kashmir, and a severe impediment to the enjoyment of internationally and constitutionally guaranteed civil, political and socio-economic rights, the report continues.

Last August India revoked Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, which was accompanied by a strict security clampdown and a complete communications blackout which lasted for months.

Indian authorities have argued that the clampdown was to prevent anti-India protests in the region.

The report talks about the consequences of the year-long shutdown, saying losses suffered by various businesses during the first five months alone were estimated at Rs 178.78 billion, with more than 500,000 people having lost their jobs.

Millions of students, health care workers and patients continue to suffer because of the slow, second generation internet bandwidth. Schools, colleges and universities have remained shut since last August, before Indian authorities enforced another harsh lockdown in March to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Journalists and the media targeted

The Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) is led by a human rights activist Khurram Parvez and its report is based on fieldwork, government documents, court files and media reports.

Though most of the communications restrictions were lifted in a phased manner, high-speed mobile internet remains suspended in 18 out of 20 districts of the region.

The report says press freedom has suffered due to the digital siege and led to chilling effects of online surveillance, profiling and criminal sanctions, with police complaints registered" against some working journalists and over 200 social media users.

India leads the world in ordering internet shutdowns, and both in terms of frequency and duration, Jammu & Kashmir accounts for more than two-thirds of Indian shutdowns, the report claims. There have been 226 documented internet shutdowns in Jammu & Kashmir since the year 2012.

Longest internet blackout outside Myanmar

The recent internet blackout in Kashmir was described as the longest-running internet shutdown in a democracy and the second-longest in the world after Myanmar.

The report is also addressed to the international community. While the government of India may have succeeded in gagging the voices of people of Jammu and Kashmir with its longstanding communication blockade, this should not prevent the international community from speaking and calling out the government of India for suppressing the fundamental rights of people, the JKCCS said.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in Kashmir, a Himalayan territory divided between India and Pakistan but claimed by both in its entirety. Tens of thousands of people, mainly civilians, have been killed in military operations.
By PTI

JOHANNESBURG: Ishwar Ramlutchman, the only Indian to be adopted as a prince of the Zulu Kingdom, has been conferred with three honorary degrees for his philanthropic initiatives.

Ramlutchman received the triple honour - an honorary doctoral degree in Humanitarianism and Conflict Resolution, an honorary master's degree in Christian Religious Studies, and an honorary professor's degree in Humanitarianism and Community Development - from the Los Angeles Development Church and Institute recently.

Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has lauded Ramlutchman.

Zwelithini is the reigning King of the Zulu nation under the Traditional Leadership clause of South Africa's republican Constitution.

"When I adopted Ishwar Ramlutchman, I gave him the name of Mabheka Zulu. The name Mabheka means the one who cares for my people.

This was done after his heroic dedication and achievements in serving the poorest of the poor in the Kingdom of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal," Zwelithini said in a message.
In a major catch, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized gold worth nearly Rs 43 crore, smuggled into India from Myanmar, from eight men arrested at New Delhi railway station, officials said on Saturday.

As many as 504 gold bars, weighing 83.6 kg, have been recovered from the accused who hail from Sangli district in Maharashtra, they said. In a statement issued on Saturday, the DRI said eight people were intercepted after their arrival at New Delhi railway station by Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express on Friday.

The DRI officials seized 504 gold bars which were found to be concealed in specially tailored cloth vests worn by these eight passengers, it said. The carriers of the smuggled gold were found to be travelling on fake identity (Aadhar card), the statement said.

The intelligence inputs indicate that the recovered gold bars carrying foreign markings, had been smuggled into India from Myanmar through the international land border at Moreh in Manipur and the smuggling syndicate operating from Guwahati was attempting to dispose of the contraband in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai which have thriving markets for the yellow metal, the probe agency said.

The smuggling syndicate sourced and recruited poor and needy individuals from various parts of the country, to act as carriers of smuggled gold, by luring them with the prospect of quick and easy money. The smugglers used air, land and rail routes to locally transport the smuggled gold, it said.

The seized gold bars are of 99.9 per cent purity and collectively weigh 83.621 kg. The market value of the recovered contraband is close to Rs 43 crore, the statement said. These eight carriers have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody, it added.
Clark Art Institute Presents New Podcast Series

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Clark Art Institute's Research and Academic Program has premiered a new podcast series this summer.

"In the Foreground: Conversations on Art & Writing" considers art's role in society, how knowledge is shared, the way histories are made, and the personal stakes of scholarship. Each episode offers a lively, in-depth look into the life and mind of a scholar or artist working with art historical or visual material. Discussions touch on guests current research projects, career paths, and significant texts, mentors, and experiences that have shaped their thinking.

The first episode was Aug. 25. Ten more are planned for the first reason, which runs through November:

 Episode 2, Sept. 1, "Surfaces of Projection": Dell M. Hamilton on Performance Art and Black Embodiment: Dell M. Hamilton, an interdisciplinary artist, scholar, writer, and independent curator, discusses how her long affiliation with Harvard Universitys Hutchins Center for African & African American Research shaped her artistic perspective. Hamilton also discusses how she thinks about her artistic practice as a form of collage and the impact of literature and architectural spaces on her performances, including Blues\Blank\Black, which she presented in the galleries of the Clark Art Institute in November 2019. She reflects on the possibilities and limits of art to foment political change, particularly in light of social and institutional racism, and describes how performances can produce images of Black embodiment, in particular, the violence and police brutality faced by Black women that otherwise goes unseen.

 Episode 3, Sept. 8, "An Archive of Exchange": C. Ondine Chavoya on Chicanx and Latinx Art History: C. Ondine Chavoya, professor of art history and Latino/a studies at Williams College, discusses what shaped his interest in Chicanx art, his role in establishing a Department of Latina/Latino Studies at Williams, and his work as a curator, most notably of the 2011 exhibit "Asco: Elite of the Obscure, A Retrospective, 19721987," on the Chicano performance and conceptual art group Asco. Chavoya also considers the immersive experience of building and researching from an archive and the ways those processes shape history. He reflects on his experiences of institutional racism within the discipline of art history, sharing some ways in which he hopes to move the field forward.

 Episode 4, Sept. 15, "To Speak Across Time": Gabriele Finaldi on Museums: Art historian Gabriele Finaldi, a specialist of Renaissance and Baroque art who has served as director of the National Gallery in London since 2015, discusses his graduate studies at the Courtauld, the creative power of drawing as a medium, and why he chose to work on Jusepe de Ribera. Finaldi reflects on his role at the National Gallery in comparison to the decade he spent as deputy director of the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. More broadly, he describes the evolving roles of education and the science of conservation within modern museums and examines the limitations and possibilities for historical and collections-based museums today.

 Episode 5, Sept. 29, "An Embodiment of Experience": Steven Nelson on African Art and Writing History: Steven Nelson, dean of the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts (CASVA) and previously professor of African and African American art history at UCLA, shares how his broad interests in design, travel, and histories of the African diaspora are reflected in his winding path toward a career in academia. He discusses how graduate education shaped his specialization in African and African American art, his writing practices, and his latest book project, which focuses on the Underground Railroad and American mythmaking. He also shares his hopes for his new position at CASVA and the future of the art history field.

 Episode 6, Oct. 6, "A Set of Ways of Engaging": Lisa Lee on Thomas Hirschhorn and Materiality: Lisa Lee, associate professor of art history at Emory University, discusses the project she worked on as Florence Gould Foundation Fellow at the Clark in spring 2020. The project, tentatively titled "Thomas Hirschhorns Real Abstraction, 198494," focuses on a critical period in the life of the Swiss artist, known for his work in collage and monument-making, primarily with found materials, and art that grapples with the political, economic, and social conditions of contemporary life. Lee also touches on her book about Isa Genzken, a German artist known for her use of common materials in sculpture, installation, photography, and film. She recounts her interest in the tension of what she describes as work that highlights the possibility of art and its everyday political power.

 Episode 7, Oct. 13, "An Enactment of The Impersonal": Brigid Doherty on Re-thinking Subjectivity in Art: Brigid Doherty, associate professor in the departments of Art and Archaeology and German at Princeton University, is joined by Emmelyn Butterfield-Rosen, associate director of the Williams Graduate Program in the History of Art, who worked with Doherty as a doctoral student at Princeton. Dohertys research focuses on the interdisciplinary study of twentieth-century art and literature, especially relationships among artistic practices and aesthetic and psychoanalytic theories. In this conversation, she describes her intellectual path toward modernism and shares her current thinking on subjectivity, "the impersonal," critical theory, and psychoanalysis as a historical object. Doherty also delves into the project she worked on as a fellow at the Clark in spring 2020: a book focused on the "Rorschach Pictures" of the German artist Rosemarie Trockel.

 Episode 8, Oct. 20, "Looking as Knowing": Svetlana Alpers on Critical Thinking and Photography: Svetlana Alpers, specialist of Baroque painting and professor emerita at the University of California, Berkeley, shares how literary criticism influenced her early encounters with art and reflects on her intellectual formation at Harvard in the 1960s and her role forming the art history department at Berkeley. She reflects on the altered state of the discipline today and levels a critique of the turn toward global art history. Alpers also discusses the relation between painting and photography in light of her new book on Walker Evans and draws out parallels between this new project and her seminal book on Dutch Golden Age painting, The Art of Describing.

 Episode 9, Nov. 3, "An Art History Yet to Come": Kirsten Scheid on Palestinian Art: Associate professor of anthropology at the American University in Beirut Kirsten Scheid discusses her research as the Clark/Oakley Humanities Fellow at the Clark Art Institute in 20192020. Scheid worked on an ethnography of aesthetic encounters in contemporary Palestine, building on her career-long research into and archival documentation of artmaking in Palestine and Lebanon. She discusses issues of access and ethics around archives and shares her belief in the power of archives to "hail an art history yet to come." She reflects on imagination as an ethical practice.

 Episode 10, Nov. 10, "Can You Show Thinking?": Mieke Bal on Film & Writing: The work of cultural theorist, critic, and video artist Mieke Bal focuses on gender, migratory culture, psychoanalysis, and the critique of capitalism. Bal discusses her early influences and reflects on what drew her to filmmaking, delving into several of her video projects, including a "film about thinking" on Hubert Damisch. Bal describes the intersection between art history and the cinematic, and recounts how, for her, writing, filmmaking, and curating represent distinct modes of thinking and making.

 Episode 11, Nov. 17, "Philosophical Grounding": Michael Ann Holly on Creating Visual Studies: Michael Ann Holly, Starr Director Emerita of the Research and Academic Program (RAP) at the Clark Art Institute, discusses what initially drew her to art history and her contributions in founding RAP. Holly describes her career trajectory, including her role as one of the founders of the first department of visual studies in the United States, at the University of Rochester, in 1986. She also speaks about what interested her in historiography and shares some of the texts in critical theory that she enjoys teaching.

The podcast is produced by Caroline Fowler, Caitlin Woolsey and Samantha Page, with music by lightchaser and sound editing by John Buteyn. Additional support is provided by Jessie Sentivan, Gabriel Almeida Baroja, Alice Matthews, and Yubai Shi. Visit the website for more information.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, says the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu is ready for resumption of flights.

Mr Sirika said this on Saturday in Enugu after the final round of inspection of rehabilitation works in the airport prior to the official reopening of the complex.

The Federal Government had in August 2019 shut down Akanu Ibiam International Airport over security reasons.

Some of the reasons include its bad runway and landing aids, the presence of market close to the airport attracting birds, leading to constant bird strikes.

Other concerns also include the wrong placement of the state radio station mast directly facing the runways.

However, the minister, who landed at the airport on Saturday evening with a private jet, No.5N-PAZ, said he was delighted to have been in the flight that landed in the airport.

He said he had arrived ahead of the Aug. 30, official reopening of the airport to inspect the readiness of the facility for flight resumption.

We are ready for the official reopening of this airport tomorrow and I am happy that we have been able to achieve this as scheduled, Mr Sirika said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the runway and other ancillary works, including the lighting system are ready, work is still ongoing in the reception, perimeter fence, drainages and the main gate.

(NAN)
The top US general told lawmakers that he did not foresee the military playing a role in the election process or resolving disputes that may come during the November presidential election, according to a document released on Friday.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley's comments are largely a reiteration of the military's apolitical position but come amid questions about what would happen if the election results were disputed.

President Donald Trump has made unsubstantiated allegations that voting will be rigged and has refused to say whether he would accept official election results if he lost.

"In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, by law US courts and the US Congress are required to resolve any disputes, not the US military," Milley told Democratic Congresswomen Elissa Slotkin and Mikie Sherrill in a written response to questions obtained by Reuters.

"I foresee no role for the US armed forces in this process... We will not turn our backs on the Constitution of the United States."

Earlier this month the Pentagon said the constitution provided no role for the military "as arbiter of political or election dispute."

Invoking the constitution has become a refrain increasingly used by Pentagon leaders as former top brass voice concerns that Trump is politicizing Americas military, which is meant to be apolitical.

Those concerns came to a head in the past month after Trump threatened to deploy active duty troops to quell civil unrest in US cities over the killing of George Floyd, who died on May 25 after a Minneapolis policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has also invoked the military in the campaign, saying in June that he worries Trump will try to "steal" the November election but he is confident soldiers would escort Trump from the White House if he loses and does not recognize the result.
The Kenosha police union has offered a detailed account on the officers' perspective of the moments leading up to the shooting of black man, Jacob Blake .

The 29-year-old father-of-six was tasered and shot seven times in the back after police were called to a domestic dispute in the Wisconsin city on Sunday.

On Friday, an attorney for the Kenosha Professional Police Association released a statement alleging that Blake had a knife and 'forcefully fought' with officers prior to the shooting.

The cops claim Blake put one of them in a headlock and shrugged off two attempts to stun him.

The statement goes into more detail than anything that has been released by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which is still investigating the incident.

One of Blake's attorneys has described the police union's account as 'overblown'.

Scroll down for video

Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey (left) shot Blake seven times in the back. His colleague, Officer Vincent Arenas (right) reportedly tasered Blake beforehand

Jacob Blake was tasered and shot seven times in the back after police were called to a domestic dispute in the Wisconsin city on Sunday. He is now paralyzed and remains in intensive care. The 29-year-old father-of-six is pictured in a social media photo

According to the officers' version of events, Blake had a knife and 'forcefully fought' with officers prior to the shooting. The aftermath of the shooting is pictured

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, who leads the state Justice Department, said in a statement Friday evening that the agency is trying to conduct an impartial investigation and can neither confirm nor deny the union's version of events.

Blake's family attorney, Ben Crump, said earlier this week that Blake was only trying to break up a domestic dispute and did nothing to provoke police, adding that witnesses didn't see him with a knife.

Crump has called for the arrest of the officer who shot Blake and for the two other officers involved in the shooting to be fired.

Blake has been left paralyzed by the shooting and remains in hospital.

Meronek pictured. Neither she nor Arenas fired their weapons

Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey has been identified as the officer who fired the bullets that struck Blake in the back.

Officer Vincent Arenas reportedly tasered Blake beforehand. The third cop on the scene has been named as Brittany Meronek. Meronek is a rookie cop who only joined the force in January.

According to the police union's attorney, Brendan Matthews, the officers were dispatched to the house where Blake was because of a complaint that he was attempting to steal the caller's keys and vehicle.

Matthews said officers were aware that Blake had an open warrant for felony sexual assault before they arrived.

Blake was armed with a knife, but officers did not initially see it, Matthews said.

'The officers first saw him holding the knife while they were on the passenger side of the vehicle,' he said.

The bystander who recorded the shooting, 22-year-old Raysean White, said he saw Blake scuffling with three officers and heard them yell, 'Drop the knife! Drop the knife!' before gunfire erupted.

The bystander who recorded the shooting, 22-year-old Raysean White, said he saw Blake scuffling with three officers and heard them yell, 'Drop the knife! Drop the knife!' before gunfire erupted

The officers are seen in the cell phone video at the side of Blake's car just prior to the shooting

He said he didn't see a knife in Blake's hands. State investigators have said only that officers saw a knife on the floor of the car. They have not said whether Blake threatened anyone with it.

Matthews said officers made multiple requests to Blake to drop the knife, but he was uncooperative. He said officers used a Taser on Blake, but it did not incapacitate him.

'Blake forcefully fought with the officers, including putting one of the officers in a headlock,' Matthews said. A second stun from a Taser also did not stop him, he said.

As Blake opened the driver's door of the SUV, Sheskey pulled on Blake's shirt and then opened fire. Blake's three children were in the backseat.

'Based on the inability to gain compliance and control after using verbal, physical and less-lethal means, the officers drew their firearms,' Matthews said.

'Mr. Blake continued to ignore the officers commands, even with the threat of lethal force now present.'
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29

Trend:

Mikhail Gutseriev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SAFMAR Group Joint Stock Company sent a congratulatory letter to Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"Dear Mehriban Arif qizi,

I sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of your birthday.

Your activities in a high public office is an example of a responsible attitude to the noble cause of serving your Motherland and your fellow countrymen.

Your extensive professional experience, broad erudition, undoubted talent of a politician and remarkable human qualities have enabled you to successfully solve the most difficult problems.

I am sure there are many achievements ahead of you for the benefit of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its people.

I wish you good health, happiness and prosperity," the letter said.
The United Nations Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to promote women's participation in peacekeeping operations. Resolution 2538 calls on UN member states, the UN Secretariat, and regional organisations to strengthen their collective efforts to promote the "full, effective, and meaningful participation" of uniformed and civilian women in peacekeeping operations at all levels and in all positions, including in senior leadership positions.

The United Nations Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to promote womens participation in peacekeeping operations, reported news agency Xinhua. Resolution 2538 calls on UN member states, the UN Secretariat, and regional organisations to strengthen their collective efforts to promote the full, effective, and meaningful participation of uniformed and civilian women in peacekeeping operations at all levels and in all positions, including in senior leadership positions, Xinhua reported.

Indias Permanent Mission to the UN congratulated the United Nations Security Council on Friday (local time) for passing a resolution that calls for full, effective, and meaningful participation of women personnel in peacekeeping operations.

Also Read: Kamala Harris not competent: Donald Trump launches attack as campaign heats up

As a co-sponsor of the Resolution, and with a proud tradition of deploying women peacekeepers who have served as role models, India congratulates the Security Council for adopting Resolution 2538 today on Women in Peacekeeping, the Indian Mission in UN tweeted. The women in peacekeeping resolution were initiated by Indonesia.

India has a long tradition of deploying women peacekeepers. As early as 1960, India sent women in the Armed Forces Medical Services to serve in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Republic of Congo. In 2007, India was the first country to send an all-women Formed Police Unit to Liberia. They were hailed as role models by the then President of Liberia, as well as former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

This year, Major Suman Gawani won the UN Military Gender Advocate award. She is deployed in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. (ANI)

Also Read: Massive protest held in Dhaka against Chinas repression of Uyghur Muslims
Calls by CSOs to suspend the Agyapa royalties deal are "unrealistic" according to renowned Journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr.



According to him, their calls should have come earlier when the deal was before Parliament; that's before approval but to wait for this long is against the spirit of activism.



There have been calls by an alliance of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working on extractives, anti-corruption and good governance for government to suspend the Agyapa Royalties deal until there's full disclosure.



The Spokesperson for the CSOs, Dr Steve Manteaw, said the lack of transparency on the part of government "rather raises moral and governance questions. The assumption that once everything goes through Parliament it is above board and represents the interest of all Ghanaians is deceptive and turns democracy on its head. It makes the elected the only relevant stakeholders in policymaking.



However, Kweku Baako speaking on Joy News file programme thinks "calls for suspension are not sustainable".



"To be honest with you where we have reached, and I am a realist, parliament has approved the agreement; Im not too sure that the call for the suspension of this deal is realistic or sustainable. It is not going to happen. It comes with a lot of integrity challenges," he indicated.



"I am an advocate of CSOs activism; Civil Society activism implies that you would be on alert; that you would be searching and researching as to what is happening; the budget is a public record and its stated there that the government has an intention to do something like that . . . I have no problem when they are calling for a consultation. My problem is when that call was made," he added.



Ideal situation



Kweku Baako believes it would have been ideal for the government to involve the CSOs before the agreement was passed.



"It would have been ideal if the government had engaged CSOs but the CSOs must always be on the alert. The activism requires that they are always monitoring what is happening in parliament; they ought to . . .but to wait to this stage and then to make calls for reversal or suspension I think it is an unsustainable thing," he added.



Some economic experts and the former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper have kicked against the deal.



Meanwhile, 15 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have demanded the swift suspension of the Agyapa Minerals Royalties agreement until key documents are revealed.



Agyapa Royalties



Agyapa Royalties is based on a law passed in 2018, the Mineral Income Investment Fund (MIIF) law which seeks to consolidate all the potential mineral incomes in one area.



The government passed the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act, 2018 (Act 978) with the key objective of maximising the countys mineral wealth for the benefit of Ghanaians while ensuring that receiving royalties from gold mining companies is sustainable.



The law was amended a couple of weeks ago to enable it to incorporate subsidiaries and use it as an SPV to do business across the world.

The parliamentary approval also included approvals of four other related agreements among the MIIF, the SPV and other entities with which it would have transactions.



The SPV is Agyapa Royalties Ltd, initially incorporated as Asaase Royalties Ltd, which has been incorporated in a British channel island, Jersey, where it will enjoy tax reliefs on the transfer of dividends and other concessions that allow it to retain much of the incomes it generates.



The company will be responsible for managing 75.6 per cent of Ghanas royalty inflow from the 12 gold mining companies that currently operate in the country, with four more expected to come on stream.



It will later list on the LSE, but the government, through the MIIF, will retain at least 51 per cent, while a subsidiary of Agyapa, ARG Royalties Ltd  to be responsible for channelling the royalties to its parent company  will be listed on the GSE, with the government maintaining a similar shareholding structure.



As of 2017, the average inflow of royalties was estimated at GH650 million. The Minerals Development Fund received 20 per cent of that, the Ghana Revenue Authority got 2.4 per cent, with Agyapa Royalties absorbing 75.6 per cent.



But many analysts and political figures have criticised the transaction and alleged that it is meant to allow a few individuals to have control over the countrys mineral royalties for personal gain.







Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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The Chinese Embassy in Hungary sent a letter to a member of parliament pressuring her to stop supporting a persecuted group in China.

Bernadett Szel said she had what she called the most absurd moment of [her] political career, when she received a letter from the Chinese Embassy in Budapest on Aug. 19.

In it, the Embassy said it deplored and strongly opposed her signing a joint statement in support of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice thats persecuted in China.

The statement that she signed in support of Falun Gong, was also signed by over 600 lawmakers worldwide. It called for an end to the systematic and brutal campaign to eradicate the spiritual discipline of Falun Gong in China. Over 30 U.S. lawmakers also penned individual letters of support.
Environmentalists called for an investigation into whether the dolphins died as a result of the spill caused when the bulk carrier, MV Wakashio, struck a coral reef last month

Thousands of protesters demonstrated in the Mauritius capital Port Louis on Saturday to demand an investigation into an oil spill from a Japanese ship and the mysterious death of at least 40 dolphins that have been found near the site of the spill.

Environmentalists have called for an investigation into whether the dolphins died as a result of the spill caused when the bulk carrier, the MV Wakashio, struck a coral reef last month.

One protestor held a banner with a dolphin covered in oil reading "our lives matter" and another held one calling for the government to resign. Mauritian flags were waved across the packed square of St Louis Cathedral.

"We do not trust the government and the diluted information they've been feeding us regarding the management and responses to the oil spill," Fabiola Monty, 33 a Mauritian environmental scientist, told Reuters from the square.

The government has said it will carry out autopsies on all the dead dolphins and has set up a commission to look into the oil spill. Two investigations are being carried out: one by the police on the crew's responsibilities and one by a senior Shipping Ministry official on what happened to the ship.

So far veterinarians have examined only two of the mammals' carcasses, which bore signs of injury but no trace of oil in their bodies, according to preliminary autopsy results.

The autopsy on the first two was conducted by the government-run Albion Fisheries Research Centre.

Autopsy results on 25 dolphins that washed ashore Wednesday and Thursday are expected in the coming days, according to Jasvin Sok Appadu from the Fisheries Ministry.

Local environmental group Eco-Sud, which took part in Saturday's protest, said in a statement on Friday that representatives from civil society should be present during the autopsies and called for a second opinion from independent specialists.

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More than 20 students have tested positive for coronavirus after a party held by College of the Holy Cross students earlier this month, officials confirmed Saturday.

A spokesman for the Worcester college said in a statement that any student who hosts a party will be held accountable under the colleges student conduct policy. He did not specify what consequences a student may face.

At least one person with coronavirus attended the party in mid-August, which was held in an apartment rented by students on College Street and exceeded the state order limiting the number of people at a gathering to no more than 25. A report earlier Saturday indicated there were 20 cases connected to the party.

Walter Bird, a spokesman for the city of Worcester, said Saturday afternoon that there were 21 students who had tested positive in connection with the party.

All students who attended the party have been instructed to get tested and to quarantine themselves for 14 days, said Holy Cross spokesman John Hill, adding that the institution is working with students regarding the importance of following social distancing guidelines, wearing a mask in public and doing everything they can to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Following the party, all our students have been reminded of their responsibilities to each other and to the greater community, Hill said.

Holy Cross weeks ago announced it would host a remote fall semester, however, there is a limited number of students living on campus this fall. Students who are living on campus this fall must follow health and safety standards, Hill said, including being tested twice a week.

While most off-campus students have said they wish to participate in testing, those students have not been able to access the campus yet and therefore have not been tested, Hill said.

But, the college has conducted testing of 232 employees and students living on campus and have had zero positive results. Those tests do not include any connected to the off-campus party, as those students have not had access to campus and were tested elsewhere, Hill said.

This week, Holy Cross plans to release a dashboard that will track results of on-campus coronavirus testing, Hill said.

Additionally, the college is working with local health officials to track any additional cases connected to the party.

In the wake of COVID-positive student cases at Holy Cross, the city has been working collaboratively with the college to identify those who have tested positive as well as those who need to be quarantined, City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. said in a statement. The city intends to meet with college officials as soon as possible to discuss strategies to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on and off-campus.

Karyn Clark, the citys director of public health, said officials have been working with higher education institutions and public, private and Catholic schools regarding plans for students returning to the classroom during the pandemic and the handling of any positive cases.

Our education partners take the threat of this virus seriously, and Worcester DPH is working in collaboration with them to ensure the safest possible transition for students as they return to school, Clark said.

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The body of a newborn was found packed up in a suitcase left behind by the tenants of a rented room in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday.

Police of Go Vap District in cooperation with specialized forces of Ho Chi Minh City Police have commenced scene examination to unfold the case of the suitcase-enclosed newborn body found in the rental on 14 Street, Ward 8, Go Vap District.

N., the landlady of the rented room, was the first to report the situation. While attempting to trace down a nauseating smell on the premises, she found that it came from a room whose tenants had moved out a few days prior.

Upon opening the suitcase, the landlady found a black plastic bag containing the decomposing corpse of a newborn.

After receiving the report, functional forces of Go Vap District Police and specialized units of Ho Chi Minh City Police were dispatched to examine the scene and collect testimonies from neighboring residents.

The newborn body has also been brought to a crime lab for forensic analysis in hope of revealing new leads to the case.

According to locals, the room was previously rented by a married couple with three children. The family had moved out just a few days prior to the discovery.

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<! Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu >

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday ordered tertiary institutions in Lagos to reopen from September 14 while primary and secondary schools in the state will reopen on September 21, 2020.

He, however, said the date for primary and secondary schools reopening would be tentative.

The governor, who gave update of Coronavirus at the Lagos House, Marina on Saturday said the pandemic had continued to plunge in Lagos.

He said as such, tertiary institutions in Lagos were now allowed to resume on 14 September, 2020.

The governor added that primary and secondary schools in the State would now open September 21, adding that the decision was subject to review.

Sanwo-Olu said the government had expected that the curve would flatten by August and that in the last two weeks, the state had continued to record drop in infections.

He also said restaurants were permitted to open for e-dining service and must ensure 50 percent maximum occupancy, while social clubs and recreation centres that had register with the government could open.

The governor, however, said event centres, lounges, gyms, spars and others would still remain close, but noted that a date would be agreed upon for their resumption in September.

We sympathise with businesses in hospitality sector, such as event centres, lounges, gyms, spas; we will review their reopening in September and agree to a date to reopen them once the airports are open. It is just a little more time.

All civil servants in Lagos State must comply with the guidelines, all cannot come in now. As government, we will continue to keep you inform. These are challenging time for all of us, he said.

Sanwo-Olu added that four isolation centres had been closed as their were no more cases, saying that three were still in operational.

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The arrests of activists underscored that Mr. Lukashenko has honed a security apparatus even more repressive than the one in Russia, taking advantage of Belaruss small size  it has about the same land area and population as Michigan. In Moscow, opposition groups also face risks, but they have been able to organize to a much greater degree.

This month, Ms. Danilova, the start-up founder, left her phone at home and moved in with friends, planning to hop in a car and leave the country if her husband were to tell her that the K.G.B.  as the Belarus security service is still known  had come looking for her.

The K.G.B. did not come, and Ms. Danilova is back in her office, crowded with beanbag chairs and employee photographs hanging artfully from strings. She said she remained torn between two extreme emotions, like every Belarusian she knows.

Its either the shame of not doing enough, she said, or the fear that youve done so much that there will be serious consequences.

Mr. Dudinsky, 46, the recently fired morning-show host, said he and his wife were also stripped of their master-of-ceremonies duties at state-sponsored events after he criticized the police on Instagram. He is a household name in Belarus, but he insists that he will go back on television  along with dozens of his colleagues who have quit or been fired  only if the political system changes.

Its no longer realistic to force Belarusians back into the box they existed in for these 26 years, he said. Something broke inside Belarusians  a fuse broke.
Rocket-watchers could see three takeoffs from Cape Canaveral this weekend, the first time the Florida spaceport has seen many launches in the same week in nearly 20 years.

On Saturday at 2:04am ET, United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy will take a National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellite into geosynchronous orbit more than 22,000 miles above Earth.

Then, on Sunday, SpaceX will launch two Falcon 9 rockets - one bringing 60 more Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit and another carrying a SAOCOMB 1B satellite for Argentina's space program.

The last time three rockets took off from Cape Canaveral in the same week was in August 2001.

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United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy rocket is set to launch Saturday at 2:04am. If all goes as planned, it will be the first of three blastoffs this weekend, the first time that many have been planned for the same week in 20 years

The last time this many crafts launched in a single weekend was when a Titan 4 rocket, a Delta 2 launcher and a NASA Space Shuttle all took off from different pads, Space.com reports.

General Doug Schiess, commander of the 45th Space Wing, said this could be a 'historic week' at the spaceport.

The Delta IV Heavy is the largest launcher in United Launch Alliance's (ULA) fleet, consisting of three rocket cores strapped together.

The mission was originally set for Wednesday, but was delayed it for a day 'due to customer request,' according to ULA

A 3-D video projection on the exterior of ULA's Delta IV Heavy rocket, now parked at Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 37. The last time the Delta IV Heavy was used was January 2019. Saturday's launch will mark its 12th mission overall

A new launch was set for Thursday morning at 2:12am but ULA delayed it so engineers could fix a problem with the rocket's nose cone heater.

That issue was addressed but a separate problem was detected with a 'critical' ground pneumatics control system that could not be resolved during the four-hour launch window.

'Additional time is needed for the team to validate the appropriate path forward with the ground pneumatics control system,' ULA said in a statement.

The Delta IV Heavy rocket is carrying a satellite for the National Reconnaissance Organization, though the US spy satellite agency has been mum about its purpose

After initially considering an attempt on Friday, ULA said it was delaying blastoff until Saturday due to US Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron predicting an 80 percent chance of good weather.

Its cargo, the NROL-44 satellite, is believed to be another in a series of Advanced Orion listening stations that intercept telephone calls and other communications, Spaceflight Now reported.

The NRO wouldn't confirm, only saying it supports the agency's overall mission 'to provide intelligence data to the United States' senior policy makers, the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense.'

ULA has already completed more than two dozen missions for the government's spy satellite agency.

The last time the Delta IV Heavy went into space was January 2019. Saturday's launch will mark its 12th mission overall.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 taking off from Cape Canaveral. Two Falcon 9 launches are slated for Sunday, just nine hours apart. One will bring 60 more Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit, while the other will carry a SAOCOMB 1B satellite for Argentina's space program

The Delta IV Heavy is expected to be phased out in favor of the Vulcan Centaur rocket, which will make its maiden voyage some time in 2020.

You can watch a livestream of the Delta IV Heavy launch on the ULA website, starting about 20 minutes before takeoff.

ULA geared up for the big day with a 3-D video projection on the exterior of the rocket, now parked at Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 37.

The video celebrated ULA's 140 successful missions and recounted how the satellite industry has benefited humanity, from more accurate weather predictions to better national security and an improved understanding of the solar system and beyond.

The first SpaceX Falcon 9 launch on Sunday is slated for 10:12 am, from Kennedy Space Center's pad 39.

The SAOCOM 1B mission is scheduled for 7:18 p.m. that evening from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40, although the threat of thunderstorms could delay it further.

It was originally scheduled for March but technical issues and pandemic restrictions caused numerous delays.

A Thursday launch was scrubbed when delays with the Delta IV Heavy caused a 'ripple effect' in scheduling.

Should all go as planned, it will take off and fly on a trajectory toward the South Pole, the first time that path has been used in 50 years.
ORESTE P. DARCONTE is a former publisher of The Sun Chronicle. Reach him at opd999@gmail.com
On a Thursday afternoon in March 1973, 50 uniformed officers filed into a red-brick legislative building in the Maryland state capital, armed with stories of being wrongfully disciplined by highhanded police chiefs, gripes of low morale, and threats for lawmakers who didn't agree to help them.

At stake was the "Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights" - a first-in-the-nation law that codified workplace protections for police officers far beyond those afforded to other government employees. They included giving officers a formal waiting period before they had to cooperate with internal inquiries into police conduct, scrubbing records of complaints brought against officers after a certain period, and ensuring that only fellow officers - not civilians - could investigate them.

It was not a controversial bill at the time, lawmakers say. But its impact would be profound.

Within four years, a Howard County police chief abandoned his call for public disciplinary hearings, citing the new law. A court ruled that an officer who was fired after using excessive force had to be reinstated and given back pay. And in 1977, a human relations commission in Prince George's County was told it could not investigate police brutality allegations - a decision the county's only Black council member at the time called a "slap in the face."

For more than four decades, critics say, the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights has been one of the biggest obstructions to police accountability, hindering investigations and shielding misconduct from public scrutiny. Fifteen other states followed Maryland in adopting a police bill of rights, including Wisconsin, where the police shooting of Jacob Blake this month has sparked protests, during which two more people were shot.

But Maryland's law goes the furthest in protecting officers, said Sam Walker, a professor of criminal justice at the University of Nebraska Omaha. While other states allow officers involved in an incident to wait 48 hours or so before they have to cooperate with internal investigators, Maryland lets officers wait five days before being interrogated.

5 1 of 5 Washington Post photo by Jabin Botsford. Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Washington Post photo by Kevin Clark. Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Washington Post photo by Marvin Joseph. Show More Show Less 5 of 5









When mayors or police chiefs have wanted to reform their departments, this law has stood in their way.

In 2015, then-Baltimore Democratic Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake explicitly blamed the police bill of rights for blocking the investigation into the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, who suffered a spinal cord injury in police custody. Baltimore and Montgomery County have created civilian review boards for their police departments, but police accountability advocates call them toothless because they cannot interrogate officers or request disciplinary action.

Gray's death prompted some changes to the law, but the Maryland General Assembly, under pressure from the police union, balked at all the changes advocates sought. Now, the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has launched a new effort in Annapolis, with some lawmakers calling for the bill of rights to be abolished. On Thursday, members of the House's police accountability work group publicly questioned whether there is a need for the law, warning dubious police chiefs and sheriffs that "change is a-comin.'"

There is some precedent. In June, over strong objections from police unions, New York state repealed a law that had kept police disciplinary records secret since 1976. But Maryland union leaders say the laws protect police officers' right to due process while they perform difficult and dangerous jobs.

After the Baltimore City police commissioner indicated to officials in June that he would support amending the law, Michael Davey, an attorney for the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police, countered that problems in the department were due to "mismanagement and incompetency," not the bill of rights.

- - -

No such acrimony marked the legislation's quiet entry into history books 47 years ago. As uniformed officers testified in Annapolis that winter day, "no delegates spoke out against the bill and no witnesses appeared to oppose it," The Baltimore Sun reported.

The following year, the law enforcement officers' bill of rights unanimously passed both chambers of the General Assembly.

Police influence soared in the United States in the 1970s, historians say. Crime rates were spiking and President Richard M. Nixon had just been elected after a campaign that promised law and order. Elected officials were reluctant to appear weak on crime.

"There was the sense that criminal justice was too lax, that we were coddling criminals," said Paul Butler, a Georgetown University law professor. "That's the atmosphere in 1974."

J. Joseph Curran Jr., a Democrat and former Maryland attorney general, in the 1970s chaired the state senate's Judicial Proceedings Committee, which reviewed the police bill of rights. The law, he remembered, "was not the subject of intense debate." Bills on gun control and the death penalty divided senators, but not police rights.

"I sensed that it was intended by the police union to give the officer an opportunity to have his position understood, recognizing that being a policeman then and now is a very difficult job," said Curran, now 90 and the father-in-law of former Maryland Democratic governor Martin O'Malley. "I don't believe it was ever intended to prevent examination of some misconduct."

The bill was introduced by delegates from Baltimore on behalf of the city's police union. In the 1970s, such unions had emerged as a major force across the country - a response to poor labor conditions, the anti-police sentiments of the civil rights movement and decisions like the 1966 Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona, which made it illegal for police to question suspects before informing them of their constitutional rights.

News articles from that era describe an unpopular but powerful Baltimore police commissioner , Donald Pomerleau, who willfully fired members of the rank-and-file, including 55 officers who participated in a 1974 police strike. Low-ranking officers reported being unnecessarily investigated, subjected to lie detector tests and accosted at their homes by investigators. Thomas A. Rapanotti, head of the city's police union, said officers had "no rights for themselves, no defense."

Police told lawmakers they needed legal protections to keep their jobs and fight crime, and warned that those who blocked the bill would suffer at the polls. After the bill was approved, police unions continued pushing quietly for amendments that strengthened it. For years they faced no opposition.

"There was no organized force against them," said Walker, the University of Nebraska professor. "No group that said, 'Hey, we're giving them everything.' "

One of the few elected officials who publicly criticized the law in the 1970s was Floyd E. Wilson Jr., the first African American council member in Prince George's County.

In 1977, following a rash of police violence in Prince George's, state legislators amended the bill of rights to explicitly block the county's human relations commission from accessing internal police documents or investigating misconduct. While most council members accepted the state's decision, Wilson was quoted in news articles calling it "a direct slap in the face."

"The police cannot operate as some autonomous body," warned the freshman lawmaker. "This will create a whole lot of animosity, especially in the Black community."

Back then, the Prince George's police department was virtually all White, and misconduct was disproportionately committed against African American residents, remembered Wilson Jr., now 85. He believed the rule could allow police power to go unchecked.

"There was a different way [police] treated White and Black folks," he said. "They would put us in jail much quicker than they would ever put them away. . . . And it was very obvious to me."

Wilson grew up in the segregated city of Lake Charles, La. As a college student at Dillard University in the 1950s, he said, he was driven to the police station by a White bus driver after he and other Black classmates decided to occupy seats beyond those labeled "For Colored Only." In 1973, after graduate school at Howard University, he was appointed to the council to replace an outgoing member and quickly became a vocal critic of the police department.

After his comments about the bill of rights were publicized, he was stopped by cruisers while driving home from the council's Upper Marlboro headquarters late one night, he said. The officers, who were White, insulted and heckled him, and then brought him back to the station. He wasn't released until then-Prince George's County Executive Winfield M. "Win" Kelly Jr. called the police chief and ordered him to let him go, his wife recalled.

"I was scared to death," Wilson Jr. said. Four decades later, he still remembers the feeling of sitting alone in the driver's seat on that dark, empty highway, seeing armed officers walk toward him. He continued to advocate against police brutality for the next 13 years - with limited success.

"It was very frustrating because other people treated me like, you know, [this problem] is not happening. It's all a figment of your imagination," he said.

Police misconduct has long been a blind spot for elected officials, said Butler, the Georgetown professor. Until recently, White lawmakers in even liberal jurisdictions strongly approved of special protections for police, he said, reflecting a deeper, nationwide chasm in the way White and Black communities see law enforcement. In the wake of Floyd's killing, and other deaths in police custody captured on video, that may be changing.

The scale of recent protests has been unprecedented, reaching from major cities to small-town America. Local and state officials are demanding changes including budget cuts, bans on chokeholds and other restrictions.

In Maryland, State Sen. Jill Carter, D-Baltimore City, is leading an effort to abolish the police bill of rights. Carter said she was told by senior legislators in the past that there is an informal understanding with police unions that the bill of rights is not to be touched. A bill she introduced in 2015 to eliminate the waiting period before officers have to cooperate with investigators never advanced out of committee.

"The legislature has refused to step up and govern [the police]," Carter said in an interview. "We've let them tell us what we can and cannot do."

Wilson says Carter's efforts feel bittersweet. The same problems he struggled against in 1977 are still being fought in 2020.

Sitting in his home in Bowie one recent afternoon, he went through a stack of old campaign pamphlets, yellowed photos and copies of news articles detailing the passage of the police bill of rights. He squinted at the words, trying to remember what exactly he had said and done - and whether it had been enough.
The Orange County Board of Education is asking the state Supreme Court to override a health directive from Gov. Gavin Newsom, shown, barring schools from holding in-person classes. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

When the state's top court agreed to review two cases challenging Gov. Gavin Newsom's limitations on in-classroom instruction, backers of the litigation said they were heartened.

Robert L. Tyler, one of the lawyers who brought the cases on behalf of schools statewide and the Orange County Board of Education, said the court could have dismissed the cases summarily rather than asking for more written arguments.

The fact that the court asked for more arguments "is one reason we are very excited," he said.

But the California Supreme Court has taken up similar cases before, only to dismiss them after reading written arguments. The court also tends to to be deferential toward the legislative and executive branches of government, and Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye was given extraordinary legal powers to manage courts during the pandemic.

"Overwhelmingly, courts around the country have rejected challenges and upheld restrictions," said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley law school. "Based on these rulings, I think the court is likely to uphold Gov. Newsoms actions. We are in the midst of a pandemic, and COVID-19 is easily spread."

The court is expected to issue a decision next week.

John Caragozian, a longtime board member of the California Supreme Court Historical Society who previously taught a law school class on California legal history, said the court may take up such cases directly when time is of the essence and important rights are asserted.

Most cases start at the trial court and move on to the intermediate courts of appeal before the California Supreme Court gets involved.

"Maybe the court feels it is going to end up in the Supreme Court anyway, so why not deal with it now," he said.

He added that it would take "a pretty strong legal and factual case for the court to substitute its judgment for the governor's."

In late April, the court ordered arguments on a suit to block $75 million in state disaster relief assistance to undocumented immigrants during the pandemic. The court reviewed written arguments from both sides, then summarily denied the petition without comment on May 6.

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Even if the challengers in the school cases lose, Tyler said, the lawsuits may have put political pressure on Newsom.

Tyler noted that Orange County came off the state's coronavirus watchlist the day after the cases were filed. A few days later, he added, the California Dept. of Public Health issued guidelines to allow small cohorts of students with disabilities and others to be taught on school grounds.

Tyler said he believed those actions were "in reaction" to the litigation.

On Friday, Newsom announced new rules to create a path for the partial reopening of schools in some counties and also eliminated the watchlist, substituting it for color-coded tiers.

One of the cases before the state high court involves public schools; the other, private schools. Tyler's law firm filed both. The suits ask the justices to order Newsom and other state officials to stop enforcing health directives that require schools to implement distance learning.

"Many students are struggling in the online environment as they lack the home support they need to thrive in a distance learning model," the petition on public schools said.

Tyler has sued Newsom before and won at the California Supreme Court. He was among those who asked the court to stop San Francisco from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004. Newsom at the time was the mayor of San Francisco. The state high court stopped the marriages and then ruled that 4,000 licenses handed out by San Francisco were invalid.

Later, the California Supreme Court struck down a state law barring same-sex marriage. Religious groups responded by winning passage of a ballot proposition to restore the marriage ban. A challenge in federal court eventually led to the legalization of same-sex marriage across the country.

In responding to the challengers Friday, lawyers for Newsom said he and the California Department of Public Health "have appropriately exercised state police powers in responding to the unprecedented, deadly COVID-19 pandemic."

"Everyone would prefer that the country was not in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic," the response said. "But we are, and given current epidemiological trends, schools cannot operate as normal in many communities without imperiling public health."
RTHK: Merkel says pandemic to worsen in coming months

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday the coronavirus pandemic was likely to worsen in coming months, and that her government would respond by prioritising the welfare of society as a whole, notably its children, and the economy.

The government will be "doing everything so that our children are not the losers of the pandemic. School and daycare need to be the most important things," she told reporters at a news conference.

The government would also seek to keep the economy going, or to restart it where it was still stunted by the pandemic, and to preserve jobs.

The third priority would be a spirit of social solidarity as the pandemic hits some people, such as elderly or low-income families, harder than others.

Germany has managed to keep Covid-19 cases and deaths relatively low compared with some other large European countries. But the number of new daily infections has been rising since early July and has accelerated in recent weeks. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday welcomed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's (DMRC) decision to resume its services for the public in a phased manner in the fourth phase of unlockdown from September 7.

"I am glad that metro has been permitted to start its operations from September 7 in a phased manner," Kejriwal said.

Earlier this month, the Chief Minister had said that Metro services should be resumed on an experimental basis.

In a major development, metro rail has been allowed to operate from September 7 in a graded manner by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

"As per the latest guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs under Unlock-4, Delhi Metro will be resuming its services for public from September 7 onwards in a calibrated manner," said Executive Director (Corporate Communications), Anuj Dayal.

The Executive Director added that further details on the functioning of the metro and its usage by the general public will be shared once the detailed standard operating procedure is issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in the next few days.

The Metro services were halted on March 22 in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Recently, the DMRC has said that all measures are in place to combat the spread of the virus and efforts will be made to make the travel safe for the passengers.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden delivers his acceptance speech on the fourth night of the Democratic National Convention from the Chase Centre on 20 August 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware: (2020 Getty Images)

The Biden campaign has acquired the web domain KeepAmericaGreat.com and has dedicated the site to criticising president Donald Trumps policies and handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

When Mr Trump launched his reelection campaign for the 2020 presidential election last year, he revealed Keep America Great as its official slogan, following on from his 2016 phrase, Make America Great Again.

At the launch of his new campaign, the president asked: How do you give up the greatest theme of all time with a new theme? and added that if he loses in Novembers election after changing the slogan: People are going to say what a mistake that was. But were not going to lose, so its not going to matter.

However, the Biden campaign recently learnt that despite the announcement of the slogan last year, the KeepAmericaGreat.com domain name was still available, so bought it before the Trump campaign realised, according to Politico.

The new website, set up by the campaign for the Democratic presidential nominee, is now dedicated to criticising Mr Trumps policies and his handling of the pandemic.

On the homepage of the website, it reads: Promises Made, Promises Broken. Trump isnt looking for a second term  hes looking for a do-over.

The site then lists alleged promises broken by Mr Trump, on topics such as Covid-19, healthcare, immigration and education, and compares what he promised with what he has delivered as US president.

The Washington Post reported in July that after the US had recorded the most coronavirus cases and deaths of any country in the world, the president started to use Keep America Great less often in speeches and at campaign events.

They reported that he started to revive his 2016 slogan Make America Great Again, while using new phrases, such as Transition to Greatness and The Best Is Yet to Come.

However, despite a change in communication, it is still possible to buy merchandise on the Trump campaign website that includes the phrase, Keep America Great, such as hats, which are being sold for $25 (18.82) each.

Story continues

In a statement about the domain name purchase to Politico, Trump campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley said: You can buy all the domain names you want, but Joe Biden cant ever buy a way out of his 47 years worth of failure in elected office.

The buy is similar to a move made by the Trump campaign last year, as it bought the site domain, TodosConBiden.com, when Mr Biden launched his Latino outreach programme, named: Todos Con Biden.

When the purchase was made public, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign told ABC that the move was childish.

The spokesperson said: It is no surprise that Trumps campaign would resort to childish antics like this to take attention wy from this Presidents appalling record of separating families nd using immigrants s scapegoats, fomenting hatred nd white supremacy, nd trying to take wy health care from millions of Americans who need it.

Read more

Group which bought MAGA2020 domain name trolls Trump with billboard ad
A San Antonio doctor alleges in a lawsuit filed Friday that Frost Bank allowed one of his employees to fraudulently divert about $300,000 from his dermatology practice.

Frost Bank breached its duty of care by accepting more than 300 checks made out to Dr. Steven A. Davis dermatology practice but deposited in another account, the lawsuit states.

In May, Davis demanded Frost return the money it paid out, but the bank refused, the suit says.

Davis seeks a judgment against San Antonio-based Frost for the practices actual damages, plus interest, attorneys fees and other costs.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios Frost Bank hit with patent suit by mysterious company

We typically dont comment on pending litigation, and its our policy not to discuss customer matters publicly, Frost spokesman Bill Day said.

San Antonio lawyer Ricardo A. Cedillo, who represents Davis, declined to comment.

According to the complaint, Davis and colleagues from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio organized a regenerative medicine symposium in 2012.

Davis consulted with Frost on how to handle sponsorship funding for the one-time, non-profit educational event. Frost advised him to open a temporary deposit account in the symposiums name that the bank would close after the event, the suit says.

The event was held in March 2012. Within six months, though, the suit says a Davis employee began using the symposium account to fraudulently divert cash and checks from the business.

The employee was not named in the complaint and has not been criminally charged.

Davis uncovered the diversion in March.

William Luther, Staff / Staff

Frost Bank negligently accepted more than 300 checks payable to (Davis practice) as payee and deposited them into the symposium account, the suit says. None of the diverted checks was made payable to to the symposium as payee.

On ExpressNews.com: Frost Bank parents 2Q profit slides, but still smashes expectations

Each diverted check bore either a manual for deposit only endorsement, or an alteration of the dermatology practices deposit stamp that crossed out a legitimate account number and inserted the symposium account number, the suit says.

Each of the endorsements was done in the employees handwriting and didnt have Davis signature or initials, the complaint says.

All deposited funds were rapidly drained in the symposium account by the embezzling employee, the lawsuit adds. The employee diverted $300,387 from the practice to pay personal expenses, it says.

Davis blames Frost for failing to close the symposium account. In addition, he never received any symposium account statements in the mail, the suit says. But it also referenced Frosts paperless communication.

Despite Frosts paperless push and assurances that its technology better enables customers to keep a watchful eye on their finances, neither the emails distributed by Frost, nor the online dashboard gave Dr. Davis any indication that the symposium account remained open beyond the summer of 2012, the suit says.

The lawsuit was filed in state District Court in San Antonio.

Patrick Danner Patrick Danner covers banking, insurance, business litigation and bankruptcies. To read more from Patrick, become a subscriber. pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD
John, wife Julie and son Luca have made a new life for themselves in Rosses Point

Ballisodare native John Savage started a new job in June, just as Government restrictions were easing.

He hasn't met his new colleagues at Overstock at its Finisklin site face-to-face yet, and started the job working from home in Dublin.

Having worked in Dublin for five years, and Chicago for five years before that, John, a machine data scientist and his wife Julie decided to make the move north west before Covid-19 became a reality.

"I guess two years ago, our son came along and the compass turned towards the west, and both our parents are here, so that was calling us. We were considering the cost of living and the benefits of the west."

John applied for the job in Overstock at the beginning of the year.

"We had about three months to organise the move and then things changed rapidly so we didn't move until June when restrictions were changed a little bit."

Though enjoying life in their twenties in the capital, John said priorities changed when his son Luca came along.

"We're not getting the benefit of the buzz of Dublin, so we said we might as well do it in better scenery of the west."

Since the move the couple haven't looked back.

"We couldn't get over it. We knew life would be easier, but we couldn't get over the time we have now. We have a lot of support here. And we have so much time here.

In Dublin we had to split the day, one of us would have to work in the morning and one in the evening, that alone has been such a big change," explained John, a runner, hiker and recently a quarantine baker.

John has said others like he and his wife are considering moves outside the capital and how Covid-19 could be the push people were looking for.

"Lockdown was serious in Dublin, here there's so much space and walks.

"Now people are really reconsidering, spare time and a taste of the good life. We did enjoy aspects of city life, but it's only two hours down the road if we miss it."

Adjusting to his new working life hasn't proved too difficult for the PHD graduate and he puts that down to the welcoming culture he's experienced at Overstock.

"After we moved I met the team remotely and was working from Dublin. There's an amazing culture in the 'office'. I took to it easily, remote working comes as second nature in Overstock."

Asked what stopped them from making the move north west before now, John said there was always a sense of apprehension about career progression, something which has now been dispelled.

"I think the major thing we were worried about was the career change, with remote working as an option now, the fear of 'what would the next job be' isn't there, the not knowing if you left a job in Dublin would you get a good job here, but we're enjoying it. My wife works remotely and I've got into a world class company, it's just so positive."

With remote working ever increasing as the new normal, John and wife Julie now have a new community to get involved in and have free time to enjoy it, John has even got a chance to dip his toe into open water swimming.

"I thought we would have a slower pace of life, but our social life is busier, and we're able to take advantage of it. I joined Swimming with Sheila since she started back, that's been great,. I started that to meet people, but half of Sligo seem to be doing so I knew lots of people at it. We go for walks in Hazelwood with the wee fella and climb Knocknarea."

Reiterating just how positive the move has been, John said it's only when they moved they realised how less stressful their life could be.

"The community, the free time, the cost of living, you don't realise how much of a stress that is in Dublin until it's gone."

For new to town, Shawna Scott, Covid-19 was the final straw which hastened her relocation to Land of Heart's Desire.

The founder of online sex toy retailer sexsiopa.ie, the Seattle born entrepreneur had been working from her and her boyfriend's rental home which they shared with five others.

"There were four weeks between March and April where I was working 12 hour days, six days a week. It's gotten to a much more comfortable level, it's still busier than before lockdown happened, but it's tailed off so that I can work a reasonable day."

A big part of leaving Dublin, was simply to have a shared space with her partner.

"When you get to a certain age you just want to live alone with your partner and a little quiet space with just the two of us."

With no links to Sligo, Shawna and her partner decided on the move here as some of their friends in the capital were from here.

Shawna explained that though Dublin was her home for 15 years since she moved there at the age of 20, the increasing cost of living had taken its toll.

"The place has just broken my heart over and over again and it just became completely unaffordable. I was really struggling, I couldn't figure out a way for me and my partner to be able to afford to live together in Dublin and save to buy a house or anything."

Now, the couple live in a three bed semi detached house a 15 minute walk from Sligo town. Transport and infrastructure was something that was incredibly important when looking to relocate.

"I needed a transport link to Dublin, we don't have a car and that we have really good broadband for work."

Six weeks after making the big move, Shawna is still counting herself lucky in her new home, waking up to the views of rolling hills and a short bus trip away from the beach.

What is one thing she is missing while coming to terms with life in the 'new normal', a simple trip to the cinema.

"We're both home bodies anyway, the only thing we really miss is going to the cinema. I know the Omniplex has opened up again so we'll definitely go, we'd usually go once or twice a week. We mostly like to stay at home, we're kind of hermits anyway.

"We're living close to town and it makes it that little easier because we don't have a car. We're only six weeks in, we haven't experienced the real Sligo winter yet, we still see things with rose tinted glasses," she said with a laugh.

And for anyone who is thinking of making the move west?

"I think if you're finding yourself struggling to stay afloat in Dublin, especially now when a lot of us are working from home. I know working from home doesn't suit everyone but a lot of tech companies have relocated here.

"I think there's a lot of opportunity here. I think it speaks for itself, its a beautiful, beautiful part of the world.

"I love waking up in the morning and looking out my window and being able to see the hills. Even when it's raining it has this really gorgeous magical quality to it. I feel like I can breathe a lot easier and I can focus on my future now rather than focusing on my month to month which I was doing in Dublin."

She added, "I couldn't see past 30 days ahead. I never knew what was going to come around the corner, if I was going to get booted out of the place that I was living in because the landlord wanted to sell up or raise the rent, always living in fear that after your one year lease you'd be booted out. It was a really nice change of pace to move to the country and not have to worry about those things."

At the moment, Shawna has no regrets.

"You still have those worries at the back of your mind but there's still a sense that I can plan for my future now,. in a way I just couldn't in Dublin when living month to month."

Asked if Sligo could be the longterm plan, Shawna is open to the idea, though nothing is concrete.

"I'm just going to see how it goes. So far I love it here. Unless something major happens, I would be happy to settle here."

An affordable, relaxed life

With more and more people working remotely due to the Covid19 pandemic, the Western Development Commission is encouraging people to make a permanent and viable move to the west.

As part of the campaign, the WDC is launching a new platform to help attract talent for hard to fill roles across all sectors.

This Talent Tool will allow job seekers to register for alerts on new roles and give companies information on talent looking to move West. The WDC believes this will help attract more investment from companies and also showcase the range of roles available across the region.

A podcast series called 'Pulse of The West' will feature insights from the WDC, industry and academia.

In addition, through the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) initiative, the WDC is building a network of over 100 Hubs that support remote working, community enterprises and the development of 'second sites' in the region for businesses. This will include an online booking engine for remote working spaces from Donegal to Kerry, which will be rolled out in the autumn.

Commenting on the new campaign, Western Development Commission CEO Tomas O Siochain, said: "The phrase 'More to Life' has never been more true and now is the time for the West of Ireland, one of Europe's great regions, to write a bold new chapter.

"Out of adversity comes opportunity and the West of Ireland has a big opportunity to renew and reinvigorate itself. There are now an unprecedented number of career options in the West, some of them caused by the unexpected events of 2020 and the global pandemic.

"We also enjoy much more affordable living costs which means money goes further and people can enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle for themselves and their families," he added.
A Bombay high court judge, who was a part of a two-member division bench that quashed cases registered against 28 foreign members of the Tablighi Jamaat and six trustees of local mosques in a strongly worded order, has said he disagrees with certain remarks in the August 21 judgment.

The order said the foreigners were virtually persecuted and also added that a political government tries to find scapegoat when there is pandemic or calamity. The bench of Justices TV Nalawade and MG Sewlikar cited the material related to the case and added it shows that the propaganda against the so-called religious activity [of the members of the Jamaat] was unwarranted.

Justice Sewlikar passed a separate order on Thursday, saying he especially disagreed with a paragraph regarding protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

In the August 21 order, the bench observed the action against the Jamaat members created fear among those Muslims, who protested against CAA and NRC. This action (against Tablighi members) indirectly gave warning to Indian Muslims that action in any form and for anything can be taken against Muslims. It was indicated that even for keeping contact with Muslims of other countries action will be taken against them. Thus, there is the smell of malice to the action taken against these foreigners and Muslims for their alleged activities, the division bench said.

Justice Sewlikar said he finds it difficult to concur with these observations as allegations in this respect were not made in the petitions of the Jamaat members nor is there is any evidence in this regard. Therefore, in my opinion, these observations are outside the scope of the petitions, he said. Justice Sewlikar maintained the cases against the foreigners and their hosts in Ahmednagar were liable to be quashed for the want of evidentary material.

The division bench struck down criminal proceedings against the 28 foreigners and six locals, observing that they were virtually persecuted. It cited the latest figures of Covid-19 infection and said they show the action against the foreigners should not have been taken.

The Jamaat hit the headlines in March when authorities blamed a congregation at its headquarters in New Delhis Nizamuddin area for a jump in Covid-19 infections. The headquarters was sealed and hundreds of attendees, including foreigners from countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and the US, were quarantined. Police initially filed a case against Jamaat chief Maulana Saad for violating a ban on big gatherings. He was later booked for culpable homicide, which carries a maximum punishment of 10-year imprisonment.

The Jamaat, which has followers in over 80 countries, maintained many visitors at its headquarters were stranded after the government declared a lockdown to check the pandemic spread. The Centre blacklisted around 1,500 foreign Tablighi members for violating their visa norms and multiple cases were registered against them across the country, including in Maharashtra.

The high court said foreigners having valid visas to enter India cannot be prevented from visiting mosques if they go there to observe religious practices.

All the foreigners, who petitioned the high court, had participated in the Nizamuddin congregation and thereafter gave religious lectures at mosques in Ahmednagar district allegedly in violation of lockdown norms in the last week of March. Initially, cases were registered against the trustees of mosques where the foreigners had stayed.

All the 34 accused, including the foreigners, moved the high court seeking quashing of the criminal cases registered against them. The foreigners contended they came to India on valid visas and argued they were here mainly to experience the Indian culture. They said on their arrival at airports, they were screened for Covid-19.

The foreigners argued they were struck in Ahmednagar after the imposition of the nationwide lockdown because of the suspension of the transportation services. They said that is why they stayed at mosques.

Ahmednagar police maintained the Jamaat members were found preaching and so cases were registered against them. They added the foreigners were arrested after institutional quarantine and subsequently five of them were found to be infected. The police insisted there was sufficient material to indicate the accused had breached lockdown norms and visa conditions.

The court cited guidelines and added foreigners visiting India on tourist visas are prevented from engaging in preaching activity. But it noted under the recently updated visa manual, there is no restriction on foreigners for visiting religious places and attending normal religious activities like attending discourses although tourist visas limit the purposes of a visit to recreation and site seeing.

Social and religious tolerance is a practical necessity for unity and integrity in India and that is also made compulsory by our Constitution. By hard work over the past years after independence, we have reconciled religion and modernity to a great extent. This approach helps participation of most in a developing process. We have been respecting both religious and secular sensibilities since independence and by this approach, we have kept India as united, said the bench.
Irrational decision View(s):

The news came as a shock to migrant workers, associations and non-governmental organisations working on behalf of migrant workers.

A report in the Sunday Times last week said that newly-appointed Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva had directed the shutting down of the labour offices in Sri Lankan missions overseas, saying the government was spending more than Rs. 900 million annually to maintain them and was losing money. The Minister had said that the government had decided to hand over to the Foreign Relations Ministry the responsibility of looking after the welfare of migrant workers.

The report said that separate labour sections were set up in Sri Lankan missions in countries where there was a sizable number of Sri Lanka workers, ironically on a proposal made by the then Labour Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa (now Prime Minister) during President Chandrika Kumaratungas tenure in 1994, following claims that migrant workers issues were not being addressed properly by Sri Lankas foreign missions.

The Ministers contention that the government is spending over Rs. 900 million on these labour sections and the fact that it is not profitable in an industry that brings in an annual labour remittance revenue of over US$6 billion is unacceptable, according to Andrew Samuel from Community Development Services which is actively engaged in ensuring the rights of migrant workers. We think that the government is not investing enough in the rights, protection and social welfare of migrant workers and their families, he has said.

As I took stock of the situation, I could hear the trio discussing similar issues during their Thursday morning mini-conference under the margosa tree. Mage yaluwa Padmawathi Abu Dhabi walin avith giya sumane, den nirodhanaya sthanayaka innawa. Eya kiyanawa eh pita-rata wala den rassawal ne kiyala (My friend Padmawathi returned from Abu Dhabi last week and was sent to a quarantine centre. She says the situation in West Asia for jobs is bleak), said Kussi Amma Sera. Mata ehila thiyenawa nirodhana sthana wala kattiyawa hondata balagannawa kiyala (I am told the facilities at the quarantine centres are good and returnees are well looked after), noted Serapina. Mage godak yaluwo thaama Dubai rate hirawela innawa, enna vidihak nethuwa. Eh gollange rassa contharaththu evarai (Many of my friends who are still stuck in Dubai are unable to return. Their contracts have expired), said Mabel Rasthiyadu, adding that the government should organise more flights to bring them back.

While they were chatting and I walked into the kitchen to collect my mug of tea, the phone rang. It was know-all neighbour Haramanis of broken-English fame. I shay, why is the government recalling our labour officers from abroad? They are doing some good work, noh? he said.

Yes, I was also surprised by the announcement. While there are some instances where these labour officers have not been helpful, by and large, migrant workers particularly domestic workers rely on them when facing problems. They are also responsible for setting up safe houses in missions to aid workers who need another place to stay, I said.

Migrant workers need some support mechanism abroad and this system has been working well, he said. The government should not look at it as spending money, but as an investment in caring for more than a million workers in West Asia who are mostly affected by irregular contracts, harassment in the workplace and non- payment of wages, I said.

We discussed at length the issues pertaining to migrant workers and the irrational decision of the government to recall these labour officers who number more than 100 in our missions in West Asia and other countries.

According to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment website, a total of 3,809 complaints were received in 2018 of which 3,019 were from female workers (mostly housemaids). The complaints were about breach of employment contracts, harassment (both physical and sexual), deaths (237 which included 27 suicides) and premature termination of employment among others.

For the record, remittances from workers overseas represent the highest foreign exchange received by the country and thus illustrates the importance of taking care of these workers as an investment and not as a cost to the government. Over the past five years, remittances totalled $6.7 billion in 2019; $7 billion in 2018; $7.1 billion in 2017; $7.2 billion in 2016; and $7 billion in 2015. Over 200,000 workers find new jobs or have their contracts renewed every year.

The decision to recall the labour officers has been taken without any analysis of the situation particularly the work undertaken by these sections. Very often, it is to labour officers at missions abroad that migrant workers, with a problem, turn for help. These labour officers are also equipped and trained to deal with common problems faced by workers, which other officers attached to these missions would find difficult to manage as they lack expertise and proper training.

Furthermore, more than 90 per cent of the work of Sri Lankan missions in West Asia involves dealing with migrant workers and their welfare. There is also the problem of unregistered workers who often seek the assistance of labour officers at our missions, when they are in trouble.

In the meantime, about 15,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers have returned on repatriation flights, while 40,000 to 50,000 more are seeking to return as they have completed their contracts, and in all these cases labour officers have been coordinating the process with the help of other mission officers at that end.

We urge the honourable Minister of Labour, Nimal Siripala de Silva to reconsider his decision and ensure the Labour Sections are not shut down and ensure that our migrant workers rights, protection and welfare are looked into without taking shortsighted policy decisions, pleaded Mr. Samuel on behalf of the migrant workers.

While the news of a shut-down of labour offices in Sri Lankan missions where there are many Sri Lankan workers is a severe blow to migrant workers and their families (who rely on labour officers for information on a migrant who has gone missing or who has not contacted home for many months), the government needs to remember that Sri Lankas import bill is funded largely by the sweat and tears of earnings of migrant workers and, as such, drastic measures should be avoided. Also part of the money spent on labour officers attached to missions comes from registration fees and the compulsory insurance premium paid by migrant workers which means that migrant workers are to some extent paying for the services including the recruitment of labour officers to Sri Lankan missions.

Unlike other big foreign exchange earners like garments or tea which have powerful associations to negotiate and canvass the government on issues that concern their sectors, the same cannot be said of the overseas labour-generating sector which, unfortunately, doesnt have similar clout and strength like garments, tea or any other export sector. Once a year, the Labour Minister briefs Parliament, and proudly at that, about the annual contribution to foreign exchange earnings by migrant workers, but beyond that there is little or no engagement, since migrant workers dont have a strong and powerful association to defend their rights and look after their interests. Recruitment agents have their own association to look after their interests, while though there are migrant worker interest groups they are not powerful enough to lobby for support.

At that moment Kussi Amma Sera brought my second mug of tea, saying: Sir, ape pita rata inna lamaiwa balaganna kawuruth ne (Sir, our migrant workers are a neglected lot). I nodded in agreement and hoped the government would reverse the decision to close labour offices abroad and instead  if it means cutting costs  reduce the number of other officers in foreign missions, while retaining labour officers who play a vital role in looking after the welfare of migrant workers.
Ukraine expects to receive military assistance from the United Kingdom in the near future, in particular a contract for lethal weapons.

Vadym Prystaiko, who has been appointed to the post of Ukraine's Ambassador to the UK, said this in an interview with the Yevropeiska Pravda online media outlet.

"The British track is unique. It is now becoming more and more important, and not only for Ukraine. The UK is also our very important security partner, from whom, I hope, we will soon be able to receive real military aid, the assistance in the development of the Armed Forces," Prystaiko said.

According to him, this refers to "a major contract for lethal weapons - not only acquisition but also production and localization in Ukraine."

The diplomat noted that the issue of localization is the position of the Ukrainian government, and, in his words, it is fair.

As reported, on July 20, President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed former Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom.

ish
Here are some of the top photos of the week, as selected by the Associated Press.
Siddhanta Mishra By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Turning down Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's proposal, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has decided to go ahead with JEE (Mains) and NEET exams in the national capital as per schedule, sources confirmed on Saturday.

Students, activists and opposition parties have been demanding that NEET and JEET be deferred in the view of the surge in COVID-19 cases. The central government, however, has made it clear that both the nationwide exams will be held as scheduled with due precautions.

Earlier this week, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had written a letter to Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal appealing him to either postpone or come up with an alternative for the examinations, which are scheduled to begin on September 1.

READ| Interact with genuine students to know their pulse, Mamata tells Modi

According to sources, Delhis Revenue Minister had also sent a file with the same proposal to Baijal -- who heads the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

The decision of chief minister was overturned by the LG and the permission to hold examinations as per schedule was given informed the official.

In his letter, Sisodia who is also the education minister of Delhi wrote that while students are being told that safety precautions will be followed in the examination centres, it is not enough to assure them or keep Covid-19 at bay. Sisodia said that calling 28 lakh students to write these exams would be willfully playing with the lives of the children.
The San Jacinto River Authority approved its annual budget and discussed a drainage plan designed to reduce flooding downstream during its monthly board meeting on Aug. 27.

The budget includes planning for capital improvement projects, which are developed for a 10-year period, in addition to funding for raw water enterprises and a flood management division.

As with most Texas river authorities, the SJRA is not a taxing authority and their revenue comes from products or services they provide to customer groups, including wholesale water supplies and wastewater treatment to Municipal Utility Districts.

CORONAVIRUS: Texas among states not following new COVID-19 testing plan

Total expenses for the raw water supply budget are $1.1 million and net revenues over the expenses are $18.9 million for the fiscal year 2021. The ground water pumpage rate has had no increase over the last year, according to Heather Ramsey Cook, SJRA director of communications and public affairs.

Projects in the budget that are planned in the Lake Houston area include the rehabilitation of a pump station intake screen channel, campus improvements, a communication tower and ventilation improvements, as well as security improvements.

According to the budget, the SJRA will also pay $1.5 million in legal expenses for litigation related to Hurricane Harvey. Actual expenses for litigation as of June 30 has reached more than $3.7 million, according to the budget.

In 2017 during Hurricane Harvey, the SJRA released water from Lake Conroe, which traveled down the San Jacinto River to Lake Houston. Many Kingwood residents say the move increased flooding in the area.

The San Jacinto Regional Master Drainage Plan was discussed during the board meeting, as 16 projects were identified in helping to mitigate flooding in the watershed.

Chuck Gilman, director of flood management for the SJRA, said that in some of the projects identified, the cost outweighs the benefits. The goal of the drainage plan is to help improve the risk of flooding in the area, and limit the effects Lake Conroe can have on Lake Houston downstream.

The ultimate goal of this study is to identify measures that can improve resiliency in the San Jacinto Watershed, improving flood mitigation, flood warning and flood response, Terry Barr said in an earlier report, who oversees the project for the engineering consultant team as the project director.

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Gilman said the SJRA is seeking additional partners to help fund the projects.

Again, just wanted to make the point that there were a lot of projects that were identified and they do come at a high price tag and you look at the total benefit-cost ratio, not all are greater than one, Gilman said. But if we could leverage federal funds to provide greater benefit and greater value and remove some of these properties from the flood plain, reduce the risk of flooding and also enhance some of those other property values that are prone to repetitive loss, there would certainly be an advantage.

The Flood Management Division of the SJRA was created in the spring of 2018 following Harvey.

It was designed to develop short-term and long-term regional flood management strategies in the San Jacinto River Basin, according to the budget. In the upcoming year, the division plans to focus on the regional flood study, a reservoir forecasting tool, a sand trap pilot project in the San Jacinto River and flood infrastructure fund grant applications. Their total expenses for fiscal year 2021 is $760,546.

For more information on the SJRA, visit www.sjra.net/.

savannah.mehrtens@chron.com
July was the second full month of operations after domestic aviation restarted in India during the COVID-19 times. While June saw some uptick in traffic, July continued on the same vein.

Interestingly, July 2019 was also the first time when capacity was returning to normal after the fall of Jet Airways in April 2019  making it a good month to benchmark on where the traffic is moving post-COVID-19. As the airline stocks gain momentum, it is worthwhile to see the traffic patterns and which airlines are likely to benefit from this.

As air travel restarted, it was first capped to 33 percent of the approved summer schedule and later increased to 45 percent. Yet certain states either capped the number of movements or simply banned flights from certain destinations. And this included Mumbai, the financial capital of the country and second-largest airport by traffic in India, which put a cap on the number of movements while West Bengal banned flights coming in from certain states that have a high prevalence of COVID-19 cases.

While passenger numbers are closely looked at, one has to understand that the load factors are hovering around 60 percent and that means a better metric to check would-be air traffic movements vis a vis last year to know which airports are closer to the permitted 45 percent air traffic movements.

Which are the most impacted?

Unsurprisingly, everybodys Goa plan was cancelled and that meant the airport was the most impacted when it came to air traffic movement. With most hotels still closed and the pandemic not yet in control - travel to Goa has taken a backseat. This was coupled with strict regulations in place at Goa - which for a while was without any active cases! The next worst affected destination has been Shirdi. The biggest attraction at Shirdi is the holy temple of Sai Baba which is closed due to COVID-19. This has meant that airlines have ignored flights to Shirdi and there has been little demand.

The other destinations which make it to the least of most impacted by air traffic movement are Kanpur - whose traffic is also catered by nearby Lucknow, Bhavnagarwhich has monopoly operations by Alliance Air, Jodhpur and Udaipurwhich are not exactly summer destinations in Rajasthan and Hubli, which relies a lot on operations under RCS-UDAN for traffic numbers.

Shirdi, Goa and Udaipur also make it to the list of airports that have lost maximum traffic by passenger numbers. WIth Mangalore and Surat being the other airports. These five airports handle less than 10 percent of passengers as compared to what they handled last July!

While these are the most impacted, the metro cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad have not been at their best. The operations in terms of Air Traffic Movement as well as Passenger Numbers have been revolving around 10 percent to 35 percent of last July, indicating that the metro airports are also yet to come near the 45 percent allowed schedule for airlines.

Which are the least impacted?

Surprisingly, a few airports recorded a jump in air traffic movements and passengers - Mysore being one of them. While the airport has flights under Regional Connectivity Scheme(RCS)- UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), the jump is validated by the fact that all routes were not operational last July and airlines have opted to start RCS-UDAN routes. These routes come with subsidies from the government (at times) and also have a fare cap which is different than what the government has currently set for all operators.

The least impacted cities by Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) have one thing in common and that is heavy concentration of flights and at times all of them being under RCS-UDAN. While some of these are also least impacted by passenger numbers, the real gems who have helped the passenger flows have been Patna, Srinagar, Jammu and Ranchi, punching above their weight to attract traffic like never before. Patna saw its traffic at 38 percent of what it was earlier. When one considers that only 45 percent capacity is allowed, the numbers mean a lot. Neighbouring Ranchi was not far behind, recording 31% of its traffic of what it saw last July. Both Jammu & Srinagar also fared well.

Tail Note

On August 24, the count of domestic flights crossed 1,000 daily departures. This is one-third of what it was pre-COVID-19. There is a long way to go to reach anywhere near the January numbers. Yet, airline stocks have started picking up as the recovery percentage goes up and so do the traffic numbers.

One has to see how airlines manage to tie up the much-needed cash to sustain another few months amidst rising numbers - of both COVID patients and travellers. The blessing in disguise has been relatively lower costs of fuel and the lower fare cap for few airlines, which could have been bleeding badly otherwise.

Note: Only airports which have a scheduled daily flight and recorded over 50,000 passengers in July are considered for analysis to avoid outlier cases.
In just over a month, drivers will shell out more than 50 cents for state taxes on every gallon of gasoline they pump in New Jersey.

Only three states charge more.
Environmentalists are expressing alarm over an increasing number of dead dolphins that have washed ashore on Mauritius after a Japanese ship ran aground last month, spilling oil into the famed blue lagoons off the Indian Ocean island.

Greenpeace said on Friday that 39 dead dolphins had been found since the ship struck a coral reef on July 25, spilling 1,000 tons of fuel oil into the sea. A government report said that as of Thursday the toll was 26 dead melon-headed whales  which are members of the dolphin family  as well as one bottlenose dolphin.

The deaths  which have been increasing in recent days  have added to growing concern that the spill could be disastrous for Mauritius, whose lagoons, lush tropical jungles and mountains attracted 1.3 millions visitors last year.

Greenpeace said that an urgent investigation was needed to determine whether the oil spill was killing the marine mammals. The organization said that the dead dolphins had not eaten and were under stress.
The CBIs Special Investigation Team on Saturday questioned Rhea Chakraborty for over seven hours in connection with the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Rhea, who arrived at the DRDO guesthouse around 1.30 p.m., was quizzed by CBIs Superintendent of Police Nupur Prasad, and left around 8.20 p.m. with a Mumbai Police escort.

According to CBI sources, Rhea was questioned about the claim that she used to splurge on shopping using Sushants credit card according to the statement of Sushants flatmate Siddharth Pithani.

However, Rhea, during her questioning, kept on refuting the allegation of spending a lot from Sushants credit card," a source said.

The source added that Rhea was also questioned about the details of Sushants treatment, why he used to stay at Waterstone resort and what he discussed about his dream project. Rhea remained defensive" in most of her replies and the agency will again summon her for questioning, the source said.

On Friday, the CBI questioned Rhea for over 10 hours. Besides Rhea, the CBI has also questioned Pithani and Sushants personal staffer Neeraj Singh.

The CBI team arrived in Mumbai last Thursday, a day after the Supreme Court gave its nod for the federal agencys probe and has twice visited the Bandra flat, where the actor was found dead on June 14. The CBI has also visited Cooper Hospital twice and took the details of Sushants autopsy, as well as the Waterstone resort where the actor had spent two months.

The CBI registered a case on August 6 on the order of the Central government after a request from the Bihar government after a complaint was filed by Sushants father K.K.Singh.

The CBI has booked Rhea, her brother Showik, father Indrajit, mother Sandhya, Sushants house manager Samuel Miranda, ex-manager Shruti Modi and unknown others in the case.
New Delhi, Aug 29 : Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Saturday instructed the Health Ministry to develop standard operating procedures for the Members of Parliament and the Legislative Assembly sessions comprising Covid protocols and preventive measures.

The directions were given by the Union Health Minister during the 20th meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19. The GoM was briefed on the current status of Covid-19 in India.

The GoM also expressed concern over the forthcoming festival season and advised everyone to adopt safe and Covid-appropriate behaviour. The minister expressed satisfaction at the various coordinated efforts of the Central Government and those of the states and union territories.

"In the month since the last meeting of the GoM on 31st July, we have made tremendous strides in containing the disease." He added, "As many as 26.4 lakh have already recovered. The country's Case Fatality Rate is at its lowest 1.81 per cent and Recovery Rate has increased to 76.47 per cent," said Vardhan.

The Union Minister informed the GoM that with the creation of sufficient health facilities, the health infrastructure in the country has been amply strengthened. Also, only 0.29 per cent of the cases are on ventilators, 1.93 per cent in ICU and only 2.88 per cent of the cases are on oxygen.

"A total of 1,576 labs at present have led to an upsurge in testing and the goal of 10 lakh tests per day has been fulfilled. More than 9 lakh samples were tested in the last 24 hours and this has led to the cumulative total number of tests crossing the 4 crore mark" Vardhan added.

It was noted that despite being resource constrained and densely populated, timely lockdown and rapid augmentation of infrastructure by India have enabled the cases per million and deaths per million to remain considerably lower compared to other countries.

Within the country, eight states -- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana contribute to around 73 per cent of the active caseload, as of today. Moreover, Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal account for 81 percent of the total deaths.

Harsh Vardhan was joined by S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, Hardeep S. Puri, Minister of Civil Aviation, Mansukh Lal Mandaviya, Minister of State, Shipping (Independent Charge), Chemicals and Fertilizers, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare and Nityanand Rai, Minister of State, Home Affairs. Vinod Paul, Member (Health) Niti Aayog, joined virtually.

Dr Sujit Singh, Director NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control) presented a detailed report on surveillance efforts undertaken in India during the pandemic through the IDSP (Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme) network. He highlighted the challenges faced and the learnings from the various states. He also threw light on the trajectory of COVID in some states and elaborated on their response and management.

The major concern areas in the country were highlighted. It was mentioned that there needs to be continued attention on promotion of wearing of masks, physical distancing and respiratory etiquette.

Dr Vinod K Paul, Chairperson of the Empowered Group-1 on the Medical Emergency management plan, apprised the GoM of the process of a Covid vaccine development in India and around the world. He stated that 29 candidates, including 2 Indian ones, are in Clinical Trials out of which 6 are in Phase III. In India, Bharat Biotech's vaccine candidate based on inactivated virus procured by ICMR is in Phase II trial along with Zydus Cadila's candidate which is based on viral DNA.

The Oxford vaccine candidate developed by Serum Institute of India is already in Phase III trial in Maharashtra and some other States. Rajesh Bhushan, Health Secretary, apprised the GoM of the efforts made by the Health Ministry towards mental health during the pandemic.

He also stated that the Central Government was in direct communication with the states that were reporting a surge in cases and those with higher mortality rates. These were being guided towards measures that would result in saving lives and speedy recoveries.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The Louise Michel, a migrants search and rescue ship operating in the Mediterranean and financed by British street artist Banksy, is seen at sea in this undated image taken from video. (Michel/Reuters TV Handout Via Reuters)

Banksys Migrant Rescue Boat Stranded at Sea with More Than 200 on Board

ROMEA rescue boat funded by British street artist Banksy has issued urgent calls for help, saying it is stranded in the Mediterranean and overloaded with migrants who it has been unable to bring ashore.

The Louise Michel, named after a French feminist anarchist, started operating last week. It is trying to find a safe port for the 219 migrants it has picked up off the coast of Libya since Thursday.

Migrants are seen on the Louise Michel ship financed by British street artist Banksy, in the Mediterranean sea, on Aug. 29, 2020. (MV Louise Michel/Reuters)

The boat, manned by a crew of 10, issued a series of tweets overnight and on Saturday saying its situation was worsening, and appealing in vain for help from authorities in Italy, Malta, and Germany.

We are reaching a state of emergency. We need immediate assistance, said one tweet, adding that it was also carrying a body bag containing the corpse of one migrant who had died.

Another said the boat was unable to move and no longer the master of her own destiny due to her overcrowded deck and a life raft deployed at her side, but above all due to Europe ignoring our emergency calls for immediate assistance.

Migrants look at rescuers during a rescue mission of the Louise Michel ship financed by British street artist Banksy, operating in the Mediterranean sea, o.n Aug. 28, 2020. (MV Louise Michel/Handout via Reuters)

An Italian charity ship, the Mare Jonio, said it was leaving the Sicilian port of Augusta to go to assist the Louise Michel.

Helping these people is a question of life or death, it said, condemning the inertia of the Italian and Maltese coastguards.

Two United Nations agencies called for the urgent disembarkation of the Louise Michel and two other ships carrying a total of more than 400 migrants in the Mediterranean.

Some 200 are on the Sea Watch 4, a German charity ship, while 27 have been on board the commercial tanker Maersk Etienne since their rescue on Aug. 5.

The International Organisation for Migration and the UN High Commission for Refugees said in a joint statement they were deeply concerned about the continued absence of dedicated EU-led search and rescue capacity in the Central Mediterranean.

The humanitarian imperative of saving lives should not be penalized or stigmatized, especially in the absence of dedicated state-led efforts, they said.

Italy is the destination of most migrants who have departed from Libya across the Mediterranean in recent years. The influx has created political tensions in Rome and fuelled the success of Matteo Salvinis right-wing League party.

The 30-metre long (100 feet) Louise Michel, a former French Navy boat daubed in pink and white, was bought with proceeds from the sale of Banksy artwork.

The side of the vessels cabin features a picture of a girl holding a heart-shaped life buoy in Banksys familiar stencilled style.

The Bristol-born artist, who keeps his identity a secret, is known for his political or social-commentary graffiti that has popped up in cities around the world.

By Gavin Jones
The Chinese president relies on a group of economists to develop the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). The dual circulation strategy confirmed. The state still at the helm of the economy. Multilateralism invoked, but the US and Europe criticize Beijings blocks closures. Chinese experts are calling for greater urbanization and attention to migrant workers. Analysts: Xi's formulas are outdated and have never worked.

Beijing (AsiaNews) - China will rely more on itself without closing itself off to the world. These are the indications that have emerged in recent days during a meeting between Xi Jinping and a group of nine economists. The Chinese president is committed to finalizing the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), which will be adopted in October by the 5th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

Following the sessions with the academics, Xi confirmed that the country will follow a "dual circulation" strategy to limit the fallout from the possible economic "decoupling" (separation) from the US and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The trade war with the United States coupled with the coronavirus pandemic have altered the global scenario. A recent Bank of America study stated that the pandemic crisis has destroyed 80% of global supply chain, with China the main manufacturing hub. This has prompted 75% of companies operating in foreign markets - especially those from the US, the European Union, Taiwan, Japan and India - to expand their efforts to bring industrial activities back to their countries of origin.

The Chinese leadership continues to opt for an economy strictly controlled by the state. However, according to Zhang Yuyan, head of the Institute of International Politics and Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China must maintain a multilateral approach in international trade: a response to the "unilateralism" of the United States.

Analysts note that this course of action risks aggravating conflicts with Washington and the European Union. For some time, the US and Europe have accused Beijing of invoking multilateralism on the one hand, and of violating the rules of the World Trade Organization on the other.

To overcome the economic crisis, Lu Ming, a professor at Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, proposed that the government encourage greater urbanization in the country. In his view, large cities are aggregators of economic forces.

However, as noted by Cai Fang, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, urban development cannot fuel economic growth if migrant workers - about 290 million individuals, mostly from rural areas - cannot transfer their residence to the urban centers where they are employed, and are not adequately trained.

Many observers have expressed doubts about Xi's "dual circulation" strategy. They see it as a reinterpretation of the policies of former premier Zhu Rongji and Wen Jiabao, who tried - unsuccessfully - to reduce the country's dependence on exports, betting on domestic consumption as a driving force for the economy.
Iranian efforts to export oil in spite of sanctions have often been successful. That changed in 2020 when HawkEye 360, a new ship tracking service made it much more difficult for ships to conceal their smuggling activities. Since 2015 a growing array of sensors and software to track ships at sea, especially ships that dont want to be tracked, have been developed. One of these new sensors appeared in 2019 when HawkEye 360 launched its own array of radar tracking satellites. This enables tracking ships via the signals their navigation radars produce. These can be spotted by a satellite. Other electronic signals can also be tracked, like those used by large ships to communicate with the port they are headed for to unload their cargo.

Iran and North Korea are two nations that have the most tankers and cargo ships that regularly avoid being tracked. Many other ships belong to smugglers who also seek to move without being tracked and sometimes work for Iran, North Korea or anyone else requiring their service. HawkEye 360 customers include shipping companies, maritime police, managers of major ports and coast guards. Shipping companies want additional ways to track their ships while coast guards now have an affordable and powerful tool to monitor their offshore waters for smugglers and poachers.

Iran has long been the largest (in number of ships) smuggler and ss recently as mid-2019, Iranian leaders openly boasted of selling its oil to foreign customers despite the 2017 sanctions. At the time of that boast, Iran was getting a million BPD (barrels per day) out to export customers. In contrast, before the sanctions, Iran exported two million BPD. A month later (July 2019) exports had been reduced to 365,000 BPD and in August it was a record low 160,000 BPD and that did not change much in September. What the Iranians dont do is issue press releases about how well sanction enforcement efforts have been at reducing those illegal exports to record lows.

In July 2020 Iranian oil exports fell to 101,000 BPD. Because of that overall production fell to 1.9 million BPD, mostly for internal use. Without sanctions Iran ships 2.5 million BPD and produces up to 3.7 million BPD. For the first seven months of 2020 exports averaged 223,000 BPD. Iran has had to produce oil it cannot sell or use to avoid shutting down many oil fields. That has led to Iran storing over 120 million barrels ashore and on tankers offshore. There is no more room to store unsold oil and Iran has to start shutting down oil production facilities, which is expensive to do and even more expensive to restart. Worse, it puts a lot of Iranians out of work.

There have been conflicting expert estimates about how much oil Iran is getting past the sanctions. In early 2020 most estimates put the January exports at about half a million BPD while the high-end estimates were a million BPD. The reality turned out to be on the low side. Since late 2019 the decline in Iranian oil sales has been spectacular. Oil shipments were, in early 2018, 2.4 million BPD but that fell to 1.5 million BPD in November 2019 and a million BPD or less in early 2019. This decline is not disputed. What is less clear is how successful Iranian smuggling efforts have been.

Tracking services like HawkEye 360 have become a major problem for Iran and other smugglers. HawkEye 360 monitors just about every electronic signal coming from a ship, and uses a software system that does predictive analysis to get a good idea of where a ship is no matter how little it uses its electronics.

Turning off navigation radar most of the time and keeping electronic communications to a minimum apparently doesnt work against HawkEye 360. Moreover, going completely dark (no electronic signals) is dangerous. Even on the high seas the navigation radar is essential for spotting other ships in bad weather. Monitoring AIS (Automated Identification System) signals from other ships does not guarantee avoiding collisions in bad weather. Going completely dark means staying away from coastal areas most of time and this is more expensive because you have to spend more time at sea to reach your destination.

Whichever way Iran wants to describe it the current situation is worse than it was before the sanctions were lifted in 2015. That is because the Americans have adapted to past oil embargo scams while Iran and its outlaw customers have been unable to adapt quickly enough. The lifting of sanctions in early 2016 was good to Iran. In 2016 oil exports increased to two million BPD, a level not seen since 2012. Overall oil production increased to 3.8 million BPD. Exports in general quickly doubled from 2015 levels. Iran made plans to quickly achieve annual GDP growth of eight percent. That was all cancelled in May 2017 as the U.S. announced revival of sanctions. At that point oil production was 4.5 million BPD but it rapidly declined because regular oil customers reduced or cancelled orders. Most Iranian oil was exported and by late 2017 that export income was rapidly disappearing. Even China and India, two major customers who said they would defy the sanctions, cut orders because sanctions increased shipping costs and also increased the risk of Iran going to war. Sanctions mean the cost of insurance rises and fewer shipping companies are willing to provide tankers that move sanctioned oil.

A bad situation got worse in January2020 because of the coronavirus outbreak in China. This disrupted economic activity in many parts of China. The reduced the need for oil and China already has several large tankers stuck off their coast waiting for permission to unload. Until that is done, the oil producer does not get paid. The economic recession inside Iran got worse and anti-government demonstrations increased. Suddenly more Iranians were talking about the good old days of the 1970s.

The Iranian religious dictatorship leaders dont like to dwell on the fact that before they took over after the 1979 revolution oil production was over 6 million BPD and closing in on seven million. The clerics have mismanaged the economy for over thirty years now and that is one reason they can no longer blame foreigners for all the problems. Even the failure of the oil smuggling effort was partly the fault of the Iranian government. For example, one major investment in their oil smuggling operations was the expansion of the Iranian fleet of tankers. Iran had learned that lesson during the 1980s Iraq war in which both nations attacked tankers moving their oil exports. This meant tankers could not get insurance and Iran had to rely on their own tankers. Since the 1990s Iran expanded its tanker fleet so that it could handle all its oil exports and ignore the insurance companies. By 2019 Iran had 54 large tankers with a total capacity of 102 million barrels. That was enough to handle normal exports of two million barrels a day to customers in Asia and Europe. Now the sanctions enforcement efforts have reduced that fleet to more of a liability than an asset. This was done by documenting Iranian violation of the terms by which it has its tankers operate using foreign registration. This is a common practice for all merchant ships but to be a legally recognized registrar nation there must be a minimum of rules that must be followed. Otherwise, insurance companies wont deal with outlaw ships and many ports will not allow such outlaw tankers to enter. That, plus a shortage of cash means that Iran cannot get its aging tankers refurbished or repaired at more efficient foreign dockyards. Iran itself cannot refurbish most of their own tankers, as these ships are too large for Iranian shipyards to handle. Some repairs can be made but obtaining some large engine or hull components is difficult and often impossible because of the sanctions. Time is not on Irans side.

Iran has proved resourceful in the past when it came to finding new ways to smuggle oil, but the Americans now have decades of experience dealing with Iranian ploys and it has become more difficult to come up with new ideas, given that so many of the most effective sanction evasion methods have been neutralized or made much more difficult and expensive to use. Then along came HawkEye 360, which used some of the tracking techniques American intel agencies used to locate Iranian tankers. The intel agency techniques were no secret and HawkEye 360 simply took advantage of commercial satellite technology and developed their own tracking software. There was a huge commercial market for this degree of tracking and it was only a matter of time before something like HawkEye 360 came along.

Details of these Iranian schemes and American countermeasures are generally kept out of the news. Not just because the Iranian methods were usually illegal, but also because the U.S. and its allies didnt want Iran to know the full extent of the new countermeasures. That veil of secrecy eventually fails because so many nations are involved and the details eventually get into trade journals and then the mass media. Some of the scams involve using foreign tankers taking on oil from an Iranian port. This is suspicious and means that tanker is now under surveillance. If that tanker then ghosted or ran dark by turning off its AIS, laws are broken. AIS allows ship owners and their customers, as well as any nearby vessels, to track the progress of large ships. Messing with AIS means a non-Iranian tanker carrying Iranian oil is an outlaw and probably illegally smuggling Iran oil to somewhere. This scrutiny of tanker activity has forced Iran to be more resourceful. Thats because more and more nations and international trade groups, not to mention insurance companies, will not deal with the Iranians or anyone who does.

Iran has also become aware that American surveillance of economic activity in the oil business is more thorough and robust than anticipated. For example, while few nations will openly cooperate with American sanction enforcement efforts, so as not to offend Iran or Iranian allies like China, many nations cooperate unofficially. Now the Iranians spend more time worrying about what their sanction enforcement adversaries are up to because, since 2017, the Iranians have found themselves the ones on the receiving end of unexpected developments.

Some of the new smuggling countermeasures include monitoring the nations that provide ship registry services while maritime insurance companies have their own array of regulations regarding who can have access to insurance coverage and who cannot. This is about more than shipowners being covered against accidents at sea or in port. Ships without proper coverage, especially for vessels carrying dangerous cargo like petroleum and natural gas, cannot enter many major ports or the territorial waters of most nations if they do not have the proper insurance. By mid-2019 Iran found it more difficult to conceal what its 61 tankers and dozens of cargo ships were doing which meant more shipping companies and nations refused to do business with Iran. For a while, Iran tried to rely on Chinese tankers using Iranian techniques. For example, the U.S. caught a Chinese tanker in the Indian Ocean using ghosting and, while its AIS was off, changed its ship registration to hide delivery of Iranian oil to a banned customer. Now the Americans are threatening to seize Chinese tankers if China does not enforce the terms of the Iranian sanctions.

Relations with China took a major turn for the worse when Iran staged a UAV attack on a Saudi oil export facility in September 2019 and unconvincingly tried to make it look like the work of Iran backed Shia rebels in Yemen. This disrupted Saudi oil exports for several weeks and that angered the Chinese. The largest oil importer in the world is China and most of that oil comes from the Persian Gulf. China said nothing publicly but canceled a multi-billion-dollar oil and gas field development project it had planned for Iran. Several other forms of Chinese cooperation with Iran were also suspended or cancelled. China moved the oil/gas development investments to Iraq.

Another smuggling technique, which is more expensive, is to illegally move oil to Iraq by truck. This activity is more difficult to monitor because there are many inland locations where the large (often-tractor trailer) tanker trucks can take on cargo and many roads that cross the border. There the Iranian oil becomes Iraqi oil and tanker ships can load Iraqi oil and deliver it anywhere. This form of smuggling is very expensive because your average tanker truck carries only 5,000 gallons, which is 120 barrels. Its relatively easy, using photo-satellites, UAVs and local informants, to monitor the six ports equipped to load or unload oil tankers. Three of these ports are high capacity and capable of loading the supertankers that move most oil by sea. One of the three smaller terminals is on the Caspian Sea and could be used to smuggle oil via other nations but that does not appear to be happening. Monitoring all the road crossings from Iran to Iraq for tanker traffic is more expensive but can be done. That was how Iran was caught illegally smuggling oil to Syria. That was a desperate move but Syria itself is constantly monitored for the many items is cannot bring in legally because of sanctions against Syria.

Another major change in the oil business since the 1980s is that there are more suppliers because of fracking in North America and elsewhere. Because of fracking there has been a world oil glut since 2010. The OPEC oil cartel has restricted production to try and drive the oil price up but that only worked for a while and only partially. Even before Iranian oil sanctions were revived the oil price was declining again. There are plenty of oil producers willing and able to replace Iranian exports. Illegal Iranian oil exports are sold at a lower price because of the risk (financial costs if caught) and that also contributes to keeping oil prices low. If scrutiny is too intense the smugglers find they cannot reach many customers.

Since mid-2019 Iran has been threatening to close the entrance to the Persian Gulf (the Strait of Hormuz) and the Red Sea entrance as well. The Hormuz threats were a bluff because Iran would be hurt more than anyone else in the short term as well as going forward. A more immediate problem was Iran losing the cloak of secrecy that had long kept its smuggling methods out of the news. But if the oil smuggling does appear to be stymied for a long period Iran may well try desperate measures. That is also dangerous because Iran has an Arab minority, whose homeland is where most of the Iranian oil production is. There has been sabotage there by angry Arabs in the past and now those accidents appear to be happening again. A covert war against Iranian oil facilities is not inconceivable. That would do long term damage to Iranian oil facilities which are already in bad shape because so much maintenance has been delayed for years because of sanctions.

North Korea and maritime smugglers in general have had a bad year because of covid19 and HawkEye 360. While the virus will pass, as they usually do, tracking services only get more efficient and capable of detecting new Iranian smuggling techniques.
Tens of thousands of people protest in Port Louis, Mauritius, Sat. Aug. 29, 2020, over the government's slow response to an oil spill from a grounded Japanese ship and the alarming discovery of dozens of dead dolphins. (Beekash Roopun/L'express Maurice via AP)

Thousands March in Mauritius Over Dead Dolphins, Oil Spill

JOHANNESBURGHonking and drumming, tens of thousands of people protested Saturday in Mauritius over the governments slow response to an oil spill from a grounded Japanese ship and the alarming discovery of dozens of dead dolphins in recent days.

The protesters displayed signs such as You have no shame and Ive seen better Cabinets at IKEA. Inaction, one protester scrawled on an inflatable dolphin held above the crowd.

They marched peacefully through the capital, Port Louis, a month after the ship struck a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island nation. It later cracked under the pounding surf and spilled around 1,000 tons of fuel oil into fragile marine areas.

Its clear we are at a turning point in the history of our country, a commentary in the Le Mauricien newspaper said. Other protests were reported outside the Mauritius High Commission in London and in Paris and Perth, Australia.

Tens of thousands of people protest in Port Louis, Mauritius, Sat., Aug. 29, 2020, over the governments slow response to an oil spill from a grounded Japanese ship and the alarming discovery of dozens of dead dolphins. (Beekash Roopun/Lexpress Maurice via AP)

Addressing the crowd in Port Louis, some speakers called for top officials to step down. There was no immediate government comment.

Id be surprised if its not close to 100,000 people who attended the march, local writer Khalil Cassimally said. Public demonstrations arent common in Mauritius, but one of the things that really binds people together is the sea, he said. Its one of the jewels of this country, and everyone feels very passionately about this.

Another protest is planned on Sept. 12 in Mahebourg, one of the most affected coastal villages, Cassimally said.

Mauritius depends heavily on tourism, and the spill has been a severe blow on top of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which has limited international travel.

Authorities on Friday said at least 39 dead dolphins have washed ashore but its not yet clear what killed them. The government said no fuel oil was found in two necropsies so far and called the deaths a sad coincidence.

Civil society groups should be present as necropsies continue, and independent experts should give a second opinion, local environmental group Eco-Sud said Friday.

Some experts fear water-soluble chemicals in the fuel are to blame.

Something that is also concerning is that we dont know the possible long-term effects. The oil is a new low-sulfur fuel oil that is being introduced to reduce air pollution, Jacqueline Sauzier with the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society told the journal Nature this week. This is the first time that type of oil has spilled, so there have been no long-term studies on the impacts.

Residents and environmentalists have demanded investigations into why the MV Wakashio strayed miles off course. Its captain and first officer have been arrested and charged with endangering safe navigation.

A Japanese bulk carrier MV Wakashio, that struck a coral reef causing an oil spill, is seen in Mauritius, in this undated aerial picture obtained from social media on Aug. 18, 2020. (Mobilisation Nationale Wakashio/via Reuters)

The ship ran aground on July 25 and began leaking fuel Aug. 6 into the Mahebourg Lagoon, fouling a protected wetlands area and a small island that was a bird and wildlife sanctuary.

Thousands of civilian volunteers worked for days to try to minimize the damage, creating makeshift oil barriers by stuffing fabric bags with sugar cane leaves and empty plastic bottles to keep them afloat. Environmental workers carefully ferried dozens of baby tortoises and rare plants to shore, plucking some trapped seabirds out of the goo.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth blamed bad weather for the governments slow response. Experts from ship owner Nagashiki Shipping, France and the United Nations have since arrived at the scene, and multiple investigations are underway.

The ships remaining fuel was pumped out before the vessel finally split in two.
The Commissionerate of Panchayat and Rural Development Assam (PNRB Assam), Govt. of Assam, has released an advertisement, inviting online applications from qualified and interested Indian nationals having registration in the Employment Exchange of the State of Assam for filling 1,004 vacancies to the post of Asst. Block Development Officer (Panchayat/W&C/Senior Gram Sevak), Gaon Panchayat, Secretary, Junior Assistant and Tax Collector-cum-Road Mohrar through direct recruitment to be posted at Guwahati in Assam, India on a fulltime basis. The online registration-cum-application process towards the same started on August 28, 2020 onwards and closes on September 17, 2020 till midnight.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Asst. Block Development Officer (Panchayat/W&C/Senior Gram Sevak), Gaon Panchayat, Secretary, Junior Assistant and Tax Collector-cum-Road Mohrar Organisation Panchayat and Rural Development Assam (PNRB Assam) Educational Qualification Required academic qualifications Experience Freshers can apply Job Responsibilities null Skills Required Desirable Job Location Guwahati Salary Scale Rs. 14,000 to Rs. 60,500 per month Industry Panchayat and Rural Development Application Start Date August 28, 2020 Application End Date September 17, 2020

PNRB Assam Recruitment 2020: Age And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for various posts through PNRB Assam Recruitment 2020 must meet the age criteria as per the PNRB Assam norms, with relaxation (upper age limit) for reserved categories as detailed in the PNRB Assam Recruitment 2020 notification.

For details regarding application fee for various posts through PNRB Assam Recruitment 2020, visit the official PNRB Assam Careers section.

NFL Recruitment 2020 For 40 Manager And Engineer Posts, Apply Offline Before September 25

PNRB Assam Recruitment 2020: Vacancy Details

PNRB Assam Recruitment 2020: Education

Desirous candidates applying for various posts through PNRB Assam Recruitment 2020 must meet the required academic qualifications from a recognized University OR Institution as required by PNRB Assam Recruitment rules.

PNRB Assam Recruitment 2020: Selection And Pay

The selection of candidates to various posts through PNRB Assam Recruitment 2020 will be done through Shortlisting, Written Test/Interview and Document Verification.

Candidates selected to various posts through PNRB Assam Recruitment 2020 will be paid emolument in the scale of Rs. 14,000 to Rs. 60,500 per month.

Accenture To Lay Off 5 Per Cent Of Its Global Staff; 10,000 Indian Employees Likely To Face The Axe

PNRB Assam Recruitment 2020: How To Apply

Candidates applying for various posts through PNRB Assam Recruitment 2020 must register on the official PNRB Assam website and submit their applications on or before September 17, 2020 by midnight.

Download PNRB Assam Recruitment 2020 PDF Notification
The Maharashtra unit of Congress on Saturday levelled more allegations against film producer Sandeep Ssingh and raised questions about his proximity to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has rubbished the claims and said the truth will come out in the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

When HT called Ssingh for a comment, his phone was switched off, and he had not responded to messages till the time of going to press.

In a series of tweets, Maharashtra Congress general secretary and party spokesperson Sachin Sawant said Ssingh had called the office of BJPs Maharashtra unit 53 times between September 1 and December 23 last year. Sawant alleged that Ssingh, producer of the biopic on PM Narendra Modi, was also the only filmmaker to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth 177 crore with the Gujarat government for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2019.

The BJP, however, termed the allegations baseless. Party leader Madhu Chavan said Sawants allegations are out of his perverse political mindset. He [Ssingh] was allowed to produce a film on Modiji because he was an able filmmaker. How is BJP linked with his wrongdoings in his personal life? We would not back him if he is guilty and would want CBI to probe all angles. Even the Congress and its state government are free to probe all these allegations. Sawant is known for false, baseless allegations against BJP and its leaders, Chavan said.

Sawant had on Friday, too, demanded a probe into the alleged nexus between the Ssingh and BJP in connection with Rajputs death. Sawant had written to CM Uddhav Thackeray and home minister Anil Deshmukh seeking a probe into the drug dealing in Bollywood. He claimed Ssingh has links with BJP leaders from the state. Sawant had said it needs to be investigated if leaders had been shielding people involved in narcotics dealings.

Responding to Sawants allegations, BJP leader and former CM Devendra Fadnavis had questioned why the state did not probe the Ssingh angle. The state police kept maintaining it [Rajputs death] was a suicide. They should have probed Ssingh too. Now a news has come about how Sssingh was co-producing a biopic on the life of honourable Bal Thackeray a few years ago. What will Congress now say about that link, he said.

Deshmukh on Saturday said they are sending complaints about Ssingh to CBI. I have received many requests and complaints to investigate the relationship between Ssingh and BJP and also regarding his connection with Bollywood and drug dealing. We are sending them to CBI for investigation, he said.

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Packages of U.S. imported beef are seen at a supermarket in Taipei

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan paved the way for an eventual free trade deal with the United States on Friday by announcing an easing of restrictions on the import of U.S. beef and pork, as the island looks to boost ties with Washington at a time of tensions with China.

Taiwan has long sought a free trade agreement with the United States, its most important supporter on the international stage, but Washington has complained about barriers to access for U.S. pork and beef. Taiwan said that was for health grounds, especially with concerns over mad cow disease and additives.

President Tsai Ing-wen said her government planned to allow the import of U.S. pork containing ractopamine, an additive that enhances leanness, and allow in U.S. beef more than 30 months old.

"The decision is in line with the country's overall interests and the goals of the nation's strategic development. It's also a decision that could boost Taiwan-U.S. ties," she said.

"If we can take one crucial step forward on the issue of U.S. pork and beef, it will be an important start for Taiwan-U.S. economic cooperation at all fronts."

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the United States welcomed Taiwan's move and removing "these long-standing barriers" opened the door to greater economic and trade cooperation.

"We look forward to the timely implementation of these actions, which will provide greater access for U.S. farmers to one of East Asias most vibrant markets, and for Taiwan consumers to high-quality U.S. agricultural products," she said.

Tsai saidthat while it may take a while to reach a bilateral trade agreement with the United States, she had a positive attitude on the issue.

The United States is an "extremely important" trade partner for Taiwan, and the decision has nothing to do with the upcoming U.S. presidential election, she added.

Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung said the eased pork and beef rules were expected to come into effect on Jan. 1.

Story continues

Taiwan-U.S. trade last year was worth $85.5 billion, with the United States running a $23.1 billion deficit. Taiwan was the United States' 14th biggest export market in 2019.

The United States, like most countries, has no official relations with Taiwan, which is claimed by Beijing as sovereign Chinese territory. China has been stepping up its military activities near Taiwan.

Export-dependent, tech powerhouse Taiwan has also been pushing for an investment agreement with the European Union.

(Reporting by Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard; additional reportng by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie and Steve Orlofsky)
SACRAMENTO  A month ago, California legislators were almost unbridled in their ambition to ease the financial pain the coronavirus pandemic is causing to people and the economy.

They proposed a $100 billion stimulus plan in July that called for backfilling an extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits if Congress didnt extend the aid. They wanted to expand a host of safety-net programs, including increasing tax credits for low-income Californians.

But with lawmakers 2020 session drawing to a close Monday night, few of the major ideas have come to fruition. There will be no state-supplied extra jobless benefits and no expansion of low-income tax credit amounts.

Many pieces of legislators $100 billion proposal never even resulted in formal proposals. Besides the jobless benefit, they included:

 Providing unemployment benefits to undocumented immigrants who have lost their jobs.

 Creating incentives for California companies to manufacture masks and other coronavirus protective and testing equipment.

 Borrowing money to fund more projects to combat climate change and pollution, such as recycling facilities and infrastructure to adapt to sea level rise.

 Allowing California to sell tax vouchers, which would let individual taxpayers and companies prepay their taxes for future years at a discount, to help fund stimulus efforts. Lawmakers are now considering a bill to study the idea.

Much of the breakdown appears to have come in negotiations between Democratic legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was hesitant to back some of the more expensive proposals.

Timing was also a hurdle. The Legislature has repeatedly delayed business this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. It must adjourn by midnight Monday.

Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, who chairs the budget committee, was among the legislators who helped craft the stimulus plan outline. He said Newsom administration officials seemed open to some stimulus proposals, but that lawmakers and the governor were not able to reach agreement given the time frame.

Ting said legislators will continue to push their ideas into the fall.

Millions of Californians are financially suffering. Theyre worrying about how theyre going to pay their bills, Ting said. The pandemic continues, the suffering continues. Its the states job to figure out how best to assist them.

The centerpiece of the legislators stimulus plan was the proposal to extend the extra $600 in weekly benefits for unemployed Californians that the federal government had supplied until July.

President Trump has replaced $300 of the expired benefit by diverting federal disaster money, but funding is not expected to last more than a few weeks. If the federal money dries up, the average jobless payment in California could again be reduced to about $338 a week.

Ting said Newsom was reluctant to take action on jobless benefits at the state level while there is still a chance Congress could act. He said he has urged the governor to consider calling lawmakers back for a special session on unemployment benefits before the Legislatures scheduled return in January.

I dont think we can wait until January to act, Ting said.

Newsoms office did not respond to a request for comment.

Two weeks ago, the governor released his own list of proposals to alleviate the pandemics economic hardship, including more funding for infrastructure projects, a hiring tax credit for businesses and efforts to speed up some building-permit reviews.

We have to get to work, Newsom said then. We have to roll up our sleeves now and get this package across the finish line.

Last week, Newsom said he was hopeful that such legislation would materialize this session. Aside from a deal on eviction protections for tenants, however, major pieces of the package did not come together.

From the outset, the legislators stimulus package was more of a wish list than a detailed plan, and there were few details about the cost or scope. However, a few elements did eventually emerge and are still alive as the session draws to a close.

Legislators and Newsom reached a deal Friday on eviction protections for California tenants who cannot pay rent due to the pandemic. The bill, AB3088, would allow them to stay in their homes for at least five months if they miss payments. It must pass both the Assembly and Senate by two-thirds votes to take effect immediately and head off possible mass evictions of jobless Californians.

Other economic stimulus bills would streamline permits for housing projects and speed up projects to build electric-vehicle charging stations.

Another proposal, AB1876, was amended late last week to extend low-income tax credits to more undocumented immigrants, but it would not provide additional relief to Californians who are already eligible for credits.

State Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys (Los Angeles County), led the working group that put the stimulus plan together. He did not respond to requests for comment.

Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, said the chambers economic recovery plan is a combination of short- and long-term efforts. She pointed to the Legislatures work on tenant protections and a proposal to create a new hiring tax credit for small businesses.

Well seize the opportunities we can, Atkins said in a statement, and move forward with others in the next session.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
After years of U.S. commutes growing longer and longer, the pandemic has kept millions of office road warriors at home  and the financial benefits are significant.

Why it matters: Commuting was costing American workers an increasing amount of time, money and life satisfaction. After a glimpse of life without the daily slog, workers may not want to go back to normal, which could have major effects on cities around the country.

By the numbers: In a survey released Thursday, the freelancing platform Upwork found that those who were working remotely because of COVID-19 were saving an average 49.6 minutes a day because they were no longer commuting.

For the majority who commuted by car, staying off the roads has saved $758 million a day in time, fuel and health costs, which adds up to more than $90 billion since mid-March.

Background: This change comes after years of ever-lengthening commutes, which had increased by an average of almost 11 minutes a day since 1980, or two full days a year.

Be smart: Those savings are one reason why many surveys  like this one from the New York Times  have found that most workers are quite satisfied with working from home.

"Now that many have seen what it can be like without a commute, I don't anticipate most [workers] are eager to rush back to the office," says Adam Ozimek, Upwork's chief economist.

While workers in outer-orbit bedroom communities like East Stroudsburg, Pa., have saved the most time, Ozimek sees expensive housing areas like the New York and San Francisco metros  which also average long commutes  being hit hardest by the remote work shift.

The bottom line: If workers can save time and companies can save money by abandoning the central workplace, offices may not be coming back soon.
It is stunning how many recent riots over purported racial injustice have been based on phony stories. Ferguson, Missouri was pillaged and burned over the false contention that Michael Brown was gunned down with his hands up (the Obama Justice Department confirmed that he was struggling to kill the police officer arresting him for a strong-arm robbery he had just committed by grabbing his gun when he was fatally shot). Baltimore was sacked over the contention that Freddie Gray was assassinated by police officers deliberately tossing him around in a police van (a jury acquitted the officers).

Just this past week, rioters looted downtown Minneapolis on the false story that police had gunned down a suspect who had, in fact, committed suicide  which was captured on surveillance video. Yet Target, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Nordstrom were still looted.

Most damaging of all, three months ago, the first videos released to the public created the impression that George Floyd was asphyxiated by Officer Derek Chauvin of the Minneapolis Police, whose knee on his neck prevented him from breathing. That account has now been proven to be false, yet it is still embraced by nearly all of the media, the public, and political figures (including Rudy Giuliani, whose address to the RNC referred to the "unforgivable police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis"). The facts of the case have been suppressed with Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison delaying their release, but we now have body cam footage of the entire encounter of Floyd and the medical examiner's report that indicated he had a fatal overdose of fentanyl in his system, which caused him to complain multiple times, "I can't breathe" while sitting upright in the police car from which he bolted, leading to his being pinned down. (For the shocking details, you and Rudy Giuliani should read George Parry's "Who Killed George Floyd?")

We can now add the riots in Kenosha and beyond to the list of race riots sparked by assumptions of police behavior contradicted by the facts. As with George Floyd, the impressions created by the first videos released to the public were misleading and highly inflammatory. In considering the facts that follow, ask yourself what you would do if you were charged with the task that faced the Kenosha police officers.

The Kenosha Police were called to a residence not to deal with a domestic dispute in which Jacob Blake was a peacemaker, but rather to arrest Blake. They were called by his girlfriend and the mother of three of his children. The Wisconsin Department of Justice, which is investigating the shooting, writes:

Kenosha Police Department officers were dispatched to a residence in the 2800 block of 40th Street after a female caller reported that her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises.

That same female had made a complaint against Blake about four months ago that led to the issuance of a warrant for his arrest. Cited in the warrant were her allegations of trespass, domestic abuse, and sexual assault. There were some stark parallels to the situation facing the KPD in the current instance that led to Blake's shooting:

On May 3, 2020 Kenosha Police Officer Raiche, in full uniform and operating marked squad#3343, responded to 2805 40th Street Unit D, City and County of Kenosha, state of Wisconsin for a report of an ex-boyfriend who had broken into the residence and stole vehicle keys, a vehicle and a debit card from the victim before fleeing. (snip) LNB stated she was upset but collected herself and ran after the defendant out the front door and then realized her vehicle was missing. LNB ran back inside to her purse, which was on the kitchen counter and checked it, quickly realizing her key to her truck (Ford Explorer 2002), a black individual key and the only key for the vehicle and her Great Lakes Debit Card were missing.

Compare this situation in May with the undisputed facts released by the Kenosha Professional Police Association (the union representing the cops):

The officers were dispatched to the location due to a complaint that Mr. Blake was attempting to steal the caller's keys/vehicle.

Officers were aware of Mr. Blake's open warrant for felony sexual assault (3rd degree) before they arrived on scene.

Mr. Blake was not breaking up a fight between two females when officers arrived on scene.

The silver SUV seen in the widely circulated video was not Mr. Blake's vehicle.

Mr. Blake was not unarmed. He was armed with a knife. The officers did not see the knife initially. The officers first saw him holding the knife while they were on the passenger side of the vehicle. The "main" video circulating on the internet shows Mr. Blake with the knife in his left hand when he rounds the front of the car. The officers issued repeated commands for Mr. Blake to drop the knife. He did not comply.

unarmed. He was armed with a knife. The officers did not see the knife initially. The officers first saw him holding the knife while they were on the passenger side of the vehicle. The "main" video circulating on the internet shows Mr. Blake with the knife in his left hand when he rounds the front of the car. The officers issued repeated commands for Mr. Blake to drop the knife. He did not comply. The officers initially tried to speak with Mr. Blake, but he was uncooperative.

The officers then began issuing verbal commands to Mr. Blake, but he was non-complaint.

The officers next went "hands-on" with Mr. Blake, so as to gain compliance and control.

Mr. Blake actively resisted the officers' attempt to gain compliance.

The officers then disengaged and drew their tasers, issuing commands to Mr. Blake that he would be tased if he did not comply.

Based on his non-compliance, one officer tased Mr. Blake. The taser did not incapacitate Mr. Blake.

incapacitate Mr. Blake. The officers once more went "hands-on" with Mr. Blake; again, trying to gain control of the escalating situation.

Mr. Blake forcefully fought with the officers, including putting one of the officers in a headlock.

A second taser (from a different officer than had deployed the initial taser) was then deployed on Mr. Blake. It did not appear to have any impact on him.

Based on the inability to gain compliance and control after using verbal, physical and less-lethal means, the officers drew their firearms.

Mr. Blake continued to ignore the officers' commands, even with the threat of lethal force now present.

So what should the officers have done, confronted with Blake, armed with a deadly weapon and attempting to drive away the vehicle with three young children in it? The fact that he was able shrug off two tasers suggests he may have been on some mind-altering substance like methamphetamine, PCP, or angel dust. The children reasonably could be believed to be at risk in a vehicle fleeing arrest.

Steve Sailer alleges:

Five years earlier, Blake had been involved in a similar resisting-arrest incident in which, after pulling a gun in a bar dispute, he was pulled over and charged the police. Back then, it turned out that he did have a gun in his SUV.

The officer who shot Blake, Rusten Shesky, perhaps should have stopped with one shot. Certainly, seven shots seems like a lot. But Blake had already demonstrated his ability to remain a threat after being tased twice and had physically overcome officers, escaping a headlock. With a deadly weapon at hand, the risks to the officer and the children were not insignificant.

One final note: The woman who swore out the complaint against Blake that led to the warrant for his arrest, the mother of three of his children who in her complaint "stated she and the defendant have three children together but have never resided together in the eight years they have been on and off," is named Laquisha N. Booker (LNB in the warrant). Now that she is represented by Benjamin Crump and will be suing Kenosha for damages, she is calling herself his "fiance."

Hat tip: David Paulin

Photo credit: YouTube screen grab.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29

Trend:

On 26 August 2020 the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Valdai International Discussion Club held an online conference on the topic "Opportunities of Russia and Central Asian States in Afghanistan".

Leading experts from Russia and Central Asian countries took part in the online discussion.

On the Russian side - diplomats, scientists, and researchers representing the Valdai International Discussion Club, the Center for East Asian and SCO Studies, the Institute for International Studies of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Russian Council on International Affairs attended the event.

The expert community of CA countries was represented by leading analysts from the Kazakhstan Council on International Relations, the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the National Institute for Strategic Studies of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Center for Strategic Research under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Information and Analytical Center for International Relations and the University of World Economy and Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.

During the event, a thorough exchange of views took place on the prospects for the development of the situation in Afghanistan, issues of strengthening cooperation between Russia and the Central Asian countries in the field of regional security, the processes of peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan and the countrys integration into regional trade and economic ties were discussed.

Speaking at the conference, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Akramjon Nematov noted that the establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan, its economic recovery are of key importance for ensuring the security and sustainable development of the vast Eurasian space.

The expert emphasized that there is no alternative to resolving the situation in Afghanistan through political dialogue and the implementation of an inclusive peace process by the Afghans themselves and under the leadership of the Afghans themselves.

At the same time, the International Conference on Afghanistan, held in March 2018 in Tashkent at the initiative of the presidents of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Ashraf Ghani, served as an important political basis for launching the process of a political settlement in this country. The Tashkent Declaration, adopted at the end of the conference, consolidated a comprehensive consensus at the regional and global levels on the need for an early start of direct inter-Afghan negotiations, became a kind of strategy for further peacebuilding in Afghanistan.

Akramjon Nematov pointed to the fundamental importance of comprehensive support from the international community for a continuous and progressive process of peaceful intra-Afghan negotiations to achieve long-term and sustainable peace in Afghanistan.

A major step forward in a peaceful, inclusive negotiation process was the signing of the Peace Agreement between the US and the Taliban in Doha in February this year, which provided a historic chance to end the 40-year war in Afghanistan and reaffirmed the impossibility of solving the Afghan problem by military means.

In turn, Andrey Bystritsky, Chairman of the Council of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai International Discussion Club, expressed a conceptual vision of the processes in Afghanistan through the prism of the interests of Russia and the Central Asian states.

They noted the need to continue the consolidated international and regional support to Afghanistan in restoring the economy of this country so that it can firmly stand on the tracks of peaceful development in the post-conflict period.

Considering economic development as an indispensable condition for ensuring sustainable and long-term peace in Afghanistan, the experts stressed the importance of developing a broad international program for the post-war reconstruction of Afghanistan.

In this regard, the participants of the online meeting supported the efforts of the countries of the region to develop trade and economic cooperation with Afghanistan, including through the implementation of infrastructure projects, creating favorable conditions for the expansion of border trade, air, road and rail freight traffic.

It was noted that it is precisely the strengthening of transport, communication and trade and economic interaction with Afghanistan that can significantly enhance the opportunities for the development of transregional cooperation, create favorable conditions for the launch and implementation of joint projects in this country in the field of energy, trade, agriculture, education, and culture.

The conference participants were unanimous in the opinion that joint programs for the economic development of Afghanistan will become a powerful driver for strengthening sustainable development, and shared prosperity in Eurasia, and can serve as a factor in building consensus between stakeholders on the need to achieve long-term peace in Afghanistan.

In general, the virtual meeting was held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere, allowed the participants of the event to exchange views and develop agreed approaches bth in promoting the long-awaited peace in Afghanistan and restoring the countrys peaceful economy.

The Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Valdai International Discussion Club interact within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement, in particular, exchange experts, mutually participate in events organized by the parties.

In 2019, the joint X Asian Conference of the Valdai International Discussion Club on the theme "Central Asia and Eurasia: Multilateral Cooperation in the Face of the Challenges of Global Disorder" was held in Samarkand. The event was attended by over 80 authoritative experts from 11 countries, including Uzbekistan, Russia, China, Germany, Japan, Sweden, India, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/29/2020



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Amani admits she struggles to come up with even one positive or flattering thing to say about Brett Lindsey , who married Olivia on Season 11 of the Lifetime reality series.On Wednesday night's episode of : Unfiltered, Amani, Olivia and Bennett Kirschner watched back a Season 11 clip in which Amani's husband Woody Randall revealed Brett had pulled an "Irish goodbye" at the men's bachelor party, meaning Brett suddenly left without a word.Brett admitted he had downed too much whiskey and so his options were either to throw up in front of the other grooms or take off, and he obviously chose the latter."I was skeptical of Brett and I'm still skeptical of Brett," Amani said in the footage. "Is he just going to get up and leave from his marriage?"On Unfiltered hosted by Season 1 MAFS alum Jamie Otis , Amani laughed at the clip."Amani, what makes you so skeptical about Brett?" Jamie asked.Amani cracked up laughing again and replied, "I just think Brett has a different way of approaching situations and the way that he uses his..."Amani trailed off and began laughing again, before she blurted out about Brett, "I don't even know how to say nice things about him!""He made multiple people feel uncomfortable just at the start, before he even met his wife," Amani elaborated."And then he left [the bachelor party] and blamed it on being drunk. We were all drunk at our bachelorette party, like, that wasn't a good enough excuse for me."Jamie then asked Olivia to share her thoughts on Amani's skepticism about Brett."At this point in time, I'm just trying to get to know Brett and navigate who she is," Olivia shared."And there's times when I feel a little skeptical about him and there's times when I'm remembering that I'm married to him and trying to work through this and just really figuring out and dive in and go in 100 percent."At the bachelor party, Brett flirtatiously asked a waitress to call him and then squeezed himself onto a bench next to Henry Rodriguez 's pretty friend Kristin before peppering her with inappropriate questions about why she claimed to be "just friends" with Henry when Henry "has great taste" in women."You don't know me," Kristin told Brett out of frustration at one point."Well, tell me more," Brett pleaded.Jamie therefore asked Olivia, "Knowing what you know now, does it seem like Brett left some details out of his story?""Oh yeah, I think Brett 100 percent left out a lot of details," Olivia admitted."The only thing when I asked about how the bachelor party was, [he said], 'Oh, it was a good time. I did this big 'Irish goodbye.' He left out a lot of details -- a lot."Given Bennett spent time with Brett at the bachelor party and subsequent group gatherings during the honeymoon stage of the experiment in Cancun, Mexico, Jamie asked if he had picked up on this skepticism about Brett."You know, at this point, I don't really know Brett. I don't really have enough information to really make a judgment on that yet," Bennett acknowledged."But my impulse is skeptical, for sure."Brett gave off a playboy vibe early on in the season, when he claimed he had dated about 45 women prior to being matched with Olivia for Season 11.During their honeymoon, when Olivia asked her husband to open up about his dating history, Brett wasn't exactly humble or gentle in his delivery.Brett bragged about using multiple dating apps to efficiently have a "massive pool" of women to choose from, and he even revealed he had a date with a woman a few days before the MAFS experts informed him he's engaged.Amani said on the August 19 episode of Unfiltered Brett came across as "arrogant" and "rude" during his conversation with Olivia."Like, he's proud of being a serial dater. It's gross ," Amani added at the time.But Brett insisted on Unfiltered last month his actions at the bachelor party were insignificant."You know, the fact that I drank a bit and flirted at my bachelor party -- if that's the worst thing I've done, I'm a pretty good person ," Brett told Jamie."It's not like anything happened," he added. " I didn't do anything wrong ... If you can't have fun at your bachelor party, there's something wrong with you, not me."Although Brett's behavior set off some red flags for his castmates, expert Pastor Calvin Roberson had his back after the first couple of Season 11 episodes aired."I still think Brett's a good guy and he had good intentions, and he's in this for the right reasons," Pastor Cal said on a previous broadcast of Unfiltered. "I believe all you can do is just move forward, you know, and be better."On 's latest eleventh-season episode, Olivia and Brett got into a disagreement over how to spend their money when Olivia makes significantly more money.Olivia said she asked for a husband with whom to travel and enjoy dining experiences with as well as sporting events, but Brett is more focused on staying home to save for retirement and put money into his home.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group
The Russian navy conducted major war games near Alaska involving dozens of ships and aircraft, the military said Friday (local time), the biggest such drills in the area since Soviet times.

Russias navy chief, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, said that more than 50 warships and about 40 aircraft were taking part in the exercise in the Bering Sea, which involved multiple practice missile launches.

We are holding such massive drills there for the first time ever, Mr Yevmenov said in a statement released by the Russian Defense Ministry.

It wasnt immediately clear when the exercises began or if they had finished.

Russia's Varyag missile cruiser fires a cruise missile as part of the Russian navy manoeuvres in the Bering Sea. Source: AP

We are building up our forces

Mr Yevmenov emphasised that the war games are part of Russias efforts to boost its presence in the Arctic region and protect its resources.

We are building up our forces to ensure the economic development of the region, he said. We are getting used to the Arctic spaces.

The Russian military has rebuilt and expanded numerous facilities across the polar region in recent years, revamping runways and deploying additional air defence assets.

Russia has prioritised boosting its military presence in the Arctic region, which is believed to hold up to one-quarter of the Earths undiscovered oil and gas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited estimates that put the value of Arctic mineral riches at US$30 trillion.

A cruise missile is launched from a submarine during Russian navy drills in the Bering Sea near Alaska. Source: AP

Russias Pacific Fleet, whose assets were taking part in the manoeuvres, said the Omsk nuclear submarine and the Varyag missile cruiser launched cruise missiles at a practice target in the Bering Sea as part of the exercise.

The manoeuvres also saw Onyx cruise missiles being fired at a practice target in the Gulf of Anadyr from the coast of the Chukchi Peninsula, it added.

As the exercise was ongoing, US military spotted a Russian submarine surfacing near Alaska on Thursday (local time).

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US Northern Command spokesman Bill Lewis noted that the Russian military exercise is taking place in international waters, well outside US territory.

Lewis said the North American Aerospace Defense Command and US Northern Command were closely monitoring the submarine.

Russian state RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russias Pacific Fleet sources as saying that the surfacing of the Omsk nuclear submarine was routine.

Russian warships take part in manoeuvres in the Bering Sea. Source: AP

Also late Thursday (local time), NORAD sent F-22 fighter jets to intercept three groups of two Tu-142 Russian maritime patrol aircraft that came close to Alaska.

The Russian aircraft remained in the area for about five hours and came within 50 nautical miles of Alaska.

Its a signal that we arent asleep

Officials said the Russian jets remained in international air space, and at no time entered United States or Canadian sovereign air space.

Our northern approaches have had an increase in foreign military activity as our competitors continue to expand their military presence and probe our defences, General Glen D. VanHerck, commander of NORAD, said in a statement.

This year, weve conducted more than a dozen intercepts, the most in recent years. The importance of our continued efforts to project air defence operations in and through the north has never been more apparent.

It cited former Russian navys chief of staff, retired Adm. Viktor Kravchenko, as saying that by having the submarine surface in the area the navy may have wanted to send a deliberate signal.

Its a signal that we arent asleep and we are wherever we want, RIA Novosti quoted Mr Kravchenko as saying.

The Russian navy has conducted massive war games near Alaska involving dozens of ships and aircraft, the biggest such drills in the area since Soviet times. Source: AP

The presence of Russian military assets in the area caused a stir for US commercial fishing vessels in the Bering Sea on Wednesday (local time).

We were notified by multiple fishing vessels that were operating out the Bering Sea that they had come across these vessels and were concerned, US Coast Guard spokesman Kip Wadlow said.

The Coast Guard contacted the Alaskan Command at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, which confirmed the ships were there as part of a pre-planned Russian military exercise that was known to some US military officials, he said.

The Russian military has expanded the number and the scope of its war games in recent years as Russia-West relations have sunk to their lowest level since the Cold War after Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, and other crises.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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The first thing we do, lets reboot all the lawyers.

No, thats not really how the line from Shakespeares Henry VI, Part 2 goes, but it came to mind when I read a Wall Street Journal special section on artificial intelligence and encountered the article Would You Trust A Lawyer Bot?

According to the Journal, numerous startup tech companies are churning out apps and digital services that horn in on routine procedures typically performed by flesh-and-blood, bar-exam-passing lawyers. These tasks include generating lease agreements and nondisclosure agreements, canceling unwanted subscriptions, getting compensation from airlines and settling which rider shouted Shotgun. first. (On the last one, the algorithm usually places disproportionate weight on Which one has beer money?)

The Latin legal phrase res ipsa loquitur (the thing speaks for itself) has never been more apt.

(Watch out for the day when the artificial intelligence decides, Hey, we keep using all these phrases from a dead language. Somebody must have killed it. Do I hear a negligence suit coming on? Ka-ching.)

Isnt the 21st century wild? Were suddenly embracing companies that help the little guy file personal-injury lawsuits using software that has no understanding of little guys, persons or injuries. (Thats a lie. I know all about injuries. Candy Crush and Angry Birds keep hogging all the random-access memory on the phone.)

Remember back in school, when you made fun of the bookworms who just regurgitated facts? Now we bow down to computer programs that  regurgitate facts. (Yeah, it regurgitates facts, but it regurgitates them so cheaply. And doesnt narc about wedgies.)

If the apps are going to be as eager-to-please as Siri and Alexa, youll have to tell all your friends to take the precaution of turning them off around you. (I waited for you at the wrong restaurant. So, sue me. Wow. That subpoena was fast.)

I, for one, will miss the human touch of picking up on nuances and context. Go to an app with a complaint of My boss gave me the shaft, and youre likely to hear the mellifluous tones of Isaac Hayes singing, Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother, man? Can ya dig it?

Theres still something to be said for the benefits of living, breathing lawyers. The attorney who prepared my mothers will was aided by the fact that he has known the family for years. In this era of the internet of things, Im not sure I want my virtual lawyer knowing so much about me. (My friend the water heater tells me youve been taking awfully long showers. And, oh, the stories your electric scales could  and do  tell  )

Is society ready for automated ambulance chasers that can declare, If I can just get Wifi to connect, Ill stop that ambulance ahead, dead in its tracks.?

Can you imagine the impact on history if wed employed these apps earlier? (Before I deliver my summation on the evils of school segregation, lets enjoy a few pop-up ads.)

Yes, automated legal services are a boon for people who have been genuinely wronged but cant afford to seek redress through the traditional legal system.

But do we really want every Tom, Dick and Harry emboldened to sue? (I am offended that the word frivolous begins with an f instead of a ph. Lets take Merriam-Webster to the cleaners.)

Danny Tyree can be reached at tyreetyrades@aol.com
Elon Musk has demonstrated a working brain-computer interface that he hopes will allow "human-AI symbiosis".

During a live event held by his neurotechnology startup Neuralink, Mr Musk showed off a chip that had been implanted directly into a pig's brain.

The billionaire entrepreneur, who also heads up SpaceX and Tesla, has previously warned that humans risk being overtaken by artificial intelligence within the next five years.

Early applications of Neuralink's technology will be in treating brain disorders and diseases, with Mr Musk saying it would "solve important brain and spine problems with a seamlessly implanted device."

Its ultimate potential is almost limitless, he claimed, with one example being the capability to summon a self-driving Tesla telepathically.

"You could solve blindness, you could solve paralysis, you could solve hearing," he said.

"In the future you'll be able to save and replay memories. This is increasingly sounding like a Black Mirror episode... Ultimately you could download them into a new body or a robot body."

Elon Musk said the Neuralink device would replace a piece of skull without causing any lasting damage to the brain (Neuralink)

The device is "about the size of a coin" and can replace a piece of the skull.

"It's kind of like a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires," he said. "I could have a Neuralink right now and you wouldn't even know. Maybe I do."

It features an all-day battery life and would be able to connect directly to a wearer's smartphone, Musk claimed.

Unlike a prototype version displayed during Neuralink's 2019 event, the latest iteration is completely wireless and charges using induction.

When the latest version was tested on a pig it was able to read the animal's brain activity, while causing no lasting damage to the pig's brain.

Mr Musk said Neuralink is on a major recruitment drive to make the device scaleable, with more than a dozen job listings currently posted on its website.

There was no mention of when the device will be commercially available, though its price may be not much more than a high-end smartphone.

"At first it's going to be quite expensive but that will rapidly drop," Musk said. "I think we want to get the price down to a few thousand dollars."
Keep calm and carry on.

This statement seems to be more true this year than ever before. Its also important to pivot as new information emerges daily about what we should and shouldnt do, along with what we must and mustnt do.

You could say that this year has taught us (or better yet  maybe just reinforced) some mighty fine lessons.

Wash your hands and keep your distance, respect other peoples ideas and opinions, be kind, take a step back to prioritize what is important, be flexible and just keep going.

Hopefully, you have been able to pick back up and participate in some of the things that make you happy and allow you to feel fulfilled.

Weve highlighted in the past some advice on keeping your dogs bowl full. This isnt about his actual food bowl. It refers to his activities, his passions and encouraging him to simply be a dog.

This might mean taking him for a walk, allowing him to roll around in the mud, play a game of catch, take a car ride for ice cream or root around in the tall grass letting his nose lead the way.

Humans need this too  more so the ice cream part and less the rolling around in the mud part  but you get the idea. Dont cut yourself short of simply living.

I can think of a good way to get outside, enjoy the sunshine, feel the beat of a live band, drink a cold beverage and eat a juicy burger, while taking a chance at getting some raffle prizes and silent auction items and last, but not least, viewing dozens of amazing cars at this weekends Third Annual Wags & Wheels Car Show.

From noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, we invite you to come to Thunderbowl, 1900 Madison Ave., for this amazing fundraising event. While the car registrations are full and we will not be able to accept any new registrations at the event, all the fun is still available for the taking. In fact, being an event attendee brings you the best of both worlds.

You get to see all the amazing vehicles and enjoy all the other activities and there is no charge (except for purchasing food, drinks and raffle tickets).

If parking is no longer available at the event site, overflow parking is available at East Side Christian Church, 331 W. Bennett Ave., which is just down the short access road from the entrance to the Thunderbowl.

An air conditioned, comfortable shuttle will transport you directly to the car show to enjoy all the fun. The shuttle will run from 11 a.m. to shortly after 4 p.m.

McCoys Bar & Grill will offer food and drink specials and Radio Pilot will entertain with a variety of tunes sure to keep your toes tapping. Adoptable animals will be on-site and at our building, with adoption specials today and tomorrow of $25 adult cats (over 1 year of age), adopt one kitten for $120 and bring home a friend for FREE and dogs (over 1 year of age) can be adopted for $75.

Platinum sponsors for the event are Sherry Bills-Taylor and Anne Hawk; Gold Sponsors are Urgent Pet Care and Council Bluffs Veterinary Clinic; Silver Sponsors are Leslie and John Southard, Wolf Brothers Western Store & Boots for Less and Paddington Station; Bronze Sponsors are Clear Title & Abstract, Arrow Towing Company and Law Offices of Gallner & Pattermann.

The MHS Gala 2020 Vision is now less than three weeks away. This event has gone virtual, so you can enjoy it from your office chair, Lazy Boy recliner, the comfort of your bed or following along during a sporting event. We encourage you to log on and register for the event at midlandshumanesociety.org/events or text MHS Gala2020 to 243-725 (registration is FREE) as its open now and if you register by Sept. 11 at 5 p.m., you will be entered to win a $100 Visa Card.

By registering for the event, you will have the opportunity to bid on amazing silent and live auction items during the week prior to the event.

On the night of the livestreamed event which is Sept. 18 starting at 7 p.m., you can tune in to learn more about MHS, hear from amazing donors and supporters, meet staff and adoptable animals and be inspired with heartwarming stories of animal transformations before and after their adoptions and how they are living their best lives. Stay tuned for more information.

MHS Animals of the Week:

Spartacus is a 5-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair who is FIV positive but can still live a happy, normal life.

Apollo is a 1.5-year-old neutered male shorthair who is looking to keep you busy playing.

Roland is a 6-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair who would love another chance at a happy home.

Quincy is a 5-year-old neutered male Australian Shepherd/Great Pyrenees mix who arrived as a stray.

He is a happy go lucky guy who also happens to be blind, but his lack of vision does not slow him down.

He loves to play and is an excellent snuggler and we think would be a great addition to almost any home.

A family with experience with blind dogs would be ideal, as he will need a patient owner who can help him acclimate to his new home and other new situations.

Quincy gets along with most other playful dogs and would love a dog friend in his new home that can show him the ropes.

We think he would do well with kids who can understand his disability and be patient with him. He does require a fenced yard and is not suitable for apartment living.

We are open Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and through the week from noon to 6 p.m.
Another 14 coronavirus cases have been reported in New South Wales, as the Sydney cluster which began at a CBD gym continues to spread.

Only one case was linked to a returned traveller in hotel quarantine and eight have been linked to the growing CBD cluster from the City Tattersalls Club gym.

Two popular sports clubs, Mosman Rowers in Sydney's north and Randwick Golf Club, have also been put on alert as contact tracers scramble to contain the outbreak.

Aged care homes in Sydney and the NSW Central Coast will also be shut off from visitors for 14 days to stop COVID-19 spreading to vulnerable residents.

New South Wales recorded 14 new coronavirus cases on Friday and only one case was linked to a returned traveller in hotel quarantine (pictured, people wearing masks in Sydney on Friday)

Eight cases were linked to the growing City Tattersalls Club gym (pictured) cluster in the CBD and anyone who attended the gym between August 4 and 18 has been urged to get tested

Ten of the new cases were linked to a known cluster and three remain under investigation, while the city cluster officially grew to 23 cases.

Two new cases are also household contacts linked to Liverpool Hospital.

NSW Health are treating 67 cases of COVID-19, with six people in intensive care and four who are ventilated

NSW Health have also asked anyone who attended the City Tattersalls gym between August 4 and August 18 to get tested and isolate at home.

The growing coronavirus cluster sparked an alert from NSW Health on Friday night.

Aged care homes in Sydney and the NSW Central Coast will also be shut off from visitors for 14 days to stop the spread of COVID-19 (pictured, coronavirus testing in Sydney)

NSW (Premier Gladys Berejiklian pictured) have recorded a total of 3,844 coronavirus cases

'As a precaution NSW Health is extending existing visitor restrictions by strongly advising people who live or work in the Greater Sydney metropolitan area and Central Coast to refrain from visiting aged care facilities until 12 September,' the alert said.

That means no visits on Fathers' Day on September 6.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the growing cluster linked to the City Tattersalls Club gym was proof how quickly virus outbreaks can spiral out of control.

'It highlights how quickly COVID-19 can spread in the sense we have a seeding event, its amplification and then that has seeded other workplaces and lead to exposure in the community to a number of venues that we have announced,' she said.

Pedestrians wearing face masks walk around the eastern side of Circular Quay on August 23

A man wears a face mask and a face shield inside the lobby of the Travelodge Hotel in Surry Hills on Tuesday

Meanwhile NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller established a committee to crack down on quarantine hotels and security guards after more than 350 quarantine guests at Sydney's Travelodge were moved to another city hotel.

'I have set up a new committee that will audit not just the security guards but they will also audit the hotels in terms of the cleanliness and the cleaning, and the sorts of briefings that hotel staff are getting,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

The move came after two security guards contracted coronavirus and Mr Fuller said 12 security guards had already been sacked from the hotel quarantine program.

Dr Chant has also allowed private school sporting competitions to resume from Saturday.

GPS private schools will be able to hold events after rules limiting all sport to public zones were relaxed but they will still have to adhere to strict COVID-safe guidelines, with spectators banned from attending.

The Sydney CBD cluster linked to the gym at City Tattersalls club is now sitting at 23 (Cleaners at the club pictured)

NSW Health said the new coronavirus cases had visited locations in Mosman, St Ives and Rosebery and urged anyone who attended at the same time to monitor for symptoms.

The Archie Bear cafe at popular Mosman Rowers on August 24 between 11am and 12pm and Tuesday 25 August 9:00am to 9.30am

A post office, Rosebery Post Shop, south of Sydney's CBD, was also put on alert after an infected person visited, as well as St Ives Shopping Centre, in north Sydney.

Sydneysiders have been urged to avoid aged care homes, wear a mask and continue to practice social distancing.
On one hand, Reliance announced a new acquisition while on the other hand, Google Pay starts testing NFC-based payment with a wider audience.

It was an eventful day in the world of tech. On one hand, Reliance announced a new acquisition while on the other hand, Google Pay starts testing NFC-based payment with a wider audience. Elon Musk plants computer chips in animals and Apple terminates Epic Games developer accounts.

We also reviewed Quantum 400 gaming headphone, JBLs first gaming headphone in India.

So, here is everything that made headlines in tech today:

JBL Quantum 400 gaming headphone review: A promising first attempt

Considering this is JBLs first move in the gaming headphone industry, one can say it is a rather safe and carefully taken step instead of a bold and risky one. Heres the review.

Apple terminates Epics developer account after Fortnite fee clash: Here's what it means

Apple Inc. said it terminated Epic Gamess App Store developer account in the midst of a legal battle over the iPhone makers in-app-purchase rules. The Cupertino, California-based technology giant had recently threatened to do this after Epic added an option for users of its Fortnite video game to pay Epic directly for in-game upgrades. Epic Games CEO however, says that Apple had an option to keep or remove the courts decision and it chose to remove.

This Android security bug let malicious apps siphon off private user data

A security vulnerability was discovered in Android that could have allowed malicious apps to siphon off sensitive data from other apps on the device.App security startup Oversecured found the vulnerability in Googles widely used Play Core library. Play Core lats developers push in-app updates and new feature modules to the Android apps like language packs or game levels, reports TechCrunch.

Three little pigs: Musk's Neuralink puts computer chips in animal brains

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's neuroscience startup Neuralink on Friday unveiled a pig named Gertrude that has had a coin-sized computer chip in its brain for two months, showing off an early step toward the goal of curing human diseases with the same type of implant. This tech aims to help cure neurological conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia and spinal cord injuries and ultimately fuse humankind with artificial intelligence.

Google Pay tests NFC-based payment feature, rolls out to wider audience

Although the announcement of this feature was made in Google for India 2019, the firm has made a couple of support pages live that tells people how to get on board with the new payment option. In a separate statement, Google has even confirmed the feature rollout to HT Tech and that it has partnered with Axis Bank and SBI bank for now.

Apple to pay $9.75 million to settle over Powerbeats 2 design defect

Apple has agreed to settle the dispute over the design flaw that was plaguing the Powerbeats 2 headphones. The settlement is going to be handled out of court. According to reports, while the company did not admit that there was an issue with the design of the 2014 Powerbeats 2, they have said it is easier, and cheaper, to settle out of court. Apple has agreed to pay $9.75 million to settle this issue.

Apple may soon take on Google with its own search engine

Apple might be working on launching its own search engine and according to reports there are several clues online that support the possibility including job announcements for search engineers. Apple is looking to create its Spotlight Search to take on Google Search with iOS 14 beta. Reports have it that Google pays billions of dollars to Apple to remain their default search engine on iOS, macOS and iPadOS.

Reliance Retail acquires retail and wholesale business from the Future Group

Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL) has announced that it will be acquiring the Retail & Wholesale business and the Logistics & Warehousing business from the Future Group. Besides this Reliance Retail and Fashion Lifestyle Limited (RRFLL) plans to invest 1,200 crore in the preferential issue of equity shares of FEL.
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
A newly wedded couple march in the National Chicano Moratorium in East Los Angeles on Aug. 29, 1970. (Sal Castro / Los Angeles Public Library)

To the editor: The Chicano Moratorium was indeed an inflection point in the consciousness among Mexican Americans of their place in America. It certainly was for me on that infamous day in East Los Angeles on Aug. 29, 1970.

I was invited to the East L.A. home of filmmaker Jesus Trevino, a friend I knew from Occidental College, to use it as a base from which to join the march against the Vietnam War and its high death count for Chicanos. East L.A. was composed of modest homes in a peaceful and quiet community, with small businesses along Whittier Boulevard.

I arrived late due to a car problem, but when I got there, I witnessed nothing less than a full-blown assault on the community by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. It was a police riot, not a civilian disturbance. Squad cars were careening at high speeds everywhere; police helicopters were swooping above. The local school grounds were filled with yet more squad cars, armored trucks and helicopters in waiting, as if an invasion had been planned. Fires and smoke choked the air. Broken glass was everywhere on the streets. Residents were hiding in fear in their own homes.

It became a national day of shameful overreaction by law enforcement. It made me fully realize that we Chicanos were not respected or treated justly. The injustice and inequity continue to this day.

Walter Dominguez, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: Fresh out of serving two years in the Army, I participated in the Chicano Moratorium on that fateful day in 1970. Early in my Army training, I learned U.S. intelligence had done its homework.

One day our company was called out and made to listen to several men in suits, not military, telling us of radical movements in the Los Angeles area and that if necessary, we would be deployed to restore order in the community. The maps they displayed showed familiar streets  Whittier Boulevard, Arizona Avenue, 1st Street and others.

It all seemed hypothetical. Little did I know that the military and the government were ready to act against the Chicano movement.

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I was proud to walk that day with the rest of my brothers and sisters to fight against inequality and injustice, but more importantly to help stop sending Chicanos to Vietnam, where far too many died away from their home.

I am a proud veteran who has made a lifetime commitment to the Chicano cause.

Frank Medina, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: My memories of Aug. 29, 1970, are vivid.

People were marching peacefully along Whittier Boulevard. There were parents with strollers and shoppers with their bags who joined spontaneously.

We were interrupted at the park by baton-wielding police, penned in by buses that had transported supporters from out of state. There was tear gas.

I was 16. I learned much more that day than I ever would from a textbook. Thank goodness for today's Black Lives Matter supporters.

Evelyn Torres-Rangel, San Gabriel

..

To the editor: During the Chicano Moratorium I was a young legal aid lawyer working in East L.A., and I was one of several legal observers for the march.

The march and rally were filled with families enjoying the sunny afternoon. Suddenly, riot police started moving toward the crowd. Before the officers moved in, there was no sign of any disruption, but with the movement of the officers, the people on the outer edge of the crowd started throwing bottles and rocks.

I realized that the bottles were flying over my head, so I ran to get out of the way. I went to my office, suffering from the tear gas. We lawyers spent that night helping get demonstrators out of jail. I didn't get home until the next afternoon.

That day is etched firmly in my memory. I have continued working with the community as a legal aid lawyer ever since.

Thank you for bringing these memories back.

Toby Rothschild, Westminster
In the five days since in-person fall classes resumed, 607 University of Iowa students in Iowa City have tested positive for COVID-19. The outbreak at the university, which enrolls more than 30,000 students and has 30,000 employees, mirrors similar situations at universities across the United States, including the University of Alabama and the University of North Carolina.

University of Iowa students who contract the virus can either choose to quarantine at home or in isolated rooms on campus. Over 50 students, according to the university, are currently isolating in on-campus housing.

Blaming students for the outbreak, the university has threatened to sanction those who fail to maintain safe practices off campus. The school is relying on students to report each other for violations in an effort to deal with the increased number of positive cases. The rapid increase in cases has little to do with students behavior off campus and instead is the results of the bipartisan drive to reopen the economy as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage.

A professor at the University of Iowa spoke to the World Socialist Web Site about the inadequate classroom protections provided by the administration. The school only moved the professors class to online learning after they applied for a health waiver. This decision may have prevented a further spread as one of their students has already contracted COVID-19. If my class had been in person, which is what the university wanted, this would have exposed over 20 students to the virus, the professor noted.

Despite the risks involved for students and staff alike, the administration has asked teachers not to tell students if one of their peers is sick with coronavirus. The professor continued, Now we are seeing photos of desks close together. The university is sending out emails claiming its the students responsibility to maintain social distance and the university has no ability to enforce the CDCs guidelines beyond individual choice.

Grade schools and high schools also opened this month for in-person instruction in Iowa, with the state government implementing a 15 percent positive test rate among the student body before schools would be shut down. The University of Iowa has no such threshold. Johnson County, in which Iowa City is located, has been above a 15 percent positive test rate for the past 5 days, exceeding 33 percent on Friday. The website CovidActNow.Org reported Friday that Iowa now has highest number of daily new cases per capita in the US.

Darrell, a truck driver whose son attends high school in Iowa City, told the WSWS, this whole thing is messed up; the governor clearly does not have the peoples best interest in mind. Why else would she insist its okay to restart in-person learning in the midst of everything going right now? Our numbers have skyrocketed, and they think the numbers will not go even higher once they reopen schools?

They do not care how many people get sick and die; they only care about making sure we keep making them money. They dont even try to hide it; their policies show. We are not valuable to them. We are treated like cash cows. I am not sending my son to be herded in an unsafe environment; he cannot learn if he is dead.

As of August 26, 2020, according to the Iowa State Department of Public Health, there have been 58,019 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,062 residents have died from the virus. Both figures are widely believed to be an undercount. Out of the total cases, 4,015 cases are children (ages 017), 27,703 adult cases ages (4160), 16,658 older adult cases ages (6180), and 7,366 elderly cases ages (81+).

While children represent the smallest share of positive cases, the fact that there are thousands of cases is further evidence that disproves the unscientific theory that children are immune from the virus. On August 24, Iowa reported its first death of a child due to COVID-19. The death of the five-year-old was reported months after the childs passing.

Even as COVID-19 cases surge, the residents of Johnson County are also dealing with the overwhelming aftermath of a derecho. Three weeks ago, winds of up to 60 miles per hour ripped through the county. The storm caused devastating damage. As of August 20, more than 19,000 people have been left without power.

The lack of advanced warning caused food and other essential supplies to run short, leaving many people without the basics. Iowa City has a poverty rate of 28 percent and a median income of $21,515; very few residents have enough resources to cover the latest shock that has set so many residents back.

The derecho will cost the county $6.1 million for cleanup and repairs, including damage to buildings and roofs; fallen trees blocked several roads. While assessments and repairs continue, many families have had to stay in homeless shelters and, as school starts, many families have been left without access to the internet.

According to reports, students and workers in Iowa City have had to gather in the few places with internet connections to prepare for the semester, which could be a factor in a sudden increase in cases.

The evidence is clear: COVID-19 is a deadly virus which spreads quickly wherever large number of people gather and does not care about its victims age, gender, or racial background; all are susceptible to catching the virus and possibly dying. The government of Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has done nothing to stem the flood of positive COVID-19 cases; in fact, the push to reopen schools is ensuring that infection rates and deaths will increase throughout the state.
East Container Terminal: India should succeed View(s):

Sri Lanka is likely to go ahead with the arrangement between the Indian terminal operator Adani and partner Japan in the best interests of all parties.

India and Japan are parties to a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) signed with the Sri Lanka Government in March 2019 in a bid to run the East Container Terminal (ECT) on a 49/51 shareholding respectively.

While Colombo Port was marred with protests by trade unions with nationalistic mindsets this time however some of the placards that went up against the handover of the ECT were mainly part of an orchestrated drama and pre-election stunt, informed sources said.

The government is likely to go ahead with the signing of the ECT terminal operations with the related parties as planned and as revealed in a Cabinet paper that stated the government will go ahead with the MOC entered into but on the request that Japan joins as an investment partner.

Sources indicate that India moving in would be advantageous as there could be more harmony between the two states if the MOC arrangement continues.

Further the consolidation of Indias position in the Indian Ocean is currently becoming relevant under the growing threat of Chinas monopoly in the region.

China already has a marked presence in Sri Lanka with the ability to dock even warships at the Colombo Ports Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) or even the Hambantota Port; sources say indicating that India feels that no kind of assurance from Sri Lanka could ease their mind of this looming threat from China. Sources alleged that there had been warships calling over from time to time.

Political sources indicate that security of the region is likely to be impacted if India does not have its way.

Adani Ports will be the terminal operator proposed by the Indian government and this would be relevant to Colombo port since Sri Lanka will be seeing further competition from Indias Kerala port in Vizhinjam which Adani has been constructing since 2015.

The Colombo Port handles a large volume of transhipment business out of which 70 per cent is headed for India. This could be lost if according to Indian sources taxes could be charged on goods that come via Colombo in future in a bid to divert more volumes to Vizhingham. This upcoming port at Vizhingham and the ECT are both deep water terminals with a draft of 18-metres that could handle some of the larger vessels crucial in todays shipping business.

Sri Lanka which has already obtained a US$400 million currency swap from the Reserve Bank of India has also requested for a further $1.1 billion currency swap that is under consideration.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had requested for this additional currency swap and asked that the Indian Prime Minister direct those responsible from Indias side to expedite construction of the east terminal of the Colombo port as soon as possible, Sri Lankan Presidents office had reportedly stated, Indias Economic Times reported in May.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had indicated their continued support to our close maritime neighbour in dealing with the pandemic and its economic impact, the report also said.

In addition, Sri Lanka will be obtaining a commercial loan of $100 million from India for solar energy and assistance is also been granted for the Northern railway line.
IMF puts on hold final disbursement of $1.5 bn bailout facility View(s):

Sri Lankas ailing economy amidst COVID-19 could further worsen as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has put on hold the final disbursement of the US$1.5 billion Extended Fund Facility.

The country could not avail of the last disbursement under the EFF, amounting to SDR118.550 million (around Rs.200 million) due to incompletion of the final review of EFF arrangement which has expired in June 2020, Masahiro Nozaki, IMF Mission Chief for Sri Lanka told the Business Times.

Responding to an email query, he pointed out that, disbursements under any Fund arrangement can only be made during the period between the date of its approval (in this case June 2016) by the IMF Board and its expiration date.

For extended arrangements under the EFF, this period cannot be longer than four years, he added.

The EFF with the IMF was extended up to early June this year following the Easter Sunday terror attack last year and thereafter the new government has deviated from the EFF programmes revenue-based consolidation strategy.

However Mr. Nozaki noted that they continue to engage with the Sri Lankan authorities and are considering the full set of options for engagement.

On financial support the IMF is assessing all relevant conditions on Sri Lankas request for a Rapid Financing Facility (RFI) worth $800 million, taking account of the new governments policies and efforts to address the daunting economic challenges posed by COVID-19, he added.

(BS)
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Joe Bidens calculation is clear: he wants to scare the hell out of America about four more years of President Trump and keep the camera, focus and media trained on his opponent, not himself.

Why it matters: Biden said this week he plans a partial return to the road after Labor Day, with targeted visits to swing states  but strictly within the guidelines of safe crowd sizes, social distancing and guidance from scientists and public health officials.

That's easier said than done, but the conventions gave him a roadmap to talk about Trump's blunders and the stakes for the nation in three areas  the pandemic, racial strife and preserving American democratic ideals.

This is on Donald Trump," said one Biden official. He cant hide from that.

What's next: In addition to some Biden travel, officials said Kamala Harris will also hit the road. And former President Barack Obama is expected to do some in-person events.

Democrats also plan to deploy some of the other convention speakers at the state level, playing on their local connections to drive interest.

The idea is to turn everyday Americans who shined during the convention into regular Biden surrogates.

Gold Star father Khizr Khan will do press calls in Virginia. Jeff Jeans, the conservative Republican critic who now says the Affordable Care Act saved his life, will be a Biden surrogate in his home state of Arizona.

Go deeper: TV ratings were down for both the RNC and DNC
If ever there was a study in contrasts on how to lose a glittering TV career, it has been in the respective departures of the ABC's Emma Alberici and Seven's Melissa Doyle from our screens.

The embers are still smoking around the bridges Alberici burned down on her way out of the ABC after her messy exit from the national broadcaster was finalised, just as Doyle was praising her bosses when her 25-year career at Seven came to an end.

Emma Alberici posted on Twitter that it was "too painful to be in the public eye".

While Alberici still has her supporters within the ABC, including Media Watch host Paul Barry who expressed as much on air last Monday, the former chief economics correspondent was not about to go quietly, two years after an article she wrote about corporate tax set off an internal firestorm at the network.

However, the jury is out on whether her tactics - such as the stream of Twitter updates she posted about her departure including accusations of bullying, political interference from the Prime Minister down and censorship - will play in her favour long term.
By Tian Dingyu and Zhang Xiao

Chinese service members engage in a tire replacement operation in the workshop crew contest under the Masters of Armored Vehicles competition on August 25th. Photo from Xinhua Agency.

MOSCOW, Aug. 28 -- The International Army Games 2020 (IAG 2020) entered its sixth day of competition on August 28. Chinese participating troops have made great achievements in various events.

At the opening ceremony of the IAG 2020 on August 23, the Chinese team got a good start in the Tank Biathlon contest on that day in Alabino, Russia. The No. 702 Type 96B tank ranked top in the first group competition of the Individual Race stage by the record of 19 minutes and 44 seconds.

On August 24 and 25, the Individual Race and Workshop Crew Contest under the Masters of Armored Vehicles contest were held at the training center for junior specialists of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation in the city of Ostrogozhsk, Voronezh Region. In the overcoming-water-obstacle event by KAMAZ-5350 transport vehicle in the Individual Race stage, Chinese participant Liu Shuai won the first place.

In the Workshop Crew Contest, it is required that the crews of the maintenance workshop need to drive vehicles through various obstacles, and complete three tasks of precise hoisting, tire replacement, and jacking up tank armor plates. As of August 27, the overall evaluation of the Chinese team's individual vehicle race and the repair group competition ranked second.

On August 26, the shooting competition of the Range Practice under the Safe Environment contest kicked off. The shooting competition consists of three shooting courses: ambush, alert, and combat reconnaissance. The two Chinese teams finished second and fourth respectively, winning second place in overall points. Chinese team member Sui Dongjing performed well and won the first place in the ambush shooting race.

Still on August 26, Chinese troops participating in the Airborne Platoon contest completed two events of the individual race on combat vehicles. The Chinese team finished second with a total time of 1 hour 5 minutes and 27 seconds, only 5 seconds left behind the Russian team. Prior to this, they had won the first place in the first event of airborne assembling and rapid march at the Kislovo Airborne Field in Russia.
Residents of Dome-Hemang in the Fanteakwa South District has appealed to the Fanteakwa South District Assembly to provide a toilet facility for the CHPs compound constructed in the area.



This came to light at a Social Auditing forum organized by the Fanteakwa South District Secretariat of the National Commission for Civic Education(NCCE) on the theme, 'Citizens for Transparency and Accountability' at Dome-Hemang in the Eastern Region.



The forum was to promote community ownership of developmental projects and policies.



Speaking at the forum, Mr Kwadwo Adu- Asare, the District Director of the NCCE, said the programme, supported by the European Union (EU) was to create awareness of the operations of the Local government and to empower the citizenry to demand accountability from duty bearers.



Mr Adu-Asare explained that social auditing was not for fault finding, but to draw the people closer to their leaders to ensure accountability and transparency in the handling of community funds and projects.



He said state institutions used social auditing to plan and measure economic activities in the various communities to ensure prudent management of financial resources.



Mr Augustine M. Bosrotsi, the Deputy Eastern Regional Director of NCCE explained that social auditing was not an event but a process towards achieving results and briefed the committee on the use of petition and lobbying in seeking support from the assembly or duty bearers.



Mr Samuel Asenso Okyere, the Assembly Member of Dome-Hemang Electoral Area applauded the NCCE and the European Union for such a great engagement, which had enabled the people to contribute to prioritize the needs of the community.

Source: GNA









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Waitrose will offer half-hour deliveries to more than half a million customers after signing a deal with Deliveroo.

The supermarket chain said that customers could expect items delivered to their home within as little as half an hour if they live in one of the areas covered by the trial starting on Tuesday.

More than 500 products will be available to be picked up with the takeaway company's drivers and delivered to doors for the 12-week trial period, which would be extended if the trial is successful.

Waitrose said that customers could expect items delivered to their home within as little as half an hour if they live in one of the areas covered by the trial starting on Tuesday (file photo)

It already offers home delivery through its website, and two-hour home delivery itself, but the new deal would add to the supermarket's ability to deliver straight to customers.

Waitrose executive director James Bailey said: 'We have laid down a marker for our future strategy with the growth of Waitrose.com and Waitrose Rapid and this gives us another opportunity to give our customers a taste of what the future of convenience shopping could look like for us.

'Our trial with Deliveroo has huge potential to give new and existing customers greater choice and flexibility for when and how they want to shop with Waitrose.'

Demand for online deliveries exploded during the lockdown months as people were advised to stay at home apart from for essential journeys.

Many chose to stay at home and order in food rather than go to the supermarket.

More than 500 products will be available to be picked up with Deliveroo's drivers and delivered to doors for the 12-week trial period (file photo)

As a result, Waitrose has expanded from offering 60,000 delivery slots a week before the pandemic to 160,000 today, and has plans to add another 90,000.

Deliveroo vice president of new business Ajay Lakhani said: 'Deliveroo's on-demand grocery services have proven vital for so many people during this difficult period, allowing families to get the items they want and need quickly without having to leave home.

'This new partnership will bring Waitrose's fantastic product range to people in as little as 30 minutes. We are excited about working with such a brilliant British brand, bringing people the food they need and want, on demand.'

The trial will be available from September 1 at Waitrose shops in Bracknell and Clifton, and from September 3 in Surbiton, Fitzroy Street (Cambridge) and Notting Hill.
Citing health reasons, Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister, PM Shinzo Abe announced that he will be stepping down from office, leaving his position years after putting Japan as the world's third-largest economy.

In his statement on Friday, Abe said that despite the remaining year on his tenure and the challenges that are still to be faced, he was resigning from office during a news conference in Tokyo. He also apologized to the Japanese people that he cannot fulfill his duties amid the pandemic.

"I cannot be prime minister if I cannot make the best decisions for the people," the 65-year-old leader stated.

According to CNN, Abe is suffering from colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that has no cure. The same disease was part of the reason that he stepped down from being prime minister in 2007 after only more than a year in office.

Based on the reports, on Monday, Abe made his second trip to the hospital this week at the Keio University Hospital in Tokyo.

Abe also stated that he has had the chronic disease under control for almost eight years, but his recent trips to the hospital since June showed that the disease had once again attacked. Thus, he had decided to end his stint as the country's prime minister and seek treatment.

After his 2007 resignation, Abe was re-elected into office in 2012. During his term, he has become a very dominant figure in politics in Japan. This also resulted in him winning his third term via landslide in 2017.

In 2019, despite several scandals and his reported declining popularity, Abe once again one the re-election.

During his rule, Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has also seen success and has fractured its political rival. The LDP is currently in control of the houses in parliament, including the high majority in the Lower House.

Several reports have predicted that Abe's successor would once again come from the LDP. Abe also stated that until a successor to his position is chose, he would remain in office.

Read also: Pentagon Calls Russian Military "Provocative and Aggressive" After Encounter with US Troops in Syria

Japan's Abenomics

In 2012, during Abe's second term, Japan's economy was stagnant for decades. This prompted Abe to launch the so-called "Abenomics," a grand experiment, which his allies credit for the countries now thriving economy. Abenomics was also hailed for boosting the investor and consumer confidence of Japan bringing it in the third spot of the world's top economies, The Inquirer reported.

Back in January, Abe stated that the country has succeeded in going through the 'wall of resignation', saying that the Japan of today is different from that of the past.

In a statement by Naohito Kojima, a 55-year-old brokerage employee, he stated that Abe worked very hard as head of the ruling party and Abenomics for eight years. He also added that despite several problems that were faced by Abenomics, he believed that no other leader except Abe could have kept the government stable.

On Monday, Abe broke the record for Japan's longest consecutive premier. The record was set by his own uncle, Eisaku Sato, 50 years ago.



Related article: North Korea State Media Releases Photos of Kim Jong Un in a Meeting Amid Comatose Rumors

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Ark Encounter opens virtual reality experience taking people 'back in time' to Noah's Ark

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The creationist theme park Ark Encounter in northern Kentucky has launched a $3 million virtual reality experience that aims to show visitors what it would be like to travel back to see Noahs Ark and the Genesis flood.

The park, owned by young earth creationist organization Answers in Genesis, officially opened its first virtual reality theatre called Truth Traveler to the public on Monday with the showing of its first virtual reality show titled A Flood of Reality.

It is a very high-tech experience, said Answers in Genesis CEO Ken Ham, a Christian apologist and author, in an interview with The Christian Post.

The seats are the highest-tech seats you can get. When you put on the virtual reality glasses and then the program is underway, you actually feel like you are flying.

While the Ark Encounter theme park doesnt have any rides, Ham said the new virtual-reality attraction makes users feel like they're on an actual ride.

The program itself starts at the Ark Encounter and then takes you back in time, he said. You see them building the ark. You fly around the ark and you actually see the floodwaters and you see the ark at the end with a rainbow.

You fly through the ark as well and see animals in the cages, he added. It gives you a sense of being there and experiencing it.

At the end of the 11-minute virtual tour, the video shows a holographic image of Ham, who gives a Gospel presentation to the audience.

It is different from some of the [other parks] you go to where you sit in the seats and you have everything on the screen, Ham explained. This is within the virtual reality glasses. It even gives you more of a virtual reality experience.

To experience the virtual reality show, visitors need to purchase a timed ticket for $14.99 as an extra cost on top of the parks admission fee.

Ham said the added cost to participate in the Truth Traveler experience is to help offset the cost of construction and development, which was funded by an outside supporter of Answers in Genesis.

It was a supporter who is a businessman who funded all this, which is why there is actually an upcharge for it because we are paying back the construction cost and all the rest of it, Ham said. It is a $3 million experience.

The Ark Encounter worked with the owner of a company called Virtual Truth Experiences, who is passionate about utilizing VRs potential to share biblical truth.

The organization also engaged two leading virtual reality experience companies to develop the interactive program. Those companies are MediaMation, which made the special motion seats; and Groove Jones, which created the programs animation and technology structure. The animation is based on a script provided by Ark Encounter staff.

The virtual reality attraction is housed inside a new building on the parks campus. While A Flood of Reality is the first show to be presented at the new Truth Traveler attraction, Ham said they plan to create more virtual reality shows in the future.

It just costs a lot to get one show going and working. We plan on doing future shows as well, he said. It costs like $1 million or more to do programming for a show and everything else.

Ham said that Answers in Genesis was approached about 18 months ago about the idea of virtual reality experience. In all, he said it took about 12 months to complete the project.

In between uses, the Ark Encounter has a special clearing apparatus that sanitizes the virtual reality glasses. Additionally, the seats are cleaned between each use.

We are very diligent about it, Ham said.

The Ark Encounter, which initially opened in 2016, reopened in June after shutting down during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic. While the park has seen some reduction in attendance since its reopening, Ham said the Ark Encounter has fared well compared to a lot of other amusement parks around the country.

[There are] days where we are up to 70% or 80% of last years attendance, he said.

The Ark Encounters sister attraction, Answers in Genesis Creation Museum just down the road in Petersburg, Kentucky, has also added exhibits, which include a $1.2 million planetarium that uses laser projection.

Both the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum are following a 45-page COVID-19 preparedness plan to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, such as temperature tests of staff and regular cleaning of facilities.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 19:17:09|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese dairy company Mengniu recently gave up its proposed acquisition of Lion Dairy and Drinks, after Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Chinese company's investment is "contrary to the national interest."

This is not the first time that a bidding of a Chinese company was rejected by the treasurer citing a so-called "national interest" concern. This time, a report carried by The Australian paper on Thursday said "the 'food security' excuse offered is a joke."

Earlier this year, Australia tightened its rules of foreign takeovers and thus investment proposals would now be scrutinized by the foreign investment review board, in a measure intended to protect "national interests."

Although politicians did not actually say the move was targeted at China, an article carried by the Australian Financial Review once bluntly stated that Australian Prime Minister "Scott Morrison and Mr. Frydenberg in recent years have taken an increasingly hardline view on China-backed acquisitions."

Those political roadblocks have dealt a blow to bilateral economic relations. According to a joint report by advisory services firm KPMG and the University of Sydney, Chinese investment in Australia fell nearly 60 percent to the lowest level in a decade last year, down from 8.2 billion Australian dollars (6 billion U.S. dollars) in 2018 to 3.4 billion (2.5 billion dollars), with only 42 deals completed in 12 months.

"Chinese companies have invested over 107 billion U.S. dollars in Australia since 2008 and this capital has been a really important contributor to economic growth locally but new investment is slowing," said Doug Ferguson, head of Asia & International Markets at KPMG Australia and the report's co-author.

Meanwhile, those political obstructions also backfire on Australia's interests. After the federal government decided to ban Chinese tech giant Huawei from Australia's 5G project, a report from Britain's Oxford Economics said that the cost of building Australia's 5G network is set to blow out by nearly 30 percent because of the decision.

Also, delays in building the 5G network due to the ban would translate into a hit to gross domestic product by up to 8.2 billion Australian dollars (6 billion dollars) in 2035, the report added.

Historically, since the two countries established diplomatic relations nearly five decades ago, China has become Australia's crucial trading partner and source of foreign investment, and their economic relationship has significantly benefited businesses and people from both countries.

In the process, Australian and Chinese firms also formed a very good relationship. The latest stellar example of this is their cooperation in response to COVID-19.

Malcolm Parmenter, chief executive of Healius, said that without the equipment supplied by the medical serive firm's Chinese partner BGI, "we wouldn't have been able to manage the turnaround times that we have had." Backed by its Chinese supplier, Healius has been able to complete as many as 8,000 tests a day in the Victoria State in recent weeks.

History and reality have shown that companies from both countries stand to gain from cooperation, while a political hurdle to their normal business interactions will only lead to lose-lose outcomes. This is a fact to which politicians in Canberra should wake up to. Enditem
Rhea Chakraborty

Mumbai: Based on the request made by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Mumbai Police provided security to actress Rhea Chakraborty, who is accused of abetting the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, an official said on Saturday.

Rhea Chakraborty The CBI officials, who are in Mumbai to probe the actor's death case, made the request to the city police on Saturday, he said.

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"On the request made by the central probe agency, we have provided security to Rhea," the police official said.

Rhea Chakraborty

Recently, she had said in a social media post that there was a threat to her and her family's life and sought protection from Mumbai police. She took to Instagram and shared a video where her father was seen being hounded by the media outside her building compound.

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She said that she and her family members are trying to step out of their house to cooperate with the investigating agencies like the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) but are not able to do so due to the crowd gathering outside the residence.
Belarusian Authorities' Crime 'Will Not Be Erased From Memory,' Says Opposition Leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya

By Irina Peters August 28, 2020

VILNIUS, Lithuania -- Now in its 19th day, Belarus's political crisis has slipped toward a potentially more dangerous phase with President Vladimir Putin signaling the possibility of deploying a Russian security force to help buttress Alyaksandr Lukashenka's grip on power.

Deploying Russian forces in her country would be a mistake, said Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the self-exiled former presidential candidate who has become an unlikely leader of the Belarusian opposition.

"This is our internal problem, an internal issue that Belarusians must resolve with the Belarusian government," Tsikhanouskaya told RFE/RL.

Tsikhanouskaya spoke with RFE/RL on August 28 from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, where she fled amid threats to her family.

Her husband Syarhey, a potential challenger to Lukashenka in the August 9 presidential election, had been arrested before the vote and remains in police custody, reportedly in a jail on Minsk's outskirts. A proficient English speaker who previously was a stay-at-home mother, Tsikhanouskaya took up the mantle from her husband after he was jailed.

Then, with opposition protests mounting over allegations the vote was rigged in Lukashenka's favor, Tsikhanouskaya joined with prominent cultural figures to create the opposition Coordination Council.

Its stated aim is to negotiate with Lukashenka's government on a new election, the release of detained protesters, and, potentially, the president's departure from power.

But Lukashenka has dug in his heels. In recent days, prosecutors have announced a criminal investigation of the council -- jailing two of its leaders who remained in Minsk and calling in other members for questioning -- including the Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich.

In towns and cities across Belarus, the streets have been packed with tens of thousands of protesters  and possibly hundreds of thousands at the largest gathering in Minsk. The outpouring of opposition has become the biggest challenge to Lukashenka's 26-year rule.

In her RFE/RL interview, Tsikhanouskaya again called for Lukashenka to step aside, calling it a "worthy" decision to close out his tenure.

"It would be very worthy for him to be just the first president, who ruled for a long time and then resigned at the request of the people, and not to turn his departure into bloody massacres, not to cause hatred of his people," she said.

While defying the popular calls for a new election that is free and fair, Lukashenka has also signaled the possibility of a harsher approach toward demonstrators.

Russia, Belarus's most important economic and strategic partner, has been closely watching the upheaval. Kremlin planners are wary of a repeat of what happened in Ukraine in 2014 when mass protests led to the ouster of the pro-Russian president there.

Underscoring the Kremlin's potential involvement in the crisis, Lukashenka and Putin have held at least five phone calls since the election.

In an interview broadcast by Russian state TV on August 27, Putin revealed that Russia has set up a special security force at the request of Lukashenka -- the strongest signal to date that Moscow might physically intervene in Belarus.

"We also agreed that it will not be used unless the situation gets out of control," Putin said.

Tsikhanouskaya suggested that Putin's message was clear. But she insisted bringing in Russian forces would be unnecessary. And she warned of the possibility of "provocations" -- with authorities trying to intentionally provoke violence in order to create a pretext for imposing harsh measures.

"There will be no reasons for bringing in some kind of 'help', riot police or someone else, because we have purely peaceful protests," she said. "Among the Belarusian people, no one wants a violent resolution to the issue."

Lukashenka, she said, should leave office willingly and without violence. But she also suggested that there will be consequences for the officials who directed the violence and repressions that targeted protesters.

"Unfortunately, the authorities have committed a crime that will not be erased from memory," she said.

"Belarusians are not vindictive," she said. "If, it seems to me, it's possible to leave with dignity, then perhaps this will be a very great mitigating circumstance for [Lukashenka's] fate."

"I would like it all to end beautifully," Tsikhanouskaya said. "I do not want to plunge into the abyss."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus- tsikhanouskaya-interview-lukashenka -power/30807316.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.

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Bid to rubbish 19A as biggest bar to countrys progress View(s):

Five years ago, the 19th Amendment, brought by the SLFP-UNP Government to repeal the Rajapaksa regimes controversial 18th Amendment, had been the nations choicest meat. It had even been hailed as the democracy restorer.

In Parliament 212 had slobbered all over it as the Dish of the Day, with only one finding it disagreeable. Today, with the change in Government the same stake has been transformed overnight to be the nations worst poison.

Thus it was no wonder that no sooner had the new Governments chosen seeds taken their oaths of cabinet office, the first item on the cabinet agenda for them to consider and approve sans murmur was the repeal of the now noxious 19A.

And with the Government receiving the expected Cabinet assent last week to repeal the 19th Amendment, instructions went forth to the Legal Draftsman to begin drafting the 20th Amendment pronto. This new amendment is widely expected to restore certain executive powers which the offending 19A had kept kraaled by the constitutional checks and balances it had introduced in its quest to curtail the far flung ambit of presidential prerogatives the 18th Amendment had granted without stint.

In fact, repealing Yahapalanayas 19th Amendment to empower the Government with more muscle and steel had been the SLPPs campaign cry since Parliament was first dissolved and general election was announced in early March. It formed the basis of the SLPPs election invocation to the public to bestow upon the party the magical two-thirds majority in Parliament so that the ruling party could herald the miracle of Lanka by the promised due date.

Professor G. L. Peiris first began the chant on March 2 when he said, Our goal is to obtain a two-thirds majority of seats in Parliament at the upcoming general election to repeal the 19th Amendment. A strong Government is needed to implement the changes promised during the presidential election. The 19th Amendment created challenges to States governing structure. These challenges need to be addressed first. Getting a two-thirds majority to pass necessary legislation in Parliament is essential to repeal the 19A and ensure a smooth functioning Government.

On August 5, the masses answered the SLPP prayers in abundance; and, though it may be the last thing to trespass on the Governments sleep at the start of its spring, the grant of orison also removed the slightest excuse for shoddy performance and non-delivery on the promises made. The time for words has passed. As the Government has often said, the 19A obstacle must first be removed and though it has already started cracking on amending the constitution, what form it will take no one really knows.

Professor G.L. Peiris has already branded 19A as the main block to the smooth functioning of Government and called for its immediate abolition. So will it be repealed wholesale and the baby thrown out with the bathwater or will a political wind winnowing its way through 19A, separate the chaff from the wheat? Some ministerial opinions touted in the media say the obvious  that its negative clauses will be repealed while its positive ones will be retained?

Before the Legal Draftsman sets his pen to paper and writes a new chapter to the nations constitutional saga abandoning the previously writ episode, perhaps, Professor Peiris, constitutional expert that he is, should take it upon himself the duty to explain, to the masses, the Articles and Clauses in the 19th Amendment he considers as impediments to the smooth functioning of Government?

Does the good professor consider as an impediment to the smooth functioning of government, the articles in 19A which demand the prime ministers consent to the appointment and dismissal of ministers and thus removes the executive presidents freedom to hire and fire ministers solely at his own discretion?

Does the good professor also consider as an impediment to the smooth functioning of government the 19 Amendment which has been widely held as removing from the presidents hand the executive power to dismiss the prime minister once he or she has been appointed to that office by the president?

These two instances demonstrate how 19A was designed to strengthen parliamentary democracy and reduce the arbitrary, near absolute powers of the executive president far removed from parliamentary supervision. The 19th Amendment was itself introduced in 2015 as a compromise solution to meet the public clamour to scrap the entire executive presidency altogether, holding that such power enshrined in the hands of one man had done more harm than good in the 37 years of the constitutions existence.

But if the good professor is worried of the 19th Amendment on this score, that it will impede the smooth functioning of government, he need not fret. At the height of the nations constitutional coup on October 28, 2018, when the wide consensus was that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe could not be sacked by President Sirisena under the 19th Amendment and that the sacking was illegal and ultra vires the Constitution, the good professors considered opinion was that it was perfectly legit.

The following day, Professor Peiris showcased his legal expertise by vindicating the right of President Sirisena to sack his Prime Minister Wickremesinghe under 19A. In a statement issued to the media, he declared: Continuing discussion of the legal issues is taking place on the basis of a fundamental misconception. It has been assumed that there is no provision in the Constitution of Sri Lanka, empowering the President to remove the Prime Minister. This is entirely incorrect. Section 48(i), which is part of the 19th Amendment, explicitly refers to removal or dismissal as one of the methods by which the Prime Minister ceases to hold office.

The Constitution, therefore, in express terms recognises removal or dismissal by the President as a mode of ending the tenure of office of the Prime Minister.

Thus the professor can safely advise the Legal Draftsman and the subcommittee that the Constitution and 19A both provide for the President to dismiss the Prime Minister; and that therefore it will not be necessary to rid the article in 19A which requires the president to obtain the consent of the PM before appointing or sacking ministers, for if the consent was withheld, the President could dismiss the PM under Article 48(j) according to GL, and appoint someone more amiable and malleable to obey the presidential command. Thus these two will not impede smooth government functioning. However, Peiris point on 48(j) has not been tested in the Supreme Court yet.

Then what of the Constitutional Council which comprises the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the Opposition Leader, an MP appointed as the Presidents nominee, five persons appointed by the President on the nomination of both the Prime Minister and the Leader of main Opposition of whom two persons shall be Members of Parliament, an MP not of the ruling or main opposition party but nominated by them and appointed by the President. This Parliamentary A team represents the nations interest at its very zenith with the Speaker presiding over its proceeding. Does Peiris see in this 19A creation, the Constitutional Council a challenge to the state?

Then what of the independent commissions? There are nine independent commissions listed and made sacrosanct in 19A. They are the Election, Public Service, Police, Audit, Human Rights, Bribery, Finance, Delimitation and the National Procurement Commissions.

Under Article 41, the Constitutional Councils duty is to recommend persons as members or chairman of the commission and the president shall only appoint those recommended by the Council. If the President fails to appoint any within 14 days, then the persons recommended will be deemed to have been appointed as members of the said commission. They can be only removed by the Council, unless existing written law so provides for their termination.

True, Article 41 of the 19th Amendment reduces the presidential role to that of a rubber stamp but does it impede the smooth functioning of government, in Professor Peiris good book? Or does it appear to do so only to pulpit preachers at the church of Executive President who subscribes to the belief that a Supreme Omnipotent Executive untrammelled by a nit picking Parliament and sole reigning, will soon create the miracle of Lanka and pave the sure fire route to progress?

Under the above mentioned Article 41, they are recommended to their individual posting by the Constitutional Council. Once they are appointed, they rise from their lowly status as wretched lackeys in public service made to genuflect at every turn before politicians and do their bidding or face transfers to remote outposts, to men and women exalted in dignity, bedecked in the shining armour of independent entities for a three-year period in office, only responsible to Parliament, except the Election Commission. Are independent commissions which are legally tasked to act in the nations interest without fear, anathema to Peiris

For the posts of the Chief Justice, Supreme Court, Appeal Court Judges and Members of the Judicial Service, no person shall be appointed by the President unless such appointment has been approved by the Council upon a recommendation made to the Council by the President. Does this clamp on the executives power to choose at his sole discretion persons to the above offices, impede in any way the smooth functioning of government, according to Peiris good book?

Then what of the crippling disability of dual citizenship that 19A imposes as an insurmountable bar to enter Parliament or to occupy the executive throne? Can one serve the best interest of Lanka with one foot here and the other placed firmly on some foreign soil? Man cannot serve two masters or two nations. Patriotism, on the heady beat of which this government danced its way to power, knows no halfway house. It cannot fly the Lion flag while focusing on the hovering American Bald Eagle. But will it also be considered as a retro article impeding the forward gallop of the nation and be discarded on the wayside to make way for the return of the prodigals?

The people must guard themselves from being swayed by the rapturous strains of the presently orchestrated campaign that rubbishes the 19A and celebrates the still unborn 20th Amendment hyped in the media as the giver of hope that will free the nation from its shackles of poverty. One should not forget that in 2015, the 19A was a democracy restorer that salvaged democracy from the dumps.

If the 19th Amendment has to be repealed as GL says for the smooth functioning of government, why not go the whole hog and dump democracy itself for an even smoother ride down the slippery slope to some fabled Shangri-La?
THINGS are going to be very different for the 450-or-so students of Desmond College, as they return to the school.

Principal Vourneen Gavin Barry and her staff in Newcastle West have been working hard to reorganise the school to ensure social distancing is respected.

Nothing has been left to chance, with Ms Barry herself hauling desks and tables around the school to ensure everything is in order ahead of the arrival of first years on Monday.

The school will look so different. We have so much still to do. When students come in, it will be straight to their base classroom. Desks will be spaced out with markings to ensure everyone remains in the same position. Well have names on desks, so we will know who is sitting at every desk in case of anything further down the line, she explained.

The biggest difference will be rather than students going from classroom-to-classroom in the day, they will remain in one place.

It will be the teachers who will move around rooms  not the other way around, as has been the case for decades.

In these rooms, clutter has been removed.

We took out filing cabinets, presses and put them into a secure common area where staff will be able to leave them in the centre of the school. The classrooms will look very different, Ms Barry acknowledged.

Perhaps the toughest thing from the students point of view will be the fact they will only be able to mix within their class group.

In the past, they were moving around the school. Now theyd be based in just one class. They were able to mix with other class groups and year groups. Now they wont be able to do that, Ms Barry said.

This is because classrooms will be in zoned areas at Desmond College.

Students will all be based in their own corridor with their own toilet facilities and staggered lunchtimes and breaks to aid social distancing. The canteen is off-limits, with lunches delivered to the classroom.

From a young persons point of view, mixing and socialising is their world. Its everything to them. Thats going to be difficult, she said.

One thing Desmond College does have going for it is the fact it is already a hugely high-tech school  Google Classroom and Apple TV were already common-place before students left.

Sadly, trad groups, work experience and sport are all out of the question right now.

We have to get this first bit right before we even see where we go with any of these things down the line, the principal concluded.


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Nearly 200 coronavirus survivors from a secretive South Korean sect blamed for the country's early outbreak donated blood plasma Friday to help treatment research, as the group seeks to redeem itself.

Scientists have pointed to the potential for treatment using blood plasma containing antibodies to the virus from individuals who have recovered from Covid-19.

By far the South's largest contingent of coronavirus survivors is from the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which is often condemned as a cult.

It was at the heart of the country's early outbreak and according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) is linked to more than 5,000 virus cases in the country.

Its elderly leader, Lee Man-hee, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly hindering the government's efforts to contain the epidemic.

Over the course of a week more than 1,000 Shincheonji members are donating plasma.

On Friday around 160 of them donated to the Korean Red Cross in Daegu, the centre of the Shincheonji outbreak.

Shincheonji had apologised "for causing much concern and worry to the people of Korea", the sect said in a statement, adding its leader Lee had encouraged its members, "who have been atoned for their sins by the blood of Jesus", to donate.

Donor Park Mi-kyung, 56, who was released from hospital in March, told AFP: "Now the virus is spreading again, I hope a cure can be developed quickly."

The South reported 371 new cases on Friday, the 15th consecutive day of triple-digit increases, driven by several clusters, many of them linked to Protestant churches in the Seoul region.

Shincheonji was heavily vilified back in February, and more than 1.4 million people signed a petition on the South Korean presidential office website demanding its dissolution.

"Because we have been framed as a cult by the (Christian) religious circles, I think it's possible that people felt more antagonistic towards an emerging sect," Kim Young-eun, the sect's spokeswoman, told AFP.

Story continues

"But since the number of the cases linked to our church was so high, we fully understand the fear that people must have felt at the time."

The sect proclaims Lee has donned the mantle of Jesus Christ and will take 144,000 people with him to heaven on the day of judgement. It is known to have some 200,000 followers.

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Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, August 29, 2020 15:46 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c41625cf 1 National Agriculture-Ministry,marijuana,marijuana-laws,marijuana-plants,cannabis,cannabis-legalization,ganja,BNN,narcotics,medicinal-herbs,medicinal-plants Free

The Agriculture Ministry will revise a 2020 ministerial decree that lists marijuana as a medicinal plant under the ministrys supervision.

Signed on Feb. 3, the decree includes marijuana (Cannabis sativa) as one of 66 medicinal plants whose production is under the supervision of the ministrys horticulture directorate general.

The decree went viral on Friday after the Nusantara Marijuana Network (LGN) posted a photo of the document on its Instagram account, @lgn_id.

The ministry responded that it would revise the decree because of Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpos commitment to eradicate drug abuse.

The decree will be revised soon, after we coordinate with the National Narcotics Agency [BNN], the Health Ministry and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences [LIPI], the ministrys vegetable and medicinal plant director, Tommy Nugraha, said in a statement on Saturday.

He added that marijuana had been listed as a medicinal plant since 2006 because the ministry wanted to help marijuana farmers shift to growing other crops.

Marijuanas inclusion on the medicinal plant list means that it can only be used for research, as stipulated in Article 67 of Law No. 13/2020 on horticulture. Currently, we record no legal marijuana farmers in Indonesia, Tommy added.

Read also: 420 blaze it? Heres what you need to know about Indonesias marijuana law

Marijuana is illegal in Indonesia. The 2009 Narcotics Law includes the plant as a type-1 narcotic, alongside opium and cocaine, meaning it is forbidden for both recreational and medicinal use.

The countrys stringent anti-cannabis enforcement has resulted in the arrests of several people, including Reyndhart Siahaan in East Nusa Tenggara. He was arrested for allegedly using marijuana, which he said relieved the pain caused by a spinal cord disease. The court later declared him guilty and sentenced him to 10 months' imprisonment.

Numerous studies have indicated the effectiveness of cannabidiol (CBD), one of the plants active ingredients, as a medication. Peter Grinspoon of Harvard Medical School wrote that CBD could be used to treat pain, epilepsy, seizures, anxiety and insomnia.

The LGN has been pushing for a revision of the Narcotics Law and the legalization of marijuana for medicinal use since 2010.
By Trend

Prime Minister of Pakistan, referring to ties with other states especially the neighbors, said we have good relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran as compared to past and they need to be further strengthened, Trend reports citing IRNA.

In an exclusive interview with Pakistani Urdu channel ARY News Imran Khan said further development of Pakistan's relations with Iran as a neighboring country is inevitable.

"Pakistan's current relations with Iran are at a very good level as compared to the past," he said.

Expressing his views about Pakistan's relations with other countries in the region, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Imran Khan said Islamabad was determined to play a role for de-escalation of tensions between key countries in the region.

PM praises urban management system in Iran despite sanctions

The Prime Minister praised the advanced urban management system in Iran, especially Tehran, despite the sanctions, which has set an example for Pakistan and other states.

He noted that Tehran has become a modern city and is generating revenue of US $ 500 million.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan advised the host of ARY network to visit Tehran to see how much effective is the urban management of this modern city .

He added that such model should be used to address the situation in Pakistan's big cities such as Karachi and Lahore.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
BAY CITY, MI  Bay City restaurateur Vince Stuart describes himself as a breakfast person.

So my personal favorite is probably a nice eggs, meat, potato and toast, said Stuart, owner of Uptown Grill, Stock Pot Diner and soon-to-come Vinnys Pizzeria. Or, if pressed to choose something a bit more special, the banana bread French toast is another of his favorites.
2020 is a terrible year for Ferrari, with performances so far that fans are not particularly happy with. According to Toto Wolff, the team as a whole hasn't forgotten how to build a fast car, but it's because of certain people within Ferrari.

There is an anniversary coming up for Ferrari and next week Formula 1 will also leave for Monza, the home base of the team. Given Ferrari's performance so far at Spa-Francorchamps, a lot of people fear for the result in Italy. Especially on the straights, the SF1000 is terribly slow.

Toto Wolff sees a major competitor disappear, which he is not happy with. "Ferrari is an iconic brand and they should be racing at the front. It's not good for Formula 1, it's not good for the competition for the top teams and I sympathise with all Tifosi and the Ferrari employees with their lack of speed", the team boss told the press in Belgium, including The Race.

Fingers pointing to the top

"You have to ask yourself where the priorities have been set recently and where the lack of speed is coming from. But none of the fans and the people at Ferrari deserve this result. I don't really want to talk about the priorities at 'Ferrari', because that drags everybody at Ferrari into this", explains the Austrian.

According to Wolff the problem probably doesn't come from the whole team. "It may be the decisions that have been made within the team by certain members". Whether those accusations are directed at team boss Mattia Binotto or the Ferrari board, Wolff won't say.
 Flash

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday urged the United States "not to make an issue out of China in its election."

"We have no comment on the U.S. presidential election, which is an internal affair. At the same time, we urge the U.S. not to make an issue out of China in its election," Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference.

Zhao said China's policy toward the United States is consistent and clear.

"We believe both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. We are committed to develop a bilateral relationship featuring no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation," he said. "At the same time, we are firmly determined to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests."

Zhao urged the U.S. to look at China and bilateral relations in an objective and rational light, work with China toward the same goal, manage differences, promote cooperation and bring China-U.S. relations back onto the right track of coordination, cooperation and stability.

As to the so-called "relocation of production capacity," Zhao said that it is political manipulation that puts partisan and personal interests above U.S. national interests.

"It's neither viable nor realistic. In the globalized era, the perverse practice of going against the voluntary will of the vast business community, forcibly scrapping existing cooperation between countries, and coercing companies with regard to their normal investment and operation runs counter to the law of market economy and will eventually lead to self-harm," he said.

Such unpopular moves have been and will continue to be rejected and resisted by visionary people in China and the United States, he added.
Avery Eisenreich, the landlord for multiple Hudson County hospitals, may be preparing to sue Bayonne, Hoboken and the county, alleging they have strategically sought to discredit him by lying to the public about his intentions for the hospitals.

Genova Burns LLC, the law firm representing Eisenreich, filed a notice of tort claim against the municipal and county governments in July  a procedural step required to sue a public entity.

Eisenreich currently owns 70% of the land under Hoboken University Medical Center and 25% stake of the Christ Hospital land and hospital operations. He previously owned Bayonne Medical Center property but sold it to Hudson Regional Hospital and is in the process of selling his stake in the Hoboken hospital property.

Officials in Hudson County have routinely said that Eisenreich, who also owns the Alaris Health nursing home chain, has held up sales of the hospitals. Hudson County has moved toward eminent domain proceedings to acquire Christ Hospital. The tort claim states the local officials have engaged in an ongoing, concerted effort to discredit (Eisenreich).

The public entities have made false, public statements about Claimants and have actively interfered in their business relationships, it says.

As a result, Eisenreichs reputation, business opportunities and property interest have suffered, it alleges.

It does not specify an amount of money Eisenreich will attempt to recover in a future lawsuit. Eisenreichs attorney Angelo Genova declined to comment on the tort claim.

The notice of tort claim is the latest development in a multi-faceted legal saga that will likely determine the future ownership of the Bayonne Medical Center, Hoboken University Medical Center, and Christ Hospital. Hudson Regional Hospital is currently in litigation with BMC Hospital LLC, the entity that is seeking to purchase the Bayonne hospital from CarePoint Health and challenging the land sale to HRH.

Eisenreich also sued both Bayonne and Hoboken in May under the limited liability companies that officially own the properties. The lawsuits took aim at laws the cities passed to zone the properties as hospital districts.

Officials from Hoboken, Bayonne, and Hudson County did not respond to emails seeking comment on the notice of claim.
Texas will continue testing people who do not exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 but have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.

CDC guidance was changed this week to state those who have been exposed to an infected person for at least 15 minutes but do not show symptoms may not need a test unless they are vulnerable or local health officials recommended they take one. But a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services told Reuters they plan to continue testing asymptomatic people.
Polarized is a weekly series featuring Americans from all 50 states sharing their views on the 2020 elections. Click here if you would like to be a part of this project

When the coronavirus pandemic hit Hawaii, Patrick Pihana Branco sprang into action.

The 33-year-old fourth generation resident of Kailua began making kupuna kits with his family as the outbreak swept through the island state.

Kupuna is the word for elders in Hawaiian, he explains in a recent interview with The Independent. We made plastic bags, filled with toilet paper, canned soup, apple sauce, disposable gloves, tea, a bunch of things. Just enough to hold a kupuna over until they could get proper supplies.

Branco, a former US diplomat who served in Pakistan, Colombia and Venezuela, knows what its like to persevere through a crisis. He successfully distributed 400 kupuna kits throughout his district  and once he realised there was a need for cloth masks, he enlisted the help of his grandmother and her 1970s sewing machine.

I dont know how to sew, but shes incredible, he says with a laugh. As of today, weve distributed 3,500 masks.

Patrick Pihana Branco (Photo courtesy Patrick Pihana Branco)

As he works to provide his community with the basic resources they desperately need, Branco has become even more aware of the need to elect leaders who can ensure their districts stay healthy and have the latest information available in challenging times. Its part of the reason why he is running as the Democratic nominee to represent his district in the Hawaii State Legislature.

I always knew I wanted to come back home and represent our community, he says about the decision to run for office after serving as a diplomat for seven years.

Branco is now a planner for the department of community services for the city and county of Honolulu, and typically has a full day of both campaigning and working.

Hes typically up by 4:30 in the morning, he says, in order to get some campaigning in before he heads to work. In the afternoon, hes back out on the road campaigning or phone banking. The pandemic has made running for office even more unconventional than it typically is, he says: whereas he may have been shaking hands and holding babies in pre-pandemic times, Branco is now ensuring his constituents all have face masks, the resources they need and the latest updates from their local government.

Campaigning is not normal right now, he says. As leaders, we should be providing resources as well.

While Branco is aiding his community the best he can, he admits its frustrating that the federal government is not providing strong, consistent communication  and hes been at times upset about the seemingly disjointed response to the pandemic from the state government.

Branco is running on the diversification of Hawaiis economy  an issue he says will be crucial to rebuilding the state and creating a sustainable future long after the pandemic is over.

I rarely get questions about national politics, he says. Right now, everyone in Hawaii is focused on economic diversification  my big issue has always been economic diversification, looking at renewable energy, agriculture, the legalisation of industrial hemp, all so we can make sure we have other baskets of economic growth.

While Branco is focused on local issues and ensuring his community stays healthy throughout the Covid-19 outbreak, hes also been paying close attention to the presidential election.

Branco plans to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the Democratic ticket running against Donald Trump and Mike Pence.

Check out more of The Independents series, Polarized: Voices From Across America

As a former diplomat, Branco recalls meeting the former vice president when he came to Colombia to assist with a fragile peace process the country was conducting with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, otherwise known as the FARC.

Branco, then-special assistant to the US ambassador to Colombia, was set to take a photo with Biden when he approached the young diplomat and patted his back.

It was very Joe Biden  he came up to me and said, Son, when I grow up, I want to dress like you, he says. I remember that. And I do think of Joe Biden very fondly and thank him for his service to our country.

Branco says he would have liked to see a woman or person of colour win the Democratic presidential nomination, but proudly supports Biden in his bid against Trump.

And while he plans to focus on local issues if elected, from the legalisation of hemp and raising teachers wages to helping the state become a leader in US innovation, he says hes ready and willing to work with anyone in the federal government to make those possibilities a reality.

I have some ideas of want I to do, but I do recognise that a lot of my job will be  figuring out how to get our state to weather through this economic crisis, he says. This is how I approach issues: when I was abroad as a US diplomat, I was always given foreign policy goals and objectives, but how I always approached every issue was meeting with both sides of the coin and learning, then trying to build coalitions to move forward.

If I do get elected, thats the same thing I hope to do, he concludes. Whoever is in the White House, its not going to be party politics for me. I will meet with the other side. I will hear them out. And then I will discern what is best for my constituency. Thats my plan.
An unexploded bomb weighing up to 450 kilos has been found in the central province of Quang Binh.

The bomb was discovered by a group of workers at a clay pit in Phuc Trach Commune, Bo Trach District.

The bomb found in Bo Trach District.



On August 28, local authorities co-operated with the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), a non-governmental organisation, to relocate the bomb to another place to detonate it successfully.



The 2-metre bomb appeared to be an MK83 made in the US and dropped in Quang Binh during the war.



In July, a 227-kg bomb was also discovered on Gianh River in Tuyen Hoa District, Quang Binh.



A bomb weighing 200 kilos and another weighing 250 kilos, were recently found in the central province of Quang Tri.



According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, around 6.1 million ha of land or 18.71% of Vietnams total area remains contaminated by some 800,000 tonnes of bombs, mines and unexploded ordnance, which is scattered over 63 cities and provinces in the country, with the central region the hardest hit.

The government aims to clear about 800,000 ha of bomb-and mine-polluted land during the 2016-2025 period, while calling for domestic and international resources for the implementation of the programme. Dtinews/NLD
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The presidential council of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) Friday decided to suspend the minister of Interior, Fathi Bachagha, an official source said here
Mr Niyi Ojuolape, the Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has applauded the Government of Ghana (GoG) for the effective management of the COVID-19 crisis.



He acknowledged the fact that the Government took the situation of the outbreak of the pandemic seriously right from its onset, with the President announcing a 100 million dollar start-up funding for the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), strengthening health systems and infrastructure among other things.



Mr Ojuolape, who spoke at the close of a three-day training for Operators and Officers of the UNFPA's Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Hotline in Accra on Friday, said for the United Nations, before it could offer any help, the GoG, had already risen up to it.



He said the swift efforts were highly commendable, but indicated that one of the things that the UNFPA was committed to, was community sensitisation, which, had also caught up like "wildfire," because of the massive mobilisation.



He further recounted the comprehensive response by the Government in mobilising retired health sector professionals to provide back-up services, and subsequently, announcing some various incentives including; electricity and water tariff supports, as well as food and shelter for the needy, to mitigate the socio- economic impact of the pandemic.



The Country Representative, however, said the only gap identified, was in the area of SGBV, which had been observed globally during crisis situations as a major concern after all efforts were made to address the key problem.



He said the SGBV Hotline was re-vitalised by the UNFPA, to support the work of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, in addressing issues of violence ad abuses especially against women and children during the COVID-19 restrictive period and beyound.



Hence the training of the personnel who manage the Hotline and offer services, must understand the key role they were expected to play in conflict management, providing psychosocial support to victims of abuse, encouraging the public to report such cases, and building trust in State institutions for legal remedies.



Mr Ojuolape stated that statistics globally showed that when people were locked together in a place for sometime, there was the likelihood of violence to occur.



Although, there was no data especially, in developing countries to support the assertion, there was a general consensus that rape, assault, wife battery among others were on the ascendancy during the lockdown and restrictive periods, he said.



He said an update gathered from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), of the Ghana Police Service, for instance showed that there was no significant change in the present figures on SGBV recorded during these period.



He explained that this could be attributed either to the lack of reporting of SGBV cases by victims and the public, or the fact that the massive media campaign embarked upon by the UNFPA and its collaborators on the existence of the Helpline and the consequences, was indeed working, and that perpetrators of such crimes were now conscious.



Mr Ojuolape commended the Participants who were drawn from DOVVSU, Ministry of Gender, the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana, the Media and some staff of the UNFPA, for availing themselves for the training and subsequent task ahead.



He also thanked the facilitators of the training, the co-organising partnership institutions made up of the DOVVSU, the Multi-Party Trust Fund Secretariat, and the Canadian Government.



All the participants were presented with a Certificate of Participation.

Source: GNA









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Countdown begins for most decisive battle of Yemen war

Iran Press TV

Friday, 28 August 2020 10:24 AM

The Yemeni army and Ansarullah popular forces have fully prepared for the beginning of the Ma'rib war, the most decisive phase of the five-year aggression imposed by the Saudi-led coalition against Yemen, military sources say.

In recent days, the Yemeni army backed by Houthi fighters have accomplished new victories in the course of their battle to liberate M'arib province, one of the last regions controlled by the Saudi-Emirati coalition in Yemen.

On Saturday, the Yemeni army managed to take control of the strategic Mas base, one of the most important bases of the aggressors on the outskirts of M'arib.

Now the Yemeni armed forces expect a "historic development" in the ongoing war once they capture one of the most important defensive lines of the Saudi-Emirati aggressors in southern and western parts of M'arib province, Lebanon's al-Akhbar Newspaper reported.

Scared of the imminent defeat, the Saudi-led coalition has sent additional military reinforcements into M'arib.

The fate of M'arib war still depends on the decision of Ansarullah officials based in Sana'a, but disagreements have increased among forces loyal to the Saudi-led coalition, and some of them are warning about a heavy defeat they will suffer in various northern fronts.

Last month, a group of nearly 40 forces from the Republican Guards who were stationed in Yemen's western coastline declared their defection to the Houthi Ansarullah Movement in the capital Sana'a.

The commander of the group Major General Fawaz Aljaali said that the real intention of the Saudi-led became clear to them only after serving under the command of what he described as the country's occupiers.

The defection came after major victories achieved by Ansarullah fighters and army forces in the vicinity of M'arib city and Bayda province, which have frustrated the Saudi-affiliated groups.

Experts say the defection is considered as the biggest following many defections by senior Saudi-backed military officials. Since the beginning of Saudi-led war in Yemen in 2015, thousands have quit the ranks of coalition forces.

The Western-backed military aggression, coupled with a naval blockade, has killed more than 100,000 Yemenis, destroyed the country's infrastructure, and led to a massive humanitarian crisis.

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Prosecutors are seeking stiffer-than-usual sentences for four former US police officers charged over the killing of George Floyd, arguing that they showed "particular cruelty" to the handcuffed African American.

The 46-year-old resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota died in May after being pinned to the pavement under the knee of white officer Derek Chauvin as Floyd gasped that he could not breathe.

Court papers filed Friday indicate that the Minnesota attorney general's office will argue there were a number of aggravating factors -- including that Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes as bystanders, including multiple children, pleaded for his life and then watched him die.

"George Floyd, the victim, was particularly vulnerable because officers had already handcuffed him behind his back and then placed him chest down on the pavement, and Mr. Floyd clearly and repeatedly told the officers he could not breathe," the court documents state.

Chauvin inflicted "particular cruelty," as well as "gratuitous pain" as he abused his position of authority, prosecutors allege.

"Despite Mr. Floyd's pleas that he could not breathe and was going to die, as well as the pleas of eyewitnesses to get off Mr. Floyd and help him, (the) defendant and his co-defendants continued to restrain Mr. Floyd," the papers say.

Three or more suspects "actively participated" in the killing, prosecutors noted, saying this would justify longer sentences.

The charges against Chauvin include unintentional second-degree murder, while three ex-colleagues -- J. Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao -- are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.

The shockingly public nature of Floyd's death -- which bystanders filmed and then posted on social media -- sparked an enormous mobilization nationwide, as protesters took to the streets to denounce racism and police brutality.

The face of Floyd, a father-of-three whose last job was as a security guard, has become a symbol brandished in anti-racist marches everywhere.

He was remembered at a massive demonstration in Washington on Friday that highlighted the case of 29-year-old African American Jacob Blake, who was gravely wounded when a policeman fired multiple shots at him as he tried to get into his car on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Conviction in Minnesota for second-degree unintentional murder and third-degree murder usually carries sentences of up to 12 and a half years.

The court documents did not say how much extra time prosecutors will request if the men are convicted, but the maximum for second-degree murder is 40 years in prison.

A defense attorney for ex-officer Kueng sought a dismissal Thursday, attributing the death to health problems and fentanyl in Floyd's system.

Attorney Thomas Plunkett will file evidence that Floyd swallowed drugs during a May 6, 2019, arrest for selling drugs and was convicted of a 2007 armed drug robbery in Texas.

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Haiti - Justice : Towards the end of the strike of judicial staff





Friday August 28, Rockefeller Vincent, the Minister of Justice held an important working session with members of the judicial staff, in particular the clerks on strike since July 28, for demands focused on better working conditions, of prosecutors clerks and bailiffs.



The objective of Minister Vincent was to inform the clerks in particular about progress, reporting to them his discussions at the highest level of the State, in particular with the Minister of the Economy and Finance who will give favorable follow-up, to the extent possible, from October 2020.



In this sense, Minister Vincent confirmed to them that he had included the demands of the clerks in the next 2020-2021 budget, which should bring significant improvements in their working conditions.



As for the status of the clerks, one of the main causes of their strike, the Minister has already set up a work unit, made up of executives from his Ministry and consultants from his office, responsible for studying the text and making the necessary adjustments. The status of clerks being a necessity for the justice system. The text, once finalized, will be immediately presented to the Council of Government and defended by the Minister for publication by presidential decree.



The representatives of the organized trade union structures of the clerks present at the meeting all said they were in favor of lifting the strike which paralyzes the judicial system in Haiti and promised that they will make the official announcement after final deliberation in Assembly this weekend.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Denmark has been rocked by a surveillance scandal in which private citizens data was allegedly collected by military intelligence and then shared with foreign powers.

This week, Danes learned that their Defense Intelligence Service, known locally as FE, may have repeatedly broken the law by misleading its watchdog about spying on private individuals. The revelations, brought forward by a whistle-blower, have already resulted in several high-level dismissals at the agency.

At first, few details were provided to the public. But Denmarks state broadcaster has since revealed that FE shared the private data it obtained with the National Security Agency in...
Wearing the same blue and green school tie as them, Boris Johnson addressed a group of children last week and said: 'Education is the great equaliser. It's the liberator. It's the transformer of society. And it's the single most important way in which we can unite and level up across this whole country, and deliver social justice.'

Quite rightly, 'levelling up' has become a mantra with Tory politicians, with his predecessor, Theresa May, talking about tackling 'burning injustices' in education. In fact, much has already been achieved.

Take, for example, the Ashcroft Technology Academy (ATA) in Putney, South-West London  an independent state school that receives its funding directly from central government rather than through a local authority.

Twenty one per cent of ATA's students have special educational needs, 18 per cent are entitled to free school meals because of low parental incomes, 62 per cent do not speak English as their first language and 75 per cent are from Asian or African backgrounds. It also has its own resource centre for children with autism.

Quite rightly, 'levelling up' has become a mantra with Tory politicians, with his predecessor, Theresa May, talking about tackling 'burning injustices' in education (file photo)

Nevertheless, the Academy has an enviable record when it comes to results. In 2018 and 2019, 38 per cent of all grades achieved by students were A* or A, 42 per cent of leavers went on to a Russell Group university and three to Oxbridge. In GCSEs last year, 89 per cent of our students achieved a grade 4 or better in maths and English.

Over the years, I have donated tens of millions of pounds to good causes, particularly to education, with the Putney academy one of my early ventures  one of 15 city technology colleges that opened between 1989 and 1995.

ATA has long been a source of immense pride to me  in the quality of the teaching staff, the diversity of students' backgrounds and, most recently, in all their achievements during the coronavirus lockdown when the academy kept its doors open during the entire period.

How galling, therefore, to find that the academy has suffered two mightily unfair body blows from the Government.

First, like so many other schools, it has been victim of the utter shambles over A-level results.

To add insult to injury, I then received a letter from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (part of the Department for Education) that was as ill-timed as it was unnecessarily meddling in our academy's management. It was addressed to me as Chair of the Trustees of the academy and its contents still make my blood boil.

The agency's chief executive, Eileen Milner, reprimanded us for over-paying our senior staff. Immediately it reminded me of Michael Gove's famous attack on what he called 'the Blob'  the dead hand of the teaching unions, academic 'educationists' and civil servants imposing a suffocating socialist ideology in schools.

Most depressingly, this incompetence and petty-mindedness has a direct effect on young people's lives. If I was to award marks out of ten for performance, my instinct would be to award the ATA's 180 staff 10/10; and education chiefs 1/10.

Like all head teachers, one of our principal's main concerns during the lockdown was that the Academy should do its best for students due to take key exams, notably upper sixth formers taking A-levels and the International Baccalaureate (an alternative to A-levels) and others taking GCSEs.

With exams cancelled due to Covid-19, the Academy went to huge lengths to ensure that the grades it allocated to students were realistic, fair and accurate.

The Ashcroft Technology Academy in Putney, London (above) is an independent state school that receives funding directly from central government rather than through a local authority

Subject staff, curriculum managers, the leadership group and the principal were all involved in an exhaustive process before assessed grades were submitted to the relevant exam boards. August 13  A-level results day in England, Wales and Northern Ireland  as we all know, was a shambles.

But it could, and should, have been avoided given the earlier experiences in Scotland. ATA was one of many schools whose students were unfairly treated.

On August 17, as the crisis grew, our principal, Douglas Mitchell, wrote a highly critical letter to Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary.

He said: 'In your initial statement to the Commons on March 23, you confirmed that the Government's priority was that students could move to the next stage of their lives and that GCSE, AS and A-level students would receive a grade that reflected their work.

'This has not happened. In fact, many students are unable to move to the next stage of their lives because the grades they have been awarded have not met the conditional offers we strongly believe they would have met, had they been able to sit the final exam.'

The principal said, overall, ATA's results were 'strong', with 45 per cent of A-level grades either an A or A*.

However, he added: 'Nevertheless, 48 per cent of the grades we submitted were downgraded, in some cases by two grades, and in some cases the grade awarded was lower than the AS grade individual students achieved last year and inconsistent with GCSE performance.

'This is unfair, it goes against the words contained in your statement to the Commons and the students affected were understandably upset and angry at a set of grades they knew did not reflect their ability or their hard work.'

The letter was well-timed. In the face of growing anger over the fact that, nationally, 39 per cent of grades had been lowered on the basis of a complex algorithm, the Education Secretary performed a U-turn, saying A-level grades would, after all, be based on teachers' predictions.

ATA and other schools up and down the country were, finally, able to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

The results for ATA students taking the International Baccalaureate, announced on July 5 (well over a month before the A-level results) were an even bigger fiasco. Fortunately, another algorithm's unfairly downgraded results were also over-ruled and upgraded.

Yet August 13, A-level results day, was 'memorable', again for a second reason: that meddling letter from Eileen Milner at the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

With the heading 'High pay  executive salaries', she wrote: 'Our analysis of the 2018 to 2019 accounts return indicates that executive remuneration within your academy trust continues to be significantly higher compared to similar academy trusts.'

After outrage as 39% of grades were lowered on the basis of an algorithm, the Education Secretary said A-level grades would be based on teachers' predictions (file photo)

She added: 'Our assessment also confirms that you now meet the Excessive Executive Pay (EEP) criteria This means that your trust will potentially lose points when we come to assess any application to future rounds of capital funding.'

So, on the very day that one branch of the highly incompetent Department for Education was busy messing up the country's A-level results, another arm was interfering in the way in which some highly successful academies, including ATA, remunerate their senior staff.

As independent state schools, each academy trust has its own way of paying the head teacher, or principal, and the trustees have more flexibility than local authorities who reward their head teachers on a strict pay scale. I am uncomfortable revealing the precise levels of pay at ATA but I can say that no member of staff receives more than 150,000 a year.

The criteria for trusts to receive a 'warning' letter are that they either have one member of staff earning more than 150,000 a year and/or more than one member of staff earning between 100,000 and 150,000 a year.

My view is simple: for the difficult and challenging jobs that head teachers do  particularly this year, of course  this wage level is not in any way excessive.

Furthermore, my background is in the City and, as such, I firmly believe in rewarding those who work hard and perform well.

In some cases, the chief executives of a large multi-academy trust currently earns up to 550,000, which some might see as too high. However, the head teachers, or principals, of individual academies are on a fraction of this salary level.

Today, we are just three days away from the start of ATA's new term, with 1,360 students from ATA, aged 11 to 18, returning  some for the first time in more than five months.

In general, it has now been a case for our students that 'all's well that ends well'. However, this was no thanks to the Department for Education and entirely due to our principal and his staff, who challenged the Government and won the day for those who really mattered  our students and their futures.

So now seems an appropriate time for me to compare their staff's achievements over the past five months with those of the Government's senior (and, of course, well-paid) education chiefs.

The whole sorry episode has left me with an end-of year report for ATA that says: 'Excellent. Keep up the outstanding work.'

However, my summary of the work of education chiefs, including those seeking to meddle in our Academy's internal affairs, is: 'Very disappointing. Pull your socks up: you can and must do better.'

Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster.

For information on his work, including his philanthropy in education, visit lordashcroft.com. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook: @LordAshcroft.
Volution chief executive Ronnie George has been at the helm for eight years and has worked at the ventilation group for even longer. He knows the company behind brands such as Vent-Axia and Airtech inside out. So, when he buys and sells shares, investors take note.

In October 2018, when Midas last looked at Volution, George had just spent 17,000 buying 10,000 shares at 1.70 each. The boss described the trade as a 'protest', a signal that he believed the shares were significantly undervalued.

By December 2019, Volution shares were 58 per cent higher at almost 2.70 and George's purchase looked quite canny.

Fan-tastic: Volution chief executive Ronnie George has been at the helm for eight years and has worked at the ventilation group for even longer

George then decided to halve his stake in the company and on January 24, he and his wife sold just over three million shares at 2.30 each, pocketing 7million in the process. The coronavirus still seemed like a local Chinese problem at the time. Now George looks smart once again, as Volution shares have fallen back to 1.66.

George still owns 1.5 per cent of Volution and the 50-year-old said his January share sale was designed to create a more balanced investment portfolio. Diversification is almost always sensible when it comes to investment, but fellow shareholders may wonder whether they should follow George's lead, especially given the events of recent months.

In normal times, the company derives just under half its turnover from the UK, the rest coming from Northern Europe, Australia and New Zealand. UK sales slumped 70 per cent in April. But by July they were just 20 per cent lower than in the same month last year.

There has been continued improvement in recent weeks and George believes the pace of growth is likely to be higher in coming months than before the pandemic erupted. There is also good momentum in Volution's other markets.

Most of Volution's sales are to contractors, who are either building new homes or refurbishing existing properties. Demand has been particularly strong in the refurbishment camp lately, as people spend more time at home and want to upgrade their living space.

George is optimistic about sales of new homes too, bolstered by cheap mortgages, the Help to Buy scheme and cut-price stamp duty.

Over time, the company should benefit from two trends. First, regulators increasingly demand that homes and commercial buildings are properly ventilated for health, safety and environmental reasons.

Second, it is increasingly clear that the better a property is ventilated, the less likely it is to harbour harmful viruses. Volution leads the way in several products, including fans that bring in fresh air without pushing out all the central heating.

The group's financial year ended on July 31 and George expects to announce a 7 per cent fall in sales to 217million, with analysts predicting a 23 per cent slide in profits to 30.8million. In the current year, sales of 220million are forecast, with profits of 35million.

The 2020 dividend was cancelled but 4.2p is pencilled in for 2021, compared to 4.9p last year.

Midas verdict: Midas recommended Volution in 2014, shortly after the business was listed and the shares were 1.55. Having shot up by December of last year, the stock was hammered by Covid-19 concerns and is now just 7 per cent higher than it was six years ago. The business seems to making good progress, but economic prospects remain uncertain. Perhaps the best approach for shareholders is to follow George's lead  cut their holdings by half and diversify.

Traded on: Main market Ticker: FAN Contact: volutiongroupplc.com or 01293 441662
A backlog of cancer patients awaiting treatment should clear 'within a matter of months', the Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

He admitted that the number of cancer patients waiting longer than 62 days - the standard the Government wants to see - increased 'substantially' amid lockdown.

Mr Hancock told ITV News, though, that numbers have 'more or less halved' since the peak of the pandemic.

He said: 'We've had to take action right across the NHS to make sure that we deal with Covid, and it was very important when there were a lot of new cases of Covid that people weren't made more at risk because of treatments, especially for cancer.

'But now it's incredibly important for people to come forward.'

He refused to a put a 'precise date' on the number the backlog would be cleared by, because he said that 'depends on how much Covid there is'

How Covid-19 has affected cancer patients in the UK Cancer Research UK estimates 2.4 million people were waiting for a cancer screening, further tests or cancer treatment at the end of May. An estimated 2.1 million people were waiting for breast, bowel or cervical screening. The charity also found that one in three cancer patients say their treatment has been impacted by the effects of the coronavirus on the health system. Around 4 in 10 people (42%) also said their tests had been affected, according to the survey of 1,900 cancer patients carried out in May. Around 70% of people who had delays or cancellations to cancer testing and treatment also reported feeling more frustrated and anxious. Advertisement

He refused to a put a 'precise date' on the number the backlog would be cleared by, because he said that 'depends on how much Covid there is'.

But Cancer Research UK estimates 2.4 million people were waiting for a cancer screening, further tests or cancer treatment at the end of May, with a backlog of around 2.1 million people left waiting for breast, bowel or cervical screening.

Cancer Research UK says that 3,800 cancers would normally be diagnosed through screening in this time period.

In a recent study by the charity found that one in three cancer patients said their treatment has been impacted by the effects of COVID-19 on the health system.

This, they say, equates to hundreds of thousands of people experiencing cancellations, delays and changes to their treatment across the UK

Mr Hancock's comments come after charity Macmillan Cancer Support found that the number of people in England being treated with radiotherapy for one of five common types of cancer dropped 24% in April, shortly after the country went into lockdown.

And NHS England's monthly data published on August 13 showed urgent cancer referrals dropped by a fifth in June compared to last year.

That rose to 43% for breast cancer as the number of people - including cancer patients - waiting longer than 18 weeks for hospital treatment rose to 1.85 million that month.

'What I can say though, is that we are already on the path to recovering the situation in cancer', he added, after admitting that 'some cancer treatment did have to stop'.

The number of cancer patients waiting longer than 62 days - the standard the Government wants to see - increased 'substantially' amid lockdown

When asked about the Government's U-turns on a number of recent policies, Mr Hancock said he believed people would have been 'really cross' if they did not happen.

'We're dealing with a crisis that is entirely unprecedented,' he responded.

'We're dealing with a disease that didn't even exist, as far as we know, before December last year.

'And so, we're taking decisions guided by the science on it.

'I think people would, what people would get really cross about, is if a government refuse to change even if evidence came up that there was a better option.'

He also hinted that restrictions may not be eased over Christmas to avoid an 'uptick' in the number of coronavirus cases.

When asked whether he could assure that cancer patients will not have their treatment or surgery cancelled again in the event of a potential second wave in the winter, Mr Hancock said he could not guarantee it.

'What I can say though, is that we are already on the path to recovering the situation in cancer', he added, after admitting that 'some cancer treatment did have to stop'.

On how long he thought the backlog could be cleared, Mr Hancock responded: 'Well, I very much hope that that will happen within a matter of months.'

There is a likelihood that the virus could spread more easily in cold weather, he warned, as people will spend more time indoors as opposed to outside where it is 'safer'.

'We're doing a huge amount of planning to make sure that the NHS is prepared and can cope to make sure that people can have as much freedom to enjoy Christmas, to enjoy winter, as possible,' he said.

But when asked whether there will be special rules to allow more people to visit one another over Christmas, Mr Hancock suggested it could lead to a rise in the number of people catching the virus.

'The danger of a rule like that is that it increases the spread of the disease,' he said.

'I mean, there are an awful lot of things I'd love to be able to do, but the risk of them is that we see an uptick in the disease.

'Hence, we've had to take decisions that you wouldn't ever want to.'

On vaccines, the Health Secretary said there is potential for it to be available this year, but that it is more likely next year.

He continued: 'It's a very difficult science, it's thankfully one that our scientists are up to, and each sign at the moment is going well and going in the right direction.

'But we don't want to raise people's hopes too much.'

The Government is responding to 'an increase in anti-vax messages and anti-test messages', he added, with a programme under way to tackle 'these sorts of conspiracy theories' which he branded as 'wrong'.
Yves here. Another disheartening development. The Republican takeover envisaged by Saint Reagan is all but complete. Republican hawks have found a happy home in the Democratic party. Just as we would have gotten with Hillary, a Biden victory looks destined to given neocons the greenlight for putting the US officially in the all wars all the time business .

By Marshall Auerback, a researcher at the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, a fellow of Economists for Peace and Security, and a regular contributor to Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute and James Carden, a contributing writer on foreign affairs at the Nation who served as a policy adviser on Russia in the U.S. State Department under President Obama. Cardens work has also appeared on the American Conservative. Produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute

The emergence in recent weeks of a coalition of neocon Republicans and former national security officials who have thrown their support behind the candidacy of Joe Biden is an ominous development to those who believe U.S. foreign policy should be guided by the principles of realism and military restraint, rather than perpetual wars of choice.

In early June, a group of former officials from the George W. Bush administration launched a PAC in support of Joe Bidens candidacy. The group, 43 Alumni for Biden, boasts nearly 300 former Bush officials and is seeking to mobilize disaffected Republicans nationwide.

The mobilization appears to be having an impact: More recently, more than 100 former staff of [recently deceased Senator John] McCains congressional offices and campaigns also endorsed Biden for president, according to NBC News, as well as dozens of former staffers from Senator Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign.

That GOP support comes in addition to the more than 70 former U.S. national security officials, who teamed up and issued a statement urging Bidens election in November. Citing what they believe is the grave damage Trump has done to U.S. national security, the group does include some mainstream Republicans like Richard Armitage and Chuck Hagel, but also features notable neocon hardliners like Eliot Cohen, John Negroponte and David Kramer, who, perhaps not incidentally, played a leading role in disseminating the utterly discredited Steele dossier prior to Trumps inauguration.

These are not merely grifters or desperate bids for attention by unscrupulous and avaricious Beltway swamp creatures. Though there are those too: the so-called Lincoln Project, helmed by neocon operative Rick Wilson, which is an outside group of Republicans (including former RNC Chair Michael Steele) devoted to defeatingTrump in November.

As the historian David Sessions recently tweeted, Basically nobody in liberal circles is taking seriously the consequences of the fact that the exiled cadre of the Republican Party are building a massive power base in the Democratic Party.

The merger between Democrats and neocons is not merely confined to the world of electoral politics; it is already affecting policy as well. Over the summer, in response to the New York Times dubious Russia bounty story, Democratic Congressman Jason Crow teamed up with Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney (daughter of the former vice president) to prohibit the president from withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. Republicans and Democrats in the Senate and the House Armed Services Committee also collaborated to pass an amendment that imposed restrictions on Trumps plan to withdraw troops from Germany, showing, if nothing else, that the bipartisan commitment to the new cold war is alive and well.

It is noteworthy that while there has been considerable pushback to economic neoliberalism within the Democratic Party in recent years, thanks, mainly, to the candidacy of Bernie Sanders, the advocacy of reformers like Elizabeth Warren and the increasing popularity of economists like Stephanie Kelton, the same cannot be said for foreign policy. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has evinced an openness to being pushed left on social and economic policies, but on external affairs he still largely operates within the standard Washington foreign policy playbook.

If anything, on foreign policy Democrats have moved rightward in recent years, having fallen not only under the spell of Russiagate but also increasingly under the influence of neocons and other former Bush officials who have pushed that discredited narrative for their own ends. The Democrats have also displayed a rather supine obeisance in regard to the countrys intelligence community, in spite of a multiplicity of well-documented lies or half-truths that would at the very least justify some skepticism about their claims or motivations.

Nobody should be surprised.

The neocons had been signaling their intention to flee the GOP as early as 2016 when it was widely reported that Robert Kagan had decided to endorse Hillary Clinton and speak at a Washington, D.C., fundraiser alongside other national security fixtures worried about the alleged isolationist drift within the Republican Party. Indeed, the Democrats welcomed the likes of Kagan and fellow neocon extremist Max Boot with open arms, setting the stage for where we are today: A Democratic nominee running to the right of the Republican nominee on foreign policy.

Missing: Whither the Progressives?

Over the past few election cycles, progressive Democrats have increasingly challenged the partys prevailing neoliberal bias on domestic economic policy. Equally striking, however, is that they have been delinquent in failing to provide an alternative to the hegemonic influence of militarists and interventionists growing within their party regarding foreign policy.

As it stands today, the so-called progressive foreign policy alternative is really no alternative at all. To the contrary, it evokes Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusas seminal work, The Leopard, whose main character, Tancredi, sagely observes to his uncle, If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change. So it is with much of what passes for a genuine foreign policy alternative: the rhetoric slightly changes, the personnel certainly change, but in substance, the policy status quo largely remains.

Consider a recent interview with the socialist Jacobin magazine, featuring Matt Duss, a foreign policy adviser to Senator Bernie Sanders. Duss, who seeks to articulate the foundations of a new progressive foreign policy, told the Quincy Institutes Daniel Bessner that:

We have neither the right nor the ability to transform other countries, but we should do what we can to protect and expand the political space in these countries for local people to do that work. We can also provide funding or resources for American civil society actors to work in solidarity with their international counterparts. [emphasis ours]

That sounds anodyne enough, but in reality, it is nothing but a form of liberal imperialism. Historically, seemingly benign initiatives conducted under the aegis of local people backed by so-called democracy-building programs have often planted the seeds for more malign military intervention later. Who makes the decision as to which local people to support? How does one (purportedly) protect and expand that political space? We have seen how well that worked out in Afghanistan, Iraq, or, indeed, in the mounting human tragedy that is Syria today.

Comments like that of Matt Duss amount to this: We dont have the right to transform other countries but were going to try anyway. Forswearing preemptive military action (wars of choice) isnt enough. Change will only come about when U.S. foreign policy adheres to the principles of the UN Charter, and above all, the ancient Westphalian principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. American policymakers need to learn that less is more.

That used to be a guiding principle of Democrats, for example, Franklin Delano Roosevelts good neighbor policy that repudiated intervention in the domestic affairs of Latin America. Of course, as subsequent events such as World War II illustrated, there may be a point at which external assistance/intervention in other parts of the world might become necessary; but the United States should not perpetually arrogate to itself the role of sole judge and jury in determining when that line should be crossed, no matter how benign its intentions might appear.

The broader point is that explicating a foreign policy somewhat less hawkish and merely paying lip service to international law that transcend the norms established by the Bush-Cheney neocons isnt enough. That is the foreign policy equivalent of the GOP lite economic agenda embraced by New Democrats such as Bill Clinton, Robert Rubin, Barack Obama, and Timothy Geithner, whereby the Democrats internalize the GOPs market fundamentalist paradigm, but simply promise to implement it more fairly, rather than do away with it altogether.

That appears unlikely to change under a future Biden administration: As American Conservative editor Kelley Beaucar Vlahos has noted, Democratic interventionists and Blob careerists now [sit] at the right hand of [Biden] like [Antony] Blinken, Nicholas Burns, Susan Rice, Samantha Power and Michele Flournoy, who has been touted as a possible Secretary of Defense. They would sooner drag the country back into Syria, as well as position aggressively against China if the military pushed hard enough and there was a humanitarian reason to justify it. Nowhere in Bidens foreign policy ambit do we find mainstream figures warning about the dangers of a new cold war with Russia or China, nor to the broader problems posed by Americas overall propensity toward militarism. In fact, Biden does just the opposite.

The Shape of Things to Come?

With the notable (and noble) exceptions of a few anti-war Democrats like Barbara Lee, Tulsi Gabbard, Ro Khanna and Jeff Merkley, the opposition party has spent much of the Trump era turning themselves into the party of war. Meanwhile, one could envision a future where the GOP, under the influence of national conservatives such as Josh Hawley, Rand Paul, or even Trump advisers such as Colonel (Ret.) Douglas Macgregor (recently nominated to be U.S. ambassador to Germany), becomes the party of realism and restraint abroad.

To the limited extent that President Trump has been guided by any kind of restraint (which has been capricious at best), it has paid dividends for the United States. In the Middle East, for example, given that the United States is now largely energy-self-sufficient, it no longer needs to play policeman in that part of the world. That fact, writes David Goldman, has induced the Gulf states to act responsibly as a matter of self-preservation. As long as the Gulf States remained de facto US protectorates, they could claim that the Arab Street stood in the way of relations with Israel. Now that they have to take responsibility for their own defense, they look to Israel for help. As Goldman concludes, this consideration played a key role in the United Arab Emirates recent agreement to normalize relations with the State of Israel, almost certainly the first of several Arab states [likely] to make such agreements.

Likewise, there is little to be gained via aggressive American intrusion into the affairs of countries that have historically been in the domain of Russia. That mistake was made in Ukraine in 2014, when prominent members of U.S. officialdomfrom the State Department, Congress, and the Obama administrationpublicly and privately urged the removal of Viktor Yanukovych, even though he was the constitutionally elected president. As Professor Stephen Cohen has persuasively documented, that ill-advised intervention contributed to Crimeas annexation by Russia and to the still ongoing U.S.-Russian proxy war in eastern Ukraine. It is also worth noting that Ukraines largely IMF-funded economy continues to fail.

In Belarus, the same predictable pattern has reasserted itself. Even though much of the evidence points to the falsification of the countrys August 9 election result, there is little to be gained by replicating the Ukraine formula: advocating mass uprising is unlikely to engender a stable, democratic post-Lukashenko government. What is required is U.S. policy cooperation with Russia, which becomes problematic when leading Democrats, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, mindlessly persist in perpetuating Russophobia: All roads lead to Putin. Working with Putin, rather than instinctively attacking him for sustaining an authoritarian regime, is more likely to ensure a relatively stable transition to a new government, especially if it continues to avoid the economic shock therapy treatment that destabilized so many post-Soviet regimes. To his credit, Belarussian President Lukashenko has at least avoided inflicting that particular form of misery on his people.

In external affairs, Donald Trumps erratic conduct makes profound change in U.S. foreign policy unlikely in the near term. The attempted normalization of the neocon Bush/Cheney administration is a sign that for many, the old normal (which was largely a failed normal) will be enough. Unfortunately, this reassessment obscures the fact that Trumps shattering of many existing shibboleths in foreign policy helped get him elected in the first place. These policies should be separated from the man himself, and force a long-overdue discussion of the countrys increasingly costly international engagements.

The more modest aspirations that used to characterize U.S. foreign policy realism appear to have gone AWOL. There may indeed be times when international engagement and a corresponding reliance on international institutions, such as the United Nations, is wise. However, it is worth recalling that a vibrant nation-state with robust democratic checks and balances provides the best defense against unnecessary foreign policy expansionism. Constitutional brakes have been increasingly undermined (through the acquiescence of both parties), and an imperial presidency has taken hold. It is the very hollowing out of many of those traditional checks and balances that has sustained and expanded Americas increasingly militaristic foreign policy, in spite of ample evidence that domestic opposition to such policies is growing. In their eagerness to defeat Trump, the Democrats seem to have overlooked that fact, as they enthusiastically embrace their newfound neocon allies (whose past policy failures should preclude their return to government, let alone allow for any kind of influence).

Being one of the victors of World War II does not give the United States carte blanche to be the worlds global cop in perpetuity. The American foreign policy establishment needs to respect the boundaries set by national sovereignty, both at home and abroad. Endless interventionist efforts aimed at reshaping other nations as America sees fit give us a world of chaos and blowback, not peace and stability.
Georgia Fowler confirmed her romance with businessman Nathan Dalah in February, and it seems that the couple are happier than ever.

On Friday, the 28-year-old Victoria's Secret model shared a gushing birthday tribute to her boyfriend on Instagram.

The model appeared to reference the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic as she explained that she is 'certain' about their love.

'I love you': On Friday, Georgia Fowler shared a sweet birthday tribute to her businessman beau Nathan Dalah (both pictured in a flashback photo in Paris)

'The only thing certain about this year is you. HBD. I love you to the [moon],' Georgia captioned the post.

The Kiwi accompanied the post with a series of loved-up throwback photographs from their relationship.

One image featured the couple wearing matching Rip Curl wet suits as they posed together on the beach following a surf.

Looking back at their love: The Kiwi accompanied the post with a series of loved-up throwback photographs from their relationship

Happy snaps: Georgia also shared two snaps of the couple snuggling up during ski vacations and a blurry photo of the pair that appears to have been taken at a club during a night out

Sweet words: Posting to Instagram on Friday, the 28-year-old shared a gushing birthday tribute to her boyfriend

Georgia also shared two snaps of the couple snuggling up during ski vacations and a blurry photo of the pair that appears to have been taken at a club during a night out.

In another photo, the Victoria's Secret model looked glam in a black strapless minidress featuring feathered trimmings, while the dashing Nathan wore a black suit.

She also shared a couple of travel snaps including one of the couple posing in front of the famous Louvre Museum in France and one of them cuddling some Koalas, presumably in Australia.



Dressed to impress: In another photo, the Victoria's Secret model looked glam in a black strapless minidress featuring feathered trimmings, while the dashing Nathan wore a black suit

Georgia confirmed her relationship with Nathan, the co-founder of salad chain Fishbowl, in February. Since then, they've made no secret of their romance.

The couple attended Paris Fashion Week together in March, before coronavirus lockdown restrictions were put in place.

They are also believed to have holidayed together in the Northern Territory earlier in the year.

In the past, Georgia has been romantically linked to Hollywood stars including Nick Jonas and Leonardo DiCaprio.
A week of protests in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, and an apparent power struggle inside the National Unity Government that controls the west of the country have both the U.N. and regional power brokers Egypt and Turkey jockeying to resume stalled political talks inside the country.



A popular protest movement in the Libyan capital of Tripoli is calling for a major government reshuffle to deal with the many crises facing the country. Public anger brought crowds into the streets again Saturday to decry poor government services, including lengthy electricity blackouts.



U.N. Deputy Libya Envoy Stephanie Williams met Saturday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo in a bid to jump-start political talks amid what appears to be a power struggle in Tripoli within the U.N.-backed National Unity Government.



Analysts in Cairo say the talks are focusing on a joint call August 21 for a cease-fire by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj and parliament Speaker Aguilah Saleh. The proposal includes new elections in March.



Public anger over government-backed militias firing at demonstrators in Tripoli during a week of protests prompted the governing "presidential council" to suspend Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha, pending an investigation into the incidents.



Arab media reported that Bashagha and the head of the presidential council, Khaled al Meshri, are now in the Turkish capital, Ankara, to discuss the deepening political crisis. Turkey supports rival factions inside the Tripoli government.



Libya analyst Hassan Muftah told Arab media the power-struggle in Tripoli is "pitting militias from the capital, which support Sarraj, against militias from neighboring Misrata, which back Bashagha." Muftah claims that Turkey, which supports both sides, "is the big loser in the conflict."



Rival militias have struggled for control of Tripoli since former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was killed in October of 2011. A separate struggle for control of the country pits eastern military commander General Khalifa Haftar against militias and armed forces that support the Sarraj government.


Pune municipal commissioner Vikram Kumar on Saturday submitted a proposal to the standing committee for the appointment of all party leaders to a trust, which will run the proposed medical college being set up by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

PMC plans to operate a medical college, named after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, for which the civic body is in the process of registering a trust with the charity commissioner. The trust, according to initial proposal, would have been mainly dominated by PMC office-bearers and municipal officials (mayor, standing committee chairman and leader of the house), however, opposition party leaders in the city raised objections to it. They demanded that leaders from all parties should be members of the trust.

Congress leader Aba Bagul said, They should appoint leaders from all major parties in the municipal corporation as it will help maintain balance. Today, the BJP is ruling PMC, but in the future other parties may run the PMC. Hence, looking at the long-term plans, the ruling party must accept the proposal.

Mayor Murlidhar Mohol said, The state government had given its nod to start a medical college here. I instructed the administration to speed up the administrative process as the PMC can start the college and this will help us get more medical practitioners for PMC-run hospitals.
People who live everywhere are bothered by what they see on TV in these cities, Murtaugh said. The people who live in cities dont want it. The people who live in suburbs dont want to see it because cities are right next door. And the people in rural areas wonder whether it could happen there. Look, Kenosha, Wisconsin, is not Portland, and its not Seattle, but its happening in all these places.
Leaders of integrated associations and politicians, mostly from the Eastern region of Nigeria, are calling for a thorough constitutional review that will incorporate the diverse ethno-political interests and also offer equal representation in the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGR). Several archival reports made available and separate interviews conducted by IDN vividly show rising tensions and the lack of strategic foresight in the current approach towards national integration before 2023, the end of President Muhammadu Buharis administration.

Nigeria became a formally independent federation on October 1, 1960. It, however, experienced a civil war from 1967 to 1970. After that, it alternated between democratically-elected civilian governments and military dictatorships until it achieved a stable democracy in 1999, with the 2015 presidential election marking the first time an incumbent president had lost re-election. In the 2019 presidential election, Muhammadu Buhari was re-elected for a second term in office defeating his closet rival AtikuAbubakar. As historical documents show, the Nigerian constitution was through a military decree adopted in 1999.

Nigeria is divided roughly in half between Christians, whose majority lives in the southern part of the country, and Muslims, who live mostly in the north. Nigeria has respectively, the fifth-largest Muslim population in the world and the sixth-largest Christian population in the world, with the constitution ensuring freedom of religion. A minority of the population practisereligions indigenous to Nigeria, such as those native to the Igbo and Yoruba ethnicities.

Currently, Islam has spread to the Christian dominated Eastern and Southern regions of Nigeria. Right after the Nigeria-Biafra civil war and until now, the Fulani people have dominated the military and politics in Nigeria. All is done for and by the Fulani for Fulani ethnic group, according to Kenneth OnyekachiIhemekwele, Founding Partner of Imo State Indigenes Association, Executive Secretary of the Association of the Nigerian community and General Secretary of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra aka IPOB in Swaziland, southern Africa.

After independence following the military take-overs, the negotiated constitution has primarily remained an unimplemented document. The devastation and the underdeveloped Eastern part of Nigeria is the result of negligence from the Federal Government following the end of the Nigerian-Biafra civil war. The military regimes introduced a series of decrees that ushered in policies that not accommodating the development and political interests of the Igbo people.

Nigeria is one of Africas most diverse and deeply divided States in the world today. Colonial rule exacerbated these differences, solidifying religious and ethnic identity as salient political distinction and creating conditions for persistent instability. The north-south divide continues and is marked by the serious disparity in economic development and access to basic social services, he told IDN in an emailed interview.

Competition for control of state institutions, abetted by corruption, and conflict over the spoils of Nigerias natural resources, especially oil, have further contributed to these sources of instability. In pursuit of broad-based political participation, peace and integration, Onyekachi Ihemekwelesuggests that the current constitution is reviewed properly because the constitution was drafted without due consultations with the broad majority of the people of Nigeria. It is a one-sided constitution for the selfishness of a certain group of people, who call themselves the ruling class, or better still, the northern politicians. We are free people and have rights to shape our destiny.

Under the current circumstances, an inclusive economic and political system is the only solution. The contemporary public discourse is focussed on political restructuring along regional lines. The calls for a political arrangement where major ethnic groups will have control over their geographic areas as well as resources therein might help. The danger is rather than uniting Nigeria it would further divide the country along distinctive ethnic and religious lines.

Significantly, the foot-dragging on constitutional review by Buharis leadership called for public criticisms, he noted and further explained that what Nigerians need, and are clamouringfor, is a country that will accommodate ethnic diversity, a unified country regardless of ethnic or religious creed, but at present, cannot be because Islam defines politics. Nigeria needs political, religious and ethnic tolerance. The constitution has to guarantee public safety in every facet of life, and the need for legitimate, effective political and administrative institutions.

The Nigerian authorities have an emphatically negative attitude to public opinions on ending violence and armed attacks, especially on the inhabitants of Eastern Rivers State. Despite consistent calls for the constitutional dialogue that will ultimately provide a basis for peace and integration, promote internal sustainable development nationwide and boost a positive image on international arena have, thus far, remains an unchangeable political dream. Opening the chapter as a new dawn for adherence to the ideals of political pluralism has indefinitely eluded millions of broad-minded Nigerians.

Onyekachi Ihemekwele concluded that Nigeria has fallen from grace, and there seems no remedy for Nigeria to regain this past glory. We had earlier called for restructuring, the need for the Nigerian government to agree to wholesome restructuring without reservation or grant a referendum for the people in the South East to strive for self-rule or what is referred to, in politics, as self-determination.

Professor Nathaniel Aniekwu, Secretary of the AlaighoDevelopment Foundation (ADF) regretted in an interview with IDN that 60 years after independence and 50 years after the Civil War, the growing threats and frequent attacks by northern ethnic groups and deepening pitfalls in the federal governance system have negatively affected the overall development of Biafra, and other regions in Nigeria.

According to the ADF, Biafra symbolizes the Igbo peopleslonging for freedom, underlining their predicament from the Amalgamation in 1914 to the Biafra Declaration on May 30, 1967. Ever since, Biafrans have been confronting a continuous state of estrangement, brutal attacks and punitive measures against their spiritual, economic and political survival. The world community continuously watches the large-scale atrocities committed in the country. As long as these wars are going on, Nigeria cannot have peace, and therefore, there would be no real significant progress.

All economic indices show that despite the War against them, marginalization and exclusion from participation in the governance of Nigeria, the Biafra States continue to be very competitive and are far from being worse off among the Nigerian States. Although Nigeria is richly endowed with natural and human resources, it has quickly lost all its shine advantages, he said.

Moreover, whatever remained in the past, has been squandered, especially as they seek to exclude Biafrans from participation in political governance. They failed to deploy the appropriate resources, especially human resources, and broad-minded people who can guide and manage the development of the country, simply because most of them come from the Biafra States.

National integration is an obvious possibility, especially for the Biafra States. It is the only hope, not only that internal cohesion is imperative but also integrating into a union of the agreed that is paramount. Leadership must be looked from the point of view of the governed, at the micro-level of the society. This has to be positioned as a guarantor of the preservation of the multi-secular State in Nigeria.

The federal system of government is not working in Nigeria given the unique nature of the Nigerian political space. We must, therefore, return to the solution domain, seek long-term solutions, first by reviewing the constitution. By taking this step, it could make it more receptive to further peace initiatives, offer political opportunities and creating ground for representations instead of depriving them of participating in state management.

Without all-inclusive Federal Government and its related public institutions, efforts to maintain the status quo will result in sharp differences and disintegration. The political division along ethnic lines and the slow peace process will harm development, explained Nathaniel Aniekwu.

Chief (Mrs.) Marie Okwor, President of the Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) and one-time member of Advisory Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is one of the remaining few Nigerians who have seen Nigeria from the struggle for independence through the development of its democracy. Mrs. Okwor, who is an Associate of the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, narrated her views about the impact of the Civil War, the current politics and the role of the church in Nigeria.

The War of 1967-1970 war was a pogrom, a war of attrition meant to wipe out a whole race for no just cause. It reminded me of the Holocaust against the Jews. I feel very emotional as I speak about this, she told IDN. Suffice it to say, that the War could have been avoided, had Nigeria kept her end of the agreement at Aburi, in the Republic of Ghana, which came to be called the Aburi Accord reached in 1967. This venue offered all the delegates security guarantee, and that meeting was billed to be the last chance of preventing all-out War.

The accord finally broke down because of differences in interpretation on both sides. This led to the outbreak of the War. Markets and places of worship were not spared from bombings and strafing. As a matter of fact, one of my domestic staffs lost her mother in one of the market bombings. She was hurt by shrapnel; she bled to death since medical facilities were scarce. The effect of the War on the State of Biafra was deplorable.

The Government of Nigeria is vehemently opposed to the name Biafra. Many point to the fact that Biafrans have never been re-integrated. The basis for unity no longer exists. Biafransstruggle for their survival without depending on anyone. Since the Nigerian Government has refused absolutely to accept Biafrans as a part of Nigeria, it stands to reason that they should be allowed to go separately and develop on their own at their own pace. It is pertinent to mention that the north contributes little, rather resources from southern Nigeria are controlled and squandered by northern politicians.

Theres so much unrest which stems from oppression, square pegs are placed in round holes indeed. Almost all of Nigerias intractable problems emanate from the imposition of candidates during elections, there have been no free and fair or credible elections. The situation gets worse with every election. In the first place, the constitution under which elections are held is a fraud. Far from being the Peoples Constitution in a simple sense of democracy, we have faced these mistakes since the inception of the presidential system of governance in Nigeria. The system under reference is wasteful, encourages corruption and dictatorial tendencies, she precisely alleged in an interview with IDN.

In an early July IDN interview with the President of the Congress of Igbo Leaders in the UK and Ireland, Mazi Obi Okoli, said that Nigeria has lots of challenges in implementing a system of governance that will guarantee the interests of all within the nation. According to him, many of the problems, frictions and issues faced today in Nigeria are a direct result of the flawed federal system, the 1979 constitution drafted without consultation and the negative attitudes by the majority of politicians toward development in Nigeria.

The negative dimensions and conditions of ethnic minority alienation and discontent in the federation has been indeed made worse under the present regime, and further tightening of the noose continues unabated. Therefore, the interpretation and connectivity of ethnicity with the federal system of governance is that of resultant inherent contradictions and tensions in the evolution and operation of the Nigerian federal system. Many of the problems, frictions and issues faced today in Nigeria are a direct result of the flawed federal system; the problematic 1979 constitution drafted without consultation and the negative under-developmental attitude of the Nigerian politicians.

It has been made worse by the over-centralization of the governance system, the primitive refusal to recognize the complex ethnic configuration and interest. Furthermore, the pragmatic consensual underdevelopment of some regions, especially the Eastern part of the country, the relatively limited development of accommodative, consensual or power-sharing mechanisms, the absence or weakness of key mediatory or regulatory institutions, and the repeated distortion and abortion of democratic institutions. With the above administrative defects, it will be difficult for the nation to progress in contemporary times and be able to compete with other developing nations of the world.

As a matter of facts, Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke, a veteran Diplomat and Development Studies Expert with thirty-years working experience in the Nigerian Foreign Service, explained to IDN from the United States, that the present-day Federal Republic of Nigeria, several years after its independence, the leaders have not succeeded in rebuilding its state institutions enough to reflect all-inclusive ethnic diversity. Let alone in adopting Western-style democracy that takes cognizance of different public opinions on development issues in the country. The struggle for and misuse of power have brought an absolute stalemate, disrupting any efforts to overcome the deepening economic and social crisis in the country.

Besides, she tellingly maintains that several challenges exist, the first of which is coercive alien hostile occupation of our homeland which have severally subjected Igbo Women to rape, ravaging their homes and farmlands, decapitating their husbands and children and sources of traditional rural livelihoods. Widespread poverty, unemployment and unemployable skill remain a major challenge. State endorsed occupation of large portions of rural and village communal lands by hostile alien Jihadists have hampered the ability of women to provide for their families as supportive income earners.

With the prevailing socio-economic climate and the steadily dwindling economic fortunes and hostile stance of the Government towards the entrepreneurial endeavour of Easterners, the future is bleak for women and youth. The only glimpse of hope in the horizon is a fallback to the age-old traditional practice of nurtured apprenticeship has been the bulwark of survival and sustenance in the face of the current existential threat facing Easterners.

The situation in the region is dire depicting a derelict lack of infrastructure widespread unemployment, insecurity and youth hopelessness. As a result of decades of State endorsed systemic exclusion since the end of the Civil War, Easterners have found themselves at the brink of socio-economic extermination and had to pull themselves up by sheer perseverance and dint of effort resulting in disenchantment with Nigeria and massive migration to new diasporas and abroad.

As Nigeria is persistently engulfed with so many challenges and problems, so it requires systematic well-defined approach in order to overcome them: Nepotism at all levels and institutions of Government. Morbid corruption. Endemic kleptocracy. Ethnic cleansing and persecution of Christians and ethnic capture of the military and security apparatus of the State.

The current entrapment of Biafra within the British Nigeria contraption prevents the actualization of its investment and development potential in all ramifications. This is why the Easterners want to delink from this entrapped arrangement called Nigeria. In the face of years of criminal neglect by Nigeria and a firm footing in the Diaspora, Biafras emancipation and development will be the Eighth Wonder of the World.

In Ajulu-Okekes logical analysis, the way forward in restoring nationalities and bringing sustainable peace and development to the beleaguered peoples of Biafra is through the conduct of plebiscites that will afford the indigenous nationalities the inalienable right to choose how they are governed. The juxtaposition of ancient nationalities with incompatible values presently held together by a coercive military decree in centrist top-down military format federations, fundamental regional autonomies should return to the truly democratic constitution and holding of self-determination autonomy plebiscites for all indigenous nationalities will usher in sustainable development and peace.

According to international organizations, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and the seventh most populous in the world, with an estimated 195.9 million inhabitants as of late 2019. Nigeria has the third-largest youth population in the world, after China and India with more than 90 million of its population under the age of eighteen.

Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa and is the worlds 24th largest economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates, worth more than $500 billion and $1 trillion in terms of nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and purchasing power parity, respectively. Nigeria is a federal republic comprising 36 states, with the capital located in Abuja. The country is located in West Africa bordering Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east and Benin in the west. Its southern coast is on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.

Kester Kenn Klomegah writes frequently about Russia, Africa and BRICS.
SRINAGAR, India - Seven suspected rebels and an Indian army soldier were killed in two gunbattles in Indian-administered Kashmir in the last 24 hours, officials said Saturday.

Three militants and a soldier died early Saturday after troops and police launched a search operation in a village in southern Pulwama district, said Col. Rajesh Kalia, an Indian army spokesperson. He said troops recovered an assault rifle and two pistols from the slain militants.

On Friday, joint teams of army, paramilitary and police forces cordoned off a village in southern Shopian district following a tip that militants were hiding there, leading to an exchange of fire, police said.

Four militants were killed and another was arrested during the operation, a police statement said. It said troops seized two automatic rifles and three pistols from the site of the fighting.

Since January, government forces have killed 180 militants during counterinsurgency operations, according to the Jammu-Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, a rights group. Based on official figures, data shows that over half of them had joined the rebels less than a year ago, and out of them most had been active for only a few months.

In many of the encounters, the weapons recovered by government forces included only pistols, according to official records. At least 68 government forces and 46 civilians have been killed since January, the rights group said.

The violence comes amid near daily fighting between Pakistani and Indian soldiers along the highly militarized frontier that divides Kashmir between the two rivals. Dozens of civilians and soldiers have died on both sides.

India and Pakistan claim the divided territory of Kashmir in its entirety. Most Muslim Kashmiris support the rebel cause that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.

India accuses Pakistan of arming and training the rebels, a charge Pakistan denies.

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Actor Chadwick Boseman, who played Black icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown before finding fame as the regal Black Panther in the Marvel cinematic universe, died of cancer on August 29. He was 43.

Boseman died at his home in the Los Angeles area with his wife and family by his side. The Black Panther actor was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago. "A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much, his family said in the statement.



Our hearts are broken and our thoughts are with Chadwick Bosemans family. Your legacy will live on forever. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/DyibBLoBxz

 Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 29, 2020

The news comes as a shock for Boseman's friends and fans. Here is how the Internet decided to pay tribute to Boseman:



Im absolutely devastated. This is beyond heartbreaking.

Chadwick was special. A true original. He was a deeply committed and constantly curious artist. He had so much amazing work still left to create. Im endlessly grateful for our friendship. Rest in power, King pic.twitter.com/oBERXlw66Z August 29, 2020



Chadwick came to the White House to work with kids when he was playing Jackie Robinson. You could tell right away that he was blessed. To be young, gifted, and Black; to use that power to give them heroes to look up to; to do it all while in pain  what a use of his years. https://t.co/KazXV1e7l7  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 29, 2020



THANK YOU @chadwickboseman for all you gave us. We needed it & will always cherish it! A talented & giving artist & brother who will be sorely missed RIP Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) August 29, 2020



My heart is full with the passing of the young king Chadwick Boseman So young and with such an amazing career unfolding... my prayers go out to his family at this time... pic.twitter.com/gHJurY66Vq  Robert Townsend (@Robert_Townsend) August 29, 2020



The loss of such an inspiration as Chadwick Boseman is a reminder how precious life is. Let his passing be a reminder to all of us to live like he did, to make every day worth living and to give so tirelessly to others. Simon Sinek (@simonsinek) August 29, 2020



Heartbroken. My friend and fellow Bison Chadwick Boseman was brilliant, kind, learned, and humble. He left too early but his life made a difference. Sending my sincere condolences to his family. pic.twitter.com/C5xGkUi9oZ  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 29, 2020



This was amazing. @chadwickboseman surprises #BlackPanther fans while they say what the movie means to them. pic.twitter.com/ZXnfLuV83f The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) March 1, 2018
On Aug. 28, 1955, Emmett Till, a Black teen from Chicago, was brutally killed in Mississippi.

Till, 14, was abducted from his uncle's home in Money by two white men after he was accused of whistling at a white woman. He was found three days later  beaten and hanged to death.

The woman, Carolyn Bryant, later admitted Till never touched, threatened or harassed her.

A balloon release was held Friday at Fair Park in Jackson to commemorate the 65 years since Till's killing.

Till's murder was a key driving force in the civil rights movement. On Aug. 28, 1963, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic "I Have A Dream" address as part of the March on Washington.

Thousands gathered Friday near the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where civil rights advocates highlighted the scourge of police and vigilante violence against Black Americans. The event, which took place where King shared his vision of racial equality, capped a week of protests and outrage over the police shooting of a Black man in Wisconsin.
After shooting three people during Tuesday nights protests in Kenosha, Wis., the gunman, with his arms raised and a semiautomatic rifle dangling off his body, walked toward police in their armored vehicles as people angrily shouted at him.

And what did police do as this white armed person walked toward them? They let him pass like he wasnt a threat to public safety.

Now, take a few seconds and imagine this: What if the armed person walking toward them was a Black man? Do you think the police would have rolled past him in their vehicles as if he were one of their own?

Authorities have since made an arrest, alleging the gunman was 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch, Ill., and alleging that he used an AR-15-type weapon to kill two people and injure a third. In a news release, an attorney for Rittenhouse said he acted in self-defense.

Before the shooting, Rittenhouse was captured in several videos alongside other men carrying long guns in Kenosha, according to a New York Times analysis of the videos. In one video posted on social media, an armed Rittenhouse talks with police in an armored vehicle. Police express gratitude and offer water bottles. In another video, Rittenhouse tells a videographer that he is protecting businesses, including a boarded-up car dealership.

He was one of many armed counterprotesters who showed up in Kenosha on the third day of civil unrest as protesters raged against another shooting in America of a Black man by a white police officer.

These counterprotesters would like for the American public to think theyre some kind of un-caped heroes rushing in to defend a community under siege.

But thats not what theyre defending. Intolerance and hatred is what these armed counterprotesters are defending.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Were witnessing a battle over America. One side is fighting for equality and all races to be treated equally and fairly. The other side is fighting for white supremacy, and they have a president in the White House and, it seems, police on their side.

On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said the fight for justice and equality lives in current social uprisings. She spoke during the virtual commemoration of the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington in which the Rev. Martin Luther King delivered the historic I Have a Dream speech.

She said the movement for justice goes on in honoring Rep. John Lewis and the other heroes who were beaten, bloodied and killed in the fight for civil rights.

To honor George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake, who were most recently attacked, and hundreds of other Black Americans harmed and murdered because of who they are, Pelosi added.

George Floyds death kicked off civil unrest in this country that wont end until the police stop killing people who dont pose an immediate threat to their safety or the safety of others. On Aug. 23, Jacob Blake was shot seven times by a Kenosha police officer as Blake tried to get into his car. Blake is now paralyzed.

Since 2015, the Washington Post has tracked police shootings, finding that Black people have been killed at more than twice the rate of white people. Heres something else: In 2018, 65% of police officers in America were white, according to Data USA, which used U.S. Census Bureau data for the report.

Police brutality and systemic racism isnt just a problem for Black people. Its Americas problem. Unfortunately, to some Americans, Black lives havent been worth much since slave owners were forced to stop selling our bodies to the highest bidder.

Jack Glaser, a UC Berkeley professor and social psychologist who researches stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination, told me theres a double standard for what police consider to be threatening.

Apparently, for police in Kenosha, a person who appears to be white walking with a gun as police respond to a shooting doesnt pose a threat.

One of the causes is just the automatic stereotypes that police and other people have associating Black people with crime and weapons and violence, Glaser said. Theres also this element of dehumanization where people generally see people of other races and ethnicities as less human, and thats especially so with white people in how they regard Black people.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

In 2018, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth, in a news conference after the arrest of shoplifters who led police on a high-speed chase, said people who werent an asset should be warehoused, according to multiple news reports. Seriously.

He apologized after meeting with members of Kenoshas NAACP chapter, but the message was clear: Law enforcement gets to decide whose life matters.

Thats just one reason protesters across the nation are demanding greater police accountability.

Your whole job is predicated on the assumption that we will be afraid of you, said Erin Kerrison, assistant professor of social welfare at UC Berkeley, referring to police in general. Thats why its such a problem when people arent. It threatens your legitimacy. Your whole job is wrapped up in our complying with your assumption about what you deserve and how you get to treat us.

Here in California, the Legislature is attempting to enhance police accountability through legislation. One of the measures with a chance of passing is AB1506 from Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento. The bill would require the state attorney general to review more uses of police force, something Attorney General Xavier Becerra and his predecessor, Kamala Harris, refrained from doing. Im skeptical how effective it will be.

A bill that would require officers to intercede when present and observing an officer using excessive force was promising, but it was held, in part, because of pressure from law enforcement lobbyists, McCarty told me.

The law enforcement lobby is very influential, even in this era of post-George Floyd and the public wanting real police reform, he said. The law enforcement lobby still has a lot of reach in state politics. (The police are) afraid of change. Sometimes I think theyre afraid of the consequences and accountability, but the public is demanding it.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays and Thursdays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
New York, Aug 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as the rating star during India's lockdown. An 81-slide deck presented by Nielsen and Broadcast Audience Council (BARC) shows Modi's Independence Day event cornered 4.64 billion viewing minutes on television.

This was 29 per cent higher than the viewing of 3.59 billion minutes in 2018 and 41 per cent higher than 3.28 billion in 2019.

Modi's audiences stayed despite his telecast this year totalling 152 minutes which was longer than the 150 minutes in 2018 and 126 minutes in 2019.

It wasn't just the minutes. The domination extends to people watching: 133 million tuned in this year compared with 121 million in 2018 and 109 million in 2019.

The ratings organisation, considered "currency" among media stakeholders, mapped viewing from 195 TV channels this year. IANS has reviewed the 11th edition of the report, presented by BARC chief Sunil Lulla, on August 27.

Modi mania flowed into the six addresses made on Covid-19 as well as the one on July 3 to Army Jawans at Leh. The first address on Covid-19, on March 19, was viewed by 83 million people for 1.275 billion minutes.

This went up more than 2x on March 24, when 197 million tuned in and spent 3.86 billion minutes listening to the PM. Numbers dropped sharply in Telecast Number 3 on April 3, but then the fourth and fifth addresses, on April 14 and May 12, interested an even larger audience - 203 and 193 million viewers and 3.92 billion and 4.25 billion minutes respectively.

If numbers plummeted in address number 6 on June 30 with 42 million viewers watching for 0.44 billion minutes, the change of locale at Leh on July 3 didn't do much either: 29.2 million viewers, just one-seventh of the blockbuster April 14 speech on Lockdown 2.0, interesting TV viewing audiences.

Viewing minutes were down even sharper at 0.31 billion.

The saga didn't end with his lockdown speech making. Bhoomi Poojan at Ayodhya, UP, the ground-breaking ceremony of a Ram Temple in which Modi presided, trumped everything else. Though the show, involving Modi seated in silent prayer for most parts, went on the longest - from 10:41 hours to 14:11 hours - it racked up 7.3 billion viewing minutes from 163 million viewers spread over 198 TV channels.

Modi's punitive action against 50+ Chinese apps crashed them from 81 percent to 25 per cent from pre-Covid times in the numbers released on India's smartphone public square.

On the business side, the halting return of live sporting action and original content-led sport-heavy advertisers like Hero, Samsung, Byju's, Tata Motors, ITC, Skoda, Prime Video, Apple, Maruti Suzuki to dominate the spends.

Streaming on smartphones, the panel tracks 12,000 Android devices is dropping from peak lockdown levels. Work from home video conferencing is up 12x in terms of percentage of users and 6x in time spent. Usage of home delivery apps is on a high, even as trust issues dominate the grim narrative on restaurant food.

Here, deceased actor Sushant Singh Rajput trumped the biggies. When stacked basis week 1 of their direct release on Amazon Prime, Hotstar, MX (Player Online), Netflix, Voot and Zee5, Rajput's "Dil Bechara" released on Disney Plus and Hotstar beat Khuda Haafiz, Lootcase, Shakuntala Devi, Yatra, Virgin Bhanupriya and Gunjan Saxena.

Among syndicated series, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai on Disney Plus and Hotstar dominated the sweepstakes of unique audiences during July 25 and August 21; Anupama, RadhaKrishn, Yeh Rishte Hain Pyaar Ke and Kasauti Zindagi Ke came next, interestingly all five from the Disney Plus-Hotstar stable. Mahabharat, Size Matters, Kavita Bhabhi had the first three slots during June 6 and Jul 3. Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai was at No.4 before it picked up from July 25. The panel encompassed Android smartphones representing 1L+, NCCS ABC, 15-44.

In the US, Nielsen pointed out that video streaming in 2020 is 25 per cent of total TV usage among streaming-capable homes. This is up from 16 per cent in 2019. One-fourth of the streaming this year is from folks who are 55 years plus. That's a 37 per cent increase in their contribution.

(Nikhila Natarajan is on Twitter @byniknat)
The American Shoe Company, Converse has launched an environment-friendly initiative under which they are creating clean graffiti in different cities across the globe. Under the Converse City Forest initiative, murals are being created with photocatalytic paint. This 'smog-eating paint' breaks down the air pollutants and purifies the air creating a clean environment. Converse has already created these murals in Bangkok, Thailand and Warsaw, Poland. More such murals will be made on walls in Sydney, Jakarta, Manila, Sao Paulo, Belgrade, Lima, Santiago, Johannesburg, Melbourne, Bogota and Panama City under the Converse City Forest.

Converse City Forest project has used a special 'smog-eating paint' also known as photocatalytic paint for the clean graffiti in Bangkok and Warsaw and will use the same for all the other cities as well. This paint converts the harmful air pollutants into harmless substance by using light energy to break it down. The 'smog-eating paint' turns every surface into an air-purifying surface and is as good as planting trees.

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Bangkok's Clean Graffiti

The Converse City Forest murals in Bangkok were created in collaboration with Thai street artist Teerayut Puechpen, popularly known as TRK, and Sorravis Prakong. The clean graffiti in Bangkok has an image of holding hands which is a symbol of unity. The 'smog-eat paint' used in the mural makes it equal to planting about 150 trees in the city. This Converse City Forest mural will have a huge impact on air pollution in the area as it will purify the air by reducing harmful gasses.

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Warsaw's Clean Graffiti

For the murals in Warsaw, Converse City Forest collaborated with illustrator and graphic designer Dawid Ryski and Maciek Polak. This clean graffiti in Poland is located next to the Politechnika metro station in Warsaw. The air-purifying mural reads a quote, 'Create Together For Tomorrow' and shows beautiful flowers growing amid the building in a city. This mural created with 'smog-eating paint' is equal to planting about 780 trees in the middle of the city which will drastically reduce the air pollution in the area and make the air cleaner.

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Medical Council ordered to allow foreign grads to sit registration exam By Ranjith Padmasiri View(s): View(s):

The Supreme Court has held that the fundamental rights of three people had been violated by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) by not allowing them to sit for the local examination that would make them eligible to become medical practitioners in Sri Lanka.

The council was ordered to allow the petitioners to sit the Examination for Registration to Practise Medicine (ERPM).

The petitioners had graduated from universities in Georgia, Russia, Belarus and the Philippines, but denied the opportunity to register to sit for the ERPM.

One petitioner had graduated from the Tbilisi State Medical University of Georgia, recognised as a foreign medical school by the SLMC.

The SLMC has informed the petitioner that permission to sit for the ERPM had been withheld to those who did not have the local Advanced Level and/or the similar Edexcel qualification. The SLMC and/or relevant officials had refused to issue any documentation to that effect.

However, the Medical Ordinance does not specify the GCE Advanced Level as part of any of the above qualifications, the petitioner argued.

The petitioner argued that the SLMC had introduced irrelevant and/or unauthorised items named as minimum standards of medical education requirements. The SLMC has required the foreign medical graduates to have obtained a credit pass in biology, physics and chemistry/mathematics for at least two of those subjects at the GCE A/L in Sri Lanka, or in an equivalent examination) which were not sanctioned by law, which are contrary and/or ultra vires of the mandatory provision of the Medical Ordinance and thereby had arbitrarily refrained from enrolling a group of foreign graduates including the petitioner.

The petitioner has not been informed of any final decision that apparently had been taken by the SLMC regarding the same, nor had been granted approval to sit for the ERPM, until the FR petition was filed in November, 2019 thereby violating the rights of the petitioner.

The Supreme Court judgment delivered by the bench comprising Justices Sisira J. De Abrew, Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya, and Justice S. Thurairaja, held that once a person has obtained a medical degree from a SLMC recognized foreign university, no other conditions can be attached to it later by way of a booklet published by the SLMC.

Parties of all the other related cases have agreed to abide by one such judgment on 23 July, 2020.

Chandana Liyanapatabendi, PC with Hansini Bandaranayake, Sanduni Liyanage and Anuranga Wijepala, attorneys-at-law appeared for the petitioner, Denushi Vindya Kasthuriarachchi.

Romesh De Silva, PC and Upul Jayasuriya, PC appeared for the petitioners of the other related cases of the same class.

Manohara De Silva, PC appeared for the Sri Lanka Medical Council.

Senior State Counsel Rajiv Goonathilake appeared for the second respondent, the Attorney Generals Department.

The other petitioners were Shamini Jayathilaka Disanayake, M.R.N Silva, M.D.K.P.M.Bamunuge, V.G.H.E.K Gunarathne, M.N.F.Nisadha, W.K.I Dharmasena, M.S.M Dhanasekara, Selvathurai Gobika, Emorian Fernando, A.L.M Rushdhaan, R.W.D.L.H.Rajasekara, M.L.M. Nasly, Dulanjana Nishamali de Silva, W.I Madhushani and Francis Vijitharan.
As clock winds down on parent ByteDance to reach deal to sell US TikTok, platforms creators fret about the future.

In a luxury mansion in the Hollywood Hills, young TikTok influencers bounced around on a bright sunny morning this week trying out new ideas for zany short-form videos that they hope will go viral.

They are also feeling concerned about their future.

Kids Next Door LA is one of several TikTok houses set up around the United States where teens live, sleep and brainstorm creative ideas for dance and music videos, and seek deals with brands that can bring in millions of dollars for the top influencers.

But their livelihoods are now at risk from an executive order by US President Donald Trump that will effectively ban the social media app if its Chinese parent ByteDance does not reach a deal to divest it by mid-September.

For two to five months, maybe, everybody is going to take a big hit. Everyone is going to lose a stream of revenue. I think its really stupid  what Trump is doing, said Adam Miguest 27, known on TikTok as @itsadamm, who is one of the seven influencers at the house.

Walmart Inc said this week it was joining Microsoft in a bid for TikToks US assets. ByteDance is expected to pick a bidder to enter into exclusive talks as early as Friday but it is not clear how any deal would affect the future of the quirky videos that are loved by millions and those who make them.

Claire Hesser, 18, a former beauty queen, says TikTok has quickly become a huge part of youth culture.

I feel like if it gets taken away, I feel its going to hurt more rather than benefit  I just wish that they understood that TikTok really does have an impact on our world today and our generation especially, she said.

It is not just the influencers that any changes could affect, but also brands seeking to do business with them.

Maybe people shut down sales in-store and they were going to do an e-commerce strategy that involved TikTok. It could affect a lot of industries  especially the music industry because so many songs go viral from TikTok, said Ariadna Jacob, whose company manages Kids Next Door LA.

Hailey Orona, known online as @real.ona, has 9.5 million followers on TikTok and is about to launch her own beauty line. But she also has 2.8 million followers on Instagram to fall back on.

If it does get banned, I have a back-up plan, of course, which is to move to the YouTube platform or use the Reels on Instagram, Orona said.
A 20-year-old man was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition after a stabbing at Yonge-Dundas Square on Friday night, Toronto paramedics say.

Toronto police told the Star they received a 911 call just before 11:40 p.m. from a bystander who said the victim was bleeding a lot and drifting in and out of consciousness

On Twitter, police described the suspect as male, Black, six-foot-one and wearing a white jogging suit with an animal design on the front. The suspect was last seen heading east on Shuter Street, police say.

TY Tom Yun is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @thetomyun
Actress Patricia Heaton mourns death of her friend, finds comfort knowing she loved Jesus

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Emmy Award-winning actress Patricia Heaton offered a touching tribute to her late friend who loved Jesus.

My friend Sue Ackerman died today," Heaton said on Instagram Wednesday. "We met in NYC in the 80s. She was one of the earliest members of Redeemer Presbyterian Church with @timkellernyc where she met her devoted husband Russ.

Heaton described the close relationship her friend, Sue, had with her husband, Russ.

Their nickname for each other then and now was pumpkin which was always abbreviated to pumpski or just pumps - so endearing! the Everybody Loves Raymond actress described. Dave and I visited them in Germany while Russ was working there and had a beautiful weekend along the Rhine.

The group of friends were so close that Heaton said they joined them in Los Angeles for her wedding and Sue and Russ are also godparents to the actress eldest son, Sam.

Heatons late friend had a series of health conditions that she survived before succumbing this week.

Sue later successfully battled cancer, but the radiation scarred her lungs, and for years she waited for a double transplant, which she finally got. It bought her many more wonderful years with Russ and their children Adriana and Alexander, Heaton said.

Last May we visited Sue in the hospital in NYC as she was contending with some serious setbacks. Warrior that she was, she miraculously recovered.

On Wednesday, however, Heatons friend passed away.

God saw fit to call her to Himself today. I know she didnt want to leave her beautiful kids, but she loved Jesus and was His faithful servant, the actress revealed.

Heaton, a devout Catholic who often publicly shares of her faith in Christ in Hollywood, said she knows she will be reunited with Sue again.

My comfort is in the knowledge that she lives with her Savior and is praying for all of us, and that we will all be reunited in His kingdom, Heaton testified.
Woman fired from literary agency for tweeting that trans-identified males aren't women

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A woman was ousted from her job at a literary agency for tweeting that transgender-identifying males who say they are women are not biologically female.

Sasha White, a literary agency assistant was fired from her job at The Tobias Literary Agency following her retweet of a social media comment that read: "TW [trans women] being vulnerable to male violence does not make you women," the Daily Mail reports.

The Tobias Literary Agency, which has offices in Boston, New York City and Nashville, acknowledged in a now-deleted tweet that White had indeed been terminated.



"We do not have any room for anti-Trans sentiments at TLA. Period. Thus we have parted ways with Sasha," the tweet said.

TLA also announced that it made a donation to a black trans charity after White's termination.

"The Twitter mob came for me and my employer and my employer immediately terminated me. If you've been through something similar please reach out," White subsequently posted on Twitter.

As a result of her firing, the hashtag #Istandwithsashawhite trended on Twitter Tuesday, as supportive users on the platform linked White's situation with #istandwithJKRowling from earlier this summer.

White had previously voiced support for children's author J.K. Rowling, who in June penned a lengthy essay that outlined her concerns with transgender ideology, stressing how it undermines women's sex-based rights. Rowling subsequently articulated her belief that the hormonal gender-transitioning of minors constituted a medical scandal.

Last year, the Harry Potter series author voiced solidarity with Maya Forstater, a tax researcher who was ousted from her job at a think tank for posting comments on Twitter asserting that men cannot change into women. Forstater also said that convicted rapist Stephen Wood, who changed his name to Karen White after he decided to identify as female, was indeed a "man." And because of Wood's professed gender identity, he was allowed to be transferred to a women's prison where he went on to rape female inmates.

"When men wear make-up, heels, dresses they don't become women," Forstater said.

At Forstater's appeal hearing at the employment tribunal to fight her firing, the judge ruled ultimately against her, stating in his ruling that her views were "not worthy of respect."

Transgender activists have routinely used the acronym "TERF"  which stand for trans-exclusionary radical feminist  to describe feminists who object to biological males in their private spaces. Such feminists regard the term as a derisive slur and have long maintained that the transgender movement's insistence on self-declared "gender identity" undermines women's sex-based rights.
Donald Trump's director of national intelligence will no longer offer verbal briefings on the security of US elections, according to reports.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said that it will continue to provide written briefings to the House and Senate intelligence committees but will not guarantee in-person ones, CNN reported.

An official said that John Ratcliffe the director of national intelligence, "is committed to meeting our statutory responsibilities and keeping Congress fully and currently informed".

However, the move was met with alarm by Democrats and former members of the Obama administration.

Adam Schiff, Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, tweeted: "The ODNI has cancelled all further briefings on foreign election interference. The Administration clearly does not want Congress or the country informed of what Russia is doing. The last DNI was fired for doing so, and the IC has now been fully brought to heel."

James Clapper, a former director of national intelligence himself, said the move "just reinforces the pass Putin is getting" from the US.

He told CNN: "I think it's both amazing and disturbing that, here we are just over two months away from a crucial election, and of course we all know the history of 2016, where the Russians pervasively and deep invaded us and our political process.

"And now what I think is probably the single most important government voice on this, the director of national intelligence, is about to go silent."

He added: "It's a new norm for me that appearing before the Congress is kind of optional. It certainly hasn't been that way in the past."

Gen Clapper said verbal reports were crucial because the back-and-forth of questioning can elicit important information.

Mr Trump has repeatedly played down US intelligence reports that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, even publicly siding with Vladimir Putin over his own officials at a press conference in Helsinki in 2018.

Security sources have said they believe the Kremlin wants Mr Trump to win re-election in November, and has also said they believe China favours Joe Biden as he is less unpredictable, something Republicans have seized on to boost their candidate.

In July Bill Evanina, the top intelligence official in charge of election security, issued a statement saying: "We assess that China prefers that President Trump -- whom Beijing sees as unpredictable -- does not win re-election.

"China has been expanding its influence efforts ahead of November 2020 to shape the policy environment in the United States, pressure political figures it views as opposed to China's interests, and deflect and counter criticism of China."

He added: "We assess that Russia is using a range of measures to primarily denigrate former Vice President Biden and what it sees as an anti-Russia 'establishment'.

"This is consistent with Moscow's public criticism of him when he was Vice President for his role in the Obama Administration's policies on Ukraine and its support for the anti-Putin opposition inside Russia."
Toto Wolff is not expecting the 'pink Mercedes' affair to head to the international court of appeal.

Last week, Renault dropped its intention to appeal, explaining that it is happy that the FIA will prevent direct car copies for 2021 and beyond.

However, Ferrari is yet to withdraw its own appeal against the leniency of the FIA's penalties, while Racing Point said it wants to clear its name through the process.

"I think this is all part of the politics of F1," Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told Sky Italia.

"I think everything will be solved next week. I do not expect it to go to the ICA," he added.

(GMM)
Nothing has changed this month in Rio Rancho Public Schools when it comes to enrollment: Its still down, and its likely to cost the district an estimated $4.5 million for the 2021-22 school year, depending upon enrollment changes.

The district is already dealing with $7.3 million less from the state for the current school year, unless more money from the state or federal government comes and offsets the loss.

According to a report prepared by Kim Vesely, the districts special projects and district analyst, enrollment was down by 551 students as of Aug. 24, the school boards most recent meeting.

The actual percentage loss in student enrollment overall is only about 3.2 percent, Vesely explained in an email to the Observer. Elementary is down 6.5 percent and middle 5.1 percent; high school is up  2.4 percent.

There are 5,584 high school students, with Cleveland High overtaking older Rio Rancho High School; 3,901 middle-school students; 6,998 elementary students; and 566 students headed to Shining Stars Preschool.

Superintendent Sue Cleveland surmised the increase in enrollment at CHS is due to the new housing developments, as any drive west of CHS to the Cleveland Heights subdivision or on Broadmoor, between Idalia Road and Paseo del Volcan, show.

Vesely said that after the oil market, COVID and the economy crashed, and legislature came back in June and cut the budget.

That cut is quite substantial: The unit value dropped from $4,758.10 (March) to $4,531.74 (June), a reduction per unit of $226.36, she wrote.

Students are weighted differently in unit value, she said, depending on their individual needs and the costs to provide services. For example, high school students are generally weighted higher than elementary kids because high school classes cost more to deliver. Students with severe disabilities are weighted higher than those without.

In addition, districts receive additional program units for at-risk, extended-learning, growth, fine arts, home-school student taking public-school classes and more. RRPSs units for fiscal year 2021 total 32,467.757, Vesely said.

The $4.5 million figure is a rough calculation of revenue loss based on the current decline in enrollment.

If enrollment increases, as we think it might once students are able to return to classrooms and/or we see growth in Rio Ranchos population, the hit would be less, Vesely wrote.

As Dr. Cleveland noted, the $4.5 million hit due to enrollment would be in addition to the $7.3 reduction in the unit value, making the total hit as much as $11.8 million.

In other matters, the board:

 OKd the upcoming sale of $15 million in general-obligation bonds, a quarter of the $60 million in bonds approved by voters in 2019;

 Heard second readings for four policies (1000, Compulsory School Attendance; 1002, Progressive Interventions for Absent Students; 1004, Title IX; and 808, Armed School Security Personnel. All are available on the RRPS website, rrps.net;

 Heard a first reading for Policy 750, COVID-19 Pandemic.

 Approved a draft resolution penned by board member Catherine Cullen, referring to declining enrollment and encouraging the governor and the New Mexico Legislature to hold school districts and charter schools harmless from the prior year enrollment provisions of the funding formula for the duration of the public-health emergency and for a sufficient period of time afterwards, once children can return to school, to allow enrollment to stabilize.

Of the 124 public comments received by the board members, 69 favored the hybrid approach and returning to school as early as Sept. 8; 40 said they preferred the continuation of the virtual-only format.

The board meets again in a virtual session at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14.
Sure, it might be warm Wednesday, but what about the rest of the week?

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Britain's children need a 'Nightingale moment' or the country risks 'losing an entire generation for good', the children's commissioner has warned.

Anne Longfield said schools needed more funding to train teachers, look after their most disadvantaged pupils and provide mental health services.

She also called for more money to be made available to prepare educational institutions for a return to remote-learning in case of a second lockdown.

Children lost more than five months of education last year, after the national lockdown was put in place in March and the government failed to get them back to school before the summer.

She compared the resources provided to education to the 35billion spent on furlough, and millions more spent building Nightingale hospitals and keeping public transport running.

Children's commissioner Anne Longfield, pictured, warned that without rapid intervention the UK could 'lose a generation'

'The government needs to be bold, and on the sort of scale that saw hospitals built in weeks, and workers paid in furlough, to make sure no child is left behind,' she told The Guardian.

'If not, they risk losing a generation for good. The stakes are simply that high.

'Kids have not had their Nightingale moment during the crisis, but if it comes at this stage, where there's a determination to do things differently for children and help the most disadvantaged fully in life, that would be a great Nightingale moment to have.'

She added that children should never have to face the same level of disruption to their education again, and further closures should only take place as a last resort.

She also called for focused intervention for the 120,000 vulnerable teenagers with a history of being excluded from school.

She also said that children should never face such disruption to their education again (stock)

'After five months out of school, they may now feel school is not part of their lives,' she said.

'They will be the kids who are more vulnerable to violence and grooming and gangs. They will need particular support and encouragement to go into school, and real intervention.

'I'm talking about youth workers, working with the police, working with schools and social services to make sure they have a package of support and protection around them so they don't fall out and become lost.'

As much as 1billion has already been earmarked to help schools catch-up through providing support learning, much of it focused on one-to-one and small group tutoring.

The government has so far pledged 1billion to help children catch up on work missed

As much as 350million of it will go to tutoring disadvantaged children, while the remainder will be shared across primary and secondary schools over the academic year to help all children who have lost out on teaching time.

But Longfield said this was not enough, pointing out that children had missed out on months of their education due to the lockdown.

The government has had its feet held to the fire over the previous weeks following the disastrous exams debacle.

Thousands of students heading into A-levels and universities received results developed by an algorithm based on schools performance in the past before the government U-turned and gave them the grades their teachers had predicted.

It emerged that around 280,000 pupils had had their results marked down by the algorithm after moderation.

Anne Longfield is due to step down as children's commissioner in February after six years in the post.
US imposes sanctions on Colombo Port City builders and other Chinese companies Angry Beijing describes US moves as 'unilateral and unjust' View(s): View(s):

The US has imposed sanctions on 24 Chinese companiesincluding the builders of Colombo Port Citymaking it illegal for American companies to export products to these entities without a Government licence.

In Colombo, the Chinese Embassy hit back at the latest move which also affects China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), the parent company of China Harbour Engineering Company, which is building the Colombo Port City and also constructed the Hambantota Port and the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport.

The Embassy does believe that normal business cooperation by licensed companies or individuals from China and Sri Lanka, two sovereign countries, will be affected by such unilateral and unjust sanctions from a third country, said the Chinese Embassy Political Section Chief Luo Hong.

The sanctions targeted companies and individuals involved with constructions in the South China Sea, particularly the building of artificial islands as part of the One Belt, One Road initiative (OBOR). China has urged the US to rectify its mistakes and immediately stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs, Mr Luo said.

The Chinese companies and individuals are participating in construction on its own territory, completely within the scope of its sovereignty, he said.

US sanctions, which involve typical hegemonic logic and power politics, have blatantly interfered in Chinas internal affairs, violated international law and norms governing international relations.

It is the first time the US has sanctioned Chinese companies involved in building artificial islands. It has labelled the construction programme as an illegal attempt to control an important shipping route. Visa restrictions are also imposed on executives at those companies and on other individuals responsible for the island building.

The blacklist is called the Entity List and now contains more than 300 Chinese entities including Huawei. US sanctions  such as those imposed on Iran and Myanmar  have in the past discouraged countries like Sri Lanka from engaging with the targets.

For instance, Colombo stopped crude oil imports from Iran, even switching to other grades in line with US sanctions against Tehran. At the time, Sri Lanka had imported nearly all of its 50,000 barrels per day from Iran.

China must not be allowed to use CCCC and other state-owned enterprises as weapons to impose an expansionist agenda, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. The United States will act until we see Beijing discontinue its coercive behavior in the South China Sea, and we will continue to stand with allies and partners in resisting this destabilising activity.

US media reports said it was not clear how the sanctions might affect CCCC. Another subsidiary, Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., also known as ZPMC, recently supplied cranes to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
A man from Nevada appears to be the first reported case of COVID-19 reinfection in the United States.

The 25-year-old Reno man's genetic tests indicated that he was infected with two different varieties of the coronavirus.

According to CNN, a team at the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine and the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory reported the patient's reinfection.

The man was first diagnosed with COVID-19 in April after he experienced a sore throat, headache, cough, diarrhea, and nausea, as per the researchers who wrote a pre-print study posted on Thursday.

On April 27, the patient felt better and tested negative for the virus twice. For about a month, the patient continued to recover and feel well.

But on May 31, the man sought care for headache, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, cough, and fever, as per MSN. He was hospitalized after five days and was required for oxygen support. Again, the patient tested for COVID-19 and got positive results.

The Nevada researchers examined both genetic materials from coronavirus specimens collected from the man from previous to present diagnosis. Their analysis showed that he had two specific viral infections.

The pre-print study has not yet been peer-reviewed by a journal. However, the researchers noted that the findings showed that humans could catch coronavirus for several times. Besides, the results were not the first documented case worldwide.

"After one recover from COVID-19, we still do not know how much immunity is built up, how long it may last, or how well antibodies play a role in protection against reinfection," the director of the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory, Mark Pandori, said in a news release on Thursday.

Pandori said there might be implications for the vaccines' efficacy developed to fight the COVID-19 if reinfection is possible for a short time.

He added that it is vital to note that this is a singular finding, and it does not give any information to the public regarding the generalizability of the phenomenon.

Early this week, researchers in Hong Kong said they found the first documented COVID-19 reinfection case. A 33-year-old man from Hong Kong tested positive for COVID-9 twice this year, the CNN reported.

On Monday, the pre-print study has been accepted by the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, the University of Hong Kong said. The study indicates that the man from Hong Kong was reinfected with two different coronavirus variants 142 days apart.

Researchers said that the patient experienced COVID-19 symptoms during his first time of having the virus, but the patient did not have any obvious signs on his second time.

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A proposed law could mean celebrities are banned from secretly photoshopping their pictures on social media to change their body shape.

Tory MP Dr Luke Evans has drawn up a Bill which would mean celebrities would have to label images which have been digitally altered to change how they look.

Dr Evans, a member of the Health and Social Care Committee and a GP, said that edited photos on social media were 'fuelling a mental health crisis' as it was creating a 'warped view' of beauty, The Sun reported.

Tory MP Dr Luke Evans has drawn up a Bill which would mean celebrities would have to label images which have been digitally altered to change how they look. Pictures of Lauren Goodger appear to have been edited to make her thighs and ankles look thinner

Celebrities such as Lauren Goodger and Khloe Kardashian have been criticised for doctoring their photos on Instagram.

Khloe Kardashian came under fire for 'heavily editing her face' in an Instagram photo after it was tweeted put side-by-side with a screenshot from a video interview.

One user claimed Khloe's beauty mark next to her nose wasn't in the first picture, but was in the screenshot taken from the interview.

Khloe Kardashian came under fire for 'heavily editing her face' in an Instagram photo after it was tweeted put side-by-side with a screenshot from a video interview

Another said they didn't think the photo was edited, but just used better focus and lighting.

In another side-by-side comparison, Lauren Goodger, who was on The Only Way Is Essex, has been accused of altering her body shape.

In the second image, it appears her thighs and ankles have been edited to look thinner.

Last month, she was accused of editing a throwback picture of her and her father to alter how her face and hair looked before posting it to Instagram.

It was clear the photo she posted had been edited after the original was unearthed in her 2013 autobiography, Secrets Of An Essex Girl.

Celebrities such as Lauren Goodger have been criticised for doctoring their photos on Instagram
The US Marshals Service found 39 missing children, 26 of whom were rescued and 13 of whom were deemed safe. Shane T. McCoy/US Marshals

The US Marshals Service located 39 missing children in Georgia, and arrested nine suspects on charges that ranged from sex trafficking to parental kidnapping.

Fifteen of the children were deemed victims of sex trafficking, federal authorities said in a press conference Thursday.

Twenty-six of the missing children were rescued by authorities, and the remaining 13 were found safe after officers confirmed their locations in person.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Federal authorities found 39 missing children in Georgia in a two-week operation where they arrested nine people on a variety of charges, including sex trafficking, registered sex offender violations, drugs and weapons possession, parental kidnapping, and custodial interference.

Of those 39 children that had been reported missing, authorities rescued 26 of them. The remaining 13 were found to be safe after a welfare check, and law-enforcement officers confirmed their locations in person and were able to "ensure their wellbeing," the US Marshals Service said in a statement.

Local and federal authorities told reporters in a press conference on Thursday that 15 of the children were victims of sex trafficking, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

US Marshals Director Donald Washington said that the ages of the 26 rescued children ranged from 3 to 17, and they had been missing for periods ranging from several weeks to two years.

Authorities dubbed the two-week rescue effort "Operation Not Forgotten," which was carried out by the Marshals' missing child unit, along with a fugitive task force, state and local Georgia authorities, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

"These missing children were considered to be some of the most at-risk and challenging recovery cases in the area, based on indications of high-risk factors such as victimization of child sex trafficking, child exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and medical or mental health conditions," the Marshals Service said in a statement.

Story continues

The US Marshals said the children were between the ages of 3 and 17, and had been missing for periods of weeks to years. Shane T. McCoy/US Marshals

Washington said at a press conference that the FBI has received some 421,000 missing children reports, 91% of which involved "endangered runaways."

Though the risk of child sex trafficking in America is real, it's rarer than many people think. For instance, the federal government filed just 145 new human trafficking cases in 2019.

Those new cases filed in 2019 brought the number of active federal cases to 606, with a total of 1,592 victims identified, according to a Human Trafficking Institute analysis of federal criminal and civil cases. Of those trafficking victims, 828 were children  808 were victims of sex trafficking and 20 were victims of forced labor.

The report also noted that the public's perception of sex trafficking, such as "abducting strangers from store parking lots or kidnapping tourists from hotel rooms," is not usually accurate. The report said 23% of sex trafficking victims in 2019 were victimized by people they knew, 37% were lured by traffickers online, 20% were lured through fraudulent job offers, 8% were found on the street, and 2% at shelters.

The problem of child sex trafficking in the country has also recently been overshadowed by false and baseless conspiracy theories such as QAnon, which have commandeered and undermined legitimate efforts to rescue children or raise awareness about child trafficking.

Read the original article on Insider
While multiple rounds of negotiations have been held between the Indian corps commander and his Chinese counterpart, not much hope remains for a pre-April solution before winter sets in. PTI Photo

After Chinas Peoples Liberation Army had crossed the Line of Actual Control, which for years has been considered as the de facto border between the two countries, in Ladakh, Chinas ambassador to India Sun Weidong had the gall to say that the two countries should be partners, not rivals.

On July 10, he added that the June 15 Galwan Valley clash was a situation that neither China nor India would like to see Currently, our frontline troops are disengaging on the ground.

All this does not tally with the facts.

Sun also insisted: China has all along advocated that peace is of paramount importance. We are neither a warlike state nor an assertive country.

It seems to be a bad joke.

While multiple rounds of negotiations have been held between the Indian corps commander and his Chinese counterpart, not much hope remains for a pre-April solution before winter sets in. When Beijing suggested that both sides go back equidistantly from the Finger 4 area in Ladakh, this was rejected by New Delhi.

In the meantime, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat has declared that the military option was on the table if the diplomatic option failed.

But what is far more worrying is the possibility of the PLA opening a second front in the central sector of the 4,056-km Sino-Indian boundary.

On May 17, IANS reported that Chinese helicopters had violated Indian airspace twice in Himachal Pradesh in April: The first intrusion was reported on April 11 and the second on April 20. In both incidents, a Chinese helicopter was observed flying on the Indian side of the international border close to Sumdoh in Spiti subdivision, an official was quoted as saying.

Most of the Indian media reported the area was not disputed by China, but that isnt the case. This area, called Chuva and Chuje by Beijing, has since the mid-1950s been on Chinas long list of places selected to extend its territory.

In fact, there are five disputed areas in the central sector, which stretches over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand: Chuva-Chuje, Shipki-la, Nilang-Jadhang, Barahoti-Lapthal and Lipulekh (recently engulfed in Nepals new maps).

On July 30, 1980, the now-defunct historical division of the external affairs ministry sent a Secret Note to the East Asia division, dealing with China. This was with reference to the claims/occupation by China of some Indian areas in the central sector.

This note described the Sino-Indian boundary in the middle sector. This sector of the boundary also has natural features of watersheds, mountain passes and river valleys.

Its location is as follows: starting from the terminal point of the western sector, it runs southward along the watershed west of the Pare River and Chuva River, passes by the coverging point of Pare River and Spiti River, crosses the Sutlej River west of Shipki Pass, continues southward along the watershed.

The historical division said at the 1960 talks with China, Indian officials brought forward clear and conclusive evidence to show that the alignment as shown by them in the middle sector had, throughout its length a traditional and customary basis reaching back through many centuries, and that, in addition, this boundary had been confirmed through diplomatic exchanges, treaties and agreements.

However, every year, intrusions are reported in Barahoti, another area perceived by China as its territory; even though the small basin is located south of the watershed marked by the Tunjun-la.

Let us remember that in April 1954, India and China signed the infamous Panchsheel agreement, with New Delhi giving away its rights in Tibet and getting nothing in return.

It took only two months for India to discover that everything had not been solved.

The first Chinese incursion in Barahoti, in todays Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, occurred in June 1954; the ink had hardly dried on the agreement when the Chinese trespassed in the area. The irony is that it was China who complained about the incursion of Indian troops  on Indian territory!

In a way, Barahoti could be explained by the fact that Indian negotiators had omitted to notify Tunjun-la as a border pass in the 1954 Tibet agreement; this gave an opportunity to the Chinese to claim the Barahoti plains, south of the pass.

In April 1958, for the first time, officials of India and China sat together to try and resolve the issue. But as an unnecessary compromise, India agreed that Chinese unarmed patrols could visit the place in summer till the matter was solved; Beijing never respected that and repeatedly sent armed soldiers to Barahoti.

Today, 62 years later, the Chinese still cross Tunjun-la and walk into the desolate area.

Then there is the area south of Shipki-la (pass) in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. This is another tenuous claim from China, with no historical, cartographical or geographical backup.

It is now a dormant claim, but with Beijing in the mood to claim Tajikistans Pamir region and Vladivostok (and Ladakh), it could well be revived.

It is a plain violation of Indian territory, without any justification as it was mentioned in the 1954 agreement, which meant that north of the pass was Tibet and south India.

Other places disputed by China in the central sector are Nilang (Nelang) and Jadhang, located south of Tsangchok-la. It was the only area disputed by the Tibetan government before independence; but it was a gentle dispute between neighbours sharing the same values. No troops were ever involved.

For Tibetans, their claim was based on the fact that the 13th Dalai Lama is supposed to have said the border was located at a bridge on the Gumgum nala on the way to Gangotri.

For British India, the principle of the watershed was the prime deciding factor and thus Tsangchok-la was the border (India has since Independence followed the same principle).

During the 1960 talks, China added two more disputes  Lapthal and Sangchamalla, areas adjacent to Barahoti.

What is strange is that these claims are not based on any of the principles normally used to demarcate a boundary  watershed, river, customary routes, grazing rights, etc.

That is why its difficult to talk to China, they always play by their own changeable rules, promoting their own interests.

These claims could indeed be pretexts for Chinas adventurism in future; and India should be ready to respond.
2 Quebec Teachers Test Positive for COVID-19, 20 in Quarantine

About 20 teachers from a Quebec high school are now in quarantine after two teachers tested positive for COVID-19.

The positive results came after teachers from Deux-Montagnes High School went to the school on Aug. 21 to prepare the class reopening on Aug. 27.

The first teacher tested positive shortly after the teachers arrived, and the second on Aug. 26, Melanie Poirier from the Commission scolaire de la Seigneurie-des-Mille-Iles (CSSMI), told CTV News on Friday, Aug. 27.

We wrote to the parents to let them know we put about 20 teachers in quarantine [during] the time they get tested, Poirier said. Weve asked for 14 days of isolation, and those 14 days started last Friday when the teachers came into school.

Poirier said the decision was made by the Laurentians Integrated Health and Social Service Centre.

According to CSSMI spokeswoman Anik Gagnon, the quarantine forces the school to inform about 500 Grade 10 and 11 students to stay home on Friday as no teacher is available to teach them.

Meanwhile, the CSSMI is exploring recruiting substitute teachers or having the quarantined teachers give lessons to their students via videoconference. It hopes that students can return to school on Monday before the teachers quarantine ends on Sept. 4.

Were confident for Monday that well have people in place to replace those who are absent, said Poirier, if they opt for the substitute option.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault said that while the situation the school faces is challenging, it as very small number compared to the million children going back to school.

Sylvain Mallette, president of a federation of teachers unions, the Federation autonome de lenseignement, said the incident emphasizes the need for schools to have quick access to COVID-19 testing.

The question is, how long did it take to get access to a test, and how long to get the results of the test? Mallette said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

He said the Quebec government has not followed through on its promise that teachers will have quicker access to COVID-19 testing and results.

Another school in Quebec is also experiencing an infection. On Thursday, a Grade 7 class of 35 children at College Francais Annexe Secondaire in Longueuil was sent home after a parent was tested positive for COVID-19. However, Quebec Education Minister Jean-Francois Roberge said the school management paid attention to safety measures and it wasnt necessary to send the entire class home.

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam holds a press conference in Ottawa on Aug. 28, 2020. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

As of Friday, Quebec is reducing the mandatory isolation period from 14 days to 10 days.

If we think that in 10 days theres no danger for others we wont leave people who have been sick for more days at home when its not necessary, said Dr. Harocio Arruda, director of public health.

However, those who are immunocompromised or who need hospitalization for COVID-19 will still have to be isolated for at least 14 days, the authorities said.

Our recommendation is, based on the evolving science, those who have experienced 10 days post onset of symptoms, asymptomatic, no fever, can come out of the actual isolation, said Dr. Theresa Tam, Canadas chief public health officer.
An Alabama couple is behind bars after their foster child was taken to Childrens of Alabama in Birmingham with a fractured skull and a brain bleed.

The Russell County Sheriffs Office on Friday announced the arrests of April Elizabeth McDowell, 38, and John Michael McDowell, 39, on aggravated child abuse.

The investigation began about 8 p.m. on Aug. 22 when sheriffs officials received a 911 call from a residence at 61 Old Glory Way in Fort Mitchell. The caller, April McDowell, told authorities a toddler-aged child was going in and out of consciousness and an ambulance was needed. The child was taken to Piedmont Medical Center and later transported to Childrens of Alabama.

Deputies went to the hospital and determined that the child had injuries that were not consistent with the guardians story of what happened to the child. It was determined that the child had a fractured skull and a brain bleed. The girl remains at Childrens in stable condition.

Authorities said the McDowells have been the foster parents of the child since May 2020. Investigators believe they will be able to prove that the child received multiple injuries due to abuse on several different occasions while in the custody of the couple.

Initial medical reports indicate that the child has multiple injuries in different stages of healing that are not consistent with normal injuries to a toddler but are consistent with injuries related to abuse.

The McDowells were taken into custody Thursday without incident. John McDowell was arrested at Ft. Benning by the Military Police Criminal Investigations Division. He is stationed there. His wife was arrested at their residence in Ft. Mitchell.

The couple on Friday went before Russell County District Judge Walt Gray who kept their bonds set at $50,000 each. In his order, Gray wrote that the McDowells are considered a threat to their own biological children as well as the foster child, and also are considered flight risks.
A Katyusha rocket landed in Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone, causing damage to an empty building and no casualties, Iraqi police sources said on Saturday, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Sirens blasted from the U.S. embassy inside the zone, which houses government buildings and foreign missions, and helicopters were hovering above, the sources said.

It was the second such attack this week after three rockets landed in the Green Zone on Thursday, also causing no casualties.

Washington blames such attacks on Iranian-backed militia groups. Iran has not directly commented on the incidents but little-known groups believed to be connected to Iran-aligned militias have claimed some attacks.

Iraq, often the scene of spillover violence from U.S.-Iran tensions, seeks to avoid being drawn into any regional conflagration.

The Middle East came close to a full conflict in January after a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Baghdad airport.

Iran-aligned militias have sworn to avenge their deaths.
Delhi saw a year-on-year decline of 44.3 per cent in revenue per available room (RevPAR) in the hotel sector between January and July, property consultant JLL India said on Friday. However, this decline is the most modest decline when compared to all other major cities in India, it added.

"During the lockdown months between April and June, many hotels in Delhi served as quarantine and medical staff housing facilities," JLL India Hotels and Hospitality Group said in a statement. The city is among the first key markets to bring the COVID-19 situation under control with a high recovery rate, JLL India said.

Also read: Hospitality industry urges govt to extend loan moratorium by 3 months

Delhi has gradually opened its borders to facilitate business travel movement from the neighbouring cities of Gurugram and Noida, it added. "Delhi's hotel demand is driven by corporate business travel, the government- and judiciary-linked travel and leisure segment travel," JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group (India) MD Jaideep Dang said.

He said that out of these, government-, judiciary- and administration-linked travel will likely come back soon followed by business-critical travel. Leisure travel is not going to come back in the next couple of years, he added. Delhi has always been a strong hospitality market and hotel owners expect a faster recovery in comparison to other major cities, JLL India said.

Also read: COVID-19 impact: 83% restaurants not open, 10% permanently shut

"There are few high-ticket hotel assets on sale in the city. But, we do not expect distress sales in the market yet, since most owners are having strong balance sheets and are optimistic about the sector's recovery," it added. In the post-COVID-19 world, Delhi's hotels market is expected to recover at a faster pace as compared to other key markets, JLL India said.

The hotels in and around the airport are expected to see a faster recovery as compared to the inner-city hotels with large banqueting and meeting spaces, it said. The property consultant added that it is because MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions) demand will take more time to recover and come back to its pre-COVID-19 times.
Barcelona fire their law firm for advising Messi FC Barcelona - La Liga Cuatrecasas represented both player and club

Barcelona have decided to part ways with the services of the Cuatrecasas law firm for advising Leo Messi on his intention to leave the club.

It is believed that it was the same law firm which urged the Argentine to send the burofax communicating his desire to leave the club.

Barcelona have deemed Cuatrecasas' involvement in Messi's potential departure from the Camp Nou as unacceptable, according Cronica Global.

Messi's contract is a major point of conflict between club and player as the Argentine believes he can leave for free while Barcelona maintain that such an agreement was only valid until June 10.

On the contrary, the player's lawyers insist that, because the competition was delayed due to the coronavirus, the date of that agreement is not valid.
Be Sri Lankan  Buy Sri Lankan Trade Fair boosts local trade View(s):

The Be Sri Lankan  Buy Sri Lankan trade exhibition, the largest ever exhibition of Sri Lankan products, will be held on October 9 to 11 at BMICH. In the absence of any such trade fair for this year so far, this event gives a huge boost to small, medium and large industries in the country, its organisers said.

Be Sri Lankan  Buy Sri Lankan Trade Fair is looking optimistically to the future and hopes to assist business entrepreneurs reach the same level of sales as in previous years. This top draw event is a unique platform that is sure to inspire, engage and connect the local community of brands and buyers. It is also expected to attract visitors in numbers who have been starved of such events in recent times. The events will also be held under social distancing guidelines, organiser CDC Events said in a media release

Since, many such exhibitions were cancelled hitherto, this makes this event an ideal platform for all to come together once again and together with LANKAPAK 2020 exhibition which features industries such as Packaging, Printing, Plastics and Processing, which is also to be held, provides the much needed boost to industries and businesses alike.

Supported by the National Chamber of Exporters and many other private and government organisations, the e Sri Lankan  Buy Sri Lankan Trade Fair is set to play a pivotal role in this years events calendar. It is planned to be officially launched by the Prime Minister.
Newmarch House resident Patricia Shea looks at her son out of her window through the fence at Newmarch House on April 29 in Sydney, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Visits Banned at Sydney Aged Care Homes

Aged care homes in Sydney and on the NSW Central Coast will be closed to visitors for two weeks as a precaution to prevent COVID-19 threatening vulnerable residents.

An alert issued by NSW Health says the current COVID-19 cluster in Sydneys CBD involves people who travelled from multiple areas in the metropolitan and Central Coast areas.

As a precaution NSW Health is extending existing visitor restrictions by strongly advising people who live or work in the Greater Sydney metropolitan area and Central Coast to refrain from visiting aged care facilities until 12 September, it said.

It requested all staff wear masks while working.

There is currently no evidence of any cases in aged care residents or staff in aged care facilities in NSW. These are precautionary steps to prevent the entry of COVID-19 into this vulnerable setting, the statement said.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the growing cluster linked to a Sydney CBD gym was proof how quickly virus outbreaks can spiral out of control.

Chant on Aug 28 announced six new cases linked to the cluster associated with the gym at the City Tattersalls Club, which now numbers 14.

The infections have also caused the shutdown of a number of other venues across the city.

It highlights how quickly COVID-19 can spread in the sense we have a seeding event, its amplification and then that has seeded other workplaces and lead to exposure in the community to a number of venues that we have announced, Chant said.

Also of concern is that almost half the Sydney-based COVID-19 patients did not seek testing until at least three days after symptoms developed.

All NSW residents should be seeking testing as soon as possible if they feel ill, she says.

Anyone who attended the City Tattersalls gym between 8am and 2pm on August 19, 21, 23 or 24 should also get tested and isolate at home for 14 days.

Across the state, 13 new infections were recorded and another four Sydney schools shut on Friday. Only one of the new cases was a returned overseas traveller, with the rest locally acquired.

Maureen Dettre in Sydney
KYODO NEWS - Aug 29, 2020 - 22:55 | All, World

Japan is proposing manually wiping down mangrove trees to remove from their roots any oil that was spilled from a grounded Japanese freighter off Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, a source familiar with the matter said Saturday.

The idea, which was suggested by Japan at a Mauritian government task force meeting in late August, also involves removing any fallen leaves covered in oil. The work would be conducted by a firm entrusted by the island nation and it is up to the Mauritian government to adopt the measure, the source said.

On July 25, the bulk carrier Wakashio transporting a total of some 3,800 tons of fuel oil and 200 tons of diesel, operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., ran aground near Pointe d'Esny, designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

More than 1,000 tons of oil began leaking from the vessel on Aug. 6.

According to the Japanese Environment Ministry, high-pressure washing apparatuses or chemicals should not be used to remove oil from mangrove trees as they could damage them.

Japanese experts dispatched as members of a disaster relief team have confirmed the effectiveness of manually wiping the roots down by testing the method by themselves.

Tokyo is considering dispatching additional experts specializing in birds and wildlife after the Mauritian government requested research into the effects of the oil spill on its native fauna.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of protesters gathered Saturday in the Mauritian capital Port Louis to accuse the government of being slow in responding to the oil spill. They demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and government officials over the incident.

A lawsuit has been filed against the country's fisheries minister Sudheer Maudhoo and environment minister Kavydass Ramano to pursue the government's responsibility. The two were summoned to appear in court on Aug. 21.

Some protesters called for an investigation into the deaths of around 40 dolphins, which had washed ashore as of Saturday. Others have focused on the government's failure to provide a sufficient alert to the ship before it initially ran ashore.

The government has denied the claims, insisting it had signaled a warning to the carrier but received no answer. The oil removal process has seen delays due to poor weather conditions, it added.

Related coverage:

Japanese experts warn oil damage could kill mangroves in Mauritius

Stranded ship neared Mauritius to get mobile network for virus info

Mauritius arrests captain of Japan-owned ship that leaked oil
Xi calls for building new modern socialist Tibet, favours Tibetan Buddhisms 'sinicisation'

International

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Beijing, Aug 29: Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for building a "new modern socialist" Tibet, constructing an "impregnable wall" against separatism in the sensitive Himalayan region and "sinicisation" of the Tibetan Buddhism, the official media reported on Saturday.

Xi, also the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), in his address to the seventh Central Symposium on Tibet Work, said that efforts must be made to build Tibet that is united, prosperous, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful, Xinhua news agency reported.

Underlining the need to fully implement the CPC's policies on governing Tibet for a new era, Xi, in a comprehensive address on the Himalayan region, called for efforts to build a new modern socialist Tibet. He told officials attending the two-day symposium that they should make efforts to "ensure national security and enduring peace and stability, steadily improve people's lives, maintain a good environment, solidify border defence and ensure frontier security," the report said.

Indo-China standoff: All eyes on Jaishankar-Yi in-person meet at Russia

Tibet, officially referred to as the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), remained deeply devoted to Buddhism where the Dalai Lama is revered as the spiritual head despite his self-exile to India since 1959 after China took control of the region in 1950. It also shares borders with India, Bhutan and Nepal. President Xi said that the work in Tibet must insist on maintaining the unity of the motherland and strengthening national unity as the focus.

It is necessary to strengthen the education and guidance of the masses, extensively mobilise the masses to participate in the struggle against separatism, and form an impregnable wall for maintaining stability, he said. While Beijing views the Dalai Lama as a separatist and splittist who seeks to split Tibet from China, the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate says he only seeks greater rights for Tibetans, including religious freedom and autonomy.

The 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 following a crackdown on an uprising by the local population in Tibet. India granted him political asylum and the Tibetan government-in-exile is based on Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh since then. Xi also spoke of sinicisation of the Tibetan Buddhism.

It is necessary to dig out, sort out and publicise the historical facts of the exchanges and integration of all ethnic groups in Tibet since ancient times, guide the people of all ethnic groups to see the direction and future of the nation, deeply realise that the Chinese nation is a community of destiny, and promote exchanges and integration of all ethnic groups, Xi said.

Sinicisation broadly refers to bringing non-Chinese communities under the Chinese culture and political system being pursued by then CPC under the broad definition of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Since 1959, Tibet has been witnessing periodic incidents of violence, unrest and protest against Beijing. China asserts that Tibet has been its part since the 13th century and will remain so forever. It is necessary to actively guide the Tibetan Buddhism to adapt to the socialist society and promote the sinicisation of the Tibetan Buddhism, Xi said.

CPEC of great importance for China-Pak ties: Xi Jinping

He said that since the sixth symposium in 2015, Tibet has made comprehensive progress and historic achievements in its various undertakings. He noted that Tibet has achieved sustained stability and rapid development, constituting a major contribution to the overall work of the CPC and the state.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, when he took over power, policies on governing Tibet for a new era have taken shape, Xi said, stressing that the CPC leadership, the system of socialism with the Chinese characteristics and the system of regional ethnic autonomy must be upheld to carry out work related to Tibet.

Besides Xi, Premier Li Keqiang and other senior leaders of the CPC, official in-charge of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the party and government of various cities and provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces took part in the meeting which concluded here on Saturday.
Current Global Seismic Activity Level (GSAL)

Updated: Jan 17, 2022 22:51 GMT - Refresh

Past 90 days:

Current seismic activity level, frequently updated

Global Seismic Activity Level - current year so far (updated to the previous day):

How this value is calculated and what it means

Global Seismic Activity Level - 2020

Global Seismic Activity Level - 2019

Global Seismic Activity Level - 2018

Global Seismic Activity Level - 2017

Global Seismic Activity Level - 2016

Global Seismic Activity Level - 2015

Global Seismic Activity Level - 2014

Global Seismic Activity Level - 2013

Global Seismic Activity Level - 2012

Global Seismic Activity Level - 2011

Global Seismic Activity Level - 2010

In order to find out whether worldwide earthquake activity has been increasing or decreasing or at which level it is now compared to the past, check out ourcharts below. Feel free to embed the graphics on your own website if you like!For detailed stats on the level of activity now compared to earlier, check the Quake-O-Meter The Global Seismic Activity Level (GSAL) was developed by geologist and volcanologist Tom Pfeiffer PhD for VolcanoDiscovery, as an online tool to visualize current levels of seismic activity on a global scale. It is based on the averages of all earthquakes during a given time interval.GSAL is a numeric value ranging from 0-10 indicating the current level, from low to extreme, of seismic activity worldwide. It is calculated by combining the energy of all known earthquakes worldwide during a given time interval (default being the past 24 hours). It corresponds to the theoretical magnitude of all earthquakes during the specified time interval occurring together in single event. This value represents a moving average which changes constantly as new earthquakes occur. It allows to monitor the appearance of clusters of larger quakes around the world, and typically fluctuates around moderate ("green") levels around values of 6.0.For instance:GSAL furthermore takes into account:- It is assumed that all quakes above magnitude 5 are being recorded; these quakes are weighted by a factor of 1.- It is also assumed that a significant number of smaller magnitude quakes go unnoticed as global coverage by seismic networks is not able to detect all quakes below magnitude 5. Based on statistical information from areas with very good coverage of even small quakes (such as in California, Italy etc), a small correction for the true number of small quakes beneath magnitude 5 is applied. This weight factor for smaller quakes ranges from 1.3 for quakes within magnitudes 4.5-4.9 to 5 times for quakes between magnitude 2.0-2.9.However, as the larger quakes contribute so much much more to the global energy release than all smaller combined, the effect of this correction, i.e. assuming more of the smaller quakes than recorded, is actually quite small.
Neuralink co-founder Elon Musk holds a brain implant device between his fingers during a presentation about the technology. (Neuralink via YouTube)

With grudging assistance from a trio of pigs, Neuralink co-founder Elon Musk showed off the startups state-of-the-art neuron-reading brain implant and announced that the system has received the Food and Drug Administrations preliminary blessing as an experimental medical device.

During todays demonstration at Neuralinks headquarters in Fremont, Calif., it took a few minutes for wranglers to get the swine into their proper positions for what Musk called his Three Little Pigs demonstration.

One of the pigs was in her natural state, and roamed unremarkably around her straw-covered pen. Musk said the second pig had been given a brain implant that was later removed, showing that the operation could be reversed safely.

After some difficulty, a third pig named Gertrude was brought into her pen. As she rooted around in the straw, a sequence of jazzy electronic beeps played through the sound system. Musk said the tones were sounded whenever nerves in the pigs snout triggered electrical impulses that were picked up by her brain implant.

The beeps youre hearing are real-time signals from the Neuralink in Gertrudes head, he said.

Eventually, Neuralinks team plans to place the implants in people, initially to see if those who have become paralyzed due to spinal cord injuries can regain motor functions through thought alone.

Musk said the implant received a Breakthrough Device designation from the FDA last month. That doesnt yet clear the way for human clinical trials, but it does put Neuralink on the fast track for consultation with the FDAs experts during preparations for such trials.

Neuralink has received more than $150 million in funding, with roughly two-thirds of that support coming from Musk himself. Today he said the venture had about 100 employees. He expects that number to grow. Over time, there might be 10,000 or more people at Neuralink, he said.

Musk said the purpose of todays demonstration was to recruit more job applicants.

Story continues

Brain-computer interfaces have been the stuff of science fiction for decades, and in a sense, they already exist in the form of neuron-reading electrode grids. But Musk and his Neuralink team are aiming to create easily implantable, wireless devices that theoretically could be used to give full sight to the blind and make it possible for people to communicate thoughts directly.

Over the longer term, Musk said the system could help people store and replay their memories, upload their minds and download them back into robotic bodies, or merge their consciousness with AI agents.

This is obviously sounding increasingly like a Black Mirror episode, he said. But, well, I guess theyre pretty good at predicting.  The future is going to be weird.

Neuralinks researchers arent the only ones working on next-generation interfaces. This week, a venture called Synchron announced that its implantable brain-computer interface has also received the FDAs Breakthrough Device designation. Synchrons Stentrode device stimulates the nervous system from the interior of a blood vessel, without the need for open brain surgery. Its already been implanted in patients with upper-limb paralysis during trials conducted in Australia.

Another venture, BrainGate, is developing a brain implant system that has been approved for investigational use in clinical trials.

At Seattles Center for Neurotechnology, which is headquartered at the University of Washington with funding from the National Science Foundation, researchers are developing technologies aimed at giving rise to brain co-processors.

These are brain-computer interfaces that use AI to transform information from one region of the brain to stimulate another, in order to achieve a goal such as rehabilitation, restoration or augmentation of brain function, UW neuroscientist Rajesh Rao, the centers co-director, explained in an email to GeekWire.

Rao said Neuralink appears to be working toward a similar goal.

The process of implanting a Neuralink device would involve opening up a flap of skin in the scalp, removing a coin-sized piece of the skull, implanting an array of electrodes with a surgical robot, placing the device so that its flush with the skull, then closing up the wound to leave a small scar. (Neuralink via You Tube)

The fact that Musk is involved gives Neuralink an extra shot of mystique. His success as the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, and his high-flying vision for merging the brains wetware with computer hardware, have boosted interest in the medical venture.

There may even be cross-promotional possibilities. One questioner asked whether Neuralinks device could be used to summon a self-driving Tesla telepathically. Definitely, Musk replied. Of course.

Musk brushed off concerns that brain surgery could turn out to be trickier than rocket science or automotive manufacturing.

All of your senses  your sight, hearing, feeling, pain  these are all electrical signals sent by neurons to your brain, he said. And if you can correct these signals, you can solve everything from memory loss to hearing loss, blindness, paralysis, depression, insomnia, extreme pain, seizures, anxiety, addiction. strokes, brain damage. These can all be solved with an implantable Neurolink.  The neurons are like wiring, and you kind of need an electronic thing to solve an electronic problem.

Musk said Neuralinks implant would work like a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires. A surgical robot would open a coin-sized hole in the skull and insert an array of electrodes with 1,024 channels into the cortex. The electrodes would consist of threadlike wires  each about 5 microns wide, or one-twentieth the width of a human hair. The robot would place those electrodes precisely enough to avoid piercing the brains blood vessels.

Woke Studios worked with Neuralink on the aesthetic design for their surgical robot to create a clean, modern, but still friendly-feeling robot. (Woke Studios Illustration)

Neurolinks objective is to compete the implantation surgery in less than an hour with no general anesthesia, and let the patient leave the hospital the same day. The wireless, coin-sized device would be sealed smoothly onto the surface of the skull with medical-grade glue, and could be given a full days charge overnight with the kind of inductive charger commonly used today for smartwatches. Wearers could use a smartphone app and a Bluetooth connection to control the device.

Musk said the current design is less obtrusive than the behind-the-ear design that was unveiled a year ago. I could have a Neuralink right now, and you wouldnt know. Maybe I do, he joked. The device has been tested under conditions that give the developers confidence itll last for at least a year before requiring replacement.

How much will all this cost? Musk acknowledged that the procedure would be quite expensive at first, but he said Neurolink would bring the cost down by scaling up the technology.

Inclusive of the automated surgery, I think we want to get the price down to a few thousand dollars, he said. I think it should be possible to get it similar to Lasik [eye surgery], and then the device electronics itself, I think, will not be very expensive, because it actually does use parts that are made in extremely high volume, in tens of millions of units, for smartphones as well as smartwatches and wearables in general.

So, how much of Musks grand vision will become reality? During todays Q&A session, members of the Neuralink team addressed that issue with a blend of hope and humor.

Im really interested about solving things related to anxiety, depression, or even like removing fear, mechanical engineer Robin Young said. She said shed love to be able to go rock climbing without fear.

And also, itd be great if we could make the pigs fly, Young said with a laugh.

Update for 12:10 a.m. PT Aug. 29: In an email, Rajesh Rao, co-director of the Center for Neurotechnology at UW, had this to say about the demonstration:

The main advance from last summer is a miniaturized implant that can wirelessly transmit the activities of about a thousand neurons in an awake behaving pig. This implant pushes the state of the art in terms of the number of neurons whose activities are being recorded and wirelessly transmitted in a freely moving animal. The demo was not a brain-computer interface (BCI) demo, showing mainly that the implant can record and transmit neural data, but Musk did show a video of a BCI using data from their implant to decode and predict the leg movements of a pig walking on a treadmill. I am most excited about the stated capability of the implant to both read and write the brain at a large scale, which would make it very useful for building the kind of AI-powered brain co-processors that our Center for Neurotechnology is working on to help people with neurological conditions. The FDA breakthrough device designation will be helpful in expediting the review of the device, but they still need to get an investigational device exemption (IDE) before they can start their first human clinical studies.

Update for 2:30 p.m. PT Sept. 1: Musk and the Neuralink team contend that theyre working with contented pigs. Its easy to keep pigs happy, Musk said. They love food, its a true thing about pigs. Give them some food and some friends and theyre happy. Pigs are quite similar to people. But in a statement issued today, Ingrid Newkirk, president of the animal rights group PETA, told Musk to leave the pigs alone:

PETA challenges Elon Musk to behave like a pioneer and implant the Neuralink chip in his own brain rather than exploiting smart, sensitive pigs who didnt volunteer for surgery, dont appreciate that he provides pats and a straw cell, and should be left out of pie-in-the-sky projects.

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At first, it was heartbreaking having to turn sweet little faces into puddles of tears. But Licensed Vocational Nurse Pam Collie knows its for the best.

And after its all over, with the help of a smile and lollipop, Collie has the talent to turn any baby, child, or even teenager into her best friend.

Thats the life of an immunization nurse, a role Collie fills at Covenant Healthcare Center Plainview.

You know it bothered me at first but not so much now because I know its important they get it, said Collie, who has been at the 24th street clinic for the past 13 years, and has served as a nurse for 35 years.

Id rather stick that kid now and prevent something horrible further down the line.

Its that dedication to our local youth that has earned the clinic an Excellent performance rating from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Vaccinations are very important in Texas, its a big deal, and the state is very happy with Pams work in the program, said Covenant Healthcare Center clinic manager Liz Brown.

In the TVFCs Provider Report on Adolescent Vaccines released this past June, the Covenant Health clinic was rated first in Hale County and 644th in the state out of 2,726 providers.

Routinely assessing your clinics immunization rates and vaccine administration trends is best practice for your patient, stated the Texas Health and Human Services department in a press release.

Since its inception in 1994, Texas has participated in the Federal Vaccines for Children Program.

The program was created in order to immunize children from birth to 18 years of age.

Texas leads the nation in the number of uninsured and under-insured children according to the Texas Department of State Health Services website.

There are approximately 3 million Texas children on Medicaid and according to the state, many of these children are not receiving their complete series of immunizations required to protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Thats where the diligence of Collie comes in.

Im checking the database every time we have a well-child checkup, explained Collie.

We dont want the kids to be coming up with these dreaded diseases from the past like polio and measles. In other countries you are seeing some return and we dont want that in America.

Over the past few weeks, Collie has been busy getting kids caught up with vacations as students across the region returned to schools.

Texas law requires children to be given vaccines, at different ages and school levels, for diseases like tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A and B, varicella and meningococcal disease.
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Plummeting temperatures could make the bank holiday weekend one of the coldest on record, coming just days after the UK experienced record-breaking heat.

Huge downpours and 80mph winds from Storm Francis battered the UK earlier this week, with cold northerly winds gripping the country over the next few days.

But party goers were out in force last night as they celebrated the start of the long Bank Holiday weekend despite the wet and windy conditions.

The revellers let social distancing rules out the window as they huddled up to keep warm as single-digit temperatures descended on Leeds and Birmingham city centre.

A wave pictured smashing against the 75foot Roker Lighthouse in Sunderland, north east England, this afternoon

How's the weather up there? Revellers enjoy a night out on the town despite chilly temperatures descending on much of the UK, with Leeds (pictured) dropping to 10C overnight

Huge downpours and 80mph winds from Storm Francis battered the UK earlier this week, with cold northerly winds gripping the country over the next few days. Pictured: Party goers hit the tiles in Birmingham city centre

Plans for a full weekend of Bank Holiday boozing might be off with the country in the grip of polar winds coming down from the North Sea

The revellers let social distancing rules out the window as they huddled up to keep warm as single-digit temperatures descended on Leeds and Birmingham city centre

The Met Office have warned that very chilly weather is likely to continue into tomorrow - which could be fractionally colder than today - with the coldest night set to be Sunday into Monday

Bouncers at Be at One bar opposite the city's New Street Station attempted to maintain a strict social distanced queue, making sure visitors kept a 2m gap whilst they queued to get inside.

The UK's second city was recently placed on the coronavirus watchlist but the young crowd didn't let virus fears get in the way of their night out.

But a full weekend of partying could be off the cards as polar winds from the north sea send a chill down through country.

The Met Office have warned that very chilly weather is likely to continue into tomorrow - which could be fractionally colder than today - with the coldest night set to be Sunday into Monday.

Frosts are possible in the Scottish glens, although temperatures are not forecast to fall quite as low as the record for an August bank holiday weekend, -3C (27F) recorded in Aberdeenshire on August 20, 1977.

Some of the weekends coldest daytime temperatures are likely to be in the north Pennines, where some areas might only reach a chilly 10C (50F) today.

The lowest daytime maximum temperature on record for an August bank holiday weekend was 9.1C (48F), recorded in Morayshire, Northern Scotland, on August 28, 2011.

Meanwhile, Scarborough, North Yorks, is likely to hit a maximum of 13C (55F) this afternoon, which will feel like 8-9C (46-48F) due to strong northerly winds reaching 28mph.

Frosts are possible in the Scottish glens, although temperatures are not forecast to fall quite as low as the record for an August bank holiday weekend, -3C (27F) recorded in Aberdeenshire on August 20, 1977. Pictured: Sunrise from the summit of West Nab, a hill on Saddleworth Moor, West Yorkshire

The heavy rain follows flooding and damage caused by named storms Ellen and Francis over the last 10 days. Pictured: Heavy rain caused this ford to flood in Ingatestone, Essex today

Enormous waves slammed against the seafront defences and lighthouse at Tynemouth, near Newcastle

Waves slam against the pier at Roker Lighthouse in Sunderland, this afternoon, as clouds roll in from the North Sea

Waves were seen crashing against the seafront at Scarborough, North Yorkshire, earlier today, as Britain faces a Bank Holiday washout

Despite the grey and blustery weather, people were still seen walking along the windy seafront at Scarborough, North Yorkshire, today

Others were seen wearing rain coats as they walked along the seafront, while one person, in the background, was seen dipping his legs in the cold sea

It is also due to be cloudy with rain at times across the east of the country today, whereas sunny spells are forecast further west.

The Meteorological Office said high pressure is due to build through the weekend bringing plenty of sunshine and lessening winds.

Frank Saunders, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: Itll feel quite cool despite the sunshine, as northerly winds bring below average temperatures for the time of year with highs of around 16 to 18 Celsius (61-64F).

At night itll feel really quite chilly, with temperatures dropping to single figures for most, and a chance of air frost in Scottish glens.

He added: Weve seen a real mix of weather this August - with a heatwave earlier this month and in the last week weve had two named storms bringing very wet and windy weather across the country.

With high pressure on the way this weekend were going to end the month with much more settled weather, with plenty of late summer sunshine for many. Itll be a dry weekend for most areas too.

The mixed forecast for the weekend follows heavy rain and thunder which continued through yesterday, as 5.6 million motorists were expected to take to the roads for the bank holiday getaway.

Punters took to the water on the River Cam, Cambridge, today as they enjoyed the slightly chilly conditions

They were seen taking it in turns to gracefully punt under bridges along the waterway ahead of the start of university

The mixed forecast for the weekend follows heavy rain and thunder which continued through yesterday, as 5.6 million motorists were expected to take to the roads for the bank holiday getaway. Pictured: Only a few people went down to the beach at Bournemouth this morning

The Meteorological Office said high pressure is due to build through the weekend bringing plenty of sunshine and lessening winds. Pictured: A woman wears a fleece Camber Sands in East Sussex

There was flash flooding in Devon, Cornwall and Hampshire yesterday morning as more than half a months rain fell in 12 hours.

The wettest place on Thursday was Lanreath, Cornwall, where 51mm (2 inches) fell over 24 hours to 7pm, the Met Office said. Cornwalls average rainfall for the whole of August is 81mm (3.2ins).

Through yesterday, half an inch of rain fell in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, while Loftus, North Yorkshire, had 27.6mm (1.1ins) in 12 hours to 1pm, against a monthly average of 59.4mm (2.3ins) for August.

The heavy rain follows flooding and damage caused by named storms Ellen and Francis over the last 10 days.

The Met Office is warning that later in the coming week, parts of Britain could be hit by the remnants of Hurricane Laura, which has brought devastation to the US states of Louisiana and Arkansas, leaving six people dead.

The hurricane is one of the strongest ever to hit America with winds reaching 150 mph.

The Met Office said Laura is due to become part of an Atlantic low pressure system which will track eastwards towards Europe.

It could bring a spell of wet and windy weather to Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland on Wednesday and Thursday - but forecasters say it is too early to predict whether it will have any impact on England and Wales.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.  The Putnam County Sheriffs Office arrested a 30-year-old man late Thursday in the deaths of young brothers beaten with a hammer and stabbed the day before in their Shiloh Road home in Melrose.

Mark Howard Wilson Jr., 30, was charged with the first-degree murder of Robert and Tayten Baker, 12 and 14 years old respectively. The sheriffs office said the Baker family had allowed Wilson and his girlfriend, who was apparently a relative, to live in a shed on the property.

Wednesday morning the boys mother awoke to find them with traumatic injuries, the sheriffs office said. She and a younger child were uninjured. The boys father is a long-distance truck driver and was not home at the time.

Putnam Sheriff Gator DeLoach said a hammer and knife were used but did not offer a possible motive. He said the Bakers arrived two weeks ago from Polk County to be close to family.

Seventh Circuit State Attorney R.J. Larizza credited law enforcement with making an arrest so quickly.

I can tell you what justice is in this case. Justice is holding the defendant and anyone who may have aided or assisted responsible for what they may have done, Larizza said.

Larizza said while he believes the killings warrant the death penalty, he needs to review the case and speak with the family of the two boys before making a decision to pursue that course.

On his Facebook page, DeLoach called Wilson a sick monster. He added, My sincere hope is that the death penalty is pursued in these senseless murders.

DeLoach said that even though an arrest has been made, its still early in the investigation. Theres still a significant amount of work to do in this case.

DeLoach said Wilson has a criminal history but it wasnt violent. The state Department of Corrections shows that Wilson served a five-year prison sentence for drug trafficking, grand theft and trafficking in stolen property.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family. They loved playing video games, swimming and hanging out with their family, the social media post said. They had dreams and goals for their life that they will never be able to fulfill.

By Andrew Pantazi, The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Fla.) (TNS)

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Abenaki filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin began making films in the 1960s at a time when there were few Indigenous filmmakers working in the industry.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Abenaki filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin began making films in the 1960s at a time when there were few Indigenous filmmakers working in the industry.

The North American filmmaking landscape has changed dramatically since then with regards to diversity, thanks in large part to Obomsawins tireless commitment to activism through film.

Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger  which makes its streaming debut on Monday, Obomsawins 88th birthday  marks her 53rd film and tells another story of Indigenous resilience and resistance in the face of colonization.

NFB Jordan River Anderson's family comes from Norway House Cree Nation.

The 65-minute documentary, which was named the best Canadian documentary at the 2019 Vancouver International Film Festival and is being streamed by the National Film Board, explores the life of Jordan River Anderson, a boy from Norway House Cree Nation who was diagnosed at birth in 1999 with a rare muscular disorder known as Carey Fineman Ziter Syndrome.

Complications during pregnancy meant Jordans mother, Virginia, was flown to Winnipeg to give birth, and Winnipeg is where Jordan spent his entire life, away from his siblings, his father and his home community.

Jordan required constant care owing to disabilities associated with his disorder. He has facial paralysis and needed to be fed through a feeding tube and doctors granted permission for two-year-old Jordan to move into a nearby home where that care could be provided.

However, because Jordan was Indigenous, the provincial and federal governments could not agree on who was responsible for paying for the cost of his home care. This dispute lasted until Jordans death in 2005, when he was five.

NFB Jordans Principle was developed to ensure Indigenous people like Noah Buffalo Jackson receive the same government services as all Canadians.

He died in hospital, having never had the experience of living in a home and never having visited his community of Norway House.

Jordans Principle was created following his death. The child-first, needs-based regulation that the House of Commons approved in 2007 was meant to ensure equitable access for First Nations and Inuit people to government-funded public services. It also says access to services should not be denied while governments determine how costs will be paid.

But the ideal of Jordans Principle hasnt always matched the reality of what Indigenous and Inuit people have experienced, with many of them still experiencing denials of service.

Obomsawin also documents this battle through interviews with multiple families as they fight for the right to access the same standard of social, health and educational services that are given to other Canadians. She supports this with footage of court hearings related to the fight for equality and justice that Jordans legacy has continued to inspire.

NFB Noah Buffalo-Jackson and his mother, Carolyn Buffalo. She fought the federal government to enforce Jordan's Principle so Noah can attend the same school as his siblings.

Obomsawins documentary is at its best when sharing the human stories at the heart of the film while the footage of men in suits arguing in court, while expositing valuable information, proves tiresome. Real-life court is rarely as exciting as the way its portrayed in cinema.

The footage of the land is especially touching, showing the distinct environmental separation between the two locations where the Anderson family lived and where Jordan spent his short life.

The rivers, lakes, rocks, trees  and a hilariously enthusiastic black bear sighting (if you ever lived on the rez, you know what this is like)  of Norway House Cree Nation encapsulate so much of the beauty of Indigenous ways of life, ways of being and ways of knowing.

It feels like home, and like a place where Jordan deserved to be but never had the chance to see.

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NFB Senator Daniel Christmas, who is from the Mi'kmaw First Nation in Nova Scotia, and his daughter Gail.

At 65 minutes, the documentary also feels too short, leaving a lingering desire to learn more about these families, their stories and the community of Norway House Cree Nation itself.

But even with these few flaws, the film is profoundly moving.

Indigenous audiences, many of whom have encountered similar experiences in accessing health care and social services, will undoubtedly feel uplifted and inspired by the incredible work being done in Jordans name, and, in turn, justice for all Indigenous and Inuit people.

For non-Indigenous viewers, the film may well be one of the first genuine glimpses into the inequities faced by Indigenous people living in the country currently called Canada.

Frances.Koncan@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @FrancesKoncan
Lloyds of London provides the pool with extra coverage for major claims, officials said.

The global company, however, added an exclusion for communicable disease to the policy renewal effective Sept. 1.

Megan Boldt, ALICAPs executive director, said that leaves no question that as of that date districts would have to cover such claims out of pocket.

Essentially there has never been any coverage under general liability for things that were not a physical injury, Boldt said. Our carriers are adding a written coverage exclusion for COVID-19 to clarify that it is absolutely not covered.

Insurance pools across the country are facing similar exclusions, she said.

Doug Lewis, president of the ALICAP board and assistant superintendent for business services in the Papillion La Vista Community Schools, said the specific exclusion is more a clarification than a change.

But he said it could influence district leaders as they weigh the risks of keeping schools open during the pandemic.

Thats certainly going to be something that districts will consider, he said.
As districts across Louisiana kick off the start of school year with virtual classes, thousands of families still have no way to sign on to the internet to access lessons.

Moreover, a recent study shows the connectivity issue disproportionately affects students of color, as they are far more likely than White peers to be cut off from internet learning.

In Louisiana, 36.5% of Black students and 36.5% of Latino students have no access to home internet, compared to 28% of White students, according to the analysis. In all, more than 318,000 students in the state were found to not have high-speed home internet.

The study was done by the civil rights and advocacy groups Alliance for Excellent Education, the National Indian Education Association, the National Urban League and UnidosUS.

It comes as about 40 school districts across the state have kicked off the 2020-21 year, with most offering a hybrid of virtual and in-person learning. Some of those students are receiving instruction online, while others are distance learning through packets sent home by districts or schools.

The problem isn't exclusive to Louisiana. Nationally, nearly 17 million students don't have the access needed to participate in online learning from home, including about 1 in 3 Black, Latino and American Indian/Alaska Native students, the study says.

The figure, which uses data from the 2018 American Community Survey, doesn't take into account recent philanthropic donations or school district pushes to get more access to students through internet hot spots and other methods.

However, it also doesn't take into account that the coronavirus pandemic, which has pushed districts to implement more virtual learning, has squeezed budgets for thousands of families. That can mean giving up internet service, according to Phillip Lovell, the vice president of policy development and government relations at the Alliance for Excellence Education.

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"If you need to choose between internet access and groceries, guess what wins? And rightfully so," Lovell said. "The bottom line is the numbers may be sightly lower or slightly higher, but theres still a big problem."

Ted Beasely, a spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Education, said the state is working on new metrics to fully show home-technology needs across the state.

In a presentation to the state Board of Early and Secondary Education on Aug. 12, however, state Superintendent Cade Brumley said latest estimates showed about 25% of Louisiana families do not have internet connectivity in their homes.

Early estimates also show that 23% of students do not have access to a school-issued computer or iPad, according to Brumley's presentation. A number of districts have said they are working to get more students connected.

In New Orleans, officials are also working to close the connectivity gap. Dominique Ellis, a spokeswoman for NOLA Public Schools, said that as of Tuesday local charter schools had purchased over 6,000 hot spots, on top of the 10,000 already deployed last spring, connecting over 35% of the district's roughly 45,000 students.

Officials estimated less than 10% of local New Orleans students still needed access to the internet.

The groups behind the racial disparity analysis said it should be Congress' job, not that of local districts, to connect students. They were asking for $6.8 billion in funding in the next stimulus legislation for internet and computer access for all students.

"Asking students  many of whom are from low-income or rural homes  to try to learn with a family member's cellphone or with paper packets is neither acceptable nor sustainable," said Deborah Delisle, president and CEO of All4Ed, a policy and advocacy group. "The federal government has an historic opportunity to ensure millions of students get what they need to be successful this fall and beyond."
The police officers who escorted Sen. Rand Paul through a crowd of protesters in Washington, D.C., this week should receive a "medal of some kind," President Donald Trump said Friday evening.

Paul, a Kentucky Republican, said early Friday morning that he and his wife were "attacked by an angry mob" who threatened their lives as they were heading back to their hotel following the conclusion of the Republican National Convention at the White House Thursday evening.

Videos on social media show protesters surrounding Paul and his wife on a crowded block. Protesters chanted, "No justice, no peace" and "Say her name: Breonna Taylor."

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In the videos, police formed a perimeter around the Pauls, telling protesters to "move back." Paul said he and his wife were unharmed, but that police saved them.

Speaking to a crowd in Manchester, New Hampshire, Trump said Paul and others "walked out to a bunch of thugs" Thursday following his nomination acceptance speech.

"Rand Paul was in big trouble last night. He's a good guy, he's a friend of mine, and that shouldn't happen to anybody," Trump said. "But here's the U.S. senator walking outside, and those four policemen should be brought over to the White House. We ought to give them a medal of some kind, and we're going to do it. We're going to do it."

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., center, and others, are escorted by Metropolitan Police after attending President Donald Trump's acceptance speech at the White House, Thursday night , Aug. 27, 2020, in Washington, after a crowd had enveloped Paul as he left the event and demanded that he acknowledge police shooting victim Breonna Taylor. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Trump, who has frequently called protesters "rioters" and "looters," went on to say that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser "should be ashamed of herself" for the situation. He also threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, which allows the federal government to deploy the military domestically.

In Louisville, protesters have been marching for more than 90 days to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old Black woman and emergency room technician who was unarmed when fatally shot by police inside her home in March.

Story continues

Paul filed federal legislation in June to prohibit police officers across the country from using no-knock warrants like the one that led to the fatal shooting of Taylor. The Louisville Metro Council voted unanimously on June 11 to ban no-knock warrants.

"I'm actually the author of the Breonna Taylor law to end no-knock raids," Paul told "Fox and Friends" Friday morning. "So the irony is lost on these idiots that they're trying to kill the person who's actually trying to get rid of no-knock raids."

More: Kentucky secretary of state defends expanded absentee voting, slams critics of primary

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who will make the decision on whether to charge the Louisville Metro Police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Taylor, condemned the protesters who confronted Paul in a tweet Friday morning.

"No public official of either party should be treated like Senator @RandPaul and his wife Kelley were last night," wrote Cameron, who also spoke at the Republican National Convention. "These actions have no place among peaceful calls for change in this country."

No public official of either party should be treated like Senator @RandPaul and his wife Kelley were last night. These actions have no place among peaceful calls for change in this country.  Attorney General Daniel Cameron (@kyoag) August 28, 2020

In the Friday interview with Fox and Friends, Paul went after Democrats while denouncing violent protests.

"I don't hear Joe Biden or Kamala Harris saying one thing about the violence. This mob is their voters. This is the new Democrat party. And if we don't resist this, the United States is going to become Portland," Paul said, referring to the Oregon city that has been gripped by protests for months.

He added: "We can't let our cities be taken over by these marauders and thugs."

Contact Ben Tobin at bjtobin@gannett.com or follow on Twitter @TobinBen.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Trump: Police who escorted Rand Paul after RNC should get medal
Five months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Winnipegs recreation options remain limited.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Five months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Winnipegs recreation options remain limited.

In March, the city closed its recreation centres, pools and libraries to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

As of this week, just one city swimming pool (Pan Am Pool) is offering swimming lessons and only six of its 12 indoor pools are open. (The closures include the Bonivital Pool and St. James Civic Centre pool, which are closed for maintenance.)

The city offered just 244 Leisure Guide programs this summer, compared with 2,540 last year.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Chris Enns and his children, Asher, 7, and Story, 6, arrive at Pan Am Pool for their swimming lessons Friday morning.

All 12 city-run arenas remain closed this week as well, though more information on those facilities is expected "in the coming weeks," said city spokesman David Driedger, in an emailed statement.

"All efforts are being made to resume or expand library and recreation and leisure services and programs safely, and in accordance with public health guidelines," wrote Driedger.

On Friday, the city announced four more indoor pools and four recreation centres will open Sept. 8. Five more city pools will also join Pan Am in offering "condensed" swimming lessons next month, with classes from Sept. 8 to Sept. 26.

Even with those additions, Jason Shaw, Winnipegs assistant chief of emergency management, confirmed there will be fewer spaces and swim lesson times, since the facilities must reduce capacity to meet social distancing guidelines.

The most frequent (question) that I (have received), citywide, is Why isnt my pool open?  Coun. Sherri Rollins

Coun. Sherri Rollins, chairwoman of councils protection, community services and parks committee, said that means demand has exceeded capacity in recent months.

"There are less facilities, less available space and less available class time," said Rollins. "The most frequent (question) that I (have received), citywide, is Why isnt my pool open? "

Some Winnipeggers whose family members are taking swimming lessons at Pan Am Pool this week said they travelled further than they normally would to reach the classes.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Chris Buffie and his children, Elena, 9, and Gabriella, 5, arrive at Pan Am Pool for their swimming lessons Friday morning.

Chris Enns said the option worked well for his family but he is concerned other kids who rely on city recreation options may have been unable to access them this summer.

"I think more options are obviously better because of accessibility. Im fortunate that I have a vehicle and a job that (allows me to) do these things but Im not sure that its accessible for everyone I can make this work for me, but for thousands of people this probably isnt enough," said Enns.

Chris Buffie said his family was glad to have the Pan Am option. Buffie said he thinks it makes sense the city isnt offering its usual amount of recreation programs.

"I would like to see (the city) do whats safest. If that means that there are some things that are eliminated because of that, then I think thats just kind of how it has to be for now," he said.

Rollins said theres little consensus on recreation programs, since many Winnipeggers have complained the city reopened facilities too quickly, raising the risk of spreading the virus.

"My focus is to continue those (recreation) offerings (but) I need it to be safe," said Rollins.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Leisha Strachan, a University of Manitoba kinesiology and recreation management professor, is concerned about peoples mental and physical health and suggests local community centres could fill the gap.

Leisha Strachan, a University of Manitoba kinesiology and recreation management professor, said reduced access to recreation raises concerns.

"It can lead to sedentary behaviour. We know that childhood obesity, childhood diabetes are (both) on the rise. Without having an outlet for physical activity, for movement, that can definitely impact people throughout their lives," said Strachan.

Shes concerned kids and youth will also have fewer physical education options at school this year, as educators scramble to find more space for classrooms so they can provide room for physical distancing.

"Im hoping that schools do still consider keeping physical education as part of the curriculum, even if its doing it outside," said Strachan.

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.

She suggested Winnipeggers who wish to remain active should check whats available at their local community centres and consider indoor options.

"We do have to think about how to live with (COVID-19) and have to reimagine the role of recreation and sport and how we can still participate," said Strachan.

Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
The St. Helena Sheriff's Office arrested a suspect in the death of Shakie Peters, a transgender woman who was found dead in a rural part of the parish last month.

Deputies arrested Lynette Muse on Friday and booked her on second-degree murder. No motive has been released.

Body of transgender woman found in St. Helena Parish; police investigating as a homicide The body of a transgender woman was found in rural St. Helena Parish Wednesday afternoon, and police are investigating the incident as a homicide.

Peters, 32, was found off Opal Bennett Road near Amite. She is one of two transgender women killed in the East Baton Rouge area in July.

Authorities said more arrests are pending.
China Makes Plans to Import More US Oil

An analysis by Michael Lelyveld 2020-08-28 -- China is stocking up on oil from the United States in an apparent effort to ease tensions with Washington, analysts say.

On Aug. 14, Reuters reported that China's national oil companies (NOCs) had made shipping arrangements to import at least 20 million barrels of U.S. crude oil through September as part of a push to meet terms of a bilateral trade deal.

When it was signed on Jan. 15, the Phase 1 trade deal was hailed as a major breakthrough that averted an escalation of the near two-year-old U.S.-China trade war.

Under the agreement, China pledged to boost its U.S. energy imports by $52.4 billion (360 billion yuan) over a two-year period compared with 2017 levels.

The promised purchases were part of a $200-billion commitment that included $77.7 billion in manufactured items, $37.9 billion in services and $32 billion in agricultural commodities.

The text of the agreement required China to buy no less than $18.5 billion of energy products above the 2017 base level in 2020 and no less than $33.9 billion more in 2021.

Import shortfall

China's tentative booking of tankers for U.S. crude deliveries is seen as a sign that it is trying to address concerns that its imports will fall far short of the terms for this year.

As of June 30, China's purchases of U.S. crude this year totaled only $2.06 billion, Reuters said, citing U.S. Census Bureau data.

According to a trade tracker compiled by the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, China made only $39.3 billion in purchases of all U.S. goods covered by the agreement as of July, against a commitment of $142.7 billion for this year, based on U.S. export data.

The shortfall has been most acute in the energy category, touching off a scramble among China's NOCs to improve the figures ahead of a six-month meeting to review compliance with the Phase 1 deal.

A review set for Aug. 15 was initially postponed "due to scheduling issues," Reuters said.

On Aug. 18, President Donald Trump told reporters that he had postponed the talks, citing China's responses to the spread of COVID-19.

"With what they did to this country and to the world, I don't want to talk to China right now," Trump was quoted as saying.

On Aug. 20, a spokesman for China's Ministry of Commerce said the two countries had agreed to hold talks "in a few days," state media reported, but the statement was not confirmed by the U.S. side.

On Aug. 24, the two countries held phone talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He to discuss implementation of the agreement, according to official statements.

"Both sides see progress and are committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure the success of the agreement," the U.S. statement said.

Increased friction

Despite the many months of tension and intense negotiations, the achievement of the Phase 1 agreement has been nearly forgotten in the avalanche of conflicts that followed the COVID-19 outbreak, which became known in Washington shortly after the deal was signed.

Since January, U.S.-China frictions have increased over issues ranging from the mistreatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, the suppression of rights in Hong Kong, claims to the South China Sea, the banning of Huawei from mobile phone networks, U.S. attempts to force the sale of social network TikTok, allegations of spying, the closure of China's consulate in Houston and China's shutdown of the U.S. consulate in Chengdu.

China's belated attempt to honor its import commitments could be a signal of conciliation despite the discord.

The delay of the meeting on Phase 1 may have been part of an effort to keep non-compliance from adding to the list before the upcoming U.S. elections, said Edward Chow, senior associate in the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

"I would say that both sides are trying to kick the can past Nov. 3. Neither side has any interest in admitting the Phase 1 trade deal failed to deliver," Chow said.

"I have been surprised by how mild Beijing's reactions have been," said Chow. "I believe the Chinese have decided not to provoke Trump any more than necessary, except in matters they see as strictly internal, such as Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan."

Just politics

China's increase in imports of U.S. oil is unlikely to be justified by purely commercial considerations.

"It's politically driven for sure because there are a plethora of barrels being offered to Asia cheaper than what WTI lands," a trader told Reuters, referring to the West Texas Intermediate grade of crude.

China imposed a 5-percent tariff on U.S. oil imports last September and did not rescind it as part of the Phase 1 deal.

The higher costs and refining requirements for WTI crude are not seen as impediments to more Chinese imports.

"It's a mandate from higher up," another Reuters source said, speaking of the import drive.

But even if China's tanker bookings are meant as a signal, the country may have trouble meeting the terms of the Phase 1 agreement this year.

China has already splurged on oil imports despite the economic uncertainties of the pandemic, taking advantage of the worldwide glut that followed the COVID-19 crisis and the price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia earlier this year.

Oil buying set back-to-back monthly records as imports jumped from 11.3 million barrels per day (mbpd) in May to nearly 13 mbpd in June.

Crude imports in June soared 34 percent from a year earlier, Reuters said. In the first half of the year, China's crude imports climbed 9.9 percent, according to customs data.

In July, China's imports climbed 25 percent from a year before to 51.29 million tons (12.08 mbpd), boosting seven- month volumes to a 12.1-percent gain.

China's crude imports from the United States rose more than six-fold in July from June to 3.67 million tons (26.9 million barrels), the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said in a statement this week.

Despite doubts about economic growth and domestic demand, much of the imports have been driven by independent refiners and fuel export opportunities.

While world oil prices have largely stabilized with moderate gains, they remain below the break-even point for much of China's domestic production.

Logistical delays

But the import surge has led to massive port backlogs with dozens of very large crude carriers (VLCCs) stalled offshore for weeks at a time.

At least 80 vessels were waiting over a month to unload oil at ports in northern China, The Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 12. More than half were VLCCs, which can carry up to 2 million barrels of crude, traders said.

The VLCCs have been turned into floating storage, running up daily chartering costs. China's onshore storage has been reported to be nearly full for months.

"They have no space to store the crude and the congestion is severe," one tanker owner told The Journal.

The backups are not only a problem for logistics and further purchasing. They may also be an obstacle to meeting terms of the Phase 1 deal, which require that the agreed volumes be both "purchased and imported."

The import spike has been "an optimistic sign for the global economy, however the pace has been so quick that it has challenged the logistical capabilities of Chinese ports," Oilprice.com reported on Aug. 5, citing analysis by data provider OilX.

The analysts also pointed to "possible discrepancies between the classification of imports and vessels waiting to discharge."

Although the backups may ease in coming months, the unprecedented conditions leading up to China's port congestion suggest that the country may have difficulty meeting the terms of the Phase 1 agreement, even if that is part of its import plan.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- In an effort to continuously maintain transparency with the community the Sint Maarten Police Force(KPSM) would like to inform the community of St.Maarten two more officers have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. The colleagues have since been isolated and members of their team, who were in close contact, have been placed in self-quarantine.

The KPSM protocols previously set in place have been followed and the building where the officers were working was immediately disinfected/sanitized. Both colleagues who tested positive are doing reasonably well considering the circumstances in which they find themselves at the moment. The colleagues who were in close contact with the two officers who tested positive were promptly informed and swiftly quarantined, according to the CPS protocols. They have been asked to monitor themselves for the upcoming two weeks and call CPS should any symptoms develop.

The colleague who previously tested positive on August 17th, 2020 is still currently in isolation's final stages. The officers who worked closely with him, who were also quarantined, according to the CPS protocols, fortunately, are not showing any symptoms and will back at work shortly. The health of KPSM staff is the number priority, as we need to be in good health to continue to serve the community.

The management team of the KPSM would like to reiterate to the general public that it is imperative they continue to be vigilant, no one is immune from contracting the virus. Please adhere to the social distancing measures set in place, your health, as well as the health of others around you are at stake.

KPSM Press Release.
After a two-day summit in Berlin, European Union (EU) foreign ministers voted yesterday to impose sanctions on top Belarusian officials. The EU accuses these as-yet unnamed officials of helping incumbent President Aleksandr Lukashenko steal the August 8 presidential election and crack down on protests against the election outcome. Three people died in the crackdown, which provoked an ongoing wave of strikes and protests at factories and schools across Belarus.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said around 20 Belarusian officials or perhaps more could be targeted. The EU, wrote the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung, wants to intensify pressure on the countrys leaders and give a sign of solidarity with the people of Belarus.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks during a meeting with officials in Minsk, Belarus, August 27, 2020 [Credit: Sergei Sheleg, BelTA Pool via AP]

Conflicts erupted at the summit, however, over the EU decision not to sanction Lukashenko, who is responsible for the policies it is supposedly condemning. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Antanas Linkevicius, whose government is offering protection and asylum to Belarusian opposition presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhonovskaya, said the EU reaction is too symbolic.  This definitely does not go far enough. This is not a serious reaction.

The EUs vote is a clumsy, hypocritical attempt to maximize its influence in Belarus, while dealing with an event that is largely unexpected and unwelcome in EU circles: an initial intervention of the working class into political life in a former Soviet republic.

Yesterday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the Belarusian people are fighting for rights to protest which we take for granted in Europe. Merkel criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, who on Thursday offered to send reserve police to Belarus to back Lukashenko against protesters.

Putin said this police reserve would not be used until the situation gets out of control, and until the extremist elements, hiding behind political slogans, cross certain boundaries such as looting, setting fire to cars, seizing administrative buildings and so on. We came to the conclusion that there is no such need now, and, I hope, it will not exist, and therefore we will not use this reserve.

While Merkel said, I hope that troops wont be deployed, French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters in Paris: We dont want a repeat of what happened in Ukraine. All external intervention in Belarus, starting with Russian forces, military or police, would breach international rules and internationalize this conflict.

The EUs protestations of outrage at Lukashenkos attack on democratic rights and Putins threat to intervene in Belarus are utterly false and hypocritical. Macrons security forces detained 10,000 people, killed two bystanders and authorized the French army to open fire on yellow vest protests. And ever since the Stalinist regimes dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, NATO has intervened militarily across Eastern Europe, from the 1999 bombing of Serbia to its support for the fascist-led putsch in Kiev that toppled a pro-Russian government in Ukraine in 2014.

Behind lying phrases about democratic rights and non-intervention, however, the most ruthless sections of European capital are working out their political strategy. A key concern, of course, is strengthening the EUs military position in Eastern Europe against Russia, building on the NATO military build-up in neighboring Poland and Lithuania. The EU has backed the Coordination Council set up by right-wing opposition parties around Tikhonovskaya, which is calling for talks with Lukashenko on constitutional change for the post-Soviet capitalist state in Belarus.

The EU has not yet decided to burn its bridges with Lukashenko, however, particularly as mounting workers militancy and an upsurge of class struggle spread not only in Belarus, but across Europe and internationally. Political grievances driving strikes against Lukashankosocial inequality, low wages and the disastrous official handling of the COVID-19 pandemicare shared by European workers. The EU senses that Lukashenko, who has threatened to draft protesting youth into the army to crush the bacchanalia of protests, could yet serve its interests.

The critical issue for the emerging movement of workers and youth in Belarus is to struggle against both the ex-Stalinist strongman Lukashenko and the corrupt, pro-EU opposition. Like the EU itself, this opposition could under many conditions easily and happily support a crackdown by Lukashenko, if it targeted the working class.

There were continuing reports yesterday of strikes and protests by teachers, as well as planning for more strike and work-to-rule actions by miners and industrial workers in Belarus. After Lukashenko responded to the protests by declaring that all teachers should support the state ideology, many teachers resigned or stopped teaching. Parents joined teachers on picket lines in Minsk, and appeals by teaching staff to broader layers of workers to join in strikes spread on social media.

One such appeal, written by someone claiming to teach at the Belarusian State Technological University in Minsk, declares: I believe students are full members of civil society, and that student strikes could be an important part of an all-Belarusian general strike. I want to use this platform to tell all Belarusian students: you are the majority, and professors will support you, too!

Strikes and work-to-rule actions by potash miners against fertilizer export firm Belaruskali have reportedly cut output to only 60 to 70 percent of normal levels, and the company has confirmed it is several days behind in terms of its output. Fitch Ratings reported that a continued strike there could cut Belarusian exports and raise global fertilizer prices on spot markets. The Belarusian ruble has fallen over 10 percent against the euro since the presidential elections.

Political activists linked to Tikhonovskayas EU-backed opposition are intervening in workplaces that led the strikes against Lukashenko. Activists told news site belzabastovka.org they are meeting with workers at the Minsk Auto Factory (MAZ) and discussing further action: Our goal is to obtain as many signatures as possible and to launch a big strike... We are certain that we will defend our rights and civic position and that we will contribute to the struggle for liberty!

As the working class reemerges into struggle in Belarus and across Europe, it faces complex issues of political strategy and perspective. These flow from the false, decades-long identification of Stalinism, the Soviet bureaucracy and its allies and descendants with Marxism and socialism. But long and bitter experience of workers in Eastern Europe has confirmed a central thesis of Leon Trotskys theory of Permanent Revolution against Stalinism and Popular Frontism: workers cannot establish or defend democratic rights by supporting one or another faction of the capitalist class.

Against the threats of Lukashenko, the best allies of Belarusian workers are the European and international working class. It is not the pro-imperialist opposition around Tikhonovksaya, which, like the EU itself, is seeking a deal with the Lukashenko regime. Rather, the allies of the Belarusian workers are the millions of workers across Europe and the world who are entering into struggle against the reactionary social order that emerged from the Stalinist restoration of capitalism in Eastern Europe in 1991.

Forces influenced by the Tikhonovskaya opposition who are intervening in workers struggles are putting forward a political line hostile to the working class. Gleb Sandros, cited in news reports as a Belaruskali strike committee spokesman, explained he hoped the potash strike would provoke a collapse of the Belarusian currency on world markets. The critical issue here is to punish the government with the ruble, he said.

He told the website Global Voices, linked to the New America think tank in Washington, that he hopes an economic collapse will shame workers into backing the Belarusian opposition: If the economic crisis in Belarus, which we can now justifiably talk about, intensifies, then this will motivate more peopleand I mean workersto wake up and take a sober look at the situation and their conscience.

Plans to exploit workers struggles to provoke capitalist shock therapy and imperialist-backed regime-change are reactionary and offer nothing to workers. The way forward is an international struggle of revolutionary socialist opposition to Lukashenko, Putin, the EU-backed opposition and the EU itself, based on a common struggle of the working class for the United Socialist States of Europe.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.29

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

The world experience shows that as mitigations are introduced, number of coronavirus infections grows, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said.

Hajiyev made the remark at the briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers on Aug. 29, Trend reports.

He noted that although the current figures for the number of coronavirus infections in Azerbaijan are relatively encouraging, citizens must continue to be careful and follow the rules.
GREENWICH  Even the threat of bad weather cant stop the book bonanza at the Byram Shubert Library.

Due to the possibility of heavy rains, Saturdays book sale at the librarys neighboring St. Paul Lutheran Church was pushed to Sunday. The sale will take place in the churchs parking lot from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The sale began successfully on Friday night, with a second day of sales planned for Saturday for the Outdoor Book and Media Sale Bonanza.

But the threat of bad weather forced the change. The Friends of the Byram Shubert Library thanked the church for allowing them to use the outdoor parking lot again on Sunday for sale.

For safety amid the coronavirus pandemic, the book sale is entirely outdoors. Everyone in the sale area will be required to wear a mask and social distancing will be enforced. Shoppers who do not follow these rules will be asked to leave, organizers said.

The librarys twice-a-year book sale was postponed from June. The Friends of Byram Shubert Library are hoping to go ahead with another planned book sale in November.

The sale is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Friends, and it allows them to hold community programs at the library throughout the year, including the new digital programs it has begun since the pandemic began.

The sale will include books for people of all ages as well as CDs, DVDs and audiobooks. The library calculated that 25,000 volumes of books will be available along with thousands of other items.

Admission to the sale is free. For $20, shoppers can fill up a box with books and other items.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
The Associated Press fact checks some of the most popular and completely untrue stories each week. This weeks fact check focuses on the social media circulation of photos that folks claim are of police officers who were injured during recent protests.

The facts are below:

CLAIM: Photos show four police officers who were injured by Democrats and Black Lives Matter rioters over the weekend in Portland, Seattle and nearby cities.

THE FACTS: The officers in the photos werent injured at U.S. protests  in fact, they were on the other side of the world. The four photos in a post being shared on social media show police officers who sustained injuries in various parts of Australia in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2019. On Aug. 25, a grid of the four photos, featuring bloodied and bandaged police officers, was circulating widely on Facebook with more than 1,200 shares and 56,000 views. 50 police officers were injured by Dems and BLM rioters over the weekend in Portland Seattle and other nearby cities, the caption read. Pray for their safety. However, research into the origin of the photos reveals they were all taken in Australia  and not over the weekend. The photo on the top left shows a police officer kneeling in the street with his hand on his knee and his forehead dripping blood. It can be traced to a September 2012 protest in Sydney, where demonstrations against a film perceived as anti-Islamic grew violent, according to local news reports with the photo. The photo on the top right shows a police officer sitting indoors, her face covered in scratches and one hand stretched across her body to hold her other arm. Police released the photo in April 2019, after a man on parole in a Sydney suburb allegedly bit and scratched a 22-year-old officer during a welfare check, according to local reports featuring the image. In the bottom left of the grid is a photo of a police officer on what appears to be a hospital bed, his eyes closed and his uniform marred by dark stains. It stems from a Western Australia pub fight in March 2006 when a bar patron attacked a police officer trying to break up the clash, according to local news reports using the photo. The photo on the bottom right shows a police officer with swollen eyes and a bandage wrapped around the middle of his face. It was taken after a Christmas Day 2009 fight in Western Australia, which resulted in a police officer getting struck in the face with a brick, according to local news stories at the time. Though these photos dont relate to recent Black Lives Matter protests in the United States, several police officers have been injured in the demonstrations that have sprung up across the nation in the wake of George Floyds death. The Associated Press has reported on several such incidents, including at protests in Seattle and Portland.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 19:49:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua)-- Chinese primary and secondary schools started to partially open to certain grades Saturday, as the opening of the new school year for different grades of students will continue until Sept. 7 in a staggered schedule amid intensive COVID-19 prevention and control measures on campus.

In Beijing, six grades in primary and secondary schools started the new semester Saturday, with a total number of 590,000 students, according to a source of Beijing Municipal Education Commission.

At half past seven Saturday morning, six-year-old Ren Jia stood at the gate of Beijing Bayi School and waved goodbye to his family. The first grader was immediately greeted by senior students who guided him to undergo a body temperature check and led him to his classroom.

In the school building, contact-free hand washing equipment is installed on each floor. Yellow one-meter lines and other signs are painted on the ground to remind students to keep their distance from one another.

Xu Jie, director of moral education at the school, said the orientation for new students will run for three days to get children familiar with the campus environment and the epidemic prevention requirements.

The school has prepared a gift bag for each new student, inside of which there are face masks, sterilized paper towels and their name cards.

At the High School Affiliated to the Beijing Institute of Technology, the opening ceremony for the new school year was held in the auditorium with choral performances and poem recitations. In order to prevent overcrowding, some students watched a live stream of the ceremony in their classrooms.

The Beijing municipal authority has required teachers and students to wear face masks on campus.

Kindergartens in the city will open on Sept. 8. Children do not need to wear face masks in kindergartens, though staff are required to wear masks.

In Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, more than 800 students from grade eleven of Taiyuan No. 12 Middle School returned to campus Saturday.

In the morning, they had their temperature checked and received epidemic prevention supplies provided by the school.

"We have staggered the beginning of the new school year for different grades in junior and senior high so that the epidemic prevention work can be done in an orderly way," said Feng Guolei, principal of the school.

In the spring semester, Chinese schools implemented a variety of anti-epidemic measures. Xinghualing District Foreign Language Primary School in Taiyuan pioneered the use of paper angel wings for students to help them maintain social distance.

"In the new semester, we will continue to use the 'one-meter wings' to keep children at a safe distance and help them develop an awareness of health and safety," said Zhao Gailing, principal of the school.

The Chinese Ministry of Education issued a circular earlier this month asking schools to take local anti-epidemic situations and the schools' conditions into account while making contingency plans, and to enhance their capabilities in handling possible emergencies with well-trained personnel. Enditem
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, August 29, 2020 09:44 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c414d505 4 National COVID-19,coronavirus,vaccination,COVID-19-vaccine,erick-thohir,virus-korona-indonesia,medical-workers,medical-practitioners,police,military Free

The government will prioritize medical workers as well as police and military personnel in the provision of a COVID-19 vaccine once it is widely available as part of the governments vaccination strategy, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir has said.

We will prioritize those working on the front line [during the COVID-19 pandemic]. It maybe too early to say this as we dont have a vaccine yet. However, we need to have a strategy, he said on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Erick, who also helms the national COVID-19 mitigation and national economic recovery committee, said people who lived in high-risk areas would also be prioritized.

Read also: Nine reasons you can be optimistic that a vaccine for COVID-19 will be widely available in 2021

The minister said the government had prepared two schemes for the mass COVID-19 vaccination program.

The first is to provide free vaccinations for National Health Insurance (BPJS Kesehatan) beneficiaries. Erick said 221 million people were registered under the program.

However, we need to look at the list to prioritize those who cant pay, said Erick.

The second scheme is a paid vaccination program for people who can pay. According to the governments estimation, each person would need to pay US$30 for two vaccinations.

The government previously announced that Indonesia had secured at least 300 million doses of a potential COVID-19 vaccine, following ministerial visits to China and the United Arab Emirates.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said the country had secured a commitment to be sent 20-30 million doses by the end of this year, while the remaining would be sent gradually until the end of next year. (vny)
Members of the Criminalistics and Forensic Sciences team carry out the routine procedure to collect the corpse of a man who died allegedly from COVID-19 on a street in the south of Quito, on August 11, 2020. Specialized in crime scenes, Ecuadorean CSIs collaborate with health workers, disinfection teams and funerary personnel inthe legalization sudden deaths from COVID-19 in homes and streets in Quito amid the pandemic.(photo: Cristina Vega RHOR / AFP)

The IMF said the Extended Fund Facility follows Quito's successful renegotiation with bondholders, and complements a $643 million emergency loan the Washington-based crisis lender provided in May.

The new loan is subject to approval by the IMF board.

"Ecuador's already fragile economy has been further hit by a confluence of shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp slump in oil prices, which is expected to lead to a record decline in economic activity," said Ceyda Oner, the IMF mission chief who led the virtual talks with Ecuadoran officials over the past month.

The economy is expected to contract by 11 percent in 2020, "and many Ecuadorians are being pushed into poverty," she said in a statement.

"Against this backdrop, the Fund-supported program is aimed at first helping the Ecuadorian authorities stabilize the economy and protect the lives and livelihoods of the Ecuadorian people, and then preparing the ground for economic recovery and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth."

The government of President Lenin Moreno in late July reached an agreement on $17.4 billion in debt that reduced the South American nation's capital and interest payments.

In the deal with the fund, Ecuador agreed to a reform program that includes rolling back crisis spending next year to pursue "a smart and comprehensive tax reform, and improved governance of public spending, while continuing to expand the coverage of social protection."
PORTLAND, Ore.: Fires set outside a law enforcement building thats a frequent site for protests in Portland, Oregon, prompted police to declare a riot early Saturday and detain several demonstrators.

Witnesses also said a car drove near the demonstration at the Portland Police Association building and fired several gunshots into the air. Video posted online showed shell casings in the street. No injuries were reported.

Officers had extinguished the fire at the police building and appeared to detain several protesters. It was unclear how many were arrested.

The commotion followed a sit-in in the lobby of the Portland mayors condo building Friday night. Protesters have issued demands, including police budget reductions and Mayor Ted Wheelers resignation, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported. A crowd of about 150 had gathered outside the building.

Portland has been gripped by nightly protests for three months since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The demonstrations, often violent, usually target police buildings and federal buildings. Some protesters have called for reductions in police budgets while the citys mayor and some in the Black community have decried the violence, saying its counterproductive.

Seventy-four people are now facing federal charges related to protests that have rocked the city for three months since George Floyd was killed, the local U.S. attorney announced Thursday.

The misdemeanor and felony charges include assaults on federal officers, arson and damaging federal property.

Earlier Friday, Wheeler had said he sent a letter to President Donald Trump declining his offers to help the city manage the protests. In early July, Trump sent more federal agents to the city to protect the federal courthouse, but local officials said their presence made things worse. The federal agents later pulled back.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
While the Covid-19 curve has started to flatten in Dharavi, Indias largest slum cluster, the number of Covid-19 cases have doubled in neighbouring Mahim and Dadar areas in the last 40 to 60 days. Out of the total 4,680 positive cases in Dadar and Mahim area, more than 70 per cent have been reported after relaxations in lockdown, starting June 03, 2020. Owing to this, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) says it is tracing and testing maximum people behind every case from Dadar and Mahim area, on the lines of Dharavi.

For the past few days, Covid-19 cases in Dharavi are being reported in single digits daily, with a few exceptions. The BMC has maintained that while the cases are coming down, four most densely populated pockets inside Dharavi - the Matunga Labour Camp, Kumbharwada, Kala Killa, and Koliwada continue to be on the corporations watch-list. The BMC, starting September 01, is also going to scale down Covid-19 containment facilities in Dharavi owing to the flattening of the curve. However, its neighbouring areas like Dadar and Mahim, now, remain a concern for the BMC.

Kiran Dighavkar, assistant municipal commissioner of BMCs G North Ward said, There are many factors behind cases increasing in Dadar and Mahim, and we are following the Dharavi model of testing and tracing maximum residents from Dadar and Mahim. We have also set up free testing camps, due to which we are detecting maximum cases. We have to understand that Dadar traditionally has been a commercial hub too, and post June 3, we have witnessed an increase in reporting of cases.

Dighavkar added, After relaxations were given in lockdown measures, more and more cases are being reported. Maximum cases that we are detecting are of those who are asymptomatic and most are from high-rises. We have to wait and watch for now and continue testing and tracing the maximum number of people for the cases to come under control. At the same time, citizens have to be responsible.

Also Read: Treated 14,800 Covid-19 patients in home isolation since July 9, claims Mumbai civic corporation

Dadar also came into focus last week when a large number of residents had gathered in the local market ahead of Ganeshotsav by flouting all social distancing norms.

In terms of numbers, on June 3, 2020, the first day of relaxations given by the state government under Mission Begin Again, Dharavi had 1,889 cases that have increased to 2,745 as of Friday.

In the case of Dadar, the cases went up from 374 to 2,489 in the same period and in Mahim, Covid cases have reached 2,192 from 606 on June 3.

The number of cases have doubled in Dadar in the last around 45 days from 1,130 on July 11 to 2,489 now. Similarly, in Mahim, cases have reached 2,192 from 1,092 on June 28. The G North Ward, under which Dharavi, Dadar and Mahim fall, has a total of 7,426 cases as of Friday, of which, 6,208 cases have recovered and 787 cases are active. Maximum active cases are from Dadar (400) and Mahim (294) while Dharavi (93) has the lowest number of active cases.

Also Read: Mumbai civic body asks private hospitals to refer critical patients to its Covid-19 facilities

Shiv Sena corporator from Dadar, Vishakha Raut said, We controlled cases in slums and chawls by having stricter containment measures, but the same is not the case in Dadar. We have an educated and literate population here and it is expected that they will act more responsibly. However, it is a fact that after relaxations in the lockdown norms, the cases have increased due to an increase in mingling of residents socially, but the administration is also trying to trace maximum cases.

Raut claimed that mandatory testing for travel led to detection of several cases among those who wanted to go to their homes in Konkan during Ganeshotsav. He also put the onus on citizens for responsible behavior.

In the end, citizens have to be more responsible when they are out. I see people not following social distancing norms, not wearing masks even in areas like Shivaji Park. This all needs to stop, and we will need to act with more responsibility, Raut added.

Mortality rate for the GN Ward has gone down in the last 50 days. According to BMCs data, there were 379 deaths in the ward on July 04, a mortality rate of 10.61%, which has gone down to 7.33% with 492 deaths, as of Friday. The GN Ward also has around 13 containment zones and 355 sealed buildings.
Starting from September, Japan will loosen its widely criticized entry restrictions on travelers from abroad, allowing all its foreign residents with a legal residence status to travel freely and thus enabling those seeking re-entry to the country to return, government officials said Friday.

However, travel will be subject to some conditions, including pre-entry tests for COVID-19.

The government also said that it is working to speed up the issuance of new visas to let in some businesspeople who were unable to enter due to the entry restrictions.

The government decided Friday to lift strict re-entry restrictions on foreign nationals with a legal residence status in Japan, which were introduced April 3 as a preventive measure aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. The revised policy will enable all foreign residents to re-enter the country after notifying immigration authorities about their travel plans.

Starting in September, foreign residents will be required to undergo coronavirus testing upon entry and observe a 14-day quarantine period. The same conditions apply to Japanese nationals coming from abroad.

Additionally, however, all foreign nationals will be required to submit proof they were tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to their departure. The condition has already been imposed on students, working visa holders and people with afamily staya visas who had left Japan before the imposition of the ban and were granted permission to return on Aug. 5. Starting from Tuesday, the condition will be applicable to all residents and new arrivals.

The announcement comes amid intensifying criticism of the existing policy from the foreign community and business groups heavily affected by the restrictions to travel, which have cut thousands of people off from access to their livelihoods for months and have been described as discriminatory.

Under the existing travel restrictions, only foreign residents who had left the country before the introduction of the entry restrictions have been allowed to return. Meanwhile, those who have left the country after their destinations were added to the entry ban list and those who are planning to leave the country temporarily need special permission to re-enter from immigration officials.
The president of Italy's Tuscany region, Enrico Rossi, looks set to approve a maximum of 3,000 spectators per day for the Mugello race in two weeks.

Sky Italia claims Rossi will sign an order allowing the coronavirus exception "in the next few hours".

The 3,000 spectators will be divided between the circuit's three big grandstands to celebrate track-owner Ferrari's 1000th grand prix.

"The circuit has three very large and well separated grandstands, so the national 1000-person limit for public events can reasonably be considered a capacity limit for each grandstand," a spokesman for president Rossi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"There will be dedicated parking spaces, body temperature control measures, social distancing, masks and access reserved for the public," he added.

(GMM)
Kolkata: Nearly nine years since Maoist top gun Mallojula Koteswar Rao alias Kishenji was killed in West Bengal, the red rebels are making a comeback into the states forested districts bordering Jharkhand.

Over the past month, there are reports of Maoists sneaking in West Bengal, making campaigns in areas of Jhargram and Purulia districts and going back to Jharkhand.

The latest incident took place on August 27, 2020, at Pochapani village of Jhargram district of West Bengal - a few kilometres away from Jharkhand border - the area of operation of last Maoist squad of Bengal based out of Jharkhand led by Ashim Mondal alias Akash.

On Thursday night, two to three unidentified persons opened fire at the residence of one Bidyut Das. In a bid to save their lives, Bidyut Dass wife Mira Das who was on the roof of the house at the time of firing, jumped off injuring her leg. Taking advantage of the darkness, the unidentified persons fled.

While sources in the village claim that those who opened fire had Maoist links, officials in the state police neither admitted nor refuted claims of such links.

Interestingly, this came at a time when a handwritten letter by CPI (Maoists) was sent to three individuals residing in Belpahari area of Jhargram district on July 27, 2020, including Bidyut Das according to the villagers. The three individuals who received the letter have been identified as Bidyut Das - a cooking gas dealer, Tarun Mondal - a Primary School teacher and Sushil Mondal - a local grocery store owner.

The letter which was reportedly sent at the behest of CPI (Maoist) squad member Madan Mahato demanded a ransom, claim villagers. Several posters were also pasted outside their houses warning them that they must pay the amount by July 29, 2020, else face consequences. However, all three individuals refrained from paying the ransom.

On the other hand, a senior official from the state police expressed his doubts over Maoist links, We are investigating the incident. We are trying to find out whether it is a handiwork of any local misusing the name of Maoists.

However, this official remained tightlipped on Maoist letters received by the three individuals demanded a ransom.

Earlier on August 16, a day after Independence day, as many as 10-12 handwritten Maoist posters urging villagers to observe Independence Day as Kala Divas surfaced at several villages of the same Jhargram district.

Officers in central intelligence agencies said that activities of the armed squad led by state secretary Akash have recently increased in the villages along Bengal-Jharkhand border in the districts of Jhargram and Purulia in West Bengal.

This squad, which comprises between 20 and 25 guerrillas, have some new recruits - young members who have joined the squad in the last 3-4 years was based in the forests of Jharkhand over the past five years but have been spotted along with the Bengal-bordering villages of Jharkhand several times over the past couple of months.
At Carolina Rehab of Burke, 49 residents have contracted the virus along with 12 staff members for a total of 61 cases. Nine residents have died from the virus.

Cases at Grace Heights Health and Rehabilitation have remained steady, with 57 residents and 33 staff members testing positive for the virus. There have been 13 deaths at the facility associated with COVID-19.

Cases across the state also were up Friday.

The state reported a total of 162,491 cases of COVID-19, with 2,652 deaths and 970 people hospitalized because of it, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The average testing turnaround time, or the time it takes to receive results since a person was tested, was down to 2.1 days across the state, NCDHHS reported.

NCDHHS has said families and caregivers in need of child care for children up to age 12 can call its hotline to be connected directly to child care options in their community. The hotline at 888-600-1685 is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Care is offered by licensed child care providers who meet Department of Health and Human Services guidelines.

For information, visit https://bit.ly/3gSC0Lk.
PAWLEYS ISLAND  The NAACP Georgetown Chapter called for the resignation of Brian Henry, the mayor of the Town of Pawleys Island, at a press conference outside Pawleys Island Town Hall on Saturday morning.

Henry is facing public backlash after calling Black Lives Matter a terror organization in a Facebook post on Tuesday  a statement that also included other racially charged remarks  in the aftermath of a double homicide in Georgetown County on Monday.

Charles Nicholas Wall and his stepdaughter, Laura Anderson, who are both white, were both shot and killed after a traffic accident on U.S. 521 in Georgetown County. Ty Sheem Ha Sheem Walters III, a Black man, has been charged with the murders.

To date, law enforcement authorities, nor the families of the deceased, have pointed to race as a factor in the double homicide  although social media comments have become contentious, particularly when referencing Henry's public Facebook post, which has since been deleted.

Tell me, where is the outrage? Henry said in the post. When and where will we begin rioting and burning down businesses in Georgetown? Answer is simple, it wont happen.

Henry was not in attendance at Saturdays press conference.

Brian Henry needs to resign, said Marvin Neal, president of the NAACP Georgetown Chapter. Were not calling for Brian Henry to leave Pawleys Island, were calling for Brian Henry to resign. He needs to find other ways to pad his pocket, and not at the expense of the taxpayers, not at the expense of the people. You cannot divide and lead.

Neal thinks the comments Henry made on Facebook show that he is not fit to be a public leader.

We have addressed the situation once vaguely, but I dont think we can address hate enough, Neal said. I dont want to get up here and call the mayor of this township a racist; but one thing I want to do is make sure that we address the racist comments  thats important. When comments are made and we dont address them, then we condone it. We have to be so careful of what we say as a person and as a human being.

When reached via text message, Henry declined comment on the call for his resignation, but did say that he would be releasing a statement in the upcoming week. The exact timing is not yet known.

Marilyn Hemingway, the NAACP Georgetown Chapter second vice president and president and CEO of the Gullah Geeche Chamber of Commerce, explained the purpose of the Black Lives Matter movement.

We are here as a hurting people, she said. Black Lives Matter is not for revenge. You need to ask yourself, why are you so triggered when people say Black Lives Matter? We are simply asking for equality; we are simply asking for justice; we are simply asking for recognition; but youre triggered. So we are not the issue, you are the issue.

Like Neal, Hemingway believes Henry is unfit to lead a community based on his racist comments.

We are ignored on a daily basis, and when you elect someone in position who became a public servant, not just for you, but for all us here in Georgetown County, South Carolina, he was obligated to rise to the moment, she said. Yet he did not because of the burden of his white privilege, and it is a burden whether you know it or not.

Minister Jackie Williams noted that instead of using the situation to unite the community, he did the exact opposite.

The first thing that I said, and I still believe this today, is that this mayor had an opportunity with his words to further unite a community and to bring people together that were hurting all over Georgetown County, she said. And he chose to do something very different, and that was his choice. We are not here today because its our choice, we are here today to address an issue because it was his choice to either use his words responsibly, or to use his words recklessly, and he chose to use his words recklessly.

Williams made it clear that once something is posted on social media, there is no going back.

When you put it on social media, it is no longer a private issue, she said. When you put it on social media, it becomes a public issue, and it becomes a public issue and a statement that is open for redress.

Yasmine Bennani, who is originally from Pawleys Island, read a letter she sent to Henry regarding his comments on Facebook.

Brian, you are mayor of the town that raised me and owner of what used to be my favorite cheese (Palmetto Cheese), she said. I am not here to judge you, sir, I am here to offer you a different point of view, because the remarks you made publicly concern me. Your use of power and your use of the platform you have to spread hate and divide amongst a community that I love was careless at best. Your words highlight a white-privileged mindset that so many of us have, and that hatred which drove you to react as you did is cancerous, sir.

"And its not only cancerous to yourself, but to this nation, to this town, and to this county.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Vietnam confirmed two more COVID-19 cases on August 28 evening, including one in the central city of Da Nang and one imported case, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.



The 29-year-old female patient in Bac Son Tra district, Da Nang, had close contact with Patient 1,036 and was found positive to SARS-CoV-2 on August 27.

Meanwhile, the 23-year-old man in Hanoi arrived at Van Don airport in Quang Ninh on flight VN5062 from Russia on August 11. He was put under quarantine in Hai Duong province upon his arrival, during which he shared a room with Patient 1,034.

On August 25, he completed his quarantine period and came to a rented room on Hang Bai street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. Two days later, he was tested positive for the virus by the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control.



As of August 28 evening, Vietnam recorded 1,038 COVID-19 infection cases, 689 of them are locally-transmitted. The number of new cases related to Da Nang has amounted to 547 since July 25.



As many as 69,485 people who had close contacts with patients or entered from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined, including 1,466 in hospitals, 18,200 at other establishments and 49,819 at their homes.

Also according to the committee, 20 patients treated at Hoa Vang medical centre were given the all-clear of the virus the same day, together with three others at Da Nang Lung Hospital, one at the Ho Chi Minh Hospital for Tropical Diseases, one at Long Dien districts medical centre in Ba Ria  Vung Tau and another at Hoa Lu districts medical centre in Ninh Binh, raising the total number of recovery cases to 663.

Among patients under treatment at medical establishment, 46 tested negative for the virus once, 48 others twice and 29 three times. Vietnam has so far recorded 30 deaths related to the disease.

Amid the complicated developments of the pandemic, the Health Ministry suggested residents download Bluezone app to receive infection risk warnings.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 03:14:33|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN/BRUSSELS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU)'s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that the bloc will "walk a fine line" between seeking dialogue and showing strength when dealing with Turkey on Eastern Mediterranean disputes.

Speaking at the press conference after an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Berlin, Borrell said that EU member states were determined in defending the bloc's interests and solidarity with Greece and Cyprus in the matter.

While claiming that the EU wants to give "dialogue a serious chance," Borrell said Turkey "has to refrain from unilateral actions" and "this is a basic element to allow the dialogue to advance."

"For this reason, we must walk a fine line between preserving a true space for dialogue and, at the same time, showing collective strength in the defense of our common interests," he said.

Borrell noted that there are many pending issues in the relations between the EU and Turkey, but the priority is to solve the matter related to the Turkish drilling and exploration in disputed waters.

"I do not think that the other things are not important, but they are not so urgent," he said.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who was along with Borrel at the press conference, agreed that some of the matters are related to the international law and should be submitted to the International Court of Justice.

The heads of EU governments would discuss the relations with Turkey in the upcoming summit in September, Maas said, adding that restrictive measures would be prepared in case the talks with Turkey result in no progress.

"Turkey must create the prerequisites for diplomacy and abstain from provocations," Maas said.

Borrell said preparation is ongoing for a list of individuals subject to restrictions over the "illegal drilling activities" in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the foreign ministers agreed to "speed up their work in order to add individuals suggested by Cyprus to the list."

The dispute over Turkish natural gas explorations off Greek islands in the Eastern Mediterranean has escalated in recent weeks.

Greece considers the explorations illegal. The Turkish government, on the other hand, believes the waters, in which natural gas is being drilled on a trial basis, belong to the Turkish continental shelf. Enditem
The Los Angeles city attorney has charged a group of popular TikTok creators for partying. The Verge has reported that the group violated Covid-19 health restrictions in the city.

Although not directly related to the app itself this is more bad news for the platform. Potentially this could be used by Trump as another stick to beat the platform with following his decision to ban the app due to its link to China. However, Microsofts potential takeover of the company has marginally tamed his approach to the app.

All in all, though this is a bad PR moment for these creators and the app itself. Los Angeles city attorney Mike Feuer has charged four people, including TikTok creators Bryce Hall and Blake Gray.

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TikTok creators charged for a series of parties

Hall and Gray have been charged with throwing a series of parties in the Hollywood Hills over recent weeks. The events were in violation of public health restrictions which are in place to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

Feuer held a press conference on the matter and gave a statement. Stating, we allege that these hosts have been incredibly irresponsible with a highly infectious disease spreading. Feuer went on to describe these events really out of control night clubs.

TikTok creators caught after complaints

It transpires that multiple complaints from neighbors and mayors had been lodged in relation to the parties. As a result, the Los Angeles city attorney charged four individuals including TikTok creators for partying during a pandemic.

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Hall and Gray have 13.2 million and 5.9 million followers respectively on TikTok. Feuer alleges that on August 8th, LAPD officers came to Hall and Grays home in response to a complaint.

Officers issued a warning on the spot and also informed the pair that the parties were prohibited. Citations under LAs party house restrictions were then issued.

Officers then returned to the house on August 14th. This was after a series of alleged guns shots near the area. Officers also say they found several hundred guests celebrating Mr. Halls 21st birthday.

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Though, no evidence of a gun at the scene was found, and the pair received a final warning for non-compliance of the regulations.

Hall and Gray now face fines of up to $2,000 dollars and one year in jail. Jianwei Bai and David Marvisi also face charges for the same offense.

Guests of these parties will not face charges but could in the future. Feuer pointed out that individuals with the platform of Hall and Gray should model great behavior and best practices rather than brazenly violating the law.

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It is so far unclear as to whether any cases have been linked to these parties. A spokesperson for the LA Department of Health said, the consequences of these large parties ripple throughout our entire community because the virus can quickly and easily spread.
Stella McCartney has paid tribute to her 'spectacular sister' Mary McCartney on her 51st birthday with a set of childhood snaps of the pair shared to her Instagram.

The fashion designer, 48, revealed her 'unconditional' love on Friday for her sibling in the pictures taken by their late mother Linda McCartney.

Stella also shared a picture of herself with her elder sister Mary, now a photographer and vegetarian food writer, with their father and music icon, Sir Paul McCartney, 78.

Family: Stella McCartney has paid tribute to her 'spectacular sister' Mary McCartney on her 51st birthday with a set of childhood snaps of the pair shared to her Instagram (pictured with their father Sir Paul McCartney, 78)

The designer posted nine snaps to her social media, captioned: 'Celebrating my spectacular sister's birthday today. Unconditional, full love for you, Big Sis xx Lil Sis Stelly.'

Dressed in sweet pink and white floral dresses, Stella shared a picture of Mary with an oversized yellow bow in her hair as she donned a matching pink one.

In a second picture, Stella smiled at the camera as her sister Mary sucked her thumb in the snap taken with their father who donned long brunette locks and a beard.

Cute: Dressed in sweet pink and white floral dresses, Stella shared a picture of Mary with an oversized yellow bow in her hair as she donned a matching pink one

Close: The designer posted nine snaps to her social media, captioned: 'Celebrating my spectacular sister's birthday today. Unconditional, full love for you, Big Sis xx Lil Sis Stelly'

Stella also posted a trio of snaps to her Instagram Stories, captioned 'Happy Birthday Big Sis', with the sisters in the back seat of a car and donning red hooded robes.

And the sisters appeared to enjoy dressing the same as they were pictured in matching tartan skirts before performing a dance routine in black berets and beige trench coats.

As well as Mary and Stella, the McCartney household included their younger brother James, now a 42-year-old musician, and Heather, now 57, Linda's daughter from a previous relationship. Paul also has daughter Beatrice, 16, with ex Heather Mills.

Both now mothers of four, Mary is married to her second husband, director Sam Aboud, while Stella is wed to Alasdhair Willis, a boss at Hunters boots who was voted one of Britain's best dressed men.

Partners in crime: The sisters appeared to be incredibly close and were pictured together sitting on a window

Nature: The sisters posed on horseback in the snaps taken by their late mother Linda McCartney

Speaking of her sister in 2016, Stella revealed how between the two of them they make up '100 percent' of their mother Linda who died in 1998 aged 56 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

It comes after Stella's fashion house plunged into an annual loss after a sales slowdown and business shake-up.

However, after reporting almost flat sales and a costly reorganisation, it slipped from a 9million profit into an 11million loss during 2018, published accounts show.

Innocent: Mary (right) and Stella (left) appeared to be concentrating in the black and white picture

Siblings: Speaking of her sister in 2016, Stella revealed how between the two of them they make up '100 percent of our mum' who died in 1998 aged 56 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer

Despite this, the business proposed paying a dividend of nearly 658,000 - of which Stella would have been in line to receive half.

The label said 2018 had been 'a year of transition' and blamed reorganisation costs.

This came after Stella announced she would buy out her former partner Kering, the luxury goods giant.

Animal lovers: Mary, who is a vegetarian food writer, is seen holding a lamb with her little sister Stella

Playful: The sisters appeared to be enjoying time outside as children on the playground rides

The pair set up the fashion house with a 50-50 ownership structure but last year Miss McCartney took full control.

She then partnered with LVMH, a rival to Kering that owns fashion labels Givenchy, Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior. It holds an undisclosed minority stake.

However, accounts show that Stella's fashion firm was clobbered by costs as it prepared for the shake-up in ownership.

Candid: Stella posted a trio of snaps on her Instagram Stories with the sisters posing in red hooded robes (right)

In sync: Mary and Stella performed a dance routine in matching berets and beige trench coats

It increased staff and brought in new computer systems so that it could handle back-office responsibilities previously taken care of by Kering.

At the same time, sales rose just 0.2 per cent from 42.5million to 42.6million. From 2016 to 2017 sales increased by 2 per cent.

A report by the business said the 11million loss was 'driven by a substantial increase in administrative expenses'. Rising costs associated with the label's newly opened shop in Old Bond Street, central London, were also blamed.
ISTANBUL: Turkey said it will hold a military exercise off northwest Cyprus for the next two weeks, amid growing tension with Greece over disputed claims to exploration rights in the east Mediterranean.

The long-running dispute between Turkey and Greece, both NATO members, flared up after the two countries agreed rival accords on their maritime boundaries with Libya and Egypt, and Turkey sent a survey vessel into contested waters this month.

Both sides have held military exercises in the east Mediterranean, highlighting the potential for the dispute over the extent of their continental shelves to escalate into confrontation.

Two weeks ago Greek and Turkish frigates shadowing Turkeys Oruc Reis oil and gas survey vessel collided, and Turkeys Defence Ministry said Turkish F-16 jets on Thursday prevented six Greek F-16s entering an area where Turkey was operating.

On Friday night Turkey issued a Navtex notice - an advisory message to mariners - saying it would be holding a gunnery exercise" from Saturday until Sept. 11 off northwest Cyprus.

The European Unions top diplomat said on Friday the bloc was preparing sanctions against Turkey that could be discussed at a summit in late September in response to Ankaras standoff with EU member Greece.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Almaty: Thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday in Russia's far eastern city of Khabarovsk to protest against President Vladimir Putin's handling of a regional political crisis and the suspected poisoning of his most vocal critic.

"Putin, have some tea," protesters chanted as they marched on the city's main thoroughfare, in a reference to the case of opposition politician Alexei Navalny who fell gravely ill this month after drinking a cup of tea at an airport cafe.

A woman takes part in an unsanctioned protest in support of Sergei Furgal, the governor of the Khabarovsk region, in Khabarovsk, 6100 kilometres east of Moscow, Russia. Credit:AP

Navalny, 44, was airlifted to Germany last week after collapsing during a flight to Moscow from the Siberian city of Tomsk. He is now in a medically-induced coma in a Berlin hospital.

Residents of Khabarovsk, about 6110 km (3800 miles) east of Moscow, started holding weekly rallies after the July 9 detention of Sergei Furgal, the region's popular governor, over murder charges he denies.
New Delhi, Aug 29 : Amid job losses across the country during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on Saturday launched a nationwide 'Rozgar Do' (give employment) campaign.

Addressing the media, IYC in-charge Krishna Allavaru said, "Today's topic is 'Rozgar Do' as the country's economy has already been badly affected by the lockdown. The policies of the Narendra Modi government had already weakened India's economy much before the lockdown." Allavaru said that the decisions of the Modi government made the crawling economy reach for the ventilator.

Taking a swipe at the government, Youth Congress president Srinivas B.V. said, "Our youth do not have bread to eat at the time of Covid crisis and the government needs to think about that." Accusing the government of being a television government, he said that the government has no vision to eradicate unemployment.

"The Finance Minister of the country is describing the poor state of the economy as 'Act of God', it is not 'Act of God' but 'Lack of Vision'," Srinivas said, adding that the government instead of speaking in the media, should think about the youth.

"This is the reason why the IYC started the first phase of 'Rozgar Do' campaign on social media on its foundation day on August 9, and in the second phase made songs in all the regional languages of the country," he added.
The state Senates version of the bill, passed on Friday, would prevent police from pulling over motorists for minor infractions related to the condition of their cars, such as having an unlit license plate. It would also bar police from searching cars based on a claim that they can smell marijuana. A similar House bill is expected to come to the floor of that chamber for a vote next week.
Cyber safety online project for schoolchildren View(s):

LEADS, Save the Children International, and World Vision Lanka, as non-profit organisations working with vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka, have come together as a consortium to work towards ending online violence and exploitation against children in Sri Lanka. The consortium has joined hands with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs to launch an online learning programme to address the importance of cyber-safety among school-going children.

This online learning programme is available free of charge for all students in all three languages.

Due to the swift growth in the use of the internet (post-quarantine) by children around the island, the consortium felt the pressing need to instruct children on how to be safe online. INTERPOL and child protection agencies worldwide have found a rapid increase of online sexual exploitation of children during the global pandemic and the WeProtect Global Alliance warns that the lockdown situation has exacerbated existing drivers of online child sexual exploitation and other types of violence against children online.

The interactive course covers many key areas, giving children a basic understanding of the Internet and its many uses, how to discriminate when sharing personal information, practise caution when sharing images, stand up against cyberbullying; identify phishing scams and other forms of online thefts and how to be responsible cyber-citizens. The course is compiled with animated briefs and real-life scenarios so that students will learn how to be safe on the internet.

The interactive online course is available free of charge to all students on the E-Thaksalawa educational website hosted by the Ministry of Education in English, Sinhala and Tamil. The course is compatible with mobile phones, tablets, and personal computers.

Parents and teachers can contribute towards the safety of children by registering them for this online course.
Mumbai, Aug 29 : Suniye -- that is how Mira Rajput Kapoor addresses her husband, actor Shahid Kapoor.

On Saturday, Mira conducted an interactive "ask me anything" session on Instagram, where social media users asked her interesting questions.

A particular user asked her how she addresses Shahid, and Mira wrote : "Suniye".

Among other revelations she made. Mira said she is more caring than Shahid.

The couple got married in 2015, and they have a four-year-old daughter, Misha, and a one-year-old son, Zain.

Speaking of her children, Mira shared that her son is quite mischievous while her daughter is a sweetheart.

Another user asked if the couple has plans of having more children in future.

"Third child?" the user asked. Responding to the query, Mira quipped: "Hum do humare do."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Site clearance is taking place on a large scale in District 3 and Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City to serve the construction of the Ben Thanh  Tham Luong metro line, the second of its kind in the city.

Ho Chi Minh Citys metro line No. 2 is designed to run about 12 kilometers from Ben Thanh Market in District 1, through District 3, District 10, Tan Binh District and Tan Phu District, to Tham Luong Bridge in District 12.

The project, approved in 2010, has been repeatedly delayed due to sluggish ground clearance and problems with capital disbursement.

Ho Chi Minh City is urgently wrapping up the projects site clearance so that demolition works can commence in October.

It is estimated that about 600 households along Cach Mang Thang Tam Street in District 3 and Truong Chinh Street in Tan Binh District will have parts of or their houses destroyed for the site clearance.

Houses on Truong Chinh Street in Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, are partially demolished for the construction of the city's metro line No. 2. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Tran Thi Bach Dao, the owner of a residence at 13 Truong Chinh Street in Ward 11, Tan Binh District, said that her house was reduced by almost a half of its original size.

Dao said she first heard about the metro project in 2012, but it was not until 2017 that she got the very first offer of ground compensation for the site clearance.

After several discussions with the local authorities, her family eventually accepted the compensation rate of VND150 million (US$6,475) per square meter earlier this year and have resized their house from 88 square meters to 48 square meters to make way for the project.

Anyway, this is a key road project. Its completion will also benefit my family so we quickly agreed [to the offer], Dao said.

Unlike Daos, Pham Phan Phuoc Hais house at 23 Truong Chinh Street in the same ward is scheduled to be knocked down almost completely.

The house, which will be left with only 1.2 square meters from its original total area of 40 square meters, will soon become uninhabitable.

Houses on Cach Mang Thang Tam Street in Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, are demolished for the construction of the city's metro line No. 2. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Hai is looking to buy a new house in the citys suburb as the clearance compensation amount is not enough for his family to find an equivalent residence near their current place.

The ground clearance also means Hai will have to rebuild his familys heirloom business of selling traditional medicine from scratch as many customers will find it difficult to access his new place.

As many as 324 out of 356 households in the areas to be cleared for the construction of the Ben Thanh  Tham Luong metro line in Tan Binh District have given a nod to the offers for the site clearance, according to Nguyen Tan Tai, head of the districts board for clearance compensation.

Tai said that in June, the district handed over cleared grounds for the construction of two out of six terminals planned for Tan Binh.

The district plans to hand over three more cleared sites at the Bay Hien intersection, on Nguyen Hong Dao Street, and at the Ba Queo fork in September, and one more on Pham Van Hai Street by the final quarter of this year.

An aerial view of the Bay Hien intersection, planned to be partially cleared for the construction of metro line No. 2, in Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tu Trung / Tuoi Tre

Households affected by the site clearance can select two options for resettlement, according to Tai.

The first option is to move into an apartment in one of the three apartment buildings  Bau Cat and Tan Tru in Tan Binh District and Tan Thoi Nhat in adjacent District 12.

The other choice is to receive an additional five percent to the clearance compensation offer to buy new houses in other places.

So far, 50 households in Tan Binh have chosen the second option while seven have considered the first one, Tai said.

In addition to those in Tan Binh District, the investor has taken over the grounds for the construction of some terminals in District 10 and Tan Phu District as of Friday, according to Le Van Khoa, director of the management board of the metro line No. 2.

Khoa expected that the works on site clearance can be completely finished by the end of this year for the project's construction to start in the third quarter of 2021.

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Mumbai, Aug 29 : Vaani Kapoor is all set to shoot for the upcoming film, BellBottom. She is excited about the eighties look she will be portraying in the film.

"I am just excited right now to start work again after lockdown. It is going to be hectic but I also know it is going to be fulfilling. I am glad I have gotten to be a part of two very interesting projects," Vaani said.

Besides "BellBottom" co-starring Akshay Kumar, she will also start shooting presently for Abhishek Kapoor's untitled next, a romantic drama opposite Ayushmann Khurrana. There's the period drama "Shamshera", too, opposite Ranbir Kapoor.

How has she been preparing for her immediate assignment, "BellBottom", during the lockdown? "Prepping in lockdown has been all about Zoom calls and readings on digital platforms. It's been all about getting back in the zone in a new way. We are making do with what we have. I cannot complain," she said.

"BellBottom" is inspired by true events. Directed by Ranjit M. Tewari, the film is set in the eighties and narrates the story of one of India's forgotten heroes.

"I am particularly excited about the eighties look and feel, and we have been working on some interesting looks from that era. I have been making my notes, watching old films, doing a bit of research. It's been a fun process to soak in the eighties," she said, about her look in the film.

She added: "The eighties to me is a super colourful, super cool era, and it is amazing that our film is set in that period. As a part of my research, it's been fun to catch on Hindi films of the time and read about the era to just pick up mannerisms, style, and life. Rest, I will improvise given the script and my character."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A day after the Supreme Court (SC) clarified that final-year students cannot be awarded their degrees without end-of-term exams, state minister for higher and technical education Uday Samant called for a meeting with vice-chancellors (VCs) of all 13 state universities on Saturday. A special committee was formed to decide the fate of exams and a decision will be announced on Monday (August 31), said Samant, adding that holding exams before September 30 was not possible.

On Friday, the apex court upheld a decision by the University Grants Commission (UGC) that called for completion of the evaluation process across the country by September. SC clarified that colleges and universities cannot award degrees to students without conducting final-year or final-term examinations. Maharashtra was one of the states that had decided to cancel final-year exams and promote the students on the basis of aggregate marks from semester exams.

The court also mentioned that states were empowered to take decisions under the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005, to postpone final-year or final-semester exams beyond the September-end deadline. It allowed states to approach UGC for new dates that have to be communicated to them at the earliest.

Samant said after the meeting that the committee headed by Mumbai Universitys vice-chancellor Dr Suhas Pednekar will submit its report by Monday noon after due deliberations with other vice chancellors and principals of colleges. Samant said, Respecting the SC order, we will conduct examinations, but at the same time we will ensure that the health issues of the students, teaching and non-teaching staff members are not compromised. Taking all aspects into account and the options given to conduct the exams by UGC, the committee will submit its report by Monday afternoon. We will announce the rough timeline, how they can be conducted, besides the options for the students with ATKT and those going to other countries, he said.

The minister said that examinations will be held in the simplest way and without summoning students to the exam halls. UGC has given us various options, including open book, assignment based, online and offline to conduct the exams. The committee will deliberate on these options and come out with the simpler and student-friendly format. We are also checking the option of online exams and are in touch with other state government over the options opted by them. The students will be given adequate time for the preparations. The VCs have told us that they will need 45-50 days for preparations of exams and as such, conducting the exams before September 30, is out of question, he said.

The minister said that conducting the exams at exam centres was not possible in the wake of the widespread Covid-19 infection. He said that most of the colleges, hostels are being used as quarantine centres.
It seemed to me that it was clear to everyone that growing, powerful states are never homogeneous and always grow stronger by breeding other nations, the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan told RFE/RL's Armenian service.

According to Sinanyan, the Armenian kings Argishti and Tigran the Great spoke about bringing other nations and settling them in Armenia.

He noted that any country, except the islanders, is like that, but the Japanese are a little different. "The Japanese are a synthesis of the Koreans and the Chinese, who became Japanese in 2,000 years."

"Every developed continental great state in its history has not grown at its own expense, but has been able to absorb other nations. Imagine Armenia becoming so strong that it can be attractive to other nations. That in itself is a success."
Camp Kawartha in Douro-Dummer Township has established a Forest School as an alternative option for students, as parents debate whether to send their children back to school as the pandemic continues.

Beginning Sept. 14 and running until Dec. 18, the Forest School will offer science, social studies, math, the arts and physical education, all taught by qualified teachers, similar to a regular public or private school.

Instead of students being confined in a room, classes will be taught outdoors.

Theyll be learning things that are linked to the curriculum, but they wont be doing the whole curriculum, said Jacob Rodenburg, executive director of Camp Kawartha.

So, for example, theyll be learning about rocks and fossils and renewable energy, theyll be learning about wetlands, and the ecology of the Kawartha Lakes, so the emphasis is on positive experiences with nature and the outdoors, and being able to connect to the curriculum wherever possible.

Each week will have a different theme linked to the curriculum, such as Patterns in Nature, Ecology, Leadership, Canadian History, Environmental Arts, Plants and Mammals of the Kawarthas.

Parents will be provided with a full itinerary as well as all curriculum connections for each week, according to Rodenburg.

From 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, the Forest School will take place at the camps main site at 1010 Birchview Rd., about a 25-minute drive from Peterborough.

There will also be ample opportunity for children to explore outdoors in Camp Kawarthas 195 acres of forests, fields, trails and wetlands.

Students will have the opportunity to try archery, climb the camps accessible climbing wall and traditional games.

There will be two classes: primary, for students in Grades 1 to 3 and junior, for students in Grades 4 to 6. Class sizes will be a minimum of eight students per class to run, to a maximum of 22 students.

At the end of the school term, parents will be provided with a letter with an overview of all the programs they taught and all the curriculum connections, so parents can take it to their childrens school, Rodenburg said.

The cost for the term is $4,200, with an option to pay in instalments. Busing and after-school care are also available.

I think during these times, parents are anxious about their kids staying inside and learning in a crowded environment and for us, we teach kids about the rest of the world outside of four walls by connecting to nature, Rodenburg said.

Registration will open on Monday at campkawartha.ca/forest-school

While schools are reopening for classes next month, one in six local public and Catholic students are not expected to return after their families indicated they would opt to continue with online learning for now.

Camp Kawartha was among many summer camps in the area that had to suspend their programs this year because of COVID-19.
Paris, France (PANA) - Amnesty International (AI) believes that the ban on demonstrations until 15 September, announced by the Ivorian authorities on 19 August, violates the right to peaceful assembly guaranteed by international human rights standards and has called for the release of all those arrested during the demonstrations
"It just goes to show you when his mate went, he didn't last long," Freedman said.

Their bond was inseparable and former co-trainer Richard Freedman believes the death of Salisbury proved unbearable for racing's most popular grey.

Just two months after his great mate and long-time carer Graham Salisbury passed away, Subzero was put down by vets due to heart failure.

"He would have been so bonded to Graham and fretting so badly for Graham since Graham died, about two or three months ago, he's just given up.

Graham Salisbury with Subzero on a school visit in in Warrnambool. Credit:Rob Gunstone

"He was the greatest living thoroughbred before he died and now he's the greatest ever, not just because of what he did on the track but the joy he gave people after he finished racing and the service he gave to racing.

"He was a clerk of a course, visiting schools, being an ambassador; there'll never be one like him. He was one of a kind, a freak of nature."

The winner of the 1992 Melbourne Cup under Greg Hall, the Freedman brothers-trained star became an iconic figure for racing off the track, first as a clerk of the course and then as a visitor to aged care facilities and schools under the care of Salisbury.
A day after a local BJP leaders son Amit Yadav was shot at by two unidentified assailants outside his house in Mahendergarhs Narnaul, superintendent of police Sulochana Gajraj was transferred on Saturday as Commandant, 4th IRB, Manesar.

The Haryana government has transferred 8 IPS officers, including Gajraj.

Amit Yadav is local BJP leader Dayanand Yadavs son. In his complaint to police, Amit said the incident took place at around 8.30pm on Friday when two unidentified assailants rang the bell of his house.When I came out of my house, one of them fired at my leg and they left a threat letter before fleeing the spot. They demanded Rs 50 lakh ransom and threatened me of dire consequences if I did not pay them, he said.

Police have registered a case against two unidentified assailants under Section 307(attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 25 of the Arms Act, 1959.

Om Prakash Yadav, minister of state (MoS) for social justice and empowerment, who visited Amit at the hospital, said Sulochana Gajraj is a corrupt officer and has joined hands with criminals. He said she is responsible for the rise in crime in Mahendergarh district.

 People have complained to me about her involvement in corruption. Three incidents of firing took place in the last couple of days and the assailants are demanding ransom from traders and businessmen. She has failed to arrest the criminals. On Saturday, she was transferred from the post of Mahendergarh SP but I will brief Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar about her involvement with criminals and involvement in corruption activities, the minister added.

He said it was their right to raise voice against such officers, who are working against the public.

Reacting to the ministers allegations, Gajraj said the public knows everything about her efforts to control crime in the district.
Shastidy Ponce's school-aged children are divided on going back to school.

Her girls, who attend Mont Pleasant Middle School and Schenectady High School, say they miss their teachers and friends. This fall, they will participate in Schenectady's hybrid learning program, which requires them to attend classes for a half day and do schoolwork remotely the rest of the time.

Ponce's 7-year-old son, who is going into the second grade at Hamilton Elementary School, will stay home this year. Ponce worries that the district's mask mandate and social distancing procedures would just fuel the boy's anxiety about the coronavirus.

"He's like, 'I don't want to go back in the building, Mom. I'm scared of COVID.' So I wouldn't force the hybrid on him, even though I feel like being in class with that instructional time in-person is absolutely important and vital," Ponce said.

Schools are on track to open their doors on Sept. 14, but districts have a vague picture of how they plan to educate thousands of students in the Capital Region who won't be returning to a classroom.

ONGOING COVERAGE: Capital Region school reopening live updates

At suburban school districts, about 20 percent of families are choosing a fully remote instruction in the fall. City districts like Albany and Schenectady are seeing closer to 60 percent of their students opt out of in-person and hybrid programs and are weighing a move to a fully virtual instruction, particularly for older grades. On Thursday, Albany school officials proposed the indefinite suspension of in-person classes for almost all students in grades 7-12.

An analysis of reopening plans at the state's 50 largest school districts released this week by the Education Trust- New York, a Manhattan-based non-profit that advocates for educational equity, found most school plans were failing to address the concerns about remote learning concerns raised by parents in the spring.

We need to know what our education system is going to do differently this fall to ensure that the same students who have been underserved before the pandemic  and who had unfinished instruction in the spring when schools closed  will experience quality remote instruction when the new school year begins," Education Trust--New York Executive Director Ian Rosenblum said.

When New York schools first closed in March to prevent the spread of respiratory illness, administrators and teachers and staff, practically overnight, had to get some semblance of a virtual school up and running.

Many teachers were unfamiliar with digital learning platforms and found that much of their day was consumed with simply trying to make contact with students. In many cases, it took weeks for students to see any homework and some students didn't log in at all during the school closure period.

Grading and accountability were dropped; students had to demonstrate "evidence of learning" instead of grade-level proficiency to pass their classes.

The closures worsened inequities for English language learners, students with disabilities, and those living in poverty who lacked access to the internet or a quiet place to study.

After a summer of planning, educators say they working on a dynamic virtual learning experience that requires students to log on at specific intervals throughout the school day.

RELATED: Pressure increases for Capital Region schools to delay in-person classes until October

Schools are using new buzzwords. They are offering remote learners "synchronous" lessons, which are streamed live, as well as "asynchronous" instruction, pre-recorded classes that can be viewed on-demand. But in many cases, it's unclear how much "live" instruction remote learners will get throughout the day or how they will interact with teachers, some of whom are also teaching a slate of in-person classes.

The Education Trust recommends substantial live instruction at every grade level, with classes following a normal bell schedule, while leaving flexibility for students that cannot attend. It is urging schools to identify specific students who did not access remote learning in the spring and provide additional supports.

While younger grades have the option of attending school full time, on-site learning for middle and high school students who chose the hybrid model is limited.

Some secondary schools in the region are using school buildings primarily for hands-on and lab-based activities. In other cases, schools mainly serve as a meeting point for students to socialize with peers and gain face time with their teachers.

Before she learned the district was going to cut its hybrid program, Erin Tobin said she chose the remote option for her daughter entering her senior year at Albany High School. She chose the fully remote option for the first quarter because the district's hybrid option consisted of students meeting once a week with a supervising adult to help them do school work on their devices.

That really didnt seem worth it," Tobin said in an interview Thursday. "Its sort of like a study hall."

Tobin chose the hybrid option for her boys entering Myers Middle School, because she wanted them to connect with their teachers at the start of the year.

Lingering questions about the quality of remote instruction that is being offered is one reason a coalition of teachers union leaders at 16 local school districts penned a letter arguing that students would be better served if school began remotely and in-person learning was delayed at least until October.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's directive earlier this summer for schools to launch in-person, hybrid, and virtual models in two months was unrealistic, according to Laura Franz, president of the Albany Public School Teachers' Association.

"We fractured our focus a little bit in terms of what we should be paying attention to," Franz said. "There isn't one person I've spoken to that doesn't think we'll end up fully virtual at some point this school year. I think we should center and focus our attention on making sure fully virtual instruction is the best that we can get it."

Schools are also impacted by federal and state budget cuts, and safety and social distancing requirements for in-person learning present a slew of financial and logistical problems.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

By Friday, Albany was contemplating its all-virtual program and Lansingburgh schools announced that they would be going fully remote for all grades, making exceptions for some of the most vulnerable students.

Schools are still experimenting with the best way to engage young learners at home and many parents say they are worried about their child's academic progress.

Ponce said she hopes her son will spend less instructional time at the computer this year, although too many interruptions would also make it hard to keep him on track.

"After a while, it's just it turns into blah, blah, blah for them, she said.

Julie Venneman, a South Colonie parent, said she signed up her 7-year-old daughter for in-person classes at Saddle Wood Elementary School this fall because she and her husband work full-time.

During the spring school closures, teachers were responsive and helpful, but the technology was a constant source of stress, she said.

It was really a lot of almost independent computer use ... not stuff I would expect a 7-year-old to do," she said. "A lot of my frustration will come through when the Google Meet codes wouldnt work or certain applications wouldnt load correctly.

In many districts, lack of technology for students also poses a problem.

The Cohoes City School District recently surveyed parents and about 63 percent of the 1,000 households that responded said they had a desktop or laptop computer a student could use for virtually classes. District officials are starting a drive to convince local businesses to donate computers or the money to purchase them.

Teachers will also have to find creative ways to create a relationship with new students and their parents, according to Gladys Cruz, superintendent at BOCES Questar III, which serves 23 districts in Rensselaer, Columbia and Green counties.

"We learned a few things from our experience in March to June and one is you need to have relationships with your students," she said. "We had the benefit of having three-quarters of the year developing those relationships with those students, but we quickly found out we also had to develop a relationship with the parents or guardian. We had to count on them to be a partner."

Districts have filled the first weeks of school to virtual orientation events for teachers and students and schools are scheduling a specific time to focus on wellness. In some extreme cases, when students can't be reached, it may come down to home visits, Cruz said.

Cruz said virtual students can expect higher expectations, tech savvier teachers, more structure and more compact school days since the time spent shuffling between classes has been eliminated. She noted that curriculum changes born out of the health crisis could carry over when students can safely return to the classroom for good.

"Things like you have to go from one subject to another, to another ... with a bell in between. I don't think those things are aligned with the times," Cruz said. "A lot of the coursework for high school comes from the 1800s. Here we are in 2020 and you pick up a syllabus and it's the same coursework.

"I believe this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a look at what we are doing in our system and make changes."
As hemp growers prepare to harvest their crop, many questions still remain about the future of hemp, with growers, processors and manufacturers left waiting on two federal agencies and the state to decide how to regulate the industry.

We have these, like, three government agencies that regulate parts of the plant and none of them talk to each other or agree on what theyre doing, said Allan Gandelman, who grows hemp at Main Street Farms in Cortland and is an owner of New York Hemp Oil in Cortland.

That waiting is delaying Gandelmans plans to expand.

Its a factor, too, in a Broome County hemp processor getting out of the business earlier this month. Great Eastern Hemp seeks to unload a Broome County building it bought last year for $2.2 million to process CBD.

Gandelman said he is playing a waiting game with all three agencies. For years Gandelman, along with other processors have been waiting for the Food and Drug Administration to release guidelines for putting hemp in supplements, foods and beverages.

Because the FDA hasnt released guidelines, the state passed its own law to set guidelines on products, but those guidelines havent been released yet.

They should be released like this week or next week actually, like were really close, Gandelman said.

Once those guidelines are set, though, Gandelman said he would be able to expand the processing portion of his business, but the number of products he could expand by is remains undetermined.

We wont really know until the guidelines come out, he said, Theres a lot of interest in putting CBD (cannabidiol) into food and beverages.

On top of waiting for the FDA and state guidelines, Gandelman said the U.S. Department of Agriculture set new stricter hemp farming regulations that have raised concerns that smaller farms may back out of the industry.

One of the guidelines is that the USDA would test the hemp plants to ensure the THC level isnt higher than 0.3%. If it is above .5%, the hemp would be considered marijuana and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency would be able to file criminal charges.

It doesnt happen that often, but it does happen, Gandelman said. You have environmental factors. Its a very new crop genetics are unstable you know you could get to 0.5 % potentially. If you do, could you imagine the small farm, now the DEA has the right to come in and arrest you or file charges? Who knows what theyre going to do.

Until recently, the state Department of Agriculture and Markets had been regulating the growing of hemp. However, Gandelman said when the USDA issued its guidelines, the state decided to turn all hemp-farming regulations over to the USDA.

But that move has left farmers in the dark about the future, Gandalman said.

That just happened and nobody knows what that means yet because for the last five years hemp has been grown across the country and all the programs have been run by the state departments of agriculture in their respective states, he said.

Gandelman said he will apply for a permit with the USDA to grow next year, but whether or not well want to grow hemp under that permit is still to be decided.

In the meantime Gandelman said he will continue to work with federal officials like Sen. Chuck Schumer to change the USDA laws.

Trever Sherman, the owner of Ithaca Organics in Freeville, said hes also concerned about the hemp industry.

Its a huge concern, he said. Weve been waiting in New York State for awhile.

He grew only seven acres of hemp this year -- down from 40 -- because there was so much hemp grown in the state last year.

He also said he needed to read more about the new USDA guidelines and is unsure of what hell do next year: whether hell go back to 40 acres, stay at seven acres or do something entirely different.

Its contingent on what happens over the next few months, he said.

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Several European countries have reported a jump in new coronavirus cases in recent weeks after a drop in cases over June and July, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Why it matters: The surge could indicate that Europe is on the verge of a second wave, though currently fewer people are dying from the virus and new cases have needed less medical treatment than those who got it in the spring, according to the Washington Post.

By the numbers: France experienced 7,462 new cases on Aug. 28, the largest jump since May 16.

Germany reported around 1,737 cases and 3 deaths on Aug. 21, the highest increase in new cases since May 24.

Italy had 1,460 cases on Aug. 28, its largest jump since April 1.

Spain announced 9,779 cases on Aug. 28, which was a single day record for the country.

The big picture: The surge comes as almost every European country is planning to in-person schooling this school year with many starting next week. Public health officials worry that the classes could exacerbate the spike in cases, according to the Post.
Election 2020 Election 2020: The Week in Review

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Election 2020: The Week in Review offers a summary of the most important developments related to the 2020 election during the past weekthe stories readers should not miss if they want to understand the electoral landscape. In the headlines this week (Aug. 22-28)11 weeks ahead of election daywere the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD)s convention in Naypyitaw, which brought together its lawmakers in the Union Parliament, and the army chiefs instructions to military personnel regarding whom they should vote for.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi urges her partys MPs to put aside personal pride

Sunday (Aug. 23)

NLD chairwoman and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi told her partys lawmakers not to seek electoral victory over their opponents for the sake of personal pride. Rather, they should make the interests of the people their top priority, she said during an assembly in Naypyitaw of party leaders and NLD lawmakers in the Union Parliament.

You must work with the attitude that you seek electoral victory for the benefit of the country. You must also keep in mind that you run in the election for the sake of the rule of law, she told the lawmakers, most of whom are running in the election and will return to their constituencies in September for electoral campaigning.

She reminded them that the electoral success they achieved in the previous general election in 2015 was not due to their personal accomplishments, but was achieved thanks to the partys image, which is based on its history of democratic struggle. She urged them to keep following the partys rules and to try to earn the publics trust and respect.

During the assembly, the NLD chairwoman thanked her comrades, including those now deceased, for walking with the party on its long journey, which had been hard and tough most of the way.

The NLD will contest 1,143 seats out of a total of 1,171 up for grabs in the Union Parliament and state and regional legislatures.

Commander-in-chief cautions military personnel to vote for correct candidates

Sunday (Aug. 23)

At a ceremony honoring military doctors in Naypyitaw, army chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing warned military personnel that voting for the wrong candidates in the election would harm the country, and offered his advice on the correct candidates.

He told them to assess the records of the governments led by the NLD and the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and vote for the party that had best served the country.

The senior general also advised political parties to choose the correct candidates based on six criteria. Good candidates, he said, will work for their constituents; work for the country; uphold the national interest; understand the militarys role in national politics; respect race and religion; and be free from foreign influence.

It is hard to find candidates who satisfy all six criteria, the army chief said, but he urged military personnel to look for those who possess as many of those characteristics as possible.

Election Commission to issue accreditation for PACE, but sets condition

Monday (Aug. 24)

The Union Election Commission (UEC) told the countrys largest election monitoring group, PACE, that it would grant the group an accreditation letter so that it could observe the election, but only after it obtains official registered status under the Association Registration Law. The UECs move came after its previous denial of permission for the group to observe the polls drew widespread criticism.

PACE said in a statement that the commissions requirement that it be registered before it can obtain accreditation to observe the election is impractical, as the group is not sure that the registration will be complete in time, adding that the requirement poses a hindrance to its ability to observe the election. Under the current registration law, registration of nongovernmental organizations is voluntary.

Ultranationalist Buddhist monks object to NLD Muslim candidate

Tuesday (Aug. 25)

Hundreds of ultranationalist Buddhist monks and Mandalay residents sent a complaint letter to the NLDs Central Executive Committee, saying they object to the partys selection of Daw Win Mya Mya to run for the Lower House seat in the Sintkai constituency of Mandalay Region, and calling for her replacement with a Buddhist candidate.

Daw Win Mya Mya, a veteran NLD member and survivor of the Depayin Massacre, is one of two Muslim candidates the party is fielding in the election. In the complaint, the ultranationalists said Daw Win Mya Mya is not appropriate for the post as she is a Muslim, not a native of Sintkai and not a university graduate.

It is the latest attempt by so-called nationalists to interfere in the countrys politics. Under Myanmars Constitution, members of religious orders including Buddhist monks are ineligible to vote or run in elections.

The NLD rejected the complaint, firmly standing behind its candidate. It said the party selected all candidates carefully, based on its criteria for running in an election and the partys policies.

NLD expels members set to run as independent candidates

Wednesday (Aug. 26)

The NLD announced that it had expelled some members who are running independently or for a rival party in the upcoming election. According to the NLD, there are around 40 members who are set to run in the election on their own after not being selected as candidates.

In their own words:

The candidates you support should be those who will benefit the country. If you make the wrong choice, it will harm the country.  Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, addressing a ceremony honoring military doctors in Naypyitaw.

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29.08.2020 LISTEN

Pupils in some schools in the Ashanti region who complained of being served bad food last week will be enjoying some good food from Monday, thanks to Nana Ama Ampomah, the Ashanti regional Coordinator for the Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP).

Quick response from the Coordinators office regarding the poor food served to some Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates leading to the dismissal of two caterers in Manhyia South Sub Metro has not only endeared her great admiration from pupils and teachers but people across the Kumasi Metropolitan Area.

One other person who was saved by grace has been cautioned and would be monitored closely in the coming week.

Also, other caterers within the Asokwa Municipality were cautioned to stick to the standards of food agreed in their contracts.

The workaholic Coordinator went on an unannounced tour last Friday to ascertain the veracity of complaints made by some pupils and tutors of the Junior High Schools.

Madam Ampomah was generally satisfied with the foods that were being given to the pupils at the time of her unannounced visits.

Last week, a few caterers nearly marred the good intention of the president to help the candidates have calmed nerves while writing the exams by serving them one hot meal daily.

Their inability to stick to the agreed standards, serving what the pupils and tutors referred to as poor food court the displeasure of many against the good intentions of the president.

However, the majority of the caterers who did not only understand the presidents vision but showed care for the candidates saved what The Gister would describe as a Good-thought-bad-delivery situation.

At the Good Shepherd School at Ahensan-estate in the Asokwa Municipal Assembly, three teachers commended the caterer for providing the pupils with good food.

Teachers and Pupils at Serwaah Nyarko MA and St Louis basic schools also commended their caterers for cooking good foods.

Madam Ampomah addressing The Gister said the directorate upon complaints and videos on television and social media decided to intensify its monitoring of all caterers under the feeding programme.

Out of the 21 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) under her jurisdiction, she said about five schools had challenges with their food.

"As a directorate, we are determined to intensify our monitoring so that caterers in all the 43 MMDAs in Ashanti give the best of foods to BECE pupils so as to encourage them to study and pass their exams," she said.
New Delhi, Aug 30 : Rattled by the recent killings of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan reacted in a belligerent manner, through a media statement, calling them "fake encounters".

Pakistan also raised objections on the imposition of restrictions on religious gatherings and processions in J&K.

Security forces had neutralised four terrorists in a gunfight in Shopian on Friday.

The police said two of the four terrorists who were shot dead were involved in the kidnapping and killing of a panchayat member linked to the BJP.

Just days back, Pakistan had rejected the charge sheet on the February 14, 2019 Pulwama attack. Its caustic statements and raising the old bogey of encounters, seemed to clearly betray the frustration of the Pakistan establishment and Army.

A statement by the Foreign Office also once again raised the bogey of an RSS-BJP angle. "The long communications blockade and Indian attempts to muzzle the media, including targeted campaigns against Kashmiri male and female journalists, are further illustration of how the brutalisation of Kashmiris continues to accentuate under the RSS-BJP regime." Trying to once again raise the issue with the international community is a futile exercise as one year has passed since the abrogation of Article 370 and the Kashmir Valley largely remains peaceful. Pakistan also stands isolated at international fora and its own leaders have accepted this reality.

"It is also the collective responsibility of the world community, including the United Nations, to work for peaceful and permanent resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant Security Council Resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people for durable peace and stability in South Asia," the Pakistan Foreign Office said even while several attempts have failed miserably and India's standing in the world has only become stronger.

Earlier this week, Pakistan on Wednesday issued a statement which rejected the National Investigation Agency (NIA) charge sheet in the Pulwama attack. This was another sign of Pakistan's frustration as India named key Pakistan-based terrorists in it.

"Pakistan categorically rejects the so-called 'charge sheet' by India's National Investigation Agency, which mischievously attempts to implicate Pakistan in the Pulwama attack," said a statement from the Pakistan Foreign Ministry.

"The fabrications in the reported 'charge sheet' are patently designed to further the BJP's anti-Pakistan rhetoric and its narrow domestic political interests," it had alleged.

The statement read that at the outset, Pakistan had rejected India's baseless allegations and expressed readiness to extend cooperation on the basis of any actionable information.
Small-scale poultry farmers in Vietnam tend to respond to viral outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) by rapidly selling their birds as a way to avoid financial loss, according to a new study by an international team of researchers. As these birds are commingled with other birds in markets and trading networks, this practice may increase the likelihood of widespread disease transmission. The findings could have implications for government policymaking in the many regions of the world where small-scale poultry farming and avian influenza risk co-occur.

Avian influenza is deadly to humans, with a case fatality rate between 25% and 50%. Fortunately, reports of human-to-human transmission over the past 15 years have been either absent or anecdotal. COVID-19 took us by surprise, but with HPAI we have a known threat with the potential to become pandemic. If we ignore the active role that poultry farmers play in the control and dissemination of avian influenza, we may miss another opportunity to curtail an emerging disease outbreak at a stage when it is still controllable." Maciej Boni, Associate Professor of Biology, Penn State

Lead author Alexis Delabouglise, an animal health economist at CIRAD-Agricultural Research for Development in France who was a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State when the research was performed, explained that small-scale poultry farming is practiced by millions of Vietnamese households and by millions more throughout southeast Asia, mostly on a scale of fewer than 100 birds per farm. These farmers make decisions on a daily basis -- often in response to economic incentives -- about when and where to sell their flocks. And their decisions can influence disease spread.

"If the price of poultry goes up, farmers might expand their farming activities, which could create more outbreak risk," said Delabouglise. "If there is an outbreak on a neighboring farm, they might choose to sell their poultry early to avoid their own birds from being infected and to avoid lower prices. And if there is an outbreak on their own farm, the evidence in our study shows that they would be likely to sell their birds early to avoid both monetary loss and epidemiological risk."

Boni and colleagues, including researchers at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Ho Chi Minh City, conducted a longitudinal study of small-scale poultry farms in the Mekong river delta region of southern Vietnam with a goal of characterizing the effects of disease outbreaks on poultry harvest rates, as well as on two prevention practices -- vaccination and farm disinfection. The team followed 53 farmers and their management of more than 1,000 poultry flocks for a period of two years -- from 2015 to 2017.

"Working with partners in endemic countries day-in and day-out on study details and public health priorities is key to establishing collaborations that allow these long-term follow-up studies to succeed," said Boni, who led a research group at OUCRU for eight years.

Delabouglise, the statistical lead on the project, used mixed-effects general additive models to investigate farmers' probabilities of harvesting -- either selling or slaughtering -- flocks, of performing avian influenza vaccination on flocks that were not previously vaccinated and of disinfecting farm facilities when faced with an outbreak. Their findings appeared in eLife on August 25.

"We found that farmers did send their chickens to market early when there were outbreaks occurring on their farms," said Delabouglise. "Specifically, small-scale farmers increased their harvest of broiler chickens by 56% during outbreaks with no sudden deaths and by 214% during outbreaks with sudden deaths. This has the potential to exacerbate the outbreak and spread the virus even further."

The team noted that sudden deaths -- the deaths of chickens less than one day after the onset of clinical symptoms -- are considered to be indicative of HPAI infection. Interestingly, the team found that the probability of disinfection was not affected by the occurrence of outbreaks.

Finally, the team found that the likelihood of vaccination against avian influenza strongly increased with flock size. The probability of vaccination was almost zero for flocks of 16 birds or fewer and nearly 100% for flocks of more than 200 birds. According to Delabouglise, one reason that millions of small-scale poultry farmers may not be vaccinating their birds could be their desire to avoid transaction costs associated with declaring flocks to governmental veterinary services before vaccination. Another reason could be that due to their small size, their vaccination status is not controlled and, therefore, vaccination is less worthwhile from the farmers' perspective.

"Crucially, it is these smaller flocks that are more likely to be sold into trading networks during outbreaks," he said. "The rapid sale of sick birds can contaminate other birds at traders' storage places and those at live bird markets. It also exposes consumers and traders, slaughterers and retailers to an increased risk of infection."

Delabouglise noted that, on the flip side, a massive arrival of underage birds in a live bird market, or a price decrease due to the temporary oversupply of poultry, may be a sign that an outbreak is occurring.

"This is an interesting area for surveillance of livestock diseases," he said.

Delabouglise said that the team's results could help governmental agencies create policies that aim to avoid the spread of HPAI.

"Small-scale farmers could play an active role in the control of emerging infectious diseases if they are given the opportunity to depopulate their farm upon disease detection without disseminating pathogens in trade circuits," he said. "Policymakers could encourage the establishment of formal trade agreements that encourage such 'virtuous' management of disease outbreaks in poultry."

One such "virtuous" management strategy could be for farmers to sell their sick chickens as feed for pythons and crocodiles raised on neighboring farms. Another could be to set up agreements with neighboring large commercial farmers who can give them financial indemnities to destroy the birds as a way of protecting their own flocks.

"It would be impossible to have reliable public-health control over the millions of small-scale poultry flocks in a place like Vietnam," said Delabouglise, "but providing economic incentives to responsibly manage birds during disease outbreaks is feasible."
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Aquarius Horoscope: Those working in global organizations may get an opportunity to travel to another country on advancement. Cash is probably going to be inferred through various sources. Problems that you are experiencing are set to vanish. Family life travels along easily. Those going are set to appreciate the outing as far as possible! In the event that you need to purchase property the time is great. Stepping through an examination or a test gently may not be to your greatest advantage. Your prominence is probably going to take off on the social front in view of your accommodating nature. Lucky Number: 15 Lucky Colour: Parrot Green

Pisces Horoscope: Benefits accumulate in an investment done before. Accountants and legal advisors make some encouraging memories ahead. The wellbeing cognizant are set to remain in fine fettle. Merry life is guaranteed for the love birds. Journey will support you profoundly. Some of you may plan to purchase property. Great teachers are prone to get you out on the scholastic front. Somebody will bolster you in your endeavours to calm an adversary. An energetic night with accomplice can't be precluded. Lucky Number: 17 Lucky Colour: Dark Turquoise

About Author: Astrologer Manisha Koushik is a renowned Tarot Card Reader, Numerologist, Name Therapist and Vastu-Fengshui Consultant. Know more 

Did we pique your curiosity about your future? Read your detailed Horoscope and Rashifal to know more.
Dundalk Credit Union have announced their partnership with the County Louth Cycle Against Suicide School programme

Dundalk Credit Union have announced their partnership with the County Louth Cycle Against Suicide School programme.

As schools prepare for reopening after the Covid-19 lockdown, the impact of the pandemic on children and young people is a concern for parents and teachers alike.

A new school programme 'Headstrong' aims to supports mental health education in schools, reduces stigma and promote resilience.

A spokesperson for Dundalk Credit Union explained they were keen to support the programme.

'In this time of great uncertainty, we need to remain aware of the impact it is having on people's mental health. Dundalk Credit Union is proud to announce the sponsorship of The All County Louth Cycle Against Suicide School's Programme - Headstrong

'We wish all of the schools, staff, students and their families every success with the reopening of schools.'

One in three young people in Ireland will experience some form of mental health issue in any given year. It is important therefore to empower young people with the tools they need to recognise, understand and deal with mental health issues.

Headstrong will support teachers in the delivery of the Wellbeing and SPHE curriculum by providing them with the resources they need to engage students in their learning. The programme works by transforming the curriculum from knowledge taught in classrooms to a practical, resilience building tool that young people can use every day and in a variety of situations.

The Cycle Against Suicide programme provides all coursework and exercises toolkits. These resources enhance the mental health literacy of both students and teachers and help stimulate a search for knowledge, such that students are empowered beyond only what they are told but can self-reflect and build resilience.

Headstrong also has a strong peer-to-peer education component. A small group of students supported by a teacher from schools, attend a day of training provided by Cycle Against Suicide. Students then return to their respective schools to train the rest of their school population throughout the school year.

Throughout the school year, teachers will be supported by a core member of Cycle Against Suicide schools' team.

The programme helps develop practical rather than theoretical understanding of mental health. While the curriculum takes a broad strokes approach that provides general information, HEADSTRONG is designed to help students look inward, using the information in the curriculum to identify and understand how the behaviours, attitudes and values they hold or come across each day affects their mental health and those of others.

If you would like further information about getting your school involved in Cycle Against Suicide, contact Allison.Leetch@cycleagainstsuicide.com

Also check //www.cycleagainstsuicide.com/get-involved/schools/
Fans gather at a memorial for Kobe Bryant at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles earlier this year. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Amid outrage over Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies sharing graphic photos from the helicopter crash that killed Lakers star Kobe Bryant, the California Senate on Friday approved a bill that would make it a crime for first responders to take pictures of dead people for reasons other than official investigations.

The bill, which had previously been approved by the Assembly, must still be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Assemblyman Mike Gipson (D-Carson) introduced the bill after the Los Angeles Times reported that deputies shared photographs of the scene of the Jan. 26 crash that killed Bryant, his daughter and seven others in Calabasas.

Gipson said he was "mortified" to hear that first responders shared unauthorized photos from the crash scene.

"The actions of the first responders involved were unacceptable, and they highlighted a problem that demands a strong remedy," Gipson said. "I took this on as a great responsibility to ensure that those who are trusted to secure scenes of great disaster and death are not abusing their power for personal pleasure."

The measure, which was proposed by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, would make it a misdemeanor for a law enforcement official to photograph a deceased person at a crime or accident scene unless required for an official investigation, punishable by up to a year in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.

The measure seeks to address a significant deficiency in current law and brings peace of mind to the families of accident victims, L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.

Three days after the helicopter crash that killed Bryant, an L.A. County deputy was at a Norwalk bar and allegedly showed other patrons gruesome photos taken at the scene. After a citizen complained, Villanueva acknowledged that the department ordered deputies to delete the images.

The sheriffs department also launched an investigation into the incident, and Villanueva asked his agencys chief watchdog to monitor the inquiry.

Story continues

An attorney for Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Kobe Bryant and mother of Gianna Bryant, 13, who was also killed in the crash, called the alleged behavior by deputies inexcusable and deplorable.

Current law generally prohibits reproduction of photographs taken by a coroner of a body at a crime or accident scene, but there is no ban on unauthorized photos taken by first responders, including police officers, firefighters and ambulance crews, state officials said.

The existence of cellphone technology and social media platforms makes it possible for inappropriate images to be captured and uploaded onto the web, where they can be downloaded, viewed and re-sent hundreds of thousands of times, a letter from the Sheriffs Department notes.

This act is extremely insensitive and can negatively affect grieving families and loved ones who may not have yet been made aware of their loved ones death, the letter said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 19:11:04|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) told the media on Saturday the 220-km-long high-speed rail project linking Thailand's three airports will be delayed.

The three airports to be linked with high speed rail include Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-Tapao.

"The budget to demolish infrastructure to make way for the new high-speed system has not been approved," said SRT Governor Nirut Maneephan, "without the budget approval, then first phase of the rail construction will have to be delayed.

An agreement on the project of a high-speed rail linking three airports in Thailand was signed in late 2019.

The project is a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and consortium, led by Charoen Pokphand Holding Co. and consisting of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC).

The 7.22-billion-U.S.-dollar rail project is targeted to bring economic development to Thailand's tourism and business sectors, linking Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakarn province and U-tapao airport in Rayong province and stretching its reach to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Enditem
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With Chadwick Boseman passing of colon cancer, many of his Marvel co-stars shared their tributes for the actor. That includes Angela Bassett, the actor behind Queen Ramonda in Black Panther, who told fans of the time she met Boseman at his alma mater, Howard University.

Once news broke of Chadwick Bosemans death, Angela Bassett shared pictures from Marvels Black Panther

Angela Bassett, formerly of American Horror Story, Strange Days, and Contact, took her talents to one Marvel movie. She appeared alongside Chadwick Boseman, the actor who portrayed King TChalla, the Black Panther of Wakanda.

Following the news of Chadwick Bosemans death, Angela Bassett posted a photo of herself and the actor on the set of Marvels Black Panther.

A second post from the actress talked about one moment she shared with him prior to their time filming Black Panther. This was at Bosemans alma mater, Howard University.

Angela Bassett shared that she met Chadwick Boseman before they starred in Marvels movie

As his on-screen mother for Black Panther, Bassett took to Instagram, sharing her admiration for the actor. Her tribute, named him as a beautiful spirit, a consummate artist, a soulful brother.

It was meant to be for Chadwick and me to be connected, for us to be family. But what many dont know is our story began long before his historic turn as Black Panther. During the premiere party for Black Panther, Chadwick reminded me of something, Angela Bassett wrote.

He whispered that when I received my honorary degree from Howard University, his alma mater, he was the student assigned to escort me that day, her post continues. And here we were, years later as friends and colleagues, enjoying the most glorious night ever! Wed spent weeks prepping, working, sitting next to each other every morning in makeup chairs, preparing for the day together as mother and son.

Angela Bassett shared that she is honored to have a full-circle experience with this actor. However, she wouldnt be the only Marvel actor to honor Boseman. Since then, Brie Larson, Mark Ruffalo, and Chris Evans shared their tribute to the King of Wakanda.

RELATED: All the Times Shuri (And the Rest of the Black Panther Women) Proved They Should Be Full-Time Avengers

Actors Michael B. Jordan, Chadwick Boseman, and Angela Bassett of Marvel Studios Black Panther | Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Chadwick Boseman died of colon cancer on Aug. 28

The beloved star of Marvels Black Panther died on Friday, Aug. 28, after a four year battle with colon cancer, a post on social media confirmed. He was 43.

The actor portrayed Jackie Robinson in 42 and Stormin in Da 5 Bloods, amongst other roles. Hes best known for portraying the title character in Marvels Academy Award-winning film Black Panther. For the superhero flick, Boseman acted alongside Lupita Nyongo, Angela Bassett, and Michael B. Jordan.

Fans can see Chadwick Boseman in movies like Avengers: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Black Panther, all of which are available for streaming on Disney+.

RELATED: How African Art, History, and Traditions Inspired Marvels Black Panther
Case against suspected bio-pirates continues By Shelton Hettiaarachchi View(s): View(s):

Nuwara Eliya Magistrate Pamoda Jayasekara ordered that the case against the three Russian suspects responsible for the countrys largest ever bio-piracy be called on October 10, 2020.

The three Russians were arrested while trying to steal a large number of plant species removed from the Horton Plains National Park in February.

Range Officer at Giritale Training Unit, A P K Jayawardane was requested by court to prepare a report on the four mobiles, pendrive and soil types which were in possession of the Russians.

Mr Jayasekara also ordered that the four mobile phones and one pendrive be sent to the University of Colombo to obtain a report, and the soil samples collected by the suspects be sent to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau.

Along with Mr Jayawardane, Warden of the National Forest Park, P K P Pradeep Kumara, and Deputy Warden T P Jayawardena, were present. Forest Site Assistant P M P Panawala and Forest Officer K P P Priyadarshana were present on behalf of the complainant. Lawyer Triny Gordon appeared on behalf of the foreign suspects, and Lawyer Sajeewa Kaushalya appeared on behalf of the owner of the vehicle which had been hired for the bio-piracy.

The Sunday Times previously reported that the Russians had attempted to collect animal samples in the rain forests of the upcountry Horton Plains. The suspects had arrived in early February and obtained international driving licences to drive private vehicles and visit distant forest areas for collecting biological species of rare distinction.
Update: Mayor rescinds bill, says policies will change

When Emily Gil learned of the lack of affordable housing in Englewood Cliffs, N.J.  and the fact she believes Black residents are priced out of her Bergen County hometown  she felt an urgent need to enact change.

The 18-year-old, who graduated from Bergen County Technical School in June, organized a small, peaceful Black Lives Matter protest last month, she says.

Englewood Cliffs has dodged affordable housing requirements for 40-plus years, Gil told NJ Advance Media. I find that unacceptable.

Four days after the July 25 rally, Gil received a hefty bill for police overtime.

Please promptly forward your payment to the borough in the amount of $2,499.26 for the police overtime caused by your protest, Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario M. Kranjac wrote in a letter.

The letter provided to NJ Advance Media states that since Gil had refused to meet with officials ahead of the protest, the borough was left scrambling to provide security.

Your lack of notification left the borough with little time to prepare for your protest so that the police department and department of public works could ensure that everyone would be safe, the letter states.

Gil explained that borough officials had requested she meet with them in person but she declined due to concerns over the coronavirus. She offered to meet with them on Zoom instead but they didnt accept, she said.

They kept pushing (an in-person meeting) and then they stopped responding to me, she said.

Gil said only 30 to 40 people attended the rally, caused no disturbances and picked up their own trash. In an email, Gil complained about the overtime bill to Englewood Cliffs Police Chief William Henkelman.

Henkelman wrote back that he had notified the borough of the extensive preparation required and the additional staffing that was needed, including overtime expenses.

Gil said Friday she emailed the mayor about the legitimacy of the bill more than two weeks ago and that he has not responded.

Kranjac told NJ Advance Media on Friday to say that the protesters First Amendment Rights to freedom of speech and to peaceably assemble were fully honored by the borough.

Ms. Gil is misinformed when she links our affordable housing issues with her protest, and she is wrong when she writes that I voted against affordable housing, the mayor said. Everyone is welcome in Englewood Cliffs.

The mayor said the bill was sent to Gil to cover the expense of providing security.

As with any privately-sponsored event that takes place in the borough requiring police safety, an invoice was sent to the organizer for police overtime since it would be unfair to require our residents to financially support a private event, Kranjac said.

Henkelman did not immediately respond Friday morning to requests for comment.

Despite Kranjacs comments, Gil said she has reason to believe that it was because of my pro-affordable housing stance that Mr. Kranjac handled the situation this way.

Englewood Cliffs is trying to intimidate and silence people who are standing up for Black Lives Matter and the implementation of affordable housing, she said.

Emily Gil, 18, said she organized the Black Lives Matter rally in Englewood Cliffs over concerns about affordable housing issues in the borough.Courtesy of Emily Gil

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YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is on a working visit to Syunik province.

The PM firstly visited Tsghuk community where he met with the locals. The community residents raised their issues of concern. In turn Pashinyan said they will examine the problems and will understand how to solve them.

The purpose of my visit was to hear you, your problems, in order to fix them, Pashinyan said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The British episcopate praises the courageous pastoral letter of the Bishops of Zimbabwe for defending the dignity and fundamental human rights as the country faces unprecedented crises.

By Vatican News

Christians across the globe have been inspired by the courage the Zimbabwean Church has shown in defending fundamental human dignity and rights, declared Bishop Declan Lang, speaking on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales.

He said the English and Welsh Bishops are offering prayers for, and standing in solidarity with, Archbishop Robert Ndlovu of Harare and his brother Bishops in Zimbabwe.

"The March is Not Ended"

Earlier this month, Zimbabwes Bishops issued a pastoral letter entitled The March is Not Ended, which laments the crisis of the convergence of economic collapse, deepening poverty, food insecurity, corruption and human rights abuses among other crises in urgent need of resolution. The letter also notes the crackdown on dissent that began in August following demonstrations against the current government.

In his statement, Bishop Lang  who serves as Chair of the Bishops Conferences Department of International Affairs  said, The recent pastoral letter with its call for truth, justice and reconciliation is both a powerful witness to the suffering that Zimbabwe is enduring and a way forward for the country to emerge from this.

Broad-based solidarity

In recent weeks, the bishops and people of Zimbabwe have received support from numerous sources, including expressions of solidarity from Zimbabwes Evangelical community and from the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference, as well as an ecumenical pastoral letter from the World Council of Churches (WCC).

Following government criticism of the Zimbabwean bishops, the Apostolic Nuncio to Zimbabwe, Archbishop Paolo Rudelli paid a solidarity visit to Archbishop Ndlovu, who had been singled out in a blistering personal attack. The Nuncios visit was also a symbolic act of solidarity with all the Zimbabwean Bishops.



The deep concern of diplomats

Foreign diplomats serving in Zimbabwe have also expressed deep concern with the current political, economic, social and health crisis that Zimbabweans are facing today.

In a statement issued on Friday, the heads of missions from the United States, Britain, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway and Poland argued that Covid-19 must not be used as an excuse to restrict citizens fundamental freedoms. Instead, they urge the government to address corruption and the illicit extraction of Zimbabwe's wealth for personal gain, which continues to undermine Zimbabwe's development.
The Confirmation ceremonies due to take place in Ferns at the weekend has been postponed over fears relating to the potential threat of Covid-19.

In a letter to parents and guardians, Principal of Scoil Naomh Maodhog, John Halford, acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the event and said he was 'acutely aware of the anxiety' caused to many people in the days leading up to last weekend.

However, the school itself remains Covid-free but the concern of local people was borne out of reports from underlying townslands relating to the coronavirus.

'It is with a very heavy heart that I must inform you that the Confirmation will no longer proceed as planned for this weekend,' said Mr Halford in the letter.

'This decision has not been taken lightly,' he added.

Speaking to this newspaper Mr Halford said the decision was taken after much consideration and following consultation with the HSE, the Department of Education, Ferns Parish and the Board of Management.

The most recent restrictions outlined by the Government were also taken on board.

The fact that it's the second time the ceremony has had to be postponed is something that Mr Halford is also very much aware of and he said he fully understands how upsetting the postponement could be for some pupils and their parents.

It was a point he also made in his letter to parents: 'I can completely sympathise with one and all [and] as a school, a lot of planning, preparation and hard work has gone into the Confirmation ceremonies, as I am sure you have all been making many preparations at home.'

'It is certainly a disappointment for all of us, most especially the pupils who were to be Confirmed,' he said.

'It's important to emphasise that the decision has been made to postpone the confirmation,' he told this newspaper.

'It hasn't been cancelled and it will take place but obviously, at the moment, we can't give a specific date as to when that will be,' he added.

The decision to postpone the ceremony was taken purely as a precautionary measure and the school is fully on target to open its doors to its pupils again next month.

'We decided it purely as a precaution and preventative measure and the school is Covid-free,' said Mr Halford.

'There are no cases in the school, thankfully,' he added.

He also lamented the fact that the children have had to go through the cancellation of their confirmation twice.

'They were to make their confirmation back in March and so this is the second time it's been postponed so I can really sympathise with them,' he said.

However, he has also received very positive feedback from parents who said the school took the correct decision.

The Ferns Diocesan spokesperson, Fr John Carroll, said the decisions to postpone or cancel such ceremonies are taken, ultimately, within the parish concerned.

However, he said there were concerns about Covid-19 in areas towards the north of the diocese and this had caused anxiety for parents.

'Some of the parents appeared anxious and the parish took the decision to postpone the confirmation as a result,' said Fr Carroll. 'However, it's postponed and they will be looking at it again on a future date.'

'The decision to postpone it was taken only as a precautionary measure,' he added.
A state appeals court ruled this week in favor of developers seeking to build four mega-towers in the Two Bridges area, but construction will not be starting any time soon. This is because two other lawsuits against the projects must be resolved first.

Last year, State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron weighed in on the suit filed by the New York City Council and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, ruling that the city unlawfully approved the projects. He found that the City Planning Commission (CPC) was required to put the proposals through ULURP, the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. That would have given the Council veto power over the out-of-scale projects along the East River waterfront.

But the appeals court this week disagreed, writing, we find no error in CPCs determination that the project did not require a special permit, and was therefore not subject to the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). Accordingly, the Supreme Courts order should be reversed. The building sites are located in a Large-Scale Residential Development (LSRD) area. The appeals court noted that the city has considerable power to do as it pleases in these types of zoning districts. The justices also asserted that the Council could have changed zoning law long ago but failed to do so:

we are mindful of petitioners concerns that their constituents have had limited input on the proposed developments potential effects on their neighborhood, including increased density, reduced open space and the construction of a large number of luxury residences in what has been a primarily working class neighborhood of low to medium rise buildings. However, existing law simply does not support the result petitioners seek Petitioners could have taken steps to amend the [Zoning Resolution] to prohibit buildings of this scale in the area, and/or to amend ULURP to add to the categories of land use actions requiring review, through legislation and/or referendum. In addition, petitioners could have taken steps before expiration of the Two Bridges Urban Renewal Plan by its own terms in 2007 to amend the [Zoning Resolution] to include the Urban Renewal Plans greater restrictions, including a preference for low to medium rise buildings. Petitioners could have also sought to change the zoning classification of the Two Bridges neighborhood. Having failed to do so, petitioners cannot seek a remedy in the courts

The projects would add 2,775 mostly market rate rental units along the historically low-income waterfront. 694 apartments (25%) would be designated as permanently affordable. The developers are JDS Development Group, a partnership between L+M Development Partners and the CIM Group and The Starrett Group. The towers would range in height from 63-80 stories.

In a statement, the City Council did not indicate whether it will appeal. A spokesperson for the de Blasio administration heralded this weeks decision, pointing to the creation of almost 700 affordable apartments and improvements to parks and public transportation, which the developers have agreed to fund.

Courts must still decide on lawsuits filed by two separate community coalitions. Paula Segal, an attorney for TakeRoot Justice told Gothamist, The appellate division did not touch those other two decisions Those decisions remain a barrier to the buildings moving forward. The crux of the lawsuit filed by Segal on behalf of the community groups is that City Planning must determine how the mega-towers would impact the neighborhood. That has not occurred.

Community groups have been fighting to change the zoning in the area. A plan theyre trying to advance would limit building heights to 35 stories and require at least 50% affordable housing in new residential projects.
Pompeo Says UN Sanctions Against Iran Will Return On September 20

Radio Farda August 28, 2020

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated Thursday, August 27, that the United Nations sanctions against the Islamic Republic will return on September 20.

In a tweet Pompeo once again noted, " Last week, the U.S. triggered the 30-day process to restore virtually all @UN sanctions on Iran after the Security Council failed to uphold its mission to maintain international peace and security. These sanctions will snap back at midnight GMT on September 20."

In another tweet Pompeo said if any member of the Security Council introduces a resolution to continue sanctions relief, the U.S. will oppose it. "If no resolution is introduced, the sanctions on Iran will still return on September 20. That's how UNSCR 2231 works," Pompeo has stressed.

Washington tabled a resolution two weeks ago to extend the Iran arms embargo due to expire in October, but members of the UNSC did not support it either.

As a response it submitted a proposal to the Security Council last Thursday to reinstate sanctions and activate the trigger mechanism. However, within 24 hours of Washington's move, and in separate letters, thirteen of the fifteen permanent and non-permanent members of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) dismissed it.

They argued that the U.S. had no legal right to "snap back" sanctions because it had already dropped the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Furthermore, Indonesia's ambassador and the rotating chairman of the UNSC, Dian Triansyah Djani, said August 25 that the council was "not in a position to take further action" because thirteen members opposed the U.S. move to activate the trigger mechanism on the Islamic Republic.

Despite the opposition, Washington fired back that it "will use all available diplomatic means" to prevent the lifting of the arms embargo on the Islamic Republic.

The trigger mechanism envisaged in UNSCR 2231 allows the parties to the JCPOA to request the automatic return of all international sanctions, should Iran violate its commitments stipulated in the nuclear deal.

Washington has repeatedly argued that, since the U.S. is a party to UNSCR 2231, it can still request the trigger mechanism's activation.

Iran has condemned the U.S. efforts to "turn multilateral agreements into unilateral punishment," referring to Pompeo's approach as "lawless bullying" that has left Washington "isolated."

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/pompeo-says -un-sanctions-against-iran-will-return -on-september-20/30806244.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.

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Biju E Paul By

Express News Service

ALAPPUZHA: N Sadanandans fight against bureaucracy has proved to be an example of an average Indians relentless fight to secure justice. The 69-year-old farmhand from Cheppad near Kayamkulam is locked in a battle against red tapism for over 32 years now. Though the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had ordered the state chief secretary to pay Sadanandan Rs 18 lakh as compensation for the official apathy which resulted in him being denied loan for self-employment, the implementing officers hid the files and he is now knocking at the doors of the Kerala High Court for justice.

His fight against the bureaucracy began on July 1988 after he had applied for the loan from the Kayamkulam employment office. The Cheppad village officer buried his application for four years. Later, the officer submitted a report to the district collector stating that Sadanandan had an annual income of only Rs 2,400 and the collector cleared it.

However, the employment officer put the order on hold for two years and came up with a fake certificate stating that persons, who had monthly income of more than Rs 50, cannot avail themselves of loan for self-employment. In his quest for justice Sadanandan had gone all the way till the Prime Ministers Office (PMO).

The rights panel, which found that the official had indeed failed to sanction the loan which Sadanandan applied for, ordered immediate compensation of Rs 25,000 to the petitioner in 2011. N Natarajan, NHRC chief, had said, Sadanandan is an example of the common man who has to go from one government office to the other to secure justice. A farm labourers relentless fight against bureaucracy is relevant in the time of the Right to Services Act, the order said.

Later fed up with the official apathy, Sadanandan approached the Supreme Court. The court recommended the case to the National Legal Services Authority. After the initial hearing, the case was handed over to the Kerala High Court.

The HC handed over the case to Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA). It is also sitting on the petition for the past 18 months. I again approached the Chief Justice and the Registrar and a directive was issued to KELSA on August 7 to take up the case soon. I have full faith in the judiciary and legal system, said Sadanandan. Sadanandan, who is now battling osteoporosis, and his 64-year-old wife Podiyamma, reside at Cheppad here.
Take it seriously: Angela Merkel has said the Covid-19 crisis will dominate the remainder of her political career. Photo: Henning Schacht/Getty Images

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned the coronavirus crisis will get worse before it gets better and that the fallout will test the country's finances for months, if not years, to come.

The long-time leader of Europe's biggest economy was short on comforting words, saying that beating the disease hangs on the uncertain pace of developing and disseminating a vaccine - a process that could take 12 months or more. As the summer draws to a close and people are forced indoors, the situation is likely to get worse, she said during her annual summer press conference.

"I am firmly convinced that it is a good decision to take on a high degree of debt because anything else would mean we would be in the grip of the pandemic for a lot longer," Ms Merkel said in Berlin.

"In retrospect, I'm happy we didn't succumb to the sweet poison of borrowing in good times", giving Germany more resources to fight the crisis now.

The wide-ranging briefing was one of her last summer press conferences before she steps down after 16 years in power following elections next year. She made it clear the Covid-19 crisis will dominate the remainder of her political career, opening the event with a personal appeal to Germans in which she thanked them for their sacrifices, but warned that more would be needed.

"There are indications that things will become more difficult in the coming months," she said. "It's serious, unchanged serious. Continue to take it seriously."

While Ms Merkel has been praised for her handling of the pandemic, cracks have started to appear. She struggled to get state leaders aligned on response measures as infection rates rise again.

On Thursday, the chancellor urged Germans to avoid travel to virus-hit areas like the US, and warned that restrictions on family gatherings may still come.

While the pandemic dominated her press conference, Ms Merkel is also battling geopolitical tensions.

Germany's relations with Russia have taken a hit after the alleged poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who is being treated at a Berlin clinic.

On the domestic front, she has tried to sidestep discussions about her successor, but she has been drawn into the jockeying for position by appearing in recent weeks with potential contenders from her conservative Christian Democratic-led bloc: North Rhine-Westphalia's premier Armin Laschet and Bavaria's Markus Soeder.
Tim Robards recently quit his gig on Channel 10's Neighbours to be with his pregnant wife Anna Heinrich in Sydney.

And on Saturday, Anna revelled in finally having her husband available to her by getting dolled up for a romantic date night.

The blonde beauty, 33, shared a selfie of herself with bright red lipstick on, which she captioned: 'DATE NIGHT'.

'Date night!' The Bachelor's Anna Heinrich dolled herself up for a special night with husband Tim Robards on Saturday

The couple have been making sure that they spend plenty of time together ever since Tim relocated from Melbourne to Sydney.

On Friday, Anna looked thrilled to be with her handsome beau in Byron Bay.

The lawyer flaunted her ample cleavage in a bikini as she posed for a selfie that Tim took of the couple relaxing on the sand.

Looking good! On Friday, a pregnant Anna put on a busty display in a skimpy bikini while on a getaway with husband Tim in Byron Bay

In the picture, the expectant mother glowed in a skimpy striped bikini top.

The blonde stunner wore her luscious long locks in a tousled half-up half-down style and natural makeup with a touch of bronzer and a soft pink lip.

Her hunky husband, 37, flaunted his bulging biceps and chiseled chest as he sat beside her.

Glowing and gorgeous: In the picture, the expectant mother glowed in a skimpy striped bikini top

Tim poked his tongue out in one image.

'Sometimes I just gotta bite my tongue or I get in trouble from the boss...' he humorously captioned the post.

Anna and Tim are enjoying a luxurious holiday at Byron Bay's Blackbird resort.

Getaway: Anna and her husband, Tim Robards (left), are enjoying a luxurious holiday at Byron Bay's Blackbird resort

On Monday, the blonde beauty shared a stunning photo, as well as video footage, to Instagram of their picturesque surroundings.

'Getting out of Sydney is a luxury these days and I'm certainly not taking it for granted. Good to finally spend time with my hubby,' Anna wrote.

Their trip comes after Anna spoke to Stellar magazine about the stress of being separated from Tim, who until recently was working in coronavirus-stricken Melbourne on soap opera Neighbours.

Relaxing: On Monday, the criminal lawyer shared a stunning photo, as well as video footage, to Instagram of their picturesque surroundings

Earlier this month, the actor made the 'gut-wrenching decision' to leave Melbourne and quit his job on Neighbours, in order to be with Anna in Sydney.

'It's been so stressful for him. For both of us. We're both really struggling with the decision. I know how hard he's worked,' said a tearful Anna.

'The past six weeks have been really stressful, it's been one curveball after another, and when hotel quarantine came in, we realised it meant that if there was an emergency, Tim would not be able to get back to me.'

Tim and Anna, who fell in love on The Bachelor in 2013, married in Italy in June 2018. They announced their baby news in May.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 16:19:41|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday offered praise for the important efforts made by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to get China-Japan relations back on track and achieve new developments, wishing him a speedy recovery.

In recent years, the relationship between China and Japan has improved and achieved new developments. The leaders of the two countries have reached an important consensus on promoting the establishment of bilateral relations that meet the requirements of the new era, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters.

"We have a positive assessment of the important efforts made by Prime Minister Abe to achieve these ends and at the same time wish him a speedy recovery," Zhao added.

"We are willing to work with the Japanese side to stick to the principles and spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, continue to deepen cooperation in the anti-epidemic fight, as well as economic and social development, and promote the continuous improvement and development of bilateral ties," said the spokesperson.

Abe said at a press conference on Friday that he will step down from his post due to health concerns. Enditem
Eileen Flynn, the independent senator, has revealed she was told by a male politician that she was appointed to the Seanad as a "token seat".

Ms Flynn made history last month, becoming the first Traveller woman to serve in the Oireachtas when she was appointed to the upper house by Micheal Martin.

In an exclusive interview with Weekend magazine, Ms Flynn revealed how a male politician walked up to her in one of her first days in the new role and told her she had got the job because she was a "token seat". The man made the comment to Ms Flynn in Leinster House, where the Seanad had been sitting due to Covid-19 measures.

"I told him, I got this seat on my own merit. I am not just a 'token'. I am going to work hard while I'm in here," Ms Flynn said.

"I want to work well with everyone in there. But I will not put up with any bulls**t from any man that tells me I was a 'token seat'."

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Ms Flynn first ran for the Seanad in this year's election but was unsuccessful. The human rights activist was later selected as one of the 11 new senators nominated by the Taoiseach.

Ms Flynn was the only senator appointed who was not affiliated with any of the Government parties, and the decision to include her received cross-party support.

She has previously worked for the National Traveller Women's Forum. Ms Flynn was encouraged into politics by Lynn Ruane and Alice Mary Higgins, the independent senators, and now sits in the same grouping as both politicians in the Seanad.

In the same interview, Ms Flynn said she was concerned that she was going to be pigeon-holed as "the Traveller senator".

"People just see me as 'the Traveller senator'. I'm Eileen Flynn, a person who is a Traveller and a senator. Pigeon-holing me in one specific area undermines my own talents as a woman who grew up in a working-class area of Dublin," she said.

Ms Flynn said she wants to use her time in the Oireachtas to campaign for better human rights for all minorities, and said she will prioritise trying to help pass a hate-crime law.

The 30-year-old mother of one commutes from her home in Donegal to Dublin and said the hardest part of the job is leaving her baby daughter at home on a Monday morning.
Toby Antony By

Express News Service

KOCHI: A few hours after Customs officials at Thiruvananthapuram airport seized the diplomatic baggage containing 30kg of gold on July 5, prime accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair had reached Kochi where they stayed at a hotel at Perumanoor for two days. Swapna revealed this in the confession statement she gave to the Customs.She said when the consignment containing gold was seized, she and her family, along with a lawyer, reached Varkala from where the lawyer parted with them. Sandeep joined us at Varkala. My family and I came to Kochi the same night and stayed at the hotel. We met another lawyer and gave a Vakalath...We (later) escaped to Bengaluru from where we were arrested by the NIA, she said in the statement.

As for her employment at the UAE Consulate, Swapna said she worked as the secretary of the consul-general till September 2019 after which she resigned on his directive.His excellency was expecting a transfer and promised me to take me with him. Though I had resigned, I was in regular touch with him and he used to avail my services as usual and unofficially, she said.

Meanwhile, the NIA investigation has revealed that the first four consignments containing gold were sent via the diplomatic channel in the name of Muhammad, a West Bengal native. Consignments five till 18 were sent in the name of Dawood, a UAE citizen. The 19th consignment was sent in Dubai native Hashims name, while the 20th and 21st consignments were sent in the name of Kaipamangalam native Faisal Fareed. It was the 21st consignment that was seized.
They hunkered down and braved the storm, but now some residents in southwestern Louisiana are asking for help in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura's devastating landfall near Lake Charles.

"There are some people still in town, and people are calling...but there ain't no way to get to them,"Calcasieu Parish's president of police jury Tony Guillory told the Associated Press.

Orange resident Joe Cole is one of the many locals who stayed behind to ride out the storm. He and others are now stranded and calling for emergency help, but downed power lines and flooding have hampered efforts to reach them.

HURRICANE GUIDE: Get complete storm coverage for the duration of hurricane season

"Trees down in the backyard, water flooding, water coming from out under the house. That's about three inches of water," Cole said in photojournalist Lola Gomez' Twitter video.

Cole describes his neighborhood in Orange as a "mess."

"We are safe and the generator up and running...the neighborhood and town is a mess through trees everywhere and car ports and roofs gone in a lot of places," Cole said.

Laura's devastation extended to downtown Lake Charles, where the Capital OneTower was hammered with 150-mph winds, rendering the tallest building in town a "mangled mess."

Storm chaser Jeff Piotrowski captured footage of downtown Lake Charles as the building was lashed by the high winds of Laura's eyewall.

"Many skyscrapers have blown out windows. Some of the buildings may be total losses," Piotrowski tweeted.

In a Thursday morning tweet Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards told residents to stay home and listen to local officials as the hurricane continues through the state.

"As we wake up today, everyone must remember the threat Laura poses to Louisiana is ongoing. Stay home, continue to heed the warnings and instructions of local officials and monitor your local news to stay informed."

Edwards' deputy chief of staff Christina Stephens confirmed the hurricane's first fatality--14-year-old girl who died when a tree fell on her home.

"We do expect that there could be more fatalities," Stephens tweeted.




U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his attacks on his Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden, Friday, over his support for a free trade pact with South Korea.







"You know about the Korea deal. Hillary Clinton's deal, along with Biden. They promised 250,000 jobs. Right? 250,000 jobs, and they were right, except all those jobs went to South Korea. They didn't come to us," Trump told a group of cheering supporters in Manchester, New Hampshire.







His remark came one day after he called the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) "horrendous" in his acceptance speech delivered at the White House, while arguing he has "reversed and made a great deal for our country."







The Korea-U.S. FTA was implemented by the former U.S. administration under Barack Obama in 2012 but was revised in 2019 at the Trump administration's request.







Under the renegotiated deal, Seoul agreed to double the number of U.S. vehicles entering its market without having to meet its local industrial regulations to 50,000 per year from 25,000.







The U.S., on the other hand, was given a 20-year extension on its right to impose 25 percent import tariffs on South Korean pickup trucks until 2041.







Many observers, however, believe the revision of the Korea-U.S. FTA may have weakened the countries' trade relations.







In 2019, the United States' exports to South Korea rose 5.1 percent from a year earlier, which marked a sharp decline from a 16 percent year-on-year hike the year before.







Seoul's outbound shipments to the U.S. went up 0.9 percent in 2019, also slowing from a 6 percent increase in 2018. (Yonhap)


The US and Kenyan governments launched negotiations on a free-trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries in early July. The topic raises a few salient questions, which initially revolve around the reasons that led these two countries to negotiate a FTA at a time that at the very least was unfavourable to both of them.



We may wonder why the United States chose Kenya to be a model for a FTA, when the continent includes seven of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world, many of which have equally good relations with the United States. However, Kenya is the one country to have broadly followed mainstream orthodoxy and the economic-liberalisation prescriptions of the Washington Consensus, in which the states role in economic activity is minimal.



We may also wonder about the goals of each country and the risk that Kenya is taking upon itself in negotiating such a FTA without prior coordination with the other African countries. Most importantly, there is the question of the impact of these negotiations on Egypt as a leading country in Africa whose previous attempts to negotiate a FTA with the US were not a success.



It should be recalled that the implementation of the so-called African Growth and Opportunity Act, known as the AGOA and approved by the US Congress in May 2000, aims at establishing preferential trade relations between the US and Sub-Saharan Africa. Expecting its expiration by early 2025, the US has therefore launched negotiations with Kenya on a FTA that is perceived by US trade representative Robert Lighthizer as being a prototype for other African countries to emulate.



While the stated goal of the US is to improve opportunities, diversify trade with Africa, and support investment in Kenya and access through it to landlocked countries, many have emphasised instead that the main motive for these negotiations is the US administrations unwillingness to stand idly by and watch the increasing Chinese encroachment in Africa. The re-election campaign of US President Donald Trump will be able to pride itself on these negotiations as one practical achievement on the African continent since the passage of the Growth and Opportunities Act in Africa in 2000.



The negotiations are also a calculated step on the part of the Kenyan government to push for Kenyan leadership of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and also to support the Kenyan candidate for the presidency of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) out of eight competing candidates, including an Egyptian one.



The negotiations focus on access to the Kenyan market and those of neighbouring countries, as well as the regulatory coordination of rules and regulations, the liberalisation of the trade in services, including communications and banking services, and a commitment by Kenya not to impose domestic discriminatory taxes. E-commerce and cross-border data flows are a significant part of the negotiations, with the US demanding that Kenya not impose tariffs on digital products such as music, e-books, video, and other items.



The negotiations also include provisions on the environment, competition policies, investment, employment, commercial remedies, government procurement, and a dispute-settlement mechanism, all of which are topics that Egypt is also negotiating in phases within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It will be the responsibility of Egypt and other African countries to study the Kenyan agreement carefully upon its completion and assess whether they are in a position to emulate, resist, or reject it altogether as it may have a negative impact on the AfCFTA.



It appears, however, that Kenyan president Kenyatta senses the African concerns and that he has been seeking on every occasion to dispel them by stressing that the trade agreement between Kenya and the US will help the countries of the continent and contribute to the establishment of a model agreement. He has stressed that Kenya will not compromise in its obligations towards the continent and as a member of the East African Customs Union and COMESA.



Without a doubt, Africa has become an important investment destination for many countries and international companies after the entry into force of the AfCFTA on 30 May 2019. At the Tokyo Conference on African Development in August 2019, the Japanese private sector committed to investing $20 billion in Africa over three years. At the first Russian-African Summit last October, the Kremlin announced reaching deals worth $12.5 billion in Africa.



Even as the European Union grapples with the exit of the UK from the Union in the so-called Brexit, the EU held the Fifth African Trade Forum in Morocco last November to push European-African relations back to the fore. The US has also sought to renew its engagement in Africa through the establishment of the US Development Finance Corporation, worth $60 billion, and a more active African diplomatic strategy on trade. Africa receives about $16 billion in aid annually from the United States, including long-term development aid and security assistance.



Thus, and despite the change in the implementation date of the agreement to after 1 July 2020 due to the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the fundamentals of it are strong. The AfCFTA maintains the largest free-trade area on the continent with 54 member states, and it has a market size of more than $3.4 trillion, with estimated annual income gains for Africa in excess of $1 billion annually. There is no doubt that the AfCFTA has provided the opportunity for the African countries to discover their own paths of economic development in line with their own circumstances, requiring the preservation and revival of these new trajectories based on independence and self-reliance.



Among the objectives of the AfCFTA is the encouragement of regional value chains and the building of manufacturing capabilities, after the failure of the African countries to integrate into global value chains and their long-term contentedness with supplying raw materials to the global economy.



The coronavirus pandemic is expected to nurture an increased dependence on regional production and value chains, especially after the decline in trade and the contraction of demand in European markets, both of which had a negative multiplier effect on the African continent. More successful integration will make the African continent the primary beneficiary of its industrial development, and policy-makers must now implement policies that benefit domestic production and provide attractive opportunities for foreign investment.



The time has come for the AfCFTA to be the great enabler of the transformation of the African continent, and it must not be weakened from within. This does not mean that we should oppose the free-trade agreement between Kenya and the US. Rather, it means that we should call on Kenya during its negotiations with the US to keep an eye on what the AfCFTA has achieved, with the same thing being true for any other African country or regional grouping when negotiating separate FTAs. The absolute priority must remain the fullest possible implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje has sworn in six judges for the Kano State High Court for speedy dispensation of justice.

The Attorney General of the state, Mr Muhammad Lawal, administered the oath of office and allegiance on the new judges on Friday in Kano.

Ganduje said that all the new judges were sworn in based on their individual merit and competence, having passed the accreditation tests and recommendations of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The governor said that the appointment would increase the number of judges and ensure quick dispensation of justice and fair hearing in the state.

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He said that the three arms of government would cooperate and work in synergy for the common good of the people of the state.

Ganduje urged the new judges to maintain the credibility of the judiciary and also continue to uphold its dignity. 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newly sworn in judges are: Abubakar Maiwada, Maryam Sabo, Zuwaira Yusuf A, Jamilu Sulaiman, Sunusi Maaji and Hafsat Yayha Sani.

The governor also swore in Alhaji Aminu Bahaushe as Permanent Secretary and deployedhim to the Ministry for Housing and Transport.
Washington, Aug 29 : US President Donald Trump he would support seeing a first female President in the country, but added that it should not be Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris, it was reported.

He made the remarks while speaking to supporters at an airport in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on Friday as he began his campaign trail a day after officially accepting his renomination for the November 3 election at the Republican National Convention.

Trump mocked Harris over her poor performance in the Democratic presidential primary, reports The Hill news website.

"And this would be your President, possibly? I don't think so. I don't think so.

"You know, I want to see the first woman President also, but I don't want to see a woman president get into that position the way she'd do it, and she's not competent.

"They're all saying 'we want Ivanka'... I don't blame them," the President added.

Earlier this month, Harris made history by becoming the first Indian-American and African American to formally accept the nomination for the Democratic Party's Vice Presidential candidate.

Trump's remarks on Friday came a day after the California Senator said that the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC) it was "designed to soothe his (Trump) ego".

In a speech on Thursday, Harris railed on Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying that "you can't stop it with a tweet".

Trump has launched attacks against Harris since she was named to the Democratic ticket earlier this month, The Hill news report said.

He has regularly derided her as "nasty" and also entertained a false conspiracy theory about her eligibility for the vice presidency.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al Musta'in Billah, XVI Supreme Head of Malaysia.

"Your Majesty,

I cordially congratulate you and through you, your entire people on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of your countrys national holiday  the Independence Day.

I believe that we will continue to put joint efforts for further strengthening and developing of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Malaysia in line with interests of our peoples.

I wish to note that the people of Azerbaijan stands in solidarity with the people of Malaysia in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic faced by the world.

On such remarkable day, I convey my best wishes to you and everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly Malaysia," the letter said.
Triple murder shocks Auriyya in UP 20 Jan 2022 | 10:42 PM Lucknow, Jan 20 (UNI) In a sensational triple murder in Auraiyya district, the manager of SGS Inter College of Bidhuna Kotwali area and his wife were found dead on Thursday morning.

They both were strangled to death with a muffler, police said. see more..

J&K Admin imposes restrictions on non-essential movement 20 Jan 2022 | 10:36 PM Jammu, Jan 20 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday ordered imposition of complete restriction on non-essential movement in the Union Territory from every Friday 2 pm to Monday 6 am. see more..

Dialysis centers operating in 54 distts in UP 20 Jan 2022 | 10:35 PM Lucknow, Jan 20 (UNI)The Uttar Pradesh government has worked in a planned and phased manner to expand the healthcare facilities and improve the medical and health infrastructure in the state, officials said on Thursday. see more..

Strays maul girl in MP village 20 Jan 2022 | 10:33 PM Dhar (MP), Jan 20 (UNI) A three-year-old died on the spot when some girls playing at a tribal cluster in nearby Padliya village were attacked by stray dogs on Thursday, police said.

The victims elder sister rushed home and alerted kin. see more..
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo meets with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee announced contempt proceedings against Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday, citing his refusal to comply with a subpoena for records into his "transparently political misuse" of department resources.

The Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives committee, Eliot Engel, also cited a speech Pompeo recorded in Jerusalem for this week's Republican National Convention. Engel said Pompeo had "demonstrated alarming disregard for the laws and rules governing his own conduct and for the tools the Constitution provides to prevent government corruption."

"He seems to think the office he holds, the department he runs, the personnel he oversees, and the taxpayer dollars that pay for all of it are there for his personal and political benefit," Engel said in a statement.

A State Department representative Engel's statement was "political theatrics" and that the department had offered to provide the documents to Engel on condition that he send a letter explaining the foreign policy issue he is investigating that requires them.

"Once this letter is received, the Department will produce the documents," the representative said.

The committee last month issued a subpoena to Pompeo demanding documents he provided to Republicans investigating Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

A Republican-led U.S. Senate committee has been gathering information related to Hunter Biden, son of the former U.S. vice president, Republican President Donald Trump's opponent in the November election.

Engel said Pompeo had told the House committee the documents would be provided if it pursued the same investigation as the Republican-led Senate committee.

"In other words, Pompeo will give the committee what we were seeking if we join in a smear of the presidents political rival," Engel said.

The State Department representative said the documents had already been provided to Democrats in the Senate.

Story continues

Hunter Biden is a former board member of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. The company was thrust into the global spotlight last year in an impeachment inquiry into whether Trump improperly pressured the government in Kiev into opening a case involving his election rival.

In his speech shown to the Republican convention on Tuesday, Pompeo praised Trump's foreign policy record. Critics said he broke with decades of protocol in using his appointed office for partisan purposes. Joaquin Castro, head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's oversight subcommittee, said his move may have been illegal.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu, Daphne Psaledakis and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Lisa Lambert, Richard Chang and Jonathan Oatis)
Two weeks ago, we learned that Sandia National Laboratories, one of only three National Nuclear Security Administration research and development laboratories in the United States, was mandating that its white, male executives attend anti-white training sessions. Since then, a whistleblower has emerged, describing in detail the anti-white "critical race theory" that Sandia's management is foisting on employees at all levels, even though these racial attacks in the material manifestly violate federal law.

In mid-August, Christopher Rufo published a Twitter thread about a blatantly anti-white seminar at Sandia. To understand how wrong that seminar was, you need to know that Sandia, as a taxpayer-funded contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, must comply with federal anti-discrimination regulations. Thus, Executive Order 11246 Subpart B, sec. 202 states in relevant part:

The contractor will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. The contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

Last I looked, white employees ticked off two boxes in the protected classes above: race and color.

Casey Peterson, an electrical engineer, has been unhappy about the direction that Sandia is taking. The seminar described in Rufo's Twitter thread  as well as the fact that it was required only for white men  struck him as discriminatory. Moreover, Peterson believes that critical race theory is a dangerous form of anti-white discrimination premised on false facts and crackpot theories.

Peterson did something audacious in today's environment: he pushed back hard, creating a lengthy, detailed, factually supported video challenging the critical race theory that forms the basis of Sandia's undoubtedly illegally and contractually violative race-based discrimination. Christopher Rufo picks up the story:

There is a civil war erupting at @SandiaLabs. Following my investigation, a dissident electrical engineer named Casey Peterson emailed all 16,000 employees denouncing critical race theory in the lab and hoping to spark a rebellion against Sandia executives. Here's the story. On Tuesday, Peterson made a YouTube video "pushing back back on the narrative of modern systemic racism and white privilege." The video quickly hit 10,000 views within the labs and dozens of Sandia employees contacted Peterson to express support. Within hours, Sandia executives dispatched a counterintelligence team to lock Peterson out of the network and scrub his communications from internal servers  which, via the Streisand Effect, made the video even more viral and sparked widespread unrest against Sandia executives. By the afternoon, executives were panicking about the brewing rebellion, placed Peterson on paid administrative leave, and established a "security review board" to "evaluate whether [his] actions have comprised [sic] or posed a threat to Sandia computing and security systems." Peterson  who took a stand at grave risk to his career  says he is speaking on behalf of all of Sandia employees who are "scared to speak out" because of the lab's repressive culture. "If I get fired because of this," Peterson says, "the fight does not end, it only intensifies." This is the first explicit rebellion against critical race theory in the federal government  and the coalition is growing. "We need to completely rip [critical race theory] out of Sandia root and stem," Peterson says. "It is cancer and we need to get it out of the labs right now." Sandia executives have made it clear: they want to force critical race theory, race-segregated trainings, and white male reeducation camps on their employees  and all dissent will be severely punished. Progressive employees will be rewarded; conservative employees will be purged. Keep this in mind: Sandia Labs is a federally-funded research agency and designs America's nuclear weapons. Senator @HawleyMO and @SecBrouillette have launched an inspector general investigation, but Sandia executives have only accelerated their purge against conservatives. Sandia executives face a decision-point: they can back down and Peterson's rebellion will notch an internal victory; or they can fire him and Peterson will become further evidence of Sandia's corrupt and repressive culture. In a sense, Peterson cannot lose. According to multiple sources, the executives who have pushed the most toxic elements of critical race theory and race-segregated trainings are James Peerey, Dori Ellis, David White (he/him), and Mark Sellers. They must be investigated by the Inspector General. Here's the bottom line: this is the first shot in the rebellion against critical race theory in the federal government. Casey Peterson has taken a courageous stand and the Inspector General must conduct a full investigation of Sandia Labs  and hold executives accountable. We are opening up a multi-front war against critical race theory in the federal government: (1) investigative reporting to expose the truth; (2) internal rebellions to increase the pressure; (3) inspector general investigations; (4) laying the groundwork for an executive order. It might take time, there might be losses, but we will achieve victory! Swords up! Prayers up! 

The lily-white executives appear to be committed to forcing critical race theory on their trapped employees. Therefore, we can expect that Peterson, who is currently on paid leave, will lose his job. Corporations, especially those with ties to the Deep State, know that whistleblower laws no longer protect people who do not advance progressive ideologies.

Looking ahead, if we find ourselves in Trump's America after November 3, Peterson will at least get justice eventually. However, if we're in Biden's America, the Petersons of this world will be silenced.

Image: Sandia National Laboratories, by National Nuclear Security Administration, CC BY-ND 2.0.
Not all of the deaths that have occurred in the community since April have been a result of the virus, but they have all been affected by it, she says. The pandemic has changed how people mourn and altered how they live. In the months before he got sick, the pastor, Christopher Posch, handed out food to families who had seen job losses and, in some cases, had seen every member of their household get the virus. The Facebook post announcing Poschs death  which came after he battled pneumonia for a month but tested negative for the coronavirus  appeared a few days after the funeral of a beloved teacher. The loss of that teacher, Kirk Gaddy, left even former students seeking support.
More than 900 nuclear tests were conducted on Shoshone territory in the US. Residents still live with the consequences.





You never know what is killing you when it is done in secret.

I watched my uncle suffer from horrible cancer that ate away at his throat and my grandfather die of an auto-immune disease that is known to be caused by exposure to radiation. They say he had a heart attack, but when your skin falls off, that puts stress on your heart.

Many of my cousins have died. Last year, my cousin, who is about 50, had a defibrillator put in his chest. Now his daughter, who is a toddler, has heart problems as well. At around the same time, one of my cousins told me his mom has cancer. And then a week later, he found out he has it, too.

A few months ago, an elder here died from a rare form of brain cancer.

Every family is affected. We have seen mental and physical retardation, leukaemia, childhood leukaemia, all sorts of cancers.

The US military industrial complex

I am the Principal Man of the Western Bands of the Shoshone Nation of Indians  the most bombed nation on earth.

Our country is approximately 40,000 square miles (25.6 million acres), from just west of Las Vegas, Nevada all the way to the Snake River in Idaho, including a 350-mile (563km) wide strip in the Great Basin. There are approximately 25,000 to 30,000 Shoshone lineal descendants but the United States places the number much lower based on blood quantum (a percentage of ancestry).

We have been on this land for at least 10,000 years.

Our relationship to the US is based upon the Treaty of Ruby Valley signed in 1863. In the treaty, the Shoshone continued to own the land but we agreed that in exchange for $5,000 a year for 20 years, paid in cattle and other goods, the US could establish military posts on the land, that US mail and telegraph companies could continue to operate telegraph and stage lines on it, that a railway could pass through it, that the US could mine for minerals on it.

But shortly before the end of World War II, we started to be overrun by the US military industrial complex, in ways we are only now beginning to understand.

Nuclear fallout

In 1951, in violation of the treaty, the US established the Nevada Proving Grounds (what would later become known as the Nevada Test Site and is now known as the Nevada National Security Site) on Shoshone territory and began testing nuclear weapons  without our consent or knowledge. We suspect that Nazi scientists brought to the US as part of Operation Paperclip  to help the US develop nuclear weapons  were involved.

On January 27, 1951, the first nuclear test took place on our land, when a one-kilotonne bomb was dropped from a plane flying over the site.

Over the next 40 years, it became the premier testing location for American nuclear weapons. Approximately 928 nuclear tests took place on the Shoshone territory  100 in the atmosphere and more than 800 underground.

When the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, 13 kilotonnes of nuclear fallout rained down on the Japanese city. According to a 2009 study in the Nevada Law Journal, between 1951 and 1992, the tests conducted on our land caused 620 kilotonnes of nuclear fallout.

I was born in 1964, a year after above-ground testing of nuclear weapons was banned. But the US continued to test weapons of mass destruction under our land almost every three weeks until 1992.

The downwinders

The fallout from these tests covered a wide area, but it was Native American communities living downwind from the site who were most exposed  because we consumed contaminated wildlife, drank contaminated milk, lived off contaminated land. For Native American adults, the risk of exposure has been shown to be 15 times greater than for other Americans, for young people that increases to 30 times and for babies in utero to two years of age it can be as much as 50 times greater.

When the fallout came down, it killed the delicate flora and fauna, creating these huge vulnerabilities across thousands of square miles of Shoshone territory. The pine trees we use for food and heating were exposed, the plants we use for food and medicine were exposed, the animals we use for food were exposed. We were exposed.

As a result, we have watched our people die. Some of the strongest defenders of our land, of our people, just gone.

But we have to protect our land and our people. Our identity is the land. Our identity is the pure pristine water coming out of the ground, flowing for millions, tens of millions, hundreds of millions of years. We see that pure water as a medicine. People need that pure water to heal.

But what we find is that we have the US brokering for the nuclear industry, brokering for the mining industry, the destruction of our property for profit.

We cannot endure any further risk, whether from nuclear weapons testing or coal ash or oil tracking, any radiation source at all.

Hammers and nails

We are beginning to understand what has happened to us. For more than 50 years, we have been suffering from this silent killer and the US governments culture of secrecy keeps it silent. But we need relief.

In every other part of the world where there have been nuclear catastrophes or nuclear testing  such as Kazakhstan, Japan, even Chernobyl  there are health registries to monitor those who have been exposed, even if the numbers are kept artificially low in some places. We do not have that here in the US. We do not have that for Native American downwinders. We need that kind of testing. We need health registries. We need monitoring. We cannot wait any longer for the health disparities we are experiencing to be identified.

We are having to fight the US to get it to understand our basic health needs.

We have managed to obtain documents that were declassified in the 1990s. But there are almost two million pages. Trying to understand all of that is daunting. We do not have any funding and we do not have the support of the US to get that work done. So we are having to do this ourselves as we suffer through this continuing health crisis.

And all the while, military activities are still being conducted on our land.

We continue to endure and we live with the understanding that the radiation is there on the ground, it is there in our plants, in our animals, and inside of our people.

Killing Shoshone people was never part of the treaty we signed. Our people would never have engaged in something that would result in our own destruction.

Our custom is sharing, but when all you have is a hammer, everything is a nail, and that is what the US military has been doing, hammering the Shoshone with bombs.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
29.08.2020 LISTEN

The Kodie District Police Command in the Afigya-Kwabre South on Wednesday night grabbed a man suspected to be on an armed robbery mission.

Martin Agyei, was arrested together with a taxi cab loaded with arms and ammunition at about 11:45 pm at the outskirts of Kodie.

A source who asked not to be named said the police retrieved an AK47 assault rifle with 23 live cartridges, a pistol, jack knife, military hat and other clothing, which were hidden in the doors of the taxi.

The source said Agyei was alone in the taxi, when the police patrol team stopped him.

He said upon a search, the police discovered the weapons concealed in one of the doors of the vehicle.

The police suspects that Agyei was on his way to Techiman in the Bono East Region for robbery activities.

The Ashanti Regional police command indicated that it had launched an investigation into the matter.

GNA
challenges Igini to explain mission at hotel housing INECs national commissioners

Mr. Mike Igini, INECs Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State, has been asked by the APC to explain his presence at Protea Hotel in Benin City where National Commissioners of the electoral body from Abuja were lodged, in fresh allegations raised by the party over Iginis alleged connivance with Governor Godwin Obaseki to rig the Sept. 19 Governorship election.

Recall that the APC had earlier alleged that Mr. Mike Igini met with Governor Godwin Obaseki in his private residence at dawn on Thursday where a deal was struck to rig the states election.

According to the account of the APC, Mr. Mike Igini left the meeting with sacks of money and subsequently intensified his unsanctioned recruitment of youth corp members traditionally engaged by INEC to serve as presiding officers at polling units.

In a new statement released by Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the APC Media Campaign Council, on Friday, the APC says it has received testimony from some contacted youth corp members who detailed how they were approached by Mr. Mike Igini and offered a deal to swap results with fake, pre-written ballots allegedly in production at the Edo State Government House.

The APC also claimed that Mr. Mike Igini approached National Commissioners of INEC invited from Abuja at their hotel in Benin City to persuade them into joining the rigging plot.

We have obtained pictures of Mr. Mike Igini at Protea Hotel where visiting National Commissioners of INEC from Abuja were lodged. He apparently went there to run the errands of Governor Godwin Obaseki and the PDP. He was overheard at the hotel discussing the Edo Governorship election and the recruitment of ad-hoc staff in an attempt to ascertain the disposition of the officers before persuading them to join the rigging plan he has perfected with the governor.

We dare Mr. Mike Igini to deny his presence at this hotel and we shall immediately supply pictorial evidence to the press and members of the public.

The party charged INEC to investigate and sanction Mr. Mike Igini and carry out a cleansing exercise to purge its rank of compromised officers.

PRESS CONFERENCE ON GOVERNOR GODWIN OBASEKIS CRIMINAL ATTEMPT TO INFILTRATE INEC AND RIG EDO ELECTION THROUGH BRIBED INEC OFFICERS LIKE MR. MIKE IGINI.

Good day gentlemen of the press

Our mission today is to alert you and the people of Edo State to the relatively new and dangerous dimensions of the elaborate and state-sponsored plot by Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his party of tax-collectors, the PDP, to rig the September 19 Governorship election.

It is already a well-known fact that the outgoing Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has unleashed on the state an army of well-armed thugs and cultists who are moving from place to place to attack innocent people with the aim of striking terror into them and scaring them away from expressing their rejection of his corrupt and purposeless administration at the polls.

However, in spite of the amount of state funds he has illegally committed to the evil plot, the embattled Governor is failing. Placing his faith in the guns and barbarity of hired goons ferried from across the country, specifically PDP states, Mr. Godwin Obaseki fatally underestimated the bravery, resilience, and resolve of Edo people to put an end to his disastrous reign, no matter what.

To his utter surprise, in all parts of the state, the people have refused to be intimidated and have stood up valiantly to his agents of terror. Rather than cower in silence and hide in their homes as intended by the irresponsible and evil Governor, they have instead mobilized in large numbers and stood firm, insisting on their rights to participate in a free and fair election.

The dawning failure on this front, rather than bestow sense on the Governor and his co-travelers, has instead driven them into another frantic search for additional arms and ammunition across the country.

More concerning, it has also sparked a relentless and well-funded plot to infiltrate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) where they hope to swap the will of the people, freely expressed at the polling units, with their own pre-written scripts and illegal ballots.

On Thursday, the 27th of August, we received reliable information on a secret meeting between Mr. Mike Igini, INECs Resident Electoral Commissioner (Akwa Ibom State) and Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Around 3am, Mr. Mike Igini was seen driving into the private residence of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the company of two other known allies of the Governor, one of whom was identified as Mr. Anselm Ojezua.

At the meeting, Mr. Mike Igini, Governor Godwin Obaseki, and other top PDP allies designed and examined ways and strategies to rig the outcome of the September 19 Governorship election with an exclusive focus on the production of fake ballots and the inducement of recruited INEC ad-hoc staff to aid the success of the rigging plans.

Mr. Mike Igini, and the other associates of the Governor, left the meeting held in the Governors private residence with sacks of money which, undoubtedly, was illegally sourced from the states treasury as bribes for their cooperation and participation in the criminal attempt and plans to subvert the election and undermine the will of the people.

Already, before the meeting, we have received numerous information, backed with proof, on Mr. Mike Iginis illegal conscription of youth corp members who will be playing vital roles in the conduct of the election as ad-hoc staff.

Some of the corp members have volunteered information on how they were contacted by Mr. Mike Igini and offered deals to help the PDP at the polls in exchange for cash benefits. Mr. Mike Igini was quoted by them to have personally assured safety and protection against any prosecution if they accept the offer to rig the election in favor of the PDP and Governor Godwin Obaseki.

We have also obtained pictures of Mr. Mike Igini at Protea Hotel where visiting National Commissioners were lodged apparently running the errands of Governor Godwin Obaseki and the PDP. He was overheard at the hotel discussing the Edo Governorship election and the recruitment of ad-hoc staff. We dare Mr. Mike Igini to deny his presence at this hotel and we shall immediately supply pictorial evidence to the press and members of the public.

It must be said that Governor Godwin Obasekis lack of scruples and unhinged desperation to buy and shoot his way to another term in office is neither surprising nor a new fact to us and other members of the public who have been paying attention.

However, we remain shocked that a senior INEC officer like Mr. Mike Igini who is expected to understand the sensitive and the sacred role of INEC in the sustenance of democracy, and why the electoral body must be above reproach of any kind, chose to sacrifice and puncture the integrity of the commission by lending himself to a criminal plot to save a sinking politician.

We wish to state clearly to the public and INEC that Mr. Mike Igini has, by his actions, declared himself an obstacle to a free and fair election in Edo State. What we must now collectively do is to remove this obstacle so that the people of Edo State are not made victims of daylight robbery by conscienceless men like Mr. Mike Igini whose soul has been purchased with ill-gotten wealth.

INEC must protect its integrity and that of the Edo election by taking immediate action to purge itself of unethical and corrupt elements like Mr. Mike Igini. We also recommend that the electoral body commence an immediate self-cleansing exercise to curtail the outbreak of the corruption virus planted by the likes of Mr. Mike Igini who after receiving bags of cash from Mr. Godwin Obaseki are now selling inside information on the electoral bodys result collation process to the PDP to aid its rigging plans.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 15:21:13|Editor: huaxia

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MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Fighting planes struck a Taliban gathering inside their base in Qargan area of Afghanistan's northern Faryab province on Friday, destroying the base and killing 12 militants on the spot, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said Saturday.

Acting on a tip-off, the fighting aircraft stormed the Taliban gathering inside their base on Friday afternoon smashing the base and besides killing 12 insurgents also foiled their designs to attack security checkpoints.

The militants, according to the official, were planning to storm security checkpoints in the area, but fled away after suffering casualties.

Taliban outfit has yet to make comments. Enditem
We all know what its like to be told that there is not a place for you to be featured, Boseman reflected. Yet you are young, gifted and Black. We know what its like to be told theres not a screen for you to be featured on, a stage for you to be featured on. We know what its like to be the tail and not the head. We know what its like to be beneath and not above.
Thousands of South African bikers rode to the seat of government in Pretoria on Saturday to protest against farm attacks and racism.

They laid white-and-black crosses with letters attached to them, addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa asking him to put an end to the violence.

The crosses and white roses were laid against the steel barriers in front of the lawns of the Union Buildings -- where presidency and cabinet offices are located.

Estimated at more than 5,000, some wore t-shirts, jackets and face masks with messages denouncing farm violence.

"If there is no justice for farmers there will be no peace for the government," read one placard stuck to steel fence.

Similar protests were staged in various other towns and cities.

"The state has to declare that farm murders are a priority and realise that racism doesn't only affect blacks, but whites too," protest coordinator Frikkie Geyser, 60, told AFP.

A 57-year-old protester Brandus van Jaarsveld declared: "We can't even lose one more farmer".

"There are too many farm murders and all lives matter, and the murders have to stop," said biker Micheline Botha.

AfriForum, a pressure group that advocates on behalf of the country's nine-percent-strong white population, said 216 attacks have been recorded so far this year, 26 of which were murders.

The group said the assaults and murders are not only targeting whites, but also black people and Indians.

Attacks dropped drastically during the first few months of the country's coronavirus lockdown due to restricted movement, but from June the assaults spiked, according to farmers.

Murders are generally high in South Africa. In the 12 months up to April, the police recorded 21,325 murders, averaging 58 per day and showing a 1.4-percent increase over the previous year, according to official police statistics.

Of that number, 49 were farmers.

Police minister Bheki Cele last month told parliament that "we do take serious the issue of farm safety".

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Leon's Furniture Limited's (TSE:LNF) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 10.7x might make it look like a buy right now compared to the market in Canada, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios above 18x and even P/E's above 39x are quite common. However, the P/E might be low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

Earnings have risen firmly for Leon's Furniture recently, which is pleasing to see. It might be that many expect the respectable earnings performance to degrade substantially, which has repressed the P/E. If you like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's out of favour.

Check out our latest analysis for Leon's Furniture

pe

We don't have analyst forecasts, but you can see how recent trends are setting up the company for the future by checking out our free report on Leon's Furniture's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What Are Growth Metrics Telling Us About The Low P/E?

In order to justify its P/E ratio, Leon's Furniture would need to produce sluggish growth that's trailing the market.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered an exceptional 22% gain to the company's bottom line. The latest three year period has also seen a 23% overall rise in EPS, aided extensively by its short-term performance. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been respectable for the company.

Weighing that recent medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 7.2% shows it's about the same on an annualised basis.

With this information, we find it odd that Leon's Furniture is trading at a P/E lower than the market. Apparently some shareholders are more bearish than recent times would indicate and have been accepting lower selling prices.

The Bottom Line On Leon's Furniture's P/E

Story continues

Generally, our preference is to limit the use of the price-to-earnings ratio to establishing what the market thinks about the overall health of a company.

We've established that Leon's Furniture currently trades on a lower than expected P/E since its recent three-year growth is in line with the wider market forecast. There could be some unobserved threats to earnings preventing the P/E ratio from matching the company's performance. At least the risk of a price drop looks to be subdued if recent medium-term earnings trends continue, but investors seem to think future earnings could see some volatility.

Having said that, be aware Leon's Furniture is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis, you should know about.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Leon's Furniture, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
New Delhi: Popular television actor Karanvir Bohra and wife Teejay Sidhu are all set to welcome new addition to their family. The good news of becoming parents again was shared by the duo on social media with awwdorable pictures.

Karanvir wrote: Children enter the world through us, but the plan is in God's hands. He is the great creator, the one who crafts every little detail. We are the vessels, waiting to receive his blessings. Thank you to our Divine for this surprise! We are beyond grateful He chose us to become parents again. Best birthday gift ever. Thank you

Teejay posted: So many blessings.. And now we get one more! Upar wale de lakh lakh shukar, for all His kindness, his grace. We move forward in our life with trust in Him.

And to the little one yet to be born.. I know every soul has a purpose, we didn't choose you, YOU chose us. Thank you, my dearest, for believing we were worthy of you.

The couple got married at the Sri Sri Ravishankar Ashram, Bengaluru in 2006. They became parents to twin daughters Vienna Bohra and Raya Bella Bohra in 2016.

Congratulations to the fab duo!
Reliance Retails acquisition of the retail business of the Future Group, the crown jewel of the company, for Rs 24,713 crore, has brought to an end the three decade-long journey of Indian retail sectors poster boy, Kishore Biyani.

In 1987, a young Marwari got frustrated by the conservative business approach of his family elders and started a garment manufacturing business, called Manz Wear. By 1997, the business was doing well enough for Biyani to open the first Pantaloons store in Kolkata. It was said to be twice the size of any other store in the city.

The brand and the stores caught the imagination of an exploding middle-class that was beginning to reap the fruits of the 1991 liberalisation. In 2001, he diversified and launched his biggest success; he started a series of supermarket stores under Big Bazaar.

Fashioned to replicate a busy and chaotic marketplace that Indians were otherwise used to, but packaged in a supermarket format, the retail chain became immensely popular and expanded fast. Over the next six years, it will add nearly 100 stores across the breadth and length of the country.

Biyanis biggest success had come from diversification. He looked for more opportunities. He had already burnt his fingers by venturing into Bollywood and making two movies that were both, critically and commercially, panned. But like an entrepreneur, always looking out for a new opportunity, Biyani used the same risk-taking penchant to diversify further. Alas, as he would accept years later, he shouldnt have.

In 2007, Biyanis Future Group diversified into insurance and launched Future General Insurance. In the same year, Future Capital was formed, offering financial products, wealth management services, equity broking solutions and real estate broking. His group also ventured into real estate.

These ventures were to prove costly later. Even though he managed to recover from the 2008 global economic meltdown, entry of aggressive deep-pocketed rivals meant that the original retail king also had to keep burning cash to retain market share. But clearly, the entrepreneur had spread himself, and his business empire, too thin.

In early 2019, having diversified into many categories over the years with limited success in some of them, Biyani confessed that it was a mistake and the company would restrict itself to food, fashion and home furnishings verticals. But by then it was too late.

By March 2020, ratings agency ICRA had already placed a negative rating on Future Groups holding company Future Corporate Resources to non-investment grade on high debt levels. Future group was burdened with net debt of about Rs 12,989 crore with all shares of promoters being pledged with lenders.

A graduate from HR College in Mumbai, and hailing from a business family that was originally from Rajasthan, Biyani started his entrepreneurial journey by making readymade trousers in the late 1980s but his retail journey only started in the late 1990s when he set up a Pantaloons store and a Big Bazaar in Calcutta.

Biyanis strategy was to depend heavily on white-label FMCG, produced under Future Consumer Enterprises, and offer the cheapest and best groceries in his shops. While he will continue stocking FMCG products made by others like ITC and Hindustan Unilever (HUL), his own labels allowed him to offer the highest value proposition while simultaneously protecting his margins. Biyani thought it will become a huge revenue and profit generator, and the most crucial part of his strategy.

He brought in more formats and labels - Pantaloons, Big Bazaar, Food Bazaar and Central. In late 2009, Biyani was forced to restructure the group by de-merging the non-retail assets. He focussed only on four formats rather than 24. The retained ones were - Pantaloons, Central, Big Bazaar and Food Bazaar. But the debt problem refused to go away.

In April 2012, the debt for the core retail business sored to Rs 5,800 crore and the net debt-equity ratio at 1.8x. The debt was nearly 55 percent of the FY12 EBITDA. The same year, he sold off his first success, Pantaloons, to the Aditya Birla group for Rs 1,600 crore. Even as he was caught up to clean the debt pile  including a futile attempt to divest the insurance business to L&T - consumer was moving on to online shopping.

By March 2020, it was clear that Biyani was struggling to keep his business afloat. Future Retail was downgraded, debt had piled up even more, and the entrepreneurs net worth, according to Forbes India, had fallen to $400 million, from about $1.7 billion just a year ago.

While he and his family held 33.5 percent stake in Future Group, nearly all of it was pledged to lenders.

It didnt help that from the end of March, the country went into a lockdown post the COVID-19 disruption. Even though outlets selling essentials could be opened, consumers preferred their neighbourhood shops, or opted for online players. Big Bazaar outlets were mostly located in malls, which opened much later, and continue to struggle to get footfalls. The impact was telling on the companys stock, which plummeted by over 80 percent in a matter of four months.
PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6

This is the fourth part in a series. The first part was published on August 20. The second part was published on August 21. The third part was published on August 25. Part five will be published on September 3.

Trotskys miraculous survival of the assassination attempt of May 24, 1940, proved to be only a reprieve. The GPU immediately set into motion an alternate plan for the murder of Trotsky. The next attempt would be carried out not by a heavily armed squad of killers, but by a lone assassin. Ramon Mercader, the Spanish agent chosen for the assignment by the GPU, had been introduced as early as 1938 into the milieu of the Fourth International by his girlfriend Sylvia Ageloff. Her specific relationship to the Socialist Workers Party remains unclear, though she seems to have functioned as a courier for the Fourth International and SWP.

Ramon Mercader

It is hard to reconcile Ageloffs high-level connections to the Fourth International with her personal and political naivete. In the course of an intimate relationship that spanned nearly two years, she either did not notice or suppressed concerns over the glaring anomalies, contradictions and mysteries that swirled around her very strange companion: his multiple identities (Frank Jacson, Jacques Mornard, Vandendresched), highly dubious business activities and unlimited supply of ready cash. It never occurred to Ageloffor so she claimed in the aftermath of the assassination to suspicious and unbelieving Mexican prosecutorsthat there was something very wrong about her boyfriend, and that he was definitely not the sort of person who should be allowed anywhere near Trotsky.

In the spring of 1940, Jacson-Mornard utilized the opportunity provided by Ageloff to make himself a familiar presence to Trotskys guards, even though he evinced no interest in meeting the revolutionary leader. Frequently driving Ageloff to the villa on the Avenida Viena, Jacson-Mornard appeared content to wait outside until she had completed her work. But he chatted with the guards and carefully cultivated a relationship with Trotskys close friends, Alfred and Marguerite Rosmer. Despite decades in the revolutionary movement, they found nothing peculiar about Jacson-Mornard, the supposedly apolitical businessman with plenty of money and a great deal of free time. The French-born couple failed to detect an accent in the Spanish-born agent who claimed to be Belgian.

It was not until four days after the May 24 assault that Jacson-Mornard entered the compound for the first time and briefly met Trotsky. On one of his trips to Coyoacan, Jacson-Mornard approached the guards, who were strengthening the external walls of the villa. They told him that they were preparing for another assault by the GPU. Jacson-Mornard remarked, with studied casualness, that the GPUs next attempt on Trotskys life would use a different method.

Trotskys work continued at his customarily grueling pace. Though intensely occupied with the exposure of the May 24 conspiracy and the refutation of the brazen claims by the Mexican Communist Party and the Stalinist-controlled trade unions and press that the attack was a self-assault planned by Trotsky and executed by his supporters, he carefully followed the unfolding of World War II. By mid-June, France had surrendered and Hitlers armies ruled over Western Europe. A tragedy of unprecedented dimensions had befallen the working class. In a brief note written on June 17, 1940, two days after Frances defeat, Trotsky wrote:

The capitulation of France is not a simple military episode. It is part of the catastrophe of Europe. Mankind can no longer live under the regime of imperialism. Hitler is not an accident; he is only the most consistent and the most bestial expression of imperialism, which threatens to crush our whole civilization. [1]

The monstrous crimes of Hitler arose out of capitalism and the noxious global politics of imperialism. But Hitlers conquest of Western Europe was made possible by the assistance he received from Stalin. The dictators betrayals of the working classfirst through his popular front alliances with the democratic imperialists, then followed suddenly by his agreement with Hitlerdisoriented the working class and strengthened Nazi Germanys military position. By demoralizing the popular masses in Europe, and not solely in Europe, Stalin played the role of an agent provocateur in the service of Hitler. The capitulation of France is one of the results of such politics, Trotsky wrote. Stalin has taken the USSR to the very brink of the abyss. Trotsky warned that Hitlers victories in the West are only preparation for a gigantic move toward the East. [2] Almost exactly one year later, on June 22, 1941, Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.

The political and security issues arising from the May 24 raid and the epochal events in Europe necessitated a visit to Mexico by a delegation of SWP leaders, headed by party founder and leader James P. Cannon. Between Wednesday, June 12, and Saturday, June 15, Trotsky participated in a comprehensive discussion of the SWPs political work under conditions of war. Participants in this discussion included, in addition to Trotsky and Cannon, Charles Cornell, Farrell Dobbs, Sam Gordon, Antoinette Konikow, Harold Robins and Joseph Hansen. Long suppressed documents obtained in the 1970s and 1980s by the International Committee of the Fourth International were to establish that Hansen was a GPU plant inside Trotskys secretariat.

Trotsky and Farrell Dobbs

An unedited stenographic report of this discussion was circulated to the SWP membership. The discussion on the first item on the agenda, which was a report on the Fourth Internationals Emergency Conference, was not transcribed. The verbatim record of the discussions begins with the second item on the agenda, War and Perspectives. Trotskys contributions to this discussion emphasized that the partys principled opposition to the imperialist war should not be confused or in any way associated with petty-bourgeois pacifism.

The entry of the United States into the war was inevitable. Trotsky insisted that the SWP had to translate principled opposition to the war into effective revolutionary agitation that intersected with the consciousness of the workers, without adapting to national chauvinism.

Militarization now goes on on a tremendous scale. We cannot oppose it with pacifist phrases. The militarization has wide support among the workers. They bear a sentimental hatred against Hitler with confused class sentiments. They have a hatred against the victorious brigands. The bureaucracy utilizes this to say help the defeated gangster. Our conclusions are completely different. But this sentiment is the inevitable base for the last period of preparation. [3]

The challenge confronting the SWP was to develop an approach to the young workers which, even as they were being drawn into the military, developed their class consciousness. The party had to place its agitation on a class basis. [4] Trotsky provided examples of the approach the party should take:

We are against the bourgeois officers who treat you like cattle, who use you for cannon-fodder. We are concerned about the deaths of the workers, unlike the bourgeois officers. We want workers officers. We can say to the workers: We are ready for revolution. But you arent ready. But both of us want our own workers officers in this situation. We want special workers schools which will train us to be officers We reject the control of the Sixty Families. We want an improvement of conditions for the worker-soldier. We want to safeguard his life. Not waste it. [5]

The discussion turned on Thursday, June 13, to the SWPs policy for the 1940 presidential election. The Democratic incumbent, Franklin Roosevelt, was running for a third term. The party had not nominated a candidate of its own. What do we tell the workers when they ask which president they should vote for? Cannon replied, They shouldnt ask such embarrassing questions. [6]

Trotsky asked why the SWP had not called for a congress of trade unions to nominate a candidate in opposition to Roosevelt. We cannot remain completely indifferent, he argued. We can very well insist in unions where we have influence that Roosevelt is not our candidate and the workers must have their own candidate. We should demand a nationwide congress connected with the [demand for an] independent labor party. [7]

Trotsky raised the question of the presidential candidacy of the American Communist Party. Since the signing of the Non-Aggression Pact, the Communist Party had adopted a position of opposition to the entry of the United States into the war. No doubt, this maneuver by the Stalinist leadership was determined entirely by the foreign policy of the Kremlin. But it was taken seriously by sections of the Communist Party membership. Did this not provide an opportunity for the SWP to intervene among the Stalinist workers? Trotsky proposed that the SWP, having no candidate of its own, consider giving critical support to the presidential campaign of Communist Party leader Earl Browder. However disoriented by the Stalinist leadership, the membership of the party included a significant layer of class-conscious workers. A timely political maneuver by the SWPextending critical support to the Communist Party campaign on the basis of its present opposition to American entry into the warwould open up the possibility of approaching the Stalinist workers.

Trotskys proposal was vehemently opposed by Cannon and virtually all the other participants in the discussion. In the course of years of bitter struggle against the Stalinists, the SWPs influence within the trade unions had required the development of alliances with progressive sections of the trade union bureaucracy. The maneuver proposed by Trotsky would undermine these relations.

Trotsky was critical of the SWPs approach to the progressive bureaucrats, who were aligned politically with Roosevelt and the Democratic Party. These progressive bureaucrats, Trotsky noted, can lean on us for advisors in the fight against the Stalinists. But the role of an advisor to the progressive bureaucrat doesnt promise much in the long run. [8]

Countering Trotsky, Antoinette Konikowwho had been one of the first American supporters of the Left Opposition back in the 1920sstated that unlike the Stalinists, American AFL leaders like Dan Tobin (leader of the Teamsters) and John L. Lewis (leader of the United Mine Workers) would not try to kill Trotskyists.

I am not so sure, Trotsky replied. Lewis would kill us very efficiently if he were elected and war came. [9]

Trotsky did not insist that the SWP adopt the policy he proposed. But as the discussion continued on Friday, June 14, he made a trenchant criticism of the partys orientation to the progressives.

I believe we have the critical point very clear. We are in a bloc with so-called progressivesnot only fakers but honest rank and file. Yes, they are honest and progressive but from time to time they vote for Rooseveltonce in four years. This is decisive. You propose a trade union policy, not a Bolshevik policy. Bolshevik policies begin outside the trade unions. The worker is an honest trade unionist but far from Bolshevik politics. The honest militant can develop but it is not identical with being a Bolshevik. You are afraid to become compromised in the eyes of the Rooseveltian trade unionists. They on the other hand are not worried in the slightest about being compromised by voting for Roosevelt against you. We are afraid of being compromised. If you are afraid, you lose your independence and become half-Rooseveltian. In peacetimes this is not catastrophic. In wartimes it will compromise us. They can smash us. Our policy is too much for pro-Rooseveltian trade unionists. I notice that in the Northwest Organizer [the newspaper of Teamsters Local 544 in Minneapolis, edited and controlled by the SWP] this is true. We discussed it before, but not a word was changed; not a single word. The dangera terrible dangeris adaptation to the pro-Rooseveltian trade unionists. You dont give any answer to the elections, not even the beginning of an answer. But we must have a policy. [10]

Trotsky continued his criticism of the SWPs adaptation to the trade union progressives on Saturday, June 15, the final day of the discussion.

It seems to me that a kind of passive adaptation to our trade union work can be recognized. There is not an immediate danger, but a serious warning indicating a change in direction is necessary. Many comrades are more interested in trade union work than in party work. More party cohesion is needed, more sharp maneuvering, a more serious systematic theoretical training; otherwise the trade unions can absorb our comrades. [11]

As the discussion on the SWPs policy in the 1940 election drew to a conclusion, one final issue arose: could the Communist Party be considered a legitimate part of the workers movement? Trotsky replied emphatically:

Of course the Stalinists are a legitimate part of the workers movement. That it is abused by its leaders for specific GPU ends is one thing, for Kremlin ends another. It is not at all different from other opposition labor bureaucracies. The powerful interests of Moscow influence the Third International, but it is not different in principle. Of course we consider the terror of the GPU control differently; we fight with all means, even bourgeois police. But the political current of Stalinism is a current in the workers movement. [12]

Despite the crimes committed by the Stalinistsand only three weeks had passed since the attempt on his lifeTrotsky insisted upon an objective appraisal of Stalinism. We must consider them from the objective Marxist viewpoint, Trotsky insisted. They are a very contradictory phenomenon. They began with October as the base, they have become deformed, but they have great courage. [13] The purpose of the maneuver proposed by Trotsky was to exploit this contradiction in the loyalties of the Stalinist rank and file:

I think that we can hope to win these workers who began as a crystallization of October. We see them negatively; how to break through this obstacle. We must set the base against the top. The Moscow gang we consider gangsters but the rank and file dont feel themselves to be gangsters, but revolutionists If we show that we understand, that we have a common language, we can turn them against their leaders. If we win five percent, the party will be doomed. [14]

Trotsky and the SWP delegation did not come to an agreement on the proposal for the extension of critical support to the Communist Party candidate, which he did not insist on. The difference did not undermine Trotskys relationship with the Socialist Workers Party, and the discussions ended amicably. In any event, to the extent that the SWP had evinced a detectable level of adaptation to the progressive bureaucrats, Trotskys criticism had a salutary impact on the party. Within weeks, Trotsky noticed and commented favorably on the political strengthening of the Northwest Organizer.

Harold Robins in May 1940

One of the participants in the discussion later recalled a remarkable incident that cast light on Trotskys pedagogical approach to political discussions. Harold Robins, a New York-born worker who had traveled to Mexico in 1939 and become the captain of Trotskys guard, took part in the morning discussion on June 13, during which Trotsky raised the question of critical support for the CPs presidential candidate. In an obituary that I wrote following Robins death in 1987 at the age of 79, I included an account of his personal experience that he had relayed to me.

When his turn to speak came, Harold launched into a vitriolic denunciation of the Stalinists, enumerating their many betrayals of the working class, and their slavish collaboration with the bourgeois politicians. Harold proclaimed that there wasnt any god-damn difference between the Stalinists and the Democrats. Trotsky raised his hand and broke into Harolds speech. Permit me a question, Comrade Robins. If there exist no differences between the Stalinists and the Democrats, why do they retain an independent existence and call themselves Communists? Why do they not simply join the Democratic Party? Harold was taken aback by these simple questions. This elementary lesson in dialectics immediately made it clear to Harold that his own position was wrong. But the story did not end there. With the issue still undecided, the meeting broke for lunch. Trotsky approached Harold and asked him what his position was. Well, I now think youre right, Comrade Trotsky. The Old Man beamed with satisfaction. Then, Comrade Robins, I propose we form a bloc and conduct the struggle together when the meeting resumes. Harold remembered thinking that he could not believe the Old Man was serious. Why the hell would Trotsky want or need a bloc with Harold Robins? At any rate, he accepted Trotskys offer and looked forward to the start of the afternoon session. However, as the lunch break was coming to a close, Robins was approached by another guard, Charles Cornell, who was bitterly disappointed that he was to remain on duty during the afternoon and would not be able to participate in the discussion with Trotsky. Cornell pleaded with Robins to change places with him, and Robins relented. And so Cornell went into the discussion while Robins patrolled the premises. Late in the afternoon, soon after the meeting ended, Harold found himself suddenly confronted by an obviously angry Trotsky. Where were you, Comrade Robins?, Trotsky demanded. Harold sought to explain the circumstances which had intervened during the lunch break. Trotsky brushed his arguments aside. We had a bloc, Comrade Robins, and you betrayed it. Harold recounted such incidents without the slightest sense of embarrassment, even though they hardly placed him in the best light. But for Harold, these events were precious examples of Trotskys utter completeness as a revolutionary, inflexibly devoted to principles in all aspects of his life and under all conditions. Here was a man, Harold seemed to be saying, who had led the greatest revolution in history, organized an army of millions, and participated in epochal political struggles alongside of the legendary figures of the international Marxist movement. And yet the same man, Trotsky, could propose a bloc with an unknown rank-and-file Jimmy Higgins and view it as seriously as he once viewed an alliance with Lenin! Harold was more than happy to diminish himself and recount his own youthful mistakes in order to convey the moral grandeur of Trotsky. [15]

In the course of their trip to Coyoacan, the SWP leaders inspected the villa and approved construction work that would fortify the compound against attack. Despite their sincere commitment to Trotskys defense, their efforts were undermined by a disturbing level of personal carelessness. Even though there remained unanswered questions about the role of Sheldon Harte in the May 24 assault, there is no indication that SWP leaders were taking a more cautious attitude toward their personal associations. Given the continuing campaign against Trotsky in the Stalinist press, it should have been clear to the SWP leaders that the political environment in Mexico City was dangerous, and that the capital was crawling with GPU agents intent on eliminating Trotsky.

Natalia Sedova, Trotsky, a friend and Harold Robins

Nevertheless, on the evening of June 11, James P. Cannon and Farrell Dobbs accepted an invitation to dinner at the Hotel Geneva, followed by drinks at another locale. The host of the two SWP leaders was Jacson-Mornard. [16] This encounter was reported by Cannon in the course of a brief internal investigation conducted by the SWP leadership following the assassination. This information was, however, concealed from the rank and file party membership.

To be continued

[1] The Kremlins Role in the European Catastrophe, in Writings of Leon Trotsky 193940 (New York: 1973), p. 290

[2] Ibid, pp. 29091

[3] Discussions with Trotsky, in Writings of Leon Trotsky 193940, p. 253

[4] Ibid, p. 254

[5] Ibid

[6] Ibid, p. 260

[7] Ibid, pp. 26061

[8] Ibid, p. 266

[9] Ibid, p. 267

[10] Ibid, pp. 27173

[11] Ibid, pp. 28081

[12] Ibid, p. 282

[13] Ibid

[14] Ibid

[15] A Tribute to Harold Robins, Captain of Trotskys Guard, by David North (Detroit: 1987), pp. 810

[16] Trotsky: Downfall of a Revolutionary, by Patenaude, Bertrand M. (p. 270). Harper Collins e-books. Kindle Edition.




The IPOB members were killed in broad daylight by a combined team of DSS, Police and Nigerian army in Enugu

Before now, it was the unprovoked ethnic cleansing and the rampant murder of Igbos in the north that ignited the Biafran war. These days, the government is now using security agents to wipe out unarmed Igbo youths in broad daylight, forgetting that these people have families and loved ones. While these Igbo youths do no carry guns, the government makes excuses for itself to justify the unconscionable executions.

The government sends its security agents to raid meetings held by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members. This the government does to fulfill the objective for which it declared them a terrorist group  to slaughter and gun them down in cold blood, after all, they are terrorists. While the governments plan may be working perfectly well, the Igbos are the ones losing able-bodied men, youths in their numbers who make up a large chunk of IPOBs support base.

The recent massacre of IPOB members in Enugu by a combined team of police, DSS, and the military on the 23rd of August, 2020 could be a catalyst capable of turning Nigeria into another war zone, remember it happened before.

Eyewitness account according to Punch said that the IPOB members were holding a peaceful meeting at St. Patricks Secondary School Emene community in Enugu State when the team of security agents stormed, blocked the entrance with two hilux vans. Before you could say jack, blood of IPOB members flowed in the school compound as many of them were shot dead. To worsen things, the security agents after killing them, carried their bodies to an unknown place. This story is not new to people who live in the south-east because this is how security operatives in Nigeria operate. They place no value on human life especially when they are in the south-east.

While cowardly Igbo elite class turn the other way for the opportunity to grab power in 2023, another war is being staged by the government with its thirst for the blood of Igbo youths whose only crime is to come together for a meeting to advance the cause of the ethnic group. While the government failed to act where needed by declaring killer Fulani herdsmen and bandits who have raped, maimed, killed, and wiped out villages in Southern Kaduna as terrorists, it has carried on with its agenda to reduce the number of youths in Igboland. The government using its security agents have continued to carry out multiple raids at IPOB meeting places, killing and executing members of the group who are unarmed and peaceful. From Aba to Port Harcourt, Owerri, Onitsha and Enugu, the story is the same. The government believes IPOB members pose a threat to the unity of the country even though the group has remained unarmed over the years.

It is sad many Nigerians have decided to remain silent while the government goes about killing unarmed youths of Igbo extraction with the excuse that they are members of the Indigenous People of Biafra. More disappointing is the decision of the so-called Igbo leaders, groups, and politicians to remain silent and watch the government takedown unarmed youths in cold blood. Governors, senators, house of representative members, and traditional rulers from the south-east should be ashamed of themselves. They have failed in their duties to call the federal government to order for the unjustified execution of these unarmed youths. Failure on their part to liaise with the federal government and discuss lingering issues causing these agitations is a recurring decimal that has continued to jeopardize the countrys existence. They make it seem like IPOB is a prodigal group, senseless at best fighting for a forgotten and lost cause  all on their own. They are comfortable to pen bogus words on social media and speak eloquently at conferences condemning the killing of black people in America, Uk etc; same folks keep silent while security agents in Nigeria execute unarmed IPOB youths in broad daylight. Indeed, while they are comfortable with the Nigeria of today as beneficiaries, the spilling of innocent blood of unarmed Igbo youths by the FG is not their concern.

Of course, this also shows that there is no real leadership or political force coming from the south-east as it is obvious these so-called elite are yes-boys of the government.

This untoward trend by the government to kill IPOB members at will has continued for too long. Some years back, some videos went viral on social media showing men of the Nigerian army forcing IPOB members to drink and swim inside dirty water. It sparked outrage and widespread condemnation from people. These unprovoked attacks against a peaceful group whose only form of rebellion is to organize protests in some of the states will be more catastrophic if they are forced to carry arms against the state. We will have another Somalia on our hands.

Today, the soldiers who forced those IPOB members to drink and swim in dirty water, strip them of their clothes and assaulted them in full view of the public walk about free men. The army swept the matter under the carpet as usual. They are IPOB members, after all, you can execute, assault, murder them, no one cares.

Whatever comes out of it, I hope those who remained silent while this unjust act goes on unabated will not die of guilt. I am not an IPOB member, but I am a Nigerian with eyes, ears, and a sound mind. The truth is: everyone knows that what the government is doing to IPOB members is unjust, inhumane, and unwarranted. But, because of some peoples selfish political and financial interest, they have chosen to remain silent. That silence may just be another war!

Alexander Thandi Ubani writes from Lagos.

thandiubani@yahoo.com
They may look spectacular, but there is a deadly sting in the tail!

Dangerous Lion's Mane Jellyfish have been spotted on Louth Beaches in recent days.

Louth County Council issued a public warning to beach users to be wary of the jellyfish which are washing up along the local coastline.

Their stings can cause nausea, cramps, headaches and other symptoms.

They could also be dangerous to dogs, so pet owners are warned to be vigilant if they are walking dogs along the shoreline.

There have been an increase in sightings of both the 'Portuguese man o'war' and the lion's mane jellyfish, which are the most frequent sea creatures spotted.

According to Water Safety Ireland, the increase is due to the warming of sea waters, and over-fishing off Irish coasts, resulting in less predators to keep the number of jellyfish at a manageable level.

John Leech, CEO of Water Safety Ireland warned that the danger arises when people aren't aware what the lion's mane or man o'war are, and might go over to investigate.

'If a child starts poking them they're likely to get stung. If you do see them, report them to the local authorities and they bury them. Even when they're dead, the venom stays in them for a few days.'

'We don't have enough natural predators, or fish that eat jellyfish,' he added.

The consequence of an increase in jellyfish along Irish coasts is a risk for swimmers and walkers.

'It's a big swimming concern,' said the Water Safety spokesman.

He explained that some beaches have had to be closed in recent years when a large number of the sea creatures had washed up along the shoreline.

Check out Water Safety Ireland's web page for information on what to do if you do see a lion's mane or man'o war, and for advice on how to treat potential stings.
After already having its operations come to a standstill following the outbreak of the coronavirus in March, the Tri-Boro Memorial VFW Post 5479 in Dunellen now finds itself further in the hole.

A break-in occurred on July 26, and the burglars took the posts cash register and did damage to the bar area, further hampering the already struggling veterans organization in this small Middlesex County borough.

It hit us hard monetarily, financially, said post commander Jason Cunas, a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. And also morale-wise. Nobody could understand why they would hit a non-profit organization, let alone a VFW.

The burglary is another setback for the post that has already had to shut down several of its fundraising events during the past several months. A flower sale for Mothers Day and multiple raffles were canceled, in addition to a loss of the usual profits that come from alcohol sales and hall rentals for parties and events.

In an attempt to recoup some of these financial losses, Cunas and the Tri-Boro Memorial VFW are asking for help from the community. A GoFundMe campaign was launched on Aug. 19, hoping to raise $10,000 that would get the post through the next four to six months as well as repair the damage caused by the burglary.

The GoFundMe received an initial outpouring of support, with the campaign raising $1,225 as of Aug. 27, though donations have slowed in recent days.

While many other businesses and non-profits have been able to turn to social media in an attempt to recover funds lost during the pandemic, the VFW finds it difficult to do so. The VFW post has a comparatively low level of online engagement, as many of its members are older veterans who fought in wars prior to the one in Iraq and dont use social media.

With our post, and our organizations, its a lot of older members, Cunas said. Im the youngest member by about 30 years. Its something that we definitely have to catch up to, as far as technology goes, especially if we want to fund-raise on that level.

The VFW in Dunellen has 101 members, many of whom depend on the VFW as a source of community and camaraderie that cant be found anywhere else.

Its a place that they feel comfortable at, Cunas said on what the VFW means to its veteran members. Theres a certain feeling about being around somebody else thats gone through the same things you have. We want to keep it open for those reasons. Veterans helping veterans and the community.

Besides supporting veterans, the VFW also partners with other local non-profits in its fundraising efforts. Every month, members of the VFW visit the Veterans Memorial Home in Menlo Park and run a bingo night. Additionally, the VFW participates in the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, something that is especially meaningful to Cunas as a former Marine.

In addition to the GoFundMe, donations may also be sent directly to the VFW in the form of a check.

We can use all the help that we can get, said Cunas. Any donation big or small, or even just spreading the word, helps us in a tremendous way.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Casey Roland may be reached at croland@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
A research tool, or the woke police out to stifle creative flowerings? An exercise in ass-covering in the era of cancel culture, or just another primary source to incorporate?

In light of Donal Ryan's recent revelation that his majestic new novel Strange Flowers was run past a 'sensitivity reader' to reduce the risk of causing offence, the growth of these filters in publishing is up for discussion.

If only we could agree what a sensitivity reader was. What became apparent when researching the subject is that confusion exists about what exactly they do. This uncertainty, mixed with the minefield of today's online culture wars, meant that some authors contacted for this piece felt the issue was too much of a hot potato to talk about for fear of saying the wrong thing - and who could blame them? Others shrugged and asked what the big deal was.

Writing Diversely, a website offering a directory of sensitivity reading services, defines it as reviewing a manuscript "for internalised bias and negatively charged language" as well as "cliches, tropes, and authenticity". "Even though there is no one way to be, minority communities have cultural norms and sensitivity readers can help you stay true to those norms," it says.

This definition, however, seems an over-complication to some authors who merely view sensitivity readers as part of thorough research, a way to ensure that a character beyond their personal experience is ringing true. Mammoth-selling Neil Gaiman is one.

"I've had friends read my stuff to make sure that I didn't look like an idiot for writing about something I didn't know anything about for as long as I've been writing," he tells me. "Most writers I know do. I've been reading stuff for my friends with my Englishman hat on or my Jewish hat on for over 30 years, to catch things that the writers might have failed to grasp. I think not using readers who can help you do better as a writer is foolish."

Like Gaiman, Dave Rudden also writes speculative fiction. He employed the services of sensitivity readers to do justice to two characters in particular - an Iranian-American girl and a trans boy. Inclusive Minds, a collective dedicated to promoting diversity in books, matched him with two readers who gave feedback.

"I remember being at a dinner party, and listening to an author boast about how he had lived with actual wolves in order to write a book about wolves, and then in the same breath sneer at the thought of 'having' to hire a sensitivity reader in order to learn more about a perspective not his own," Rudden recalls.

"I've also heard people say that 'they limit imagination' or 'what the writer can do,' and that to me also seems kind of silly, because my experience is that there is nothing more fascinating than listening to people. I certainly don't feel like I 'have' to do it to placate some imagined PC culture crowd. I write for kids and teenagers, and if I write a fictional young person that doesn't ring true to a real young person, then that's on me. It's a matter of accuracy as much as it is respect."

Rudden cites the recent furore over Channel 4 proposing to do a comedy set during the Famine, or the American propensity for saying 'St Patty's Day' as examples on a spectrum of things that might grate an Irish person. "It's worth remembering that what matters to you is based on where you're standing."

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But what happens when the grating is intentional? What if you trade in despicable types who need to be offensive?

In his recent comic caper The Lammisters, crime writer Declan Burke trod carefully with a character who was an old Hollywood Jewish movie mogul. However, Burke is apprehensive about the idea of sensitivity readers because as far as he is concerned, authors - and, indeed, publishers - should already be hot to these things and make provisions.

"Can the author be really so unaware of what his or her words say that they don't realise the work is 'offensive' or 'toxic'? If they are, then they really shouldn't be published," he says. "And if the book is deliberately being offensive and toxic (on the basis of race, say, or gender), then the publisher has a big question to answer: is the deliberate offence there to provoke debate and raise consciousness, or is it simply intended to insult and denigrate? I imagine a sensitivity reader would have got an eyeful reading Ulysses, not least because Joyce set out to be provocative."

Bethany Rutter is a London-based writer and sensitivity reader who specialises in body positivity. She was contacted by crime author Liz Nugent to look over a character in Our Little Cruelties with an eating disorder. Nugent says her publishers didn't want her "to go there at all", but she felt a responsibility to reflect the experience of such a character truthfully.

"It's about whether the character is contextualised within the book," Rutter says. "Obviously most characters Liz writes are not pleasant people. From my point of view, it would totally follow that they would be saying unpleasant things about people, so a Liz Nugent book is quite a hard one to be a sensitivity reader for.

"It's perhaps less important for adult books. I write for young adults so there is this duty of care of what you write and how you write it, that it doesn't leave a long-lasting impression on young people."

The feedback is always framed as advice rather than instructions, but you couldn't imagine any author ignoring such advice these days.

Mehr Husain, a British-Pakistani writer and sensitivity reader, says the reader has a duty to do their own research and impress their credentials upon the author. "You're not tinkering with a storyline; you're making it seem more authentic," he says.

The author is giving their work to a stranger, and that can be frightening, he adds.

"You [as a sensitivity reader] want the other person to know that you know your job. You're not just sitting there going, 'Oh, this is nice. This is good. I don't personally like this.' You have to let them know you know what you're talking about, that you're familiar with text, with the literature. These things make a huge difference. The idea is not to cause offence or fight back, it's to have dialogue, to say, 'you've done this, that's fine. How about we tweak it in such a manner? Do you think this might work for you?'"
The last week of the triumphant Eat Out To Help Out scheme led to a doubling in restaurant reservations compared to the same period last year, Treasury projections suggest.

Insiders say the scheme  which ends tomorrow  was the result of 'weeks of brainstorming, debate and modelling', with the Chancellor playing a key role in the success by deciding at the last minute to change the plan from a 40 per cent off deal to 50 per cent off  realising it would stick in minds more and make the calculation much easier.

Mr Sunak's advisers had urged him to prioritise the hospitality industry because 1.4 million people working in it had been furloughed, and 76 per cent do not have a degree or higher qualification, putting them at greater risk of long-term unemployment.

Insiders say the scheme  which ends tomorrow  was the result of 'weeks of brainstorming, debate and modelling', with Chancellor Rishi Sunak playing a key role in the success by deciding at the last minute to change the plan from a 40 per cent off deal to 50 per cent off

The last week of the triumphant Eat Out To Help Out scheme led to a doubling in restaurant reservations compared to the same period last year, Treasury projections suggest (pictured: people enjoying lunch in Covent Garden, London, August 26, 2020)

The idea of a pre-paid card was rejected due to the challenges of producing 50 million debit cards.

During the first three weeks, over 64million discounted meals were claimed in more than 80,000 restaurants  the equivalent to every person in the UK making use of it once.

By the third week, the increase in reservations on the Mondays to Wednesdays when it applied had reached 61 per cent, and last week is thought to have hit 95 per cent.

So far, more than 336million has been claimed back from the Treasury, meaning it may ultimately cost more than the 500million estimate.

A source said: 'We hope it does overshoot because it means more people getting back in the habit of eating out and more jobs saved.'

Now it's Michael Gove versus Rishi Sunak: Cabinet heavyweights square up to see who will be Boris Johnson's heir

By Glen Owen and Brendan Carlin for the Mail on Sunday

The next General Election might be more than four years off and Boris Johnson has dismissed claims he could stand down next year due to ill health  but that has not stopped Tory MPs from engaging in their favourite pastime  leadership speculation.

And the consensus is, when the time comes, it is likely to be the 'experience and intellect' of Michael Gove versus the 'charm and charisma' of youthful rising star Rishi Sunak.

The chattering about how long Mr Johnson plans to serve in No 10 increased last week after The Times reported that the father-in-law of Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister's most powerful adviser, had told one of its readers that Mr Johnson would stand down in six months because of the continuing effects of his coronavirus infection.

The scenario is rejected by MPs as highly unlikely, but many think Mr Johnson might step down in 2023 to give his successor time to settle in to No 10 before the 2024 election.

Friends of Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, say they expect him to run for the party leadership then, despite the formidable threat posed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Rishi Sunak has seen his public ratings soar during the coronavirus crisis  above Boris Johnson's  due to successes such as his Eat Out To Help Out scheme

Friends of Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, say they expect him to run for the party leadership then, despite the formidable threat posed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak

Mr Sunak has seen his public ratings soar during the coronavirus crisis  above Mr Johnson's  due to successes such as his Eat Out To Help Out scheme. The Chancellor is also building a powerful government-in-exile at the Treasury. But Mr Gove also has a strong Whitehall network, having seeded a string of former aides into powerful positions across government  'most of them called Henry', in the words of one observer.

Both men are also jostling for prime position as the effective 'chief executive' of the administration, with Mr Johnson as 'chairman of the board'.

While Mr Sunak, 40, has the machinery of the Treasury at his disposal, Mr Gove, 53, sits on a series of powerful Cabinet committees and is central to the key preparations for Brexit.

The speculation has been fanned by mounting backbench dissatisfaction over repeated Government U-turns, with Tory backbenchers using Whats-App groups to vent their anger. The Mail on Sunday spoke yesterday to several Tory MPs who expect the Prime Minister to stand down before the next Election.

One said: 'No one could blame Boris for not wanting to fight another General Election after what he's been through with Covid and the virus crisis. I also don't think he would want to cling on to the job. He'll want to get Brexit done, see the virus crisis safely sorted out and ensure the economy's back on track.'

The chattering about how long Mr Johnson plans to serve in No 10 increased last week after The Times reported that the father-in-law of Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister's most powerful adviser, had told one of its readers that Mr Johnson would stand down in six months because of the continuing effects of his coronavirus infection

Another said: 'He wanted to be PM and he wanted to have been PM  but does he actually like doing the job?'

One ally of the Chancellor went further to insist that Mr Sunak had to be the next leader. The MP said: 'Rishi stands out as the best choice to succeed Boris. He's performed superbly in the face of the pandemic when many other Ministers have been found wanting.

'Having our first ethnic minority Prime Minister would be massive for the party and for the country.'

However, one former Cabinet Minister cautioned that Mr Sunak, who only became Chancellor in February, was potentially at the height of his popularity.

He said: 'We may well be at peak Rishi now. He's got all the plaudits for the virus furlough schemes and responding to the crisis decisively.

'But who knows where we'll be when the furlough ends and un-employment really starts to climb in the winter.'
Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a procedure that infuses a donor's healthy blood-forming stem cells into a recipient as part of a potentially curative therapy for cancer. While this therapy can be life-saving, a major complication is the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which causes significant morbidity and can be fatal. Before allogenic HSCT, a patient receives a conditioning regimen, chemotherapy designed to deplete his/her normal white blood cells, including T cells.

But a new study by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital, University of Oslo (Norway) and University of Newcastle (UK) has found that skin and intestinal T cells in the recipient survive conditioning regimens and continue to perform their normal functions. But, under certain conditions, these T cells can become activated by donor white blood cells and play a previously unappreciated role in acute GVHD. The investigators' results are published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

In all the years that GVHD has been studied, it has been an article of faith that graft T cells mediate the disease and attack the body. We discovered in skin and gastrointestinal tract that the T cells that cause GVHD are also from the host -- that is, the patient's own T cells. These durable T cells from the host become activated by cells from the graft, thus causing tissue injury. This completely novel finding was unexpected and opens the door to new approaches to treatment and prevention." Thomas Kupper, MD, Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the Brigham

Conditioning regimens are meant to deplete the host of normal white blood cells, including T cells, in order to make room for the new immune system that will develop from the graft. When recipient blood has been examined after conditioning, T cells are difficult to detect. But Kupper and colleagues found that while the recipients blood T cells were depleted, their tissue T cells in the skin and gut were not.

The researchers used high throughput DNA sequencing of T cells and "short tandem repeat"/STR analysis, which together determines the proportion of blood (or tissue) cells that derive from the donor (graft) or the recipient (host), respectively. They further studied male-female host/donor mismatch transplants, using XY sex chromosomes to determine the origin of the cells. The team also used mouse models, grafting human skin onto immunocompromised mice to avoid rejection and test the ability of host skin T cells to mediate GVHD without donor T cells.

Based on the high throughput sequencing and STR analysis, the team saw that there were still abundant host T cells present in the skin and small intestine during GVHD, even when blood cells were 100% of donor origin. The mouse models demonstrated that skin-resident host T cells could be activated by donor non-T cell white blood cells to generate GVHD-like skin inflammation. The results indicate that unexpectedly, skin- and intestinal-resident T cells not only survive conditioning regimens, but are present in tissues during acute GVHD and very likely play an important role in the pathphysiology of this disease.

"Our new understanding of GVHD allows us to think about tissue resident memory T cells in the host/recipient as a new target for therapy, which is potentially game changing," said Kupper. "Hypothetically, we could use this information to intervene earlier and perhaps even prevent the emergence of GVHD. This study is an example of how we must never assume we know everything about disease mechanism and must always be willing to challenge prevailing paradigms if that's where the data leads."
From land issues, pending arbitrations and demands of villagers to sluggish work by state authorities, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has flagged issues, which have hampered work on the Rs 81,000 crore dedicated freight corridor, in letters to nine chief ministers urging them to intervene and told them that the prime minister was "monitoring the project closely".

Following concerns raised by the PMO, Goyal in letters to the chief ministers of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, West Bengal, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Jharkhand has highlighted how the dedicated freight corridor has been facing "long-pending issues" which have remained "unresolved".

The two dedicated freight corridors which are currently under construction -- the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) from Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), from Ludhiana in Punjab to Dankuni in West Bengal -- had December 2021 as their completion date which has now been pushed back by six months to June 2022, according to a statement from the Railway Board Chairman VK Yadav who said that the delay was because of the disruption of work due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The minister has specially urged the Uttar Pradesh chief minister's personal intervention to resolve the bottlenecks in his state as over 1,000 km of the DFC passes through it.

"The prime minister has been monitoring the progress of the project closely. Over 1,000 km length of DFC passes through the state of Uttar Pradesh... However, certain issues relating to land acquisition and ROB construction still persist, which need to be resolved urgently for ensuring commissioning of the project work within targeted time. You may kindly appreciate that bottlenecks, even in a few stretches in this type of liner project, will stall the commissioning of the entire project," Goyal said in his letter.

He has listed a slew of problems facing the Railways -- pending road over bridges (ROB), hindrances in physical possession of land in areas like Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Saharanpur among others due to agitation, arbitration cases, demand for compensation and jobs by villagers, undue demand of lease rent by the Uttar Pradesh forest department and protests by villages over building of ROB in Mirzapur district.

In the letters, Goyal has listed all the issues that are being faced by the Railways in specific areas in the states. In West Bengal and Jharkhand, the minister has raised issues of delay in disbursal of awards, arbitration and mutation.

"Out of total length of 1,839 km of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, 203 km (Gomoh-Dankuni) is passing through the state of West Bengal and likely to attract major investment being planned under PPP model."

The foremost criterion for initiating bidding for this project is to acquire at least 90 percent land with mutation. As such, success of this project in your state depends upon early availability of land.

"However, delay in disbursal of awards, pending arbitration, mutations and hindrances in possession of land etc. in various districts has adversely affected project work... You will appreciate that removal of these hindrances are essential to ensure commencement of project work, Goyal wrote in his letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

In his letter to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Goyal said that the state was a major beneficiary of the project, as 236 km of Eastern DFC is passing through the districts of Gaya, Aurangabad, Kaimur and Rohtas and likely to attract major investment in your state.

He said that land acquisition in certain stretches is held up for long due to delay in disbursal of awards, pending arbitration, mutations and hindrances in possession of land which "adversely affected the project work".

The minister has highlighted two major issues in almost all the states -- land acquisition and delay by the local governments in building land approaches and road over bridges (ROB).

In his letter to the Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Goyal highlighted how out of the total of 1,504 km of the WDFC, 565 km is in the state. Out of the 60 ROBs that were to be constructed, 32 were to be built by the state, however, only 2 have been built and the progress of the other 20 are slow.

Land acquisition for the approaches for 46 out of the 60 ROBs are also pending, he said.

Similarly in states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Punjab, delay in land acquisition for ROBs by the state governments have delayed the project.

Railways will also hold a review with state government officials of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Maharashtra on September 1.

DFCCIL has been tasked with developing Indian Railways' quadrilateral linking the four metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Howrah, commonly known as the Golden Quadrilateral. The overall cost is pegged at Rs 81,459 crore.

In the first phase the organisation is constructing the Western DFC (1,504 route km) and Eastern DFC (1,856 route km) spanning a total length of 3,360 route km. These corridors were targeted to be completed in phases by December 2021. DFCCIL had completed a total of 500 km till January.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been slammed for scaremongering talk about a second lockdown that risks untold damage to businesses trying to recover from the first one.

The under-fire Minister told The Times yesterday that England could face nationwide restrictions and very extensive local lockdowns in the event of a second wave of Covid-19 this winter.

In an interview he warned countries in others parts of the world were already experiencing a second wave and claimed it was a very serious threat.

Mr Hancock also hinted that if a vaccine is not ready soon, grandparents would be unable to hug their grandchildren this Christmas.

Mr Hancock (pictured) also hinted that if a vaccine is not ready soon, grandparents would be unable to hug their grandchildren this Christmas

Last night business leaders responded with shock and disbelief at the timing and the tone of Mr Hancocks comments.

They come just days before children are set to return to schools in England and ahead of a major Government advertising campaign to encourage workers back to their offices.

Leading City financier Dame Helena Morrissey told The Mail on Sunday: I find it very frustrating  its incredibly inconsistent.

Im really not sure at this stage that the country needs more scaremongering. And I find it very perplexing and very disappointing that hes putting fear in.

'Just as children are getting ready to get back to school, this talk of a second wave is very dangerous.

'I think that Matt Hancock seems to be marching to his own tune.

He seems to be saying things that dont fit at all with some of the other advice that were being given and obviously I think the balance of risks has shifted from all health to health and the economy.

Charlie Mullins, founder of London firm Pimlico Plumbers, said: How long can we carry on like this?

'I dont think hes helping and I feel that he needs to be more encouraging than discouraging.

'If we dont go back to work, were all going to be worse off anyhow because obviously there wont be jobs to go to.

Mr Hancock also faced a backlash online, with travel industry expert David Speakman lambasting the Health Secretary on Twitter: Loose talk by Matt Hancock doing untold damage to business unable to plan by irrational government policy and asked Where is Boris Johnson [and] Michael Gove putting him in line?

He added: It illustrates the disconnect between the people and the Establishment. The Establishment that believe they know better and try to rule rather than support Career politicians dont help.

Clive Jacobs, founder of leisure car hire firm Holiday Autos, agreed: When history is written in years to come people will laugh at how imbeciles like him were allowed to destroy our way of life unnecessarily.

It came as Covid-19 infections fell 14 per cent on last weeks figures, with 1,108 people testing positive in the 24 hours up to yesterday.

In the same period, the UK recorded 12 deaths to bring the tally to 41,498.

The total number of cases has risen to 332,752, and there is now an average of 1,173 new cases each day.

More than 1,000 positive tests have been confirmed on 16 days this month, after a run of no four-figure days throughout June and July.
A caravan of flashing lights and loud car horns drew Ted Montelongo from the South Side home that he has lived in for 60 years.

He watched from his front lawn as more than 30 cars rolled from the Wesley Health & Wellness Center parking lot on Saturday morning onto a route through District 4 to promote more participation in the Census 2020. After the cars and SUVs fell behind a San Antonio Police motorcycle escort, Montelongo recalled when his home was one of the few on the street that dead-ended to a green space and dirt trails.

He said it was everybodys responsibility in the neighborhood to complete Census forms that could bring federal funds for better services in the area, such as schools and roads.

Its sad that they have to go through all of that to get everyone counted, Montelongo, 85, said of the caravan that turned onto Zarzamora Street. Its the minority community that needs it the most.

This was the U.S. Census Bureaus and their partners fourth caravan to get the word out in San Antonio about the Sept. 30 deadline to send in forms. The bureau partnered with Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia, the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, San Antonio Bexar County Complete Count Committee and the League of United Latin American Citizens District 15.

Scheduled guests included Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia, and actress Paulina Chavez from the Netflix show, The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia.

The caravan traveled to other South Side areas that included Tierra Linda and the South San/Quintana neighborhoods. Earlier this month the partners sponsored a similar cavalcade that traveled through the East Side.

Rozanna Mendoza, partnership coordinator for San Antonio and Austin said the routes are planned through critical neighborhoods and hard-to-count areas.

We need everybodys voice, she said. The census is not effective unless we get the community motivated.

Mendoza said as the caravan rolled through the district, census takers wearing masks and observing social distancing, were out knocking on doors of residents who havent turned in their forms.

Before the cars returned to the centers parking lot, Montelongo was still outside of his home where he and his wife, Annie, raised a son and daughter who have their own children. Having served on school boards on the South Side in the past, he said its everyones responsibility to contribute to the community.

One way to do that, he said, is by returning census forms.

We send them right back, Montelongo said. Its a lot of help for a lot of people. We need to be counted.

Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Vincent, become a subscriber. vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis
Freedom and Swedens Constitution

In most countries, the tool of choice to flatten the curve of the coronavirus pandemic is the lockdown. Not in Sweden, which has chosen a rather laissezfaire approach. The borders have been kept open, and Swedes are free to travel within the country, visit bars and restaurants (with some restrictions), parks, hairdressers, gyms and most other places.

The cornerstone of the Swedish response is its constitutions most important part, the Regeringsform. Chapter 2, Article 8 states: Everyone shall be protected in their relations with the public institutions against deprivations of personal liberty. All Swedish citizens shall also in other respects be guaranteed freedom of movement within the Realm and freedom to depart the Realm. The Regeringsform makes exceptions only for prisoners and military conscripts, and there is no provision for a peacetime state of emergency. While the constitutions of neighboring Finland and Norway also guarantee freedom of movement, neither juxtaposes that provision with a broad protection of personal liberty.

The Swedish Constitution comes into play in another, more significant way, namely the strong independence of public authorities from government interference. This unique feature originated with the Regeringsform of 1634, which followed the death of King Gustavus Adolphus II in the Thirty Years War. It insulates Swedens public institutions from political meddling to a much greater degree than in any other democracy.

The Public Health Agency of Swedenlike other public bodies, such as the worlds oldest central bank, the Riksbankoperates with an incomparably high degree of independence from the government. Chapter 12, Article 2 of the Regeringsform spells this out: No public authority, including the Riksdagthe Parliamentor decisionmaking body of any local authority, may determine how an administrative authority shall decide in a particular case relating to the exercise of public authority visavis an individual or a local authority, or relating to the application of law.

So the Swedish Public Health Agency is directed and operated by expertsnot government political appointees. These experts are the architects of Swedens response to the coronavirus pandemic. They have developed a broader approach than most epidemiologists. The collaborative work of health economists and epidemiologists at the Swedish Public Health Agency has produced a response that explicitly considers the overall impact of their policies on the Swedish economy and people. The heads of the Public Health Agency have the last word.

The independence of public authorities seems to suit the Swedes. They have strong trust in public institutions, in the governments effectiveness and honesty, and in the democratic process and rule of law. This trust is, in large part, derived from the freedoms guaranteed by the Swedish constitution. Swedes also trust each other to a remarkable extent, as documented in international surveys. According to a recent poll, 63% of Swedes reported that they trusted most people, compared with only 30% in the U.S. So when Swedens state epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell, speaks, Swedes listen to his advice on social distancing, washing hands for at least 30 seconds, and selfisolation of atrisk groups, like those over 70.

It isnt only Swedens epidemiologists who have the Swedes earseconomists do, too. The great Swedish economists, starting with Knut Wicksell (18511926), have been active in the public sphere and have had an outsize influence on Swedish policy. Once the coronavirus appeared, Swedish economists cautioned that a policy of restrictions, such as lockdowns, would impose enormous economic costs to society, and that it might be as bad as the disease itself. Swedes listened.

Swedens exceptionalism rests on both its formal written constitution and the high degree of trust infused in the countrys customs and habits. Its one thing to have rules, another thing to follow them.



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By Steve H. Hanke

www.cato.org/people/hanke.html

Steve H. Hanke is a Professor of Applied Economics and Co-Director of the Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health, and the Study of Business Enterprise at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Prof. Hanke is also a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C.; a Distinguished Professor at the Universitas Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia; a Senior Advisor at the Renmin University of Chinas International Monetary Research Institute in Beijing; a Special Counselor to the Center for Financial Stability in New York; a member of the National Bank of Kuwaits International Advisory Board (chaired by Sir John Major); a member of the Financial Advisory Council of the United Arab Emirates; and a contributing editor at Globe Asia Magazine.

Copyright  2020 Steve H. Hanke - All Rights Reserved



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Police officers push away a crowd of demonstrators from the square Platz der Republik in front of the Reichstag building (Christoph Soeder/dpa via AP)

Far-right extremists tried to storm the German parliament building following a protest against the countrys pandemic restrictions, but were intercepted by police and forcibly removed.

The incident occurred after a day-long demonstration by tens of thousands of people opposed to the wearing of masks and other government measures intended to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Police ordered the protesters to disband halfway through their march around Berlin after participants refused to observe social-distancing rules, but a rally near the capitals Brandenburg Gate took place as planned.

Expand Close People in front of the Brandenburg Gate attend a protest rally (Michael Sohn/AP) / Facebook

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Footage of the incident showed hundreds of people, some waving the flag of the German Reich of 1871-1918 and other far-right banners, running towards the Reichstag building and up the stairs.

Police confirmed on Twitter that several people had broken through a cordon in front of Parliament and entered the staircase of the Reichstag building, but not the building itself.

Stones and bottles were thrown at our colleagues, police said. Force had to be used to push them back.

Earlier, thousands of far-right extremists had thrown bottles and stones at police outside the Russian Embassy. Police detained about 300 people throughout the day.

Berlins regional government had tried to ban the protests, warning that extremists could use them as a platform and citing anti-mask rallies earlier this month where rules intended to stop the virus from being spread further were not respected.

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Protest organisers successfully appealed against the decision on Friday, though a court ordered them to ensure social distancing. Failure to enforce that measure prompted Berlin police to dissolve the march while it was still in progress.

During the march, which authorities said drew about 38,000 people, participants expressed their opposition to a wide range of issues, including vaccinations, face masks and the German government in general.

Some wore T-shirts promoting the QAnon conspiracy theory while others displayed white nationalist slogans and neo-Nazi insignia, though most participants denied having far-right views.

Germany has seen an upswing in new cases in recent weeks. The countrys disease control agency reported on Saturday that Germany had almost 1,500 new infections over the past day.

Germany has been praised for the way it has handled the pandemic, and the countrys death toll of some 9,300 people is less than one-fourth the amount of people who have died of Covid-19 in Britain.

Opinion polls show overwhelming support for the prevention measures imposed by authorities, such as the requirement to wear masks on public transport, in stores and some public buildings such as libraries and schools.

Along the route were several smaller counter-protests where participants shouted slogans against the far-rights presence at the anti-mask rally.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 21:01:24|Editor: huaxia

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Video: U.S. President Donald Trump hit the campaign trail on Aug. 28, 2020 by holding a rally in Londonderry in the northeastern state of New Hampshire, a day after accepting the Republican Party's nomination for reelection. (Xinhua)

Speaking to supporters at an airport, Trump again laced into his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, while lashing out at demonstrations calling for social justice that have at times turned chaotic and violent.

Biden, in a statement on Friday, accused Trump of "bringing his message of division, lies, and chaos to New Hampshire."

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump hit the campaign trail on Friday by holding a rally in Londonderry in the northeastern state of New Hampshire, a day after accepting the Republican Party's nomination for reelection.

Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Aug. 27, 2020 shows screens displaying U.S. President Donald Trump delivering his acceptance speech during the 2020 Republican National Convention. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Speaking to supporters at an airport, Trump again laced into his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, while lashing out at demonstrations calling for social justice that have at times turned chaotic and violent.



George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, died from asphyxiation after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May. His death sparked massive demonstrations against police brutality and racism, as well as social unrest in some U.S. cities.

Biden, in a statement on Friday, accused Trump of "bringing his message of division, lies, and chaos to New Hampshire."

Demonstrators gather at the Lincoln Memorial for the "Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" event in Washington, D.C., the United States, Aug. 28, 2020. (Photo by Alan Chin/Xinhua)

"They are not protesters. Those are anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters," Trump said. "It has nothing to do with George Floyd. They have no idea who he is. If you ask them 'Who's George Floyd?' they say 'I don't know.'"



In 2016, Trump lost the Granite State to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton by fewer than 3,000 votes. His campaign has identified the state as a flip opportunity for him as it faces limited options to expand the electoral map.

Pence made campaign stops in the states of Minnesota and Michigan on Friday afternoon.

Biden said on Thursday that he will begin traveling to the battleground states after Labor Day, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. 
Every few days, local counties report on the number of new cases of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 and on the number of deaths. The toll continues to grow, albeit at a slower rate than experienced a few months ago.

But the toll in this pandemic is not the only tragic death statistic being watched: The death toll of drug overdoses is also climbing in some counties raising concerns that opioid use may be resurging.

In nearby Berks County, the coroners office issued a report earlier this month documenting 59 confirmed drug deaths this year. There were an additional 30 suspected drug-related deaths pending completion of toxicology, acting Coroner Jonn M. Hollenbach said.

2020 is shaping up to be the worst in recent years in Berks. In 2017 and 2019, it took until mid-October to record 89 drug deaths, a figure attained by mid-August this year if all the pending cases are confirmed drug deaths, Hollenbach said. The surge comes even as the resources increase every year and as counties reported fewer deaths last year.

The opioid epidemic had ramped up in the middle of the last decade, with Pennsylvania recording a peak of 5,296 deaths in 2017. (In comparison, the coronavirus pandemic has claimed 7,691 lives in Pennsylvania so far this year.)

There is no direct relationship between the coronavirus pandemic and the opioid epidemic, but Stanley Papademetriou, executive director of the Council on Chemical Abuse of Berks County, said he suspects the surge in drug deaths is tied to the coronavirus pandemic.

Addiction lives in isolation, and weve had isolation, Papademetriou said. The shutdown protocols have suspended in-person support group meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other fellowships, which has eliminated an effective mechanism against addiction.

Since 2017, when Gov. Tom Wolf declared an opioid abuse emergency, the state and counties have implemented widespread access to naloxone to reverse overdoses and worked to curb overprescribing and safe disposal of drugs to get unused prescription opioids out of homes where there was easy access. Those efforts apparently paid off with Pennsylvania reporting fewer deaths year over year.

In late July, Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania health secretary, released 2019 preliminary data that showed drug-related overdose deaths decreased across the state to 4,348 compared to 2018, when overdoses killed 4,422 people.

Another factor in the rising death toll is fentanyl, a synthetic opioid painkiller that is sold by prescription but is often distributed on the black market and mixed with other street drugs to give users a more potent high.

In Chester County, Coroner Dr. Christina VandePol reported fentanyl was found in more than three-quarters of the 104 overdose cases her office confirmed in 2019 and remained by far the most frequently identified substance on toxicology testing.

These statistics show that the fight against drug abuse cannot let up during the other fight against a pandemic. Its too soon to gauge the full effects of the isolation and life disruption created in the response to the coronavirus, but the overdose death spike in Berks is a warning.

The urgency of battling opioid abuse cannot be pushed aside, and the efforts to prevent overdose and addiction must be reinforced along with education and preventative programs against drug use in all forms.

MediaNews Group staffer Carl Hessler Jr. reported last week on a Montgomery County prosecutor of drug crimes leaving the district attorneys office to join an intervention effort to prevent overdose deaths. Tonya Lupinacci will be working with the Center for Addiction and Recovery Education at Saint Josephs University to teach first responders how they can use their positions on the front line to help people find a path to treatment. Efforts like these are critical to winning the war against drug abuse.

Battling the epidemic of opioid abuse is a fight that continues unabated in our counties. Its a fight that must continue  a health crisis no less real than coronavirus  and just as important. Weve made some progress. Lets keep the focus on continuing that progress to prevent addiction and save lives.
Defence/ISI case: NIA raids suspects home

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 29: The National Investigation Agency conducted raids at the home of one Rajakbhai Kumbhar at Gujarat in connection with the Defence/ISI case that was originally reported in Uttar Pradesh.

During investigation, it was revealed that accused Md. Rashid was in contact with Defense/ISI handlers of Pakistan and had visited Pakistan twice. He had transmitted photographs of some sensitive and strategically important installations in India and also shared information about the movement of the armed forces with ISI handlers in Pakistan.

NIA charges 3 who worked for frontal outfits of naxals in Telangana

Investigation further revealed that suspect Rajakbhai Kumbhar had transferred an amount of Rs.5,000 through Paytm in the account of one Rizwan which was further handed over to the main accused Md. Rashid. This amount was remitted to accused Md. Rashid by

Suresh Raina returns home, to skip IPL | Blow to CSK | Oneindia News

Rajakbhai Kumbhar on the directions of ISI agents in lieu of the information supplied by Md. Rashid to ISI agents.

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Story first published: Saturday, August 29, 2020, 8:45 [IST]
Between the years 1881 and 1885 a bombing campaign known as the Dynamite Campaign was carried out by Fenians against the British Empire.

The campaign was orchestrated by Irishmen who were exiled in the United States and led by Jeremiah ODonovan Rossa and others. The bombings targeted police and military institutions in Britain.

It was during this time that the future Easter Rising leader Tom Clarke was sentenced to Penal Servitude for life on account of his part in the campaign.

The London Graphic Newspaper dated the 24th of March 1883 published an article denouncing the Fenians as Revolutionary Adventurers and Anarchists.

It compared them to the like minded movements in Russia, Germany and France. It called for an international league to suppress these wretches.

It wrote, Nations will agree to extradite burglars and forgers because they admit that burglary and forgery are highly objectionable modes of action. While each nation regards its own anarchists as monsters of iniquity, it discerns palliations and excuses for the anarchism of neighbours.

The article named the United States as being Britains biggest difficulty with Irish Patriots.

It is scarcely too much to say that for the agitation kept up by a small section of Irishmen in the United States the Irish in Ireland would soon settle down into a tolerable state of contentment.

It called on the American government to suppress the incendiary newspapers and to destroy the machinery, men, money and material used for the outrages committed by these people in Great Britain and Ireland.

However, the writer did not expect this to happen as he noted that while most Americans do not love this Irish element they are fond of securing the Irish vote and many of them believe that Ireland is still bound hand and foot with Penal Laws.

The article concluded with the view that the time will come for Americans - when they will regret their lack of action - when their own suffering will teach them the enormity of harbouring desperados who will make their country a trysting place for murderers.

Whimsical report

The Leitrim Advertiser dated the 12th of June 1884 contains an almost whimsical report on an incident in Mohill that occurred as a result of the paranoia that gripped the police force at the time.

On Friday last an Irish American visited Mohill and engaged a suite of rooms at Mr Burns hotel.

Notwithstanding that he did not carry a carpet bag, yet he seems to have excited the suspicion of members of the Royal Irish Constabulary and the proper authorities were communicated with and a warrant to search and arrest were procured.

On Monday morning the visitors appetite for hot tea, chops and tomato sauce was somewhat destroyed by the entrance into his breakfast room of the District Inspector accompanied by the Head Constable.

So shocked was the supposed Dynamitard that the cup of tea which he was in the act of raising to his lips dropped from his hand, obliterating the whiteness of the table cover and reassuring his would be captures.

Being informed of the nature of their visit the American said he was no Dynamitard and surely did no present the appearance of a dangerous character, that having retired from business he visited the land of his birth for pleasure.

He had travelled France, a good part of England and Ireland and had not been interfered with until he came to his native place.

He warned the officers of the law that he was an American citizen.

Having been informed that the law under which they acted referred to Americans the Inspector and his Head Constable were given every facility in their search but found nothing.

The gentleman, who seemed to feel the indignity is named Peter Flynn of Brooklyn originally of the parish of Cloone who emigrated to America thirty seven years ago, where, by persevering, industry and attention to business, amassed a considerable fortune and is now retired and enjoying the fruits of his labour.

Sources: The Graphic Newspaper March 1883, The Leitrim Advertiser June 1884, courtesy of the Leitrim Observer.

Dermot MacNabb, St George's Heritage and Visitor Centre, Carrick-on-Shannon Heritage Group, Carrick-on- Shannon and District Historical Society.
SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea has reported 299 new cases of the coronavirus as officials placed limits on dining at restaurants and closed fitness centers and after-school academies in the greater capital area to slow the spread of the virus.

The 17th consecutive day of triple-digit daily increases brought the national caseload to 19,699, including 323 deaths.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 209 of the new cases came from the capital of Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province and Incheon, a region that had been at the center of a viral resurgence this month.

Health authorities have ordered churches and nightspots to close and shifted more schools back to remote learning nationwide as infections spiked in recent weeks.

For eight days starting Sunday, restaurants in the Seoul metropolitan area will be allowed to provide only deliveries and takeouts after 9 p.m. Franchised coffee shops like Starbucks will sell only takeout drinks and food while gyms and after-school academies will be shut to slow the viral spread in the region.

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HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

 Detroit to honor 1,500 who died from coronavirus

 Italy tests record 99,000 for virus, turn up 1,444 cases

 Restaurants and bars in Anchorage will reopen

 Nurses on the front lines of New Yorks COVID-19 pandemic call for state to enact minimum staffing standards before another wave of infections.

 Shiite Muslims are observing the solemn holy day of Ashoura that they typically mark with large, mournful gatherings, in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.

 Tour de France riders sped past a hospital in Nice where health workers are traumatized by their battle against the coronavirus.

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Follow APs pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. -- Navajo Nation health officials say the confirmation of a new death brings the number of fatalities from coronavirus to 500. The Navajo Nation on Friday night reported the additional death as well as 14 more confirmed cases of COVID-19. That brings the total number of people infected to 9,780. But that includes 165 cases that occurred between early April and mid-August and were recently identified as COVID-19 related. Navajo officials said 94,099 people have been tested for the coronavirus and 7,032 have recovered. The Navajo Nation lifted its stay-at-home order on Aug. 16, but is asking residents to go out for emergencies or essentials.

Story continues

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HONOLULU  The Hawaii Department of Public Safety says that three inmates and one staff member at the Oahu Community Correction Center tested positive for COVID-19.

There are now more than 300 people who have tested positive at the Honolulu facility, including 256 inmates and 53 employees, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

Early in the pandemic, several advocacy groups raised concerns about the safety of others crowded in jails and prisons statewide and mentioned the risk of an outbreak.

Since then, the Hawaii Supreme Court has had ongoing orders to release defendants incarcerated for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor crimes to open space in the facilities.

The state Department of Health has reported more than 7,800 confirmed coronavirus cases and 59 deaths, including 265 newly confirmed cases and four deaths, as of Friday.

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PHOENIX -- Arizona has reached a grim milestone of more than 5,000 known coronavirus deaths.

The state Department of Health Services reported 629 confirmed coronavirus cases and 29 more deaths on Saturday to total 5,007.

Meanwhile, Arizona State University President Michael Crow says 452 students have tested positive for the coronavirus. More than half involve students who live off campus in the metro Phoenix area.

Crow says 205 students are currently in quarantine on the Tempe campus.

MIAMI  Health officials in Florida are reporting 150 new deaths from COVID-19 and 3,197 new confirmed cases.

The new deaths bring the average daily toll reported over the past week to 120. The number of new known cases is down from peaks averaging nearly 12,000 daily in mid-July.

The positivity rate in testing has averaged below 10 percent over the past week. The number of people treated in Florida hospitals for coronavirus has also been declining since highs of more than 9,500 on July 23.

Florida has confirmed 619,000 cases and 11,246 deaths.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska  Restaurants and bars in Anchorage will reopen Monday for dine-in service with some restrictions after city officials announced an updated emergency order.

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz has replaced a four-week order, which closed food establishments to indoor service and drew criticism from the industry. That order expired Sunday.

The updated regulation means businesses can resume dine-in service at no more than 50% of building capacity. Patrons will be required to practice social distancing.

Masks must be worn by all employees, and also by customers when they arent eating or drinking

In Alaska, more than 5,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus since March and 37 have died.

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CHICAGO  Freshmen and sophomore students at Northwestern University will take classes remotely, the Chicago school announced.

The Chicago Tribune reports Northwestern University officials originally planned for undergraduate students to return to campus. The university also is keeping fraternity and sorority houses shuttered during the fall semester.

Students in their third and fourth years or graduate and professional programs are allowed on campus and can take classes remotely, in person or a mix of both.

Universities around the country have struggled with plans for the fall semester as the coronavirus continues to spread. Early outbreaks forced some schools administrators to cancel in-person classes temporarily or for the fall semester.

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HILLSBORO, Mo.  A county south of St. Louis has revoked a mask mandate just one day after passing it.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Jefferson County Health Center Board of Trustees voted unanimously Friday to revoke the ordinance. The county says the decision came after residents raised concerns about whether the board had appropriately notified the public before discussing the ordinance.

State Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, raised concerns Friday about potential Sunshine Law violations. Jefferson County has reported 2,663 cases of the coronavirus and 45 deaths.

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ROME  Every Italian region reported new coronavirus cases after a record 99,000 tests turned up another 1,444 cases.

The health ministry says one more victim of COVID-19 brought Italys official death toll to 35,473 on Saturday.

Italy has nearly doubled its daily tests this month amid a surge in new infections, mostly among young people returning from vacation. While most are asymptomatic, the number of people requiring hospitalization and intensive care is creeping back up.

Italy, the onetime European epicenter of the virus, plans to start school on Sept. 14. Unlike other European countries, Italy never reopened schools last spring.

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DETROIT  The city of Detroit is seeking about 400 volunteers to assist with a memorial to honor residents who have died from the coronavirus.

A memorial drive at Belle Isle State Park is scheduled for Monday. Mayor Mike Duggan declared the day as Detroit Memorial Day to remember residents who didnt have the funerals because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Families will drive in 15 processions past nearly 900 enlarged photos of their loved ones. Hearses will lead the processions. More than 1,500 Detroit residents have died from complications of the virus.

The public can visit Belle Isle to see the photos Tuesday and Wednesday. Duggan says, we felt it was important and necessary to provide an opportunity for members of this community to collectively celebrate the lives of those weve lost to this terrible virus. This is how we begin the healing process.

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NICE, France  French authorities have made it harder for Tour de France teams to reach the finish line in Paris if a member tests positive.

Theyve decided teams will be expelled from the race if two or more of their staff members test positive for the coronavirus within a week. The move was announced just a few hours before the start of the three-week races opening stage in Nice.

It overruled a decision from cyclings governing body that had eased the Tours exclusion rules on Friday. There are 30 members per team, which includes staff.

This week, four staff members of the Belgian team Lotto-Soudal were sent home after non-negative coronavirus tests. The team says a mechanic and a member of the rider support staff returned one positive and one suspicious result. Both left the race bubble, along with their roommates.

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BOSTON  This years Boston Marathon is a virtual event because of the coronavirus pandemic, but a weeklong TV special will showcase runners stories as they go the distance on their own.

Amazon and WBZ-TV are teaming up on a Boston Marathon Live broadcast that will air nightly Sept. 7-13. The show is co-produced by the Boston Athletic Association, which puts on the marathon every year.

Registered runners will complete the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) distance and share accounts of their preparation, motivation and execution. Athletes can use a mobile app the BAA is rolling out to upload their routes and finish times.

The marathon normally is held in April. It was postponed to mid-September because of the pandemic and canceled in May for the first time in its 124-year history.

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NEW DELHI  India will resume its metro rail services in a phased manner on Sept. 7 and ease most of its nationwide restrictions on travel.

Thats despite more than 75,000 cases of coronavirus reported for the third consecutive day.

Indias Home Ministry says sports, entertainment, religious and political events will be allowed with a limit of 100 people. Schools, colleges, swimming pools and indoor theatres will remain closed.

India has a total of 3.46 million confirmed cases and nearly 63,000 deaths, third highest in the world behind the United States and Brazil.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif.  California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders have reached an agreement on a bill to temporarily protect people from evictions.

The bill would ban evictions for tenants who havent paid their rent between the months of March and August because of the coronavirus. Tenants need to sign a document saying they have a financial hardship because of the virus.

The protections would continue beyond August if tenants can pay at least 25% of their cumulatively owed rent between Sept. 1 and Jan. 31. Evictions could resume on Feb. 1.

The bill would not forgive the missed payments. Tenants would still owe the money. Landlords could sue them to get the money back, and a judge could order them to pay it. But tenants could not be evicted.

The California court system has halted most eviction and foreclosure proceedings since April 6 because of the pandemic. But those protections end Tuesday, prompting concerns of a wave of evictions in a state that already has the largest homeless population in the country.

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BARCELONA, Spain  Police officers have dismantled an illegal party in a warehouse in Barcelona, where 160 people didnt wear masks or respect social distancing.

Partygoers and two organizers were charged for not enforcing the health measures against COVID-19, while another person was arrested for selling drugs, according to a statement released Saturday by the Catalonian regional police.

Since mid-August, nightclubs were closed throughout Spain to slow down a new wave of outbreaks. The country ended a strict three-month lockdown in June.

Social gatherings of more than 10 people are banned starting Saturday in Catalonia. There were 1,547 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the total cases to 128,396 in this region.

Spains coronavirus case tally is nearing 440,000, with the highest rate of contagion in western Europe. There have been 29,000 deaths.

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ELOY, Ariz.  Immigration and Customs Enforcement has reported 233 more confirmed cases of coronavirus at one of its facilities in Arizona.

The infections at the La Palma Correctional Center in Eloy now total 356 cases. Its unclear how many people are detained at La Palma, but ICE spokeswoman Yasmeen Pitts OKeefe says the agency recently expanded virus testing at La Palma and tested 1,000 detainees.

More than 21,000 people are held in ICE custody on civil immigration violations nationwide.

The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, an advocacy group that provides legal services, say the high number of infections underscores the need to release immigrants from detention.

Advocacy groups across the country have filed several lawsuits seeking to release vulnerable populations during the pandemic. ICE has, on some occasions, released detainees who have health conditions.

The agency reported 850 new positive cases nationwide Friday for a total of 5,300 cases since the start of the pandemic.

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HOUSTON  The U.S. government has detained children at several major hotel chains during the coronavirus pandemic instead of transferring them to government-funded shelters.

The data released Friday show that since March, the Trump administration has used hotels to hold at least 660 children, most unaccompanied by a parent, before expelling them to their countries of origin.

The administration says it cannot allow children to stay in the U.S. due to the coronavirus pandemic. But opponents of U.S. immigration policy contend the pandemic is being used to deny access to asylum or other protections in federal law.

Various hotel chains have been used to house children, and at least 25 hotels and motels have been used since March to detain children.

Marriott spokeswoman Connie Kim says the company last month issued a policy making it clear that properties should decline any requests to use our hotels as detention facilities.

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit challenging hotel detention. ICE declined to comment, citing pending litigation.

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MIAMI  Authorities say two South Florida men used fake and stolen identities to steal over $3 million in coronavirus relief funds.

Records show Jean Fleuridor and Hasan Brown made separate appearances this past week in Miami federal court on bank fraud conspiracy charges.

According to a criminal complaint, Fleuridor, Brown and their co-conspirators began a scheme in 2017 to defraud a Texas bank using about 700 fake identities to create bank accounts and shell companies.

Prosecutors say members of the group began using those fake identities and companies this spring to fraudulently apply for federal loans meant to help small businesses financially survive the coronavirus pandemic.

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MULTAN, Pakistan  Pakistans foreign minister says his countrymen are lucky that coronavirus caused only 6,284 deaths in Pakistan since February, far less compared to projections under which they could face up to 50,000 COVID-19 deaths by the end of August.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi says coronavirus cases are in steady decline in Pakistan. He says the situation is bad in neighboring India, where thousands of new cases were being added daily. Pakistan reported only 319 new cases and one death in the past 24 hours.

Pakistan has reported 295,372 cases since February when the first infection was detected in the country.

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BERLIN  Tens of thousands of people are taking part in a protest in Berlin against pandemic restrictions after a court overturned a ban issued by authorities in the German capital.

Some among the crowd Saturday waved American, Russian or German Reich flags, while others wore T-shirts promoting the Q conspiracy theory or denouncing Germanys limited rules requiring the wearing of masks.

The Berlin regional government had sought to ban the protest, citing rallies earlier this month where rules intended to stop the virus being spread werent respected. Protest organizers successfully appealed the decision, though a court ordered them to ensure social distancing  a measure that wasnt being enforced Saturday.

In eastern Paris, a few hundred people rallied to protest new mask rules and other restrictions prompted by rising coronavirus infections in France. Masks are now required everywhere in public in Paris.

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BEIJING  About one-third of students returned to school in the Chinese capital on Saturday in a staggered start to the new school year because of the coronavirus.

The first batch of 590,000 students in Beijing included all three years of high school, the first and third years of middle school and the first grade of primary school. Another 400,000 students are to start school on Tuesday, and the final 520,000 on Sept. 7.

Both students and teachers are required to wear masks.

China reported nine new coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, bringing its official total to 85,022. All the new cases were overseas arrivals. The countrys death toll remained at 4,634.

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Ozzy Osbourne was spotted in Los Angeles this week marking his first public sighting out and about in months amid his Parkinson's battle.

The 71-year-old Black Sabbath frontman was nearly unrecognizable after allowing his signature raven locks to go grey.

He swept his hair into a ponytail and settled into the passenger seat of his car while his longtime wife Sharon Osbourne drove.

Out and about: Ozzy Osbourne was spotted out in Los Angeles this week marking his first public sighting in months amid his Parkinson's battle

At one point he raised his hand in front of his face as he appeared to yawn while sitting alone in the vehicle after Sharon stepped out.

Sharon, who sported a close-cropped pink hairdo, was also seen alone that day as she got in a bit of shopping at a local clothing store.

She slipped into a casual ensemble of a color-block sweatshirt and a pair of California chic loose-fitted white trousers.

The Talk co-hostess made sure to take the precaution of wearing a mask as she emerged from lockdown amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

What a change: The 71-year-old Black Sabbath frontman was nearly unrecognizable after allowing his signature raven locks to go grey

On the move: He swept his hair into a ponytail and settled into the passenger seat of his car while his longtime wife Sharon Osbourne drove

Tired?: At one point he raised his hand in front of his face as he appeared to yawn while sitting alone in the vehicle after Sharon stepped out

Errands: Sharon, who sported a close-cropped pink hairdo, was also seen alone that day as she got in a bit of shopping at a local clothing store

Although Ozzy has not been seen out in public in months he did appear with his family on Celebrity Watch Party with a finale that aired July 23.

The reality show is a take-off of the UK show Gogglebox and offers a glimpse at celebrities in their homes watching and reacting to TV.

He went public with his Parkinson's diagnosis this January after being diagnosed in February 2019.

Ozzy announced this February that he was canceling the North American leg of his No More Tours II concert gigs owing to an excruciating neck injury.

How he used to look: Ozzy with black hair when he appeared at an event in California in February this year (left), and with brown hair in 1989 (right)

On hand: Ozzy could be seen resting his head on one hand while holding his cane with the other

Lockdown gig: Although Ozzy has not been seen out in public in months he did appear with his family on Celebrity Watch Party with a finale that aired July 23

Facing it: He went public with his Parkinson's diagnosis this January after being diagnosed in February 2019 and initially concealing his illness from the world

Problems: Ozzy announced this February that he was canceling the North American leg of his No More Tours II concert gigs owing to an excruciating neck injury

The 'Prince Of Darkness' suffered a fall last year and required spinal surgery, ultimately scrapping his tour dates for 2019.

Ozzy was meant to hit the road again this year, but scrapped the North American leg of his tour so that he could seek treatment in Switzerland - only for the coronavirus lockdowns to leave him confined to his home and unable to travel to Europe.

However despite his recent health crises and reduced mobility he has repeatedly declared that he will never abandon show business.

'You know the time when I will retire? When I can hear them nail a lid on my box. And then Ill f***ing do an encore. Im the Prince of Darkness,' he said this week.

Health setback: The 'Prince Of Darkness' suffered a fall last year and required spinal surgery, ultimately scrapping his tour dates for 2019

'I'm the Prince of Darkness': However despite his recent health crises and reduced mobility he has repeatedly declared that he will never abandon show business

He informed the Daily Mirror that he also plans to finish up No More Tours II after he is able to emerge from self-isolation.

'When you feel that audience jumping, its a better feeling than orgasm. It is the best love affair of my life,' said the Birmingham native.

'Hes always had a funny walk so f*** it, you know?' said Sharon. 'Lets make nothing different. No pity, he doesnt need pity. He just needs a stage.'

Ozzy, who started Black Sabbath in 1969, released a successful solo album early this year called Ordinary Man that peaked at number three on the Billboard 200.

The show must go on: He informed the Daily Mirror that he also plans to finish up No More Tours II after he is able to emerge from self-isolation

'It is the best love affair of my life': 'When you feel that audience jumping, its a better feeling than orgasm,' said the Birmingham native

There is also a movie about his life in development and Sharon, who is to be a major character, recently dished about it to the Daily Mirror.

She shared that the raunchy feature will be 'a lot more real' than recent sanitized rock biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman.

'Were not making it for kids. Its an adult movie for adults. We dont want it to be squeaky, shiny clean and all of that,' she said.
The event naturally veered into a free-wheeling discussion of where this type of research could go. Some Neuralink employees joined Musk on stage and talked about their desires to get rid of pain, to give people supervision, and to explore the nature of consciousness. "I think in the future you will be able to save and replay memories," Musk said at the event. But he acknowledged the inherent strangeness of such scenarios: "This is obviously starting to sound like a Black Mirror episode," he said. "Obviously they're pretty good at predicting." The first major reveal of Neuralink's plans and technology came in July 2019 during a similar event in San Francisco. At that time, Musk showed early versions of Neuralink implants and disclosed that the company had already been performing tests on mice and primates in which it was able to record and analyse the animals' neuronal activity via tiny electrodes placed in their brain. This work was similar to what academic researchers and a small number of companies have been doing for decades. The goal of many of those projects is to use brain implants for miraculous feats like restoring vision for the blind, helping people who have been paralysed or suffered strokes communicate and curing mental health disorders. And, indeed, people around the world have received implants that help with these very things. The main argument made by Musk and other Neuralink employees is that the existing technology is too dangerous, cumbersome and limited for widespread use. The most powerful implants today require people to go through risky surgeries, and patients can often only experience the benefits of the technology while under the supervision of doctors and specialists. Beyond that, the lifespan of an implant can be short as the brain sees the device as an intruder, forming scar tissue around it that disrupts electrical signals. Neuralink, then, has tried to create a type of implant closer to a consumer electronics device-something that is much smaller and cheaper than existing products, less impactful to brain tissue and can process much more brain data.

Over the past couple of months, Neuralink has been implanting pigs with a device that's 22.5 millimetres across and 8 millimetres thick. The hardware has a computing chip on top with 64 minuscule threads-or wires-that dangle off it with sensors at the ends. During the procedure, the animals are taken to an operating room at the Fremont facility and anesthetised before a surgeon performs a craniotomy on them. Once part of the skull has been removed, a robot begins placing the threads into specific parts of the brain so that the sensors are close to neurons and can read clear brain activity signals. This sewing part of the procedure takes about 30 minutes, as the robot uses computer vision software, high-end cameras and other technology to aim the threads with exacting precision. "Elon is unhappy with how long the whole procedure takes," Max Hodak, the president of Neuralink, said in an interview. "Elon is unhappy with how long the whole procedure takes" In my encounter with one charming pig named Gertrude, it was very difficult to see any evidence of the implant or the surgery. The animal's wound had healed completely, and it pranced around a makeshift metal pen at Neuralink's office just like some of the other pigs that did not have implants. But, as I fed Gertrude a carrot and rubbed her snout, a massive computer screen behind her lit up with activity, showing her neurons firing and responding to my touch. Next, Gertrude farted, which I took as an approval of our interaction. But the controversial nature of animal testing and the celebrity of its founder has made Neuralink a magnet for criticism from animal-rights activists. The company said the test subjects are cared for by animal husbandry experts and that it's limiting testing on primates.

In a bid to prove the safety of its technology, Neuralink has removed the implants from some animals and found that they go back to their regular lives with no apparent ill effects, the company said. In some cases, Neuralink has managed to place two implants in a single animal, getting signals from both hemispheres of the brain at the same time. The company has also managed not just to read out brain activity but also to send in signals to the electrodes and stimulate the brain. All of this research has been taking place at Neuralink's 4645 square-metre campus, which includes facilities for robot assembly, chip and thread fabrication and animal husbandry. At one point, Neuralink had intended to use an implant as well as another device placed behind the ear to handle things like wireless communication. Now, however, it has bundled everything into one small device. "It's just simpler this way," said Hodak. The implant battery lasts about 24 hours, at which point it can be recharged wirelessly much like a smartphone. Over time, Neuralink hopes to shrink the device, while also improving its computing power. Musk had previously said that Neuralink would like to conduct human trials as early as this year. This, of course, would require regulatory approvals and assurances that the technology is safe. "The ambition of human trials this year is something we would love to do," Hodak said. "It's obviously something that can't be rushed, and we can do it when we're ready. While we can't sell this to you yet, it's starting to feel more like a product, more concrete. Now, we have a Fitbit for the brain." "Elon is unhappy with how long the whole procedure takes" Hodak denied the claims from a recent article by health publication Stat News in which former Neuralink employees said the company might go to Russia or China, where regulators can be more lenient, for its human trials. "We have never once discussed going to Russia or China," Hodak said. Neuralink has been granted "breakthrough device status" by the US Food and Drug Administration, which means the agency will respond more quickly to the company's filings than it would have previously but doesn't constitute an approval for testing in humans. "We're very much working hand-in-hand with the FDA," Hodak said.
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Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant on August 29 said that a decision about modalities of final year examinations will be announced on Monday.

On Friday, the Supreme Court held that students of final year can not be promoted without holding examinations. "We will announce our first decision on Monday about how we are going to conduct examinations of students in final year of graduation and post-graduation courses," Samant told reporters.

"Students' safety is paramount and decisions would be taken without compromising on safety," he said.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has asked his ministry to conduct examinations with utmost precaution and in a simplified manner, he added.

A six-member committee headed by Dr Suhas Pednekar, vice chancellor of Mumbai University, has been formed to give recommendations about how to conduct examinations, the minister said.

The Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government was opposed to holding examinations on the ground of coronavirus situation.

But the state will respect the apex court's decision, Samant had said on Friday.

He also appealed that misleading reports about examination schedules should not be spread, and the government will announce dates at the right time.
The risk of contracting COVID-19 in Lee County and other east Alabama counties is back on the rise, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

There were 863 confirmed cases in Chambers County, 3,091 in Lee County, 383 in Macon County, 1,512 in Russell County and 915 in Tallapoosa County as of Friday evening.

Lee County had the most new COVID-19 cases confirmed Thursday with 52 new cases. It also has the highest average of most new COVID-19 cases confirmed per day in the last two weeks in east Alabama with about 28 new cases per day, according to state data.

However, the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at East Alabama Medical Center on Friday was 30. Despite a higher positivity rate over the past two weeks, hospitalizations have slowly declined from 46 on Aug. 17.
With many Americans doing their research and ordering goods online, businesses have started providing additional services to improve the online buying process. For those in the Puyallup, WA area, Toyota of Puyallup has also done so by providing Toyota SmartPath to its website. This new feature will help enhance the online car buying experience for customers looking for a vehicle at the business.

When visiting the Toyota of Puyallup website, customers can begin the process by clicking into the dealerships current inventory. Upon finding a vehicle of interest, they can find additional details about the model and create an account through the SmartPath option to save any progress when looking at a specific model. In this way, customers can leave the site without losing progress and can return when they see fit.

With the Toyota SmartPath functionality, customers can also view specific pricing and begin the credit approval process. While looking into a specific vehicle, it is possible to unlock the lowest price on the given vehicle. This will include any special offers or annual discounts unique to Toyota of Puyallup. On top of this feature, those wanting to trade-in their vehicle can calculate an estimated value of the trade-in for a better final estimate.

Lastly, those looking for financing options can also apply for credit and financing online to determine if they could be pre-approved for the desired price. Once estimation is complete, the process can be saved and submitted to a Toyota of Puyallup associate for review. The dealership can then contact the customer in a timely manner to discuss and finalize the process.

With the Toyota SmartPath option at Toyota of Puyallup, customers can research, receive an estimate and apply for financing on a vehicle directly from the dealerships inventory from the comfort of their own home. Those with any questions or concerns are welcomed to contact Toyota of Puyallup directly. They may be reached online at https://www.toyotaofpuyallup.com/, contacted by phone at 253-286-6000 or can be found in-person at 1400 River Road in Puyallup, WA.


Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 22:58:56|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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LUSAKA -- The Zambian government on Saturday thanked the Chinese government for the support in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said China is among countries that have been in the forefront of supporting Zambia in the fight against the pandemic.

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DALIAN -- As the last asymptomatic person infected with COVID-19 in the city of Dalian was discharged from hospital Saturday after two nucleic acid test results were negative, the city cleared all confirmed and asymptomatic infected cases since an outbreak occurred on July 22.

The port city in northeast China's Liaoning Province has reported 92 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 26 asymptomatic cases, since a worker at a local seafood processing company was found infected with COVID-19 on July 22 and the ensuing screening led to the discovery of more cases, according to the municipal health commission.

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TBILISI -- Georgia confirmed seven new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing its total to 1,462.

Two of the seven new cases were imported, the country's National Center for Disease Control and Public Health said.

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SINGAPORE -- Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) announced Saturday that the Multi-Ministry Taskforce on COVID-19 will expand the COVID-19 testing regime to identified community groups in the upcoming weeks, so as to provide a better picture of population prevalence and facilitate the early containment of any cryptic cases in the community.

These community groups will, for a start, include taxi and private hire car drivers, food delivery personnel, key vendors servicing foreign worker dormitories, as well as stallholders at hawker centers, markets and similar food and beverage establishments. Enditem
VICTORIADown the winding walkway leading to the exclusive Deep Cove Chalet restaurant and winery is fixed a strongly worded sign: Do not come in without a reservation, even just to look around.

The smattering of fine diners eating lunch in front of a world-class view of the royal blue Saanich Inlet have scored one of the limited reservations available in the age of COVID-19.

Six months and what may feel like a lifetime ago, they may have been sitting among royalty. But the pandemic caused Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to move away from the quiet haven north of Victoria sooner than initially planned.

And even if they had stayed, theyre no longer royals. A book released this month gave some clues about the role this small Canadian town played in their unprecedented decision to step down from official royal duties.

North Saanich, B.C., was their place of quiet  away from flashing cameras and whispering tabloid reporters. Six months after their departure, the Star retraced some of their steps.

On a hot August day at the Deep Cove Chalet restaurant, owner and chef Pierre Koffel demonstrates the private attitude that attracted the couple to this spot. He is quick to give a warm greeting  and equally quick to refuse any measure of a media interview.

We dont like to be in the limelight, thank you, he says later, over the phone.

Thats a common attitude in North Saanich, which is not often in the limelight and likes it that way. The tiny municipality of fewer than 12,000 sits about 30 minutes north of B.C.s capital, Victoria, mostly undisturbed, with farm stands sprinkling its main roads and subtle pathways leading out to coves populated by just as many seals as human beings.

Its where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex fled over Christmas last year, professing, at the time, a desire for private family time away from the scrutiny of British tabloid media. Its also where their plans to step back as working members of the Royal Family came into focus.

A new book, Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Family, by Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie, tells the story of the couples courtship, marriage and eventual exit from official royal duties in a largely positive light. Its peppered with Canadian references, from the former actors adoption of a puppy from an Oakville rescue, to the couples first public appearance together at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto.

But it was in North Saanich, the tiny town where the couple most trusted their presence could fly under the radar, where the decisions were made.

Durand and Scobie describe how the couple rented a North Saanich mansion in the late fall of 2019 through connections with television host Ben Mulroney and musician David Foster. The home in the gated Mille Fleurs Villa community became a haven for the couple, who spent their weeks talking about their future plans to step back as working members of the British Royal Family, and making use of the mansions built-in pizza oven.

When they did venture out, they were able to move in relative quiet  until, as a lawsuit filed last month claims, tabloids published the exact location of their temporary home.

In a previous interview with The Canadian Press, North Saanich Mayor Geoff Orr said that if it was privacy the couple wanted, it was no surprise they came to his community, which is known for its discretion as well as its stunning beaches.

In email exchanges about their stay in North Saanich, obtained by the Star through a freedom of information request, Orr took a tone of concern for the couple.

Unfortunate that the media has been made aware their decision to spend Christmas in these parts, he wrote at 10 p.m. Christmas Eve. I hope that they are still able to enjoy their time here and maintain some sense of privacy.

Orr said residents told him about encountering Prince Harry hiking to the hilltop at Horth Hill Regional Park, with its panoramic views of Satellite Channel, the Saanich Peninsula and the Gulf Islands.

Its a great place to walk, Orr said. Im really pleased they were made aware of it.

In August, six months after the couples departure, longtime North Saanich resident Jeff Costin was out for his routine walk in the park with his dogs Aries and Loki. The park had all the hallmarks of being visited mainly by locals  people walking dogs and holding hands of their young kids before zipping away to their busy lives.

While Costin never spotted the couple himself, he said he does enjoy that they chose his neighbourhood to land for a while, if only to cool off before heading to L.A.

It was cool that they chose to be here. For me it didnt matter that they didnt stay, he said. People are really quiet and kind. I think that was probably a draw  even for Harry and Meghan.

With files from The Canadian Press

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The United States may have four Covid-19 candidate vaccines in large-scale clinical trials by the middle of September, according to a report by the USA today. Health and Human Services Deputy Chief of Staff Paul Mango, who is also the agencys liaison with Operation Warp Speed, said that the US government was very pleased with the progress. He added that the agency felt it was absolutely on track", if not a little ahead, in terms of their overall objective - which was tens of millions of (doses of) safe and effective vaccines approved for calendar year-end. Mango said that each Phase 3 clinical trial would enroll 30,000 volunteers and that the two underway currently were about halfway there.

Britain is preparing to revise its laws to allow the emergency use of any effective coronavirus vaccine before it is fully licensed  but only if the shots meet required safety and quality standards. In a statement Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Conservative government said it was adopting reinforced safeguards to allow the countrys medicines regulatory agency to grant temporary authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine, provided it meets safety and quality standards.The proposed regulations would allow coronavirus vaccines to receive an emergency approval allowing people to be immunized while the full licensing process is being finished. Typically, vaccines are only used after the licensing review has been completed, a process which can take several months.

Here are a few updates on the coronavirus vaccine:

 WHO Sweetens Deal for Wealthier Nations | Wealthier countries that join the World Health Organizations COVID-19 vaccine plan are being offered a new option to pick and choose which shots they get while reserving a right to receive their full share" of doses, documents seen by Reuters show. The change appears aimed at convincing governments which have negotiated their own bilateral deals securing experimental vaccines to also sign up for the global COVAX facility by Mondays deadline for submitting expressions of interest.

They are trying to be more flexible for self-financing countries to make it more interesting There are some advantages to incentivise you to pay upfront," said a Western diplomat familiar with the terms. The United States, Japan, Britain and the European Union have struck their own deals to secure millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses for their citizens, ignoring the WHOs warnings that vaccine nationalism" will squeeze supplies.

 Sanofi More Confident About Its Coronavirus Vaccines | Sanofis confidence in its coronavirus vaccine candidates has increased this summer as the French drugmaker prepares to start clinical trials, its chief executive told Reuters. The company is working on two of the more than 150 potential vaccines being developed across the world to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than 831,000 lives and sparked economic chaos. One candidate, to be manufactured on the back of an existing platform that develops vaccines to treat flu, will use an adjuvant made by Britains GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to boost its efficacy.

 Bangladeshs Beximco Invests in Serum Institute of India | Bangladeshs Beximco Pharmaceuticals is investing in the Serum Institute of India (SII) to ensure Dhaka gets priority access to COVID-19 vaccines being developed by the Indian drug manufacturer, the company said on Friday. The deal announced by the Bangladeshi generic drugmaker comes after Dhaka said this month it was ready to hold trials of candidate vaccines being developed by India as both countries seek to curb the spread of the virus.

 Putin Praises Russian Vaccine | The Russian president on Thursday praised a coronavirus vaccine that Russia approved for use earlier this month as effective and safe, a clear bid to address international skepticism about the shots that have only been studied for two months in a few dozen people. In an interview with the state Rossia 24 TV channel released Thursday, President Vladimir Putin insisted that the worlds first vaccine against coronavirus to receive a government go-ahead was approved in strict accordance with Russian laws that are in line with international practice and regulations.

 Novavax Firm May File for Vaccine Approval by December 2020 | Novavax Inc expects filing for approval of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the United States in December, Chief Executive Stanley Erck said in an interview for Czech daily Hospodarske Noviny, released on Thursday. The company plans to produce part of the vaccine at its Czech plant, which will give the country access to the product once it is approved, the paper cited Erck as saying.

Novavax said on Monday it had begun enrolling volunteers for the second phase of an ongoing clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, with interim data expected in the fourth quarter of 2020.

 Peru to Start Testing Chinas Sinopharm Vaccine | Peru will start testing coronavirus vaccines from Chinas Sinopharm and U.S. drugmaker Johnson & Johnson in September, researchers said, which should help the country gain faster access to inoculations once the vaccines are approved.

Sinopharm began this week to recruit up to 6,000 volunteers in Peru, which Reuters data indicates has the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in relation to its population size. A team of Chinese scientists is expected to arrive in the Andean nation next week to work with local researchers, said German Malaga, a doctor and lead vaccine investigator at Limas Cayetano Heredia University."This is going to happen around Sept. 3, to begin vaccinations on Sept. 8," he said. Sinopharms clinical trials in Peru are being done with Cayetano Heredia and the state-run Universidad Mayor de San Marcos.

 China Approves Use of Emergency Vaccine | Sinovac Biotech coronavirus vaccine candidate CoronaVac was approved in July for emergency use as part of a programme in China to vaccinate high-risk groups such as medical staff, a person familiar with the matter said. China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a unit of state-owned pharmaceutical giant China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), also said it had obtained emergency use approval for a coronavirus vaccine candidate in social media platform WeChat on Sunday. CNBG, which has two vaccine candidates in phase 3 clinical trials, did not say which of its vaccines had been cleared for emergency use.

 Donald Trump Vows to Crush Pandemic With Vaccine by Year-end | In a war cry against the pandemic, US President Donald Trump on Thursday vowed to crush" Covid-19 with a vaccine by the end of the year, as he accepted the Republican nomination for a second term as POTUS. The US President said that the country is roped in deft scientist to develop the vaccines for coronavirus under Operation Warp Speed.

We are marshaling Americas scientific genius to produce a vaccine in record time. We will have a safe and effective vaccine this year and together we will crush the virus, Trump said, adding that three coronavirus vaccines will be ready for production soon and could be made available this year.

 French Govt Expects Vaccine by End of 2020 or Early Next Year | New coronavirus vaccines could be available from the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021, a presentation by French Health Minister Olivier Veran suggested on Thursday. French Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday the government must move fast to head off a deadly new COVID-19 wave as the viruss reproduction level has jumped, with infections surging in the Paris region and among young people.

Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here.
WASHINGTON  The Treasury Department released guidance on Friday evening instructing companies that they can stop withholding payroll taxes paid by employees beginning on Sept. 1 but that workers will have to pay the taxes by the end of April.

The awaited guidance is intended to help companies understand their obligation stemming from an executive action signed by President Trump this month that gives workers a tax holiday. Mr. Trumps move came as negotiations with Congress over another round of economic relief legislation stalled. The president, who had been calling for a permanent payroll tax cut, has said that he will push for Congress to waive the deferred taxes next year if he wins re-election.

The guidance, released in coordination with the Internal Revenue Service, was delayed because the White House was seeking ways to move the tax liability away from workers entirely so that they are not faced with a big tax bill next year. That legally dubious idea proved to be unworkable, however, and the I.R.S. made clear that if companies decided to take the government up on this offer, their employees would still have to pay the tax through larger withholdings  and less take-home pay  next year.

The I.R.S. offered little clarity about what companies will have to do about the deferred withholdings if a worker ends up leaving the business before the end of the year. The guidance said that the affected taxpayer may make arrangements to otherwise collect the total applicable taxes from the employee, suggesting companies can hold workers liable for the tax even if they leave the company.
The grim list of injuries sustained by a five-year-old boy after he was allegedly beaten with a metal pole and stick have been revealed.

The boy was on life-support last night after allegedly suffering brain damage. He also had marks that looked like cigarette burns on his body and splinters in his feet and bottom.

Parramatta Bail Court heard how neighbours raised the alarm after the boy was allegedly attacked at his home in Cabramatta, in Sydney, on Friday night.

The boy's mother, 31, and her new boyfriend, 20, have been charged over alleged attack. The court heard how they have only been together for around a month.

It is alleged that the boy was beaten when a disciplinary 'smacking' turned violent, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

On Saturday he remained on life support at The Children's Hospital in Westmead.

A five-year-old boy is on life support after an alleged 'smacking' escalated. Pictured: Police on the scene

Medics and police were rattled by the alleged attack on such a small child, as one doctor described the injuries as 'the worst he'd seen'

Dr Adam Fowler, who works at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, said the alleged assault was one of the worst cases of suspected child abuse he had ever seen.

'One admission overnight. The worst case of suspected child beating I've ever seen in my professional career,' he tweeted.

'One that made me physically sob whilst examining. I can't even right now.'

He said the boy now had an army of medical professionals on his side as he fights for his life in hospital.

'Well kiddo! Here's the good news', Dr Fowler continued.

'There's now an ARMY of health and community professionals on your side.

'Day 1 has begun.'

Dr Fowler has since deleted his tweets.

Dr Adam Fowler took to Twitter on Saturday said it was one of the worst cases of suspected abuse he had ever seen

The couple appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

Magistrate Peter Miszalski denied the man bail in order to protect the child, however his lawyer Dominic Gleeson said the man would live in Yagoona and not visit his girlfriend or the alleged victim.

Mr Gleeson said his client could be in prison for months if the case went ahead to trial and could instead report to police daily.

Magistrate Miszalski said: 'What started off smacking the victim to discipline, ended with the victim being severely injured.

'I have seen the photos. They are very disturbing.'

Emergency crews took the child to Liverpool Hospital before he was transferred to Westmead Children's Hospital (pictured), where he is in a critical condition

The boy's mother did not apply for bail.

An apprehended violence order was made to protect the alleged victim.

The boy's mother is charged with not providing for the child, causing danger of serious injury.

The man is charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

A neighbour told the ABC there was 'a lot of commotion' as the pair were arrested.

Another resident said: 'I'm very sad ... I want him to be OK.

'For me, I have kids too... I don't want him to pass.'

The mother and her boyfriend will appear in Liverpool Local Court on September 1.
Swimmers would be lapping Lavender Bay under a proposal to create temporary netted swimming areas in Sydney Harbour while the iconic North Sydney Olympic Pool is closed for redevelopment.

North Sydney Council voted last week to commission a report into the viability and cost of a netted swimming area at Lavender Bay or Hayes Street wharf in Neutral Bay.

Councillor Kathy Brodie and swimmer David Livermore support a temporary netted swimming area in Lavender Bay. Credit:Nick Moir

In her motion, North Sydney councillor Kathy Brodie said the harbour's water quality was "better than ever due to COVID-19, at the same time [as] summers are becoming hotter", and a netted swimming area would make harbour swimming safe, easy and free for a densely populated area with limited public space.

A supporter of the North Sydney Pool redevelopment, Cr Brodie said it "won't be built overnight" and "giving residents other local swimming options in the meantime is the right thing to do."
Resolving the ethnic conflict  making a difficult task that much more difficult View(s):

One of the most complex problems faced by the country after independence has been the ethnic conflict that resulted in a civil war that consumed the country for over three decades. Although the conflict was not between two ethnicities (the Sinhalese and Tamils), but in reality between the State and the Tamil community, the label ethnic conflict has become the common parlance used to describe the events around this long drawn out conflict.

Basically it has been an attempt by the Tamil politicians to persuade successive Governments to restructure the State so as to address Tamil concerns.

While the Tamil politicians tried to achieve this objective through negotiations, the LTTE and other similar groups tried to do so through the use of arms at a huge cost to the country, as well as the Tamil people.

While attempts have been made by different Governments to address the causes of the conflict, due to diverse reasons it has not been possible to arrive at a solution that is acceptable to the people at large. While the complex nature of the conflict has contributed to such failures, it has often been made more difficult by indiscreet remarks made by individual politicians particularly from the North that has given a handle to those who are not committed to a resolution of the problem. to undermine such efforts.

Similarly those in the South fail to or ignore the changing political landscape in the North that can make resolution of the problem that much more difficult.

Unfortunately many of the hardliners in the South refuse to realise that negotiating with their hardline counterparts in the North is that much more difficult than with the more moderate elements. That explains why they gloat over the weakening of the Tamil National Alliance as a result of the in-roads made by other political formations such as the Tamil Peoples Council led by C.V. Wigneswaran and the All Ceylon Tamil Congress led by Gajan Ponnambalam at the recent parliamentary election both of whom have more radical positions than the TNA.

This column on May 13, 2018 highlighted the flexibility shown by the TNA as follows:

The Leader of the Tamil National Alliance Mr. R. Sampanthan speaking in Parliament on the occasion of the debate on the Presidents statement of Government policy last week drew the attention of the House to the importance of the Constitution reform process. In the course of his address he emphasised the importance of finding a solution to what is commonly called the ethnic problem through this reform process.

He highlighted two essential features of such a solution. The first being that such a solution must ensure an undivided and indivisible country and the second that such a solution must be acceptable to all sections of the Sri Lankan people. This of course is not the first time that the TNA Leader has made this statement. He has repeated this statement both publicly and privately many times during the past three years and insisted that such a solution must be approved by the people at a referendum.

He has gone even further to explicitly state that no solution must be adopted behind the backs of the Sinhala people and agreed to inclusion of clauses in the Constitution that safeguard against seccession.

The column went on to say:

In recent years and more so during the Constitutional Assembly proceedings during the last Parliament, Sampanthan has repeatedly admitted that the LTTEs resort to arms was a mistake and has expressed the hope that the Tamil community will not traverse that path again.

One example of indiscreet statements that make the task of resolving the ethnic problem more difficult was the statement of Vijayakala Maheswaran, who called for the revival of the LTTE as a way of resolving the concerns of the Tamil people, while holding a State Ministers post in the last Government.

Last week former Supreme Court Judge C. V. Wigneswaran made some remarks in Parliament which seemed to rile some Parliamentarians. From newspaper reports it was not immediately clear what the Tamil Peoples Council parliamentarian had actually said.

Some reports say he had said Tamil was the oldest language in the world while other reports said he had described the North East as the traditional homelands of the Tamil people. Another report claimed he said the Tamil people had the right of self determination.

Many of the parliamentarians, both from the Government and the Opposition, who took offence at Wigneswarans speech wanted it expunged from the Hansard. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene refused to do so saying every member of Parliament had the right to express his opinion and that it was up to those who dispute it to counter those views by their own arguments.

The Speakers ruling would have given parliamentarians the correct message that the August Assembly was indeed a platform for the clash of ideas and opinions and not a forum to stifle discussion.

Be that as it may it is not clear why Wigneswaran had to say what he said. Indeed Wigneswaran who served with great acceptance in the Judiciary with his experience and exposure has the potential to contribute to the resolution of the ethnic problem in the days to come with a more moderate and constructive approach.

It is important that any future attempt to resolve the ethnic conflict builds on the TNAs commitment to a united, undivided and indivisible Sri Lanka which was probably the biggest achievement of the Constitutional reform process in the last Parliament. Otherwise it will be another lost opportunity which will result in one of many unresolved problems that will be passed on to future generations.

(javidyusuf@gmail.com)
A piece of cloth that is stitched under forced labour, that has witnessed the extremes of human freedom being trampled upon, travels to a country where an anti-mask movement rages on

Human history is rife with tales of slavery and freedom, with different clans claiming ownership over each other either through ideological sanctions or sheer brute force. It took centuries of struggle and countless revolutionary movements for the human race to come up with the ideas of individual liberty and freedom  ideas that are sometimes taken for granted by those who are served freedom on a platter, or those who have not sacrificed anything to earn it themselves.

A 21st-century scholar of history studying invasions, genocides, ethnic cleansing, slavery, and bonded labour may falsely conclude that the civilised world has moved past these social evils by entering the era of peace treaties, diplomatic ties, and economic warfare. While tremendous progress has been made, the reality is far from perfect.

It is harrowing to study a dark chapter of not-so-distant history where an ideology convinced its population to not only believe in racial supremacy, but also actively engage in systemic cleansing of their fellow countrymen. It is unfathomable to the 21st-century scholar that a nation engaged in active genocide against its citizens and the world stood by and watched, the defenders of human rights kept mum, the champions of individual liberty were silenced. "Never again, never forget...", the historian will conclude, "...if that were to happen today, the world would be up in arms against that injustice, we have learned our lesson." But alas.

Those wondering what they would have done to stop this injustice if it occurred in their lifetime have their answers now: They would have done exactly what they are doing today, because it happened again, it is happening again. Case in point, the Communist Party of China and Uighur concentration camps.

After 1949, the "autonomous" region of Xinjiang  that most Uighur Muslims of Turkic ethnicity call home  saw absolute control by Communist China. Since they have their own language and a cultural affinity towards Central Asian countries, the friction between minority Uighurs and the majority Han Chinese population began to increase. It wasn't long before this friction turned into oppression, and soon the religious and cultural freedom of the Uighurs was clamped down upon, which has increased exponentially ever since Premier Xi Jinping assumed power.

Rayhan Asat, the president of the American Turkic International Lawyers Association, observes, "Over a million Turkic Uighurs are detained in concentration camps, prisons, and forced labour factories in China. Detainees are subject to military-style discipline, thought transformation, and forced confessions. They are abused, tortured, raped, and even killed. Survivors report being subjected to electrocution, waterboarding, repeated beatings, stress positions, and injections of unknown substances." He adds that these detention camps are meant to mentally and physically break the Uighur people, as well as their roots and origins. Uighur births have been systematically prevented too, demonstrating a clear motive to eradicate the population.

Chinese State officials have dubbed these camps, where human dignity is being trampled upon in all thinkable and unthinkable ways, 'Vocational and Re-Education Camps'. The coronavirus pandemic is an added misery to the interns of concentration camps in China. As health experts warned that the virus is airborne and highly contagious, the demand for face masks skyrocketed almost overnight, and China took it upon itself to fulfill these demands. The Uighur population is reportedly being forced into labour for the mass production of masks and PPE kits which are making their way into the international market.

Amy K Lehr, the human rights director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, states, "The rural poor that are being put into factory work are not going by choice. These are coercive quotas that cause people to be put into factory work when they don't want to be  and that could be considered forced labor under international law."

The masks produced in Uighur camps are reportedly being shipped, among other countries, to the United States as well. A piece of cloth that is stitched under forced labour, that has witnessed the extremes of human freedom being trampled upon, travels to a country where an anti-mask movement rages on.

It is almost poetic that a piece of cloth woven by hands in chains makes its way into the hands of someone who refuses to wear it, because it "curbs their freedom"  even if it means saving lives.

That cloth becomes witness to another extreme of individual liberty.

Wearing a mask is no more a precautionary step to slow down the transmission of a deadly disease, it has now become a political statement in the United States. What started as anger against government-imposed lockdowns later spiraled into an anti-mask sentiment, with people burning their masks on video to supposedly snatch back lost freedom. Public health officials have repeatedly asked people to wear masks and practice social distancing in order to slow down the spread of the virus, but one woman was heard saying at a meeting of local leaders in Palm Beach, Florida that, "youre removing our freedoms and stomping on our constitutional rights by these communist dictatorship orders or laws you want to mandate."

Ohio's governor Mike DeWine had to rescind an order requiring residents to wear masks in public, because "people were not going to accept the government telling them what to do," he told ABC News.

If a piece of cloth that traveled from the concentration camps of China and ended up in the hands of an anti-mask activist in the United States had sentience and the power of comprehension, it would surely be baffled by the extremes of statism and individual anarchism it had experienced in its arguably short lifetime. It would undoubtedly imagine a Utopia where forced labour does not exist, and people wear masks to save their own lives and that of others.

American political philosopher Robert Nozick argues in his 1974 book Anarchy, State and Utopia that the proposition of a minimal night-watchman State is not only legitimate but also just and inspiring. He defines Utopia as an ultraminimal State that has a monopoly over enforcement of rights, turning into a minimal State to ensure both protection of all its individuals as well as peaceful co-existence. His Utopia neither has a paternalistic complex, nor does it comprise a central authority, but he is a proponent of reasonable precautions to avoid altercations between individuals crossing each other's boundaries without consent.

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed many inherent flaws in the systems humans have built to govern themselves. It is essential to not only wear a mask, but to also take lessons from its journey across the globe.
In 1965 my husband, Robert P. Levine, went off to Mississippi to work as an attorney for President Kennedys Commission for Civil Rights Under Law. Among the incidents he recorded was a run in with Sheriff Rainey and Deputy Price, later accused in the murders of Goodman, Schwerner, and Chaney. Thirty-one years later he wrote an article looking back on 1965 to see what had been accomplished and asked, Were our efforts as lawyers successful? Did the deaths of Goodman, Schwerner, and Chaney mean anything?

In that 1989 article, he came to two different conclusions. In the public sphere  buses, water fountains, waiting rooms  there was progress. On the other hand, The promised land we dreamed of in 1965 is not around the corner, or even in sight.... Mississippi may not be burning in 1989, but America, with all its prosperity and economic success, seems to be well on its way to establishing a permanent underclass made up of blacks and other minorities. Maybe thats what James Cheneys mother meant when she wondered if her sons death made any difference at all.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to Sooronbai Jeenbekov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic.

"Dear Mr President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my sincerest congratulations to you and all the people of your country on the occasion of the national day of the Kyrgyz Republic, Independence Day.

I am confident that the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan relations, our traditional ties of friendship and cooperation will continue developing and expanding to the benefit of our peoples.

At a time when humanity is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, I would like to emphasize that the people of Azerbaijan are in solidarity with the brotherly people of Kyrgyzstan.

On this joyous day, I wish you the best of health, success in your work, and everlasting peace and prosperity to your country," the letter said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
At the event (Photo: VNA)



The consultations were co-chaired by Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshi Kajiyama and Korean Minister of Trade Yoo Myung-hee.

Having expressed their concern over the harmful impacts of COVID-19 on the lives of people in the region, the ministers agreed to continue consolidating cooperation to overcome the pandemic and develop economies, including maintaining supply chains, especially for necessities such as medical supplies and food.

They highlighted the need to maintain the trust of the regional business community and focus resources on promoting socio-economic stability, in particular signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) this year.

In order to effectively realise the ASEAN+3 joint declaration on mitigating the adverse impacts of COVID-19, adopted by ASEAN+3 ministers on June 4, the ministers pledged to enhance cooperation to carry out the action plan and stand ready to cope with contingencies in the region.

The ministers welcomed the progress made in the RCEP negotiations as well as moves to prepare for its signing later this year.

They reaffirmed the importance of bringing the RCEP into life to bolster businesses trust and strengthen the regional economic architecture, and expressed support for an open multilateral trade system based on common principles./.
WATERLOO REGION  Masks, gowns, food platters and financial donations ranging from $5 to over $2 million.

The foundations that raise money for hospitals in Waterloo Region have seen an overwhelming response from the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The foundations of Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Grand River Hospital and St. Marys General Hospital have received over $12 million since campaigns launched in March.

Much of those dollars have already been used to buy critical equipment for front-line workers across the region.

Grand River led the way in raising $6.6 million between March and July, followed by St. Marys General with $3 million and Cambridge Memorial with $2.6 million.

By comparison, Grand River raised $6.7 million over the entire fiscal year in 2018-19.

We have never had a campaign like this before  truly unprecedented and the community responded in a remarkable way, said Grand River Hospital Foundation president and CEO Paul McIntyre Royston.

All three hospitals were bolstered by a series of donations made by the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Family Foundation totalling $8.5 million. Each of the three hospitals, as well as the South Bruce Grey Health Centre, received money from those donations.

In typical years, capital campaigns often have set targets, with specific areas the money will be spent and months of advanced planning. But when COVID hit, foundations were largely running blind, not knowing how the economic shutdown would impact the ability of businesses, foundations and ordinary people to reach into their wallets.

The response was immediate.

Susan Dusick, president and CEO of St. Marys General Hospital Foundation, said she began receiving calls from donors early in March before they even had the opportunity to ask for support.

Despite economic uncertainty, the community of Waterloo Region stepped up to offer whatever they could to ensure the front line of St. Marys was equipped to face the COVID-19 crisis, and provide care to their loved ones and friends, she said. The display of generosity was nothing short of astounding.

And it went beyond just cash donations.

Cambridge Memorial received gifts of food and personal protective equipment as well as cash donations from individuals and foundations. The hospitals Sewing Mask Challenge brought in over 25,000 cloth masks.

The donations helped Cambridge Memorial buy six new ventilators and have another three on loan from Conestoga College. The hospital also added ICU beds, medication pumps and IV poles.

At St. Marys, donations were used to expand and change patient care areas and add 73 new beds. The money was also used to buy ventilators, lab testing equipment and personal protective equipment.

I think it is fair to say that all of our communities have stepped up to support our hospitals during COVID-19, said Lisa Short, executive director of the Cambridge Memorial Hospital foundation.

Its been an all-hands-on-deck approach.

Early collaboration between the presidents of St. Marys General, Grand River and Cambridge Memorial was the catalyst for a regionwide COVID-19 preparedness fund called Region Ready.

The fund has raised over $600,000 with Google, Open Text and Equitable Life Insurance matching employee and community contributions.

I am not surprised that the people of our region have demonstrated such an extraordinary degree of selflessness and compassion, said Dusick. Though COVID-19 was unexpected, I take pride in the fact that our communitys generosity is something history has taught us we can count on. For that, I am very grateful.
The family of Vanessa Guillen joined the family of another slain Fort Hood soldier Friday to demand justice and change.

Both young Latino soldiers vanished from Fort Hood after saying they experienced sexual violence at the post, and some of the details surrounding the death of Elder Fernandes seem to parallel those in the killing of Guillen. Fernandes disappearance and death has become another rallying cry for activists who want to see the military change the way it handles sexual harassment and assault and the way it treats minority members.

We must continue to support these families in the search for justice, said Cesar Espinosa, executive director of FIEL, a Houston organization that fights for immigrant rights. We hope that the murders and all these situations stop at Fort Hood so that no more families have to go through this.

In an emotional speech in Spanish, Gloria Guillen, Vanessa Guillens mother, said she wont stop protesting outside Fort Hood until her demands for a congressional investigation are met.

Ive been out here since April 22, since we started looking for my daughter, she said. I will continue to be here for my daughter.

The family also spoke in support of the proposed #IamVanessaGuillen bill, which will make reforms in the way the military reports and investigates sexual assault and harassment.

The body of Fernandes, 23, was found Tuesday night, a week after he vanished from Fort Hood. His body was found about 30 miles from the post, near Lake Polk in Temple.

The Massachusetts native was last seen at a home in Killeen, and he did not report to work the next day, officials at the post said in a statement last week. Members of the post searched for Fernandes in hospitals and hotels, according to Fort Hood, which said it launched a thorough investigation.

Fernandes had recently transferred units at the post after reporting that he was sexually abused to the Army, Public Affairs Officer Lt. Col. Chris Brautigam told the Associated Press. The investigation into the report of abuse is still open, according to Brautigam. Fernandes was sexually assaulted by his sergeant and received retribution for doing so, according to Natalie Khawam, a civil attorney representing the Fernandes and Guillen families.

Guillen, a 20-year-old Houston native, was reported missing from Fort Hood on April 23, and her body was found 30 miles away June 30. Authorities say she was killed with a hammer and that her body was dismembered. The soldier suspected in her death fatally shot himself as investigators closed in on him.

Before she died, Guillen told her mother that she was sexually harassed by a sergeant at the post but she didnt file a complaint because it would not have been taken seriously.

Guillens death ignited a social movement demanding answers and justice for her family, as well as better treatment for women and minorities in the military. Khawam and members of Guillens family have been vocal about pushing for legislation and a congressional investigation.

hannah.dellinger@chron.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 20:40:57|Editor: huaxia

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AYBAK, Afghanistan, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants launched massive offensive on Roiduab district in the northern Samangan province but the attack repulsed and the militants fled away after leaving three bodies behind on Saturday, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said.

A group of militants, according to the official, attacked security checkpoints in Roi village at 11:00 a.m. local time on Saturday to enter Roiduab district but fled away after leaving three bodies behind and several injured.

The troops have also seized a number of arms and ammunition including two AK-47 assault rifles from the fleeing militants, said Rezai.

Taliban militants who have intensified activities amid efforts for talks with Afghan government haven't made comment. Enditem
Just off the trail down a silty embankment, the Sandy River sat glassy in the bright morning light. Looking north, to its confluence with the Columbia River, I raised my camera to capture the scene.

Just as my finger pressed the shutter  THUMP THUMP SPLASH  in the corner of the frame a big white dog appeared, panting happily in the shallows of the river. A high-pitched whistle sounded from the trail. The dog raised its head and bounded off, gone as suddenly as it had arrived.

More than perhaps any other natural area in Oregon, Sandy River Delta really is for the dogs, seemingly as popular among canines as people. On Thursday morning, under a clear summer sky, dogs at the park outnumbered the humans, coming down the trail as many as six to a person.

It should be noted that Sandy River Delta, also known as Thousand Acres, is not explicitly a dog park. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, it is promoted as a key viewing area near the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge, open to hiking, biking, fishing, wading and horseback riding. Dog owners visiting the park are asked to keep dogs under control, which includes not letting them dig holes and keeping them on leashes in the parking, bathroom and picnic areas, as well as on the Confluence Trail that runs through the middle of the park.

Sandy River Delta is a park at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. While hikers can enjoy many winding trails, the delta is perhaps more popular as a natural playground for dogs, who are allowed off-leash in many parts of the park.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Sandy River Delta is a park at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. While hikers can enjoy many winding trails, the delta is perhaps more popular as a natural playground for dogs, who are allowed off-leash in many parts of the park.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Sandy River Delta is a park at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. While hikers can enjoy many winding trails, the delta is perhaps more popular as a natural playground for dogs, who are allowed off-leash in many parts of the park.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Located at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, the park is home to an abundance of wildlife, including flocks of migratory birds and beavers. In recent years, the U.S. Forest Service has been working to restore the ecosystem at the delta, which makes its rules about controlling off-leash dogs all the more important. In 2013, the agency removed an old dike from the Sandy River, restoring its original flow and improving the habitat for salmon and steelhead.

In December, the forest service started charging a $5 parking fee at the park to help cover the cost of maintenance and operation at what in recent years has become an incredibly popular day-use area.

From the busy parking lot, a network of short trails wind through the park, running through a large, grassy meadow and deciduous forests to the banks of the Sandy River. With so many ways to go, the park offers a choose-your-own-adventure approach, though there are a few highlights to aim for.

Leaving from the south side of the parking lot will take you to the Confluence and Boundary trails, both of which lead to the confluence of the two rivers, where a short ramp leads up to a beautiful wooden bird blind created by artist Maya Lin. Small paths lead out to a viewpoint overlooking the confluence and down to the muddy riverbanks.

The Meadow Trail leaves the confluence along the edge the Columbia River, though there are no river views to speak of. Eventually, the narrow dirt trail leads back to the open meadow, crossing the Confluence and Boundary trails to a large portion of the park that thats popular as an off-leash play area.

Two other trails, the Ranch Dike Trail and Old Channel Trail, lead through the woods beside the Sandy River, while a small side trail leads to the banks of the river on the far western side of the park.

A bird blind designed by artist Maya Lin sits in the woods at the Sandy River Delta, a park at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Sandy River Delta is a park at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. While hikers can enjoy many winding trails, the delta is perhaps more popular as a natural playground for dogs, who are allowed off-leash in many parts of the park.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Sandy River Delta is a park at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, at the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. While hikers can enjoy many winding trails, the delta is perhaps more popular as a natural playground for dogs, who are allowed off-leash in many parts of the park.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Regardless of where you decide to hike, be prepared to run into dogs.

Sandy River Delta is a veritable playground for dogs, who can explore rivers, meadows and forests  amenities that dont come with your run-of-the-mill dog park. Because of that, its become an extremely popular destination for dog owners, who may well make up the majority of visitors.

On pet travel website Bring Fido, the Sandy River Delta has a user rating of a perfect five bones, winning praise for its ample space, natural features and the number of trash cans dispersed throughout the park.

Those who want to avoid dogs should stick to the Confluence Trail, the one part of the park where leashes are required (aside from the parking lot).

Whether youre there with your pups or not, Sandy River Delta is a beautiful outing on the edge of the Columbia Gorge. What it lacks in dramatic landscapes it makes up for with its peaceful riverside setting, perfect for a warm summer day.

--Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Sara Ramirez at The CBS EyeSpeak Summit at the Pacific Design Center in March, 2018, in West Hollywood, California. (VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)

Greys Anatomy star Sara Ramirez has taken to social media to reveal they identify as non-binary.

Ramirez, known for playing Dr. Callie Torres on the popular medical drama, came out to their 2 million Instagram followers and changed the bio section to reveal the preferred pronouns of she/they.

In an updated profile picture, Ramirez wrote: In me is the capacity to be Girlish boy Boyish girl Boyish boy Girlish girl All Neither.

Read more: Grey's Anatomy is failing its audience in a significant way

The post ended with the hashtag #nonbinary

The announcement was celebrated by the stars friends and followers.

RuPauls Drag Race star Miss Peppermint said: I love you with every fiber. You are such a bright light it's almost Hard to fathom.

Thank you for sharing. I can only think how many young folks will feel even more held by you. No pressure. I'm just SO PROUD. I'm in tears.

Pal and actress Danielle Bisutti simply responded: I love you gurl.

In 2016, Ramirez came out as bisexual after the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, which saw 49 people killed and a further 50 wounded.

Sara Ramirez attends the celebration of ABC's TGIT Line-up held at Gracias Madre on September 26, 2015 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)

The 44-year-old told People magazine: "Coming out publicly was something that I was afraid of because I was concerned that it would affect my career in a negative way.

"I was afraid of the discrimination I might face, not just outside Hollywood, but inside.

Read more: It's a Boy! Grey's Anatomy's Camilla Luddington and Matthew Alan Welcome Son Lucas Matthew

"As I continued to read and hear about the countless forms of violence perpetrated against us, including the Orlando shooting at Pulse nightclub, an organic, incremental urgency to use my platform to empower those who are part of these communities that Im a part of came over me in a way that Ive never felt before.

Ramirez joined the cast of Greys Anatomy in 2006 and has since enjoyed roles in shows such as Madam Secretary and Disneys Sofia the First.
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Rome: The Italian coastguard sent help on Saturday to a rescue boat funded by British street artist Banksy after the vessel issued urgent calls for assistance, saying it was stranded in the Mediterranean and overloaded with migrants.

The coastguard said a patrol boat dispatched from the southern Italian island of Lampedusa had taken on board 49 of "those considered most vulnerable" among the 219 migrants picked up by the ship since Thursday off the coast of Libya.

Named after a French feminist anarchist, the Louise Michel started operating last week. Despite the help from Italy, it has still not found a safe port for the rest of the mainly African migrants on board.

The 49 people who were transferred off the ship include 32 women and 13 children, the Italian coastguard said.

The Louise Michel, a German boat manned by a crew of 10, issued a series of tweets overnight and on Saturday saying its situation was worsening, and appealing for help from authorities in Italy, Malta and Germany.
Toronto police say they have arrested and charged a person in a homicide investigation.

Police received a report about a woman armed with a knife walking near Sherbourne Street and Dundas Street East at about 10:10 a.m. Wednesday.

After arriving on scene, they found another woman with stab wounds and covered in blood at 236 Sherbourne St. Paramedics rushed the victim to hospital, where the woman died.

The victim was identified as Tara Morton, 41.

On Friday, the suspect went to 51 Division and turned herself in.

Oleesiea Langdon has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder. She was to appear in court, via video, on Saturday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.

Abhya Adlakha is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @AbhyaAdlakha
In the final week of August, the United States saw its biggest deterioration in societal norms and steps toward outright fascism since President Donald Trump came to office four years ago under a mantle of barely veiled authoritarianism. The troubling developments of the past week are almost too many to count.

On Tuesday, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse allegedly crossed state lines with his automatic rifle and murdered two demonstrators at a protest of another horrific police shooting of a Black man. Local police did not arrest Rittenhouse or other armed white menwho went to Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the call to arms of a group calling itself the Kenosha Guardfor violating curfew, or even as suspects in the immediate aftermath of a murder. Instead, officers supplied them with water, thanked them for coming, and allowed Rittenhouse to walk away after allegedly murdering two men and seriously wounding a third. Kenoshas chief of police responded by blaming the victims for having violated curfew while nearly exonerating Rittenhouse by describing the murder in the passive voice.

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Meanwhile, the day prior, Ammon Bundy and dozens of other armed white and unmasked protesters pushed their way past police in Boise, Idaho, to pack the gallery overlooking the states House of Representatives. The gallery had been restricted for social distancing, but after the confrontation, which resulted in the shattering of a glass door, protesters were allowed to fill every seat.

It was also the week of the Republican National Convention, which culminated with a grand and illegal presidential acceptance speech with the backdrop of the taxpayer-funded White House decked out in Trump-Pence 2020 propaganda. The sight of the White House being used directly as a political prop in such a way has never happened in American history and is more reminiscent of the actions of certain European leaders of the 1930s who turned themselves into embodiments of the state.

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This was just one of many such sins of this convention. On Wednesday, Mike Pence implied that Officer David Underwood was the victim of racial justice protesters, when in fact his murder in May was allegedly at the hands of a white nationalist soldier hoping to ignite a race war. The tactic of falsely blaming your political opponents for your own supporters acts of horrific violence is also not new.

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Its worth examining the direct connection between the violence we witnessed in the past week and the political performances of the Republican National Convention. The alleged Kenosha shooter, its important to note, had posted images from a front-row seat at a Trump rally earlier this year. Meanwhile, two of the stars of the RNC were a Missouri couple also famous solely for waving guns at Black Lives Matter protesters. This represents a growing and open policy by the president and his party to encourage violent supporters and their racist causes.

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In April, for example, Trump tweeted a vague call to liberate Michigan, among other states, from restrictions meant to protect against the spread of COVID-19. His followers responded. White, armed militiassome carrying neo-Nazi and Confederate paraphernaliasoon swarmed the capital, threatening state lawmakers. Many brought automatic weapons into the legislative chamber itself. One Black legislatorlikely noticing the Confederate and Nazi signage, as well as a lynching ropebrought armed escorts for security. Others wore bulletproof vests.

In response, Trump called these armed vigilantes very good people, the same language he famously used to describe white supremacist tiki torchwielding marchers in Charlottesville, Virginia, three years ago, and urged the governor to give in to their demands. In short, he offered open support for violent white rebellion.

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A week later, the Trump campaign emailed supporters a slew of appeals for money to capitalize on the publicity, inviting supporters to join his private army. One email calling out FOR PATRIOTS ONLY told supporters, Youd make an excellent addition to the Trump Army. Donors were offered a limited-edition Keep America Great Hat in camouflage design. The President wants YOU and every other member of our exclusive Trump Army to have something to identify yourselves with, and to let everyone know that YOU are the Presidents first line of defense when it comes to fighting off the Liberal MOB. The solicitation was reminiscent of Trumps violent threat last year that his supporters in the military, law enforcement, and biker gangs might have to get tough on his political opponents in a way that would prove to be very bad, very bad. Indeed, earlier this summer when street protests against the murder of George Floyd were reaching their peak, Trump promised to use state violence against demonstrators, tweeting when the looting starts, the shooting starts. He soon followed by sending a federalized secret police force to Portland, Oregon, against the wishes of the city and state.

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With these efforts, the president is enabling and encouraging the formation of armed forces, outside the control of the state, with his uniforms and loyalty only to him. Hes further pushing loyal state forces to either acquiesce to the vigilante demands or outright support them. Amenable law enforcementfrom Kenosha to Portlandhave proven eager to abide.

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Amid the flurry of steps toward authoritarianism, confidence that institutional stability and cultural norms will protect us from the fate of other states that fell to fascistic movements has taken a profound hit. With Trumps continued attempts to preemptively delegitimizeor even outright sabotagethe upcoming election, democratic stability is at risk.

As senior Holocaust historian Christopher Browning put it in 2018:

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If people do not accept the ground rules by which democracy operates and winning at all costs and incivility become the norm, then things fall apart.  We see that falling apart with political polarization now. And that was true in the 1930s with the rise of authoritarianism and fascism in Europe and elsewhere.

Browning certainly had Weimar Germany in mind. The state suffered from rampant violence wrought by vigilante militias that operated almost without restraint. It lacked the ability or will to suppress the violent threat, particularly against right-wing nonstate paramilitary units. The ascendancy of the Nazisput into power (like all fascists) by traditional conservatives hoping to suppress social democratic demands by caving to right-wing radicalswas the result.

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Since 2015, scholars have published widely on our current political moment and how it does, and does not, fit into the accepted typologies of fascist movements. The parallels are many. They include, for example, Trumps glorification of a mythical past while blaming all problems on a demonized scapegoat, his constant mantra of fake news (what Nazis called the lying press) to neutralize the free press, and his cult of leadership and demonizing of opponents as traitorous enemies of the people. Critically, it includes also his view of the world as a pseudo-Darwinian struggle of winners and losers and his valuation of violence as a positive good.

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While no scholar dismisses these parallels altogether, some have offered consolation, noting significant differences between our current moment and Weimar Germany. Browning, for instance, pointed out that Trump lacks an agenda to wage war in order to remake the world in his ideological vision, although he is certainly remaking the world order in other ways. His supreme goals seem to be self-enrichment, attention, and the pleasure of inflicting suffering on personal enemies.

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Above all, historians have taken solaceuntil recentlyin our strong economy, global stability, and the popular faith in our government grounded in two centuries of semidemocratic tradition.

Those foundations are under terrible stress.

In the midst of this pandemicand the economic crisis it engenderedwe are crossing new thresholds. The mob returned this summer for more armed rallies in Michigan. Dozens of threats against Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer were posted on social media. We havent had any bloodshed yet, but the populous is counting to three, and yesterday was day two, read the post in a 385,000-member Facebook group called Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine. Next comes the watering the tree of liberty with the blood of tyrant.

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Others promised to attend anti-government protests armed to the death and without face masks, threatening to attack any police officers who dared confront them. As Michelle Norris wrote in the Washington Post, The protests are purportedly about reopening America. A parallel goal is realignmentusing the Second Amendment to conduct regular and routine shows of force to intimidate elected officials into enacting a political agenda. In Ohio, armed protesters with anti-Semitic signage stalked the home of the head of the health department, Dr. Amy Acton. Militias are using all of these events, as well as the anxiety underlying the pandemic, as recruiting tools. Their welcome support by local police in Kenoshawhile the president and his party spent the week portraying Black Lives Matter protesters as violent thugssurely did wonders for the movement.

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No two situations are ever identical, but history matters. Trump is inflaming and urging a large minority of the country to believe that the government constitutes a deep state conspiracy against himand therefore them. He is feeding friendly media outlets like Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones, and Rick Wiles racist and conspiracist fuel. He is convincing a large minority that the election is rigged against them. He is purging officials who might offer government oversight and replacing the Justice Department and judiciary with radical loyalists. He is encouraging armed vigilantes to consider themselves members of a special Trump Army to defeat the threat of the enemy at home. Most critically, he is suppressing our ability to vote through the mail at a time of pandemic. As all this takes place, the assumption that a free election and transfer of power will happen peacefully grows dubious.

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A president pushing fascist rhetoric with autocratic tendencies is running America, and our democratic safeguards are greatly weakened. Paramilitary violence by an enraged white minorityorganized and stoked by the president, to whom they are loyal, and local police who tolerate or empower themis becoming a new norm.

This comes not only from the top. For example, heres how the Kenosha County sheriff spoke in 2018 about Black shoplifters in his district: Lets put them in jail. Lets stop them from going out and getting 10 other women pregnant and having small children. Lets put them away. We have to get to the point where we will no longer put up with the garbage people that fill our communities. They are a cancer to our society.

Meanwhile, a new report by Michael German, a former FBI special agent, concludes that U.S. law enforcement officials have been tied to racist militant activities in more than a dozen states since 2000, with hundreds of police officers caught posting racist and bigoted social media content. Nationwide, law enforcement seem to tolerate a level of white violenceindividually and from a mobthat one can scarcely imagine people of color taking part in without consequence. Many sheriffs and other law enforcement leaders have publicly supported these militias and announced their refusal to obey state orders to enforce stay-at-home mandates. In one town, Portsmouth, Virginia, law enforcement is arresting local Black political officeholders on charges of criticizing the police. If Trump loses and refuses to acknowledge defeat in the coming election, will Americas law enforcement remain loyal to the state and its Constitution or to Trump?

No matter what happens on Nov. 3, we should be ready for white violence. It is the new normal, stoked and validated by the highest office in the land.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 16:57:32|Editor: huaxia

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The main tower and girder of the Longyan Bridge, with a combined weight of 23,600 tonnes, synchronously rotated 21 degrees counter-clockwise, reaching a designed position in Longyan city, east China's Fujian Province, early Thursday. This is the second rotation of the bridge following a 69-degree rotation of its main tower on April 10. The two rotations of such a heavy bridge under construction have set a precedent in the field, said the China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, designer of the bridge's rotational device. According to the company, the rotational device can bear up to 25,000 tonnes, equivalent to the weight of 2.5 Eiffel Towers. The Longyan Bridge will span two major railroads, on which nearly 120 trains pass by every day. Once built, it is expected to become an important link in the local expressway system and to improve the city's traffic efficiency. However, the construction site of the diamond-shaped bridge tower is very close to the railways. Conducting rotations, therefore, can increase the proximity to about 20 meters, reducing the safety risk to the railways.
It is time to praise Victorians; the people, of course, not the politicians who represent them at the national and state level. Victorians are proving more resilient, and cohesive, in the second wave of the pandemic than the rest of the country may appreciate. Community support for the second lockdown remains at remarkably high levels despite the blame-shifting between Scott Morrison and Daniel Andrews and the bomb-throwing from the state opposition.

Nine out of 10 Victorians support the wearing of masks, and seven in 10 support the restrictions of movement, and even the nightly curfew, according to research from Roy Morgan released this week. The only restriction that divides opinion at the margin is the ban on visiting family members in another house (with the exception of delivering care or essential services), but even on this question almost six in 10 (57 per cent) are still in favour.

The citizens of Victoria are proving to be a resilient and cohesive bunch. Credit:Jason South

The survey coincided with an encouraging report from the Victorian Coroners Court showing the number of suicides has not surged in lockdown. Every life lost remains a tragedy. But the state total in the year to August 26  466  happens to be the lowest since 2017. This figure echoes the trend in New Zealand, where the national suicide rate is also at its lowest level in three years, according to New Zealands chief coroner Judge Deborah Marshall.

There are even green shoots of recovery, and not in the place one would expect. Victoria appears to be the only state in the health crisis so far that has been able to shift some economic activity from the capital to the regions. Employment in the rest of Victoria was almost 3 per cent higher in July compared with the same month last year. In Melbourne, it had fallen by more than 4 per cent, based on original data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Hunter Venteicher is looking forward to a career in the sky.

Hunter, 13, is a Council Bluffs native and an eighth-grader at St. Albert Middle School. Hes been a Falcon since kindergarten, and hes been back in the classroom since Monday.

Hunter said its nice to be back in the building after schools across the state were closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last spring, he said certain aspects of learning from home were easier, but not having teachers there for him in-person made some things more difficult. There are new protocols in place regarding sanitation and social distancing this year, but he said its all for the best.

The mask, it takes some getting used to, but Im pretty okay with it, he said. Its great being back at school, though. Its nice being able to see my friends without having to call them.

Hunter and some of his classmates livened up the St. Albert halls Thursday afternoon with their dulcet tones as part of the middle school choir. He is fond of the vocal arts and said he enjoys singing pop tunes.

He hasnt had much experience in the drama department, but he said hed like to audition for a school musical when the time comes. He said he was recently introduced to West Side Story, and is a fan of the soundtrack.

Outside of performance art, Hunter is a member of the schools robotics team and is a part of the LEGO league.

Hunters head is in the air, but he isnt daydreaming. When his family travels they often fly, hitting coastal states like Florida, North Carolina and California. Flying grew on him, and it is something hed like to do for a career, and he said hes going to pursue flight school to become a pilot after graduating from St. Albert.

Hunter had a pretty quiet summer, but he got a lot of swimming in. He is an avid swimmer and would consider joining the Abraham Lincoln swim team when he gets to high school  St. Albert students can compete for the A.L. team. He also traveled to his uncles farm in Spencer, Nebraska, near the South Dakota border to help him work on the ranch.
A radio host fired to make room for her controversial replacement earlier this week says while she knew Winnipeg was a kind community, she's amazed by the wave of support she got after leaving Energy 106 on Tuesday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A radio host fired to make room for her controversial replacement earlier this week says while she knew Winnipeg was a kind community, she's amazed by the wave of support she got after leaving Energy 106 on Tuesday.

"Its kind of making me speechless. It makes me tear up a lot," Sarah Nick, who had worked for Energy 106 for four years, told the Free Press Friday.

Nick released a video statement Tuesday after a press release spread announcing she had been let go as the stations morning-show host and had been replaced by former 92.1 CITI host Dave Wheeler.

"I was pretty shocked when I got fired, but thats show business, it happens," she said.

The move to replace Nick with Wheeler was met with criticism on social media; he was fired from his former morning-show radio host position in 2018 after making offensive comments regarding trans people.

Among those who spoke out against the decision was Winnipeg Pride Run co-race director Andrew McLaren, who announced Thursday that the group would no longer be doing any sponsorship work with Energy 106 after two years of working together, calling Wheelers "racist, sexist and transphobic comments" unacceptable.

The move to replace Sarah Nick was met with widespread criticism on social media. (Shannon VanRaes / Winnipeg Free Press)

Wheeler told the Free Press Wednesday that he planned to take a "softer" approach at Energy 106 and said he's donating his first paycheque to the Rainbow Resource Centre, a support and service agency for Winnipeg's LGBTTQ+ community.

It was after Nicks statement in which she confirmed her firing and said there were "no hard feelings," she said, that she began to receive messages of support.

Within days, she received more than 1,000 messages, 100-plus calls and even some work opportunities  including support from an Irish radio station, also called Energy 106, which was caught up in the fray surrounding her firing.

The Belfast, Northern Ireland dance-music station began receiving messages meant for its Winnipeg counterpart about the staffing change. The Irish station later tweeted that it supported Nick and was critical of the decision to hire Wheeler.

"Its a bit disgusting on what you have done as a radio station, you have a major role in your town, well done on losing probably 80 per cent of your listenership, your advertisers must be proud," read the tweet, sent Wednesday.

Weve had a nosey and are now up to date with the topic, @energy106fm its a bit disgusting on what you have done as a radio station, you have a major role in your town, well done on losing probably 80% of your listenership, your advertisers must be proud.  Energy 106 (@Energy106) August 26, 2020

The station has since received positive messages from people in Winnipeg and is now in talks with Nick about having her do some voiceover work.

"Im very overwhelmed, because Ive never been through anything like this and I dont really know anybody who has," she said.

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"Im excited to work with them, theyre excited because they want to have a Canadian on, and I think its an honour to be a small part of their big station. I guess theyre going viral from it. Its just been great, really funny, cool, an ironic story for sure."

Irish radio station Energy 106 might get Sarah Nick to do some voiceover work. (Shannon Van Raes / Winnipeg Free Press)

Nick studied broadcasting at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and her first long-term job in the industry was at Energy 106  she said program director Adam West took a chance when hiring her, especially as she was only 21 at the time  and said she is not sure what the future holds.

"The Band-Aid got ripped off and the wound is still showing, so Im just kind of taking time to decompress and chill for a minute," she said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_
TikToks attempt to sell itself and avert a possible US ban may run into some complications. The Wall Street Journal reports that China has unveiled new restrictions on AI technology exports that could affect TikTok. The new rules bar the exports of tech like content suggestions, text analysis and voice recognition unless a company receives a license  technology TikTok uses in some cases.

The Chinese government has issued a not-so-subtle warning to TikTok parent ByteDance in turn. Government advisor Cui Fan told the state-run Xinhua News Agency that ByteDance should seriously and cautiously consider stopping its sales talks for TikTok. Even if ByteDance no longer has a stake in TikTok, there would probably be some technology transfers that could violate the rules, the advisor said.

The countrys Ministry of Commerce argued that the export list changes were overdue after remaining the same since 2008. It was important given the breakneck pace of technological improvement and Chinas increasingly competitive output, according to officials.

Neither ByteDance nor the Commerce Ministry has commented on the new rules.

The move escalates an already intense dispute between China and the US. The two sides are already locked in a trade war, and the US has already implemented trade restrictions on companies like Huawei and ZTE over alleged security risks. The pressure on TikTok to drop ByteDance is an extension of this. In that regard, its not surprising that China is countering with tighter export limits. This theoretically pressures the US to make concessions and allow more access to Chinese tech.
SCRANTON  A Sugarloaf Township man was sentenced to five years imprisonment on Thursday on charges that he used his cell phone and computer to access child pornography, according to a release posted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on Friday.

William Barratt, 40, had pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography via his phone and computer over an eleven-month stretch that began in April 2018 and ended on March 5, 2019. At the time, Barratt was arraigned on over 1,700 counts of possessing and disseminating child pornography.

Barratt entered his guilty plea on Oct. 28, 2019 in front of Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley.

U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion presided over Barratts sentencing on Thursday.

In addition to his five years in prison, Barratt was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following the completion of his prison sentence.

Barratt must also pay restitution in the amount of $3,000 to each of the nine victims that were identified in the images that were seized from his phone and computer. Mannion ordered Barratt to undergo sex offender treatment and to comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Luzerne County District Attorneys Office. Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case.
New malaria transmission patterns emerge in Africa

An international study reveals how future climate change could affect malaria transmission in Africa over the next century.

Malaria is a climate sensitive disease; it thrives where it is warm and wet enough to provide surface water suitable for breeding by the mosquitoes that transmit it.

For more than two decades now, scientists have suggested that climate change may alter the distribution and length of transmission seasons due to new patterns of temperature and rainfall.

The burden of this disease falls primarily on Africa. In 2018, out of an estimated 228 million cases of malaria worldwide, 93% were in the African continent.

Detailed mapping of malaria transmission is vital for the distribution of public health resources and targeted control measures.

In the past, rainfall and temperature observations have been used in malaria climatic suitability models to estimate the distribution and duration of annual transmission, including future projections.

But factors affecting how rainfall results in water for mosquito breeding are highly complex, for example how it is absorbed into soil and vegetation, as well as rates of runoff and evaporation.

A new study, led by the Universities of Leeds and Lincoln in the UK, for the first time combined a malaria climatic suitability model with a continental-scale hydrological model that represents real-world processes of evaporation, infiltration and flow through rivers.

This process-focused approach gives a more in-depth picture of malaria-friendly conditions across Africa.

When run using future climate scenarios up to the end of this century, a different pattern of future changes in malaria suitability emerges compared to previous estimates.

While the findings show only very minor future changes in the total area suitable for malaria transmission, the geographical location of many of those areas shifts substantially.

When a hydrological model is used, aridity-driven decreases in suitability are no longer observed across southern Africa, particularly Botswana and Mozambique.

Conversely, projected decreases in malaria suitable areas across West Africa are more pronounced. The largest difference is in South Sudan, where the study estimates substantial decreases in malaria suitability in the future.

The study, published today in Nature Communications, highlights river corridors as year-round hot spots of malaria transmission.

While flowing water in large rivers is not a suitable habitat for malaria-carrying mosquitoes, nearby smaller water bodies, such as bankside ponds and floodplains can make for ideal larvae breeding grounds, as do associated irrigation schemes.

The Niger and Senegal rivers in Mali and Senegal, and the Webi Juba and Webi Shabeelie rivers in Somalia, are all identified in the study as suitable for malaria transmission despite currently extending beyond the geographical ranges hitherto predicted to be climatically suitable.

This is especially important since human populations tend to concentrate close to rivers.

Study lead author Dr Mark Smith, from the School of Geography at Leeds, said: "Since the huge efforts to eradicate malaria from parts of the world, the areas where we observe malaria today are only a part of the total area that would otherwise be suitable for malaria transmission.

"But if we are to project the impact of climate change on the geography of malaria transmission, we need to develop more sophisticated ways of representing that envelope of malaria suitability both today and in the future.

"Our approach aims to lay out the environmental risks of malaria more clearly, so that projections of climate change impacts can help inform public health interventions and support vulnerable communities.

"But this is only a first step, there is a lot more we can do to embed state-of-the-art hydrological and flood models into estimates of malaria environmental suitability and, potentially, even early warning systems of local malaria epidemics."

Co-author, Professor Chris Thomas from Lincoln Centre for Water and Planetary Health, at the University of Lincoln added: "The shrinking map of malaria in Africa over that last 20 years is primarily due to huge public health efforts underway to tackle this disease, not climate change.

"But malaria elimination is made much more difficult where the climate is highly suitable for transmission, so it is key to know where these areas are now and are projected to be in the future.

"In this study we show that linking physical geographic processes to the biology helps us get to grips with some of that complexity. The exciting challenge now is to develop this approach at local scales."

###

Further information

The paper "Incorporating hydrology into climate suitability models changes projections of malaria transmission in Africa" is published in Nature Communications on 28 August 2020 (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18239-5).

For additional information and interviews, please contact the University of Leeds media relations team via pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk.

University of Leeds

The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 38,000 students from more than 150 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. The University plays a significant role in the Turing, Rosalind Franklin and Royce Institutes.

We are a top ten university for research and impact power in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and are in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2021.

The University was awarded a Gold rating by the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017, recognising its 'consistently outstanding' teaching and learning provision. Twenty-six of our academics have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships - more than any other institution in England, Northern Ireland and Wales - reflecting the excellence of our teaching. http://www. leeds. ac. uk

University of Lincoln

The University of Lincoln was awarded Gold - the highest standard possible - in the national Teaching Excellence Framework, an independent assessment of teaching quality in UK higher education. The award reflects our exciting teaching, great support for students and excellent employment outcomes. Lincoln is ranked in the UK top 20 in The Guardian University Guide 2020.

The institution is known for a pioneering approach to working with employers, which has been recognised with a Lord Stafford Award and Times Higher Education Award. Among our most recent graduates, 96 per cent were in work or further study six months after finishing their course with more than 80 per cent in graduate level roles. More than half of our research is judged to be internationally excellent or world leading (Research Excellence Framework).

This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
NEW DELHI: In a major breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, who is closely related to the mastermind of the 2007 Glasgow airport attack, after he was brought to India from Saudi Arabia, officials said on Saturday.

According to senior NIA officials related to the probe, Shabeel Ahmed was brought to India late Friday.

Ahmed had moved from Bengaluru to Saudi Arabia in 2010-11. He was also arrested in connection with the 2007 attack in which a person died, said an NIA official requesting anonymity.

The official said that Ahmed is the cousin of the UK airport attack mastermind Kafeel Ahmed.

Anti-terror probe agency officials said that Ahmed was also wanted in a case registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell in 2015 and was declared a proclaimed offender by a Delhi court on July 12, 2016.

In August 2017, the Indian agencies had brought in another Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) suspect named Syed Mohammed Zishan Ali from Saudi Arabia. He is believed to be married to Ahmed`s sister.

The official said that the role of Ahmed in India came under scrutiny after the Special Cell busted a major AQIS network, with the arrest of Cuttack-based cleric Abdul Rehman and others in December 2015.

According to agency officials, Rehman allegedly told the police that he met Ahmed in Bengaluru in 2009, shortly after the latter had returned from the UK after serving a sentence.

The official added that Ahmed will be produced before a court later in the day in Delhi. He will taken to other places, including Bengaluru, for further investigation on transit remand.
The college agreed to build a facility for domestic and international students and grow grapes for the Chinese palate, among other things. Edward River Council has since admitted to an oversight body that a tender may not have taken place, despite taking expressions of interest for the site. Edward River Council internal documents claim it went through the required public competitive process before leasing this land, despite the fact Ausway College says it never responded to a tender. The council could not find any records in relation to the tender. The Chinese government later pulled its investment and Department of Industry consent was withheld after an objection from a member of the community, but the failed deal has raised alarms about foreign investment in Australian infrastructure. Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, who is outspoken against Chinese influence in Australia, said the activities of the United Front Work Department in Australia were now under closer inspection than they were previously.

"Its involvement in a rural project in Deniliquin highlights the extent and reach of its insidious work in Australia," Senator Fierravanti-Wells said. Cr Hall was the region's administrator at the time following the amalgamation of Deniliquin and Conargo councils, but is now an Edward River councillor. He said the Ausway College project would have injected a significant amount of money into the region. Murray Valley Industry Park, where Ausway College proposed to set up a China-funded research facility. Credit:Kate Geraghty "We could see the benefit to both sides," Cr Hall said. "They were coming out to try and train some of their students and, of course, we get a pretty good economic stimulus into an area which we're looking for diversity and basically investment." This coincided with a separate plan at the time to transform Deniliquin airport into a China-bound freight hub.

Cr Hall said the council was comfortable at the time with proceeding with the project, but "I don't think we'd be doing it now, that's for sure". According to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, local councils that want to lease Crown land under their management are expected to undertake a public competitive expression of interest process. The Edward River Council municipal office. Credit:Kate Geraghty Documents obtained under freedom of information laws show the agreement was purportedly struck as a result of the tender process, but, as the result of a separate freedom of information search, the council claimed it held no records whatsoever in relation to the tender. The council admitted to the Information and Privacy Commission officer reviewing the FOI request that the tender process "may not have gone ahead".

A Department of Industry file note, dated January 2018, of a phone conversation between a Crown Lands official and a council officer recorded that the proposal was a result of the tender process. But Ausway College director Patrick Lay told the Herald his company never entered a tender, nor had he ever heard about one. "We worked quite closely with the council there, so they offered this opportunity to us and we approached our investors in China," he said. Mr Lay said the Melbourne-based company Australian Education Society, which has connections to Ghuizhou, helped link him with investors. The AES also helped organise a China trip for Deniliquin High School students in July 2017, which Cr Hall attended as the then-administrator. The council resolution submitted for ministerial approval had also been altered to say that Ausway had presented details about developing an aviation academy at Deniliquin airport, despite that never being included in the original report.

Mr Lay said he only had preliminary discussions with the council regarding the flying school: "We didn't promise them anything and they knew that." Deniliquin resident Ian Wall, who raised the objection and conducted searches regarding the process, said he became suspicious after discovering the tender wasn't advertised anywhere locally  only on the NSW government's eTender website  and under a severely limited timeframe. Deniliquin resident Ian Wall at the site of the failed agricultural research centre. Credit:Kate Geraghty "The indications are the tender process was a sham, a piece of theatre," Mr Wall said. "There was a requirement for Edward River Council to run a fair, open and competitive tender process in regards to leasing Crown land for which they were the legal trustee. They did no such thing."

Following a list of questions from the Herald regarding the legitimacy of the deal, the council issued a brief statement in which it committed to an internal review of the process: "If necessary, council will seek probity advice to ensure transparency into the review." Loading The call for expressions of interest - which ended in November 2016 but has no known start date nor records of advertisement - occurred while the council was still in administration. The agreement with Ausway, which included a 400-megalitre irrigation water licence, was announced with the arrival of the first of multiple overseas delegations in February 2017. In October 2017 the recently elected council resolved to grant Ausway a 20-year lease of the land, with the option of a further 20 years, with a valuation of the land only being completed that month.
Ireland is facing four more waves of Covid-19, a leading public health doctor has warned.

Dr Anthony Staines, professor of Health Systems at Dublin City University (DCU), said Ireland is currently in the second phase of the pandemic and if the current strategy on dealing with the virus remains unchanged, there will be four more waves until a vaccine is found.

Modelling by Dr Staines, and his colleagues on the "Zero-Covid" policy group predicts a final wave of the virus in May 2021.

"At the minute we are in wave two," he said.

"We would hope that there will be a vaccine available in the middle of next year, there almost certainly won't be one sooner and it might be a lot later. We are in the second wave at the minute, the third wave will come at the end of September/October, fourth wave Christmas, fifth wave late February/early March, sixth wave April or May.

"If we continue to do what we are doing, just bring the number of cases down, they will probably go up again."

The grim warning came as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Northern Ireland passed 7,000, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.

Eighty-five new cases were reported yesterday, taking the total number to 7,049. The seven-day total is 431. No further deaths were reported here.

There are 17 people in hospital with Covid-19, with two patients in intensive care.

In the Irish Republic, 127 new cases of the virus were announced last night. No further deaths associated with the virus were reported.

It brings the total number of cases there to 28,578, while the death toll remains at 1,777.

Dr Staines suggested a "county by county" approach to dealing with the virus in Ireland could be adopted that would see "GAA matches being played in front of crowds by November".

Meanwhile, Dr Gabriel Scally, president of the public health section at the UK's Royal Society of Medicine, said a continued reliance on older people to protect themselves from younger people with the virus will lead to an "apartheid society."

Both experts have called for a more robust testing system at airports as Ireland enters into a "new and challenging" phase in the fight against Covid-19.

In Co Armagh, an outbreak of Covid-19 at Craigavon Area Hospital has forced the cancellation of surgery planned for next week.

Ten patients and 11 staff at Craigavon Area Hospital are now confirmed to have Covid-19, after two clusters were identified on the site.

On the Haematology Ward, 10 of the 12 ward patients have tested positive. Eight members of staff on the ward have also tested positive, and are off work and self-isolating.

Dr Sara Hedderwick, an infectious medicine consultant with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, told the BBC: "Obviously it's concerning to us whenever we have patients with Covid and it's particularly concerning when those are vulnerable people or immuno-compromised like our haematology group of patients are.

"So we're doing everything possible to make sure that they stay well and that they are seen by the right doctors and nurses and cared for in the right place."

A planned Orthopaedic Surgery list for Wednesday has been cancelled to back-fill Trauma theatre, where one staff member had worked and where other staff are now self-isolating.

Three gyms in Lurgan have also closed due to positive tests from either customers or staff.

Separately, statistics agency Nisra published its latest weekly Covid-19 bulletin which suggests the death toll linked to Covid-19 here is 871.

Nisra's figures are separate from those published each day by the Department of Health.

They include confirmed infections and suspected cases in which coronavirus is mentioned on the death certificate.

Of the 871 deaths to August 21, 460 (52.8%) took place in hospital, 351 (40.3%) in care homes, eight (0.9%) in hospices and 52 (6%) at residential addresses or other locations. The 359 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 81 separate establishments.
Nearly two dozen Saudi troops enter US base in northeastern Syria: Report

Iran Press TV

Friday, 28 August 2020 5:13 AM

Saudi Arabia has reportedly deployed nearly two dozen combat troops to a US-run military base in Syria's oil-rich northeastern province of Hasakah as the Riyadh regime and some of its regional allies are vying with the United States to loot the natural resources of the war-ravaged country.

Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network, citing an informed source, reported that 20 Saudi soldiers, led by an officer called Saud al-Joghaifi, arrived at the US base in the city of Shaddadi on Wednesday.

The source added that the Saudi troops were accompanied by a convoy of US-led forces from the coalition purportedly formed to fight the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, which withdrew from Camp Taji, situated 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, earlier this week.

Back on December 21 last year, informed local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Arabic service of Turkey's official Anadolu news agency that dozens of Saudi soldiers had arrived at Omar oil field in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr aboard helicopters.

The sources added that the troops were expected to guard Saudi and Egyptian experts, who had arrived at the energy facility a week earlier and were believed to be working for Saudi Arabia's giant state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco.

The report noted that the deployment of Saudi soldiers to the oil field coincided with the arrival of about 30 trucks equipped with digging and drilling machinery.

The sources said the vehicles had entered Syrian territory from northern Iraq, and that Saudi soldiers were stationed in a residential area close to Omar oil field that is said to be housing American troops.

Since late October 2019, the United States has been redeploying troops to the oil fields controlled by Kurdish forces in eastern Syria, in a reversal of President Donald Trump's earlier order to withdraw all troops from the Arab country.

The Pentagon claims the move aims to "protect" the fields and facilities from possible attacks by Daesh. That claim came although Trump had earlier suggested that Washington sought economic interests in controlling the oil fields.

The presence of US forces in eastern Syria has particularly irked the civilians, and local residents have on several occasions stopped American military convoys from entering the region.

Syria, which has not authorized the presence of the US military in its territory, says Washington is "plundering" the country's oil.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 01:42:32|Editor: huaxia

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A man walks through fountains in Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto, Canada, on Aug. 23, 2020. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

Final domestic demand dropped 11.1 percent, continuing the 1.9 percent drop in the first quarter.



OTTAWA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Canada's gross domestic product (GDP) fell 11.5 percent in the second quarter this year, following 2.1 percent decline in the first quarter due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Statistics Canada on Friday.

Almost every single component of the economy used to calculate GDP was at its lowest point in the second quarter as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the country to carry out widespread shutdowns of non-essential businesses, border closures, and restrictions on travel and tourism.

A family gathering is seen near a cable barrier along the border between Canada and the United States in Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada, on Aug. 23, 2020. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

The second quarter decline, the steepest since quarterly data were first recorded in 1961, reflected sharp decreases in household spending, business investment, and international trade.

Final domestic demand dropped 11.1 percent, continuing the 1.9 percent drop in the first quarter.

Expressed at an annualized rate, real GDP plunged 38.7 percent in the second quarter.

The second quarter is largely expected to be the worst quarter in 2020 for the Canadian economy before the country begins what is expected to be a long, bumpy road to recovery. 
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 15:10:06|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's light industry registered a recovery in the first half of the year (H1), with a decline in operating income and revenue narrowing from that in the first five months, official data showed.

The operating income of firms with annual revenue of over 20 million yuan (about 2.9 million U.S. dollars) in the sector dropped 7 percent year on year to 8.54 trillion yuan, narrowing 1.4 percentage points from that in the first five months, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

These companies raked in 531.49 billion yuan in profits in H1, down 4.2 percent from the same period of last year. The profit drop narrowed 2.5 percentage points from that in the January-May period.

Exports of eight key products fell 10.2 percent year on year in H1, narrowing 3.7 percentage points from that in the first five months, according to the General Administration of Customs.

MIIT data also showed that light industry production continued to pick up steam in June, with added value rising in sectors including bicycles, batteries, home appliances, plastic products and paper-making. Enditem
Reporter

Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey).
A police investigation has uncovered a suspected sex ring which allegedly used social media to groom up to 140 teenagers online, some as young as 13.

The men, aged 18 to 41, used popular apps like Facebook and Instagram to build a relationship with their victims in a bid to "ultimately engage in sexual contact with them", according to WA Police.

A total of 18 people, including four reportable offenders, have been charged with 214 offences, including drug, trespass and cruelty to animals charges, in the wake of the investigation.

Police claim 23 of the 140 victims, aged between 13 and 19, were victims of sexual offending.
The new appointee to the South Jacksonville Village Board of Trustees is hoping to use her background in finance to help the board in her new role.

Megan Werries, who was appointed Tuesday as a trustee, said she is excited to take on the new role.

Werries is replacing Greg Nelson, who resigned earlier this year after taking a job that does not allow him to hold public office. His term is set to expire next year.

A manager for accounting firm Zumbahlen, Eyth, Surratt, Foote and Flynn, Werries said her knowledge of government finances can be a great asset to the board.

I have a lot of financial experience, especially in governments and not-for-profits, and I think I can contribute in that aspect and I am always wanting to learn new things, Werries said. While auditing entities I see the final product of decisions that are made. I am ready to be a part of the process to make those decisions.

Werries has a bachelors degree in accounting and business administration and a masters degree in business administration. She also is sitting for her certified public accountant exam.

In addition to putting her financial expertise to work for the village, Werries said she also is excited to help guide the community.

The biggest responsibility in my opinion is making decisions that best benefit the community, Werries said.

Itll also be one of her biggest challenges.

Biggest challenge and biggest responsibility go hand in hand, she said

Werries will be sworn in during Thursdays board meeting.

The board originally tabled its vote to appoint Werries to determine if there would be a conflict of interest because Zumbahlen, Eyth, Surratt, Foote and Flynn has completed the villages fiscal audit in the past and could be contracted to do so again in the future.

Our profession follows a code of ethics and I would abstain from any voting dealing with my employer and the village, Werries said. Also, if in the future my firm was contracted to complete the village audit, I would not be a part of that audit process.

She also would abstain from votes where necessary regarding South Jacksonville Fire Department, for which her fiance is a volunteer.

Werries lives in South Jacksonville with her fiance and her two dogs  a Shih Tzu named Ollie and a cocker spaniel/poodle named Sophie.
BOSTON  A man in his 50s and a man in his 80s, both living in Middlesex County, are the second and third to test positive for West Nile virus this year, the state Department of Public Health said Friday evening.

Most West Nile virus activity this year has been in the eastern part of the state, including parts of Norfolk, Middlesex and Essex counties, the department said.

West Nile virus is usually transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. Health officials recommend wearing long pants and sleeves and using insect repellent when outdoors to avoid infection.

There were five human cases of the West Nile virus in the state in 2019. Most people infected with the virus have no symptoms.

The Department of Public Health said people over 50 are at higher risk for severe disease. Symptoms can include fever and flu-like illness.

Health experts also warn about eastern equine encephalitis, which is also spread through mosquito bites. The state has documented three human cases of that disease this summer as well.

Related Content:
(Natural News) Five asteroids flew close to Earth this week, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA detected the space objects only within the month, leaving little room for errors in calculating their trajectories.

Two of the asteroids made their closest approach to the planet on Monday, August 24, while another two made their closest approach on Wednesday, August 26. The remaining asteroid dipped closest to Earth on Thursday, August 27.

They ranged from the size of a regular commercial aircraft to a house. But due to their safe distance from Earth, authorities said that the asteroids were nothing to be concerned about. They are now barreling deeper into space and away from the planet.

Asteroid impacts threaten Earth

Asteroids pose one of the greatest safety risks to humanity. While the likelihood of a massive space object hitting Earth is low, space agencies are prone to make errors when it comes to forecasting meteorite impacts.

Just this month, an SUV-sized asteroid flew past Earth and broke the record for the closest asteroid flyby in recorded history. But it was only detected by astronomers six hours after its nearest approach at 1,830 miles.

On the other hand, three of the five asteroids that came close to Earth this week were detected only about two weeks before.

The closest of all five flybys was detected 12 days before the asteroids closest approach. Asteroid 2020 FF3 was the size of a small airplane at 85 feet and flew closest to the planet at 1.5 million miles.

Meanwhile, this Mondays flybys were detected 13 and 9 days ago. Asteroids 2020 PP3 and 2020 PJ6 were both the size of an airplane at 110 and 85 feet, respectively. They flew closest to Earth at an average distance of 3.55 million miles.

Early detection of meteorite impacts and asteroid flybys is important as it greatly informs hazard planning and preparation. This became even more evident after the Chelyabinsk impact of 2013.

On the morning of February 13, a house-sized meteorite hit the Russian city of Chelyabinsk. The disaster left more than 1,600 people injured and shattered windows near the impact site. According to NASA, the Chelyabinsk meteor traveled 11 miles per second and released an energy equivalent of about 440,000 tons of TNT upon landing. The blast sent shockwaves that rippled through 200 square miles of land area. Many of the injuries were caused by broken glass. (Related: Asteroid strike near New York City would kill 2.5 million people, reveals physics simulation based on NASA data.)

Upcoming asteroid flybys

There is currently no known asteroid that poses a major threat to Earth. But NASA and other agencies worldwide are constantly monitoring space for signs of a massive meteorite impact.

For one, NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory has an active Asteroid Watch that monitors the five next asteroids that will approach Earth within 4.6 million miles.

The lab is expecting two asteroid flybys on September 1 this year. An 80-foot asteroid is projected to come within the planet at less than two million miles while a 92-foot asteroid will come within 75,400 miles.

One asteroid flyby is already gaining buzz ahead of its November schedule. Billed as the election day asteroid, asteroid 2018VP1 is estimated to come within 3,103 miles of Earth on November 22, 2020. Theres also small chance that it will enter Earths atmosphere on November 2, the day before the U.S. presidential election.

But its not going to pose a major risk if it does enter the atmosphere. According to NASA, asteroid 2018VP1 is only about 6.5 feet in diameter and will likely burn up as it enters the atmosphere.

Astronomers knew about 2018VP1 for years since its discovery in 2018. The asteroid makes a complete orbit around the Sun every two years and is currently on its way for another orbit, passing through Earth.

Space.news has more on imminent asteroid flybys.

Sources include:

StrangeSounds.org

NASA.gov

JPL.NASA.gov

ScienceAlert.com
Washington:

President Barack Obama on Thursday imposed sanctions on Russian officials and intelligence services in retaliation for Russias interference in the US presidential election by hacking American political sites and email accounts.

The State Department also has kicked out 35 Russian diplomats from its embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco, giving them and their families 72 hours to leave the US.

The diplomats were declared persona non grata for acting in a manner inconsistent with their diplomatic status.

Obama said Russians will no longer have access to two Russian government-owned compounds in the United States, in Maryland and in New York.

Russian officials have denied the Obama administrations accusation that the Russian government was trying to influence the US presidential election.

US intelligence agencies concluded that Russias goal was to help Donald Trump win, an assessment Trump has dismissed as ridiculous.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Badge of shame: How TSBs famous slogan seems now

TSB once boasted that it was 'the bank that likes to say yes'  but it is now blowing a rude raspberry 'no' in the face of customers wanting to be served at its branch counters. The bank has started pulling down the shutters at 14 of its high street branch counters at two o'clock in the afternoon.

Customers coming in after this time will be asked to undergo what's bafflingly titled a 'digitally up-skill' lesson rather than getting the counter service that they came in for.

In other words, they will be encouraged to bank online.

The move has been described by the banking expert Derek French as 'cynical'. Last week, the former bank manager and founder of the Campaign for Community Banking Services, told The Mail on Sunday: 'Limiting counter opening hours is a backdoor way of whittling away the importance of a branch.'

By withdrawing counter services at selected branches, French believes TSB is setting out to reduce branch footfall, thereby giving it an excuse at some stage in the near future to go on and shut them. He said: 'The knock-on effect will be fewer customers and stronger justification for branch closures.'

Last month, the Financial Conduct Authority told the banks that they would have to justify future branch closures on economic grounds.

However, French warned: 'For all the regulator's posturing, I fear a major surge in bank closures over the coming months.'

The Mail on Sunday has long campaigned for every town in the country to have access to free cash  and the Government has promised to legislate to ensure this happens.

The withdrawal of afternoon personal banking services at TSB's 14 branches follows in the wake of its decision to cull 82 branches this year, a step that will leave it with just 454.

It is part of a worrying trend. Over the past six years a third of all bank branches have closed, with free cash machines being removed at the rate of 500 a month.

Now some banks are citing the Covid-19 crisis as they accelerate closure programmes and cut back their opening hours.

Last week Co-op Bank announced that it would be closing 18 of its 68 branches this year due to the 'economic uncertainty' caused by the coronavirus.

NatWest is cutting 550 branch jobs, while Barclays and HSBC are axing 59 and 28 respectively. Lloyds has put plans to cut 56 branches on hold due to the pandemic.

Banks that have reduced branch opening hours include Santander, which has cut its hours to between 10am and 3pm  with some of its 565 branches closing at 2pm.

Just a third of HSBC's 621 branches are open from 10am to 4pm while others close at 2pm. Most of NatWest's 960 branches are open only between 10am and 3pm while Lloyds Banking Group  including Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland  has restricted branch opening hours to typically between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

Test of time: The Old Corn Exchange in which the Bishop's Stortford branch is housed was built in 1828  18 years after the foundation of the Trustee Savings Bank

Despite numerous requests from The Mail on Sunday, the TSB has refused to share details of the location of the 14 branches targeted for reduced counter services  only saying they are 'dispersed across the country'. But if the move proved a success it could be extended across the network. Among those likely to be affected is the TSB branch in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire.

The Old Corn Exchange in which the branch is housed was built in 1828  18 years after the foundation of the Trustee Savings Bank (TSB) whose objective was to support the poorest parishioners. A far cry, some would say, from the ruthless money-making outfit it has now become  raking in pre-tax profits of 46million last year for its Spanish owner Sabadell.

Step inside the branch and you wonder what it has to offer customers. There is a grand foyer with three seating areas, but not a cash machine in sight  apparently as a listed building it cannot have one. At the far end is a single open counter that looks more like a reception desk for a fancy hotel when I approach the clear plastic screen.

It is 11am, so I am well within business hours, but when I tell Michelle, the branch manager, that I am a journalist, she is perfectly polite but clearly wants me out.

The only up-skill training I get is on how to leave the branch quietly. I am escorted out the building.

Customers are far happier to share their thoughts about TSB's depersonalisation of its branches. In a nutshell, they are aghast. Joan Deex, a retired health visitor, says: 'I joined TSB a couple of years ago after staff at my previous bank, Barclays, told me it was time to bank online. It was not what I wanted so I moved to TSB.

'What has happened to that once caring TSB that liked to say yes?' she asks, adding: 'Well, it will get a big no from customers like me if it starts pushing this ridiculous-sounding 'digital up-skill' idea.'

Friendly face: Student Karina Mann values being able to visit a high street bank so she can talk to staff about overdrafts

Joan, visiting the branch with her husband Len, 80, a retired science teacher, believes the bank is in no position to lecture customers about how to use the internet. Two years ago, shortly after Joan joined, it was landed with a 330million bill after a computer meltdown left 1.9million customers locked out of their accounts for several weeks.

Luis Pinto, popping into the branch to cancel a direct debit in person  he did not trust it would be done online  is unimpressed by TSB's digital move. The 50-year-old former coffee shop owner says: 'If I wanted to use the internet then I would  and I certainly do not need someone telling me how to do it. No one is fooled by the banks driving people online. It is all about saving money, not what customers want.'

Karina Mann and Gracie Leader, both 20, admit they do almost all of their banking online. But as university students they are well aware of the moments when a high street branch can prove vital for them.

Karina says: 'There are times when I need to go into a branch and talk face-to-face to a staff member  for example when I need to extend my overdraft. Once a bank closes it will never reopen and we  the community  all lose out.'

On Friday, TSB told The Mail on Sunday that its digital up-skilling initiative was designed to help customers 'make the most of online banking services'. It said if a customer really wanted to use a counter service after 2pm it would 'try to find ways' to ensure they could be served. It remained tight-lipped about how this might be done.
Across Australias eastern seaboard, populations have outgrown these lines. The vast size of our states means that many regional and rural residents have their nearest state capital across a border. My state capital, Sydney, is six times further away than Brisbane and between 10 and 20 times further away than the Gold Coast, where many specialist services are available. Border communities are no longer tiny towns. Along the M1 motorway route there is effectively no break in the urban landscape between Tweed Heads in NSW and Brisbane. A report by the Prime Ministers Office shows the coastal border community as one of only two regions in the country between 2014 and 2017 to boast both a population of more than 1.6 million and population growth of more than 2 per cent. Its all very well for Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to say that Queensland hospitals are only for Queenslanders, but this does not reflect the reality on the ground. While not directly disputing Palaszczuks claim, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday night that Australia is designed to operate as one country and that hard borders between states can cause harm as well as good. On a day-to-day basis, anyone who lives within cooee of a border makes decisions based on availability, not state lines. When unable to find a medical specialist in my in-state regional centre of Lismore earlier this week, my GP ruefully acknowledged that it seemed surgeons preferred to live on the Gold Coast. My GP is working extra hard as his clinic has six doctors offering phone consultations only, as they are not allowed to cross the border to get to work. That is a harsher restriction than Melbournes current stage four lockdown.

As an island nation, I believe we should be aiming for country-wide eradication. As a means to this end, it does make sense for more isolated states with minimal border communities (Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory) to use these lines to good effect. But for Victoria, NSW, the ACT, Queensland and the eastern border of South Australia, its like cutting a well-functioning ant's nest in half with a pencil-drawn line, then whacking every ant that has the audacity to try to cross. Barriers on the Queensland-NSW border in July. Credit:Paul Harris Even where border closures are part of stricter in-state lockdowns, policy is being created on the run. Premiers of neighbouring states are not consulting  or even informing  each other before making decisions that affect the others. The latest Queensland border closure is tighter than the initial one, in force between April 3 and July 10. It came out of the blue, without any clear prompt from case numbers and without any consideration of issues like healthcare and parental access that should have been front of mind following earlier closures. Amendments are now being announced every few days, creating confusion and stress.

It seemed that amendments would mean that heartbreaking stories of new mothers being separated from their newborns and cancer patients stopped from seeking treatment wouldnt be repeated. But the distressing news of a twin baby dying amid uncertainty about whether the mother was able to cross into Queensland from NSW shows that this is not so. And, this far into the pandemic, especially when there is no actual cross-border emergency, they simply should not have happened in the first place. And these are only the stories that have hit the media. I know of others. A woman unable to get to her mother, who has been discharged from hospital and is home alone despite suffering from cognitive decline and being at high risk of further strokes. Parents signing a petition on change.org saying that they do not know when they will see their children again. A woman unable to drive the vast distance from visiting her parents in Sydney to home in Queensland before the borders closed and also unable to afford to fly and quarantine. Even before COVID-19, state delineations often failed to make sense. A cross-border collective sigh of exasperation happens each year when daylight savings start (Im not the only one to have been fooled by my mobile phone's clock automatically switching to a tower in another state). Changing my car registration and driver's licence was the biggest waste of time and money I have ever experienced  at no point during the arduous process was I even informed of differences in road laws. I sometimes have to join two similar state-based organisations to access opportunities that are tied to my address as well as those that involve in-person attendance (Ill travel 1 hours to Brisbane over 10 hours to Sydney, thanks very much).

Within the pandemic, there is some acknowledgment of border residents' needs with the introduction of "border bubbles". But these are problematic in their own right. Victoria and NSW this week increased their bubble from 2 to 50 kilometres. The current NSW-Queensland bubble has been the subject of great confusion. I was briefly in the bubble following the latest border closure but then excluded thanks to the realisation by authorities that my postcode is shared across two local councils (an anomaly similar to that of some Victorian residents near the NSW border, who have an 02 area code on their landline phones). Victoria Police members stop motorists leaving metropolitan Melbourne at a checkpoint set up on the Calder Freeway between Sunbury and Gisborne earlier this month. Credit:Paul Rovere The NSW-Queensland bubble effectively creates a third state, as residents are forced to choose between remaining in the bubble or within their state. If we need bubbles to reduce movement and therefore virus spread, lets individualise them. In Melbourne during the current stage four lockdown, people need to stay within a five-kilometre radius of home (unless an essential worker). One option for Australias east coast is for everyone to have an agreed radius of movement around their home and work (with exemptions for other essential places like medical care, childcare and shared parenting arrangements) that could widen or shrink depending on the number of active cases in a region.
Twenty-five new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Winona County Saturday by the Minnesota Department of Health, marking the third day in a row of double-digit single-day increases.

The countys total has reached 390, with 17 people having died from the disease.

It has been confirmed by all three higher education institutes in Winona  Winona State University, Saint Marys University and Minnesota State College Southeast  that their communities have had positive cases. Not all of the students have been on their campuses, though, during the fall semester.

No information specifically about Saturdays new cases has been released.

In Minnesota, 1,032 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed Saturday.

The cases bring the states total to 74,257, with 66,107 no longer needing to be isolated.

Of these positive cases, 8,175 are health-care workers.

Statewide, 1,460,381 COVID-19 tests have been completed, with 1,111,137 residents having been tested.

Four new deaths were reported in the state, bringing the total to 1,814.

Of these people, 1,337 resided within long-term care or assisted-living facilities.

Statewide, 6,411 people have required hospitalization because of COVID-19, with 313 remaining in hospitals Saturday.

Of the currently hospitalized patients, 134 are in intensive care.

For daily Minnesota COVID-19 situation updates, visit the Minnesota Department of Healths website.

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.
The PLA Garrison in Macao. /CCTV

The Macao Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) completed its 21st rotation early Saturday since it began garrisoning the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) in 1999.

The officers and soldiers leaving Macao on rotation had successfully completed all tasks during their garrison in the region and their work has been widely recognized by Macao compatriots.

The PLA Garrison in Macao. /CCTV

The new personnel have been trained and taken courses to systematically master military skills, knowledge of Macao's situation and related laws, equipped with necessary skills to perform their duty to defend Macao before arriving at the garrison barracks.

The PLA Garrison in Macao. /CCTV

The PLA Macao Garrison has pledged to resolutely obey the command of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Central Military Commission and implement the "One Country, Two Systems" principle to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

It will strictly carry out the Basic Law of the Macao SAR and the Garrison Law, and make greater contributions to safeguarding Macao's peace and prosperity, the PLA Macao Garrison said.
International

Erdogan, NATO chief discuss East Med tensions

Ankara, Aug 29 (IANS) | Publish Date: 8/29/2020 12:25:41 PM IST

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg spoke about the escalating tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean over the phone.

In the phone call on Friday, Erdogan told Stoltenberg that Turkey would continue to protect its rights and interests everywhere, reports Xinhua news agency.

He asked NATO to fulfil its responsibility against unilateral steps that ignore international law and damage regional peace, according a statement of Turkeys presidential office.

The President also said his country has been supporting a fair solution in the region with a win-win mentality for all countries, it added. The tensions over Turkish natural gas explorations off Greek islands in the Eastern Mediterranean have escalated in recent weeks.

Greece considers the explorations illegal.

The European Union has also condemned the Turkish actions and asked Ankara to stop them.

The Ankara government on the other hand believes the waters, in which natural gas is being drilled on a trial basis, belong to the Turkish continental shelf.

Earlier this week, Erdogan said that his country will defend its right of hydrocarbon explorations in the Eastern Mediterranean and make no concessions in the ongoing disputes.
Judaism and Christianity remain active religions, but both have witnessed changes over the years with different sects and denominations. The Protestant Reformation split the Christian church. Protestants then created many denominations which brings us to the present day and many realities and questions.

I believe that church communities and religious expression are important. I do not want active religions to go the way of older lost or downsized religions. I will present a reality, a question, and hopes for strong churches. The reality concerns the fact that mainstream religions have lost members. The question has two points: Do we need a different way to express beliefs and do we need religion?

First, studies reveal a sad truth that attendance is down for many Christian churches in America. One study revealed that 65% of churches had fewer than a hundred people in attendance on Sundays. For the past seven years, the percentage of people who leave churches has risen. Many reasons are given, but the truth is that some church are not meeting the needs of people.
Nigerias State Security Service (SSS), on Friday, released Gabriel Ogbonna, an Abia-based lawyer who has spent four months in its custody.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the agency refused to release Mr Ogbonna despite multiple court judgments ordering his release.

The judgment of Justice Taiwo of the Abuja Federal High Court in Abuja last Tuesday made it the third time a court would grant Mr Ogbonna bail.

This paper reported how the lawyer was arrested for posting articles criticising the Okezie Ikpeazu-led government in Abia State, via his social media page, in March.

Shortly after the arrest, he was arraigned alongside another person for cybercrime and publishing false and threatening messages against Governor Ikpeazu, at a magistrate court in Umuahia.

However, because the magistrate court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, he was remanded at a correctional facility in the state capital until April 28, when he was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Umuahia and was granted bail.

Mr Ogbonna was re-arrested by SSS operatives on his way out of the correctional facility in Umuahia on the same day. This was after he had perfected the bail conditions.

This paper learnt that the SSS moved Mr Ogbonna to its office in the state and in April, its headquarters in Abuja, where he was in custody without any charges until recently when he was charged with allegations bordering around cybercrime.

Freedom

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Mr Ogbonna regained freedom after his bail conditions, as stipulated by Justice Taiwo, were perfected.

He was released to some lawyers on Friday evening, sources told our reporter.

Uzoma Ogbonna, his spouse, confirmed the release speaking with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday night. She, however, noted that Mr Ogbonna will be in Abuja for a while.

I spoke with him this evening after he was released. He used one of the phones of the lawyers. Im very happy. He is still in Abuja. Mrs Ogbonna said.

Gabriel Ogbonna [PHOTO CREDIT: @Honest4change] Gabriel Ogbonna [PHOTO CREDIT: @Honest4change] Gabriel Ogbonna [PHOTO CREDIT: @Honest4change]

The SSS is notorious for disobeying court rulings and non-adherence to judicial processes.

The publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, Shiite leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, were held by the agency despite being granted bail by the courts in separate cases.

Although Messrs Sowore and Dasuki were eventually freed in December 2019, Mr El-Zakzaky is still in detention.
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Rabiu Omaku

Worried over the assault of the Correspondent of Daily Trust by Femi Fani Kayode,The Nasarawa State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists,has called on the national headquarters of the union to give Femi Fani Kayode total media blackout for assaulting Eyo Charles, Cross-River State Correspondent of Daily Trust Newspaper.

This was contained in a communique signed by the Chairman of the Union,Comrade Salihu Mohammed Alkali and issued at the end of the council congress of the state Council.

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The estwhile Minister of Aviation in a viral video, was seen assaulting the Correspondent of Daily Trust verbally simply because he wanted to know the person supporting his tour of States.

The communique said that the Council in strong term condemned the attack on the reporter by the Femi Fani Kayode.

Nasarawa State Council of the NUJ commended the National Secretariat of union for its prompt reactions by coming to the defence of a member who was attacked for just doing his job.

Calling on the national body to slam a ban on coverage of activities of the then Minister of Aviation by Journalists in the country.

The Council also lauded the State Government under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule and his Deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe for their unalloyed support to the Council.

Nasarawa State Council of the NUJ commended its members for their commitment in attending congress.

The Council advice on the need for regular physical exercises as well participate in some of the sporting activities at the Press Centre with strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols as outlined by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

The congress resolved to sustain the orderly conduct displayed before and after the NUJ election of July 2, 2020 to move the council forward.

Members were also encouraged to patronise the Press Centre in order to socialise with colleagues as the Restaurant and Bar have become operational.
Is Protest against a Language, a Symbol of Revolt against Political Domination?

India

oi-Dr. Sandeep Shastri

Two episodes that occurred in the last few weeks, involving protests against the insistence on the use of Hindi language have caught public attention. Senior DMK leader and Member of Parliament, Kanimozhi has strongly protested the alleged comment made by a CISF officer at Chennai airport, that Are you an Indian? This comment was made by the officer in response to the MP's saying that she not know Hindi and requested the officer to speak in either English or Tamil.

More recently, the Secretary of the Union Ministry of AYUSH speaking at a training session organised by his Ministry, informed the non-Hindi speaking participants that they could leave the meeting if they so wished. This was when they requested that English be used as they could not follow Hindi. Over the years, when travelling through airports in South India, one has got used to CISF personnel at the security terminal speaking in Hindi and expecting a response in the same language, unmindful of the possible discomfort of some people, especially from the non-Hindi speaking states.

Hindi domination, says DMK MP Kanimozhi, writes to Ayush ministry

At government meetings and academic conferences, it is quite normal for officials and academicians to not merely make presentations in Hindi but continue the entire dialogue in that language, oblivious to the fact that many in the audience may not be well versed with the language.

Coming from a non-Hindi speaking state, I am equally comfortable in Kannada, Hindi and English. Whenever I speak in Hindi, I am often asked (by some from among my Hindi speaking audience) as to how do I manage to speak Hindi so well even though I am from South India. While I laugh it off, I often wonder whether someone whose mother tongue is not Hindi and is fluent in that language needs to be positively complimented or questioned on how he is so well versed with that language! Both the episodes quoted at the start of this essay, illustrate a simple point - many among the Hindi speaking population in India, assume that it is their right to speak that language across the length and breadth of the country and it is the bounden duty of very Indian to not merely accept their right to speak in Hindi but also respond in the same language! One is noticing, in recent times, an alarming increase of these numbers.

A quarter century ago, when the United Front selected H D Deve Gowda as their leader and he was invited by the President to be Prime Minister, a few North Indian journalists immediately reacted: Does he know Hindi?.... as if this was a necessary qualification to become Prime Minister! For many this Hindi chauvinism is representative of the domination of North India in the politics of this country.

While championing the cause of the three language formula, the newly unveiled National Education Policy, makes strong pitch for respecting and celebrating the language diversity of India. It stated that for purposes of cultural enrichment as well as national integration, all young Indians should be aware of the rich and vast array of languages of their country, and the treasures that they and their literatures contain (NEP Document 4.15). It goes on to suggest a fun project on languages in India, from Class 6-8, which would give the students both a sense of the unity and the beautiful cultural heritage and diversity of India and would be a wonderful icebreaker ....as they meet people from other parts of India (NEP Document 4.16). Extremely wonderful ideas but could well fall through if the reality is one of forcing a nation to accept a language as its sole national language!

One recalls here how India's second Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, diffused the anti-Hindi agitation when he was the Home Minster of India. In my book on Lal Bahadur Shastri: Politics and Principles, I have chronicled, the former Prime Minister steadfast commitment to ensuring the sentiments of the non-Hindi speaking states are taken into account on any decision on the national language issue. At a meeting of the All India Youth Conference in Tirupati held in September 1962, Shastri asserted that unless Hindi could be sufficiently developed and the people learnt it well, he did not see any point in imposing it. As Home Minister he piloted the Official Language Act of 1963 which provided that English may continue to be used, in addition to Hindi, for all official purposes of the Union. D.R. Mankekar observes that Lal Bahadur Shastri won the confidence of the South by his ready recognition of the Southerners genuine displacement of English in favour of Hindi as the medium of official communication of the Central government. It is clear that in the current times, leaders from the Hindi heartland have not been as sensitive as Lal Bahadur Shastri (who hailed from Uttar Pradesh) and this has caused the heightened tensions on the language issue.

The friction on Hindi has surfaced from time to time. The latest set of episodes vividly demonstrates the insensitivity demonstrated by some in the Hindi-speaking states to the apprehensions of those in South India and the North East. People demonstrate a greater acceptance of Hindi when they are allowed to do so at their own pace. When attempts are made to force people to communicate in or accept Hindi, it often creates an emotional backlash. This backlash is not so much against the language per se, but a reaction to the domination of North India in both the politics and socio-cultural life of the larger nation.

(Dr Sandeep Shastri is a leading political scientist and Pro Vice Chancellor, Jain University)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

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Story first published: Saturday, August 29, 2020, 10:31 [IST]
Etawah: Etawah Police on Saturday (August 29, 2020) arrested an accused for sharing objectionable anti-government posts and hurting religious sentiments using social media platform.

As per the official statement, Shiva Mishra also known as Divyanshu was accused of hurting religious sentiments through his Facebook posts and also shared anti-government posts which reportedly was causing outrage among the public.

According to the instructions of Senior Superintendent of Police Etawah Akash Tomar in Etawah district, the social media cell and cyber cell joint team were monitoring various social media platforms in the same sequence and compiled various evidence against the accused before arresting him.

The Police marked as many as 21 Facebook posts as controversial.

The Etawah Police also asked everyone to refrain from sharing such posts as all the social media platforms are being constantly monitored by the joint team of social media and cyber cell of Etawah Police.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex met Prince Harry in 2016, and the two of them got married in 2018. Before joining the royal family, Meghan was simply an actress living in Toronto, Canada. However, when she began dating Prince Harry, she became one of the most famous women in the world.

As a result of her relationship, Meghan had a lot of security risks. In order for her to be more prepared for her role, she was reportedly tasked with meeting a terrorist.

Meghan Markle | Samir Hussein/WireImage

Meghan Markle took part in a staged kidnapping before becoming a royal

According to the new biography Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, one part of Meghans training before becoming a royal involved a staged kidnapping. The scenario also reportedly required Meghan to come in contact with a terrorist.

Meghan took part in a staged kidnapping, where she was bundled up in a car by a terrorist, taken to a different location, and then saved by officers firing fake guns (the kind used in Hollywood films) for realism, Scobie and Durand wrote, as reported by Pure Wow. During the mock kidnapping, Meghan was taught to develop a relationship with the enemy. She was also instructed on how to drive a car while in pursuit.

Kate Middleton also prepared for her role by watching footage of Princess Diana

RELATED: Kate Middleton Is Princess Diana Without the Drama, Says Royal Insider

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who married Prince William in 2011, is said to have gone through a similar training. Additionally, sources say she had to watch footage of Princess Diana as well, especially since Kate would also have to deal with a lot of press and paparazzi interests.

As reported by Marie Claire, writer Katie Nicholl wrote in her book Kate: The Future Queen, Bizarrely, she had been advised to watch footage of the late Princess of Wales in order to learn how to deal with the paparazzi, notorious for being aggressive in their pursuit of a picture, taunting their prey in order to get a response. At the Palace, there was a concerted effort not to allow Kate to be exposed to the same ruthless treatment.

Do royals face a lot of real threats?

RELATED: There Is Reportedly a Lot of Jealousy and Competition Between Royals

While some might say these hostage situation trainings seem extreme, this is not such a farfetched situation for royals.

As a matter of fact, Queen Elizabeths only daughter, Princess Anne, was almost abducted in 1974. While on her way to Buckingham Palace with her husband, her car was stopped and a man shot her bodyguard and chauffeur. The attempted kidnapper, Ian Ball, tried to get Anne out of the car before he was hit by a passerby. Fortunately, Anne made it out of the situation unharmed.

Meghans husband, Prince Harry, was also a target of the Taliban when he served in Afghanistan. He joined the British military in his early 20s and was insistent on going to Afghanistan to serve in the front line. However, his privacy had to be extremely protected as the Taliban made many threats against him. He served in Afghanistan for some time before being recalled to England when his presence was too much of a risk for other soldiers.
She recently returned to the stage after the Covid-19 lockdown caused a hiatus.

And Denise Van Outen exuded confidence as she made a glamorous exit after performing in another Cabaret All Stars show on Friday night.

The actress, 46, kept the spotlight on her as she flashed a smile and showcased her toned figure while leaving Proud Embankment.

Sensational: Denise Van Outen exuded confidence as she made a glamorous exit after performing in another Cabaret All Stars show on Friday night

Denise looked stunning in a satin mandarin collar turquoise mini dress with a floral print of pastel hues.

The star kept her signature blonde tresses in a natural loose wave and added a slick of bold red lipstick.

The Cabaret star kept things glam with her choice of accessories as she donned large silver earrings and a collection of silver rings.

Gorgeous: The actress, 46, kept the spotlight on her as she flashed a smile and showcased her toned figure while leaving Proud Embankment

Glamorous: Denise looked stunning in a satin mandarin collar turquoise mini dress with a floral print of pastel hues

During the electrifying evening, Denise belted out tunes in a dazzling halterneck sequin corset.

She paired the number with long velvet gloves and a semi-sheer glittery skirt that draped over her sensational figure.

The star sported a top hat for her Cabaret look and added height to her frame with a pair of black heels as she posed up a storm with her co-stars.

Details: The Cabaret star kept things glam with her choice of accessories as she donned large silver earrings and a collection of silver rings

Oh no! Denise looked radiant, despite her recent revelation that she tested positive for coronavirus earlier this year despite never having any symptoms

Her scantily-clad Cabaret pals all donned vintage-inspired outfits and red lipstick as they ended the night on a high.

Denise looked joyous, and clearly wasn't feeling any ill effects after she recently revealed testing positive for coronavirus earlier this year, despite never having any symptoms.

To ensure the Cabaret All Stars show remained a corona-free safe zone, newly returned patrons experienced a number of changes to the resumed shows.

Trio: The star was joined by her Cabaret pals who wore vintage-inspired outfits and red lipstick as they made their way through the venue

Proud Cabaret, who also have venues in Brighton and London's financial district, published a lengthy blog post on their website about their new safety precautions which allow them to continue hosting their shows.

Floor markings have been added to their venues to ensure social distancing measures are followed, and all guests will be taken straight to their allocated table.

After the show, tables are asked to leave one at a time, and each area is thoroughly cleaned after the customers depart.

Change: Proud Cabaret, who also have venues in Brighton and London's financial district, published a lengthy blog post on their website about their new safety precautions

There are limits on the toilets, with only three women allowed in at once and two men at once, and only one customer at a time can collect their items from the cloakroom.

In terms of the performers such as Denise, their temperatures are checked regularly, and they have separate toilet facilities.

The staff members have all undergone comprehensive training to ensure that performers and members of the public are kept safe.

Corona-free zone: The staff members have all undergone comprehensive training to ensure that performers and members of the public are kept safe

The show must go on: The venue will be thoroughly cleaned after every show and social distancing measures have been put in place to ensure that Proud Cabaret can continue

Casinos and bowling alleys were are among the venues now allowed to reopen under the latest guidance last week.

The move to allow indoor performances follows a 'successful series of pilots', according to Downing Street.

Tattoo studios, beauty salons, spas and hairdressers were also given permission to offer additional services, including front-of-face treatments such as eyebrow threading.
LAKE CHARLES, La. - President Donald Trump got a firsthand look Saturday at the damage from Hurricane Laura on a post-Republican National Convention trip that allowed him to use the trappings of his office to try to project empathy and leadership.

His stops, first in Louisiana and later in Texas, came two days after the Category 4 storm slammed the Gulf Coast, leaving at least 16 dead and wreaking havoc with severe winds and flooding. While the storm surge has receded and the cleanup effort has begun, hundreds of thousands remain without power or water, and they could for weeks or months as the hot summer stretches on.

Im here to support the great people of Louisiana. Its been a great state for me, he said in Lake Charles. It was a tremendously powerful storm. He said he knows one thing about the state: They rebuild it fast.

During the slightly more than two hours he spent in the city, Trump met with officials and relief workers but not with any of the residents whose homes had been ripped apart in the storm.

He did, however, get a good look at the extensive damage and the debris strewn across the city of 80,000 people, beginning with the birds eye view from Air Force One as it came in for landing.

His first stop was a warehouse being used as a staging area for the Cajun Navy, a group of Louisiana volunteers who help with search and rescue after hurricanes and floods. Good job, Trump told them.

Trump then toured a neighbourhood with Gov. John Bel Edwards and acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, making his way down a street blocked by felled trees and where houses were battered by the storm, one with its entire roof torn off.

Edwards has said Laura was the most powerful hurricane ever to strike his state, surpassing even Hurricane Katrina, which was a Category 3 when it hit almost exactly 15 years ago.

Whether you come from Louisiana or 5th Avenue In New York, you know about Katrina, Trump said.

The president then flew by helicopter to Orange, Texas, which was the worst-hit area in the state. Several hundred supporters greeted his arrival with Trump 2020 flags, banners and signs. Among the officials on hand were Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Before a flyover to view damaged areas, Trump and other officials visited the emergency operations centre in Orange County to discuss storm damage and the government response. He was flying back to Washington Saturday evening.

Trump has sometimes struggled with his role as consoler in chief, failing to project empathy when visiting places hard hit by tragedy and disaster. That includes in Puerto Rico, where Trump was photographed tossing rolls of paper towel into the crowd, which some saw as inappropriately playful, given the circumstances. During a trip to the Carolinas in 2018, Trump marveled at a yacht floodwaters had washed onto a familys property, telling them, At least you got a nice boat out of the deal. And he was caught on camera telling a person hed handed out food to have a good time.

Other times, Trump has been a source of comfort. After a tornado ripped through Alabama last year, killing nearly two dozen people, Trump spent time with families whod lost loved ones, listening to their stories and hugging them.

Showing empathy has come more naturally for his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, who issued a statement Saturday saying he and his wife were praying for those hurt by the storm and promising that we will be there to help you build back better.

In a possible subtle dig at the incumbent, Biden praised the response of families in the hurricane-hit states and thanked them for reminding Americans that no disaster, no single person, no injustice can match the humble, personal, courageous ways that Americans choose decency every single day.

Laura, which packed 150-mph (240-kph) winds and a storm surge as high as 15 feet (4.5 metres), toppled trees and damaged buildings as far north as central Arkansas. More than 580,000 coastal residents evacuated in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than half of those who died succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning from the unsafe operation of generators. The hurricane also killed nearly two dozen people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as it barrelled toward the U.S.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, August 29, 2020 12:00 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4153cda 4 Environment oil-spill,oil-crude,Thousand-Islands-regency,Jakarta-Bay,Jakarta-Bay-pollution,crude-oil,pollution Free

Authorities have removed tons of oil from the waters off the islands of Tidung and Pari in Thousand Islands regency, Jakarta.

The regency administration announced it had collected 1,715 sacks containing a total of 17.8 tons of oil as of Friday. Residents of the regency noticed the oil off the islands of Pari and Lancang on Aug. 7.

We collected [2 tons] of oil in 187 sacks from Tidung Island. Meanwhile, there were [15 tons of oil] in 1,528 sacks from Pari Island, Thousand Islands Environment Agency head Djoko Rianto Budi said on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com.

He added that the agency would work with Pertamina Hulu Energi Offshore Southeast Sumatra (PHE OSES), a subsidiary of state-owned energy company Pertamina, to dispose of the oil.

Read also: Pertamina on hand in handling oil waste in Thousand Islands

The company will take three days to inspect oil samples at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministrys research and development unit (Lemigas) in South Jakarta before disposing of the oil.

Djoko said he suspected the oil had leaked from ships traveling in the regencys waters.

Residents of Pari island said the oil reached the coast of the island on Aug. 11. They initially suspected the crude oil had leaked from Pertaminas drilling operations in Indramayu and Karawang in West Java.

PHE OSES denied the accusation, saying the oil exploration well alleged as the source of the pollution had been closed after last years oil spill. The company added that it had helped the local administration and residents clean up the spilled oil. (mfp)
New Yorks university system will test every student at SUNY Oneonta over three days after at least 20 coronavirus cases were confirmed on the Otsego County campus, according to Chancellor Jim Malatras.

Staff and supplies from Upstate Medical University were deployed Friday to address the outbreak. That same day, Malatras and the school confirmed that about 20 students had tested positive for Covid-19.

We must ramp up testing at SUNY Oneonta immediately, which is why I am sending personnel and resources to quickly pinpoint any other positive cases and isolate those with the coronavirus quickly, Malatras said in a statement.

The school is investigating reports of social gatherings that might have contributed to the transmissions. Already, the college has put a sorority on interim suspension after being accused of hosting an event that violated the schools Greek code of conduct, officials said in a news release.

.@SUNY is testing every @SUNY_Oneonta student & we deployed staff from SUNY Upstate Medical & System Administration to manage. We will continue to aggressively address the situation & this is a reminder that we must be vigilant if we want to control COVID: https://t.co/nptLZ6GuI9 https://t.co/UL2CBA5j2H pic.twitter.com/6FtmAXePSQ  Jim Malatras (@jimmalatras) August 29, 2020

WAMC reported the number of confirmed cases was nearly 30.

SUNY Upstate will help administer pooled testing. This approach combines saliva from 10 to 25 people. Staff then tests that combination as one sample. If the result is positive, then each person in the batch is tested.

SUNY Oneonta began classes on Monday, as did Syracuse University.

Overall, most Central New York campuses are off to a good start when it comes to containing the virus. SU has reported 33 coronavirus cases since the start of August and currently has 10 active cases on campus.

Oneontas enrollment is around 6,500. SU typically has more than 20,000 students.

Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.
The 13th Amendment, enacted at the close of the Civil War, didnt exactly end slavery when it stated, 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.

Enslavement continues in the US. Its called prison. Staying silent and doing nothing is no longer an option, which is why Black friends, families, employees, citizens, and their allies are marching on Washington. A march of this magnitude hasnt been planned since 1963 and seeks to drive systemic change in how Black persons are treated by the justice system.

In America, Black people are incarcerated at five times the rate of white people. One in four Black men will go to jail at some point in their lives. Rather than continue to contribute to a dehumanising system, we must apply pressure to dismantle it  in the streets, at our desks, and on the trading floor. We must divest from every link in the supply chain and take responsibility for the role businesses play.

A prison-industrial complex is not possible without the industrial part, which comprises thousands of US businesses, many publicly traded and household names. These corporations have monetised crime and punishment with the governments help. They fight for positioning to siphon off their share of the $80bn (60bn) in tax dollars spent annually to keep 2.3 million incarcerated, putting profit over everything.

As the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests continue, people are clamouring for an overhaul of the justice system  from policing to prison to life afterwards. Before Covid-19 and BLM protests, businesses werent interested in taking a permanent stand, fearing economic risks. Now is not the time for weighing economic risk or parsing profit margins. Its time for US businesses to divest from the prison system.

Companies have acted before.

South Africas apartheid began to crumble under economic pressure between 1977 and 1986 as civil rights groups, labour organisations and a campus divestment movement took root and blossomed in the United States. In 1977, Rev Leon Sullivan, a General Motors board member, wrote seven principles that companies operating in apartheid South Africa should follow. While some saw these Sullivan Principles as a smokescreen for companies with economic interests to stay in South Africa, they emboldened activists, student protesters and Black South Africans.

When Coca-Cola withdrew from South Africa in 1986 and sold its assets to Black South Africans as well as white, the move was a major victory for racial equality, but it was a necessity. The unified front of students, activists, shareholders and employees in the US with activists in South Africa and the civil disobedience there forced the withdrawal.

Today Americans are voting with their feet in the streets and their dollars to push everyone, businesses included, to end police brutality and mass incarceration. In a recent poll, 69 per cent of Americans say Black people and other minorities arent treated equally in the justice system, a high-water mark. If, 30 years ago, American companies could forego a foreign economic interest, they can eradicate racism and slavery at home.

Businesses have to back up words with action. The blow to apartheid was devastating because major corporations withdrew from the economy. Companies must do the same now.

First, we must divest by ending all financial relationships with companies that profit from or participate in the prison system. Public pension funds and university endowments must divest from companies that sell products and services to prisons as well as from vehicles like mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, many of which invest in these sectors and which millions of Americans own. In April, Worth Rises campaign group released a report called The Prison Industry: Mapping Private Sector Players (2020) cataloguing 4,100 corporations that support prison labour directly or through supply chains and called for immediate divestment from 180 large, publicly traded companies.

Secondly, companies and organisations using prison labour must cease those activities immediately. While there has been a slow departure from some companies, hundreds of others still support US prison labour. Economically disenfranchising prison labourers by paying them nothing or less than a dollar a day is as morally reprehensible as the chain gangs of Jim Crow and the original slave trade.

Finally, every publicly traded US company should be required to adopt a form of the Global Sullivan Principles. While there is debate on the efficacy of social responsibility pledges, if accountability is institutionalised, good can result.

We will all have to look back on our actions in this moment and see how serious we were about justice and discover what side of history we and businesses were on. Without change, any claims of solidarity with communities of colour are for naught. The answer will be apparent: the prison system will either be gone, or it will include more of us. We have an opportunity to improve the course of history and lead our country to a just revolution.

Ashish Prashar is a justice reform campaigner, who sits on the board of Exodus Transitional Community, Getting Out and Staying Out, Leap Confronting Conflict and the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice
Church caught selling COVID-19 'plague protection kit' faces new investigation by UK authorities

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The U.K. government has opened an investigation into the finances of a London-based church that marketed a plague protection kit it claimed would protect people from COVID-19.

The Charity Commission announced Wednesday that it was opening a new inquiry into The Kingdom Church GB, expressing concern over how the religious organization is being managed.

Originally, the commission opened an inquiry into Kingdom Church over its selling of so-called plague protection kits that it claimed would protect and even cure the novel coronavirus.

This led to liaison with Southwark Council which had opened a Trading Standards investigation into the sale of the kits, explained the commission.

Since then, the Commission has examined the charitys records, revealing concerns about its finances. The regulator is concerned about the accuracy of information provided to the Commission regarding the charitys income and expenditure.

Part of the inquiry will be to examine the relationship between Kingdom Church and Bishop Climate Ministries, which the church said was responsible for the protection kits.

Helen Earner, director of Regulatory Services at the Charity Commission, said in a statement released Wednesday that the new inquiry stemmed from findings from the first one.

Many will have been concerned by allegations about this charitys activities in relation to Covid-19, and so it is right that we, and others, have intervened, stated Earner.

Our own examination into The Kingdom Church GB has identified further concerns that require investigation which is why we have now opened an official inquiry.

On Wednesday, The Kingdom Church GB posted a link on its Facebook page to a product its selling called Spiritual Divine Cleansing Protection Kit, at a cost of $65.99.

The product in question, which includes virgin oil, yarn, and a prayer card, is marketed as having spiritual benefits, though a disclaimer at the bottom of the page rejects claims of medical healing.

You should seek medical help where necessary. This are faith and herbal healing products based on Faith and natural products, the disclaimer says, in part.

The product description says it was created by Prophet Climate Wiseman, whose official website bills him as a highly esteemed Man of God that operates under an apostolic & prophetic anointing.

He has over 20 years of experience in planting churches, raising and growing successful leaders, and changing lives of all those he comes into contact with, the site adds.

God has anointed Dr. Climate to be a pinnacle of leadership and example among the Body of Christ. His personal motto is to equip every believer for a significant ministry by helping them discover, develop and deploy the gifts and talents God gave them.
Unlock 4.0, the fourth phase of opening of the economy after coronavirus lockdown, will start from September 1.

This phase comes at a time when Indias Covid-19 tally has crossed the 3.46 million mark and the number of deaths due to the disease have gone up to 62,550.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

Officials have said Unlock 4 guidelines, which will be announced later this week, only mention the activities which will be prohibited while the rest can resume.

Here is a look at what will change during Unlock 4.0:

 The Centre is likely to allow resumption of metro services, which were halted since March 22, in Delhi and the NCR from September 1. Contactless ticketing system will be put in place and passengers will not be allowed to use tokens anymore.

 Flouting Covid-19 norms such as not wearing a mask, sitting on seats meant to be left vacant in order to maintain social distancing and spitting or littering on the station premises will attract hefty fines.

 Schools and colleges will remain to be shut, while bars will be allowed to serve liquor over the counter for takeaways.

 Cinema halls will also remain shut as it wont be feasible to run shows with only 25-30% capacity due to physical distancing norms.

 In Karnataka, the academic year of colleges for various degree courses will commence from September 1 with online classes while offline classes may begin from October 1, the state government has said.

 Karnataka may push for opening cinema halls and allowing sale of liquor in restaurants in a relief to hospitality sector.

 In Unlock 4.0, domestic flights from Covid-19 hotspots will be allowed to land in Kolkata. We have received several requests to resume flight operations from six Covid-19 hotspot states. So from September 1, flight services from these six states (Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai and Ahmedabad) can resume thrice a week, CM Mamata Banerjee said.

 While pubs and clubs are expected to open next month, West Bengal will be under complete lockdown twice a week.

 Local trains in Mumbai will not resume in this phase. Mumbai police has also warned motorists that they will impound vehicles if they cannot show a valid reason for being out.

 Chennai has announced that e-passes will be mandatory for inter-state and inter-district movement. Restrictions on liquor shops and hotels may be eased in the city in Unlock 4.0.
Washington, Aug 29 : The US military will not play a role in the November 3 presidential election, according to the country's top general.

"In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, by law US courts and Congress are required to resolve any disputes, not the US military," Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, wrote in a letter on Friday responding to questions from two House lawmakers, reports Xinhua news agency.

"I believe deeply in the principle of an apolitical US military," Milley said, adding: "I foresee no role for the US Armed Forces in this process." The answers came as presidential nominees raised questions over the military's involvement in this year's election.

President Donald Trump, also the 2020 Republican candidate, has raised the prospect that he won't accept the results in November, claiming without providing any evidence that mail-in voting could lead to widespread voter fraud.

"I have to see," Trump told Fox News last month when asked if he would accept the election results.

"No, I'm not just going to say yes, I'm not going to say no, and I didn't last time either." Trump's rival and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said in June that he's "absolutely convinced" that the military would step in if Trump rejected the results.
A ll passengers from a refugee rescue boat funded by Banksy have been transferred to another humanitarian ship.

The former French navy vessel had been left stranded due to overcrowding off the coast of Malta on Saturday morning.

At one point there were 219 passengers on board the Louise Michel, including 33 in a life raft deployed by its side and one dead body, according to messages posted on the boat's official Twitter account.

A series of calls for help to various authorities was made over the course of almost four hours on Friday evening, but calls had either gone unanswered or they were told there was no assistance available, its crew said.

Some 12 hours after the ships leaders first issued emergency calls for help, the Italian Coastguard took around 49 of the most vulnerable survivors.

MV Louise Michel: Banksy Lifeboat Operation - In pictures 1 /9 MV Louise Michel: Banksy Lifeboat Operation - In pictures Louise Michel Louise Michel Louise Michel Louise Michel Louise Michel Louise Michel Louise Michel

Later, another humanitarian ship Sea-Watch 4  a joint project between United4Rescue, Sea-Watch, and Doctors without Borders  took all the remaining people on board.

A tweet from the Louise Michel account said: Just transferred all remaining guests onto #SeaWatch4, who now have about 350 people on board.

"Its not over: We demand a Place of Safety for all survivors, now.

In an update on Saturday afternoon, the vessels leaders said the Italian Coastguard had come to help, and that another rescue ship Sea-Watch 4 would assist us doing what Europe falters to do.

The tweet read: Update: The Italian Coastguard took over 49 of the most vulnerable survivors! Thats great  and leaves us with the majority still waiting.

"By now, Sea Watch 4 arrived on scene & will assist us doing what Europe falters to do, having 201 guests on board themselves for days now

Earlier in the day, a video was posted to Banksys Instagram account showing the boat at work.

It was accompanied by the words: Like most people who make it in the art world, I bought a yacht, to cruise the Med.

Its a French navy vessel we converted into a lifeboat because EU authorities deliberately ignore distress calls from non-Europeans.

The footage ended with the words All Black Lives Matter.

The vessel was bought with the proceeds of some of Banksys works and is captained by a professional crew with a flat hierarchy and a vegan diet.

The Guardian reported that the British street artist first made contact with Pia Klemp, an experienced captain of a number NGO boats, in September 2019 asking to help.

The project aims to help fill a void left by European authorities, who the organisers say are leaving desperate people to drift helplessly at sea.

The Louise Michels mission statement is to uphold maritime law and rescue anyone in peril without prejudice.
France's health authorities say there has been an 'exponential' rise in coronavirus cases, with over 7,000 new daily infections on Friday, compared to more than 6,000 on Thursday and 5,000 on Wednesday. President Macron has said a second national lockdown can no longer be ruled out.

Friday's 7,379 confirmed cases represent the largest daily spike since 31 March, when 7,578 cases were tallied at the peak of the first wave.

Despite the sharp rise, hospital numbers and daily deaths remain relatively stable, as young people less vulnerable to the ravages of the disease account for a majority of the new infections, the health ministry said.

President Emmanuel Macron has said a second national lockdown could not be ruled out if the number of cases spirals out of control.

But the French leader has called for collective responsibility to ensure that the economic impact of a further nationwide shutdown can be avoided.

WHO warns of a resurgence in Europe

Spain and Germany have also recently recorded their highest numbers of daily cases since the original outbreak. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of a resurgence of the disease in Europe.

On Thursday, Hans Kluge, the director general of the WHO's Europe office, warned young people not to be complacent about the virus.

"It may be that the younger people are not necessarily going to die from it, but it's a tornado with a long tail. It's a multi-organ disease, so the virus is really attacking the lungs, but also the heart and other organs," he said.

Deadly surge in German infection rate

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Friday that the coming months are likely to be "even more difficult than now", as winter weather forces people to spend more time indoors.

The infection rate in Germany has remained above 1,000 a day recently.

England could face "national action" and "very extensive local lockdowns" in the event of a winter wave, the government has said, with a "worst-case scenario" of 80,000 deaths.

Story continues

"Cases go up again, and we have to use very extensive local lockdowns or take further national action. We don't rule that out but we don't want to see it," Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told The Times newspaper.

Grim global statistics

The pandemic has killed at least 832,336 people worldwide since surfacing in China late last year.

More than 24.5 million cases have been registered.

The United States has recorded the highest number of deaths with 180,857, followed by Brazil with 118,649, Mexico with 62,594, India with 61,529 and Britain with 41,477 fatalities.
Iranian and Italian ambassadors to Russia held a phone conversation on Friday to discuss ways of boosting bilateral ties, Trend reports citing Mehr.

During the conversation, Irans envoy, Kazem Jalali, and Italys envoy Pasquale Q. Terracciano, underlined developing cooperation between Iran and Italy.

They also discussed the latest international and regional developments in political and economic spheres.

Regarding Irans nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Jalali referred to US illegal measures and the negative reaction of the international community especially members of the UN Security Council.

He stated that taking advantage of JCPOA interests is Irans absolute right but unfortunately the country has been deprived of its economic rights.

Terracciano, for his part, expressed his countrys support to solve the issues in the framework of cooperation and multilateralism.
The Shaayau S-Pawa Foundation, a political group in Zamfara State, says arrangements are in top gear to give an award of Resilient Journalist to Eyo Charles, the Daily Trust representative assaulted by a former aviation minister in line of duty.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Charles was the journalist that was verbally assaulted by a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani -Kayode, in Calabar, Cross River State, at a press conference.

He had attacked the journalist who sought to know in a question who was bankrolling his programme.

He has however since tendered a public apology for the verbal attack.

The group in a statement signed by its chairman o Shaaya Fawa in Gusau on Friday, said the group saw the maturity with which Mr Charles handled his attacker that attracted the foundation

We feel he deserves strong respect and recognition,  Mr Fawa said.

The group recalled that Mr Fani-Kayode had earlier visited Zamfara State and left on his trail some controversies that are still fresh in the memory of the people.

The good journalist posture displayed by Charles gives more hope and believe to Nigerians that we still have good media professionals in the country.

As Nigerians, we strongly believe that if the former minister is truly the activist he claims, he should come out in the public domain and answer the question asked by Charles, the group said.

According to the group, we will organise a befitting ceremony to give this award very soon after we reach out to Charles.

(NAN)
Louth gardai made a series of drugs seizures over the last week.

Uniform members of Dundalk Garda Station assisted by members from the Armed Support Unit conducted an operational search at Dunbin, Knockbridge, Dundalk on Tuesday last.

'This was an intelligence lead search targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the Dundalk District,' said a spokesman.

A male in his 20's was arrested at scene and was questioned under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at Dundalk Garda Station. The total amount of cannabis (subject to analysis) seized during the search was 9,120.

Meanwhile gardai from Ardee Garda Station carried out enquiries following reports from residents in the Dromiskin area relating to illegal drug dealing taking place. An abandoned vehicle was searched and a substantial amount of suspected Cannabis estimated to be 3000 in value (pending analysis) was recovered.

Following further investigation two suspects were identified and arrested. Both suspects have been released from custody and a file is being prepared for the DPP.
Members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation joined together this week in calling for an independent investigation into the death of soldier from Massachusetts.

In a letter to Acting Inspector General Sean ODonnell, the delegation requests a complete and thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the disappearance and death of Sergeant Elder Fernandes.

We are heartbroken by SGT Fernandes death, reads the letter signed by Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and U.S. Reps. Stephen Lynch, Jim McGovern, Joe Kennedy III, Lori Trahan, Ayanna Pressley, Bill Keating, Richard Neal, Katherine Clark and Seth Moulton.

As Members of Congress representing SGT Fernandes and his family, we demand a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his death, including allegations of abusive sexual contact, bullying, and retaliation. We also ask you to investigate the Armys response to SGT Fernandes disappearance and whether Army leaders kept the Fernandes family appropriately informed about the search for their missing relative until he was found on August 25.

The Congressional delegation added, We must do more than grieve the loss of SGT Fernandes  we must seek justice and answers for his family.

The Brockton native was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. The 23-year-old was reported missing on Aug. 19 after he hadnt been seen for two days. Family said he went missing on Aug. 17, the same day he was released from the hospital.

On Tuesday - a week after his disappearance - a mans body was found about 25 miles away from Fort Hood. Fernandes backpack and identification was found alongside the body.

Foul play is not suspected, police said but an investigation is ongoing and an autopsy was ordered.

Natalie Khawam, an attorney representing the young mans family, said police told the Fernandes family that his body was found hanging from a tree.

Prior to his death, Fernandes transferred units after reporting abusive sexual contact, Fort Hood public affairs officer Lt. Col. Chris Brautigam said in a statement.

The soldiers family said he was bullied and hazed for reporting the allegations.

Brautigam said an Army sexual assault response coordinator had been working with the young man.

After his body was found, the Army announced officials had determined the allegations raised by Fernandes were unsubstantiated and briefed him prior to his death.

I am saddened that another soldier who served the country has been destroyed by sexual assault and sexual harassment and this toxic culture in the military that exists, Khawam told the Associated Press.

Fernandes is the third soldier to go missing from the Texas Army base in the past year, the second to have been found dead.

Vanessa Guillen, a 20-year-old soldier stationed at Fort Hood, was killed and dismembered by a fellow soldier assigned to the base. Prior to her death, she spoke to her family about experiencing sexual harassment and expressed fear for her safety.

U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy opened an investigation into the base following her death.
A man in his late 20s has been found dead in "unexplained circumstances" in the early hours of this morning in Cork.

Gardai have now launched a criminal investigation into the incident.

Emergency services were called to the scene at a home at Eagle Valley in Wilton, Cork City at around 1.10am.

The man was rushed to Cork University Hospital and was later pronounced dead.

A post mortem will be conducted at a later date and this will determine the course of the Garda investigation.

The scene at Eagle Valley has been preserved for technical examination.

According to a garda spokesperson, investigations are ongoing.
New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday reiterated its demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the alleged links of Facebook employees and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and once again wrote to the global social media giants CEO Mark Zuckerberg, asking him to specify the steps being taken to investigate the charges against its India unit.

The opposition party also threatened to pursue legislative and judicial actions to ensure that a foreign company does not create social disharmony in India.

This is for the second time in a month that Congress general secretary incharge of organisation KC Venugopal has written to Zuckerberg on the allegations of Facebook being biased towards the ruling party.

Venugopals letter to Zuckerberg came in the wake of an article in Time magazine, which the Congress said revealed more information and evidence of biases and a quid pro quo relationship of Facebook India with the BJP.

A report in The Wall Street Journal earlier this month had mentioned similar allegations, which were strongly rejected by both Facebook and the BJP.

Tagging the Time magazine report, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted that it exposes the WhatsApp-BJP nexus. WhatsApp is also owned by Facebook.

Used by 40 Cr Indians, WhatsApp also wants to be used for making payments for which Modi Governments approval is needed. Thus, BJP has a hold over WhatsApp, he alleged.

In his letter, Venugopal, referred to his earlier letter dated August 17 in which the party had requested the US-based company to investigate the allegations made in The Wall Street Journal article that the social media platform refused to apply hate speech rules to certain BJP politicians.

We draw your attention to the article in Time magazine dated August 27 that reveals more information and evidence of biases and a quid-pro-quo relationship of Facebook India with the ruling BJP, he wrote in the fresh letter.

We will also be pursuing legislative and judicial actions in India to ensure that a foreign company cannot continue to cause social disharmony in our nation for their pursuit of private profits, Venugopal warned.

At the partys press conference, spokesperson Pawan Khera and data analytics department chief Praveen Chakravarty called for an exhaustive and unbiased investigation by a JPC between the unending links of Facebook employees and the ruling establishment.

The investigation must include how Facebook manipulated voter opinion, allowed hate speech and was oblivious to fake news, even when they were in clear violation of their own regulations, they said.

In the last 10 days, BJP and Facebooks close relationship have been disclosed. In a new revelation, an international magazine has disclosed a relationship between WhatsApp and the BJP, Khera told reporters.

Beyond just Ankhi Das, what has now been revealed exposes that another senior executive, Shivnath Thukral of WhatsApp is an unabashed devotee of the ruling establishment and was partisan in his professional conduct, he alleged.

The expose reveals Thukral was hired by Facebook in 2017 only because he was extremely close to the ruling establishment. It elaborates that Mr Thukrals relationship with the ruling party goes as far back as 2013 when he operated websites and Facebook pages for the 2014 election campaign in conjunction with other BJP affiliates who continue to hold senior positions in the current government, Khera further alleged.

Can 40 crore (400 million) Indians trust WhatsApp, which is indirectly controlled by one political party? What is the assurance that bank details, transaction details and private data of Indian users using WhatsApp is not being shared with the BJP and misused? asked Khera.

WhatsApp cannot be granted approvals for its payment operations until the inquiry is complete and the recommended actions are taken by the company, the Congress leaders said.

They also demanded that the report of the investigation ordered by Facebook into the conduct of its Indian unit be made public. The investigation must include how Facebook manipulated voter opinion, allowed hate speech and was oblivious to fake news, even when they were in clear violation of their regulations, Khera said.

Earlier on August 16, Gandhi had alleged that the BJP and the RSS control Facebook and WhatsApp in the country. He also alleged that they spread fake news and hatred through these social media platforms to influence the electorate.

BJP & RSS control Facebook & WhatsApp in India. They spread fake news and hatred through it and use it to influence the electorate. Finally, the American media has come out with the truth about Facebook, he had tweeted.
A trove of knowledge for all those interested in our history View(s):

I read with great interest the newest addition to knowledge on art, architecture, literature and general subjects of interest to Sri Lankans titled, String of Archaeological Sites on the East Coast and Other Articles, containing essays on archaeology, history, traditions and other subjects by Dr.P.G. Punchihewa, the well known civil servant and writer. It encompasses a glimpse of all relevant aspects of those disciplines.

The leading article gives the title to the book and Dr. Punchihewa describes the archaeological importance of Gurukanda, Sri Samudragiri Rajamaha Vihara, Arisamala, Tiriyaya, Gokanna Vihara, Rajagala, Pasana Pabbatha, Magulmal Vihara, Nilagiri and Dighavapi, all tracing back to the Sinhala-Buddhist heritage. How some of them have been destroyed by invasions, sea erosion and the population too getting pushed into the interior of the island, leaving only traces of them for future generations is described in these articles.

The East coast had provided ports of call as a mid-point on the sea route from East to West for traders and others. Thapassu and Bhalluka arrived in the island on the way to Myanmar with the Sacred Hair Relic Kesha Dhatu of the Buddha at Arisimale and had travelled to Tiriyaya. There they had placed the casket containing the Relics on the rock of Girihandu, before enshrining them in an appropriate stupa in the island. Strangely, symbolising the sacred nature of the environment, it is said that they could not lift the casket when it had to be taken. It demonstrated a definitive possession of divine influence and the two merchant brothers decided to enshrine the relics in a stupa built on this rock.

Similarly Princess Hemamali and Prince Danta from Kalinga arrived at another port in the East, known today as Lanka Patuna.It was to this port that the Sacred Tooth Relic was brought by Princess Hemamali and Prince Danta before being taken to Anuradhapura. Lankan Buddhists consider the Tooth Relic as their national symbol and insignia.

Dr. Punchihewa describes this history succinctly and takes the reader to Kuchchiveli Temple where the first inscriptions in Sanskrit in Sri Lanka belonging to the 7th century exist, and then proceeds to Velgamvehera which with its Dravidian influence is of special architectural value. He recalls the reader to Gokanna, the present Trincomalee where a vihara had been built by King Mahasen in the 3rd century (275-301 A.D.).Before that there had been a Jain temple and later a Hindu temple now named Koneshwara Temple. The present Buddhist vihara is situated at the same site of this sacred rock temple.

Dr. Punchihewa takes the reader to other Buddhist sites, Seruwila, Lanka Patuna, Pasana Pabbatha, Muhudu MahaVihara, Magulmal Vihara, Rajagala and the famous Deeghavapi, which have their own histories. Seruwila temple built during the reign of King Kavantissa, is a major attraction for pilgrims in their Buddhist pilgrimage-circuit.

Dr. Punchihewas book contains other articles on history, like the Saliya -Asokamala episode showing the magnanimity of King Dutugamunu and on our lost traditions, like the Tulabara Dana and on culture  the arrival of Mahinda Thera in the island.An essay titled Rekindling the Resistance to Foreign Yoke takes the reader to the 1818 uprising.The article on Eye witnesses at Executions deals with the experience of two civil servants Leonard Woolf and M. Chandrasoma who had to be present at executions which both of them found gruesome.Several articles he had contributed to Indonesian papers reflect on the little known facts on Indonesia where the author had spent 15 years.

An interesting article in the book View Point is from the U.K publication Public Ledger published in 1987.That was the time when the American campaign against coconut oil was at its peak and Dr. Punchihewa was defending coconut oil with whatever information available then. Since then much research has been done and Dr. Punchihewa accordingly brings his original article updated to 2019 with new data and says coconut oil, once considered a poison has turned out to be the elixir of life.

The book is a trove of knowledge and I recommend that it should be read particularly by those persons interested in the history of the island and by the general reader.

Book facts String of Archaeological Sites on the East Coast and Other Articles by

Dr. P.G. Punchihewa

Price: Rs. 600

Reviewed by S.B. Atugoda
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-30 00:19:04|Editor: huaxia

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TAIYUAN, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Seventeen people have been confirmed dead after a restaurant collapsed Saturday in the city of Linfen, north China's Shanxi Province, local authorities said.

The accident happened at around 9:40 a.m. when relatives and fellow villagers were attending the birthday party banquet of an 80-year-old person at a restaurant in Chenzhuang village in Xiangfen County, witnesses said.

By 6:52 p.m., 45 people had been pulled out of the debris of the collapsed two-story building, including the dead, seven severely injured and 21 slightly injured, said the rescue headquarters.

With the help of over 20 large machineries, and sniffer dogs and life detectors, 840 rescuers are trying to locate people in the debris. Earlier they used small tools and bare hands to search for trapped ones.

Local authorities have also sent more than 100 medical workers with 15 ambulances to the site.

Top provincial officials have ordered all-out efforts for the rescue operation. Two deputy provincial governors have been sent to the site to coordinate the rescue efforts. Enditem
Ottawas commercial rent-assistance program is easily the most disastrous aid package any government has rolled out during the pandemic to help struggling businesses.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ottawas commercial rent-assistance program is easily the most disastrous aid package any government has rolled out during the pandemic to help struggling businesses.

And it may result in hundreds, perhaps thousands, of companies across Canada not making it past the finish line by the time this crisis is over.

The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program was almost doomed to failure the moment it was announced, mostly because of its exceptionally poor design and almost impossible qualifying rules.

Unlike most other federal programs that were quickly ushered out the door at the beginning of the pandemic (in order to get money into the hands of consumers and businesses as fast as possible), the Trudeau government has refused to make any substantial changes to how CECRA is administered. Its no surprise its been significantly undersubscribed.

According to records obtained by the Free Press, only $983 million of the programs $3 billion has been spent, including $11 million in Manitoba.

The reasons are simple: renters can only access the support if their landlords are willing to participate. And businesses must show theyve lost at least 70 per cent of their revenue as a result of the pandemic. Theres no flexibility beyond that. If a landlord refuses to apply (many have been unwilling to forgo the required 25 per cent of the rent they would normally collect) the renter is out of luck. Even if the landlord does subscribe, businesses don't qualify if they don't meet the revenue drop threshhold. Theres no sliding scale; its 70 per cent or nothing. Which means businesses struggling with a 50 per cent or 60 per cent revenue decline (enough to bankrupt many) get nothing.

Rent is often a companys single largest fixed cost. There arent many businesses out there that can survive multiple months of massive revenue declines without some kind of financial assistance. Given that governments have forced many of them to close or restrict operations, it is incumbent upon them to provide that assistance.

A recent Canadian Federation of Independent Business member survey found 31 per cent of Canadian companies (25 per cent in Manitoba) said they still need government help. The top reason given was to cover commercial rent and other fixed costs (cited by 66 per cent of those who said they still need financial assistance).

Taxpayers can cut governments some slack for not getting everything exactly right during this pandemic, especially when it comes to financial aid packages. For all its faults, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, for example, largely did what it was supposed to do. And when Ottawas initial wage subsidy program didnt quite cut the mustard, the federal government agreed to make changes to it.

But for some inexplicable reason, theyve refused to make major changes to CECRA beyond extending it by two months (which does nothing for the businesses that dont qualify in the first place). Even when it was obvious weeks ago that the program wasnt working, the Trudeau government refused to alter it. Its the mostly poorly designed of all the pandemic relief programs, yet its the one government is most adamant about not revisiting.

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What Ottawa should have done from the very beginning is provide assistance directly to renters on an income-tested basis. Thats essentially what business groups  and now some provincial governments, including Manitoba  have been calling for.

Its a fairly easy fix and its perplexing that Ottawa hasnt acted on those recommendations. Theyve already allocated the money; they have over $2 billion that has not been used.

Some provinces and business groups are holding out hope that new federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland may be more willing to make changes to the programs criteria than her predecessor was. If she is, she better act quickly because, not only is the program starting to wind down, there are many companies out there hanging on for dear life that could be one rent payment away from going over the cliff.

Failure to act on this could have incalculable consequences.

tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump eventually, but hesitantly, yielded to coronavirus guidelines designed to stop the spread of the deadly contagion.

He canceled events, ordered socially distanced seating at news conferences, and eventually wore a mask in public. Even the Republican National Convention this week was a mostly socially distanced affair, with supporters and administration officials praising the president in Washington, North Carolina and other remote video locations. Still, it was announced Friday that four people who attended the North Carolina portion of the convention had tested positive.

And pandemic precautions were largely cast aside Thursday night when the president threw a made-for-television extravaganza on the White House South Lawn to formally accept the Republican Partys nomination for a second term.

Chairs set up for the more than 1,000 invited guests were jammed close together. Most of the invitees didnt wear face masks.

In short, as the whole world watched, the president and his supporters openly flaunted social distancing measures  in stark contrast to the strict social distancing and masking on display by Democrats the week before. Experts suggested that was not coincidental.

"(Trump is) trying to give the impression that we've turned the corner, we're moving ahead, you're going to be able to go back to work and go back to school. We're going forward," said Robert Blendon, professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis at Harvard. "Whether or not anybody in the public health world believes that, the president is trying to give that impression."

'Have it both ways': Trump makes appeal to suburban voters and base in RNC balancing act

Several attendees who spoke to the USA TODAY Network said they were fine with the protocols, noting people did wear masks at times and that they felt safe.

Sometimes I wore (a mask), sometimes I didnt, said former Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Penn., who attended the speech and noted he was "impressed" by how the event was handled.

Story continues

But even some on the president's side of the aisle said the lack of masks and social distancing took away from Trump's message. Mandating masks would have been one of the best ways to acknowledge that the coronavirus rules apply to everyone, said Scott Jennings, a conservative political commentator

Republicans like to point out that the protestors and rioters are given a pass by the media for violating all public health guidelines, but that argument works better if we are consistent ourselves, said Jennings, who worked in the White House under President George W. Bush.

Few guests wear face masks as they watch from the White House South Lawn Thursday night as President Donald Trump delivers his acceptance speech for the Republican Party nomination for reelection.

Back and forth on following recommendations

Trump and his reelection campaign have been criticized over the past several months for the lack of adherence to their own administration's coronavirus recommendations.

Although delegates arriving to the RNC in Charlotte were tested for the virus upon registration, many who attended the convention did not wear masks while gathering in small groups, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Vice President Mike Pence greeted maskless attendees at his RNC remarks at Fort McHenry in Baltimore Wednesday. After speaking, the vice president was seen giving fist bumps to several people in the crowd.

And following a June rally in Tulsa where thousands of Trump supporters attended, Oklahoma officials said they saw a spike in coronavirus cases. At least eight Trump campaign staffers who attended the rally tested positive.

More: Biden campaign claims 'Keep America Great' domain, slams Trump's 'promises'

Patronus Medical Corp., a medical, safety and health company, said it worked in partnership with the Republican National Committee to make certain proper protocols were in place to ensure the safety and well-being individuals at convention venues, including the South Lawn event.

These strict protocols are in full compliance with multiple guidelines set forth by the United States Centers for Disease Control, the District of Columbia Department of Public Health, and other leading authorities on health safety, said Robert Darling, the companys chief medical officer and former White House physician to President Bill Clinton.

Patronus health professionals have been on site to make certain screening has been done on a consistent basis to ensure the convention meets the highest standards of public safety, Darling said.

'We've got to all be in this together'

Blendon noted that regardless of Trump's intent, voters are going to focus more on how they've been impacted personally.

"The president has to convince people ... it's getting better," Blendon noted. "Any evidence that it's not, just says to people 'I don't know what to do, I'm going to vote against the incumbent.' "

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows echoed that sentiment Friday, telling NBC, "I think the vast majority of Americans are more concerned about what's happening in their backyard than the backyard of the White House."

Trumps re-election campaign defended the South Lawn setup and accused the media of applying a double standard.

Its not surprising that the mainstream media refuses to acknowledge the hundreds of protestors harassing and attacking attendees leaving the White House (Thursday) night and instead uses it as another pathetic attempt to blame President Trump for a pandemic that has affected countries all over the world, campaign spokeswoman Courtney Parella said.

Public health officials have underscored that the best way to prevent spread of coronavirus is to follow social distancing guidelines, wear masks and practice good hygiene, like washing hands.

"For those of us in public health, it's as basic as seatbelts and life preservers," said Shelley A. Hearne, Director of Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health Advocacy. "That's how we're gonna do it, so regardless of what political party, we've got to all be in this together."

'The faux outrage ... is clearly selective'

The lack of social distancing guidelines didn't keep at least 1,000 officials and politicians from attending the president's speech. And many of the attendees swatted away criticism Friday.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, who has urged his states residents to wear a mask, wear a mask, wear a mask was among those seated on the South Lawn for the presidents speech. McMaster did not wear a mask.

His spokesman, Brian Symmes, defended the governors decision to go maskless.

The governor wore a mask throughout the day when it was appropriate until he was seated in a reserved area for governors and their spouses, and he continued to wear it after the presidents speech, Symmes said.

Symmes said he doesnt believe McMasters decision to go sans mask during the presidents speech is contrary to what he has told South Carolinians they should do.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the Republican National Convention at the White House on Aug. 27, 2020.

Arizona Gov. Doug Duceys office also pushed back on criticism he received for not wearing a mask during Trumps speech. Ducey spokesman Patrick Ptak dismissed the condemnation as a consequence of the political silly season.

"The governor has been consistent about the right of Americans to assemble, especially during an election year, Ptak said. Doesn't matter the cause or political affiliation. This isn't the first campaign event he's attended, so the faux outrage from the Democrats is clearly selective."

Ducey wears a mask, Ptak said. Like everyone else, he uses common sense about when to have it on, and when he feels comfortable taking it off."

Barletta, the former Pennsylvania lawmaker, said being among the crowd on the South Lawn was exciting and gratifying, he said.

To sit in that setting and watch him talk about his accomplishments in the last four years was very satisfying to me, said Barletta, who now is a political consultant and chair of the Pennsylvania delegation for the Trump Victory campaign.

The former four-term congressman gave up his 11th Congressional District seat to take on Democrat Bob Casey in a 2018 U.S. Senate race. Barletta ultimately lost to Casey by 13 points. He was one of the first members of Congress to endorse Trump in the 2016 election.

Despite the criticism and concerns about people being unmasked, Barletta said they were not unsafe.

Im impressed by how they handled the convention and last night. There were temperature checks and health screenings at the beginning of day and during the day.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RNC: Donald Trump's speech lacked some coronavirus safeguards
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Friday, August 28, 2020, inaugurated its campaign team in the Bantama constituency, Ashanti region to lead its agenda aimed at maximizing votes in the December 7 general election.



The party says it is aiming at garnering a whopping 95% of popular votes in the constituency to ensure that the party wins the presidential election.



The team, which is co-chaired by the Parliamentary candidate and Constituency Chairman has the objective of ensuring that the party wins the presidential election and retains Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in office.



Speaking at the event, the NPP parliamentary candidate for the Bantama constituency, Francis Asenso-Boakye, who is also a deputy Chief of Staff to President Akufo-Addo appealed to members of the campaign team to work in unison to achieve their target.



He urged the team to sensitize the electorates on developmental projects within their surroundings in order to appreciate the effort of the government. Lets engage every single voter in our neighborhood regardless of their party affiliation. We need to maximize our votes here to cancel those from the strongholds of our opponents. Let us go and persuade even members of the NDC and I believe they will vote for us based on our track record in government, he added.



He advised the party to work hard to retain power and continue with the many development projects and policies of the government.



Mr. Asenso-Boakye also urged members of the party to offer a helping hand to the campaign team by reaching out to the people and win more souls for the party. He said that the campaign is for all of us, and not just members of the campaign committee. We should all play our roles in the various electoral areas and polling stations to ensure victory in 2020.



He advised that the party has performed creditably well in government with several achievements under its feet. The party, therefore, has a message going into the election. If you go to almost every community in Ghana today, you can pinpoint something significant done by this government, aside the numerous socio-economic interventions such as free SHS, One District One Factory, NABCO, and Planting for Food and Jobs, he opined.



The Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi who was present at the occasion reminded members of the party to approach the coming election with all the seriousness it deserves. If the NPP had won the 2008 election, Ghana would have been more developed by now. We must therefore work hard to sustain the gains we have made under this government, he said.



A former Member of Parliament for Bantama, Hon Henry Kwabena Kokofu tasked members of the team to discharge their mandate diligently in spearheading the partys campaign in its foremost political world bank in order to vindicate the confidence that had been reposed in them by the party leadership.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

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Ministers have been urged by a powerful Tory committee chairman to block attempts by Home Office lawyers to censor mainstream news publications as part of a new drive to punish social-media companies over harmful material online.

Julian Knight, chairman of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, has written to Culture Minister John Whittingdale over the proposed laws, after Home Office lawyers claimed that granting a publishers exemption would create loopholes.

The duty of care laws, which were promised in the 2019 Tory manifesto, are designed to protect children from the harmful effects of viewing disturbing material such as suicide footage or jihadi videos on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Ministers have been urged by a powerful Tory committee chairman to block attempts by Home Office lawyers to censor mainstream news publications (file photo)

But without an exemption, reputable outlets  such as Mail Online  could be penalised for publishing legitimate news stories, about related issues such as terror attacks, which are then shared on social media.

Mr Knight also called in his letter for a new tech levy on companies such as Facebook to pay news outlets  in particular those struggling local media companies that have been hit hardest by Covid-19.

One source close to the ministerial arguments over the proposed laws said: Government lawyers are arguing that the publishers exemption would allow just anyone to claim it, so for instance you would have The Isis Times being able to distribute beheading videos. That seems implausible to say the least.

Mr Knight is understood to have called on Mr Whittingdale to ensure that the freedom of the press and the scrutiny of authority is maintained at a time when misinformation and disinformation are more pervasive than they have been in decades  a reference to the conspiracy theories that have been allowed to circulate unchallenged on social media, such as claims that the coronavirus was spread by 5G phone masts.

Julian Knight has written to Culture Minister John Whittingdale over the proposed laws

The Tory MP for Solihull told Mr Whittingdale that Ministers in both DCMS and the Home Office should resolve the impasse by allowing an exemption for authenticated and reliable news sources.

Plans for a code of conduct for tech companies to ensure content producers are properly rewarded were first suggested last year in a report for the Treasury by Jason Furman, President Obamas former chief economist.

Last month the Competition and Markets Authority published the results of a year-long investigation into the tech giants dominance of digital advertising markets, recommending mandatory codes of conduct to ensure news publishers are adequately rewarded for their content.

The Government has yet to respond, amid concerns that any action may be delayed by wrangling over legislation to stop harmful online material and fears that antagonising powerful American-owned online platforms might jeopardise post-Brexit trade talks with the US.

Meanwhile, the Australian competition authority has published draft legislation that would force tech giants to enter negotiations to pay news publishers for their content.

Mr Knight told Mr Whittingdale that his committee believed a levy should be introduced in the face of falling revenues for local publications, arguing that local news was the lifeblood of British journalism.
South Africa: Additional measures to bar public servants from doing business with the state

President Cyril Ramaphosa says over and above the regulations aimed at ensuring public servants dont do business with the State, government is strengthening financial and HR processes as a deterrent to the practice.

He said this when he fielded questions in the National Assembly on Thursday.

In the last month, the Ministers for the Public Service and Administration, Police, and Justice and Correctional Services have drafted a memorandum of understanding to better coordinate efforts that will lead to the investigation and prosecution of employees found to be conducting business with the State.

While all wrongdoers must face the full might of the law, our priority is to ensure that corruption does not occur in the first place. We are therefore strengthening financial, human resource and other management systems to reduce the risk of unlawful conduct by any person in the public service, he said.

This comes after media reports revealed that several public servants in the Eastern Cape were found to have been engaged in COVID-19 tenders in the Eastern Cape.

On Thursday, the President said one of the greatest challenges that the country is confronted with is the theft of public resources by those given the responsibility to manage and safeguard them.

A priority at this moment is to address the concern that has been raised by our people about the involvement of political office bearers and public servants in the unlawful awarding of tenders and contracts to relatives and acquaintances.

While most public servants are dedicated, diligent and law abiding, we nevertheless find that such practices are found in all spheres of government and in many public entities.

"A critical part of our efforts to root out all corruption  both in the public and private sectors  has been to rebuild our law enforcement agencies, to restore their integrity and credibility and provide them with the means to act against corruption.

Over the last two years, significant progress has been made in strengthening institutions like the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority], the Hawks, SARS [South African Revenue Service], the SIU [Special Investigating Unit] and others so that they are able to detect, investigate and prosecute all acts of corruption.

At the same time, we have worked to strengthen the measures inside government to minimise the potential for corrupt activities, he said.

In 2016, government reviewed the Code of Conduct for Public Service employees to, among other things, prohibit public service employees from conducting business with the State, be it in a personal capacity or as a director in a company that conducts business with the State.

In 2019, the President extended this provision to the whole of the public administration, when Section 8 of the Public Administration Management Act, 2014 was brought into effect by means of a proclamation. This criminalised the act of public administration employees conducting business with the State.

To ensure action against those who transgress these laws, systems have been put in place through the Personnel Salary System  PERSAL  and the Central Supplier Database to identify public servants who tender for contracts with the State, said President Ramaphosa.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Beirut:

Air strikes and artillery fire on rebel-held territory near Syria's capital Damascus killed nearly 15 civilians, including six children, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was not immediately possible to determine where the strikes on the Eastern Ghouta region were carried out by the Syrian regime or its ally Russia.

Eastern Ghouta has long been a rebel stronghold, and is regularly targeted by government air strikes and artillery fire. The Observatory, a Britain-based monitor, reported air strikes and artillery fire on the towns of Douma, Harasta, Arbin, Zamalka and Saqba in the region. An AFP correspondent in Eastern Ghouta said warplanes had been overheard since the early hours of the morning. Opposition fighters meanwhile launched a barrage of rockets at Damascus, the Observatory and an AFP correspondent in the capital said. Syrian state television reported seven people were wounded in the fire.

Also Read: Agreement reached on Syria ceasefire, says Russian President Vladimir Putin; Turkey and Russia to act as guarantors



Elsewhere, the Observatory said five civilians including a baby were killed in regime rocket fire overnight in the south of Daraa city. The violence came ahead of an announcement on Thursday by Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Syrian government and rebels had signed a ceasefire deal and agreed to startpeace talks.

Also Read: More than 290,000 killed in Syria war, says monitor

More than 310,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March2011.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The cast of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are grieving the news that Chadwick Boseman has died.

Boseman, who appeared in the MCU as Black Panther, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014, but decided not to make the news public.

He died in Los Angeles on Friday (28 August) surrounded by his friends and family.

After the news was made public via a statement on his Twitter page, many of his fellow actors and co-stars paid tribute to the star, who was 43.

Hulk actor Mark Ruffalo, who co-starred with Boseman in MCU films, including Avengers: Endgame, wrote: All I have to say is the tragedies amassing this year have only been made more profound by the loss of #ChadwickBoseman.

Recommended Chadwick Boseman reinvented what a cinematic superhero could be

He added: What a man, and what an immense talent. Brother, you were one of the all time greats and your greatness was only beginning. Lord love ya. Rest in power, King.

Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor, wrote: Absolutely heartbreaking. One of the kindest most genuine people Ive met.

Brie Larson (Captain Marvel) posted a photo of her alongside Boseman, writing: Chadwick was someone who radiated power and peace. Who stood for so much more than himself,

Captain America star Chris Evans hailed Boseman as a true original, while long-time MCU star Samuel L Jackson said the actor was a talented and giving artist & brother who will be sorely missed.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige called Bosemans death absolutely devastating in a touching statement about the actors on-set presence.

Each time he stepped on set, he radiated charisma and joy, and each time he appeared on screen, he created something truly indelible, Feige wrote, adding: He was as smart and kind and powerful and strong as any person he portrayed  now he takes his place alongside them as an icon for the ages. The Marvel Studios family deeply mourns his loss, and we are grieving tonight with his family.

Don Cheadle wrote: I will miss you, birthday brother. you were always light and love to me. my god.
The bids for the lamb, named Double Diamond, quickly escalated during the auction in Lanark, near Glasgow, video released by the British Texel Sheep Society showed.

A consortium of three farmers fetched the six-month-old sheep for 350,000 guineas (367,500 pounds) after an initial bid of over 10,000 pounds.

The breed is usually sold for five figure sums, according to the British Texel Sheep Society.

Texel sheep originate from a small island off the coast of the Netherlands.

Double Diamond was was in the top 1 percent of its breed, according to the British Texel Sheep Society.
overnights

And Just Like That  Recap: The Hobbes Rom-Com The Miranda stuff has been a mess from the beginning, and it looks like its about to get a lot messier.
By Julia Symmes Cobb and Luis Jaime Acosta

BOGOTA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Colombia will enter a period of "selective" quarantine when its five months of national coronavirus lockdown ends at the close of August, President Ivan Duque said on Monday, and will be part of Johnson & Johnson vaccine trials.

Restrictions on events and large crowds will continue during September while the government evaluates the spread of the virus, Duque said, as more economic reactivation with safety protocols moves ahead.

"On Sept. 1 a new phase begins where we change the concept of preventative obligatory isolation with a large number of exceptions to a concept of selective isolation, of distancing, of individual responsibility," Duque said during his nightly television broadcast.

Confirmed and suspected coronavirus patients should still isolate, Health Minister Fernando Ruiz said during the broadcast.

The Andean country will also participate in phase three vaccine trials with Johnson & Johnson, Duque said.

"Colombia today has signed a deal with (Johnson & Johnson) to carry out tests for phase three in the investigation of their vaccine."

The trial will include 60,000 healthy volunteers worldwide between the ages of 18 and 60 who will receive a single dose of the vaccine, the health ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the capital Bogota will end a strict coronavirus quarantine in seven of its neighborhoods four days earlier than planned because occupation rates in intensive care units (ICUs) have fallen, the mayor said.

The capital - home to more than a third of the country's more than 550,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases - has held several rounds of strict lockdowns by neighborhood even as national quarantine restrictions have loosened.

The most recent round had been set to last until Aug. 30, but will end on Wednesday.

"This Wednesday at midnight all the quarantines by neighborhood will completely end," mayor Claudia Lopez said during a virtual press conference.

Occupation of ICUs peaked at 93.2% near the end of July. The units were 77.6% occupied as of Sunday.

More than 17,600 people in Colombia have died from COVID-19. (Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb and Luis Jaime Acosta; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
Grieving families left flowers and candles outside schools on the Tohono Oodham reservation Friday to honor a fallen tribal police officer who spent years working with youngsters as a school resource officer.

Officer Bryan Brown, who was set to retire in a few months from the Tohono Oodham Police Department, was run over and killed with his patrol vehicle Thursday while responding to a report of an armed and erratic driver on Thursday.

Carlos Maximilliano Galvan, who is in his late 30s, is facing a murder charge in the incident that occurred near the Desert Diamond Casino in Why, a community about two hours west of Tucson, according to a federal complaint filed Friday.

The complaint states that when Brown arrived at the casino, he encountered Galvan, who was standing outside his 1999 Crown Victoria holding a broken bottle. As Galvan approached, Brown backed away from his patrol vehicle.

The complaint said Galvan stole Browns vehicle and drove away on Arizona 86, only to turn the vehicle around. He then crashed into a marked Border Patrol vehicle, violently spinning the vehicle around, then drove toward and struck the police officer and ran him over. Before being struck, Brown fired at Galvan, the document said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 21:10:56|Editor: huaxia

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SHANGHAI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of Communications, one of China's largest commercial banks, posted a year-on-year net profit decline of 14.61 percent in the first half of 2020 (H1) as the COVID-19 epidemic resulted in more bad loans.

Net profits for the January-June period totaled 36.51 billion yuan (about 5.3 billion U.S. dollars), the lender said in its interim financial report filed with the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

During the six-month period, the bank generated revenue of 126.79 billion yuan, an annual increase of 7.28 percent.

By the end of June, the bank's total assets amounted to 10.67 trillion yuan, up 7.72 percent compared with the end of 2019, the bank said.

At the end of June, the bank's non-performing loan ratio stood at 1.68 percent, up 0.21 percentage points from the end of 2019. Enditem
The royal commission described Australia's aged care system as "a shocking tale of neglect". It found "a sad and shocking system that diminishes Australia as a nation". It went so far as to say "many people receiving aged care services have their basic human rights denied". Loading This was the state of affairs months before the pandemic struck. So when the pandemic did arrive, even more of the residents' basic human rights were lost. By Thursday, 373 people had died of the coronavirus in aged care homes. That's about two-thirds of all Australian deaths. On Thursday the Australian Medical Association called for an urgent assessment of every aged care home to help each understand its capacity and to improve care. "Hundreds of elderly Australians have died needlessly, and without family by their side," said the AMA in a submission to the royal commission. "This was in many ways the perfect storm  a system already in crisis was hit by a global pandemic." So who is the federal Minister for Aged Care today? It's the very same Richard Colbeck.

Indeed, on the day the AMA made its submission, Colbeck was in Canberra giving an account of himself to the Senate. He expressed condolences for the families of the dead, said he was working hard and stated: "I am accountable." He then turned and left the Senate before the opposition could respond. Labor has campaigned daily on the Morrison government's performance on aged care, and the harder it hits Morrison the harder Morrison deflects blame to Victoria. You can see why. Of the 373 deaths in aged care homes as of Thursday, 342 had occurred in Victoria. That's 92 per cent. Loading It doesn't in any way absolve the Morrison government from responsibility  aged care is squarely a federal function, not a state one. The federal government is responsible for the funding, regulation, compliance and conditions inside the aged care homes. But it does point to Victoria's catastrophic failure to contain the pandemic. Three. Victoria is unique among the states and territories for its uncontained second-wave virus outbreak. Of the 583 deaths nationwide reported by Friday, 496 occurred in Victoria. That's 85 per cent.

The state of knowledge at the moment is that 99 per cent of the second-wave infections stemmed from the failure of hotel quarantine, according to Doherty Institute genomic analysis. Loading Who were the responsible ministers at the beginning of the second-wave outbreak? The Victorian Minister for Health was Jenny Mikakos. But she says she wasn't responsible for managing hotel quarantine, which she has described as a "multi-agency effort". The appointment of private security seems to have been the responsibility of the Minister for Jobs, Martin Pakula. But he says his department was responsible for logistics only. The Health Department was responsible for infection control and health matters, according to Pakula. Whoever it was, the Premier was Daniel Andrews. Andrews convened an inquiry into the hotel quarantine failure. It is still inquiring. It has uncovered a litany of bungles and failures by the private security company guards who were hired to enforce the cordon sanitaire. Some seem to have thought they were on recreation leave, with an optional dating service on offer.

But the original sin and central mystery of the affair remains unclear  why did the Andrews government make the fatal choice of commissioning private security contractors to run hotel quarantine. Loading The federal government says it offered Defence Force personnel to do the job. Andrews says the offer was never made. The Defence Minister, Linda Reynolds, has produced details to show that it was. This clash of accounts remains unresolved. Andrews and his ministers and officials seem determined to keep this as mysterious as possible. It does not look good. We await the findings of the inquiry. Andrews and his ministers have issued various apologies for the death, suffering and disease they've presided over. Who are the ministers in the relevant Victorian government posts now? The same ones who were there before the outbreak  Mikakos, Pakula, Andrews.

There is a consistent syndrome here. Whether it's the NSW government, the Victorian government or the federal government, whether the Liberal governments of Berejiklian and Morrison or the Labor government of Andrews. Everyone is sorry. No one is responsible. Ministers preside over catastrophic failure, illness and mass death. And keep their jobs. And their powers. And their privileges. It doesn't matter how glaring the failures of their departments, how many people die as a result. The dead go to their graves. The ministers go back to their jobs. These are not the typical micro scandals of Australian politics  rorted expenses, sex with the staff, lying to parliament. All serious but they do not kill the citizenry that governments exist to serve. These have been mostly avoidable deaths. Of dozens, of hundreds of Australians. People with the same rights as members of parliament. The ministers themselves are not personally culpable for the errors in their jurisdictions. Brad Hazzard didn't personally give the disembarkation order to a plague ship. Richard Colbeck didn't personally spread COVID-19 from one aged care home to another. Daniel Andrews and his ministers didn't personally fraternise with travellers under quarantine.

Loading Indeed, these ministers have made efforts to fix problems and repair oversights. That's not the point of ministerial responsibility. Ministers represent the authority of the crown. Why is it a big deal to be a minister, to get the lifetime honorific of "the Honourable" in front of your name? It's partly because you get a billion-dollar budget, a department of thousands and godlike powers. But you get control of these only because of the awesome authority of the state, of which a fragment has been entrusted to you. You are accountable for the exercise of that authority by everyone operating it on your behalf. Rudyard Kipling described power without responsibility as "the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages". That was his contemptuous description of a British press baron, Beaverbrook. Ministers are supposed to wield power with responsibility. "When responsibility for a serious matter can be clearly attached to a particular Minister personally, it is of fundamental importance to the effective operation of responsible government that he or she adhere to the convention of individual responsibility," says the House of Representatives Practice. Canada's House of Commons Procedure and Practice is even clearer: "The principle of individual ministerial responsibility holds that Ministers are accountable not only for their own actions as department heads, but also for the actions of their subordinates; individual ministerial responsibility provides the basis for accountability throughout the system."
FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- ADM Endeavors, Inc. (OTCQB: ADMQ) said today it believes it is important to notify shareholders that the Company is currently involved in negotiations to acquire online brands and service providers.



Our task, for our shareholders and for our Company, is to expand ADM Endeavors exponentially. We are exploring opportunities, carefully doing due diligence on the right brands and the right web marketing situations, said CEO Marc Johnson.

The Company sells Anything With A Logo on its website, www.JustRightProducts.com, developing products ranging from unique business cards to coffee cups with tens of thousands of other unique products for customers to select from. To meet its customer needs, Just Right Products has implemented state of the art in house production that is supplemented with factory direct international sourcing. Just Right Products has maximized its work area by offering on site traditional brick and mortar retail within its manufacturing facility. This allows the most efficient use of labor with all employees cross trained for retail and production work.

We are striving to achieve the optimum share price that reflects the fundamental value of the Company, provide financial information to investors, both retail and institutional, in a timely and accurate way, observe the rules of the SEC through non-aggressive awareness promotions and build receptive capital markets for future financing at favorable terms, Mr. Johnson said.

ABOUT ADMQ: Since 2010, our wholly owned subsidiary, Just Right Products, Inc., has operated a diverse vertical integrated business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, which consists of a retail sales division, screen print production, embroidery production, digital production, import wholesale sourcing, and uniforms. The Retail Sales Division focuses on any product with a logo. It sells a very wide range of products from business cards to coffee cups. Our motto is "We Sell Anything With A Logo!" Just Right Products salespeople excel because they are selling the items people like to buy. The Screen Printing Department utilizes its five screen printing machines to print garments and can produce more than 8,000 units per day. The Embroidery equipment has 51 heads of embroidery capacity. The Digital Department and all the other departments have significant growth potential. The Import Department sources products for retail and wholesale customers. ADM Endeavors has employees fluent in Chinese, Spanish and Arabic thereby affording significant opportunities to interact directly with multiple product sources internationally. The Uniform Division sells uniforms to businesses and schools, with the advantage of in-house production and international sourcing.

Forward Looking Statement:

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements," as defined in the United States PSLRA of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and the actual results and future events could differ materially from management's current expectations. The economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors identified in the Company's previous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Paul Knopick

pknopick@eandecommunications.com

940.262.3584
A yet-to-be-identified helicopter has crashed in Opebi area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that the copter dropped from the sky around 12 noon at the Salvation Bus Stop in Opebi.

Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nosa Okunbor, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in a telephone conversation.

Yes, it just happened. The helicopter crashed in Opebi around 12pm. LASEMA operatives are on our way to the incident site. Ill give you more updates, he said.
Several people were arrested and police officers injured in Malmo, Sweden, on Friday, August 28, as protesters against the burning of a Koran by far-right supporters clashed with police.

Milad Ahmadi recorded this video from Fridays protests on Amiralsgatan, a street in Malmo. Police said cars were damaged and fires lit in the street during a night of rioting, local media reported.

A police spokesperson told Storyful that 10 to 15 people were arrested in the protests and they were subsequently released. Police said there were no injuries to civilians, but some minor injuries to police officers.

Police said an investigation was underway into the veracity of a video showing a Koran being burned, and whether the video shows a crime being committed. Credit: Milad Ahmadi via Storyful
TORONTO, Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jade Power Trust (Jade Power or the Trust) (TSXV:JPWR.UN) is pleased to report its second quarter 2020 financial results. All amounts are expressed in Canadian Dollars unless otherwise noted.



Highlights1

Record energy generation of 88,456 MW hours (MWh) for the six months ended June 30, 2020; an increase of 3,758 MWh or 4% from the six months ended June 30, 2019.





Energy generation of 38,247 MWh for the second quarter of 2020; an increase of 499 MWh or 1% from the second quarter of 2019.





Record revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2020 of $10.7 million compared to $9.0 million for the same period in 2019; an increase of 19%. Revenue of $5.1 million for the second quarter of 2020, compared to $4.2 million for the second quarter of 2019, an increase of 21%.





Record net income of $2.0 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $0.04 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019. Net income of $0.5 million or $0.00 per Unit for the second quarter of 2020 compared to net income from continuing operations of $1.3 million or $0.01 per Unit for the second quarter of 2019.





Record adjusted EBITDA 2 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 of $6.1 million or $0.03 per Unit compared to $4.0 million or $0.02 per Unit for the six months ended June 30, 2019; an increase of 53%. Adjusted EBITDA of $2.9 million or $0.01 per Unit for the second quarter of 2020 compared to $2.6 million or $0.01 per Unit for the comparable quarter in 2019, an increase of 12%.





Operating cash flows of $3.7 million or $0.02 per Unit after net changes in working capital for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $7.3 million or $0.03 per Unit for the six months ended June 30, 2019. Operating cash flows of $2.2 million or $0.01 per Unit after net changes in working capital for the second quarter of 2020 compared to $2.5 million or $0.01 per Unit for the second quarter of 2019. Operating cash flows for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 reflect higher income from earned Green Certificates relative to the cash proceeds from the sale of Green Certificates compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2019.





Principal repayment of $750,000 on its secured debt facility during the second quarter of 2020.

Story continues

J. Colter Eadie, Chief Executive Officer of Jade Power commented We are pleased with our second quarter results with record energy generation and profit for the six months ended June 30, 2020. A testament to the strength of our operating model and infrastructure, business continuity has remained during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Our operations remain robust and continue to perform to expectations, while our balance sheet continues to strengthen.

1 From continuing operations of the Trust

2 Non-IFRS Measure; includes unrealized foreign exchange gains(losses)

For further information please contact:

Ravi Sood

Chairman

+1 647-987-7663

rsood@jadepower.com J. Colter Eadie

Chief Executive Officer

+40 736-372-724

jceadie@jadepower.com Betty Soares

Chief Financial Officer

+1 416-803-6760

bsoares@jadepower.com

About Jade Power

The Trust, through its direct and indirect subsidiaries in Canada, the Netherlands and Romania, has been formed to acquire interests in renewable energy assets in Romania, other countries in Europe and abroad that can provide stable cash flow to the Trust and a suitable risk-adjusted return on investment. The Trust seeks to provide investors with long-term, stable distributions, while preserving the capital value of its investment portfolio through investment, principally in a range of operational assets, which generate electricity from renewable energy sources, with a particular focus on solar and hydro power. The Trust intends to qualify as a mutual fund trust under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Tax Act). The Trust will not be a SIFT trust (as defined in the Tax Act), provided that the Trust complies at all times with its investment restriction which precludes the Trust from holding any non-portfolio property (as defined in the Tax Act). All material information about the Trust may be found under Jade Powers issuer profile at www.sedar.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release contain forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as anticipates, plans, proposes, estimates, intends, expects, believes, may and will. The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by the Trust. Details of the risk factors relating to Jade Power and its business are discussed under the heading Business Risks and Uncertainties in the Trusts annual Managements Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019, a copy of which is available on Jade Powers SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Trust. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, Jade Power expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSXV nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NON-IFRS MEASURES

The Trust has included certain non-IFRS measures to supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are presented in accordance with IFRS:

The following is a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA per Unit:

Three months ended

Six months ended

June 30,

June 30,

Three months ended 2020 2019 2020 2019 Earnings (loss) for the period from continuing operations $ 469,649 $ 1,289,262 $ 1,971,022 $ 43,702 Add-back: Interest and finance charges 1,244,934 582,819 1,958,636 1,811,713 Income tax recovery (102,505 ) (53,879 ) (90,127 ) 164,160 Depreciation 946,476 846,968 1,874,609 2,179,571 Warrant revaluation gain - (101,042 ) - (245,019 ) One-time business transaction and other expenses 390,159 - 390,159 - Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations $ 2,948,713 $ 2,564,128 $ 6,104,299 $ 3,954,127 Adjusted EBITDA per Unit from continuing operations $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0.03 $ 0.02

The following is a reconciliation of operating cash flow after changes in net working capital per Unit:

Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, Three months ended 2020 2019 2020 2019 Net used in operating activities from continuing operations $ 2,157,522 $ 2,503,353 $ 3,681,204 $ 7,318,629 Weighted average number of Units 231,353,550 230,165,170 231,642,502 230,165,170 Operating cash flow from continuing operations per Unit $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0.02 $ 0.03

The Trust believes that these non-IFRS measures, together with measures determined in accordance with IFRS, provide investors with an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Trust. Non-IFRS financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other entities. The data is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Management's determination of the components of non-IFRS and additional measures are evaluated on a periodic basis influenced by new items and transactions, a review of investor uses and new regulations as applicable. Any changes to the measures are duly noted and retrospectively applied as applicable.








It seems like everyone has something to say about Megan Thee Stallions shooting incident with Tory Lanez. In the weeks since it went down, everyone from T.I. to Marvel star Michael B. Jordan has spoken out to share their thoughts on the situation.

Cardi B is among the latest to weigh in on the drama involving her WAP collaborator, offering supportive words to Megan Thee Stallion in a recent Instagram Live segment. Ahead, learn more about their relationship and what the Bodak Yellow crooner said about the ordeal.

(L-R) Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion | Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images North America; Steve Granitz/WireImage

Cardi B developed a relationship with Megan Thee Stallion around the time of the incident

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion had been fans of one another for a while, but it wasnt until some time in 2019 that they actually met. Cardi B said in a recent interview on SiriusXM that they were introduced through their stylists and later met up at a hotel.

We were cracking mad jokes. Like, it was just mad funny, Cardi B shared, reflecting on their hangout. Like, shes mad funny, shes so bubbly, shes quirky like me, she smiles a lot like me, and I had a good time. I was like, Oh my gosh. I wish I would have met her sooner.  She was just so fun.

RELATED: Nicki Minaj Shares Her Thoughts on Megan Thee Stallion Amid Her Collaboration With Nemesis Cardi

Cardi B eventually tapped Megan Thee Stallion for a song that would become their No. 1 hit, WAP. Rumors that they were collaborating emerged on July 8  just days before the shooting incident.

Megan Thee Stallion claims she was allegedly shot by Tory Lanez on July 12

Megan Thee Stallion, Tory Lanez, and others had been leaving a party that stretched into the wee hours of July 12 when they allegedly got into an argument.

Police officers who were responding to a disturbance call found a gun in their car and noticed Megan Thee Stallion had injuries to her foot. The Say It rapper was reportedly arrested on gun charges while Megan Thee Stallion was treated for what was initially reported as a cut from broken glass, per TMZ.

However, she later admitted she had allegedly been shot by Tory Lanez. Sources told Page Six that she had been trying not to name her shooter but had decided to go public due to lies that were being spread, including that she had faked her injuries.

RELATED: Megan Thee Stallion Appeared Irritated With Tory Lanez in Video Before Her Allegedly Shot Her

Cardi B spoke on Megan Thee Stallions shooting incident after she named Tory Lanez as the alleged assailant

At some point during the week of Aug. 16, Cardi B went on Instagram Live and broke her silence on the drama between Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez.

Disappointed with the ongoing reports surrounding her WAP collaborator, Cardi B said, This week should have been a happy a** week. happy a** week. She did not elaborate, but she seemed to be referencing WAP spending another week atop the Billboard Hot 100.

Mind you, she dont have a mom. She dont have a dad. She dont got nobody to cry to, Cardi B said of Megan Thee Stallion. This should be the happiest week and instead people are f*cking harassing her and calling her a liar.

RELATED: Who Were Megan Thee Stallions Parents?

She continued: Why would somebody lie about getting shot. Why? Why? You think a helicopter would be coming out at 1 a.m., whatever the f*ck time it was in [Los Angeles]? First of all, in L.A., n****s aint coming out if they was just arguing in a car. They will come out if they hear some gunshots. You think a helicopter would come out? That sh*t is sad bro. They f*cking harassed her until she had to speak.

Although its undoubtedly a tough time for Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B lifted her spirits in mid-August when she sent the Savage Remix rapper a personalized Birkin bag in honor of their song hitting No. 1. Megan Thee Stallion gushed over the moment on Instagram, saying: not the birkinnnnnnnn  thank you frennn omg I cant believe you 
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Melania Trump once boasted that she was 'driving liberals crazy' with her infamous 'I really dont care, do u?' jacket, and called Ivanka and her family 'snakes', a new bombshell book has claimed.

Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady, written by her former best friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, comes out September 1.

In it, Wolkoff claims the first lady also scoffed at Michelle Obama's time in office.

She reportedly once said 'Did Michelle Obama go to the border? She never did. Show me the pictures!'

The book also claims Melania ignored Michelle's choice to highlight American fashion designers and decided to wear whoever she wanted like Karl Lagerfeld.

Melania also allegedly told Wolkoff she wouldnt move into the White House until the shower and toilet used by the Obamas in the presidential residence were replaced - claims he new book.

Melania Trump reporteldy scoffed at Michelle Obama, joked that she was 'driving liberals crazy' with her infamous 'I really dont care, do u?' jacket, and called Ivanka and her family 'snakes', claims a new bombshell book by her former best friend

Wolkoff says Melania was tightlipped when it came to her marriage with Donald Trump. When Wolkoff expressed concerns, Melania curtly replied, 'I know who I married'

She also painted her office and closet bright pink and added a glam room to the residence to have her hair and make-up done.

Wolkoff claims Melania was tightlipped when it came to her marriage with Donald Trump.

'Any intimate question about her marriage was deflected by her seamlessly turning the chat back to what was going on with my husband, my kids, and my career, about which she was endlessly fascinated,' she wrote.

When it came to her husbands alleged affairs or hush money payments to women in his race for presidency she also remained quiet.

She brushed off his 'grab 'em by the pussy' tape recording and the Stormy Daniels settlement with the retort, 'Its politics.'

Wolkoff claims she would express her concerns over the years and Melania would curtly reply, 'I know who I married.'

Melania allegedly wrote to Wolkoff in a text on Ivanka, 'You know how they are snakes'

Wolkoff claims Melania became outraged when Ivanka wanted to cohost events traditionally held by the First Lady such as the Governors' Spouses' luncheon. Melania pictured hosting the event solo in February at the White House

Wolkoff shed light on Melanias tense relationship with her stepdaughter Ivanka Trump who she jokingly referred to as 'Princess'.

Melania allegedly wrote to Wolkoff in a text on Ivanka, 'You know how they are snakes.'

On Thursday an excerpt of Wolkoffs book claims Melania launched 'Operation Block Ivanka' to assure the first daughter was out of camera frame for inauguration day when Donald Trump was sworn into office.

Melania also didnt want Ivanka to attend the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, according to the book, so Wolkoff says she left it off her schedule until Ivanka texted to her to ask why it wasnt there, Wolkoff writes.

Wolkoff says that Melania was outraged when Ivanka and her staff wrote to her about co-hosting several events traditionally hosted by solely the First Lady.

'Are you kidding me?' Melania is said to have asked Wolkoff when Ivanka requested to collaborate for International Womens Day.

'Seriously? Im not co-hosting,' Melania allegedly said.

Wolkoff writes that Melania scoffed at Michelle Obama's time as First Lady. She ignored Michelle's precedent to wear American designers, demanded the bathroom at the White House be redone before she moved in, and once slammed Michelle for not visiting the border, according to the book

Melania sparked a firestorm when she wore an infamous green jacket that said 'I really dont care, do u?' on its back when she toured a detention center holding children who had been separated from their parents at the border. She is said to have brushed off the backlash saying, 'Im driving liberals crazy. You know what? They deserve it'

She allegedly said on kids being held at detention centers 'Its more than they have in their own country where they sleep on the floor. They are taking care nicely there'

Ivanka also wanted to help host the annual luncheon held for the governors' spouses.

'We need to let her know that I know this is a First Lady event done every yearOMG. They just want to take credit for it,' Melania said, according to Wolkoff.

Wolkoff writes that, 'If Ivanka was dressed by a designer, Melania would cross them off her list.'

She said that on one occasion Melania heard Ivanka wore a KaufmanFranco dress for an event and Melania said 'Forget it'.

The news of 'Operation Block Ivanka' broke early Thursday.

Hours later Ivanka introduced Donald Trump before his presidential nomination acceptance speech and walked past Melania. The First Lady was seen smiling at Ivanka before making a sour expression.

Fashion has been a controversial issue for Melania in office.

But after passing by Melania's face expression turned sour. It comes after Melania's former best friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff published an excerpt of her upcoming book Thursday revealing the First Lady plotted 'Operation Block Ivanka' to prevent Ivanka from appearing in Trumps inauguration photos

Twitter users had a field day with the icy exchange. This Twitter user captioned the moment saying: 'Melania Trump gives Ivanka Trump that look that "I like you only because I have to"'

Melania Trump plotted to block Ivanka Trump from being in photos of President Trump taking the oath of office on Inauguration Day, in what was dubbed 'Operation Block Ivanka'

She sparked a firestorm when she wore an infamous green jacket that said 'I really dont care, do u?' on its back when she toured a detention center holding children who had been separated from their parents at the border.

She is said to have brushed off the backlash saying, 'Im driving liberals crazy. You know what? They deserve it.'

Wolkoff wrote that Melania said people 'connect stuff to my clothes' when she wears it 'because I like it'.

'They all went crazy about the zero-tolerance policy at the border. But they dont know whats going on. The kids I met were brought in by coyotes, the bad people who are trafficking, and thats why the kids were put in shelters. Theyre not with their parents, and its sad,' she said on the children detained after crossing the US-Mexico border, at times with their families.

'But the patrols told me the kids say, "Wow, I get a bed? I will have a cabinet for my clothes?" Its more than they have in their own country where they sleep on the floor. They are taking care nicely there,' Melania added.

Wolkoff writes that while some joked that Melania was trapped in the White House with the Trump family, she was actually a part of the problem.

'[Melania] told me in her way that she was not part of the solution, she was part of the problem. Not speaking up, and not fighting, against the problem, is being part of the problem, and I learned that the hard way.'

Wolkoff writes: 'Im still here. The woman I once considered my close friend is gone.'
Although summer is coming to a close, Elliot Lake has made good on its promise to make local beaches more accessible by installing beach access mats for wheelchair users.

The MobiMats, which were purchased from Wheelchair Friendly Solutions Inc. in the winter of 2019 as part of the communitys Age Friendly Elliot Lake Action Plan, are designed to ensure safe and inclusive accessibility to the water.

Due to COVID-19, the mats are being installed at both Spruce and Spine beaches much later than expected, but community development officer Amanda Roy hopes people will be able to make the most of them before they are removed in early fall.

The day the mats were being installed, the install was not even completed and we had members of the community coming to look and ask questions about the mats. So far, weve received very enthusiastic and excited responses, she said.

The mats and water wheelchairs were supposed to be installed in spring 2020, but the beaches being closed delayed the install. The mats can also be used in the winter, and we hope that they will also make community winter events and activities inclusive and accessible.

The MobiMats are AODA compliant, portable and removable, and provide an access route that can be used by individuals of varying abilities who are unable to navigate through the sand.

The MobiMat products are the only accessibility beach mat system that is not only designed to be used at beaches that are sand and stone but is the only mat system in the world specifically designed to be used in the cold and on top of snow as well as on grass or uneven or sloped surfaces, the city said in a press release.

Being so quick and easy to reinstall, the mats can be used year-round by the city to improve accessibility at events and locations throughout the community. For example, the mats can be used during Winterfest, Fishing Derby, Drag Races, and Uranium Heritage Day festivities.

Elliot Lake has also purchased water wheelchairs called Mobi-Chairs that are capable of floating in water thanks to its flotational wheels and armrests.

The total cost for the mats and the wheelchairs was $72,764.

Staff, council, and Elliot Lakes Accessibility Advisory Committee volunteer members took part in accessibility training earlier this year.

The city has just drafted the 2020-35 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan with a list of action items that will be going for review at the next Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting.

Elliot Lake is part of the World Health Organizations Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities.

The city would like to see a fully inclusive, barrier free, accessible Age Friendly community in the future, said Roy.

For more information on Age Friendly Elliot Lake and accessibility, visit www.elliotlake.ca.
Shaheed Al Hafeed, 29 August 2020 (SPS) - Minister of Occupied Territories and the Sahrawi Community Abroad has announced the creation of a human rights coordination mechanism to document and expose the violations committed by Morocco against the Sahrawi people since the military invasion of Western Sahara in 1975.



This coordination mechanism has been created upon instruction from Sahrawi President Brahim Ghali during a meeting held Monday under the supervision of Premier Bouchraya Hamoudi Beyoun.



According to a communique from the Sahrawi Ministry, the repression to which the Sahrawis in the occupied territories are subjected urged the creation of a mechanism that will have a positive impact on SADR and its struggle for human rights in these territories.



SADR is aware of the importance of unveiling the policy and targets of Morocco by documenting its crimes against humanity since 1975 for referral to the competent courts.



The mechanism will bring together several institutions and organizations involved in human rights in Western Sahara like the ministries of Occupied Territories and the Sahrawi Community Abroad, Foreign Affairs and Information, as well as the Polisario Front Political Secretariat, the Sahrawi Human Rights Committee and the Union of Lawyers, the Association of the families of Sahrawi detainees and disappeared, and the Association of victims of anti-personnel mines.



In his speech at the constitutive meeting of the said mechanism, the Sahrawi Prime Minister stressed that the action of this mechanism consisted in coordinating efforts at the national and international levels in the field of human rights, because "the Sahrawi people suffer daily Moroccan violations of their rights to a decent life.



The mechanism will serve to develop a common vision before national, regional and international bodies in accordance with international humanitarian law and the resolutions of international organizations. (SPS)



062/SPS/APS
Cathleen Hall, 27, grew up in Monkstown, Co Dublin and worked in New York before moving to Copenhagen two and a half years ago. She is the head pastry chef at Alice, set up by Noma alumnus Anders Lorenz in the residential neighbourhood of Amager. Recently her croissants were named the best in the city in a blind tasting.

Did you grow up in a family where food was important?

My mum was from Puerto Rico. And all the women on her side of the family are wonderful cooks. She made the most amazing desserts, and at weekends we would eat pancakes and waffles for breakfast. When she came to Ireland she adapted her cooking to the ingredients that were available and taught herself lots of new recipes; she had a great collection of cookbooks and was always tearing recipes out of magazines and newspapers.

What's your most vivid food memory from childhood?

I still have a book, Mister Cookie Baker, that I had when I was a child - it's very colourful, with lots of glazes and sprinkles. I used to bake from it with my mum each Christmas.

What was the first thing you learned to cook?

Tall stacks of American fluffy pancakes with maple syrup.

Did you always know that you wanted to be a chef/ work in food?

From the age of 15, I knew that I wanted to be a pastry chef. I had a summer job in Bake My Cake in Booterstown down the road from where I went to school. Everyone from school spent way too much time in that shop! I went to Trinity to study Italian and classical studies because I thought it would get me to Italy, but it was not for me and I left after a year. I knew that I wanted to bake full-time. I moved to New York and enrolled in a six-month intensive course in the pastry school at the Institute of Culinary Education. Afterwards I took up an internship at the Gramercy Tavern, and went on to work there.

Who has been the biggest influence on the way that you cook?

At the Gramercy Tavern in New York I worked with an amazing group of women pastry chefs who became my best friends and my biggest influence. We still share recipes on Google Drive.

How did you come to work at Alice?

Initially, Anders set Alice up as an ice cream and coffee shop. He has worked in restaurants around Copenhagen for years and taught himself how to make ice cream. The winters are brutal in Copenhagen and he didn't really have a winter plan. When we met, we got on immediately and I suggested that I make pastries and bread for him to sell in the winter when people didn't want to eat so much ice cream. I was eager to learn how to make laminated pastries such as croissants and he was happy to give me the space to experiment. That was two years ago and we started with a very small production but now we've taken over the space next door where we're selling bread and pastries, natural wine and local cheese and charcuterie.

What's your signature dish?

Since my sister Naomi bought me a pasta machine, it's been pasta carbonara. (I have another sister, Soma, who is definitely the foodie of the family.) And croissants. I make a lot of croissants.

Is there any ingredient that you hate?

Licorice. It's everywhere in Denmark. I can't stand it.

Is there anything that you love to eat that you'd prefer your friends didn't know about?

Cheap jelly doughnuts from the supermarket. They are my go-to indulgence.

What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?

At Noma during the seafood season I had jellyfish. The texture was how you would think it would be. I wasn't crazy about it.

What's your guilty (food) pleasure?

Copenhagen has so many wonderful bakeries, I love visiting them and trying out all the different pastries when I'm not working. My favourites are Hahnemann's, Hart and Juno.

What kitchen gadget could you not live without and what's the most overrated?

A metal bench scraper for getting the dough off the surface, cutting butter and general cleaning up. I can't imagine ever needing an avocado slicer.

What current cooking trend do you dislike the most?

I don't feel strongly about trends. Watching people make banana bread and sourdough during lockdown made me happy.

What's your desert island cookbook?

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat. I recommend it to everyone. I loved her show on Netflix, she seems so charming and approachable.

What three things do you always keep in your fridge?

Butter, eggs and jam. I just made some raspberry jam; it's delicious.

What's your go-to store-cupboard meal?

A simple vegetable curry with coconut milk.

What was the last great meal that you ate?

I visited a friend who's a pastry chef at her house and we had dumplings from the Chinese restaurant, salad and home-made sorbet. It was so good.

What's your favourite restaurant in the world?

Estela in New York. The food is so simple and delicious. I worked at another restaurant in the same group, Flora Bar in the Met Breuer, so I got to go a few times.

What do you think the impact of Covid-19 will be on restaurants?

I'm hoping that good things come out of all this. So many of the things we do in the restaurant industry are wrong, perhaps it's an opportunity to change them? I'd like to see people treated fairly, work normal hours that allow for better work/life balance, and be paid a living wage. I also think there will be a shift away from fine dining to more community-based food. I really hope that happens.

Do you eat breakfast?

I love breakfast. I usually have a sourdough bun with butter and cheese or jam, and a mug of Barry's tea. I get my dad to send it over from home. I use tea bags, not leaves.

What are you going to have for dinner tonight?

I'm not sure my boyfriend, Tobias, is cooking. He's not a chef but he is a very good cook.

And what will you drink with that?

Some rose I think. It's summer, after all, and rose goes with everything.
One of Canadianas most recognizable images is that of the Mountie: sitting tall on horseback in a bold red coat, high leather boots and pristine beige Stetson, a long-revered symbol of Canadian tolerance, civility and peacekeeping.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One of Canadianas most recognizable images is that of the Mountie: sitting tall on horseback in a bold red coat, high leather boots and pristine beige Stetson, a long-revered symbol of Canadian tolerance, civility and peacekeeping.

The history of Canadas policing, however, has not been as civil as the imagery would suggest.

In June, the nation watched as dashcam footage showed an RCMP officer tackling Chief Allan Adam of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and punching him repeatedly in the head during a traffic stop. Photos of Adam  bloodied and bruised  circulated in the media against the backdrop of widespread protests against police brutality and systemic racism in policing.

While some Canadians were shocked by the apparently unprovoked violence displayed by the force, Black, Indigenous and other marginalized people throughout the country assert this treatment has existed within RCMP ranks all along.

The histories of Canadas policing have often been written by the victor, says University of Winnipeg instructor Fadi Ennab.

The histories of Canadas policing have often been written by the victor, says University of Winnipeg instructor Fadi Ennab. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

Studying parliamentary archives in Ottawa, Ennab, whose graduate research centred on the history of Canadas policing, found the official records of Canadian policing were "not necessarily overtly violent."

"Thats why some historians have argued that the Canadian frontier is quite peaceful, but the absence of those physical encounters doesnt mean that it was a peaceful arrangement," says Ennab.

When confronted with conversations about discriminatory policing, Canada is quick to distinguish itself from the violence seen in the United States, where police are responsible for civilian deaths on a near-daily basis. Protests have reached a peak in recent months, as names like Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake, and George Floyd have become ubiquitous  providing rallying cry after rallying cry against a culture of violent policing.

Like police across the United States, however, Canadas national and municipal police agencies were originally designed to aid in the settlement of Indigenous land and make room for white settlers to accrue wealth  often at the expense of marginalized people.

The commonly understood history of Canadas frontier, Ennab says, presents "the myth of the police officer" as a peaceful, law-keeping force.

"Sometimes they didnt necessarily use overt physical violence, but theyve had other ways of controlling movements," he adds.

It is these histories at the foundation of the mistrustful and often tumultuous relationships between police and marginalized communities today. It is these histories that ignite the cries for abolition, defunding and other dismantling of police forces across Canada and the United States.

PART I: The Origins of Policing

The history of Canadas national policing begins in Manitoba with the birth of the North-West Mounted Police, the red-coat clad precursor to the RCMP.

The establishment of the North-West Mounted Police, shown at Fort McPherson, helped enable prime minister John A. Macdonald to fill the West with white settlers. (Library and Archives Canada)

As the history books would tell it, the idea for the NWMP was conceived with the sale of Hudsons Bay Co.-owned Ruperts Land to the then-Dominion of Canada. Then-prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald was in search of a way to govern the ever-expanding dominion, secure land for the coast-to-coast railway and protect the young nation from its land-hungry neighbour to the south.

Metropolitan police forces, modelled after Londons in the U.K., had already sprung up in eastern cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City, but as the countrys leaders began to push westward, Macdonald realized a national force was needed.

The Cypress Hills Massacre of June 1873, recognized as one of Canadas bloodiest mass killings, saw a group of American whisky traders murder a group of Assiniboine in present-day Saskatchewan.

Sensing an opportunity, Macdonald founded the NWMP, ostensibly to protect and defend Indigenous peoples from southern attacks and control the spread of alcohol in the Canadian Prairies.

"Of course, the larger context was the desire to fill the West with white settlers and get Indigenous people out of the way," University of Manitoba history professor Jarvis Brownlie says.

North West Mounted Police in the Yukon 1898-99. (Library and Archives Canada)

Ennab says the narrative of whisky traders and American marauders helped to paint the NWMP in the light of a kind of "saviourhood" that would make the police more palatable to Canadas Indigenous population.

"Its part of a myth-making: if you control memory, you control public image, you control the future," he says.

"If we take the word, for example, of Canadas first prime minister, his wording was that we needed to prevent an Indian war, and thats why we need to establish the mounted police and send them from east to west."

Macdonalds determination to establish the NWMP culminated in 1874 when troops were sent to Dufferin in this newly minted province to begin the historic "March West." For some time, the relationship between the NWMP and First Nations and Metis across the Prairies was calm.

Brownlie notes that while First Nations along the NWMPs path did not approve of "armed newcomers" on their territory, they appreciated the actions against whisky traders and wanted to make good relations.

While the States were engaged in "Indian Wars," massacres and extensive violence towards Indigenous populations, Canadas Mounties were outnumbered, less prone to violence and more inclined to engage in talks and treaties.

"We did have these ideals of peace, order and good government  of being the good guys that didnt go around murdering Indigenous people and taking their lands by military force," Brownlie says.

"Now, they didnt always follow it at all or very well, but that was still a principle: that they wanted to take over the land in a peaceful way."

University of Manitoba history professor Jarvis Brownlie says police were used to forcibly drive Indigenous people out of certain areas and deny them the reserves they had asked for under the treaties. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press)

With time those relationships dissolved. As the government showed reluctance to honour its treaties, Metis and First Nations people began to gather and discuss ways to ensure the treaties would be respected and enacted.

"This is where the Mounties come in," Brownlie explains. "The NWMP were used to break up gatherings where they were having these discussions, and to force people to move around."

A pattern quickly emerged: when the government needed to secure land, build railways or quell the voices of Indigenous people asserting their treaty rights, the Mounties would arrive. Tactics of intimidation, harassment and cultural erosion became commonplace as the government expanded its lands and forced Indigenous peoples onto smaller and smaller reserves.

"The government knew exactly what they were trying to do and were determined to do the usual divide-and-rule thing," says Brownlie.

"The police were used to forcibly drive people out of those areas, to deny them the reserves that they had asked for, to which they had a right under the treaties."

AN EARLY HISTORY OF POLICING 1834  Slavery is abolished in the British Empire, including British North America 1835-1864  First Metropolitan police forces, modelled after Sir Robert Peels metropolitan police in London, are formed in Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City, Kingston, Ottawa and Halifax 1855  Toronto Board of Police Commissioners formed as oversight of the police department 1867  The British North America Act is signed. 1868  Hudsons Bay Co. cedes the West to the Dominion of Canada and the Dominion Police Force is established 1870  Provincial police forces established in Quebec and Manitoba click to read more 1834  Slavery is abolished in the British Empire, including British North America 1835-1864  First Metropolitan police forces, modelled after Sir Robert Peels metropolitan police in London, are formed in Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City, Kingston, Ottawa and Halifax 1855  Toronto Board of Police Commissioners formed as oversight of the police department 1867  The British North America Act is signed. 1868  Hudsons Bay Co. cedes the West to the Dominion of Canada and the Dominion Police Force is established 1870  Provincial police forces established in Quebec and Manitoba 1871  Provincial police established in British Columbia 1871 -77  the first seven treaties are signed between Canada and Indigenous nations in the southern plains. May 1873  the North-West Mounted Police are founded as a central police force June 1873  Cypress Hills Massacre claims the lives of at least 23 Assiniboine people in a clash over missing horses August 1873  The first 150 members of the NWMP are sent west to Manitoba February 1874  the Winnipeg Police are founded under the leadership of John Ingram July 1874  Another 125 members join the NWMP ranks and begin the March West 1876  the Indian Act is signed, placing restrictions on First Nations land and movement 1882  Force grows to 500 members as NWMP shift north to quell Metis rebellions 1885  NWMP are involved in the 1885 Rebellion. Historians disagree on the role the NWMP played in the violence, the force is generally criticized for the part it played 1885  the Pass System turns several reserves into "open-air prisons." First Nations are not allowed to leave reserves without express permission from Indian Agents, enforced by police. 1890s  Ongoing criticism of NWMP conduct results in a shrinking of the force 1895  Cree leader Almighty Voice arrested for stealing a cow, escapes custody and kills officer who tracks him down 1897  Almighty Voice killed after two-year NWMP manhunt in clash that leaves several dead on both sides 1909  Ontario Provincial Police founded 1920  The Dominion Police Force is merged with the now-Royal North-West Mounted Police to form the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Close

Mounties threatened to cut Indigenous womens hair, pointed cannons at communities, disrupted cultural ceremonies, killed off bison supplies and controlled access to food and land as they cleared the way for settlers.

Physical violence wasnt necessary, Ennab says, when NWMP could use tactics such as starvation, ration systems and denial of cultural ceremonies to gain control.

"You dont always have to draw blood to be bloody."

The NWMP were merged with the early Dominion Police Force in 1920 to create the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but the change in name did nothing to change the forces practice.

Through residential schools  the last of which closed in 1996  and the 60s Scoop, where Indigenous children were taken from their families for forced assimilation, the RCMP represented the physical arm of the Canadian government in efforts to silence and suppress Indigenous culture and life.

"Theyve been the enforcement arm of the state in advancing all of these policies that have caused harm to Indigenous people," Brownlie says.

"And theyre still doing that."

As the NWMP and RCMP rose as a force to silence Canadas Indigenous peoples, Canadas Black population, too, faced over-policing and surveillance.

Police could arrest Black people in public spaces claiming they were runaway slaves, says Robyn Maynard, an activist, scholar and author. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press)

"The first criminalization of Black people in public space was this assumption that any Black person moving through public space could be what was called a runaway slave, a fugitive slave," says Robyn Maynard, activist, scholar and author of Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present.

"This is something that was considered criminal by police and also by broader white society that led to highly public notices describing Black people who were considered criminal for the crime of having stolen themselves."

Canada, long viewed as the gate of freedom for Black people freeing themselves from enslavement in the United States, has its own storied history of slavery.

Enslavement was legal and common throughout Eastern Canada in the 17th century, Maynard explains, and only became less than legal with Britains abolition of slavery across all its colonies in 1834.

Abolition, however, did not mean the end of practices of indentured servitude or degradation of Black lives. As slavery remained legal in the United States, Canadas law enforcement agencies worked to catch and punish formerly enslaved peoples. Incarceration rates for Black men and women began to climb at disproportionate rates.

"The fact is that the earliest kind of policing Black people was precisely about supposedly protecting the property of white slave owners because Black people were considered to be their property," says Maynard.

As municipal police became commonplace throughout Canada in the 19th century, Black people became overrepresented in jails and arrest records. Black women in particular often faced charges of vagrancy or prostitution, simply for being in public space, Maynard explains.

North-West Mounted police and members of the Blackfoot First Nation at Fort Calgary, 1878. (Library and Archives Canada)

Between 1864 and 1873, Black women made up three per cent of Halifaxs population, but 40 per cent of those in prison, she explains as an example. In Vancouver, almost 30 per cent of women arrested on morality charges between 1912 and 1917 were Black.

"Its often talked about in the Canadian media that this is a crisis, the arrests of Black people, whats called carding or street checks being so disproportionate in Montreal, Vancouver, Lethbridge, Calgary, every city that its been measured, as if this is a new phenomenon, but its something that has a longstanding history, since policing really was instantiated in this country," Maynard says.

"Policing was always racialized."

PART II: Policing in the present

The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police on May 25 re-ignited a long-burning flame of protest against police violence in the United States and across the world.

In the months since George Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, calls for the defunding and abolition of police departments across North America have become an overwhelming demand accompanying the Black Lives Matter movement. (Matt York / The Associated Press files)

In the months since his death, calls for the defunding and abolition of police departments across North America have become an overwhelming demand accompanying the Black Lives Matter movement.

Critics have pointed to inflated police budgets and seemingly unrestricted police powers against the backdrop of continued violence towards Black and Indigenous peoples.

According to the most recent Statistics Canada data, national police expenditures reached $15.1 billion in 2017-18, a two per cent increase from the previous year on a trend that has been notching upwards since 1996. At the same time, the nation recorded a two per cent drop in "police strength," a term used to indicate the number of officers per 100,000 population.

The lions share of police operating expenditures goes into salaries, which average $99,298 annually across Canada.

"If people are sometimes confused about what it means to really insist that we could live in a world free of policing, its an understanding that policing has always been a kind of racialized control mechanism over Black communities, over Indigenous communities," says Maynard.

"If we understand that history, its a very logical extension to say that this kind of violence actually needs to be reduced, needs to be eliminated entirely, and thats what the call to defund, to abolish the police is getting at."

In response to the beating of Chief Allan Adam in June, RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucki was called on to comment on systemic racism embedded in the ranks of the force. In an interview with the Globe and Mail, Lucki said she "struggled" with the definition of systemic racism and denied its existence within national police ranks.

She walked her comments back days later, penning a statement which acknowledged "systemic racism is part of every institution, the RCMP included," and that the RCMP "have not always treated racialized and Indigenous people fairly."

Retired Vancouver police officer Lorimer Shenher says a denial of systemic racism is deeply embedded in policing. (Trevor Hagan / Winnipeg Free Press)

According to retired Vancouver police officer Lorimer Shenher, a denial of systemic issues and systemic racism is embedded deeply in policing, and particularly RCMP culture.

Attending police academy on the West Coast in the 1990s, Shenher says he was surprised at the lack of history taught to the bands of "freshly-scrubbed, well-meaning recruits."

Instead, young officers were trained in the community policing principles of Sir Robert Peel  the father of British policing who touted the ideal that "the police are the public and the public are the police."

With that training, Shenher says, officers across the country find themselves "baffled" by encounters with distrustful members of the public.

"They have no concept of why every person that they meet who has any knowledge of this history is then mistrustful, and doesnt see them as a helper, doesnt see them as somebody whos going to make them safe, but quite the opposite," he says.

"Theres just a fundamental lack of understanding of history and understanding of polices role in that history."

Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth declined two separate requests for comment when the Free Press would not first disclose the identities of other sources for this story.

Often pitted against the United States, the culture of Canadian policing is one of exceptionalism, Shenher says. The revered vision of the Mountie takes root not only in broader Canadian narratives, but within the ranks, too.

"Police culture is they dont like criticism because so many of them really see themselves as helpers," Shenher says.

"The culture is so powerful in policing and the culture really survives through people denying their history and denying things like systemic racism  its that inability to look outside their own experience. They drink the Kool-Aid; they have to, I think its a survival mechanism, and its baked right into their whole DNA."

Despite the pristine narrative, Canadian policing is marked by a dark score of racialized brutality and violence.

KEY FIGURES Click to Expand 1. Demographics  According to 2018 Statistics Canada numbers, four per cent of police officers in Canada are Indigenous compared to five per cent of the population. Eight per cent identify as being a member of a visible minority compared to 22 per cent of the population.  Winnipeg Police Services 2019 annual report indicates 11 per cent of officers identify as Indigenous and seven per cent identify as a member of a visible minority. 2. Calls for service  Statistics Canada estimates that between 50 and 80 per cent of police calls are non-criminal in nature. They are referred to as calls to service, and instead comprised of alarms, disturbances, overdoses, mental health calls, domestic disputes and traffic accidents.  In Winnipeg, police were dispatched to 231,670 calls in 2019 and recorded a total of 69,294 criminal offences  70 per cent of dispatches did not result in criminal offences. Of the Criminal Code offences in 2019, 74 per cent were related to property crime in Winnipeg. Of those, 14 per cent were resolved. 3. Cost of Policing  According to 2018 Statistics Canada data, the average per capita cost of policing is $318 per person. Winnipeg spent $394 per person on policing in 2019.  The Globe and Mail recently reported Canadian municipalities spent between eight and 30 per cent of their total budgets on policing in 2019. The biggest spenders were Longueuil, Que. with 29.8 per cent of the budget going to policing, followed by Surrey, B.C. at 29.4 per cent and Winnipeg with 26.8 percent.

In 2017, the CBC released Deadly Force, the first comprehensive analysis of police violence in the country. Between 2000 and 2017 there were 460 fatal interactions between police and civilians, averaging 27 deaths per year.

Most victims  nearly 70 per cent  were suffering from mental-health and substance-abuse issues at the time of their deaths.

Nearly 700 officers were involved in the fatal interactions, the largest proportion of which stemmed from the RCMP.

The vast majority of officers were never charged, an issue Shenher believes sits at the heart of policings ongoing culture of violence.

"Whats been lacking in policing right through history is not policy but accountability for those people that dont follow the policy. Right up to the minister of public safety, there are very few mechanisms to hold police accountable for anything," he says, adding more robust tools are needed to fire or discipline officers when necessary.

While the majority of victims were white, Indigenous and Black people were significantly overrepresented in the data. Indigenous people make up 16 per cent of deaths at the hands of police, but only four per cent of the population, annualized over the last 20 years. Similarly, Black people make up nearly nine per cent of deaths, but just shy of three per cent of the nations population over 20 years.

Nationally, both Indigenous and Black people are three times more likely to be killed by police than white people and, in some jurisdictions, these numbers are starker.

Black people in Toronto  with the countrys largest population and police force  are 20 times more likely to be killed by police, according to a recent Ontario Human Rights Commission study. A similar 2017 report in Halifax found Black people were six times more likely to be stopped (note: not killed) by police than white people.

The Deadly Force data found that Indigenous people made up 10 per cent of Winnipegs population from 2000-2020, yet represented nearly two-thirds of deaths at the hands of police  17 out of a total 28. In a 10-day span in April, Winnipeg police shot and killed three Indigenous people, including 16-year-old Eishia Hudson.

This year alone has been particularly violent for the countrys law enforcement agencies. CBC found that in the first six months of the year 30 people had died at the hands of police  the full-year average for fatal police encounters over the last decade.

PART III: Reimagining policing

Tensions between public and police erupted once again Sunday after police shot 29-year-old Wisconsin man Jacob Blake seven times in the back while he was getting into his car with his three children in the back seat. Protests erupted, including Tuesday night, when a two people were fatally shot and another wounded, as Americans  including professional athletes who temporarily shut down play in their leagues  once again rose to demand the end of racism and brutality in policing.

Demonstrators protest the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. A police officer shot the unarmed man in the back seven times. (Joshua Lott / The Washington Post files)

Maynard warns that Canada, however, cannot be complacent or turn a blind eye to violence on the homefront.

"Its insulting to push the narrative that just because we dont live in the United States that somehow Black peoples lives and deaths are somehow less valuable here, that somehow we should be less outraged because of anti-Black violence in another place," says Maynard of the ideals of Canadian exceptionalism.

"Its so representative of an acute crisis of racialized violence, of racial disparities, that it stands on its own, that it doesnt need to be compared to the United States to be horrific. I think theres really a refusal to look closely at the situation here, at the legacy of slavery, at the legacy of segregation."

These violent historic practices have trickled into the shape and understanding of policing that exists to this day, sitting unacknowledged at the heart of current policing practices.

"The policing of Blackness is part of how this country was founded, its part of how this country has always operated," says Maynard. "Theres been a long-standing hostility."

She draws parallels between the policing of Black people in the early days of Confederation and the project of gentrification, pushing Black people out of affluent neighbourhoods, the war on drugs, crackdowns on immigration and other police practices that have resulted in disproportionately high arrest, incarceration and brutality rates for Black citizens.

Indigenous peoples, too, have been subject to violence and discrimination at the hands of law enforcement throughout the nations history and into the present day.

"Indigenous people are trying to protect their lands from what we all know will be an environmental disaster sooner or later, theyre trying to protect their lands and theyre being met with police oppression; theyre being arrested and jailed, theyre being threatened and harassed," says Brownlie.

"The principle is the police are used as a paramilitary force to prevent First Nations from inhibiting the generation of wealth by white people."

Depictions of violence and brutality, be they police killings, "starlight tours," unjust arrests or disproportionate charges permeate marginalized peoples perceptions of policing throughout history.

The effect of these centuries of trauma, says Ennab, is a deep mistrust between marginalized communities and police.

"The distrust started with broken treaties, started with imposing a structural violence against their communities, and its natural from that perspective to be distrustful," he says.

"Overall it was a relationship based on distrust and, in that sense, distrust is something that should be seen as positive, productive for conversations; its something thats ethically needed. We need to be distrustful; we need to be mournful, we need to be angry, we need to confront injustice."

Calls for defunding and abolition of police have been accompanied, in recent months, by more moderate calls for reformation  small, structural and policy changes such as officer-worn body cameras and independent investigation units that could punish "bad apples" in the system and create more accountability for officers.

Calls for defunding and abolition of police have been accompanied in recent months by more moderate calls for reformation, such as all officers wearing body cameras (above). (Briana Sanchez / The Argus Leader files)

Ennab, who has also provided anti-racist cultural competency training to police and other organizations, doesnt believe systemic racism can be trained out of the institutions.

"Until the institutions are changed were going to continue to see racialized lives missing and murdered, and its more than just training or converting few bad apples," he says.

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"Thats where we need to go back to the history, look at the dispossession and talk about the history openly, not with myths, to be able to listen to Indigenous communities when theyre mourning, instead of stigmatizing them."

Shenher agrees, noting that the existing structures for accountability havent worked for many years, and independent police investigators units, such as Manitobas Independent Investigation Unit or Ontarios Special Investigations Unit, are often staffed by former officers still entrenched in old policing mindsets.

Those calling for defunding and abolition have maintained that the structures of policing are not broken, but instead are working exactly as historically intended, and that in order to achieve justice the systems of public safety need a fundamental restructuring.

"Moving into the kind of safety that Black people would need, that Indigenous people would need actually relies on us to think about public safety differently," Maynard says. "Without police."

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jsrutgers
By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijani designer Gulnara Khalilova will present her stunning collection at International Digital Fashion Week.

The national designer will delight fashionistas with stunning outfits from fashion collection inspired by Karabakh region.

The International Digital Fashion Week will open its doors on September 5, bringing together leading fashion designers from 75 countries.

Speaking about the fashion event, Gulnara Khalilova told Trend Life that the Digital Fashion Week is a platform that unites the fashion world of America, Europe and Asia. World famous designers will take part in the project, showcasing ther fashion collections. As Khalilova noted, it is a great honor for her to represent Azerbaijan at such prestigious international event.

IDFW Fashion Week will be aired via FNL App . NL is available for viewing on Apple TV, Roku TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and all Android and Apple iOS devices for six months.

Earlier, Gulnara Khalilova presented her collection "Silk Treasure" at the 5th season of Aspara Fashion Week in Kazakhstan.

The four-day fashion show was held virtually amid coronavirus pandemic, bringing together designers from many countries.

Gulnara Khalilova, the head of the Center of National Costumes, is a frequent guest of international fashion weeks. She is the two-times winner at Eurasian International Fashion Festival "Silk Road" held in China.

Her works are also very popular among Turkish public figures, representatives of culture and art such as Ajda Pekkan, Emrah Erdogan, Beyazit Ozturk, Soner Sarikabadayi, and others.

She also designed costume for Azerbaijan's 2013 Eurovision representative Farid Mammadov and created hand panel with the official mascots of the EuroGames.

During the opening of Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, Champion of the European Games Ilham Zakiyev was in national dress, created by the designer which was a novelty in the history of the Olympic movement.

Khalilova is the author of a number of books dedicated to the traditions of clothing, including the history of Azerbaijan national clothing, the textbooks and catalogs for higher education institutions.

In 2014-2015 she worked as a teacher at the State Academy of Fine Arts. Since 2017, she is teaching at Khazar University. The designer also heads the Women's Entrepreneurship Development Association.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
New Delhi, Aug 30 : Amid a hostile situation on its borders with China and Pakistan, India on Saturday decided not to take part in a multilateral strategic command post exercise in Russia next month in which its two neighbours were also participating.

An Indian military contingent was to take part in "Kavkaz 2020" ("Caucasus 2020"), exercise next month where various countries, including China and Pakistan, were participants.

The Indian government on Saturday decided it would not take part in the exercise. It stated, "...in view of the pandemic and consequent difficulties in the exercise, including arrangements of logistics, India has decided not to send a contingent this year to Kavkaz-2020. The same has been informed to the Russian side." The government reiterated that Russia and India are close and privileged strategic partners.

The exercise in Astrakhan region of south Russia between September 15 and 26 would witness the participation of over 12,500 troops, including from Russia.

China is sending an army contingent, and also a naval deployment of three ships to the exercise.

The aim and scope of the exercise is improving cooperation. The idea is for militaries to prepare for joint action with units of armies of foreign states.

Apart from India's fellow Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members China, Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the other counties participating were Mongolia, Syria, Iran, Egypt, Belarus, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

Contingents from Abkhazia, and South Osetia, which are partially recognised by states by Russia and a few other nations, will also be present.

The exercise comes amid an over three month long standoff between India and China at the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. Despite several levels of dialogue, there has not been any breakthrough and the deadlock continues.

There have been several clashes between troops of both sides and the most brutal took place on June 15 in Galwan Valley where India lost 20 of its men while there was an undisclosed number of casualties on the Chinese side.
By Faheem Muhammed M.P

As the world is facing the most dreadful pandemic of modern times, the indigenous population across the globe are exposed to severe health hazards. The conditions of indigenous people in India are no different from the global scenario. Relatively restricted access to health care is already pointed out as a major setback to tribal communities. Most of the tribal population are residing in the remote areas of the country, with poor health facilities.

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Amid this crisis, COVID-19 response systems in India have been blind to the tribal plights. The government has recognised 4500 INR as the standard fee for COVID testing, which is a huge amount for most tribal families. It is to be acknowledged that many tribal communities are yet not completely shifted into the cash economy. Likewise, there are limits for the rural tribal population to reach the COVID testing centres located in the cities and towns.

Disruption of supply chains of tribal products and markets, closure of artisans workplaces, struggle for livelihood due to reverse migration, and travel restrictions are further problems faced by the tribal population in the pandemic times.

The tribal economy has been devastated due to the lockdown and restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Tribal populations are largely dependent on the Non-Timber Forest Produces (NTFPs) and Minor Forest Produces (MFP). With current restrictions, it is hard for the tribals to collect MFPs. Many tribal products had good demand in the market before the pandemic crisis. However, with the lockdown, traders are not willing to buy these products. They also face problems with access to transportation often to get essential commodities and to trade their products. COVID-19 has triggered a historical reverse migration, as the hundreds of thousands of tribal population temporarily living in urban areas in pursuit of better livelihood opportunities, are returning home. The reverse migrants may be virus carriers and can have a devastating impact on indigenous communities along with socio-economic concerns. It can be fatal to the endangered indigenous communities of India and further, lastingly damage the survival of tribal communities.

An assessment report submitted to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has recognised several challenges to the indigenous population in India during the pandemic and lockdown measures. Inadequate health facilities, livelihood insecurity, the distress of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), complications in seasonal migration and livestock managing for pastoral and nomadic communities, tenurial insecurity and restrictions in movements in national parks and sanctuaries are key problems highlighted in the report. The report points out that the diversion of forest lands for non-forestry projects is continuing during the crisis. It also exposes the ongoing evictions of forest-dwellers and land grabbing for huge projects. These ground realities validate the negligence of the government towards the most marginalised and victimised population of the Indian subcontinent. Centre must declare a comprehensive plan to support these vulnerable social groups during the crisis.

Tribal communities are also subjected to stigma from mainstream Indian society. Tribals from Northeastern states working in various cities have been facing discrimination on racial grounds. Van Gujjars, a pastoral, nomadic Muslim tribe in Uttarkhand and Uttar Pradesh have been facing similar stigma. People were alleging Tablighi Jamaat links to Van Gujjars; consequently, dealers stopped buying milk from them, causing severe damage to their livelihood. In another incident, on June 16 and 17, a few Van Gujjars living in the Asharodi range of Rajaji National Park (RNP), Dehradun were allegedly evicted and assaulted (including women) by the Forest department and the Police. The Forest Department alleged the community members as encroachers in the government land, disparaging the historical context of Van Gujjars with the forest land and environment even before the proposal of RNP. The Supreme Court order in February 2019, to stay forced eviction of forest-dwellers from their traditional habitat should be read in this context. Forced evictions during the COVID-19 crisis place the tribal communities in a destitute position with nowhere to go. The Van Gujjars are already facing problems with their annual seasonal migration to the upper Himalayas. Previously imposed restrictions for seasonal movement by the Forest Department has further reinforced during the lockdown, which disrupts their traditional cultural practices.

The land is a crucial factor determining the survival of indigenous communities today. Recent reports in DownToEarth have found that indigenous communities living in their lands have better chances of surviving the COVID-19 as they have resources for self-quarantine and sufficient livelihood means. On the other hand, communities who are evicted from their lands have limited resources and opportunities for self-quarantine and livelihood. The indigenous population around the state has been demanding their customary forest rights since the colonial invasion. The parliament enacted The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA) to protect the marginalised forest-dwellers and to rectify the historical injustice done to them. FRA recognises and vests the forest rights and occupation within the Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD) who have been inhabiting the forests for generations, but whose rights could not be recorded. However, the failure in its implementation has led the tribal people into further distress. The forest-dwellers are forcefully evicted and thrown out of their customary homes amidst the constitutional rights. The states enumeration exercise has stated that over 5 lakh tribals and OTFDs whose claims are rejected under the FRA could face eviction. The number is likely to increase after the completion of enumeration by all states.

Plights of the indigenous people during the COVID-19 crisis have been emphasising decades-long demands of the tribal communities. Their concerns have been often unheard and undermined by the state authorities. They range from access to decent health care and education to traditional forest rights and control over their habitat. Though the FRA recognises the community forest rights over the forest lands, a Citizens Report as part of Community Forest Rights-Learning and Advocacy, finds that only 3 per cent of the minimum potential of CFR rights could be achieved. The matter stresses the need for immediate and robust intervention of the state bodies to ensure the rights and survival of the forest-dependent communities. Indias most marginalised and victimised population are in dire need of attention to ensure their survival. The issues like tribal land alienation, unemployment among the population, malnutrition and further health concerns and discrimination from the mainstream society and the authorities need to be immediately answered. Apart from the common strategies to tackle COVID-19, precise approaches, and collective endeavours must be made to support the vulnerable tribal population in distress.

Faheem Muhammed M.P is at Dept. of Electronic Media and Mass Communication, Pondicherry University
Alexei Navalnys decade of tensions with Kremlin

2011: Alexei Navalny leads protests over disputed parliamentary elections and was arrested with hundreds of others, serving 15 days in prison. Navalnys arrest made him Russias most visible opposition figure. After his release, he addressed a Dec. 24 rally of more than 60,000 people, calling Putins United Russia party a network of crooks and thieves.

2012: Navalny is charged with embezzlement, allegations he said were politically motivated. The following year, he was convicted and given a suspended sentence while his brother Oleg was sentenced to three and a half years.

2013: Navalny launches a YouTube channel, Navalny Live, which has garnered nearly 800 million views and has around 4 million subscribers. In June, he ran in Moscow mayoral elections, coming in second and emerging as a major opposition force with more than 27 percent of the vote.

December 2016: Navalny announces his intention to run for president in the March 2018 election, but denied the right to run for office because of the embezzlement conviction.

March 2017: Navalny releases video Hes not Dimon to you, about the luxurious homes, yachts and vineyards of then Russian prime minister and former president Dmitry Medvedev. The video, a reference to Medvedevs nickname Dimon, sparked anti-corruption rallies in 82 cities.

April 2017: Navalny is splashed with a green caustic substance, which partly damaged his right eye. He appeared on his YouTube channel in his program Navalny at 20:18, stained with green several hours later.

September 2018: Navalny spearheads a smart vote campaign, seeking to unite opposition votes behind candidates mostly likely to defeat Putins governing party. It was a success with 20 of 45 Moscow legislature seats going to the opposition.

July 2019: Navalny suffers a severe allergic reaction with a swollen, itchy face while serving a 30-day sentence for calling an unsanctioned protest. Later he wrote that he may have been poisoned.

Aug. 20. 2020: Navalny falls seriously ill on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow, causing the pilot to divert to Omsk. German doctors concluded he was poisoned with a toxic nerve agent.
BAMAKO, Mali: Tensions mounted on Saturday between Malis military junta and the countrys longtime political opposition after the coup leaders failed to invite prominent opposition figures to a planned forum on the countrys political future.

The meeting ultimately was cancelled and the junta leadership instead met with imam Mahmoud Dicko, an opposition leader who on Friday urged the junta to speed up the transition to civilian rule so the West African country could avoid further crushing financial sanctions.

I ask them to be part of the solution and not another problem, he said.

Only a week earlier, the opposition coalition known as M5-RFP that includes Dicko had publicly backed the coup, with thousands of their supporters taking to the streets after the juntas overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. M5-RFP had led several months of demonstrations calling for his resignation three years before his final term was due to end.

In a statement late Friday, one M5-RFP leader said the alliance regretted not being invited to take part in Saturdays planned discussions between the junta and various political actors.

The M5-RFP is and remains a major player in this desired change and must be at the forefront in determining the structure of the transition," Choguel Maiga said.

The path back to democracy has been a stumbling point with West African heads of state, who on Friday urged the junta to restore civilian rule within a year. But the junta has proposed a three-year timeline. That has led to the unraveling of talks and more threats of sanctions.

The regional bloc known as ECOWAS already has cut financial flows to Mali, and neighboring countries have closed their borders in a bid to step up pressure on the coup leaders.

The international community has expressed alarm over the coup, fearing that the political vacuum could allow Islamic extremists to expand their reach. A similar coup in 2012 led to the militants overtaking major towns in the north where they implemented their strict interpretation of Islamic law, amputating the hands of those charged with theft.

A French-led military operation in 2013 ousted the extremists from power but the Malian military and its partners have faced an insurgency ever since.

There are concerns that the new political upheaval could erode what gains have been made in the fight to stabilize Mali.

___

Larson reported from Dakar, Senegal.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Cabinet has approved the placement of all security agencies under one pension scheme in order to ensure uniformity of benefits.



The Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who announced this on Friday, 28th August, 2020 said all the security agencies are now to be placed under the CAP 30 Pension Scheme.



Vice President Bawumia made the disclosure when he reviewed, on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Graduation and Commissioning Parade for one hundred and fifty officer cadets who made up Intake 27 of the Ghana Prisons Service in Accra at the Prison Officers Training School (POTS) in Accra.



The ceremony was the climax of the last of four batches of one thousand five hundred (1,500) new entrants for the Service drawn from varied professional backgrounds ranging from Accounting, Agriculture, Education, Engineering, Medicine and Social Sciences.



"I am happy to announce that Cabinet has approved the placement of all the security agencies under a single pension scheme, CAP 30.



"So personnel of the Prisons Service, Fire Service, Police and Immigration are all going to be placed under CAP 30, which the military is already under," the Vice President announced.



"Government is also working closely with the Service to improve the health system within our prisons, especially in this era of COVID 19. It is well understood that the disease spreads quickly in enclosed places like prisons which are commonly epicentre for infectious diseases. This is of great concern to the government particularly where there is overcrowding.



"In addition to the forty (40) medical personnel seconded from the Ghana Health Service, government has provided prison establishments with PPEs, infrared thermometers, washing soap, tissue papers and Veronica buckets. I will like to commend the Prisons administration on the swift manner the Service joined forces with other agencies in the Criminal Justice System and Ghana Health Service to respond more effectively to the COVID 19 threat," Dr Bawumia stated.



The creation of Risk Communication Teams in all prisons comprising medical, chaplaincy and communication staff to educate and address the myth and anxiety surrounding COVID 19 as well as to tackle issues of stigmatization has so far been effective, the Vice President indicated.



Dr. Bawumia charged the graduands to carry forth the ideals of the Prisons Service which have been imparted into them in the course of their training, adding, "Let discipline and professionalism guide your conduct at all times. Abide by the rules and regulations that guide your conduct as prison officers and direct your energies towards self improvement."



Junior Under Officer Amos Benang won the Commandant's Award, while Senior Under Officer Dr. Florence Djoletoe, who was best in Academics, also emerged as the Best All-Round Officer Cadet.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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KALAMAZOO, MI  Western Michigan University reported 16 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday, five days before students are set to begin classes on Sept. 2.

The 16 people who tested positive for COVID-19 stem from testing at the campus health center over a two-week period beginning Aug. 9.

Staff and students began arriving and moving into off-campus and on-campus housing over the weeks since Aug. 9. Freshmen took part in move-in day for on-campus residences this week. Testing from the Aug. 23 week is not part of the results released by the university Friday.

The university reported a full breakdown of Sindecuse Health Centers coronavirus test results since March to its COVID-19 Dashboard Friday, Aug. 28, on its Safe Return Plan website, where it intends to share case numbers each Friday.

The report shows the total number of positive coronavirus cases in weekly increments since March. So far, out of 1,904 people tested, 69 people have tested positive. The report shows a separate column with the number of positive tests, 74. Its an increase the university said is due to the same person being tested twice.

Since Aug. 9, the university has recorded 16 positive cases among WMU community members out of the 449 people who have been tested.

The Western Michigan University COVID-19 Dashboard is available on its Safe Return Plan website.

Looking at the local occurrence of COVID-19, youll notice that theres been less than one positive case  .65 and .26 in Kalamazoo County and the WMU community, respectively  for every 100 people tested, university spokesperson Paula Davis told MLive on Friday. And for the WMU community, the incidence is less than half of that in Kalamazoo County overall. Thus far, youre less likely to be exposed to the coronavirus within the WMU community than other places in the county.

Since March, the Kalamazoo County Health Department has recorded a total of 1,769 positive coronavirus cases. In Michigan, the additional cases reported Friday pushed the states known totals to 100,699 cases and 6,446 deaths

The university held move-in day for freshmen and some returning students Thursday, Aug. 27, under several new precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

Central Michigan University reported 54 new cases among students, faculty and staff during the week of Aug. 17. That number more than doubled Thursday after the Central Michigan District Health Department reported 110 confirmed total cases linked to students returning to CMUs Mount Pleasant campus. The Central Michigan District Health Department says many cases have been related to off-campus parties.

WMU is holding a five-day rapid testing event that concludes Monday at the Student Recreation Center on its main campus.

Students are not required to be tested for COVID-19. However, the university is strongly encouraging students living in on-campus housing to be tested. Officials are also making it available to those who are asymptomatic and have not had any known exposure.

WMU President Edward Montgomery reminded students and staff that theyll need to take virus prevention measures seriously in order to continue the fall semester in-person.

We can have a successful return to campus, but to stay here, we need everyone to behave responsibly at all times, whether on or off campus and regardless of the situation. Dont think that you can let your guard down for one day without consequences to yourself or others. Lets learn from the experiences on some other campuses and avoid allowing one lapse by a few to negatively affect us all, Montgomery said.

In the email, Montgomery shared results of surveys taken over the summer showing students aptitude to return for in-person classes. Three of four students responded they either wanted fully in-person instruction or a hybrid experience with some in-person and some distance learning, while 85% of students said they could adapt to the Safe Return Plan or were not concerned about it, Montgomery said.

On Monday, the university will deploy the Bronco Student Pledge, that students will agree to being an active participant in mitigating the spread of coronavirus by following health and safety protocols specified in its Safe Return Plan.

Vice President for Student Affairs Diane Anderson recently announced the university is in the process of updating its student code of conduct to reflect the need for coronavirus prevention strategies during the schools virtual return to campus brief.

The codes changes (found in section 14, Harm to Persons) mean there are consequences  including suspension  for those who fail to comply with the Safe Return Plan, or those who host, organize or attend on- or off-campus gatherings that fall outside of the plan or otherwise show noncompliance with state-level executive orders or local health department policies, Montgomery said in the email on Thursday.

Sindecuse will contact people about the results of their tests within an hour and implement any necessary contact tracing immediately thereafter. The rapid testing generates results within 15 minutes.

Students and employees will not be charged out of pocket for tests. Parking for the testing event will be available on WMUs main campus in Lot 13. Those seeking testing should make an appointment by calling Sindecuse Health Center at 269-387-3287. Walk-in testing will not be available due to the expected volume of testing and to abide by social distancing measures.

Also on MLive:

Western Michigan University freshmen rolling with the punches as they move in during a pandemic

7 things to know about Western Michigan Universitys back-to-campus plans

Central Michigan University now has 110 coronavirus cases related to students

Outdoor gatherings in Mount Pleasant limited to 25 after Central Michigan University coronavirus spike
BERLIN, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The European Union is preparing sanctions against Turkey that could be discussed at the bloc's next summit on Sept. 24 in response to the eastern Mediterranean dispute with Greece, the EU's top diplomat said on Friday.

The measures could include individuals, ships or the use of European ports, said Josep Borrell, adding the EU would focus on everything related to "activities we consider illegal".

Tensions between Turkey and Greece escalated after Ankara sent a survey vessel to disputed eastern Mediterranean waters this month, a step Athens called illegal. (Reporting by Thomas Seythal Editing by Joseph Nasr)
After a week of downpours and high winds courtesy of Storm Francis, things are looking up for the coming bank holiday weekend, forecasters say.

A low pressure system has kept things rainy and settled, but the winds will ease over the weekend as a large area of high pressure builds across the UK from the Atlantic, bringing a spell of more settled weather.

Saturday is set to be a mainly dry day with some with some bright or sunny intervals. However, isolated light showers are possible and it will feel rather cool in the northerly winds. The maximum temperature will be 16C.

Forecasters say it will be mainly dry on Sunday and Monday with some sunny intervals.

But its also set to turn chilly overnight, with a chance of ground frost in high areas on Sunday night. And on Tuesday the rain is set to make a return.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Frank Saunders, said: Weve seen a real mix of weather this August - with a heatwave earlier this month and in the last week weve had two named storms bringing very wet and windy weather across the country.

With high pressure on the way this weekend were going to end the month with much more settled weather, with plenty of late summer sunshine for many. Itll be a dry weekend for most areas too, though eastern areas can expect a few heavy showers on Saturday.

Itll feel quite cool despite the sunshine, as northerly winds bring below average temperatures for the time of year with highs of around 16 to 18 Celsius. the forecaster said.

There are no weather warnings for Northern Ireland over the Bank Holiday weekend .
Kangana Ranaut Opens Up About Her Struggling Days

Kangana told the news channel that a 'character actor' befriended her when she was struggling in the industry. She said that he promised to help her in films, took her out for dinners and even sent a TV at her accomodation. She said that the actor became her 'self-appointed mentor'.

Kangana Ranaut Reveals How A 'Character Actor' Kept Her Under House Arrest

Back then, the actress said that she was living with an aunty in a flat. Kangana said, "He fought with the aunty and asked her to leave. But he kept my belongings in the home and locked me. And whatever I would do, his staff would straightaway give updates to him. It felt almost like a house arrest."

Kangana Ranaut Claims Her Drink Was Spiked

The actress further revealed, "He took me to parties and once I felt an intoxication, that led to intimacy between us. Then I realised that it was not done willingly, but my drink had been spiked. And after that incident, within a week, he became my self-appointed husband. And if I tell him, you are not my boyfriend', he'd charge at me with slippers to hit me."

Kangana Ranaut Recounts How That Person Would Take Her To Meetings With People From Dubai

Kangana claimed that the actor would take her to meetings where people from Dubai, those associated with gold mines, coal mines, from big and small cities would attend, and he'd make her sit in the middle with the elderly men. He would leave the meeting. Kangana said that she used to fear that they might supply her to Dubai when they would take her number.

Kangana Says The 'Character Actor' Was Upset When She Bagged Her Debut Film Gangster

"When I got the break, he was agitated. He started telling me after drinking that he never expected that I will get a break so soon. After that he started sedating me with injections, so that I am not able to go to shoots, I told my director Anurag Basu about it. If he would hit me and I'd have bruises, Anurag would make me stay at his office for many nights, to protect me. Even after I got another flat on rent, he made a fake key and would enter anytime he wishes," the Tejas actress told Republic TV.

Kangana shared, "He started telling me, 'you will become Parveen Babi. Do you know what had happened to her? She was drugged to trigger her mental illness and that's what will be done to you as well. When I started going to the sets, Mahesh Bhatt, who came only once said, black cat in a dark room' continuously. I was just 18 years old then."

Kangana claimed that the character actor would drug her and ask her to repeat Mahesh Bhatt's words to make her hallucinate. The actress told the news channel that she would have died by suicide, if it hadn't been the blessings of her guru and her inclination towards yoga.

The actress further alleged that the character actor started getting more violent with her when he realized that she was going out of his grasp. Kangana told the news channel that one night, she jumped from the window in a drugged condition and got an FIR registered against him.
Much has been written about the historic nature of Chrystia Freelands appointment as Finance Minister  and with good reason.

She is the first woman to serve in the job at the federal level. And she takes the helm at finance during a moment of singular and dramatic importance in our countrys history. The economic and fiscal turmoil created by the COVID-19 pandemic is both a crisis and an opportunity. Freelands task will be to pull the country out of its economic tailspin, get control of the massive deficit that has been required to see Canadians through the pandemic and, in a phrase that the Trudeau government has borrowed from US presidential candidate Joe Biden, build back better  with a greener, fairer economy that produces new jobs and new prosperity especially for marginalized Canadians.

All in all, a tall order. And an historic challenge by any measure.

But Freeland is in a unique position  because of her background, her global network, and her new portfolio  to make not just Canadian, but global history. And to have a decisive, positive impact that will improve lives around the world.

To get a sense of just how historic an impact it could be, lets go back more than 75 years, to another effort to build back better  not just from a global economic calamity, but from an unprecedented cataclysm that left at least 70 million dead, and much of the world in ashes. In July 1944, just as the Second World War was entering its final stage, top government finance officials from 44 allied nations, including the governments-in-exile of nations occupied by the Axis, met at an isolated resort hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, and hammered out what would be the financial architecture of the postwar world.

The Bretton Woods architects understood the economic chaos and privation that helped lead to the war and designed a system that helped foster greater economic stability and more sustained prosperity. Their principal creations were the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank  still in place today. But the world they were created to serve no longer exists. Globalization and technology have transformed it. Some of those changes have been positive  lifting populations out of dire poverty, improving the quality of life for billions. But not all.

International corruption has been turbocharged by globalization. To the point that the World Economic Forum estimates that corrupt funds  largely stolen from the citizens, public institutions and natural resources of developing countries  make up at least five per cent of the global GDP. Corruption makes countries ungovernable  particularly the poorest and least developed. And it makes it impossible to effectively resolve all the most daunting challenges of our time: climate change, failed states, pandemics, terrorism, regional conflicts, natural disasters, refugee crises and human trafficking.

Last months devastating Beirut explosion was the result of decades of theft and misrule by Lebanons governing class. A major reason for the rampant spread of COVID-19 in Latin America has been the diversion of health resources by corrupt officials. From the razing of Amazon rain forests to the growth of ISIS, corruption fuels the threat and inhibits the solution.

And lest we think that the corruption crisis is somebody elses problem  not ours in developed countries like Canada  think again. The global threats it propels imperil our societies too. And then there is the role that the developed world, including Canada, plays in perpetuating and deepening the problem.

When kleptocrats strip their countrys wealth they send it to tax havens around the world  not just places like Switzerland or Caribbean countries, but places like the U.K. city of London and the US states of Delaware and Nevada  it doesnt stay in those havens. As the British journalist Oliver Bullough documented in his book Moneyland, the tax havens are essentially used to launder the stolen wealth so that the thieves can live in places they really want to live  like Western Europe, the US and, yes, Canada.

The Toronto Star played a role in illustrating the scale and reach of global corruption as part of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists that exposed the Panama Papers in 2016.

A global problem of this scale and magnitude requires a global response. The American economist James Henry, among others, has proposed a regime of innovative international taxes to drive these transactions out into the sunlight.

And thats where Chrystia Freeland comes in.

She has a deep understanding of the problem. You might even say she wrote the book on it. Two of them, in fact: Sale of the Century (2000) chronicles the oligarch asset stripping of post-Soviet Russia, Plutocrats (2012) about the super-rich and their contempt for the rules.

Freeland also has a proven track record of effective, focused negotiation skills that resulted in Canadian wins such as the renegotiated NAFTA and the CETA (Canada-Europe Free Trade Agreement). She is iron- willed, and knows how to use alternating toughness and charm to drive toward a result.

Finally, through both her careers as an international journalist and as senior minister of a G-7 nation, she has amassed an unsurpassed global Rolodex.

Combine those with Canadas unique position as a middle power that is also a G-7 nation, and the ability of Freeland to initiate and impel a new Bretton Woods  this one focused on united global action to stem corruption  and they add up to an exciting opportunity.

Corruption is an impulse as old as humanity itself. And its globalization has been decades in the making. It wont be defeated easily. Moreover, as long as the leading world economy remains under the leadership of Donald Trump, change just cant begin to happen. But if building back better is to be more than just another alliterative slogan, the conversation needs to begin now. And there is no better person to kick it off than Chrystia Freeland.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison suddenly announced legislation to effectively overturn or prohibit agreements struck by Australian state governments and universities with China or Chinese institutions. Addressing the National Press Club on the same day, opposition leader Anthony Albanese declared that the Labor Party was very supportive of the bill.

As a result, the as-yet unseen laws could be pushed through both houses of parliament by next week, the end of the current rare fortnight sitting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While Morrison denied that the Foreign Relations Bill is aimed solely against China, it clearly marks a further sharp shift to align unequivocally behind the Trump administrations increasingly aggressive confrontation with Beijing.

Morrison announced the bill amid a series of bellicose anti-China speeches by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and an accompanying media witch hunt, spearheaded by Rupert Murdochs outlets.

The logic of banning agreements with China is that of making further preparations for a war launched by the US against China. Australia would be on the frontline of such a war because of its geographic location, hosting of US bases and integration into the US military and intelligence war machine.

As has been widely reported, the first target of the Liberal-National governments bill is a vague memorandum of understanding (MOU) that the Victorian state Labor government signed in 2018 to consider partnering in infrastructure projects as part of Chinas international Belt and Road program.

Yesterdays editorial in Murdochs Australian was blunt. Scott Morrisons preparedness to tear up Victorias Belt and Road agreement with China and take control of the deals with foreign powers by universities and lower tiers of government is a vital assertion of national sovereignty, it stated.

As with the foreign interference laws adopted in 2018, also with Labors backing, the new bill will place Australia at the forefront of setting precedents for legislation outlawing links with China. The new measures are far-reaching, affecting every level of government, right down to sister-city arrangements and university research and exchange agreements with Chinese or other universities.

Morrison said the government already had drawn up a list of more than 130 agreements, from 30 countries, to be vetted. There was no suggestion, of course, that the list includes the vast web of military, intelligence, diplomatic and research agreements that governments and universities have with the US government and American institutions.

The new law will formally give the foreign minister a sweeping discretion to veto any existing agreement or negotiations on prospective ones. According to media reports, the minister can bar a negotiation or arrangement that is likely to adversely affect Australias foreign relations or be inconsistent with Australias foreign policy.

At his media conference, Morrison declared the governments intent to tear up targeted agreements. [I]ts a pretty clear testif theyre inconsistent with federal foreign affairs policy, theyll go, he said.

At the National Press Club, Albanese was equally assertive, saying the idea that the national interest should be looked after by the federal government when it comes to foreign policy is something that were very supportive of.

On the part of both the ruling parties, there is an element of nationalist diversion from the domestic COVID-19 disaster. In Australia, the bipartisan national cabinet is presiding over a rising death tollnow exceeding 600that is concentrated in the chronically-underfunded aged care and public health systems.

This response parallels that of the Trump administration, which is resorting to anti-Chinese demagogy to blame a foreign enemy for the COVID-19 calamity in the US, while vying with the Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden, to be the most strident in doing so.

But the move to ban agreements with China is overwhelmingly driven by Washingtons ramping up of its underlying geo-strategic conflict with China. The US ruling elite is insisting on an unconditional Australian alignment against Beijing, regardless of the dependence of major capitalist interests on iron ore, coal and other exports to China.

Morrisons announcement came four weeks after the latest Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) issued a declaration that broadcast all the Trump administrations incendiary allegations against Chinafrom coercive and destabilising actions across the Indo-Pacific to malicious interference in other countries.

The AUSMIN meeting also announced the construction of a large US military fuel reserve in the strategic northern city of Darwinwhere US marines have been stationed since the previous Greens-backed Labor government agreed to that in 2011and a classified military Statement of Principles to advance force-posture cooperation against China.

At those talks in Washington, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds recited the actions that the Australian government had taken already in sync with the US. The list included banning the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei from Australias proposed 5G network, opposing Chinas Belt and Road program, introducing foreign interference laws, blocking Chinese investment in certain industries, and denouncing Chinese actions in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

It also included declaring illegal Chinas territorial claims in the South China Sea, collaborating on the mining and refining of critical minerals and allocating an extra $270 billion over the next decade to boosting Australias military capacity, especially for longer-range operations in Chinas vicinity.

The further sharp turn against China can be gauged by the fact that in 2017, the previous Liberal-National government of Malcolm Turnbull, sensing lucrative possibilities, signed its own MOU with China to cooperate in third countries on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects.

Morrisons ouster of Turnbull in August 2018 signalled a shift to a more unconditional alignment behind the US military alliance. Despite Turnbulls own repeated statements of attachment to the US alliance, he was regarded in Washington as insufficiently committed.

In 2015, President Barack Obama had personally reproached Turnbull for failing to provide Washington with advance notice that a Chinese corporation was to be awarded a 99-year lease to operate Darwins commercial port. Obamas reprimand highlighted the alarm in US ruling circles over any action that could cut across US war plans and underscored the real source of foreign interference in Australiathat of US governments and financial giants.

Even so, when the Victorian government originally signed its BRI MOU in November 2018, Payne and other Morrison cabinet ministers spoke approvingly of it. Payne told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: We obviously seek opportunities to strengthen engagement with China on regional trade and infrastructure development projects, and that includes the BRI, where those align with international best practices.

As recently as May 2019, Morrison himself said his government was neutral on the BRI and sought to facilitate and encourage Australian companies to participate.

This attempt to maintain profitable relations with Chinese capitalism has become increasingly untenable. The Trump administration has taken to a new threatening level the Obama administrations military and strategic pivot to Asia to prevent China from challenging the regional and global hegemony established by the US in World War II.

A wartime-like atmosphere is being created. All this week, the Australian published a stream of unsubstantiated accusations that individually-named scientists and academics at Australia universities are giving the Chinese Communist Party access to their technology and inventions in return for generous second salaries of up to $150,000, funded by China, and other benefits.

This witch hunt is a threat to global research cooperation and academic freedom, free speech and other basic democratic rights. It is also another warning sign of preparations for a potentially catastrophic US-led war against China.
"Seven passengers on Sunday's Air India Delhi-Auckland flight have tested positive for COVID-19 three days after arrival," New Zealand government official said. (PTI)

New Delhi: Seven passengers who travelled from Delhi to Auckland in New Zealand on Sunday on an Air India flight have tested positive for COVID-19 three days after their arrival, a senior government official said on Friday.

Earlier this month, all Air India passenger flights were barred from landing in Hong Kong till August-end after 14 passengers on its Delhi-Hong Kong flight of August 14 tested positive for COVID-19 post arrival.

"Seven passengers on Sunday's Air India Delhi-Auckland flight have tested positive for COVID-19 three days after arrival," the government official said.

In response to PTI's request for a statement on this matter, Air India said, "We would not like to make any comment on the issue at this stage."

While scheduled international passenger flights remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic, special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission and bilateral air bubble pacts formed between India and various countries.

At a daily press briefing at Auckland on Friday, New Zealand's Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay said, "There are five new confirmed community cases of COVID-19 to report and seven imported cases giving us a total of 12 new cases."

The seven imported cases all arrived on the same flight on August 23 and tested positive on their day-three tests, she stated.

"These people will be transferred to the quarantine facility at Jet Park hotel in Auckland," she added.

These people have "travelled from a country that has a high incidence of COVID-19 so it is highly likely that they have been undetected case before they got on the plane", she noted.

Along with McElnay, New Zealand's Finance Minister Grant Robertson was also present at the press briefing in Auckland.

When asked what country the passengers were from, Robertson told reporters, "I don't want to say what country because I don't know what country each traveller was from, the flight was an Air India flight, but that does not mean that the people who came on that flight are necessarily from India. They are all people who are entitled to be in New Zealand."

A record single-day spike of 77,266 COVID-19 cases pushed India's virus tally to 33,87,500, while the recoveries surged to 25,83,948 on Friday, according to Union Health Ministry data.

The death toll climbed to 61,529 with 1,057 people succumbing to the diseases in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

In a statement to PTI on August 21, a spokesperson of the Department of Health of the Hong Kong government said, "A flight operated by Air India (AI314) arriving Hong Kong from India on August 14 had 11 passengers confirmed to have infected with COVID-19."

As a result, the department invoked the "Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H) on August 17 to prohibit landing of passenger flights operated by Air India for two weeks from August 18 to 31 in Hong Kong", the spokesperson noted.

"As of August 20, a total of 14 passengers on that flight were confirmed to have infected with COVID-19," he added.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The ruler of the United Arab Emirates issued a decree Saturday formally ending the countrys boycott of Israel amid a U.S.-brokered deal to normalize relations between the two countries.

The announcement now allows trade and commerce between the UAE, home to oil-rich Abu Dhabi and skyscraper-studded Dubai, and Israel, home to a thriving diamond trade, pharmaceutical companies and tech start-ups.

The announcement further cements the Aug 13 deal opening up relations between the two nations, which required Israel to halt its contentious plan to annex occupied West Bank land sought by the Palestinians. But Palestinians so far have criticized the accord as undercutting one of its few bargaining chips with Israelis in moribund peace negotiations.

The state-run WAM news agency said the decree formally ending the boycott came on the orders of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and the Emirates leader.

WAM said the new decree allows Israelis and Israeli firms to do business in the UAE, a U.S.-allied federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. It also allows for the purchase and trade of Israeli goods.

The decree of the new law comes within the UAEs efforts to expand diplomatic and commercial co-operation with Israel, WAM said. It lays out a roadmap toward launching joint co-operation, leading to bilateral relations by stimulating economic growth and promoting technological innovation.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi welcomed the decree.

The UAEs decision to abolish the boycott on Israel is an important step towards peace, which will yield substantial economic and commercial achievements for both people while strengthening the stability in the region, he said in a statement.

Already, some Israeli firms had signed deals with Emirati counterparts. But the repeal of the law widens the likelihood of other joint ventures, such as in aviation or in banking and finance.

Dubai International Airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates, has been the worlds busiest for international travel for years. The Dubai International Financial Center also hosts major firms who trade in the hours between Asian and European markets. Dubai already has a major gold market and growing diamond trade.

Emirati firms likely also want to access Israeli technological know-how. Some already had even before the deal  with the cybersecurity firm DarkMatter reportedly hiring Israeli military-trained hackers.

On Monday, the first direct commercial flight by Israels flagship carrier El Al is expected in Abu Dhabi, carrying U.S. and Israeli officials including President Donald Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Telephone calls already can be made between the nations.

The decree formally eliminates a 1972 law on the UAEs books since just after the countrys formation. That law mirrored the widely held stance by Arab nations at that time that recognition of Israel would only come after the Palestinians had an independent state of their own.

Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, criticized the UAEs decree Saturday as undercutting the efforts of the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement targeting Israel. Israel has accused BDS activists of seeking to delegitimize its existence.

While (hashtag)BDS is proving to be an effective tool of peaceful resistance & responsible, ethical investment & consumer responsibility to hold Israel to account, this happens! Ashrawi wrote on Twitter.

Hamas, the Islamic militant group governing the Gaza Strip since seizing it in 2007, has reiterated its rejection of the UAE-Israel deal and the ending of the boycott.

The decree boosts the normalization with the Israeli occupation and legitimizes it on the Palestinian land, Hamas official Bassem Naim said.

The decree shows the UAEs eagerness to advance ties and maximize its potential benefits such as trade amid an economic slowdown, said Elham Fakhro, the senior Gulf analyst at the International Crisis Group.

The decision sends a clear message that the UAE is committed to its decision to normalize relations with Israel, Fakhro said. It does also raise questions about possible repercussions for anyone in the country calling for the boycott of Israeli goods, now that doing so contradicts the state policy.

The UAE is becoming the third Arab nation after Egypt and Jordan to currently have diplomatic relations with Israel. However, while widespread public distrust of Israel persists in those nations, the UAE never fought a war against Israel, nor did it have a historic Jewish population.

In recent years, the UAE has held quiet talks with Israel and allowed Israelis with second passports into the country for trade and talks. Opening ties may also help the Emirates access advanced American weaponry, like the F-35 fighter jet that right now only Israel flies in the Mideast.

Sheikh Khalifa has ruled the UAE since 2004. He suffered a stroke on Jan. 24, 2014, and underwent emergency surgery. He has been rarely seen since in public, though state media typically publishes images of him around Islamic holidays.

Abu Dhabis crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has served as the UAEs day-to-day ruler since Sheikh Khalifas stroke. Sheikh Mohammed has focused on increasing the Emirates military might amid his suspicions of Iran  an enmity shared by Israel.

While Sheikh Khalifa holds the title of president, the UAE is governed by autocratic sheikhs. Abu Dhabi, as the countrys oil-rich capital, has grown increasingly powerful since the UAEs founding in 1971 despite each sheikhdom largely governing its own affairs.

The decree comes after a trip through the Mideast in recent days by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who hoped to build on the UAE-Israel deal.

The accord also came as a major foreign policy win to Trump as he campaigns ahead of the November election against Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Both Israel and the UAE have viewed the Republican president as an ally.

___

Associated Press writer Fares Akram in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report.
A man brandishes a stun gun during an argument with demonstrators after they went to his business in the South Waterfront neighborhood in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 20, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Businesses Flee Portland, Citing Local Government Failure to Protect Against Riots

Businesses are shifting operations from downtown Portland, Oregon, or scuttling plans to open stores there because of the near-nightly rioting and protests that have gone on since May 28.

Portions of the city are boarded up. Rioters, who often gather around 9 p.m. and dont disperse until early the next morning, had caused tens of millions of dollars of damage or lost business by early July.

While many Standard Insurance employees have been working from home since March because of restrictions related to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, some continued to work from its downtown headquarters until recently, a spokesman told The Epoch Times.

Many of those employees who had remained in our downtown offices have now been temporarily moved to our Hillsboro campus to ensure their welfare in light of continuing safety concerns and property damage downtown, the spokesman said in an email. Several employees and security contractors have been assaulted near our downtown offices in recent weeks and months, and that contributed to the decision.

Other business owners who planned to open stores in Portland despite the pandemic have put those plans on hold or terminated them due to the unrest.

We were actually going to open two stores in Portland, and then all this happened, Joe Raetzer, co-owner of Steepologie Teas, told The Epoch Times.

Asked whether all this meant the pandemic or the unrest, he said: Just purely the unrest. The riots.

A pedestrian walks past a business damaged during recent riots, in Portland, Ore., on July 1, 2020. (Gillian Flaccus/AP Photo)

Steepologie also shut down its downtown Seattle location because of rioting there; an employee was assaulted inside the store.

In an interview with The Epoch Times affiliate NTD Television, Uncle Fabes owner Fabian Gordon said he knows business owners who have started to sleep at their stores.

Theyre talking about going up on the roofs of their buildings with guns. Theyre terrified. People are setting fires. Whens it going to happen to them? he said. Theyre heavily armed and theyre all very afraid.

Gordon said city and state officials seem to be handling the situation by hamstringing the police and pointed to the new prosecutorial policy of presumptively dismissing charges that include riot, disorderly conduct, and interfering with officers.

The leadership are obviously cowards. Theres just no other way to put it, he said. Who in their right minds would come to start a business in Portland, going forward? Who in their right mind? Why would you? Why would you visit?

Rioters attempt to barricade a door to the Multnomah County Justice Center in Portland, Ore., on July 17, 2020. (Mason Trinca/Getty Images)

A rioter kicks an entrance to the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse after federal officers took shelter inside, in Portland, Ore., on July 21, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

In a recent letter to City Council members published by local media outlets, a major developer said the riots are having an unprecedented effect on businesses.

If you know a retail or office broker, give them a call and ask them how many clients they have are trying to leave. The number is like nothing I have seen in 42 years of doing business in downtown, Greg Goodman of the Downtown Development Group wrote.

Their departure has absolutely nothing to do with Black Lifes Matter [sic] movement (which has been a positive) but does have most everything to do with the lawlessness you are endorsing downtown. You are doing an excellent [job] of enabling people who dont know or care about George Floyd to ransack our city at the expense of the people you are trying to help.

Think how many jobs have been lost by people of color in our city, not through protest, but from vandalism. I would make the case that your actions have hurt those you have intended to help.

Goodman said a larger number of businesses are moving out of or locating outside of the Central City, including Daimler Trucks North America, Airbnb, Banana Republic, Microsoft, and Saucebox. Google is halting construction in the Macys building, he added.

A Google spokesman told The Epoch Times via email that the unrest hasnt affected the companys construction schedule, while a Daimler spokesman said the company has no intention of moving its headquarters. An Airbnb spokesperson said employees have been working from home since March.

A Microsoft spokeswoman said in an email that some employees looked into the matter and we have nothing to share.

Gap, which owns Banana Republic, and Saucebox didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

David Margulis, owner of Margulis Jewelers, emerges from a double layer of plywood doors he had installed to protect his store from protests that have dominated the city of Portland, Ore., since late May, on July 13, 2020. (Gillian Flacus/AP Photo)

Mannequins are seen through shattered glass at an H&M store in downtown Portland, Ore., on July 13, 2020. (Gillian Flacus/AP Photo)

The Downtown Development Group didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. The five Portland City Council members also didnt immediately respond to inquiries.

Theres been so much frustration, and so many small retailers and businesses that have closed, and big businesses are leaving downtown because they dont think our elected officials dont care, Goodman told KPTV.

Wheeler touched on the issues facing businesses, in a virtual briefing on Aug. 26.

Violent extremists, he said, have seized an opening to do harm to our city, to scare our core downtown employers at night, to wreak havoc in an effort to drain city resources, he said. We must clean up the damage and the defacement of our downtown buildings, especially near the Justice Center.

Wheeler planned to meet with key stakeholders in the community to adopt certain measures to try to fix the issues. He says hell unveil publicly his solutions for how to support business recovery in the coming days, but the broad strategies include helping businesses that have suffered losses not covered by insurance and assisting in the cleanup of graffiti.

We want to get about the business of cleaning up our community, of investing in our community, of restoring the confidence of employers in our community to be able to let people come back to the downtown area, in particular, and reopen, he said, adding later that the city has to work with our local employers to help them get back up on their feet and help their employees and their customers feel safe coming downtown.

NTD reporter Melina Wisecup contributed to this report.
Two generations of Kings spoke at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday as part of the March on Washington that honored the 57th anniversary of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech.

The big picture: Black people are reeling after a summer that opened with the police killing of George Floyd and is closing with the police shooting of Jacob Blake, who was paralyzed and spent time handcuffed to a hospital bed after being shot seven times in the back.

Jacob Blake Sr. spoke on the shooting of his son: "We're gonna hold court on systematic racism... And we're not taking it anymore. I ask everyone to stand up. No justice, no peace!"

"We're gonna hold court on systematic racism... And we're not taking it anymore. I ask everyone to stand up. No justice, no peace!" Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, said: "I'm marching for George, for Brianna, for Ahmaud, for Jacob, for Pamela Turner, for Michael Brown, Trayvon and anybody else who lost their lives."

"I'm marching for George, for Brianna, for Ahmaud, for Jacob, for Pamela Turner, for Michael Brown, Trayvon and anybody else who lost their lives." Breonna Taylor's mother Tamika Palmer also spoke to the crowd, which responded by chanting her daughter's name. Taylor was killed by Louisville police officers on a no-knock warrant in March. No one has been charged in her death.

Between the lines: On a D.C. summer Friday with a high of 92 degrees, volunteers were taking temperatures at the entrance, and the media reports indicated masks were the norm among the crowd.

The bottom line: King's granddaughter Yolanda Renee King, 12, told a crowd of thousands that they "are the great dreams of our grandparents. ... we will fulfill my grandfathers dream.
When the European weather model predicted a Houston strike with Hurricane Laura, the trepidation and handwringing began. The model had accurately predicted Hurricane Harvey. While it would be a different outcome, the wind-baring storm of Laura with wind gusts forecast to reach upwards of 180 mph before landfall cast fear in public officials and meteorologists along the Texas coastline.

Laura didnt let us know that she was making a northern turn and about 24 hours out we decided to begin a process called de-risking at our southernmost hospitals, said Erin Erb, vice president of quality patient safety and emergency operations for HCA Gulf Coast Division.

Storm prep: How the city of Tomball prepared for potential worst of Hurricane Laura

In a group decision made by the command staff, evacuations began at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, just hours before potential landfall. While NOAA and the National Weather Service predicted a potential northern turn later in the day, the risk couldnt be avoided.

The O team (CEOs, CMOs, COOs, CNOs, and CFOs) opened incident command operations.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Carbon monoxide poisoning from generators poses new threat in areas hit by Hurricane Laura

Dual command centers

HCA fosters two command centers during incidents like Hurricane Laura, both a main division command center and a secondary one. During Laura, the main incident command was centered in Pearland. The hospital in Pearland is on relatively high ground sitting at 56 feet above sea level.

They might become an island, but they wont flood, Erb said.

They are also at an advantage in the south because of an elevated helipad and easy access to air.

We also choose a north hospital for secondary command and they have been Conroe or Kingwood in the past, but this time we were at Tomball.

Erb said the flip gets made in the event they lose power and the generators dont work, or they begin flooding. Any kind of disastrous scenario would cause the alternate site to take over.

Its all about redundancy, she said.

Getting out of Dodge (City)

During preparations for Hurricane Laura, Erb said they use Ambusan ambulance busfor what they call in the business, walkie talkies.

Those are patients who are stable enough and you meet the criteria, you can evacuate on an Ambus. In non-COVID times, they can take up to 16-20 patients and it gives us a way to effect mass movement, she said.

Additionally, they have national contracts with ground and air providers who can be lined up for transport.

We had a fleet of aircraft lined up in New Braunfels and we brought them in, touched them down, loaded them up and sent them back out, she said.

For ambulances, there are two warehouse type locations with a fleet of ambulances that can be staffed and activated for evacuation.

The earlier we make the call the better because were more likely to get the assets, she said because they compete with other systems to get the same assets.

HCA also has their own branded air medical service in the market now, HCA Houston AirLife with two EC-145 helicopters capable of neonatal and adult transports.

We leverage a contractual relationship with StormGeo who provides us an on-call meteorologist based in League City and we meet with them as often as hourly to track the storms path and understand the impact so that we can make the most informed decisions, she said.

Those decisions are focused immediately on the most critical patients and movement for them as early as possible.

They use a tool with algorithms that assists them assessing criticality along with clinical decision-making with the attending physicians for a final decision.

Its a patient by patient process and involves the patient and family members. The patient or the family can decline the move if they want, she said.

Transfers were affected from Mainland, Clear Lake, and Southeast Hospitals while the northernmost Kingwood, Tomball, and Northwest supported and received the transfers. Most of the transfers were done by ground.

On their way out the door, paramedics grab IV bands and medical records for each transfer.

Its a very organized process compared to the chaotic situation it could be, she said.

Powering up for a storm

Before a hurricane hits, the hospital system activates a prepositioning of assets and a de-risking of their facilities.

For this storm and Hurricane Harvey, we prepositioned backup generators at each of our facilities. We bolster them with water and fuel trucks to keep those generators going. We order 96 hours-worth of supplies and thats everything from food, to linens, or pharmaceuticals and we fortify the hospitals with additional staff, Erb said.

The process begins about 96 hours from estimated landfall.

The division incident command team will generally move to one of the hospitals because we need to be where there is backup power to support the hospitals, she said.

While they are powering up in Houston, the other Texas divisions in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio, along with the Nashville corporate office, will setup their command centers so that they can offer support to the Houston market in the event they need additional staffing or have to move critically ill patients to one of those markets by air.

COVID-19 introduces an entirely different level of complexity when making transfers.

Can you hear me now?

One of the first things to go in a storm is the ability to communicate. Following Hurricane Harvey, the Houston Chronicle reported that Hurricane Harvey knocked out cable, internet or telephone service to more than 180,000 homes, 364 cellular towers and disrupted service at 16 centers that process 911 calls in Texas and Louisiana. Sometimes its a log jam with families trying to reach loved ones, but it could be slowing critical 9-1-1 response times.

Weve evolved, Erb said.

Sometimes weve used texting but we now use a platform called Webex Teams, an internet-based software thats secure and has all of our teams built in the background so that at any time we can pull them up and have instant communication with all our hospitals, she said.

They also have a system, CodeReady, where they can enter an event and its pushed out via email to all their hospitals and to corporate teams in Nashville giving them visibility into whats going on.

We also use a map messaging system and the hospitals and divisions will utilize satellite phones in the event we get a Cat 4 hurricane and all the communication towers are down, she said.

The aftermath

Most of the O team stayed until 9 p.m. on Wednesday night when it appeared landfall was certain in Cameron, Louisiana. Other team members stayed on until 2 a.m. after impact.

The patients were returned to their home hospitals the following day.

We also set up a family reunification line so that if we have to do transfers, even out of the market, we want to make sure that every family knows where they are going, when they land, and when theyve returned home, she said.

There are no novices working hurricanes.

Weve had plenty of experience, Erb said.

Their experience also comes in the form of tabletops and functional exercises done throughout the hospital system between two and four times per year.

Drills for the hospital run the gamut from having to evacuate the hospital in a natural disaster to an active shooter situation, she said, and they involve clinical staff, physician partners, administrators, operators, and directors.

Everyone has to be involved because during one of these events, everyone finds themselves having a role to play, Erb said.

She feels fortunate that the Houston market was spared, and they have reached out to their colleagues in Louisiana to offer support in any manner possible.

HCA has hospitals in Clear Lake, Conroe, Kingwood, Mainland, Medical Center, North Cypress, Northwest, Pearland, Southeast (Pasadena), Texas Orthopedic Hospital, Tomball, West, and the Womans Hospital of Texas.

dtaylor@hcnonline.com
Dr. Anikumar Anil Mangla, one of two epidemiologists hired by the county to track virus cases, addresses Comal County commissioners on the virus and preventing its spread in May. Comal County photo
JACKSON, MI -- A taste of France can be found in downtown Jackson at City Crepes.

The mother-daughter team of Janice and Nikki Lane opened the restaurant over eight years ago.
Starting car cold weather winter storm

Experts say it's not a good idea to warm up your car in winter. Here's why.
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...
Home Minister Amit Shah, who was admitted to here on August18 for post-COVID care, has recovered and is likely to be discharged in a short time,hospital authorities said on Saturday.

"Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, is admitted at AIIMS, New Delhi for post-COVID care. He has recovered and is likelyto be discharged in a short time," the said in a statement.

On August 2, Shah, 55, had said on Twitter that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He had undergone treatment for the infection at Hospital and was discharged after he tested negative for the disease.

According toan earlier statement by AIIMS, he was admitted to the hospital on August 18 following complaints of fatigue and body aches, days after his discharge.
Defiant Taiwan president unveils F-16 hub amid tensions with China

Iran Press TV

Friday, 28 August 2020 6:14 AM

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has unveiled a US-backed maintenance hub for upgraded F-16 fighters, saying she will not be "bowing and cringing" to China over the self-ruled island's "sovereignty."

Speaking at a ceremony to unveil Taiwan's first maintenance center for F-16s in the central city of Taichung, President Tsai said that the hub marks a milestone in her years-long drive to build up the island's defense industry.

"It takes solid defense capability, not bowing and cringing, to defend the sovereignty of the Republic of China and maintain regional peace and stability," she said, using Taiwan's formal name.

"The time needed for jet maintenance will be greatly shortened and availability will be boosted significantly, ensuring the Air Force's combat power at the front line," she added.

Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC) said the hub would service jets for the island's air force and that the company plans to expand it as a maintenance hub for F-16s in the region.

China has sovereignty over Taiwan; and under the "One China" policy, almost all world countries  including the United States  recognize that sovereignty.

Although Washington has no formal relations with Taipei, it is the island's largest weapons supplier and an avid backer of Taiwan's secessionist president.

China firmly opposes any official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan.

The Tsai government, however, signed a 62-billion-dollar deal earlier this month to purchase F-16 fighter jets from the US.

Under the deal, Washington agreed to sell 90 F-16 fighter jets, manufactured by American aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin, to Taiwan over a span of about 10 years.

China has repeatedly warned Washington against ties with Taiwan.

Relations between the two world powers have hit the lowest level in decades under President Donald Trump.

Beijing and Washington have recently been engaged in a new war of words over the South China Sea  most of which is claimed by Beijing  and the developments in semi-autonomous Hong Kong, where the mainland has recently introduced a new national security law.

In the South China Sea case, Washington takes sides with Beijing's rivals in the maritime dispute and routinely sends warships and warplanes to the waters to assert what it calls its right to freedom of navigation.

China has repeatedly called on Washington to stop the provocative actions, which undermine peace and stability in the sea.

In a related development, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Thursday that Washington will not "cede this region," threatening to bolster US military capabilities and expanding a network of like-minded partners in the region to counter China.

In an address on Wednesday in Hawaii, Esper said, "The Indo-Pacific is the epicenter of a great power competition with China."

"We're not going to cede this region  an inch of ground, if you will  to another country, " he added.

China's Defense Ministry reacted to Esper's remarks, saying Beijing will not "dance to the tune" of the United States or allow it to "cause trouble."

The United States has been trying to push back against what it views as China's rising influence in the resource-rich South China Sea.

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(Newser)  Mary Trump obviously believes in a slow drip rather than a fast pour when it comes to her surreptitious family recordings. Last week, the president's estranged niece broadcast to the world damning tapes of her chats with retired federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry, the older sister of Donald Trumpand they weren't flattering to the president. On Friday night, Mary Trump released more recordings on MSNBC, and this time Trump Barry dished on her brother's children. "Eric's become the moron publicly," she says in one recording, referring to Eric Trump. But her harshest words are reserved for Ivanka Trump, the president's oldest daughter and a White House senior adviser. In one talk, when Mary Trump calls Ivanka Trump a "mini-Donald," Trump Barry agrees. "She's a mini-Donald but yet he's besotted with her," the ex-judge says, per the Hill. "He always has been. She's always been his favorite."

story continues below

She adds, "Ivanka gives a s---. She's all about her." Trump Barry also references a May 2018 social media post by Ivanka Trump, showing her smiling with her youngest sonright around the time outrage was peaking about family separations at the border. "That damn Ivanka puts this picture of the 'Madonna and Child' on Instagram when the big news of the day was how kids are being ripped from their families," she says. "I'd never heard of Samantha Bee before. I couldn't blame what she said." The Daily Beast notes that after Ivanka Trump's tweet, comedian Bee criticized the first daughter by calling her the c-word. Not that Trump Barry completely leaves her brother out in these new recordings. "Anything he did, he says, 'Look what I've done! Aren't I wonderful!,'" she says in one conversation. "And he's as tight as a duck's ass. Just like Dad was, really." (Read more Maryanne Trump Barry stories.)
FILE PHOTO: Steel rolls are pictured at the plant of German steel company Salzgitter AG in Salzgitter

By Holger Hansen

BERLIN (Reuters) - The German government is set to revise upward its economic growth forecast for this year to a decline of less than 6% from a previous estimate of -6.3%, a coalition source told Reuters on Friday.

Economy Minister Peter Altmaier is scheduled to present the revised outlook early next week, the source added.

An Economy Minister spokeswoman said the new forecasts were still being finalised and that Altmaier will unveil them on Tuesday. She declined to give further details.

The German economy contracted by a record 9.7% in the second quarter as consumer spending, company investments and exports all collapsed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But recent economic data has fanned hopes that Europe's largest economy is set for a strong recovery.

Business morale improved more than expected in August as both manufacturing and services picked up steam. Export demand, especially from China, rebounded for a second month running in June, and a recent Ifo institute survey showed that manufacturers expect expansion over the coming three months.

The outlook for Germany's economy this year is also brighter than for most other G7 countries except the United States.

An upward revision to Germany's economic forecast will have an impact on its tax revenues estimate, due on Sept. 10, and its budget, which is to be presented by the end of September.

Sources had told Reuters in June that German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz will ask parliament to increase new borrowing by a further 62.5 billion euros ($74.33 billion) to a record 218.5 billion this year for measures to boost recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

The plan underlines Germany's shift from Europe's austerity champion to one of the biggest spenders in the euro zone's efforts to rebound from the pandemic.

(Additional reporting by Alexander Ratz; Writing by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Toby Chopra)
KENOSHA, Wis. - Police officers in Kenosha were on alert after days of protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake by one of their colleagues, and theyd recently gotten a tip about suspicious vehicles from out of state.

So, after watching a group of people fill cans at a gas station Wednesday and then hop into a minivan with Oregon plates, the officers sped in. A bystanders video shows officers leaping out of black SUVs with guns drawn. About 25 seconds later, an officer shatters the vans passenger-side window with her baton, unlocks its door and pulls a person out.

The group turned out to be members of Riot Kitchen, a Seattle-based organization that serves food at demonstrations. Jennifer Scheurle, a member of its board of directors, said they were filling up gas cans to power a generator for their food truck.

The nine taken into custody in the SWAT-style operation Wednesday were among dozens of people arrested this week in the Wisconsin city. The arrests have highlighted activists complaints that police have been responding to protests over the white officers shooting that left Blake, a Black man, paralyzed, even as theyve tolerated armed militia groups.

The Riot Kitchen members were charged with misdemeanour disorderly conduct, but all were free by Friday morning.

We reject all claims that our crew was there to incite violence or build explosives, said Scheurle, who was not among those in Kenosha. Our non-profit organization has always been and will always be about feeding people.

Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said at a Friday news conference that just under 50 people had been arrested during the protests. The department later provided a list of 58 charges, more than half of them for curfew violations, but declined to specify the number of people arrested or provide names.

I believe everybody out there in law enforcement has been friendly to both sides, Miskinis said.

An analysis of jail records since the day of Blakes shooting shows about 45% the people facing charges seemingly related to the protests live outside Wisconsin.

Those arrested were almost 70% white and about two-thirds male. The vast majority were charged with misdemeanours or civil violations, although there were also some felonies. Miskinis said one person had been charged for having a flamethrower.

More than 20 of the people remained in jail Friday afternoon.

Adelana Akindes, a 24-year-old from Kenosha, said she spent nearly a day in a crowded cell after being arrested Wednesday while walking toward the demonstrations carrying a shield.

Police had Akindes and three others lie on the ground as they put them in handcuffs, she said, adding that officers did not read their Miranda rights or say why they were being arrested. She was released on Thursday evening and charged with breaking curfew.

They wanted to scare us, said Akindes, who is Black. They wanted to make an example of us.

The early days of demonstrations and unrest after Blakes shooting saw some people destroying buildings, setting fires and hurling objects at police, who responded at times with tear gas. The last three nights have been mostly peaceful, and police have not fired tear gas or pepper balls. But they have used tactics that local activists see as heavy handed.

On Thursday night, police pulled over several cars of people headed to protests. They arrested a group of people in one vehicle and searched the car of another group.

There has been no respect for anybodys civil rights, said Isaac Wallner, a 30-year-old Kenosha activist. Its been a police free for all. They do whatever they want.

Wallner, who is Black, contrasted this with what he characterized as a tolerant, or even friendly, attitude police have taken toward the white men whove come to the city outfitted with heavy vests and long guns, including a 17-year-old charged with fatally shooting two people and wounding a third.

Earlier in the week, sheriffs deputies shot pepper balls at protesters and arrested them when they failed to quickly leave after being told they were breaking curfew. But officers in an armoured vehicle with Sheriff on the side were also recorded at night tossing water bottles to men carrying rifles.

We appreciate you guys. We really do, someone can be heard calling from the vehicle in a video of the exchange.

Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said Friday that the officer seen giving out water was not one of his deputies, and the person who said he appreciated what the armed civilians were doing doesnt mirror all of law enforcements perspective on what happened.

__

Bleiberg reported from Dallas. Associated Press reporters Lindsay Whitehurst in Salt Lake City and Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed.
Ivanka must realize now that she and Jared can never go back to their life as New York society darlings. So why not double down on Washington and lay the groundwork for a presidential run of her own?

Now that her father has turned the Republican Party into a political machine bearing her last name, she must feel entitled to jump into the drivers seat when papa is done with it.

Her speech Thursday night was about him but it was also pointedly about I.

Four years ago, I introduced to you a builder  Tonight, I stand before you  When Jared and I moved with our three young children to Washington, we didnt exactly know what we were in for  Ive seen in Washington, its easy for politicians to survive if they silence their convictions  I couldnt believe so many politicians actually prefer to complain  I was shocked to see  I am more certain than ever before  Ive been with my father  I sat with him in the Oval Office  I was with my father when  I promised that  I said that Americans needed 

Four years ago, I told you I would fight alongside my father, and four years later, here I am.

Yes, there she was, daddys little girl, on her imaginary escalator. The pungent aroma of the S.N.L. Ivanka perfume, Complicit, wafted across the lawn on the balmy night. All the dynamics that make Donald Trumps administration, and the way he runs the country, so chaotic  the backbiting, the warring factions, the grifting, the neglect, the power grabs  were echoed in the family portrait on display this past week.

The most dramatic tableau Thursday night was not the presidents somniferous speech, but Ivankas scorching moment with the Day-Glo-garbed Melania.
Almost half a trillion pounds could be wiped off the UK economy over the next four years if workers fail to return to offices, analysis for The Mail on Sunday shows.

Douglas McWilliams, the former chief economic adviser to the Confederation of British Industry, warns that if home working continues in its current form the economy will not return to its pre-pandemic size until 2025. That would mean 480billion of lost output, or possibly more.

Home working has become controversial as firms such as PwC and Schroders unveil flexible working plans that would see most staff never return to the office full-time.

Empty streets: Thousands of small businesses rely on urban centres being full of employees spending freely

Today The Mail on Sunday reveals that giant Government contractor Capita, which employs 45,000 people in the UK and provides key services such as collecting the BBC licence fee, is set to close nearly 100 of its 250 UK offices. Staff will work partly from home and partly from a smaller number of local 'hubs'.

McWilliams said the damage from a permanent shift to home working would be severe because the economic activity generated by commuting and socialising could not be replicated by people working from home.

Thousands of small businesses  from sandwich bars such as Pret a Manger, which is shedding 2,890 jobs, to pubs, newsagents and dry cleaners  rely on urban centres being full of employees and professionals accustomed to spending freely during lunch breaks, on their journeys to and from work, and in the evening.

Rail and bus operators will also run up huge losses if there is no return to large-scale commuting. While spending by people working from home, for example buying more groceries, would in part make up for loss of trade for bars, restaurants and sandwich counters, it could not compensate for the hit to the vital services sector, McWilliams said.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), which represents 75,000 firms, today warns that Britain is in the 'eye of a storm' that will strike this autumn unless Ministers find a way of getting the economy to function more normally again.

On Tuesday, the Government will start winding up the job retention scheme, reducing the amount it contributes for furloughed staff from 80 per cent of wages (up to a maximum of 2,500 a month) to 70 per cent (up to a maximum of 2,187.50).

Meanwhile, the Chancellor's Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme  which has propped up restaurants and pubs during August  will also end tomorrow.

Writing for The Mail on Sunday, BCC director Adam Marshall calls on Ministers to boost the UK economy by providing: clearer workplace safety guidance; tax relief for money spent on making offices Covid-19 secure; a better test and trace system in case staff fall ill; and better access to safe transport and childcare as schools reopen.

'This sunny summer is the eye of the storm,' Marshall writes. 'As autumn approaches, we must shake off this national somnolence. The UK has weathered the first leg of a Category Five economic hurricane. Yet beyond lies the second leg, which is invariably more destructive, savage and life-changing than the first.'

Last week, the head of the Confederation of British Industry, Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, warned that city centres would become 'ghost towns' if people failed to return to their places of work.

McWilliams, who is now deputy chairman of the Centre for Economics and Business Research, stressed that a flat refusal by everyone to return to workplaces was not the consultancy's central forecast, adding: 'These predictions are based on nothing changing, but we think it more likely they will.'

He said a no-change scenario would see gross domestic product, currently just 90 per cent of its 2019 level, creep back to last year's total of 2.21trillion only by 2025, assuming growth of 2 per cent a year, though the figure could be as low as 1 per cent.

This week is likely to see the last of the good news in terms of economic statistics for a while. On Tuesday, data provider IHS Markit will publish the results of its latest survey of the intentions of purchasing managers in manufacturing, and on Wednesday of those in the services sector.

Any reading above 50 suggests economic expansion, and signs are that manufacturing will come in at 55.3 and services at 60.1.

Peter Dixon, global strategist at Commerzbank, said: 'The problem is what happens to the labour market when the job retention scheme is finally wound up on October 31.'
About 300 people were on the streets of Malmo protesting against Koran-burning rally

Protesters threw stones at police and burned tyres in southern Sweden late on Friday, authorities said, hours after an anti-Muslim Danish politician was blocked from attending a Koran-burning rally nearby.

About 300 people were on the streets of Malmo with violence escalating as the evening wore on, according to police and local media.

The demonstration was connected to an incident earlier in the day in which protesters burned a copy of the Islamic holy book, police spokesman Rickard Lundqvist told Swedish tabloid Expressen.

Rasmus Paludan, who leads the far-right Danish anti-immigration party Hard Line, was due to travel to Malmo to speak at that event, which was being held on the same day as weekly prayers for the Muslim sabbath.

But authorities pre-empted Paludan's arrival by announcing he had been banned from entering Sweden for two years. He was later arrested near Malmo.

"We suspect that he was going to break the law in Sweden," Calle Persson, spokesman for the police in Malmo told AFP.

"There was also a risk that his behaviour... would pose a threat to society."

But his supporters went ahead with the rally, and three people were then arrested for inciting racial hatred.

Paludan later put up a scathing message on Facebook.

"Sent back and banned from Sweden for two years. However, rapists and murderers are always welcome!" he wrote.

Paludan last year attracted media attention for burning a Koran wrapped in bacon -- a meat that is anathema for Muslims.

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<! Mathias Ometu >

By Abankula with agency reports

A Nigerian-American Mattias Ometu has been forcefully arrested by police in San Antonio, Texas while jogging. And they almost choked him to death.

His offence was that he was jogging while black, and he happened, in their warped imagination, to fit the image of another blackman said to be involved in a nearby domestic violence incident.

The suspect the police were looking for was Darren Anthony Smith, who does not in any way resemble Ometu, except that both are black.

Ometu, 33, spent two days in the Bexar County Jail following the illegal arrest on Tuesday.

In a petition to Congresswoman, Sheila Jackson-Lee, US-based Nigerian rights activist, Emmanuel Ogebe, said Ometu, an insurance professional was arbitrarily apprehended under mistaken identity.

He was manhandled and unjustly arrested despite there being no factual basis for such action.

The San Antonio Police Department has since acknowledged that Ometu was not the suspect its men were looking for.

This was after Ometu was charged with assault on an officer and taken into custody.

But witnesses who recorded the encounter said Ometu was not aggressive with officers.

Mayor Ron Nirenburg has now called full investigation into the incident.

The Daily Mail reporting about the arrest, said Cell phone footage shows the two San Antonio Police Department officers roughly shoving Ometu into the back of a police cruiser while he screams youre choking me several times.

Mattias Ometus arrest came in the week, that marchers for racial justice converged in Washington for the 57th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King-led march on Washington, where he gave his immortal speech, I have a Dream.

Related
While the COVID-19 pandemic has already rocked most of the world, Sweden witnessed violence demonstrations, riots, and subsequent arrests of people on Friday, August 28. Swedish Police said on Saturday that furious with the far-right activists burning a Quran in the Southern city of Malmo, over 300 people gathered to demonstrate that eventually converted into riots.

The dramatic visuals shot in the area showed that rioters set fires, threw objects at law enforcement officers and also the rescue officers on the night of August 28. As per agency reports, the violence caused slight injuries to the police officers who later detained at least 15 people. Moreover, three people have been arrested on the suspicion of instilling hatred against an ethnic group in the predominantly migrant neighbourhood in Sweden.

Read - Sweden Rocked By Violence, Stone Pelting & Vandalism After Anti-islamic Action: Reports

What triggered riots in Sweden?

What tipped hundreds of people off the edge of anger was the members of far-right Danish party Stram Kurs (Hard Line) burning the copy of Islams holy book in Malmo on Friday. Earlier, on the same day, the partys leader Rasmus Paludan was prohibited from entering the Southern Swedish city to participate in a meeting reportedly about Islamization in the Nordic countries.

Swedish media reports said that the Islamophobic actions of kicking and burning the Quran that triggered hundreds to flood the streets to demonstrate were recorded and even posted online. However, soon the situation escalated as fireworks were set off and objects were thrown at the police. The situation had finally calmed down hours after midnight and the residents in the area helped to clear out the streets and other discarded items.

Read - Outcry In Sweden After Drive-by Shooting Kills 12-year-old

Who is Rasmus Paludan & why was he stopped?

The authorities in Sweden reportedly took action against Paludans arrival in Malmo fearing the consequences and banned him from entering the country for two years. Calle Persson, the spokesperson of the police told an international media agency that the law enforcement officers had suspected that the far-right party leader was going to violate the countrys law along with the additional fear of his behaviour that would pose a threat to society.

Rasmus Paludan was invited by a Swedish artist Dan Park, who has already been convicted of inciting against ethnic groups in the region and several media reports deem him as a provocateur. Paludan has also come in the negative light several times for making Islamophobic videos and posting them on YouTube. The contents of such anti-Muslim clips included burning of Islams holy book, sometimes wrapped in bacon, a meat that is anathema for Muslims.

Even though he continued to justify his hate speech as free speech, he was most recently convicted in June on the charges of racism after posting anti-Islam videos on his partys official social media accounts. This was followed by his sentencing of three months in jail and being barred from the practice of law.

Read - Elli Avrram Opens Up About The Difficulties She Faced After Moving To Mumbai From Sweden

Read - Female Priests Now Outnumber Male Ones In Church Of Sweden

Images credits: AP
Universities have sent out a record number of early offers this year and applications for some admission schemes have tripled as year 12 students rush to shore up their future amid the uncertainty caused by COVID-19.

Data from the University Admissions Centre (UAC) also shows students' degree preferences are similar to last year, suggesting proposed changes to university fees have not yet had an impact on degree choices.

Liam Bowden, in year 12 at Epping Boys' High, received an early offer to study arts/law at Western Sydney University. Credit:Edwina Pickles

It comes as the state's university vice-chancellors assured senior students the financial crisis facing the sector will not affect the quality of their education, and that they would take the difficulties of 2020 into account.

UAC data shows applications for school recommendation schemes have tripled, and disadvantage schemes have increased by 50 per cent, while overall applications through the centre are up by 35 per cent.
With many employers allowing staffers to work remotely well into 2021, you may be considering a temporary move. Perhaps you have relatives who need help with child care, or elderly parents to look after. Or maybe, if youre going to be all alone for the next few months anyway, youve decided having deer as neighbors in a tiny house in the woods sounds better than communing with the roaches in your apartment.

Before you go, among the things you should think about is how to keep your mail and packages flowing. A temporary relocation is not the same as even a two-week vacation, when you can put a hold on your mail at the post office and blissfully ignore it until you get home. Sure, much of what arrives in your box these days  like bills  can and may already be delivered electronically.

However, essential correspondence (like your absentee or mail-in ballot) is destined for your mailbox this fall. You also may have more packages set to auto-ship than youve realized (or you may not remember to change your address before hitting buy now on your favorite e-commerce sites). If you dont want to sacrifice your goodies to marauding porch pirates, you need to be proactive about updating your mailing address.

Set up forwarding.

The first step is simple: Sign up for mail forwarding, a service offered by the United States Postal Service. Ask for PS Form 3575 at your local post office or complete the forwarding process online (although theres a $1.05 charge for web sign-up). Make sure to indicate your predicted end date on the form. The post office considers any move up to six months temporary. If you stay longer than that, youll need to ask for an extension on your mail forwarding, which the agency will do for another six months.
A renowned Iranian writer, human rights lawyer and activist, Ms. Nasrin Sotoudeh is reportedly in critical condition after being on hunger strike in Tehrans Evin prison for over two weeks, the U.S. Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists, and Novelists (PEN) said in a statement Friday, August 28.

Meanwhile, the PEN has called for the immediate release of Sotoudeh and other political prisoners as well as an end to judicial and legal harassment of her and her family.

In addition to the statement published on the official website of the Pen's website, the director of its "Freedom of Expression at Risk" section, Karin Deutsch Karlekar, expressed concern over Ms. Sotoudeh's health and fate in prison.

Nasrin Sotoudeh spent her life defending the human rights of Iranians, especially women, Deutsch Karlekar stressed, adding, "On August 11, she started her second hunger strike this year to protest the maltreatment of Iranian political prisoners vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has ravaged the countrys prisons. She is now facing the direst of consequences for her activism and expression. Her life hangs in the balance. We call on the government of Iran to rescind the unjust sentences meted out to Nasrin and other political prisoners."

At the same time, dozens of civil activists have called for launching a "Twitterstorm" in Support of Sotoudeh.

Mother of two, 57-year-old Sotoudeh has been sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison, and 148 lashes on ambiguous charges of "conspiracy against national security, spreading lies, and disturbing public opinion."

In a letter requesting the release of all political prisoners on August 11, Sotoudeh announced starting a new round of a hunger strike behind bars in Tehran's infamous prison, Evin.

Ms. Sotoudeh's husband, Reza Khandan, wrote on social media on Thursday that his wife suffered from fluctuating blood pressure and a sharp rise in blood sugar, during which she lost about six kilograms (roughly thirteen pounds), while she only weighed 53 kilograms (about 117 pounds) before the hunger strike.

The American Pen Association granted Nasrin Sotoudeh the "Freedom to Write Award" in April 2011.
By Brendan O'Brien

KENOSHA, Wis. (Reuters) - About 1,000 people joined a mile-long march in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Saturday, chanting "Black Lives Matter" and "No Justice, No Peace" as U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to visit the violence-rocked city next week.

Jacob Blake Sr., father of the 29-year-old Black man whose shooting by a white police officer on Sunday sparked the unrest, called on protesters to refrain from looting and vandalism, which had overshadowed peaceful protests before a tense calm set in the past three nights.

"Good people of this city understand. If we tear it up we have nothing," he told a gathering at a park that was the hub of protests in support of his son, Jacob Blake Jr. "Stop it. Show 'em for one night we don't have to tear up nothing."

The shooting of Blake, in front of three of his children, turned the mostly white city of 100,000 people south of Milwaukee into the latest flashpoint in a summer of U.S.-wide demonstrations against police brutality and racism.

Trump, who has taken a hardline stance against the protests, will visit Kenosha on Tuesday to meet law enforcement officials and assess damage, a White House official told reporters.

"The thing I'd like to tell Mr. President is that Black Lives Matter members are not the thugs, not the looters," said Clyde McLemore, founder of a BLM chapter just outside of Kenosha. "He's blaming us, and that's not the way it is."

Blake, 29, survived but was left badly wounded and paralyzed from the waist down. He will likely participate via video from his hospital room in a court hearing next week about criminal charges that predated the shooting, his lawyer told Reuters on Saturday, adding he would plead not guilty.

Anger at Blake's shooting, captured on video that went viral, led to street skirmishes; protesters hurled firecrackers and bricks at police in riot gear who countered with tear gas and rubber bullets. On Tuesday night a white teenager with a semi-automatic rifle shot three demonstrators, killing two of them.

Story continues

In Kenosha on Saturday, people painted messages of unity on boards protecting storefronts after many businesses were burned to the ground in arson attacks and vandalism.

Residents hoped calm would hold for a fourth night as protesters, some wearing "Justice for Jacob" masks, spoke about the need for racial justice.

"We are tired," said Darius Johnson, 27, of Milwaukee. "There is no excuse for this kind of racism. It could have been any one of us, my brother, my sister. It needs to stop."

The 17-year-old suspect in Tuesday night's killings, Kyle Rittenhouse, surrendered to police on Wednesday near his home in Illinois close to the Wisconsin border. Kenosha officials have been criticized for videos showing law enforcement agents giving him water before the burst of violence and acting chummy with armed militia men in the streets.

By Friday, more than 1,000 National Guard soldiers were on the ground in Kenosha, many from out of state.

As Kenosha went on curfew at 7 p.m. local time, authorities in Chicago blocked streets and braced for dueling demonstrations along the city's "Magnificent Mile", a 13-block stretch of downtown's Michigan Avenue, media accounts said. Some planned to protest police brutality while others prepared to demonstrate to support the police, they said.

SELF-DEFENSE ARGUMENT

Rittenhouse is being held without bond and awaiting an extradition hearing on returning him to Wisconsin. His lawyers have said he would fight the charges against him, which include first-degree intentional homicide, arguing self-defense.

"Kyle Rittenhouse stood up to protect his community and his country," John Pierce, one of Rittenhouse's lawyers, said on Twitter.

Blake, who has undergone multiple surgeries since the shooting, had been handcuffed to a hospital bed because of an outstanding arrest warrant. The handcuffs were removed on Friday after the warrant was vacated, according to his attorney, Pat Cafferty.

The warrant was based on a criminal complaint filed in July. The complaint shows that Blake's ex-girlfriend, the mother of three of his children, told police Blake broke into her home on May 3 and sexually assaulted her before stealing her truck and debit card.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said this week that police confronted Blake when called to the home of a woman who had reported her "boyfriend was present" without permission, and officers tried to arrest him. Kaul said efforts to subdue Blake with a Taser failed, and that investigators later recovered a knife from the floor of the car that Blake was leaning into when he was shot.

On Friday, the Kenosha police union defended the officers, saying Blake was armed with a knife, fought the officers and was given several chances to cooperate before they used deadly force.

Blake's family and his attorneys have said he did not provoke or threaten the police.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien; Additional reporting by Nathan Layne and Rich McKay; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Grant McCool and David Gregorio)
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, has advised the leadership of the Management and Development Productivity Institute (MDPI) not to rush into offering degree programmes.



Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, has advised the leadership of the Management and Development Productivity Institute (MDPI) not to rush into offering degree programmes.



They should, rather, focus on the core mandate of promoting national productivity.



The Minister said maximising productivity was a challenge in both public and private organisations and it was the responsibility of the Institute to embark on practical and problem-solving capacity building to promote increased productivity.



Mr Awuah said this, on Friday, at the commissioning of a state-of-the-art office building of MDPI located at the North Ridge, in Accra. It relocated from the Marine Drive, near the Christianburg Castle, Osu.



Mr Awuah said the new edifice formed part of the Governments commitment to resource the Institute to perform its responsibility effectively and efficiently.



He said the Institute was one of the oldest to be established, in 1967, under a joint Ghana Government, United Nations Development Programme and International Labour Organisation Project.



He said in the early 1970s the then Government bought a parcel of land at Batsoona, where it intended to build a permanent structure for the Institute but the facility was occupied by encroachers, making it difficult to evacuate them.



He said a 13-member committee, which probed the encroachment, however, reported that the land in question was legally acquired by the Government for the MDPI.



Except for the Nungua Stool, compensations were duly paid to all affected persons, with the last instalments of payment made in 1981.



Mr Awuah said, consequently, through the effort of the Ministry, Cabinet approved a request to regularise the permit of the encroachers on the land.



The Minister said the new edifice signified a new branding for the Institute to continue to help public and private sector organisations develop the capacity of their labour force for productivity improvement.



Mr Kwaku Odame-Takyi, the Director-General of MDPI, said the Institute had developed a Management Training Programme for 2020 to meet the productivity needs of companies and institutions.



He said the MDPI, in collaboration with the ILO, had been executing the Sustainable Competitive Responsible Enterprise (SCORE) training programme since 2013, sponsored by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and the Switzerland State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.

The SCORE is a global ILO development cooperation programme that promotes productivity, competitiveness and decent work in emerging economies.



He said the SCORE had demonstrated best international practices in the manufacturing and service sectors and had helped Small and Medium Enterprises to participate in global supply chains.

Source: GNA









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

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Publicans from around the country converged on the Riverside Park Hotel last week to highlight their concerns to local TDs and elected representatives over what they say is the crisis situation for their industry in the county.

One of the speakers at the event was Tom Dunbar, from the Irish Vintners Federation and, speaking to this newspaper, he said a number of important issues were raised by members of the organisation.

'Personally, I have found the level of support we have received from the Government insulting and I know am not alone in feeling that way,' said Mr Dunbar, who owns Dunbar's Pub in Ferns.

'There are a lot of people in the sector who are 66 and over so they weren't entitled to the Covid payment and have to depend on the pension,' he said.

'We've been closed during the period that we rely on for around 75 per cent of our income for the entire year and that's between St Patrick's Day weekend and when the schools reopen,' he added.

'The treatment we have received is appalling and nothing short of it.'

Mr Dunbar's points were also raised with the elected members at the meeting.

'We were told we going to be reopening twice, and twice, at very short notice, told that we couldn't reopen,' he said.

He said pubs had ordered in stock from wholesalers and brewing companies on the understanding they would be opening up again and then 'a few days beforehand we were told you're not opening up'.

Another point raised at the event in Enniscorthy was the fact that publicans were among the first people to respond to the pandemic in March and had taken all measures asked of them.

Another point raised was the treatment of those premises that don't serve food.

'That is just so unfair and there is no sense to it,' said Mr Dunbar.

'All of our staff had to do examinations to show they were up-to-date with guidelines and regulations and that's despite the fact that we haven't actually been given specific guidelines,' he added.

'I've been a publican for 50 years and I am being told I can't open and we are the most regulated sector in the country.'

The publicans are calling for adequate support measures to be put in place to support pub owners as they struggle to address the financial challenge of having had no income for almost six months through no fault of their own.

Mr Dunbar said the fact that some premises can open 'because they offer a bag of chips and chicken wings' is also something the IVF wants addressed.

'It's just so unfair and what we want is for all pubs to be allowed reopen and if that's not the case, then adequate support needs to be in place for those being forced to remain shut,' he said.

He said the IVF is calling on the Government to develop a clear roadmap and plan for getting pubs reopened.

He also warned that if something isn't done soon it will be to the detriment of many rural pubs and that will in turn have an adverse affect in rural Ireland.

'It's so disappointing that you could be treated like this by the Government,' said Mr Dunbar.

'We need clarity, we need guidelines and we need a clear roadmap and plan to get us reopened again,' he added.

A point agreed upon at the meeting was the urgent need for those premises that are being forced to remain closed to be looked after.

'There needs to be some form or support or compensation for pubs that remain closed,' said Mr Dunbar.

The elected representatives at the meeting were also told that if pubs don't reopen soon many of them will be opening up again because their position will become non-viable.

'We have never looked for anything from the Government before and rural Ireland is being hit hard as it is but this is just hitting it even more,' said Mr Dunbar.

'Pubs are an integral part of rural life and many of my customers are regulars who just come in for the social aspect of it,' he added.

'We are supposed to be a major part of the tourism attraction in the country but we are being treated so unfairly it's unbelievable.'

The meeting heard that the unfair playing field at present needs to change: 'All we are looking for is for fair play and a way for us to get through this but we either need to be open or supported.'
Heidi Klum and ex-husband Seal reached an amicable custody agreement allowing the Next Top Model host to bring their four children to Germany later this year.

After filing an emergency motion last week in which Klum, 47, claimed that Seal, 57, would not permit their children  Leni, 16, Henry, 14, Johan, 13, and Lou, 10  to travel to Europe due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the couple has quickly settled and agreed to let the kids travel to Europe while the model is there for work.

In the custody agreement obtained by PEOPLE on Thursday, it's stated that before the children's departure and upon their return to Los Angeles, Seal will be entitled to "expanded time" with them. He can also visit the kids during any time while they are in Germany, which he and Klum "shall cooperate and work together to make arrangements for."

However, in the case that the United States shuts down its borders because of coronavirus, the agreement states that Klum must "immediately make arrangements in an effort to return home with the children before the borders close."

RELATED VIDEO: Heidi Klum Claims Ex Seal Is Preventing Her from Taking Kids to Germany in Emergency Legal Filing

Klum is contractually obligated to film season 16 of Germany's Next Top Model in October in Germany, and at the time of her emergency filing she said that while she usually brings the kids with her when she has to travel for work, Seal had "not yet approved of this trip."

RELATED: Heidi Klum on Social Distancing with Husband Tom Kaulitz: 'I Picked the Right Person'

"I am well aware of all of the necessary precautions associated with the COVID-19 virus, and would never put our children at risk  I have taken all the precautions for Germany the same way I do in the United States," Klum wrote in her declaration, adding that she is "grateful" to have the ability to work given the current state of the economy.

Klum also explained that usually Next Top Model is filmed in Los Angeles to accommodate her family, but the German cast and crew members are unable to enter the U.S. because of the pandemic.

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Klum and Seal's daughter Leni also submitted a declaration to the court saying "this is hard because I love both of my parents, but I feel like I need to speak up."

"I understand that my siblings are too young to speak to the judge, so I am happy to speak for all of us," she wrote. "My mom needs to film in Germany for a few months and my siblings and I want to go with her. So far, my dad is not allowing us to go, though we have tried to tell him our reasons why we want to."

Klum and Seal's divorce was finalized in October 2014 after nine years of marriage. She married Tom Kaulitz last year after the guitarist's Christmas Eve proposal that included her kids.
Two police personnel were assaulted while trying to defuse a marital dispute in Vardhman Enclave, Jamalpur, on Friday.

The woman, who is living separately from her husband due to strained relationships, had called the police for help, where her husband, his mother and brother attacked the cops.

The Jamalpur police have arrested the trio for assaulting ASI Swarn Chand and constable Rakesh Kumar and tearing their uniforms.

They have been identified as Gurjit Kaur and her two sons Karamjit Singh and Jora Singh of Khamano, Fatehgarh Sahib.

In his complaint to police, Chand, who is deputed in the police control room motorcycle squad, said a woman, Kuldeep Kaur, called the police alleging that her husband, Karamjit, and in-laws were threatening her.

She said they had been living apart for long and her husband had arrived at her house with her family to harm her and her children.

When he and constable Rakesh Kumar reached the spot and asked her husband and his family to leave, they started hurling abuses at them and assaulted them, tearing their uniforms in the melee.

On Chands complaint, Jamalpur police have registered a case under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience to the orders duly promulgated by public servant) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code against three accused.
The global pandemic exposed just how vulnerable and fragile the healthcare system is. In India, there is one government doctor for every 10,189 people (the World Health Organization recommends a ratio of 1:1,000). This means a deficit of 600,000 doctors.

With the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to hospitals being filled up at a rapid pace, healthcare workers became the Covid warriors fighting in the frontlines with an invisible virus.

Even as Indias active cases form about 1/4th of the total number, the sheer number of cases so far (35 lakh at the time of writing this article) is still overwhelming the system.

On social media, people are appreciating our healthcare workers - the ones actually responsible for tackling the virus. Doctors are sharing their long hours and stories of not being able to save enough people, or losing their colleagues on these platforms.

One post, which recently went viral, was of a young doctor from Uttar Pradesh, Syed Faizan Ahmad.

The photo, posted on Twitter, showed an extremely wrinkled hand. The photo immediately went viral, with multiple people responding to it and thanking the doctor for doing his duty.

Faizan, however, explains that the gloves are often the least of his problems.

You have to make a decision between saving a patient, or following recommended protocol of PPEs," Faizan tells News18 in an interview.

According to the protocol, gloves should be changed at five-hour intervals. For this process, a doctor has to step away from the ward, into the dropping station, sanitize his hands, dispose of the gloves, wear the new gloves, and re-sanitize them. The entire process takes about 5 to 7 minutes.

But when youre the only doctor alone on duty, you dont get those 7 minutes of luxury," he explains.

Currently working at Silchar Medical College in Assam, a government hospital, Faizan doesnt have the luxury of air-conditioning. Added to that, Faizan often has to double up as multiple roles: doctor, nurse, ward-boy, helper.

The disease is such, you cant let attendants constantly near the patients without reason," he explains. And when someone starts crashing, you only have one other person to help you move them. Sometimes, you have only yourself. Youre doing all the roles in one."

The official duty hours recommended at about 8 - but the doctors have to reach an hour early to understand and know what patient is in what condition. They have to stay longer for after their shifts to make sure everything is okay, and if a patient starts collapsing, its always better to have two hands on deck instead of one.

You cant walk away from those situations, saying Hey, my shift is over," says Faizan. Thats not why you became a doctor."

The PPEs are often the last thing on Faizans mind: Even though hes sweating in it profusely and is uncomfortable constantly, his first priority is making sure his patient is okay. His air-tight hands can wait for a while before being free again.

The full PPE set also comes with glitches. Wearing a head-cap in the initial days, youd feel sweat dripping down from your head onto your face. Your glasses would fog up. You cant readjust your mask, your face-shield is slipping off," he says.

Through the months, hes gotten used to it, and has found jugaad as he calls it: I tape the head-cap down, now."

Faizan himself has fought and survived coronavirus. He had worked at the peak of the pandemic in Delhis Jamia Hamdard, tested positive in the following months when he moved to Assam. He tested negative in July, and some days later, was back on Covid-19 duty.

Faizan is a surgeon by specialty, but as he explains, in a pandemic, Everyone is a Covid-19 doctor."

Sometimes, Faizan feels he has to double up as a psychologist as well. When I had the disease, I understood what the anxiety and uncertainty felt like. I promised myself when I got better, Id talk to every single patient. Id tell them, Its okay. Theres nothing to be afraid of. Im here."

However, he says that with his shifts compromising of conducting physical check-ups and consulting patients on their health, he has barely gotten the time to stop, talk, and make them feel safe.

PPEs are just a minor grievance, explains Faizan. Wrinkled hands, tired torso, exhausting, mental trauma, are just collateral damage. Its still a long battle ahead to win against the disease, which still doesnt have a cure.
OVERTON  About 100 of 125 bison have been rounded up after escaping Wednesday from a rural Overton feedlot.

According to the Phelps County Sheriffs Office, approximately 50 were rounded up Thursday and returned to Valley View Feeders. Phelps County Sheriff Gene Samuelson believed about 100 would be back at the feedlot by Friday evening.

A company from Kansas that is experienced in working with bison was called in to assist in the capture of the animals.

Twenty-five are being captured as I report this. With that said, we continue to get reports of a few mixed in with cattle in pastures, and we have decided to let them just remain in these pastures for a day or two as they calm down and we regroup, Samuelson said in a press release.

Samuelson believed about 10 bison remained in pastures. Five of the bison were hit and killed in three separate car accidents Wednesday. A county resident shot one of the animals, and the county attorney will decide whether charges are filed against the person.

The bison escaped early Wednesday morning from Valley View Feeders in Overton. Officials were notified about the bison when a semitrailer truck hit a bison.
Property information, analytics and data provider, CoreLogic, has estimated residential and commercial insured losses from Hurricane Laura in Louisiana and Texas will come in at between $8 billion and $12 billion.

That estimate includes losses from storm surge and wind, with losses from storm surge contributing less than $0.5 billion to that amount. CoreLogics analysis includes losses impacting residential homes and commercial properties, including contents and business interruption, but does not include broader economic loss from the storm.

Category 4 Storm

Packing winds of up to 150 mph, Hurricane Laura made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, around 1 am on Aug. 27. The storm had quickly intensified from a Cat 1 storm into a Cat 4 throughout the day on Aug. 26 as it progressed at a rapid pace northward through the Gulf of Mexico after having pummeled the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and to a lesser extent, Cuba.

Initial advisories from the National Hurricane Center in advance of Lauras landfall near the border of Louisiana and Texas had warned of an unsurvivable storm surge of up to 20 feet. A storm surge of that intensity did not materialize, however. In an online presentation on Aug. 28 hosted by CoreLogic, experts discussed the possibility that Lauras high winds and rapid intensification combined to limit storm surge development.

Louisiana and Texas Markets: According to A.M. Best, the insurance lines that likely would be hit by the hurricane are commercial multiperil [non-liability]; fire and allied; homeowners; and auto physical damage. Louisiana: In homeowners, the leading carriers by market share are State Farm (26%), Allstate, (11%) USAA (6%), Liberty Mutual (5.5%) and Louisiana Farm Bureau (4.7%). In commercial muliperil: State Farm (12.5%), Chubb, (7%), AIG (6.7%), Liberty Mutual (6%) and Nationwide (6%). Fire and allied lines: Wright National (7%), FM Global (5%), Assurant (5%), Louisiana Citizens Property (4.5%) and Zurich (4%). Auto physical damage: State Farm (31%), Progressive (14.6%), Allstate (12.8%), Berkshire Hathaway (12%), and USAA (6%). Texas: Homeowners: State Farm (18%), Allstate (13%), USAA (10%), Farmers (10%) and Liberty Mutual (6%). Commercial muliperil: Hartford ((8.2%), Markel (7.8%), Travelers (7.4%), Nationwide ((6.5%) and Chubb (6.3%). Fire and allied lines: Sompo (6.8%), Germani Mutual (6.5%), Chubb (5%), Zurich ((4.67%) and FM Global (3.8%). Auto physical damage: Allstate (14%), State Farm (13.5%), Progressive (13.3%), Berkshire Hathaway (13%), and USAA (9%).

CoreLogic pointed out that center of Hurricane Laura struck more relatively populated area of the Louisiana and Texas coast.

There is never a good place for a hurricane to make landfall. But this was the best possible outcome because it spared the major population centers of Houston and New Orleans, said Curtis McDonald, meteorologist and senior product manager of CoreLogic, in a prepared statement.

Hurricane Laura weakened as it moved over land, which kept some metropolitan areas from receiving the full impact of a Category 4 hurricane, CoreLogic said.

Laura quickly downgraded into tropical storm after making landfall, but it left six people dead, buildings destroyed, trees uprooted and hundreds of thousands without power in Louisiana as it swept northward with drenching rains into Arkansas.

Related:

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Texas Louisiana Profit Loss Hurricane
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo's home was vandalized during protests against police brutality Friday night.

Neighbors told local TV stations that someone spray-painted "Black Lives Matter," "Jacob Blake" and profane phrases on the front of the house. The neighbors later scrubbed the writing off.

Liccardo told KPIX he was away from his house visiting a relative at the time of the vandalism, and he still supports the Black Lives Matter movement.

Demonstrators in downtown San Jose protesting the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisc. previously marched through San Pedro Square with no reported incidents.

Liccardo later tweeted that a hundred protesters "stood by silentlyor even cheeredwhile flags were burned and f*** you was scrawled on our home."

"Im tremendously heartened by the response of my neighbors who helped scrub graffiti from Jessicas & my home late last night," he tweeted. "Many of these same neighbors homes bear #BlackLivesMatter signsrepresenting the true spirit of the movement, & of our San Jose community."

In Oakland, about 250 people marched and rode bicycles through downtown and blocked a few streets before dispersing by midnight. Police arrested more than a dozen people for crimes including assault on an officer, and pointing a laser at police and at a television news crew, the Oakland Police Department said in a tweet.

Oakland police had increased staffing for the protest. On Wednesday night, some protesters set fires, broke windows and vandalized businesses.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Eric Ting is an SFGATE reporter. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting
Readers hoping to buy Chicago Rivet & Machine Co. (NYSEMKT:CVR) for its dividend will need to make their move shortly, as the stock is about to trade ex-dividend. If you purchase the stock on or after the 3rd of September, you won't be eligible to receive this dividend, when it is paid on the 18th of September.

Chicago Rivet & Machine's next dividend payment will be US$0.10 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of US$0.40 per share. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, Chicago Rivet & Machine has a trailing yield of approximately 1.9% on its current stock price of $20.53. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. So we need to investigate whether Chicago Rivet & Machine can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow.

Check out our latest analysis for Chicago Rivet & Machine

Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned in profit, then the dividend could be unsustainable. Chicago Rivet & Machine's dividend is not well covered by earnings, as the company lost money last year. This is not a sustainable state of affairs, so it would be worth investigating if earnings are expected to recover. Given that the company reported a loss last year, we now need to see if it generated enough free cash flow to fund the dividend. If Chicago Rivet & Machine didn't generate enough cash to pay the dividend, then it must have either paid from cash in the bank or by borrowing money, neither of which is sustainable in the long term. Luckily it paid out just 19% of its free cash flow last year.

Click here to see how much of its profit Chicago Rivet & Machine paid out over the last 12 months.

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

When earnings decline, dividend companies become much harder to analyse and own safely. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. Chicago Rivet & Machine was unprofitable last year and, unfortunately, the general trend suggests its earnings have been in decline over the last five years, making us wonder if the dividend is sustainable at all.

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The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. It looks like the Chicago Rivet & Machine dividends are largely the same as they were 10 years ago. If a company's dividend stays flat while earnings are in decline, this is typically a sign that it is paying out a larger percentage of its earnings. This can become unsustainable if earnings fall far enough.

Get our latest analysis on Chicago Rivet & Machine's balance sheet health here.

The Bottom Line

Has Chicago Rivet & Machine got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? We're a bit uncomfortable with it paying a dividend while being loss-making. However, we note that the dividend was covered by cash flow. It's not an attractive combination from a dividend perspective, and we're inclined to pass on this one for the time being.

So if you're still interested in Chicago Rivet & Machine despite it's poor dividend qualities, you should be well informed on some of the risks facing this stock. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Chicago Rivet & Machine (of which 1 makes us a bit uncomfortable!) you should know about.

A common investment mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a list of promising dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
A 51-year-old traffic policeman who was run over by the driver of an i20 car in west Delhis Raghubir Nagar 11 days ago, succumbed to his injuries on Friday night, the police said. This is the second death of a Delhi traffic police officer on duty in the last month.

Deputy commissioner of police (west) Deepak Purohit confirmed the death of assistant sub-inspector Mahavir Singh and said the police will add murder charges under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code against the errant driver, one Amandeep, who was arrested on Sunday, six days after the mishap.

Earlier, the police had registered a case of attempt to murder, because the driver had run over ASI Singh twice in an attempt to flee when the officer signalled him to halt for vehicle checking on August 17. The ASI was admitted to a nearby hospital, where he had been in a coma since then.

We will now book Amandeep under the section for murder, said DCP Purohit, adding that ASI Singh and three-four traffic police personnel were checking vehicles near the Raghubir Nagar police booth when the mishap took place around 5.30pm on August 17.

Singh signalled a white i20 car to stop, but its driver tried to escape. When he tried to halt the car, the driver hit him with the vehicle. He rammed the policeman a second time, this time crushing him under the wheels. Singhs colleagues could only note that it was an i20 car registered in Haryana and the last four digits were 1664, the DCP said.

The police registered a case and the investigating team went to Haryana and collected details of all i20 cars whose numbers ended with 1664. The team identified the vehicles and went about tracing their owners; they found out that the car in question had been sold at least half a dozen times in the last couple of years.

The police then traced Amandeep, the current owner, who was visiting his in-laws in Noida. They also found that his phones location details put him near the mishap spot around the time of the incident. He was finally nabbed along with the car, the DCP said after Amandeeps arrest Monday.

None of the cars owners, except the original person, registered the car in their name, the DCP said, adding this was why Amandeep allegedly attempted to get away from the police and refused to halt when signalled.

On July 26, a 54-year-old assistant commissioner of police (ACP) of the Delhi traffic police died after being hit and dragged for nearly 50 metres by a mini-truck near the Rajokri flyover, where he was clearing a traffic jam. ACP Sanket Kaushik was declared dead on arrival at the AIIMS Trauma Centre. The truck driver was caught in Mahipalpur, four days after the accident.
In this Oct. 13, 2018 file photo, a sign marks the entrance to the Tesla Gigafactory in Sparks, Nev. Tesla CEO Elon Musk solved a mystery involving a 27-year-old Russian who prosecutors say flew to the United States to offer a major-company insider $1 million to assist in a ransomware extortion attack on the firm. According to the billionaire, the scheme took aim at the electric car company's 1.9 million-square-foot factory in Sparks, Nevada, which makes batteries for Tesla vehicles and energy storage units. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

In a tweet, Tesla CEO Elon Musk solved a mystery involving a 27-year-old Russian, an insider at an unnamed corporation and an alleged million-dollar payment offered to help trigger a ransomware extortion attack on the firm.

Prosecutors declined to name the target, but Musk was happy to oblige. According to the billionaire, the scheme took aim at the electric car company's 1.9 million-square-foot factory in Sparks, Nevada, which makes batteries for Tesla vehicles and energy storage units.

"This was a serious attack," Musk tweeted Thursday night, responding to a Tesla blog post that detailed the brazen scheme.

Defendant Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov tried to recruit a fellow Russian speaker who worked at the plant, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Nevada.

Reaching out to the unnamed worker via WhatsApp in July, Kriuchkov allegedly flew to the United States with a Russian passport on a tourist visa and sought to entice the worker to betray Tesla. Kriuchkov allegedly took the worker, who he'd he'd first met in 2016, on a road trip to Lake Tahoe before offering the person $1 million to plant malware on computer systems at "Victim Company A." Kriuchkov floated the scheme at a Reno area bar on Aug. 3 after the two drank heavily until last call, the complaint says.

But the plant worker informed Tesla, which contacted the FBI and won the employee's cooperation. In subsequent meetings monitored and recorded by federal agents, Kriuchkov laid out a scheme to have the worker infect Tesla computers with a program that would steal valuable data before scrambling plant systems with ransomware, according to the complaint.

Kriuchkov was quoted as saying the inside job would be camouflaged with a distributed denial of service attack on plant computers from outside. Such attacks overwhelm servers with junk traffic. If Tesla didn't pay, the purloined data would be dumped on the open internet.

The complaint says Kriuchkov told the Tesla worker that his organization had executed similar "special projects" on other companies on multiple occasions, with one victim supposedly surrendering a $4 million ransom payment. According to the complaint, Kriuchkov added that his organization employed sophisticated encryption that would mask the Tesla worker's participation and mentioned that one hacker in his group was a high-level employee of a government bank in Russia.

In this March 9, 2020, file photo, Tesla and SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition in Washington. In a tweet on Thursday, Aug. 27, Musk solved a mystery involving a 27-year-old Russian who prosecutors say flew to the United States to offer a major-company insider $1 million to assist in a ransomware extortion attack on the firm. According to the billionaire, the scheme took aim at the electric car company's 1.9 million-square-foot factory in Sparks, Nevada, which makes batteries for Tesla vehicles and energy storage units. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

The U.S. Attorney's office for Nevada would not comment on whether Kriuchkov or any of his associates may have had ties to the Russian government. Nothing in the criminal complaint suggested their motives were anything but financial.

Tesla is a lucrative target. It leads the U.S. in electric vehicle sales and the hackers could have obtained valuable information from battery chemistry to manufacturing techniques and costs. Tesla has said the factory has cut battery cell costs through innovative manufacturing.

Kriuchkov was arrested Aug. 22 after driving from Reno to Los Angeles, where the FBI said he planned to fly out of the country, He appeared in federal court there Monday and was charged with conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer, said Nevada U.S. Attorney Nicholas Trutanich. A conviction could result in a sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Court records did not immediately reflect the name of an attorney who could speak on Kriuchkov's behalf.

It is not clear in the documents if money changed hands. The criminal complaint and a supporting affidavit by investigating FBI Special Agent Michael Hughes describe a considerable amount of haggling over whether the unnamed Tesla worker would get some portion of his promised cut of the ransom in advance.

Tesla did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Other suspected co-conspirators are identified in the complaint by nicknames including Kisa and Pasha; a person is identified as Sasha Skarobogatov.

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Lawyers for Tang Juan, a Chinese researcher arrested in California last month for allegedly concealing her ties to China's military, are returning to court to seek her release on bail a second time, saying that coronavirus cases in the jail where she is being held have put her at risk of the pandemic.

They also say that even if Tang, who had been a visiting medical researcher at the University of California, Davis, is eventually found guilty, she might only face a short prison sentence, and that an outside benefactor has volunteered to house her and help ensure she does not flee the country.

US Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman in Sacramento, California's capital city, is expected to decide on Friday afternoon whether to grant Tang pretrial release. She was already denied bail once, on July 31 - after her arrest and before her indictment - because the court found that she was a flight risk.

Tang's lawyers say circumstances have changed, and that the original ruling should no longer apply. For one thing, by the time a trial takes place on the charges she faces of visa fraud and making false statements - her lawyers say the judge indicated it might not be scheduled until next year or even 2022 - she might already do more time in prison than what she could be sentenced to.

"The problem addressed by the judge was how could the government reasonably keep someone - charged but not proven guilty - confined in jail pending a trial almost two years later when the punishment, even if there was a conviction, would likely be six months or less and even at its worst little more than a year?" said Malcolm Segal, a lawyer on her defence team.

"And, is it fair to do so during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has brought diagnosed cases of the virus to the jail?"

According to court documents, Tang, 37, entered the US in December on an educational exchange visa to conduct cancer treatment research at UCD, but did not disclose apparent military ties in her visa application. The count of visa fraud carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison; the false statements charge carries a charge of up to five years.

Story continues

After being interviewed by the FBI on June 20, Tang fled to the Chinese consulate in San Francisco and stayed there for weeks before she was finally taken into custody on July 23. The charges for her arrest were filed on June 26.

The Chinese flag flies over the Consulate General of China in San Francisco. Juan Tang, a researcher at the University of California, Davis, who took refuge in the consulate, was arrested for allegedly lying to investigators about her Chinese military service. Photo: Getty Images via AFP alt=The Chinese flag flies over the Consulate General of China in San Francisco. Juan Tang, a researcher at the University of California, Davis, who took refuge in the consulate, was arrested for allegedly lying to investigators about her Chinese military service. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Tang is being held in the Sacramento County Jail, which county public defenders last month described as a "tinderbox" for the coronavirus.

Her lawyers say she has a "pre-existing asthma condition that puts her at risk of serious complications were she to become infected".

Federal prosecutors say she has provided no documentation of a medical condition, and that "only one" of the two dozen reported Covid-19 cases in the Sacramento County Jail "involves a federal inmate".

In court filings, prosecutors warn that Tang remains a "serious flight risk".

"She can still leave the United States without sacrificing anything," they wrote in a motion this week opposing her pretrial release.

Tang's lawyers say a "particularly significant" reason why Tang should be released from jail is the new availability of a "third-party custodian": someone who is supposed to help ensure the defendant does not flee.

Prosecutors say such third parties typically make that assurance through personal ties to the defendant, and by offering the court a bond on their own property as collateral in case the defendant skips their trial.

The court has not publicly identified this third party, who was referred to during a Thursday hearing as "Mr C".

The defence's filings describe the individual as a "successful, highly reputable" California lawyer who came forward "only out of a deep and abiding sense of compassion and fairness and a belief in our system of equal justice".

They say he learned about Tang's case "in the media".

"Through a network of Asian-American community leaders, business professionals and lawyers, private individuals came together to try locate someone able to provide Dr Tang a place to reside, and willing, if able, to act in the capacity of a third-party custodian tasked with Dr Tang's supervision," the lawyers wrote.

Prosecutors called the situation "particularly unusual", in part because the custodian and his wife have never met Tang and do not know her "in any capacity".

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.
This article was first published on 3 January 2017 and updated to reflect the addition of the Enhanced Housing Grant which replaces the Additional Housing Grant and Special CPF Housing Grant, the Singles Grant and the Proximity Housing Grant for singles.

Prior to turning 35, most singles in Singapore would stay with their parents. It could be due to the small size of our island, which hardly ever requires anyone to move out of his or her parents place to be closer to work. It could be due to the high cost of private housing in Singapore.

Whatever the reasons may be, turning 35 as a single is a little more special in Singapore. The reason is simple. Turning 35 means you can finally buy your own HDB flat!

But before you pop open the champagne bottle to celebrate, it might be prudent to first get familiar with the HDB housing options available for you today.

Read Also: [2019 BTO Application Edition] Step-By-Step Guide To Buying A HDB BTO Flat

Build-To-Order (BTO) Flats

Given a choice, we would usually prefer BTO flats. A BTO flat comes with tons of advantages compared to resale flats. Aside from the fact that they tend to be cheaper, you also get a fresh 99-year lease. Other advantages include lower renovation cost and more functional layouts compared to older flats.

But before you start looking out for upcoming BTO launches, do note this very important criteria  as a single, you are only eligible to apply for 2-room flats.

For those who do not know, 2-room flats are typically about 45 sqm (484 square feet) in size. It comes with a bedroom, a living/dining area, one bathroom and a small kitchen. In addition to its small size, singles can only apply in non-mature estate. Hence, your dream of organising those New Years Eve house parties while getting an awesome view of the fireworks from Marina Bay will continue remaining what it isa dream.

Thats not all. As with all BTO flats, there is an income ceiling. For 2-room flats meant for singles, the income ceiling is $6,000. Additionally, you may only rent out a 2-room flat as an entire flat after the 5-year Minimum Occupancy Period (MOP). You may not rent out the bedroom of a 2-room flat.

Story continues

Read Also: How 2-Room Flats Can Help Retirees With Their Retirement

Housing Grants For BTO Flats

Similar to couples, singles who apply for BTO flats are eligible for the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) (Singles). Actual grant amount can be as much as $40,000, depending on your income, with a higher amount given to those with lower income. The EHG is applicable to all BTO launches after September 2019.

Source: HDB

To qualify for EHG, your gross monthly income must not exceed $4,500 for the 12 months before flat application.

Read Also: Complete Guide To HDB Housing Grants In Singapore

Resale Flat

For those who prefer living closer to the city centre, or want to find a place that is bigger, getting a resale flat is the other viable option.

For resale flats, there are no income, size or location restrictions. That means you can purchase any type of flat, at any location in Singapore, regardless of how much you earn. In addition, unlike 2-room HDB flats, you can rent out the flat after fulfilling the 5-year minimum occupancy period (MOP). You may also rent out the bedroom of the flat (for 3-room flats and above) during the MOP, subject to HDBs approval.

Of course, the consideration here is that resale flats typically cost much more than BTO flats.

Housing Grants For Resale Flats

Singles are eligible for the Singles Grant, EHG and Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) for resale flat purchase, if it is their first time purchasing a HDB flat.

Source: HDB

The Singles Grant available for singles who purchase resale flat, is $25,000 for a 2- to 4-room resale flat and $20,000 for a 5-room resale flat. The grant is only for applicable for first-timers and your gross monthly income cannot exceed $7,000.

Singles are also eligible for the EHG if their gross monthly income is $4,500 or lower.

Additionally, if you are buying a resale to live with or near your parents, you are also eligible for the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) of $10,000 for living within 4 km of your parents residence and $15,000 for living with your parents.

For second-timers, e.g. singles who have previously purchased from HDB (even as part of a couple), you are not eligible for both the Singles Grant and the EHG. You may be eligible for PHG if you have not received it before.

Some Important Considerations

Buying a home is always a big decision, regardless of whether you are single or married. Here are a couple of factors that you need to consider.

# 1 Your Future Plans

Buying a resale flat is a lot more straightforward if your relationship status changes in the future. If you get married, your future spouse can move in with you. For 2-room BTO flat, this would be a lot tougher due to space constraint. If you intend to start a family, chances are you would want to upgrade in the future.

The same logic also applies if you have elderly parents who may move in with you in the future. A bigger home allows for this option.

# 2 How Much Can You Afford?

As with the purchase of all properties, affordability is an area you cannot ignore. While it might be great to get a bigger resale flat at an area of your choice, you need to consider how much you can afford.

For example, a 2-room flat during the May 2019 BTO launch in Tengah costs about $106,000 before grants. For some singles, thats an amount they may already have in their CPF Ordinary Account to purchase the flat without even requiring a housing loan.

Read Also: Why You Should Choose (Wisely) To Spend Less On Your First BTO Flat

In conclusion, there are various public housing options available for singles to consider though we do feel that BTO options are somewhat limited (for now). Singles should review these options and consider carefully which is the best possible housing option based on their requirements and affordability.

What are your thoughts of HDB housing options for singles? Discuss it in the open SG Property Discussion Facebook Group with other property enthusiasts in Singapore.

Read Also: How Much Can You Save For Your Retirement If You Opt For A 4-Room BTO Flat Instead Of A 5-Room Flat?

The post 35 And Single? Here Are HDB Housing Options Available For You appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
According to the government official, although this is good news, the priority of the Health Ministry (Minsa) is to identify the places with the highest risk of transmission to use control measures properly.

"The country's southern highlands report the biggest increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The pandemic is still active in Peru," he said on Friday.

Remarks were made during a press conference in which he explained the scientific mechanisms that support the mobility restrictions.

The measure also applies to 46 provinces in other 14 regions. In addition, social immobilization as well as social and family gathering restrictions will remain in place.

Suarez affirmed that the measures have been taken based on permanent epidemiological surveillance and scientific rationality.

El Gobierno decidio ampliar el Estado de Emergencia Nacional hasta el 30 de setiembre, incluyendo una cuarentena focalizada en Cusco, Moquegua, Puno y Tacna, debido a la mayor incidencia de la pandemia en esos territorios.



Mas informacion: https://t.co/Xfvr1xT77p pic.twitter.com/QsaM3fyr9D
The Delhi High Court has held that annual and development charges cannot be taken from the parents of students during the pendency of the present lockdown, when schools are yet to reopen.

The prima facie opinion was expressed by Justice Jayant Nath in his order of August 25 while hearing a plea moved by the parents association of a private school, which started taking the annual and development charges along with the tuition fees from July.

The court restrained the school from taking the annual and development charges from the parents for the month of July till further orders.

It also issued a notice to the Delhi government and the school, seeking their stand on the plea of the parents association, which was represented by advocate Gaurav Bahl.

The court has listed the matter for further hearing on September 16.

According to the order, during the hearing via video-conference, the school contended that the lockdown is over and hence, it can levy the annual and development charges.

However, the Delhi government, represented by its Additional Standing Counsel Gautam Narayan, told the court that the Directorate of Educations April 18 circular, asking the schools not to charge the annual and development fees during the lockdown period, continues to apply as none of the schools has physically opened.

The Delhi government said therefore, the school in question cannot charge the annual and development fees till the completion of the lockdown period.

After hearing both sides, the judge said, In my opinion, prima facie, it appears that the annual and development charges cannot be charged from the parents during the pendency of the present lockdown. The court said the parents have to pay the tuition fees.
iltshire laboratory led the investigation into the Salisbury attack in 2018

The German hospital treating poisoned Putin critic Alexei Navalny has asked for British help, it emerged last night.

Its doctors called upon the Governments world-leading Defence Science and Technology Laboratory as they try to treat the Russian opposition leader, who is reportedly in a coma.

The Wiltshire laboratory led the investigation into the Salisbury attack on former Russian agent Sergei Skripal in 2018.

Alexei Navalny (pictured above in February this year), 44, is one of the Kremlins biggest critics and he made his name by exposing official corruption

Charite hospital in Berlin has made contact with the lab and its Munich equivalent, said German newspaper Der Spiegel and Bellingcat, the investigative website which uncovered the Salisbury poisoners as Russian agents.

Mr Navalny, 44, is one of the Kremlins biggest critics and he made his name by exposing official corruption.

His supporters suspect he was poisoned when he drank a cup of tea at Tomsk Airport in Siberia on August 20.

He fell ill while on a plane, which made an emergency landing after he collapsed. Mr Navalny was treated in Siberia for two days before being flown to Germany.

Charite hospital, pictured, in Berlin has made contact with the lab and its Munich equivalent, said German newspaper Der Spiegel and Bellingcat (file photo)

Doctors yesterday said he is still in an induced coma but his condition is stable and his symptoms are improving.

The Charite found indications of cholinesterase inhibitors in his system. Found in some drugs and chemical nerve agents, the inhibitors block the breakdown of acetylcholine that transmits signals between nerve cells.

The hospital said: While his condition remains serious, there is no immediate danger to his life. However, it remains too early to gauge potential long-term effects.

German chancellor Angela Merkel is said to be receiving daily updates on his condition.
Queensland will extend its coronavirus restrictions to two new regions despite recording just four new cases linked to a correctional training academy.

One trainee from the Queensland Corrective Services Academy at Wacol, in the state's south-east, and three household contacts of trainees tested positive on Friday.

A senior trainer at the academy was diagnosed with the virus on Thursday following the outbreak at the nearby youth facility.

Health Minister Steven Miles says the new cases underline the importance of adherence to household restrictions.

It comes as those health restrictions limiting the number of people who can gather are to be extended to the Gold Coast and Darling Downs regions.

One trainee from the Queensland Corrective Services Academy at Wacol, in the state's south-east, and three household contacts of trainees tested positive on Friday

Health Minister Steven Miles says the new cases underline the importance of adherence to household restrictions (pictured, nurses at a drive-through COVID-19 pop-up clinic)

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Friday Schoolies Week had been cancelled less than three months before it was scheduled to begin

No more than ten people can gather in Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan without a COVID-19 safety plan, following an initial outbreak at a youth detention centre.

That will be extended south to the Gold Coast from 8am Saturday after two Pimpama residents linked to the cluster were diagnosed with the virus.

The new rules will also come in to effect in the Darling Downs from 8am on Monday, after health alerts were issues for The Southern Hotel and Queens' Park Markets in Toowoomba.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Friday Schoolies Week had been cancelled less than three months before it was scheduled to begin.

'This is a mass event. It poses a high risk,' she told reporters.

Concerts and large parties will be banned, with limits on gatherings at beaches and apartment complexes.

'It's a tough year for everyone. Hopefully, things will get better by the end of next year and we can have a double celebration,' she said.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said he backed the decision but conceded it would be tough on local businesses, such as accommodation providers.

'There will be costs in their business operations and I sympathise ... because to get new business in 85 days is near impossible,' he said.

Kimberley Brown (pictured), from Ballina, in northern New South Wales, was unable to obtain a travel exemption for urgent surgery in Queensland

Mr Tate said the event should have been cancelled sooner and called on tourism promoters to encourage families to the region, to replace the students.

Ms Palaszczuk has also been criticised over the border closure after a mother lost one of her unborn twins and another one was separated from her newborn son.

Kimberley Brown, from Ballina, in northern New South Wales, was unable to obtain a travel exemption for urgent surgery in Queensland.

Her unborn twins had developed twin transfusion syndrome - a disorder that leads to malnourishment and organ failure in one of the babies.

Mrs Brown lived just two hours from Queensland's Mater Hospital but instead had to wait 16 hours for an emergency flight and travel 750km to Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

An ultrasound later showed Mrs Brown had lost one of the babies.

Chantelle Northfield was also separated from her newborn son because of the border closure.

She had given birth to her son at Lismore Base Hospital, in New South Wales.

Chantelle Northfield (pictured) was also separated from her newborn son because of the border closure

Her son experienced difficulty breathing and was airlifted to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.

Ms Northfield remained in New South Wales and was unable to visit her baby without quarantining for 14 days.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke at a Bush Summit at Cooma on Friday to slam the border closure.

'Much more needs to be done to ensure these border movements are made easier and ultimately to ensure they're open again,' he said.

'While the scale of the Victorian outbreak meant the borders between NSW and Vic were regrettably necessary  and they are and remain  this does not diminish the principle that border restrictions, especially where there are no or very low cases in regional areas, cannot and should not be sustained.
US State Secretary Mike Pompeo reportedly held a telephonic conversation with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on August 25 to discuss discussed strategic relations between the two countries. According to local media reports, they talked about ways to enhance ties at all level and tackled issues of mutual interest including the UAE-Israel agreement to normalise bilateral relations.

The leaders discussed the latest developments in the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Middle East regions, a day after Pompeo held a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The US State Department said that Pompeo and Netanyahu discussed the success of the Abraham Accords agreement which has established diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE.

On August 24, Pompeo told a press briefing in Jerusalem that the deal was brokered by US President Donald Trump with Netanyahus assistance. He opined that the deal has it has been a boon to peace and to regional stability and it heralds a new era. The top US diplomat added that Israel and UAE are two of the most advanced economies in the world brimming with innovation.

Its a natural fit. And the support of the United States makes this, I think, something with international ramifications, he said.

Read: Israeli Delegation Along With Top US Officials To Visit UAE Next Week

Read: US State Secretary Arrives In Jerusalem To Close Historic UAE-Israel Peace Accord

Trump, Netanyahu, and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed issued a joint statement on August 13, saying they have agreed to the full normalisation of relations between Israel and the UAE. Calling it a historic breakthrough, they said that the deal will advance peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders.

Opposition of peace agreement

However, the deal has been opposed by several Islamic countries in the Middle East, including Turkey and Iran. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the move against Palestine is difficult to stomach and he has informed the foreign minister that the government may pull back its ambassador from Abu Dhabi.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the United Arab Emirates made a huge mistake by reaching an agreement with Israel to normalise their relationship. During a televised address on August 15, Rouhani termed the Abu Dhabis action as a treacherous act and warned them against allowing Israel a "foothold in the region".

Read: Mike Pompeo "hopeful" More Arab States Will Normalise Ties With Israel After UAE

Read: Netanyahu Announces Israel Preparing For Direct Flights To UAE Via Saudi Arabia
The silver miners stocks have had a roller-coaster ride of a year, getting sucked into Marchs stock panic before skyrocketing out in a massive upleg. While much-higher prevailing silver prices radically improve silver-stock fundamentals, Q2s national economic lockdowns to fight COVID-19 wreaked havoc on this sector. The silver miners latest quarterly results recently released revealed unprecedented challenges.

The silver-stock realm is tiny, as there arent many major silver miners in the world. Only a handful are primary silver producers, companies deriving over half their revenues from silver. So in mid-August as silver miners finished reporting their latest Q220 operational and financial results, this sectors leading benchmark and trading vehicle only held $1.1b in net assets. It is the SIL Global X Silver Miners ETF.

2020s silver-stock price action has proven neck-snappingly violent. In just several weeks into mid-March, SIL plummeted 43.8% as silver got entangled in that government-lockdown-spawned stock panic. That climaxed in a full-blown crash, with SIL cratering 27.4% in the final couple trading days alone! Silver and its miners stocks were extraordinarily out of favor, an exceptional buying opportunity for contrarian traders.

Silver ferociously V-bounced out of those extreme stock-panic lows, sending silver stocks stratospheric. Over the next 4.8 months into early August, SIL skyrocketed 176.9% higher! While any sector nearly tripling in such a short period of time is incredible, the silver stocks were actually underperforming. The metal they mine blasted 142.8% higher during that span, so SILs upside leverage was quite weak at 1.2x.

In late July, silver started shooting parabolic as stock traders flooded into its leading SLV ETF. That left silver exceedingly overbought, so a correction was necessary to bleed off the euphoria and rebalance sentiment. That started with a bang, silver cratering 15.2% in a single trading day! That hammered SIL 13.1% lower by mid-August, silver stocks entered their own correction as their Q2 results were being released.

And they sure werent going to be pretty! Last quarters national-economic-lockdown orders to slow the spread of COVID-19 hit major silver-producing countries disproportionally hard. According to the latest comprehensive data from the venerable Silver Institute, the worlds top two silver-mining jurisdictions are Mexico and Peru. In 2019 they accounted for 23% and 16% of the total global mined silver output, 4/10ths!

Unlike the Silver Institute which only publishes global silver supply-and-demand numbers annually, the World Gold Council updates its best-available gold fundamental data quarterly. In its Q2 Gold Demand Trends report, WGC analysts revealed the stunning magnitude of the countrywide lockdowns officials imposed on Mexico and Peru. Their gold production plummeted a catastrophic 62% and 45% YoY in Q2!

Mining in Mexico was suspended for a jaw-dropping 60 days last quarter! And with that leading silver-producing country being the primary mining destination for American and Canadian silver miners, their forced production hits were colossal. Adding to Q2s unprecedented operational challenges, silver prices were relatively anemic. While silver did soar 30.7% in Q2 proper, its quarterly average price merely rose 9.9% YoY.

That way underperformed the enormous 30.9% gain in average gold prices from Q219 to Q220! The recent parabolic fireworks in silver didnt start until mid-July after quarter-end. Of that gargantuan 142.8% silver upleg after the stock panic, only 1/4th happened during Q2. With silver averaging just $16.36 last quarter, I started my usual deep dive into the major silver miners latest results with plenty of trepidation.

This was my 17th quarter in a row analyzing how the worlds biggest and best silver miners are faring fundamentally. While SIL included 27 component stocks in mid-August as Q2s earnings season was wrapping up, I limited my research to its top 15 holdings. They commanded a dominant 90.8% of SILs total weighting. These silver giants mostly trade on stock exchanges in the US, UK, Canada, and Mexico.

That makes amassing their quarterly data somewhat challenging, with reporting varying considerably in different countries and companies. In cases where half-year data was all that was offered, I split it in half to approximate Q2 results. The highlights of all those quarterly reports are included in this table. Stock symbols are listings from companies primary exchanges, with the majority of the SIL top 15s outside the US.

Thats preceded by their ranking changes in terms of SIL weightings between Q219 to Q220. And it is followed by these major silver miners current SIL weightings as the Q2 earnings season concluded in mid-August. Then each companys quarterly silver and gold production in ounces is shown, followed by their year-over-year changes from Q219. Their silver output can be used to gauge relative silver purity.

The higher their percentage of quarterly revenues derived from silver production, the more responsive miners stock prices are to silver price action. The next column shows this metric of silver-centricness. It is mostly calculated by multiplying companies quarterly silver outputs by silvers average price in Q2, then dividing those results by quarterly revenues. When sales arent reported, this can instead be approximated.

For half-year-reporting silver miners where Q2 was an interim quarter, those implied silver revenues can be divided by implied gold-plus-silver sales. But that method is inferior since it excludes base-metals byproducts. According to the Silver Institute, only 29% of all the silver mined worldwide in 2019 came from primary silver mines. 32% was a byproduct from mining lead and zinc, with another 23% from copper.

The rare primary silver miners silver-purity percentages are highlighted in blue. Their stock prices often show the highest leverage to silver. That is followed by cash costs per ounce and all-in sustaining costs per ounce, along with their year-over-year changes. They reveal how much it costs the SIL-top-15 silver miners to blast their metal loose from the earth and process it. Finally comes quarterly revenues and profits.

Blank data fields mean a company hadnt reported that particular data by mid-August as Q2s earnings season was ending. And percentage changes arent included if they would either be misleading or not meaningful. The main examples are comparing two negative numbers and when data shifts from positive to negative or vice versa over this past year. As feared given Q2s lockdown environment, operations were ugly!

Together the SIL-top-15 silver miners only produced 53.9m ounces of silver last quarter. That was the lowest by far in the 17 quarters Ive been working on this research thread, collapsing 26.0% YoY! The major silver miners naturally have big exposure in Mexico and Peru, where governments forced national lockdowns to combat COVID-19. Those sweeping orders included the usually-remote silver miners.

Some of these major silver miners pushed hard for exemptions, as their operations are highly pandemic-resistant. Silver mines are usually way out in the mountains, with access limited and tightly controlled. The silver miners quickly implemented mitigation efforts to detect any infected workers and quarantine them. Forcing silver mines into care and maintenance made little sense economically or epidemiologically.

First Majestic Silver, which SIL includes through its Canadian listing FR, operates exclusively in Mexico where the lockdowns persisted for 2/3rds of Q2. Early last quarter this company had already been working with local and state officials, industry task force groups and other mining companies to make the case to the Federal Government that mining, especially silver mining, is essential and critical to the medical industry.

But those efforts to persuade the Mexican government to reopen the mines mostly proved unsuccessful. First Majestics silver output plummeted 42.6% YoY with its Mexican operations arbitrarily mothballed! Other SIL-top-15 silver miners saw similar collapses in their output from Mexico, including Pan American Silver. Its overall Q2 silver production cratered 56.9% YoY, because of its mining operations in Mexico and Peru. Related: Elon Musk Hints At Electric Jet Battery

31% and 43% of this companys 2019 sales came from those countries, so their long national lockdowns slammed its production. In its Q2 report Pan American warned, The global COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on Q2 results, with all our Latin American operations placed in care and maintenance mode for periods of time during the quarter. Buenaventura, Perus largest gold miner, fared even worse.

Its silver production crashed 63.9% YoY in Q2 due to its Peruvian mining concentration! That country declared an extended State of Emergency, crushing the miners operating there. There has been a huge global silver-supply impact from governments draconian overreactions to COVID-19. Those severe supply constraints imposed by decree likely contributed to silvers parabolic surge to extreme overboughtness.

Rather troublingly in Mexico, some large politically-connected miners appeared more equal than others in apparently being largely exempted from the lockdowns. The Mexican Fresnillo is the worlds largest silver miner, producing about 1/16th of the total global output in 2019. Despite extensive operations in Mexico, somehow its silver output only slipped 5.7% YoY! That seems impossible with 2/3rds of Q2 locked down.

That company reported Production at our underground mines was relatively unaffected by COVID-19 in 2Q20 and Production at our underground mines remains broadly in line with plan, despite a reduction in the number of workers on site. The impact on our open pit gold mines has been greater, as mining activities had to cease for around six weeks, although processing continued. Did Fresnillo get a special deal?

Mexico has long been notorious for rampant government corruption, and such a giant mining company has to have high-level political connections. Another Mexican mining giant, Industrias Penoles which spun off Fresnillo back in May 2008, also reported a mere 4.6% YoY decline in silver output last quarter. That stable production through the lockdown orders sure seems suspicious given other miners collapsing output.

The SIL top 15s gold output wasnt slammed as hard as silver in Q2, falling 17.8% YoY to hit 1.2m ounces. That was also a new low out of the last 17 quarters. Gold production was more resilient than silver output partially because these companies gold mines generally arent quite as concentrated in Mexico and Peru as their silver operations. But it also reflects the traditional silver miners ongoing shift into gold.

Recent years prevailing gold and silver prices have made the former much more profitable to mine, so the SIL top 15 have long been shifting more resources into expanding gold production. Ive analyzed this in much detail in past essays on major silver miners quarterly results. The COVID-19 disruptions arent likely to accelerate that strategic change, but they did drive the major silver miners silver purity to new lows.

Last quarter the SIL top 15 only averaged 34.5% of their quarterly revenues from silver, the lowest levels in at least 17 quarters. The only major primary silver miners left are First Majestic with 86.0% of its Q2 sales from silver and Silvercorp Metals at 65.6%. The formers silver purity is abnormally high because its gold production plunged even more than silver in Q2. As output resumes, that should return near Q1s 61.5%.

While COVID-19 national lockdowns ravaged Q2 silver output, thankfully those heavy-handed reactions to this pandemic have largely ended. Governments started realizing the economic, social, political, and health damage from garroting their economies is vastly worse than anything COVID-19 could do. So they are unlikely to order more blanket lockdowns in the future, instead narrowly targeting any to outbreak areas.

A common theme in the SIL top 15s Q2 reports is that most of their silver mines started ramping back up before Q2 ended. So that staggering production hit is likely an isolated anomaly limited to Q2. While Q3 output may be marginally weaker with some mines not yet running full-speed for the entire quarter, odds are Q4 will be back to normal. Thus major silver miners fundamentals should radically improve going forward.

In silver mining, output and costs are inversely proportional. The more silver mined, the more ounces to spread this industrys big fixed costs across. Those generally dont change much from quarter to quarter regardless of prevailing silver prices. Quarter after quarter individual mines require the same levels of infrastructure, equipment, and employees to feed their fixed-capacity mills. So lower outputs mean higher unit costs.

And that doesnt even include all the new costs for managing this pandemic, something the silver miners have never had to do. Testing for the virus, quarantining the afflicted, and relentlessly social distancing and cleaning to limit its spread all require more resources and people. So silver-mining operating costs had to increase with these many new COVID-19 burdens, completely independent from silver production.

Cash costs are the classic measure of silver-mining costs, including all cash expenses necessary to mine each ounce of silver. But they are misleading as a true cost measure, excluding the big capital needed to explore for silver deposits and build mines. So cash costs are best viewed as survivability acid-test levels for the major silver miners. They illuminate the minimum silver prices necessary to keep the mines running.

In Q220 the SIL-top-15 major silver miners reported average cash costs of $7.53, which merely climbed 9.5% YoY. That wasnt even the top of the 17-quarter range running from $5.67 to $7.97. So despite all those government-imposed operating restrictions, cash costs didnt soar proportionally with the cratering silver output. And silver miners face no existential threat with silver averaging an impressive $23.44 so far in Q3!

All-in sustaining costs are far superior than cash costs, and were introduced by the World Gold Council in June 2013. They add on to cash costs everything else that is necessary to maintain and replenish silver-mining operations at current output tempos. AISCs give a much-better understanding of what it really costs to keep silver mines as ongoing concerns, and reveal the major silver miners true operating profitability.

Incredibly the elite silver miners did such a good job holding the line on costs that Q2s collapsing output didnt lead to proportionally-higher AISCs. The SIL top 15 reporting these averaged only $12.21 last quarter, merely up 6.1% YoY! That was amazingly in the lower half of their 17-quarter range running from $10.63 to $15.36. With silver again averaging $16.36 in Q2, that implies sector profitability of $4.15 per ounce.

Astoundingly that actually grew a healthy 23.1% YoY from Q219s earnings! That is certainly unexpected given the COVID-19 lockdowns gutting these miners silver and gold production. But quarterly average silver and gold prices climbing about 10% and 31% YoY really helped. And some companies shrewdly delayed selling some of their silver mined in Q1, when the panic crushed silver to deep 10.9-year secular lows. Related: Latin American Remittances Defy COVID Predictions

They deferred those silver sales into Q2, when silver rebounded strongly to much-higher prices. So the SIL top 15s financial results were nowhere near as bad as their cratering silver production suggested. And that industry implied profitability should improve dramatically in coming quarters. Silver production levels recovering, stable-to-lower AISCs, and much-higher prevailing silver prices should drive soaring earnings.

Again silver has averaged a lofty $23.44 so far in Q3. Assuming SIL-top-15 AISCs retreat modestly this quarter back to their past-year average of $11.90, that implies the major silver miners could be earning an enormous $11.54 per ounce in this current quarter. That would catapult Q320 profits a whopping 85.2% higher YoY! The major silver miners fundamental trough hit and passed last quarter with the lockdowns.

On the hard financial-results front under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles reported to securities regulators, or their foreign equivalents, the major silver miners reported a much-better Q2 financially than their operating results implied. The SIL top 15s total revenues only fell 10.3% YoY to $3.2b, much better than 26%-lower silver and 18%-lower gold output indicated thanks to Q2s higher precious-metals prices.

Again last quarters $16.36 average silver prices were 9.9% better than Q219s, and golds record $1714 average soared a massive 30.9% YoY. As the major silver miners silver and gold outputs rebound, their revenues are going to blast higher. Last quarters collective earnings from the SIL top 15 added up to a fairly-small $69m. But that was still much better than the $120m total loss they reported a year earlier in Q219.

Operating-cash-flow generation proved strong in Q220, bucking the operational weakness to soar 46.4% YoY to $815m. That helped the major silver miners grow their collective cash hoards by 32.0% to $3.1b. With the unprecedented challenges plaguing this industry last quarter, the SIL top 15s financial results proved incredibly resilient. That shows this sector has a strong fundamental foundation for big future upside.

Given governments heavy-handed extended lockdowns in major silver-producing countries, Q220 couldve been a disaster for the silver miners. Having a quarter to half of their output shuttered was an unprecedented operational shock! Yet the SIL top 15 still reported solid financial results as higher silver prices and much-higher gold prices helped offset some of the adverse impacts of that shut-in production.

The silver miners have huge earnings-growth potential at the higher prevailing silver prices seen in Q3. As their silver production normalizes with the universal lockdowns behind us, big additional gains are sure fundamentally justified in the silver stocks. Despite SIL skyrocketing 176.9% in its first post-panic upleg, this bulls next upleg is likely to prove big too. But silver stocks first have to bleed off extreme overboughtness.

All bull markets naturally flow then ebb, taking two steps forward before retreating one step back. Their price action gradually meanders around uptrends. This normal upleg-correction pattern keeps sentiment balanced, extending bull markets longevity. And it is a huge boon for traders, offering excellent mid-bull opportunities to buy relatively low before later selling relatively high. That greatly expands bulls potential gains!

The bottom line is major silver miners suffered an exceedingly-challenging Q2. Extended national lockdown orders in major silver-producing countries slashed many silver miners outputs by a quarter to a half! Yet these companies still managed to keep production costs in check. Higher prevailing silver and gold prices offset a big chunk of that, driving surprisingly-solid Q2 financial results given these crazy circumstances.

The silver miners were quick to restart operations once the lockdowns passed, and are ramping outputs back to full-speed. That should lower costs, which along with much-higher silver prices should greatly amplify profits going forward. So big additional silver-stock gains are fully justified fundamentally. This sector just has to work off its overboughtness first, through a healthy sentiment-rebalancing correction.

Adam Hamilton

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Detective Superintendent Rob Critchlow said the man's family and a neighbour attempted CPR, followed by emergency officers, but he was severely injured and died at the scene.

Fares Abounader, 39, was returning to his home on Wall Avenue, Panania, shortly before midnight after an evening of leisure when an unidentified assailant sprang from the darkness and fired several shots.

Police are warning motorcycle gangs not to engage in tit-for-tat violence after a Comanchero associate was shot dead out the front of his family home on Saturday night in what is believed to have been a targeted kill.

Mr Abounader was a former ally of former Comanchero leader Mick Hawi and faced jail time over an airport brawl between rival bikies in 2009 which led to the death of Hells Angel member Anthony Zervas.

Meanwhile, Hawi was shot dead outside a gym in Rockdale in 2018. Two men are facing trial for the alleged murder.

"The shooting was very calculated, very deliberate and quite brazen when you consider this was a nice suburban street and was out the front of a family home," Superintendent Critchlow said.

"There may have been some changes in that recently, which we're still investigating, and there may have been some impacts from that, but the information to date doesn't point us in any particular direction.

"Often these sorts of crimes result in tit-for-tat behaviour and we stress on anyone who's considering doing that to refrain because it will only make the situation worse."
To onlookers, it may have appeared Parliament was overtaken by the Brady Bunch this week.

The chambers were host not only to the politicians seated on their benches but television screens with a checkerboard of faces as, for the first time, members and senators were allowed to join via videolink.

MPs appearing remotely via video conference during question time. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

In the lower house, 19 members contributed virtually throughout the week, mostly from Victoria and Queensland where quarantine rules made it impractical for many to travel to Canberra. They started off with deputy Labor leader Richard Marles and government backbencher Russell Broadbent asking questions on Monday.

By Thursday, absent MPs were contributing to the full gamut of chamber business: speaking on legislation, asking questions, making 90-second statements, responding to committee reports and even raising a point of order during question time.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29

By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Uzbekistan increased to 40,823, Trend reports with reference to the statistics of the Uzbek Ministry of Health.

To date, 37,947 patients have fully recovered in the country, while 305 have died.

Under the instructions of president of Uzbekistan, unlimited movement of vehicles, as well as local air and rail travel in Uzbekistan, was resumed since August 15, 2020. Also, from August 17, 2020, Tashkent resumed public transportation.

Citizens are required to wear masks when entering public transport (buses).

Meanwhile, from August 20, 2020, clothing and building material markets, large shops, gyms, fitness clubs, and swimming pools resumed operations.

The first case of coronavirus infection in Uzbekistan was detected on March 15 in the laboratory of the Research Institute of Virology; it was an Uzbek woman who returned from France. The Ministry of Health later announced that her son, daughter, husband, and grandson also tested positive for coronavirus.

The outbreak in the Chinese Wuhan city - which is an international transport hub - began at a fishing market in late December 2019.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.

Uzbekistan as an active member of the WHO European Regional Office has joined the Coronavirus vaccination program.

---

Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.29

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Negotiations to resume international flights are underway, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said.

Hajiyev made the remark at the briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers held on Aug. 29, Trend reports.

He added that an appeal has been made to German Lufthansa to resume the Baku-Frankfurt flight.

According to him, appeals were received from other airlines, and negotiations are held to resume flights with various countries.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for calm after tensions between police and protesters in Soweto. The clashes come after the alleged police killing of a 16-year-old boy with Down syndrome. Also, Tanzania bans three more Kenyan airlines from entering its airspace. It's a tit-for-tat measure after Kenya imposed a 14-day quarantine for Tanzanian travellers. And we take a look at the situation of African domestic workers stranded in Lebanon. Many have become jobless and homeless since the economic crisis there. Our guest is the founder of an NGO for migrant rights.
California gave two Bay Area counties the green light to partially reopen some indoor businesses starting Monday, but only one is moving forward. Napa officials said businesses will be able to reopen next week at 25% capacity. Meanwhile, San Francisco had no immediate plans to loosen restrictions, and some business owners are seeing red.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said that individual counties can move slower than state guidelines allow, and San Francisco has consistently been more conservative than the rest of the state. But with mounting business pressure to reopen faster  including a protest outside City Hall on Tuesday  and widespread retail and restaurant closures, officials face difficult challenges trying to balance public and economic health.

San Francisco and Napa are the only two Bay Area counties with a less restrictive classification under the states new coronavirus reopening plan. That status allows some indoor businesses to operate at 25% capacity.

Jeff Cretan, a spokesman for San Francisco Mayor London Breed, said the city will update its reopening guidelines next week.

Napa County allowed indoor dining earlier this summer but shuttered restaurants again in July when cases rose. Officials plan to release guidelines this weekend for business to reopen, said Janet Upton, spokeswoman for the county. It was removed from the states coronavirus watch list, a now-abandoned system that restricted business reopenings, last week as infection rates dropped.

Laurie Thomas, executive director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, said the states designation of San Francisco as an area with fewer restrictions, combined with lack of clarity from officials, led to widespread confusion on Friday. Some restaurant owners erroneously assumed that restaurants could resume some indoor dining immediately, and she fielded about a dozen phone calls after the states announcement from people seeking clarification.

We really need clarity, she said, urging city officials to tell indoor businesses definitively that they cant reopen yet.

Sharing this information is going to create false hope, Thomas said of the states new system. A lot of us are struggling for financial survival. The ability to do indoor dining at 25% would make a huge difference.

Napa County and San Francisco are listed as red under the states new system, which means officials there can allow indoor dining at reduced capacity. But, Thomas said, health data must support that partially reopening indoors is safe.

Thomas said restaurants need as much advance notice as possible and detailed reopening instructions to plan worker schedules and not waste perishable food in anticipation of an indoor reopening. There also needs to be better coordination between the state and city, she said.

We all need to work much closer as a team, she said. Im just very frustrated.

San Francisco is currently reviewing the states new tiered system for reopening and how it impacts the citys future reopening. However, any changes in San Francisco are still subject to the decisions of our local public health officials, Breed said in a statement. Nothing has changed today here in San Francisco based on the states new system.

The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce said restaurants have been particularly hard-hit by shutdowns, despite having the option to do outdoor dining. Credit card data show that restaurant sales were down 84% in July from the previous year, and that more than half of the citys restaurants arent currently completing credit card sales, suggesting they are closed.

In the Financial District, restaurant owner Olivier Azancot said hes more concerned about the overall lack of foot traffic in the neighborhood, due to the closures of nearby offices and hotels, than the potential for indoor dining.

People are not coming out because of COVID in this neighborhood, so even 25% of the business inside wouldnt make a difference, he said. The funny part is right now were not allowed to have indoor dining and then outdoor dining is tough because of the air quality.

Azancots restaurants are on Belden Place, a small stretch between Bush and Pine streets, and while his outdoor dining space has the occasional crowd of diners, he said, its rarely full.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Theres just nobody around to sustain anything, he said.

The overlap of state and local regulations and constantly evolving public health guidelines have made it difficult for business owners to understand what they are allowed to do. Everybody wants to follow the rules, but it can be hard to follow what the current rules are. Its going to be critical for our local public health officials to be crystal-clear about what is permissible and safe, Jay Cheng, the chambers public policy director, said in a statement.

Some personal care business and gym owners, whose firms have been shuttered since mid-March, have said San Franciscos shutdown orders are too restrictive. They held a protest on Tuesday outside City Hall.

The city has announced no plans for how they are going to reopen the dying fitness industry and when, Dave Karraker, a gym owner who represents a coalition of similar businesses, said in a statement Friday.

Shortly before the new state system was announced, Breed said barbershops, gyms and nail salons can begin operating outdoors in the city Tuesday. She confirmed that those reopenings would proceed separately from the states new plan.

Cretan said the city has sought to limit the spread of the coronavirus with its shutdown measures so businesses wouldnt be forced to close shortly after reopening if cases rise.

We have to prioritize public health, he said.

Chronicle staff writer Justin Phillips contributed to this report.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
Turkey uses drinking water as weapon of war against civilians in Syria's Hasakah: UN envoy

Iran Press TV

Friday, 28 August 2020 9:00 AM

Syria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Bashar al-Jaafari says Turkey uses drinking war as a weapon of war against ordinary people in the country's northeastern province of Hasakah.

"The sufferings of people in the Jazira Region are neither limited to the criminal practices of Daesh nor the crimes being committed by the illegal international coalition, which loots Syria's resources. Their ordeal is escalated by the crimes of US and Turkish troops and those of their associated separatist militants and members of terrorist groups," Jaafari said during a virtual UN Security Council session on the situation in Syria on Thursday.

The Syrian diplomat noted that more than one million civilians in Hasakah and surrounding neighborhoods are thirsty, suffering from the lack of drinking water for more than 20 days.

Jaafari added that Turkish forces and their allied terrorists have cut off water from the Allouk station, located near the border town of Ra's al-Ayn, and feeding wells more than 16 times.

He went on to say that even though the US-led military coalition has recently admitted to the killing of at least 1,377 civilians since 2014, the matter will go unnoticed as long as Belgium and Germany are the so-called Syria humanitarian co-penholders at the Security Council.

The Syrian UN ambassador emphasized that the Damascus government and Syrian humanitarian organizations are carrying their responsibilities in the face of Turkey's water supply cuts in Hasakah, but deployment of US and Turkish forces to the area is impeding the process.

Jaafari added that terrorists, in line with the policies of states hostile to Syria, blew up the Arab Gas Pipeline between the towns of Ad Dumayr and Adra a few days ago, causing a blackout across Syria.

"The terrorist attack carried out by US-sponsored terrorist groups in al-Tanf region is only a fraction of the economic terrorism that has been ongoing against Syria," he said.

"The economic terrorism is being practiced by some UN member states against Syria through imposition of unilateral coercive measures, including the so-called Caesar Act, besides crimes being committed by their allied separatist militants and terrorists to plunder Syria's crude oil, natural gas, antiquities as well as agricultural crops, and to destroy civilian infrastructure," Jaafari noted.

Syria's official news agency SANA reported late on Thursday that water pumping resumed in Hasakah after "government efforts and international pressure" on Turkey.

On October 9, 2019, Turkish forces and Ankara-backed militants launched a cross-border invasion of northeastern Syria in a declared attempt to push Kurdish militants affiliated with the so-called People's Protection Units (YPG) away from border areas.

Ankara views the YPG, which is supported by the White House, as a terrorist organization tied to the homegrown Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been seeking an autonomous Kurdish region in Turkey since 1984.

Two weeks after the invasion began, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a memorandum of understanding that asserted the YPG had to withdraw from the Turkish-controlled "safe zone" in northeastern Syria within 150 hours, after which Ankara and Moscow would run joint patrols around the area. The patrols have come under attacks by militants ever since.

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BENGALURU: A 3,200-acre industrial park would be set up in Karnataka's Kolar after acquiring the huge land from the defunct state-run Bharat Gold Mines Ltd (BGML), a state minister said on Friday.

"We are in discussions with the Centre to acquire the unused land, owned by Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) of BGML, to set up an industrial park in Kolar," state Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar told reporters here.

Shettar initiated talks with Union Minister for Mines Pralhad Joshi here as BGML is a central public sector undertaking. KGF is about 100 km east of Bengaluru.

Joshi, who also holds the coal and parliamentary affairs portfolios, is the ruling BJP`s Lok Sabha member from Dharwad in the state`s northwest region.

"The state mines and geology department will survey the land in six months to ensure that it no longer has natural resources (gold mines) beneath it," said Shettar.

The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) will acquire the land from the Union Ministry of Mines for setting up the industrial park, which will be strategically located 90 km from the Bengaluru airport, 260 km from the Chennai seaport and 315 km from the Krishnapatanam port in Nellore in Andhra Pradesh.

"Amid the Covid pandemic, the state has attracted investment proposals valued at Rs 31,677 crore in the last five months, with potential to generate 65,459 direct jobs in diverse industrial verticals," asserted Shettar.

Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa recently unveiled the state`s new industrial policy for the next five years (2020-2025) to attract more investments from across the country and overseas.

"The industrial policy offers incentives and regulatory framework for acquiring land and ease of doing business," Shettar pointed out.

The state government has also amended the Karnataka Industrial Facilitation Act (2002) to allow industries commence operations on getting necessary approvals and without waiting for multiple clearances from the state agencies.
New Delhi: In yet another big move by the Narendra Modi government in the backdrop of an ongoing conflict with China in eastern Ladakh, India on Saturday said that it will not take part in the multinational military exercise Kavkaz-2020 in Russia.

New Delhi has conveyed to Russia that its troops would not be participating in the multinational military exercise Kavkaz-2020 in which the Chinese and Pakistani troops will also participate.

The government has also taken into account the worsening global COVID-19 situation where India alone is witnessing over 70,000 positive cases daily to take a decision regarding participation in the wargames being held in the Astrakhan area of Southern Russia.

"A high-level meeting was held in South Block in which External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat were present. After the meeting, it was discussed that it would not be right to take part in the multilateral exercise where Chinese and Pakistani military personnel would also be present," defence sources said.

Sources said while India is locked in a military conflict with the Chinese in eastern Ladakh and on high alert all along the 4,000 kilometre Line of Actual Control (LAC), it cannot be business as usual for New Delhi to be participating in multilateral military exercises with them.

Later, the Defence Ministry issued a statement which read, "Russia and India are close and privileged strategic partners. At Russia's invitation, India has been participating in many international events. However, in view of Pandemic and consequent difficulties in exercise, including arrangements of logistics, India has decided not to send a contingent this year to Kavkaz-2020. The same has been informed to the Russian side.

India and China had clashed in the Galwan valley on June 15 in which 20 Indian troops had lost their lives while the Chinese also suffered a number of casualties with scores of Chinese soldiers killed and injured there.

Sources said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh would be visiting Russia on September 4-6 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation defence ministers` meeting but it is unlikely that the Indian representative would be holding any talks with his Chinese counterpart.

During the meeting, India may raise the point of expansionist policies of the Chinese along the Indian border but a final decision in this regard would be taken closer to the event, sources said.

India was invited by Russia to participate in the tri-services exercise with a contingent of around 200 personnel to Southern Russia in September for the multi-lateral Kavkaz-2020.

The exercise is being held in the Astrakhan province of Southern Russia where member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Central Asian countries would be participating.

Exercise Tsentr last year had the participation of India, Pakistan and all SCO member-nations. India and China have been engaged in a territorial conflict in Eastern Ladakh and Sub Sector North (Ladakh) where Chinese troops have transgressed into multiple areas and are refusing to completely disengage in areas such as Finger, Depsang Plains and Gogra heights.

Both sides have amassed over 40,000 troops on their respective side of the LAC with the induction of heavy weaponry including long-range artillery and tanks.
Next month, Elena Gaudino will fly from New York to Las Vegas, rent an SUV and drive to the Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park and other desert destinations. The 10-day road trip stands in for her favourite annual tradition  Burning Man, the Nevada arts festival that was cancelled this year because of the pandemic  and gives her something to look forward to after a coronavirus-induced travel dry spell.

Now she is itching to trade her Brooklyn apartment for the wide-open spaces of the American Southwest. But unlike in years past, Gaudino will post no requests for restaurant recommendations on Facebook, nor will she swap excited texts with friends detailing her itinerary. Aside from her husband and their two travel companions  and, now, readers of The New York Times  Gaudino has no plans to tell anyone about her trip.

Some people believe youre selfish for leaving your home unless its to get groceries, said Gaudino, 34, a communications consultant. Id rather avoid potential altercations and I can go into this experience with a clear mind: Im taking all the mandated precautions, I know the risk.

Sharing the details about where weve travelled has always been a way to transmit our values, tastes and means  look no further than the postcards of the 19th century or the Kodak carousels of the 1960s and 70s. Then came Instagram, a decade ago, to turbocharge the practice. And while technology has made it easy to keep up with loved ones during this period of physical distance, there is one topic being withheld from conversations and hidden from social media: vacations. For a variety of reasons related to the pandemic, some travellers are content to let the tree fall in the forest, so to speak, without a single soul around to hear it.

In addition to protecting your self-image and reputation, a main reason people keep secrets is to protect relationships and avoid conflicts, said Michael Slepian, a Columbia Business School associate professor who studies secrecy. People often think, You know, life would just be easier if I didnt have that fight with my parents, so Im not going to let them know about my trip. 

In the past couple of years, the concept of flight shaming  originally coined as flygskam by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg  has gained momentum as part of an anti-air-travel environmental movement. Today, mid-pandemic, general travel shaming could also take off.

Two-thirds of the nearly 4,000 Americans surveyed in June by Ketchum Travel, a public relations agency, said they would judge others for travelling before its considered safe. Half expected to censor their social media posts to avoid being travel shamed themselves. Compare that with last year, when about 80 per cent of the 1,300 respondents in a Skift Research survey said they posted trip photos on social media.

The pandemic presents a unique case of travel entering the moral sphere, because there are two things that happen when you travel: The first is that I put myself at risk, and the second is by virtue of putting myself at risk, I could be spreading coronavirus to other people, said Jillian Jordan, a Harvard Business School assistant professor who studies moral psychology.

All it took for Lauren Pearlman, who lives in Gainesville, Fla., to discover what she called a friends shame-cation was some shrewd digital sleuthing. One hint? A rogue Instagram post  depicting a lake cottage in a decidedly vacation-y setting  by the friends husband.

I feel like it compromises our friendship because it exposes very different philosophical approaches to the pandemic, said Pearlman, 37, a history professor at the University of Florida. And if youre going to go on vacation, then own it and say that you are. If you dont feel like you can advertise it, then obviously you arent positive its the ethical thing to do.

Jordan said the pandemic  thanks to its unprecedented nature in modern times and patchwork of geography-based restrictions  remains a grey area for ethical norms. Whereas most people would agree that shoplifting is unacceptable, for example, so far there is no universally agreed-upon consensus about whether or not to travel.

Some people think any trips of any kind are bad; others, meanwhile, are off flying to hot spots, Jordan said. If you think its fine to travel and some people dont think its fine  but youre not persuaded by the opposing argument  you may feel motivated to hide your behaviour.

That can be true even when travellers feel confident theyre taking proper health precautions. Gaudino plans to stay in Airbnbs and campgrounds; except for grocery shopping  while wearing a face mask  she will not participate in any public indoor activities. To prepare for a 14-day quarantine upon her return, required by New York for anyone coming from states like Arizona and California, she has stocked her fridge and pantry with long-lasting provisions.

Catharine Jones, 39, also prioritized hygiene and safety when in June she drove with her family from their home in Rochester, Minn., to a lake about three and a half hours north. They stayed in-state, wore masks and bunked in a self-contained cabin.

Watching her children  ages two, four and seven  play happily by the lake at dusk, she did what many parents might do: She took a photograph and posted it on Instagram.

Right after I posted it, I thought, Wait a second, said Jones, a journalist. Am I going to be judged for doing this? Are people going to say, Wait, you left your house? The second thing that ran through my mind was an awareness of how lucky we are: to travel, to be able to spend money, to have a leisurely weekend.

Though she was not chided for that post, Jones realized that she wants to keep her next trip  another private in-state road trip with little, if any, contact with strangers  to herself.

Were living in this moment when long-standing inequities are particularly stark and the dividing line is between people whose lives remain relatively normal and people whose lives have been completely turned upside down by this pandemic, she said. I feel like vacation pictures signal to the world, Hey! This isnt so bad! And it has been really that bad for many, many, many people.

The question of what, if anything, to publish on social media is even more complex for travel influencers, whose incomes rely on trips. Some are concerned about backlash from an audience of thousands; others are mulling over how to depict travel responsibly.

As travel storytellers, our influence can sometimes be a double-edged sword, because while we may have influenced someone to travel to a certain place, we cant control what they do when they get there, said Oneika Raymond, a New York-based TV host and travel expert. Keeping trips quieter might just keep intense wanderlust, and subsequently these transgressions, at bay.

Although there are obvious benefits to digitally detaching  Gaudino, for one, is looking forward to a trip without a mad dash for Wi-Fi  sneaky trips may have other drawbacks.

Secrecy can still be hard even in the absence of shame and guilt, because you want to share your experiences with others, Slepian said. Even before the vacation you can get a lot of joy just from talking about it, and this is the real reason secrecy is so difficult: It deprives yourself from a way to connect with other people.

Yet it was secrecy that allowed Sonia Chopra, a Brooklyn-based food editor, to find joy in her wedding last month  a weekend in upstate New York in lieu of what had been planned as a blowout bash in Atlanta. Out of the 350 original guests, only her parents and a couple of close friends knew about the trip.

She didnt want to endure a barrage of questions: Did she go away? (Yes; to Tarrytown, N.Y.) Did she stay at a hotel? (Yes; Tarrytown House Estate, which has a slew of COVID-19 measures.) Did she and her husband dine out? (Yes; at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, an upscale restaurant offering a contactless outdoor picnic where everything is preordered online, including bottled cocktails.)

Although we were being very safe and very careful, we wanted to make sure that nothing put a pall on our day, said Chopra, 31. Were taking this very seriously, but people in very well-meaning ways can sometimes ask questions that can make you feel badly, and we were trying really hard to make sure the weekend felt special.
The Director of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Animal Research Institute (ARI), Dr E.D.O. Ansa, has clarified that officials of the institute are not involved in the illegal sale of the institutes land at Katamanso, near Adenta, in the Greater Accra Region.

He said the management of the institute had rather taken bold steps to protect the state asset.



Dr Ansa said reports in the media that suggested that officials of the institute were fuelling illegal sale of the state lands were unfounded.



Recall



The Daily Graphic on August 8, 2020, carried a story in which the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, fingered the officials of CSIR-Animal Research Institute (CSIR-ARI) in the sale of CSIR-ARI lands.





In that story, the paper indicated that the Director of CSIR-ARI, Dr E.D.O. Ansa declined to speak to the issues when he was contacted for his side of the story.



However, in a release sent to the Daily Graphic last Tuesday, Dr Ansa said: The CSIR-ARI fully supports the intention of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to go all out to reclaim these lands and to demolish illegal structures within the walls of CSIR-ARI so that the purpose for which government acquired this land can be fully realised.



Illegal occupants



Dr Ansa explained that the illegal occupants of those CSIR-ARI lands were known faces that could be traced.



Two chiefs of Nii Adjetey Obour Bour Family of Teshie and Anum Yemo Family of La are responsible for the encroachment of CSIR-ARI land, and they have not made a secret of this as they showed up on July 30, 2020, at the Oyibi Police Station to defend their claim to the land in the presence of a CSIR lawyer, he said.



He added that: This invitation by the police was made when the Anum Yemo Family physically tried to restrain CSIR-ARI staff from digging trenches to stop the entry of big trucks carrying sand and stone to further their encroachment activity.



Other actions



Dr Ansa explained that the CSIR-ARI had previously taken steps on the encroachment activities including putting up notices in the newspapers to warn the unsuspecting public from purchasing the state lands.



For instance, there have been publications in the Daily Graphic of March 1, 2001; March 7, 2006; June 25, 2009; June 24, 2011 and many others in the Ghanaian Times, he said.



He said the institute had also gone to court (Suit No. FAL/103/12) and obtained a Writ of Possession (WP16/2014) to demolish illegal structures within its walls.



Clarification



Dr Ansa explained that the Ministers visit was unannounced so I asked a staff with the Oyibi Police Patrol Team to find out who had entered CSIR-ARI premises through a route opened by encroachers. The time delay caused by this verification process made the unannounced visitor unhappy but an explanation was given to him eventually.



He added that the management of CSIR-ARI had already initiated processes to clamp down on the activities of the illegal occupants at the time of the ministers visit.



The Police patrol team the convoy of the minister met on the day of the visit was there to apprehend encroachers on the invitation of the Director, Dr E.D.O. Ansa, he added.







Source: Graphic.com.gh









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

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A picture of a Chinese soldier's grave killed in Galwan valley is going viral on social media. The picture of a tombstone identifying a Chinese soldier was shared on Chinese social media platform and is perhaps the first possible evidence of any Chinese casualty in violent Glawan valley clash on June 15.

The image was shared on a military forum describing in detail about the tombstone of the soldier, identified as Chen Xiangrong. The picture gained traction in India with many Twitter users sharing it widely.

Written in Mandarin, the epitaph reads, "Tomb of Chen Xiangro. Soldier of the 69316 troops, from Pingnan, Fujian. He sacrificed his life in the struggle against Indias border troops in June 2020 and was posthumously remembered by the Central Military Commission." The tombstone also says that the soldier who was KIA was born in December 2001 and was just 19-year-old.

Reports are there that the Chinese soldier who put a photo of the tomb has been sent to jail by the Xi Jinping government of China.

So far, there has been no response from the Chinese government or the Army on the existence of the alleged tombstone, whose picture has gone viral on social media.

At least 20 Indian soldiers, including the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar infantry regiment Colonel B Santosh Babu, lost their lives in the PLA ambush.

The India-China standoff in eastern Ladakh started in early May and the deadlock continues with heavy mobilisation on both sides despite several rounds of disengagement talks between both sides.
BJP MP Ravi Kisan said on Saturday that he wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he speculated that Sushants Singh Rajput death was a planned murder, not suicide.

Sushant Singh Rajputs death is a riddle for everyone The entire nation is still stunned with the news of his untimely death.His fans, family, friends are still mourning over the irreplaceable loss. As it has been more than 2 months since his demise, apart from Mumbai Police, Bihar Police, Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau Of Investigation ,now Narcotics Control Bureau too got involved after the newly emerged drug-angle. The drug-angle has put Rhea Chakraborty under inspection along with other friends like Samuel Miranda and Siddharth Pithani.

Now, BJP MP Ravi Kisan on Saturday said he has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he speculated that Sushants Singh Rajputs death was a planned murder and not suicide. Referring to the recent developments into the investigation held by the CBI, Ravi Kisan said Sushants death is the biggest mystery and the questions surrounding this case need to be answered.

Ravi Kishan told ANI, I have written a letter to the Prime Minister. I still feel its a murder, not a suicide. Sushants death is the biggest mystery. Who killed him and how was he lying dead? All these questions need to be answered. It will bring relief to his old father if truth gets revealed soon. Further speaking about the drug-angle, Kishan said, If such (drug) parties are going around in Bollywood then definitely those peddlers must be caught and put behind bars. India is a country of youths and drug influences the youths.

ALSO READ : Sushant Singh Rajput death case LIVE news updates: CA Sandip joins Rhea and others for CBI interrogation

He further added, I used to think that people in the film industry were conscious about their health and would not indulge in these things but I soon learnt that several people were involved. Narcotics Control Bureau should also look into this as soon as possible. They should track where the drugs came from and how they are moved around the country. These drugs ruin the lives of the younger generation and destroy the lives of talented Bollywood actors.

ALSO READ : CBI should arrest Rhea Chakraborty immediately, says JDU leader Sanjay Singh
By Robert Muller

PRAGUE (Reuters) - The head of the Czech Senate travelled to Taiwan on Saturday for a rare trip by a senior foreign official that has angered China, which considers the island a breakaway province ineligible for state-to-state relations.

Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil said his visit would promote business links with Taiwan, and that the Czech Republic would not bow to Beijing's objections.

"You cannot accept being someone's servant, because if you do, then when you obey once, it's assumed that you obey every time," Vystrcil told Reuters ahead of the trip.

Vystrcil said his visit underscored the "values-based" foreign policy put in place by late President Vaclav Havel, an anti-communist dissident and personal friend of the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama.

The delegation is due to meet President Tsai Ing-wen and other top officials in Taiwan, where strict coronavirus measures will be observed during the meetings.

For Taiwan, the Czech visit is a welcome sign of support amid growing tensions with China.

"Taiwan and the Czech Republic both share the universal values of democracy, freedom and human rights," Johnson Chiang, head of the European Affairs Office at Taiwan's Foreign Ministry's, told reporters this week.

Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar went to Taiwan in the highest-level visit by a U.S. official in four decades.

Vystrcil's trip has further complicated relations between China and the EU country.

Czech President Milos Zeman has sought closer business and political ties with China since taking office in 2013, but his efforts have been hit by failed investment plans and Czech wavering about allowing China's Huawei Technologies to play a role in developing next-generation telecoms networks.

China warned of possible consequences for Czech companies with Chinese operations when Vystrcil's predecessor started planning a trip to the self-ruled island.

"Such a visit is deliberately undermining the political foundation between China and the Czech Republic, we condemn such a despicable act," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Thursday.

(Additional reporting by Cate Cadell in BEIJING and Ben Blanchard in TAIPEI; Writing by Jan Lopatka and Robert Muller; Editing by Helen Popper)
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Oakland City Hall on Friday night to protest police killings and racial injustice.

Protesters marched and rode bicycles through Downtown Oakland, many of whom chanted, Whose streets? Our streets and No ICE, Black and brown must be free.

The protest happened two days after police said protesters set a fire inside of the Alameda County Superior Court at 1225 Fallon Street in Oakland, shattered windows of multiple businesses and set fire to trash cans. Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered in Oakland on Wednesday night to demand justice in the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who Wisconsin state investigators said was shot multiple times, including in the back, by a white police officer in Kenosha. Blake is paralyzed.

A projection of the phrase Wakanda Forever  a nod to Marvels Black Panther film  was displayed on a building to honor Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, who died on Friday from cancer. The projection changed momentarily to a number that people can call to learn about registering to vote.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

The demonstration comes on the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his iconic, I have a Dream speech at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963.

Noting the anniversary, police urged organizers of the gatherings to remain peaceful and said police will continue to facilitate peaceful protests and demonstrations in our city.

Police said one person was arrested shortly before 9:30 p.m. for pointing a laser at officers. Police said Penal Code 417.25 makes it a misdemeanor crime to use a laser scope or laser pointer at another person in a threatening manner. If convicted, police said the person could face up to 30 days in jail.

Police deployed smoke bombs into a crowd near Broadway and 24th Street. One police officer, who did not identify himself to The Chronicle, said police had deployed a flashbang as a way to protect officers who were being assaulted by protesters while trying to arrest someone.

Protesters gathered on Clay Street next to shops at the City Center retail complex and faced a line of police officers, yelling OPD, back the f  up, before resuming a march south. A line of police officers followed at the back of the crowd.

Marchers circled more than twice around the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse at 1301 Clay St. as protesters called to shutdown the street. The buildings windows were boarded, and the structure was surrounded by a steel barricade. Some people broke off from the crowd and spray-painted the phrase, Black Lives and the symbol for anarchy.

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.

Oakland police tweeted that they celebrate passionate protest but said, organized groups that gather with the intent to cause damage harming our city and already vulnerable businesses will not be tolerated. Police concluded the tweet with the hashtag, OPDCARES.

Shortly before 10:30 p.m., Oakland police said a large group of protesters were blocking the roadway and marching southbound on Telegraph Avenue near MacArthur Boulevard. Police asked people to avoid the area.

In Sacramento on Friday night, police said protesters were shining lasers toward police officers and motorcycle officers were struck with rocks while monitoring the crowd.

Chronicle staff writer Lauren Hernandez contributed to this story.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
The media accreditation withdrawals came before another Belarus opposition march planned for Sunday

Belarusian authorities on Saturday withdrew the accreditation of several foreign media journalists, including AFP, ahead of the latest demonstration challenging the results of the presidential election.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, is facing unprecedented protests since the disputed August 9 election in which he claimed a landslide victory with 80 percent of the vote.

The opposition has rejected the results as manipulated, and has organised two major demonstrations this month and called for a large-scale protest on Sunday.

Government spokesman Anatoly Glaz said the decision to revoke the media accreditations was taken on the recommendation of the country's counter-terrorism unit.

He did not specify how many journalists were affected by the measure, but foreign media including the BBC and Radio Liberty reported the withdrawal of accreditation of several of their journalists.

A BBC spokesperson confirmed two BBC journalists working for its Russian service in Minsk had their press accreditation withdrawn with immediate effect.

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms this stifling of independent journalism. We call upon the Belarusian authorities to revoke this decision and allow our journalists to continue doing their jobs," the BBC said.

Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has fled to neighbouring Lithuania, an EU nation, after claiming she beat the 65-year-old Lukashenko at the polls and calling for the protests.

She called news about the withdrawn media accreditations extremely worrying.

"If true, it is another sign that this regime is morally bankrupt and the only way it will attempt to cling onto power is by fear and intimidation," she said in a statement.

"This tactic will not work. Belarusian people are not afraid any more. We will win. The darkest hour is always before the dawn."

The US embassy in Minsk also condemned the actions against journalists.

Story continues

"We stand with the Belarusian people in their aspirations for a democratic, prosperous future and support their call for the government of Belarus to carry out democratic reforms and respect human rights," it said.

The results of the presidential election have been rejected by the European Union, which is preparing sanctions against high-ranking Belarusian officials and has urged Lukashenko to set up a dialogue with the opposition.

Lukashenko, for his part, has refused to make any concessions and has denounced a Western plot to bring him down.

The demonstrations have sparked a violent police crackdown condemned by rights groups and Western leaders.

At least three people have died and hundreds have been wounded in the violence while nearly 7,000 have been arrested.

Several journalists working in Belarus have been briefly detained since the election.

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IndiGo completes replacing Pratt & Whitney engines in A320neo fleet

IndiGo has reportedly completed mandatory replacement of Pratt & Whitney (PW) engines with modified engines in Airbus A320neo planes it operates before the August 31, 2020 deadline set by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). IndiGo has 106 such A320neo aircraft fitted with PW engines in its fleet.

Coronavirus vaccine to be $6 billion market in India

The market for coronavirus vaccine in India could potentially be $6 billion in terms of sales for the coming three years. The public exchequer is expected to pay only about $2 billion to immunise just half the number of people needed to reach herd immunity levels, a global brokerage said. The report further adds that only 30 per cent of the country's approximately 1.3 billion population, would be immunised by the government with two doses. The remaining population will purchase the doses from the private market, it added.

China threatens to boycott iPhones, Apple products if 'WeChat' banned in US

China's foreign ministry spokesman has warned the United States authorities that Chinese consumers could ban or boycott iPhones, Apple products if WeChat is banned in the US. The statement comes after the US President Donald Trump announced a ban from next month for TikTok and WeChat accusing them of threatening national security.

COVID-19 impact: Coca-Cola to halve its operating units, offer voluntary separation to 4,000 workers

Coca-Cola Co on August 28 said it would nearly halve its operating units and offer voluntary separation to 4,000 workers including in the United States, as the world's largest beverage maker battles a hit to sales from the COVID-19 pandemic. The voluntary separation packages would also be offered to employees in Canada and Puerto Rico. The company will also cut jobs, but did not provide details on the total planned workforce reduction.

Decriminalising GST: Govt talks to industry bodies; rules to be overhauled

The government has kicked off mega overhaul of GST laws to decriminalise various offences. The move is set to bring cheers to the industry which has been complaining of harassment by tax authorities. Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax (DGGST) has written to some of the industry bodies seeking their inputs on decriminalisation of certain offences.

Elon Musk's net worth tops $100 billion, half of world's richest man Jeff Bezos

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Elon Musk's net worth topped $100 billion on Friday, according to the Forbes real-time billionaires list, as the shares of electric-car maker Tesla Inc see a more than five-fold surge in value this year. A large chunk of his wealth comes from the 21% stake in Tesla, according to Forbes. Tesla shares, which went public at $17 a piece in 2010, rose as much as 3.5% in morning trade to a record high of $2,318.49.
The Kano State Government says it has begun planting 2 million tree seedlings to control flood and desert encroachment in the state.

The states Commissioner for Environment, Kabiru Getso, made the disclosure while inspecting the monthly sanitation exercise on Saturday in Kano.

Mr Getso said the seedlings would be planted in reserves, parks, public places and other strategic locations to control flooding and enhance afforestation.

He said the state government would also construct about 40 drains and rehabilitate dilapidated ones in Kano metropolis and major towns, as part of flood control measures to protect the environment.

The commissioner noted that the exercise was imperative to control flooding sequel to the prediction of flood in 20 Local Government Areas of the state by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

The state government is planting two million tree seedlings, constructing and rehabilitating 40 drains. Desalting and waste clearance exercises were conducted to clear blocked waterways in the communities.

The government has not been idle in ensuring that the environment is clean, tidy and safe for human habitation.

Members of the community should join hands with the government to sanitise the environment; everybody is a stakeholder and should contribute to make the environment clean and safe, he said.

Commenting on the sanitation, Mr Getso expressed joy over the resumption of the exercise which had been suspended in the past four months due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

He said the ministry had done waste clearance and decontamination in markets, industries, parks, streets, places of worship and public places to stem further spread of the pandemic.

According to him, 20 defaulters were tried and fined by the Environmental Sanitation Mobile Court for flouting the rules on the exercise.

The ministry also distributed environmental sanitation kits to about 40 Community Based Organizations (CBOs), to encourage drain and waste clearance exercise in the society, he said.

The commissioner added that such exercises were imperative to control flood, malaria and protect the environment.

Mr Getso urged the people to desist from indiscriminate dumping of waste on waterways and keep a clean environment for sustainable development of the state.

He also called on sugarcane vendors to use waste bins for collection of the by-products and ensure proper packaging of the produce to protect public health.

ALSO READ:

Also speaking, Ibrahim Aminu, Chairman, Community Central Working Committee on Sanitation Exercise, lauded the state government for distributing sanitation kits to community associations in the state.

Mr Aminu said the gesture had encouraged drain and waste clearance and enhanced environmental cleanliness in the communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commissioner inspected the exercise at Obasanjo, IBB and Emir Palace Roads as well as Kofar Wambai, Kofar Mazugal, Kabuga, Abattoir and Sugar cane market, among others.

(NAN)
The Associated Press checks out some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. This one is bogus, even though it was shared widely on social media. Here are the facts:

CLAIM: Photos show four police officers who were injured by Democrats and Black Lives Matter rioters over the weekend in Portland, Seattle and nearby cities.

THE FACTS: The officers in the photos werent injured at U.S. protests  in fact, they were on the other side of the world.

The four photos in a post being shared on social media show police officers who sustained injuries in various parts of Australia in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2019. On Aug. 25, a grid of the four photos, featuring bloodied and bandaged police officers, was circulating widely on Facebook with more than 1,200 shares and 56,000 views.

50 police officers were injured by Dems and BLM rioters over the weekend in Portland Seattle and other nearby cities, the caption read. Pray for their safety.

However, research into the origin of the photos reveals they were all taken in Australia  and not over the weekend. The photo on the top left shows a police officer kneeling in the street with his hand on his knee and his forehead dripping blood. It can be traced to a September 2012 protest in Sydney, where demonstrations against a film perceived as anti-Islamic grew violent, according to local news reports with the photo.

The photo on the top right shows a police officer sitting indoors, her face covered in scratches and one hand stretched across her body to hold her other arm. Police released the photo in April 2019, after a man on parole in a Sydney suburb allegedly bit and scratched a 22-year-old officer during a welfare check, according to local reports featuring the image.

In the bottom left of the grid is a photo of a police officer on what appears to be a hospital bed, his eyes closed and his uniform marred by dark stains. It stems from a Western Australia pub fight in March 2006 when a bar patron attacked a police officer trying to break up the clash, according to local news reports using the photo.

The photo on the bottom right shows a police officer with swollen eyes and a bandage wrapped around the middle of his face. It was taken after a Christmas Day 2009 fight in Western Australia, which resulted in a police officer getting struck in the face with a brick, according to local news stories at the time.

Though these photos dont relate to recent Black Lives Matter protests in the United States, several police officers have been injured in the demonstrations that have sprung up across the nation in the wake of George Floyds death. The Associated Press has reported on several such incidents, including at protests in Seattle and Portland.

 Associated Press writer Ali Swenson reported this item from Seattle.
A majority of U.S. states have rejected new Trump administration COVID-19 testing guidance in an extraordinary rebuke of the nation's top agency for disease prevention, according to officials at state health agencies and public statements reviewed by Reuters. At least 33 states continue to recommend testing people who have been exposed to COVID-19 and have no symptoms, spurning guidance published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week that said testing may be unnecessary. Sixteen states did not immediately respond to requests for comment and North Dakota said it had not made a decision.

Among the states breaking with the federal government are conservative-leaning Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona. Public health experts said a rupture of this magnitude with the CDC may be unprecedented and shows deepening distrust of the Trump administration and its response to the pandemic.

"This is states almost all-out rebelling against the new guidelines," said Michael Mina, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The CDC said on Monday that people exposed to COVID-19 but not symptomatic "do not necessarily need a test unless you are a vulnerable individual or your health care provider or State or local public health officials recommend you take one."

Also read: Some exposed to coronavirus don't require testing: US CDC

The CDC had previously recommended testing of all people who had close contact with someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19. That remains the policy of at least 30 states. Some that have not changed policy said they were studying the CDC guidance. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the CDC, said the new guidance does not discourage asymptomatic individuals from being tested.

She said that public officials who are breaking with the administration "have incorrectly interpreted the guidance. The CDC guidance states 'the decision to be tested should be one made in collaboration with public health officials or your health care provider based on individual circumstances and the status of community spread.'"

Some state leaders and public health experts accuse the administration of using politics rather than science to guide its response to the pandemic. "This 180-degree reversal of COVID-19 testing guidelines is reckless, and not based on science and has the potential to do long-term damage to the (CDC's) reputation," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut said in a statement, rejecting the new CDC guidance.

Also read: US conducted 40 million more COVID tests than India: Donald Trump

Admiral Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health at HHS, said there was no political pressure from the administration. He said testing asymptomatic patients too early could produce false negatives and contribute to the virus's spread. "It's pointless to be tested for the five to seven days (after infection) because you're not going to be positive," said David Battinelli, chief medical officer at Northwell Health, acknowledging concerns over testing too early. "There is an enormous amount of unnecessary testing going on."

Idaho recommends that people exposed to COVID-19 contact their doctor to determine if they need testing. It was among the states that did not respond to a request for comment on the CDC guidance. Public health officials believe the United States needs to test more frequently, that it is crucial to find asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers to slow the spread, and that the CDC's comments could risk discouraging necessary testing.

Even before the CDC guidance, the number of coronavirus tests being conducted was on a decline. The United States tested on average 675,000 people a day last week, down from a peak of more than 800,000 people a day in late July. Nationally, cases have fallen for five weeks in a row but infections are surging again in the U.S. Midwest with four states reporting record one-day increases in cases on Thursday as the U.S. death toll climbed above 180,000.
Visakhapatnam, Aug 29 : In a despicable act, a Dalit youth here was assaulted and tonsured on allegations of theft by film producer and Telugu Big Boss-2 fame Nutan Naidu's wife Madhu Priya and six other persons in Visakhapatnam.

Police on Saturday arrested the accused including four women for attempt to murder, wrongful confinement and other charges. This after 20-year-old P. Srikanth lodged a complaint with the police and revealed before media the shocking humiliation he had suffered at their hands on Friday.

Police said the victim was detained at Nutan Naidu's house for five hours with the accused thrashing him with iron rod and sticks and tonsuring his head.

The shocking visuals of the incident went viral, sparking public outrage and Dalit organisations demanding stringent punishment to the guilty.

"The visuals show how badly he was beaten with sticks and rods. He was tonsured though he kept pleading with them not to do so," said Visakhapatnam police commissioner Manish Kumar Sinha.

He said the accused would be produced before a magistrate after a COVID-19 test. The police would also seek their custody for further questioning.

Nutan Naidu was reportedly not present at his house at the time of the incident but the police are trying to ascertain the facts.

According to police, Srikanth had worked at Nutan Naidu's residence for four months but quit the job on August 1.

As Madhu Priya had lost her mobile phone, she grew suspicious and called Srikanth to her house on Thursday. He was grilled and threatened by the woman and her staff members. Though he claimed that he is innocent and even suggested they lodge a police complaint, they called him again the next day and illegally confined her.

The assault and humiliation continued from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. They called a barber and got his head tonsured. The accused even filmed the punishment meted out to the hapless youth on their mobile phones. They even warned him of dire consequences if he revealed this to anybody. Srikanth said they told him that they would lodge a police complaint that he was tracking a woman's Whatsapp messages.

"While three are seen beating him, the others also became a part of the crime by threatening him, encouraging them to beat and taking selfies or videos," the commissioner said.

A case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 307 (attempt to murder), 342 (wrongful confinement), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and various sections of the SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act was registered at the Pendurthi police station.

A native of Srikakulam district, Srikanth said though he kept pleading with them to let him go, he was shown no mercy.

After studying up to 10th class, Srikanth had migrated from Srikakulam district to the coastal city hoping to get a job and provide a better life to his grandmother and younger sister.

He had joined work as a housekeeping assistant at Nutan Naidu's residence in May.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. An award ceremony for the Tavush victorious battles heroes was held today at the Sardarapat Memorial, chaired by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, the PMs Office told Armenpress.

The event was attended by Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Speaker of the National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan, Security Council members, members of government, statesmen, army generals, commissioned and non-commissioned officers, sergeants, soldiers.

Before handing the high state awards to the servicemen of the Armenian Armed Forces, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a speech, in which he stated:

Honorable President of the Artsakh Republic,

Your Holiness,

Honorable Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia,

Dear Security Council members,

Dear Members of Government, statesmen,

Dear Generals, officers, non-commissioned officers, sergeants, soldiers:

Dear compatriots,

We have rallied to mark todays exceptional occasion at the Sardarapat Memorial, which is a symbol of our peoples glorious victory over the Ottoman army.

For the first time ever in the history of the Republic of Armenia, 55 Armenian servicemen were awarded the Second Degree Combat Cross Order, and 16 servicemen were awarded the First Degree Combat Cross Order. This fact is unique in that 24 of them are in attendance, and I will enjoy the honor of handing the awards in person. The other awardees are not present here for the following reason: They are on duty defending Armenias borders and security.

But the most important episode of todays event is still to come. For the first time in the history of independent Armenia, a serviceman of the Armed Forces has been awarded the title of National Hero of Armenia during his lifetime.

Shortly after completing my remarks at this venue, which symbolizes our peoples victorious struggle, I will present Captain Ruben Sanamyan with the Order of Homeland certifying the title of National Hero. Tomorrow he will be back on duty in his military unit.

This is the highlight of todays event. Most of the recipients of the First Degree Combat Cross Order were awarded posthumously in Armenia; all our national heroes were awarded posthumously, and this is the first time ever that a national hero, an army officer receives the high state award in person.



Todays event comes to evidence that the noble cause initiated by our liberation war heroes - Monte Melkonyan, Tatul Krpeyan, Movses Gorgisyan, Jivan Abrahamyan, Yura Poghosyan, Vazgen Sargsyan - is still alive. It is not just history, but an uninterrupted process carried on by specific actors at a specific time and venue.

Todays heroes are the embodiment of their predecessors physical presence in our lives, the reflection of our psychology and thinking, and we can confidently tell our children and the rising generation that they can see true heroes not only in books, but they can also meet with them in real life. They live next door in the same building, in our cities and villages; they face the same problems as anyone else does. They have been promoted to the title of national hero, which means that either we can do so, each of us can do that, and it is our duty to be heroes every day and anywhere through our daily work, behavior, in our way of thinking about the homeland and by acting for the sake of our homeland, because the example set by todays awardees teaches us that heroism is no longer a superhuman effort, but daily work, daily life, daily responsibility.

Dear attendees, dear compatriots,

Todays awardees were all active participants in the Tavush victorious battles: they made a personal contribution to the July victory. That local military standoff was of great psychological, political and geopolitical significance; it recorded the following important outcomes:

Outcome One - For many years in a row, Azerbaijans military-political leadership had been developing the thesis that Bakus failure to start a war against Armenia and Artsakh was a huge concession not only to Artsakh and Armenia, but also to the international community. They believed that the Azerbaijani army had reached such a high level of combat readiness that it was capable of resolving the Karabakh issue within up to 24 hours.

On this basis, a public opinion was fostered that a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue could only be reached on the basis of Armenias unilateral concessions. The victorious July battles shattered the bellicose rhetoric built up by the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan for almost 10 years. It proved that there is no military solution to the Karabakh issue, and that Azerbaijan should inevitably adhere to constructive approaches.

Outcome Two - For more than two years, in close touch with the international community and the leadership of Azerbaijan, as well as in its public statements, our government has emphasized that it is useless to talk to Armenia in the language of threats and coercion. We made it clear that we would not allow anyone to talk to us in such a tone, and anyone who might attempt to do so would regret it bitterly.

The victorious July battles proved the credibility of our political statements; they showed that our assessment of the military-political situation in the region and the balance of power was well-calculated and accurate.

Outcome Three - Large-scale reforms have been taking place in the Armenian Army for two and a half years now. I mean not only the reforms that can be seen and discussed in public, but also the strategic and tactical reforms that are not put on record.



It is obvious and unequivocal that the reforms were viable as evidenced by the July defensive operation. In fact, we proved that Armenia can achieve a military advantage through intellectual work, tactical and strategic innovations, without having to engage in an exhaustive arms race.

Many may not know the fact that an exceptional situation was recorded during the victorious battles in July, when we had no casualties in the frontier combat positions during the hostilities; we had only one lightly wounded serviceman, while the well-known Anvakh (Fearless) stronghold and the adjacent outposts were the target of heaviest shelling, mass attacks of well-trained Special Forces. This means that the Armenian army has reached an unprecedented high level of tactical efficiency, which in turn strengthens our belief in that we have an efficient and intelligent army with a decisive influence in the region.

Outcome Four - We have long been talking about the development of the military-industrial complex in Armenia and we have proclaimed it a priority. The victorious battles of July demonstrated the efficiency of the Armenian military industry. They proved that we can position ourselves as a leading nation on the technological map of the world.

During the July battles, our Armed Forces hit high-tech weapons that had previously been considered invincible. This is a well-known fact, but few people may know that these weapons were damaged as a result of close synergy between Armenian-made weapons and weaponry upgraded and modernized in Armenia. Moreover, the ratio of weapons produced and modernized in Armenia is 70/30 in favor of those produced in Armenia.

Outcome Five - The victorious July battles demonstrated Armenias ability to meet its own security challenges on its own. In the meantime, some developments revealed the scope of threats affecting not only Armenia, but also the entire region, and on the other hand, strengthened our confidence in our strategic allies and partners, which in turn can further enhance Armenias ability to effectively play the role of a guarantor of peace and stability in the region, which was stated in my remarks delivered at the June 19 joint session of the Security Councils of Armenia and Artsakh in Yerevan.

Dear attendees, dear compatriots,

With the victorious July battles we ushered in a new historical stage, where Armenias military-political, regional weight and significance have been enhanced in parallel with the emerging regional challenges. The level of our responsibility has increased, too, and it calls for superhuman effort and dedication. But as I mentioned above, todays ceremonious event comes to reaffirm the fact that the superhuman has for a while now become a daily routine for us, which is vividly evidenced by those high state awards we are presenting today. We are sure to be on the winning side!

And therefore,

Long live Freedom!

Long live the Republic of Armenia!

Long live the Republic of Artsakh!

Long live the Armenian Army!

Long live us, and our children, who live in a free, victorious and happy Armenia!

Thank you.

Through the mediation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and in accordance with presidential decrees, 16 Armenian servicemen who participated in the Tavush victorious battles were awarded the First Degree Combat Cross Order, 55 servicemen - the Second Degree Combat Cross Order. Through the Prime Ministers mediation, Captain Ruben Sanamyan was awarded the title of National Hero, and the Order of the Homeland.

The awards were handed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: 25 servicemen, including Armenias National Hero Ruben Sanamyan, received the state awards personally from the Prime Minister. The awards and medals will be handed over to those servicemen that were unable to attend the ceremony as they were on military duty.
A group of Uyghur men wait for friends and relatives at the arrivals gate at Hotan Airport, in China's Xinjiang region, in a file photo.

Authorities in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) have imprisoned the family members of two Uyghur women living in exile for their travels abroad and overseas connections, according to the women.

Asat Abdukerim and his younger brother Anwar Abdukerim, of Ili Kazakh (Yili Hasake) Autonomous Prefectures Qorghas (Huocheng) county, were detained in 2017 for their respective travels to Turkey and the Netherlands, Asats Turkey-based daughter, Dilbar Asat, and his sister, Canada-based Marhaba Abdukerim, recently told RFAs Uyghur Service.

The two men were swept up as part of a campaign that has seen regional authorities detain up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a vast network of internment camps since April of that year, the two women said.

The two brothers were later sentenced to prison terms, while several members of their extended family have also been targeted by authorities, simply for having ties to Dilbar and Marhaba, they told RFA.

Dilbar told RFA that her mother, Hajar Habibulla stayed with her in Turkeyhome to more than 50,000 Uyghurs who fled there to escape persecution in Chinafor 14 months beginning in March 2015 to help take care of her two-year-old twins while she studied at university.

She was fine for a period [after returning to the XUAR], and nothing happened ... [but then] the police detained her and gave the excuse that she had communicated with [people abroad in April 2017] and that she had spent a long time in Turkey, she said.

Dilbar said she received a message from her older brother about her mothers detention in Qorghas Suydung (Shuiding) townshipvia the messaging app WeChat on the same day her mother was taken into custody.

My brother said they would keep her detained and then take her to study, to a school, a little while later, she said.

That day, my brother left me voice messages reminding me that hed recommended she not stay a long time in Turkey, saying that I hadnt agreed with him and kept her with me for too long  Those were his last messages to me. He hasnt been in touch since. Our communication has been cut off.

Dilbar said that her father, Asat Abdukerim, came to visit her in Turkey in June 2016 to see her graduate, while her younger brother, Saypidin Asat, had visited her for around 20 days in February of that year.

I heard that between June and September 2018, they detained themit must have been around the time of Ramadan, she said.

I heard [from sources in Europe] in mid-to-late June 2020 that they locked up my father, my younger brother, and my mother for five years each.

Dilbar said that everyone in her family deleted her contact information from WeChat after she spoke with her brother about her mothers detention in 2017, but authorities detained her father and brother regardless.

Members of the Uyghur community in Turkey carry flags and chant slogans during a protest in Istanbul, Nov. 6, 2018. AP Photo No political leanings

Marhaba Abdukerim, Asat Abdukerims sister, said her other brother, Anwar, stayed with his daughter while she was studying in the Netherlands between 2011 and 2015, adding that he did not participate in any political activities with the estimated 1,500-strong Uyghur community while he was in the country.

After returning to Qorghas in 2015, his passport was confiscated by local police and he was subjected to interrogation on a number of occasions, she said, before authorities detained him in September 2017.

Anwar was first sent to a camp and later handed a 10-year prison sentence, while his wife Gulnur Tursun, who never owned a passport or traveled outside of China, was also detained in a camp before being sentenced to four years in prison.

The last contact I had with them was in [September] 2017, when my second oldest brother passed away, Marhaba said.

According to what Ive heard from others, they detained Anwar Abdukerim on the day our brother died and not long after, they detained Asat, she said.

The reasons for their detentions were, in Asat Abdukerims case, that he had been to Turkey and spent one month there. He had committed no other crime. He doesnt even understand politics. The poor man was just an average farmer.

Anwar, meanwhile, was detained because hed taken his daughter to the Netherlands and helped her get her settled in, Marhaba said.

When I went [to Xinjiang] in 2016, I saw him, and he told me about everything hed been through, she said.

He told me theyd taken his passport, detained him, made it so that he couldnt leave the country, that they wouldnt agree to give the passport back to him, that they were regularly bringing him in for questioning.

An acquaintance told her in June this year that Anwar had been sentenced, she said.

According to Marhaba, Asats son Saypidin also held no political convictions but was detained nonetheless after having spent time in Turkey.

Apparently, they asked him why hed stayed a long time in Turkey, why he went therehis crime was having gone to Turkey, she said.

[The three] committed no crimes, they did nothing against the governmentwere talking about people who dont even understand the government, she said.

Attempts by RFA to reach Chinese officials to confirm the claims by Dilbar and Marhaba went unanswered at the time of publishing.

Travel and ties abroad

Turkey is among several countries blacklisted by authorities for travel by Uyghurs because of a perceived threat of religious extremism, while the Uyghur community in Netherlands is particularly active in campaigning against rights abuses in the XUAR.

As earlier reporting by RFA and other outlets has shown, Uyghurs who have traveled abroad were some of the earliest targets of the Chinese authorities' internment drive in Xinjiang in late 2016 and early 2017, while those who maintain ties overseas have also been regularly detained.

Beijing describes its three-year-old network of camps as voluntary vocational centers, but reporting by RFA and other media outlets shows that detainees are mostly held against their will in poor conditions, where they are forced to endure inhumane treatment and political indoctrination.

Amid international condemnation and U.S. sanctions, experts believe that China has begun sentencing Uyghurs held in internment camps to prison, providing legal cover to the detentions.

Reported by Mihray Abdilim for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Elise Anderson Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare by Christian Brose is a book with an intended audience within the Pentagon and the arms industry, Ringing the alarm for US imperialisms need to make a rapid and qualitative development of its military in order to achieve its ambition of global hegemony.

A US jet flies over the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan [Credit: US Navy]

Brose, a former staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee, begins his book describing a conversation he had with the late Republican Senator John McCain on the form that an increasingly likely war between the United States and China would take:

Americas forward bases in places like Japan and Guam would be inundated with waves of precise ballistic and cruise missiles. [United States] carriers and their escort ships might shoot down some of the missiles, but there would be so many that some could get through and knock the carriers out of the fight by cratering their flight decks, damaging their control towers, or destroying their aircraft before they even got airborne. It is also possible that a hit could be fatal, sending five thousand Americans and a $13 billion ship to the bottom of the ocean... McCain and I paused and considered the potential scale of this disaster. Thousands of Americans lost in action. American ships sunk. Bases reduced to smoking holes in the ground. Aircraft and satellites shot out of the sky. A war that could be lost in a matter of hours or days even as the United States planned to spend weeks and months moving into position to fight.

Why would such a war break out? Brose writes:

China is becoming Americas peer, and it could become more than that. It is integrated into the global economy and developing its own domestic sources of technological development, not just copycat industries but increasingly innovative and world-leading companies. China has already surpassed the United States in purchasing power parity, and it is projected to have the worlds largest gross domestic product by as early as 2030. The last time the United States faced a competitor, or even a group of competitors, with greater economic power than its own was in the nineteenth century, before our own rise to global predominance. And when it comes to Chinas potential to generate even greater power, the United States has never faced a challenge of that scale in its entire history... The Chinese Communist Party aims to become the dominant power in Asia and in the world, and it believes that for China to win, America must lose. We have to lose the race for advanced technology. We have to lose jobs and influence in the global economy. We have to lose partners who share our interests and values. We have to lose the ability to stand in the way of the Chinese Communist Partys desire to make more of the world safe for its model of high-tech authoritarianism. And as the balance of power continues to shift out of Americas favor, the Chinese Communist Party will likely become more expansive in its ambitions, more assertive in its pursuit of them, and more capable of getting its way, no matter how much that harms Americans.

Increasingly concerned over Chinas economic development and terrified by its rapid technological advances, which put a question mark on the Washingtons overwhelming military superiority, Brose and McCain wrote a letter in October 2017 to then-Secretary of Defense James Mad-Dog Mattis on the topic of the National Defense Strategy:

We no longer enjoy the wide margins of power we once had, the letter argued, because Americas military advantage had declined precipitously as great-power competitors, primarily China, were modernizing their forces and eroding Americas military dominance. We cannot do everything we want everywhere, it stated. We must choose. We must prioritize. And though money was vital, we could not buy our way out of our current predicament. The new defense strategy, McCain wrote Mattis, was perhaps the last opportunity to develop an effective approach to China before it was too late.

Broses staff met regularly with Mattis staff, and the emphasis on preparing and executing a massive overhaul of the US military, with focus on integrating the latest developments in information technology, was a cornerstone of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, which built on the National Security Strategy announced by the Trump Administration in December 2017. The document clearly announced the revival of Great-Power Conflict, i.e., preparation for a Third World War, with particular focus on China.

The Defense Strategy calls for building a more lethal force, with emphasis on modernizing key capabilities of nuclear forces, space and cyberspace, missile defense, and in particular, command, control, communications, computers and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR), as well as autonomous systems.

Brose reveals in his book that, over the past several decades, the United States military machine, serviced through a network of defense contractors, lobbyists and Congressmen, has gobbled up trillions of dollars, accumulating an excess of fat rather than muscle. Vast sums were directed into money-pits like the F-35 and incremental hardware upgrades to outdated systems, whereas rival militaries like that of China were utilizing the developments in data-technology to create a smarter military, one which can close the kill chain at lightning speed.

The kill chain and the Information Revolution

According to Brose, the kill chain is a military term linked to the Information Revolution starting in the 1980s; it means the process of analysis, planning, and execution. Prior to the Information Revolution, the kill chain was localized to single military platforms, for example the process of understanding where an enemy aircraft was, deciding what to do about it, and then acting against it all occurred within one fighter jet or air defense system. The Information Revolution, which had as its foundation the development of the integrated circuit, has led to further world-historic developmentsprimarily the development of the internet and artificial intelligence. What these technologies allow for is networked warfare; a network of nuclear missiles, for example, can all be directed under one system, some under autonomous control.

Brose is now the head of strategy for Andruil Industries, which states that it is a tech company composed of a team of experts from Oculus, Palantir, General Atomics, SpaceX, Tesla and Google exploiting breakthroughs in consumer and commercial technology specifically for military purposes. While the US military has been slow to integrate the latest developments in data technology and AI, Silicon Valley-based tech firms have been pioneers in this field. Having achieved a high level of centralization, they are moving closer and closer towards the state.

Brose in large part has written the book in order bring home the prodigal son; help return Silicon Valley to the US military from which it traces its origins. As historian Margaret OMara has observed, Defense contracts during and after World War II turned Silicon Valley from a somnolent landscape of fruit orchards into a hub of electronics production and innovations ranging from mainframes to microprocessors to the internet.

Arguing for the military potential of consumer technology, Brose writes:

Many American homes are now fitted with a network of low-cost sensors made by companies such as Nest (owned by Google) and Ring (owned by Amazon) that give one person with a mobile device real-time situational awareness of their most important places, whereas the average US military base is still defended by large numbers of people either standing watch or staring at rows of video surveillance monitors, stacked up like Hollywood Squares. Similarly, many Americans drive vehicles equipped with sensors that tell them everything that is going on around the vehicle at all times, whereas most American military vehicles do not have the same capabilities.

He further notes the increasing monopolization of Silicon Valley:

Over the past fifteen years, major technology companies have bought dozens of technology start-ups: Facebook, for example, has bought Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus VR, among others, while Google has bought far more, including Android, YouTube, Waze, Nest, and DeepMind.

This process has been accompanied by the tech giants rapid integration with the US military and intelligence apparatus. Research published on July 7, 2020 by the technology accountability nonprofit Tech Inquiry revealed that the Department of Defense and federal law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, have secured thousands of deals with Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Dell, IBM, Hewlett Packard, and Facebook, among others.

Microsoft is currently the leader in gobbling up government contracts and has also seemingly won the battle for the $10 billion JEDI contract with the Pentagon, which will overhaul the militarys internet infrastructure. However, this is currently in dispute, as its rival Amazon has obtained a federal court order halting the contract for review. Amazon recently announced the establishment of a space unit called Aerospace and Satellite Solutions, led by former US Air Force Major General Clint Crosier. The unit is responsible for the development of rocket launches, human spaceflight support, robotic systems, mission control operations, space stations, satellite networks and more. Bezos space company Blue Origin also has a NASA contract worth $579 million.

The US military has also encouraged smaller startups to get in on the action. The US Air Force has selected 54 smaller companies to develop, test and integrate new capabilities for the Advanced Battle Management Systems (ABMS). The ABMS aims to develop an internet of things where systems in all domains (air, land, sea, space, cyber, and electromagnetic spectrum) can connect to disseminate information to personnel.

The startup SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, recently launched NASA astronauts into space, marking a new era of public-private partnerships. On May 20, SpaceX signed a three-year deal with the US military to test the companys Starlink program, which aims to build a constellation of small satellites in low-earth orbit that can deliver high-speed communications and data networks to every part of the planet at all times.

Over the past several years, private US companies have sent numerous satellites into space, with plans to launch tens of thousands more.

Brose writes:

From hundreds of miles away, commercial satellites can see objects on Earth in minute detail, and they may soon be able to identify individual faces. The number of these satellites grows by the hundreds every year. Silicon Valley is largely responsible for soon-to-be thousands of small satellites that will create an unblinking eye over the entire Earth, resulting in more real-time surveillance of the planet than ever before. Indeed, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, a US intelligence agency that currently has a total of 14,500 personnel, recently estimated that it would need more than 8 million people just to analyze all of the imagery of the globe that will be generated in the next twenty years.

Computer generated image of total satellites in space [Credit: James Yoder, http://stuffin.space/]

The data gathered by the sharp mechanical eyes of satellites in space is being increasingly used to surveil the world for the primary purpose of repression and war; the capitalist class has wrapped the Earth in The Kill Chain.

The threat of a Third World War

The US militarys plans for Great-Power Conflict, primarily with China, have reached an extremely high level. The US ruling class is aware of its inadequacies and, while masses of American workers confront poverty, is spending trillions to prepare for the eruption of World War III.

A simulation called Plan A by researchers at Princetons Program on Science and Global Security, shows how the use of one so-called tactical or low-yield nuclear weapon could lead to a global nuclear war which would result in over 90 million deaths and injuries within three hours. At our current stage, the outbreak of war will quickly become a world catastrophe. The development of battle networks and long range missiles means that weapons capable of leveling entire cities and countries will be deployed in practically a flash.

War will take place on all fronts, from the seas, the earth, and the heavens. With the use of nuclear weapons, over 7.5 billion human beings, themselves the product of billions of years of historical development, could be destroyed in a matter of days.

The true implication of war is never uttered in Broses book. He, alongside the capitalist class which he represents, is driven by the imperative of securing US profit interests. They see war as a means to stop Chinas economic expansion, exemplified by the Belt and Road Initiative, thus removing its main rival and conquering the world market. Meanwhile the Chinese capitalists cannot halt their aims for expansion because they too are driven by the need to accumulate profit. Thus they have resorted to building up their military arsenal to defend themselves from the US. However, in the era of nuclear weapons, there is no such thing as defense, simply Mutually Assured Destruction.

The great revolutionary Leon Trotsky delivered a speech in 1926 to the First All-Union Congress of the Society of Friends of Radio, explaining why capitalism is incompatible with the needs of humanity:

I remember a time when men wrote that the development of aircraft would put an end to war, because it would draw the whole population into military operations, would bring to ruin the economic and cultural life of entire countries, etc. In fact, however, the invention of a flying machine heavier than air opened a new and crueler chapter in the history of militarism. There is no doubt that now, too, we are approaching the beginning of a still more frightful and bloody chapter. Technique and science have their own logicthe logic of the cognition of nature and the mastering of it in the interests of man. But technique and science develop not in a vacuum but in human society, which consists of classes. The ruling class, the possessing class, controls technique and through it controls nature. Technique in itself cannot be called either militaristic or pacifistic. In a society in which the ruling class is militaristic, technique is in the service of militarism.

Within little more than a decade, the most terrible bloodbath in history, World War II, began, destroying over 70 million lives. Humanity is now threatened with a war of incomparably greater magnitude.

The National Security Strategy document states, The Internet is an American invention, and it should reflect our values as it continues to transform the future for all nations and all generations.

The reality is that the internet and technology in general are a collective product of human labor, which transcends all nations, races, and ethnicities. While the capitalist class advances the politics of nationalism and division, of which war is the most extreme form, the working class must advance the politics of unity, breaking down all national divisions, uniting workers of every country in a common struggle to put an end to capitalism and create a world where science is developed not in service of war, but to ensure peace and prosperity for all.
Australian security agencies are on alert for extremists who could have been inspired by the Christchurch mosque killer and other massacres overseas, as small far-right cells across the country are becoming more organised and sophisticated than ever before.

The concern is being heightened by extreme right-wing groups increasingly attracting people from a military background who know how to use weapons, as well as a younger membership who aren't displaying obvious signs of their extremism - making them harder to detect.

ASIO boss Mike Burgess sounded the alarm on right-wing extremism earlier this year. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Brenton Tarrant, 29, was sentenced last week to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to slaughtering 51 worshippers at two New Zealand mosques.

The Morrison government has opened the door to the Australian-born white supremacist serving out his sentence in Australia.
Researchers from Sechenov University together with Russian and Iranian colleagues described currently known approaches to the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the paper published in Journal of Molecular Medicine, they wrote about how different groups of drugs worked and how promising each approach was.

SARS-CoV-2 - a coronavirus that caused the pandemic in early 2020 - is a close relative of two other viruses (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV) that triggered epidemics in 2003 and 2013-2015.

Most often, the disease is accompanied by fever, dry cough, increased fatigue, and loss of taste and smell. Most symptoms are associated with an overreaction of the patient's immune system, which, in severe cases, causes damage to lung tissue and systemic inflammation.

The first approach considered in the article is immunotherapy. It is known that antibodies contained in the serum of people who have had a viral disease can speed up the recovery of other patients.

Despite the simplicity of this method, it has several limitations: the number of potential donors is still small, the activity of antibodies decreases over time (which is why the serum from the patients who had the disease long ago is less valuable), and the antibodies themselves can help the virus spread in the body - a phenomenon known as antibody-dependent enhancement of infection.

Similarly, we can use T-lymphocytes - cells that can destroy damaged or infected cells of the body. Scientists have noticed that the number of T-cells of the CD8+ subpopulation is significantly reduced in patients with COVID-19, and the more severe the disease the lower this number. T-cells directed against a specific virus can be produced in vitro and offered to patients as therapy.

Another area of research is related to the suppression of certain enzymes, in particular AAK1 and GAK, which are needed for the virus to enter a cell.

Some of the drugs that act as inhibitors of these enzymes have already been tested and used, although for another purpose, such as, for example, the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (this approach is called 'drug repurposing').

Analysis of clinical trials registered in ClinicalTrials.gov has shown a wide variety of therapeutic agents offered for the treatment of COVID-19. And, of course, most of them are associated with the use of previously known drugs used in the treatment of other diseases." Anastasia Shpichka, Study Author and Leading Researcher, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University

There are other ways to prevent the virus from entering cells. Since the receptor that is built into the cell membrane and lets the virus inside is known (this is the ACE2 protein), it is possible to create an analogue that will bind to viral particles and 'distract' them from the patient's cells.

Such analogues of the ACE2 receptor have already been developed, tested and shown to slow down the spread of the virus in the body, but not stop it, which indicates the presence of other entry points into human cells.

The use of antiviral drugs gives contradictory results. Remdesivir, which showed good efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in some studies, did not bring noticeable benefits in others.

Chloroquine, used to treat malaria, was considered a promising drug, but its side effects do not allow it to be recommended for the treatment of COVID-19. Attempts to use HIV medications against SARS-CoV-2 also yield mixed results.

One more direction in the fight against COVID-19 is suppression of excessive immune system reaction, which especially affects the lung tissue. One treatment option may be mesenchymal stem cells, used in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Studies of the effectiveness of this method in the treatment of COVID-19 are already underway. Another class of drugs that limit inflammatory response is corticosteroids. They can reduce mortality among patients with severe disease.

Despite the efforts of scientists from all over the world, aimed at finding an effective COVID-19 treatment, the optimal algorithm has not yet been found.

The key to creating a drug can be either a discovery as part of one of these approaches or a new solution, for example, found at the intersection of scientific disciplines or borrowed from the experience of treating other diseases.
Guillermo Del Toros genre-bending and -blending approach to filmmaking allows him to reach a large and varied audience while also providing sharp social and historical commentary on Spains fraught past.

By Deborah Shaw

Drawn in by the supernatural story and the promise of horror and fantasy, Pans Labyrinth (2006) and The Devils Backbone (2001) by Guillermo del Toro brought an awareness of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) to an international audience.

Pans Labyrinth taught audiences about the horrors of the human rights abuses committed by the Francoist forces in the 1940s. These abuses were personified through the monstrous fascist, Captain Vidal, and his otherworldly alter ego, the Pale Man. Fairies, a faun and a magical underground kingdom co-exist with the harsh realities of post-civil war Spain. Such fantasy elements successfully drew in audiences who may have had little interest in Spanish history.

Del Toros genre-bending and -blending approach to filmmaking allows him to reach a large and varied audience while also providing sharp social and historical commentary on Spains fraught past.

Despite their Spanish setting, the Mexican directors Spanish language films have influenced a swathe of recent Latin American movies that combine realism, fantasy and the supernatural to reach wider global audiences and shine a light on social ills and human rights abuses.

Two such films, showcased on the horror streaming platform Shudder, are Tigers are Not Afraid by the Mexican director Issa Lopez and La Llorona (The Crying Woman) by Guatemalas Jayro Bustamante. Both films point to a growing genre of Latin American supernatural and magical realist films which also draw attention to political corruption and human rights abuses.

The real horrors of Mexico

As Lopez has noted, Tigers are Not Afraid wears its influence from Pans Labyrinth proudly. The film has won praise from del Toro himself as well as Stephen King and Neil Gaiman. As in Pans Labyrinth, the protagonist is a young girl, Estrella (Paola Lara) who joins a band of street children. They, like her, were orphaned by femicides  the intentional killing of women because of their gender  committed by corrupt local politician and drug kingpin, El Chino (Tenoch Huerta), and the assassins working for him, Los Huascas.

The horror trope of vengeful ghosts, in this case those of Estrellas mother and other murdered women, seeking to entrap and kill those responsible for their deaths are visible nods to del Toros ghostly tales The Devils Backbone and Crimson Peak.

As with these del Toro films, fantasy and the supernatural collide with the horrors of real life. As Lopez explains:

"Horror goes directly into our most intimate, primal emotion, so if you can squeeze your way there you have the audiences heart and ear. Then you can go into their other fears, the ones they really dont want to go into, the real ones."

The film uses the supernatural to reveal a neglected aspect of Mexicos corrupt politics and its connections with drug crime and femicide. This provides a way into Mexicos reality for international horror movie fans.

A Guatemalan ghost story

La Llorona also harnesses the power of the paranormal to tell the important story of the genocide of the Maya Ixil people by the military in Guatemala in the 1980s. The film follows General Enrique Monteverde (Julio Diaz) and his family. After angry survivors and protesters of the genocide surround their house demanding justice, the family find themselves trapped inside.

Monteverde is based on the former dictator and retired army general Jose Efrain Rios Montt. During his presidency (1982-1983), he was responsible for the genocide of an estimated 10,000 people and the destruction of more than 400 Mayan indigenous communities.

In a 2013 trial based on oral testimonies of over 90 survivors, which is recreated in the film, he was found guilty of genocide of the Maya Ixil people. However, the verdict was quickly overturned by the Constitutional Court, as members of the military elite feared that a successful prosecution would lead to them also facing justice.

The film recounts the social, political and supernatural happenings following the arrival of the servant Alma (meaning soul in Spanish). A Mayan woman (Maria Mercedes Coroy), Alma is a mystical presence and the titular crying woman.

La Llorona is a folkloric figure across parts of Latin America. After drowning her children and killing herself, her ghost is forced to wander as she weeps for her dead family. In Bustamantes reworking of this tale to tell the story of the genocide, Almas children are drowned by the military under orders from Monteverde. Ghostly wailing fills the house from the moment of Almas arrival but is heard only by the General who is tormented by it.

La Llorona and Tigers are Not Afraid are compelling ghost stories that have all the trappings of the brilliant horror movies we know and love. They cleverly employ the universal appeal of scary stories to teach their viewers about overlooked Mexican and Guatemalan social realities. These films show that while we all love a good scare on our screens, the real horrors are all around us and deserve to be remembered and seen.

Deborah Shaw, Professor of Film and Screen Studies, University of Portsmouth

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Sophia Antipolis, France - 29 Aug 2020: More than 90% of babies born with heart defects survive into adulthood. As a result, there are now more adults living with congenital heart disease than children. These adults have a chronic, lifelong condition and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has produced advice to give the best chance of a normal life. The guidelines are published online today in European Heart Journal,1 and on the ESC website.2

Congenital heart disease refers to any structural defect of the heart and/or great vessels (those directly connected to the heart) present at birth. Congenital heart disease affects all aspects of life, including physical and mental health, socialising, and work. Most patients are unable to exercise at the same level as their peers which, along with the awareness of having a chronic condition, affects mental wellbeing.

"Having a congenital heart disease, with a need for long-term follow-up and treatment, can also have an impact on social life, limit employment options and make it difficult to get insurance," said Professor Helmut Baumgartner, Chairperson of the guidelines Task Force and head of Adult Congenital and Valvular Heart Disease at the University Hospital of Munster, Germany. "Guiding and supporting patients in all of these processes is an inherent part of their care."

All adults with congenital heart disease should have at least one appointment at a specialist centre to determine how often they need to be seen. Teams at these centres should include specialist nurses, psychologists and social workers given that anxiety and depression are common concerns.

Pregnancy is contraindicated in women with certain conditions such high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. "Pre-conception counselling is recommended for women and men to discuss the risk of the defect in offspring and the option of foetal screening," said Professor Julie De Backer, Chairperson of the guidelines Task Force and cardiologist and clinical geneticist at Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.

Concerning sports, recommendations are provided for each condition. Professor De Backer said: "All adults with congenital heart disease should be encouraged to exercise, taking into account the nature of the underlying defect and their own abilities."

The guidelines state when and how to diagnose complications. This includes proactively monitoring for arrhythmias, cardiac imaging and blood tests to detect problems with heart function.

Detailed recommendations are provided on how and when to treat complications. Arrhythmias are an important cause of sickness and death and the guidelines stress the importance of correct and timely referral to a specialised treatment centre. They also list when particular treatments should be considered such as ablation (a procedure to destroy heart tissue and stop faulty electrical signals) and device implantation.

For several defects, there are new recommendations for catheter-based treatment. "Catheter-based treatment should be performed by specialists in adult congenital heart disease working within a multidisciplinary team," said Professor Baumgartner.

###

Notes to editors

Authors: ESC Press Office

Mobile: +33 (0)7 85 31 20 36

Email: press@escardio.org

The hashtag for ESC Congress 2020 is #ESCCongress.

Follow us on Twitter @ESCardioNews

Funding: None.

Disclosures: The disclosure forms of all experts involved in the development of these guidelines are available on the ESC website http://www.escardio.org/guidelines.

References and notes

12020 ESC Guidelines for the management of adult congenital heart disease. European Heart Journal. 2020: https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa554

2ESC Guidelines on the ESC website.

Download the free ESC Pocket Guidelines App for all mobile devices.

About the European Society of Cardiology

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ESC Congress is the world's largest gathering of cardiovascular professionals contributing to global awareness of the latest clinical trials and breakthrough discoveries. ESC Congress 2020 takes place online from 29 August to 1 September. More information is available from the ESC Press Office at press@escardio.org.
It was the winning entry in a cooking challenge that no one got to taste.

James Price, executive chef at Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, was recently awarded first place in a virtual cooking competition hosted by Sodexo Groups Centerplate.

With taste ruled out, the judges looked at criteria such as originality, execution and cost effectiveness.

If the judges could have tried the dish, I think they would have been pleased with its taste and balance, Price said.

His video submission for the Plate at Home virtual challenge included step-by-step instructions on how to prepare his interpretation of chicken liver parfait.

I liked being able to walk the judges through my choice of Niagara ingredients and my reasons for combining different flavours and textures, he said.

The entries were narrowed down to the top three and the finalists met virtually Aug. 25 for the winner to be announced.

Price, the only Canadian competitor, found the challenge a great way to flex his culinary muscles.

Like a lot of people who found themselves bored at home, I wanted the chance just to do something creative again, he said.

Before joining the team at the convention centre, Price spent time in kitchens across South America, the Caribbean and South East Asia.

Centerplate partners with more than 300 premier event venues across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom each year, serving more than 115 million guests.
We honour you in the sun, in the rain, in the winds for all time





by Anwar A. Khan





We are deeply saddened to have heard of the sudden demise of our valorous freedom fighter Maj Gen C.R. Dutta at a hospital at the age of 93 in Florida, USA on 24th August last.









Like all other freedom fighters of 1971, Maj Gen CR Dutta, Bir Uttom (second highest gallantry award), had honour, he had valour, and he along with his co-fighters had found glory that had changed us forever in 1971 through establishing Bangladesh.





He stood tall and proud for an independent and sovereign country behind him in a solemn sea of love and patriotism. So, let the Flag of independent Bangladesh fly unfurl in his Majesty High: In the sun, in the rain and in the winds across this land of Bangladesh.





Tears have brought us together to hear the sound of your death in a far-distanced foreign soil.





May his spirits rise with the flag of Bangladesh today!





Glory to the Bangladeshs Flag, long may she wave; so many have been covered with his mortal soul when people would to his cremation spot; so many of us have taken for granted that our freedom will always be. We do not want to tend to forget those who have kept that right for all of us.





Chitta Ranjan Dutta, (1 January 1927  24 August 2020), also known as C R Dutta, was a Bangladeshi war hero and retired as Major-General of the Bangladesh Army. He was a key sector commander of the Mukti Bahini during the Bangladesh Liberation War.





In January 1971, he had taken his three months leave from Pakistan army. He was then stationed in West Pakistan as Major and headed to his village home on leave in Habiganj, Bangladesh. What he was about to experience, being back to home, was going to change his life upside down.





Major C. R. Dutta was shell-shocked to witness the political decline within Pakistan. Living in West Pakistan, he was not aware of the great movement that was taking place in the-then East Pakistan. Like many of him stationed in West Pakistan as residents, they were not informed of the agitation and injustice that were taking place in the-then East Pakistan. There was also no way to find out.





While he was on leave and had been passing his time Habiganj, General Rab gave Major Dutta the orders to conduct a war against the Pakistani military junta. He accepted it gladly. As Major, he began as the Commander of Sector 4 and started the war. Dutta eventually retired in 1984 after over 30 years service in the armed forces.









On 15 December 1973, the Government of Bangladesh introduced the Bir Uttam (literally meaning Better among Braves in Bengali) award in recognition of the bravery and dedication shown by an individual during the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war. Amongst the prestigious list of awardees were CR Dutta.





And without those men, just like Gen Dutta, we would never had won the war in 1971 to establish Bangladesh.





Wars are as old as history. Over two thousand years ago, Herodotus, wrote, "In peace, sons bury their fathers; in war, fathers bury their sons." Today, we should gather together as one, to praise someone's son and he is our own man  Gen CR Dutta. If death is a debt, we all must pay.





We have a wealth of witnesses in Bangladesh to describe to us the unspeakable horror and frightening maelstrom that the 1971 war by Pakistans military junta brought to our people.





Our war veterans, who are still with us today, know what it is to have been in battle and to have seen their friends cut down in their youth. That is why, remembrance is so necessary and yet so difficult. It is necessary because we must not forget and it is difficult because the pain is never forgotten.





A eulogy for this 1971 war veteran:





Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there; I do not sleep.





I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.





I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the Gentle autumn rain.





When you awaken in the mornings hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circled flight,

I am the soft stars that shine at night.





Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there; I did not die.









Whatever dreams we have, they are shared in some measure by Dutta, the man, by all the virtues that we respect  selflessness, honour, courage and commitment.





The war that you and we fought in 1971 was not fought for the purpose of forging in the smithy of sacrifice. We will not forget that.





This great soldier was able to live out his allotted span of life to contribute to his country. But in giving himself totally through duty, commitment, love and honour, he has become part of us forever. As we are part of him.





Neither fire nor wind, birth nor death, can erase his good deeds. More often than not, a heros most epic battle is the one you never see; and its the battle that goes on within him or herself.





Thats the life, being a freedom fighter. When I recall the face of Dutta, Thucydides words peep into my mind, The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.





He was a hero who has faced it all: he needed not to be undefeated, but he must be undaunted. I think he was a hero who found strength to persevere and endured in spite of overwhelming obstacles in 1971 to defeat the marauding force of Pakistan.





A freedom fighter never dies; they just burn forever in the hearts of the people whose lives they saved.





Like William Shakespeares words, He fought till the last gasp. Gen Dutta was a man who really counted in the world of Bangladesh; he was the doer, not the mere critic-the man who actually did the work, even not the man who only talked or wrote about how it ought to be done.





I wish to borrow the prominent words of eminent journalist and celebrated column Syed Badrul Ahsan (SBA), The great fighters passing revives thoughts on our lost values which veritably personify what this valiant freedom fighter along with his co-fighters was in 1971 to liberate Bangladesh from the wretched hands of Pakistans military junta and its local despicable anti-Bangladesh liberation squads, especially Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI).





If possible, PM Sheikh Hasina should take appropriate steps to bring back the mortal remains of revered Dutta to his homeland for which he fought in 1971 for its creation - for his cremation.





All Freedom Fighters are heroes of the finest kind. Not all of them are given the opportunity to perform heroic acts but, within the scope of their duties, they put their fellow human beings lives and safety, most of whom they have never met, ahead of their own.





I again remember SBAs most towering words, Chitta Ranjan Duttas death revives thoughts of lost values. It is also a moment for us to reflect on the long distance we yet need to traverse to reclaim those values. The general falls silent, but the hope he kindled in himself and in us shines bright. He believed in Bangladeshs ability to rise above the pettiness of the tinpot dictators who tried to beat it into fearful silence. That was his confidence, infectious in its optimism.





Our dead brothers still live for us and bid us think of life, not death-of life to which in their youth

they lent the passion and joy of the spring. As we listen, the great chorus of life and joy begins again and amid the awful orchestra of seen and unseen powers and destinies of good and evil our trumpets sound once more. A note of daring, hope and will; and we see them now, as once we saw them on this earth. They are the same bright figures that come also before our eyes and when we speak of those who were the countrys bravest and patriotic sons, the same words describe yours, Gen Dutta.





Many horrors you had endured and seen during the Pakistani regime. Many faces had haunted your dreams. You cheered as your enemies littered the ground; you cried as your brothers fell all around. When it was over, you all came back home, some were left with memories to face all alone; and some found themselves in the company of friends as their crosses cast shadows across the land.





Those who survived were forever scarred emotionally, physically and permanently marred. Those who did not now sleep eternally beneath the ground they had given their lives to keep us free. With a hand upon your heart, we feel the pride and respect; our reverence is revealed in the tears that now stream down our upturned faces.





As our flag waves above you, in her glory and grace, freedom was the gift that you unselfishly gave. Pain and death was the price that your compatriots ultimately paid. Every day, we give our utmost admiration to those who had fought to defend our nation in 1971.





After his death news, there are tears in the fabric of our beings ... where the memories lie waiting to remind him ... of the horror and the carnage that is cataloged as war in 1971 to attain Bangladesh for us. We paid heavy price for defending our nation in 1971, but the dreams are never ending!





As a bantam FF of the 1971 war field, I salute him.









-The End 





The writer is an independent political observer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh who writes on politics, political and human-centred figures, current and international affairs.
ANN ARBOR, MI  Trische Duckworth wore a shirt with seven bullet holes printed on the back, signifying how many times Jacob Blake was shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

She spoke to a crowd of more than 100 people on the University of Michigan Diag Saturday morning in support of Black Lives Matter and to protest police brutality.

Ironically enough, this (weekend) is the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, Duckworth said. But its sad, that 57 years later were still marching.

The group held signs and wore T-shirts reading Black Lives Matter, and listened to several people speak on the steps of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library, including Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, D-Democrat, and Washtenaw County Prosecutor candidate Eli Savit. Dingell spoke about Blakes shooting and referenced her late husband, John, and their friendship with civil rights leader John Lewis, who would tell people they need to get into good trouble.

You know, today, were here getting into good trouble, Dingell said. Lewis talked to me a couple months ago and said, Debbie, be (this generations) mentor. Be there. Help them find their voices. Let us make it a reality that we do become one American family.

After listening to speakers for more than an hour, Duckworth led the group on a march through downtown Ann Arbor. They stopped outside City Hall where everyone took seven minutes of silence  some standing and some kneeling  representing the number of times Blake was shot.

Taylor Pennington drove all the way from Lima, Ohio, to be part of the protest. While supporting Black Lives Matter, she was also advocating for wrongful incarceration, something that hits close to home for her as her husband has been in jail for the last decade.

She said there was no evidence against him in the crime he committed.

Hes from the inner city, and he didnt really have resources, he didnt have the power to fight back, Pennington said. He didnt know how to fight back at that age  he was 17 years old.

Up until Blakes shooting, Pennington said the protests have slowed down a little bit in recent weeks. She was disappointed that she watched the video of Blake being shot because it creates trauma and a certain anxiety when shes around law enforcement. Its something she doesnt want to continue to harbor.

My reaction is just, Im tired, Pennington said. I really hope we dont grow desensitized to this because it happens so often.

Jermaine Johnston, a pastor at the Berea City of Hope Church in Ypsilanti, also addressed the crowd, encouraging them to say aloud the word action. The first time, though, wasnt good enough for Johnston.

You say it too softly because if you say it softly, your action that follows will also be soft, Johnston said, prompting the crowd to say it two more times at a louder volume.

Johnston, who is Black, went to UM about 20 years ago, he said, and told stories of people locking their cars as he walked by, or the time a professor would willingly help white students in the same class with extra work, only to have that professor tell him he should read the book and pay attention in class.

He also told the story of his sons elementary school calling him, saying his son was being violent and play-fighting.

I said, Was he fighting and playing by himself? They said, Well, no, there was a group of six of them, Johnston said. I asked, Did you call the other parents? and they said, Well, no, he seemed to be a little more aggressive than them.

His son was the only Black child in that group, Johnston said.

Its those kinds of incidents that Johnston and many others in attendance hope will change through action.

What proceeds after the talk, what proceeds after the conversation, what proceeds after the protest and the march must be action, Johnston said.

And, one last time, the crowd yelled action.

READ MORE:

Wisconsin police shooting victim Jacob Blake has Ann Arbor family roots

Ann Arbor officials want to radically rethink policing, consider alternatives to armed officers

Ann Arbor council prepares for possible battle with union over police reform
Thanks to advanced science and technology, Tong Huu Chau, an owner of a fish farm in HCM Citys District 12, has built a brand for his ornamental fish and his products have been exported to the US and EU.

Tong Huu Chau introduces a rare discus variety at an exhibition area of his farm in HCM City.  VNA/VNS Photo

He is known as an excellent farmer who has not only succeeded in fish farming but also helped train thousands of farmers in the city and other localities about the trade.

The 64-year-old said the turnover from his farm tops VND2.5 billion (US$108,200) per year.

He has faced a lot of challenges over the past 30 years but with determination and desire to learn new farming methods, he has gained success.

After graduating from Agriculture University in 1980, he worked in aquaculture for farms like Binh Phu and Dam Sen Fish Farm for more than 10 years.

He recognised the demand for juvenile fish and ornamental fish was rising but few people were part of the trade, so he quit his job and moved to outside the city to buy land to raise fish.

It was in 1991, I bought more than 3,500sq.m of land in a low-lying area, surrounded by lakes and trees, Chau recalled.

There was no electricity and no clean water in that area.

Every day, he worked from dusk till dawn, using a shovel to make a fishing pond.

After the pond was finished, he borrowed VND9 million to buy baby ca tre (yellow catfish).

Several years later, millions of juvenile fish have been produced and supplied to the market thanks to his extensive knowledge learnt at the university and experience accumulated over the years.

Not satisfied with success in yellow fish farming, in 2001, Chau decided to try ornamental fish farming. He collected and bred fish like discus, carp and koi.

Within a year, his farm became famous and he received orders from many customers, including some in Chinese Taiwan.

The convenience of online trading prompted Chau to launch an website chautongfishfarm.com, given many of his customers are from abroad.

Today, the Chau Tong brand is strongly established in demanding Western markets and orders flow in continuously.

The farm has nearly 60 varieties of fish in 600 large aquariums.

Between 2-2.5 million of ornamental fish have been exported to the US, Chinese Taiwan, France and Canada each year, he said, adding that Chau Tong Fish Farm has been authorised to export ornamental fish to the US since 2008.

His farm was one of the first four farms in the country to pioneer in using biological security procedures, including strict design, hygiene and waste-treatment requirements to improve the quality of fish.

I want fish to meet all requirements from input to output, ensuring they will be free from disease. By doing so, the products can be exported to other countries without worrying about customer complaints, he said.

Chau said to obtain a firm foothold in the market, he always paid attention to apply new science and technology.

His farm was chosen by the citys Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to pilot the implementation of good manufacturing practice (GMP) to produce ornamental fish.

Given normal conditions, the portion of fish that die after delivery is high whereas breeding fish in a tank with GMP will help stabilise the fishs health. Therefore, it will reduce the risk for customers regarding the delivery, he said.

Training for farmers

For many years, Chau has also shared his experience in raising ornamental fish and supported farmers in the sale of the products.

Ive trained farmers in the city and from other provinces over the past 10 years. During the training courses, I have received many questions from them, like 'Where can I sell fish?'

Chau has found ways to help other households sell their products to promote the ornamental fish farming movement.

Chau did not only make himself rich but has also passed his farming method and experience to more than 7,500 farmers in the city over the past 10 years, said Nguyen Huu Chau, chairman of HCM City Farmers Association.

From training courses taught by Chau, thousands of farmers in the city as well as from the southern provinces have had the opportunity to upgrade production models, escape poverty and gradually stabilise their lives, he said.

With his contribution, Chau was presented with the Labour Order, Third Class, twice in 2001 and 2016.

He was recognised as an outstanding individual in the citys emulation movement for the 2015-20 period.

Yet, his dream has not yet been fulfilled.

We want to convey a message to our friends working in the same industry in the world that with determination and passion, Vietnamese farmers in general and farmers in HCM City in particular can do a lot of things, Chau said.

Through strict control procedures, finally, Vietnamese ornamental fish -- koi fish -- are allowed to enter the European market ", he was quoted by Nguoi Lao ong (The Labourer) newspaper as saying. VNS

Vietnam has great potential for export of ornamental creatures Vietnam has great potential for the export of ornamental plants and animals thanks to its diverse and favourable natural conditions, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong.
Ever since Prince Andrew's name got dragged in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking scandal, Queen Elizabeth II has obviously taken the situation lightly. She seems unbothered with her favorite son's alleged involvement.

Virginia Roberts - one of the many victims of the late pedophile accused Prince Andrew of taking part in the sex trafficking scheme by forcing her to have sex with him three times, while she was still 17-years-old.

The Duke of York repeatedly denied Roberts' accusation and even had a sit-down interview with BBC Newsnight last year to clear his name. But instead of redeeming himself, the 60-year-old royal faced more backlash for denying his connection with Epstein and not giving a little sympathy with the underaged girls' victims.

While the backlash resulted in Prince Andrew to take a step back from his royal duties, it still doesn't get him out of the royal bubble that protected him from being subjected to investigation.

The Royal Family also lowkey "cancelled" Prince Andrew by removing the links to his official social media accounts from the British monarchy's official website. But still, the Duke of York gets to hide inside the Buckingham Palace walls.

It looks like Andrew's 94-year-old monarch doesn't have plans to surrender her son to authorities and let the rule of law decide on his fate. The recent move of the Queen only proves that she is not backing down in protecting her favorite son.

Queen Elizabeth II Snubs Public Outrage

Last week, a group of protesters flocked in London as part of a "Freedom For The Children Global Walk," they had a simultaneous protest in Liverpool and Manchester.

The protesters are using their voice in the hopes to end child trafficking through organized protests. In a clip shared on Twitter, the protesters could be seen campaigning outside the Buckingham Palace shouting "pedophile," condemning Prince Andrew'sassociation with Epstein.

Queen Elizabeth II's Move to Honor Prince Andrew

But despite the public uproar, Queen Elizebeth II remained firm in protecting his son. Last week, Westminster Abbey released the official schedule of the bell-ringing day until next year, which still includes Prince Andrew's birthday.

The Duke of York will be celebrating her 61st birthday in February 2021. His birthday will still be honored by ringing the bells as part of the tradition.

The public was initially shocked from seeing the schedule as it only means that Queen Elizabeth II still chooses to honor her favorite son, despite the sex assault thrown against him.

Speaking to Express, royal author Nigel Cawthorne explained why Her Majesty chooses to give Prince Andrew a royal honor despite the uproar when the bell was rung during his 60the birthday earlier this year.

"It would be a major sign of displeasure if she failed to ring the bells again for his 61st birthday," Cawthorne said.

The author of the book "Prince Andrew, Epstein, and the Palace" explained that it is highly unlikely for the Queen to listen to the public uproar against her favorite son.

"At this moment it is highly unlikely that the Queen will bow to public opinion, however unpopular such a decision would be and even though it would invite the same protestors at Buckingham Palace a few days ago to come out again in force in February in front of the Abbey."

READ MORE: Prince Harry Heartbreak: Meghan Markle SLAMMED For Praising Him!
Check out some of the best memes that have surfaced so far:

Now, some really entertaining memes are emerging that depict Kyle Rittenhousess heroism in the face of left-wing violence. Rittenhouse is rapidly becoming a cult hero of real America, where the people are fed up with endless left-wing riots, arson and violence. Burn, Loot and Murder, it turns out, isnt popular for long.

The three people Rittenhouse shot were a burglar, pedophile and domestic abuser . Plus, they were trying to kill him. The lying left-wing media, of course, tries to paint these people as saints. Then again, they also claim Jacob Blake, a serial sexual assaulter, is also a saint. Theres no criminal too thuggish for black America and the left-wing media to praise, it turns out. BLM openly defends black criminals as being a higher value in society than a white, law-abiding citizen.

( Natural News ) Kyle Rittenhouse is an American hero. With zero help from police, he single-handedly fought off three violent BLM attackers, all of whom had criminal records and were committed to carrying out acts of violence against innocent people. (One was a convicted pedophile who got shot in the groin can you say karma?)

About the author: Mike Adams (aka the Health Ranger) is a best selling author (#1 best selling science book on Amazon.com called Food Forensics), an environmental scientist, a patent holder for a cesium radioactive isotope elimination invention, a multiple award winner for outstanding journalism, a science news publisher and influential commentator on topics ranging from science and medicine to culture and politics. Follow his videos, podcasts, websites and science projects at the links below.

Mike Adams serves as the founding editor of NaturalNews.com and the lab science director of an internationally accredited (ISO 17025) analytical laboratory known as CWC Labs. There, he was awarded a Certificate of Excellence for achieving extremely high accuracy in the analysis of toxic elements in unknown water samples using ICP-MS instrumentation. Adams is also highly proficient in running liquid chromatography, ion chromatography and mass spectrometry time-of-flight analytical instrumentation. He has also achieved numerous laboratory breakthroughs in the programming of automated liquid handling robots for sample preparation and external standards prep.

The U.S. patent office has awarded Mike Adams patent NO. US 9526751 B2 for the invention of Cesium Eliminator, a lifesaving invention that removes up to 95% of radioactive cesium from the human digestive tract. Adams has pledged to donate full patent licensing rights to any state or national government that needs to manufacture the product to save human lives in the aftermath of a nuclear accident, disaster, act of war or act of terrorism. He has also stockpiled 10,000 kg of raw material to manufacture Cesium Eliminator in a Texas warehouse, and plans to donate the finished product to help save lives in Texas when the next nuclear event occurs. No independent scientist in the world has done more research on the removal of radioactive elements from the human digestive tract.

Adams is a person of color whose ancestors include Africans and American Indians. He is of Native American heritage, which he credits as inspiring his Health Ranger passion for protecting life and nature against the destruction caused by chemicals, heavy metals and other forms of pollution.

Adams is the author of the worlds first book that published ICP-MS heavy metals analysis results for foods, dietary supplements, pet food, spices and fast food. The book is entitled Food Forensics and is published by BenBella Books.

In his laboratory research, Adams has made numerous food safety breakthroughs such as revealing rice protein products imported from Asia to be contaminated with toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium and tungsten. Adams was the first food science researcher to document high levels of tungsten in superfoods. He also discovered over 11 ppm lead in imported mangosteen powder, and led an industry-wide voluntary agreement to limit heavy metals in rice protein products.

In addition to his lab work, Adams is also the (non-paid) executive director of the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center (CWC), an organization that redirects 100% of its donations receipts to grant programs that teach children and women how to grow their own food or vastly improve their nutrition. Through the non-profit CWC, Adams also launched Nutrition Rescue, a program that donates essential vitamins to people in need. Click here to see some of the CWC success stories.

With a background in science and software technology, Adams is the original founder of the email newsletter technology company known as Arial Software. Using his technical experience combined with his love for natural health, Adams developed and deployed the content management system currently driving NaturalNews.com. He also engineered the high-level statistical algorithms that power SCIENCE.naturalnews.com, a massive research resource featuring over 10 million scientific studies.

Adams is well known for his incredibly popular consumer activism video blowing the lid on fake blueberries used throughout the food supply. He has also exposed strange fibers found in Chicken McNuggets, fake academic credentials of so-called health gurus, dangerous detox products imported as battery acid and sold for oral consumption, fake acai berry scams, the California raw milk raids, the vaccine research fraud revealed by industry whistleblowers and many other topics.

Adams has also helped defend the rights of home gardeners and protect the medical freedom rights of parents. Adams is widely recognized to have made a remarkable global impact on issues like GMOs, vaccines, nutrition therapies, human consciousness.

In addition to his activism, Adams is an accomplished musician who has released over fifteen popular songs covering a variety of activism topics.

Click here to read a more detailed bio on Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, at HealthRanger.com.

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29.08.2020 LISTEN

"We do not learn in school how to swim even in some places there are swimming pools or rivers...or like here the ocean in which we could learn how to swim...but we just do not teach our children how to swim," commented Joseph Trebarh seeing a sugar and butter bread selling returning home with all loaves sold. She was stopped by a customer that was also a friend and both ladies had a short chat. "You see, Mr Karl...we are busybodies talking and talking our life away. You people walk home straight, just greetings friends and neighbours and do something more productive and useful than talking and talking about the affairs of others. These ladies, I bet with you, are just busy talkers about other people instead of minding their own business and focus on a brighter future!"

"That is how we are!" added Mary Trebarh that quite obvious enjoyed another piece of chocolate cream cake Mr Karl had brought out from the fridge. In the heat of Ghana to keep chocolate and cream cake out of a fridge would soonest destroy the delight. To store chocolate in a fridge is not the best of the solution as chocolate absorbs the odour of everything that is stored inside the fridge and contaminates it. But as the heat easily attacks the cocoa butter inside the chocolate that is, in the end, all someone can do.

"What annoys me so much these days at nights here is, the noise that comes from the church across the street just behind Cable Gold Radio station," mentioned Mr Karl his anger. He had learnt not to insult any Man of God, not even a Prophet, but did not want anything more at nights, after long and hard working hours, to hear nothing around him, no cars and no drums from late-night church services. The Central Government had given out the order through churches should keep their noise level down low so not to disturb their neighbours, but most churches did not mind the instruction given. "I know to report the Prophet to Sakumono Police Station just here few blocks away from me...that would be useless as I know most of the Police Officers would do nothing being members of that church. Even if my position that I have now, they would never mind me and do what is right. Therefore I have decided one day, I think coming Friday for midnight service, just to walk over and see with my very own eye what is really going on there and who that prophet so many people seem to like and trust...what kind of person that man really is."

"It is always best to see with your own eyes and hear with your own ears before you say anything about a person. Maybe even that man is for you, you never know. It is often when someone thinks by his own mind that a certain Man of God is a disturbing factor that in the end just right that Man of God is the one saving you and blessing you. You can never know. So, I support your idea to go over there to the church called Glorious Wave Church International of Prophet Doctor Emmanuel Badu Kobi and check him out. Then you will see what happens. Just keep your mind and your heart open and leave the rest to God, Mr Karl!"

"I will do as you instruct me!" laughed Mr Karl and gave Joseph Trebarh his hands for friendship. "You are a truly good friend indeed."

"You arrive in Ghana as a poor man walked through this city and encountered many lessons to learn from. You always keep a sharp eye on things and us as a people. Nothings slip your mind, you know the many corners of our country, our feelings, our soul, and spirit by now. Sometimes I think you know us even better than we know ourselves," said Joseph Trebarh while holding a picture Mr Karl wanted to see hanging at the wall next to the small kitchen.

"Since the Government in Flagstaff House gave me this area here around Sakumono to manage on their behalf...but more so on behalf of the people living in this area as an Area Manager with great powers for decision making...I can no longer walk through the streets without people recognizing me and greeting me. Many even come closer to me to tell me their worries and concerns, their wishes, and their dreams. Small children always come to me and touch my hand. They want to find out whether or not my skin is as soft as they think. To their great surprise, they run off smiling and laughing saying to each other that white skin is so smooth and softer than their own. These children brighten up my heart always...I simply love them...too much!"

"When you travel our country up and down and from the East to the West, you will see many projects started by the Government of a certain party. Once the opposition is in power the new Government will not complete the structures rather leave them to rod as they do not fit into their agenda and cannot give them credit for their labour. Calculating all the money wasted in such political thinking and shameful inaction...Mr Karl...you calculate, and your heart stands still. As a Ghanaian, you better hide yourself from this world and the people we ask for money as beggars. It is simply unbelievable," reminded Joseph Trebarh his German very good friend of the truth his country is faced with and the agony Ghanaians endure even more so since Democracy had taken over their minds and political system.

"Let me add Komenda Sugar factory to this," laughed Mr Karl his head off once more and added, "launched as a great intervention to provide for seven thousand direct and indirect jobs...and never any job had been provided. The sugar cane seedlings were the wrong sort with not enough sugar in them, the land was not enough for planting sugar cane in the needed quantity to run such a factory. Such a factory once it stops operation will never come onto the market again. The machines rust in the bush of Komenda and to repair them is so expensive in which case to build a completely new one is the order of the day. I mean when you initiate such intervention you most certainly must consider all its aspects such as selling of the sugar to consumers. The amount of imported sugar must get reduced so the new factory can be safely produced to the local market and prepare itself to be strong enough for the regional and international market. As a Government, you have to allocate key industries and as long as they are in the infant and teenager stages you have to protect them and stop importing the same products. Protectionism is key in the industrialization process and done by so many other countries around the world so, so successfully. But just we here are not wise enough not to understand simple things like that. And about Komenda Sugar factory, that makes me laugh the most, one year after launching of the factory the sugar prices in the EU was no longer protected by the EU but free-floating. As the consumption in Europe regarding sugar is going down and down for health reasons the farmers and companies in this business have to open up new markets to make a living. Africa is their first call of choice, so they dump sugar onto our continent as nothing can stop them. But yes, we can stop them with the right mindset and way forward. We simply must stop the import of sugar so that our factory can make a living and grow and become strong. We can open up our regional markets easily with the right strategy...but what are we doing instead...wasting money and dumping it into the bush of Ghana...what a shame...what a disgrace. Made in Ghana logo is nice...but we even do not understand that image is key for others to buy our products. And no one can tell you as for now what even we want the international community to understand when they think of Made in Ghana products. Are we producing great products at a great price, low price, are we creating quality other countries do not produce? So, what does Made in Ghana actually stands for? We do not even know that...so how do we expect others to know and subsequently buy our products. I mean, let's be honest to ourselves...we are a country joking with our destiny...we are really not serious people."

"Mr Karl," looked Joseph Trebarh his German friend straight and deep into the eyes and smiled, "I love it the way you always keep saying `that we`, I can see that you truly and honestly love us Ghanaians and feel to be one of us!"
Filmmaker Sean Baker, left, says "the news of me making a film ... about OnlyFans and using Bella Thorne as research is false." (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times; Daniele Venturelli / WireImage)

Days after Bella Thorne said she was collaborating with Sean Baker on a film about OnlyFans, the director is denying he has any involvement in the project.

"I would like to make it clear that the news of me making a film (documentary or fiction narrative) about OnlyFans and using Bella Thorne as research is false. Im NOT attached to this project," Baker said in a statement on Friday.

The filmmaker said he had a conversation in early August with Thorne about a far-off collaboration that could "focus on her life and the circumstances leading to her joining OnlyFans."

"On that call, I advised her team to consult with sex workers and address the way she went about this as to NOT hurt the sex work industry. This has been the extent of my involvement," Baker said. "I am an ally and have literally devoted my career to tell stories that remove stigma and normalize lifestyles that are under attack. I would never do anything that could possibly hurt the community."

In his statement, Baker made it clear that he is in development on two different film features that have nothing "to do with Ms. Thorne or OnlyFans." His previous films have often been filmed with nonprofessional first-time actors, including "Starlet," "Tangerine" and "The Florida Project."

Thorne did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

Earlier this week, the 23-year-old told The Times that she was planning on starring in a film that Baker would write and direct about OnlyFans, a subscription-based social media platform home to many sex workers. Part of the reason she started her own OnlyFans page, Thorne said, was to do research for the Baker project. The filmmaker initially declined to comment, but a source close to him told The Times that the project was still "in its infancy."

"I'm super stoked because we are both really interested in the politics of the movie and making sure there's a strong voice," Thorne said of the project. Its a feature we are researching as Im living it currently. What are the ins and outs? What does a platform like this do to its users? Whats the connective material between your life and your life inside the world of OnlyFans? ... How can it change your life for the worse and the better? How far are you willing to go, and how far do you WANT to go? You can be me, or this talented girl from Montana, and OnlyFans could change your life  if you want it to, of course.

Since joining the site on Aug. 19, the 23-year-old said she has made over $2 million in subscriptions on OnlyFans. The news of her financial windfall caused an uproar among sex workers, who said the actress was taking away work from full-time performers who are dependent on OnlyFans income during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thorne, who rose to fame on the Disney Channel show "Shake It Up," now has 23.7 million Instagram followers and most recently appeared in the June video-on-demand thriller "Infamous."
Chris Hemsworth and Teresa Palmer paid tribute to Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman, who died aged 43 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer.

The Australian stars shared photos with Chadwick to their respective Instagram accounts on Saturday, alongside a heartfelt caption.

Chadwick's family announced his death in a statement on Friday. They did not specify when he died.

Paying their respects: Australian stars have paid tribute to Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman (pictured) who died aged 43 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer

Chris, 37, who starred alongside Chadwick in 2018's Marvel film Avengers: Infinity War, shared a photo of the pair at what looked to be a red carpet event.

'Gonna miss you mate. Absolutely heartbreaking. One of the kindest most genuine people I've met. Sending love and support to all the family xo RIP,' he wrote.

Teresa, 34, posted a photo to Instagram of her embracing Chadwick.

Condolences: Chris Hemsworth, 37, (pictured with Chadwick) said of the actor in an Instagram post: 'Gonna miss you mate. Absolutely heartbreaking. One of the kindest most genuine people I've met. Sending love and support to all the family xo RIP'

'Rest in peace beautiful @chadwickboseman. A true gentle spirit. The biggest of hearts and a fierce talent,' the Berlin Syndrome star wrote.

'All my love to all those who loved you, such sad news to wake up to this morning.'

In the comments section of Teresa's post, her famous friends gave their condolences.

Heartfelt: Teresa Palmer, 34, posted a photo to Instagram with Chadwick and wrote: 'Rest in peace beautiful @chadwickboseman. A true gentle spirit. The biggest of hearts and a fierce talent. All my love to all those who loved you, such sad news to wake up to this morning'

'So so sad: In the comments section of Teresa's post, her famous friends including Studio 10's Peter Helliar and comedian and TV host Rove McManus gave their condolences

The Project's Peter Helliar wrote: 'I really expected to be watching him for the rest of my life!' alongside a broken heart emoji.

Comedian and TV host Rove McManus added: 'So so sad.'

In a statement on Friday, Chadwick's family said: 'It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman.

'It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman': Chadwick's family announced his death in a statement on Friday. They did not specify when he died

'Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last four years as it progressed to stage IV.

'A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much.'

The family revealed several of his recent films, including Marshall, Da 5 Bloods, and August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, were filmed 'during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy'.

Private battle: The family revealed several of his recent films, including Marshall, Da 5 Bloods, and August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, were filmed 'during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy'. Pictured in 2018's Black Panther

'It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther,' the statement said.

'The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.'

Chadwick is survived by his wife Taylor Simone Ledward and a parent and had no children, his publicist said.

He had kept his diagnosis and much of his personal life under wraps.
It took special seeds, plenty of attention and a pair of tights.

But Douglas Smiths efforts paid off when he broke the record to grow Britains biggest tomato.

The 6lb 14oz monster, with a circumference of almost 28in, was produced by fusing six beef steak tomato plants.

In the final stages of its growth it was so heavy that Mr Smith, 42, had to support it on its stem with a sling crafted from ladies tights.

Douglas Smiths (pictured with his tomato) efforts paid off when he broke the record to grow Britains biggest tomato

This has been an ambition of mine for a couple of years, said the product manager from Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire.

His last crack at the record was seen off by title holder Peter Glazebrook, whose prize specimen last year weighed 6lb 7oz. This time Ive finally edged it, said Mr Smith, who has a four-year-old son Stellan.

The 6lb 14oz monster, with a circumference of almost 28in, was produced by fusing six beef steak tomato plants

It was nurtured from seeds from a variety known as Big Zac, obtained from US tomato grower Larry Hill in Minnesota, who grew a plant yielding a 7lb 8oz fruit

He is planning to send his tomato to a butcher to be made into tomato and basil sausages

He added that his tomato was all the more amazing for having been grown in a pot.

It was nurtured from seeds from a variety known as Big Zac, obtained from US tomato grower Larry Hill in Minnesota, who grew a plant yielding a 7lb 8oz fruit. Mr Smith watered his tomato plant at least once a day for more than two months, using water mixed with liquid seaweed.

He is planning to send his tomato to a butcher to be made into tomato and basil sausages.

Mr Smith also hit the headlines last month when he grew a 20ft sunflower taller than his house.
ADRIAN, MI  Adrian College has laid off several faculty members over the summer and is planning to eliminate three departments, as well as their faculty, in the 2021-22 academic year.

According to a news release from the Adrian College Association of Professors (ACAP), Jerry Wright, vice president for business affairs at Adrian College, sent a letter to ACAP saying the college intended to eliminate 10 faculty members over the summer followed by another 12 layoffs in the fall of 2021.

There were seven layoffs over the summer, according to the release, including all full-time faculty in the freshman speech and writing department, the only art history professor at the college and professors in teacher education, business and math.

Wright wrote ACAP earlier this month, saying the college planned to eliminate the history, theater and religion, philosophy and leadership departments beginning in the 2021-22 academic year. Personnel in those departments would not be retained, the news release said.

The academic cuts were announced before there were budgetary concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic, the release said.

In response to the cuts, alumni came together in a Facebook group called The Asa Mahan Squad, which is named after the colleges first president. The group, which has more than 1,900 members, feels that the elimination of those departments goes against the colleges liberal arts mission, and members of the group are contacting the Board of Trustees to get more information.

I would like to request the administration provide the specific data driving these decisions and an articulation of how, exactly, the eradication of these programs fits with Adrians stated mission as a liberal arts institution, said Dr. Jennifer McNabb, a 1994 graduate and history major. As an alumna of one of the targeted programs and a longtime supporter of the college, I am deeply concerned future students will be denied the curricular depth enjoyed by past generations of Adrian alumni. Training in liberal arts is essential to competent, compassionate citizenship but also career success.

The release said all of the programs being cut sets a small, liberal arts education apart from technical training and gives students a real advantage in the job market.

Adrian College officials did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 20:40:36|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The 12th China International Patent Technology and Products Fair will be held from Nov. 11 to 13 in Dalian, coastal city in northeastern province of Liaoning, sources with the National Intellectual Property Administration said.

This year's conference will focus on the role of intellectual property rights in leading high-quality economic development. It will feature both online and offline events, including exhibitions, forums and investment matching.

Debuted in 2002, the Patent Fair has been held for 11 sessions in Dalian, attracting more than 10,000 enterprises and 90,000 patent projects from over 30 countries and regions. Enditem
Truck drivers, along with search and rescue groups and humanitarian relief organizations, are once again answering the call to deliver critical medical supplies, food and other essentials after Hurricane Laura pounded the Gulf Coast early Thursday, killing six people in Louisiana.

Shelli Conaway-Waugh of Lexington, Kentucky, a 28-year trucking veteran, runs a nonprofit group called Trucks with Room to Spare. She was already coordinating relief efforts Thursday morning with her network of truckers, sponsors and donors, to provide disaster relief in the areas hardest hit by Laura, which was a Category 4 hurricane when it made landfall.

Shelli Conaway-Waugh coordinates disaster relief efforts from the cab of her truck. Photo: Trucks with Room to Spare

"We coordinate with drivers who want to volunteer and have space in their trailers to haul a few pallets of supplies or more if they are headed to the area, or we ask companies if they could donate a driver and their equipment to pick up and deliver supplies," Conaway-Waugh told FreightWaves.

In some cases, her group, which relies on donations, steps up to cover fuel costs for truck drivers who volunteer their time and equipment.

Conaway-Waugh, a flatbedder, isn't new to hauling disaster relief loads. During Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, killing more than 1,800 people, she hauled trailers for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which nearly cost her everything.

"The FEMA contractor I subcontracted with also subcontracted with several other companies to haul trailers," Conaway-Waugh said. "The money ran out after the fourth level of subcontractors and I was the eighth level, so I never got paid."

Helping Those In Need

Those hardest hit by the hurricane may not have flood insurance and rely on donated supplies to repair their homes, she said.

"We coordinate with churches and other groups in the area to access what their needs are and we collect supplies like hammers, tarps, shovels, buckets, trash bags and chainsaws to help clean up after other relief organizations have left the area," Conaway-Waugh said.

Story continues

Besides cash donations, her group accepts plywood and lumber that may have sustained water damage, but would suffice in an emergency situation. The organization also accepts boxes of usable building materials where just one box is crushed, but the whole load is rejected by a receiver.

Trucks with Room to Spare is currently evaluating requests from relief groups and plans to establish donation dropoff sites sometime Friday. She has organized a list of rules and regulations for volunteers who have collected disaster relief supplies to ensure her group can accept the shipments.

Her group works with several relief organizations, including CN Supply, a branch of the Cajun Navy, a water search-and-rescue group that rescued thousands during Hurricane Katrina.

Jessy Gillespie, one of the cofounders of CN Supply, formerly worked in logistics, before changing careers to become a costume designer for the film industry. She has been volunteering and coordinating disaster relief efforts for 15 years since Katrina.

"Logistics and sewing are a puzzle to me," she said. "I like to make sure all of the pieces fit."

While hunkered down in a closet Thursday as the hurricane passed through her hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, Gillespie was texting with other group members and coordinating cleanup efforts in her community, along with assessing the needs in Louisiana and Texas.

She describes CN Supply, which she founded with Jason Cannon in 2017, as a group of volunteers from across the country who assist in the transport, distribution and delivery of lifesaving supplies to victims of natural disasters.

CN Supply relies on volunteers to donate and transport critical relief supplies to disaster areas. Photo: CN Supply

Over the years, CN Supply has been able to help hundreds of thousands of people and deliver millions of tons of supplies to natural disaster areas with the help of nonprofit trucking groups like Trucks with Room to Spare.

"I have seen truckers make up to 10 stops along their routes to build a full truckload of supplies," Gillespie told FreightWaves. "Our group is then able to hotshot the supplies out to the areas they are needed most."

The group's relief efforts were hindered Thursday by a chlorine fire that broke out at the BioLab plant in Westlake, near Lake Charles, according to Kristen Wise, president of CN Supply.

A shelter-in-place order was issued and the state Department of Transportation Department (DOTD) closed Interstate 10 in the area, diverting traffic to other routes because of black smoke billowing over the interstate.

"We are making connections with fire departments to get points of distribution established," Wise told FreightWaves. "Due to the chemical plant fire, it's complicating getting set up near the most impacted areas."

Wise, who is originally from southeast Texas before moving to Washington, D.C., several years ago, joined CN Supply during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which caused heavy flooding and destruction in her hometown.

"I felt so helpless that this was happening in my hometown and wanted to help my family and friends in some way, even though I couldn't be there," she said.

Prior to becoming the group's president, she worked remotely as a high-water dispatcher and supply coordinator and humanitarian aid director for the group.

"We realized after these people were rescued there were going to be a lot of places without access to food, water and life saving supplies for long periods of time," Wise said. "We partner with major food banks and trucking companies to get the supplies to the people who need them the most."

CN Supply volunteers also worked to deliver relief supplies during Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Michael and to victims of the Nebraska floods.

"My involvement came about just by loving people and just being the organizer of chaos," Wise said. "I think it comes from being a youth minister many years ago. Instead of organizing the chaos of teenagers, I now organize the chaos of hurricanes."

Coordinating Relief Efforts During COVID-19

Coordinating relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging.

Instead of having supplies delivered to a warehouse where 20 to 30 volunteers would then sort and organize them, CN Supply is having to pivot and take a different approach to ensure no one, including its volunteers, contract the deadly virus, Gillespie said.

"We are asking people who want to help to look at their own families and evaluate all of the supplies they would need for a week and then put them in paper bags and label them by age," she said.

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 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
As Kadijah Levi tried to assess the hurricane damage to her Beaumont home from afar, there was one thing she didnt have to worry about  her dog, Lily.

Lily, a lively little chihuahua, was one of more than 100 pets that found a temporary home at Animal Care Services when their owners fled their homes on the upper Gulf Coast to safe refuge in San Antonio because of Hurricane Laura.

Tierra Smiths dog, Zeus, also a chihuahua, joined Lily on Wednesday at the ACS campus on the Southwest Side while Smith, Levi and their friend Regina Turner stayed at the Westin Riverwalk.

As they drove into town, they were worried about the dogs.

We didnt know what we were going to do, Smith said.

They neednt have worried. ACS was ready to help. As nearly 5,000 evacuees poured into San Antonio from East Texas and western Louisiana, the city provided hotel rooms to the humans and ACS provided emergency kennels for 93 dogs, 10 cats and two birds  all at no charge.

One of the animal shelters partners, the Animal Defense League, took in 35 dogs that had to be evacuated from a shelter in Beaumont.

By Friday afternoon, the remnants of Laura exhausted, many of the evacuees were packing up and heading home.

The trio from Beaumont picked up Lily and Zeus in a frenzy of licking and hugging.

I couldnt wait to come get them, Levi said. Every day Ive been ready to get the dogs.

Friday night, dozens of dogs still were in the facilitys emergency shelter  an air conditioned tent filled with portable kennels, each lined with sheets, newspaper and bowls for food and waterwith staff members caring for the pups 24/7.

And ACS officials were expecting more to come in over the weekend and were busy setting up another emergency shelter.

Some of them came in pretty scared, said Megan Dombeck, an animal caretaker at ACS. But staff members took time to play with the animals and keeping them calm until their owners pick them up again.

Its a very traumatic experience for people to leave their home, to have to flee with their family and to flee with their pet, and be unsure what their next step may be, said Lisa Norwood, a spokeswoman for Animal Care Services.

ACS seeks to lighten the load a little bit for evacuees, she said, and reassure them their pets will have a good temporary home.

Of course, the staff members at the ACS campus on the Southwest Side arent just taking care of the evacuees animals  there also are hundreds of local strays waiting to find permanent homes.

More than 100 staff members at the facility not only are caring for these evacuees  35 of which are up for adoption and staying at the Animal Defense League and San Antonio Pets Alive  but also hundreds of San Antonio strays.

San Antonians who want to help the evacuee animals should consider fostering or adopting one of the 220 dogs and cats living at the shelter.

Lets get some of the San Antonio pets out of the shelter and lessen some of the burden of care on the staff here, Norwood said, so we can make sure were taking care of San Antonio pets and taking care of our neighbor.

Adoption fees will be waived today for the Clear the Shelters event. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be no charge for adopting a dog or cat.

Each animal adopted has been spayed or neutered, will get a microchip, and get its first round of vaccinations and flea and tick preventative medication.

Adoption appointments must be made in advance by visiting SAACS.info/adopt.

Liz Hardaway is a staff writer covering San Antonio government and politics. To read more from Liz, become a subscriber. liz.hardaway@hearst.com | Twitter: @liz_hardaway
The outgoing BBC direcotr general Lord Hall has insisted that the organisation is not the not the woke corporation - as he suggested the broadcaster must ensure its staff is less London-centric.

He said: You dont want people who all think alike.

So you need diverse voices around the table; that could be diverse because youve got black, Asian, minority voices around the table, thats important. Ive got a thing myself about social diversity.

And the second thing I think is really important is that we can and should be more out of London.

Lord Tony Hall - who will be replaced by Tim Davie on September 1 - said moving away from the capital would help the organisation to be more relevant to licence fee payers.

Were 50 per cent in London, and 50 per cent out of London, in spend and people. I think we can do much better than that. I think we can get to 70 per cent out of London.

He added that the nation had learned from coronavirus that corporations dont need as many buildings as you think as he implied working from home would become the new norm.

The BBC has several offices across the UK, including its north-western Salford headquarters and Broadcasting House in London.

The BBC can embark on a 'big push' to move more staff out of London, the corporation's outgoing director-general Lord Tony Hall has said

He told The Daily Telegraph: 'What we've learnt from Covid is that you don't need as many buildings as you think, therefore you can be more diverse in where you centre people.'

'I think we can do a big push to get more out of London, and that changes the dynamic of the discussions you have and therefore - and I hate using the the word relevance, but I will do - your relevance to the people that are paying for you.'

Lord Hall said it is not the BBC's job to 'take sides', adding: 'We should not pander to any particular group; we should be giving everybody, whoever they are, something.

'We should try to be the calm centre in what is a very stormy situation.'

In January, Lord Hall announced plans to move two-thirds of the corporation's staff outside London 'at least' by 2027.

The BBC has several offices across the UK, including its north-western Salford headquarters and Broadcasting House in London (pictured)

He added that 70 per cent of BBC staff could be placed outside of London. Pictured: The BBC studios at Salford Quays, Manchester

Lord Hall also addressed the ongoing row over plans to perform Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory without lyrics at Last Night of the Proms after critics claimed the patriotic anthems were 'racist'.

He said the controversy shows 'what the BBC does matters'.

He said the move to play orchestral versions of Rule, Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory that do not feature singing was 'the right creative decision'.

He added that 'when you haven't got an audience... it's going to feel very, very flat'.

Traditional songs, which some find controversial because of their perceived ties to imperialism, will be played without lyrics at this year's Last Night, although the BBC has confirmed they will be sung again in 2021.

Lord Hall's comments come after composer Errollyn Wallen, who has written a new arrangement of Jerusalem which will be played during the Last Night performance, hit out at Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his intervention on the issue.

She said that his comments were 'irresponsible'.

Earlier this week, Mr Johnson said he found the decision to remove the lyrics difficult to believe.

'I think it's time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history, about our traditions, and about our culture, and we stopped this general bout of self-recrimination and wetness,' he added.

Jamie Barton waving the the rainbow flag at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London last year, while singing Rule Britannia

Responding to his comments, Ms Wallen said: 'I think that is the first step, certainly cringe with embarrassment, and then go further and let's open up the history that we are all part of.

'So that is the first step.'

She added: 'I think he was being irresponsible at a time when the arts gets so little support.

Lord Hall's comments come after composer Errollyn Wallen (pictured), who has written a new arrangement of Jerusalem which will be played during the Last Night performance, hit out at Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his intervention on the issue

'It has been hung out to dry, especially with all that's happened with Covid-19.

'His remarks weren't at all helpful.'

Ms Wallen she was 'dismayed' that so many politicians waded into the row.

There is a 'hullabaloo' over the Last Night, she said, adding: 'Some of that was whipped up, to be honest.'

Earlier this week, Lord Hall confirmed the issue of dropping songs because of their association with Britain's imperial past had been discussed.

The live music leg of the BBC Proms kicked off on Friday with a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

At the beginning of the BBC Two coverage of Friday's performance, Stephen Fry, who was presenting, said it was 'extraordinary' to be there.

He added: 'It is exciting, as a Prom always is, except without the audience it's exciting for other reasons because this is such a great moment in the cultural history of our nation, that the grass is growing back up through the concrete and finally there's live music.'

The Last Night will be performed on September 12.

During the classical musical festival there will also be performances held in locations including Salford Quays and Cardiff's Hoddinott Hall.
On the 15th anniversary of one of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, the commemorations have been hampered by another crisis  the coronavirus pandemic  along with the arrival of Hurricane Laura.

The New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Foundation annually holds an event on Aug. 29 where Hurricane Katrina caused a breach in the Industrial Canal. Because of the coronavirus, the foundations reading of the names of the victims of Katrina will move online to a virtual event.

There also will be a city-sponsored wreath-laying ceremony today at the Katrina memorial on Canal Street, according to Nola.com.

Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in the early morning hours of Aug. 29, 2005.

Katrina, a category 3 storm when it landed in Louisiana, was 400 miles wide and had winds of 100 mph to 140 mph.

The damage was extensive - 85 percent of New Orleans, La., was under water after the levee system failed.

The day before the storm arrived, the mayor of New Orleans had issued the citys first-ever mandatory evacuation order. The Superdome was designated as a shelter of last resort. More than 10,000 people sought shelter there.

Still, tens of thousands of people chose to remain in their homes.

According to history.com, it had already been raining heavily in New Orleans before the hurricane hit.

Hundreds of thousands of homes were destroyed and more than 1,800 people died.

Katrina also did substantial damage in Mississippi and Alabama.

The damage estimate from the storm topped $108 billion. According to FEMA, Katrina was the costliest hurricane in U.S. history.

The Coast Guard rescued around 34,000 people in New Orleans. Private citizens also used boats to help in rescues and offered food and shelter to people who were displaced.

The federal government, however, seemed unprepared for the storm. From history.com, The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) took days to establish operations in New Orleans, and even then did not seem to have a sound plan of action.

Officials, even including President George W. Bush, seemed unaware of just how bad things were in New Orleans and elsewhere: how many people were stranded or missing; how many homes and businesses had been damaged; how much food, water and aid was needed. Katrina had left in her wake what one reporter called a total disaster zone where people were getting absolutely desperate.

For one thing, many had nowhere to go. At the Superdome in New Orleans, where supplies had been limited to begin with, officials accepted 15,000 more refugees from the storm on Monday before locking the doors. City leaders had no real plan for anyone else. Tens of thousands of people desperate for food, water and shelter broke into the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center complex, but they found nothing there but chaos.

Meanwhile, it was nearly impossible to leave New Orleans: Poor people especially, without cars or anyplace else to go, were stuck. For instance, some people tried to walk over the Crescent City Connection bridge to the nearby suburb of Gretna, but police officers with shotguns forced them to turn back.

Hundreds of thousands of people who had been evacuated scattered around the United States to resettle and never returned.

Floodwaters from Hurricane Katrina cover a portion of New Orleans, La., Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005, a day after Katrina passed through the city. (AP Photo/ Vincent Laforet, Pool)ASSOCIATED PRESS

According to The Data Center, an independent research organization in New Orleans, the storm ultimately displaced more than 1 million people in the Gulf Coast region, from history.com

Afterward, all levels of government  state, local and federal  were criticized for the not only slow response but also inadequate response.

The director of FEMA, Michael Brown, was forced to resign.

The New Orleans Police Department superintendent also resigned.

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco did not seek re-election and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was convicted in 2014 of bribery, fraud and money laundering.

A U.S. Congress investigation spawned some reforms including a requirement that all levels of government train to execute coordinated plans of disaster response.

A Habitat for Humanity volunteer with the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, Nicolette Santos, reported last year, The rebuilding of New Orleans, 14 years after the hurricanes landfall, is still a work in progress.

Floodwaters from Hurricane Katrina fill the streets near downtown New Orleans, La., on Aug. 30, 2005. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Mark Twain said a lie is halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on. He might be astonished today at how that is an understatement. No sooner is a young black person shot by the police than somebody, often Ben Crump of Trayvon false witness fame, seems to have an elaborate media story spread about the utter innocence of the victim and the homicidal mania of the police. Just this week, we initially were assured by the usual suspects, like Donna Brazile, that Jacob Blake of Kenosha was just an innocent, unarmed young guy, trying to break up a dispute between two women. He was even a good family man, with 6 kids, just like the Brady Bunch. And some mean cops just shot him, cuz' that's what they do.

A few days later, we learn the truth. The cops were responding to a call from his ex-girlfriend, the mother of three of his six, to arrest him. Seems Jacob had previously beaten her up, sexually assaulted her, taken her car and debit cards, and emptied her bank accounts. There was a felony warrant out for him. Blake also fought with the cops when they tried to arrest him, shrugged off a taser blast, and pulled a knife. The Kenosha cops might also have been aware that Blake often carried handguns. But whatever, BLM would have liked them to just let him run free and wait for some pistol prestidigitation before opening fire.

Friday, we learned the sainted Breonna Taylor was neck deep in the drug trade of her old boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover. Police in Louisville had jail-house tapes of him bragging of her, about holding all his money, use of her car, and other helpful activity. How were they to know she had a new boyfriend when they finally served a warrant on her house? Or that new boyfriend had an itchy trigger finger and started shooting when police tried to enter? It matters not, because lawyer Crump is on the job and smells a big settlement from all these cities.

In the case of Blake, it may be complicated, as the various baby-mamas will have their own lawyers, who may want the Wisconsin judge to cut them all a bigger slice of that settlement, at the expense of the never-employed Blake, and maybe even from lawyer Crump.

No matter  there are "victims" of police shootings popping up every week. Every movement, rotten or not, needs it martyrs. For the Nazis, they famously had Horst Wessel, a young street brawler, killed in the act of various acts of mayhem. Dr. Goebbels had dishonest films, ceremonies, and even the Nazi Anthem dedicated to him. BLM gives its "victims" the same whitewash treatment. There is even a choral work wealthy classical concert-goers will be subjected to for decades to come. Hand it to the Nazis: they could at least turn out decent music for their evil purposes. Modern left-wing academic composers, not so much.

No sooner is the "hands-up, don't shoot" narrative of Mike Brown debunked, once the poor hamlet of Ferguson, Mo. is burned down, than it's on to the next police "victim" and the next riot. After a while, bad guys like Brown can be slipped in again on the list of "victims" because who is keeping score anyway? No one with a better memory than LeBron James, it seems.

Will this all end and peace return to our Republic anytime soon? Many moderates will hope just getting rid of Trump will bring peace. It won't. The mob has the taste of blood in its mouth; it can bully blue-state governors and mayors. Why not a Joe Biden, already proven so malleable?

Mr. Trump, too, is hard put to do this job. His DOJ simply doesn't have enough lawyers smart enough, or tough enough, to go after all the perpetrators. The Insurrection Act should long ago have been used in Portland. One suspects that the Pentagon generals have already told the commander-in-chief they won't follow his orders in such circumstances. We may ultimately need what our French friends call "La Reaction thermidorienne," where the revolutionary passions just finally burn out; they should know.

Presumably this could happen once lawyer Crump has made enough money, or better yet, been disbarred.

Frank Friday is an attorney in Louisville, Ky.
Turkish VP refutes EU threat for sanctions as Turkish military gets ready to carry out military exercises off Cyprus.

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay has slammed a recent threat by the European Union to slap Ankara with sanctions as hypocritical as his country prepares to carry out a military drill off the coast of Cyprus amid tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.

Oktays comments on Saturday came a day after Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, said the bloc was preparing to impose sanctions on Turkey  including tough economic measures  unless progress is made in reducing soaring tensions with Greece and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean.

It is hypocritical for the European Union to call for dialogue and, simultaneously, make other plans regarding Turkeys activities within our continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean, Oktay said on Twitter.

We are proficient in the language of peace and diplomacy, but do not hesitate to do the necessary thing when it comes to defending Turkeys rights and interests. France and Greece know that better than anyone.

The long-running dispute between Turkey and Greece, both NATO members, flared after both agreed to rival accords on their maritime boundaries with Libya and Egypt, and Turkey sent a survey vessel into contested waters this month.





The EUs measures, meant to limit Turkeys ability to explore for natural gas in contested waters, could include individuals, ships or the use of European ports, Borrell said.

We can go to measures related to sectoral activities  where the Turkish economy is related to the European economy, Borrell told a news conference, referring to possible sanctions.

The EU would focus on everything related to activities we consider illegal, he said.

Military exercise

On Friday, Turkey said it will hold military drills off northwest Cyprus in the next two weeks.

The Turkish military issued an advisory to mariners, known as a Navtex, saying it would be holding a gunnery exercise from Saturday until September 11.

Greece and Turkey have both held military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean, highlighting the potential for the dispute over the extent of their continental shelves to escalate into a confrontation.

Two weeks ago, Greek and Turkish frigates shadowing Turkeys Oruc Reis oil and gas survey vessel collided, and Turkeys Ministry of National Defense said Turkish F-16 jets on Thursday prevented six Greek F-16s from entering an area where Turkey was operating.





Greece and Turkey are at odds over the rights to potential hydrocarbon resources in the eastern Mediterranean, based on conflicting claims about the extent of their continental shelves.

Tensions escalated this month after Ankara dispatched the Oruc Reis seismic survey vessel in a disputed area following the pact between Athens and Cairo.

The agreement is seen as a response to a Turkish-Libyan accord signed in 2019 allowing Turkey access to areas in the region where large hydrocarbon deposits have been discovered.

Turkey is a formal candidate to join the EU, but its talks with the bloc have been in a deadlock for several years now.
A riot broke out on Friday in the southern Swedish town of Malmo, where at least 300 people had gathered to protest against anti-Islam activities, authorities said, hours after an anti-Muslim Danish politician was blocked from attending a Koran-burning rally nearby. Protesters were throwing objects at police officers and car tyres had been set on fire, a police spokesman said. Earlier in the day, a copy of the Quran had been burned in Malmo by right-wing extremists.

Here Are All Details, Updates on the Issue:

 The anti-Islam protests occurred after Rasmus Paludan, leader of Danish far-right political party Hard Line, had been denied permission to have a meeting in Malmo and was stopped at the Swedish border, according to the newspaper.

 Authorities pre-empted Paludans arrival by announcing he had been banned from entering Sweden for two years. He was later arrested near Malmo. We suspect that he was going to break the law in Sweden," Calle Persson, spokesman for the police in Malmo told AFP. There was also a risk that his behaviour would pose a threat to society."

 His supporters, however, went ahead with the rally, and three people were then arrested for inciting racial hatred. Paludan later put up a scathing message on Facebook. Paludan had last year attracted media attention for burning a Quran wrapped in bacon  a meat that is anathema for Muslims.

 Daily Aftonbladet said several anti-Islam activities had taken place in Malmo on Friday, including three men kicking a copy of the Quran between them in a public square.

Daily Aftonbladet said several anti-Islam activities had taken place in Malmo on Friday, including three men kicking a copy of the Quran between them in a public square.

 A spokesperson said the situation was not under control yet, and action was ongoing to bring calm. We see a connection between what is happening now and what happened earlier today, he said. The demonstrations had escalated in the same place where the Quran had been burned, the spokesman said. The site of violence is near a predominantly migrant neighborhood.

We see a connection between what is happening now and what happened earlier today, a spokesperson said.

 Protesters threw stones at police and burned tyres in southern Sweden late on Friday, authorities said.

This is a developing story, more details to follow. With inputs from AP, AFP, Reuters.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  The General Secretariat of Interpol informed its National Central Bureau (NCB) in a letter published Aug. 22 of its decision to reject the Turkish request to issue an international arrest warrant (red notice) against dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan who is currently residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The General Secretariat said Turkeys request does not comply with Article 3 of the Interpol Constitution, which states, It is strictly forbidden for the Organization to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.

The General Secretariat further confirmed that all information related to Dahlan has been deleted from Interpol's databases, and no police contact or cooperation can be made in this case through Interpol channels.

On Aug. 21, the Turkish TRT channel reported Turkeys diffusion of a request from Interpols NCB in Ankara against Dahlan, accusing him of carrying out espionage activities targeting Egyptian citizens and Palestinians residing in Turkish territory.

In November 2019, Ankara had issued an Interpol red notice request for Dahlan on charges related to his involvement in issues affecting Turkey's national security.

Turkish intelligence accuses Dahlan and the UAE of being involved in the attempted coup that took place in Turkey on July 15, 2016. Dahlan challenged Ankara to present any document that supports its allegations during a TV interview last November. At the time, he accused the Turkish president of stealing gold from the Central Bank of Libya and providing a safe environment for former Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in northwestern Syrian areas controlled by Turkey.

Imad Mohsen, spokesman for the Democratic Reform Current led by Dahlan, told Al-Monitor, Turkey is greatly disturbed by the Arab position that Dahlan adopts, as it represents an obstacle to its greedy colonial ambitions in the Arab region.

On the Arab position adopted by Dahlan, Mohsen explained that the latter is part of the Arab alliance between Egypt, the UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia against any foreign interference in Arab affairs, especially from Turkey. Mohsen denounced Turkeys false and fabricated allegations against Dahlan, which he said are not based on any legal arguments and documents.

He explained that Interpols categorical rejection at this time and the fact that it deleted all of Dahlans data from its database is a message sent not only to Turkey, but to any party wishing to cause more chaos and dissent in the Arab region by undermining Dahlan.

Mohsen noted that Turkey's failure to provide sufficient evidence shows the invalidity of its claim, pointing out that Ankara resorts only to media platforms to launch fictive accusations aimed to destabilize the region.

He said that Dahlan enjoys an extended Palestinian, Arab and international popularity. We do not have a problem with the Turkish state and people, but with the ruling political system of a monolithic colonial nature, he added.

Commenting on the UAE-Israeli normalization agreement, Mohsen said it is an Emirati affair and not a Palestinian affair. The Democratic Reform Current does not interfere in how Arab countries manage their own affairs. The UAE is an independent country and does not have any ambitions in any Arab country. We issued a statement rejecting normalization [with Israel] and confirming our commitment to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, he said. Burning state flags or pictures and launching a violent attack on states will not help the Palestinians. We have to be diplomatic in expressing our positions.

On Aug. 13, the UAE announced an agreement to normalize relations with Israel. All Palestinian factions, including Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, condemned this agreement as a betrayal of the Palestinians.

Tayseer Mohsen, political science professor at Al-Azhar University in the Gaza Strip, told Al-Monitor that the Turkish stance toward Dahlan is due to his alignment with some countries whose foreign policy conflicts with the Turkish state. Those countries see the Turkish influence in the Arab and Islamic region as a competition.

Furthermore, he indicated that the Turkish security apparatus during the past years was able to obtain files on Dahlan's involvement in acts undermining Turkish national security and indications confirming his involvement in the 2016 attempted coup. He argued that Interpol's rejection of the red notice may actually be due to lack of evidence and Turkey's inexperience in dealing with such cases, or due to the intervention of some of the powerful states (in reference to the UAE) to protect Dahlan and to prevent his trial.

The international community is not completely fair and may be persuaded by the power of money and influence to take a biased stance, Mohsen said.

Regarding Dahlan's position on the Emirati-Israeli agreement, he explained that Dahlan is on good terms with the UAE and will not be criticizing this agreement, ruling out any link between Turkey's request for a red notice and the agreement. Turkey has been trying for years to get Dahlan, he noted.

Mohsen added that ousting Dahlan from the Arab political scene would be a great relief for Turkey. He explained that getting rid of Dahlan, who is an ally of the UAE, would create an imbalance and stir political confusion in the region, which in turn would boost the influence of the Turkish-Qatari alliance at the expense of the alliance between the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

He ruled out Dahlans return to the Palestinian political scene soon. Yet he noted that he would be imposed on this scene should the UAE use its influence and money to remove Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The head of the political science department at Al-Azhar University, Mukhaimer Abu Saada, told Al-Monitor that Dahlan is inciting against the Turkish president as a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood movement, which Dahlan is against.

Pointing to the tension between the Qatari-Turkish alliance on the one hand and the alliance between Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt on the other, he said, There are several points of contention between the two alliances, in reference to Ankaras support for the internationally recognized government of Libya, while Abu Dhabi, Cairo and Riyadh back the rival eastern-based military strongman Khalifa Hifter. Another point of contention between those parties is Turkeys military operation in northeastern Syria and against the Kurds in Iraq.

Abu Saada noted that Interpol's rejection of the Turkish request will not stop Turkey from pursuing Dahlan. This may stop it from legally pursuing him, but it will not keep it from launching its incitement campaign against him.

He added, Turkey is trying to score irrational gains at the expense of the Palestinian cause. It is one of the first countries to recognize Israel since its establishment in 1948, and it is now criticizing and attacking the UAE for signing a normalization agreement with Israel.

Affirming that Turkey is exploiting the Palestinian card for its internal interests and international relations, he said, Ankara is criticizing the normalization agreement as an attempt to attract Islamic and Arab support to confront the UAE alliance.

He continued, Dahlan's return to the Palestinian political scene is out of the question amid the state of hostility between Dahlan and Abbas. Also, Dahlan is not able to ally with Hamas, as this would harm the movements relations with Turkey and Qatar. Hamas is open to coordination with Dahlan, but it cannot form an alliance with him, since Dahlan opposes Turkey and Qatar, which are the main backers of Hamas.

Political analyst Talal Okal told Al-Monitor that Turkey's hostility to Dahlan stems from the Turkish-Emirati hostility. The UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are allied against Turkey, Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood. As long as the Turkish role in the region continues, the battle between Turkey and Dahlan will not end, he said.
It is unclear if the Chinese embassy has offered help to Sang and Hao through the MEA or MHA so far

There is nothing to indicate that the arrests may have figured during the back channel talks between India and China

Hyderabad: Even as a multi-agency probe is underway into the murky affairs involving two Chinese nationals -- one arrested in Hyderabad and the other in Delhi recently, the Embassy of People's Republic of China in New Delhi is keeping a close watch on the ongoing investigations and is said to be updating Beijing on a daily basis.

Though so far, there is nothing to indicate that the arrests may have figured during the back channel talks between India and China, which are locked over a tense stand-off since the deadly Galwan clashes, top officials in India's security establishment still hold the view that the arrests could still be an irritant at this crucial juncture when several rounds of meetings at different levels has only led to a limited disengagement in parts of Ladakh.

While Luo Sang is being probed by agencies in Delhi for allegedly running a hawala racket worth over Rs 1,000 crore using shell or dubious companies, Yah Hao was arrested by the Hyderabad police in connection with the Rs 1,100 crore online gaming racket recently.

Informed sources told Deccan Chronicle that the Chinese embassy is in constant touch with officials in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after they were informed about the arrest of Yah Hao, who was picked up from Delhi airport on August 12. The Hyderabad police had written to the MEA and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) days after the arrest. Around the same time, the Income tax sleuths raided and nabbed Luo Sang from Gurgaon. The Enforcement Directorate and the IT officials are conducting separate investigations against the duo for alleged money laundering and taxation issues.

While embassies usually extend all help and support to its nationals arrested on foreign soil, it is unclear if the Chinese embassy has offered help to Sang and Hao through the MEA or MHA so far. Usually, embassies offer legal help to its nationals among other logistics. However, they are in constant touch with New Delhi seeking to know the status of the investigation regularly. Besides information from MEA and MHA, the embassy would also rely on media reports and update their government accordingly.

It is learnt that some officials in Delhi reportedly advised the Telangana police to keep the arrest and details of the ongoing probe a low key affair, lest it becomes an irritant during the diplomatic talks between the two countries. This is precisely the reason why the Hyderabad police, which is known for deriving maximum mileage even when they arrest petty offenders, chose to be very measured in its briefing following Hao's arrest. Though they could have gone hammer and tongs with the details that kept emerging about Hao, including his visit to Pakistan and Dubai, among other countries, the senior officials were guarded.

"The issue of arrest of Chinese nationals is sensitive at this point in time and can create uneasiness during talks, especially due to the complicated relationship between the two nations which makes it dicey for agencies," sources said. It is precisely for this reason that top officials in Delhi are keen that the case be transferred to a central agency, perhaps the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to ensure that the centre has full control over the probe and its details. There has been no move officially over this aspect.
Ambalangoda GMA de Silva Jewellers marks 100 golden years of business View(s):

GMA de Silva, one of the most trusted jewellers in southern Sri Lanka, will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

GMA de Silva (Pvt) Ltd was founded in 1920 by the late Mr. G.M.A de Silva as a trusted gold pawning operation in Ambalangoda. In 1956 the son of the founding chairman Mr. G.M.S de Silva incorporated manufacturing and retail of fine jewellery into GMA de Silva Jewellers.

Since then GMAs jewellery brand has stood synonymous with late Mr. G.M.S De Silva who was a prominent personality in Ambalangoda, with social recognition as the Chairman and a member of the Ambalangoda Urban Council from 1983 to 2006.

His honest advice and personal touch to each piece of jewellery sold along with many years of trust made the difference among the clientale, for selecting their fine gold jewellery from GMA de Silva Jewellers. He was instrumental in his vision to accelerate the business and allowing access of 22kt custom fine jewellery for the consumers who were living in southern Sri Lanka, the company said in a media release.

Chavinka Sumanatilleke, current Managing Director, who represents the third generation of management of the family-owned company, said that following the demise of the late G.M.S. de Silva, it was my brothers and my personal goal to make sure that the 100 years worth of excellence and integrity that has been kept intact along with the originality of the product.

While celebrating its industry presence for 100 years, the management understands the trailblazing industry dynamics and its ever-growing nature. Since last year the company has undergone a big modernisation with new designers etc while keeping the traditional products alive. In October 2018, GMA de Silva Jewellers expanded its wings to come closer to its loyal customers by opening its second branch in Galle, the capital of southern Sri Lanka

As we enter our 100th anniversary, we are of the progressive mindset to being able to service our original loyal southern clientele who has moved on to other parts of Sri Lanka as well as other countries such as the US, UK, Italy and Australia. We will keep expanding to reach our customers specially through modern online platforms, keeping our trust and integrity in our products, which has been passed down from the beginning by my late grandfather G.M.A de Silva and father G.M.S. de Silva, added Mr. Sumanatilleke.
KENOSHA, Wis. - With chants of One person, one vote! and No justice, no peace! a crowd of about 1,000 demonstrators gathered outside a Wisconsin courthouse Saturday to denounce police violence and share messages of change, a week after an officer shot Jacob Blake in the back and left the 29-year-old Black man paralyzed.

The diverse group of protesters also chanted Seven bullets, seven days!  a reference to the number of times Blake was shot last Sunday  as they marched toward the courthouse in Kenosha. There, Blakes father, Jacob Blake Sr., gave an impassioned call for changing a system he described as fostering police brutality and racial inequities.

There were seven bullets put in my sons back. ... Hell yeah, Im mad, said Blake Sr. He said he wants to ask the police what gave them the right to attempted murder on my child? What gave them the right to think that my son was an animal? What gave them the right to take something that was not theirs? Im tired of this.

Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey and two other officers were responding to a domestic dispute call last Sunday when Sheskey shot Blake in the back. Blake Sr. told reporters on Saturday that his son is heavily sedated, but he has regained consciousness.

Hes in a lot of pain, he said. I just wish I could pick my baby up and make it all right. He called for Sheskey to be charged and for the other two officers at the scene to be fired.

Several of Saturdays speakers encouraged the crowd to vote for change in November, and to push for changing legislation in Wisconsin that would lead to police reform.

Justice is a bare minimum, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes said. Justice should be guaranteed to everybody in this country.

Blake Sr. asked those at the rally to raise their fists with him. We are not going to stop going in the right direction. Were going to the top ... were gonna make legislation happen because thats the only thing that they recognize, he said.

Blake Sr. also referred to the May 25 death of George Floyd, a handcuffed Black man who died after a Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Floyds neck. Said Blake Sr., We all have a knee on the back of our necks, every day.

One of Blakes sisters, Letetra Widman, said she felt recharged to stand up not just for Jacob, but for all the people who have not gotten justice.

Captured on cellphone video, the shooting sparked new protests against racial injustice and police brutality months after Floyds death touched off a wider reckoning on race.

Protesters have marched in Kenosha every night since Blakes shooting, with some protests devolving into unrest with damage to buildings and vehicles. On Tuesday, two people were killed by an armed civilian. The commander of the National Guard said Friday that more than 1,000 Guard members had been deployed to help keep the peace, with more on the way.

Most people dispersed from the protest on Saturday before a 7 p.m. curfew. More than an hour after curfew, law enforcement officers, including some wearing U.S. Marshals Service identification, surrounded about a dozen people gathered outside of the Kenosha County Courthouse and made several arrests.

President Donald Trump will visit Kenosha on Tuesday to meet with law enforcement and survey damage from recent demonstrations that turned violent, White House spokesman Judd Deere told reporters travelling with the president Saturday night. Trump, who toured hurricane-ravaged areas of Louisiana and Texas earlier Saturday, had told reporters that he probably would visit the city.

Asked to weigh in on Tuesdays shootings in which 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was charged, Trump demurred and said its under investigation and that we are looking at it very, very carefully.

Aniyah Ervin, a 16-year-old from Kenosha who is Black, said Saturday that the week has been surreal. Although she protested against racial injustice over the summer, she said there had been a feeling that police brutality was not a problem in Kenosha. But, she said, Blakes shooting shows it can happen anywhere.

Will Turner, who is Black, said he brought his two children from Madison for the march to show them the power of peaceful protesting.

Investigators have said little about what led to Blakes shooting. The Kenosha police union said Blake had a knife and fought with officers, putting one of them in a headlock as two efforts to stun him with a Taser were unsuccessful. State investigators have said only that officers found a knife on the floor of the car.

In the cellphone video recorded by a bystander, Blake walks from the sidewalk around the front of an SUV to his driver-side door as officers follow him with their guns drawn and shout at him. As Blake opens the door and leans into the SUV, an officer grabs his shirt from behind and opens fire. Three of Blakes children were in the vehicle.

The man who recorded the video, 22-year-old Raysean White, said he heard police yell at Blake, Drop the knife! Drop the knife! before gunfire erupted. White said he didnt see a knife in Blakes hands.

__

Forliti reported from Minneapolis. Associated Press reporters Jennifer Peltz in Kenosha, Kathleen Foody in Chicago and Jill Colvin in Orange, Texas, also contributed.

___

This article corrects a reference in the fourth paragraph to a domestic dispute call, instead of a domestic abuse call.
WASHINGTON  The nations top intelligence official has informed Congress that his office will no longer give in-person election security briefings on Capitol Hill, a move that raised concern among lawmakers Saturday about the publics right to know about foreign interference in the upcoming presidential election.

President Donald Trump said National Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe made the decision because the administration got tired of intelligence about election security leaking from Congress.

They leaked the information  and whats even worse, they leaked the wrong information and we got tired of it, Trump told reporters while attending a briefing on Hurricane Laura in Orange, Texas. He didnt offer details to support his statement.

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said the idea that the national intelligence directors office would stop briefing Congress on foreign threats to the U.S. election is an outrage and that written updates were flatly insufficient.

Americas election  indeed, our foundation of democracy itself  is under threat as we face weaponized disinformation from global foes around the planet, King, a member of the Senates intelligence committee, said in a lengthy statement. To stifle and limit the American peoples awareness of this fact cannot be explained  or allowed.

Ratcliffe, who oversees the nations intelligence agencies, sent formal notification letters Saturday to the Senate and House leadership and the chairmen and ranking members of both chambers intelligence committees.

In the letter, Ratcliffe wrote: I believe this approach helps ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that the information ODNI provides the Congress in support of your oversight responsibilities on elections security, foreign malign influence, and election interference is not misunderstood nor politicized.

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who was with Trump in Texas, said lawmakers will still be sent full written readouts. Meadows said Ratcliffe is going to make sure there are proper tools for their oversight.

Earlier this month, the nations counterintelligence chief, William Evanina, issued a statement saying U.S. intelligence officials believe Russia is using various methods to denigrate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and that people linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin are boosting Trumps reelection bid. U.S. officials also believe China does not want Trump to win a second term and has accelerated its criticism of the White House, Evanina wrote.

On Saturday, Democratic lawmakers criticized Ratcliffes decision.

This intelligence belongs to the American people, not the agencies which are its custodian, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democrat who chairs the Houses intelligence committee, said in a joint statement. The American people have both the right and the need to know that another nation, Russia, is trying to help decide who their president should be.

Pelosi and Schiff called the decision a betrayal of the publics right to know how foreign powers are trying to subvert our democracy.

An official with the House intelligence committee said the decision was unexpected because Ratcliffes office earlier had reached out to schedule an in-person briefing to the committee on Sept. 17. A room on Capitol Hill had already been reserved, according to the official, who did not have permission to speak about the issue publicly and requested anonymity.
Just over a year since their last major announcement, Elon Musks Neuralink is finally ready to show off the fruits of its labor: a revolutionary brain-machine interface that could blur the lines between humanity and technology, as well as give our feeble fleshy minds a leg up against increasingly capable AIs.

"Its important that Neuralink solves this problem sooner rather than later, because the point at which we have digital superintelligence, thats when we pass the singularity and things become just very uncertain," Musk told Inverse in 2019.

Musk took to the stage at the Neuralink headquarters on Friday afternoon to reveal a working V2 prototype of the automated surgical system that the company debuted last year. This machine will sew as many as 1,024 impossibly thin 5 micron-wide electrodes into a persons brain. So far the system only taps into the brains cortical surface but the company hopes to eventually insert them deeper into the grey matter to monitor deeper brain functions (ie the hypothalamus). These electrodes will connect to Neuralink's Link 0.9 chip, a 23mm x 8mm sealed unit which plugs into a small hole bored into the patients skull and collects the signals that the electrodes pick up. The Link will measure the patients temperature, pressure and movement, potentially providing early warnings about imminent heart attacks or stroke, Musk said.

Engadget

The Link will fit flush in the skull and transmit data wirelessly at megabit speeds up to 10 meters. It will also reportedly offer inductive charging and a full days battery life, enabling users to recharge it as they sleep. The small pod worn behind the ear that the company showed last summer has since been removed in favor of the all-in-one design we see today. The entire installation process will reportedly take a little under an hour to complete. "It's like a Fitbit in your skull," Musk noted during the event.

During the live demonstration, Musk introduced the crowd to a trio of pigs: Joyce, Gertrude and Dorothy. Joyce has not had the implantation surgery and appeared to be a perfectly happy and healthy pig. Dorothy had the surgery but had the implant subsequently removed to illustrate that the Link device is not a permanent attachment but rather can be installed and removed at will should the patient want to upgrade the hardware. Finally, Gertrude had the surgery and still has the link installed in her head. Her link monitors signals generated from her snout so whenever Gertrude smells something tastey, the Link picked up and recorded those signals.

Engadget

To date, no human trials have been completed though the Neuralink team has managed to implant as many as 1,500 electrodes into mice. The chip has been tested on primates as well. a monkey has been able to control a computer with its brain, Musk told Bloomberg in July. Human trials could begin as soon as this year.

Of course theres no guarantee that this system will work in humans in the same manner that it did with the mouse and primate models. If it does prove successful, Neuralink hopes to first leverage the technology to assist amputees and help people regain their lost senses of sight or hearing -- even treat degenerative diseases. Eventually the company hopes to upgrade human consciousness, enabling us to communicate with machines at the speed of thought. Musk even positied that we could one day use these devices to save and replay memories, even download our consciousnesses to robotic bodies, Altered Carbon-style. How any of this would actually work in practice remains to be seen. There is no word yet on how much the system would actually cost, though Musk estimates it will eventually retail for around the same amount as a LASIK vision correction procedure.

This is far from the first time that weve tried to communicate directly with machines. Research into brain-machine interfaces has been going on since the 1920s. Weve developed BMIs that help paraplegics walk, help amputees move their prosthetic limbs or regain their sense of touch, or help stroke patients recover and locked-in syndrome communicate.

Musks moment in the neurological spotlight may be short-lived however. A number of research organizations and universities are already developing systems of their own. Heck, even DARPA is looking into the technology. That said, Musk did confirm that the US Food and Drug Administration granted approval for "breakthrough device" testing back in July.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al Musta'in Billah, XVI Supreme Head of Malaysia.

"Your Majesty,

I cordially congratulate you and through you, your entire people on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of your countrys national holiday  the Independence Day.

I believe that we will continue to put joint efforts for further strengthening and developing of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Malaysia in line with interests of our peoples.

I wish to note that the people of Azerbaijan stands in solidarity with the people of Malaysia in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic faced by the world.

On such remarkable day, I convey my best wishes to you and everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly Malaysia," the letter said.
These witnesses of the Slovak uprising shared their stories in this story from The Slovak Spectator archive.

Richard Moulton, third from the left, with members of his B-24 crew and a Slovak doctor during an air raid alert in 1944. Photo: Courtesy of Richard Moulton

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As the Slovak National Uprising it started, ordinary Slovak people and foreign allied soldiers alike found themselves pulled into events that would define the future of the fledgling nation.



As part of the 60th anniversary's celebrations, veterans such as Richard Moulton, one of the first prisoners of war captured in Slovakia during World War II, and John Theodore Zebrowski, who found himself among the Slovak partisans after escaping his burning bomber, revisited the people and places of that time.

Others could make the trip back to Slovakia only on the paths of their memories. One is Eugene Hodge, a member of the US Air force. Another is Maria Gulovich, 83, an elementary school teacher recruited as a young woman by the Slovak underground and later by the US Office of Special Services (OSS). She was brought to the United States after the war and decorated at West Point by General William Donovan, who led the OSS during the war.

These witnesses of the Slovak uprising shared their stories with The Slovak Spectator.

The Slovak Spectator (TSS): How did you find yourself in the Slovak National Uprising?

Richard Moulton (RM): I was in a B-24 bomber as a nose gunner and shot down by a Slovak fighter pilot, Lieutenant Lang, on June 26, 1944. Of the nine-man crew on our plane, four of us landed near Bratislava and the other five landed in Hungary. We were the first prisoners of war to be captured in Slovakia. Being injured, we were placed in a military hospital on the outskirts of Bratislava for a week or so. More airmen were shot down in early July and all 26 of us were held in a school building until it was decided to move us to Grinava near Pezinok.
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Linkedin Stefanus Angga B. Prima (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, August 29, 2020 10:37 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4150b41 3 Opinion distance-learning,e-learning,pembelajaran-jarak-jauh,technology Free

Dear Indonesian schoolteachers,

Congratulations for surviving teaching during the first months of the pandemic. You have done an amazing job, defying all odds!

The shift from traditional inperson class to distance or hybrid learning is not simple. To put it in context, the Education and Culture Ministry recently reported that 68 million students from early childhood education to high school have been learning from home. These students are taught by around 3.6 million teachers, more than 50 percent of them are contractual ones with low salary and limited teaching resources.

To complicate things further, socioeconomic discrepancies have affected teachers and students with limited access to the internet or digital devices. A survey conducted by UNICEF in June shows that some 66 percent of more than 60 million students of different education levels said they felt uncomfortable with distance learning, while 35 percent cited poor internet connections and limited access to digital devices as the source of the problem.

Schoolteachers and education authorities are not without solutions to tackle these issues. Students in Yogyakarta and Sikka in East Nusa Tenggara, for examples, shifted to local radio to facilitate learning activities. Some teachers in the East Java town of Madiun even used walkie talkies to guide and interact with students. At the national level, public TV station TVRI broadcast learning materials.

At this challenging time, parents play an important role in guiding their children in following the learning activities from home, although many complain they have to juggle between that and other responsibilities. Some parents have even blamed teachers for not doing enough to help students adapt to the new learning environment.

Teachers have long understood these challenges. Some high school teachers have tried to adjust the learning standards, lesson plans, and student assessments.

In June, the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI) demanded that the government formulate an emergency curriculum, saying it would be impossible to use onesize-fits-all standards. Finally, in August, the ministry allowed schools to adjust the Curriculum 2013 standards.

For a university lecturer like me, who enjoy some degree of freedom in instructional design and assessment, this might not be anything special. However, this long-awaited policy feels like a breath of fresh air for primary and secondary education.

With this substantial degree of instructional design freedom, teachers with their education institutions may begin to ponder their education approach. This can be a golden opportunity to reinvent the education.

First, teachers can utilize more performance assessment. Some studies suggest that performance assessment can promote higherorder skills like problem solving and critical thinking. This practice can push negative washback of tests at minimum. Performance assessment can involve students knowledge and proficiency in performing real-world tasks using the skills and knowledge learned in the lesson unit.

However, this assessment may require teachers to spend more time in the evaluation process. And of course, you do not want those sleepless nights evaluating portfolios or videos sent by the students. Therefore, good time management, clear guidelines, realistic expected outcomes and clear scoring rubric are necessary. To avoid students frustration, vague and unrealistic expectations should be avoided as some students may not have an ideal environment at home to support their learning process.

Furthermore, a formative assessment that includes small quizzes must be available for several retakes. This will reduce learning anxiety and promote learning retention. Gone are the days when teachers and parents worry whether students cheat or not.

Second, repetitive assignments should be avoided, as this may discourage students. It can be worse if teachers do not provide sufficient constructive feedback. Assignments should vary, as maintaining students interests is key. When possible, the pandemic can be put into context. Even better, an assignment that takes students some time away from their screen or digital device can be good for their health.

Third, investing in asynchronous learning methods and materials will have a better long-lasting impact during these times. This will give students and teachers more space to deal with issues at home and at school. As Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim said the decision to reopen schools in yellow and green zones falls on the parents, students of the same class will have a bigger gap in achieving learning objectives. Asynchronous learning will be beneficial for such a situation.

Finally, we all know that engaging students is the key to a successful class, which is, of course, not easy. Putting the debate aside, even if your institution decides to reopen, it will be different. Students will be divided in shifts, and class activities will be limited, as physical distancing should be enforced. Therefore, efforts should be made to develop good rapport with students using whatever methods possible. Troubled students should be addressed as soon as possible.

The process for ideal distance or hybrid learning will be a long endeavor. There will be another debate about which standards should apply to measure your students achievement, but that will be answered along with the efforts to make learning more accessible.

No teacher is perfect. But teachers are at the frontline of saving the nation from the generational catastrophe the UN has warned about. It is time for us to appreciate your hard work and never-ending efforts to make learning more accessible and to keep students not too far away from the learning trajectory.

Thank you, Indonesian schoolteachers! A special mention is extended for temporary contract schoolteachers with limited resources but great perseverance to teach their students. This nation is greatly indebted.

Yours sincerely,

A fellow educator

---

Fulltime lecturer of Hotel Business Program at Podomoro University, Jakarta, and Fulbright 2015 awardee for MA in TESOL at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
Boost and beautify while you sleep? These are definitely my kind of treatments!

Beauty assistant: Alice Robertson





To sleep, perchance to slather on more beauty potions. Because we all know now that when we sleep our natural repair rhythms kick in, but also our skin doesnt have to protect itself from the sunlight, blue light and pollution that can wreak havoc with it, making night the best time to aid the skins repair process.

So the night-time skincare arena is a pretty hotly contested category. But since it was first launched in 1982 Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (60, johnlewis.com) has stood out as a category leader and is one of those products that pretty much everyone I know swears by. And it has just had an upgrade.

No need to panic if youre a dedicated follower of ANR, as its affectionately known. Youll still recognise it as your trusty favourite. But you should see some even more impressive results since it now helps to increase the skins natural renewal and boost production of new cells and collagen to help with firmness (if you want the technical jargon this is thanks to its patented Chronolux Power Signal Technology which is the result of research into longevity). This is a great all-rounder though, helping to reduce the appearance of pores, even skin tone, hydrate and help to minimise the look of lines. Also, despite its name, you can use it as part of your morning routine. It has a great lightweight texture which sinks straight in, and now comes housed in a recyclable brown bottle.

Left: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (60, johnlewis.com ). Right: Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream (49, spacenk.com )

If dark spots are your issue then the recent launch from Ren Clean Skincare is definitely worth trying. Its Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream (49, spacenk.com) is all about tackling uneven skin tone (it deploys an algae complex for this). Its a rich texture so best to massage it in. And being Ren, the packaging is recycled glass and the lid is made from 100 per cent post-consumer recycled plastic.

Left: Q+A Super Food Facial Oil (8, feelunique.com ) Right: Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum (89, cultbeauty.co.uk )

Allies of Skin is a brilliant brand for effective skincare with good levels of active ingredients and its Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum (89, cultbeauty.co.uk) is a serious multitasker. It exfoliates, hydrates, evens out skin tone and can help with persistent breakouts.

For an overnight hydration boost you can always use some Q+A Super Food Facial Oil (8, feelunique.com), with prickly pear. This feels weightless and my skin always looks better for it in the morning.

And a real overnight sensation

Skin Sleep Cream by Leaves & Flowers (65, l eavesandflowers.co.uk )

On a related theme is a product from a new UK luxury brand: Skin Sleep Cream by Leaves & Flowers (65, leavesandflowers.co.uk). I have set this apart as it really interests me. It harnesses the power of natural ingredients with a strong focus on CBD. But where it often comes from oil, this range uses a more potent isolate powder form.

The brand is founded by Sadie Leibo, who spent years working in various areas of the beauty business. It was after she tried some CBD orally and couldnt believe how significantly her wellness improved that she decided to create a topical range and found it leaves skin healthier. And I think shes done an excellent job of it.

Shes launched with this cream, but stay tuned for more. I love using this at bedtime. It has a delicate Bulgarian rose fragrance, contains glycogen to boost the hyaluronic acid in the skin (so good for hydration and plumping) and a plankton extract to help with the natural circadian cycle. It has even helped me nod off

My latest flames

fragranced using essential oils in the same scents as the brands bath oils: Myrtle, Holly and Rosa.25 ( sisterandcompany.co.uk)

Honestly, Ive barely met a scented candle that I havent liked, but its also an expensive habit (especially if, like me, you like to have many burning at once). But the latest to win me over comes from London-based Sister & Co. As quality candles go, this is affordable at 25 (sisterandcompany.co.uk), with 1 from each sale donated to Solace Womens Aid (providing refuge for women and children).

Its very clean as the base is made from coconut and rapeseed wax (its paraffin and phthalate-free) and fragranced using essential oils in the same scents as the brands bath oils: Myrtle, Holly and Rosa.

I also love the packaging. Sister & Co approached female artists to design imagery for the containers, with the work running for three months per artist. It kicks off with Allegra Parlavecchio and three designs to choose from. My empties will absolutely become beauty storage. The brand is open to being approached by artists keen to take part  get in touch with them via Instagram @sisterandcoorganics.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 14:19:29|Editor: huaxia

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NANNING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region reported one new imported asymptomatic COVID-19 case on Friday, the provincial health commission said Saturday.

The case from the Philippines was found as the flight crew underwent health checks upon arriving in China, and all the crew have been put under quarantine.

By Friday, Guangxi had reported 255 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and 253 patients have been cured and discharged from hospital. Enditem


(Photo: depositphotos)

If you are about to head off on the adventure of a lifetime on a mission trip, then you know that your goal is to make a difference in the lives of others. On the other hand, there are a lot of expenses that come along with a mission trip. Some of the biggest expenses include the cost of plane tickets, food, accommodations, and more. As a result, even though your mission trip is about making a difference in the lives of others, you are still going to need to raise money. The good news is that there are lots of ways that you can raise money for your mission trip, allowing you to put your mind at ease as you focus on helping others. If you are wondering how to raise money for a mission trip, then there are a few tips that you should keep in mind.

Leverage the Power of Social Media

One of the first ways that you can raise money for a mission trip is by leveraging the power of social media. In today's era, there are hundreds of millions of people who use social media on a daily basis. Between Instagram, Facebook, and more, you have the potential to connect with thousands, if not millions, of people and spread the word about your mission trip. Then, people can see the great work that you are about to do and will be inspired to donate. By reaching as many people as possible, you can increase the chances of raising the money you need. If you have one or more social media profiles, then you already have access to a large donor base and can tap into this for your mission trip.

Conduct a Charity Auction or Raffle

Another great idea that you might be able to leverage is a charity auction or raffle. Consider getting a few items ranging from gift cards to new tech devices and more. If you go to local stores, many of them will be willing to chip in a gift card or a prize for a raffle. Then, you can sell tickets to the raffle and provide people with a chance to win a prize in an auction or raffle. Perhaps you have something of your own that you can chip in to the pot. Then, you provide not only an exciting get together but also create an opportunity for you to raise money for your trip.

Go With a Bake Sale

If your mission trip is for a local church, then you have a large donor base there that you can leverage. There are lots of services and events that take place at the church during the course of a typical week. Therefore, why not provide food for the hungry attendees? You can run a bake sale at the local church! Think about how well cookies, muffins, brownies, and more will go over with the hungry participants! See if you can get your family and friends to chip in with a few extra goodies and watch the funds for your mission trip stack up!

Look For Discounted Plane Tickets and Accommodations

In addition to raising money, you can also look for ways to make your dollars go farther. The reality is that even though you are going on a mission trip for a church or charity, travel companies, airlines, hotels are not charities. You will be required to pay for your tickets and accommodations; however, there might be some organizations that can help you secure reduced rates for your plane tickets and hotels. Think about reaching out to a few of these local and regional companies. See if they have regional connections or discount packages available for either bulk purchases or individuals who are taking a trip for a humanitarian purpose. This might be a good way to help you get the most out of every dollar you raise.

Conduct a T-Shirt Fundraiser

Another great option is a classic fundraising effort. Think about coming up with funny and creative shirts that you can use to not only raise money but also spread the word about your trip. The first step is to reach out to a few local short companies and see if any of them would be willing to make your shirts for you at a reduced rate. Then, once you secure a package, find something funny and creative to place on the shirts. Come up with a mockup of the design and spread the word about the shirts. After, you can collect your orders and get the shirts made! Not only is this a great way to raise money but it doubled as a marketing tool as well.

Use Crowdfunding Platforms

Finally, think about taking advantage of crowdfunding platforms. In today's era, the internet is your friend when it comes to raising money. There are numerous platforms out there that will help you set up an account that you can link to your local bank. Then, you simply transfer the money you raise into your account. There are lots of options out there, so be sure to choose a platform that does not take a portion of the money you raise via donation. Your donors are giving your money to you, not the platform, so make sure that all of the money goes toward your trip.

Raise Money for Your Mission Trip

These are just a few of the top ways that you can raise money for your mission trip. When you take the time to put together a strong campaign that will raise money for your mission trip, you can relax, focus on your goal, and make a difference in the lives of others. If you are about to head off on a mission trip, then you need to put some of these fundraising ideas to use.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
France has seen its highest number of coronavirus cases in five months as Emmanuel Macron insisted the country was doing 'everything to avoid another lockdown'.

Some 7,379 people were found to have been infected with the virus across the Channel on Friday - just shy of the record 7,578 high set on March 31.

The figures represented what the health ministry described as an exponential surge just days before millions of children are due to return to school for the first time since March.

It comes as a second wave continues to surge across Europe, with Portugal becoming the latest country to report a rise in coronavirus cases, sparking fears it may be added to the UK government's quarantine list.

France has seen its highest number of coronavirus cases in five months after 7,379 people were found to have been infected with the virus on Friday

Portugal is the latest country to record a surge with Spain, France and Italy all seeing surges in the number of coronavirus cases, as a second wave of infection takes hold across Europe

A man is tested for coronavirus in Paris after a huge surge in cases, sparking fears of another lockdown

President Macron, pictured wearing a face covering yesterday, said it would be dangerous to rule out any scenario

The spike has raised the possibility that the government could be forced to shut the country down again, with President Macron telling journalists it would be dangerous to rule out any scenario.

'We're doing everything to avoid another lockdown, and in particular a nationwide lockdown,' President Emmanuel Macron told journalists earlier on Friday. He added it would be dangerous to rule out any scenario.

In a weekly review of the pandemic, the health ministry said the country was seeing an 'exponential progression of virus transmission'.

Figures on Our Wold in Data show the rolling 7-day average for the number of daily new confirmed Covid-19 cases has risen sharply in the last month, as well as in the last seven days.

Today's figure of 4668 cases was four times the figure on July 29, which was 923.7, while there had also been an increase from the same time last week, where the figure was 3169.

Meanwhile, the number of people who have died in France from Covid-19 has also risen to 30,596 today, up 84 from the 30,512 who had been confirmed to have died at this point last week.

Like other hard-hit western European countries, France imposed a sudden and strict lockdown in March, during which most residents were confined to their homes.

The restrictions were gradually lifted from May 11 after infections sharply dropped.

The authorities are now searching for ways to limit the spread of the disease without a new lockdown.

On Friday, Parisians were ordered to wear masks at all times outdoors in the capital.

A log graph showing the number of daily new confirmed Covid-19 cases in France from Our World in Data

A linear graph showing the number of daily new confirmed Covid-19 cases in France from Our World in Data

A log graph showing the number of daily new Covid-19 deaths in France from Our World in Data

A linear graph showing the number of daily new Covid-19 deaths in France from Our World in Data

The reopening of schools on Tuesday next week has been widely anticipated as a major step back towards normality.

More than 12 million children will return to school, most for the first time in more than five months.

So far, the rapid increase in case numbers has yet to lead to a similar surge in hospitalisations or deaths.

The ministry reported 20 new COVID-19 deaths on Friday, raising the cumulative total to 30,596.

The number of people in hospital with the disease was unchanged at 4,535 and the number in intensive care rose by six to 387.

Authorities say the virus is now spreading among younger people who are less likely to show severe symptoms.

Two weeks after France's lockdown ended on May 11, the number of daily new infections fell to a low of 115 and a seven-day average low of 272.

But as the country gradually reopened restaurants, museums and shopping malls, the number of new confirmed cases rose to about 500 per day by the end of June.

That doubled to around 1,000 per day by the end of July, doubled again to around 2,000 by mid-August, and surged above 5,000 this week.

Meanwhile, Border Force officials are only aiming to spot check fewer than a third of arrivals at Britain's airports, it has been revealed.

The government has introduced measures which require passengers arriving in the UK to fill out an online form before they arrive in the UK from any country.

This includes countries or territories which are not on the list for mandated self-isolation and guidelines state the form must be completed within 48 hours of arriving back in the UK.

But a target of just 30 per cent has been set for agents checking passenger paperwork on their arrival into the country, a source told the Guardian.

Parisians, pictured in the French capital today, have now been ordered to wear masks at all times outdoors

Passengers entering the UK from a number of countries, including France and the Netherlands, are expected to self-isolate and the government uses data from completed online forms to ensure this is being done correctly.

However, sources stated that of the 30 per cent spot-checked by Border Force, 10 per cent had not completed forms.

Border Force officers are expected to manually scan a QR code at the top of the passenger's document to check it has been completed successfully when they arrive in the country.

This is also to ensure the government can contact passengers if someone they've travelled with develops coronavirus symptoms.
The act of frequent hand-washing is supposed to ward off the virus of COVID-19 pandemic. They say the rubbing of hands with sanitizers further minimises the strength of the virus to infect. Naturally, then, the people have started nurturing those habits following the Govt's order or the doctors' advice throughout the world.

However, at the hindsight, one feels the habits, if practiced for long, may result in some behavioural disorders in a person or, for that matter, turn the indulgent into a psychopath in not-too-distant a future. Such disorders caused by an intensive and excessive desire for a particular person or a thing are called 'the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)' in psychology.

The disorders referred to find a parallel, albeit with a difference, in Shakespeare's famous play called Macbeth written in 1610 AD. True, in the case of present COVID-19, the seemingly abnormal behaviours have been forced upon the people by way of prophylactic constraints in order to control the conflagratory spread of the virus. For this, persons of all ages are advised to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds every time they step into their houses from outside places.

As against these, the frequent hand-washing exercises by Macbeth and his wife as witnessed in the play are born out of their own sins. They have assassinated their most revered guest King Duncan of Denmark perfidiously.

Immediately thereafter, they start losing their sleep, peace of mind as well as suffer from sleep-walking (i.e. somnambulism) phenomena on end. All such psycho-somatic disorders go a long way in hinting obliquely at their guilts of assassination committed earlier.

However, when Macbeth visualises Duncan's gory murder, spots of blood flash suddenly upon his eyes. Then he finds (in imagination) that his blood-spattered hands are not yet clean. At this he gets disturbed and is therefore, exhorted by his wife to:

"... Go get some water,

And wash this filthy witness from your hand."

Here the reference to "filthy witness" stands for the blood on Macbeth's hands proving too hard to be washed off or removed by "some water or the water of great Neptune's ocean and other seas put together. Consequently, without any hope of redemption, he retorts to his wife thus:

"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood,

Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather.

The multitudinous seas incarnadine,

Making the green one red. (ii, i, 125-128)"

The texts produced here delineate well the behavioural disorders of Macbeth in the form of his hand-washings, quite often. These futile exercises signify his lunacy that has rendered him too debilitated to see things in right perspectives. Had the matter been not so, incoherent utterances from Macbeth (e.g. Will... Neptune's ocean wash this blood...?) won't have ensued at all.

Bearing a horrifying resemblance with the above is the character of Lady Macbeth as well. Like her husband, she also tries to rub off all signs of blood from her hands. But the way she does bewilders even her royal doctor who is stunned at "how she rubs her hands." (v.i.24) He treats such rubbing a disease beyond his understanding. The doctor says:

''The disease is beyond my practice (v.i.54)''

Apart from rubbing, her frequent hand-washings, too, are no less a bizarre behavioural disorder. Her one hand-wash, at times, lasts for a quarter of an hour, at least. The texts relating to such facts read:

"It is an accustomed action of her, to seem thus washing her hands: I have known her to continue in this a quarter of an hour (v.i.26-28)"

Physically, there are no signs of blood on her hands, yet she finds they have indelibly stuck there. The question ishow is it so? Frankly speaking, the sense of guilts coupled with the fear of getting exposed as an assassin to the world has morphed into blood-spots pricking the conscience of Lady Macbeth intermittently. Seen thus, her habits (i.e. washing hands) look a mere externalization of what has remained firmly lodged as internal evils in her mind for long. That is why her habits in question recur involuntarily, forcing the lady to soliloquise, on more occasions than one, in such words as:

"What, will these hands never be clean?" (v.i.39)



OR



"Wash your hands, put on your nightgown" (v.i.57)

All the texts cited above aver that the blood-spots begotten of sins cannot be wiped out with ordinary water. Unlike that, a hand-wash with simple water/sanitizer can effectively keep at bay the virus of the Corona from a person. Looked at from this angle, the two kinds of washings may seem one in form but are diametrically opposite in meanings. Thus, in view of the COVID-19, one hand-wash stands for health and hygiene of the people. Contrary to that, the same wash denotes a psychic ailment manifesting itself through the character of Macbeth and his wife. Their behavioural disorders further provide a peep into how the criminality of the duo grows egregiously complex for the fulfilment of their vaulting ambitions at all costs. Added further to the theme is the fear that the hygienic wash, even though good for specific purposes, may gradually turn into a psychic abnormality if one continues to indulge in the habit of washing hands, every now and them, for long.

Dr. Md. A. Wahid, Associate Professor, Dept. of English

R.P.M College, Patna City, Patna
Woman Arrested for Allegedly Stealing $1M from Esfandiari's Condo

August 28, 2020

Popular poker pro Antonio Esfandiari was burglarized of about $1 million in valuables and the likely perpetrator was apprehended on Sunday, according to a report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Svitlana Silva, 46, was booked on suspicion of the burglary, which took place July 14 at Esfandiari's condo in Panorama Towers, once a popular residence for poker players. A LinkedIn profile matching Silva's name says she's a poker dealer at an Arizona casino.

She's charged with burglary and possession of stolen property value $100,000 or more.

She allegedly used the stolen money to participate in some high-stakes poker games.

Making Off With Hundreds of Thousands

According to the LVRJ's reports, Silva had access to the condo because of a prior relationship with Esfandiari's father. She apparently had some knowledge of their key codes, which she may have used to enter the safe.

On July 14, the Esfandiari's reported to police that someone had made off with about $1 million in valuables: $50,000 in cash, between $300,000 and $500,000 in casino chips, and various pieces of jewelry and watches including his One Drop bracelet. Some belonged to the long-time poker pro and some belonged to his father, according to Antonio.

"The universe has a funny way with karma and what goes around always finds a way to come around."

As mentioned, the thief took Esfandiari's WSOP bracelet from the $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop, the most famous victory of his career.

"The string of emotions that jolted through my veins were filled with anger and pain," he told PokerNews in a statement. "Realizing that my One Drop WSOP bracelet was no longer mine, a dagger to my heart."

He continued: "But worse than all that was knowing that somebody stole from my dad. He's the most special human on Earth and it killed me that someone would do something so selfish to him. That was the real pain. The universe has a funny way with karma and what goes around always finds a way to come around."

Poker Activities Aroused Suspicion

Silva didn't exactly take the money and run.

According to Bellagio reps, she was putting "big amounts of cash" in play in the casino's poker games on or about Aug. 11.

Then, Silva made some rounds in Las Vegas games, where she martingaled from $5,000 buy-ins to $20,000 to $30,000, losing each time. She reloaded for $100,000 with ARIA chips, lost that, then $200,000 in Bellagio chips before she finally won an cashed out.

Given that the chips in play closely matched those taken from Esfandiari's condo, police tracked Silva down after receiving a tip from Esfandiari.

When she was arrested, Silva had large amounts cash and several ARIA and Bellagio $25K chips on her person and in her vehicle.

When questioned, Silva claimed to have seen someone else at the condo taking the valuables.

Shades of Bellagio Biker Bandit

It's not the first time a perpetrator has stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Las Vegas casino chips and tried to put them back in play.

A somewhat similar situation unfolded back in 2010-11, when Tony Carleo robbed about $1.5 million worth of chips from the Bellagio. He then went right back to the casino and gambled like a king, putting tens of thousands of dollars in play.

However, he had a problem when it came to the "cranberry" $25K chips, a problem Silva seemed to be aware of when she lost them in a Las Vegas game: casinos track the high-dollar chips, making them tough to liquidate.

Hey forgot to tell you my chips has special mark on computer so if its [sic] stolen they cant cash out, she was reported to have texted the person who won the chips.

Carleo tried to get creative and sell the chips on TwoPlusTwo, which led to his apprehension.
MEXICO CITY: Mexicos president launched a blistering attack on several environmentalist groups Friday, suggesting they were being paid by foreign foundations to oppose his controversial train project in the Yucatan peninsula.

One group demanded President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador apologize, claiming he was criminalizing environmentalists.

I have received information that all of these supposedly independent non-governmental, so-called civic groups are getting money, sometimes from abroad, to oppose the construction of the Maya Train, Lpez Obrador said, accusing them of disguising themselves for money as environmentalists, disguising themselves as human rights defenders for money as well, when in the end it is a struggle for political and economic power.

Lpez Obradors spokesman, Jesus Ramrez, said the non-profit groups had curiously all received grants from U.S. foundations and then opposed the so-called Maya Train project.

These are funds only for the issue of the Maya Train, said Ramirez, speaking with the president at his daily news briefing. This is foreign financing for the Maya Train issue.

It was the latest chapter in Lpez Obradors troubled relationship with civic groups, which he distrusts. Lpez Obrador has claimed in the past they are funded by conservative opponents, and he favors government projects over private efforts in most spheres.

The Mexican Center for Environmental Law responded by saying we regret that once again, the Mexican government is criminalizing the work of civic groups.

We demand a public apology for the attacks and defamation we have been subjected to by the president, the group wrote in its Twitter account. International development aid is legal, as are donations from private people, companies and Mexican foreign foundations.

The NGOs include some of Mexicos most prominent environmental groups, who have been critical of projects in past administrations. Many of the groups have been receiving grants for years before Lpez Obrador took office in 2018.

In June, Lpez Obrador inaugurated a leg of the project that would run through five southern states carrying tourists from the resorts of Cancn and Playa del Carmen to the Mayan ruins at Palenque. Many communities in the trains path feel deceived by scarce and incomplete information, while activists fear the social and environmental impacts.

Lpez Obrador says it will create 80,000 jobs at a time when nearly a million have been lost to the lockdown caused by the novel coronavirus. The train would run some 950 miles (about 1,500 kilometers) from Caribbean beaches to the peninsulas interior while stimulating economic development around its 15 stations. The government says it will cost as much as $6.8 billion, but others say it will be much more.

The lack of quality environmental impact statements, the opposition of Maya Indigenous communities and the trains effect on scarce underground water resources, flora and fauna have led many groups to oppose it.

The Center for Environmental Law, for example, has issued public statements calling for regulators to deny approval for the train, given that it would run through four natural protected areas.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, one of the U.S.-based non-profits mentioned by Lpez Obrador, lists the environmental rights center as recipient of $1.3 million in grants; but those grants started in 2016, long before Lpez Obrador was elected and proposed the Maya train.

The purpose of the grant, according to the foundation, doesnt mention the train, instead saying the money would help strengthen a cadre of indigenous leaders in Campeche, Mexico, to ensure childrens right to a healthy environment by implementing a capacity building/legal assistance program to promote participation in decision-making processes where they can advocate for the protection of their natural resources.

Another $350,000 Kellogg grant went to Mexicos Civic Council for Sustainable Forestry starting in January 2018 aimed at supporting a work model to promote social management of natural resources through the participation of youth and women and the expansion of the value chains associated with sustainable agriculture, apiculture and charcoal production. The council had also opposed the train.

In fact, many Mayan communities have opposed the project, not because they were urged to do so by outsiders, but because they feel they were not consulted about the project and wont benefit much from it.

Ramrez, the president spokesman, also accused the Ford Foundation, the Climateworks Foundation and others of giving money to Mexican NGOs that oppose the train.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 21:37:37|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks during a high-level meeting on Tibet work in Beijing, capital of China. The meeting was held in Beijing from Aug. 28 to 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to build a new modern socialist Tibet.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the comments at the two-day seventh Central Symposium on Tibet Work, which ended in Beijing Saturday.

Xi underlined the need to fully implement the CPC's policies on governing Tibet for a new era.

Xi called for efforts to ensure national security and enduring peace and stability, steadily improve people's lives, maintain a good environment, solidify border defense and ensure frontier security.

Efforts must be made to build a new modern socialist Tibet that is united, prosperous, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful, Xi said.

Since the sixth symposium in 2015, Tibet has made comprehensive progress and historic achievements in its various undertakings, Xi said, noting achieving sustained stability and rapid development in Tibet constitutes a major contribution to the overall work of the Party and the state.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, policies on governing Tibet for a new era have taken shape, Xi said, stressing that the CPC leadership, the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the system of regional ethnic autonomy must be upheld to carry out work related to Tibet.

Work related to Tibet must focus on safeguarding national unity and strengthening ethnic solidarity, Xi said.

More education and guidance should be provided for the public to mobilize their participation in combating separatist activities, thus forging an ironclad shield to safeguard stability, Xi noted.

Xi stressed that patriotism should be incorporated into the whole process of education in all schools.

He called for continuous efforts to enhance recognition of the great motherland, the Chinese nation, the Chinese culture, the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics by people of all ethnic groups.

Tibetan Buddhism should be guided in adapting to the socialist society and should be developed in the Chinese context, Xi said.

While stressing the implementation of the new development philosophy, Xi noted that efforts should be sped up to advance high-quality development.

More work, measures and support are needed to consolidate the achievements made in poverty alleviation, Xi said.

A number of major infrastructure projects and public service facilities will be completed, including the Sichuan-Tibet Railway, Xi said.

Conserving the ecology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the greatest contribution to the survival and development of the Chinese nation, Xi said, emphasizing that scientific research should be further advanced on the plateau.

He also stressed strengthening the building of leadership teams at all levels, cadre teams and primary-level Party organizations in order to improve the capacity to respond to major struggles and prevent major risks.

Cadres and workers in Tibet should be cared for and supporting policies regarding their income, housing, medical care and retirement, as well as education for their children, should be further improved and well implemented, Xi noted.

Xi stressed a long-term commitment to the CPC Central Committee's policy to ensure Tibet has support from the central authorities and assistance from the whole country.

Continued and increasing support will be offered to Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces in their Tibet-related work, Xi said.

Other senior Chinese leaders were at the symposium, which was presided over by Li Keqiang. Li Zhanshu, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng were in attendance, while Wang Yang spoke to sum up the event.

Xi's speech at the symposium is a guiding document on Tibet-related work in a new era, Li Keqiang said while presiding over the event.

In his concluding speech, Wang Yang also called for efforts to study Xi's speech, which laid out fundamental rules for carrying out Tibet-related work in a new era. Enditem
Nguyen Thi Loan at the court in central Nghe An Province, August 28, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Hai.

A court in central Vietnam sentenced a local woman to two years in jail on Friday for advising people on how to illegally enter Europe.

Nguyen Thi Loan, 46, of Yen Thanh District, Nghe An Province, was found guilty of "arranging for others to flee abroad."

An accomplice, Tran The Phuong, 51, also of Nghe An, got six months for the same crime.

In 2018 a "friend" in Hanoi introduced Loan to an illegal immigration gang disguised as a tourism service that smuggled people to Germany to work. It cost each person $16,500, and a part had to be paid in advance and the rest on reaching Germany.

The modus operandi was to first take them from Vietnam to Thailand as tourists, and after 10 days leave for a European country and then go on to Germany.

For every person going successfully to Germany, Loan got $1,000.

Early last year Loan and Phuong told two women in Nghe An and neighboring Ha Tinh Province about the scheme and that it would cost $16,500-18,000.

In March last year the two were smuggled to France, but authorities there deported them to Thailand.

The police tracked down and arrested Loan and Phuong.

It has not been revealed if the police have identified or tracked down the "friend" in Hanoi or other members of the immigration gang.

In 2016 Loan had been arrested for the same crime and sentenced to 26 months. She was released on bail and given a probation period of 52 months.
The Duchess of Cambridge has revealed she has been 'overwhelmed' by the public's response to her community photography exhibition, saying it was 'so hard' to whittle the images down to a top 100.

Kate Middleton, 38, was joined by a panel of five judges to select the best images from more than 31,000 submitted for the nation-wide contest.

In a video posted on the Kensington Royal Instagram account this morning, Kate said 'it's been great' to work on the project as she joined her fellow judges on a Zoom call.

As the Duchess, who spearheaded the campaign and is a keen amateur photographer, discussed choosing the top 100 images, she joked: 'It's going to be so difficult to edit this down.'

The Duchess of Cambridge, 38, joined a panel of five judges to select the top 100 images for her Hold Still photography contest. Pictured is Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery (top left), Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England (top right), Maryam Wahid, photographer (bottom left), and Lemn Sissay MBE, writer and poet (bottom right)

Joining her was Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, Lemn Sissay MBE, writer and poet, Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England and Maryam Wahid, photographer, to chose the top 100 entries.

The royal appeared in high spirits in the clip, asking the group of judges: 'What's going to happen next?' as she laughed and joked with the panel.

Announcing that the top 100 images had been selected, the Duchess said: 'I've been so overwhelmed by the public's response to Hold Still, the quality of the images has been extraordinary, and the poignancy and the stories behind the images have been equally as moving as well.'

She continued: 'So I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has entered and taken part.

This is one of the photos selected by the Duchess of Cambridge ahead of showcasing the final 100 images in a digital exhibition from September 14

'And a big thank you to my fellow judges. I hugely appreciate the time and dedication that they have shown towards the project.'

A snapshot of the Duchess on a video call with the other judges was also shared.

In the clip, the royal appeared elegant in a forest green top, which was emblazoned with black-and-white flowers.

Kate wore her hair in a relaxed side parting, and opted for a set of drop earrings for the occasion.

This is one of the photos selected by the Duchess of Cambridge ahead of showcasing the final 100 images in a digital exhibition from September 14

This is one of the photos selected by the Duchess of Cambridge ahead of showcasing the final 100 images in a digital exhibition from September 14

Meanwhile Lemn said the experience had been surprisingly emotional, revealing: 'I didn't expect the judging process to be so emotional.

'As I studied the portraits in this most public crisis I was drawn into the most private moments.

'A nation through portraiture. Intimacy and inspiration, bravery and hope, determination and love and loss and laughter...

'We have been in this together and in these portraits of private struggles and victories, the quiet moments, the tears and laughter are caught on camera for ever in Hold Still.'

Kate Middleton, who is a keen amateur photographer, launched the community contest during lockdown to capture the mood of the nation

The news comes after the Duchess teased the final 100 portraits had been chosen with an email screengrab, which was posted on Twitter

She added that the collection of portraits 'made her proud to be British', saying: 'It made me proud of my fellow citizen. It made me remember who we are and what we have been through. I didn't really know until now.'

It comes days after Kate used the initial of her first name Catherine to sign off an email to judges of her Hold Still portrait contest.

Taking to Kensington Royal Twitter account, Kate shared an email teasing the final 100 photographs picked to feature in the Hold Still exhibition - a campaign she spearheaded which aims to capture a snapshot of the UK amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Alongside the caption: 'An email was sent yesterday... Eyes#HoldStill2020,' the contents of the email read: 'Dear judges, I am thrilled we have chosen the final 100 portraits. I thought you might like to see the images all together so please find them attached.

Throughout the pandemic, the Duchess highlighted a selection of her favourite submissions, including this one titled Rainbow

This moving image submitted to the project shows a hospital worker on the floor in despair. It's titled Heartbroken Hero

'I couldn't have done it without you so thank you so much for your help. C.'

Throughout lockdown the Duchess shared regular updates via Instagram, offering up some of her favourite shots and explanations on why they make such an impact.

Images included photos of exhausted healthcare workers and socially distant neighbours.

Other images submitted to the Hold Still project include one of a family dinner table where a little girl is trying to sing Let It Go from Disney's Frozen and another snap of children living next-door to each other playing musical instruments in front of their houses.

The relationship between a toddler and an elderly woman is captured in this image, 'Social distancing

Kate previously told how she had been 'struck' by the many 'incredible' images seen already, 'which have given us an insight into the experiences and stories of people - some desperately sad images showing the human tragedy of this pandemic'.

People from across the UK were invited to submit a photographic portrait which they have taken during these extraordinary times for the community project.

Participants were also encouraged to provide a short written submission to outline the experiences and emotions of those depicted in their photograph.

Hold Still was completely free, open to all ages and abilities, with the exhibition set to focus on three core themes - 'Helpers and Heroes', 'Your New Normal' and 'Acts of Kindness'.

Emergency services workers are celebrated in this image called Customised PPE, taken in the back of an ambulance

The idea was to create a unique photographic portrait of the people of our nation in lockdown as we 'hold still' for the good of others, and celebrate those who have continued so we can stay safe.

The exhibition will reflect resilience and bravery, humour and sadness, creativity and kindness, and human tragedy and hope.

Hold Still will also act as a reminder of the significance of human connection in times of adversity, and that although we were physically apart, as a community and nation, we all faced and rose to the challenge together.

The top 100 photographs will be exhibited in online from 14 September, with selected images shown in towns and cities across the country later in the year.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Ottawa, Canada  Sat, August 29, 2020 12:03 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4154785 2 News Canada,travel,tourism,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

Canada is extending a ban on most travelers entering the country until the end of September in order to limit the spread of COVID-19, the government announced Friday.

And Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning from abroad will still be subject to strict quarantine measures, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced on Twitter.

This restriction has been in force since mid-March.

An exception was made in June allowing spouses, children, parents or guardians of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to enter the country.

Read also: Toronto seeks to save oak tree older than Canada

A deal between Canada and the United States also allows essential travelers to pass through their shared border -- the longest in the world. That agreement was extended earlier this month to September 21.

All travelers have been subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival.

Foreign nationals who show COVID-19 symptoms are barred from entering Canada.

Shipments of goods continue.

As of Friday, Canada had recorded more than 127,000 cases of the new coronavirus and nearly 9,140 deaths.
Vietnam launches website promoting sustainable tourism to foreign tourists

The Green Travel website, a Vietnams official tourism website for foreign tourists was launched on August 27 at the address www.vietnam.travel/sustainability.













Only four hours from Hanoi, Pu Luong opens a wonderful window into rural life in Vietnams ethnic communities. (Photo: vietnam.travel)



The site was the jointly developed by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), and the Swiss Sustainable Tourism Programme (SSTP).



Through the website, visitors will find articles on responsible tourism, Vietnamese culture and customs, as well as tourism destinations across the country.



A list of Vietnams recognised sustainable tourism products and services along with sustainable tour operators are also available at the site.



According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the site aims to support sustainable tourism companies as well as tourists interested in this type of tourism in finding useful information in order to prepare in advance for their trips to Vietnam when international tourism activities are resumed.



In addition, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has recently launched the page Virtual Vietnam at www.vietnam.travel/virtual-vietnam to provide visitors with virtual travel experience, Vietnamese food recipes, and videos on various fascinating topics.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 20:12:34|Editor: huaxia

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NICOSIA, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus' marine police have rescued two Syrians who were spotted on a small boat which was in danger off the east coast of the eastern Mediterranean island, the Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center said in a statement on Saturday.

The boat was about three nautical miles off Cape Greco on the eastern coast of Cyprus, a landmark for refugees and undocumented immigrants trying to reach the island by boat.

The small vessel was towed to the nearest fishing harbor near the Protaras tourist resort, where an ambulance crew was awaiting the two rescued passengers.

Authorities said that precautionary measures were taken against the possibility of the men being infected with coronavirus.

Saturday's rescue was a departure from the recent practice followed by Cypriot police of turning back boatloads of refugees because of the danger of spreading COVID-19.

At least two boats with more than 100 people on board have been intercepted and turned back after reaching Cypriot territorial waters recently. Enditem
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 10:36:15|Editor: huaxia

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Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (1st L) meets with Emmanuel Bonne (1st R), diplomatic counselor to French President Emmanuel Macron, in Paris, France, Aug. 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

PARIS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- China and France stand ready to promote bilateral cooperation and the strategic partnership between China and the European Union (EU), said visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to French President Emmanuel Macron, during their meeting here Friday.

Wang noted that China and France have maintained frequent high-level exchanges and in-depth strategic communication, which embodies the high level of the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership.

Against the backdrop of regular epidemic prevention and control, the two sides should make full use of the "fast-track lane" to resume personnel exchanges in an orderly manner and promote cooperation in drug and vaccine research and development, so as to make positive contribution to an early victory against the pandemic, said Wang.

To raise the strategic cooperation to a new level, China is willing to work with France to further advance major projects such as spent fuel reprocessing plant, said the Chinese foreign minister.

China supports France in playing an important role in the global response to climate change, he added.

China and the EU, as independent forces in the world, have common interests far exceeding differences. "We are partners, not rivals," he said.

Facing the resurgence of unilateralism and protectionism, China and the EU should join hands to uphold multilateralism, safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, as well as the free trade system represented by the World Trade Organization (WTO), Wang said.

To bring greater development to China-EU relations, China stands ready to work with France and the EU to discuss plans for the next stage of high-level exchanges, promote cooperation in areas such as response to climate change and digital economy, and complete the negotiations for a China-EU investment agreement within this year, he added.

For his part, Bonne noted that the cooperation between France and China has been substantial and dynamic.

France hopes to join hands with China to promote cooperation in areas such as vaccine research and development, debt relief in Africa, digital economy, spent fuel reprocessing plant as well as political settlement of hot issues.

France also hopes to work with China to ensure the success of the World Conservation Congress in Marseille and the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Kunming next year, he added.

Bonne said that France attaches great importance to the EU-China cooperation, which is of strategic significance, and agrees to formulate ambitious plans for an effective and fruitful EU-China partnership.

France has been committed to frequent high-level exchanges between Europe and China, and will work with relevant parties to plan post-pandemic exchanges and cooperation so as to lift EU-China strategic cooperation to a new level, he said.

France is the fourth leg of Wang's ongoing European tour, which has taken him to Italy, the Netherlands and Norway and will also take him to Germany. Enditem
From land issues, pending arbitrations and demands of villagers to sluggish work by state authorities, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has flagged issues, which have hampered work on the Rs 81,000 crore dedicated freight corridor, in letters to nine chief ministers urging them to intervene and told them that the prime minister was "monitoring the project closely".

Following concerns raised by the PMO, Goyal in letters to the chief ministers of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, West Bengal, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Jharkhand has highlighted how the dedicated freight corridor has been facing "long-pending issues" which have remained "unresolved".

The two dedicated freight corridors which are currently under construction -- the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) from Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), from Ludhiana in Punjab to Dankuni in West Bengal -- had December 2021 as their completion date which has now been pushed back by six months to June 2022, according to a statement from the Railway Board Chairman VK Yadav who said that the delay was because of the disruption of work due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The minister has specially urged the Uttar Pradesh chief minister's personal intervention to resolve the bottlenecks in his state as over 1,000 km of the DFC passes through it.

"The prime minister has been monitoring the progress of the project closely. Over 1,000 km length of DFC passes through the state of Uttar Pradesh... However, certain issues relating to land acquisition and ROB construction still persist, which need to be resolved urgently for ensuring commissioning of the project work within targeted time.

"You may kindly appreciate that bottlenecks, even in a few stretches in this type of liner project, will stall the commissioning of the entire project," Goyal said in his letter.

He has listed a slew of problems facing the Railways -- pending road over bridges (ROB), hindrances in physical possession of land in areas like Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Saharanpur among others due to agitation, arbitration cases, demand for compensation and jobs by villagers, undue demand of lease rent by the Uttar Pradesh forest department and protests by villages over building of ROB in Mirzapur district.

In the letters, Goyal has listed all the issues that are being faced by the Railways in specific areas in the states. In West Bengal and Jharkhand, the minister has raised issues of delay in disbursal of awards, arbitration and mutation.

"Out of total length of 1,839 km of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, 203 km (Gomoh-Dankuni) is passing through the state of West Bengal and likely to attract major investment being planned under PPP model. The foremost criterion for initiating bidding for this project is to acquire at least 90 per cent land with mutation. As such, success of this project in your state depends upon early availability of land.

"However, delay in disbursal of awards, pending arbitration, mutations and hindrances in possession of land etc. in various districts has adversely affected project work... You will appreciate that removal of these hindrances are essential to ensure commencement of project work," Goyal wrote in his letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

In his letter to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Goyal said that the state was a major beneficiary of the project, as 236 km of Eastern DFC is passing through the districts of Gaya, Aurangabad, Kaimur and Rohtas and likely to attract major investment in your state.

He said that land acquisition in certain stretches is held up for long due to delay in disbursal of awards, pending arbitration, mutations and hindrances in possession of land which "adversely affected the project work".

The minister has highlighted two major issues in almost all the states -- land acquisition and delay by the local governments in building land approaches and road over bridges (ROB).

In his letter to the Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Goyal highlighted how out of the total of 1,504 km of the WDFC, 565 km is in the state. Out of the 60 ROBs that were to be constructed, 32 were to be built by the state, however, only 2 have been built and the progress of the other 20 are slow.

Land acquisition for the approaches for 46 out of the 60 ROBs are also pending, he said.

Similarly in states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Punjab, delay in land acquisition for ROBs by the state governments have delayed the project.

Railways will also hold a review with state government officials of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Maharashtra on September 1.

DFCCIL has been tasked with developing Indian Railways' quadrilateral linking the four metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Howrah, commonly known as the Golden Quadrilateral. The overall cost is pegged at Rs 81,459 crore.

In the first phase the organisation is constructing the Western DFC (1,504 route km) and Eastern DFC (1,856 route km) spanning a total length of 3,360 route km. These corridors were targeted to be completed in phases by December 2021. DFCCIL had completed a total of 500 km till January.

Also Read: New airplane for PM Modi to land in Delhi soon; check out details

Also Read: Coronavirus vaccine: Army, frontline workers may get it first; COVAXIN to be ready by year end
Senior diplomats who have directly contributed to many milestones of the diplomatic sector shared valuable industry lessons at a recent seminar "75 years of Vietnamese diplomacy: Lessons and direction.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan

Four historical miracles

At the seminar, former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan recalled the country's achievements in the past 75 years and pointed out four miracles.

First: Vietnam was the first country in the colonial world to rise up, taking its own strength to regain national sovereignty, establishing the People's Democratic State.

Second: As a small and weak country, Vietnam repelled all foreign invaders to maintain independence and unification.

Third: From an unnamed country on the world map, Vietnam now has its name on the list of active and responsible members in the international community.

Fourth: From a country that was not named on the world map, Vietnam has become a country with extensive foreign relations, a very high international position, and a bright spot in today's world.

The former Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that Vietnams diplomacy - founded by President Ho Chi Minh who was also the first Foreign Minister of Vietnam - has made great contributions to these historical period and learned a lot of valuable lessons.

Regarding these lessons, Mr. Vu Khoan said the first is to persist in basic goals that reflect the close interests of the nation, in line with the trend of the times. When signing important international treaties such as the 1954 Geneva Agreement and the 1973 Paris Agreement, although the goal of national unification was not immediately met, Vietnamese diplomats persisted asking the opponents to recognize Vietnams independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity in written form. In peacetime, these objectives are an important foundation to create a stable environment for national development.

Speakers at the seminar.

Another lesson, Mr. Khoan said, is related to the arrangement of forces to achieve the goal, in which the most important factor is to have real strength. The "strength" includes both "hard power" (economic and defense strength) and "soft power" such as strong traditions, solidarity, human qualities, and Vietnameses open personality.

The next lesson, according to the former Deputy Prime Minister, is the skillful application of appropriate policies.

President Ho Chi Minh's French visit

At the seminar, former Deputy Prime Minister - Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam recalled the time when the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was formed.

At that time, by the policy of independence and self-control, in solitary conditions, Vietnam implemented the policy of detente with Chiang Kai-shek soldiers to cope with the French colonialists, and then a policy of detente with France to cast the Chiang Kai-shek soldiers out. Then Vietnam signed the Treaty on March 6, 1946 with France and then the Provisional Treaty on September 14, 1946. Signing these two documents not only gave Vietnam the necessary time to strengthen the capacity, but also affirmed the international legal position of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Mr. Cam recalled President Ho Chi Minhs visit to France and some countries on the way to France as the way to not only let the world know about a country that won its independence, but also to lay a solid basis for taking advantage of the support of the French people and the colonial countries of France towards Vietnams later resistance against French colonialism.

Mr. Cam mentioned the diplomatic role in the war against the US. He emphasized that diplomacy initially reflected victory on the battlefield, but later diplomacy coordinated with the military and the political fronts to win victory. And finally, diplomacy became an important battle with strategic significance.

The veteran diplomat mentioned a letter written by President Ho Chi Minh in early 1966 to the heads of many countries around the world. The letter clarified the peaceful stance of the Vietnamese people, which is true peace, on the basis of independence and true freedom.

In order to achieve and protect the highest interests of the nation, in all foreign policies and activities, it is required to maintain independence and autonomy. Only with independence and autonomy, we can proactively avoid the pressure of the outside to ensure the interests of the nation, stressed Mr. Cam.

Former Deputy Prime Minister - Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam

The 'funnel' model of Minister Nguyen Co Thach

Recalling the early days when the country implemented Doi Moi (renovation), former Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien told the story of former Foreign Minister Nguyen Co Thach, who set up a mechanism called "funnel" in the ministry's leadership.

Mr. Thach was very interested in research and very sensitive to the new. To focus on research, he set up a 'funnel' in the leadership of the Ministry - assigning a deputy minister in charge of handling all daily tasks so that other ministry leaders could focus on research, he said.

Former Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien

As a result, strategic issues were carried out urgently, such as relations between major countries and their strategy, solutions to Cambodia-related issues, normalization of relations with China and draft Resolution 13 of the Politburo, normalizing relations with the US and human rights issues, improving relations with Southeast Asian countries and joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

This model was adjusted later as the 'funnel' was overloaded, but the issue of strategic research, particularly the change of mindset in foreign affairs, was still a focus. Thanks to these efforts, the diplomatic sector has actively contributed to the handling of important international issues, Mr. Nien said.

Thai An
Bosky Khanna By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: For the last couple of days, Gopal M, a resident of Basavanagudi, has been trying to contact the ward engineer to get the road in his area repaired. But each time he calls up, the engineer says he is under quarantine and cannot come out. Madhu M, a resident of RR Nagar, too faces a similar situation. She wanted to get the BBMP to clear the area of garbage.

But when I call, I am told that the engineer is under quarantine. It has been a month now. At least, the engineer can depute some junior to attend to the problem, she said. It is not just citizens, but even the top brass at the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) are scratching their heads to put an end to this menace. They have a hunch that the officials are faking their quarantine status to skip work.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad and Mayor M Goutham Kumar now want to go the corporate way and ask officials skipping work to produce medical certificates if they are on medical leave. Not just that, the quarantine status of these officials will also be cross-verified with data from the Covid War Room, official sources said.

Across the city, civic works have either stalled or going on at a very slow pace. The engineers, who are responsible for these works, claim to be under home quarantine. We cant do anything about it, a senior Palike official said. Some of them may be genuinely under quarantine, but so many others are not, and are using it as an excuse. From now, they will be verified. Already there has been a delay because of the lockdown. No more extra time can be given. No laxity or excuses will be entertained, he added.
India is unlikely to send a tri-services military contingent to take part in a multilateral war game in Russia next month which is to be participated by China and Pakistan, government sources said on Saturday.

Last week India had conveyed to Russia that it will participate in the strategic command-post exercise to be held in the Astrakhan region in southern Russia from September 15 to 26.

"A decision has been taken to not participate in the exercise," said a source.

Though no reason has been cited officially about India's review of the earlier decision, people familiar with the development indicated that China's participation in the exercise could be a factor in India deciding not to be part of it.

Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a standoff in several areas along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh for over three-and-a-half months. Both the countries are holding talks at military and diplomatic levels to resolve the dispute.

China, Pakistan and a number of other member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation are expected to participate in the exercise.

India had earlier planned to send around 150 Indian Army troops, 45 Indian Air Force personnel and a number of Navy officers for the exercise.

Russia has been a major partner of India in the defence sector and the cooperation has been steadily growing further.

In June, a tri-services contingent from India participated at the Victory Day Parade at the iconic Red Square in Moscow to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War. A contingent from China had also attended it.

Both India and China are members of the SCO, an influential regional grouping.

The SCO, seen as a counterweight to NATO, has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations which accounts for almost 44 per cent of the world population stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the Indian Ocean and from the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea.
Congress shoots 2nd letter to Zuckerberg over allegations of 'bias' in favour of BJP

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Aug 29: The Congress on Saturday wrote to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for the second time in a month, asking what steps were being taken on repeated allegations about the global social media giant's India unit being biased towards the ruling BJP.

At a press conference, the opposition party also demanded an investigation by a Joint Parliamentary Committee into the alleged "links of Facebook employees and the ruling establishment".

The Congress' letter to Zuckerberg came over an article in Time magazine, which the opposition party claimed "revealed" more information and "evidence of biases and a quid pro quo relationship" of Facebook India with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

There was no immediate reaction from Facebook or the BJP on the allegations. A report in the Wall Street Journal earlier this month had brought to fore similar allegations, which were strongly rejected by both Facebook and the BJP.

Tagging the Time magazine report, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed in a tweet that it exposes the "WhatsApp-BJP nexus".

"Used by 40 Cr Indians, WhatsApp also wants to be used for making payments for which Modi Government's approval is needed. Thus, BJP has a hold over WhatsApp," he alleged, without elaborating.

Facebook a non-partisan platform: India head amid political row

Popular messaging app WhatsApp is also owned by Facebook.

In his letter to Zuckerberg, Congress general secretary organisation, K C Venugopal, referred to his earlier letter dated August 17 in which the party had requested the US-based company to investigate the allegations made in the Wall Street Journal article that the social media platform refused to apply hate speech rules to certain BJP politicians.

"We draw your attention to the article in Time magazine dated August 27 that reveals more information and evidence of biases and a quid-pro-quo relationship of Facebook India with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party," Venugopal said in the new letter dated August 29 and asked for details of steps being taken by the group.

"We will also be pursuing legislative and judicial actions in India to ensure that a foreign company cannot continue to cause social disharmony in our nation for their pursuit of private profits," he said.

At the party's press conference, spokesperson Pawan Khera and AICC data analytics department chief Praveen Chakravarty called for an "exhaustive and unbiased investigation by a Joint Parliamentary Committee between the unending links of Facebook employees and the ruling establishment".

"The investigation must include how Facebook manipulated voter opinion, allowed hate speech and was oblivious to fake news, even when they were in clear violation of their own regulations," they said in a statement.

"WhatsApp cannot be granted approvals for its payment operations until the inquiry is complete and the recommended actions are taken by the company," Khera and Chakravarty said.

They also demanded that the report of the investigation ordered by Facebook into the conduct of its Indian unit be made public.
American private equity barons are circling Britain's largest office developers after their share prices collapsed by almost 50 per cent.

City sources said Blackstone, the Wall Street-based giant led by Stephen Schwarzman, is rumoured to be monitoring companies including Land Securities.

Blackstone wants to strike cut-price deals such as joint ventures, stake purchases and takeovers, the sources said.

Collapse: Land Securities owns office blocks in the City of London, Canary Wharf (pictured) and the West End

Land Securities is the largest listed real estate investment trust in the FTSE100 index. It owns office blocks in the City of London, Canary Wharf and the West End.

Its shares have crashed from almost 10 earlier this year to close at 5.78 on Friday amid concern about the future for office working in the wake of Covid-19. A number of major firms have told their staff they need not return to the office full-time until 2021.

Blackstone has experience of picking up British commercial property on the cheap and making a quick profit.

After the financial crisis in 2009 Blackstone struck a deal with British Land to buy a stake in Broadgate, the 30-acre City of London office estate that houses Swiss bank UBS.

The American buyout house formed a joint venture with British Land for Broadgate, with its 50 per cent stake valued at around 1billion. Three and a half years later Blackstone sold its shareholding to Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund GIC for almost 1.7billion, meaning the American firm made around 700million.

Brookfield, the Canadian investment house that specialises in property deals, has already pounced on one well-known developer during the pandemic.

In June, it paid 264million for a 7 per cent stake in British Land, which last week was on the cusp of being demoted from the FTSE100 index.

Aside from Broadgate, British Land owns London office space at Regent's Place and Paddington Central.

Brookfield, which has a market capitalisation of $52billion (39billion, has a track record in carrying out major UK property deals.

In 2015, it teamed up with the Qatar Investment Authority to buy Songbird Estates, the owner of Canary Wharf, for 2.6billion.

British Land shares closed at 3.65 on Friday.

A spokesman for Blackstone declined to comment.
Convincing voters to accept this less blemished version of the president, which strategists say is probably Mr. Trumps best hope of winning enough of the roughly 5 to 7 percent of the country that is still undecided, is problematic in that it essentially requires people to imagine that he has not been in charge all along. To forget that the immigrants he joined in a naturalization ceremony in front of the cameras werent people from the kinds of countries he profanely denigrated. To excuse him from responsibility for inflaming the tensions in cities that now resemble scenes of the very American carnage he vowed to end on Inauguration Day.

Polls show that the percentage of Americans who think the country is on the wrong track  which experts look to as a reliable predictor of how the incumbent president will perform  is near or exceeding 70 percent.

To bring wobbly Republicans back on board  not just with the party but with the man currently leading it  they need to change minds about the best known person in the country. That is difficult though not unprecedented. Richard Nixon prevailed in the 1968 election after two humiliating losses that even he believed had crushed his hopes of becoming president  first to John F. Kennedy in 1960 and two years later in the California governors race. (The California loss was what prompted Nixons most famous utterance of self-pity, You wont have Nixon to kick around anymore, at what he said was his final news conference.)

But even Nixon had nothing like the level of mass media exposure that Mr. Trump has had, or anything like his insatiable desire to be in the spotlight. And over the five years since he first started running for president, his ubiquity has left few Americans without a firm opinion about him. His job approval ratings have been extraordinarily steady and more aligned with partisan affiliation than any president in the history of modern polling, according to the Pew Research Center.

He is who he is, said Carly Fiorina, the former chief executive of Hewlett-Packard who ran in the Republican presidential primary in 2016 against Mr. Trump. The idea that a glossy messaging operation could act as a facade over Mr. Trumps flaws, she said, is far-fetched.

I think what we know now is that Donald Trump cannot rise to the occasion, he cannot grow into the job, Ms. Fiorina added. He is someone who stokes controversy and conflict and outrage. Its who he was in his reality TV days and who he is as president of the United States.
A former Department of Homeland Security official under President Trump told Yahoo News Friday that she is alarmed by the way the administration has ignored and even downplayed the growing threat posed by right-wing domestic terrorists, whom she said are hands down a far graver threat to American lives than left-wing protest groups such as antifa.

Elizabeth Neumann, a political appointee who recently stepped down as assistant secretary for threat prevention and security policy at DHS, said she was disappointed by the portrayal by speakers at the Republican National Convention of lawless Democratic cities  even as nothing was said about extreme right-wing domestic terrorists and white supremacists.

It is completely a sideshow to distract from the real threat and its extremely dangerous, Neumann said on Skullduggery, a Yahoo News podcast, of the administrations posture. There are multiple arrests that the FBI has conducted in the last few months at these peaceful protests where you have right-wing extremists coming in trying to take advantage of the cover of the protests to carry out these violent acts and they are trying to start a race war. Theyre very clear about their ideology and what theyre trying to do and we won't say it. We wont call it like it is and thats a problem.

An expert on domestic terrorism, Neumann also worked on homeland security issues in the administration of George W. Bush administration. She said she is alarmed by the dramatic increase in white supremacist activity and the speed with which these groups have been able to win recruits.

Neumann said that shortly after she arrived at DHS, there was a spate of vandalism at Jewish cemeteries in the U.S. She and other officials began to look into the matter and soon determined that local law enforcement nationwide were reporting a growing number of anti-Semitic and white supremacy-related acts of vandalism. Then, in August 2017, a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., turned violent. One person was killed and 35 were injured and Neumann said she realized then that the threat was even more serious than she had initially understood.

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It was front and center for all of us and shocking to America to see people so emboldened. They showed their face, Neumann said. They werent hiding in a white robe and hood. They were willing to show their face and speak this horrific hatred, and then to have the president not even condemn it.

Neumann said that when she first heard Trump had said there were very fine people represented on both sides of the Charlottesville protests, she initially assumed the president had not been briefed fully and misspoke.

She said she assumed he didnt understand how obviously, blatantly this was a white supremacist thing. But Neumann said she soon realized, with mounting horror, that the president knew exactly what he was saying. Neumann said she decided to try to ignore the circus and do her job as well as she could.

Elizabeth Neumann, former Assistant Homeland Security Secretary for Threat Prevention and Security Policy. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Neumann said she struggled with her decision to stay inside the administration after that, particularly given her strong opposition to seeing children separated from their parents at the border. But she felt that as a security professional she had a duty to keep working.

The government is being held together by people who are trying to do the right thing, and if they were to all leave, the people who are left are not experienced, very young, dont have a security background and their only litmus test is are you loyal to Trump? Neumann said. Im sorry  that doesn't make you qualified.

Neumann said that in 2017 and 2018 DHS officials asked the administration to accept the threat of domestic terror and invest accordingly but were rebuffed. Nonetheless, she said, DHS has found grant money to build a prevention system to try to better stop white supremacists from recruiting online with such ease. Neumann said white supremacists have successfully drawn on the playbook developed by ISIS to efficiently attract followers over the internet.

Radicalization, she said, happens astonishingly quickly  so quickly that law enforcement doesn't have ability to track all of the potential threats.

Its really hard to know which ones are really going to mobilize to that violence, so we designed a prevention capability that were now in the process of implementing across the country, Neumann said. We made progress because the counterterrorism community took this seriously and prioritized it despite the lack of support from the top.

Neumann said she hopes the next administration will be more honest about the growing threat posed by extreme right-wing domestic terrorists. She said Americans need to debate whether to expand laws which allow those who support foreign terrorists to be applied to supporting homegrown terrorists.

It makes it harder for the FBI to investigate when you dont have that domestic terrorism designation capability, she said. We need to have an honest discussion with the American people about the nature of this threat. Quite frankly, if we would just be honest about it, it would reduce the ability for people to be recruited because I think a lot of people dont appreciate what is happening when they are being recruited.

Neumann said more Americans have been killed by white supremacists in the last four or five years than by all of the other threats, including radical Islamic jihadist ideology, combined so if youre just looking at how many people have died and you think thats the threat that we want to spend our resources on preventing, it is the right-wing extremism. It is not antifa.

Law enforcement needs more support and direction from the White House to get the domestic terror threat under control before it is too late, Neumann said.

If you have the right tools and give it to law enforcement they have the ability to go after this threat and hopefully reduce some of these attacks, she said. But we havent had that dialogue yet because the president wont even acknowledge there is a problem.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
The Election Commission of India last week released guidelines for holding by-polls and general elections amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. By-polls are slated to be held for 27 seats in Madhya Pradesh and the Assembly elections are due in Bihar, as well.

The Election Commission, apart from announcing that social distancing and other measures be followed strictly, has added that it will:

Restrict the number of voters per booth to 1,000 Provide for postal ballots for senior citizens and COVID-19 patients Make a provision for separate voting hours for people with fever, etc.

COVID-19 has given a big boost to everything digital: from online grocery stores to ordering medicines online to online classes for students to online doctor consultations, webinars, online trading, et al.

Data from the Reserve Bank of India shows that India is now clocking around 100 million digital transactions a day with a volume of Rs 5 lakh crore, about a five-time jump from 2016. Online sales doubled for top consumer brands in India due to the pandemic. People locked up in their homes, afraid of venturing out even after Unlock 3.0, have consumed anything and everything online.

Meanwhile new coronavirus cases in India are rising by almost 75,000 daily, with net of recoveries crossing 15,000 per day. Total number of cases is now close to 34 lakh and India is expected to overtake Brazil and become the second most-affected country worldwide after the United States by the end of September at this growth rate.

Given that the peak is nowhere in sight, the political Opposition has demanded that elections be deferred in Bihar, where Assembly polls are slated to take place later this year. The coronavirus scare is likely to result in a low voter turnout.

Considering the situation, it is an opportune moment to introduce e-voting as an option. This would have not only given a boost voter turnout but also result in cost and time savings. An option of Aadhaar card verified (through an OTP) and enabled e-voting, would have been an apt decision.

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Despite the Election Commissions efforts and various awareness campaigns, the turnout in India for general elections 2019 was below 70%. Many people who have migrated to other cities for work hold voter IDs at their birthplace and are not able to vote.

In a paper titled Online voting system for India based on Aadhaar ID, by Himanshu Agarwal and G N Pandey, the authors have proposed a model of e-voting.

The proposed model has a greater security in the sense that voter high security password is confirmed before the vote is accepted in the main database of the Election Commission of India. The additional feature of the model is that the voter can confirm if his/her vote has gone to the correct candidate/party. In this model, a person can also vote from outside of his/her allotted constituency or from his/her preferred location.

Over 95% Indians have an Aadhaar card and use it once a month on an average, as per a study by social impact advisory group -- Dalberg. With half a billion active users, India now has more rural Internet users than urban ones.

The low-cost data penetration, courtesy Jio, and the Digital India push by the central government have made desi Internet more diverse and inclusive.

Internet voting was first introduced in the United States in 2000. States like West Virginia and Delaware are using Internet-based voting modules. Fourteen countries till date have used some or the other form of online voting as per Anooja A, Research Scholar at Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur.

Four countries currently use Internet voting: Canada, France, Estonia and Switzerland. In India too, all six municipal corporations of Gujarat: Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar offer online voting. In association with TCS, Gujarat has developed this framework. The option was available to voters in 2010 and 2015 municipal elections.

However, it has found few takers because of the complex process of registration. Only 806 people used the facility out of a total of 95.9 lakh voters in Gujarat. Political parties feel that the Election Commission needs to promote it more to gain popularity among youth.

Currently, Aadhaar-based verification model is not used in Gujarat.

In the US and other countries, a number of online voting pilot projects have been on the rise. However, security experts warn any Internet-based voting is wide open to cyber attacks.

According to them, blockchain-based mobile voting technology is innately insecure and potentially a danger to democracy through wholesale fraud or manipulation. It could also pave the way for interference by foreign governments as is alleged to have taken place in Trump elections of 2016.

In India, while certain political parties are demanding moving back to the ballot system from currently used EVMs, moving to online voting could be too much to digest.

People who oppose Internet-based voting cite data protection, privacy issues, to infrastructure issues like ghosting, authentication and phishing. According to them it is an idea we are far from prepared for.

Critics also highlight the fact that nowhere in the world, a democracy of our size has moved to online voting. India has been at the forefront of technological revolution in the world. Our United Payments Interface has won accolades from the world setting the pace for other nations.

Its time for us to lead and showcase a world class Internet-based voting system to the world. The millennial doesnt want to spend half an hour to an hour in a booth to cast his/her vote when it can be done within minutes from the comfort of home/office.

People who highlight security issues are full-time on apps: this compromises data privacy laws day in and day out. By this logic, even our banking transactions are not safe.

With built-in safeguards in place, we need to start implementing e-voting or i-voting (as it is called in Estonia) because that is the future.

The pandemic provided a perfect time for the Election Commision to try out online voting, but it has failed to seize the moment.
The hotel quarantine system for returned travellers is running below its stated capacity, with at times 1000 fewer Australians arriving home a week than allowed, as airlines warn it could take six months to return an estimated 100,000 people.

Australia's travel ban and cap on returning travellers have not been replicated by many other countries but are deemed necessary to reduce pressure on the hotel quarantine system during COVID-19.

States including NSW have resisted lifting the caps because of concerns about hotel quarantine capacity. Credit:Jacky Ghossein

In July, national cabinet set a 4000 person-a-week cap on returning travellers, which comprises 350 a day (or 2450 a week) in Sydney, 525 a week in Perth and 500 a week in Brisbane. Adelaide has a 500 person cap and there are no flights into Melbourne due to the Victorian outbreak.

Department of Home Affairs data provided to The Sun-Herald showed those caps were not being reached, although the numbers were rising. In the week of August 5, only 3080 people returned. In the week of August 12 that rose to 3289, and again in the week of August 19 to 3546.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 12:56:55|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump hit the campaign trail on Friday by holding a rally in Londonderry in the northeastern state of New Hampshire, a day after accepting the Republican Party's nomination for reelection.

Speaking to supporters at an airport, Trump again laced into his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, while lashing out at demonstrations calling for social justice that have at times turned chaotic and violent.

"They are not protesters. Those are anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters," Trump said. "It has nothing to do with George Floyd. They have no idea who he is. If you ask them 'Who's George Floyd?' they say 'I don't know.'"

George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, died from asphyxiation after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May. His death sparked massive demonstrations against police brutality and racism, as well as social unrest in some U.S. cities.

Biden, in a statement on Friday, accused Trump of "bringing his message of division, lies, and chaos to New Hampshire."

In 2016, Trump lost the Granite State to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton by fewer than 3,000 votes. His campaign has identified the state as a flip opportunity for him as it faces limited options to expand the electoral map.

Pence made campaign stops in the states of Minnesota and Michigan on Friday afternoon.

Biden said on Thursday that he will begin traveling to the battleground states after Labor Day, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. Enditem
Canada today announced a CDN$10 million extension of core funding through 2025 for the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, a research organization at the forefront of pressing global water challenges.

Hosted by McMaster University, UNU-INWEH has contributed important insights on world water issues, including water-borne diseases and how to meet the expected large increase in global water demand -- almost 50% by 2030 -- a need impossible to meet as conventional water sources diminish and if current ways of doing business prevail.

"As a long-time supporter of UNU-INWEH, Canada recognizes that equitable access to safe water and sanitation is critical to protecting human life. Since the lack of water and sanitation disproportionately affects women and girls, and is being exacerbated by climate change, renewed support to water management enhances women's leadership and increases resilience to climate change," says the Honourable Karina Gould, Canada's Minister of International Development.

The funding announcement coincides with World Water Week, and the United Nations' 75th anniversary.

Says UNU-INWEH Director, Vladimir Smakhtin: "Available freshwater per capita has declined more than 50% worldwide since 1960 and today the scale of the global water crisis is stunning, with four in seven people regularly experiencing some form of water scarcity."

The coronavirus pandemic is just the latest illustration of how vitally important water is to health and well-being," he adds. "Hundreds of millions of people lack access to clean water to wash their hands, making control of the current coronavirus outbreak, and potentially other similar outbreaks in the future, even more challenging." Vladimir Smakhtin, Director, UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health

"The Institute recently embarked on its new five-year strategy to help the world achieve water-related Sustainable Development Goals," notes Dr. Smakhtin. "Canada's strong support for UNU-INWEH has never been more important. We are deeply grateful for its generous and continued commitment. Canada has not only been the Institute's home and principal source of funding since it began, Canadian expertise has greatly contributed to improving the management of world water issues."

"The Institute's link to the United Nations brings privileged access to global policy debates on water," says Michael Small, chair of UNU-INWEH's International Advisory Committee, a Distinguished Fellow at the Asian Pacific Foundation and Fellow at Simon Fraser University's Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue.

"As a hub for world-class expertise on water -- spanning academia, industry and governments -- the Institute is uniquely positioned to advance practical solutions to water-related challenges that achieve impact globally and nationally."

UNU-INWEH works to bridge the gap between the wealth of evidence and research that exists on water resources, and the practical needs of political leaders and decision makers, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries.

The new strategic plan (at https:/ / bit. ly/ 3jfiN7G) places primary focus on four interconnected areas:

Helping countries implement water-related Sustainable Development Goals

Data and evidence in the water sector are often hard to come by in many countries making it difficult to plan and measure progress. The Institute has created a Policy Support System that helps national governments use existing and emerging national and international data to automatically build a reliable baseline of evidence for use in policy making and planning for effective and equitable water management.

The UNU-INWEH's Policy Support System automatically synthesizes and evaluates the data against the Sustainable Development Goal's targets and indicators for safe and affordable access to clean water and sanitation by 2030. In this way, users can view in one summary their strengths and gaps remaining to achieve the SDGs.

The platform has been validated and accepted in five pilot countries and is now being rolled out to 50 more.

Bringing unconventional water resources and technology revolution for future water security

Projections show over 60% of humanity will experience water scarcity by 2030. Conventional water resources - rain and river runoff - are not expected to meet growing water demands. UNU-INWEH has applied its focus to and become a go-to-source for research and information about unconventional water resources: desalination, treated wastewater, atmospheric water harvesting, and others.

In one recent study, for example, UNU-INWEH forecast a 24% increase in wastewater worldwide by 2030. Already a vast resource, the global volume of wastewater, properly treated, is enough water to fill Lake Ontario every four years. It contains enough energy to provide electricity to almost 160 million households, the study found, and enough nutrients to meet 13% of world's fertilizer needs.

In an earlier study, the Institute's experts reported that the world's roughly 16,000 desalination plants discharge 142 million cubic meters of brine daily -- 50% more than previously estimated -- and enough in a year to cover Florida under a foot (30.5 cm) of chemical-laden brine.

The Institute also evaluates the most appropriate digital technologies for adoption in water management in developing country contexts. Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, and other 21st century technologies can be put to a wide range of uses from accurate mapping of flood risks using open data sources to monitoring water quality in refugee camps.

Women -- Key to Effective Water Management -- and Migration

Water and sanitation management are more effective if women are involved, and UNU-INWEH therefore works with governments to identify opportunities for greater inclusion, representation, knowledge generation and training for women and girls.

Over the next five years, UNU-INWEH aims to enhance the capacity of national governments to obtain and evaluate baseline gender-disaggregated water data to support SDG implementation.

By equipping policymakers and practitioners with gender-related information on the delivery of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, UNU-INWEH can help unlock the potential for more effective water management and use.

UNU-INWEH will also aim to identify conditions for enhanced participation of women in community-based water conflict resolution and how to create them. Future work will pay specific attention to minimizing the impacts of water-related disasters on the health of women and girls in humanitarian crises contexts.

The Institute, in partnership with University of Kinshasa, is already studying large-scale migration of communities in the Congo River Basin over the past two decades, the associated conflicts that followed, and the impacts on women and girls.

A recent UNU-INWEH analysis suggests that the world will see up to 1 billion people migrating due to water- and climate-related reasons. Future work will focus on unpacking water-migration-gender interlinkages and aim for the formal recognition of migration as an adaptation strategy for water and climate crises.

Managing water- and climate-related risks

UNU-INWEH synthesizes information and suggests new ways to alleviate various chronic and emerging water-related risks, as well as climate-related risks that propagate through water.

As climate-induced floods and drought become more frequent and severe, the Institute analyzes the efficiency of the world's existing early warning systems, with a particular focus on response capabilities of the exposed populations. It is important to comprehensively categorize such systems to make further investments in their development much more effective, and to clarify the overall pathway to their improvement.

UNU-INWEH also evaluates emerging climate change-related risks to cities in the Global South, ranging from increasing frequency of extreme climate events to impacts on aging water infrastructure, for example. This knowledge will help city authorities take informed actions for increased resilience.

Undertaking research that gauge potential risks from pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern to the environment and human health will be another UNU-INWEH priority.

In parallel, UNU-INWEH continues on its path to help countries eradicate chronic water-related health risks, such as arsenic contamination of groundwater, which affects some 140 million people globally.

UNU-INWEH recently summarized existing knowledge on arsenic-removal techniques and suggested a four-step plan for the complete eradication of arsenic from drinking water in affected countries by 2030

The Institute is also in the process of developing a water-related disease vulnerability and surveillance tool that can measure and visualize the vulnerability of populations and regions to help health authorities anticipate and prevent these diseases, a major issue in many developing countries, exacerbated by climate change.
Considering the massive Indian population and our growing inclination towards watching more and more Hollywood movies, every studio in the world wishes to make the most money out of it.

With time, a trend can be seen in English films where an Indian actor or that of an Indian origin has been cast for very limited screen time but has been made to see as a major part of the film, especially around the time its about to be released in India.

Here are five times when Hollywood cast Indian actors for minor roles & we got fooled:

1. Ali Fazal - Furious 7 (Screen Time: <100 Seconds)

Ali Fazals role of Safar, an Emirati garage owner and a good friend of Megan Ramseys friend, lasts for less than 100 seconds of screen time, most of it talking about a badass car being kept in a penthouse.

To be fair to the actor, he acknowledged that his role in the film was nothing more than a cameo and that he wouldnt make anything big of it.

2. Anil Kapoor - Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (Screen Time: <165 Seconds)

With Slumdog Millionaire and 24, Anil Kapoor did become a rather familiar Indian face in the English film industry and when news of the star being a part of Tom Cruises Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol first came out, his Indian fans were ecstatic.

And then we saw him as Brij Nath in the film who played hide and seek for most of his screen time and then ended up unconscious in his bedroom literally a couple of minutes later.

3. Irrfan Khan - Jurassic World (Screen Time: <250 Seconds)

Even after doing some great work like The Namesake and Life of Pi, when late actor Irrfan Khan was cast as Simon Masrani, he was just another Not-so-important good guy in the film who showed up for a couple of seconds at the beginning of the film and then during the third act only to die.

Incidentally, Khan had a similar screen presence in The Amazing Spider-Man in which he shares the frame with Rhys Ifans for a few scenes before ending up dead on the Brooklyn Bridge.

4. Amitabh Bachchan - The Great Gatsby (Screen Time: <275 Seconds)





Even someone of Amitabh Bachchans stature couldnt make it past the five-minute mark in a Hollywood film. Despite packing a stellar and impactful performance as Meyer Wolfsheim, a flamboyant and suave Jewish moneylender, Bachchan was only seen for a single scene in the Leonardo DiCaprio movie.

T 1045 - "The Great Gatsby" official opening film for Cannes Film festival, May 15th..come one come all..half blink and you miss role for me  Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) March 12, 2013

Even while promoting the film on Twitter, Big B wrote: The Great Gatsby official opening film for Cannes Film festival, May 15thcome one come allhalf blink and you miss role for me (sic).

5. Pankaj Tripathi - Extraction (Screen Time: <55 Seconds)

Even though Randeep Hooda had a significant role in the film (and I truly appreciate it), it was the extremely limited screen time given to Pankaj Tripathi that shocked me. Playing the role of an Indian gangster whose son was abducted in the movie, Tripathi appeared for less than a minutes role in the movie.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Tripathi said: Though my role is a cameo, its a pivotal character.
New York (United Nations), 29 August 2020 (SPS) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reaffirmed in a recent report that the question of Western Sahara is still considered, by the UN General Assembly, as a decolonization issue.



"The question of Western Sahara is still on the table at the UN General Assembly as a decolonization issue and also held the attention of the UN Security Council," the UN chief said in his report on the activities undertaken by the stakeholders during the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism in the World.



"The Security Council has continued to consider the reports of the SG and adopted resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara," a Non-Self-Governing Territory, occupied militarily by Morocco for more than 40 years, said the UN SG in this respect.



During the period covered by the report, "Special envoys and representatives of the Secretary-General continued to consult, with stakeholders, on ways to remedy the situation," he added. (SPS)



062/SPS/APS
WhatsApp, the worlds biggest Instant Messaging platform, doesnt offer multi-platform sync functions. Meaning, you cant transfer WhatsApp chat and media from iOS to Android or vice versa using the official solution. WhatsApp does offer the native backup solution on iPhone and Android using iCloud and Google Drive respectively. Due to the WhatsApp backup size and other settings, your WhatsApp backup to iCloud might get stuck. Here are some possible solutions to fix the WhatsApp iCloud backup failing problem on your iPhone.

Using the native backup solution on iCloud, you can set up WhatsApp and switch from your old iPhone to the new iPhone effortlessly. Many users report about WhatsApps iCloud backup getting stuck and not completing successfully. Some of the reasons include slow network connection, insufficient iCloud storage, a buggy WhatsApp build, a huge amount of video files, and more.

Lets tackle the WhatsApp iCloud backup problem using the troubleshooting options below.

How to Fix WhatsApp iCloud Backup Failing Problem

First, we will go through some basic steps to try and fix the problem with WhatsApp backup to iCloud failing.

1. Update WhatsApp

WhatsApp frequently rolls out updates to add new features and fix some annoying bugs. The iCloud backup problem might be due to an old buggy WhatsApp build on your device. You need to open the App Store and update the app to the latest version.

Step 1: Open the App Store on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap on the Profile icon at the upper right corner.

Step 3: Update WhatsApp to the latest version.

2. Leave WhatsApp Beta Program

If you are part of the WhatsApp beta program using the TestFlight app, then its time to leave the program and opt for the stable build from the App Store.

Step 1: Open the TestFlight app and go to WhatsApp.

Step 2: Scroll down and select Stop Testing.

Now, go to the App Store, download the stable build, and try the iCloud backup again.

3. Use High-Speed Intenet Connection

Based on your usage, WhatsApp backups will be in GBs  since youd be including photos and videos too. That would demand a high-speed and stable network connection for a successful backup process. Make sure you are connected to the strong network and your phone shows enough bars for cellular network strength.

4. Exclude Videos from Backup

If you are part of several WhatsApp groups and receive dozens of videos on a daily basis, then it might increase the overall WhatsApp backup size. Thankfully, the company does offer a way to exclude videos from the backup file. Follow the steps below to exclude videos from the WhatsApp backup.

Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.

Step 2: Navigate to Settings > Chat > Chat Backup

Step 3: Disable Include Videos option.

From now on, WhatsApp wont include videos during iCloud backup. The practice will reduce the backup file size and speed up the iCloud backup process.

5. Check iCloud Space

As I mentioned above, WhatsApp on iPhone uses iCloud to back up the data. iCloud by default only offers 5GB of space, to begin with. Considering default settings on the iPhone, its quite easy to fill up the free space on the iPhone. You might be low on iCloud storage to successfully backup the WhatsApp data. Follow the steps below to check the iCloud space on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on the phone.

Step 2: Go to Profile > iCloud and here you will see a detailed storage chart remaining space.

If you are low on storage, then make some space by deleting irrelevant files or upgrade to a higher storage plan. iCloud paid plans start at $1 per month for 50GB. You can also go with a $3 per month plan for 200GB that comes with family sharing. The highest 2TB plan is priced at $10 per month.

Reportedly, WhatsApp has struck a deal with Google to exclude the WhatsApp backup storage from the Google Drive space. We hope to see a similar solution between Apple and WhatsApp.

6. Optimize iCloud Storage

If you dont want to pay for the iCloud subscription then you need to optimize the default 5GB storage on the iPhone. The first thing you can do is, disable photos and videos back up to the iCloud service. Open the Settings app on the iPhone and navigate to Profile > iCloud > Photos and disable iCloud Photos from the following menu.

For more details, head to our dedicated post to quickly free up iPhone storage space.

7. Check If iCloud Servers Are Down

WhatsApp iCloud backup failing might be due to the iCloud service outrage on Apples side. If thats the case then you have no option but wait for Apple to fix the issue. You can go to Apples official support system status website to see if all the Apple services including iCloud are running fine.

8. Delete the Existing iCloud Backup

If you have already taken a prior backup of your data on iCloud, then it can make the process stuck. To quickly fix the iPhone WhatsApp backup stuck issue, you should delete the existing iCloud backup on the iPhone and try to back up the WhatsApp data from scratch. Here are step-by-step instructions to delete the iCloud backup on the device.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on the iPhone.

Step 2: Navigate to Profile > iCloud > iCloud Storage.

Step 3: Go to Manage Storage and select the current iPhone backup.

Step 4: From the following menu, delete your existing iCloud backup and start the WhatsApp backup process from scratch.

9. Enable Background App Refresh

To function properly and handle tasks in the background, Apple allows apps to refresh automatically in the background. Since many apps can end up abusing this feature or cause excessive battery drain, the company offers users to manually toggle this feature off for installed apps on their device. Before backing up WhatsApp data to iCloud, you should ensure that the Background App Refresh is enabled for WhatsApp.

You need to head over to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and ensure the toggle for WhatsApp is enabled.

10. Reset iPhone Settings

The above-mentioned options should fix the WhatsApp iCloud backup failing issue for you. If that does not resolve the problem, your penultimate option is to reset the settings of your iPhone. This will restore your device to factory settings but will not touch your data in any way. Your iPhone might restart during the process. Go through the steps below to reset iPhone settings.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on the iPhone.

Step 2: Navigate to General and scroll down to Reset.

Step 3: Tap Reset All Settings option.

11. Reset Network Settings

Sometimes, users overwrite network settings by mistake which results in WhatsApp backup on iPhone getting stuck. You can fix it by resetting the network settings on the iPhone.

Open the Settings app on iPhone and navigate to General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

12. Force Restart iPhone



If none of the tricks are working for you to solve the WhatsApp backup issue on iCloud, you can try force restarting it to see if that helps. Depending on which iPhone you have, the steps to force restart your iPhone will be different.

On iPhone 8 and newer iPhones without a home button, you need to press the Volume up button followed by the Volume down button and then quickly press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo to force restart your iPhone.

 How to Force Restart iPhone 8 or Later

On iPhone 7 , you need to press and hold the Lock/Wake (Side) button and the Volume down button for a few seconds until you see the Apple logo to force restart your iPhone.

 How to Force Restart iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus

On iPhone 6s or older, you need to press and hold the Lock/Wake button and the Home button for a few seconds until you see the Apple logo to force restart your iPhone.

 How to Force Restart iPhone 6s or older

13. Update the Device Firmware

If your iPhone is running on an old or unstable iOS version, then you should consider updating it right away. To do this, just open iPhone Settings > General > Software Update to see the latest stable iOS version available.

Tap on the Download and Install button and wait for a while as the firmware would be installed. Once your device restarts, check if the WhatsApp backup stuck issue is resolved.

14. Perform Backup Using iTunes

If you are still not able to save WhatsApp chats on iCloud, then consider taking a backup on iTunes instead. To do this, just connect your iPhone to the PC and launch iTunes. Now go to its Summary section. Under the Backups section, click on the Back Up Now button and make sure you are taking the backup on This Computer instead of the cloud.

The above steps should work in solving WhatsApp iCloud backup failing issue that you are facing on your iPhone. Do drop a comment and let us know the trick that worked for you so that it could help our readers as well!
President Emmanuel Macrons drift to the centre-right of Frances political spectrum has opened up a sea of opportunity for the countrys fractured and rudderless left  a space the Greens, long a byword for factionalism and division, are hoping to span and unite.

Its journees dete season in France, the late-summer bustle when political parties hold their first pow-wows since the holiday break  a chance to count their numbers, talk policy and set goals for the year ahead. Above all, its a time when freshly tanned politicians strut their stuff before the cameras and give away their thinly veiled ambitions, on the lookout for much-needed notoriety and publicity.

After years of oblivion, Frances fragmented left is once again in the news, buoyed by its recent electoral successes in municipal elections. But the landscape has changed dramatically since the days when the Socialist journees dete set the tempo and satellite parties danced to the tune. This time, the ball is in the Green camp, long derided as a chronically divided amateur outfit that is ill-equipped for the challenges of Frances Fifth Republic.

Green Wave

After years of playing junior partner in coalitions dominated by the Socialists, Frances resurgent ecologists rode a so-called Green Wave of successes on June 28, conquering a string of major cities that included strongholds of the right.

Backed by an array of local left-wing coalitions, Green candidates notched up victories in the likes of Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg and Bordeaux  a conservative bastion for 73 years. Humiliatingly for Macron, they did so by defeating centre-right coalitions that included his ruling LREM party, reduced to the role of auxiliary of the right.

Galvanised by these successes, members of Europe Ecologie-Les Verts (EELV), commonly known as the Greens, gathered in the northern Paris suburb of Pantin last weekend to discuss their next objectives. They agreed that uniting the left was of the essence, but that their ideas and platform must necessarily be at the heart of the process.

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Along with climate change and ecology, discussions centred on societal issues such as womens rights, racial discrimination and police violence. On the economic front, the focus was on relocating national production amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The idea was to build a clear, coherent and bold programme rather than focusing on alliances between parties, said EELV leader Julien Bayou, with the ultimate goal of averting another second round between Macron and [Marine] Le Pen.

Le Pen vs ?

With the all-important presidential election less than two years away, all parties know they are fast running out of time to avoid a repeat of the 2017 presidential run-off that saw Macron defeat the far rights Le Pen. While Macron, who was elected on a centrist platform, is deeply unpopular, particularly on the left, his rivals are yet to produce credible challengers. And though she is detested by a majority of the French, Le Pen can count on a rock-solid support base.

That support base, in which Frances four-million-plus unemployed feature prominently, is destined to grow even further as the recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic takes its toll on the French economy, according to political analyst Thomas Guenole.

In this respect, the only real question is who will take on Le Pen, Guenole said in an interview with FRANCE 24, suggesting that the incumbent presidents qualification for the second round is not a foregone conclusion.

Macrons strategy is to poach more voters from the right, while relying on fear of Le Pen to guarantee him a measure of support on the left, he explained. The ploy worked three years ago, he added, but it could backfire the second time if  and its a big if  the left picks a different champion to take on the far right.

Backing the wrong horse

Back in 2017, with the once-dominant Socialists in full meltdown, the left-wing vote was split between Macron and leftist firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon. But with both now severely weakened, Guenole said a huge space has opened up for a social-democractic candidate to emerge in between". Uniting that space will be difficult, he added, but not impossible.

According to the political analyst, there are three possible scenarios for such a candidacy to emerge: a primary involving all or most left-wing parties; an individual surge in the manner of Macrons 2017 bid; or a free-for-all race in which one candidate eventually becomes dominant and siphons votes from smaller left-wing tickets, as Melenchon almost succeeded in doing three years ago.

The trouble for the Greens, he said, is that they currently look vulnerable in all three scenarios.

Nobody in their ranks enjoys the notoriety required to vie for the presidency, he said. They are known only to pundits and the media. Furthermore, he added, the Greens have a history of choosing the wrong ticket and picking nobodies over celebrities  as though fame were something dirty.

In 2002, Green party members ditched the largely popular Noel Mamere in favour of a leftist candidate whose bid floundered after he called for Corsican separatists with blood on their hands to be amnestied. Ten years later, they shunned environmental activist Nicolas Hulot, one of Frances most popular figures, in favour of an investigative judge with a distinctly lower profile and weaker appeal. And at the last election, they threw their lot in with an imploding Socialist Party headed for its worst-ever defeat.

Out of the cities

Perhaps mindful that time plays in favour of his rivals, Yannick Jadot, currently the Greens likeliest  or least unlikely  candidate, has called for a presidential nominee to be chosen before January, in order to have time to build the broadest possible coalition. But others, like Bayou, prefer to focus on intermediary elections, notably the forthcoming regional polls scheduled for March 2021, before moving on to the presidential contest.

Every electoral step is important and will enable us to build environmental awareness and policies throughout Frances territory, said the EELV secretary-general at the journees dete in Pantin, well aware that the Greens remain a negligible force outside of the main cities.

In a sign of the partys surging confidence, Bayou announced on Thursday that he would vie for the presidency of the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris and is by far the countrys most populous. Though currently governed by the right, Ile-de-France was long a Socialist stronghold. Should a Green candidate lead a left-wing coalition there, it would cement the changing balance of power within the French left.

The regional polls will be a crucial test for the Greens, a more reliable indicator of their actual strength than the municipal elections, Daniel Boy, a political analyst at Sciences-Po Paris university, told FRANCE 24. Should they win two or three regions, or even just Ile-de-France, it would alter both their standing and their bargaining power.

Too radical or not enough?

Until that happens, the very notion of a Green Wave needs to be qualified, according to Guenole.

The wave was not green, it was a victory of a united left, he said, referring to the recent municipal elections. There is still no tangible evidence that the growing awareness of environmental issues has actually translated into broad support for the Greens and their policies.

Boy agrees that the Greens have emerged as leaders by default, largely as a result of the decline of other left-wing parties. But he is more nuanced regarding the divisive, self-destructive tag often pinned on the Greens.

Of course they have their factions and divisions, he said. But which party doesnt? As for their allergy to leadership, he added, it will fade away as they get accustomed to wielding power.

Of greater concern are the policy divergences that are bound to become more apparent as the 2022 polls draw closer and national issues come to the fore.

Its one thing to unite the left on transport, the environment and other local prerogatives, but its an altogether different matter when you start discussing foreign policy, policing and immigration, he said. In that respect, much will depend on which candidate the Greens put forward and how forthcoming their partners will be.

Olivier Faure, the current Socialist Party leader and a key advocate of a united left, has gone so far as to suggest his party may not field a candidate in 2022  a stance many old-guard Socialists vehemently oppose. Should the Greens pick someone deemed too radical, like up-and-coming Grenoble mayor Eric Piolle, Faure may find it impossible to resist calls for a more moderate Socialist to join the race.

Likewise, a candidate with weaker left-wing credentials, like Jadot, would almost certainly face tough opposition from Melenchon and others to his left  though Melenchon is likely to throw his hat in the ring regardless of who the Greens chose.

Last weekend, Piolle made a highly noticed visit to the journees dete of Melenchons party, France Unbowed, which supported his successful bid for a second term in Grenoble unlike the local Socialist candidate.

The left is divided and for a good reason: Nobody can possibly encompass the full spectrum, said Boy. But its not too late for other figures to emerge, not with the level of exposure that a presidential campaign affords.
Covid-19 appears to have been on a prolonged staycation in Ireland over summer, as the virus rolled into counties that are now infection hotspots after previously escaping the worst.

Even more disturbing is the way it sneaked into risky workplaces, infecting workers who in turn unwittingly spread it in the community.

Now, it is in many family homes nationwide with more than 250 outbreaks linked to get-togethers between different households.

How tight a grip has the virus as we head into autumn amid talk of another national lockdown?





Discovering Ireland

One of the features of the spread of Covid-19 in recent months has been the way cases have risen in areas of the country that were down the infections league table. Kildare, Laois and Offaly - counties that suffered factory outbreaks that seeped into the community to varying degrees - were the most unfortunate, prompting the semi-lockdown from which Kildare has yet to be released.

But other counties have also seen a lesser but significant rise, including Tipperary which had 543 cases at the end of June and 678 near the close of this month. Donegal's tally went up from 465 to 517 during the same period - and Limerick suffered a jump from 583 to 713 over the summer.





Highly infectious

What this tells us is that Covid-19 remains highly infectious. Once it gets a foothold, it can sprout in the most unexpected places, moving from one person to another. Someone who has the infection can have no symptoms and are unaware they are passing it on. It means we should assume everyone we meet has been exposed to the virus and take precautions with physical distancing,wearing a mask and handwashing.





Spreading in the community

The virus has also slid into the wider community. Between 20-30pc of people who catch it now do not know where they picked it up. It is even higher in Dublin, where these cases account for one in every five people infected.

So it is circulating out there and public health doctors find it more difficult to break this chain of transmission.





Widening social network

One of the key ways in which Covid-19 has managed to increase its grip here over the summer was due to the way people started to mix again.

This is borne out, not just in the way people were behaving in public and in their homes, but confirmed after HSE contact tracers who were following up after a person tested positive for the virus.

Tracking the infected person's close contacts meant finding fifty people in some extreme cases.

The Covid-19 app shows that the average number of contacts per positive case per week has increased from less than three in May to more than six in the week ending August 14, according to the Central Statistics Office.

It said there was very little difference in the number of contacts across different age groups in May. However, over the following months this changed and now the 15-24 age group has an average of more than 11 contacts, while for the over 80s, the average number of contacts has remained at just over two.

Counties on the green list

Over the summer, Covid-19 cases have risen in all counties but some continue to steer clear of a worrying level of spread for now. In the week ending up to and including August 21, Kerry, Leitrim, Sligo and Westmeath recorded no new cases. It was the fourteenth week in a row that Mayo recorded less than 10 new cases. Is this due to good luck or everyone in these counties, including workplaces and hospitality venues putting in that extra effort to protect themselves and others from the potentially deadly disease? If there is a national lockdown, it will be difficult to justify imposing severe restrictive measures on these counties - unless the picture changes, which of course it can.





Taming Covid-19

The next two weeks are crucial to slow down the spread of Covid-19 and it will be next week before we know the impact of recent restrictions on household gatherings and outside get-togethers, along with other measures. Some trends are in our favour including the fall in families holidaying around the country - possibly bringing the virus with them.

Children are back at school - but the big test is maybe what happens outside the classroom.
President Trump is once again threatening to send more federal enforcement to Portland amid ongoing demonstrations in the city.

In a tweet sent out late Friday night, the Commander-in-Chief wrote: 'If the incompetent Mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler, doesn't get control of his city and stop the Anarchists, Agitators, Rioters and Looters, causing great danger to innocent people, we will go in and take care of matters the way they should have been taken care of 100 days ago!'

In a separate tweet, shared a short time later, Trump praised the National Guard for helping to restore order in Kenosha, Wisonsin - a separate city rocked by civil unrest earlier this week following the police shooting of black man, Jacob Blake.

'Kenosha has been very quiet for the third night in a row or, since the National Guard has shown up. Thats the way it works, its all very simple. Portland, with a very ungifted mayor, should request help from the Federal Government. If lives are endangered, were going in!' he wrote.

President Trump is once again threatening to send federal enforcement to Portland amid ongoing demonstrations in the city

Black Lives Matter supporters are seen clashing with right-wing protesters in Portland earlier this week. The city has been experiencing prolonged periods of civil unrest

Chaotic scenes unfolded in Kenosha earlier this week following the shooting death of black man Jacob Frey. The National Guard was called in to help with the situation

A woman hands flowers to a member of the Wisconsin National Guard standing by as people gather for a vigil, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha on Friday

Members of the Wisconsin National Guard stand by as people gather for a vigil during a calmer night of protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Friday

Protests began in Portland back in late May following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of white police officers.

Demonstrations have continued to take place each night, but have become increasingly unruly. Police have declared riots on several occasions, and President Trump last month ordered federal troops to the city to curb chaos.

At the time, crowds grew into the thousands and agents repeatedly clashed with demonstrators over a two-week period, deploying tear gas and arresting those they said were hurling objects and trying to damage property.

The agents pulled back from a visible presence downtown, but it's unclear how many remain in Portland, under an agreement in which the Oregon State Police would be deployed to the city center.

Earlier on Friday, Mayor Wheeler took to Twitter to publicly rebuke Trump's threat to deploy more federal agents, calling it 'divisive'.

'Today, I sent this letter via email to @realDonaldTrump declining his recurring offer to aid Portland by sending federal enforcement to the city,' Wheeler wrote.

He shared a screenshot of his note to Trump, which read: 'Dear President Trump: Yet again, you said you offered to aid Portland by sending in federal law enforcement to our city. On behalf of the City of Portland: No thanks.'

'We don't need your politics of division and demagoguery. Portlanders are onto you. We have already seen your reckless disregard for human life in your bumbling response to the COVID pandemic.

'And we know you've reached the conclusion that images of violence or vandalism are your only ticket to reelection. There is no place for looting, arson, or vandalism in our city. There is no room here for racist violence or those who wish to bring their ideology of hate into our community. Those who commit criminal acts will be apprehended and prosecuted under the law.'

Earlier on Friday, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler took to Twitter to publicly rebuke Trump's threat to deploy more federal agents, calling it 'divisive'. The President responded by calling him 'incompetent'

Wheeler penned this open letter to Trump despite ongoing chaos in his city

Democratic Oregon Governor Kate Brown has also dismissed Trump's threat.

'Oregon isn't interested in a role in your political theater,@realDonaldTrump. The @OregonGuard is focused on fighting wildfires, distributing PPE & helping with unemployment calls. I'd love to discuss what we actually need: financial resources, N-95 masks & testing supplies,' she wrote on Twitter earlier this week.

However, chaos is still breaking out in the city's streets.

On Tuesday, protesters smashed windows at City Hall and pelted officers with projectiles on the 90th consecutive night of demonstrations. 23 people were arrested.

On Tuesday, protesters smashed windows at City Hall and pelted officers with projectiles on the 90th consecutive night of demonstrations. 23 people were arrested

Officers confront Black Lives Matter supporters outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland during another unruly night of demonstrations earlier this week

A police statement said officers used 'crowd control munitions' in response to the protest, which was later deemed a riot, but did not specify what kind

A crowd of around 150 demonstrators assembled downtown at Shemanski Park yesterday evening, marching toward City Hall at 9pm - exactly three months after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Demonstrators threw bottles and eggs at police, and put metal bars in the street to try to damage police vehicles. Members of the crowd also vandalized the lobby of City Hall, smashing windows and marring the outside of the building with graffiti.

The Portland Police Department said officers used 'crowd control munitions' in response to the protest, which was later deemed a riot, but did not specify what kind.

The chaos erupted within 15 minutes of the crowd arriving, police said, where the activists graffitied the building's rotunda, smashed a door switch and shattered three glass doors.

Portland police walk past the shattered glass of a bus stop while dispersing a crowd of about 150 people

A number of the demonstrators forced their way into City Hall, where security features - such as the surveillance camera - were smashed.

The protest was quickly deemed an unlawful assembly by police. A line of officers were seen approaching the crowd and attempting to force them away from City Hall.

Members of the crowd continued to shatter windows of the building, while one protester ignited an aerosol can while spraying it towards the building, Oregon Live reported.

As tensions escalated, police eventually deemed the gathering a riot at 11:20pm, citing 'extreme life safety concerns' of security guards working inside City Hall.

Officers moved in to disperse the crowd more forcefully and began arresting more people.

Police were struck by an array of projectiles such as eggs and bottles as they moved in on the crowd. Someone reportedly shined a powerful laser into an officer's eyes three times, police said. A bus stop was also reportedly shattered amid the unrest.
A number of businessmen returning from Eastern Europe have been making great marks in the banking sector.

VIBBank has released a resolution on the 2020 extraordinary shareholders meeting which discussed the increase of capital and amendment of charters.



At the 2020 annual meeting, shareholders approved a series of plans, including the payment of bonus shares, the increase of charter capital to VND11.094 trillion, the listing of shares at the HCM City Stock Exchange in November and the targeted profit of VND4.5 trillion.

Analysts predict that three bank shares will be put into transactions on HOSE this year, including SHB, ACB and VIB.

ACB and SHB said they are planning to move from the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) to HOSE.

A number of businessmen returning from Eastern Europe have been making great marks in the banking sector.

VIB has attracted attention from domestic individual investors with many large transactions reported. However, many large institutions and investment funds still have not added VIB to their investment portfolios because VIB is listed on UpCom.

VIB is one of the 10 banks with the highest profits in the banking system and is the first bank to fulfill all three pillars of Basel II (minimum capital, supervisory review process, and market discipline disclosure).

In 2019, VIB reported record high profit of VND4 trillion. In H1 2020, it implemented 52 percent of the yearly plan, despite Covid-19.

The bank has been focusing on lending to individual clients and not on providing large-scale loans. Therefore, it has not had bad debts in the last three years. Around 85 percent of outstanding loans have been provided to individual clients, and 97 percent of them have good collateral.

A number of private banks have the highest profits, including Techcombank of Ho Hung Anh, VP Bank of Ngo Chi Dung, ACB of Tran Hung Huy, HDBank of the only female dollar billionaire Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, and VIB and TP Bank of Do Minh Phu. They have diversified sources of revenue, low bad debt ratios, and higher safety levels.

Most of the businessmen returning from Eastern Europe have been successful in Vietnam. Pham Nhat Vuong, the first Vietnamese dollar billionaire, has appeared in local newspapers with a series of moves taken to restructure his Vingroup. Vuong now focuses on industry (automobiles, motorbikes, internal combustion engines and electricity) and technology products (mobile phones, TVs).

Meanwhile, billionaire Nguyen Dang Quang, with the company Masan, has been expanding business rapidly. Quang has jumped into the chilled meat sector, listed MML shares on the bourse, and taken over Vinmart, the retail division which once belonged to Vingroup.

V. Ha

Dollar billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong restructures his business network Vuong has made a number of moves recently to restructure his huge business system to shift his development strategy to technology, industry and services.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 01:12:31|Editor: huaxia

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MADRID, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- A wildfire in the province of Huelva in southwest Spain had forced the evacuation of around 250 people from their homes and had affected over 1,000 hectares by Friday morning.

The Spanish government's regional delegate, Bella Verano, explained that the fire began at around 16:30 local time on Thursday and was being fought by over 100 firemen and local residents on the ground, with the help of 19 aircraft and helicopters.

Verano said the fire was likely caused by a car that had caught fire, but added that "the spark could have come from anywhere and with the heat and the wind", the flames could quickly spread.

She explained that "high temperatures and strong gusts of wind" made it difficult to extinguish the flames quickly.

Temperatures on Thursday reached 38 degrees Centigrade in the area, although they are expected to drop to around 34 or 35 degrees Centigrade on Friday.

Thursday evening saw 180 people evacuated from the villages of Cueva de la Mora and Monte Blanco, with a further 70 residents from the small village of El Villar forced to leave their homes in the early hours of Friday.

Emergency service sources explained that the residents of El Villar had been temporarily accommodated in a theater in the nearby small town of Zalamea la Real.

This year, Spain had registered 3,607 fires by July 12, 40 percent less than the average for the summer season, according to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Miteco). Enditem
The Russian navy conducted major war games near Alaska involving dozens of ships and aircraft, the military said Friday, the biggest such drills in the area since Soviet times.

Russia's navy chief, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, said that more than 50 warships and about 40 aircraft were taking part in the exercise in the Bering Sea, which involved multiple practice missile launches.

'We are holding such massive drills there for the first time ever,' Yevmenov said in a statement released by the Russian Defense Ministry.

As part of the exercises, the Russian nuclear submarine Omsk surfaced near Alaska on Thursday, U.S. military officials said.

Russia's Varyag missile cruiser fires a cruise missile as part of the Russian navy maneuvers in the Bering Sea in this undated video grab provided by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service

Russian warships take part in maneuvers in the Bering Sea in this undated video grab provided by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service

The North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command are closely monitoring the submarine, Northern Command spokesman Bill Lewis said.

'We have not received any requests for assistance from the Russian Navy or other mariners in the area,' Lewis said from Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. 'We always stand ready to assist those in distress.'

Lewis declined to provide further details about the submarine, including its proximity to Alaska. He only said it was operating in international waters near Alaska.

'We closely track vessels of interest, including foreign military naval vessels, in our area of responsibility,' Lewis said.

The Russian military exercise is taking place in international waters, well outside the U.S. territorial sea, he said.

The presence of Russian military assets in the war games caused a stir for U.S. commercial fishing vessels in the Bering Sea on Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

'We were notified by multiple fishing vessels that were operating out the Bering Sea that they had come across these vessels and were concerned. So they contacted us,' Coast Guard spokesman Kip Wadlow said earlier Thursday.

The Russian nuclear submarine Omsk is seen in a file photo. The submarine surfaced in international waters near Alaska on Thursday, US military officials confirmed

A Russian submariner looks in periscope during a naval exercise in the Bering Sea, in this undated video grab provided by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service

A Russian submarine surfaces during naval maneuvers in the Bering Sea. The Russian navy has conducted massive war games near Alaska involving dozens of ships and aircraft

The Coast Guard contacted the Alaskan Command at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, which confirmed the ships were there as part of a pre-planned Russian military exercise that was known to some U.S. military officials, Wadlow said.

Wadlow did not have information about the scope of the exercise or how many Russian vessels were involved, referring those questions to the Alaskan Command.

Officials at the Anchorage base referred questions to Air Force officials at the U.S. Northern Command.

It wasn't immediately clear when the exercises began or if they had finished.

Yevmenov emphasized that the war games are part of Russias efforts to boost its presence in the Arctic region and protect its resources.

'We are building up our forces to ensure the economic development of the region,' he said. 'We are getting used to the Arctic spaces.'

The Russian military has rebuilt and expanded numerous facilities across the polar region in recent years, revamping runways and deploying additional air defense assets.

Russian warships take part in maneuvers in the Bering Sea in an image from Russian military

Russia has prioritized boosting its military presence in the Arctic region, which is believed to hold up to one-quarter of the Earths undiscovered oil and gas. Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited estimates that put the value of Arctic mineral riches at $30 trillion.

Russia's Pacific Fleet, whose assets were taking part in the maneuvers, said the Omsk nuclear submarine and the Varyag missile cruiser launched cruise missiles at a practice target in the Bering Sea as part of the exercise.

The maneuvers also saw Onyx cruise missiles being fired at a practice target in the Gulf of Anadyr from the coast of the Chukchi Peninsula, it added.

Russian state RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russia's Pacific Fleet sources as saying that the surfacing of the Omsk nuclear submarine was routine.

Also late Thursday, NORAD sent F-22 fighter jets to intercept three groups of two Tu-142 Russian maritime patrol aircraft that came close to Alaska.

The Russian aircraft remained in the area for about five hours and came within 50 nautical miles of Alaska. Officials said the Russian jets remained in international air space, and at no time entered United States or Canadian sovereign air space.

'Our northern approaches have had an increase in foreign military activity as our competitors continue to expand their military presence and probe our defenses,' Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of NORAD, said in a statement. '

A cruise missile is launched from a submarine during Russian navy drills in the Bering Sea

This year, weve conducted more than a dozen intercepts, the most in recent years. The importance of our continued efforts to project air defense operations in and through the north has never been more apparent.'

It cited former Russian navy's chief of staff, retired Adm. Viktor Kravchenko, as saying that by having the submarine surface in the area the navy may have wanted to send a deliberate signal.

'It's a signal that we aren't asleep and we are wherever we want,' RIA Novosti quoted Kravchenko as saying.

The presence of Russian military assets in the area caused a stir for U.S. commercial fishing vessels in the Bering Sea on Wednesday.

'We were notified by multiple fishing vessels that were operating out the Bering Sea that they had come across these vessels and were concerned,' U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Kip Wadlow said Thursday.

The Coast Guard contacted the Alaskan Command at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, which confirmed the ships were there as part of a pre-planned Russian military exercise that was known to some U.S. military officials, he said.

The Russian military has expanded the number and the scope of its war games in recent years as Russia-West relations have sunk to their lowest level since the Cold War after Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, and other crises.
It's Wednesday lunchtime on Market Street, the main shopping parade in Nelson town centre. Pensioners potter about, unbothered by the steady drizzle. Determined-looking mums hurry around, pushing buggies.

Most are in masks. There are one-way markers stuck to the floors of all the shops and, of course, ubiquitous queues. So far, so ordinary. I'm here because Nelson is, right now, Covid-19 central  on paper at least.

Earlier in the month, this modest former mill town in Pendle, Lancashire, was flagged for 'additional guidance' by the Government, owing to rising infections (on Friday, the Government confirmed the region had the most cases in England).

Residents are barred from socialising with anyone outside their household, and can only use public transport when necessary  although businesses, for now, remain open.

But what's behind this apparent surge? Could one explanation lie in the fact that, since early August, Pendle and Preston councils have been urging residents 'who do not feel in any way unwell to get a Covid-19 test  just to be sure'?

Nelson in Pendle, Lancashire, was flagged for 'additional guidance' by the Government, owing to rising infections. Residents are barred from socialising with anyone outside their household, and can only use public transport when necessary  though businesses, for now, remain open (pictured: Barney Calman at a Pendle testing centre with nurses)

But what's behind this apparent surge? Could one explanation lie in the fact that, since early August, Pendle and Preston councils have been urging residents 'who do not feel in any way unwell to get a Covid-19 test  just to be sure'? (pictured: a mobile advertising vehicle displaying a coronavirus high risk area warning in Oldham, Greater Manchester)

Abdul Razaq, Lancashire's Director of Public Health, even said 'asymptomatic testing' was a 'vital part of our overall public health strategy in terms of identifying those residents who may actually carry the virus'.

And that strategy was in full swing on Market Street when I visited last week.

'Free Covid-19 tests!' yells a council worker from behind a trestle table at bemused passers-by. I join the steady stream of locals waiting to see one of two nurses who, in full PPE, are carrying out nose and throat swabs, right there on the street corner.

Nelson resident Lynn, 70, tells me it's the second time she's dropped by the mobile testing site, while out shopping. She's not suffering any symptoms but adds, cheerfully: 'That doesn't mean I don't have it. My last test was a month ago, and it came back negative, but am I today?'

Next in line, Lisa, 39, tells me she's having a test 'because everyone else is. Why not? I'm doing my bit'. Nora, 59, who's also about to have a test, seems less gung-ho.

Since the pandemic struck, she's felt 'worried' and 'scared'. She hopes having the test will provide some 'peace of mind'.

What if it's positive? 'I don't know,' she admits, looking faintly shocked from behind her face mask. 'Do you think it might be?'

People will think, I've had my test, I don't have to worry.

Twenty-year-old Naseem, was 'just passing by, so I thought, why not?' He hadn't been all that worried  'I've heard it's something like a lung problem?'  but had lost his job in McDonald's when it closed in March, which made life pretty dire. He's working again, in a supermarket. Did anyone explain to him that, should the test come back positive, he'd need to isolate for up to ten days and anyone he lives with quarantine for two weeks?

Or that, as Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced last week, that 'Covid-carriers' compelled to stay at home would be paid just 182 over 14 days for their trouble?

'What? I have to go.' I take that as a no, then.

Back in March, as the pandemic hit, social media was awash with stories of desperately unwell Britons, isolating at home, but unable to get a confirmed corona diagnosis. Even at the peak of the outbreak, only those ill enough to be hospitalised (along with medical key workers) were tested. What a difference five months makes. Since late May, the NHS Test and Trace service has been rolling out: currently, the network includes 73 drive-through testing sites, 36 walk-through sites, 236 mobile units, home-testing options, and five UK laboratories.

It has, until now, focused on testing those who develop symptoms  a fever, new cough, or loss of sense of smell. But over the past month, The Mail on Sunday has learned that screening initiatives such as the one I attended in Nelson have been popping up in town centres across the UK.

We've discovered local councils in St Helens, Slough, Sheffield, Leicester and Rotherham have issued similar instructions for residents to get tested 'even if you don't have symptoms'.

These pilot schemes, launched oddly quietly, aim to test the healthy  or at least, seemingly healthy. Indeed, not one of the dozen or so Nelson residents who were tested while I was there were unwell.

None ever had been, or even knew someone who'd had Covid-19.

Pendle Borough Council worker Mary  an expert in disaster management  tells me they're just one of a number of similar sites across the region, screening at least 100 people a day. The vast majority aren't ill.

On Thursday, Britain recorded more than 1,500 new corona cases  the most since June.

Are many of them symptomless people picked up via screening programmes such as these? At present, it's impossible to find out.

In April, the Government faced criticism for reporting the number of tests 'carried out' as an indicator of how many people had the virus. It transpired that each hospital patient typically had at least three tests  and that they were also counting tests posted out but possibly never returned in a bid to meet Hancock's infamous 100,000-test-a-day promise.

NHS Test and Trace now provides a constantly updated, publicly available report giving the number of tests every day (about 190,000  with capacity for almost twice that number) and numbers of positives, by borough. But what isn't reported is whether or not a person who has tested positive is symptomatic, or not. If they did, it could tell us clearly whether Pendle's 'surge' in cases was actually due to their screening initiatives picking up asymptomatic cases.

So why are they testing people who aren't even ill? Well, in roughly 80 per cent of cases, corona causes only a mild illness. And a growing body of evidence suggests that many  possibly half of all those infected, particularlythose of working age  simply carry the virus, without it causing them any problems.

Pendle Borough Council worker Mary  an expert in disaster management  tells me they're just one of a number of similar sites across the region, screening at least 100 people a day. The vast majority aren't ill (pictured: stock photo of Pendle Hill beyond Clitheroe)

And, as restrictions are eased across the country, it's these 'hidden' cases that the Government believe are key in perpetuating the spread of the illness. By picking them up, isolating them, and quarantining their close contacts, we might just be able to beat the virus into submission, or at least avoid a winter resurgence  and an economy-wrecking second lockdown. Or so the theory goes.

As Hancock said last week: 'To prevent a second peak and keep Covid-19 under control, we need robust, targeted intervention where we see a spike in cases.'

But is it going to work? A growing number of scientists have grave doubts. Critics have claimed such initiatives are 'unscientific' and 'not backed by evidence'. They may actually do more harm than good  spreading fear, causing unnecessary disruption and distress, or offering false reassurances, while diverting resources away from more effective methods of outbreak control.

In the US, the Centers for Disease Control last week quietly modified its coronavirus testing guidelines to exclude people who do not have symptoms of Covid-19  even if they have been recently exposed to the virus. The body was criticised for the apparent U-turn, and accused of a 'dangerous' and 'lax' approach. But a spokesperson simply said: 'We revised the guidance to reflect current evidence and the best public health interventions.'

Public health expert Professor Carl Heneghan, a GP and director of the University of Oxford's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, is sceptical about the benefit of mass Covid testing of non-symptomatic people. 'This scatter-gun strategy does not make sense,' he says.

One of the main problems is that the standard Covid-19 test used works by picking up fragments of viral RNA  a kind of genetic material. While useful, it has a high false negative rate  not picking up the RNA when, in fact, it is there.

In a hospital setting, the test is only used to confirm a diagnosis that's pretty much already known, on account of symptoms.

But there's another problem. 'People can go on shedding viral RNA for up to 80 days after initial infection,' explains Prof Heneghan.

This means the chances of a false positive, or 'weak positive' result is also high.

The significance of finding viral RNA in these seemingly healthy people isn't clear. But a growing body of evidence suggests very few are likely to be infectious.

One study found, in asymptomatic patients with 'weak positive' test results, a second test came back negative. So at the very least, those given a positive result in a screening programme should be re-tested to confirm  which doesn't appear to be happening.

Shutting down a town as a precaution isn't going to help.

Another snag: in Nelson nurses told me that, should someone test positive, they'd be contacted and told to isolate for ten days. Close contacts  officially, a person that's been within two metres of distance for 15 or more minutes  would need to be traced, and told to quarantine for 14 days. The length of isolation should be from when symptoms begin.

But what do you advise when someone isn't suffering symptoms? People were also being told their results would come via text or email in three (like mine did  I'm negative, unsurprisingly) to seven days.

Should that person be wildly infectious, they'd have been wandering about in contact with people for quite a while, by then. Or they could have caught it in the interim.

Prof Heneghan also worries screening will give false reassurance. 'People will think, I've had my test, now I don't have to worry. There's a surge in people coming forward, lots of positives, then a decline  that's what seems to be happening, if you look at the figures in these areas,' he adds. It is vital, with all forms of screening, that potential outcomes are fully discussed with patients, he adds. This wasn't happening in Nelson, while I was there. It was just a case of give a few details, queue up, get swabbed and go.

But what about picking up 'hidden' cases, to prevent things getting out of hand again, and a second wave from hitting?

'This is not supported by any evidence,' says Prof Heneghan.

'The focus should be on rapidly testing those who have symptoms, and tracing their close contacts.

Public health expert Professor Carl Heneghan, a GP and director of the University of Oxford's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, is sceptical about the benefit of mass Covid testing of non-symptomatic people. 'This scatter-gun strategy does not make sense,' he says (stock)

'Those who come into contact with vulnerable people  in care homes or hospitals  should be regularly tested, and made to adhere to strict hygiene standards.'

So, are Covid-19 cases even on the rise  'soaring' as some headlines suggest? Not significantly, according to the data. Each week, the Office of National Statistics publishes the results of its rolling study, which involved randomly testing about 5,000 across the UK, daily. This gives a nationwide picture of exactly how prevalent the virus is at present. It estimates that about 28,200 of us have the coronavirus right now. That equates to roughly four Covid-19 infections per 100,000 people  and this has remained level since July.

'This is pretty low,' says Prof Heneghan. The areas that, when more testing is carried out, turn out to have more cases, are unsurprising: 'These places, like Oldham, have communities with high levels of multi-occupant housing,' says Prof Heneghan. And in these conditions the virus will be passed around more. Because of the mass testing approach in hotspots such as Lancashire, we're seeing more detected cases. But that's not a rise in cases.

'If you go into an area and screen, you will pick up a background level of the virus,' explains Prof Heneghan. 'There are about 40 pathogens we know about that can cause respiratory illness, and if you tested for these, you'd find them too.'

That's how viruses work: they circulate in lower levels until the environmental conditions are right  in the case of this coronavirus, it seems to be in less humid conditions, and in lower temperatures  that more transmissions occur. Higher amounts of the virus get passed around  increasing the chance of illness in vulnerable people.

Have any of the numerous Covid-19 outbreaks in these hotspots  also linked to factories  led to any serious illnesses? This, again, hasn't been made public. We do have regional figures for deaths, hospital admissions and patients on ventilators. And despite the endless, ominous 'second wave fears', these have been static or falling, even in places where they've been outbreaks, and are mostly in the single figures now across the UK.

Ultimately, the new coronavirus is with us to stay  it is endemic. It is a new risk, and one we will have to learn to live with. And, much as it may feel measures such as screening, and picking up these 'silent' cases is 'doing something', it will, according to the best evidence, do little to protect us in the long run.

Some countries are employing such practices, or as in the case of New Zealand, taking a so-called 'zero-Covid' approach. But they've decided to close their borders, and lock themselves away. And how long will that work for?

Last week, Ministers were rumoured to be considering 'Covid tests for all'  effectively a universal coronavirus testing programme, to be in place by Christmas.

Nelson's 'Free Covid-19 Test' trestle tables and nurses could soon become a common sight. This isn't something Prof Heneghan would welcome. 'It feels like everything is going out of the window, right now, in our normally rational approach to public health,' he observes.

'As we go into winter, we will see rising numbers of people with symptoms. Isolating, testing and contact tracing will be vital then, as will social distancing and hand washing. Large events might also be key in spread, so they could need to be limited. We should save restrictive measures for when numbers of ill people rise.

'Finding 150 asymptomatic cases, panicking and shutting down a whole town as a precaution, right now, isn't going to help.'

It also arguably contributes to a skewed view of what any of our  very low  risk of catching, or becoming unwell with Covid-19 is right now.

Back in Nelson, local council disaster expert Mary tells me their approach 'is working'. 'Lots of people round here don't have mobile phones or the internet, or a car, so having tests in town centres, and getting out into the community, is a good thing.'

At the very least she hopes they're 'giving a better idea of what's happening, and providing some reassurance.' Sadly, and with the best will in the world, I fear she might not be right.
Contactless frisking of passengers, who will go through multiple door-sized metal detectors, checking them for fever or flu-like symptoms and restricted entry into stations are among a slew of measures proposed by the for the Delhi Metro, which may be re-opened in September after being shut for five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The paramilitary force that guards the metro network in the capital region has prepared a fresh "business continuity plan" that will be implemented in "consultation" with the urban development ministry and the Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Encouraging commuters to download the Aarogya Setu mobile app and intensifying electronic and manual surveillance on allactivities in metro premises have also been suggested by the force, besides several measures for maintaining social distancing.

The plan has been prepared to ensure that the health and security of metro staff and the passengersare not compromised and to enable a sound counter-terrorist cover during the COVID-19 times in the over 230 stations of the rapid rail transport system often called the 'lifeline' of Delhi-NCR.

The government is likely to allow the resumption of metro train services in the 'Unlock 4' phase beginning September 1 and the Union home ministry is expected to issue the new guidelines anyday now.

As per the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) plan accessed by PTI, the force has proposed that the Aarogya Setu mobile app should be "checked of all commuters entering the station."



A senior official said while the force has not stressed that the app should be mandatory, but passengers can be encouraged to download it for a hassle-free journey.

"Those who do not have the app due to any reason will also be allowed to use the metro," he said.

The app helps to ascertain the COVID-19 health status of an individual, including if the person has been exposed to any infected person.

The force has also directed that all its troops on duty will have the app on their phones so that "contact tracing" can be better done once someone is detected positive for the viral disease.

It has commuters will be asked to take out their metallic items and keep them in their bags and subsequently, they will walk through multiple door-frame metal detectors (DFMD) before they undertake "contactless frisking".

Trays will be provided to those commuters who do have bags to keep their metallic belongings, it said.

A special personnel will monitor the DFMD to "profile" the passenger from the security point of view and physical frisking of a commuter will only take place when there is a "reasonable doubt", it said.

"Contactless frisking shall be carried out by using a hand-held metal detector at a minimum distance of 2.5 cms," the plan said.

It added while passenger bags will be checked as usual through the x-ray scanner, suspicious bags will have to be opened by the passengers themselves for inspection by officials.

Physical distancing norms will be "strictly" enforced inside the station area and a two-metre distance shall be maintained between the frisking and line up points and one a metre distance shall be maintained between passengers waiting at the security point, it said.

The force has said that not all gates of a metro station will be openedand "passenger entry at all times may be restricted to the maximum possiblepersons keeping in mind the commonly accepted social distancing norm of 2-metre mutual distance amongst persons," it said.

Wearing masks will be mandatory and DMRC personnel will check the body temperature of each passenger right before the security check, it said.

"Entrants with abnormal temperatures shall be denied entry into the system.Likewise, persons with cold, cough and other flu like symptoms shall be denied entry," it said.

The force will also keep personal protective equipment (PPE) suits in the station area to handle "suspect" passengers and bags, and CISF personnel who frisk passengers will wear face shields too apart from the regular masks and gloves as stipulated under the COVID-19 medical protocol.

The force has asked the DMRC to ensure regular sanitisation of their equipment, x-ray area and their gadgets even as it will heavily rely on technical surveillance tools to keep an eye on the activities in and around the stations.

"Electronic and manual surveillance will be intensified to have a close monitoring on all activities in metro premises,"it said



"Passengers shall be advised through regular announcementsto maintain social distancing and shops and other commercial establishments will be asked to ensure socialdistancing at their locations by marking of areas," it said.

The CISF has deployed a contingent of about 10,000 men and women personnel to guard the network.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sixteen people were hurt, one critically, in a bus crash on a ramp near the Port Authority terminal in Manhattan on Saturday morning, the authorities said.

All 16, including the driver, were taken to hospitals after the bus struck a barrier on the ramp at 39th Street and Ninth Avenue around 9:30 a.m., according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Multiple people were found on the ground outside the bus and passengers were trapped inside, said Kevin Ramdayal, a Fire Department deputy chief.

Emergency responders had difficulty entering the bus because of major damage to the front end of the bus, he said. One person, found inside the bus, was in severely critical condition, he said.
The trade Icahn and McKee met to discuss, known as the mall short in financial circles, is the latest in a long-standing Wall Street tradition that some criticize as bottom-feeding because it preys on failure and can push a business over the edge while contributing little to the economy. Most investors buy stocks and bonds with the expectation that they will rise in value. A short is the opposite, and their defenders say they can help expose corporate fraud or deflate a dangerously overvalued asset, which can aid the smooth functioning of markets. More than a decade ago, some investors famously profited off the collapse of the housing market, even as the United States plunged into a financial crisis. Their trade came to be known as the Big Short, inspiring a book and a movie.
As 12,000 lightning strikes pummeled the Bay Area this month, igniting hundreds of fires, fire spotters sprang into action.

Their arsenal of tools includes thermal imagery collected by space satellites; real-time feeds from hundreds of mountaintop cameras; a far-flung array of weather stations monitoring temperature, humidity and winds; and artificial intelligence to munch and crunch the vast data troves to pinpoint hot spots.

For decades, wildfires in remote regions were spotted by people in lookout towers who scanned the horizon with binoculars for smoke  a tough and tedious job. They reported potential danger by telephone, carrier pigeon or Morse code signals with a mirror.

Now, fire spotting has gone high tech. And the technology to address it is getting exponentially better and faster, trained by a growing body of data about wildfires. Its making firefighters more nimble and keeping them safer. The only question is whether silicon-powered progress can keep up with the climate change-fueled flames.

Tech has also made fire spotting more democratic. Anyone can go online to see the satellite and camera images, while interactive maps display the conflagrations locations. Footage from some of the mountaintop cameras went viral this month as they transmitted apocalyptic images of the raging flames that ultimately burned them in the CZU Lightning Complex fires.

Amy Osborne / Special to The Chronicle

Its Netflix for fire, said Graham Kent, who runs the AlertWildfire.org system, which has about 550 cameras in California, a number he hopes to double by 2022. The cameras capture a still image every second to make time-lapse videos, using near-infrared technology for nighttime viewing. They give an intimate sense of whats going on. Theres a primal sense like were still living in caves; everyone fears fire.

The network of cameras, backed by a consortium of the University of Nevada at Reno, UC San Diego and the University of Oregon, allows authorized personnel such as fire command teams to rotate, pan and zoom to zero in on suspicious plumes of smoke. The AlertWildfire system is adding some mobile cameras  a trailer with a 30-foot tower that can be positioned anywhere its needed.

The images from the cameras and satellites, along with footage captured by piloted and unpiloted aircraft, and weather station data, are vital components in the rapidly advancing technology for fire spotting.

The new technology is helping us fight more-aggressive fires more aggressively with a calculated level of safety, said Brice Bennett, a spokesman for Cal Fire. Fire-line commanders utilize intelligence from all these different inputs. Situational awareness is paramount  fully understanding the events unfolding around you, not just whats directly in front of your face but what will occur in the next 12 hours.

The boots on the ground crews use the detailed data to get information even while theyre en route, he said. The digital maps can show where the hottest spots are, for instance, so they know what areas to avoid and where to construct fire lines.

Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit

We can use this information to understand where fires are spreading, where theyre most active and to get rapid alerts for wildfires, said Scott Strenfel, manager of meteorology and fire science at PG&E. Its pretty exciting with all this technology coming together. The earlier you can spot a fire, the earlier you can take suppression action.

During fire season, PG&E staffs its new Wildfire Safety Operations Center around the clock. Analysts in the room at the companys San Francisco headquarters monitor big-screen monitors displaying data-packed maps and information flowing in from a variety of sources.

The company used to spend a couple of million dollars a year on a smoke patrol program. Every afternoon during fire season, seven pilots would fly in set patterns (similar to a lawn-mowers path) over heavily forested areas in its service territory, looking for smoke. But satellite advances meant it could get similar information for a tenth of the cost  and have continuous coverage, Strenfel said.

Even in a test version last year, the satellite system detected an early-morning grass fire on Mount Diablo in July 2019 about 15 minutes before the first 911 calls came in, he said. PG&E now has systems in place to notify local fire agencies when its technology spots fires.

Technology comes into play after fires as well. We map burn severity to see how much damage resulted from the fire, so resource management can stabilize the landscape and mitigate hazards like flash floods, said Brad Quayle, a program manager at the Forest Services Geospatial Technology and Applications Center, which uses satellites and other technologies to detect and monitor fire activity.

Technology also helps authorities decide whether and when to evacuate locals.

A fire is a dynamic situation with high winds, dry fuels, proximity to populations, especially in California, said Everett Hinkley, national remote sensing program manager at the Forest Service. We can provide rapid updates to infer the direction and speed of those wildfires to help people calling the evacuation orders.

Although satellites have been used in fire spotting for about 20 years, a new generation of satellites and onboard tools have dramatically improved their aptitude for the task.

Weather satellites have thermal channels that can be used for fires, but theyre optimized to look at cloud temperatures (which are) very cold, not for very high temperatures, said Vincent Ambrosia, associate program manager for wildfires at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View. Newer satellites with spectral sensors and advanced optics technology now provide finer spatial resolution and data processing.

There are two types of satellites: Polar orbiter satellites are closer to Earth and provide higher-resolution images, but capture them only twice a day. Geosynchronous or geostationary satellites stay over a specific geographic area, providing images about every five minutes, but must fly about 22,000 miles above the Earth to synchronize with its orbit, so the images are more coarse.

Researchers have lengthy lists of tech improvements they hope to see in the near future.

One is unpiloted aircraft that can stay aloft for months at a time, perhaps 100,000 feet above the ground, providing persistent surveillance of a fire event, allowing (firefighters) to make real-time decisions, Ambrosia said. Its the same as the resources that support troops on the ground in battle scenarios.

Quayle likewise said hed like to see long endurance, high-altitude platforms that can serve the purpose of a satellite but fly in the atmosphere.

Several private companies are working on options such as solar-powered aircraft or high-altitude airships like dirigibles, he said, estimating that deployment is between one and five years out.

Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California

Hed also like to see satellites built specifically for fire detection, something now being developed in Canada, which is replete with remote, fire-prone forests. That satellite system is probably five years out from completion and launch, he said, noting that the rest of the world can share it.

While some have speculated that the smaller drones flown by hobbyists could be deployed, they lack the power and range to fly high enough to usefully spot fires. But their technology, too, could improve over time.

Another future upgrade is for computers to get even better at reading the data via improved artificial intelligence, to cut down on false positives. We need better machine learning to process this data overload, because you cant put enough analysts in front of screens to handle it all, Hinkley said.

Despite all the high-tech wizardry, many fires are initially reported through a traditional system: 911 calls. Blazes increasingly occur near populated areas so there are essentially millions of potential spotters on the ground.

The 911 calls in many places will be the first notification, Strenfel said.

But calls to 911 can mean a deluge of information without the specifics that firefighters need  so the satellites and cameras come into play to home in on exact locations.

In cases like we just went through, with the lightning causing 500 fires all at once, and many people calling, that information can be overwhelming, Strenfel said. The satellite detection systems (show) where these fires are in real time.

Kent from AlertWildfire said similar things about his camera network.

When a 911 call comes in, authorities can turn to a camera and see the ignition phase of that fire, he said. Cameras can also triangulate a fires exact location. Under normal circumstances, they can see 20 miles in daytime; 40 miles at night if there arent obstacles. But hes seen fires caught by cameras as far away as 100 miles in the daytime and 160 miles at night.

Sometimes traditional ways reemerge.

Cal Fires Amador-El Dorado Unit recently refurbished two dilapidated lookout towers and now staffs them during fire season with community volunteers.

Armed with a two-way radio, binoculars and an Osborne Fire Finder  a topographic paper map with sighting apertures to help gauge a fires distance and location  the volunteers have spotted 85 smokes since June 1, with seven of them being first reports, said Diana Swart, a spokeswoman for the unit.

These human volunteers get up in that tower with their old-fashioned Fire Finders from the early 1900s, she said. In these very rural wooded areas, fires otherwise may not be noticed until they get very large. Having a person out there whos actively looking is key.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
E xtinction Rebellion plans to stage protests across the UK over bank holiday weekend, targeting airports and blocking roads.

It comes as the environmental protest group looks to kicks off a new programme of climate change demonstrations after remaining predominantly inactive throughout the coronavirus lockdown.

Beginning on Friday, XR is planning a regional rebellion over four days with protests in London, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff and Leeds.

Due to the pandemic and its impact on travel, protesters are encouraged to take action locally with the aviation sector, banks, the fossil fuel industry and petrol stations as targets.

Protesters near Marble Arch in London / AFP via Getty Images

The protests are being held ahead of larger-scale demonstrations planned for London, Manchester and Cardiff on September 1.

Protests this weekend are expected to include roadblocks, marches, sit-ins, bike rides and picnics, with campaigners emphasising their ethos of non-violent direct action.

XR supporters will also be encouraged to protest digitally, and urged to phone their MPs and institutions of power.

Extinction Rebellion protester climbs on top of a BA plane 1 /13 Extinction Rebellion protester climbs on top of a BA plane @Dawn9090 Reuters Mr Brown on top of the plane at London City Airport Extinction Rebellion/Facebook Reuters Reuters Reuters PA Reuters Reuters Reuters

Anneka Sutcliffe, from XR Actions, said a few thousand people had indicated on Facebook that they would join in the London events, but numbers were expected to be lower than at demonstrations held in October.

Converging marches will start from Tate Britain, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Cathedral and Smithfield Market.

Other protests will include a roadblock on Prince Street Bridge in Bristol, a mass bike ride from Brighton to London, banner drops and rallies against the expansion of Luton Airport and the aviation industry at Gatwick Airport.

Chris Newman, a GP supporter of XR, told reporters on Thursday they were aware of the health risks of public gatherings and had cancelled previous protest plans.

Extinction Rebellion at Glastonbury 2019 - in pictures 1 /40 Extinction Rebellion at Glastonbury 2019 - in pictures Protesters affiliated with Extinction Rebellion take part in a procession during Glastonbury Festival. REUTERS The climate chainge march was staged by Greenpeace UK and Extinction Rebellion on Worthy Farm. PA People dressed up in red robes and white masks PA Protesters carried model animals. AFP/Getty Images Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march on the second day of Glastonbury. PA People dressed up as clown fish Getty Images Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace protesters. PA Festival-goers carried a giant skeleton. AFP/Getty Images Thousands joined the procession through the festival. REUTERS Extinction Rebellion movement's 'Tell the Truth' boat, is seen on the second day of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm. PA Colourful music fans carry a giant snake puppet. AFP/Getty Images The Arcadia Bug joined the rally. PA Women wearing tiger themed costumes PA A protester carries a dolphin puppet for the rally, AFP/Getty Images Greenpeace UK activists joined the fray. PA The procession featured creative festival floats PA Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march on the second day of Glastonbury Festival. PA Brass bands played in the crowds. PA Thousands joined the rally. PA Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march PA Protester wears a wasp costume. REUTERS Protestors from Climate change group Extinction rebellion walk through Glastonbury Festival AFP/Getty Images Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a protest. PA Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march PA Festival floats move through the crowd. REUTERS People wore red robes and white masks. REUTERS Festival goers dressed as radioactive waste smile. Getty Images A sign held up by a group of protesters saying 'rebel for life'. Getty Images Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace stage a climate change march on the second day of Glastonbury Festival PA Extinction Rebellion movement's 'Tell the Truth' boat. PA

Everyone in XR that Ive spoken to is extremely mindful of the risks and were all concerned about health risks. Thats why were here, because climate change is a health issue as much as anything, he said.

So everyone will be pushing very hard for all XR participants to be obeying Government rules with social distancing, with them avoiding protests if theyre unwell, or if they have to isolate.

Clare Farrell, a co-founder of the XR movement, said the Covid-19 crisis has shown us that things can change very, very rapidly when people realise that there is an existential threat to human life and if we took climate change as seriously as this pandemic then we are surely capable of making massive changes very, very rapidly.

Extinction Rebellion protesters glue themselves to bus 1 /46 Extinction Rebellion protesters glue themselves to bus Extinction Rebellion protesters dressed as bees glue themselves to Liberal Democrat Leader Jo Swinson's battle bus PA Britain's Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson talks with Extinction Rebellion activists REUTERS PA PA PA PA PA Police officers speak to Extinction Rebellion protesters dressed as bees PA An Extinction Rebellion protester is lead away by Police officers PA PA PA PA PA PA REUTERS PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA An Extinction Rebellion activist is seen glued to the windshield of Liberal Democrats' campaign bus ahead of Britain's Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson's visit to Knights Youth Centre in London PA REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS PA PA PA REUTERS PA

The protests will coincide with the Government introducing hefty fines for anyone organising gatherings that breach social distancing rules from Friday.

The Home Office said earlier this month: Those facilitating or organising illegal raves, unlicensed music events, or any other unlawful gathering of 30 people or more may face a 10,000 fine.

Paul Stephens, a former police officer who now supports XR, told reporters their group had received a letter from the police outlining the restrictions and potential for fines unless you are one of the exceptions.

The exceptions they list are businesses and charities and they didnt mention protests, of course in the actual regulations protests are in there, he said, adding the empty letter was a vague threat and that XR would be challenging it at a meeting with police on Thursday.

On Wednesday, police said XR co-founder Roger Hallam and four others had been charged with conspiracy to cause criminal damage.

Hallam, 54, of Wandsworth in south-west London, Diana Warner, 61, from Bristol, Ferhat Ulusu, 42, of Hackney in east London, Holly Brentall, 28, of Haringey in north London, and Steven Nunn, 56, of Telford have been remanded in custody ahead of appearing at Wood Green Crown court next month.

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An XR spokeswoman said four of the five, apart from Nunn, were connected to the group.
Theres no denying that Tesla has changed the face of the EV industry. The company has forced other automakers to take this segment seriously. However, Tesla has the most loyal and most critical followers when compared to other brands. On one hand, you have people praising the brand and putting it on the pedestal, on the other you have people criticizing it in the worst way possible. But whether you like it or hate it, you cant ignore it.

Given all the stuff you hear about Tesla, you might be confused about whether to opt for one or not if youre out there to buy a car or an SUV. Well, were giving you five reasons each on why you should buy a Tesla and why you shouldnt.
Russia expels Norwegian diplomat in tit-for-tat move

Iran Press TV

Friday, 28 August 2020 1:40 PM

Russia has expelled a senior Norwegian diplomat in retaliation for an earlier move by Norway to expel a Russian diplomat on suspicion of having links to an alleged spy case.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday that a senior diplomat at the Norwegian Embassy in Moscow had been given three days to leave the country.

The statement described the expulsion as "a retaliatory measure" after a similar move by Oslo.

Norway expelled a Russian diplomat on August 19, a few days after the arrest of a Norwegian citizen suspected of illegally passing information to Moscow. The Norwegian man, who worked at the oil and gas unit of a risk management and quality assurance company, was allegedly with the Russian diplomat at a restaurant at the time of his arrest.

Russia at the time rejected the accusation against its diplomat as groundless.

In its Friday statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Norway was taking a "destructive course" that would "inevitably negatively affect the atmosphere of bilateral relations."

Also on Friday, Norway's Foreign Ministry identified the Norwegian diplomat expelled as Jan Flaete, and claimed the Russian move was "completely unfounded."

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Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Cloudy with morning snow ending, then windy and turning colder with falling temps and some afternoon clearing. A coating to 1-2" of snow expected in the morning. .

Tonight

Partly cloudy, windy, and very cold. Wind chills near or below zero later at night.
One hundred years ago this month, plenty of loud cheers and jeers took place in Nashville after state legislator Harry T. Burn somewhat surprisingly broke a tie and helped Tennessee ratify the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

Saturday at the Niota Depot in this small McMinn County community, the appreciative support was returned in a lower key but still appreciative way to honor the memory of this 24-year-old legislator who helped change history.

In front of a mostly socially distanced and invitation only crowd of around 50-75 people, due to the pandemic, an unveiling of the U.S.

Postal Service stamp commemorating the 100thanniversary of the 19thAmendment was held.

And on hand as a last-minute substitute to lead the unveiling was Chattanooga postmaster Debra Groshko, a move that officials said was appropriate since she is also the first woman head postmaster in the Scenic City.

It was the last statewide celebration of note this month marking the centennial of Tennessees role as the 36th and final state needed to ratify the amendment, and Niota was also the only place in the country that had a ceremony to unveil that stamp.

The 90-minute program inside the historic depot included more than a dozen speakers. The first, state Rep. Mark Cochran, said he identified very much with the late Mr. Burn in not only holding down Mr. Burns former seat, but also being the youngest Republican in the state House.

I feel like I stand on the shoulders of a giant, he said of this man who lived in the Chattanooga area briefly in the 1910s while working for the railroad. He realized a vote for individual liberty was the right vote, and its an honor to be in his seat 100 years removed.

Mr. Burn had solidified his vote for ratification in part due to a letter from his mother, Febb Burn, encouraging him to support it. Two of her descendants, Cathy Burn Allen and Sandra Burn Boyd, offered remembrances of her as a widowed mother who was well read and had to take care of the family farm, but could not vote.

They said both she and her son were inspirations for today.

Her son realized he had a chance to change history, said Ms. Allen. We all need to remember to follow our soul, because we can all make a difference.

Ms. Boyds son, Tyler Boyd, who recently wrote the biography, Tennessee Statesman: Harry T. Burn, pointed out that Mr. Burn also made a number of other positive contributions in his later life. That included helping lower the voting age and helping do away with the cumbersome poll tax for voters.

McMinn County Mayor John Gentry chronicled some of the rest of McMinn Countys colorful history, including the Battle of Athens that helped reform corrupt local elections and local elective bodies around the South. He praised current Chattanoogan and former McMinn County resident Steve Byrums book on the topic.

State Sen. Mike Bell and Rep. Cochran also read a proclamation honoring Mr. Burn, pointing out it was done partly because state legislative efforts had also been made to honor another legislator in the Tennessee House battle for ratification. That was apparently a reference to Rep. Banks Turner of Gibson County, who changed his 1920 committee vote to allow the full House to vote on ratification.

Current Niota Mayor Lois Preece discussed some statistics about the gains and shortcomings of women still holding only a minority of various elective offices around the country, although she did point out that Niota has had five women mayors since 1980. She ended up becoming mayor in 2011 after she was encouraged to serve when she retired as a principal.

Former Niota city commissioner Boots Snyder reflected on the late 1980s, when the entire Niota commission was made up of women, and such national news outlets as ABCs Good Morning, America, highlighted the unique achievement.

Among the other speakers, Kelly Puckett, a representative of Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the first woman U.S. senator from Tennessee, highlighted her boss appreciation for the 19th Amendment.

Maxine Gernert, a representative for U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, also offered remarks and sent along Rep. Fleischmanns good wishes. She also said a committee representative had invited First Lady Melania Trump and that, while unable to attend, she also passed along her greetings and support.

State Sen. Becky Duncan Massey from Knoxville said she had once met Harry T. Burn when she came with her father, former U.S. Rep. and Knoxville Mayor John J. Duncan, and also recalled later attending the 75th anniversary stamp unveiling in 1995.

When I met Harry T. Burn, I didnt realize the significance of his vote, she said.

She later highlighted a number of past incidents in American history when the vote was close  including the election of Thomas Jefferson and the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson. She said this should be kept in mind with the election coming up this fall.

Also in attendance and recognized was state Rep. Robin Smith from the Hixson area.

After the unveiling of the stamp, the general public  several dozen of whom were standing outside in line when the program ended  began buying canceled stamps that featured suffragists marching with banners.

Jcshearer2@comcast.net
By Abraham Teuber

teuberab@grinnell.edu

The Student Government Association (SGA) Cabinet has spent the summer reimagining student governments function at Grinnell College, taking temporary steps to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and implementing permanent anti-racist policies and goals.

After classes ended in the spring, SGA leaders were anticipating more work this summer in communicating with College admin, faculty and staff to plan the school year amid a pandemic. What they didnt expect was a change within their own staff.

At the beginning of July, then-Vice President of Student Affairs (VPSA) Amelia Zoernig 21 resigned in response to criticism that her approval of a jungle-themed Harris last semester harmed Black students.

Since then, former Diversity and Outreach Coordinator (DOC) Syamala Neeraja 21 has temporarily stepped into the VPSA role and former senator and Reform Committee Chair CErra Houston 21 has replaced her as interim DOC. Neeraja and Houston will serve in these roles until a special election to fill the positions is held at the end of September.

I think as a whole, SGA has been trying to reckon with the fact that everything that went down with the past VPSA, said Houston. Weve really been focusing on how SGA can be actively anti-racist and how it can actually be an advocacy group for students and make this campus better for students, because we have actively harmed students in the past.

On Friday, August 21, SGA released a statement of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, laying out a clear list of action items to support Black students. Some of the goals include pushing for the College to cut their financial and institutional ties with Iowa Prison Industries, creating an anti-racist task force and dismantling the culture of urgency, productivity, stress and overbooked scheduling at Grinnell College.

While SGA has now stated their commitment to anti-racism publicly, they have been doing work behind the scenes the whole summer to accomplish these goals, such as examining the ways that SGA can support the demands of student activists like Raven McClendon 22 and Errol Blackstone 20.

A lot of the anti-racist work that students are doing now, I dont think they need an SGA President to, you know, give a thumbs up on that. Theyre doing it themselves and theyre doing a great job at it, said SGA President Lana Katai 21. SGA is often  very insular in that only the people that are in SGA care about SGA. Id really love to get the organization to a place where it supports students near and far, wherever theyre at with their engagement.

Internally, each cabinet member has been examining the ways their position can be used to combat racism and support BIPOC students. Neeraja has been having one-on-one conversations with her fellow cabinet members to identify immediate action steps theyve begun to pursue this summer.

Its a very close and dedicated review of policies and practices for each role in SGA. Because I think that, you know, when we speak broadly about SGA thats a bit unproductive, said Neeraja. And so, I think its forced us to take a closer look at the policies and practices within the institution, because thats where the harm happens in the shadows, its behind closed doors.

In response to reported incidents where professors have used racial slurs during class, Vice President of Academic Affairs Fernando Villatoro 22 is leading an overhaul of the Student Educational Policy Committee (SEPC) infrastructure. Previously, SEPCs functioned differently between majors due to a lack of formal language as to how they should work and what student representatives are empowered to do.

Villatoro hopes that by codifying SEPC responsibilities and privileges and increasing training for SEPC representatives, students will be able to have a greater say in conversations dedicated to equity in academics.

All these conversations that are happening [with faculty], they should include SEPCs too, because theyre the only form of student representation within academics, said Villatoro. I guess the whole effort is to legitimize SEPCs and student voices because a lot of times when students do these things, there have been so many inconsistencies  that have created a distrust among students in academics. Theyre not really taking student voices seriously.

Because of the elimination of the student activity fee for remote students, SGA is drawing their funds entirely from the rollover budget of about $300,000 left over from past years, as opposed to the roughly $800,000 they received in the 2019-2020 school year.

Katai said SGA is prioritizing the use of those funds to compensate students involved with Multicultural Leadership Council and other identity- and affinity-based groups, those who create a sense of belonging at Grinnell and will be particularly disadvantaged by the lack of an in person community. Due to the work those groups have done in the past and the work they will continue to do remotely, Katai said they deserve more than a thank you and a high five.

This year, the budget process for student organizations will be much less rigid than usual. While the details are not yet worked out, Treasurer Oscar Buchanan 21 said that instead of Student Senate voting on the budget, SGA will solicit feedback from all students on the SGA budget and share it publicly at the beginning of the year before finalizing it.

He also encouraged students with ideas for how they can use SGA funding to support their groups virtual existence to reach out.

Buchanan, Katai and Houston all emphasized the importance of directly engaging a wide range of students in a time when SGA operates in an entirely virtual capacity.

I see this as a time to actually be able to take a step back and look at ourselves because  I think theres an opportunity to increase engagement, said Houston. I think that things being virtual, it could either increase engagement or completely deplete it, and I think thats up to us to actively try to get people to be excited about SGA and involved in SGA.

This crisis is absolutely awful, and its definitely constraining us, but its also forcing us to get serious about things that we wanted to get serious about for a long time, said Buchanan. And I think that that could have some great long-term impacts.
Alastair Mactaggart, center, accepts congratulations in June 2018 after the California Legislature approved a privacy law he championed. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

Back in 2018, after years of consumers' privacy rights being trampled by businesses with the indulgence of the federal government, California enacted its own consumer privacy law.

The California Consumer Privacy Act is a landmark. It gives Californians greater privacy protection than consumers anywhere this side of Europe.

But it's imperfect and vulnerable to gutting by business interests working their magic in the state Legislature. So Alastair Mactaggart, the wealthy real estate investor behind the privacy law, has put up a ballot initiative to strengthen the law and inoculate it from the mischief of business lobbies.

The law is so new we don't know what's working and what's not working.

Mary Stone Ross, opponent of Proposition 24, which would strengthen state privacy law

It will appear on the November ballot as Proposition 24. MacTaggart has funded the pro-24 campaign with about $5 million of his own funds so far. Business interests so far have kept a low profile on Proposition 24, but signs have emerged that they may already be sharpening their knives against it.

The campaign to defeat the measure has dressed itself up with sober-sounding concerns about moving too fast to change the privacy law before it has had a chance to work, and creating new burdens on small businesses, and establishing a "duplicative" new state bureaucracy to oversee privacy rights. Some of the opponents' concerns are legitimate, but many others are not.

Make no mistake: If Proposition 24 is defeated, the beneficiaries would be businesses that want to exploit your privacy without your consent.

In the wake of the initiative's failure, "I fear that industry would be emboldened to come to the Legislature next year and ask to weaken the CCPA," says Maureen Mahoney, policy analyst in the California office of Consumer Reports. (Consumer Reports hasn't taken a formal stand on the measure.)

There's good reason for Mahoney's concern. After the passage of the CCPA, the California Chamber of Commerce and other big business lobbies inundated the Legislature with measures to gut it, to the point where fighting the bills and getting them watered down became nearly a full-time job for privacy advocates.

Story continues

The most damaging measures were stopped, Mahoney reports, but some others made it through the Sacramento sieve.

Mactaggart says the experience underscored the need to give the privacy act greater protection to "level the playing field" against "businesses with trillions of dollars of corporate value and extraordinary power." The ballot measure allows the Legislature and governor to amend the privacy act only if the changes "further the purpose and intent" of the law.

Data-driven tech companies are plainly unhappy with the privacy law. In its latest quarterly report, Facebook warned investors that the "limitations on our advertising services, or reductions of advertising by marketers" resulting from the law "have to some extent adversely affected, and will continue to adversely affect, our advertising business."

Companies reliant on personal data have reason to fear that California's law will be replicated by other states, and possibly at the federal level.

It's curious, then, the opposition to Proposition 24 includes some groups and individuals normally considered privacy advocates, such as the ACLU of California and the Consumer Federation of California. But, as we'll explain, some of the opponents' arguments don't show them in the best light.

Let's briefly examine what Proposition 24 would accomplish.

In addition to raising roadblocks to efforts to gut the law, the measure would improve enforcement by creating a state agency to do the job, with funding of at least $10 million a year.

The existing law places the burden of enforcement chiefly on the state attorney general, but Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra has said that his office has only "limited resources" to shoulder the task, and that he would be able to bring only a handful of cases per year.

The initiative would close several loopholes in the law that have already been exploited by companies such as Amazon, Google and Spotify. They include provisions related to targeted advertising  online ads aimed at users based on personal data scraped from their browsers. The initiative, Mahoney says, would give consumers more control over how companies use that data.

The initiative also would grant an exemption from data-collection rules for more small businesses that collect information from fewer than 100,000 customers or households a year (up from 50,000 in the existing law).

Some opponents assert that the initiative falls short of their ideal.

They observe that it fails to provide for an "opt-in" default requiring businesses to avoid collecting personal data unless the consumer affirmatively allows it, rather than an "opt-out" system by which consumers are given the chance to bar collection of their personal information.

They say the initiative would require consumers to "pay for privacy" by allowing businesses to charge customers higher prices if they refuse to allow their information to be collected.

Mactaggart and other defenders of the measure say these objections are exaggerated or based on misunderstandings of the rules.

The "pay for privacy" provision is already part of the privacy law. Both the law and the initiative make clear that a price difference can't be larger than the value to the business of the withheld data, which is generally measured in cents or a few dollars at most.

In other words, customers who refuse a retailer the right to use their personal data as part of a "loyalty" or frequent-user program can't be charged double the price on a given item for not giving up their privacy, though they might be charged a few cents or bucks more.

Many privacy advocates appear to be holding out for a simple yet all-encompassing statute. Yet that's an unrealistic goal, says Chris Hoofnagle, a privacy expert at UC Berkeley, a former staff member of the influential Electronic Privacy Information Center and a supporter of the initiative.

"They favor a law that can't be passed politically or that the Supreme Court will strike down," Hoofnagle told me. The Supreme Court signaled in a 2011 case that it would find opt-in clauses to be unconstitutional breaches of businesses' free speech rights.

Some of the objections aren't exactly paragons of consistency. Consider those of Mary Stone Ross, a lawyer and former colleague of Mactaggart's in the original project to pass the privacy law, who is now head of the No on 24 campaign.

Ross, who has described herself as a privacy advocate, counts some high-tech companies subject to the privacy law among her consulting clients. She says it's too soon to pass an initiative addressing a law that went into effect only Jan. 1.

"We already have all this time and energy expended toward compliance," Ross told me. "The law is so new we don't know what's working and what's not working."

She complains that the new state agency would add another layer of bureaucracy and cost too much "at a time when we can't even pay our firefighters." (Ten million dollars would come to about five thousandths of a percent of the state's $202-billion budget this year.)

Not only do those arguments sound as if they came directly from the Chamber of Commerce playbook, but they're also at odds with points Ross made in an article published in January. She argued then, as the article headline stated, that the privacy law "doesn't go far enough."

She wrote then that "industry has relentlessly lobbied for legislation that will fundamentally undermine" the privacy law. She called leaving enforcement in the hands of an attorney general with inadequate resources "one of the most egregious mistakes in the drafting of the law ... rendering the CCPA largely toothless."

After the state political party conventions in June, Ross's committee issued a press release stating that both state parties "rejected" Proposition 24.

That was true of the Republican Party, but a lie as it applied to the Democratic Party. The Democrats at their convention decided to remain neutral on Proposition 24. Ross tried to tell me that this was tantamount to a rejection, but in the real world it is not. Period.

It's impossible to know who is behind Ross' No on 24 campaign because the campaign hasn't filed any donor disclosure reports with the California secretary of state's office.

Campaign spokeswoman Marva Diaz told me that's because the campaign "has not yet received any reportable contributions." Generally, starting 90 days before an election (that is, Aug. 3 this year), an initiative campaign must report any contributions of $2,000 or more within 24 hours.

The campaign employs a campaign consultant and has created a website and issued press releases, all of which presumably carry costs; Diaz says that "all expenses accrued  such as website or consulting fees ... will be disclosed, as required, on our first pre-election statement due Sept. 24."

"We're not a self-funded multimillionaire that has the money to be doing this," Ross said. That's a swipe at Mactaggart, but of course the reason we know about MacTaggart's contributions is that his campaign committee has filed detailed contribution disclosures covering the time span from December through Aug. 24.

Ross says she's not averse to taking money from the tech industry, even though it's a central target of the privacy law.

"They should give us money," she told me. "We've shown that once we get our message out to policy makers and voters, they realize they should vote no."

Consumers should be very nervous about any effort to block an upgrade to California's groundbreaking privacy law at the ballot box that welcomes contributions from its own targets. The law isn't perfect, and neither is the initiative. They're both complicated, which leaves the path open to misrepresentation by their opponents.

But that complexity is inevitable, Hoofnagle says. "There is no way to write a simple privacy law because a simple law would be unworkable." Of the CCPA, he says, "In the history of privacy laws in California, no one has ever been able to get a law this strong."

Updates:

6:52 PM, Aug. 28, 2020: This column was updated to acknowledge additional opponents of Prop. 24 and include a more detailed response from the No on 24 campaign on the issue of contributions.




Chennai: Congress MP from Kanyakumari, H Vasanthakumar, passed away due to COVID-19 on Friday evening at the age of 70. Vasanthakumar was admitted to Apollo Hospitals in Greams Road, Chennai after contracting coronavirus.

He is survived by his wife Tamil Selvi, two sons and a daughter. His elder son Vijay Vasanth is a Tamil film actor who has appeared in several films since 2007.

The first Member of Parliament from Tamil Nadu to succumb to Coronavirus after 18 days of treatment, Vasanthakumar was born in Agastheeswaram in Kanyakumari district to Harikrishna Nadar and Thangamma Ammal.

Hailing from a family of politicians, his elder brother Kumari Anandan is a veteran Congress leader who had served as MLA and MP and his niece Tamilisai Soundarrajan is the present governor of Telangana.

He was not just a successful entrepreneur who made it big by starting from the scratch, but a familiar face in Tamil Nadu. His smiling and cheerful visage greeted people from each and every advertisement of his eponymous company, Vasanth and Co, which he launched in 1978 as a home appliances showroom in Chennai. Today, it has 71 stores spread across the southern states and is a popular go-to brand for domestic needs.

He started his career by working as a salesman in the 1970s before venturing out on his own. He also decided to be the brand ambassador of his enterprise and appeared in the advertisements for the promotion of his showroom, thus becoming a household face.

Despite the phenomenal growth of his business, Vasanthakumar always wanted to be in politics, perhaps inspired by his elder brother Kumari Anandan, and was associated with the Congress. He also launched a satellite television channel called Vasanth TV in 2008.

His major foray into electoral politics happened in 2006 when he contested the Assembly elections from Nanguneri Constituency, which is closer to the place of his birth. Again, he contested from the same seat in 2016 and won but had to give it up following his triumph from the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 general elections. He defeated his BJP rival Pon Radhakrishnan, a locally active politician and former Union Minister, by a margin of 2.5 lakh votes. He was also the Vice President of the Tamil Nadu Congress and chairman of the TNCC Traders Cell.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundarrajan, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Paannerselvam, DMK President MK Stalin, PMK founder S Ramadoss and MDMK general secretary Vaiko were among the politicians who expressed their grief and conveyed their condolences to the family of the deceased MP.

President Ram Nath Kovind also condoled hid death and said that his devotion to people's cause in Tamil Nadu was inspiring.

"Sad to know the passing of Shri H Vasanthakumar, MP from Kanyakumari. An entrepreneur and social activist, he earned his name in the world of politics and business. His devotion to people's cause in Tamil Nadu was inspiring. Condolences to his family, friends and followers," Kovind tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his twitter handle said: "Saddened by the demise of Lok Sabha MP Shri H Vasanthakumar Ji. His strides in business and social service efforts were noteworthy. During my interactions with him, I always saw his passion towards Tamil Nadus progress.Condolences to his family and supporters.Om Shanti.
Charting a back-to-school path for 50,000 students and thousands more teachers and staff is a work in progress, which has been both frustrating and necessary.

As of this week, local public, Catholic and French language school boards seem to have the basic framework ready.

School will not start on the Tuesday after the Labour Day long weekend as usual. Thinking shifted as the time drew closer and it became clear parents and teachers were more concerned about safety than schedules.

Pushing back the start date was one of several changes announced in the past four weeks.

While the process was not always smooth, it was largely amicable and successful.

Parents made their case for change. Teachers and school staff did the same, as did school bus drivers.

They did not get everything they asked for  particularly regarding class sizes  but there have been significant shifts.

In addition to starting later, return to classes will be staggered over a week.

That should have been decided and announced earlier, but at least it happened.

The other big players in this shifting sequence are the provincial and federal governments, which provide most of the money for additional space, personal protective equipment and ventilation upgrades and capacity for cleaning.

The province got a lot of heat early for not coming through with enough money. To the Ford governments credit it listened. It also gambled, with very good odds, that Ottawa would eventually pitch in.

The provinces original $310-million program was boosted by $90 million. It also gave school boards the OK to spend $500 million they hold in reserve funds.

The reserve fund initiative is tricky. Those funds can be rainy day money to cover emergency costs, and COVID certainly qualifies. But most reserves are already earmarked for future, known costs. Spending heavily out of reserves now could create problems down the road.

In this circumstance school boards will have to weigh that future risk against safety needs, and safety has to come out on top.

Ottawa did come through. Out of a $2-billion federal fund, Ontario gets $381 million now and an equal amount early next year for the second school term.

Full payment of the $760 million up front would have done more to calm parent and teacher fears. While the federal government has to at some point level out the debt it is piling up, a four month delay is not going to change its situation much.

The main takeaway from all this give-and-take is that a later, slower, better funded return to school will be safer and should be successful.

Many parents are not convinced. Both the public and Catholic boards anticipate about 15 per cent of students wont be coming back to class, choosing online learning or some alternative instead.

However, the roughly 43,000 who are in class come September should be safe. Experience has shown school returns have worked elsewhere. Quebec had no new COVID cases linked to school return when it controversially went on its own in the late spring.

Peterborough has only three active cases as of Friday and just a handful of new cases since the Stage 3 reopening began.

The pandemic has not been nearly as bad as was feared here. With the measures taken, return to school should continue that pattern.
President Emmerson Mnangagwas ruling party has dismissed as rubbish a statement by Western diplomats warning Zimbabwes government not to use the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext to stifle citizens' rights.

The statement was delivered while more than a dozen citizens are in hiding for fear of persecution or prosecution for organizing an anti-government protest.



Seven countries, including the U.S., have urged Mnangagwa to keep the inauguration pledge he made in 2018 to respect human rights. Western diplomats joined forces in a statement saying their countries would continue to assist Zimbabwe in addressing the humanitarian crisis caused by recurring droughts and the COVID-19 pandemic.



But COVID-19 must not be used as an excuse to restrict citizens fundamental freedoms. Freedom of the press, of opinion, of expression, and of assembly are all universally recognized human rights and are guaranteed by the Zimbabwean constitution. The government also has a responsibility to investigate and prosecute those responsible for violating human rights, said the seven embassies in their diplomatic message.



Zimbabwes Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Saturday the government would not comment on the group's statement by the U.S., Germany, Poland, Britain, Canada, Norway and the Netherlands.

FILE - Tafadzwa Mugwadi, spokesman for the ruling Zanu PF party, seen here July 21, 2020, in Harare, dismissed concerns by Western diplomats as rubbish, saying they had no right to lecture Zimbabwe about human rights. (Columbus Mavhunga/VOA)

Tafadzwa Mugwadi, a spokesman for Zimbabwes ruling Zanu-PF party, dismissed the statement by Western diplomats.



This is just a piece of rubbish. Nothing new except the usual rhetoric from culpable players whose hand has always been visible as far as disturbances in this country are concerned. Under what circumstances or basis do they have to instruct the government or people of Zimbabwe to stop from blaming them? How are they immune when they are equally blaming the government? They are blaming a government on whose neck they imposed these illegal sanctions. Its just a bunch of nonsense, Mugwadi said.



Zimbabwes political opposition and rights groups say Mnangagwa is moving away from his promise not to follow the playbook of his predecessor, long-time leader, the late Robert Mugabe, whose 37-year rule was littered with human rights abuses.



The head of Human Rights Watch in southern Africa, Dewa Mavhinga, says the government must investigate the claims instead of dismissing them.

Dewa Mavhinga, the southern Africa Director at Human Rights Watch, seen here Aug. 29, 2020, in Harare, says the Zimbabwe government must investigate claims of rights abuses by state agents. (Columbus Mavhunga/VOA)

This is very important that the Zimbabwe government demonstrates that it respects human rights. Without this demonstration for respect for human rights, all efforts to revive the economy, for international re-engagement, will be wasted because no one wants to do business with a country that does not respect rights, a country that brutalizes its own citizens, a country that looks the other way when there are obvious cases of abductions and torture of citizens by state agents, Mavhinga said.



A hashtag #ZimbabweanLivesMatter is trending on social media, but the government insists there is no crisis.



Rights groups and the opposition say the government is looking for a number of pro-democracy activists who are in hiding, saying they fear being arrested for organizing an anti-government protest, which security forces thwarted in July.



Journalist Hopewell Chinono and opposition leaders Jacob Ngaruvhume and Job Sikhala are in prison on charges of stoking violence ahead of the march against poverty and corruption, which was to take place July 31.



Earlier this month, South Africa, which is the current chair of the African Union, sent envoys to engage with both the government of Zimbabwe and relevant stakeholders, to identify possible ways in which South Africa can assist Zimbabwe. However, they left after meeting only with President Mnangagwa.


The Canadian economy was devastated in the second quarter due to the coronavirus panedemic, according to figures released Friday, but there were signs of a slow recovery. Statistics Canada said real gross domestic product contracted at an annualized rate of 38.7 per cent for the three-month period. That's the worst showing since the start of 2009 at the height of the global financial crisis.

Almost every single component of the economy used to calculate GDP was at its lowest point over April, May and June, driven largely by widespread lockdowns in April. Economic output rebounded in May by 4.8 per cent, and the agency said June posted an increase of 6.5 per cent.

The agency's preliminary estimate for July indicates a 3 per cent increase in real GDP. The federal Finance Department, meanwhile, said the government ran a deficit of 120.4 billion Canadian dollar ($91.90 billion) during the first three months of its 2020-2021 fiscal year. That compared to a deficit of 85 billion Canadian dollar ($64.88 billion) for the same period in the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

Also read: COVID-19 pandemic likely to push Japanese banks' credit costs to Great Recession levels: Bank of Japan

Tiff Macklem, the Bank of Canada governor, told an international gathering of central bankers Thursday that small and medium-sized businesses especially restaurants and the hospitality sector may not be able to reopen even as COVID-19 restrictions are eased."We are seeing now some very impressive rebound numbers as the economy reopens," Macklem said on a virtual panel hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

That's a really good thing, but not all parts of the economy are going to be able to reopen for some time, and so we expect that after this first phase, it's going to be a pretty long, bumpy phase. The Finance Department said program expenses for the three-month period of April to June hit almost 167.9 billion Canadian dollar ($128.1 billion), an increase of about 90.3 billion Canadian dollar ($68.93 billion) from the same period a year earlier.

Also read: Forex reserves rose by $2.3 billion to $537.55 billion

Much of the money went toward emergency aid programs the government announced as businesses shuttered and workers were laid off, furloughed or had their hours slashed. Revenues for the period totaled 52.4 billion Canadian dollar (US40 billion) and were down 32 billion Canadian dollar ($24.4 billion) or 37.9per cent compared with the same period last year, primarily as a result of the government deferring tax filing deadlines and collection.

Last month, the Liberal government predicted a historic deficit of 343.2 billion Canadian dollar ($261.9 billion) for this fiscal year.
She recently stepped out of the spotlight on doctor's warning after she was told to 'rest in order to heal'.

And Katie Price appeared to be enjoying a much-needed family weekend away as she posed for a selfie during a trip to Chichester.

The former glamour model, 42, smiled alongside her mum Amy, 68, and sister Sophie, 30, after breaking both of her feet while on holiday in Turkey earlier this month.

Close: Katie Price, 42, appeared to be enjoying a much-needed family weekend away as she posed for a selfie during a trip to Chichester

Sophie posted the selfie to her Instagram Stories where a fresh-faced Katie looked relaxed on the countryside retreat for the Bank Holiday weekend.

She also posted a picture of herself in front of a stunning country house in a floral blue midi dress along with a flute of sparkling wine with views of rolling hills.

And mum Amy appeared to be in the spirit of the girls' weekend away as Sophie filmed her shaking her blonde locks to music while in her pyjamas.

Time out: The mother-of-five posted a statement to Instagram Stories on Thursday, which read: 'Katie is taking some time out of the media spotlight' (pictured with her boyfriend Carl Woods)

It comes after the mother-of-five posted a statement to Instagram Stories on Thursday, which read: 'Katie is taking some time out of the media spotlight.

'Her family and Dr's have told Katie that she must rest in order to heal. Katie wants to thank everyone for their ongoing support and will be back when she feels ready.'

Katie's representative told MailOnline: 'Katie is taking a much needed break. Katie has found the past few weeks terribly draining, both mentally and physically challenging and in order to bounce back is convalescing.'

Fun: Her mother Amy, 68, appeared to be enjoying the weekend away and tossed her blonde locks to the rhythm of the music

Earlier in the week, she bemoaned the challenges of being in a cast after breaking both her feet, as she attempted to have a bath on Monday.

Katie took to Instagram Stories to share a glimpse of the tiring attempts to get washed off, warning fans she couldn't get her casts wet.

Ahead of her statement, Katie had returned to social media on Monday after being rushed to hospital with a suspected infection over the weekend, following surgery on her broken feet earlier this month.

Natural: Katie's sister Sophie, 30, posted a picture of herself in front of a stunning country house in a floral blue midi dress

On her Instagram Stories, Katie revealed she first had to try and get from her wheelchair into the bath with her feet in the air.

She wrote: 'Got to use my upper body strength to get in the bath legs up run the water and CANNOT get my cast wet.. such a mission to have a bath.'

It seemed that Katie's attempts to get clean were far from smooth sailing, as after making it into the bath she still had to keep her legs elevated and her casts dry.

Cheers: Sophie posted a picture of flute with sparking wine against a backdrop of rolling hills

Relax: Sophie shared views from their window and the countryside retreat is a much-needed getaway for Katie

In a different video, Katie, clad in a pastel pink crop-top and shorts, displayed her colourful casts as she lay on the sofa at home.

The star wrote: 'So boring just lying here. I suppose it's Netflix time.'

Katie was joined by her protection dog Blade who licked her face as she recuperated.

Honest: The 42-year-old posted a statement to Instagram Stories on Thursday, which read: 'Katie is taking some time out of the media spotlight.'

In a sweet gesture, Katie was presented with a drink of Ribena by her son Harvey, 18, with Katie exclaiming 'I love you Harvey!' as he gave her the drink.

This comes amid claims Katie has been warned by doctors that she must keep her legs elevated in order to aid her recovery, after she was rushed to A&E at Epsom hospital in Surrey.

The star was said to have been in 'excruciating agony' earlier on Saturday when she'd visited the hospital, according to The Sun.

Annoying: Earlier in the week, she bemoaned the challenges of being in a cast after breaking both her feet, as she attempted to have a bath on Monday

A source speaking to the publication claimed: 'Katie has been sent home and told in no uncertain terms that she must keep her legs up or they won't heal properly.'

The insider went on to say: 'She's just going to have to lie down and give herself time to heal.'

MailOnline contacted Katie's representatives for comment at the time.

Return: Ahead of her statement, Katie had returned to social media on Monday after being rushed to hospital with a suspected infection over the weekend, following surgery on her broken feet last week

It was reported earlier in the day that she was suspected to have an infection and required further treatment at Chelsea and Westminster hospital, just a week after undergoing major surgery.

The star broke both her feet during a freak accident while on a family holiday in Turkey earlier this month.

An insider told The Sun: 'Katie was in excruciating agony all night, couldn't eat, couldn't focus and nothing was working. Painkillers weren't touching it so pals rushed her to A&E in Epsom.

Sweet: In a sweet gesture, Katie was presented with a drink of Ribena by her son Harvey, 18, with Katie exclaiming 'I love you Harvey!' as he gave her the drink during one update

'Doctors decided to move her to the Chelsea and Westminster hospital for further treatment but the fear is she could have an infection.'

A representative for Katie Price told MailOnline: 'She had a terrible night. I can confirm Katie was taken to her local A&E hospital ( Epsom ) and then referred back to the Chelsea and Westminster.'

It comes after Katie was left devastated after a surgeon confirmed the extent of her 'smashed' feet and stated she 'couldn't have done a worse job' of injuring herself.

Tough time: Katie has revealed that she is stepping out of the spotlight on doctor's warning as she has been told to 'rest in order to heal'

Taking to her YouTube channel earlier this month, Katie explained: 'The surgeon made it clear that I couldn't have done a worse job to myself.

'They're smashed, broken and it's bad, really bad. It's bad, life changing injuries what I've done, so they're just going to do their best.'

She shared her doctor's recent diagnosis before entering surgery on August 14 2020, as they confirmed her injuries are 'life-changing' and will leave her with horrendous scars.

Stay strong: According to the reality star, she is convinced she will make a full recovery and doesn't care about scarring on her feet as long as she is able to walk again

Katie discussed her shock at hearing the news while wearing a medical robe and resting on her hospital bed, as she prepared for her next operation at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital.

The reality star recorded herself eight hours later following the operation, and she seemed in brighter spirits as the anaesthetic slowly wore off.

She revealed that a member of staff told her, when they opened her legs up in surgery, they were more 'smashed and mangled' than they appeared on the x-ray and the op was much harder than anticipated.

Katie experienced the horrendous accident after she jumped off a wall at the Land of Legends theme park in Turkey and broke both her ankles and feet.
Mobile phone giant Vodafone has suffered a defeat in court that could open the door to a wave of legal challenges by landowners that host 5G phone masts.

Operators such as Vodafone pay landowners billions of pounds in rents every year at thousands of sites  but hoped to reduce these under the Electronic Communications Code, which was introduced in 2017.

It was designed to speed up the roll-out of 5G by cutting costs for operators hoping to install the infrastructure quickly and cheaply.

Challenge: The Electronic Communications Code was designed to speed up the roll-out of 5G by cutting costs for operators

Vodafone alone spent 3.5billion in rents last year across its entire estate and tried to use the law in an early test case.

It wanted to cut its rent bill for a site owned by a Monaco-based property tycoon but lost in the County Court in Manchester.

Judge Martin Rodger QC ruled that Vodafone should pay rent to the landowner, Hanover Capital, based on the value to the operator as opposed to the value of the land itself, which would be much cheaper.

The judge said he came to his decision because four operators use the phone mast in a car park on an industrial estate outside Stockport. Vodafone estimates that only around 10 per cent of its 18,000 UK sites are shared with other operators. Although Vodafone was only hoping to slash a few thousand pounds off this particular bill, it had spent more than 300,000 fighting the case because of the significance for rents at its other phone masts across the country.

Hanover is an Isle of Man-based company owned by Mark Harrison, a property entrepreneur originally from Manchester but now based in Monaco. He also owns property investment firm Praxis. Lawyers for Harrison said the terms Vodafone was offering were 'unfair' and he decided to fight them. They said other landowners would now have a good comparison to help them negotiate a better deal.

It means thousands more landowners could now fight the company on rents.

The defeat for Vodafone comes amid calls for reforms to prevent these rows in order to speed up the installation of 5G infrastructure across the country  which is expected to provide a major economic boost. Critics of the Electronic Communications Code argue there are loopholes that mean it is not fit for purpose.

Operators joined forces last month to establish the Speed Up Britain campaign, which is chaired by the former Digital Minister Ed Vaizey. It is calling for the code to be reformed and argues the UK will fall behind in the race to cash in on the benefits of 5G.

Vaizey told The Mail on Sunday: 'This is another example of the Government's plan to give Britain the best possible mobile networks being held back by grey areas in the law. The changes we're proposing to the Electronic Communications Code can address this and help move us forward at a time when connectivity has never been more important.'

Victoria Dobson from law firm EMW said the outcome was bad for Vodafone and other operators because more landowners will now challenge them on rents.

She said: 'Growing friction between landowners and operators is definitely hindering progress on the roll-out of 5G technology.'

It is unclear whether Vodafone will appeal the outcome.

Vodafone declined to comment on the case.
Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) has announced the sale of its key commercial property, Longley Commerce Center at Reno in Nevada, through its US real estate arm, Mar Gulf Management netting olid returns for its investors, exceeding initial estimates.

Launched in March 2018, the investment involves the acquisition and development of a greenfield land parcel into a 270,975 sq ft Class A industrial property.

Exceeding promised returns, Markaz continues to outperform with a weighted IRR of 17.6% across the current cycle further strengthening its track record.

The exit delivered a net internal rate of return to investors (IRR) of 17.9% percent and a net return on investment (ROI) of 49.3% percent. Despite the negative implications of Covid-19 across the various business sectors, both metrics comfortably exceeded initial estimates driven by strong market selection, excellent execution and a strengthened investment thesis.

Mar-Gulf Management President Sami Shabshab said: "The sale of the property in Longley was in line with the initial investment strategy and was our fifth exit over the past one year."

"Our remaining international real estate portfolio across the US and Europe is worth over $400 million and consists of eight active and three upcoming investments that have been fully sold to our investors," he stated.

Markaz has been active in the US real estate market since 1977 with the launch of its first syndicated transaction. Since 1988, the firm has been conducting real estate transactions in the US through Mar-Gulf.

Over the past 30 years, Markaz and Mar-Gulf have been involved in the ownership and development of real estate properties in a variety of segments including industrial, retail, multifamily and office across the US with a total acquisition cost exceeding $1.65 billion.

Markaz Executive VP (Wealth Management and Business Development) Abdullatif Al Nusif said: "We are very pleased with the results of our international real estate program and look forward to continue growing both in terms of size and geographical coverage. The investor appetite towards our program continues to grow and I would like to thank them for their continued trust and support."

"Our focus remains set towards offering the right mix of products that will enable us to create value to our investors, shareholders and stakeholders. To conclude, the Covid-19 pandemic has no doubt created uncertainty in the market due to the unprecedented nature of the event, however this will create unique opportunities that we at Markaz are ready to capture it," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
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According to the United States Institute of Peace, Nigeria, as Africas most populous country, largest economy, and biggest democracy, is a bellwether for the continent. In fact, by 2050, Nigeria will likely have the fourth largest population in the world, behind India, China, and the United States. According to former Representative Frank Wolf, as goes Nigeria so goes western Africa.

The persecution of religious minorities anywhere is a terrible thing, but Nigerias growing status in the world makes the ongoing persecution of Christians there even more troubling.

For years now, Boko Haram and Muslim Fulani militants have killed, raped, kidnapped, and sought to cleanse parts of northern Nigeria of its Christian population. All the while, the government of Nigeria has embraced a policy of indifference, if not complicity, in what is rightly called genocide by observers both inside and outside the country.

Still, tragically, what the world continues to hear about Nigeria hasnt been enough for alarm to become action. That makes the Nigerias Silent Slaughter campaign, a project of the International Committee on Nigeria, so very important. The International Committees report, Genocide in Nigeria is the most comprehensive account available of the atrocities there. Please, if only to better pray for your brothers and sisters in Nigeria, read it. Its available at SilentSlaughterNigeria.com.

While you are on that site, click on the interactive Calendar, which tracks the number of Nigerian Christians killed, injured, or abducted day by day over the last 10 months. Seeing the numbers listed, day after day, visually transforms these tragedies from isolated headlines to ongoing and systemic persecution.

For instance, on July 4, 2020, five Nigerian Christians were killed and another six were abducted. That was, relatively-speaking, a good day for Nigerian Christians. One week later, 29 were killed and 90 were driven from their homes. But worst day in July was the 19th, when 44 were killed, 31 were injured, and 1 person was abducted.

Though the extent of violence directed at Nigerian Christians can seem unreal, it is, to borrow a line from the movie Armageddon, as real as it gets. The resources available at silentslaughterNigeria.com should convince anyone of that words like genocide or crimes against humanity are not being used for mere effect, but are, rather, the only appropriate terms that can be used. Even more, I pray these resources convince all of us to stand up for our Nigerian brothers and sisters.

First, direct your friends, family members and pastors to the interactive calendar at silentslaughterNigeria.com. The link is below. From this calendar pray for the Christians at risk there.

Second, let your elected leaders know that what is going on in Nigeria is very much our problem. At minimum, countries like the United States must be willing to admit refugees from genocidal violence. This is something that the Trump administration has promised, but now refuses to consider. On the contrary, as WORLD Magazines Mindy Belz has pointed out, the flow of refugees, including Christian ones, whom both the President and Vice President vowed to help, has come to an almost complete halt.

Another thing we need to do is stand for religious freedom. The plight of our brothers and sisters in Nigeria is not the only reason, but all the reason we need, for American Christians to care about religious freedom in our country. You see, we have the capacity to care for the persecuted around the world and the ability to pressure to countries that persecute religious minorities. As Stephen Enada, Director of the International Committee on Nigeria told me on todays BreakPoint Podcast, its precisely our commitment to religious freedom that gives the United States a distinct edge over other nations.

You can hear my conversation with Stephen Enada in the link below. Born in Nigeria himself, Stephen offers a full picture of what Ive introduced by this commentary.

And finally Each Wednesday morning between now and the day after the election, at 10:30 eastern time, we are praying for our nation, for the revival of the Church, and for the most vulnerable among us, which includes the persecuted Christians of Nigeria. This week, we will be led by Pastor Garland Hunt. Please join us. You can register below.

As the International Committee on Nigeria says, Break the silence. Stop the slaughter.

Originally posted at breakpoint.org
'The nation exists from us and we exist from the nation', says PM Modi

PM Modi's greetings on Telugu Language Day

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Aug 29: Offering his greeting to people on the Telugu Language Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised those who are working to make the language popular.

He also paid tributes to Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy, considered the father of the spoken Telugu, saying his thoughts, writings and social reform endeavours have left a lasting impact on generations.

"Greetings on Telugu Language Day. Today, we appreciate all those who are making Telugu popular, especially among the youth. I also pay tributes to the great Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy, whose thoughts, writings and social reform endeavours have left a lasting impact on generations," the prime minister tweeted.
Lieutenant General Russel Honore, the revered Army commander who led evacuations during Hurricane Katrina, told The Independent how he fears that refineries and petrochemical plants which line the Gulf coast are unprepared for increasingly extreme weather driven by the climate crisis, as the region faces a vast recovery operation in the wake of Hurricane Laura this week.

I dont think theyre prepared for what we see now with rising sea levels and warm, extended ocean heat that makes the hurricanes stronger, he said. I think we need to go back and look at how we make our industries more resilient.

This Saturday marks the 15th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, and was the costliest storm in US history. An estimated 1,800 people died but the true death toll is unknown because many people were unaccounted for. The devastation wreaked was not felt equally: A 2005 study found that in Orleans Parish, New Orleans, the adult mortality rate among black residents was 1.7 - 4 times higher than among white citizens.

Almost to the day of the previous disaster, Hurricane Laura made landfall as a category-4 storm in Louisiana on Thursday, pummelling the petrochemical corridor along the Gulf Coast with storm surges and ferocious winds leading to fears over potential toxic fallout. At least ten people are dead and the extent of the damage is unknown as some regions remain cut off.

As first light broke on Friday, a massive fire was visible at a Lake Charles chlorine plant, blanketing the nearby town of Westlake in thick, black smoke. Residents were told to shelter in their homes and close doors and windows while crews battled the blaze until the evening, after initially having trouble reaching the site due to downed trees and power lines.

The chlorine plant we can see and smell it, Lt. Gen Honore said. Right now, Im worried about what I cant see and smell. We have to find all those places and start the mitigation work. The incident in Lake Charles is significant because its blocking the interstate which is critical to recovery in the Calcasieu, Cameron and Beauregard parishes. Theres devastation north and south, in both directions.

Recommended Minority communities will be hit hardest by killer heat across US

Lt. Gen Honore holds near mythical status in Louisiana. Hes known in parts as the Category-5 General after his command of the Joint Katrina Task Force which led the evacuation of 16,000 people from the New Orleans Superdome during the disaster. Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, dubbed him the Black John Wayne, adding that he came off the doggone chopper, and he started cussing and people started moving.

Lt Gen Honore, who also commanded the taskforce for Hurricane Rita that hit Louisiana a month after Katrina, spoke about what had  and hadnt  been learned in the interim years.

Anytime you have a major disaster like this, it creates a lot of stress on people, he said. And most of the time it makes the government look stupid. People have a need to get back to their lives and the government is working off checklists and procedures.

From Katrina and Rita, we learned that we needed to have a better way to respond to peoples needs to get them back in their homes, but not much has changed since then. He noted that FEMAs Individual Disaster Assistance, created in the wake of Katrina, works well but efforts can be slowed when people are displaced from their homes and Internet is cut off.

The coronavirus pandemic, which has hit particularly hard in Louisiana, would only complicate recovery operations from Laura. All the people you have to bring in from other parts of the country have to comply with Covid rules  wearing masks and washing hands, when theres no clean water. When you lose electricity, that is a disaster unto itself, he added.

Some 200,000 people in Louisiana are currently without access to water and more than 700,000 homes and businesses have no power, the Weather Channel reported.

After retiring from the US Army in 2008, Lt Gen Honore mobilised his Green Army, an alliance of community and environmental groups fighting toxic pollution in the state, with much of it centered along the Gulf Coast. This weekend, he planned to travel to coastal parishes to assist with recovery efforts and assess the damage.

The downside of putting so much industry along shipping channels is that it is in flood zones, he said. But industry is driven by profits which increase because theyre on shipping channels. The people who own the industry dont live there, so theyll take that risk with other peoples lives.

When something bad happens  accident, explosion, manmade, caused by a storm  the people who live here, they live with the consequences. Not the hedge fund in New York, or a company in California or Japan or elsewhere in the world.

He said that it was necessary to build back stronger but in the face of more frequent and intense storms its a constant battle of survival.

Residents in Louisiana survey the wreckage of their home following Hurricane Laura this week (AFP via Getty Images)

A study earlier this year by Jupiter Intelligence, a company which provides data analytics to help companies prepare for disasters, found that three major petrochemical facilities located on the Gulf near Houston are highly vulnerable to extreme flooding from storm surge, sea-level rise, and prolonged precipitation caused by climate change.

The study concludes that the costs of climate-related risk could rise by as much as 800 percent by 2030, the report found.

The people living closest to heavy concentrations of industries, in fence-line communities, are typically low-income and often largely communities of colour.

Wilma Subra, a Louisiana chemist and environmentalist who works with local people to combat toxic chemicals, told The Independent: Every time we have a hurricane, it seems to impact an industrial facility. In this case, it was a lot of smoke and emissions from the BioLab facility that went into Westlake, which is primarily an African American community.

There are communities right up against the fence line at these industrial facilities, usually minority communities. They are the most vulnerable and the first to be impacted if any release occurs.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality told AP that it did not immediately detect chlorine releases from the BioLab plant, which makes swimming pool chemicals.

BioLabs corporate parent said the plant had been shut down and evacuated ahead of the storm, and no plant employees were injured. State police said they knew of no reports of injuries, including exposure to hazardous fumes.

Ms Subra said that it was yet unclear if any chlorine gas had negatively impacted the surrounding community. If youre exposed to chlorine and you breathe it in, it damages the tissue of your lungs. Those tissues do not recover, she said.

The chemical plant fire came at a perilous point for the local community. Downed electricity and internet in the area may have made it difficult for people to receive the emergency shelter-in-place alerts, Ms Subra said. Similarly any sirens going off may have been difficult to hear in howling wind and rain.

Additionally, the official advice to seal doors and windows is not as easy as it sounds in many homes close to industrial facilities which may be made from less resilient materials than bricks and mortar.

Even if you turn off air conditioning and close doors and windows, emissions from the outside can still make it into homes, Ms Subra said. Add to that the soaring temperatures this month in US southern states  and you could be sheltering at home in 110-120F temperatures.

The pandemic may have also kept people from evacuating  either for health or financial reasons. There may have been reluctance to go to a centre where everybody was squeezed in, sitting on cots, particularly if youre an older person and more vulnerable to the pandemic. And the state wasnt opening up all these shelters because of those issues, Ms Subra added.

Three years ago, record rains from Hurricane Harvey inundated Houstons refineries, storage tanks and chemical plants, unleashing dozens of toxic spills into surrounding communities air, land and water. This week, state and federal aircraft were heading into the air over the battered Louisiana coast, looking for signs of any other industrial damage or releases from Laura.

Michael Brown, Earthjustice staff attorney with the fossil fuels program, told The Independent that in 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita created the largest ever oil spill in coastal Louisiana after Exxon Valdez (and five years before the Deepwater Horizon oil platform explosion led to the largest spill in history).

We saw failures of these industrial systems but also failures of government to address the problem in a serious way, he said, noting that 15 years on, the National Resource Damage Assessment process had not yet concluded and industry hasnt been held accountable.

Mr Brown added: Since Harvey, the petrochemical and oil and gas industry have had a massive build-out plan for the Gulf Coast. Theyve been adding more infrastructure, including in Lake Charles, intending that these plants will exist for 30-50 years without addressing the increasing climate risk they are going to be facing from storms like we saw this week.

Environmental damage was not just felt in the aftermath of Laura. The Houston Chronicle reported on Thursday that Texas refineries and chemical plants planned to release four million pounds of air pollution in Gulf Coast facilities before Laura hit.

Mr Brown said that these huge releases of emissions were a really big concern and broadened the impact area.

Alicia Cooke with 350 New Orleans, a global non-profit which campaigns against fossil fuels, said: Laura reminds us of the danger of fossil fuel reliance from two perspectives: not only is she strengthened by climate change, but we also see her path cutting straight through a major petrochemical hub along the Louisiana/Texas border, with potential for great environmental catastrophe.

When we rely on a fossil fuel economy, we rely on the integrity of oil and gas infrastructure, which has become increasingly vulnerable as storms continue to strengthen year after year.
A team of F-22s, supported by KC-135 tankers, intercepted three sets of two Russian Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone late Aug. 27, North American Aerospace Defense Command announced, Airforce Magazine reports.

According to Airforce Magazine, the Russian aircraft loitered in the area for about five hours, coming within 50 nautical miles of Alaskan shores, though they remained in international air space the entire time, NORAD said in a release. The intercepts come one day after NORAD monitored a Russian submarine that surfaced in international waters near Alaska.
The TikTok app icon sits displayed on a smartphone in front the national flags of China and the U.S. in this arranged photograph in London, U.K., on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020.

An updated export rule from China could jeopardize the sale of TikTok's U.S. operations, according to reports published Saturday in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

According to the reports, China updated its export control rules to incorporate technology that could include TikTok, a claim later reasserted by commentary published in China's state-controlled Xinhua news agency on Saturday.



Cui Fan, a professor of international trade in Beijing, told Xinhua that ByteDance would probably have to get approval from the Chinese government and suggested the company may have to suspend negotiations on TikTok's sale.
Cathy Freeman, ran not only for herself, but for the nation, during the 400m final at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

And in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph's Stellar magazine to promote her upcoming documentary 'Freeman', the 47-year-old revealed her surprising first thought when crossing the finishing line.

Despite winning gold with a time of 49.11 seconds, the Indigenous Australian wished she 'ran faster'.

'I wish I'd ran faster': Australian Olympic hero Cathy Freeman, 47, revealed her surprising first thought when crossing the finishing line at the 2000 Games (pictured), in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph's Stellar magazine

'That's the athlete mindset. I'm never completely satisfied. I'm always reaching for more,' the now married mother-of-one said.

'I laugh about it now, because the bottom line is it was a pretty good result: Olympic champ. Best in the world against this scene with all the other moving parts. But I really would have loved to have got under 49 seconds,' she admitted.

The notoriously private star has given director Laurence Billiet the green light to turn her story into a documentary, titled 'Freeman', after having declined many offers.

Cathy explained: 'That's the athlete mindset. I'm never completely satisfied. I'm always reaching for more'

Reflecting on the night nearly 20 years ago, Cathy said her win was powerful in making all Australians 'equal' for just that tiny moment.

'That's so powerful. Everyone is just there celebrating a victory and it's one of the great privileges of my life to witness.'

Back in 2015, Cathy revealed to SBS that her road to Olympic gold had its fair share of discrimination.

In primary school in Mackay, Far North Queensland, Cathy won races but was yet to take home a trophy, with the prizes only awarded to her non-Indigenous peers.

History-making: Reflecting on the night nearly 20 years ago, the Indigenous Australian said her win was powerful in making all Australians 'equal' for just that tiny moment. Pictured in 2017

Unified: 'That's so powerful,' the mother-of-one said. Everyone is just there celebrating a victory and it's one of the great privileges of my life to witness.' Pictured in 2020

'I think at the time I didn't really know what was going on,' she said. 'Goodness gracious I didn't really need to get a gold medal or a trophy because to me, all that mattered was that I crossed the line first.'

'What did upset me at [the] time was my parents' reaction; they were more upset than me.'

Despite the social injustice, Cathy said she never let it 'compromise' or 'distract' her.

Freeman airs September 13 at 7.40pm on ABC and iview.
Trump admin. petitions Supreme Court to restore FDA's abortion pill safety protocol

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The Trump administration has asked the United States Supreme Court to lift an injunction on a federal rule requiring women to see a doctor before an abortion clinic dispenses abortion-inducing drugs.

Earlier this year, a federal judge issued a nationwide injunction against the Food & Drug Administration rule in response to a lawsuit brought by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a group that has advocated for abortion on demand and abortion for minors without parental consent.

Jeffrey Wall, acting solicitor general with the U.S. Department of Justice, filed a request on Wednesday, asking the Supreme Court for a stay on the lower court injunction.

The FDA has made, and continuously adhered to, the judgment that these requirements mitigate serious health risks associated with the drug, which can increase if the patient delays taking the drug or fails to receive proper counseling about possible complications, the petition states in part.

While the district court believed that the terms of its injunction would address those risks, there is no way to rectify the harms to patients if that judicial second-guessing of an expert agencys judgment turns out to be wrong.

The request also argued in part that the FDA rule did not greatly restrict abortion access, as claimed by the lower court, because overall access remains widespread.

Given that surgical methods of abortion remain widely available, the enforcement of longstanding safety requirements for a medication abortion during the first ten weeks of pregnancy does not constitute a substantial obstacle to abortion access, even if the COVID-19 pandemic has made obtaining any method of abortion in person somewhat riskier, the petition adds.

[The Supreme Court] has made clear that judges are not to second-guess how officials address public-health concerns in areas of uncertainty, yet the district court dismissed the FDAs expert judgment in favor of its own view that the safety requirements are medically unnecessary.

In a medical abortion, women are given two drugs: mifepristone, also called RU-486, and misoprostol. Mifepristone works by blocking the effects of the pregnancy hormone progesterone while Misoprostol induces contractions and a miscarriage.

In May, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists filed a lawsuit against the rule, arguing that it was medically unnecessary and inhibited abortion access during a time of COVID-19 lockdowns.

In July, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang of Maryland issued a nationwide injunction against the FDA's safety protocol, arguing that it interfered with access to abortion.

Particularly in light of the limited timeframe during which a medication abortion or any abortion must occur, such infringement on the right to an abortion would constitute irreparable harm, ruled Chuang.

By causing certain patients to decide between forgoing or substantially delaying abortion care, or risking exposure to COVID-19 for themselves, their children, and family members, the In-Person Requirements present a serious burden to many abortion patients.

As the U.S. and other countries enacted lockdowns to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, debates and litigation arose over whether to allow abortion clinics to remain open while other medical practices were ordered to close.

Some states did not exempt abortion clinics from the lockdown orders, arguing that elective abortions did not constitute an essential service.

Earlier this month, the U.K.-based pro-abortion group Marie Stopes International released a report estimating that around 1.9 million women had their access to abortion and contraceptives blocked as a result of COVID-19 shutdowns from January to June.

Based on the 37 countries MSI operates in, the group claimed that these resulted in an additional 900,000 unintended pregnancies, 1.5 million unsafe abortions, and over 3,000 maternal deaths.
You can get a permit to leave Australia to sit on your new yacht but you cant go to your only daughters wedding or join family members stranded (''Sydney businessman given travel permit to pick up a luxury yacht'', August 23). Ingrid Radford, Waverton

With so intimate a connection to government ministers, and the current chairman of the company he founded sitting on the government's National COVID-19 Commission, Jost Stollmann's success in being granted permission to travel overseas smacks of a conflict of interest. His argument that laws preventing Australians from travelling abroad infringe human rights are self-serving; and this decision should be subject to vetting by an independent body. Fred Jansohn, Rose Bay

Illustration: Matt Golding Credit:

The average Australian is not allowed to leave the country during this pandemic. This ban is in place since March 25. Since then, many Australians have suffered grievously because of this ban. Parents and siblings dying have not been a sufficient reason to be an exception. Obviously somebody very high up in government circles gave the green light for this powerful businessman to pick up his yacht. The PM needs to come clean and accept responsibility. The whole contract with Australia demands no less. Credibility is everything. Michael Kennedy, West Pymble

A silvertail is given permission to leave Australia to pick up a luxury yacht, but farmers cannot cross the border to tend their farms, and school children cannot walk across the border to attend classes. Once we only had to worry about politicians being loose with the truth. Now of greater concern, we have to worry about lack of commonsense. State premiers, when convenient, hide behind so called medical advice for their decisions. It is now overdue for a national caucus of chief medical officers, and for them to agree on a sensible pandemic policy. D'Arcy Hardy, North Turramurra
Davit Hambardzumyan, mayor of Masis, Armenia, will not be arrested. His lawyer Tigran Atanesyan wrote about this on his Facebook (FB) page.

"The advisor to the RA [Republic of Armenia] Prosecutor General () made a post on FB about a decision made by the RA Court of Cassation in November 2019 and just now sent to the parties regarding the pretrial measure of Davit Hambardzumyan.

First, by the decision, the appeal of the Prosecutor General's Office has been DENIED.

() the opinion on the impermissibility of bail is strictly abstract and detached from reality.

Suffice it to say that the charge of [Hambardzumyan] organizing the uproarious mass riots () vanished, and the criminal prosecution against D. Hambardzumyan in that regard has been dropped by the investigator due to lack of corpus delicti in the act.

The current charge [against] also has nothing to do with reality, it also shatters during the court trial," Atanesyan added, in particular.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 20:53:56|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Saturday reported 4,146 recoveries from COVID-19 during the day, the highest in a single day since the outbreak of the disease, raising the tally of recoveries to 169,020.

A statement by the ministry said that 3,834 new COVID-19 cases were detected during the day, bringing the total nationwide infections to 227,446.

The new cases included 758 in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, 350 in Nineveh, 307 in Wasit, 291 in Najaf, 277 in Basra, and 266 in Dhi Qar, while the other cases were detected in the other provinces, the statement said.

It also reported 77 deaths during the day, raising the death toll to 6,891, after using 19,635 testing kits across the country during the day, and a total of 1,567,133 tests have been carried out since the outbreak of the disease.

Meanwhile, Ryadh Abdul-Amir, head of the Health Department in the Health Ministry, warned that Iraq will witness a new viral wave with the coming of autumn and winter seasons, as the increase of coronavirus infections will coincide with the increase of infections of the autumn flu.

Abdul-Amir said that the ministry has developed its diagnostic and treatment capabilities for the increasing number of infections. Still, he stressed that "the best solution is in the hands of the citizens through complying with the health prevention measures."

Iraq has been taking a series of measures to contain the pandemic since February when the first COVID-19 case appeared in the country.

China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

From March 7 to April 26, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and install an advanced CT scanner in Iraq's capital Baghdad.

Since March 7, China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem
Ask Dr. Land: Does MLK's dream still inspire Americans today?

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Question: Does Dr. Kings transcendent dream still inspire the American people?

Yesterday, August 28, 2020, was the 57th anniversary of Dr. Kings transformative I Have a Dream speech at the Lincoln Memorial in our nations capital.

I still vividly remember the experience of watching that speech as a 16-year-old on the black and white television in our home in Houston. That speech changed my life and my understanding of my country  for which I will be forever grateful.

It enabled me to see our founding documents (I had just finished studying these documents in my Advanced Placement high school civics class the previous semester) as exactly what Dr. King asserted that they were  timeless principles and promises to which our founders aspired and to which we were obligated to continually aspire to more fully implement and achieve. And, that these were not American values, but universal values applicable to each and every human being.

Does Dr. Kings dream of a country where every individual is indeed judged by the content of their character, rather than their skin color, still resonate with Americans today? It still inspires and convicts me to seek to implement that dream and share it with others so the dream will never die. I must confess the events of the past few weeks have been challenging, but my commitment to that vision of America has never, and will never, waver.

Are my fellow Americans still inspired, challenged, and motivated by Dr. Kings vision of a color-blind America that still values individual character and where we can all sit down together at the table of brotherhood?

This last week I experienced stirring evidence that the dream still lives.

As I watched Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) speech at the Republican National Convention on Monday night, I was greatly encouraged. One of the most talented and dedicated of the younger generation of senators, Senator Scott told of how he overcame adversities as he put it, of being a poor black kid . . . from a single parent household.

He explained that his mother never lost faith in me, even when I lost faith in myself.

After finishing his education and becoming a successful businessman, Scott ran for Congress in 2010 in an overwhelmingly white district in Charleston (where the Civil War actually started when the Confederates fired on Fort Sumpter) and on top of that, his opponent was a son and political heir to Strom Thurmond (the once infamous Dixiecrat who ran for president against Harry Truman in 1948 and carried five Deep South states, including South Carolina).

Scott asked rhetorically how he managed to win that race. His answer brought me right up out of my La-Z-Boy in my den at home. Tim Scott answered,

Because of the evolution of the heart; in an overwhelmingly white district . . . the voters judged me on the content of my character, not the color of my skin.

Clearly, Senator Scott was, and still is, highly energized and motivated by Dr. Kings vision for America.

He went on to assert that our nations arc always bends back toward fairness. We are not fully where we ought to be . . . but thank God we are not where we used to be! Amen to that!

He then became a living, breathing illustration of what Dr. King was calling on America to produce  a young, talented, black American who could with conviction and feeling declare to an entire nation,

We are always striving to be better. . . . When we stumble, and we will, we pick ourselves back up and try again. We dont give in to cancel-culture. . . . We have work to do . . . but I believe in the goodness of America . . . the promise that all men, all women are created equal.

I know Dr. King must have been smiling down from heaven as Senator Scott spoke these words with deep conviction  and optimism. If Tim Scott can clutch Dr. Kings dream to his chest and keep it alive and growing in his heart, then so should all of his fellow Americans, renewing their commitment to creating the fairest, most generous, welcoming society yet created on this planet  and one that continues to evolve toward ever greater justice for all.

On a personal note, I experienced a vivid reminder on Thursday night of the incredible spiritual, mental, and physical discipline it took for Dr. King and his followers to face down non-violently the implacable evil they faced at the hands of the white supremacists of their generation in the KKK and the White Citizens Councils.

I had the great privilege of being in attendance on the South Lawn of the White House for the Presidents acceptance speech after being nominated for a second term as President by the Republican Party.

It was a very special event, with the crowd singing America the Beautiful and God Bless America with obvious heart-felt conviction, the event culminating with fireworks display worthy of the 4th of July.

As we left the White House, my fellow attendees and I were accosted by a very hostile crowd screaming obscenities at us. They did not seem to be excessively concerned in their choice of vocabulary with certain body functions and inappropriate mother-son relationships described in the most profane, vulgar Anglo-Saxonisms imaginable. I am very grateful my wife was not with me to be subjected to such vile verbal abuse. Unfortunately, many mens wives were. These demonstrators were for all of their crudity and threatening manner, a pale imitation of what Dr. King and his followers faced in the fifties and sixties.

It did depress me that such a great percentage of the mob were black, indicating they had either rejected, or had given up, on Dr. Kings dream.

As I was enduring this gauntlet of verbal abuse and threatening physical behavior, it really helped to concentrate on Senator Tim Scott and his shining example. My hope and my prayer are that Senator Tim Scott and America will prevail, not those who would divide us by race and ethnicity. For me, and I pray for the majority of my fellow Americans, the dream still lives.
A migrant rescue vessel, funded by British street artist Banksy, in the Mediterranean, says it is unable to move and needs urgent help after lending assistance to a boat in the Mediterranean that was carrying at least one dead person.

The German-flagged Louise Michel on Saturday said it was overcrowded and unable to move after encountering another boat attempting to cross the expanse dividing Europe and Africa with 130 people on board.

There is already one dead person on the boat. We need immediate assistance, the crew on board the 31-metre (101-foot) Louise Michel wrote on Twitter, saying other migrants and refugees had fuel burns and had been at sea for days.

On Thursday, Louise Michel rescued 89 people, including 14 women and four children, from a rubber boat in distress, the group said on Twitter, before helping out the latest 130 others. It also said European rescue agencies had so far ignored its distress calls.

#LouiseMichel is unable to move, she is no longer the master of her manoeuver, due to her overcrowded deck and a liferaft deployed at her side, but above all due to Europe ignoring our emergency calls for immediate assistance. The responsible authorities remain unresponsive.  LouiseMichel (@MVLouiseMichel) August 29, 2020

The boat  named after 19th-century French anarchist and feminist Louise Michel  was approximately 90km (56 miles) southeast of the Italian island of Lampedusa early on Saturday, according to the global ship tracking website Marine Traffic.

On Saturday, Sea-Watch 4, another migrant rescue vessel, jointly operated by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the NGO Sea-Watch, announced it was altering course and heading towards Louise Michel.

We already have 201 people on board, the first of whom were rescued a week ago and who until now are denied a place of safety, Hannah Wallace Bowman, MSFs Field Communications Manager onboard Sea-Watch-4, told Al Jazeera.

Yet it up to humanitarian organisations on board Sea-Watch 4 to alter course to the location of those in distress, to at least see if and how there is any way we can support people in urgent need of help.

BREAKING! #SeaWatch4 already has 201 survivors on board, denied a place of safety until now. Yet as #EU & maritime authorities again turn a deaf ear to the cries of people in distress at sea  & despite being over 4hrs away  the ship has altered course toward #MVLouiseMichel.  MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) August 29, 2020

Since 2014, more than 20,000 migrants and refugees have died at sea while trying to reach Europe from Africa, fleeing conflict, repression and poverty in Africa and the Middle East.

The reality is far worse than what the figure suggests, officials and analysts have warned, as the bodies of those who do not survive are not always recovered, identified and counted.

The Central Mediterranean route is described by the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, as the most dangerous migration route in the world  one in six people who departs the shores of North Africa dies.

People pose after being rescued by rescue ship Louise Michel [File: MV Louise Michel/Handout via Reuters]

Protesting EU response

Banksys decision to fund the high-speed boat follows a body of work by the artist that has levelled scathing judgements on Europes halting response to the migrant and refugee movement.

A former French Navy boat daubed in pink and white, the Louise Michel was bought with proceeds from the sale of Banksys artwork, the group said.

200607081027891

The side of the vessels cabin features the artwork of a girl holding a heart-shaped lifebuoy in his familiar stencilled style.

Early this month, humanitarian organisations said they would resume rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea, where none has operated since the Ocean Viking docked in Italy in early July.

Before the Ocean Vikings last mission, rescue operations in the Mediterranean had been suspended for months due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 15:26:25|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks during a high-level meeting on Tibet work in Beijing, capital of China. The meeting was held in Beijing from Aug. 28 to 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to build a new modern socialist Tibet.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the comments at a two-day high-level meeting on Tibet work, which ended Saturday. Enditem
The Executive Office was yesterday ordered to pay court costs for the legal cases taken by two victims. (stock photo)

Stormont's top office is unable to say how much taxpayers' money will be spent on a court case taken over its delay in implementing a Troubles pension scheme.

The Executive Office was yesterday ordered to pay court costs for the legal cases taken by two victims.

In a conclusion to the proceedings held in Belfast's High Court, when Mr Justice McAlinden was asked that the Executive Office should pay all the costs of both applications, he said: "I think that is appropriate in the circumstances."

The Executive Office was unable to give details around the estimated bill it faced.

A spokesperson said: No estimate is available at this point as the applicants have not yet submitted their bill of costs.

Last Friday Mr Justice McAlinden ruled that the Executive Office was acting unlawfully in delaying the introduction of the pensions scheme.

Designed to provide regular payments to those seriously injured during the Troubles, the scheme was approved by Westminster in January but delayed by the Executive due to arguments around eligibility.

This delay prompted a legal challenge in the High Court by two victims - Jennifer McNern, who was injured in the IRA's Abercorn blast, and Brian Turley, one of the so-called 'Hooded Men'. Last week Mr Justice McAlinden ruled that this delay was unlawful.

On Monday, the Department of Justice was designated to take on the scheme, with Justice Minister Naomi Long warning the payments could total up to 800m. She said it was not yet clear where the funding would come from, but said it was clear in her mind "where it should come from".

Yesterday Mr Justice McAlinden said that due to this development, there was no need for him to make an additional order in respect of the designation of a department, or in respect of the funding of the scheme.

A separate disagreement centred on whether Westminster or Stormont should foot the bill for the scheme.

The senior judge said that "if there is an issue in relation to the funding of the scheme from here on in", that would require a fresh application to the court.

Mr Justice McAlinden said that "bearing in mind the demands on funds" for the Executive Office, the Department of Finance, and the Department of Justice "I don't think at this stage it's for this court to delve further into those issues and to direct further in relation to specific funding."

Last week, in a scathing judgment at the High Court, Justice McAlinden said the Executive Office had been under a "clear, unqualified and unconditional obligation" to designate a Stormont department to take forward the scheme by establishing a victims payment board by May 29.

He said the Executive Office's stance was "truly shocking" and demonstrated a "wilful disregard" for, or "abject ignorance" of, the rule of law.

Justice McAlinden said Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill was the only minister in the Executive Office taking this stance, and highlighted how First Minister Arlene Foster, having initially adopted the same position, had now made it clear she was willing to designate a department immediately.

Yesterday TUV leader Jim Allister repeated calls for Sinn Fein to pay for the case.

"If Sinn Fein had any decency - which, of course, they don't - they would pay the court costs for the legal action taken over the delay," he said.

"It was Sinn Fein belligerence that caused this case and it is, therefore, reasonable that the substantial legal costs should be paid by the party."

Mr Allister referred to remarks on social media on Tuesday from Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson. The Foyle MLA and former MEP apologised after she claimed the money was mainly for those who took part in what she described as "Britain's dirty war in Ireland".

Mr Allister added: "It adds insult to the injury already caused, both by the fact this case had to be brought at all and Martina Anderson's crass attempt to blacken the name of innocent victims, that the taxpayer should have to pick up this bill.

"Once again Northern Ireland has been reminded that having Sinn Fein in government comes at a high price."
Dan Andrews and Scott Morrison are heading for a break-up. The bromance cannot last. The ideological gulf between them goes deeper than Aussie rules versus rugby league. The window of convenience that allowed a working relationship to blossom during COVID-19 is coming to a tragic end.

Morrison's office is actively briefing journalists against the Andrews government in order to deflect scrutiny and blame as well as to provide succour to the state opposition. The gloves are off.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

There will be mutual relief when normal hostilities resume. They are both effective brawlers and relish a fight. Both have been underestimated by their opponents, internal and external. Both are intensely protective of their ministers. In earlier times, a leader would have jettisoned Health Minister Jenny Mikakos in Victoria or federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck and Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar.

That Colbeck and Sukkar survive, and equally Mikakos in Spring Street, is testament to the impotence of oppositions in the current climate. Morrison keeps his wounded pair in their ministerial suite with the active assistance of a vociferous media cheer squad. Mikakos survives because of the sheer heft of the factions in resolving tensions within the Victorian ALP. Neither equation takes the public's concerns into account.
Short-text social media platform, Twitter, is stormed by the new hashtag and trend of #DeleteFacebook, following the events of the Kenosha Militia Page's chaos event that resulted in shooting and death. Facebook failed to shut down the event that gathered an armed militia in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Twitter users are now cancelling and even calling for the biggest social media platform in the world, Facebook, to be deleted after the events that unfolded in Kenosha, Wisconsin resulted to mass chaos and horrifying deaths of two protestors joining the 'call to arms.'

Facebook and its moderators did not foresee the effect and impending risk that then "Facebook event" will bring. The Kenosha Militia Page posted a 'call to arms' that invited people to parade the streets of the city and protest, some citizens brought weapons that posted threats and risk to national security.

In a recent web video post by Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, he stated that the social media platform's failure to remove the page and the event was an "operational mistake."

Despite the social media's rules about violent militias, Facebook neglected to remove the page. Zuckerberg's video gained backlash, and the trend found on Twitter grew larger.

Several accounts with some verified personalities gained huge talks and reactions that agrees with the #DeleteFacebook movement to either delete and boycott Facebook or remove the social media platform from the internet.

ALSO READ: Facebook, Instagram Sue App Developers that Operate Bots for Fake Engagement, Collect User Data

Twitter's #DeleteFacebook Trend

Twitter users fuel the rage against Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook as they tweet their feelings about the social media platform. Some users even claim that Mark Zuckerberg failed the human race, and a lot is publicizing their dismay to social media.

Mark Zuckerberg is a very successful CEO. But he is complete failure as a human being. #DeleteFacebook  Nick Knudsen (@DemWrite) August 28, 2020



Other cases made mentioned of their boycott from Facebook for several years ago and are not surprised with how the social media platform is facing another gruesome scandal.

I see that #DeleteFacebook is trending (AGAIN). Security is crucial for me to be on a social media platform. I deleted Facebook 7 years ago and never looked back.  Peter Morley (@morethanmySLE) August 28, 2020

Despite the platform's backlash, some users still claim that Facebook is essential and needed to connect and utilize the platform.

This is a huge problem. People can't just up and leave Facebook sometimes. They have communities there, they have family there, they have organizing that will only be done there. Valid. But if you wanna #DeleteFacebook & can't, there are other things you CAN do. Thread. https://t.co/jNX8TELlNF  K Tempest #NoJusticeNoPeace Bradford (@tinytempest) August 28, 2020



However, there is also a case that prohibits him from boycotting or leaving Facebook due to his work that requires the use of social media.

I would #DeleteFacebook in a heartbeat if I wasnt forced to use it for work.  David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) August 28, 2020

Kenosha Militia and Protest Chaos

CNN states that there are two prior reports about the page that did not result in banning or removal. A huge surge in the number of protestors alerted and urged Facebook to act and take matters into their own hands.

Just last week, Facebook claimed that they would impose strict enforcements and track down militia pages. However, this did not stop protestors from going out to the streets and raise their concerns.

Among these protestors, a 17-year-old kid fatally shot two men that resulted in one death and the other being unconfirmed by local authorities. Violent protests and chaos took over the city, further condemning Facebook due to its neglect to prevent the 'call-to-arms.'

The trend #DeleteFacebook is now attracting a massive number of engagement and reacts from Twitter users that amassed almost 16,000 tweets in the present. With the trend still growing, Facebook's future may lie in the hands of its users.

ALSO READ: Epic Fail: Apple Highlights PUBG Mobile on App Store as it Suspends Fortnite's Developer Account

I spoke to Facebook employees at our weekly company Q&A about whats happening in Kenosha and wanted to share. Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Friday, August 28, 2020

This article is owned by Tech Times





Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
At least seven people have been killed by carbon monoxide from generators, including four members of a family found dead in a home in Lake Charles. A fifth member of that family was taken to a hospital. Their generator was located in a garage and the deadly gas was able to seep into the house through a door that was left cracked open, the mayor said.

Another man in the Calcasieu Parish, which includes Lake Charles, died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator, as did an 84-year-old man and an 80-year-old woman in the same home in Allen Parish, to the northeast, said health officials, who warned people never to place generators in homes or in closed garages.

The citys largest hospital, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Health System, whose phone lines were down, had to evacuate all patients to other hospitals and was operating only its emergency room. The hospital said on its website that pregnant mothers should leave the area because the hospital was not providing obstetric services except in emergencies.

The power failure in Lake Charles could continue for weeks, the mayor said, and people have been racing to buy more gasoline to provide power to their homes.

In addition to the deaths tied to generators, five other people have died in Louisiana, four from falling trees and one from drowning. In Texas, where Mr. Trump headed next, at least four deaths have been tied to carbon monoxide poisoning from generators.

This is just way, way worse than Rita, said Brett Geymann, 58, a former Louisiana state lawmaker who lives in Moss Bluff, a suburb of Lake Charles, referring to the powerful hurricane that struck the area in 2005.

Mr. Geymann said residents were increasingly worried about the lack of water as they contemplated not having flushable toilets or being able to wash their hands in a sink, particularly during the pandemic.
A San Antonio district judge on Friday found that Texas officials are violating the federal National Voter Registration Act by denying residents a chance to register to vote anytime they apply for, renew or update their drivers licenses.

U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia of San Antonio in his 68-page ruling ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to create a system that allows any driver applying for, renewing or filing a change-of-address for a drivers license to simultaneously register to vote. Garcia set a deadline of Sept. 23 for the state to make the system ready for public use.

Texas DPS allows residents to register to vote when they apply for, renew or update their license in-person. But until now, the department had required Texans using the states online system to print and mail a voter registration form to their county registrar.

REPEAT RULING: Federal judge says Texas violated Motor Voter law

The public clearly has a paramount interest in removing voter registration barriers and having procedures that encourage rather than discourage voter registration, Garcia wrote.

Texas is one of just nine states that do not offer online voter registration, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Texas attorney generals spokeswoman has said that the office does not comment on pending litigation. The state will almost certainly appeal the ruling.

Texas Republicans have aggressively fought attempts to bring online registration to the state. Attorney General Ken Paxton has said that under state law, signatures on voter registration applications must be written, not virtual, or else the state would risk election fraud.

Election integrity is one of my top priorities, and requiring written signatures on voter registration applications is a necessary aspect of combating fraud and ensuring the security of our elections, Paxton said in November.

GET PREPARED: Everything you need to know about voting by mail in Texas

This marks the second time Garcia has ruled that Texas is violating the so-called motor voter law. His first ruling in late 2019 was reversed on appeal; the appellate judge dismissed that case as moot, saying the plaintiffs lost standing when they re-registered to vote and could no longer prove they were harmed. A new plaintiff, who wanted to register to vote online when changing her address but could not, has been added in this second suit filed in January.

This ruling is a victory over Republican efforts to disenfranchise millions of Texas voters, DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos said in a statement. Elected leaders have an obligation to do everything we can to help Americans exercise their right to vote in the midst of these twin economic and public health crises.

Lawyers for plaintiff Jarrod Stringer have said that at least 1.5 million Texans use the states online driver's license portal a year. That number could be even greater this year, as more Texans take advantage of the online system and avoid in-person visits during the pandemic.
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As we navigate through the "new normal" in 2020, the world is opening up, slowly but surely. The joy of driving holidays is making a comeback! But after months of localised lockdowns and extensive contact tracing in the wake of the global pandemic, travelling in or among crowds is a no-go. The silver lining, though, is that road-trips of years past are back in favour. With its finger on the pulse of the Indian viewer and in tune with the sentiment of the times, History TV18 premieres a unique, digital-exclusive travel vlogging series. On '#RoadTrippinWithRnM', Rocky and Mayur get behind the wheel for a 14-day road-trip across Rajasthan, bringing followers exciting experiences and memorable moments in real-time, on History TV18s and their own, social media accounts.

Rocky Singh and Mayur Sharma, Indian television's acclaimed travellers and foodies, are known as much for touring far and wide in search of great food experiences, as for their humour. Quirky, jovial, energetic with a never-say-die attitude, they are masters of the impromptu! Childhood friends and collaborators, the duo's exceptional camaraderie is all set to light up screens once more, on personal devices. The terrific-two think on their feet and are adept at handling whatever the highway throws at them. That's a quality which will be put to the test, as they travel in these times. With no fixed to-do list, '#RoadTrippinWithRnM' celebrates wanderlust and stays true to the idea that the journey is indeed the destination. Rocky and Mayur could just as quickly pitch a tent in a great spot, as they could settle into a sanitised hotel for the night. Over two weeks, viewers, followers and fans shall become part of their travels and experiences, every day. Speaking about this made-for-the-times series, Rocky says, The Great Indian Road trip is the future of travel in India. And we are doing just THAT! Im super stoked also, about getting out after 6 months. Viewers can count on us taking them along on a fun journey. Well be sharing regular updates and also answering questions, Live. So stay tuned!"

Mayur, his partner-in-crime, adds "we've been looking forward to hitting the road again and Im thrilled that our viewers and fans will be able to join us virtually, all through the trip. This is a first-of-its-kind show in a post-COVID world and it stands for hope, bringing life back on track and carrying on. It's going to be another mad, wonderful, joyous journey. Coming?"

The first leg of the road trip takes the travellers from Delhi to the pink city, Jaipur via Neemrana. Rocky and Mayur then continue through the desert state, with stopovers in Mount Abu, Ajmer, Udaipur and locations off-the-beaten-track. Along with the culture, cuisine and colour characteristic of Rajasthan, the road trip also has a wild side. It will take them through the rocky landscape of Jawai, teeming with leopards! Other 'wild' destinations to look forward to include the Tiger habitat in Ranthambore, and bird watcher's paradise, Bharatpur.



Each day of this exciting road trip, Rocky and Mayur will post daily vlogs, great pictures and engaging Live Q&A sessions in real-time on social media, sharing their adventures. These posts will be available on History TV18 and Rocky and Mayurs handles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Viewers can follow the duo and be part of the day's plan, route and everything along the way - pitstops, meals, local sights, people, learnings, travel tips and night halts.

Avinash Kaul, Managing Director, A+E Networks | TV18 and CEO-Broadcast for Network18, commented, # RoadTrippinWithRnM reaffirms HistoryTV18's commitment to relevant and compelling content, across platforms, for our audience. As the world begins to open up again, I'm confident that this series will become a benchmark and new paradigm for travel shows in the new normal."
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The Government of Nasarawa state has banned doctors employed by the State from private practice.

The state commissioner of Justice,Barrister Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana gave the disclosure during a press briefing shortly after the State Executive Council Meeting.

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The Attorney General and commissioner of Justice,Kana opined that banning doctors in the employment of Nasarawa state Government is the only solution to ills witnessed in Government health facilities.

He further stated that the decision was meant to tackle some of the nagging hiccups in Government owned hospitals which he said was marred by ineptitude and diversion of patients.

Is unacceptable with the way and manner doctors in Government services are diverting patients to their own hospitals.

The State Executive Council also approved special schoolarship for medical students,Justice commissioner said the move was meant to address the nagging shortage of doctors in the state.

This decision would make doctors to concentrate in public hospitals which are in dire need of perssonel.He said.

The state commissioner of Information,Cultute and Tourism,Comrade Dogo Shammah buttressed that State Executive Council Meeting also include the establishment of portal that would welcome complaints and criticisms from the publics about the activities of Ministries,Departments and Agencies.

He the portal is to serves as an omburseman to checkmate public office holders,Shammah maintained that the portal would be handle by the Special Adviser on Economic Development to the Governor.

The Council meeting also discussed issues of state impirtance especially boundary dispute between Ribi and Adudu communities as well Nasarawa and Benue state.
India has withdrawn from a multi-nation army exercise being hosted by Russia in which around 20 countries including China are expected to take part next month at a time when talks with China to reduce border tensions in eastern Ladakh are stuck in a stalemate, people familiar with the developments said on Saturday.

Exercise Kavkaz-2020 will be held in southern Russias Astrakhan region from September 15 to 27. The Pakistan army is also likely to take part in the joint drills that are part of a four-year exercise cycle of the Russian army.

Russia and India are close and privileged strategic partners. At Russias invitation India has been participating in many international events. However, in view of the pandemic and consequent difficulties in exercise, including arrangements of logistics, India has decided not to send a contingent this year to Kavkaz-2020. The same has been informed to the Russian side, said a defence ministry spokesperson.

The decision not to go ahead with participating in the Kavkaz-2020 multilateral exercise was made following consultations between the defence ministry and the external affairs ministry that took into consideration several factors, the officials cited above said on the condition of anonymity.

There is a decision not to take part in contact exercises in view of the Covid-19 pandemic in order to ensure the safety of our troops, the officials said. The expected presence in the exercise of troops from South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both states that arent recognised by India, in Kavkaz-2020 was also a factor in the decision, said one of the officials.

Most UN member states see Abkhazia and South Ossetia as part of Georgia, though both are recognised by Russia. India doesnt recognise both as independent states as they are not members of the UN. Indias presence at such an exercise could have given rise to delicate diplomatic issues, a second official said.

Criticism of Indias possible presence at Kavkaz-2020 alongside Chinese and Pakistani troops has been growing ever since reports first emerged that New Delhi was extended an invitation to send a tri-services contingent to the exercise.

India was earlier planning to send around 180 troops from an infantry battalion, along with elements of the air force and observers from the Indian Navy for the exercise. A total of 13,000 troops from different countries are expected to take part in the drills.

Questions have also been raised about India participating in an exercise featuring Chinese troops amid the months-long standoff along the LAC and the death of 20 Indian soldiers in the violent clash in Galwan Valley on June 15.

The Russian exercise has also sparked tensions with Ukraine, which is organising its own command-staff exercise United Efforts-2020, for which it plans to involve NATO countries. This exercise too will be held at around the same time.

While it is not uncommon for the armies of India, China and Pakistan to be part of multi-nation exercises on neutral territories (they even deploy alongside in United Nations peace missions), Indias participation in Kavkaz-2020 had assumed importance because of the ongoing border row in the Ladakh sector.

India and China were unable to bridge their differences on the disengagement and de-escalation process along the LAC during recent diplomatic talks, with New Delhi emphasising the need to resolve outstanding issues speedily, as reported by Hindustan Times on August 20.

People familiar with developments during the meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs dismissed an assertion in a readout from the Chinese foreign ministry that the two sides had positively evaluated the progress in the disengagement process.

The military dialogue between senior commanders from the two sides has hit a roadblock due to Chinese reluctance to restore status quo ante in some key friction areas along the LAC. The commanders set the time-frame and method of disengagement while the WMCC monitors the process.

No dates have yet been fixed for the next round of talks between corps commander-ranked officers who have so far met five times but failed to break the deadlock.
WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will resume in-person campaigning across the country in coming days amid the still-raging coronavirus pandemic, an answer to allies imploring him to meet voters where they are and a sign that his race with President Donald Trump is tightening as the general election begins in earnest.

Coming out of back-to-back national conventions that both parties considered successful, Trump aides said the president is determined to exploit the racial unrest in Kenosha, Wis., and other places where Black Lives Matter protesters have been active to amplify his law and order message. Trump aims to cast Biden and running-mate Kamala Harris as agents of far-left radicals in a bid to scare suburban white women and other key voters back into the Republican fold.

Biden, meanwhile, is trying to carry his summer polling lead into the fall by giving his campaign a fresh jolt of energy, making plans to leave the Mid-Atlantic region next month for the first sustained period since the pandemic forced an end to traditional campaigning in March.

The Republican National Convention's week-long effort to rebrand Trump as compassionate toward women, minorities and immigrants; to portray the economy as booming and the virus as dissipating; and to stoke fears of socialism and anarchy - despite the fire hose of falsehoods - served as a wake-up call for some top Democrats. They said Biden, a former vice president, needs to be more proactive as a campaigner and aggressive in promoting his economic agenda to avoid being typecast.

"We really just need to hammer on the economics and the complete failure to manage covid," said Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich. "But we do need him here. We need him to tell that story. And I'm confident that it will happen."

Levin said he spoke Thursday with a top Biden staffer about planning a visit by the candidate to Macomb County, a perennial swing jurisdiction in suburban Detroit that was critical to Trump's 2016 victory.

Harris, a senator from California, said at a virtual campaign fundraiser Friday evening, "Michigan is the main event in this fight. We saw it slip to Donald Trump in 2016, and we're not gonna let that happen again. Even if we see polls looking good."

Both campaigns have trained considerable resources on a half dozen battleground states: Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, as well as Michigan, all of which Trump carried in 2016.

 READ MORE: Trump makes a clear bet: Violence in Americas cities will help him beat Biden in states like Pennsylvania

The Biden campaign also believes changing demographics present opportunities in a pair of more reliably Republican states, Georgia and Texas, and also are contesting Iowa and Ohio.

Meanwhile, the Trump campaign thinks two states Hillary Clinton won in 2016 - Minnesota and New Hampshire - are primed for pickups. On Friday, in a move to appear on offense the day after their convention concluded, Trump held a rally in New Hampshire and Vice President Mike Pence campaigned in Minnesota and Michigan.

"The road to victory begins in Duluth, Minnesota," Pence told roughly 200 supporters outside an industrial warehouse there Friday. "We're going to win the state."

Minnesota has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since Richard Nixon in 1972, but it has drawn national attention this summer after the George Floyd killing made Minneapolis the epicenter of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Some Democrats - haunted by Clinton assuming she had a lock on Wisconsin and largely ignoring the state, only to lose it narrowly - privately expressed concern this week about possible softening for Biden in Minnesota, as well as about independent candidate Kanye West, who qualified for the state's ballot. Biden recently mentioned Minnesota among four states - Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were the others - he plans to visit soon.

 READ MORE: Fact-checking Rand Paul on Joe Biden and support for wars

With Republicans continuing to mock Biden for not "coming out of the basement," as Trump put it at a Friday night rally in Londonderry, N.H., some Democrats said the imperative has grown for Biden to loosen his hyper-vigilance about the virus, ditch his mostly virtual campaign strategy and take his case directly to voters in battleground states.

Biden told supporters at a virtual fundraiser Thursday, "We're going to do it in a way that is totally consistent with being responsible, unlike what this guy's doing," referring to Trump. He added, "What we're working on is how I get out."

Aides said they are considering a range of event types in compliance with state rules about how many people can assemble - including "drive-in" rallies replicating the one Biden and Harris held in Wilmington, Del., after his acceptance speech at the virtual Democratic National Convention.

"We're going to try to find ways to give him venues to connect with people to hear what's going on in their lives," said Kate Bedingfield, Biden's deputy campaign manager. She added, "As we are doing this traveling to battleground states, you're going to hear him talking a lot about his plans to bring manufacturing and supply chains back to America," as well as his plan to provide affordable child care.

Republicans have pointed out that many Americans have long ago resumed aspects of their regular routines despite the pandemic, including the millions of people going to work because they cannot do their jobs from home. They have argued that Trump, with his relatively robust travel schedule of in-person events, is reflecting this reality, even if the president's activities flout social distancing and other health guidelines.

"This is going to force Joe Biden to come out of the basement, so to say," said Robert Graham, a former Arizona Republican Party chairman. "People don't just want 'content.' They want to see him out there."

 READ MORE: Biden is still beating Trump in Pennsylvania, poll says  and most of his backers are really voting against Trump

Some Democrats agree. Geoff Garin, a pollster who advises the pro-Biden super PAC Priorities USA, said there are limits to what Biden can do digitally to inspire and turn out voters.

"Campaigns have to be consistent with the way people are living their own lives," Garin said. "And as they're starting to venture out more, the candidate running for office has to venture out more as well."

Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump campaign, said continuing protests over racial injustice could work in Trump's favor politically.

"People who live everywhere are bothered by what they see on TV in these cities," Murtaugh said. "The people who live in cities don't want it. The people who live in suburbs don't want to see it because cities are right next door. And the people in rural areas wonder whether it could happen there. Look, Kenosha, Wisconsin, is not Portland, and it's not Seattle, but it's happening in all these places."

To that end, Trump invoked Thursday nights demonstration outside the white House in his rally speech in New Hampshire: Todays Democrat Party is filled with hate. Just look at Joe Bidens supporters on the streets screaming and shouting at bystanders with unhinged, manic rage, right? You see it.

Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., said it is critical that Democrats prevent Trump from making law enforcement a political wedge issue, and that she has conveyed as much privately to the Biden campaign. She said she has counted scores of "Blue Lives Matter" yard signs popping up in her suburban Detroit district, giving her flashbacks to Trump's surprise Michigan win four years ago.

"We cannot let this man own this issue," Dingell said of Trump. "We have a problem with race, but we can't let them have law enforcement as an issue. . . . I think Joe Biden has an ability to deal with it, but he has to get out there and deal with it."

In contrast to Trump, whom she said "throws kerosene on the fire," Dingell recommended Biden have "uncomfortable conversations" about racial injustice while also recognizing and praising the work police departments do keeping communities safe.

 READ MORE: Fact-checking Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention

Bedingfield said Biden "believes profoundly that excessive violence against Black Americans is unacceptable. Systemic racism is unacceptable. The socio-economic inequalities in our society are unacceptable and we need to tackle these challenges and we need to take them on."

But, she added, "I also think that people know that Joe Biden is somebody who has throughout his entire career been a great supporter of firefighters and has been a great supporter of law enforcement and believes that we need to give law enforcement the resources that they need to be able to do true community-oriented policing."

Speaking to a virtual gathering of the National Guard Association of America on Saturday, Biden pushed back on Trump's view of what "law and order" looks like.

"I promise you as president I'll never put you in the middle of politics or personal vendettas," Biden told the members of the National Guard, speaking from a podium set up on the first floor of his Wilmington, Del., home. "I'll never use the military as a prop or as a private militia to violate rights of fellow citizens. That's not law and order. You don't deserve that."

The issue of racial injustice resonates elsewhere, including in Florida, where former Republican congressman Carlos Curbelo said continuing protests could cut into what he believes is a Biden advantage in South Florida, which he used to represent, as well as in key suburban and exurban areas around Orlando and Tampa.

"If we have more instances of police brutality or controversial police encounters with people of color and ensuing reactions to that, if we have mass rioting and looting in America's cities, those images could benefit the president's campaign," Curbelo said.

He said many white suburban voters already have concluded that the presidents style and rhetoric and approach to the job was just too much for them to stomach. But I do think theres a path for him to win them back, and that path requires demonizing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and associating them with the most radical elements of the political left.

 READ MORE: That girl from Philly Jill Biden says her husband Joe can heal America

It is too early to fully evaluate the impact of the two conventions on the state of the race. National and battleground-state polls have shown Biden leading Trump by comfortable margins all year. The most recent Washington Post-ABC News survey, conducted Aug. 12-15, just before the conventions, showed Biden with a commanding lead nationally, 53 percent to 41 percent.

But many Democrats have long predicted the race would tighten in the fall as more voters are engaged, and the Republican convention did not dispel them of this notion.

"I think all of the polls we've seen are written on the water's edge in sand," said Peter Hart, a longtime Democratic pollster. He said the race likely will not harden until after the first debate, scheduled for Sept. 29. "Then we'll know if people feel comfortable with Joe Biden and are willing to say, 'It's time to change,' or do they end up saying, 'As much as I hate Donald Trump, I'm uncertain about Joe Biden.' "

Over the next 10 weeks, Garin said, Biden needs to "continue building an understanding of the way he's going to deliver more and better jobs, more affordable health care and a safer world for voters." He argued that although the coronavirus is an overarching issue, jobs and the economy remain a key driver of how voters think about the election.

Sen. Robert Casey Jr., D-Pa., said that as Trump continues to offer "fear and smear," Biden must stay focused on showing voters he can be trusted to lead the country out of the pandemic and to rebuild the economy.

The virus and the economic calamity is right in front of people every day, Casey said. You can feel it, you can hear it in our community. I think the only thing that the campaign has to continue to do is to walk through what the plan is: How do you get people back to work?
The Queensland government on Saturday finally released its five-year conservation strategy for the threatened koala.

It reveals last summers bushfires affected 44,141 hectares of core koala habitat and 13,989 hectares of locally refined koala habitat areas in Queensland.

Queensland has released its five-year strategy to protect koalas across the state. Credit:File

Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said the strategy, which can be found here, included feedback from 5000 people after the draft paper was released in December 2019.

At that time, many local councils argued large areas of koala habitat that were previously protected were removed under the draft state government plan.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is set to draft a national energy master plan as Vietnam shifts from being an energy exporter to a net importer.

The ministry held a workshop Friday afternoon to discuss the plan, for 2021-30, the first time the government has worked on something like this. In the past energy planning used to find passing reference in sectoral strategies.

A report by the ministry's department of oil, gas and coal said the global trend is to focus on promoting energy transition, adopting strict policies to combat climate change and enhancing energy security.

As a country relying on energy imports, Vietnam would increasingly be affected by global trends, it said.

Besides, as a responsible member of the international community, Vietnam must implement its commitments to combat climate change, it added.

Ngo Thuy Quynh, deputy director of the department, said: "With our increasingly deep participation in the global supply chain, Vietnam will have to face both advantages and disadvantages in [developing its] energy system to meet the demands of socio-economic development."

At the workshop, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An dwelled on the difficulties in drafting the energy master plan. A government decree says there "must be enough energy for socio-economic development, but the price must be reasonable," to ensure economic competitiveness.

On the other hand, global trends in technology, especially new, renewable energy sources, and energy usage habits have changed significantly, An said.

"Therefore, the accompanying logistics infrastructure, mechanisms and policies for sustainable energy development will be very important in ensuring energy supply for development."

Tran Manh Hung, head of the Institute of Energys department of energy economics, demand forecast and management, said in the plan, energy demand would be calculated and forecast for all energy-consuming sectors of the economy, including industry, agriculture, commerce, and transport.

The plan would also develop infrastructure planning options for the four main sub-sectors, coal, oil and gas, electricity, and renewables, he added.

Discussing the oil and gas sector, Nguyen Anh Duc of the Vietnam Petroleum Institute said many targets in the gas industry however have yet to be met: production of liquefied petroleum gas is less than 50 percent, while petrochemical production only meets 25 percent of demand.

"Procedures, legal frameworks, and policy mechanisms for the oil and gas sub-sector need to be comprehensive in the energy master plan to attract investment in oil and gas exploration in deep offshore areas," he said.

The plan is expected to be submitted to the government by the end of the year.

Five of its planned 14 chapters have been completed, including current status assessment, implementation status of energy sub-sectors in the past, forecasting energy development scenarios, and the current status of energy use and energy saving in Vietnam.

The ministry is expected to wrap it up by October.
At times of national crisis, it is obligatory to turn to Churchill for inspiration. So to Chris Huhne and Baroness Warsi, I say this: if Winston and Lord Halifax could resolve the small matter of which of them would succeed Chamberlain in 1940 over a civil cup of cha, why can't you two behave yourselves over AV?

Chris accuses her ladyship of running "a Goebbels-like campaign" against AV by claiming it would be a boon for the BNP. If it's a subtle and gloriously original debating tactic to invoke the Nazis, Lady W makes a fantastically clever argument herself, with Nick Griffin virulently opposing AV.

In a bid to build bridges I remind the pair that, as far as campaigning and debating techniques go, more unites than divides them. During the last Lib Dem leadership election, Nick Clegg complained that Chris was "indulging in the politics of innuendo" by issuing a briefing dossier headlined "Calamity Clegg"  of which Chris claimed to know nothing despite its author being the lover for whom he would later leave his wife.

As a parliamentary candidate in 2005, meanwhile, the Baroness put her name to leaflets claiming that Labour's lowering of the age of consent was causing homosexuality to be peddled as a lifestyle choice to seven-year-old schoolchildren. Peas in a pod, these two geniuses, when it comes to the imbecile campaign smear. But then, as Milibandroid scholars will confirm, the similarities are so much more divisive than the differences.

* If the reshuffle goes badly for Lady Warsi and she decides to try her luck across the Atlantic, fingers crossed that Herman Cain doesn't win the White House. Wannabe Republican nominee Mr Cain, a pizza chain owner and radio talk show host, threw down the gauntlet to rival wingnuts last week by declaring that he would not, as president, allow any Muslim to serve in his cabinet. We look forward to Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann and the others picking it up forthwith.

* Now I don't much care for Chris Huhne, but I'm not wild about Lady Warsi either. But who is worse? Ordinarily there'd be only one way to find out, but since Harry Hill isn't around to stage the fight, we turn to Norman Tebbit instead. As a participant in the last great inter-cabinet scrap between a noble and a commoner, when on 1997's "Wobbly Thursday" Lord Young grabbed him by the lapels and screamed, "We are about to lose this fucking election", it falls to Norman to adjudicate between them on his genuinely brilliant political blog. We know he prefers Clegg to Cameron, but his silence on Huhne vs Warsi threatens to shatter the eardrum. Where have you gone, stormin' Normio? A lonely nation turns its eyes to you.

* Meanwhile, Douglas Hurd lobs in his AV twopennorth by warning of the system's incomprehensible complexity. Small wonder he's in a shocking state. Counting up to five isn't easy, even for a chap who won a scholarship to Eton  something he liked to remind us about when challenging for the leadership in 1990, after Mrs Thatcher was removed by a system of such glorious simplicity that she won with a clear majority and had to go. Douglas understood that perfectly well at the time. What on earth's happened to him?

* I am saddened to read that new Channel 4 boss Jay Hunt is jettisoning those captivating list shows that have electrified Saturday and Sunday nights. What weekends will be like without Kate Thornton misunderstanding lyrics from songs released long before she was born doesn't bear contemplating. The final edition  working title: Top 100 Flogged Dead Horse TV Formats Featuring Loads Of People You Kinda Half Recognise But Don't Wish To Hear From On This Or Anything Else  is scheduled for the autumn.

* Regarding Moussa Koussa, I mostly blame the parents. The terror chief turned asylum-seeker can't be wholly exonerated, since he could have ditched the silly name. Would Duncan Jones be a feted film-maker had he meekly stuck with Zowie Bowie? But the parents take the lion's share of responsibility. "If your surname's Dumpty," as Ricky Gervais put it in his Politics show, "don't call your first born Humpty".
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We now pay millions to Christian leaders who have fallen morally but refuse to admit their wrong.

We are sadly sinking to a new low.

I am a 1993 Pastoral Major graduate of Liberty University. I attended Liberty with many of my pastor friends in the early 1990s. I met my wife there and we have been in full-time ministry for the past 23  years at Vanguard Church in Colorado Springs with the Southern Baptist Convention.

It has been reported that Jerry Falwell Jr. told CNN he will receive a $10.5 million compensation package from Liberty: $2.5 million to be paid during the next two years and another $8 million thereafter. As the university's president and chancellor, Falwell was paid about $1.25 million per year. Falwell told The Washington Post his Liberty contract entitles him to the severance package because he is departing the school without being formally accused of or admitting to wrongdoing.



This is NOT the Liberty I remember.

In 1992 after my mom was killed by a drunk driver, I had the distinct privilege of winning the preaching award that year at Liberty. I got to spend an hour with Dr. Jerry Falwell, while he ate his traditional Hardees breakfast, and then walk out on the stage with Dr. Falwell at the Vines Center and spoke to him, the faculty and staff, and the 5,000 member student body. It was a glorious moment and a highlight in my life and my time at Liberty. I felt the incredible pleasure of God in my life during one of the most difficult and darkest seasons of my life.

Thank you Liberty University!

Liberty and Dr. Falwell had a HUGE influence over my life and many of our friends lives who have been in full-time ministry and pastoring for the past almost 25 years.

We LOVE Liberty.

We believe in the mission of Liberty.

We stand in agreement with the theological principles and teachings of Liberty University.

We have loved ones who give lots of money to Liberty because they believe in it, too, so they can continue to as Dr. Falwell would say, Train young champions for Christ."

It was at Liberty that I made the biggest commitments of my life to Jesus and I am still living out those disciplines 25 years later. Liberty taught me to love the Bible and I am now on my 90th reading of the Bible.

Sadly though, we now live in such a litigious society that we will allow people who have fallen morally to threaten us to the point that we will give them what they want just to get them to go away.

Sometimes we have to grin and bear it. Sometimes we have to double down on the tactics of those who not only want to be forgiven for what they did but actually paid for it.

We have reached an all new low in American Christendom.

There is a new generation of students and upcoming leaders who are looking to us, the church, the schools, and the administrations who claim the name of Jesus.

It is my prayer that we will care deeply for people who have fallen morally, but we will not give into their demands and run and hide in fear that if we dont, something worse might happen. Because if we do, something worse will happen.

It reminds me of Samuels day.

In Elis day, God had to raise up a new prophet, a little boy name Samuel, because the priest of God and the leaders of God could no longer hear or would no longer listen for and to Gods voice. God told Samuel to tell Eli:

1 Samuel 3:10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, Samuel! Samuel! And Samuel said, Speak, for your servant hears. 11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

In the next chapter we see Gods fulfillment of this prophecy through Samuel to the house of Eli:

I Samuel 4:19 Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. And when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth, for her pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son. But she did not answer or pay attention. 21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory has departed[b] from Israel! because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 And she said, The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.

One of my Professors at Dallas Theological Seminary, Dr. Howard Hendricks, in the mid-90s, said this to us over and over again. You know what my greatest fear is? That God would pull back His hand of blessing and remove His Spirit from me.

We are at a crossroads morally, ethically, legally, and most importantly spiritually. How public moral failures of Christian leaders are handled in this time will set the stage for a new generation of leaders. It is my prayer that we love those who have fallen, restore them gently, but correct them and refuse to give into their financial demands. May the holiness of God matter more to us than the perceptions of our reputations or the success of the business of the church and the ministries and schools that support it.

I am praying for my school, Liberty University, as it navigate these troubled waters.
August 25, Tuesday

Burglary by forced entry into a residence was reported on the 1200 block of W. 21st around 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Fraud through illegal use of credit cards was reported on the 2800 block of Quincy around 5:30- p.m. on Tuesday.

Fraud through illegal use of credit cards was reported on the 100 block of W. 9th around 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

A minor traffic accident resulting in vehicle damage was reported on the 400 block of Quincy around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Burglary by unforced entry into a residence was reported on the 3500 block of Garland around 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Fraud through illegal use of credit cards was reported on the 700 block of Denver around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

A stolen vehicle and burglary by forced entry into a residence was reported on the 1400 block of Oakland around 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

Theft from a vehicle and fraud through illegal use of credit cards were reported on the 2600 block of Yonkers around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Trespassing on private property was reported on the 900 block of W. 28th around 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

August 26, Wednesday

A 20-year-old was arrested for burglary by unforced entry into a residence on the 1100 block of W. 31st around 11 p.m. on Wednesday.

Public intoxication was reported on the 1700 block of W. 5th around 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday.

A minor traffic accident resulting in vehicle damage was reported on the corner of 24th & Dimmitt Rd. around 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

A minor traffic accident resulting in vehicle damage was reported on the 800 block of S. Date around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

A major traffic accident resulting in vehicle damage was reported on the corner of 16th & Joliet around 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Forgery was reported on the 400 block of W. 5th around 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

Littering/dumping was reported on the 700 block of W. 5th around 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

August 27, Thursday

Public intoxication and possession of narcotic equipment were reported on the 2400 block of Joliet around 10 p.m. on Thursday.

Police arrested an individual on a local felony warrant after responding to a call of shots fired on the 3500 block of W. 25th around 9:15 p.m. on Thursday.

A 20-year-old was arrested for assault causing bodily injury on the 1500 block of Yonkers around 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Trespassing on private property and damaged property were reported on the 700 block of Galveston around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Jamie Eduardo Tavarez, 40, was arrested on a local felony warrant on the 1600 block of Quincy around 5 p.m. on Thursday.

A traffic accident resulting in vehicle damage was reported on the corner of 6th & Columbia around 11 a.m. on Thursday.

Assault was reported on the 600 block of W. 29th around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday.

A minor traffic accident resulting in vehicle damage was reported on the corner of 18th & Utica around 9 a.m. on Thursday.

Possession of marijuana was reported on the 3600 block of W. 4th around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Amazon Halo accessory bands Source: Amazon

This week's launch of the Amazon Halo wearable represents a critical new entrant not only into the health-tech wearable industry, but also into the broader health care ecosystem. Amazon's Halo will compete with Fitbit and Apple Watch, and start-ups like the Oura Ring. But the device not only allows customers to track things like exercise and sleep, which are common in fitness wearables, but can also track emotional changes by listening to the wearer's tone of voice and can present a 3D body image with a body fat percentage. In a parallel announcement, one of the largest electronic medical record companies, Cerner Corporation, said that users of the Halo device will have the option to upload information collected by the device to their physicians' Cerner health record, beginning with the Sharp Health System in San Diego. These developments potentially represent a step forward for physicians to make use of health data that patients generate on their own. But the new functionality of Halo also raises new privacy implications, which I've spent my career focused on, both at private companies and at the federal government. A company that has changed our expectations around convenience and personalized recommendations will now be selling a device  and membership  to collect some of the most intimate health details of a person's life. And much of the conversation in the wake of Thursday's announcement has rightly centered on trust as Amazon makes a more direct entry into consumer health care. So going forward, the company would be well-served to keep several key topics in mind:

No standard rules for data collection from wearables

In 2016, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC)  the federal government team responsible for health and informatics policy development  delivered a report to Congress highlighting basic legal gaps in consumer protection collected via fitness trackers, compared to devices and systems governed by the rules governing privacy known as HIPAA. I was formerly the Chief Privacy Officer of ONC at the time, and worked on this report. Currently, neither Amazon, nor Apple, nor any other retail fitness tracker is required by federal law to maintain any particular privacy standard. (California residents may benefit, though, from the California Consumer Privacy Act.) This is an important point. Companies in traditional healthcare  like Cerner or Sharp Health System mentioned earlier  are bound by HIPAA, the nationwide privacy law that applies to health care providers and payers. But some consumer devices, like fitness trackers, may not be. Halo has taken the step of putting control of the collected health data in the hands of the individual, not the company that manufactured the device. Halo even includes a one-way hash that prevents other Amazon business units from using Halo data for other business purposes. Both of these are important markers for Amazon to lay down as it launches this new business line. But the privacy controls announced by Amazon for Halo are simply provisions in its Terms of Use. Companies like Amazon can change its terms prospectively at any time, so long as they do not mislead or treat consumers unfairly. That's something that people in the privacy world, like myself, will keep an eye on.

Privacy protections for medical records

Halo is looking to do more than simply collect data so consumers themselves can review it via an app. Paired with the Cerner announcement, the goal is clearly to achieve interconnectivity or "interoperability," meaning the easy exchange of health information, with clinical technology systems already in use in traditional health care. Apple's HealthKit has been a critical tool in enabling individuals to extract their own data from a doctor's office in a low-friction, mainly automated process, but only using an Apple iOS operating system. Halo appears to be taking a similar approach, but without requiring any specific operating system. This makes it available to a larger potential market. Having the same privacy practices across all operating systems is a step forward for consumers because it simplifies what they have to keep track of to manage their health information privacy outside their doctor's office.

Data from patients' lives can be helpful
I look forward to continuing to lead our charge of fiercely advocating for, and representing, our Black communities here in Colorado," Rep. Leslie Herod said in a statement. "Together, our Black Caucus will continue to be a force to reckon with in the Capitol.
A recent high school graduate who organized a Black Lives Matter rally in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey said she was billed $2,500 by town officials for police overtime, stirring up anger from civil liberty advocates and prompting the town's mayor to rescind the bill.

Emily Gil, the 18-year-old who organized the event in July, was directed by Mayor Mario Kranjac to pay $2,499.26 "for the police overtime caused by your protest," according to a letter reported by NJ Advance Media. Gil's protest called on the town to increase access to affordable housing.

The letter stated that Gil refused to meet with officials before her event, which left them scrambling to prepare security plans.

"Your lack of notification left the borough with little time to prepare for your protest so that the police department and department of public works could ensure that everyone would be safe," the letter said.

However, Gil said that she declined requests to meet with officials in person due to concerns about the coronavirus and that officials never accepted her offer to meet remotely on Zoom. Gil told NJ Advance Media that only 30 to 40 people attended the rally and caused no disruption.

"Englewood Cliffs is trying to intimidate and silence people who are standing up for Black Lives Matter and the implementation of affordable housing," Gil told the news outlet. Kranjac said that Gil was incorrect to link affordable housing to her protest.

"As with any privately-sponsored event that takes place in the borough requiring police safety, an invoice was sent to the organizer for police overtime since it would be unfair to require our residents to financially support a private event," Kranjac said.

Four Democratic members of the town's Council issued a statement on Friday condemning the Republican mayor's bill and argued that he tried to "bully and silence a young woman who simply dared to exercise her first amendment rights."

The mayor on Saturday in a letter to Gil said he rescinded the bill for police overtime and explained that the bill was based on the advice of the borough administrator. He also said would continue to work on the town's affordable housing options.

"I was told that all private events requiring police overtime should be paid for by the organizers. It was never intended as a fine, but rather as a fee," Kranjac wrote in a letter.

"I have researched the issue further with my own counsel and I am hereby rescinding the bill, subject to our Council's ratification of my action," he continued. "I always want to make certain that everyone's Constitutional Rights are fully respected. We will have to adjust the Borough's ordinances accordingly."
The many industries that make up the world of freight have undergone tremendous change over the past several decades. Each Friday, FreightWaves explores the archives of American Shipper's nearly 70-year-old collection of shipping and maritime publications to showcase interesting freight stories of long ago.

The following is an excerpt from the August 1963 edition of the Florida Journal of Commerce.

Airplanes are returning  temporarily, at least  to their former role of transporting America's huge missile components to Cape Canaveral for launching.

NASA has signed a contract with Aerc Spacelines, Inc., of Van Nuys, California for the use of a B-337 (PG) aircraft with a specially enlarged body section to transport Saturn rocket stages from Santa Monica California to Canaveral. The 12-hour plane flight will replace the 3-week ocean trip via the Panama Canal.

The plane is a Boeing Stratocruiser outfitted just for the job of transporting the Saturn S-IV stage, which is 18 feet in diameter and 40 feet in length. The fuselage parts into two sections to accommodate the big booster.

In addition to the Santa Monica-Canaveral service, the same plane will be used to transport other missile components around the country by air.

Shippers are only slightly alarmed for the moment. Even though the B-37 (only one of its kind) can handle this assignment, the rocket stages continue to grow in size and will require movement by water in most instances.

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 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Mumbai, Aug 29 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the money laundering angle in the case of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, has summoned hotelier Gaurav Arya for questioning on Monday, officials said on Saturday.

A top ED official connected with the probe told IANS, "We have summoned Arya for questioning in connection with the case on Monday at our Mumbai office." The official said that Arya has been summoned after the agency checked the mobile phone of the late actor's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and found that the two allegedly chatted about consumption of drugs.

The Naroctics Control Bureau (NCB) on Wednesday registered a case against Rhea, her brother Showik, Arya, Rhea's talent manager Jaya Saha and others under several sections of the NDPS Act.

The ED had registered a case of money laundering against Rhea and her family members on July 31 on the basis of a complaint lodged by Sushant's father KK Singh with Bihar Police.

In his complaint, Singh has alleged that Rs 15 crore was transferred from his son's bank account to other bank accounts unknown to him.

The ED has already recorded the statements of Rhea, her father Indrajit, brother Showik, Sushant's flatmate Siddharth Pithani, his house manager Sameul Miranda and others. The ED has also recorded the statements of Sushant's father and his sisters Priyanka Singh and Meetu Singh.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
The prime minister is suddenly unpopular again. An Ipsos MORI opinion poll this week recorded a sharp drop in his favourability rating since last month. His opponents, convinced that Boris Johnson has handled coronavirus badly, are sure his incompetence is finally catching up with him, but are they right?

I try to keep an open mind. Just because London-based liberal Remainers think something doesnt make it untrue. And it is the case that, when voters are asked if they have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of the prime minister, the unfavourables outnumber the favourables by 17 percentage points.

But this could be simply a reversion to politics as usual. Johnson had net unfavourable ratings at the time of the election. It was the positive ratings at the height of the epidemic in April, May and June that were unusual.

People tend to take a negative view of politicians, so what matters is how they compare with their rivals. Keir Starmers favourability rating is better than Johnsons, although large numbers of people (41 per cent) say they have neither a favourable nor an unfavourable opinion of him. More significantly, Starmer has recently overtaken Johnson when voters are asked who would make the better prime minister. It cannot be long before this translates into a Labour lead in one or two polls when people are asked how they would actually vote.

Recommended Trust in Boris Johnson will be tested by schools going back

Yet most polls at this stage of the electoral cycle are essentially pop quizzes, as Lynton Crosby calls them. The Australian guru, who ran Johnsons first campaign for London mayor and David Camerons 2015 campaign, said last month: What I despair of is the focus on opinion polls; they are just pop quizzes about whats going on at the time; they dont reflect underlying sentiment.

On the surface, it would seem that a summer of U-turns would cast doubt on the governments competence  but perhaps it hasnt had that much effect on underlying sentiment. As Matt Hancock, the health secretary, points out in an interview today, what journalists like to call a U-turn is evidence of rational, objective government doing the best it can under difficult circumstances.

He didnt point out that on A-level grades, for example, the government ended up with the policy the opposition had demanded, but he did say: If I get 80 per cent of my decisions right then Id be very pleased with that. It was surprisingly honest of him to quantify it like that, but it is possible that the voters give politicians more of the benefit of the doubt than media headlines do.

So how do we assess underlying sentiment? Good opinion researchers use a combination of polls and focus groups  discussions with small groups of target voters. Deborah Mattinson of BritainThinks is one of the best, and she has a book coming out next month called Beyond the Red Wall which uses conversations with voters in Hyndburn, Darlington and Stoke-on-Trent to assess what happened in the last election and whether new Conservative voters are likely to stick with Johnson.

Her tentative conclusion is that, although they were shaken by the coronavirus crisis and felt that Johnson hadnt handled it well, they thought the government had done as good a job as they could in very difficult circumstances, in the words of Yvonne from Darlington  words that were echoed, almost precisely, by Hancock today.

As for the comparison with Labour, Mattinson found that Starmer has made huge gains by not being Jeremy Corbyn, but so far has not made much of an impression of his own. Ian from Accrington in Hyndburn said: I dont know what hes about. Meanwhile, I see Boris clearly  I get him. I genuinely believe that hes an old-fashioned patriot. When Starmer stands up to ask the prime minister some questions on Wednesday, Mattinson thinks he needs Ians words about Johnson to be ringing in his ears: I think hell stand up for our country and thats good enough for me.

Despite the U-turns, and Dominic Cummingss trip to Barnard Castle, and despite pop-quiz opinion polls, so far there isnt much evidence that Johnson is losing his hold on the loyalties of the pro-Brexit, working-class coalition that gave him his election mandate.
Details added: first version posted on 12:59

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.29

Trend:

Armenia continues to spread lies regarding the spread of COVID-19 in Azerbaijan's territories that it holds under occupation, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said.

Hajiyev made the remark at the briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers held on Aug. 29, Trend reports.

"Infection is rapidly spreading on the occupied territories and Armenia is completely hiding information about the spread of COVID-19 there," he said.

He added that residents of the occupied territories are citizens of Azerbaijan, and infections among them should be listed in the statistics of Azerbaijan.

"However, due to the fact of occupation, we cannot receive information about these infections, which, of course, is not reflected in the statistics of Azerbaijan," Hajiyev said. "We appealed to the WHO in connection with the fact that if the unrecognized government of the occupied territories tries to bring cases of infection into international statistics, then this should be prevented, and infection statistics should be reported as related to Azerbaijan. The responsibility for the current situation in the occupied territories rests with the leadership of Armenia," he said.

"As its known, recently, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan took part in the so-called "inauguration" ceremony in the occupied territories, in which no one used medical masks, which also contributed to infections in these territories. The massive infections also took place in the occupant Armenian army, also creating conditions for a wide spread of the epidemic," Hajiyev said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Rioting broke out in the Swedish city of Malmo after hundreds gathered to oppose the burning of the Quran by far-right activists.

Rioters set fires and threw objects at police and emergency services and 15 people were detained after more than 300 people gathered in protest, police said.

We dont have this under control but we are working actively to take control, a police spokesperson said on Friday evening.

We see a connection between what is happening now and what happened earlier today, the spokesperson said.

Police said rioters pelted emergency service personnel as fires raged (EPA)

The riots erupted after a group of far-right activists gathered to burn Islam's holy book in an industrial area on the city's south side.

Recommended Sweden records its highest death toll for 150 years amid coronavirus

Local reports said the anti-Islam protests were sparked after Rasmus Paludan, leader of far-right Danish party Hard Line, was held up at the Swedish border and denied permission to hold a meeting in Malmo. Mr Paludan was on his way to hold a meeting on the supposed "Islamisation of the Nordic countries", according to the Daily Aftonbladet, a Swedish national newspaper.

Mr Paludan had reportedly been invited to speak by street artist and provocateur Dan Park, who has previously been convicted for inciting ethnic hatred.

We suspect that he was going to break the law in Sweden, Calle Persson, spokesperson for Malmo police told AFP, there was also a risk that his behaviour ... would pose a threat to society.

The riots kicked off late in the evening and did not settle down until around 3am, the Daily Aftonbladet reported.

The newspaper also reported that other islamophobic incidents had taken place around Malmo in the daytime on Friday, including the arrest of a group of three men who were kicking around a copy of the Quran in a central market square.

Additional reporting by agencies
RICHMOND  The Supreme Court of Virginia on Wednesday tossed out an injunction handed down by a Richmond judge that barred the city from removing its lone remaining Confederate monument.

Richmond Circuit Judge Bradley Cavedo issued a 60-day injunction in July shortly after Mayor Levar Stoney ordered the removal of the citys Confederate monuments, using authority under a local emergency order. Stoney appealed the decision, and the states highest court ruled in his favor Wednesday.

An anonymous plaintiff who challenged Stoneys decision to remove the statues is not entitled to a temporary injunction, the order stated. The Circuit Court abused its discretion in determining otherwise, and we vacate the temporary injunction.

The decision might clear a stumbling block that may have slowed removal plans for the city-controlled statue of Confederate Gen. A.P. Hill in North Side, who is buried at the site.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court cited a provision in state law that took effect July 1, which grants localities control over their Confederate iconography. The law allows only the city attorney of a locality to file a legal challenge pertaining to war memorials. The amended state law effectively barred the anonymous plaintiff from asking a court to step in, according to the order.

James B. Thomas, a lawyer representing the plaintiff, could not immediately be reached for comment late Wednesday.

On July 1, Stoney ordered crews to take down Richmonds Confederate statues. He cited public safety concerns amid ongoing protests that saw demonstrators pull down statues and clash frequently with police. He said the removal was temporary, until the City Council could carry out a 60-day administrative process for permanent removal outlined under the state law.

His decision came against advice from Richmonds interim city attorney, Haskell Brown, and without approval from the council.

Cavedo sharply criticized Stoneys handling of the unrest before issuing the injunction that led to the appeal. He lives in the Monument Avenue Historic District and later recused himself from the case.

The council voted this month to make permanent the statues removal. It is now holding a 30-day offering period for them, as required under state law. The council could vote on a relocation plan for each statue, including Hills, as early as next month.

The Supreme Court ruling comes on the heels of a separate filing last week by the same anonymous plaintiff. The person, identified as a Virginian who is a descendant of U.S. war veterans who fought on both sides of the Civil War, asked the court to order Richmonds statues returned to their pedestals.

The petitioner argued Stoney had violated state law because he had circumvented a 60-day process outlining how localities are required to remove Confederate iconography. Stoneys lawyers have argued he could authorize removal of the statues using emergency authority.

The Supreme Court ruling Wednesday did not address Stoneys use of emergency authority.

Jeffrey Breit, an attorney representing Stoney on the case, said the courts reasoning for vacating the injunction made clear that the separate legal challenge was also barred under state law.

My client always thought he was on the right side of justice on the issue of Confederate statues in Richmond, Breit said in a statement. The Supreme Court now says he is on the right side of the law.

A separate legal challenge over the states plans to remove the Robert E. Lee monument is currently slated for a trial in October.
Two cardigans were acquired when I went to collect a free tent offered on Facebook Marketplace from an older couple offloading the possessions of their adult children. I credit my new-found clothing frugality to my recently acquired super-sized mortgage, alongside the teachings of Japanese organising guru Marie Kondo, which I have followed since first reading her bestselling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up in about 2014. Since then, I've "Kondo-ed" my possessions several times, embarking on periodic purges of clothing, books, household items and sentimental objects. Stuff keeps creeping back in, of course. But overall, I've downsized dramatically.

In dire need of another organisational adrenaline rush while working from home, I impulsively spent a lunch break throwing the entire contents of my wardrobe onto my bed, where I proceeded to leave them for a couple of hours. Just before bedtime, in dire need of a place to sleep, I began my sort and purge. In accordance with Kondo's advice, I individually held each item and decided if it "sparked joy". As I did this, I happened to also be listening to a new podcast by economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers called Think Like an Economist. The two activities combined, it dawned on me why the Kondo regime has always held special appeal. I don't know if she realises it, but Kondo herself is a closet economist. The entire Kondo method is about making decisions about your possessions. Economists, too, love decisionmaking. Indeed, the entire point of economics is to help optimise allocation of scarce resources, such as time and money. Kondo's method does just that.

First, her advice to keep only items which "spark joy" is essentially an encouragement to consider the costs versus benefits of owning each item. For instance, does the joy sparked by each item outweigh the distress you may experience at owning too many items? Just like economists, Kondo also urges you to "think at the margin"  and I'll explain what that means. When you're overhauling your wardrobe, you don't sit down in advance and decide how many pairs of socks you should own. Should it be five or 10? No, you sit down with each pair of socks and decide for each additional pair  that is, at the "margin" of sock ownership  whether the benefits to you of owning this sock outweigh potential costs. Loading Importantly, both Kondo and economists urge you to consider all the potential costs of owning an item, including the "opportunity cost".

Economists have long known that there are hidden costs to every decision  not in upfront dollars, but in the loss of an opportunity to pursue an alternate approach. Imagine a world where your wardrobe is pristine, you own only items which spark joy and getting dressed each day is a dream. That is what you are giving up when you decide to hold on to 33 pairs of socks. Importantly, Kondo and economists both advise to turn a blind eye to the "sunk cost" of whatever you've spent to purchase each item. Let go of the guilt. All that matters today is whether continued ownership of each item will bring you more joy than negativity. So, under the advisement of both Kondo and economists, I went through my wardrobe and earmarked for eviction about a fifth of my clothes. Keep in mind, I've done this process several times, so my true downsizing over the years has been much greater. And boy, does it ever feel gooooood.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration late Friday allowed the drug remdesivir to be used on all patients hospitalized with COVID-19, although no published research supports such widespread use.

The approval allows doctors freedom to prescribe the antiviral earlier. But it comes less than a week after the agency approved use of convalescent plasma without published scientific support, fueling concerns the agency is yielding to political pressure.

"It seems to be a pattern of approval without science, without data, without evidence," said Dr. Eric Topol, vice president for research at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California and a national expert on the use of data in medical research.

In May, the FDA allowed remdesivir to be used for hospitalized adults who need oxygen, but not those sick enough to require ventilation. A government study published that month in the New England Journal of Medicine found those patients recovered faster than those who hadn't gotten the drug, though there was no evidence that it saved lives.

Earlier this month, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study of less severely ill hospitalized adults, showing that five days of treatment with remdesivir was better than standard care, though "the difference was of uncertain clinical importance."

No other studies have been published supporting more widespread use of remdesivir. Yet the FDA said the data is now compelling enough to expand its use to all hospitalized patients, including children.

"The data show that this treatment has the potential to help even more hospitalized patients who are suffering from the effects of this devastating virus," FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen M. Hahn said in a prepared statement announcing the agency had granted an emergency use authorization for remdesivir.

The FDA uses that process to approve products that, based on scientific evidence, it is reasonable to believe  may be effective. An emergency use authorization can be issued only during an emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, when there are no adequate, approved and available alternatives.

Story continues

Topol said he was appalled by the expanded approval of the drug. "There are no data to support wide use of remdesivir," he said. "This is extraordinary."

Bullied: Scientists worry FDA could be pressured to approve COVID-19 vaccine before it's fully tested

Operation Warp Speed: Coronavirus vaccine on track for FDA approval by end of 2020, official says

What to know about antiviral drug remdesivir and COVID-19

The FDA announced the expanded use of remdesivir at 5:20 p.m. ET on Friday, citing the studies published in May and August.

In a statement, Dr. Merdad Parsey, chief medical officer of the Foster City, California-based Gilead Sciences Inc., said the company was pleased with the FDA's decision to expand use of the drug, which he referred to by its trade name.

As we learn more about COVID-19 and we further establish the efficacy and safety profile of Veklury, we see benefit to making the drug available to patients at earlier stages of the disease," he wrote.

Will expanded use of remdesivir help patients?

Dr. Francisco Marty, an infectious disease doctor and researcher at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, said the expanded emergency use will help him get the drug to patients who are less sick but who he thinks are likely to benefit from the antiviral.

Marty, who has helped conduct some of the remdesivir trials, said he treats cancer and transplant patients who are high risk for complications, and he'd like to get them on the drug as quickly as he can. Before the expansion, he had to wait until they got sicker.

"I fight with Gilead as much as many people, and try to push them," he said. "But for me, it's what's best for the patient. How can we help the most people?"

Dr. Nuala Meyer, a critical care physician and scientist at the Perelman School of Medicine and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, said she doesn't think the FDA's decision will change treatment for most of her patients.

Patients at PennMed are given remdesivir only if they have pneumonia requiring supplemental oxygen. That would have accounted for more than half of the patients during Philadelphia's surge in April and May, Meyer said, but fewer today.

Most of her current patients, she said, are in the hospital for about 48 hours, so it wouldn't make sense to put them on remdesivir, an intraveneous therapy with a five-day course. "I'm not aware of a whole lot of data in hospitalized patients who don't require oxygen," she said.

Meyer is concerned that the expanded use may make it harder to get the drug for patients who need it. "We would certainly prioritize patients in whom it is shown to have a benefit."

She said she was surprised by the FDA's approval of remdesivir for all hospitalized patients. "We always expect the FDA to base decisions on data and we do get concerned when we see decision-making that we can't find the data to support," she said.

Dr. Stephen Hahn is the new commissioner of the Food and Drug Administation.

FDA under fire for coronavirus response

Hahn, a radiation oncologist and former chief medical executive of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, has been FDA commissioner only since December, but this is the fourth time he has run afoul of the scientific community for his agency's actions to combat the coronavirus.

In March, the FDA allowed makers of COVID-19 antibody tests to sell their products as long as they registered with the FDA. The agency tightened those restrictions about six weeks later, but it has been criticized for standing in the way of other testing that could identify more people while they are contagious with COVID-19.

In May, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization for a drug called hydroxychloroquine, which was strongly promoted by President Donald Trump. There was little data supporting the approval, and the FDA reversed its decision in June after mounting evidence suggested the drug did more harm than good.

Sunday, Hahn and the president announced the FDA would issue emergency approval for convalescent plasma, in which blood products from recovered patients are administered to those whose immune systems haven't built up enough antibodies to fight off the virus.

Trump described it as "a powerful therapy," and the authorization as "a very historic breakthrough."

But there is no data supporting the agency's position that plasma is effective for treating COVID-19 patients.

Hahn claimed at Sunday's news conference that convalescent plasma reduced fatalities by 35%, but the study actually found a benefit only for patients who received plasma early, were under 80 and were not on ventilators.

He later apologized on Twitter for his claim. Friday he appeared to have fired his new spokeswoman in response to the incident.

The scientific community was horrified by the authorization of plasma and its characterization by Hahn and the president.

Between that and Friday's announcement for remdesivir, Topol said the agency's emergency approval process appears "farcical."

For decades the FDA has set the world's standard for drug approvals. Although it has been criticized before for yielding to political pressure, those who follow the agency said they have never seen such consistent politicization.

Topol and others said they are particularly concerned about the FDA because the public needs to have faith in the agency that will approve any COVID-19 vaccine.

Topol said he fears it may be too late to preserve the FDA's credibility. "For the public that's paying attention, it's already been sacrificed," he said.

Without widespread acceptance of vaccines, Topol added, there will be no way to end the COVID-19 pandemic, which has already killed nearly 182,000 Americans and sickened nearly 6 million more. "We need that to be widely adopted to get pre-COVID life reestablished."

Contributing: Elizabeth Weise

Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com

Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FDA ignores science in expanding remdesivir to treat COVID-19
Oakland police and protesters clashed for a third night this week in Oakland on Saturday, as a march that began peacefully turned combative amid a heavy police presence and resulted in deployment of tear gas and arrest of six demonstrators.

Oakland police said they deployed minimal gas & smoke after protesters began throwing rocks and bottles at them, pointing lasers and using shields to assault officers. One officer was injured, police said. Two more were assaulted, police said Sunday.

OPD continues our efforts to protect our vulnerable community, the department tweeted.

But some protesters and observers said the demonstration was largely peaceful, and that police officers were the aggressors.

Clashes between police and hundreds of protesters in Oakland occurred on Wednesday and Friday nights. On Wednesday the protests devolved into property damage, with a small fire set inside the Alameda County courthouse and windows of downtown businesses shattered.

Protesters are demanding justice in the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who Wisconsin state investigators said was shot multiple times, including in the back, by a white police officer in Kenosha. Blakes family says he is paralyzed.

On Saturday, more than 100 protesters had gathered in the Grand Lake neighborhood north and east of Lake Merritt starting at about 8:30 p.m. Oakland police began tweeting about problems around 9:30 p.m.

Police said an officer was injured Saturday night near the intersection of Mandana Avenue and Warfield, but did not provide additional information on the type or extent of injuries the officer sustained.

OPD is advising crowd their criminal activity will not be tolerated and those violating the law will be arrested, Oakland police tweeted.

In a 4-second video tweeted by the department, an empty glass bottle can be seen barreling toward the direction of police officers.

In another 6-second video tweeted by police, a green laser could be seen pointed toward a group of police officers following behind a group of demonstrators marching in the street.

Police said some people within the demonstration were throwing objects and pointing lasers at officers, a misdemeanor crime and violation when someone points a laser scope or pointer at another person in a threatening manner.

Twitter user @alisonbrown08 tweeted that police fired tear gas on about 150 peaceful protesters near Lake Merritt and arrested and cited two nonviolent civilians.

The march lasted about an hour, @renepakmorrison tweeted, with OPD completely outnumbering demonstrators and following the march with dozens of vehicles crammed with more police. There were at least five people detained tonight.

Shortly before 10:45 p.m., @Bonniebrunet10 tweeted that roughly 250 protesters were assembling peacefully but were prepared to get hurt and arrested by police. While the demonstrators marched, the protester said, about 100 police encircled them on foot and in about 30 police cars, vans, plain clothes cars, & motorcycles.

Why this enormus show of power? the protester tweeted, sharing a photo of a swarm of police officers.

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.

Police said they declared the crowd blocking traffic on Mandana Avenue as unlawful assembly and said they failed to disperse, saying protesters needed to leave or face possible arrest.

On Friday night, Oakland police said they arrested more than 12 people, including one person who pointed a laser at an officer, during a demonstration in which hundreds of protesters marched through downtown. Officers did not identify the protesters or list the other offenses they were booked for.

Video footage posted by police showed a large crowd marching at 14th Street and Broadway and other intersections. Officers said some people were blocking the roadway and not allowing cars to pass and were asked to move.

In San Jose, Mayor Sam Liccardo said Saturday he was tremendously heartened after neighbors armed with brushes, rags and sponges scrubbed off painted graffiti left by protesters on the side of his home.

The cleaning party gathered Saturday after the beige home was covered Friday night with tags of BLM, Jacob Blake, San Jose will be free soon and profanity. Paintballs that left red blotches on the walls were cleaned off, too.

The neighbors efforts sharply contrast with the roughly hundred so-called protesters who stood by silently  or even cheered  while flags were burned and f*** you was scrawled on our home, Liccardo tweeted.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Lauren Hernandez and Sam Whiting contributed to this report.

Roland Li and Steve Rubenstein are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com. srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf, @SteveRubeSF
(Newser)  Two weeks ago, what the National Review calls a "bizarre open letter" emerged regarding the upcoming election. The letter from the Defense One site offered a hypothetical in which President Trump refuses to leave office in January after losing the election, then reminded Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Mark Milley it would be his duty "to give unambiguous orders directing US military forces to support the Constitutional transfer of power." On Friday, Milley, in response to questions from two Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee, said the US military won't be getting involved in anything election-related on his watch. "I believe deeply in the principle of an apolitical US military," Milley said in a statement, per the AP. "In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, by law US courts and the US Congress are required to resolve any disputes, not the US military."

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He added: "I foresee no role for the US armed forces in this process." The questions were sent to Milley by Democratic Reps. Elissa Slotkin and Mikie Sherrill after an Armed Services Committee hearing in July. CNN notes there have been disputed presidential elections beforeincluding 2000's showdown between Al Gore and George W. Bushbut that civilian officials hashed all that out; the military played no part. "When people are scared they trust the military to do the right, the legal, the constitutional, the decent thing, even though it's not their job, even though in this case it would be an extraordinary dangerous precedent for democracy in America," a foreign and defense policy expert tells the outlet. And if Trump tried to round up the military to use for his own political purposes, rather than in the interest of national security? "I will not follow an unlawful order," Milley responded. (Read more Mark Milley stories.)
ALTON  Musical genres collide and form the gateway to new possibilities for band members of The Plums, a local four-piece ensemble looking to take the world by storm.

Formed in the fall of 2018 by a group of college kids hailing from as far away as Chicago and Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, The Plums have made Alton their home base and just finished a recording session for a new EP to be released later this year.

Its a cool conglomeration, said the bands keyboardist Joey Arlene. Every single person has really varying tastes, which I think is really cool. Thats actually my favorite part of the band  everyones ability to bring different ideas.

With vast musical tastes and influences such as grunge, reggae, funk, 60s British pop, modern, indie, heavy metal, big band jazz, motown, folk, classic rock, electronic and world music, The Plums are high energy when it comes to music and the band members bring that energy to their overall sound.

The Beatles are definitely in there for all four of us, said drummer Ben Willingham.

My biggest influence is the Smashing Pumpkins,  he said. It started out with Van Halen and Rush and thats kind of what got me into drumming, so a lot of my basic root knowledge of percussion and drumming is from those kinds of bands.

Arlene and lead vocalist Wyatt Glave also like to experiment with different instruments.

I love to experiment with just whatever I can find, said Arlene, who started playing keys in high school and would listen to his grandmother playing guitar around the house. Thats kind of how I grew up.

Glave expressed a similar sentiment.

I like to dabble with all kinds of stuff, he said. I wouldnt say Im proficient at most things. But I like to sit down with instruments and just kind of experiment with them.

Brought together by the love of music, the four met at Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Missouri.

Obviously, we were all there for music purposes, said vocalist Wyatt Glave. Ben and I were roommates and we really wanted to do a band.

I think one of the big forces that pushed our band forward in the beginning was when we all watched the Queen movie, he said. At least, speaking for myself, I kind of felt like a new energy. I wanted to get this going.

Glave is also the bands primary songwriter, but he would like to see other members contribute more as they move forward.

I dont really like being the primary songwriter, if you will, he said. I hope that one day we can all kind of write stuff and sing because I like that variety.

I think we are slowly all reaching that point and thats kind of where I would like to see us, he said. As much as I like writing music, I want to see what everyone else has to say.

Band members also are looking forward to doing more studio work.

I think Im more interested in the recording side, rather than the live, said Glave. I like playing live, but Id like to see how far we can go in the studio in terms of experimenting and changing what a song might sound like, being able to mess around with all of the gadgets and stuff.

After recording their first EP at Gaslight Studio in St. Louis, The Plums are already thrilled with the recording experience and plan to be in the studio at least once a year.

The guys down there were really super cool, said Arlene. Rick Wagner was the best engineer and producer you could ask for.

We recorded four tunes and got the rough mixes back, but dont have the final mixes yet, he said. Hopefully well get those in the next few weeks or so.

The EPs songs  Across the World, Future Pending, Right Here, Right Now and Hit the Ground  are definitely on the high energy side said Willingham and are a cohesive, yet diverse mix of the bands overall sound.

Weve been waiting a long time to do just these tunes, said Arlene, who co-wrote two of the songs. Were not super ready for an album yet since were still relatively new. So were just trying to get tunes we think are good and want people to hear.

Aside from the somewhat slower Across the World, bassist Hans Mohr said a lot of their current music is pretty hard.

Kind of makes sense, I guess, he said. In relation to The Beatles, a lot of their songs were really up tempo. Its just really easy to get a crowd involved that way.

Although a full album might be a ways off, The Plums are getting their feet wet with local shows, as pandemic precautions permit. If not rescheduled, their next show is planned Friday, Sept. 25 at the Red Flag in St. Louis.

We did have two or three this month in August, but they kept getting pushed back, said Willingham.

While The Plums recognize the importance of live shows and touring, they also value the personal satisfaction in the music they produce and share.

It does matter what people think. But at the end of the day, its what we created and what wed like to share with the world, said Arlene. To just be happy with what were putting out, not getting lazy and people hopefully liking it  thats the bottom line.

For more on the band, visit their page on Facebook.
Some investors rely on dividends for growing their wealth, and if you're one of those dividend sleuths, you might be intrigued to know that Imperial Oil Limited (TSE:IMO) is about to go ex-dividend in just 4 days. This means that investors who purchase shares on or after the 3rd of September will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 1st of October.

Imperial Oil's upcoming dividend is CA$0.22 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of CA$0.88 per share to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Imperial Oil has a trailing yield of 4.0% on the current stock price of CA$22.12. Dividends are a major contributor to investment returns for long term holders, but only if the dividend continues to be paid. As a result, readers should always check whether Imperial Oil has been able to grow its dividends, or if the dividend might be cut.

View our latest analysis for Imperial Oil

Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. Imperial Oil reported a loss last year, so it's not great to see that it has continued paying a dividend. With the recent loss, it's important to check if the business generated enough cash to pay its dividend. If Imperial Oil didn't generate enough cash to pay the dividend, then it must have either paid from cash in the bank or by borrowing money, neither of which is sustainable in the long term. It paid out 97% of its free cash flow in the form of dividends last year, which is outside the comfort zone for most businesses. Cash flows are usually much more volatile than earnings, so this could be a temporary effect - but we'd generally want look more closely here.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Businesses with strong growth prospects usually make the best dividend payers, because it's easier to grow dividends when earnings per share are improving. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. Imperial Oil was unprofitable last year, but at least the general trend suggests its earnings have been improving over the past five years. Even so, an unprofitable company whose business does not quickly recover is usually not a good candidate for dividend investors.

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The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. Since the start of our data, 10 years ago, Imperial Oil has lifted its dividend by approximately 8.2% a year on average. We're glad to see dividends rising alongside earnings over a number of years, which may be a sign the company intends to share the growth with shareholders.

We update our analysis on Imperial Oil every 24 hours, so you can always get the latest insights on its financial health, here.

To Sum It Up

Is Imperial Oil an attractive dividend stock, or better left on the shelf? First, it's not great to see the company paying a dividend despite being loss-making over the last year. Second, the dividend was not well covered by cash flow." Bottom line: Imperial Oil has some unfortunate characteristics that we think could lead to sub-optimal outcomes for dividend investors.

So if you're still interested in Imperial Oil despite it's poor dividend qualities, you should be well informed on some of the risks facing this stock. To help with this, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Imperial Oil that you should be aware of before investing in their shares.

A common investment mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a list of promising dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
Surviving the vehicle import ban By Sheran Fernando Feature View(s): View(s):

The objective of this article is to outline a strategy of how the Franchise Holder (FH) can cope with the motor vehicle import ban. The FH is the local agent of the automotive manufacturer in Sri Lanka and is distinct from the Parallel Importer (PI), who buys vehicles in the retail market abroad and imports the car to Sri Lanka. Typically, the PIs vehicles are not covered by the manufacturers warranty, safety and recall actions, and software updates released from time to time by the manufacturer.

The Secretary to the President has made the Government position abundantly clear to the industry. That is, the Government does not have the liquidity to fund motor vehicle imports and they feel that there is adequate stock on the ground for the next two years.

What can Franchise Holders do?

The FH has a challenge of covering his operational costs on the revenue earned from the after sales service business. Given below are strategies that FHs could follow towards this end;

1. Maximising After Sales Service revenue

- Aggressively reduce price of fast moving parts.

- Marketing extended warranty schemes so vehicle owners can make a payment to extend their warranty. This covers the owner from unbudgeted expenditure, and gives the FH a revenue flow.

- Convert workshops to operate on 24/7 basis, so there is an increased throughput for the existing level of investment.

2. Negotiate with Principals

- Freeze Capital Expenditure requirements.

- Negotiate target based and model based discounts on spare parts.

3. Build brand

- The present period is a vacuum in the automotive industry and the ideal period to engage in customer-brand activation. This activation will promote the brands top of mind recall and also customer loyalty. It is an opportune time to invest in the development of customer relationships.

4. Keep employees motivated and active

- Ensure employees can earn a living wage.

- Restructure employee benefits

- Shift part of salary to be Key Performance Indicator (KPI) based, ensuring KPIs are transparent and achievable.

What can the Government do?

The Governments primary objective is to minimise the expenditure of foreign exchange. The Secretary to the President quoted the figure of US$ 1 billion spent on vehicle imports in 2019. The Government also spends around $3 billion on the import of fuel for transportation. Their broader objectives are to reduce the prevalent levels of congestion and pollution in main cities.

Strategies the Government could look at are;

Use the period of the import ban to legislate the adoption of the EU 6 emission standard. The present standard that is applicable is EU 4, and the EU 6 standard ensures less exhaust gas pollution of the environment.

When the import ban is lifted, to incentivise the import of electric vehicles, rather than vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE)

Encourage a reduction in private vehicles coming into cities by building parking facilities at city entry points, levying city entry charges, limiting parking within the city and finally ensuring the availability and quality of public transport within the city.

Promote mobility platforms and mobility services that make more efficient use of transport hardware.

Conclusion

Pollution, congestion and high expenditure of fuel for transport were problems grappling the Sri Lankan government, prior to the COVID-19. The reduction in export income led the government to take the drastic decision to ban a selection of imports, including the import of motor vehicles. This decision can give the government time to take considered long term policy decisions that enhance the structure of mobility in Sri Lanka and bring permanent solutions to the problems of pollution, congestion and high expenditure on fuel for transport.

(The writer is Co-Founder of Innosolve Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, a start-up dedicated to introducing sustainable mobility solutions in Sri Lanka).
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At least 17 people are dead after a two-storey restaurant collapsed during a birthday party in northern China, METRO informs. Seven people have been seriously hurt after the building crumbled during a gathering on Saturday morning. According to METRO, a further 21 are injured after the tragedy, which happened just before 10am local time.

More than 700 emergency workers have launched a rescue mission at the scene in Xiangfen county, Shanxi province, 400 miles southwest of capital Beijing.




AMID rising tensions in the country, authorities plan to fast-track the Cyber Bill which will punish those deemed to have abused social media or peddled falsehoods against the State and citizens once it becomes law.





In addition, the government will also soon introduce the Patriotic Act in Parliament  a law which it says seeks to promote patriotism among Zimbabweans.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily News yesterday, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the planned two pieces of legislation had become priority bills for authorities. Speaking in an interview with the Daily News yesterday, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the planned two pieces of legislation had become priority bills for authorities.





However, government critics fear that both laws will be used to clamp down on dissenting voices in the country  particularly in light of recent accusations that authorities have been guilty of gross human rights violations.





This comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Thursday that Zimbabwe had come under sustained and unjustified online attacks  in an alleged bid by the States enemies to cause regime change in the country.





Speaking in the exclusive interview with the Daily News yesterday, Ziyambi, pictured, confirmed that the government would fast-track the passage in Parliament of the Cyber and Patriotic bills, to deal with those deemed to be delinquents.





We have the Cyber Bill, but we have been affected by Covid-19 (in passing it). There is a need to speed up the passing of this bill which is one of our priority bills.

What we are going to do is that when we resume sitting next week, we will see if we can cover a lot of ground on it.

We are hopeful that we can complete it before the end of October. People are now using foreign (cellphone) numbers to attack the government. The majority of those attacking the government use foreign numbers, Ziyambi said.





They know  that they are perpetuating falsehoods and we are going to deal with this soon. We just need to speed up our Cyber laws and we will be able to deal with them after passing the bills, he said further.

According to Clause 164 of the proposed Cyber Bill, anyone found guilty of communicating false information on the country or citizens can be jailed for five years. According to Clause 164 of the proposed Cyber Bill, anyone found guilty of communicating false information on the country or citizens can be jailed for five years.





Any person who unlawfully and intentionally by means of a computer or information system makes available, broadcasts or distributes data to any other person concerning an identified or identifiable person knowing it to be false with intent to cause psychological or economic harm shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 10 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or to both such fine and such imprisonment, it reads in part.





This comes as the government recently received withering criticism from rights groups over allegations of having clamped down on critics ahead of the foiled July 31 mass protests.





However, authorities disputed the allegations saying some of the gory images that had been circulated in this regard were old pictures from the era of the late former president Robert Mugabe.

Ziyambi told the Daily News further yesterday that the circulation of such images and the peddling of falsehoods justified why the enactment of the mooted two laws was necessary. Ziyambi told the Daily News further yesterday that the circulation of such images and the peddling of falsehoods justified why the enactment of the mooted two laws was necessary.





On the Patriotic Bill, our policy department is preparing principles of the bill and very soon we will table it in Parliament. There is also a need to speed up this bill.





In the next legislative session, that bill will be one of the agenda. It is one of our priority bills. We embraced too much the so-called freedom of expression that is nowhere in the world.

Here, there is too much freedom. In America they have that Patriotic Act and all those laws, Ziyambi said.

We are now looking at our legislation to see how we can strengthen it, so that we protect innocent citizens from undue attack from those who are unpatriotic.





We are looking at how we can deal with this, Ziyambi further told the Daily News.





In the United States of America, the Patriot Act  which is officially known as the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act  was developed largely as an anti-terrorism piece of legislation in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks.





Section 314 of the Act helps law enforcement agencies to identify, disrupt and prevent terrorist acts and money laundering activities  by encouraging co-operation among law enforcement agents, regulators and financial institutions.





Ziyambi said the foiled July 31 mass demonstrations and the ZimbabweLivesMatter hashtag were all allegedly part of plans to destabilise the country.





I think that the #ZimbabweLivesMatter campaign on social media is now losing steam. What they thought could happen, did not. They were trying to destabilise the country.





However, our currency has stabilised, the auction system is performing well and there are no human rights abuses. There is no crisis really to talk about.





They (demonstrators) wanted to cause anarchy, but we are a very peaceful country. Sooner, their lies will be exposed, Ziyambi further told the Daily News.





Meanwhile, Mnangagwa said on Thursday that his administration and the country were under siege from cyber dissidents and bullies.





The social media attack is most unjustifiable, based upon fiction, non-facts, non-truth allegations that there are gross human rights violations in the country.





There is no evidence of such things happening. The arbitrary arrests, death, torture in the country, all that is being stated without evidence.





We are enjoying peace and stability in the country, but our detractors have decided to impose a cyber-war on our country in pursuit of a regime change agenda, Mnangagwa said.





This comes after the government deployed security forces around the country and thwarted the planned July 31 protests which opposition and rights groups said were meant to voice dissatisfaction with rampant public sector corruption.





Rights groups have also since claimed that dozens of opposition figures and activists were tortured and assaulted in a retributive exercise by suspected security agents after authorities foiled the demonstrations.




According to NABU, the decision is politically motivated.

The decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine on the unconstitutionality of the decree on appointment of Artem Sytnyk as Director of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is politically motivated.

"A quick decision made after the publication of the so-called 'Kyiv District Administrative Court recordings,' including in relation to decision-making by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine is another step towards the destruction of the institutional independence of the National Bureau," NABU said in a statement on August 29.

In addition, according to NABU, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine deprived NABU of the authority to invalidate illegal agreements in court and actually released the officials from criminal liability for illegal enrichment.

Read alsoUkraine State Judicial Administration, Kyiv District Administrative Court's heads served with charge papers  NABUIt is reported next in line is the consideration of the constitutional petition filed by the Members of Parliament on the alleged unconstitutionality of the establishment of the National Bureau. The initiators of these petitions, as well as the draft laws, which over the past five years had the goal of weakening NABU in relation to the investigation of top corruption, were the persons involved in the corrupt schemes, including those who already have the status of suspects or accused.

NABU director's appointment: essence of claim

On July 9, 2020, the Constitutional Court launched consideration of the claim filed by a group of 51 people's deputies who asked the court to look into the constitutionality of the presidential decree on appointing Artem Sytnyk NABU Director.

According to the law on NABU (Part 9 Article 7), a president appoints a Bureau director from among two to three candidates selected by the competition committee.

In 2015, of 176 candidates running for the top post at NABU, Arem Sytnyk and Mykola Siriy reached the final stage of selection. The then-President Petro Poroshenko has appointed Artem Sytnyk.

The group of deputies, which includes Vladimir Putin's political operative in Ukraine Viktor Medvedchuk, explained in their filing with the Constitutional Court that the post of NABU director is beyond the explicit list of positions laid down in the Constitution to which a president is entitled to appoint officials.

They believe that the president thus breached the ban on usurping state power, enshrined in Part 4 Article 5 of the Constitution.

On August 28, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ruled that the appointment of Sytnyk as NABU Director was unconstitutional.

What is NABU

The agency was established in 2014 after its predecessor, the National Anti-Corruption Committee was considered a failure. The Bureau was created on the request of the International Monetary Fund, according to Wikipedia.

The agency's government funding is mandated under American and European Union aid programs. It has an evidence-sharing agreement with the FBI.
Setting the stage for electioneering for the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar, BJP chief JP Nadda on Saturday instructed party leaders who are Members of Parliament to prepare for sampark or outreach across the state, covering every booth. He also reiterated that the MPs will have to ensure not only the victory of the BJP candidates but of those of the allies as well.

According to party functionaries aware of the details, September has been designated as the month for outreach and MPs have been instructed to visit at least two panchayats everyday and organise meetings in small groups to avoid violating the protocol for social distancing to stem the possible spread of the Covid-19 virus. The Panchayats that the MPs have to visit are those which do not fall in their own constituencies.

All leaders including the MPs will have to hold meetings at the Shakti Kendra level (a cluster of booths) apart from holding at least one virtual rally every day, said a person privy to the meeting.

Each MP will have to cover at least 60 panchayats through September. All senior leaders, including state cabinet ministers have been asked to convey the achievements of the NDA government in the state and at the Centre. They will also have to reach out to prominent people across sections for canvassing purposes, said a second person aware of the details.

MPs have also been instructed to ensure that they are present in their constituencies on four days, September 17 for Prime Minister Narendra Modis birthday, September 25 for Deen Dayal Upadhayays birth anniversary and October 2, for Mahatma Gandhis birth anniversary and ensure there is participation from the party cadre as well.

Nadda has already held two rounds of meetings with Central ministers from the state and with the state cabinet ministers to chalk out the electioneering plan and work on the poll planks that will be pivoted around the achievements of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and the Nitish Kumar government at the state level.

Though the Election Commission, mandated to decide the schedule of the general elections and the assembly elections, is yet to announce a date for the Bihar assembly polls, it is likely that the election will be held in OctoberNovember. The term of the current assembly expires on November 26.

The election comes in the midst of a global pandemic and at a time when the state is also reeling under floods.

The BJP has also refuted rumours of differences between allies; after LJP president Chirag Paswan attacked JDU leader and CM Nitish Kumar for failing to deliver on the promises made to the people of the state.
She regularly shows off her sartorial prowess at events, prior to the COVID-19 crisis.

And Tara Reid was sure to set pulses racing on the red carpet for the premiere of Attack Of The Unknown, which took place at the Galaxy Theatres Boulevard Mall in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Friday.

The actress, 44, looked sensational as she slipped into a semi-sheer black dress, for what could be viewed by many as the first major film launch since the coronavirus crisis began.

Return of the red carpet! Tara Reid set pulses racing in a semi-sheer black dress as she arrived in style at Attack Of The Unknown premiere in Las Vegas on Friday

Tara's dress also featured a black velvet top that had a plunging neckline to show off a generous glimpse of her cleavage.

She boosted her height in a pair of black heels that accentuated her slender legs, and kept her accessories simple so that all attention remained on her ensemble.

Her golden locks were brushed into a sleek, straight style and she wore a glamorous palette of make-up for the occasion, including a slick of red lipstick to accentuate her plump pout.

Delighted to be back in the cinema, Tara was seen posing with her two pet pooches in her lap as she got ready to enjoy the socially distanced screening.

Stunning: Her golden locks were brushed into a sleek, straight style and she wore a glamorous palette of make-up for the occasion, including a slick of red lipstick to accentuate her pout

Sweet: Delighted to be back in the cinema, Tara was seen posing with her two pet pooches in her lap as she got ready to enjoy the socially distanced screening

All dressed up: Tara's dogs wore a mini tuxedo and dress for the outing

Tara stars as lead character Elizabeth in Attach Of The Unknown, which follows a SWAT team who are tasked with transporting a crime boss during an alien invasion.

The event is the first red carpet since the COVID-19 lockdown led to the closure of cinemas across the globe, as well as Hollywood's shutdown.

Earlier this week it was announced that 190 Cineworld cinemas in the US were reopened, though not every state has given the greenlight for cinemas to reopen.

In New York City and California, for example, cinemas currently remained shuttered as a precaution amid the continued spread of the virus.

Wow! The actress was sure to turn heads with her dress, which had intricate sequinned detailing to cover her modesty (pictured with Richard Grieco (L) and Robert LaSardo)

Revealing: Tara's dress also featured a black velvet top that had a plunging neckline to show off a generous glimpse of her cleavage

Relaxed: Tara reclined on one of the cinema's sofas as she posed with Richard and Robert

In June, Tara sparked concern among some viewers following a bizarre appearance with Jedward twins John and Edward Grimes, 28, on Loose Women.

The trio discussed turning to each other for support after losing their mothers as they continue to quarantine together during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Edward heartbreakingly explained how they came together, saying: 'Our families who we would have quarantined with aren't there.'

Gorgeous: Actress Jasmine Jade looked stunning in a white gown as she joined actor Jerimiyah Dunbar at the event

Effortlessly chic: Actress Sherrie Prose looked elegant in a black velvet dress

Dressed to impress: The film's executive producers Stan Divranos and Olive Divranos also posed up a storm at the event

John said: 'Quarantine has been good. It's been a weird time. But, doing it together has made it easier for us!

'But I know some people are going through it alone and some people may not have the support. But during this time you've got to stay together and you really know who your friends are during these times.

Edward added: 'The things about it is Tara and us, we all lost our mums within the same year so I feel like we're all a support network. It was a very hard time for it all'

'And during this time... Our families who we would have quarantined with aren't there, so us together, we can relate to each others' situations. I feel like we're looking after each other and have the best intent.'.

Elegant: Actor Rich Rendon and joined his stylish wife Rebecca on the red carpet

Suited and booted: Actors Paul Gunn (L) and Nicholas George (R) looked dapper in their looks

Standing out: Actor Ben Stobber was sure to turn heads in his bright purple suit

Statement: Actor Thomas Haley posed while holding his mask in front of his face

In October 2018, Tara revealed the sudden death of her mother Donna, two years after the actress' father passed away.





Four months later, in February 2019, Jedward lost their mother Susanna, following her five-year battle with cancer.





Explaining the set up for lockdown, Edward said: 'Me and Jon, we have our own place in Tara's building.

'Tara's on the 10th floor and we're on the 2nd floor. If we ever need anything we just go up the elevator.'
Mumbai, Aug 29 : Meera Chopra feels there is no excitement in watching films released on OTT platforms because they are primarily intended to be on the big screen. The actress feels producers should wait for cinemas to reopen instead of rushing to release their films on OTT.

The "Section 375" actress took to her verified Twitter account on Saturday to speak her mind on the trend of films releasing on OTT platforms.

"New movies releasing on ott is just not happening, no excitement to watch them. I really hope producers wait for cinemas to open. Movies are primarily made for big screen, and i wish that does not change in future," Meera tweeted on Saturday.

Meera's tweet comes at a time when a lot of small, medium and big films are being released on OTT platforms due to theatres being shut since the past few months owing to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this week, the Bollywood actress had tweeted criticising OTT platforms over their choice of content.

"How is mediocre content getting approved by OTT plaftorms. I've read so many scripts in last few months which you can't even complete reading coz of its sheer bad writing, but surprisingly they r approved by the platforms," Meera had tweeted on Tuesday.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al Musta'in Billah, XVI Supreme Head of Malaysia.

"Your Majesty,

I cordially congratulate you and through you, your entire people on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of your countrys national holiday  the Independence Day.

I believe that we will continue to put joint efforts for further strengthening and developing of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Malaysia in line with interests of our peoples.

I wish to note that the people of Azerbaijan stands in solidarity with the people of Malaysia in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic faced by the world.

On such remarkable day, I convey my best wishes to you and everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly Malaysia," the letter said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
WASHINGTON - Joe Biden said on Saturday that as president, he would never use the military as a prop or private militia and accused President Donald Trump of employing U.S. forces to settle personal vendettas and violate citizens rights.

The Democratic presidential nominee, in a virtual address to the National Guard Association of the United States general conference, said Trump recommended that you should be deployed to quote, dominate, your fellow citizens for exercising their right to peacefully protest.

Were so much better than this, Biden said. You deserve so much better.

His comments came a day after Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress that the armed forces will have no role in carrying out the election process or resolving a disputed vote.

It was a sign of rising tensions on both sides as the president has declared without evidence that the expected surge in mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic will make the vote inaccurate and fraudulent. Trump has also suggested he might not accept the election results if he loses.

Biden has said hes absolutely convinced the military would escort Trump from the White House if the incumbent lost but refused to leave.

Biden didnt repeat the assertion while addressing the conference, but promised to restore the separation between civilian and military powers which he called the bedrock principal of our republic.

Its been tested lately, but I promise you, as president, Ill never put you in the middle of politics or personal vendettas, the former vice-president. Ill never use the military as a prop or as a private militia to violate rights of fellow citizens. Thats not law and order.

That was a reference to Trumps recent efforts to expand federal intervention into some cities as he makes law and order a centerpiece of his reelection bid, against the backdrop of protests against institutional racism and police brutality that have swept the country. In July, the president deployed federal forces to Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico, after earlier sending Homeland Security agents to Portland, Oregon.

Trump also announced this week that federal troops were being sent to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where unrest erupted after last weekends police shooting in the back of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man. Biden has said hes considered travelling to Wisconsin to try and calm the situation, but only if it could be done safely and without inflaming circumstances on the ground.
TOKYO: Japans ruling party will choose Prime Minister Shinzo Abes successor around Sept. 15, Kyodo news agency said on Saturday, after Abe abruptly announced his resignation for health reasons on Friday.

The president of Abes Liberal Democratic Party is virtually assured of being prime minister because of the LDPs majority in parliaments lower house.

Abes announcement that he is stepping down, after a worsening of the ulcerative colitis he has battled for years, marks the end of his tenure and the start of a several-week race to replace Japans longest-serving premier.

In a news conference, Abe declined to name a preferred successor. Former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and former foreign minister Fumio Kishida indicated they intend to run, while Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and Defence Minister Taro Kono are considered among the potential candidates.

Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, a former prime minister who is also Abes finance minister, said he did not plan to join the race to succeed Abe, Kyodo said.

Abe said it is up to the LDP leadership to determine the schedule of the party election but that he believes his health will hold up until a successor is chosen.

Usually, the party must announce the leadership election a month in advance, but in the case of a sudden resignation, an extraordinary vote can be called at the soonest date possible" among members of parliament and local LDP chapters.

The main scenario is for the election to be held on Sept. 15, Kyodo said, while the format and date will be decided on Tuesday, media reported.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Risk of early death may be increased if people naps for more than an hour, as suggested. Researchers explained that long naps are associated linked to a 30% higher risk of dying at a young age, as well as a greater 34% of having cardiovascular disease.

Also Read: Chinese Study Finds COVID-19 Patients Still Suffer From Lung Damage Three Months After Being Discharged

Currently, lying down for a nap in afternoon or "siesta" is considered as a harmless activity since some countries see it as a way to improve one's productivity. However, Chinese scientists' new research, which was presented at the European Society Cardiology Congress, stated that having a power nap for more than 60 minutes could be bad for your health.

Also Read: Fauci Was Under the Knife When CDC Updated Its COVID-19 Guidelines that Does Not Require Testing for Exposed People

"Daytime napping is common all over the world and is generally considered a healthy habit," said Dr Zhe Pan, the study author from Guanzhou Medical University.

"A common view is that napping improves performance and counteracts the negative consequences of 'sleep debt'. Our study challenges these widely held opinions," Pan added.

Previous studies have already provided negative results after linking daytime naps with cardiovascular complications or even death. On the other hand, new research also includes night-time sleep's duration as a factor for heart disease.

Why taking a nap for more than 60 minutes is dangerous to your health

Although the specific reasons why naps are dangerous to people's health are not yet fully understood, previous studies claimed that the activity could cause internal swelling called inflammation, which is terrible for the heart.

Meanwhile, other experts explained that napping might be a symptom of ill people since their sickness could make them sleepy. Researchers looked at studies of more than 300,000 people, observing their sleeping habits, as well as their health and deaths.



The findings revealed that napping is more dangerous to women since their risk of dying earlier had increased by 22% whenever they take a nap for more than one hour each day. However, the studies about napping are still unclear since some of them claim that it can lead to worse heart health, while others state that napping could lessen heart attack risk.



For more news updates about new health studies, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Also Read: Too Much Rice Could Kill: Study Shows Arsenic Exposure Could Lead to Fatal Diseases

This article is owned by TechTimes,

Written by: Giuliano de Leon.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The leader of the Coalition of Independent Political Aspirants, Kofi Koranteng, spared no punches when assessing the performance of the Akufo-Addo administration.

He described President Akufo-Addo as delusional for rating his governments output favourably over the last three years.

Speaking on the Point Blank segment on Eyewitness News, Mr. Koranteng, for example, criticised the size of the Akufo-Addo administration which has over 100 ministers.

He has long contended that a Ghanaian government does not need more than 10 ministries to run the affairs of the country and promised to adhere to this principle if he won power.

Mr. Koranteng insisted that the large government size of the Akufo-Addo administration has yielded no positive outcomes despite the Presidents assertions to the contrary .

If you go and do a performance evaluation, they [the ministers] will all have failed because they haven't brought any additional value.

The presidential aspirant also held that Ghanaians were deserving of a new crop of leaders.

We want results in Ghana. We are tired of the nonsense where people come in and they present themselves as President and they don't do anything for the country.

As an example of the failings of the Akufo-Addo government, Mr. Koranteng cited governments recent promise to build an airport in Cape Coast.

He also rubbished the ridiculous notion that an airport in Cape Coast will boost tourism, as some defenders of the government have argued.

Where is the science in building an airport for the Central Region? You just come in one day and say you want to build an airport?

The smart people in the Central Region know that building an airport is not a priority for the Central Region. Jobs, industry and manufacturing are what is sustainable, Mr. Koranteng said.

 citinewsroom
Footage from police body cameras depicting partial view of the fatal shooting of a man in February shows officers did not warn each other that he had a gun, partially contradicting the findings of an investigation by the district attorney in the case.

Body camera footage released to the Boston Globe shows officers yelling at Juston Root, 41, to get down before they opened fire, but the officers cannot be heard warning each other that they saw a gun or thought he had a gun.

The Norfolk district attorney investigated the shooting, which involved six officers, and wrote in an report in March that, Multiple officers observed the handgun. More than one officer yelled, gun. Simultaneously, six officers opened fire to stop the threat.

The report concluded the officers use of force was objectively reasonable and justified.

The DAs view and findings were based on the totality of the evidence, not just the audio or video, and he stands by his report, a spokesperson for Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said in a statement to the newspaper in response to questions about the discrepancy.

Root died from being shot 26 times during the confrontation with police, which started near Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston. Police responded to a report of a man with a gun, later identified as Root, threatening security in the morning on Feb. 7, authorities said.

Root had what appeared to be a black semi-automatic handgun, which police later determined was a BB pistol.

Officers opened fire, and at some point, a hospital parking attendant was shot, though not fatally. Root then fled in a car and led police on a chase until he crashed near a shopping center about 3 miles (5 kilometers) away in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Root was shot and killed by police after being ordered to get down on the ground near where he exited his car.

In August, Roots family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Boston police officers and state trooper who opened fire. The complaint says Root, who had bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, was seriously wounded after the crash and posed no threat when police fired dozens of shots at him from just a few feet away.

The body camera footage, which the Boston Globe obtained through a public record request, provides a partial view of the shooting and the moments before officers opened fire, the newspaper reported.

The footage does capture conversations between officers after the shooting where they quickly described the shooting as a so-called suicide by cop, and warned each other not to talk about the details about what had happened while the cameras were recording, the newspaper reported.
Princess Dianas death shocked the world more than 20 years ago, and the actions of the royal family in the days following the news surprised a lot of people as well.

Read on to find out why the royals were criticized after the princess death and the reason Dianas name was banned from church the morning she died.

Princess Diana | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

The royal family learned of Dianas death while they were in Scotland

After leaving the Ritz Hotel in Paris around midnight on Aug. 31, 1997, the Princess of Wales was involved in a car crash that took her life and the lives of two others.

Paparazzi staked outside the hotel chased Diana and her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, after they left the hotel. The vehicle they were traveling in, driven by Ritz security head Henri Paul, crashed into a pillar in the Pont de lAlma tunnel. Fayed and Paul died instantly and Diana was badly injured. She was taken to the La Pitie Salpetriere Hospital where doctors worked to try and save her life.

As Readers Digest noted, during that night Britains ambassador to France Michael Jay was notified about the accident and contacted Queen Elizabeth IIs private secretary.

The queen was on holiday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with the rest of her family when she was awoken and informed that Diana was injured. Hours later, she learned that the princess had died. Ultimately, the monarch made the decision to let Prince William and Prince Harry sleep and tell them the news in the morning.

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, and Peter Phillips look at Princess Diana tributes outside Balmoral | Robert Patterson/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

RELATED: Why Prince William and Prince Harry Are Still Haunted By Their Last Phone Call With Princess Diana

Why Princess Dianas name was forbidden from being mentioned in church

William and Harry were 15 and 12 when their mother died. The family wanted to shield them so they could grieve privately and therefore, the royals did not return to London right away and stayed at Balmoral.

The queen ordered all televisions and radios in the castle be hidden or moved so the princes wouldnt be traumatized by all the reports about what happened to their mom.

The monarch also felt it was best to ban any mentions of the Peoples Princess at mass that day since she decided to attend the service with her grandsons. However, the fact that she took them to church the same morning they were told that their mother had passed away caused public outrage.

Prince Harry asked if his mother was really dead

Prince William and Prince Harry | Anwar Hussein

The familys business-as-usual approach backfired and confused Dianas sons so much that Harry asked if his mom was really gone.

Prince Harry actually asked his father, Is it true that Mummys dead? biographer Tina Brown said in the documentary Diana: 7 Days That Shook The Windsors. The children couldnt understand why everything was as normal, except a couple of hours earlier theyd been told their mother had died.

On Sept. 5, the family returned to London and Queen Elizabeth finally addressed the nation.

This week at Balmoral, we have all been trying to help William and Harry come to terms with the devastating loss that they and the rest of us have suffered, she explained. The royal family matriarch also said that she admired and respected Princess Diana.
Acculturation of European ways of life into African communities was intentionally planned to suppress our cultures and create longing demands for Foreign culture and tastes. Until Africans rediscover and refine their own culture, we will always fall for others' products inadvertently denying us Economic Independence.The British formed a class of Africans that pushed English taste, opinions, morals, and intellect on those they ruled.

Acculturation is hidden in plain sight yet insidious and debilitating to African psyche. It is behind our abnormal behavior of tight affinity to what is outside our reach like foreign money we cannot print. If we look carefully at the reasons for unprecedented corruption, crime waves, desperation to acquire, no matter the price we pay, it boils down to enabling us to afford Foreign goods, services and travels. The desire for each of these requires accumulation of money outside our control in African countries since we cannot exchange our money as legal tender for their goods.

This greed for Foreign money to acquire English tastes and culture was implanted a long time ago to promote foreign readymades, manufactured Plastics such as designer products. Indeed, it led to the demise of textile industries in Africa and India while the British picked up the monopoly. They mined gold in Gold Coast only to pay taxes and royalties to themselves. Recruited African soldiers to fight for Freedom in World War I and II while colonizing Africa.

Lord Thomas McCauley was a committed racist, a colonial apologist that passionately believed there was no other culture beyond Europe. The Whig Party members like Lord Thomas McCauley in 1835 understood the proud people they were up against because of African Empires higher moral values and cultures. War of suppression could work for a while, but as committed racists, English language and culture had to be sold as the Savior to Africans as modern, civilized and superior. It worked so well that up to the 21th Century, African Youths sought their Salvation not at home but from Foreign cultures and lands.

Conservatives play politics of exploitations, even when some claimed they regretted Slave Labor, they still see Slavery as a "necessary evil" without which they would not have been the richest Economy. What they are doing today is to rebrand Slavery mentally and make it palatable for consumption by African Youths needed for Slave Labor whereever they are or rushing abroad by any means.

Africans must also accept faults and responsibility. Believe it or not, there are mental slaves that have been badly treated in Africa as outcasts: Eru, Osu, Oru etc. They see Foreign Mission as an escape to Freedom. They come from the poorest villages in Africa and so labelled their homes with despicable names. Their escape is nothing short of emancipation. The cities around their villages mesmerize them, not to mention escape into foreign land. Even worse, the products of their colonial education, forced the use of English and culture that is so entrenched, these 21 Century African graduates die for more because their tastes, culture and self confidence have been displaced.

The consequences of the suppression of African cultures as postulated on February 2nd,1835 by one Lord McCauley that the only way to capture the minds, hearts and pockets of Africans was to make them forget their Culture, has proven to be true. He claimed he has never seen people of such high moral values and would never be conquered unless they break their spiritual and Cultural heritage, the African backbone with English values. Africans have to be programmed to think that all that is foreign is better and greater than their own. Today, Africans argue against their own culture no matter how refined and bask in Foreign cultures and languages.

Unfortunately, the Untouchables are willing to accept conditions much better than those subjected to by their own cultures as Oru, Osu or Eru. Their inhumane treatment at home can be more severe in their villages and cities than those from foreign lands posing as their saviors and "benefactors". Even locals may turn out to be trafficking Travel Agents, Madams in the house of prostitutes or sell them into another form of slavery where they could be used as body parts donors. If that is the case for the unfortunate ones, how do we explain the tracking of highly educated and talented Africans relatively better off, out of their own countries?

If reorientation is so simple, why have we not eliminated or reduced acculturation in Africa? The fact is, each of these cases have been dwelled on in African countries but have never been able to sustain the reorientations. What is unfortunate in the ways these eyesores were dealt with, came through military means to discourage corruption and foreign demands. Nzeogwu tried it in Nigeria but he was betrayed by comrades. Jerry Rawlings succeeded in Ghana for a few years and relapsed. Buhari/Idiagbon succeeded for a few years and his comrades's Palace coup derailed it in order to accept Structural Adjustment. The beginning of the end of African middle class. Sakara later tried it in Burkina Faso but lost his life.

Osagyefo Nkrumah of Ghana remained the most outspoken African Head of State that survived long enough to change foreigners dominated landscape in Africa. As much as Lumumba of Congo tried, colonialists got him. Even Mwalimu Nyerere's Ujamaa was sabotaged. The difference here was that Nkrumah implemented Cultural Reorientation for different segments of the Country from Arts, Musicians to other controversial areas. The reason the impact of this has been overlooked over the years is because it was simple, inexpensive, local and seen as 'dictatorship'.

Notwithstanding some Ghanaians as Kofi Busia political reservation about Nkrumah. He recognized acculturation and the need to reorient African cultures that had been replaced with Eurocentric cultures to dominate Africa. Today, Nkrumah legacy transcends controversies within Ghana and outside. It was an open debate in England up to the 19th Century within the Whig Party on the best way to conquer Africans and Asians. Fortune hunters and Religious Missionaries had their Governments on standby in case of resistance by Africans and they subdued the Resistance of Ashanti, Yoruba, Zulu and others with their Foreign troops soliciting one African Army or more to suppress local resistance.

Imagine if this type of Nkrumah Cultural Reorientation was conducted at all levels in every African Country. Obsession with Foreign ideas, goods, services, used and discarded products could have been frowned on. We are suffering from the neglect of simple but highly effective measures that could have sustained our future Economic Independence. This idea that if it is not expensive and labor intensive, it cannot succeed must be reexamined.
Samuel "Sammy" Stephen Tayman, 26, of Bryantown, MD passed away on August 27, 2020 in Leonardtown, MD.



Born on July 27, 1994 at Southern Maryland Hospital, he was the son of James "Jimmy" Melvin Tayman, Jr. and Caroline Ann Shymansky.



After graduating high school, Sammy went on to manage heavy equipment and worked with his father at Tayman Trucking.



Sammy's talent of working with his hands and his love of cars led him to racing; leaving behind a legacy in the racing community.



You could always find him on the track behind the wheel of his beloved Filthy '55. He created a huge fan base and following all over the country and gained many racing friends that became family.



Sammy's passion for life allowed him to live every day to the fullest. He loved cruising the open road and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.



In addition to his parents, Sammy is survived by his brother, James Michael Tayman.



Family will receive friends on Sunday August 30, 2020 from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. for visitation at Brinsfield Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A. 30195 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622. Masks are required, but will not be provided, so please bring one of your own.



Following will be a "Celebration of Life" at the Waldorf Elks Lodge, 2210 Old Washington Road Waldorf, MD 20601 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.



Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com



Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A.
Over 730 fires have raged across California since August 15 as a trend of warm, dry weather coupled with thousands of dry lightning strikes has set the state ablaze. Seven people have been confirmed dead, including a helicopter pilot, an unidentified family of three, a Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) utility employee, a Solano County male resident, and a 70-year-old man from Santa Cruz County. At least two people are missing, and tens of thousands of evacuees remain displaced from their homes.

The past two weeks have seen an unprecedented number of thunder and lightning storms in northern California, kindling dry brush and chaparral, and growing into enormous fields of fires. The fires have been exacerbated by a record heat wave and low humidity, leading to thousands of dry lightning strikes and leaving much of the landscape vulnerable to fire activity.

Although California is known for its vulnerability to the wildfire seasons, with each passing year, the number and size of the fires seem to grow ever larger, especially over the past two decades. Scenes like that of the Mendocino fire of 2018the states largest fire to dateor the Cedar fire of 2003 have become more and more commonplace, year after year.

Over the past couple of days, minor progress had been made in elevations below 2,000 feet due to cooler weather conditions and higher humidity, but in higher elevations, the arid conditions have continued, and firefighters are still being pushed past their limits. There are currently over 14,600 firefighters on the ground from throughout the state, as well as from the East Coast, and from Australia.

So far, 3.3 million gallons of fire retardant and 4.6 million gallons of water have been used in an effort to the limit the damage done by the fires, which have engulfed 1.6 million acres, an area larger than the state of Delaware. So far, there have been over 7,000 fires this year, significantly higher than the 4,292 record through August in 2019.

Although Cal Fire offered language of glimmers of hope from their Daily Wildfire Report Friday morning, the fires are still raging. Nearly two dozen major fires are still burning, along with hundreds of smaller ones, including one that started in the early hours of Friday.

Of the larger wildfires, the SCU Lightning Complex fire has burned 372,971 acres, and is 35 percent contained; the LNU Lightning Complex has burned 371, 249 acres, and is also 35 percent contained; the August Complex fire has burned 212,010 acres, and is 18 percent contained; in the CZU Lightning Complex, 82,540 acres have burned, and it is 26 percent contained.

The SCU Lightning Complex wildfire has since overtaken the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire as the second largest wildfire in California state history. While Cal Fire Officer Daniel Berlant seemed hopeful that the fires are being contained, the forecast going into the weekend and into next week will continue to be hot and dry (temperatures in the mid-90s to low 100s Fahrenheit), with very little humidity.

Additionally, the smoke and ash in the air have made the air quality very poor, especially in Central and Northern California and in southern parts of Oregon. The Air Quality Index is expected to remain at levels of up to three times the acceptable range until at least Sunday. Not only are those with pulmonary conditions more likely to suffer more, but the polluted air may compromise their immune systems further, leaving them more vulnerable to the coronavirus. Yet, even the immune systems of otherwise healthy people will be affected adversely, as well, with studies suggesting that higher rates of coronavirus infection correlate to higher levels of COVID-19 infection rates.

In the face of the fires, hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes. Over 925 homes and other buildings had been destroyed by the LNY Lightning Fires Complex. The CZU Lightning Complex destroyed at least 330 buildings and burned almost 79,000 acres.

As the damage assessment continues, its important for everyone to realize that this is a time when some people will realize they no longer have homes, Sheriff Mark Essick of Sonoma County told the New York Times on Tuesday. They are going to be experiencing considerable losses.

This scenario is playing out throughout Northern and Central California. Many people have had to relocate to makeshift shelters such as local schools, campgrounds and parks. In light of the ongoing pandemic, thousands have had to stay in their cars or with family to prevent sharing accommodations with hundreds of other evacuees.

For others who have had to readjust to the new normal under the coronavirus pandemic, the fires pose a new challenge. For many elementary, junior high, and high school students, who were just days into the new school year, via remote learning, classes were canceled in order to address the new crisis.

Lauren Gammon, a 16-year-old junior at Vacaville High School, told the New York Times that, while her home was spared, her boyfriends was not. It was really heartbreaking to hear that his house was gone, she stated. It has been estimated that over 12,000 homes and structures have been burned so far and evacuations are still in effect for at least 83,000 people. In the Bay Area, many hotels are at capacity, and those who would otherwise be eligible for hotel vouchers have had to relocate to the temporary shelters.

While the latest spate of fires is once again being passed off as a natural disaster, there has been no question that the increased number of fires and extent of the damage wrought by them is due in significant part to human-induced climate change. Yet little is being done to mediate the effects of global warming, or to increase the amount of resources available to fight the fires. President Trumps administration has continued to cut federal funding for fire science, including $2 billion in cuts from the US Forest Service Budget.

Furthermore, in California, a state dominated by their party, Democratic politicians are responsible for cutting firefighter staff, the closing of multiple fire stations, and have taken little action to curb the very real dangers of wildfires that become exceedingly out of control. Governor Gavin Newsom himself supported the cutting of $681 million from the state budget for environmental protection.
New Delhi, Aug 29 : The Delhi Zonal Unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized gold bars of foreign origin weighing 83.6 kg and of 99.9 per cent purity at New Delhi railway station.

The market value of the recovered gold that was being smuggled into the country from Myanmar is close to Rs 43 crore.

The DRI has intercepted 8 passengers who had arrived at the New Delhi railway station on Friday afternoon by Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express and seized 504 smuggled gold bars from their possession.

According to a DRI source, the agency had been acting on the basis of specific intelligence developed over months.

The sleuths of Delhi Zonal Unit of the DRI intercepted 8 passengers as they arrived at the New Delhi railway station from Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express on August 28. The gold bars were found to be concealed in specially tailored cloth vests worn by these passengers.

The carriers of the smuggled gold were found to be travelling with fake identity (Aadhaar card).

DRI sources said that as per the intelligence inputs, the recovered gold bars carrying foreign markings, were being smuggled into India from Myanmar through the international land border via Moreh in Manipur and the smuggling syndicate operating from Guwahati was attempting to dispose of the contraband in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

As per DRI sources, the smuggling syndicate sourced and recruited poor and needy individuals from various parts of the country to act as carriers of smuggled gold by luring them with the prospect of quick and easy money. The smugglers used air, land and rail routes to locally transport the smuggled gold.

The aforesaid 8 carriers have been arrested under the Customs Act, 1962 and remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway.
Jammu, Aug 29 : The Border Security Force (BSF) has detected a 20 feet long tunnel within the Indian territory at the International Border in Jammu, officials said.

According to a BSF statement on Saturday a patrol party during an anti-tunnelling exercise had carried out an in-depth scanning of the area. The team got suspicious in Basantar area near Whaleback area Gallar in District Samba at the International Border and detected a tunnel near the border fencing. The tunnel was approximately 20 feet long and 3-4 feet in diameter.

"The Pakistan made sand bags with Shakargarh/Karachi written were also found at the mouth of the tunnel to hide it. The place of opening of tunnel is around 170 mtrs from IB towards Indian side in the field of a local farmer," BSF said.

The BSF said with the detection of the tunnel the alert BSF troops foiled the nefarious design of Pakistan to infiltrate terrorists into Indian territory.

"The tunnel's origin is in Pakistan territory close to IB. Efforts of alert BSF troops deployed in our multi-tiered counter-infiltration grid once again resulted in neutralizing the evil designs of terrorists in deep connivance with Pak Rangers," the BSF said.

According to the BSF there have been regular inputs about the presence of terrorists in Pakistan border villages desperately looking to infiltrate into the Indian territory and the ever vigilant BSF troops have foiled desperate attempts of anti-national elements to infiltrate into India.

The BSF said in view of the security scenario in the last few months on the International Border of Jammu region, it has taken various innovative measures to ensure foolproof security after assessment of various threats from the Pakistan side.

"In this process, all along the International Border, anti-tunnelling exercise has been carried out regularly," the BSF said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Indian refiners stop buying crude oil from Chinese companies

Iran Press TV

Friday, 28 August 2020 9:12 AM

India has stopped purchasing crude oil from China-linked companies, as part of New Delhi's recent move to restrict imports from neighboring countries in the wake of an escalating border dispute.

New Delhi has passed a new law that restricts state refiners from dealings with companies from countries sharing a border with India, Reuters reported citing unnamed sources.

Last week, Indian state refiners decided to stop sending crude import tenders to Chinese trading firms like CNOOC, Unipec and PetroChina among others, the report sad.

To participate in Indian tenders, the order makes registration with a department in the federal commerce ministry 'mandatory' for any bidders from nations sharing a border with India.

The country shares borders with Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan.

The new order, however, did not name any specific country.

India is the world's third biggest oil consumer which imports nearly 84% of its oil needs.

China does not export crude to India but Chinese firms are among major oil traders globally.

Indian state refiners, which control 60% of the country's 5 million barrel-per-day refining capacity, regularly tap spot markets for crude.

New Delhi put the new restriction in place in July, after border tensions erupted between India and China in the wake of clashes that led to the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley, a precipitous and rocky border area that lies between China's Tibet and India's Ladakh regions.

That was the first such deadly clash at the disputed border in the western Himalayas since 1967.

India accused Beijing of having "pre-meditated and planned" the fighting, but China said Indian troops had violated a military agreement, and attacked its troops.

The governments of the two nuclear armed powers are now seeking to reach an agreement on ways to pull back troops from across the disputed border.

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The BBC has been blasted for promoting a new drill rap track from a former county lines drug dealer. amid the controversial move to axe Rule Brittania from the Proms.

The new release by Potter Payper, who used to push crack and heroin, was played on Radio 1Xtra despite its clear references to guns and cannabis, The Sun reports.

It made its way onto the airwaves despite the corporation sparking outrage by banning much-loved anthems Rule Brittania and Land of Hope and Glory, over fears of a race row.

Potter Payper, whose real name is Jamel Bousbaa, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2018 for running an operation to smuggle drugs out of London to the seaside town of Clacton, Essex, according to the Barking and Dagenham Post.

Potter Payper recently posted an image of him smoking outside BBC headquarters on Instagram

He was released from jail in June and is now looking to kickstart his music career after 'Daily Duppy' was broadcast on DJ Snoochie Shy's show, just days before the BBC announced its plan to axe songs from the Proms.

Tory MP David Morris told the Sun: 'This is another belter from the blundering BBC.

'On the week we've had the Beeb try and stop Brits from singing Land of Hope and Glory, they are now telling the nation to listen to a county lines, drug-smuggling criminal instead, and just weeks after he got out of jail.'

A poll this week found the majority of Britons believe the BBC made the wrong decision over the Proms.

The survey shows more than half of people oppose the move, which comes amid claims that people are offended by the lyrics of the much-loved anthems - because they are 'racist'.

As it stands, the patriotic songs will be played by an orchestra only on September 12, supposedly because the lack of an audience will diminish their impact.

The BBC has faced a backlash following its decision to ban popular anthems from the Last Night of the Proms

God Save the Queen and Jerusalem will still be played in full at the event, led by Finnish conductor Dalia Stasevska, 35, which will take place without an audience and with limited performers.

Now YouGov research for The Times shows 55 per cent of people surveyed oppose the move to cut the lyrics from the two songs, compared to 16 per cent who back the decision.

Five per cent of people polled believe the songs should not be performed at all at the Last Night of the Proms.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is among the critics of the BBC's decision, saying this week: 'I think it's time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history.'

A BBC spokesman told MailOnline: '1Xtra provides a platform for live music across a range of genres with individual performances booked and recorded in line with audience expectations.'
Scenes from the National Chicano Moratorium Against the Vietnam War, which took place in East Los Angeles on Aug. 29, 1970. (Photo illustration by Martina Ibanez-Baldor / Los Angeles Times. Photographs from Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Herald Examiner, Raul Ruiz, Special Collections & Archives, John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Cal State L.A., Gloria Arellanes Papers.)

Re: "The Chicano Moratorium: 50 Years Later," Aug. 23: I was 1 year old during the Chicano Moratorium, living with my mother in East L.A. I worked for Supervisor Gloria Molina for 16 years and served on the board of LA Plaza de Cultura y Arte for 10 years. Still, I learned so much reading the Times' documentation of the Chicano Moratorium.

The coverage is informed, moving and deeply personal. It is validating to see my community's history told from the perspective of the community and placed in context to the historical events of today. I appreciate having this movement celebrated as an important milestone in the L.A. story.

Miguel A. Santana



Los Angeles

Re: "The Revolt That Led to the Chicana Movement," by Vanessa Martinez and Julia Barajas, Aug. 23: Recently the L.A. Times published an article about the Brown Berets and David Sanchez. Myself and many other people in the organization present-day believe it was misleading and very distracting from what was accomplished all those years ago. Small quarrels from within the group shouldn't distract from the great work the East L.A. Free Clinic did: free healthcare for young women and men of a community that couldn't afford good healthcare. We have a member today who had her first pregnancy test at the clinic all those years ago.

Our current Brown Beret National Party is still led by Dr. David Sanchez 50 years on. And despite the attacks about the organization being in some ways antiwoman, our membership has a majority of strong women.

Christopher Morales



Los Angeles

Unconventional convention season

Thank you for Lorraine Ali's comedy piece on the Democratic National Convention [It Was Unconventional  and It Worked, Aug. 22].

It was bad television at its best and a total waste of air time at its worst. The viewership and content was so bad that it even made CNN look good.

David L. McDaniel



Capistrano Beach

::

My parents bought our first TV in 1951. The next summer were the two national nominating conventions. I was glued to the tube and became a political junkie at age 11.

Story continues

I taught history and government for over two decades. Earned MAs in history and political science.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching last week's convention. Two hours a night was just right.

Lorraine Ali is correct: "[U]nbound from the old rules, there should be no going back."

Mary Anne Vincent



Corona

::

The Democratic Convention was great. Now what? How do Democrats win?

They need to destroy Trumps claims of results. What could and should Trump have done during early stages of COVID-19 to minimize its devastation to America?

What was economic growth during the Obama and Trump presidencies? How much economic and job growth in the Trump presidency was he primarily responsible for?

What percent of Americans have enough savings for a financial future? Who did tax cuts primarily benefit?

What did Trump achieve with immigration policy? Has there been positive movement during the Trump presidency for people to earn a more livable wage?

Is it in Americas interests to alienate our long-term allies across the world?

Does Trump have a plan to make quality healthcare available to all?

Has Trump divided the country so severely to put our nation at risk of splintering?

What can we expect from another four years of Donald J. Trump?

Sid Pelston



Marina del Rey

::

Thank you for Lorraine Ali's commentary. The virtual convention was the first convention in my life Ive been able to watch from beginning to end.

The cameos of all of the normal people was amazing.

I hope we never go back to the old format.

Houston Harte



Santa Barbara

::

Nice review of the Democratic National Convention and a look forward to Trumps. I skipped it and watched the Dodgers.

Joes already got my vote (and a few dollars).

Bob Wieting

Simi Valley





Family leave act

Mary McNamara's column about Kellyanne Conway [Oh, So Now You're Leaving? Aug. 25] was very Trump-like.

Cruel as can be.

McNamara has the audacity to pretend she knows everything about Conway's motives and about what's best for Conway and her family. In essence, she's declaring herself a better parent than Conway.

McNamara essentially blames Conway for the COVID-19 crisis, as if Conway were the president.

I suppose McNamara would be cheering if she heard that the Conways were divorcing. Kellyanne Conway may have different political views, but McNamara should butt out when it comes to judging another family's personal decisions.

Robert Bubnovich



Irvine

Favorite features

Regarding the Sunday Calendar Section, Aug 23: There was no listing of weekly TV suggestions and no listing of bestselling books.

I really missed those.

K. Ramos

San Pedro

Editor's note: TV This Week, Calendar Feedback and the Bestsellers lists had all been budgeted to run in the Aug. 23 Sunday Calendar, but late ad changes forced them to be dropped from that issue.
Jonathan Ananda By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Vodafone Idea (VIL), once Indias largest telecom service provider, stands on a cliff edge. On one side is relative safety, a chance to shrug off recent misfortunes and consolidate its not-inconsiderable resources. On the other is a precipice, and a swift, near-certain descent into insolvency.

VIL has stood here for months now, but Judgement Day (quite literally) is set to arrive within the week. If things go as expected, the Supreme Court Bench hearing the crucial AGR liabilities case will deliver its verdict before September 2when one of the judges, Justice Arun Mishra, will retire.

The question: Should license holders such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea be allowed more time to pay off their remaining dues? It will also decide on whether companies that took over spectrum assets from bankrupt firms are liable for the dues of the latter. But, this is rather less important for VIL than for rivals Airtel and Reliance Jio, who may end up having to pay a portion of dues owed by Reliance Communications, Aircel, and Videocon Telecommunications.

For VIL, the problem is cash. In that, it doesnt have much. Both promoters the Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Plchad long ago ruled out any chance of capital infusion; and VILs cash chest had just about Rs 3,450 crore as of June, 2020. Rather puny beside Rs 50,400-odd crore, which is what it currently owes the Department of Telecom (DoT). Its liabilities had started out larger, but it has paid up Rs 7,854 crore over the past few months.

ALSO READ | TRAI issues show-cause notice to Vodafone Idea on priority plan, says offer misleading

If the SC decides to allow the government to implement a staggered payment schedule spanning 10 or 15 years (the Bench shot down the original plea for a 20-year timeframe), VIL will have been granted a thin, but sure, lifeline. Thin, because it would still have to cough up an annual Rs 5,900 crore 15 years at 8% interest) or Rs 7,500 crore (10 years). Despite already haemorrhaging subscribers, analysts note that it would have no choice but to raise prices sharply.

A difficult proposition, especially since both rivalsAirtel and Jioare in far better financial shape. But, if the SC decides to call in the dues in one shot, as it had initially done last year, the proposition before VIL may become impossible.

Rs 3,450 cr

Vodafone-Ideas cash chest as of June 2020. It has paid up Rs 7,854 crore as AGR dues over the last few months

Rs 215 cr

Total annual payout for AGR dues to DoT by Vodafone Idea over 15 years

Rs 130 cr

Total annual payout for AGR dues by Bharti Airtel over 15 years, according to official data
Following an article in the Time magazine, the Opposition party also demanded a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee into the alleged 'links of Facebook employees and the ruling establishment'

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday wrote to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for the second time in a month, asking what steps were being taken on repeated allegations about the global social media giant's India unit being biased towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

At a press conference, the Opposition party also demanded an investigation by a Joint Parliamentary Committee into the alleged "links of Facebook employees and the ruling establishment".

Fresh Revelations Exposes Damning Nexus of WhatsApp and BJP- Press Briefing by Shri @Pawankhera and Shri @pravchak

(2/2) pic.twitter.com/r0YglSR5V6  INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) August 29, 2020

The Congress' letter to Zuckerberg came over an article in Time magazine, which the Opposition party claimed "revealed" more information and "evidence of biases and a quid pro quo relationship" of Facebook India with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

There was no immediate reaction from Facebook or the BJP on the allegations. A report in the Wall Street Journal earlier this month had brought to fore similar allegations, which were strongly rejected by both Facebook and the BJP.

After the controversy had broken out, the BJP had attacked the Congress over the Opposition party's allegations, saying people whose political base has "shrunk like anything" seek to dominate discourse on these platforms while asserting that everybody regardless of his ideology has got the right to air his views there.

Senior party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad had said that former Congress president Rahul Gandhi believes that any organisation that does not work to his liking is acting under the pressure of the BJP and the RSS.

BJP IT department head Amit Malviya has also cited the instances of certain Facebook officials' biases against the ruling party and had even communicated to the social media giant about it.

Facebook had earlier said the company's social media platform prohibits hate speech and content that incites violence, adding these policies are enforced globally without regard to political affiliation.

However, Facebook, which counts India among its largest markets globally, acknowledged that "there is more to do".

Tagging the Time magazine report, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed in a tweet that it exposes the "WhatsApp-BJP nexus". "Used by 40 Cr Indians, WhatsApp also wants to be used for making payments for which Modi Government's approval is needed. Thus, BJP has a hold over WhatsApp," he alleged, without elaborating.

Popular messaging app WhatsApp is also owned by Facebook.

In his letter to Zuckerberg, Congress general secretary organisation, KC Venugopal, referred to his earlier letter dated 17 August in which the party had requested the US-based company to investigate the allegations made in the Wall Street Journal article that the social media platform refused to apply hate speech rules to certain BJP politicians.

"We draw your attention to the article in Time magazine dated 27 August that reveals more information and evidence of biases and a quid-pro-quo relationship of Facebook India with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party," Venugopal said in the new letter dated 27 August and asked for details of steps being taken by the group.

"We will also be pursuing legislative and judicial actions in India to ensure that a foreign company cannot continue to cause social disharmony in our nation for their pursuit of private profits," he said.

At the party's press conference, spokesperson Pawan Khera and AICC data analytics department chief Praveen Chakravarty called for an "exhaustive and unbiased investigation by a Joint Parliamentary Committee between the unending links of Facebook employees and the ruling establishment".

"The investigation must include how Facebook manipulated voter opinion, allowed hate speech and was oblivious to fake news, even when they were in clear violation of their own regulations," they said in a statement.

"WhatsApp cannot be granted approvals for its payment operations until the inquiry is complete and the recommended actions are taken by the company," Khera and Chakravarty said.

They also demanded that the report of the investigation ordered by Facebook into the conduct of its Indian unit be made public.
All migrants moved off stranded Banksy rescue boat The boat is named after the 19th-century French anarchist Louise Michel

All of the migrants on board a rescue ship funded by British street artist Banksy have been transferred to other vessels, the team behind the mission said after their pink-and-white ship carrying more than 200 passengers sent an urgent call for help.

An Italian patrol vessel rushed to the stranded MV Louise Michel in the Mediterranean and took in 49 of the most vulnerable people on Saturday, the coastguard said.

The remaining migrants on board, around 150 people, were received by a vessel chartered by German NGO Sea Watch and medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), according to tweets from both organisations and the Louise Michel's crew.

"For those most recently embarked, medical assessment is ongoing, with the clinic full & #MSF medics treating people for fuel burns, dehydration, hypothermia & traumatic injuries," the MSF Sea Twitter account said of the situation on board the Sea-Watch 4.

The German-flagged Louise Michel had said it needed aid after helping a boat carrying at least one dead migrant in the sea that divides Africa and Europe.

Its crew said the 31-metre (101-foot) ship had become overcrowded and unable to move, warning that some of the migrants had fuel burns and had been at sea for days.

"Given the danger of the situation, the coastguard sent a patrol boat to Lampedusa which took in 49 people deemed the most fragile, including 32 women, 13 children and four men," said a coastguard statement.

The rescued migrants later said three people had died at sea before the arrival of the Louise Michel.

Banksy, who keeps his identity a secret, explained in an online video that he had bought the boat to help migrants "because EU authorities deliberately ignore distress calls from non-Europeans".

- 'Lack of reaction' -

Sea-Watch 4, which has a clinic on board and is itself in search of a host port, said it was now carrying 350 people after sailing for four hours to help the Louise Michel.

Story continues

Its crew decided to take action "in the face of the lack of reaction" from the authorities, a Sea Watch spokesman told AFP.

The Louise Michel vessel's crew of 10 had already rescued 89 people from a rubber boat in distress on Thursday.

They had tweeted that there were a total 219 people on board and that they had requested assistance from both the Italian and Maltese authorities.

The boat -- a former French customs vessel named after 19th-century French anarchist Louise Michel -- was around 90 kilometres (55 miles) southeast of Lampedusa on Saturday, according to the global ship tracking website Marine Traffic.

It features a Banksy artwork depicting a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped safety buoy.

Its crew is "made up of European activists with long experience in search and rescue operations" and is captained by German human rights activist Pia Klemp, who has also captained other such rescue vessels, The Guardian newspaper reported.

Thousands of people are thought to have died making the dangerous trip across the Mediterranean to flee conflict, repression and poverty in Africa and the Middle East.

According to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, attempts by migrant boats to cross the Mediterranean into Europe have increased this year, up 91 percent from January to July over last year's figures, to 14,481 people.

- 'Anti-fascist fight' -

Banksy's involvement in the rescue mission goes back to September 2019 when he sent Klemp an email asking how he could contribute.

Klemp, who initially thought it was a joke, told the paper she believed she was chosen because of her political stance, The Guardian said.

"I don't see sea rescue as a humanitarian action, but as part of an anti-fascist fight," she told the paper.

This month, humanitarian organisations said they would resume migrant rescues in the Mediterranean Sea, where none have operated since the rescue ship Ocean Viking docked in Italy in early July.

Before the Ocean Viking's last mission, rescue operations in the Mediterranean had been suspended for months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile in the French port city of Marseille, 30 protesters called on Italian authorities to release the Ocean Viking, which was detained by the Italian coastguard over technical irregularities.

bur-jhe-hba-cm/ach/jj/kaf/axn
U K Coronavirus cases have surged by 3,539 overnight  the highest increase since May 17.

The latest daily figure comes after the national R rate climbed above the threshold of one  meaning the epidemic is growing in all parts of the country.

More locally, a spike in Covid-19 cases in Birmingham means stricter measures were re-imposed. From next week, the city and neighbouring Solihull and Sandwell boroughs all face a ban on socialising between people outside their own household.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will be banned from socialising in groups of more than six from Monday, in a Draconian crackdown aimed at stemming the tide of a potential second wave.

Follow here for live updates...
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg prepares to testify before a House Energy and Commerce Committee in Rayburn Building on the protection of user data on April 11, 2018. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook should have taken down the page and event listing promoting a militia group that called for armed citizens to defend Kenosha, Wisconsin, amid ongoing protests there.

The event listing was removed after 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was accused of opening fire in Kenosha on Tuesday, killing two people. He's been charged with first-degree intentional homicide.

Zuckerberg said there was no evidence to show Rittenhouse was following the event page or was invited to the event that called for armed citizens to "protect" the city.

The event was flagged to Facebook at least 455 times after it was created, BuzzFeed reported.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the social-media network was slow to remove a listing that encouraged armed civilians to go defend Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The event, titled: "Armed Citizens to Protect Our Lives and Property," and the page, "Kenosha Guard," were removed after two people were killed in a shooting there on Tuesday.

Seventeen-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse has been arrested in connection with the shooting and is now facing a first-degree intentional homicide charge.

On Thursday more charges, including first-degree reckless homicide, and first-degree reckless endangerment were filed against Rittenhouse by the Kenosha County district attorney, Michael Graveley.

At a press conference Thursday, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes described Rittenhouse as an "outside agitator."

"He came in from Illinois with a long rifle and was able to just walk the streets, freely, like that's something normal we should just come to expect," Barnes said.

In the video posted on Friday, Zuckerberg said that the page and the event violated the company's policies and should have been removed sooner.

However, he also said there was no evidence to show that Rittenhouse was following that page or was invited to the event that called for armed citizens to "protect" the city.

Story continues

I spoke to Facebook employees at our weekly company Q&A about whats happening in Kenosha and wanted to share. Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Friday, August 28, 2020

BuzzFeed reported that the event was flagged to Facebook at least 455 times after it was created. The outlet said it reviewed a copy of an internal report that showed four moderators cleared the event and labeled it as "nonviolating."

"To put that number into perspective," a Facebook worker said in an internal memo about user reports concerning the event page, "it made up 66% of all event reports that day."

In a statement to Business Insider, a Facebook spokesperson said: "We launched this policy last week and we're still scaling up our enforcement of it by a team of specialists on our Dangerous Organizations team."

Zuckerberg said the issue wasn't picked up until a second round of reviews.

"The contractors, the reviewers who the initial complaints were funneled to, didn't, basically, didn't pick this up," Zuckerberg said. "And on second review, doing it more sensitively, the team that's responsible for dangerous organizations recognized that this violated the policies and we took it down."

The Facebook CEO didn't specify whether any of the reviewers were reprimanded for not removing the event or the page.

Protests in Kenosha began after the Sunday police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man. His injuries have left him paralyzed from the waist down, his father said on Tuesday. Protests eventually erupted in cities all across the US reigniting a conversation about police brutality and racism.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Australia's sex discrimination commissioner has nominated a redesigned childcare system as her top priority, saying the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted its importance and the massive barrier to work posed by a lack of accessibility.

Kate Jenkins wants to see a system that offers better support for women and men to start work or do more, has a strong focus on early childhood education, and provides better support to its predominantly female workforce.

Sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins says making childcare better support parents, especially mothers, to work will be vital to the coronavirus recovery. Credit:Jesse Marlow

"I know it's not an easy change but if that could be done during this disruptive time or out of this, it would be a great step forward for women and work," she said.

Ms Jenkins also called on the nation's bosses to retain flexible working arrangements once the pandemic was over to keep more women in workplaces.
Sniper pairs from Russia are among top-5 at the 2020 International Army Games. The relevant competition was held at the Brestsky training ground in Belarus, the Russian Defense Ministry informed.

It is clarified that the Russian snipers performed the Catch exercise - each pair hit five targets, two of which simulated drones flying at different altitudes.

14 sniper pairs from seven countries - Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Vietnam, Serbia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - are participating in the competition.
JINOTEGA, Nicaragua/MANAGUA: Grieving relatives in northern Nicaragua on Friday buried the body of a Nicaraguan agricultural laborer whose death from a heat stroke in Spain this month triggered a debate about working conditions of undocumented migrants in Europe.

Eleazar Blandon, 42, was buried in his home town Jinotega several weeks after his death in Spanish watermelon fields drew media coverage and criticism about the work environment of migrants in wealthy European nations.

Now you are going to rest in peace, after such a long journey," said Blandons brother, Kamil, during the funeral service which saw musicians trail the coffin through the streets of Jinotega.

Kamil lamented the familys tragic history repeating itself, as four years earlier their father, an undocumented migrant in the United States, had also died working on a farm in Texas.

Toiling in extreme Spanish heat and sun when he collapsed, the father-of-five was taken to a nearby hospital in the south-eastern city of Murcia, his sister Ana Blandon, also an undocumented worker, said in a telephone interview from Spain.

She said her brother was left at the hospitals entrance and died there. Two family members, one in Nicaragua and one in Spain, confirmed various details of her account.

Reuters could not independently verify the events.

Spanish authorities said they are investigating the farm, which could not be contacted by Reuters.

Blandon was among about 26,000 Nicaraguans who last year left their homeland for Spain. Many fled amid weak economic growth and political gridlock following the 2018 protests against the government of President Daniel Ortega, in which 326 people were killed.

Blandon started laboring in Spanish watermelon fields after losing another job during the coronavirus pandemic.

Spanish Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz called the conditions under which Blandon worked deplorable" and his death a tragic, dramatic event that speaks very badly of our country" at a press conference on Aug. 6.

His workday started at 7 a.m. and lasted 14 hours during which he was harvesting melons until the afternoon at 44 degrees (Celsius) without any protection," she said. He died from hypothermic stress."

One musician at Blandons funeral wore a t-shirt saying: Its not work, its slavery."

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Is there any fool like a Democrat fool?

Portland's mayor, Ted Wheeler, has already made his city a punch line internationally, vacuously mouthing the platitudes of Black Lives Matter and watching mobs riot and burn his city for 92 days straight, with no effort to contain it. Democrats bristle at Republican efforts to pin rioting on poor Democrat rule, but they are cut off at the pass when Portland is brought up. Nobody can argue about the incompetence there. Even the people in Minneapolis console themselves with the thought that as bad as their city is, at least it's not Portland.

President Trump brought up his city by name in his widely watched Republican convention speech, because it's such a kill shot.

Make no mistake, if you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will defund police departments all across America. They will pass federal legislation to reduce law enforcement nationwide. They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon.

Yet, to paraphrase Chelsea Clinton, he persists.

On night 92 of the sacking of his city, Wheeler loudly turned down an offer of federal aid to stop the rioting and put out a loud "stay away" press release, fully expecting some lefty clapping.

Of course you did. What kind of Democrat would you be if your city werent on fire every night? https://t.co/O6FZdYq5z4  James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) August 29, 2020

One problem: The rioters he was standing up for read that as a signal to invade his apartment lobby:

Portland Black Lives Matter Have Chained Themselves Together in Lobby of Leftist Mayor Ted Wheeler's Apartment https://t.co/8MuBWoNhyC via @gatewaypundit  Jim Hoft (@gatewaypundit) August 29, 2020

And they did. As Matt Vespa notes over at Townhall:

Wheeler literally told the president to "stay away." And now, leftists have reportedly stormed the apartment complex where he lives, and they will not leave until he abolishes the police department by 2022 and resigns from office. It wasn't a massive horde, but now that these folks know where he lives  expect more of these shenanigans.

Kenosha didn't do that  all it took was a few nights of rioting, and they were all in for some federal help because there was some understanding about how bad it was going to get for their city. It takes decades for cities to recover from rioting, sadly enough.

Kenosha wasn't the only place, either. Back when Chicago's mayor got the protesters-at-the-doorstep moment, she suddenly snapped to her senses and accepted federal aid for the purpose of cracking down on the violence-minded invaders, apparently recognizing that this being Chicago, it could well have been the doing of political opponents. Everyone's a conservative about things he knows best, and in this case, the point was literally driven home.

Not so Portland. Wheeler continues thus far with the naive view that if he can just protest hard enough, just show he hates Trump hard enough, the protesters will come to love him.

Trump's thrown out a warning to Wheeler in recent hours about what's next:

If the incompetent Mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler, doesnt get control of his city and stop the Anarchists, Agitators, Rioters and Looters, causing great danger to innocent people, we will go in and take care of matters the way they should have been taken care of 100 days ago!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2020

Yet Wheeler hasn't a clue. He expects that the unrest "will ultimately burn itself out," yet he remains a babe in the woods about what these "fiery but peaceful" rioters' aims are  to create chaos and make Portland unliveable. And yes, they'd like him out and put one of their warlords in. That's reality, and the longer he takes to recognize this, the worse it's going to get. He's convinced that the voters will support him no matter what, Because Trump, and he's convinced that the protesters are less a threat than Trump's offer to help restore order through troops.

Now they're after him, and he still thinks he's mayor of Portland, rather than the protesters' kick-around toy. One way or another, he's likely to find himself finished. If the protesters don't get him, the voters might.

Image credit: Twitter screen shot.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 20:12:34|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- UN Refugee Agency in Uganda on Saturday expressed concern after 22 aid workers and 72 refugees tested positive for COVID-19 in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in western Uganda.

Rocco Nuri, a senior external relations officer of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said a team is already in the settlement to identify and shield the most vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly and those with the chronic illness.

"We remain concerned about the situation, whilst appreciating that this is a global pandemic and does not discriminate," said Nuri.

He said UNHCR will work with the ministry of health, national, district authorities and partners to build local capacities and systems to monitor, respond and contain the virus outbreak.

Government on Aug. 26 put Kyangwali under a lockdown, restricting movements and activities in the settlement, according to UNHCR. The settlement has already registered one COVID-19 death.

According to the refugee agency, the settlement hosts about 120,000 refugees, mainly those fleeing insecurity from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.

As of Aug. 28, Uganda had registered a total of 2,756 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 1,288 recoveries and 28 deaths, according to the health ministry figures. Enditem
Pennsylvania State Police this week filed felony and other charges against a man and a woman related to the seizure more than seven months of a variety of drugs in Bethlehem.

Suspects Jose D. Maldonado Jr., 44, whose address is listed as Northampton County Prison, and 38-year-old Wendy L. Cicon-Flandorffer, of East Garrison Street in Bethlehem, were not immediately arraigned on the counts, according to court records.

Police say in the court papers the case is part of an ongoing investigation.

The charges stem from police surveillance Jan. 13 of Maldonado while he was at Cicon-Flandorffers home, police wrote. Officers a month earlier had searched Maldonados then-residence in the 1800 block of Eaton Avenue in Bethlehem.

Around 4:50 p.m. Jan. 13, Maldonado approached a vehicle that had pulled up outside the East Garrison Street home and was taken into custody as he tossed an object into the rear of the car, police said. The vehicle was also stopped, and police recovered a bag containing about 3.5 grams of methamphetamine from the rear seat, court records say.

Officers then approached the home and were given consent by Cicon-Flandorffer to conduct a search, according to police.

Investigators reportedly recovered a gray backpack that Maldonado admitted was his, and which contained 29 amphetamine pills; 2.52 grams of heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl; 0.06 of a gram of methamphetamine; a bag of numerous empty bags; glass smoking pipes and a key to a storage unit.

One of four other people also in the home at the time told police an item was removed from Maldonados bag prior to police entry, and Cicon-Flandorffer admitted to removing a box from the bag and hiding it in the basement, police said.

Authorities said they recovered the box from inside a cardboard box that also contained a jar of about 1.3 grams of marijuana, a digital scale and suspected drug paraphernalia. Cicon-Flandorffer allegedly admitted that the marijuana and other items in the cardboard box were hers.

Inside the box that had been hidden, police recovered a bag containing about 27.88 grams of methamphetamine; a bag of about 20.83 grams of heroin and fentanyl; a container of about 0.61 of a gram of liquid methamphetamine; a bag with about 0.39 of a gram of methamphetamine; another bag containing about 0.09 of a gram of heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl; five strips containing the opioid overdose antidote naloxone and opioid addiction treatment buprenorphine; and 10 small bags, court records say.

Police also recovered two cellphones, one of which was found to contain photos and messages related to drug sales, and say Maldonado admitted my prints will be on the box that had been hidden, according to court papers.

Maldonado faces four felony counts of drug possession with intent to deliver, four misdemeanor drug possession counts and single counts of felony criminal use of a communication facility and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Investigators filed the charges Aug. 26, six days after Maldonado was paroled in a 2018 drug case also in Northampton County, court records indicate.

Cicon-Flandorffer faces single counts filed Aug. 26 of felony count of drug possession with intent to deliver and misdemeanor conspiracy, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with evidence.

Once the suspects are arraigned, preliminary hearings will be scheduled to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the cases toward trial in Northampton County Court.
By Trend

Negotiations to resume international flights are underway, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said.

Hajiyev made the remark at the briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers held on Aug. 29, Trend reports.

He added that an appeal has been made to German Lufthansa to resume the Baku-Frankfurt flight.

According to him, appeals were received from other airlines, and negotiations are held to resume flights with various countries.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Mumbai Police will provide protection to actor Rhea Chakraborty and her family. This comes after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) requested for the same as the actress alleged being threatened.

Mumbai Police will provide protection to Rhea Chakraborty whenever she commutes from her residence to DRDO guest house. This is being done on the request of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), news agency ANI quoted a police official as saying.

On August 27, Chakraborty took to Instagram and shared a video which showed her father being hounded by the media outside her building compound. She added that they have been trying to get out of the house to cooperate with agencies investigating actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death.

The man in this video is my father Indrajit chakraborty (Retd. Army officer). We have been trying to get out of our house to co-operate with ED (Enforcement Directorate), CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) and various investigation authorities to cooperate, 28-year-old actor wrote.

There is a threat to my life and my familys life. We have informed the local police station and even gone there, no help provided. We have informed the investigation authorities to help us get to them, no help arrived. How is this family going to live? the actor said, using the hashtag #SafetyForMyFamily.

We are only asking for assistance, to cooperate with the various agencies that have asked us. I request @mumbaipolice to please provide protection so that we can cooperate with these investigation agencies. In COVID times, these basic law and order restrictions need to be provided. Thank you, she added.

On August 28, the CBI interrogated Chakraborty, who is accused of abetting Rajput's suicide, for over ten hours.

The Supreme Court had earlier upheld the transfer of an FIR, lodged by Rajput's father in Patna against Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting his son's suicide and misappropriating his money, to the CBI.

Rajput, the 34-year-old actor was found hanging on June 14 in his flat in suburban Bandra, Mumbai.
Beijing, Aug 29 : Domestic air travel in China has nearly fully recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic, according to data released by a leading travel analytics company, which predicted the Asian giant's aviation market would fully recover by the beginning of September.

In the second week of August, domestic arrivals at Chinese airports reached 86 per cent of last year's levels, while flight bookings hit 98 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday citing the company, ForwardKeys as saying.

"This is a highly significant moment because it is the first time since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak that a major segment of the aviation market anywhere in the world has returned to pre-pandemic levels," Olivier Ponti, vice president of insights at ForwardKeys, said in a statement.

The company said its forecast of a full recovery is based on four factors: China's success at curbing the pandemic, domestic aviation seat capacity set to increase by 5.7 per cent in the last week of August, the start of the school year, and aggressive price promotions.

The Chinese aviation market bottomed in the second week of February and has climbed slowly since then.

The coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei province, last December.

Since then, the virus has spread across the world and has so far infected a total of 24,646,610 people and killed 835,730 others globally.
The Government has announced up to 16m in grants to help pubs and nightclubs closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic to reopen when it is safe to do so.

At the moment, there are no immediate plans to reopen drink-only, or wet, hostelries and substantial meals will still have to be served in pubs.

It comes after the Government increased the Restart Grant by 40% for those who are still unable to open.

The Cabinet signed off on the measures after they agreed not to allow all pubs to reopen on Monday.

The Restart Grant Plus 40% Top Up entitles pubs to a minimum of 5,600 and a maximum of 35,000 to help with the expense of making coronavirus adaptations when re-opening.

The measure also means licensed premises will not have to pay court fees or excise and stamp duties when renewing their pub and other liquor licences this year.

Excise duty on on-trade liquor licences has also been waived on 2020 renewals.

Minister for Public Sector and Reform, Michael McGrath says the move applies to all on-trade licence holders, such as pubs, hotels and restaurants.

The measures are in addition to the existing Restart Grant Plus, Tourism Adaptation Fund, the wage subsidy scheme, commercial rates waiver, liquidity supports and other tax measures.

The Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said: Its been a really difficult few months for pub owners. Our publicans are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities and the Government is determined to help.

This package, in addition to the grants and subsidies already available, will help pub owners with expenses to do with getting ready for re-opening.

The increase in the Restart Grant Plus means pubs that are remaining closed will receive a minimum of 5,600.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said: The Government is acutely aware of the unique circumstances which pub owners find themselves in as a result of Covid-19.

"The package of measures announced today builds on the supports already available and will help to address some of the unique challenges faced by this sector.

The waiving of court fees, excise and stamp duties in relation to licence renewals is a necessary step in supporting these businesses.

To qualify for the scheme, businesses must have 250 employees or less, turnover of less than 100,000 per employee and reduced turnover by 25% as a result of coronavirus.

The relevant court fees, excise duty and stamp duty are as follows:

Court certificate for renewal of pub licence (where required) - 150

Public dancing licence - 490 (335 court fee plus 155 excise duty)

Public music and singing licence - 150

Renewal of registration of registered club - 655 (150 court fee plus 505 stamp duty)

Restaurant certificate - 150

The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) said it is "little comfort" for the thousands of business owners "who face the real prospect of permanent closure".

The DIGI said: While some support is better than none, the Governments new package shows short-term thinking and a failure to grasp the magnitude of the situation that publicans are facing.

Since the lockdown, almost half of publicans have taken on debt of 16,000, one in five as much as 30,000, much of it to invest in protective equipment and refurbishments in preparation for reopening. The package therefore barely scratches the surface of what is required.

Pubs in Ireland have been closed for almost six months, significantly longer than any other EU country. There has still been no explanation from the Government as to why Ireland is a special case.

Furthermore, the Government have not provided any certainty or even a rough timeline for pub re-openings."

They said an extension of the lockdown for pubs to the end of the year will cause an "irretrievable losses in jobs".

The body said: If the Government wants to make impactful decisions that will enable the industry to not only reopen but to recover, then longer-term strategies need to be put in place that reassess some of the wider constraints that exist across the sector, such as excise tax.

Despite being one of the most severely impacted industries in the state as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the drinks and hospitality sector remains subject to the second-highest excise tax in Europe. A reduction in excise tax should be among the core considerations for Government as we look towards Budget 2021.

Without a reduction, businesses will reopen in debt at reduced capacity with the second-highest rate of excise in the EU. This will put them on an immediate backfoot and threaten more permanent closures.
Two men have been seriously injured after a man armed with a tomahawk went on a rampage at a shopping centre on the Mornington Peninsula.

Witnesses have described the terrifying scenes that unfolded outside Rosebud Plaza after the alleged attacker smashed car windows before turning on shoppers about 10.15am on Saturday.

Grant Perry said he was at the shopping centre waiting for his wife when he heard screaming and saw a man being chased with a weapon.

"I jumped out of the car, the guy struck the guy a couple of times, I yelled out to stop, and the guy kept going," he told Nine News.
Japans prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has announced that he is retiring due to worsening health. The condition 65-year-old Abe suffers from is ulcerative colitis. But what exactly is this disease?

Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition that causes the lining of the colon and rectum to become inflamed and develop tiny open sores (ulcers). Scientists arent sure what causes it, but there are known risk factors. These include recent gut infections, a family history of the disease, and taking anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen. People living in western nations and at higher latitudes are also at greater risk.

Most new cases are reported in early adulthood, but some people develop the disease in childhood or in later life. Abes condition began when he was in junior high school.

Ulcerative colitis often causes diarrhoea and blood in the stool. This may be associated with abdominal pain and cramps. If a GP suspects that you have the condition, you will be sent to a specialist for endoscopy of the colon with a biopsy to confirm or rule out the disease.

Symptoms tend to come and go. The period between flare-ups (remission) can last for months or even years, but the symptoms will eventually return. A previous flare-up, in 2007, caused Abe to resign as prime minister.

Treatments

Although there is no cure for the disease, there is a range of drugs that can help to reduce the symptoms or lengthen the period of remission. The goal is to heal the inflamed gut completely as this reduces the chance of disease flare-ups and complications.

The first treatment given is usually a class of drugs known as aminosalicylates or 5-ASAs. These drugs are delivered by mouth or as an enema and work locally in the gut to reduce inflammation, which gives the damaged tissue a chance to heal. Theyre usually the first treatment option for mild or moderate ulcerative colitis. Abe started taking 5-ASAs in 2009, according to Reuters.

People with the condition may also be prescribed corticosteroids as an initial treatment to reduce inflammation and treat symptoms. Because these drugs are absorbed into the blood they are associated with side-effects, which include causing osteoporosis and cataracts. For this reason, they are not used as a long-term treatment. They tend to be used with or instead of 5-ASAs if 5-ASAs alone arent effective.

Story continues

Other drugs that are used to treat the disease include immunosuppressants, such as tacrolimus and tofacitinib, which are used to induce and maintain disease remission, and azathioprine, which is a long-term treatment to maintain remission. Biologic drugs, which target specific inflammatory pathways, are also given as injections or infusions. They include infliximab, adalimumab and vedolizumab.

However, because ulcerative colitis is unpredictable  with the length of remission varying  it is important for doctors to monitor the disease carefully to know whether the treatment is working and switch strategy if it is not.

For about one in four people with ulcerative colitis, the drugs dont successfully treat the disease or they cause complications. For these people, surgery may need to be considered. The operation involves removing the colon, leaving a stoma. Many people then have their gut joined back to the bottom muscles with the formation of a pouch.

People with ulcerative colitis have an increased risk of colon cancer and are advised to have a regular colonoscopy, starting eight to ten years after receiving a diagnosis. Mr Abe has a comprehensive check-up twice a year.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

James Lindsay has received honoraria for consulting with the following pharmaceuticals companies: AbbVie, Alergan (Warner Chilcott), Atlantic Healthcare,BMS, Celgene, Celtrion, Ferring, Gilead, GSK, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Napp, Norgine, Pfizer, Shire, and Takeda.
The 25th of August, 2020 turned out to be a very peculiar day for those following the proceedings related to the Vijayawada Fire Accident which unfortunately took the lives of 11 people.

The 25th of August, 2020 turned out to be a very peculiar day for those following the proceedings related to the Vijayawada Fire Accident which unfortunately took the lives of 11 people. On the very same day, 2 different courts dealing with different matters concerning the hospital authorities gave out 2 absolutely contradicting orders. Based on a petition filed by the Chairman of Ramesh Hospitals requesting the court to quash all proceeding against him, the HC of AP stayed all further proceedings in the matter.

The order said,  Considering the age of the petitioner & as the petitioner is a non-executive Chairman of Ramesh Hospitals, there shall be a stay of all further proceedings with regard to the petitioner.

On the other hand, the court of V Additional Metropolitan Session Judge rejected the bail petitions filed by 3 accused including the COO of Ramesh hospitals who were in the aftermath of the accident stating that  the investigation is still in progress & other prime accused are yet to be arrested and at this juncture, if the petitioners are enlarged on bail, they may tamper the records, the evidence & may interfere with the evidence.

Also read: Covid-19 update: India reports 76,472 new cases; tally crosses 34 lakh mark

Also read: MPs to get Covid-19 test done 72 hours before Parliaments monsoon session: Speaker Om Birla

The same order of the Sessions court also goes onto say,  Simply because the DMHO accorded permission to start the Covid-19 Care Center in the hotel, the petitioners cannot escape their responsibility in taking precautions to prevent fire accidents.

Belittling the argument put forth by the petitioners counsel that the responsibility to take precautions rested with the hotel management, the order said,  Another argument of the petitioners that it is the hotel management to undertake the repairs of the electrical fittings and to follow necessary fire safety measures, cannot be accepted because, the hospital management is occupying the hotel premises and starting the treatment to all the innocent Covid-19 patients and if any fire accident occurs, the damage and the loss will be caused to the hospital authorities and they will be sufferers and as such, it is the responsibility on the part of the petitioners and the hospital management to enquire about the fire safety measures of the hotel before entering into the MoU.

Also read: NEET-JEE exams: Sensex betting racket busted in Kanpur, 7 held
Hurricane Laura is pictured Wednesday afternoon off the coast of the Texas-Louisiana border as the International Space Station orbited above the Gulf of Mexico. Credit: NASA. (Aug. 26, 2020)

Payloads - Combustion Integrated Rack/Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (CIR/ACME): T

The crew replaced the Gas Chromatograph (GC) helium bottle, GC check gas bottle, and manifold bottles 2 and 4. During these bottle exchanges they also performed quick-disconnect (QD) lubrication to prevent the potential for any future leaks at the QD interfaces. The bottle exchanges are in preparation for the upcoming BRE part 2 (Burning Rate Emulator), which is one of the ACME suite of five experiments. The BRE experiment runs are focused on spacecraft fire prevention. More specifically, BRE's objective is to improve our fundamental understanding of materials flammability and to assess the relevance of existing flammability test methods for low and partial-gravity environments.

Systems

Hurricane Laura Response: In preparation for Hurricane Laura, Mission Control operations was handed over to the the Backup Control Center Activation Team (BAT) located in Palestine, TX. The BAT team and the International Partners have access to command and telemetry through US assets during this time. Changes were made to the timeline for the next few days to defer activities requiring significant interaction with US ground specialists.

ISS Leak Isolation: This morning, the crew re-ingressed the JEM module. Ground teams will review data and prepare conclusions and recommendations following the module isolation activity. The ECLS Community has been tracking an increase in nominal atmosphere leakage since October 2019.

Completed Task List Activities:

EHS Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products (CSA-CP) Extended Maintenance

Kcentra Reconstitution Demonstration

Today's Ground Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

IAS Comm Config for MRM Ops

Look Ahead Plan

Thursday, 8/27 (GMT 240)

Payloads:

CIR/ACME Configure for BRE

Food Physiology

Systems:

TOCA WRS Analysis/Data Record

Friday, 8/28 (GMT 241)

Payloads:

CIR-Hardware Return

MSRR/MSL SCA Exchange

Radi-N2 Deploy

Systems:

HMS AED Inspect

Saturday, 8/29 (GMT 242)

Payloads:

Payload NAS Vent Clean

Systems:

Crew Off Duty

Today's Planned Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

 (Universal Bioengineering Thermostat). Checking - No.07 thermostat temperature and unobstructed area near - inlet/outlet vents

LOR. Experiment Session & Photo Ops

Regeneration of Micropurification unit () 2 cartridge

Weekly Cleaning

UF-ATMOSFERA. PL Deactivation & Closeout Ops

JEM Ingress

CIR Item Gather

Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) Rack Doors Open/Close

CIR Bottle Replace

 comm configuration for MRM1 and MRM2

SEPARATION. Preventive maintenance of [--] Vacuum Unit.

Air ducts 1, 2 cleaning in DC1

Connecting SM - PEV valves and MRM2 Pressure Relief Valves () control circuits, and MRM2 pressure control circuits from SM

Urine Processing Assembly 6.4.1 Software Transition Gather [ABORTED]

VIZIR. Session with Photo image coordinate referencing - smart drawers system (-)

Urine Processing Assembly 6.4.1 Software Transition Setup [ABORTED]

Testing pressure equalization valves (PEV) and pressure relief valves (); measuring pressure in [] and SM  from EVA Support Panels () in MRM2

ACME MWA Prep

Crew Handover Conference

-. Preparation, Activation and Closeout

Urine Processor Assembly 6.4.1 Software Transition Init [ABORTED]

Urine Processor Assembly Software Transition Closeout [ABORTED]

Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
Kamala Harris is not competent to be US president, US President Donald Trump said as he launched an attack on the Indian-origin senators credentials for the top post.

Addressing his supporters at a Republican campaign rally in New Hampshire on August 28, Trump said he would support seeing a female president in the US, but suggested that his daughter and senior White House adviser Ivanka Trump would be a better candidate for such a role.

Harris, 55, was a presidential aspirant until last year before she dropped out of the race because of lack of popular support. She returned to political limelight after Joe Biden, the Democratic Partys presidential candidate, picked her as his running mate in the November 3 election.

Born to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, Harris is the first Indian-American and first Black woman to be picked by a major American political party for the top post.

You know I want to see the first woman president also, but I dont want to see a woman president get into that position the way shed do it, and shes not competent, Trump said. Shes not competent, he said amidst applause from his supporters, a few of whom screamed Ivanka Trump, at an election rally on August 28. Theyre all saying, we want Ivanka. I dont blame you, he said responding to his supporters.

This was Trumps first election rally after he formally accepted the nomination of the Republican Party on August 27 for the presidential election.

Trump said Harris withdrew from the Democratic Partys presidential race before primary season kicked off as her popularity dropped down to single digit.

How about her? Sheer beauty? What a beauty though. They pick a woman who starts off...She (Harris) starts off (her presidential campaign) sort of strong. Shes one of the favourites. Within a period of a few months, she goes down, down 15, 12, 11, nine, eight, five, three, two, he said, underlining the popularity downslide of Harris in the few months after her highly impressive campaign launch.

Then she goes, Im going to leave because Ive decided that I want to leave. I want to leave. She left (the race of presidency) because she wouldnt have gotten any votes. She was terrible. And this would be your president possibly. I dont think so. I dont think so, Trump said, speculating on the possibility that Harris could emerge as a Democratic presidential candidate in 2024.

Attacking Biden, Trump said he is running on the most extreme, far left platform of any nominee in American history.

And of our foreign adversaries who are devising a plan to destroy the US from within all they have to look, is that the Biden-Harris (ticket), he said.

Hours before Trump delivered his acceptance speech from the South Lawn at the White House, Harris alleged that the presidents policies have been a reckless disregard for the danger a pandemic would pose to American lives.

She said Trump has failed at the most basic and important job of a President of the United States. He failed to protect the American people.
On November 3, progressives will not vote for an ally or the lesser evil. They will have to vote for a preferred enemy.

American rapper Ice Cube has never shied from offering blistering critiques of American racism and the political and economic system that it has fostered. From seminal hits like Straight Outta Compton (1988) and F*** Tha Police (1988) with hip-hop group NWA, to his solo efforts such as Black Korea (1991) and I Wanna Kill Sam (1991), where he literally predicted the LA Riots of 1992 in the songs lyrics, while calling for the ultimate drive-by against a United States government that has rarely let up on its unremitting war against African Americans.

So it is not surprising that Ice Cube remains little more impressed with the present Democratic offering of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for the presidential race than he is with incumbent President Donald Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence. In an Instagram video uploaded shortly after the Democratic National Convention (DNC) formally announced the Biden and Harris nomination, he explained:

What I didnt hear [at the DNC] is, whats in it for us? Whats in it for the Black community besides the same old thing we been getting from these parties? [] They just pulled $3 trillion out of they ass and gave it to their friends [] Wheres our f******* bailout? [] Democrats dont seem like they got a plan. Republicans dont seem like they got a plan for us. So how the hell you gonna vote for them?

Critics have lambasted the rapper worth north of $100m, who has played police officers in his movies, for adopting such a position. But Ice Cube is not alone in his anger at the Democratic Party, its latest presidential ticket and American politics more broadly.

For progressive Democrats  particularly supporters of former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders  and those on the front lines of social and racial justice struggles, the Biden-Harris ticket cannot but be a great disappointment. On so many of the most important issues, from judicial and penal reform and Medicare for All to the Green New Deal and foreign policy, a large number of Democratic voters are far closer to the Sanders wing than to the partys neoliberal leadership.

From Bill Clinton to Barack Obama, we know how the story goes  great hope and promises of change lead to tepid policies that reinforce rather than reverse trends towards greater inequality and state violence. While the Democratic Party seems convinced the path to the White House is through winning over moderate Republicans, it is pretty clear that Trump will likely be re-elected, legitimately even, if a similar number of progressive young people sit out this time, as they did in 2016.

To forestall this possibility, Bernie Sanders used his DNC speech to warn his young followers that the future of democracy is at stake [] The future of our planet is at stake. We must come together [to] defeat Donald Trump.

Even further to the left, Noam Chomsky warned of the existential threat posed by four more years of Trump, urging people to vote for Biden-Harris and then haunt his dreams.

Angela Davis urged progressives to vote for Biden and Harris, arguing that they were the candidates who could be most effectively pressured into allowing more space for the evolving anti-racist movement. Perhaps most powerfully, former First Lady Michelle Obama warned Americans to vote like your lives depend on it.

All these figures have painted Trump, rightly so, as a mortal threat to democracy and even the future of humankind. And most, if not, all believe, as Chomsky points out, that whatever their faults, the candidates and the Democratic platform, in fact, signal a progressive step forward beyond any tandem or policies that came before. But given how the last two Democratic administrations reinforced rather than transformed the very forces that have enabled the disasters of the Bush and now Trump presidencies, it is hard not to join Ice Cubes sarcastic refrain and ask Whats in it for the rest of us? if the Democrats win, except a brief respite from more Republican Sturm und Drang?

In a world and a country beset by multiple interlocked crises that seem beyond the possibility of a solution by ordinary politics  a sentiment which, after all, helped elect Trump in the first place  it is no wonder that young and disaffected voters are not lining up behind the latest avatars of hope and change. They understand viscerally that the system is simply too rotten to reform, that Clinton-Bush-Obama-Trump-Biden are merely the undulating rhythms of a political-economic system in the United States that too rarely lived up to its lofty rhetoric and is now in the midst of an inevitable and violent decline.

And while Trump offers racist and xenophobic bread and circuses to the Republican masses, the Democratic Party is too inept even to pretend to support core policies that the vast majority of its voters deeply desire.

With so much at stake, and the race inevitably tightening in swing states, perhaps it is better to tell young, disaffected and uncommitted voters the truth: This election is not about voting for the president who will lead us out of the Trumpian darkness towards a more just, equitable and sustainable future. It is about choosing which enemy we would rather spend the next four years fighting to secure a future that neither the two parties, nor the system that ensconces them, have the interest or ability to create.

Being told to vote like your life depends on it is not all that empowering, if you have little faith that the people you are voting for can or will do all that much to save you. But being told you have the chance to choose between two radically different enemies to fight for your survival makes the choice and the motivation to vote far clearer.

On the one side, we have a ruthless narcissistic authoritarian with no checks on his executive power and a Supreme Court almost entirely his who is permanently enshrining a feudal oligarchy that disenfranchises and disinherits the majority of Americans, and blowing past any survivable CO2 limit, thereby threatening the survival of humanity and a million more species within a few decades. Trump 2.0 will unleash the full weight of the federal government, including white nationalist-infiltrated federal security forces, and tens of millions of heavily armed, fanatical and increasingly apocalyptic followers onto the streets violently to crush any remaining opposition to the quest, quite literally, to usher in the End of Days.

On the other side, we have an enemy who is neither strong, cruel, authoritarian, sociopathic nor ultimately suicidal enough to rush headlong towards climate and environmental disaster or permanently entrench a neo-feudal order. Even more so, Biden does not have the stomach or the mandate to unleash a level of state and militia violence against protesters that will be impossible to counter short of civil war.

And this enemy has already been infiltrated by upwards of 100 agents of change through the Congressional Progressive Caucus, at least half a dozen of whom are among the most well-known and powerful young politicians in America. While it will take at least a decade for the Squad and other young progressives to achieve institutional power, if their numbers grow by even a dozen members, the Democratic Party will have been conquered from within by progressives in the same way Republicans were conquered by the Tea Party.

Put this way, voting in November is no longer about choosing an ally that will surely betray you or even choosing the lesser of two evils. Rather, it is about having the good fortune of choosing an adversary whom you just might be able to defeat and a strategic position that enables the continuation of the struggle for racial, economic, climate and other forms of social justice without the risk of mass repression and even civil war.

Just as clear is what will happen if this opportunity is not taken. As a Facebook friend from a Midwestern battleground state described his Trump-loving neighbours after Jacob Blakes shooting: You can feel it building, they hate you and they are going to vote.

If those votes are not matched by a similarly motivated Democratic electorate, the End of Days might arrive a lot sooner than we think.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
New Delhi:

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday dared the Centre to get all the appointments made by his government probed after the CBI filed an FIR into the appointment of city Health Minister Satyendar Jains OSD.

Asserting that he was not afraid of any probe, the AAP chief also wondered whether the Centre would accept a Delhi government-appointed committee to look into the Sahara Birla papers.

Kejriwal alleged that the CBI has filed seven FIRs against Jain and two against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, but did not elaborate.

In fresh trouble for the AAP government, the CBI has filed an FIR into the appointment of Jains OSD while the LG office has recommended a probe by the agency into the appointment of his daughter Soumya Jain as a functionary in the Mohalla Clinic project.

You (Centre) make your committee and get all our appointments probed. And we will form one, and you get the Sahara Birla matter probed with it. Agree?

We are not scared of any probe as we have not done any wrong. Then why are you scared of a probe? Kejriwal tweeted.
The grandmothers really shouldn't have tobe out there in the 93-degree heat and the disgusting-percent humidity.

"I'm so sad that I have to be here for the cause," said Gloria Coles, 80, as she sat by the reflecting pool at the National Mall on Friday before punctuating that thought with the powerful truth: "Again."

America still has so much work to do. And the grandmothers are fed up.

So, with the deep sigh of the hard-working women who have been finishing unfinished business for decades, Coles and her sisterhood of elders got on their motorized scooters, grabbed their canes and comfort shoes and headed to the Lincoln Memorial for yet another March on Washington.

They remembered being young and hopeful, invigorated and energized by that crystal moment in 1963, when they heard the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words about a dream. Some, like Coles, were there that day.

"There was a feeling of unity, serenity. The crowd, walking into it all the way to the edge of the reflecting pool," Coles recalled of the day she came to the original March on Washington, her 6-year-old daughter in tow.

"And now this, 57 years later, the same thing," that daughter, Theonita Coles, now 63, said with a touch of sadness. Because it's supposed to be different now.

On a Friday like this, the grandmothers should be staying out of the heat in the air conditioning or fanning themselves on porches. They should be getting their grandkids' favorite pies ready for a weekend cookout, or beating their friends at a game of tile rummy. They should not need to be social justice mavens all over again.

"I am 69, and I should not have to be here," said Olivia Ellis, who flew in from Springfield, Ill., to attend the first march in her life. She's been so fed up with the ongoing police violence against Black Americans that she knew she was going as soon as it was announced.

"Many have been here before me, many have done that hard work, and we should not be where we are today on this," Ellis said. "I thought it would change with Trayvon Martin. Then I thought it would really change with Tamir Rice. It's gone on too long."

She was 12 years old in 1963 when she watched the speeches on television, inspired and hopeful that this would be the start of a whole new world for Black Americans.

Plenty changed, to be sure. But plenty didn't. Her children still had to hear "The Talk," the speech Black parents have to give their Black children about the way police see them and will treat them, and how it's different from the way their White friends will be treated.

"And now, my kids are having to give their kids the same talk," she said with that disappointed, pursed-lip grandmother head shake no grandchild ever wants to see.

Coles said it's not just her grandkids who hear that talk: "My great-grands - I've got, what, 10 of them? - my great-grands have to hear 'The Talk' too. And that's wrong."

Over the decades, the women did see change. Most of them spent the rest of the 1960s and 1970s in the workforce and raising children,making small advances on the long road to equality.

"If you've been in the struggle this long, you know that [1963] wasn't for naught," said Julie Middlebrooks-Reid, 65, who has been fueled her whole life by the inspiration of the March on Washington that day.

This week, she loaded up a bus of her peers in Columbus, Ohio, and headed to Washington to help finish the job because she's tired of hearing the same speeches, tired of seeing another generation go through the same hope-struggle cyclethat she did.

"We don't want our kids to have to repeat this struggle," she said. "No more repeating."

Back in Illinois, Ellis experienced both racism and opportunities in her career with an education association.

When a Black man became president of the United States - a night she never thought would come - "I was home alone and I cried," she said. "Someone who looks like me."

Then there was a backlash: the ghosts of hatred being resurrected.

"It also changed everything for the people who didn't want to see a Black man as president," Ellis said.

For Gwen Lancaster, 64, that backlash became clear when her husband, who had grown up under Jim Crow laws, was harassed by police in New York four years ago.

"He was waiting for me at a bus stop. And a police officer came and asked him, 'What are you doing here?' '' said Lancaster, a professor of nursing at Lehman College in the Bronx. "He told him he was waiting for me. And the officer asked him again. And again. It kept going on and on. The only thing that saved him was me getting off the bus."

This happened in 2016. There's work to do.

It's 2020. I's easy to snark at all the things futurists promised we'd have by now - flying cars, teleportation, jet packs, space vacations - while we wallow in a global pandemic and record unemployment and (still!) traffic.

But the real heartbreak is that the promise made more than two centuries ago at our nation's foundation, the words engraved on the West Pediment of the Supreme Court - Equal Justice Under Law - is still so far from being realized.

The grandmothers are exhausted. But they're still getting on the buses, ambling to the protest and staying out there, finishing the fight.

"It's not about politics," Gloria Coles said. "It's about human rights. That's all. Right is right and wrong is wrong."

And it's time for America to listen to the grandmothers.
Ravensdale opera star Tara Erraught was recently awarded a TOYP (Ten Outstanding Young People) Award from Junior Chamber Ireland, Dublin for Cultural Achievements.

Tara commented that the other award winners had achieved 'unbelievable success in their given fields, it made me so proud to be Irish, and proud of our generation who are pushing boundaries even in the worst of times, and flying the Irish flag all over the world.'

The mezzo soprano, who returned home to Ireland from New York in mid-March when the COVID-19 pandemic closed all Broadway theatres including the Metropolitan Opera House, is currently in Germany rehearsing for a special production of Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte which opens in the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich on September 13.

Tara, who sings the role of Despina, tweeted that she was one of the lucky ones as she travelled to Munich last Friday to begin rehearsals.

'I am grateful, anxious, excited and as always, finding it hard to leave my Emerald Isle.'

It would, she explained, be a two hour adaptation to meet the demands of COVID-19 restrictions with no intermission and a very small audience. Not surprisingly tickets for all performances are already sold out.
Officers in Lancashire have uncovered a haul of cannabis with a street value of 4.5m after catching a whiff of the stash while passing by.

Passing a storage warehouse in Oswaldtwistle, near Blackburn, on Wednesday, neighbourhood officers caught the scent of the class B drug while patrolling in the area.

What they uncovered on the towns Commercial Street is believed to be one of the largest drug seizures in the county.

Inside were numerous boxes filled with pre-packaged bags of what is believed to be cannabis resin and cannabis bush. No arrests have been made yet.

Detective chief inspector Tim Brown, from East Lancashire CID, said: "This significant discovery was the result of fantastic proactive police work, initially by neighbourhood policing team officers.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures 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. 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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. 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"While the investigation is still at an early stage, enquiries are progressing and I would encourage anybody who has seen unusual activity around this site in recent months to contact police."

Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire's police and crime commissioner, said: "The crucial work carried out by Lancashire officers in keeping drugs off our streets achieves real results like this that make our communities safer."

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting log 0994 of 26 August, 2020. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Additional reporting by Press Association
The final year of school is a rapturous one. It is filled with teasers of the life that awaits you, anxieties about what that will entail and bittersweet reminders of what youre about to leave behind. For many, it is a year marked by friendship, camaraderie, emotional highs and lows  and study.

This year, it has been different. There have been very few tastes of freedom for the Class of 2020 and far greater restrictions than any year 12 group has ever experienced. Many of Australias 180,000 year 12 students have spent much of their year not in school but at home in front of a computer, separated from friends and struggling with a new way of learning. They have had to dig deep to stay connected and motivated, at a time when they are already under pressure to succeed.

This year's school-leavers face an uncertain future. Credit:Marina Neil

Their future, too, is so uncertain and governments are doing little to help them. The unemployment rate is rising. University fees for some courses are set to double from next year under a proposed funding overhaul, with continued remote learning a real likelihood. And the governments travel ban makes it almost impossible to spend a gap year overseas.

On top of that, we are saddling this generation with an unprecedented level of national debt as we respond to this health crisis. As The Age's economics editor Ross Gittins noted last week, recessions bite young adults the hardest. They are likely to be the last group to emerge from it and may struggle for years to find work, setting back their careers and limiting their options in life.
The presidential race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump has tightened after this weeks Republican National Convention, according to a new Yahoo News-YouGov poll, with Bidens lead shrinking to 6 points  his smallest margin in nearly two months.

The convention appears to have boosted perceptions of Trumps strength and convinced a small number of former Biden supporters to move toward the president. But the unrest in Kenosha, Wis., following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a major talking point at the RNC, has not had a clear impact on voters choices  at least not yet.

For its latest Yahoo News survey, which was conducted from Aug. 27 to Aug. 28, YouGov recontacted respondents who participated in Yahoo News-YouGov poll one month earlier to gauge how the RNC and other events have affected their views.

The poll taken at the end of July showed Biden with a lead of a little less than 9 percentage points. In the new survey, those same registered voters give Biden an edge of just over 6 points (47 percent to 41 percent).

That shift  about two and a half percent overall  is the result of roughly 1 percent of registered voters switching from Biden to Trump and a smaller number who previously said they would not vote now saying they will vote for Trump.

These small changes were enough to transform a big Biden lead into a moderate Biden lead.

(Before and after the Democratic National Convention, Yahoo News and YouGov surveyed a separate sample of registered voters who gave Biden an 11-point lead.)

The new Yahoo News-YouGov poll shows that nearly every voter in America has made up his or her mind, with 96 percent Biden and Trump supporters now saying they have decided how they will vote  up 2 percent from when the same voters were surveyed in late July. Only 8 percent remain undecided. There was no change in Congressional voting intention over the same period: 49 percent of registered voters say they will vote Democratic and 38 percent say they will vote Republican.

Story continues

According to the poll, 62 percent of Republicans and only 34 percent of Democrats say they watched the RNC  meaning that 42 percent of registered voters (and 51 percent of all adults) did not watch either convention. Just a third of the public (32 percent) watched both conventions. Fifty-nine percent of Democrats and 33 percent of Republicans say they watched the DNC.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., on night four of the Democratic National Convention at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 20. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

So why did a small number of voters shift toward Trump over the last month?

The most pronounced change involved perceptions of the presidents strength. Right before the RNC, 33 percent of Americans said Trump possessed this quality; right after, that number increased to 38 percent. Over the last month, the numbers of Americans saying Trump cares a lot about people like you rose from 19 percent to 22 percent, while the percentage saying they like him a lot or somewhat rose from 24 percent to 28 percent. Its possible that a handful of voters who now consider Trump stronger and more likeable than before have decided to vote for him as a result.

Since late July Trump's job approval on COVID-19 has also increased slightly  from 38 percent to 40 percent  as the rate of growth in cases and daily death figures have been gradually declining. (Deaths now total over 180,000 and are growing at around 1,000 a day.)

Yet beyond these modest changes, the poll does not show voters gravitating toward Trump in search of law and order at a time of protest and civil unrest.

Its not that Americans are unconcerned about the issue. In July, 59 percent said they were either very or somewhat worried about a breakdown of law and order in American cities; exactly 59 percent say the same now, one month later. They are evenly divided over whether systemic racism (49 percent) or a breakdown of law and order (51 percent) is the bigger problem.

President Trump delivers his acceptance speech as the 2020 Republican presidential nominee during the final event of the Republican National Convention on the South Lawn of the White House on Aug 27. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

The issue for Trump is that voters remain unconvinced he will improve the situation. If the goal of the RNC was to tar Biden as a radical who will endanger Americans safety, it was not a success. One month ago, 37 percent of the public thought America would become more safe if Biden were elected; 35 percent said the country would become less safe. After both conventions, those numbers were 39 percent to 38 percent  no real change in the margin.

Nor did Trump convince Americans that he will make them safer. Today, 43 percent say the country will be less safe if Trump is reelected. Just 32 percent say it will be safer. One month ago, those numbers were nearly identical: 44 percent to 31 percent. Asked who would have handled the protests better, 43 percent say Biden. Only 35 percent say Trump.

And despite the RNCs grim warnings  and the nightly news reports about chaos in Kenosha  most Americans arent particularly concerned about violence in their own communities, with 62 percent saying they are not very worried or not worried at all. In fact, a majority of Americans (52 percent) think a second Trump term will lead to more violence of the sort seen in Kenosha. Only a quarter think Trumps reelection will lead to less violence. Asked which comes closest to their view, just 27 percent say Trump will protect us from the chaos. A plurality (46 percent) say Trump is the source of the chaos. Those numbers have not changed over the last month.

Meanwhile, more people (34 percent) think Trump is a radical than think the same of Biden (21 percent)  a sign that the president comes across as a more extreme figure than his opponent. A full 61 percent of Americans now say bringing people together is the right way to get things under control versus just 39 percent who prefer law and order  a 10-point swing toward unity since late July.

People march during a protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Kenosha, Wis. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

This isnt to say that voters dismiss the unrest in Kenosha, or that if similar events were to grip other cities, it wouldnt affect their political views. While Americans continue to approve of the Black Lives Matter movement (49 percent favorable, 37 percent unfavorable) and say that protestors want to improve (54 percent) rather than destroy (46 percent) America  numbers that have barely moved over the last month  they also seem to be losing patience with scenes of violence.

Since late July, the number who say the protests over police shootings of Black Americans have been mostly peaceful has fallen from 30 percent to 28 percent while the number who say the protests have been mostly violent riots has climbed from 33 percent to 37 percent. A majority (54 percent) say the protests have gone too far.

Only 20 percent of Americans say the shooting of Jacob Blake was justified. At the same time, they also think the protests in Kenosha were mostly violent (40 percent) rather than mostly peaceful (15 percent). A wide majority (59 percent to 21 percent) says that violence by protesters was a bigger problem than violence toward protesters  even though three protesters were shot and two killed by Kyle Rittenhouse, an armed teenager from Illinois who took it upon himself to patrol the streets. Twenty percent of Americans believe Rittenhouse was right to try to maintain order when no one else would, a position forcefully advanced by Fox News host Tucker Carlson, among others.

Part of the shift in sympathy away from protesters may reflect declining awareness of events. A few days after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, 75 percent of Americans said they had heard at least some news about the situation there; 70 percent reported seeing the video of Floyds killing. Today, only 58 percent say they have heard at least some news about whats happening in Kenosha, Wisc., while just half say they have watched the Blake video. Perhaps as a result, far fewer Americans consider race a major factor in Blakes shooting (40 percent) than said the same about Floyds killing (61 percent) in late May.

Joe Biden and President Trump. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: AP (2), Getty Images)

____________________

The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,001 U.S. adult residents interviewed online August 27-28, 2020. The respondents all participated in a prior Yahoo News survey conducted July 28-30, 2020 and were contacted to participate. Of the 1,506 adults in the July 28-30, 2020 survey, 1,001 responded to this survey  a recontact rate of 66.5%. Respondents were re-interviewed from the previous nationally representative survey. The sample was weighted to gender, age, race, education, geographic region, news interest, 2016 Presidential vote and registration status, and baseline vote intention of the first wave. The margin of error is 4.2 percent (and 4.5 percent for the sample of registered voters)._____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Screening, sanitizing, and sitting apart.

Thats the new reality for Ontarios students as they return to class in September, thanks to COVID-19.

Even before they set foot inside the building, the students at George Webster elementary in East York will line up out front, behind lines on the school sidewalk spray-painted in bright pink so they know how far apart they need to be.

Once inside, theyll get a quick COVID quiz from the principal or a staff member  Do you have a cough? Fever? Have you travelled anywhere recently? Theyll grab a disposable mask if they need it, and use hand sanitizer before following the round arrow decals on the floor directing them to class.

In classrooms, the walls are mostly bare, desks spaced two metres apart and all books removed.

They have to be as sparse as possible, but as welcoming as possible, Principal Lise Medd said of the classrooms, where desks have been taken to storage, or stacked against a wall to make more space.

With everyone masked, and face shields available as an additional protection for staff, Medd said one teacher suggested wearing happy-face buttons so kids will still see smiles.

On Thursday, the Toronto District School Board permitted tours of two schools to show how principals and staff are figuring out all the complications COVID brings  how to screen students in the morning without delaying the start of the day, keeping kids physically distant in the halls and classrooms, and handling lunch and recess safely.

Medd has arranged for staggered lunch periods and three separate recesses at George Webster, which has 700 students from kindergarten to Grade 8.

At Wexford Collegiate in Scarborough, principal Tom Lazarou said the challenge will be to get all 1,200 students in each morning in time for class given the necessary screening protocols.

Hes been at the school since Aug. 17, working with staff on traffic flow, installing the arrow floor decals and deciding how to handle entrance and exit times. (They will be staggered.)

High-traffic areas will be cleaned more frequently, and when students leave for the afternoon, the evening crew will do a more thorough clean.

Lazarou has arranged for two entrances to have screening stations  with a COVID information sheet, free masks and a huge jug of sanitizer  with two staff at each to conduct the 10-second check-in.

Lockers are off-limits, shut tight with white plastic ties. The cafeteria is closed  a big sign says STOP, do not enter  but might be used for a couple of drama classes at Wexford, which runs a well-regarded arts program.

We will be doing it all, said Lazarou, though there will be some modifications to classes in dance, drama, music and vocal.

In classrooms, desks that can be used are marked with yellow sticky notes, because theres not enough storage space to remove unused ones. Here, books remain  teens will just be told not to touch them, Lazarou said.

Im excited to return to school, said Grade 11 student Vanessa Trotman. Im not so nervous after walking through, because I see what they are doing, and all the precautions they are taking with face shields, masks, and how they are asking everybody questions before they are allowed in.

They are really taking precautions to keep everyone safe.

Class sizes at Wexford, where students will attend for almost four hours every other morning, should be at the expected 15 students. In the afternoons, Toronto teens return home for live online learning.

At George Webster  as with most elementary schools in Ontario  class sizes remain a concern.

While the provincial and federal governments have put in more than $1.2 billion for Ontario schools, critics have said the province should have mandated elementary class sizes of about 15 for childrens safety.

Torontos public and Catholic boards have approved plans to hire as many extra teachers as they can afford, and place them in schools in areas hard-hit by COVID.

On Thursday, Premier Doug Ford said he and Education Minister Stephen Lecce talked with school board directors and chairs in a conference call about back-to-school issues and extra money being provided.

Were really relying on the school boards, Ford added at his daily briefing, held in Brockville. I just told them I have all the confidence in the world that theyre going to be able to get through this and make sure that the students and the staff are in a very safe environment.

At Queens Park, Ontarios chief medical officer urged teachers to be sticklers for their own levels of infection prevention and control to avoid being affected by respiratory droplets that spread COVID-19.

Dr. David Williams said if you do that, you will not be at risk  consistency is really important, he told a news conference where he was asked if teachers face greater dangers than other workers such as grocery store staff.

I dont think theyll be at more risk than other people, Williams replied.

At George Webster, primary classes will have about 20 students. However, in kindergarten and the upper elementary grades, classes will have about 27.

Most of the staff are a little bit nervous about the number, said Medd. However, they are working to make it as feasible as possible, and we are working with them to support them and make sure its as safe as possible.

Sisters Kaiya and Tianna Grant are looking forward to returning.

Im excited to come back, excited to see my friends, said Kaiya, who is going into Grade 8. Online learning was difficult for me after the school shutdown in March.

She said most of her friends are going to be learning online, from home, because their parents dont feel comfortable sending them back.

But if they saw the precautions the school is taking, they would not be nervous, she said.

The Toronto board has asked families whether they intend to send their children in person or will keep them at home for remote classes. In elementary, the board has set three dates for kids to make a switch and return to school: Oct. 13, Nov. 23 and Feb. 16. Advance notice is required.

High school students can switch at the end of each quadmester  they are taking two courses at a time for about 45 days  but at no other time without risking their credits.

For now, principals and teachers are working on curriculum, figuring out how many classes can be held outside, or in the gym or cafeteria, and then waiting to see what happens once school reopens.

At Wexford, vice-principal Paula Pink-Grant is hopeful.

Well manage. Well pull through, she said. We are resilient.
Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman has died of cancer aged 43.

The actor, who inspired audiences around the world in his role as a black superhero in the Marvel film, died at home in Los Angeles.

He had been diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago, but chose not to make the news public.

His family and friends revealed that all of his films were shot despite countless surgeries and chemotherapy.

A statement posted on the actors Twitter account on Friday called him a true fighter and said he had persevered through it all.

The post appeared to show he had quietly married his long-term girlfriend in the final months of his life.

Chadwick Boseman in 2018s Black Panther (2018) (Rex Features)

Boseman rose to stardom playing real-life figures  baseball great Jackie Robinson in 42 (2013), and soul singer James Brown in Get on Up (2014).

But he will be best remembered for playing the first black superhero to lead his own film as King TChalla in Black Panther, which was released in 2018.

The films vision of Afrofuturism and the technologically advanced civilisation of Wakanda resonated with audiences, some of whom wore African attire to showings and helped propel Black Panther to more than $1.3bn (1bn) in the global box office. Black Panther was the first superhero film to receive an Oscar nomination for best picture.

The statement on his Twitter account said that being cast in Black Panther was the honour of his career.

His Wakanda Forever salute reverberated around the world after the film was released.

His Marvel co-stars, including Mark Ruffalo, Brie Larson and Samuel L Jackson, were among those who paid tribute.

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Hulk star Ruffalo wrote: What a man, and what an immense talent. Brother, you were one of the all time greats and your greatness was only beginning. Lord love ya. Rest in power, King.

Larson wrote: Chadwick was someone who radiated power and peace. Who stood for so much more than himself. Jackson said Boseman was a talented and giving artist & brother who will be sorely missed.

Bosemans other credits included 2019 blockbuster Avengers: Endgame, and, most recently, Spike Lees Da 5 Bloods.

Born in South Carolina, Boseman graduated from Washington DCs Howard University and had small roles in television before his first star turn in 2013.

Actor and director Jordan Peele described his death as a crushing blow.

This broke me, said actor and writer Issa Rae.

Read further tributes, including from Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans, here.

Additional reporting by agencies
Ministers are secretly encouraging Tory MPs to sabotage plans for politicians and their staff to keep working from home  to get the House of Commons back to normal.

The sight of some MPs holding Ministers to account via Zoom video calls from their homes or constituency offices has become part of the Commons response to the pandemic. So too have been images of a Commons Chamber restricted to only about 50 people including officials  being present in person at any one time under two-metre social-distancing rules.

Government sources complain that any bid to get more MPs in by relaxing that to one metre were met by Public Health England warnings that MPs would have to make all their speeches sitting down. But The Mail on Sunday understands Ministers privately want Tory colleagues to object this week to the proposed renewal of the remote-working arrangements to show an example to the country that people should get back to work in the office. One Government source said: It only takes one MP to shout object and the renewal of remote-working would fall.

The sight of some MPs holding Ministers to account via Zoom video calls (Grant Shapps pictured) from their homes or constituency offices has become part of the Commons response to the pandemic

Yes, it could be reintroduced the following day but we need to show an example to get people back into work wherever possible.

The source also insisted any MPs who for medical reasons could not be present at Westminster should still be allowed to work from home.

However, the move is likely to spark fury from leading Opposition MPs, who only yesterday insisted that the remote arrangements were still an absolute necessity for some colleagues amid fears of further spikes of the virus.

Separately, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith insisted it was now time to get rid of the Commons two-metre rule as one metre is enough.

He told The Mail on Sunday: The Chamber is dead right now  its a dead place. Its dull because hardly anybody can get in. Everything has to be booked for questions  theres no impromptu interventions. So many people choose to be at home and do it from home. But Sir Iain added: Unless you are in the protected sector, you should be in the House.

So too have been images of a Commons Chamber (pictured) restricted to only about 50 people including officials  being present in person at any one time under two-metre social-distancing rules

The House authorities should look now to getting more people in the Chamber.

However, Commons sources hit back last night by insisting that relaxing the social distance rules to one metre would only allow another 25 MPs to be in the Chamber at any one time.

New Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey this weekend insisted that the hybrid arrangements had to continue, saying: There will be many parliamentarians and parliamentary staff with good reason for being unable to be in Westminster in person.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps faced embarrassment last week after issuing a call saying it was safe for people to return to work  from his home in Hertfordshire.
Taiwan opens F-16 fighter jet maintenance center in Taichung

ROC Central News Agency

08/28/2020 05:12 PM

Taipei, Aug. 28 (CNA) Taiwan on Friday opened a new F-16 fighter jet maintenance center in Taichung, the first such facility in Asia, to upgrade the nation's fleet of 142 F-16 fighters and eventually perform repairs on aircraft from other countries.

The NT$110 billion (US$3.7 billion) facility was jointly established by Taiwan's state-run Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) and U.S.-based Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the jets, under an agreement reached last December.

The center will be responsible for carrying out upgrades on the Air Force's 142 F-16A/B fighter jets, as well as for repairs to the 66 F-16V (Block 70) aircraft Taiwan purchased from the United States last year.

Speaking at the center's opening, President Tsai Ing-wen () said defending the sovereignty of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and maintaining regional peace meant that Taiwan could not bow to pressure and had to have strong national defense capabilities.

The new maintenance center, she said, "will significantly reduce maintenance time and increase fighter jet availability, ensuring air superiority on the front lines of national defense."

Expanding on her mantra that "peace depends on national defense," Tsai said national defense efforts could also be used to spur industrial development by creating industry chains, technology transfers, and better training.

In that regard, one of her top priorities is to allow domestic vendors to participate in production and maintenance work connected to the center, Tsai said.

By doing so, the center will generate an estimated NT$79.5 billion in output value over 30 years, support 600 jobs annually and create overall industry benefits of up to NT$200 billion, she said.

AIDC President Ma Wan-june () said the facility would help the Air Force resolve three of its main issues with the F-16 platform -- namely, high maintenance prices, long delivery times for spare parts and the high frequency with which it uses the jets.

In the future, Taiwan will have over 200 F-16s in its fleet. Assuming a system availability of 70 or 80 percent, that means around 40 jets will be undergoing maintenance at any one time, he said.

While the center's first priority is to service Taiwan's Air Force, Ma said there was "no reason" why it should not eventually compete for business from other countries operating F-16s in the region.

Under the terms of its strategic alliance with Lockheed Martin, AIDC has received authorization to produce 23 parts used in F-16s.

At the time of the agreement, ADIC said it had some 800 technicians certified by the company to carry out upgrades on F-16A/B jets.

(By Matt Yu and Matthew Mazzetta)

Enditem/ls

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" " Robert Jenkins shows his severed ear to British Prime Minister Robert Walpole in a 1738 depiction of his presentation at Parliament. Hulton Archive/ Getty Images

In the cult classic 1986 David Lynch film "Blue Velvet," a young, relatively naive man named Jeffrey Beaumont finds a severed human ear in a field. Jeffrey's curiosity over the identity of the ear's former owner grows into an obsession. In his quest to find the person to whom the ear was formerly attached, Jeffrey is led into a strange underworld of vice and darkness, populated by equally strange and sinister people.

About 300 years earlier -- and in real life -- an unattached ear made a splash in the British House of Commons. In this case, there was no question as to the ear's rightful owner; it was presented to Parliament by a man who claimed to be its owner. Had he not pickled it, the ear would have been mummified by this time. It had been separated from the man's head for more than seven years by the time he carried it into the House of Commons and lodged his protest.

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The man's complaint went something like this: His name was Robert Jenkins. He'd been the captain of a commercial trading vessel named the Rebecca. On April 9, 1731, the Spanish coast guard from Havana, Cuba, boarded the vessel. The Spaniards suspected that the Rebecca was carrying smuggled goods and demanded to inspect the ship's cargo and its manifest. Once they did, they found there was, indeed, contraband aboard the ship.

As punishment, the Spanish captain, Juan de Leon Fandino, drew his sword and severed Capt. Jenkins' ear from his head. According to Jenkins, Fandino claimed, "Were the King of England here and also in violation of the laws, I would do the same for him!" [source: Brainard]. This last part must've really hit a nerve -- a year after Jenkins' testimony, England declared war on Spain.

It's not entirely clear why Jenkins waited seven years before he lodged his complaint. It's even less clear why Jenkins carried the ear around with him. What is clear is that it wasn't just the severed appendage that started what came to be known as the War of Jenkins' Ear. Relations between Spain and England were already strained long before Jenkins' mishap. What led to a war prompted by the forced removal of an ear? Find out on the next page.
LAKE CHARLES, La.: Hurricane Laura was a monster storm that could have, even should have, wreaked much more destruction than it did, except for a few lucky breaks and some smart thinking by Gulf Coast residents, experts say.

Just before striking Louisiana, Laura wobbled. It wasnt much, maybe 15 miles (24 kilometers) for a Category 4 storm that was nearly the width of two states. But it was enough to move the worst of the storm surge east of Lake Charles and into a far less populated area.

And even before that, Laura threaded a needle between well-populated New Orleans, Port Arthur and Houston and came ashore in Cameron Parish, which is the second least-populated county along the coast. The population of the average Atlantic and Gulf Coast county is 322,000 people. Cameron Parish has less than 7,000.

Before Laura struck, local governments and residents took the right steps and got out of harms way for the most part, a veteran New Orleans disaster expert said.

The storm was still devastating, but not quite as catastrophic as it might have been.

It was really, really bad instead of apocalyptic, Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach said.

Lauren Sylvester heeded the mandatory evacuation, leaving her townhouse in Lake Charles on Wednesday to stay with her mom in New Iberia. Between the evacuation order and the storm surge projections, she didnt want to take a risk.

On the TV, the picture kept getting worse and worse. They said it was going to be 9 feet and above. It was freaking me out so much, Sylvester said Friday. I didnt want to be stuck in my attic with no way to get out.

Her home was right in the red zone of 9 feet (2.7 meters) of flooding, but it didnt happen, she said.

She came home to some lost shingles and downed trees. There was no water damage.

We got really lucky, she said. We were really blessed.

Lawrence Lee Faulk of nearby Grand Lake, a member of the Cameron Parish governing body called a police jury, said if the storm had been 10 miles (16 kilometers) to the west, Lake Charles and this part of the parish would have got all that water.

National Hurricane Center storm surge specialist Jamie Rhome referred to the storms last-minute course change as the little wobble that saved Lake Charles. In the end, the city got maybe half the storm surge it could have received, he said.

The worst storm surge is to the east of a hurricanes eyewall because of the combination of the storms counterclockwise whirl and northward movement. As Laura wobbled more to the east, Lake Charles got the eyewall, and the worst surge hit farther east in the marshlands, Klotzbach said.

Before the storm arrived, the hurricane center warned of up to 20 feet (6 meters) of storm surge, and Rhome said it was in that ballpark.

Storm surge warnings and estimates represent the most reasonable bad scenario, or the worst 10% of the thousands of calculations meteorologists make, Rhome said.

Emergency managers use those figures to get their evacuation messages across properly, said hurricane expert Brian McNoldy of the University of Miami.

Much like the now-forgotten Hurricane Bret that hit Texas in 1999, the location where Laura came ashore also made a big difference, he said.

There arent that many lowly inhabited places along the coastline, and it managed to find one of them, McNoldy said.

Another factor was simply smart behavior by the local population, experts said.

Shirley Laska, a sociologist who studied Louisiana disasters at the University of New Orleans and co-founded the Lowlander Center, said parish leaders, emergency managers and citizens did the right thing before the storm.

Im pretty much a cynic and a critic, but I think these parishes did wonderfully. And I mean both the citizens and the leaders, Laska said. But they got out of Dodge. They evacuated as they were told."

Elizabeth Griffin Tietjens, a veterinarian in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, fled her house on Monday after hearing repeated warnings about Laura. She drove 12 hours to be with her husband at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia. Upon her return Friday, she found huge wind-torn gaps in the roof of her home.

Her landlord, Kevin Pickett, and his entire family fled too.

Everybody left, everybody learned their lesson during (2005s Hurricane) Rita, Pickett said, and so everybody vacated.

Laska said she believes the monthslong pandemic helped make everyone more attentive to risk. Add to that Tropical Storm Marco, which threatened the region only a few days earlier and then fizzled. People were prepared well ahead of time.

Danny Lavergne, director of the Cameron Office of Emergency Preparedness, acknowledged that Laura inflicted the worst damage the area ever got. But, he said, Theres nobody missing, no one injured, no one dead. Most of the 150 to 200 people who refused to evacuate were on the western end of the parish.

They survived the wind because there was no water, Lavergne said.

___

Borenstein reported from Kensington, Maryland. McConnaughey reported from New Orleans. Associated Press video journalist John Mone contributed from Vinton, Louisiana.

___

Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears, Melinda Deslatte at @MelindaDeslatte, John Mone at @JohnMone and Janet McConnaughey at @JanetMcCinNO.

___

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.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
An Amazon delivery driver strikes a 73-year-old man in the face after he asks him to wear a mask before entering a building: Twitter

An Amazon delivery driver allegedly assaulted a 73-year-old man that asked him to put on a face mask before entering a condo.

The alleged assault was caught on surveillance video. Ray Breslin, who asked the driver to stay out of the building until he had a mask, returns from their discussion wearing a mask.

The driver then shoves a phone in Mr Breslin's face and holds it there for a moment before slamming it into Mr Breslin's head.

The assault occurred on 4 Aug, but the driver has yet to be charged.

"I was mortified" Mr Breslin told local broadcaster WSVN. "I just couldn't believe it."

A 73-year-old resident at a Miami Beach condo said he refused to let an Amazon driver into the building without a mask. When the man came back with a mask, he was seen shoving the man in the face.



STORY: https://t.co/bGWs3Qdkne pic.twitter.com/Xkr7NOVU8W  WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) August 25, 2020

The Miami Beach resident said he saw the delivery driver enter the building without a mask. When the driver tried to go further into the building, Mr Breslin stopped him and said he couldn't go further without wearing a mask.

"I open the door, I said, 'Excuse me, you have to have a mask on.' He said 'I'm just delivering.' I said 'It doesn't matter. You wanna come in the building, you need to have a mask on,'" Mr Breslin said.

He said the man attempted to enter anyway.

"All of a sudden, he just puts his foot at the door like that. He's not gonna let me close the door," Mr Breslin said. "I pushed his foot out of the way and closed the door."

Mr Breslin said he took the packages from the driver and left them near the building's front door. He also took a photo of the driver's vehicle and his license plate.

Story continues

The driver went back to his vehicle to get a mask and returned to finish the delivery. It was at that point that their confrontation escalated.

"Then he came back with a mask on, and I thought 'Ok, not so bad' and I open the door and I let them in," Mr Breslin said. "He brings his phone up like that and smashes me in the face."

Mr Breslin pointed out to the driver that the entire encounter had been caught on surveillance video, which prompted the man to flee the scene with the packages.

"I was like - what are you kidding me? I said 'there's a camera right there that just shot all this' and he looked up, put his head down, took his packages and walked right out the door," Mr Breslin said to NBC 2.

Mr Breslin said the driver claimed he hit him because Mr Breslin hit him first. However, the footage does not show Mr Breslin striking the driver at any point.

The 73-year-old condo president was not injured in the encounter, but he said he was shaken up by the incident.

Mr Breslin's lawyer, Michael Grieco, said the the incident was "felony battery," explaining that any time someone hit someone over the age of 65, it was considered a felony.

Mr Breslin filed a victim's report with the local police, but the driver has yet to be identified or charged.

"The fact that an Amazon driver, any delivery driver, would contemplate getting violent with somebody in a situation like that is beyond me," Mr Grieco said.

Amazon said it sent an apology letter to Mr Breslin. The driver worked for a company that contracted with Amazon to deliver its packages.

According to Amazon, the driver no longer works for the delivery company.

"This does not reflect the high standards we have for delivery service partners," Amazon said in a statement. "We are addressing the incident with the delivery service partner and can confirm that this individual is no longer delivering Amazon packages. We are in touch with the customer to make things right."

Miami-Dade county is currently under a county-wide mask mandate, requiring everyone to wear a mask while in public or face a potential $100 fine.

Mr Breslin said he was simply trying to follow the law.

"I was being firm. I wasn't being nasty. I wasn't going to let him in the building without a mask," Mr Breslin said. "Plain and simple."

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Mike Pence immediately fist-bumps crowd without mask after RNC speech
I'm afraid I have some disappointing news for movie fans longing for a blockbuster to lure them back to cinemas.

Filming of the 180million Jurassic World: Dominion, starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt has been hit by more delays.

I hear that Chris, 41, is so worried about a coronavirus outbreak in Malta, where some of the scenes of the sixth instalment in the franchise are being shot, that he is refusing to fly out there and is telling others on the film that it's not safe.

On-set sources say that the Hollywood heart-throb is 'petrified' of picking up Covid-19 so is 'leading the charge' not to join the crew in Malta until it is safer.

Filming began in February at Pinewood Studios but was halted as the pandemic took hold. Bryce Dallas Howard plays the boss of a theme park of cloned dinosaurs that is plunged into chaos when they escape. Chris Pratt plays a dinosaur expert charged with saving the day

Filming of the 180million Jurassic World: Dominion, starring Bryce Dallas Howard (pictured: attending the Jurassic World premiere at LA in 2015) and Chris Pratt faces more delays

One says: 'There have been some cases of Covid among the behind-the-camera staff following an outbreak in Malta.

'Chris thinks the sensible thing is to not get on the plane to go there.'

Filming began in February at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire but was halted just two weeks later as the pandemic took hold.

Bryce plays the boss of a theme park of cloned dinosaurs that is plunged into chaos when they escape.

Chris plays a dinosaur expert charged with saving the day.

Kate Middleton's designer: I thought OBE note was tax demand

Most people are cock-a-hoop when they are nominated for an honour. But one of the Duchess of Cambridge's favourite designers, Amanda Wakeley (pictured: receiving an OBE from Prince Charles in 2010), has revealed that she was terrified to open the letter confirming she would receive an OBE  because she thought it was a tax demand

Most people are cock-a-hoop when they are nominated for an honour.

But one of the Duchess of Cambridge's favourite designers, Amanda Wakeley, has revealed that she was terrified to open the letter confirming she would receive an OBE  because she thought it was a tax demand.

Amanda says: 'Getting the letter was very funny, as a brown envelope arrived at the business. It was just before Christmas and our accountant gave it to me.

'I thought, 'Oh God, here we go, it's a tax demand which I really don't need.'

'I tore it open and I couldn't believe what I was reading.'
She's been busy filming Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in Sydney.

But on Saturday, Michelle Yeoh enjoyed a rare day off by stepping out in the city for a spot of shopping.

The Malaysian actress, 58, was spotted leaving UGG Australia with a face mask and blue tinted sunglasses on.

Keeping a low profile? Michelle Yeoh wore a face mask while out in Sydney on Saturday. She was seen leaving UGG Australia on a rare day off from filming Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

She kept cosy in a long navy coat and matching cap branded FIA, which stands for Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, an organisation which her partner, Jean Todt, is the president of.

The Crazy Rich Asians star matched her look with a pair of grey track pants and training shoes.

Michelle was spotted leaving UGG Australia with a face mask and blue tinted sunglasses on.

Warming up: The Malaysian actress, 58, was later seen walking along the harbour with her phone in hand, while enjoying the winter sun

She was later seen walking along the harbour with her phone in hand, while enjoying the winter sun.

Michelle arrived in Australia last month, she underwent two weeks of hotel quarantine.

She also did two COVID tests - first upon her arrival from France and second after her quarantine - and tested negative to the virus.

Getting tested: Michelle arrived in Australia last month, she underwent two weeks of hotel quarantine. She also did two COVID tests - first upon her arrival from France and second after her quarantine - and tested negative to the virus

The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon star is in the country to continue filming Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings which began filming in Australia at the start of the year.

Production was suspended in February due to COVID-19 fears.

The blockbuster will no doubt provide a boost to Australia's ailing film industry, which was brought to its knees as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold earlier this year.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the production will generate an estimated $150million for the Australian economy, as well as 4,700 new jobs.

Star power: Michelle is in the country to continue filming Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Pictured is Michelle with Crazy Rich Asians co-stars Henry Golding and Constance Wu

Starring Simu Liu as Marvel's first Asian superhero, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will tell the tale of Shang-Chi, a martial arts master who was raised inside a reclusive Chinese compound.

After leaving the compound as an adult, Shang-Chi must reckon with the harsh realities of the outside world, including a terrorist organisation called Ten Rings.

Ten Rings' evil leader, The Mandarin, will be played by Tony Leung, while Awkwafina and Ronny Chieng have also been cast in undisclosed roles.
A two-hour-long bus ride, hot temperatures, and the threat of the coronavirus pandemic didnt keep 29-year-old Shaquay Brock of Black Lives Matter Harrisburg from joining about 44 other individuals Friday from central Pennsylvania at the March on Washington.

Being here is unexplainable to me, Brock said. Ive never been here before to witness anything like this. So, for my three daughters, I want them to know that I came here and was part of history. I just hope they see it as wow, mom, I hope that one day I get to do something like that.

This years march was dubbed the Commitment March on Washington, with the accompanying rallying cry, Get Your Knee Off Our Necks. Black Lives Matter Harrisburg, along with local nonprofits UniteCentralPA and reloved, organized the free trip.

All three organizations believe in similar social justice causes and are working toward educating the community on equality, fairness, and being responsible citizens. Members of the groups handed out gift bags that included sunscreen, water, snacks, and other items provided by Lowes and Costco in Harrisburg.

The march, held on Aug. 28, commemorates the 57 anniversary of the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and Martin Luther King Jr.s renowned I Have a Dream speech.

I always want my daughters to stand up for what they believe in and fight for a cause like Black Lives Matter, but on the other hand, Martin Luther King, he was here, Brock said. He may not be alive today, but the fact that we can come back here years later as all different kinds of people united to stand for one thing, that amazes me.

Yes, everyones lives matter, but until we can get over racism and police brutality and things like that, were always going to have to fight, she said

Claudie Kenion, Black Lives Matter Harrisburg organizer, said he was overjoyed to be there, repeatedly saying throughout the event, This is beautiful.

This is worthwhile, he said. It makes me feel that Im doing the right things.

The group mostly traveled together, at times trying to get closer to the Lincoln Memorial to be near the speakers, resting under a tree for relaxation and laughs, and posing for pictures. Steady streams of individuals were entering the Mall in every direction.

There was very little room to be socially distant. Some people were wearing masks and others were not. At the start of the march, signs that read please stand six-feet apart were hanging up around the Lincoln Memorial, but by noon they were gone.

One of the most celebrated speeches among the central Pennsylvania group was the one delivered by Kings granddaughter, whose energy was noticeable.

Yolanda Renee King, 10, rallied the crowd with the words: Great challenges produce great leaders, and reiterated that will she not forget the days of sit-ins and freedom rides, nor her grandfathers efforts toward social justice.

I feel excited, energized, and hopeful, said Heather Norton, founder and CEO of reloved. The New Cumberland-based nonprofit focuses on promoting wellness within underserved communities.

Norton said she felt connected to the masses not only because she agrees with the cause, but also that she contributed with gift bags.

I was so excited when we made it all the way into the Lincoln Memorial and I saw someone using the stuff that we handed out, Norton said.

We are at a turning point in our nation, she said. The numbers are here -- there are so many different races, ages, sexual orientations -- everyone has come out for this. It does give me great hope that we can use our voices for the good of others lives.

Participating in the march was sentimental for Selena Feliciano, who was shot with a rubber bullet during the first rally held in Harrisburg following the death of George Floyd. Marching next to Kenion and other members of Black Lives Matter Harrisburg, she was in the middle of hundreds of thousands of people who were holding signs, chanting, and some yelling messages into megaphones.

When taking a brief break at 9th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, she pointed to her scar from the bullet wound.

I think todays been amazing, Felciano said, adding nothing is going to stop her from supporting the cause. Its been a beautiful day.

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The event was co-hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnams Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies, the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam and the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies under the Peoples University of China.

In his opening speech, Assistant Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Van Thao said China was the first country in the world to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam. In the past seven decades, the friendship and cooperation have always been a mainstream in bilateral ties.

The Vietnamese Party and Government always attach importance to developing the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and stay ready to further boost mutually-beneficial cooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally, he said, adding that the healthy and stable development of the bilateral friendship and coordination contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world.

General view of the webinar. (Photo: Foreign Ministry)

Amid the complicated developments of the political-economic situation in the world, Thao hoped that experts from the two nations will conduct in-depth researches and exchange views to contribute to the bilateral relationship.

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo, for his part, stressed that the bilateral traditional friendship nurtured by generations of leader is an invaluable asset of the two Parties and countries that needs to be further developed.

He wished that China and Vietnam would fully implement common important perceptions reached by senior leaders of the two Parties and countries, and carry forward the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

At the event, Vietnamese and Chinese scholars discussed the 70-year Vietnam-China relationship as well as regional and global issues of shared concern.
Madam Rejoice Afi Agyagbo, Volta Regional Coordinator of Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), has appealed to school authorities to supervise the feeding of final year students in Junior High Schools to ensure the safety of the children.



The advice follows the incident involving some 21 students from four schools who were treated and discharged at the Ho Municipal Hospital, on Thursday, after they complained of feeling unwell, a day after having their school lunch of rice and beans, with egg.



The students, many of whom reportedly ate their meals later in the evening, are said to have complained of a stomach upset with pain, dizziness and weakness.



Madam Agyagbo said some of the affected students explained that they ate around 1800 hours, which she said, could have caused the problem.



She said those who consumed the meals immediately they were served did not encounter any stomach problems and asked school authorities to help in getting their students to eat at the right time to prevent any health problems.



She said it was, particularly, not safe to keep a beans meal, which had been packaged hot, to eat later.



The Coordinator said a total of 74 public and 23 private JHSs in the Ho Municipality from the national initiative for 20 days.



Mr Raphael Amenyo, Ho Municipal Director of Education, said some of the students who complained were from the Holy Spirit Basic JHS, Royal Praise, New Seed International and Volta Rising Star JHS.



He debunked rumours that some of the students were hospitalised, saying, "No student was admitted in this case, they were all treated and discharged. "

The incident generated a public controversy.



Mr Amenyo said the Municipal authorities met heads of JHSs and they had been charged to supervise the initiative to forestall any safety challenges.



A meeting would be held on Monday with the caterers to chart the way forward, he said.

Source: GNA









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Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has given soldiers who removed the President just one year to return the country back to civilian rule.

This was one of the decisions arrived by the ECOWAS authority at the end of its second virtual extraordinary session on the socio-political situation in Mali.

Speaking during the session, President Muhmmadu Buhari, emphasised the need for the country to return to democracy, warning that Mali could not afford to stand alone, charging the junta to be realistic by setting acceptable time table for return of democratic rule.

The President noted the briefings so far received from the ECOWAS Special Envoy, former President Goodluck Jonathan, indicated the regional bodys engagements with the new military leadership in Mali were yet to achieve the desired results in several key areas.

Buhari, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said: I am, however, personally happy to hear of the release from detention of the former President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who is reported to be in good condition.

The disposition of the new leadership to free the remaining senior officials is noted as this should contribute to the renewed sense of belonging to the Malian people.

With regards to other areas being negotiated, Nigeria believes that the people of Mali and the military leaders need to appreciate the fragility of their country and the imminent danger which it poses to the citizens of Mali as well as the ECOWAS sub-region.

He added that the military leadership should be flexible in negotiations by putting the interest of all Malians and the harmony of the sub-region into consideration.

For the people of Mali, specifically the leadership, embracing Democracy and Good Governance is crucial to the countrys political stability. Mali cannot therefore afford to stand alone, hence the need to come to terms with the realities of an acceptable and workable transition compact that inspires the confidence of all Malians.

Meanwhile, I urge the military leadership to consider: the immediate release of all the remaining senior Government officials in detention, without pre-conditions; a transition process, to be completed in not more than 12 months, and which shall include the representatives of Malian stakeholders.

This is a critical consideration for the new government to enjoy the cooperation and collaboration of regional and international community, and to allow the easing of sanctions imposed on Mali.

Among Declarations of the Summit adopted by ECOWAS leaders were that the transition government in Mali must be led by civilians, and that the return to constitutional order should be concluded within 12 months.

Malian military was also encouraged to focus on securing the country, faced with severe security threats from its northern part, instead of an incursion into governance.
A cold front this weekend is expected to blast away the scorching temperatures as of late.

Today, the National Weather Service out of Valley, Nebraska, calls for sunny skies with a high of 82. Tonight should be partly cloudy will lows in the 50s.

Sunday has a slight chance for showers in the afternoon.

The forecast, according to the weather service:

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. North wind 5 to 7 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Calm wind.

Sunday: A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Light southeast wind becoming south southeast 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 17 mph.

Sunday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday: A 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.

Monday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 a.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 53.

Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

Tuesday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 83.

Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 81.

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alleged "quid-pro-quo" relationship between and the on Saturday and wrote a letter to the social networking platform founder Mark Zuckerberg seeking information about steps the company is planning to take to investigate the matter.

"We draw your attention to the article in Time magazine dated Aug 27, 2020 that reveals more information and evidence of biases and a quid-pro-quo relationship of India with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)," read the letter by General Secretary KC Venugopal to Zuckerberg.

Venugopal said the article makes three main points that are "alarming and violate both the spirit and the law of operations of foreign companies in India".

"The has been allowed to exercise control of WhatsApp's India operations in return for a possible licence for its payment operations, which is critical for the future of in India. More than just one person in your company's leadership team in India is biased and partisan in favour of the ruling in their professional endeavours. The problem is larger, deeper and more pervasive than initially assumed," read the letter.

is owned by Inc.

"The platform used by 400 million Indians has been willingly allowed by your India team to be appropriated for and the consequent tearing of India's fabric of social harmony," it said.

Venugopal said party wants to know about steps Zuckerberg's company is planning to take to investigate these matters.

"In light of the above new revelations and evidence, as the principal opposition political party and the party of India's freedom struggle, we urge you to let us know what steps your company is planning to take to investigate these matters and draw a plan of action to stem the rot in your India operations," read the letter.

"We will also be pursuing legislative and that a foreign company cannot continue to cause social disharmony in our nation for their pursuit of private profits," he stated.

The party had earlier sent a letter to Zuckerberg on August 17 drawing his attention to an article in the Wall Street Journal titled "Facebook's Hate-Speech Rules Collide with Indian Politics" that outlined Facebook India team's "blatant biases and interference" in India's democracy, Venugopal stated.

Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP has a hold over WhatsApp and said the platform now needs the approval of the Central government to launch its payment services in India.

"America's Time magazine exposes WhatsApp-BJP nexus: Used by 40 Cr Indians, WhatsApp also wants to be used for making payments for which Modi Govt's approval is needed. Thus, BJP has a hold over WhatsApp," Gandhi tweeted while citing the media report.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin (Reuters) London  Sat, August 29, 2020 14:09 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c415e311 2 Art & Culture Princess-Diana,statue,Kensington-Palace Free

A new statue of Britain's Princess Diana will be installed at Kensington Palace next July on what would have been her 60th birthday, the palace said on Friday, after a delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2017, Princes William and Harry said they had commissioned a statue in honor of their mother, who died in a Paris car crash more than 20 years ago, to be erected outside the older brother's official London home, Kensington Palace.

Later that year, they chose sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, who produced the image of Queen Elizabeth used on Britain's coins, to create the statue to commemorate 20 years since Diana's death.

Read also: Elizabeth Debicki cast as Princess Diana in The Crown final seasons

Diana, the first wife of the heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, was killed when the limousine carrying her and her lover Dodi al-Fayed crashed in a Paris tunnel in August 1997.

William was 15 and Harry 12 at the time.

The first permanent memorial to her, a 210-meter long fountain, was launched in Hyde Park in 2004 after years of bureaucratic wrangling and squabbling over the design. The new statue will be unveiled on July 1.
A platform of ice surrounding Antarctica measuring more than 350,000 square miles (900,000 sq km) is at risk of collapse as the effects of climate change threaten to destabilise it, a new study has shown.

The floating ice shelves that extend from the worlds largest ice sheet into the sea could split if fractures on their surface are flooded by meltwater as the climate warms.

Sudden loss of these supportive structures could rapidly accelerate the flow of ice into the ocean, raising sea levels around the world, with previous studies suggesting the rise could be as much as one metre by 2100.

Ice shelves float on the ocean but are fastened to land and act as stoppers that prevent Antarctic ice sheets, that are as big as the United States and Mexico combined, from sliding into the sea.

When they melt away from those anchor points, the flow of ice into the ocean speeds up, accelerating sea level rise.

The study led by researchers from Columbia University in the United States and involving Edinburgh University, Utrecht University and Google estimated around 60 percent of the ice-shelf area was vulnerable a process called hydrofracturing.

It is a process where meltwater repeatedly refreezes and thaws again, enlarging fractures in those sections of ice and putting them at risk of collapse.

Martin Wearing, of the University of Edinburghs School of GeoSciences, who took part in the study, said: Weve seen in the past that the sudden collapse of ice shelves can trigger rapid acceleration of the glaciers that flow into them, and, in turn, sea-level rise.

We have found that stresses within vast sections of Antarcticas ice shelves are sufficiently large that they could collapse if, as climate models predict, surface melting increases substantially in coming years.

The study, which used machine learning and artificial intelligence software to examine satellite images, adds to a list of alarming research on the Antarctics ecosystem this year.

One study released in February shortly after the region saw its highest temperature on record at 18.3 degrees Celsius (64.9 degrees Fahrenheit) warned global warming was leading to an irreversible mass melting of Antarctic ice.
A giant snowman erected on the bank of Songhua River in Harbin, the capital of Northeast Chinas Heilongjiang province, has drawn much attention online. Around 2,000 cubic meters of snow was used to create the 18.5-meter-tall figure dressed in a red hat and scarf. Since December, ice and snow sculptures featuring Winter Olympics and Lunar New Year elements have popped up across the city famed for its ice festivals, drawing many visitors

Jan 20, 2022 06:19 PM
Children walk home from Altrincham C.E. aided primary school after the government's policy to close all schools from today due to the coronavirus pandemic in Altrincham, United Kingdom, on March 20, 2020. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Confidence A Fragile Thing as UK Schools Re-open in September: Poll

Most schools in England and Wales are confident about the preparations they have made for pupils to return to school in September, but confidence about how to respond to future outbreaks of COVID-19 was not as high, a headteachers union said on Friday.

The government late on Friday released new guidance concerning school reopenings and last resort measures for future school closures if there are local outbreaks, provoking criticism from teachers about the last minute nature of the updates.

Our primary focus remains supporting all schools to welcome back all pupils for the start of term and we thank teachers and staff for their hard work in preparations, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said in a statement.

We hope that we wont have to implement the guidance set out today [Friday] because the local lockdown measures we have introduced so far are working. Changes to school attendance will only ever be an absolute last resort.

A National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) poll of 4,000 school leaders, conducted a week before schools are due to re-open, showed 97 percent would be welcoming children to fully reopened schools at the beginning of the new school year.

The poll found schools were confident about things they felt able to control, like what to do in a suspected case of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

School leaders were not so confident, however, about the external factors beyond a schools control, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT, said in a statement.

Nursery children sit apart from each other to minimize the risk of passing on the CCP virus at Willowpark Primary Academy in Oldham, northwest England, on June 18, 2020. (Oli Scarff /AFP via Getty Images)

Confidence is a fragile thing, he said, referring to parents feelings about sending their children back to school.

The poll showed many school leaders did not have confidence in the governments track, trace, and isolate initiative (7 percent confident; 68 percent not confident) and what schools are expected to do in the event of a local lockdown (18 percent confident; 42 percent not confident).



You dont need a crystal ball to see that local restrictions will be a feature of the autumn and winter, Whiteman said.

Weve been calling for the government to publish a Plan B for several weeks. Finally it is here, but another late night publication is fairly typical of what weve become used to.

Whiteman, however, called on parents and carers not to let very public political difficulties and argument impact their confidence in schools.

New Guidance

The government guidance covers transport, pupil age requirements for the wearing of face coverings, test and trace information, additional advice for the vulnerable, and the use of space and ventilation.

Mental health and well-being, hygiene measures, and contingency planning for local outbreaks are also covered in the government guidance.

The government has also relayed new guidance for schools in local areas where there are increases in CCP virus cases.

Arrangements under the guidance may involve secondary schools following a two-weeks-open, two-weeks-closed timetable, while primary schools stay open.

Safety measures for the return to school following the March closures to slow the spread of the CCP virus will include increased cleaning and staggered school start and meal break times.

Most schools plan to arrange pupil bubbles, put directional signs up to channel pupils and parents around school, encourage extra hand washing, and install hand sanitizing stations, NAHT said.

The 3 percent of schools not making a full re-opening at the start of the September term are having phased or staggered re-openings, NAHT said.

The new school term starts on Tuesday or Wednesday, but varies depending on the specific location of the school.
The Australian government's coronavirus handouts during the lockdown has helped to pull millions from poverty, a study has claimed.

With millions of Australians thrown into unemployment or suffering reduced work hours, the government's JobKeeper and JobSeeker saved more than 2.2 million people from poverty.

Without the government's help, 3.8 million Australians - or about 15 per cent of the population - would have suffered.

These payouts had also 'reduced measures of poverty and housing stress, with both now below what they were prior to COVID-19' after JobSeeker payments were doubled.

People are seen in a long queue outside a Centrelink office in Brisbane on March 24 (pictured) as coronavirus lockdowns began

The Australian government introduced JobKeeper and increase JobSeeker when lockdown began in March (pictured, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison)

The study was conducted by Ben Phillips, Matthew Gray and Nicholas Biddle from the Australian National University.

The trio researched the effects of Australians being supported by the government, which seemingly lowered the poverty gap by 39 per cent.

But when JobSeeker and JobKeeper payments are reduced once again from September 28, the paper estimates that 740,000 people will be worse off.

This reduction will see 1.8 million Australians in poverty.

'It is clear that these two payments have boosted the incomes of Australians above what they would have been if the social security system had been left more or less as is during the COVID-19 period,' the paper reads.

Australians were plunged into unemployment due to COVID-19 (Pictured: Tables and chairs in an empty bistro area is seen at the Notting Hill Pub in Melbourne on March 23)

Melbourne's Stage Four lockdown (pictured on August 28) has left streets empty and thousands out of work

The study also found that single parents and Newstart and Youth Allowance recipients were much better off with the added payments.

'With the initial COVID-19 benefits policy, we're almost at the point where there's no poverty for households that usually have extremely high rates (of poverty),' Mr Phillips told The Australian.

'But we wouldn't necessarily advocate this policy forever.'

Despite the government's generosity, Mr Phillips pointed out that Australia's welfare system was not fair enough.

'It does show even in normal times the welfare system was not really adequate,' he said.

'It's supposed to be a reasonable buffer through good and bad times. And now we're in a bad time and it was not nearly enough.'

People are seen wearing masks walk through Sydney's CBD on August 28 (pictured) as the pandemic threatened to spill out from a gym cluster

Signage at a restaurant now closed on King Street in Newtown in Sydney on March 23 due to COVID-19 (pictured)

More than three million Australian workers will continue to receive JobKeeper until the end of March 2021 but at a lower rate.

The wage subsidy will be reduced from $1,500 a fortnight to $1,200 - and new eligibility tests will be introduced to ensure the money only goes to those genuinely in need.

A lower $750 rate will apply for those who work less than 20 hours a week under a new two-tiered system.

JobSeeker unemployment benefits are also being increased by $250 a fortnight to $815.70 until December.

A nearly deserted Bourke Street Mall is seen on August 28 (pictured) as all but essential shops were shut down due to Stage Four coronavirus restrictions

A study found that the governments generous handouts 'virtually eliminated' poverty for some Australians (pictured: Sydneysiders on Castlereagh Street during the pandemic)

This is above the old Newstart rate of $565.70 but below temporarily doubled level of $1,115.70 that runs out on September 24.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced details of the changes in July, which will see JobKeeper extended from September 27 to March 28, 2021 at a cost of $16.6billion, taking the total cost of JobKeeper to $86.6billion.

'Now we're in a position we can run a two-payment system,' he said.

'We're looking to see fewer businesses on JobKeeper, we're looking forward to a time they won't need it.

'This is about ensuring we move to the next phase, to prevent the worst impacts of this crisis.'
Two TikTok stars have been charged with violating public health orders after allegedly hosting parties at a Hollywood mansion despite large gatherings being outlawed amid the coronavirus pandemic, prosecutors in Los Angeles said (AP Photo)

Two TikTok stars have been charged with violating public health orders after allegedly hosting parties at a Hollywood mansion despite large gatherings being outlawed amid the coronavirus pandemic, prosecutors in Los Angeles said.

Bryce Hall and Blake Gray face up to a year in jail and fines of 2,000 dollars (about 1,500) after being accused of hosting mega-parties despite restrictions on public gatherings in a bid to halt the spread of Covid-19.

It is alleged the social media celebrities, who have a combined 19 million TikTok followers, hosted two parties at a home in the Hollywood Hills less than a week apart, despite police warning them after the first on August 8.

BREAKING: Criminal charges announced against 2 party hosts and 2 homeowners  for MEGA parties that have reportedly been the source of *outrage* from neighbors.



TikTok's Bryce Hall and Blake Gray among those charged.https://t.co/M9NmWUp8Sx #TikTok #LosAngeles  The Office of Mike Feuer, L.A. City Attorney (@CityAttorneyLA) August 28, 2020

After a second party on August 14 allegedly attracted several hundred attendees, authorities cut power to the house.

Mike Feuer, Los Angeles City Attorney, has now announced Hall, 21, and Gray, 19, are facing misdemeanour charges for violating public health orders.

He said: With hundreds of people attending, loud music all night long and cars blocking access for emergency vehicles, party houses are really out of control nightclubs, and theyve hijacked the quality of life of neighbours nearby.

As if that werent enough, the hosts are incredibly irresponsible, with Covid-19 spreading and parties banned because of it. Weve got to put a stop to it.

If you have a combined 19 million followers on TikTok during this health crisis, you should be modelling good behaviour  not brazenly violating the law and posting videos about it, as we allege.

The rise of TikTok has spawned a wave of young stars with huge followings.

Video of the Day

Many have flocked to Los Angeles after finding fame on the video sharing app and some of the biggest stars live together in Hollywood mansions, broadcasting their daily lives to fans.

The Chinese-owned app has been criticised by the Trump administration for its alleged links to the Chinese government and it could be sold to an American buyer, with corporate giants Walmart and Microsoft linked with a deal.

Los Angeles County has recorded nearly 237,000 cases of Covid-19 and more than 5,700 deaths, making it the hardest-hit county in the US.
US to slash number of troops in Iraq by about one-third: Report

Iran Press TV

Friday, 28 August 2020 6:25 PM

The Pentagon is planning to decrease the number of American troops in Iraq by about one-third, a report says.

The Wall Street Journal cited American officials as saying that the number of the American troops stationed in Iraq would decrease from the current approximately 5,200 to about 3,500 over the next two to three months.

Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi visited Washington last week, discussing, among other things, the US obligation to pull out its forces from the country in accordance with a mandate issued by the Iraqi parliament in January.

Anti-American sentiments have been running high in Iraq since the US assassinated Iranian commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and the second-in-command of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on January 3.

Just two days later, Iraqi lawmakers unanimously passed a bill mandating the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq.

Last Sunday, US troops withdrew from the Taji base north of the Iraqi capital and handed it over to Iraqi security forces.

Despite the Iraqi parliament's mandate for the withdrawal of foreign troops, US President Donald Trump is likely to use any pullout to claim progress toward ending American wars abroad, a promise that he made during his 2016 presidential campaign but that he never fulfilled.

More than 17 years after the US invasion of Iraq, Trump has said he would withdraw all American troops from the country but has not provided a timetable. His term in office comes to an end this year.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-30 01:14:03|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- NATO fighters accompanied 10 Russian Tu-142 aircraft during their flight in the far sea area, which flew as part of the Ocean Shield-2020 naval exercises, TASS news agency reported on Saturday, citing Russian navy commander Nikolai Yevmenov.

"Ten Tu-142 antisubmarine aircraft performed scheduled flights to the far sea zone over the waters of the Black, Baltic, Norwegian, Chukchi and Beaufort seas, along the Northern Sea Route and over the neutral waters of the Pacific Ocean," Yevmenov said.

"The aircraft that were on duty in the far sea area were accompanied by fighter jets from the NATO countries," he added.

According to Yevmenov, violations of security measures and international airspace rules were not allowed. Enditem
The NFU is inviting MPs and farmers to throw their weight behind an annual day which celebrates the British farming industry.

Now in it's fifth year, Back British Farming Day (9 September) provides a focus to celebrate agriculture and its importance to the UK economy.

British food and farming contributes over 120 billion to the UK economy each year and employs four million people.

This year it gives farmers an opportunity to promote their commitment to high production standards.

It builds on the success of the NFU's food standards campaign which has been backed by over a million people.

The NFU said: "This autumn will be a critical time for British farming as the Agriculture Bill returns to the Commons to be passed into law and trade negotiations continue with countries across the world.

"There has never been a more important time to highlight the crucial role farmers play in feeding the nation and caring for the countryside."

All MPs are being invited to show their support for farming by wearing a wool and wheatsheaf pin badge in Westminster on Back British Farming Day.

The NFU will also be releasing a report to coincide with the day that sets out UK farming standards.
Heathrow is trialling twenty-second Covid tests in a bid to replace the current quarantine system and 'unlock travel'.

The airport is working with Oxford and Manchester universities on three cutting-edge tests to screen people on arrival and departure, it was reported last night.

Heathrow believes the scheme could allow travel to resume to and from the Government's 'red list' countries.

Heathrow is trialling twenty-second Covid tests in a bid to replace the current quarantine system and 'unlock travel'

Currently, passengers reaching the UK from these places have to quarantine for 14 days.

The results are to be submitted to Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, and Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, to persuade them to replace quarantine with a comprehensive testing regime that could kickstart international travel and trade.

At least 30 other countries have already introduced border testing for Covid-19.

The airport is working with Oxford and Manchester universities on three cutting-edge tests to screen people on arrival and departure

The British Government has been accused of allowing trade competitors such as Germany and France to steal a march by introducing Covid screening for arrivals.

Ministers say testing would not work because of the risk of false negative results.

Heathrow has already built a testing centre where passengers would pay 150 for a PCR test like those used by the NHS.

Heathrow has already built a testing centre where passengers would pay 150 for a PCR test like those used by the NHS

A follow-up test five or eight days later would release people from quarantine early if negative.

However, the cost and the delay in getting results  up to 48 hours  could hamper a wider roll-out.

The airport is therefore working with Oxford and Manchester to trial three new faster tests that could cost a fifth of the price.

One is a throat swab which produces results in 30 minutes, a second is a saliva-based test similar in style to a pregnancy test which comes back in ten minutes.

And the third is a holographic microscope test pioneered for ebola which can produce results in as little as 20 seconds.

Some 250 Heathrow workers participated in the trial under which they took the tests which are likely to cost as little as 30, alongside a PCR test to evaluate accuracy.

One is a throat swab which produces results in 30 minutes, a second is a saliva-based test similar in style to a pregnancy test which comes back in ten minutes

The results are now being evaluated by the universities before being passed to the Government.

John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow's chief executive, told The Daily Telegraph: 'Testing is the lifeline that the UK's aviation sector needs to get back on its feet.

'We've put some of the most cutting-edge rapid testing technologies into action at Heathrow to see which offers the best solution.

Heathrow believes the scheme could allow travel to resume to and from the Government's 'red list' countries

'If we can find a test that is accurate, gets a result within a matter of minutes, is cost-effective and gets the Government green light, we could have the potential to introduce wide-scale testing.'

Airlines are pushing for some sort of testing regime to replace quarantine, which has proved disastrous for the travel industry.

Yesterday, Gatwick Airport said demand for air travel might not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2025, after the airport announced a 61.3 per cent fall in revenue.
A new provincial policy requires government offices and publicly funded entities, including school divisions, to cancel print subscriptions to newspapers, magazines and periodicals.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new provincial policy requires government offices and publicly funded entities, including school divisions, to cancel print subscriptions to newspapers, magazines and periodicals.

The policy was introduced last fall to find savings, reduce paper waste and "demonstrate government leadership" in line with Manitobas climate plan.

A provincial spokesperson said staff is required to prove "demonstrated business need" for subscriptions and if approved, buy digital versions.

Exceptions include availability, accessibility needs and internet access.

Laurie Finley, president of the Manitoba Community Newspapers Association, said the rules are both ironic  considering the government library files paper editions as matters of record  and harmful to small businesses and readers alike.

Newspapers in the province run free, sponsored and paid education programs in schools that provide teachers with hard copies to incorporate into their lessons, he said.

"Current affairs is an important part of education for kids, and newspapers have always been part of that ability to keep kids involved in current affairs," added Finley, publisher of the Carillon newspaper in Steinbach.

A government spokesperson said school libraries are encouraged to switch to digital subscriptions, but these materials are excluded from reporting under the green initiative, in recognition of the teaching uses that come from print-based library resources.

The division scolaire franco-manitobaine buys approximately 4,000 subscriptions to La Liberte for students every year. In Manitobas French schools, the weekly publication encourages students to read in French while minimizing the amount of time they spend in front of a screen.

Superintendent Alain Laberge said he understands the province wants to reduce costs, but elected trustees vote on a budget every year and print and online subscription pricing is comparable. Meantime, he said upwards of 20 per cent of families in the division dont have access to the internet at home.

"As a school division, we are making choices that are in the best interest of our students.

"La Liberte is not only a journal that allows francophones to be informed... but it is also an educational tool for all our schools, not only as reading material (the only French paper in Manitoba) in their first language, but also to help us achieve both our cultural mandate as well as building our identity construction," he wrote in an email.

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When reached Friday, Alan Campbell, president of the Manitoba School Boards Association, said he was unfamiliar with the directive.

Owing to COVID-19, Campbell said schools will have new practices for sharing materials ranging from files to library books this year. Libraries will likely be used in different ways, he said; many are slated to be turned into classrooms to accommodate physical distancing in schools.

Manitobas current public health advice for workplaces is to remove any unnecessary high-touch surfaces or items that cannot be easily cleaned from common areas, break rooms and waiting areas. When handling mail and newspapers, the advice is to wash hands or use hand sanitizer after touching materials.

COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets, which can land on surfaces and live on different materials for varying periods of time. No case has been linked to reading a newspaper.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
Klein Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Michael Gosselin said the department had a very low call volume throughout the night of Wednesday, Aug. 26, leading up to when Hurricane Laura made landfall early Thursday in Louisiana near the Texas border. Nonetheless, they had been prepared for emergencies.

Gosselin said the department is always ready for weather events moving along the gulf coast as all stations were staffed in anticipation of a major storm.

Ready to rescue: Harris County Precinct 4 road and bridge department ready to rescue people if needed during storm events

It doesnt even have to be a hurricane; a severe thunderstorm can come through and cause just as much havoc, Gosselin said. So, we always have to be prepared for high wind, high water events.

Gosselin said the department doubled up staffing of individuals at each station in the event of the hurricane, with all equipment in a state of readiness. He said the only thing they do differently from a non-major storm is increase the amount of personnel that they have at stations.

The department has several boats, three high-water utility vehicles (retired army vehicles) for high-water evacuations, with staff trained in swift-water rescue and maneuvering boats in swift water. Gosselin said working under swift-water conditions is a little bit different than a lake because people dont know exactly whats underneath the water.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Scars of Hurricane Laura evident as Louisiana residents assess storm damage

Gosselin said the department was watching Hurricane Laura closely ahead of time until it came within about 48 hours, which gave them a better idea of where it was going to hit. He said they received updates about every four hours from Harris County Emergency Management, with everyone busy with normal duties throughout the day.

As it got closer, we focused more on it, Gosselin said. Once it was within 12-24 hours, the forecasters nailed where it was going to hit.

Despite avoiding the worst part of the hurricane, the department was still concerned about high-wind events but didnt get any from Laura, according to Gosselin.

Thats just normal operations, every time theres a storm in the gulf, were always watching, Gosselin said.

Gosselin said vehicles stay in the fire stations all the time, unless needed. The only difference in this event, was doubling the amount of people that were on duty from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The department had about 36 people on duty Wednesday and Thursday, plus there were volunteers working from home.

Fortunately, they werent needed, but if they were needed, we did have adequate personnel, Gosselin said.

Gosselin said as it got closer to Wednesday evening, the department recognized that the path of the storm was not going to hit the area.

The only thing we might get is a straight thunderstorm which we did not get, Gosselin said.

The department is equipped for different types of emergencies and in this particular case he said they were worried about downed power lines caused by lightning strikes.

Were prepared for those types of things all the time, Gosselin said.

Gosselin said the biggest thing residents can do to prepare and stay safe during a major storm is have a plan in place ahead of time and a meeting point for everyone. He said aside from taking care of young children and older adults, people with physical disabilities need to be evacuated a little bit sooner so theyre not stuck in traffic where it can affect their health.

Where are you going to evacuate to if you have relatives outside the affected area, Gosselin said. If your plan is to shelter in place, ensure that you have plenty of drinking water  thats the number one thing, and have food supplies, batteries and flashlights.

alvaro.montano@chron.com
- Xian Lim and Kim Chiu's fans recently gushed over the actor expressing his affection to the actress anew

- The Kapamilya actress posted a photo on social media showing her lovely bare face after waking up

- Xian then commended his long-time girlfriends innate beauty and then wrote, Nakaka-inlab

- His comment caught the attention of many netizens and prompted their supporters to react as well

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Xian Lim expressed his affection to girlfriend Kim Chiu via social media anew.

Xian Lim (Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

Source: UGC

KAMI learned that in an Instagram post, the Kapamilya actress posted a photo showing her bare face.

Last weekend before BER month starts. Good morning lovely people! happy weekend! Kim wrote in the caption.

Her fellow celebrities then couldnt help reacting to Kims innate beauty.

Kina gwapahan, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco commented.

Ganda naman ng bagong gising, said Eula Valdez.

But what caught the attention of netizens the most is Xian's remark in the comment section.

Ganda naman. Nakaka-inlab, the actor wrote.

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His comment prompted their fans to react as well. Here are some:

Sana all. hehe.

Kuya Xi so sweet kilig. Itali mo na po si Ate Kim ha. Huwag mo na po pakawalan. Layo na po forever. God Bless.

SooooSWEEET mo naman kay lady love Kimmy mo!!! Baka matulog ulit!! love you sweethearts!

@xianlimm luh kinilig ako.

Ohhhh.. ang SWEET talaga ni mrRight boyfie mo.. Kimmy!! Sana all!!

LODI, Di ba Mas kilig, inspired & To start your day if u wake up every morning katabi mo this beautiful person.

Screenshot from Instagram

Source: Instagram

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Xian Lim is a famous actor and endorser in the Philippines. Recently, his movie Love The Way U Lie ranked first on Netflix. He is currently in a relationship with actress Kim Chiu.

On July 12, his 31st birthday, Kim took to social media to pen a heartfelt birthday greeting for the actor.

A few days after, Xian then shared a heartfelt social media post reiterating his feelings with his girlfriend. The Kapamilya actor uploaded on Instagram a video showing his never-before-seen travel moments with Kim.

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Source: KAMI.com.gh
The inaugural edition of the Amman International Film Festival takes place between 23 and 31 August

Projects by Egyptian directors and producers have won the Awal Film, an award given during the ongoing Amman International Film Festival and the Amman Film Industry Days.

A total of nine film projects in both development and post-production categories received a total of 11 in-kind and cash awards.

The Egyptian films that won the awards and have Egyptian production or are by Egyptian directors include Home There Cinema Here by Nidal Al-Dibs, produced by Mostafa Youssef (Syria/Egypt), which was granted an award of $7,000 from Rum Pictures (Jordan) for colour grading services.

The Lottery by Karoline Kamel and produced by Mai Saad (Egypt) was granted participation in MAFF Market Forum  Post Production Platform from the Malmo Arab Film Festival.

The inaugural edition of the Amman International Film Festival takes place between 23 and 31 August.

The festival was originally scheduled to take place in April this year, but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The festival's organisers revealed that they are adding a drive-in cinema at Amman's New Abdali (the land in front of The Boulevard) and outdoor venues for screenings located at the premises of the Royal Film Commission in Jabal (Amman).

In parallel to the screenings, the industry sector held Amman Film Industry Days (AFID) organising seminars, workshops and talks with industry professionals.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday conducted an aerial survey of villages hit by floods in Madhya Pradesh and the hailstorm-hit parts along the Narmada river.

The chief minister said that he is personally supervising the situations and relief measures.

Heavy rains over the last two days triggered flooding in several districts of Madhya Pradesh, including Hoshangabad, where the Army and the NDRF were roped in on Saturday to rescue people from inundated areas.

The IMD (India Meteorological Department) issued a red alert of extremely heavy rainfall with thunderstorm and lightning at isolated places of Chhindwara, Vidisha, Sehore, Rajgarh and Shajapur districts.

CM Chouhan on Saturday held a high-level meeting on the rain and flood situation in the state where he directed the officials to pay full attention on the Narmada river as several parts of the states are predicted to receive heavy rains for the next 48 hours.

There is a possibility of heavy rains for 48 hours now but there is no need to panic. I am asking you to be careful not to be worried at this hour. Wherever necessary, all work of rescue and relief will be done. Our SDRF teams are active and we are sending NDRF teams where needed. We have also alerted the Army and the Air Force, and they will be called if necessary, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, according to ANI.

The chief minister appealed to locals living in 16 villages where the floodwaters are entering to leave the area immediately and move to a safer place.

Boats, helicopters, divers, and other equipment have been properly arranged. Hoshangabad, Bareilly, and Shahganj; there are 16 villages where the floodwaters are entering. I appeal to the locals living in such villages, to leave the low-lying areas immediately. Go to a safer place where the administration is taking you, he said in the meeting.
All three towns as well as Thomas Bridge Water Corporation and Smyth County have been working with water customers since February on dealing with payment delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now that assistance is being extended through mid-September.

As of August, the town of Chilhowie voted to send delinquent notices to 58 customers. But Chilhowie, as well as Marion and Saltville, are trying to work with customers having trouble paying their bills.

Chronic delinquents are another story.

We are trying to work with customers, said Marlene Henderson, clerk/treasurer for Chilhowie. She said most of those customers delinquent on their payments have contacted the town about making payments and getting extensions. Some, she said, are always delinquent and dont pay until their water is cut off.

Tammy Carter, front office and accounts payable clerk for the town of Saltville, said no one had been cut off during the COVID crisis. Some have asked for an extension on their payments to get caught up.

The same has been true for Marion customers. Town Manager Bill Rush said Marion is probably the easiest to work with in the region when it comes to helping residents having trouble paying for their utilities.

The town of Marion has an ongoing program to work with people for various reasons, and COVID is just another reason, said Rush. No customers were cut off between March and June. In July, he said, the town began working with customers trying to get caught up.

Customers who dont bother to call their water department to arrange for payments or discuss their situation are in danger of being cut off. Rush said they just need to get in contact.

Weve been working with all our customers, said Joe Copenhaver, administrator for the Thomas Bridge Water Corporation. Weve been lucky. Most of our customers have been able to make their payments.

Copenhaver, like the town officials, said they dont want people taking advantage of the pandemic to avoid paying their utility bills. They all said they are willing to work with customers who are having difficulty making payments because the utilities must be able to keep providing services.

Earlier this week, the Virginia State Corporation Commission announced it would be extending the existing general moratorium on utility shutoffs from Aug. 31 until Sept. 16.

The extension gives the General Assembly, currently in special session, additional time to enact any legislation it may choose addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on utility customers, reads a statement from the SCC.

Originally imposed on March 16, this latest extension order means the moratorium will have been in place for six months. Utility customers who entered into extended payment plans with their provider as a result of a prior SCC order will continue to be protected from service shutoffs if they remain current or enter into new repayment plans with the utility.

In June, the SCC directed all utilities to offer extended payment plans for up to a year to customers struggling due to the impact of COVID-19. All did that, and many customers have been able to take advantage of the relief without late fees.

The moratorium; however, is not sustainable, the SCC noted, because it would damage the utilitys ability to provide service.

If such bills are never paid, the costs of these unpaid bills are ultimately borne by paying customers as operational costs of the utility, reads a statement from the SCC. These costs do not disappear; they are shifted to other customers, who themselves may be struggling to make ends meet in the economic catastrophe caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SCC said it will follow any legislation the General Assembly enacts, but cannot continue the moratorium indefinitely unless legislatively required to do so.

Smyth County provides its customers with water from six different sources, two of which the county owns: the Watson Gap well site near the Saltville area serving customers in and around the Saltville and Rich Valley areas; and the Hutton Branch well site with the only water treatment plant the county currently operates, serving the Hutton Branch area.

The remaining four sources of water belong to the Thomas Bridge Water Corporation, Chilhowie, Marion, and Saltville. Smyth County purchases around 340,000 gallons per day from these four sources.

Smyth County provides water services to over 2,500 customers utilizing nearly 125 miles of water line. Fifteen tank sites and sixteen pump stations work accordingly to insure both adequate pressure and quantity.
Two brothers and their cousin were electrocuted to death in Madhya Pradesh on Friday morning when they got down in a well to check an irrigation motor pump that had stopped functioning, said police.

The incident took place at Patai village under Devari police station, about 120 km away from Raisen district headquarters, the neighbouring district of Bhopal, at about 9 am, according to police.

Sub-divisional officer of police (SDoP) Ashok Ghanghoria said, The well is situated in the agriculture field of a Kushwah family. When the irrigation motor pump installed inside the well stopped functioning on Friday morning, Brijesh Kushwaha, 20, got down in the well to see what had gone wrong. The moment he touched the motor pump he was electrocuted. On seeing the condition of his younger brother, Jagdish Kushwah, 25, entered the well to rescue him and the moment he made an attempt to pull his brother out, he too was electrocuted. Their cousin brother Preetam Kushwah met the same fate when he entered the well.

Also Read: 7 injured in acid attack over dairy dispute in Madhya Pradesh

The officer said though the villagers informed the police immediately, it could reach only around 2 pm since the main road was submerged due to heavy rains. After a post-mortem examination, the dead bodies were handed over to their families. Police lodged a report and initiated an investigation.

Tehsildar of the area Chhote Giri Goswami said, A sum of Rs 4 lakh each for the next to the kin of the deceased was announced by the state government.

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New York Mets fans are getting their wish. And it has nothing to do with their teams doubleheader sweep of the Yankees Friday night.

Billionaire investor Steve Cohen is expected to reach a deal to purchase the Mets, according to reports.

David Faber of CNBC reported that Cohen is now in exclusive negotiations to buy the team and is expected to finalize a deal. A New York Post report also backed up that report.

The price wasnt announced but it is expected to cost Cohen around $3 billion, if not more. Cohen beat out a group headed by former New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez, and his girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez.

Cohen was expected to buy the team prior to the winter but the deal fell apart, although Met owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon still indicated they wanted to sell the team.
Carbon monoxide poisoning from generators has appeared to kill more people in Louisiana and Texas than Hurricane Laura itself, claiming at least eight lives on the Gulf Coast.

Lake Charles, La., Fire Chief Shawn Caldwell said Friday that five people were found dead inside a home there after running a generator in the attached garage, although the Louisiana governors office later said it received a report that four people were inside that home.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso confirmed another death due to carbon monoxide poisoning. He did not explicitly say that was caused by a generator.

And a Justice of the Peace in Port Arthur, Texas, has confirmed three deaths stemming from a carbon monoxide incident at a pool room there. Three others were taken to the hospital from that scene, where a generator was found running inside the business.

Theyre not with us anymore. Its troubling. Its scary, said Caldwell, the fire chief, of the Lake Charles victims. Everybody out there is trying the generator Guys, keep it away from your home Dont let a generator cost your life.

Thousands of people remain without power after the storm, increasing usage of generators. Residents sometimes are concerned the devices will be stolen if kept outside the house.

Consumer Reports says users should never run a generator in an enclosed space. Instead, it should be kept at least 20 feet from the home, with the exhaust directed away from the building.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas emitted by many portable generators. The National Institutes of Health say the gas can prove lethal in as little as five minutes by impeding the bloods ability to carry oxygen.

People are running generators indoors through very poorly ventilated areas, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said Friday. That is just an ultra-hazardous thing to do. So Im encouraging everybody: Until the lights come back on, please dont do that.

Sheriff Mancuso said four people died from the same cause in aftermath of Hurricane Rita, including one of his deputies.

The exact death toll from Hurricane Laura is unclear. Gov. Edwards said Friday afternoon the death toll in Louisiana is 10, including five from carbon monoxide poisoning. The governors office said it was working to confirm the number of people inside the Lake Charles house.

Four people, including a 14-year-old girl and 68-year-old, have been killed by fallen trees, and another man drowned in a sunken boat, the governor said.

Beaumont Enterprise staff writers Isaac Windes and Jorge Ramos contributed to this report.
Case: Insurer FBD asked for the investigation to be halted

FBD has brought a High Court challenge against the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman's decision to investigate a pub owner's complaint over the insurer's refusal to pay out for a business interruption claim due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

FBD Insurance Plc says that the investigation of complaint made to the Ombudsman by Phil Flannery's of Denmark Street Ltd should be halted on grounds including that the same issue is the subject of High Court proceedings brought by pubs against the insurer.

Four test cases are due to be commenced before the Commercial Court, the big business division of the High Court, in early October.

Those actions have been taken by Dublin bars Aberken, trading as Sinnotts Bar; Hyper Trust Ltd, trading as The Leopardstown Inn and Inn on Hibernian Way Ltd trading as Lemon & Duke. A fourth action has been taken by Leinster Overview Concepts Ltd, which trades as Sean's Bar, in Athlone, Co Westmeath.

FBD claims that arising out of the fact the court cases raise the same issue which is the subject of Phil Flannery's complaint it asked the Ombudsman to discontinue its investigation, on grounds that the courts are a more appropriate forum to determine the dispute.

However the Ombudsman, FBD claims, refused to halt its probe forcing the insurer to deal with the same issue at multiple fora.

FBD claims that this decision is neither appropriate nor proportionate and will result in it having to engage in needless duplication and costs.

FBD further claims that the Ombudsman's decision to continue with its investigation is in breach of fair procedures.

In judicial review proceedings against the Ombudsman FBD, represented by Remy Farrell SC, Declan McGrath SC seeks various orders, including one quashing the decision to investigate the complaint.

It also seeks various declarations including that the Ombudsman lacks jurisdiction to investigate the complaint.

Phil Flannery's is a notice party to the proceedings.

Permission to bring the challenge was granted on an ex-parte basis by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland. The judge made the matter returnable to a date in October.
Istanbul's governate has reimposed a ban on indoor ceremonies, with the exception of weddings, announcing a series of measures on public gatherings in light of a rising number of coronavirus cases in the city, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah.

According to a statement released Sunday, private functions, such as engagement parties, henna nights (traditional bachelorette parties) and circumcision ceremonies, will no longer be held in indoor spaces. Wedding parties have been deemed an exception to the ban.

However, there will no longer be food service at wedding parties except for bottled water. Dancing and other similar activities will also be banned during the ceremony.

Furthermore, guests above the age of 65 and below the age of 15 will not be allowed into venues unless they are an immediate family member, according to new rules.

The statement said the new measures will be effective as of Monday, Aug. 31.

The statement came after Turkeys new daily coronavirus infections passed 1,500 on Friday in a worrying upward trend.

Authorities have cautioned the public to uphold the measures to stop the virus from spreading further.

The government lifted restrictions on weddings on June 1, including the lifting of intercity travel restrictions and allowing restaurants, cafes and gyms to reopen after the country flattened the curve.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Health officials announced 139 additional cases of COVID-19 and two deaths related to the virus in an update Saturday afternoon, bringing the statewide total to 25,178 cases and 769 deaths.

Nora Meyers Sackett, a Governors Office spokeswoman, said in a news release that those who died were a man in his 50s and woman in her 80s from Bernalillo County.

The man was a resident of Las Palomas Center and the woman was a resident of Spanish Trails Rehabilitation Suites, both in Albuquerque.

The new cases include 31 in Bernalillo County; 20 in Dona Ana County; 15 each in McKinley and Chaves counties; 12 in Lea County; 10 in San Juan County; seven in Curry County; six in Eddy County; five in Santa Fe County; four each in Valencia and Sandoval counties; three in Luna County; two each in Quay and Roosevelt counties; and one each in San Miguel and Cibola counties.

Meyers Sackett said there was also a new case among federal inmates at the Otero County Prison Facility.

She said there are 67 people hospitalized with the virus and 12,820 designated as having recovered by the Department of Health.

Coronavirus Hotline 1-855-600-3453 Non-health-related COVID-19 questions 1-833-551-0518
People take part in a rally on April 29, 2015 at Union Square in New York, held in solidarity with demonstrators in Baltimore, Maryland demanding justice for an African-American man who died of severe spinal injuries sustained in police custody. EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ/AFP via Getty Images

A teenaged activist in New Jersey was slapped with a $2,500 bill to pay for police presence at a Black Lives Matter she organized in July.

The demonstrate drew about 30 people and lasted 90 minutes, according to local reports.

Mayor Mario Kranjac of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, said it was protocol to send a bill anytime someone hosts an event in the city.

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A New Jersey teenager was unexpectedly hit with a $2,500 bill for organizing a Black Lives Matter protest with only 30 people in attendance.

Emily Gil, an 18-year-old activist, said she informed officials in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, that she was mobilizing a protest set for July.

Mayor Mario Kranjac of Englewood Cliffs said the bill covered police presence and overtime hours, as city officials had sent over authorities to watch over the demonstration.

Gil, speaking to ABC7 New York, said she did not ask for police to be at the protest and characterized their presence as minimal.

Gil argued that the Republican mayor "sort of imposed a police presence on the protest."

"He said, 'So now that you've alerted me that this is going on, I'm going to have to send the police to you.' So it wasn't something that I specifically requested. It was something that he imposed on me," she told ABC7.

In a letter to Gil explaining the $2,500 bill, Kranjac said he sent over local law enforcement to protect those demonstrating and other citizens.

"I was shocked when I read the letter," Gil said, according to ABC7. "I felt a little disrespected because the tone of the letter was kind of condescending."

The protest lasted about 90 minutes, according to CBS New York.

When asked about the bill, Kranjac told ABC7, "We incurred expenses, which we often do when there's outside events coming through town," adding, "I sent her a bill for the police overtime."

Story continues

Kranjac also said that the bill was not unusual to send to event organizers.

"I've been consistent throughout," he said. "If anyone does an event in town, we bill them."

Gil, who said she responded to the bill but did not yet hear back, could not be reached for comment. Kranjac's office did not immediately reply to a request from Insider for further comment.

Democratic lawmakers from Englewood Cliffs have condemned Kranjac for billing Gil, suggesting it discourages younger people from participating in activism and exercising their rights.

Protests against police brutality have been ongoing nationwide after the killing of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis who died at the hands of police on Memorial Day.

Another wave of protests resurged within the past week following the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man whom police shot several times in the back.

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Sarah Palin's defamation lawsuit against The New York Times over a 2017 editorial which suggested she incited the 2011 mass shooting in Arizona which left then-Congresswoman Gabby Giffords wounded can move forward, a federal judge ruled.

US District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan said that while much of Palin's case was circumstantial, it was strong enough for a jury to find the Times and former editorial page editor James Bennet acted with 'actual malice by clear and convincing evidence' in publishing the editorial.

Rakoff scheduled a February 1, 2021 trial.

'We're disappointed in the ruling but are confident we will prevail at trial when a jury hears the facts,' Times spokeswoman Danielle Rhoades-Ha said in an email.

A defamation lawsuit filed by Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska and the Republican nominee for the vice presidency in 2008, against The New York Times can proceed, a federal judge has ruled. Palin is seen above in Montgomery, Alabama, in September 2017

Palin sued over a June 14, 2017, editorial by the Times titled 'America's Lethal Politics' (file image)

The editorial referred to a January 2011 shooting where six people died and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (left) was seriously wounded, and said Palin's political action committee had before that shooting circulated a map (right) that put 20 Democrats including Giffords under 'stylized cross hairs.'

Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate and former Alaska governor, sued over a June 14, 2017 editorial published after an Alexandria, Virginia, shooting that wounded four people, including then-House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.

The editorial, titled 'America's Lethal Politics,' referred to a January 2011 shooting where six people died and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was seriously wounded, and said Palin's political action committee had before that shooting circulated a map that put 20 Democrats including Giffords under 'stylized cross hairs.'

It also contrasted the shootings, saying the Scalise attack had 'no sign of incitement as direct as in the Giffords attack.'

The Times later corrected the editorial, saying there was no link between 'political rhetoric' and the Giffords shooting, and Bennet has said he had not intended to blame Palin.

The newspaper published a series of corrections and wrote on social media: 'We're sorry about this and we appreciate that our readers called us on the mistake.'

The official printed correction read: 'An editorial on Thursday about the shooting of Representative Steve Scalise incorrectly stated that a link existed between political rhetoric and the 2011 shooting of Representative Gabby Giffords. In fact, no such link was established.'

Giffords was shot int he head outside a shopping center in Tucson on January 8, 2011. Six people, including a federal judge, were killed and 15 others were injured

But Rakoff said Bennet's having substantially rewritten an earlier draft, and admission he was aware 'incitement' could mean a call to violence, could suggest actual malice.

The judge also said evidence Bennet may have ignored materials inconsistent with his 'angle' for the editorial could suggest his reckless disregard for the truth.

Palin's lawyers, Shane Vogt and Ken Turkel, in an email said she appreciated Rakoff's 'careful consideration of the merits.'

In the summer of 2017, Rakoff dismissed the lawsuit, saying that while there were a few factual inaccuracies somewhat pertaining to Palin, they were rapidly corrected.

He said it may have been negligent but did not rise to the level of defamation of a public figure.

But a federal appeals court last year restored the lawsuit.

The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals said Rakoff threw out the lawsuit too quickly without giving the onetime Republican vice presidential nominee a chance to obtain email records and other evidence that might prove her case.

Still, the decision by a three-judge panel said Palin's burden of proof was high to prove that the newspaper acted with actual malice.
A wind-powered, titanium sculpture by a famed Encinitas metal artist will be the first featured piece in a new city-orchestrated effort to establish public art displays in all five of its communities.

Plans to install the kinetic metal sculpture won City Council approval Wednesday night. The piece, titled Orpheus, is scheduled to be placed this spring in the tiny, new K Street Park at the south end of Coast Highway 101.

This location is the perfect vantage point to serve as the entry to the downtown, city Arts Program Administrator Jim Gilliam said Thursday.

The sculptures installation is the result of a three-way collaboration -- the city is coordinating the effort, the Encinitas Friends of the Arts organization is paying for the concrete pedestal and solar lighting, and artist Jeffery Laudenslager is loaning his piece to the city for a year.

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This has been a longtime goal of mine for probably 12 years to loan something to the community,"said Laudenslager, who lives along Orpheus Street in Encinitas Leucadia neighborhood.

His giant, moving metal sculptures are typically snapped up by private collectors or bought by corporations for display at their headquarters buildings. His Orpheus piece previously appeared as part of a trilogy along the Avenue of the Stars in Los Angeles Century City. It wont be his first on public display in Encinitas -- that honor goes to one that he did for Scripps Hospital Encinitas.

But, its going to be the biggest, he said Friday morning. This piece is 20 feet tall. Its impressive.

Hes not the only one whos thrilled to see the citys public sculpture effort moving forward. Naimeh Tanha-Woodward, president of the Encinitas Friends of the Arts organization, was so excited that she spent her birthday at Wednesdays City Council meeting, telling her husband that she absolutely had to witness the council vote and her birthday festivities could wait.

I said this is the biggest gift to me, she recalled Thursday.

Public art is a huge gift to any community, she said, because it brings the community together, it creates conversation, it beautifies the place, it puts us on the map.

Encinitas is known as an extremely arts-friendly community. Its music concerts at the library draw huge crowds, its annual Arts Alive streetlight banner project has been used as a model by other communities, and many professional artists call the place home. But, it doesnt have many outdoor sculpture pieces on public display.

Gilliam said Thursday that he knows of only two city-owned, outdoor sculptures. One is the Encinitas Child, a metal sculpture of a girl who sits on a wall along the west side of Coast Highway 101 just south of its intersection with Encinitas Boulevard. The other is the Magic Carpet Ride -- the famous boy surfer statue, commonly nicknamed the Cardiff Kook, which floats above the sidewalk along Cardiffs portion of Coast Highway, adjacent to the San Elijo State Beach campground.

A huge Easter Island-style head -- a Torrey pine tree stump that was carved into a big head at Swamis park -- could be counted as a third city statue, but its designed to decay over time, Gilliam said.

Over the next two years, the number of outdoor sculpture pieces on public display in Encinitas will dramatically increase. In 2018, the city plans to install four sculpture display pedestals with solar lighting -- one each for Leucadia, New Encinitas, Cardiff and Olivenhain. Thats in addition to the one at the K Street Park that the arts organization is funding for the Orpheus piece.

And, next year, there are plans for two more pedestals. The city already has set aside $100,000 for the 2-year project and potential locations -- likely spots along major roadways, in city parks or at city facilities --- are now under review, Gilliam said.

The city doesnt plan to buy statues for these sites. Like the Orpheus project, these pieces will be on temporary, 1-year loans, allowing the city to change out its displays and to showcase multiple artists in the years to come, Gilliam said.

Meanwhile, other efforts also are under way to increase the number of public sculpture pieces in town. The citys J Street Overlook area will gain a permanent sculpture -- artist Maidy Morhous bronze piece known as Humanity -- thanks to private financing. Donors Sue and Jay Vicory are funding the pedestal, the solar lighting and the acquisition of the sculpture.

Even the Easter Island head is getting a new buddy. On Wednesday night, the council approved plans for artist Tim Richards, the person who did the first head, to produce a second one with a ring of flowers at the base of its neck
Say Yes to the Dress (TLC at 8) A bride is looking for fitting attire for her wedding in an Irish castle.
In light of a boom in e-commerce across Southeast Asia, Vietnam as the ASEAN chair in 2020 is determined to encourage the growth of cross-border e-commerce across the region.

In its role as the ASEAN chair this year, Vietnam launched the official ASEAN Online Sale Day to stimulate cross-border e-commerce in the region.

The event, held on August 8, saw participation of 216 companies across all 10 member states. Along with strengthening intra-bloc solidarity, the event assisted regional economic recovery amid the pandemic, while digital consumers in the ASEAN experienced cross-border e-commerce in an open, safe, and quality manner under the supervision of governments. Companies also promoted their platforms and services to regional customers.

Richard Burrage, CEO of market research company Cimigo, told VIR that Vietnam has a great role to play in stimulating the Southeast Asian online shopping market. A strong digital, entrepreneurial, technologically-savvy consumer base in Vietnam supports the demand side and is leading the region in building new tools and ecosystems to support online sales growth, he said.

The promised land

By the end of 2020, the number of digital consumers in Southeast Asia could reach 310 million, a number previously forecast to be reached only by 2025. This means almost 70 per cent of Southeast Asian consumers will go digital by the end of 2020.

Southeast Asias online retail market penetration has now also surpassed Indias, increasing as much as 1.6 times to reach 5 per cent, according to the latest annual report by Facebook and Bain & Co.

The report said that 2020 has been a pivotal year. Social distancing has paved the way for home-centric lifestyles as well as commerce with minimal physical contact. This disruption has inadvertently accelerated the growth of Southeast Asias digital economy.

Thus, there are many opportunities for Southeast Asian companies to ride the cross-border e-commerce wave, Burrage from Cimigo noted. In particular, the potential for improved lower-cost logistics for sourcing goods across borders will make the size of the prize worthy of significant investments even for the most niche consumer segments.

On the same note, Dang Dang Truong, lead representative of iPrice Vietnam, said that the country so far has been a very important market for the growth of e-commerce in the entire region. Google and Bain & Co. in 2019 found Vietnam to be the second fastest-growing digital economy market in the ASEAN behind Indonesia, and the first in terms of GDP penetration. The astounding growth rate has been very attractive for international investors and allows Vietnam as well as Southeast Asia to continue to attract new funding into the e-commerce sector, even as COVID-19 is happening.

We cannot discount the competitiveness and innovativeness of Vietnamese e-commerce companies such as Tiki, Sendo, and Mobile World, as well as the Vietnamese digital economy as a whole. We found these companies to be among the most eager and most innovative companies in the regional e-commerce industry, Truong said. For example, besides Shopee and Lazada, Sendo and Tiki were among the first in the region to show a strong priority towards their mobile apps. They were also the first to introduce live streaming features on mobile devices. Such innovations help force other companies to improve and continue to push the industry forward, bringing e-commerce to more and more consumers.

Challenges ahead

In line with the good prospects, e-commerce in Vietnam still faces immense objections, according to the E-commerce White Book 2019 published by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Pointedly, the quality of goods, concerns on online payments, data leaks, and shipping costs are sizable obstacles for the e-commerce industry. Despite e-commerce companies steady improvements, concerns still affect the shopping orientation of consumers, noted the white book.

According to the Vietnam Logistics Association, local logistics costs currently occupy about 20.8 per cent of total GDP, while the ratio in developed countries is about 9-14 per cent. Of this, transportation cost makes up nearly 60 per cent because most goods are transferred by land.

Logistics is also a common challenge in other regional countries, as Indonesia and the Philippines also report large expenses for such activities. According to the World Bank, the cost in the Philippines makes up about 27.16 per cent of sales on average, the highest rate in the region, followed by Indonesia (21.4 per cent) and Vietnam (16.3 per cent).

Meanwhile, Cimigos Burrage added that online shopping platforms are burning cash to attract transactions, with the only winner being the consumer for now and the next few years. Burrage expected that more consolidation has to happen until only a few winners remain. Only then will the consumer have to pay realistic prices for the convenience.

Cash on delivery still accounts for 85 per cent of payments in Vietnam, while cash collections and returns cost shopping platforms a great deal and will limit inbound cross-border sales, said Burrage.

Echoing this, Truong from iPrice told VIR that cash on delivery, the preferred payment method of consumers in most ASEAN countries, is very problematic for e-commerce businesses since it introduces extra risks and affects cash flow and expansion plans. For Southeast Asian e-commerce to achieve its full potential, a transition towards e-payment is a must.

For sellers, Burrage said they need to build capabilities, experience, and confidence to go beyond national borders. There are not yet many strong regional brands emanating from Vietnam. Thailand perhaps has the most visible brands around Southeast Asia, followed by Indonesia. Vietnamese brands will accelerate and perhaps surpass many of our Southeast Asian neighbours, driven by that quintessential Vietnamese entrepreneurial spirit, willingness to learn, hard work, and perseverance, he said.

Relating to other factors, Truong said that cultural differences and the lack of senior talents have set a great burden on the e-commerce sector in the 650-million population market. The cultures of ASEAN member countries are quite divergent, with varied consumer preferences as well as differences in technological and political structures.

This presents a serious challenge for e-commerce players that aim to spread the business across the region, and also why most companies, besides Shopee and Lazada, can only maintain their business in one or two countries, Burrage added. VIR

Disruptive technologies (particularly mobile internet, big data, cloud technology, the Internet of Things, the automation of knowledge work, and the Social Mobile-Analytics-Cloud) could potentially unleash some $220-625 billion in annual economic impact in the ASEAN by 2030, which may be derived from increased efficiency, as well as new products and services. There are several areas relating to disruptive technologies where ASEAN member states could be at the forefront of change, as opposed to simply utilising existing technologies. These include education, e-commerce, payments solutions, and cloud-based technologies. To capture this opportunity, however, issues related to the connectivity agenda will be central. For example, policymakers will need to prioritise building the backbone infrastructure (including fibre connections and mobile networks) that can provide universal and low-cost internet access. As private players are unlikely to undertake the full scope of the build-out, governments will have to drive this effort forward. Those that do could secure a deep and lasting advantage. Additional challenges include establishing a policy framework for data sharing, online privacy, and cybersecurity, as well as supporting micro, small, and medium-sized companies in tech adoption. Source: Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025

Song Van

Taxes lost from e-commerce sector during COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has become a golden opportunity for e-commerce trading floors, as well as social networks such as Facebook. However, the country has lost billions of dong in tax revenue due to e-commerce
Hazare, in the letter, said going to Delhi will make no difference because no party can give the country a bright future

Mumbai/Delhi: Activist Anna Hazare on Friday said it was "unfortunate" that the Delhi BJP should ask him to join in its agitation against the AAP government when it has a huge cadre of its own and wields power in the Centre.

His going to Delhi would not make any difference as he did not believe any party can give the country a bright future, Hazare said in a letter to Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta.

Gupta had on Monday written to Hazare, urging him to join his party's "mass movement" against the Arvind Kejriwal government, which he had claimed was "a new name of social, political and economic corruption".

Reacting to Hazare's response, Gupta on Friday said "the Delhi BJP has a strong organisation and is capable of leading all kinds of mass movements but wanted the symbolic presence of the social activist because the AAP was born out of the movement led by him".

Several senior Delhi BJP leaders criticised Gupta for bringing "embarrassment" to the party.

"What could be more embarrassing than this. It seems Gupta did not consult senior party leaders before writing to Hazare," said a former Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party president.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was Hazare's key ally in his 2011 anti-corruption agitation in the National Capital.

"I felt disappointed reading your letter written to the press. Your party, BJP, has been ruling the country for the past more than six years," Hazare said.

"What could be more unfortunate than leaders of a party, which has youth cadres in big number and claims to have the highest number of members in the world, urging an 83-year-old fakir (monk) like Anna Hazare who resides in a temple's 10X12 feet room and has no asset and power, to join in its protest," he wrote.

The BJP-led Union government controls agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Hazare said, asking why no legal action was being taken against the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi if it was corrupt.

His agitations were never against any party, the octogenarian said.

The BJP came to power in 2014 showing dreams of corruption-free India, "but the worries of people have not lessened", Hazare said.

Political parties find faults with their rivals, but need to introspect and talk about their own flaws, he said.

"In the present condition, I don't think any party can give a bright future to the country. Many parties are stuck in the circle of making money out of power and attaining power using money," he said.

"....people will not get relief until the system changes. Hence, I feel my coming to Delhi again will make no difference," Hazare added.
While Chadwick Boseman was privately battling cancer, the Black Panther star visited children at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital who had the disease.

"Its not every day that St. Jude gets a visit from an Avenger! Thank you @ChadwickBoseman for stopping by to bring joy to our patients and learn more about our lifesaving mission!," the St. Jude Children's Hospital tweeted on Sept 12. 2018.

The actor was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016 and died Friday from the illness at age 43, according to a statement from his family.

St. Jude Hospital paid tribute to Boseman in a social media post Saturday.

"Two years ago, Chadwick visited the St. Jude campus and brought with him not only toys for our patients but also joy, courage and inspiration. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time," the hospital said in the post. "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our friend Chadwick Boseman."

The revelation of Boseman's cancer diagnosis has cast the actor's life and career in a new light.

In a resurfaced video of a SiriusXM interview from February 2018, Boseman breaks down in tears while describing his meetings with two terminally ill young boys who were eagerly awaiting the release of Black Panther." Both boys died of cancer before getting to see the movie, he said.

"Just to experience those two little boys' anticipation of this movie," Boseman said in the interview as he choked up. "Yeah. It means a lot."

In a statement posted to Boseman's social media accounts after his death, his family said that "Chadwick persevered through it all." While he brought many characters to life "during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy... . It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther."
MOSCOW: Belarus, shaken by three weeks of massive protests against its authoritarian president, on Saturday cracked down hard on the news media, deporting some foreign journalists reporting in the country and revoking the accreditation of many Belarusian journalists.

Two Moscow-based Associated Press journalists who were covering the recent protests in Belarus were deported to Russia on Saturday. In addition, the APs Belarusian staff were told by the government that their press credentials had been revoked.

The Associated Press decries in the strongest terms this blatant attack on press freedom in Belarus. AP calls on the Belarusian government to reinstate the credentials of independent journalists and allow them to continue reporting the facts of what is happening in Belarus to the world, said Lauren Easton, the APs director of media relations.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists said accreditation was also taken away from Belarusians working for several other media. Germanys ARD television said two of its Moscow-based journalists also were deported to Russia, a Belarusian producer faces trial on Monday and their accreditation to work in Belarus was revoked. The BBC said that two of its journalists working for the BBC Russian service in Minsk also had their accreditation revoked.

The program director for ARDs biggest regional affiliate, WDR, which oversees coverage of Belarus, called the treatment of its camera team absolutely unacceptable.

This shows once again that independent reporting in Belarus continues to be hindered and is made almost impossible, Joerg Schoeneborn said.

Protests in Belarus began after the Aug. 9 election that officials said gave President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office with 80% support. Protesters say the election results were rigged and are calling for Lukashenko, who has run the country since 1994, to resign.

The protests, some of which drew enormous crowds estimated at 200,000 or more, are the largest and most sustained challenge of Lukashenkos 26 years in office, during which he consistently repressed opposition and independent news media.

The hard-line leader has cast about for a strategy to end the wave of protests, with little success. In the first days of demonstrations, around 7,000 people were arrested. Some protesters were killed and many of the detainees were beaten by police. The violence didnt deter the protests and may have galvanized the opposition. Strikes have broken out in several state-owned factories, which are the backbone of Belarus economy.

The U.S. Embassy in Belarus on Saturday issued a statement saying we are concerned by the continued targeting of journalists, the blocking of independent media and opposition websites, intermittent internet blackouts and random detentions of peaceful citizens exercising their rights of freedom of assembly and speech.

___

Follow APs coverage of Belarus at https://www.apnews.com/Belarus

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
KNOWLTON, QUEBEC, CANADA

Louise Penny adores her adopted village of Knowlton in Quebecs Eastern Townships. And shes delighted that her Three Pines mystery series has inspired fans to make the trek southeast from Montreal, searching for sites mentioned in her books and hoping, magically, to stumble into the real Three Pines.

In reality, Knowlton and surrounding towns seem more than happy to embrace the celebrity status gained via their most famous resident. Bienvenue a Three Pines, welcome signs on business doors say. Brome Lake Books, owned by Danny McAuley and Lucy Hoblyn, Pennys close friends, has become a first stop for visitors.

The bookstore was smaller (it has moved and enlarged twice) and Knowlton was quieter when Penny published Still Life, the first book in the Three Pines series, in 2005. In it, a murder brought senior cop Gamache and his team, including right-hand man Jean-Guy Beauvoir, from Montreal to a tiny village in southeast Quebec, so far off the map that it was almost invisible, and filled with charming eccentrics  and at least one killer.

Minus the murder, the discovery was similar to Pennys own. Originally from Toronto and a former radio broadcaster, she moved to Knowlton with her husband, Dr. Michael Whitehead, who died in 2016 after battling Alzheimers.

The village gave Penny the sense of community she had been looking for. I had spent a lot of time moving around, she said earlier this month by phone from her cozy living room. Wanting nothing more than home and roots, I found that here, and that inspired the Three Pines community others now find so welcoming.

Danielle Viau leads highly recommended tours of Three Pines, including sites mentioned in the books or ones Penny has said inspired her fictional locales.

I started the tours in 2018 with the endorsement of Louise, Viau said by email. The idea came from the fact that no matter what day of the week, you would always see fans of Louise in the village. So I thought, lets do a tour to showcase the different sites that have inspired Louise to create this fabulous Three Pines.

The tours immediately took off with great success. Ninety-six percent of participants are fans from the States, 26 different states last year, then from Australia, Belgium, Peru, England, Canada, Viau said. Fans want to see it all and soak it all up. Some have arrived with T-shirts they had made specifically for the trip. A few have even cried being so happy to see a site.

On a day trip from Montreal last fall, two of us regretted not having time for the tour ($295 Canadian per person for a full day; threepinestours.com), instead covering as much ground as we could on our own.

Our first stop was Brome Lake Books (Livres Lac-Brome, 42 Lakeside Road), an airy, wood-floored oasis that is three quarters well-stocked independent bookstore and one quarter everything Three Pines, including mugs, T-shirts and even licorice pipes, as sold in the fictional Bistro. The Louise Penny reading corner, with a guest book and comfortable rocking chair, is dedicated to Penny for her talent, inspiration and commitment to this community. (Vive Gamache, the sign concludes.)

The bookstore sits on a stream that might be the Riviere Bella-Bella, the Beautiful Pretty River that runs through Three Pines and flooded disastrously in last years A Better Man. Its bridge is a perfect spot for picture taking, as is the bench with the plaque Surprised by Joy, in memory of Pennys late husband.

Across the parking lot from the bookstore, we followed a sign saying Bistro and wound up having a late breakfast at the Star Cafe, where Olivier and Gabri, proprietors of the Three Pines Bistro, were nowhere to be found, but the bacon was artisanal and delicious. We were too early for a blowout Sunday lunch at Le Relais in LAuberge Knowlton (286 Knowlton Road; aubergeknowlton.com), said to be an inspiration for the Bistro so pivotal to life in Three Pines.

Knowlton also has tiny antiques stores, a bakery and a shop selling (mmm...) maple fudge. In the village park, three cut-out pine trees welcome visitors to another photo opportunity. The newly remodeled Brome County Historical Society (130 Rue Lakeside) houses the painting of a village fair created for the 2013 movie Still Life: A Three Pines Mystery, starring Nathaniel Parker as Gamache.

Pick up a Three Pines Inspiration Map at the bookstore to trek farther on your own. But be aware, as locals will warn you, that some of these spots are farther afield than you might expect. For that matter, traffic makes the drive from Montreal to Knowlton take close to 90 minutes. To get the full experience, plan to spend at least one night; well do that next time.

Consider, maybe, a sojourn at Hovey Manor in North Hatley, the spectacular inspiration for Manoir Bellechasse, where Armand and wife Reine-Marie spend their anniversary in A Rule Against Murder. Chances are very good that no corpses will turn up under fallen statuary.

We did make it to Sutton, only 10 miles from Knowlton and 10 miles from the Vermont border, a chic and busy little metropolis where La Rumeur Affamee (15 Rue Principale N) at least partly inspired Sarahs Bakery, seen in The Cruelest Month and other books. Enjoy the array of cheeses and the heady aroma of baked goods; take a butter tart or two home.

If youre staying longer in the Eastern Townships, you can also hear Gregorian chants at the Abbaye du Saint Benoit-du-Lac on Lake Memphremagog. Penny called it Saint-Gilbert-entre-les-Loups in The Beautiful Mystery, in which Gamache and Jean-Guy investigated the murder of a singing monk. Cheeses are sold, but not, apparently, the books chocolate-covered blueberries.

Back in bustling civilization, Gamache fans can also take a Bury Your Dead walking tour in Old Quebec, visiting spots mentioned as Gamache solves a murder and unearths a long-hidden mystery, at the Literary and Historical Society. ($44.99 Canadian; toursvoirquebec.com)

As long as youre in Quebec City, how about a side trip to Charlevoix and Baie-Saint-Paul, the artist enclave pivotal in The Long Way Home? The 17th century village, about an hour away, is the home of both the Algonquin School of landscape painting and of Cirque du Soleil, and is full of art galleries and craft boutiques. The area also offers spectacular scenery, including cliffs and waterfalls. (tourisme-charlevoix.com)

The Eastern Townships themselves are also beautiful, encircled by rolling, wooded hills that turn bright red and gold in autumn. (Late September and early October are the best times for fall color.) We left feeling that we had missed a lot, while still loaded down with purchases from the bookstore and other shops, plus bags of pastries.

With U.S. residents barred from entering Canada because of the COVID-19 pandemic, fans wont be able to make the trip to Knowlton and the Eastern Townships this fall. (Viau, however, is already taking bookings for next year.) Instead, readers will travel to Paris with the Gamaches in the new book, All the Devils Are Here, set an ocean away from Three Pines.

The fact that were stuck at home makes this is a perfect time for this travel story, said Penny, who suggested the project when she visited the St. Louis County Library in 2018.

Really, if you cant travel, dont you want to read about travel? she asked. We can travel in our imaginations.

And in any case, Three Pines is above all a state of mind.

Gail Pennington is retired television critic of the Post-Dispatch. She visited Canada in September 2019.

IF YOU GO SOMEDAY

How to get there  If you wont be in Montreal, as we were after a cruise, a convenient route to the Eastern Townships is via Vermont. Burlington is 78 miles south of Knowlton. Montreal is slightly closer in miles but is justly famous for its traffic.

Cost  Remember, everything is less expensive than it seems. The Canadian dollar currently equals 75 cents U.S.

More info  easterntownships.org and bonjourquebec.com have information on the area.

 louisepenny.com gives background on the Three Pines books, including a list of the novels in order.
A nursing union is calling for a 12.5% pay rise for nurses in Northern Ireland to encourage more people to enter the profession.

The Royal College of Nursing yesterday launched its UK-wide Fair Pay for Nursing campaign.

It wants staff to receive an immediate 12.5% wage increase as part of a one-year deal which applies equally to all nursing bands.

According to the union, there are an estimated 50,000 registered nursing vacancies in the NHS in the UK. The union has warned this figure could rise even during 2020.

Last month a report by the Northern Ireland Audit Office said 115m is spent every year on temporary staff to cover nursing shortages here.

The RCN has said a recent survey of 42,000 RCN members showed 35% are thinking of leaving the profession this year, with over half citing pay as a factor.

The union said it will continue to work with other health unions to call on all the devolved governments to provide nursing and health care staff with an "early and substantive pay rise".

Pat Cullen, director of the RCN NI, who warned in June that nurses could return to the picket line after holding strikes earlier this year for increased pay and better conditions, said wages for the profession must be attractive to secure safe nursing levels.

"Nurses in Northern Ireland are only too aware of the impact of not having enough nurses to care for patients," she said.

"This is why they took the difficult decision to take industrial action earlier this year and why we fought so hard for the guarantee that safe nurse staffing legislation would be implemented here."

The union chief continued: "We need to ensure that nursing remains an attractive profession and that we are training and retaining the right numbers of nurses in order to do this. The public have made it clear that they value the profession - we must ensure their pay reflects this."

Dame Donna Kinnair, RCN chief executive and general secretary, insisted the campaign is about "recognising the skill, experience and responsibility" shown by all members of the nursing profession.

"This is about more than the profession's response to Covid-19 - it is about increasing the attractiveness of the profession, to fill tens of thousands of unfilled nursing jobs and reach safe staffing levels. It is time to pay nursing staff fairly," she said.

Meanwhile, Graham Revie, chair of the RCN's trade union committee, said the pay demand reflects the "knowledge, skills and responsibilities of the complex job we do".

"RCN members have told us they expect things to change, and we will fight for that change. The RCN is its members and together we can achieve fair pay for nursing," he said.

"Nursing... has been underfunded, understaffed and undervalued. The government should make the right choice now."
Turkeys strong support for Azerbaijan makes it a party to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Thursday.

Turkey is also a party to the conflict, standing with a brotherly state and defending its rights, Akar told the Turkish Anatolia news agency.

Successive Turkish governments have unconditionally backed Azerbaijan in the conflict, reflecting close cultural and ethnic ties between the two Turkic nations. They have refused to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia and kept the Turkish-Armenian border closed. They have has also provided military assistance to Azerbaijan.

Ankara voiced support for Baku in unusually strong terms during and after last months deadly clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The Armenian government decried the Turkish reaction, accusing Ankara of trying to destabilize the region, undercutting international efforts to resolve the conflict and posing a serious security threat to Armenia.

Akar again blamed Yerevan for the flare-up of violence which left at least 17 soldiers from both sides dead. Armenia does not act reasonably by relying on forces standing behind it and punching above its weight, he said, apparently alluding to Russia, the South Caucasus states main ally.

Russias President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged Ankara to exercise restraint in its reaction to the Armenian-Azerbaijani hostilities when they spoke with their Turkish counterparts by phone in late July.

A few days later the Turkish and Azerbaijani militaries began joint exercises in various parts of Azerbaijan which lasted for two weeks. Akar attended the concluding session of the drills.

We will continue to support Azerbaijan in its just struggle, the Turkish minister said on August 13.

The drills and the more aggressive statements made by Turkish leaders raised the possibility of Turkish military intervention in the Karabakh conflict. A senior official in Yerevan said on August 3 that Armenia counts on Russias support in its efforts to counter the Turkish threat.

Armenia hosts about 5,000 Russian troops on its soil as part of close military ties between the two states.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar emphasised the importance of China adhering to agreements struck over the years with India on how the two countries will approach border issues and said that there will be issues if peace and tranquillity is put under stress. His comments are significant, coming as they do amidst differences on the disengagement and de-escalation process at the Line of Actual Control between the two nations.

Jaishankar said that the relationship between the two countries moved forward on various other dimensions, including the economic one, because of these agreements and the fact that both countries followed them. Clearly, if we want peace and tranquillity on the border, we need to adhere to those (previous) agreements There will naturally be issues if the peace and tranquillity is put under stress, Jaishankar told Hindustan Times in an interview.

Also Read:India withdraws from multi-nation war games involving China

India has stressed on the need to speedily resolve outstanding issues related to the border standoff along the LAC amid differences despite several rounds of diplomatic and military talks.

The military dialogue between senior commanders from the two sides has hit a roadblock due to Chinese reluctance to restore status quo ante in some key areas.

Also Read: New satellite imagery suggests China developing missile bases to cover Doklam, Naku La

Speaking about which American President will be better from Indias perspective, the minister said: If you look at the last four American presidents, two Republicans and two Democrats  each very different from the other. Yet, each raised the level of relationship with India further Different sets of politicians who disagree on many things agree on India. And I think that is a very good place to be.
Top FIA official Pat Symonds thinks the second race in Bahrain in December will be a "great spectacle".

He was speaking at Spa, after Formula 1 announced that the second leg of the newly announced Bahrain double header will be held on the 'almost oval' short version of the circuit.

The layout is expected to beat F1's record for a sub-1 minute qualifying lap. The existing record is Niki Lauda at Dijon in 1974, when he lapped the circuit in 58 seconds.

"We did various simulations," Symonds is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

"If we do two DRS zones, we get a laptime of 54.3. With three DRS zones it's only 53.9 seconds.

"We expect the traffic on the short circuit to be problematic, but we already know that from other circuits like Sao Paulo.

"The teams have sophisticated tools to deal with that and we see it as part of the challenge. I think it will be a great spectacle," Symonds added.

(GMM)
Police believe satanic rituals may be involved in the mutilation and killings of at least 19 horses this year - Stephane Mahe/Reuters

French police on Friday issued an identikit picture of a suspect wanted over a wave of gruesome horse killings as they stepped up the investigation into what they believe may be satanic rituals.

In the latest of at least 19 killings and savage mutilations this year, a mare was found eviscerated and a pony with its ear cut off in the southern area of Puyvert this week.

The investigation had made little headway until a breakthrough came this week, when the owner of an animal refuge drove off two men who slashed a horse and two ponies in Burgundy.

A facial image of one of them, based on a description by the refuge owner, Nicolas Demajean, has been broadcast on national television.

Mr Demajean said the attackers spoke words in a language I couldnt understand. I think it must be from eastern Europe.

Julien Denormandie, the agriculture minister, on Friday visited a riding school in central France targeted in one of the attacks. Justice will be done, he promised.

Police released a composite image of a man suspected of the attack at the refuge - Gendarmarie Nationale/AFP

Franck Jolly, a police captain, said: The hunt for the culprits is now a priority.

A small wooden sculpture believed to be a voodoo doll was found at the site of one of the attacks. Investigators are pursuing the theory that the killers are carrying out satanic rituals, systematically slicing off horses ears and genitals, and gouging their eyes.

Police believe groups are involved because of the difficulty of restraining a terrified horse.

A Paris police spokeswoman said similar attacks were reported in Belgium and Germany between 2014 and 2016.

Britain recorded 160 alleged cases of horse-ripping between 1983 and 1993.
Beau Ryan was at the centre of an alleged cheating scandal in 2015 with former children's entertainer Lauren Brant.

Five years on, the former footy star, 35, has moved on and devoted himself to being a father to his two children and a husband to his wife Kara, 35.

He told The Daily Telegraph's Stellar magazine that he has grown as a person since having children.

'I'm sort of used to coming last now': Beau Ryan spoke candidly about his life as a husband and doting father five years on from his alleged cheating scandal with Lauren Brant. Pictured is Beau with his wife Kara

'Having kids changes everything because you learn to put other people before yourself, which I never used to do when I was younger,' he said.

Beau and Kara, who began dating when they were just 20, are doting parents to daughter Remi, seven, and son Jesse, three.

He said that he is aware of his responsibility to take care and provide for his wife and kids, often putting their needs ahead of his.

Fatherhood: Beau said, 'having kids changes everything because you learn to put other people before yourself, which I never used to do when I was younger.' Pictured is Beau with his son Jesse, three and daughter Remi, seven

'I'm sort of used to coming last now. Whether it's food that's left over or a chair to sit on, you're the one who misses out. It's just what you do,' he added.

Beau's selfless outlook at being a husband and fatherhood comes after news of his alleged affair with former Hi-5 star Lauren Brant.

Lauren's then-fiance Warren Riley told Woman's Day she had slept with Beau twice while the two were performing in a Sydney production of Aladdin And His Wondrous Lamp in July 2015.

Family first: He also said he is aware of his responsibility to take care and provide for his wife and kids. 'Whether it's food that's left over or a chair to sit on, you're the one who misses out. It's just what you do' he added. Pictured is Beau with Kara and their children

Rumours: Beau's selfless outlook at being a husband and fatherhood comes after news of his alleged affair with former Hi-5 star Lauren Brant during the Sydney production of Aladdin And His Wondrous Lamp in July 2015. Pictured is Lauren with Beau in 2015

Neither addressed the accusations publicly, but Beau issued a public statement at the time on The Footy Show to his wife Kara and family, saying he wanted to 'apologise to all of the people who have been hurt recently.'

Lauren, 31, has moved on from the alleged affair with the former AFL star Barry Hall, 43, in 2016, who she met on the set of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! the year before.

They share two sons, Miller, three, and Houston, one.
Turkey will fix a Bangladeshi naval vessel damaged in the deadly blast at Beirut port, which occurred early this month.

The gesture was announced by the Turkish defense ministry. BNS BIJOY of the Bangladesh Navy, which was damaged in the Beirut explosion, is being towed to Turkey by TCG INEBOLU. The necessary repairs to BNS BIJOY will be carried out at the facilities of the Turkish Navy, the ministry said in a Twitter post.

The explosion caused by the ignition of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate warehoused in the port of the Lebanese capital claimed the lives of more than 170 people and injured 6,000 others.

Turkey sent a medical team to provide care to the wounded.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has given a heated speech slamming the widespread illegal construction on agricultural land in the country, which he says has continued despite countermeasures, and threatened to deploy the army if the problem persists.

The president made the comments during an inauguration ceremony for development projects in Alexandria, months after he ordered state officials, including the interior ministry, to hold accountable people who construct buildings illegally.

El-Sisi said that officials should either end the illegal construction or leave their posts.

The president stressed that construction should be under the states supervision, and said that he will not stop working to end illegal construction.

He affirmed that all state authorities have a duty to end these violations, adding that, if required, the Egyptian armys engineering equipment will be used in demolishing illegal structures.

If necessary, I will order the Egyptian army into all of Egypts villages, El-Sisi stated.

Egypt continues to crack down on illegal building to meet a six-month deadline set by El-Sisi to end violations in the country.

Egypt has seen a significant rise in illegal buildings amid the security vacuum that followed the 2011 uprising. Countless people started constructing multi-storey buildings without acquiring the necessary permits or complying with safety standards.

A large portion of Egypt's 100 million citizens live in clusters of red-brick buildings and informal settlements.

Earlier this month, El-Sisi asked the government to finalise any outstanding issues related to ending violations, reiterating the governments zero tolerance policy on the matter.

He said that construction will be banned in some neighbourhoods by the end of the six-month period.

Egypt has already banned residential construction in some neighbourhoods in Cairo and Giza governorates and areas that have reached their maximum population density.

According to a 2018 report by the local development ministry, Egypt registered 2 million building violations between 2000 and 2017.

In April, the cabinet said building violations would be referred to military prosecutors under the current emergency law.

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A Co Armagh man caught with over 450 indecent images of children - the majority of which are in the highest category - has claimed he was acting under the duress of "Arab Nationals" who have threatened to kill him

A Co Armagh man caught with over 450 indecent images of children - the majority of which are in the highest category - has claimed he was acting under the duress of "Arab Nationals" who have threatened to kill him.

Isus Chankov is accused of making, possessing and distributing the images on dates between September 14, 2019 and April 6 this year.

Asked if he understood the charges, Chankov (20), of Banbrook Hill, Armagh, replied: "I don't want this to happen. They sent me all the images."

A detective constable told Dungannon Magistrates Court: "This was a protracted investigation in order to identify the suspect, with over 20 referrals of indecent images of children. He was using a pre-pay unregistered mobile phone, which he would top up every month, using third parties.

"Police ended up mounting a surveillance operation on the location most used to top up, which took almost six months to identify him."

When Chankov was arrested, three mobile phones were found, one of which was used as a WiFi hotspot. From these, over 450 images have been recovered which are "heavily toward the most severe," the detective said.

During interview Chankov admitted possessing and disturbing images. However, he said this was "under duress but could not identify by whom specifically as all contact was by electronic means. He claimed they are Arab nationals who had threatened to kill him if he didn't distribute these images."

Initial examination of the seized phones found no threats but evidence was uncovered suggesting Chankov was not under duress.

Enquires are continuing to establish if there was financial gain, because "he is so prolific in uploading to the internet.

However, phone examination "has been slowed due to other major operations not related to indecent images, which has diverted resources."

Highlighting a flight risk if bail was granted, the detective said: "The defendant is a member of the Bulgarian-Roma community in Armagh. If he returned to Bulgaria we would be unable to extradite him. He has no employment and resides with his mother, with no significant links to the area.

"Despite unemployment he has found the means to secure tenancy of another property, which leads to a major concern he would have the means to flee."

A defence lawyer pointed out investigations of this nature can go on for years. The detective replied: "I don't anticipate this will be as lengthy given the defendant is in custody. I will use that as leverage to try to make sure he is at the top of the list."

The defence said Chankov's mother is extremely distressed by the situation and has been engaging with police.

But the detective responded: "She is distressed that her son is in custody, but that would be normal. I have gone to Armagh to speak to her. Any contact made since arrest has been initiated by police."

The detective also rejected a defence claim that the images were primarily sent to Chankov's phones by an App, stating: "By his own admission, he downloaded these images then forwarded them on. He co-operated in interview to a point. There were certain questions he avoided answering."

Seeking bail to be granted the defence pointed out the potential delay, noting many facing these charges are no longer imprisoned but instead given alternative disposals.

District Judge Michael Rangahan said while there was co-operation, it is common for these cases to be delayed.

He said: "The defendant has no real links to the jurisdiction and risk of flight is too great."

Bail was refused and Chankov will appear again by video-link on September 16.
Ardmore Studios in Bray and Troy Studios in Limerick have announced that Elaine Geraghty, currently CEO with Screen Producers Ireland is joining the studios later this autumn as chief executive.

'Elaine has had a rich career and one that has seen her manage several large organisations and she comes to the studios with over 30 years' experience in the audio-visual and media sector,' they said in a statement. 'Having held a variety of senior management positions in Communicorp Group, The Sunday Tribune and 98FM - in her role as CEO of Newstalk she led Newstalk from being a local Dublin radio station to securing its licence and to becoming Ireland's first independent national talk radio broadcaster. '

Joe Devine, chairman of Ardmore Studios and Troy Studios stated that 'Elaine brings a wealth of media and business management acumen to her new role at an exciting time in the history of a global explosion in the demand for audio-visual content creation. She is a great fit for our studios, as she understands the unique workings of the sector and has the skill sets needed for our business. Siun Ni Raghallaigh will remain as executive director with both Studios and will focus on overseeing, managing and delivering our expansion at Ardmore.'

Ardmore Studios is embarking on a major investment programme that will significantly increase its studio capacity, and deliver the highest standard of sound stages and support buildings to compete with the best in the world. The plan is to deliver three new sound stages to facilitate the ever increasing international demand for high quality sound stage space. When complete, Ardmore Studios will comprise over 140,000 square feet of sound stages and some 120,000 square feet of support buildings on its Bray site. The strategy for redevelopment will significantly enhance the existing studio infrastructure ensuring the studios continue to attract high quality international and national productions into the future.
Waiting in the weeds View(s):

My dear Karu,

I thought I would write to you after hearing that you had offered yourself as a potential leader of the Green party. Apparently, this has led to some controversy, with some claiming that you are no longer a member of the Greens and others suggesting that they need a younger person to lead the party.

These are the most difficult times for the Green party. When they were routed in 56 by SWRD, they still had eight seats. When Sirima defeated them in 70, they had 17 seats. Now, they have just one National List seat  and they havent filled that because they are squabbling over who should fill it.

I have no doubt that you made yourself available with very sincere intentions. Why else would you do that when you could be enjoying your retirement after celebrating your 80th birthday next month? However, some dont seem to like it and they are trying to find every excuse to try and keep you out.

It is true that you are getting on in years, but looking around the new Parliament, we see Sampanthan seeya who is 87, Vasu is fighting fit at 81 and the newly elected Wiggie is 80. Chamal maama and Mahinda mama are on the wrong side of 70 too. Need I say more about age?

Of course, if you are offered the Green party leadership, few people will expect you to lead it to the next election, when you will be nearly 85. I believe what you are suggesting is that you take over to ensure that there is a period of transition so that the green party wont disintegrate altogether.

This is not your first attempt at leading the party either. We recall how you teamed up with Sajith 9 years ago and challenged the Green Man for the leadership. A committee packed with his loyalists ensured you were defeated. Had you won then, the Green partys history would have been different.

Unfortunately, that did not happen. The Green Man went on to lead the party, right until its recent debacle. In fact, even though he made noises about resigning soon after the election results were declared, he is still in charge and pulling strings to make sure that his chosen successor gets the job.

It appears that contenders are mushrooming by the day. The fact that people like Akila, Rangey and Daya are putting themselves forward as worthy successors to DS, Dudley and JR is comical if not for the fact that it is tragic for the country. Who next, you wonder  Thevarapperuma or Mervyn, perhaps?

It is interesting that Bond Ravi has also thrown his hat into the ring. With Sajith forming his own outfit, Ravi must be thinking that the Green leadership is his without a doubt. He ruined the Greens once dabbling in the big bank bonds, disgracing the party. Now, he wants to finish it altogether.

What is worrying for me, Karu, is that there is no person who stands heads and shoulders above the rest of the pack as an obvious choice. Of course, if Sajith was still around, he would fit the bill, but I dont think he is interested, even if he was asked, in being burdened with a party now on its deathbed.

The other complicating factor is your son-in-law, Navin. Much of the hostility directed towards you is because some feel that if you take over the Greens, you will ensure the leadership passes on to Navin. The issue is even more complicated because Navins brother is already with the telephone outfit.

You have seen this kind of situation before. Remember how you crossed over to Mahinda maamas team but had to return less than two years later? In that instance, the Green Man welcomed you back and appointed you deputy leader, but we know he wont do the same for Sajith and appoint him leader.

The ideal outcome would be for the Green Man to do so, so that the Greens can be united not just in name but also in reality. Those aspiring for the Green leadership wont allow that to happen, so that is wishful thinking and Im afraid even your offer of leading the party is likely to suffer the same fate.

The Green ship is sinking. Sajith and his crew escaped with a lifeboat in the form of the telephone outfit and have made it to the safety of the new Parliament. Yet, isnt it silly, Karu, that so many people are aspiring to become captain of the Green ship, without realising that the ship is sinking?

We know you are much more sincere than that. Your finest hour was during the constitutional crisis created by Cheerio Sirisena. You did your utmost to safeguard democracy and even suffered physical blows in Parliament. So, even if you dont lead the Greens, we will always be grateful for that, Karu.

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS: When you first contested to become the Mayor of Colombo, your slogan was Aavoth Karu, paayai hiru. Unfortunately, some in the Green camp fear that now it is Aavoth Karu, pannai horu. So they are preventing you from taking over  and you may be the best leader the Greens never had!
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 00:21:59|Editor: huaxia

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DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's communications regulator on Friday fined Raha Limited, one of the country's leading internet providers, 11.8 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 5 million U.S. dollars) for violating communications regulations.

James Kilaba, the director general of Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), said the communications regulator imposed the heavy fines on Raha Limited, which recently rebranded as Raha Liquid Telecom, after it had used radio communication frequencies in the range of 1452-1482 MHZ without a valid license since March 24, 2020.

TCRA has also fined Raha Limited another 40 million shillings for multiple violations including failure to provide internet services and submit financial statements, Kilaba told a news conference in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

Kilaba said frequencies the internet provider used in the range of 1452-1482 MHZ were very sensitive for security reasons.

He said Raha Limited should pay the fines within 90 days, adding that failure to pay will lead to further punitive actions.

Kilaba said the internet provider could appeal to the Fair Competition Tribunal if it felt the punishment was unfair. Enditem
MARIGOT:--- Based on the latest health bulletin dated August 26th with 139 active cases in Saint-Martin for a total of confirmed while Sint Maarten records 248 active cases for a total of 444 confirmed cases.

11 people are hospitalized at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital Centre and 4 have been transferred to the ICU of Guadeloupe. 7 Dutch residents are hospitalized in Sint Maarten. 6 deaths are recorded in part French and 17 in part Dutch.

The islands of Saint Barthelemy and Saint Martin have been classified as active virus circulation as well as Guadeloupe and Martinique.

This listing in annex 2 of the decree of July 10, 2020, authorizes the Prefette delegate of Saint-Barthelemy and Saint-Martin to take further measures to combat the spread of the virus. No further complementary measures are being considered at this time. The ones already taken remain in effect: declaration in Prefecture of meetings of more than 10 people; closure of bars and restaurants at midnight; wearing a mask required in all shops; limitation of entry conditions by sea; temporary controls of access to Saint Martin.

Traveling between the French islands are not subject to a negative PCR test of less than 72 h.

Extension of border checks until September 15, 2020.



Due to the increase in the number of cases and limited hospital capacity, the Prefecture, and the ARS, after exchanges with the Community of Saint-Martin and in agreement with the Ministry of the Overseas, decide to extend the traffic restriction between the two parts of the island until September 15, 2020.

Traffic remains strictly limited to the following compelling reasons: serious family reason, emergency health problems, and proven professional motive.

With regard to schooling, children enrolled in schools in the French part, and staying in Sint-Maarten will benefit from distance learning organized by National Education. This pedagogical continuity will also be ensured for all children who cannot resume school due to their personal situation.

The measure is temporarily put in place to limit population brewing and to stop the spread of the virus on the territory. The efforts already made have shown a slowdown in the number of cases. Wearing a mask is strongly advised in all circumstances and respect for barrier gestures is essential.

All these measures are essential to limit the spread of the virus and prevent saturation of our health system. These are temporarily set up and reassessed daily.

Population health is the only argument that must guide our decisions.
'My last': Anna Hazare to launch protest for farmers in Jan

Farmers' Protest: Former Maharashtra CM to meet Anna Hazare ahead of his hunger strike

Unfortunate that BJP asked me to join movement against AAP: Anna Hazare

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Aug 29: Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Friday said it was unfortunate that the Delhi BJP asked him to join in its agitation against the AAP government.

83-year-old Hazare said BJP has its own huge cadre and wields power in the Centre, yet the party offered him to join the movement.

Anna Hazare has written letter to the Delhi BJP, rejecting its request to join the movement.

The octogenarian wrote, "I felt sorry reading the letter...BJP is in power for the past six years...Still, it is calling an 83-year-old fakir who lives in a 1012 feet room, who has...no power. What could be more unfortunate than this?"

"In the present condition, I don't think any party can give bright future to the country. Many parties are stuck in the circle of making money out of power and attaining power using money," Hazare said.

The activist also wrote, his going to Delhi will not make any difference as he did not believe any party can give the country a bright future.

Notably, current Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was Anna Hazare's key ally in his 2011 anti-corruption agitation in Delhi.

Delhi BJP Chief Adesh Gupta had on Monday written to Anna Hazare, urging him to join his party's "mass movement" against the Arvind Kejriwal government which Mr Gupta claimed was "a new name of social, political and economic corruption".

Suresh Raina returns home, to skip IPL | Blow to CSK | Oneindia News

Hazare further added, the BJP-led Union government controls agencies like the CBI, why no legal action was being taken against the AAP government in Delhi if it was corrupt.

The BJP came to power in 2014 showing dreams of corruption-free India, "but the worries of people have not lessened", Hazare added.

His agitations were never against any party, the Anna Hazare also said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, August 29, 2020, 12:30 [IST]
By Express News Service

MALAPPURAM: Inspiring doctors and patients alike, a 110-year-old woman from Malappuram district recovered from COVID-19 on Saturday.

Variyath Pathu, a resident of Randathani, has become the oldest person in the state to recover from the disease and the joint oldest in the country. Another 110-year-old woman had recovered from COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu last month.

Pathu tested positive on August 18 after contracting the virus from her daughter. Doctors at the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) Manjeri said she was showing only mild symptoms of the infection.

"She also cooperated well with the doctors during the treatment. The recovery of Pathu will inspire other COVID patients in the state," said a doctor with the GMCH.

Pathu's family members said they were happy to see her back after recovering from the disease. They also thanked the state government for providing good treatment for Pathu. The centenarian will have to stay in quarantine for 14 more days at her house.

In the last two days, 883 people have recovered from COVID-19 in the district. The health department is going ahead with COVID-19 prevention activities in the district which was badly hit by the pandemic.
Evan Vucci, STF / Associated Press

WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump is traveling to southeast Texas and Louisiana on Saturday to survey damage from Hurricane Laura and get a briefing from local emergency response officials, the White House announced on Friday.

Further details of the trip were not immediately available.
Noor Inayat Khan, Britain's World War II spy, became the first Indian-origin woman on August 28 to be honoured with a memorial Blue Plaque at her former family home in London.

The Blue Plaque scheme, run by the English Heritage charity, honours notable people and organisations connected with particular buildings across London.

Khan's plaque has been put up at 4 Taviton Street in Bloomsbury, where she lived before leaving for Nazi-occupied France in 1943 as an undercover radio operator for Britain's Special Operations Executive (SOE).

The new plaque reads: Noor Inayat Khan GC, 1914-1944, SOE Agent codename Madeleine' stayed here.

She was the daughter of Indian Sufi saint Hazrat Inayat Khan and a descendant of the 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan.

Noor went on to be killed at Dachau concentration camp in 1944, having revealed nothing to her captors, not even her real name.

A blue plaque to commemorate Noor Inayat Khan, a World War Two heroine and the first woman of Indian origin to receive the honour. Handout courtesy of English Heritage.

The SOE was an independent British Secret Service set up in 1940 by Britain's then Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Noor was the first female radio operator sent into Nazi-occupied France and was posthumously awarded the George Cross (GC) for her bravery in 1949.

Noor joins the likes of Ada Lovelace, the pioneer of computing, and Rosalind Franklin, the scientist who helped discover DNA, to make up only 14 per cent of over 950 such Blue Plaques celebrating women across London.

English Heritage said that while the figure is still unacceptably low, its ongoing Plaques for Women campaign has seen a dramatic rise in the number of public nominations for women since it launched in 2016.

Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar are among some of the other Indian-origin historical figures have been honoured with the Blue Plaques at buildings associated with their stay in London.

(With inputs from PTI)
Authorities should not view Human Rights Commission as an adversary but as a partner in reform: Dr. Udagama Dismissing speculation that she quit due to pressure, the outgoing HRC Chair who will return to Peradeniya University, talks to Namini Wijedasa in this wide-ranging interview View(s): View(s):

When her resignation as Human Rights Commission (HRC) Chair became public two days before the August 5 Parliamentary election, it was speculated that Deepika Udagama had quit under pressure.

I want to say upfront that, when people ask me whether I was leaving because I succumbed to intimidation or threat, I feel personally insulted because Im not that sort of person, said Dr Udagama whose last day is tomorrow. If a Chair of an independent commission was threatened or intimidated, its not a private issue for me. Its a public issue. I would have gone public with it.

And the last thing I would have done is to have resigned because that really impacts on governance and peoples rights, she said.

Her departure was prompted by a desire to return to Peradeniya University where she was Head of the Department of Law before obtaining leave to lead the HRC. I left a young department of study at Peradeniya, she said. It was just six years old when I got this appointment.

Her tenure began in October 2015. Three years later, the HRC received A status accreditation from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. At the end of that term, Dr Udagama was ready to leave, paving the way for new leadership under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

But there came the governance crisis of October 2018 during which the Chair of the Constitutional Council, Karu Jayasuriya, then Speaker, requested all Commissions going out of office by that time to agree to reappointment to avoid a vacuum.

So Dr Udagama stayed on for two more years. Her leave is now up for renewal, however, and the administration needs of Peradeniya University, she said, were acute. She has a moral obligation to return. There were no other compulsions.

I dont want my resignation to leave any type of impression that these Commissions can be independent but only so much before they also succumb, Dr Udagama reiterated. Absolutely not. These are not institutions that belong to individuals. These are institutions that belong to the public. So it is our bounden duty to protect them.

The point is this, she continued. Institutions must never be viewed in a personality-bound manner. Never. Thats the true mark of democracy. The true mark of democracy is that there are strong systems and that, therefore, because of strong systems, the systems will continue and people will continue to get the protection that they deserve from governance and institutions of governance.

The 19th Amendment, therefore, was crucial because it was about checks and balances which, Dr Udagama stressed, were the life of democracy.

People will say, What are checks and balances? Those are academic issues, a footnote to governance, she said. It is not a footnote to governance. It is the central point of democracy and, that, we must understand.

This is where the Sri Lankan middle class fails. After each election, they sit back and wait to see what the ruling class does. That, she insists, is not how democracy is planned or designed. After an election, the citizenry must be alert and monitor how governance takes place from the word go.

While the 19th Amendment was not perfectit was a disappointment to those who advocated something much strongerit offered a better option than an individual deciding on appointments.

When they took over in October 2015, the HRC no longer received complaints of the more egregious forms of violations like enforced disappearances and abductions. But custodial violations is a continuing problem. Illegal arrests, torture and inhuman and degrading treatment were the main complaints in addition to the police not entertaining complaints or affording protection when requested.

The pattern is clear, Dr Udagama reflected. The highest number of complaints we receive each year, even though the total number may vary, are about custodial violations and administrative abuse.

The HRC prioritized custodial violations complaints because they seriously affect lives. When you lose liberty, when you are physically and mentally tortured, it impacts on everybody around you, she said.

The Commission wrote to the police multiple times and they were summoned quite often. Reforms have been recommended. And the National Police Commission (NPC) has been notified. But the complaints keep coming.

There are good officers who see the need for strong reform, Dr Udagama observed. But there are also others who are defensive about these sort of interventions. There is a sense that our recommendations are intrusions or that we are exaggerating. Constantly, we find our statistics questioned.

The HRC counts complaints because, Nowhere in the world do you wait until these are adjudicated to monitor patterns. That could take years. Our position is that, even if you discard 50 percent of these complaints, theres still a strong number, she said.

There was a sharp hike in custodial violations while the country was under the COVID-19 curfew. While monitoring visits stopped, the HRC hotline remained open. More than 50 cases were reported between March 15 and May 15. One of her last functions as HRC Chair was to take the matter up with the NPC and Acting Inspector General of Police.

When you raise human rights issues like these, it is certainly not to embarrass, she said. It is to find ways forward. We have always said dont treat the Human Rights Commission as an adversary. Consider us to be a partner in reform.

Dr Udagama says there must be strong public opposition and a sustained effort to change this subculture in the police. And there must also be disapproval within the institution because, despite a small number of personnel being involved, the entire Police Department is tainted.

It is interesting where torture is concerned that you do sometimes find public support for it because people have now recognized it as the normal, she said. As a teacher of human rights law, she uses exercises to see how students view this violation.

You can see that, when they speak honestly, these are not major issues, she explained. Until it happens to you or to someone in your family, you dont see the injustice. But whole families are traumatised by this and it is also negative on society.

Peoples rights were also violated through administrative injustice and inaction. These could be employment-related, about not being able to obtain permits or licences, or admit a child to school. It was about getting health care, water services, electricity or a permit to build business premises. They come here, Dr Udagama said.

Some complaints are referred to the relevant authoritysuch as the Public Service Commission for employment issues, increments, transfers, etc. The sheer volume of complaints lodged with the HRC means it takes in cases that fall strictly within its purview.

The role of the private sector in human rights violations also requires attention, Dr Udagama said. Both the HRC and the Supreme Court can function only on administrative and executive violations. But the private sector has expanded exponentially and has a huge impact on peoples lives as an employer. It provides services like education and health care.

If that is the case, what protection do the people have? she asked. It is important for us to find ways and means of bringing private sector abuse into the loop, into our mandate. That requires an amendment to the law. There are new frontiers of human rights protection we have to look at.

Over the past few years, the HRC also worked on hate speech, especially on social media. It worsened after the Easter bombings in 2019. Even the implementation of the hate speech prohibition in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act was not balanced and has given rise to concerns that the anti-hate speech law itself is used as a weapon against certain communities.

That makes them feel very vulnerable and impacts negatively on inter-community relations and on free expression, she warned. We do have to work sincerely toward equal citizenship and recognition of diversity of our society, not just by way of superficial sloganeering. Insecurities and fears of all communities must be recognised and addressed.

A creeping re-emergence of a culture of self-censorship and fear has also now come to the HRCs attention. Whether the authorities intend it to be so or not, there is a strong perception that there will be negative consequences for speaking up freely, for dissent, for advocacy, Dr Udagama cautioned. This is a regression.

What we saw improve by leaps and bounds in the past few years was the opening up of democratic spaces for discussion, debate and free association, she said. Creative thinking, different thinking, citizen advocacy are essential to creating a free society. She urged the authorities to address this using the resounding victory they won at the recent polls.

During her tenure, the Commissions biggest institutional impediment was staff shortage and weak capacity. Where the larger picture is concerned, however, the main challenge to human rights protection work was weak citizenship and civic consciousness.

Public voices for human rights protection for all is rather mute: Everybody wants rights for themselves, but not for the other.

There must be better civics education in schools. While providing children with occupational training, a major objective of education should be democratic citizenship. Violations can be minimized if people were more conscious of their rights, if there were a more discerning public that demands systems for protection.

What the Human Rights Commission does is firefighting, she said. Thats not sufficient.
A traffic stop on Interstate 59 Friday left three men jailed after lawmen found drugs inside the pickup truck.

Jefferson County sheriffs deputies about 1:30 p.m. stopped a white Nissan Titan on I-59 southbound near the I-20 interchange. During the stop, said Sgt. Joni Money, deputies detected an overwhelming odor of marijuana. A search of the vehicle turned up 11 pounds of marijuana stored in vacuum-sealed bags.

Deputies then contacted detectives from the Vice and Narcotics Unit who recognized one of the occupants as the subject of a marijuana trafficking investigation. Search warrants were obtained for that persons address in the 500 block of Elm Street in Birmingham.

During the search of the residence, authorities confiscated an additional 18.95 grams of marijuana, 16.01 grams of mushrooms, Ecstasy, Xanax and more than $3,400 in cash.

Those charged with trafficking marijuana are: Miguel Recardo Samuels Jr., 26, of Birmingham; Courtney Ladreko Mason, 34, of Oxford, Ga.; and Anthony Larvell Maddox, 39 of Lithonia, Ga. All three were booked into the Jefferson County Jail where they are being held without bond.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / Exploring The Block will be airing tomorrow Saturday, August 29th at 6 PM eastern standard time on Bloomberg Television. We have fetch.ai CEO Humayun Sheikh second interview of theIr 6 part series.

Also coming on for their first interviews are Richard Ells CEO of Electroneum (ETN) and Gordon Gao CEO and Founder of WaykiChain (WIXX). WaykiChain and Electroneum are fast-moving disruptors and just completing their featured interviews days ago.

" We have been covering BlockQuake and their pursuit to build the safest and most secure platform to trade your digital assets for almost 2 years now. I feel confident in the media investment we have made and continue to make in BlockQuake ,Antonio Brasse and the entire team . The company is giving us the lastest update and preparing to launch stated Vince Caruso CEO FMW Media.

Rounding out the show we have PASCAL COIN (PASC) with CEO Herman Schoenfeld and David Bolet Lead Programmer.

Fetch.ai, Somee.Social (ONG), MANDI (MANDI) , Electroneum (ETN) ,WaykiChain(WICC), and BLOCKQUAKE will be giving us new interviews in the next few weeks for September broadcasts.

ABOUT:

FMW Media

FMW Media Corp. operates one of the longest-running U.S and International sponsored programming T.V. brands " NewToTheStreet," and its blockchain show "Exploring The Block." Since 2009, these brands run shows across three major U.S. Television networks. These TV platforms reach over 540 million homes both in the US and international markets.

https://newtothestreet.com/

Twitter: @NewtotheStreet @ExploringBlock @IPOMarketcom

Fetch.ai (FET)

"Fetch.ai is at the forefront of accelerating research and deployment of emerging technologies, including blockchain and AI. Its solutions are designed for people, organizations, and IoT. The project has created an Open Economic Framework (OEF) that serves as a decentralized search and a value exchange platform for various autonomous economic agents. Supported by a scalable smart ledger, Fetch.ai has digital intelligence at its heart, enabling it to deliver actionable predictions and instant trust information to billions of smart devices."

MANDI

Mandi Token has a wide range of experts in finance, accounting, and business analysis, including former analysts and financial experts from known institutions. Our spokesman, JD Salbego, is an Advisor to Solidum Capital, former CEO of BitTok exchange and current CEO of Legion Ventures. Jonathan Dunsmoor, our Compliance Officer, is Senior Counsel at Reid & Wise LLC, Securities Attorney at Aeryus, and Managing Consultant at NV Global Ventures. Willy Hartono Wijaya, President Director, is a former analyst at Goldman Sachs and an emergent investment figure in the Indonesian economy. We use a very conventional methodology on our approach to assessing the profitability and feasibility of any opportunities that have the potential to add value to our ecosystem and Mandi token holders.

SoMee.social (ONG1)

SoMee is a blockchain-based social media platform. Users earn ONG1 for being active on their platform; posting, liking, and getting liked. SoMee's mission is to redefine social media for privacy, end-user control, and monetization. The platform is built for influencers, social media users, and advertisers and is about to release a unique system for advertisers that gives them more control and interaction with their target audience, and that allows their target audience to target them back! SoMee has been in open beta for the past year on the web at https://SoMee.social and inside of the IOS and Android app stores under SoMee.social.

Onica

SoMee.social hired Onica, a Rackspace Company is a Premier Consulting Partner in the Amazon Web Services (AWS)Partner Network (APN) to implement AWS auto-scaling technology and provide ongoing 24/7/365 cloud infrastructure and DevOps support. Christopher Kramer, President & CEO of SoMee said, "We couldn't have found a better partner to deploy & provide ongoing AWS support to SoMee, especially as we prepare to scale millions of users onto the SoMee platform. Learn more at www.onica.com.

About BlockQuake

New York City FinTech startup, BlockQuake is a regulatory-driven, one-stop-shop digital asset trading platform that will offer, at launch, 6 fiat currencies (USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, JPY, AUD), plus major cryptocurrencies & stablecoins (e.g. BTC, BCH, ETH, LTC, XRP, XLM, TUSD) - resulting in over 100 pairings. Traders from over 140 countries will also be able to use their credit or debit card to deposit funds into their exchange account.

BlockQuake's accomplished team includes internal and external subject matter experts in FinTech, regulatory finance, investment banking, insurance, blockchain, and risk management and a robust understanding of both the finance and crypto industries. They now draw upon decades of experience in blue-chip financial services to deliver solutions that address trader frustrations in the current cryptocurrency landscape. The result is a platform that aims to be an industry standard in global compliance, built on security, transparency, and trust.

Investors can support BlockQuake through a worldwide KYC compliant ST20/ERC1400 token offering. The Regulation D 506(c) token offering for accredited investors in the U.S. and Canada or the Regulation S token offering for retail and institutional/accredited investors outside the U.S. and Canada. Visit BlockQuake.com for more information.

WaykiChain

The WaykiChain is focused on developing its own technology, bottom public chain layer and as well corresponding to that an ecosystem which will foster technology research and development, as well as project operation.

The independent research and development of the third generation of blockchain business reached the leading level in the industry, with high-performance transaction processing capabilities (TPS 3300), efficient mechanism of consensus (DPoS + pBFT), robust and smart engine (Lua + WASM) contract, plus the blockchain decentralized control ability. WaykiChain will provide expertise in critical areas of vertical industry with infrastructure services and industry solutions.

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CEEK is an award-winning developer of premium social virtual and augmented reality experiences. Headquartered in beautiful Sacramento, California. Our mission is to make virtual reality experiences universally accessible and enjoyable.

CEEK simulates the communal experience of attending a live concert, being in a classroom, attending a sporting event and other 'money can't buy' exclusive experiences with friends from anywhere at any time.

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SOURCE: FMW Media Works Corp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, August 29, 2020 12:51 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c41556b1 1 City COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-korona-indonesia,blood-donation,blood-donors,Red-Cross,PMI,Riza-Patria Free

The Jakarta Red Cross has only about 20 percent of its usual stock of blood because of a decline in blood donations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Riza Patria said the Red Cross was collecting between 100 and 200 bags of donated blood a day, a fraction of the pre-pandemic average of 1,000 bags a day.

Compounding the scarcity, the demand for blood has been higher during the outbreak. Hospitals in South Jakarta alone have been requiring 1,400 to 1,500 bags of blood daily.

We urge all residents to actively participate as blood donors for the Red Cross, Riza said on Friday.

He also asked members of youth organizations and Muslim congregations to routinely donate their blood.

Read also: Blood shortage common in Ramadan, but COVID-19 makes matters worse: PMI

The COVID-19 pandemic has deterred potential blood donors. The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) said people, institutions and communities had canceled appointments for blood donations because of fears of contagion.

Many hospitals have suspended scheduled, elective and non-emergency procedures, which often require blood transfusions, because of the shortage.

But the demand for blood remains high, particularly for people with thalassemia and hemophilia, who require regular transfusions, as well as for some mothers giving birth.

Both the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) say that the risk of transmission of COVID-19 through the transfusion of blood and components is likely minimal, as the virus chiefly targets the respiratory system. (sau/mfp)
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres conveys congratulations to the Vietnamese Government and people on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the countrys National Day (Source: VNA)

Hanoi - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has sent his warmest congratulations to the Vietnamese Government and people on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the countrys National Day (September 2).

In his message of congratulations, Antonio Guterres hailed Vietnam for being always a strong partner since its admission to the UN in 1977.



The Vietnamese army has been joining the UN's peacekeeping activities and Vietnams leading role in fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals lays a solid foundation for the country to carry out the Sustainable Development Programme 2020, he said.



Vision and aspiration of the Sustainable Development Goals will become more important than ever when the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN leader stressed.



According to him, Vietnam has been making important contributions to supporting sustainable peace in its capacity as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC).



The 75th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day is concurrent with the time when the country assumes the roles as ASEAN Chair and UNSC non-permanent member, reflecting its strong presence on the international arena, he added.
In the wake of police officers shooting Jacob Blake in the back on August 23 that left the 29-year-old black man paralyzed, posts have been spreading around social media that the root cause of the incident stemmed from Blake's previous time in prison for allegedly raping a 14-year-old child from Wisconsin.

Jacob Blake, a child rapist?

Several rumors spread online that claimed Blake was a sexual abuser who targeted a child between 14 and 16 years old, some have argued that he raped a 14-year-old child and called him a rapist and a pedophile.

According to Snopes, the rumors were false. They were made after misleading information began circulating on social media that detailed Blake's previous charge of sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend, who he has three children with.

The posts featured an image that detailed what looked to be multiple charges against an individual named Jacob S. Blake and included third-degree sexual assault. They also had the definition of what the charge meant, which was taken from a statute.

The surge of online posts led many social media users to believe that Blake had previously been charged with the sexual assault of a child and concluded that he was, therefore, a child rapist.

However, the charges against the suspect were, in fact, for the sexual assault of his ex-girlfriend and not a child, misleading information brought about by the statute's definition of third-degree sexual assault.

Prosecutors in Kenosha County favorably applied for an arrest warrant in July. The warrant includes charges of third-degree sexual assault against Blake. The complaint consists of criminal trespass and disorderly conduct which were designated as domestic abuse acts.

Authorities issued the warrant on July 7, and it was found that the individual who was shot by police in August was the same Blake who was written in the arrest warrant.

Also Read: Mom Tortures 3-Year-Old to Death, Mutilated Her Body Parts and Tried Dissolving Remains in Bleach

Previous criminal charges

The Kenosha County District Attorney's office's criminal complaint in July claims that Blake entered his ex-girlfriends' resident against her permission on May 3 and continued to sexually assault her before grabbing her debit card and making two withdrawals worth $500 each, as reported by AP News.

While allegations against Blake stated in the July warrant were undoubtedly severe and detailed how he sexually abused his ex-girlfriend, the claim that he raped a child had no basis in the written statements.

In the state of Wisconsin, the definition of third-degree sexual assault does not include the sexual abuse of a minor. The statute that social media posts spread throughout the internet came from the laws of a different state, specifically, Rhode Island General Law Section 11-37-6.

The original creator of the image and post took a screenshot of Blake's charges. They added the photo of the definition of third-degree sexual assault that was taken from an entirely different state to accuse the suspect of raping a child falsely.

Court records show that Blake's previous history was only about child support disputes and in June 2018 was convicted on charges of driving a vehicle without the possession of a valid license. The incident was not considered a crime and Blake settled the issue by paying a fine.

Related Article: Cannibal Who Killed, Mutilated Girlfriend Found Sane to Stand Trial

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The Border Security Force (BSF) has detected a trans-border tunnel originating in Pakistan and entering India through Jammu and Kashmirs Samba sector, said a senior police officer on Saturday.

A trans-border tunnel has been detected on the international border in Samba district. The tunnel extends 50 metres into the Indian territory. The BSF is investigating the matter. The spot will be dug up to ascertain the tunnels origin and direction but it appeared to be another attempt by Pakistan to push terrorists into India along the lines of Hamas fighters (Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organisation), said the officer.

Around 10 plastic sandbags that have Karachi and Shakargarh written on them have been recovered from the opening of the tunnel. The bags have a manufacturing and expiry date printed on them.

On Friday, BSF troops detected an approximately 20-feet long and three-to-four-feet wide tunnel in the Indian territory near the International Border in the Basantar area. Pakistan-made sand bags with Shakargarh, Karachi, inscribed on them were used to hide the mouth of the tunnel . The tunnels opening is around 170m from the international border. It opens into a local farmers field, the BSF posted on its Twitter handle.

Around 10 plastic sandbags that have Karachi and Shakargarh written on them have been recovered from the opening of the tunnel. (HT Photo )

The nearest Pakistani border post is about 400 meters from the tunnel.

The BSF has launched a major search operation to trace if more such tunnels were being attempted by Pakistan.

Digging tunnels in a bid to push terrorists into J&K is an old tactic of Pakistan. It seems Pakistan has started imitating Hamas fighters, who dig underground tunnels to enter Israel, said an officer in the counter-insurgency wing of the state police, who did not wish to be named.

In September last year, the BSF had launched a massive operation along the International Border (IB) with Pakistan to detect underground cross-border tunnels The BSF also uses ground penetrating radars to detect tunnels. In the past, Infiltrators have attempted digging underground tunnels in Hiranagar, Samba, RS Pura, Pallanwala and Munawar Tawi .

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- Renowned Black Panther actor, Chadwick Boseman, has died at 43

- Chadwick died of colon cancer which he was diagnosed with in 2016

- He reportedly died at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by his family

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Famous Black Panther actor, Chadwick Boseman, who also Black icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown, prior to Black Panther has died.

In a report sighted by YEN.com.gh on the verified Twitter handle of the actor, it was clearly stated that the famous Black actor died of colon cancer that he has been battling for a while now.

Boseman, whose career's honour was to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther, died at his home in the Los Angeles area with his wife and family by his side.

READ ALSO: Man uses spoons to create great artworks, photos show them

See post below:

Chadwick, according to the official announcement, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016 which was then at stage III.

The disease sadly progressed to its stage IV and the famous actor visibly lost weight as photos in earlier reports gathered had shown.

Chadwick has starred in other films including Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilsons Ma Raineys Black Bottom and several more, during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy.

READ ALSO: Lawyer activist dies on 238th day of hunger strike demanding fair trial

Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther Star, Dies at 43 Source: nbcnews.com, forbes.com

Source: UGC

In other news, Authorities in the UK are investigating the death of a woman who was found dead in a flat in Glasgow on Saturday, August 22.

The body of Mercy Baguma who originally came from Uganda was discovered at her house with her son crying next to her according to Positive Action in Housing (PAIH).

The 34-year-old died from extreme poverty and the baby was malnourished and weakened with starvation indicating they had gone for days without food, The Independent reported.

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Merivale owner Justin Hemmes celebrated his birthday with his model girlfriend and friends. Credit:Louise Kennerley .

Hospitality tsar Justin Hemmes rang in his 48th birthday on Thursday with a sedate family picnic with daughters Alexa, three, Saachi, two, and ex-partner Kate Fowler on the lawn of his Vaucluse estate. On Friday, the billionaire playboy amped up the celebrations with an intimate lunch at his popular Newport venue, Berts, surrounded by a posse of models.

Guests including model Madeline Holtznagel, Merivale staffer Cat Picker and Instagram influencer Indi Thew travelled via seaplane to the northern beaches brasserie.

A number of the young models in attendance shared images from the gathering to their social media feeds, lapping up the seaplane experience and generous hospitality of the pub baron.

Holtznagel, 18, is understood to be residing at Hemmes' harbourside mansion The Hermitage. She is the younger sister of former Australias Next Top Model finalist Simone Holtznagel.
Two back-to-back meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Moscow next month will give India and China opportunities for high-level bilateral engagements on the margins of the plurilateral conclaves, even as the military stand-off along the disputed boundary between the two neighbouring nations continues.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would travel to Moscow in the first and second weeks of the next month respectively to attend the two SCO meetings. Their counterparts in the Chinese Government, Wei Fenghe and Wang Yi, are also expected to attend the conclaves of the SCO Defence and Foreign Ministers meetings.

Also Read | India prepared to look at any military option if no result from talks on border standoff with China, says CDS Rawat

The SCO meetings, which will be hosted by Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, will offer opportunities for New Delhi and Beijing to have bilateral engagements to resolve the stand-off between the Indian Army and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) or the de facto boundary between the two nations.

New Delhi has not yet confirmed any bilateral meeting between Singh and Wei or between Jaishankar and Wang on the margins of the SCO meetings. Neither has it ruled out the possibility of such bilateral engagements in Moscow.

Also Read | China must restore status quo ante in eastern Ladakh to resolve border standoff: Government sources

The meeting of the SCO Defence Ministers is scheduled to take place on September 3 and 4 in Moscow, followed by that of the Foreign Ministers of the eight-nation-bloc on September 10.

Singh earlier visited Moscow just a few days after the Indian Army and the Chinese PLA had a violent face-off in Galwan Valley on June 15  on an invitation from his counterpart Shoygu to attend the celebration of the 75th anniversary of erstwhile Soviet Unions victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. He avoided holding a bilateral meeting with Chinese Defence Minister, who also attended the ceremony. Jaishankar spoke to Wang over the phone just two days after the clash and discussed ways to de-escalate tension. He also participated in a RIC (Russia-India-China trilateral) video conference with Lavrov and Wang on June 23.

Russia has been publicly maintaining that India and China should resolve the stand-off through bilateral talks. It, however, has been quietly in touch with both and has been trying to defuse tension between the two neighbours.

Also Read | India to impose fresh curbs on visas, universities to thwart China influence

A source in New Delhi told the DH that Moscow had informally conveyed to both New Delhi and Beijing that it could facilitate bilateral meetings between Indian and Chinese ministers during any of the two or both the SCO meets if the two nations wanted such engagements.

Chinas aggressive moves to unilaterally alter the status quo along its disputed boundary with India triggered the stand-off in early May. The two sides early last month mutually agreed on a process of disengagement or phased withdrawal of the front-line troops from the face-off scenes.

It, however, remained stalled since mid-July, as the Chinese PLA declined to withdraw troops completely from several face-off points along the LAC, including Depsang Y junction, Gogra Post and the northern bank of the Pangong Tso.
Prosecutors urge longer sentences for four officers charged over Floyds death, saying they showed particular cruelty.

Minnesota state prosecutors have filed a motion to seek longer sentencing beyond the current state guidelines for the four officers involved in the death of George Floyd.

The 46-year-old died after police office Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an incident in Minneapolis on May 25.

Video recordings of Floyd telling the officers he could not breathe before going silent have sparked national and international condemnation and protests against racial injustice and police brutality.

The charges against Chauvin include unintentional second-degree murder and three other officers  J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao  have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.





The reasons given by prosecutors to justify the longer sentencing include that Floyd was particularly vulnerable because he was already handcuffed and had been placed chest down on the pavement.

They also said the fact that officers did not respond to Floyds pleas that he could not breathe represented particular cruelty, that the officers abused their authority, that they acted in a group, and that they committed the crime in the presence of multiple children.



Call for dismissal

In a separate court filing, lawyers for Chauvin called for the second-degree murder charges against the former police officer to be dismissed.

In the documents filed on Friday, Chauvins lawyers argued there was not enough evidence to prove the officer intended to kill Floyd.

In the court filings, the defence lawyers also charged that Floyd died from an overdose of fentanyl combined with other drugs and pre-existing health conditions, not from Chauvins actions, while adding that Chauvin was following police training during the death.

What Mr Chauvin saw was a strong man struggling mightily with police officers, which seemed contradictory to Mr Floyds claims about not being able to breathe, said the filing.

Mr Chauvin could not have known about Mr Floyds underlying issues when he arrived on the scene, said the filing, which cited a June autopsy report conducted by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner and a conversation between the medical examiner and the prosecutors in support of the claim.





In a statement for the Wall Street Journal, Ben Crump, a lawyer representing the Floyd family, called the request for dismissal a desperate attempt with charlatan tactics and cited the results of an independent autopsy requested by the family that showed the cause of death to be asphyxia from the compression of his neck and back.

Chauvins lawyers also argued that a fair trial could not be held in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, which includes Minneapolis and Saint Paul, as the jury pools have surely been tainted by local and international coverage of the protests, riots and lootings in the area following Floyds death.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 09:48:05|Editor: huaxia

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QUITO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Friday concerning a fund of 6.5 billion U.S. dollars to help ease the economic burden brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We reached a technical agreement with the @FMInoticias to access $6.5 billion for social protection and reactivation," Ecuadoran President Lenin Moreno tweeted.

The IMF said in a statement that the Fund's technical staff and Ecuadoran authorities had reached a 27-month agreement to support the country's economic program.

Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva tweeted that she proposed the fund to "support economic policies to help Ecuador's people overcome the current crisis and build a better future."

Early action is to be taken to improve public finances, including cutting crisis-related spending next year, implementing a fiscal reform package that consists of a moderation of current and capital spending, and comprehensive tax reform, according to the statement.

Due to the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic in Ecuador, the fiscal deficit and debt are expected to grow this year, so that "the initial financing that will be provided under the new agreement will help cushion the recession, and it will protect fiscal balances from new tensions," said Ceyda Oner, head of the IMF mission in Ecuador.

In May, the IMF disbursed emergency support worth 643 million dollars to Ecuador. Enditem
Towns and villages in Louth such as Carlingford can avail of council funding

Towns and villages throughout County Louth can now avail of local authority funding for projects to help in the response to COVID-19.

Dundalk Senator John McGahon welcomed the announcement of funding under the expansion of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

'As part of the changes, 41 towns with populations of over 10,000 will be eligible to apply for funding for the first time specifically for Covid-related measures,' said Senator McGahon.

'This means that towns and villages throughout County Louth will be assisted in funding projects for COVID-related projects such as; The creation of outdoor areas to accommodate social interactions in a safe environment to include furniture and awnings; enhancement of town centres by painting, cleaning and improving pedestrian access;provision of equipment to run local festivals or events to bring people back into towns and villages; and the enhancement of community buildings to accommodate remote working.'

He added: 'The Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides funding for projects which support Louth towns and villages to be more attractive and sustainable. This year the scheme was adapted to support projects that aid the economic and social recovery of our towns and villages in response to COVID-19.'

'Applications can be made for up to 40,000 to increase social activity in towns and address social distancing measures that we all now face as a result of Covid-19.'

Minister Humphreys has also increased the number of applications that Local Authorities can submit for other smaller towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000 people.

The closing date for this new round of funding is 28th August 2020 with the initiative for the larger towns also closing on the same date.

Senator McGahon concluded: 'I would encourage large towns, as well as towns and villages with populations of below 10,000, to engage with Louth County Council to identify projects that will help to bring confidence back to communities and businesses in the locality.'
A prison van believed to be transporting former West Coast Eagles AFL player Ben Cousins leaves the Armadale Magistrates Court in Perth on Thursday, April 23, 2020. (Getty image/

NSW Terror Manual Compiler Nears Freedom

A former Qantas cabin cleaner jailed for producing a do-it-yourself terrorism manual will remain under the watchful eye of federal authorities when he walks free from a NSW prison.

Belal Saadallah Khazaal, then 39, was in 2008 found guilty in the NSW Supreme Court of making a document connected with assistance in a terrorist act.

The 110-page book, compiled in September 2003 and titled Provisions Of The Rules of Jihad, was described as a practical guide to achieving martyrdom and published online in Arabic.

The book included advice on techniques of assassination and listed targets for assassination, such as holders of public office in a number of countries including Australia.

Khazaal, the former editor of the Call to Islam magazine, was jailed for 12 years, a term which expires on Aug 30. He has thrice been denied parole.

He will be released on Sunday from Goulburns supermax prison.

The Australian Federal Police last week applied to the Federal Court for an interim control order on Khazaal, which imposes obligations, prohibitions and restrictions on a released person to protect the public from a terrorist act.

Justice Michael Wigney on Wednesday issued the order but its conditions and his reasons have not yet been publicly released. An interim order is the first step in the making of a final order which will be argued and decided at a later date.

The national Joint Counter Terrorism Teams continue to investigate and prevent terrorism to protect the Australian community, an AFP spokesperson said in a statement on Friday.

As this matter remains subject to further court processes, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

In 2011, Khazaal was released on bail after the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal allowed a challenge to his conviction and ordered a retrial. But he was returned to custody in 2012 when the High Court reinstated his original conviction.

Khazaal, a Lebanese-Australian dual national who lived in Lakemba until his imprisonment, has never denied compiling Provisions Of The Rules of Jihad from online material but said it was never intended to incite terrorist acts.

Khazaal wrote only a few paragraphs of the book.

Sydney
The return of warm weather has sparked fears beaches could be closed to the public once again to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Large crowds were seen at Sydney beaches on Saturday, and lifeguards are preparing for an onslaught on Sunday with temperatures set to soar to 25C.

Council rangers have been closely monitoring visitors to Bondi and Bronte beaches, which became coronavirus hot-spots in March after beachgoers ignored social distancing regulations.

Health authorities ares still concerned about the risk of community transmission in the Waverley local government area.

Beachgoers took advantage of Saturday's good weather to exercise outdoors and enjoy the sunshine (Pictured: a woman practices yoga at Bondi on Saturday)

Large crowds were seen at Sydney beaches on Saturday, and lifeguards are preparing for an onslaught on Sunday with temperatures set to soar to 25C

Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos is actively warning people to avoid the beach if it looks busy - or risk facing similar consequences from the first lockdown.

'We need to remember that we are still in a pandemic and we need to adapt our behaviour to that reality,' Cr Masselos told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'If you are considering making the trip out to Bondi tomorrow, and the beaches look busy, please come back another time.'

'The last thing we want to do is to have our close our beaches.'

A yoga class takes place at Coogee Beach on Saturday

A before and after shot shows Coogee Beach in March when it was closed, and on Saturday when temperatures soared

Beachgoers took advantage of Saturday's good weather, with dozens out running, swimming and playing sport in the sunshine.

But few people were wearing facemasks and others weren't social distancing, increasing the risk of community transmission.

Waverley council has employed roving ambassadors who wear shirts reading 'spread kindness not germs.'

Council representatives said they were generally pleased with the crowds on Saturday.

Sydneysiders revelled in the opportunity to get their kit off and bask in the sun, with many posting shirtless selfies on social media

But council said they were pleased with beachgoers behaviour (Pictured: crowds adhere to social distancing on Bondi's grassy knoll on Saturday)

With an even warmer day expected on Sunday, lifeguards will be considering it a 'test run' for the upcoming summer.

Councillor Masselos is hopeful beachgoers will comply with social distancing measures and crowd limits.

Under New South Wales health guidelines residents are allowed to gather in groups of up to 20 people in public places, including parks and beaches.

But lifeguards are urging beachgoers to try and stay one 'towel-length' apart from others and avoid crowding inside the flags.

Lifeguards are urging beachgoers to try and stay one 'towel-length' apart from others and avoid crowding inside the flags (pictured is Coogee beach on Saturday)

Beaches in the Waverley and Randwick local government areas were closed in March after visitors failed to comply with social distancing restrictions.

Bondi and Bronte were closed for four weeks, with those who broke the rules threatened with hefty $1,000 fines.

Nearby beaches Coogee, Clovelly, Maroubra and Malabar were closed for three weeks.
COLUMBIA  In the bizarro world of 2020, South Carolina legislators of both parties are not only demanding that a state agency ask for more money but telling its leaders outright they will get whatever they need.

They've even repeatedly offered to publicly take the blame for historic underfunding. The money is available. Just ask.

It's a remarkable pitch from a GOP-controlled Legislature that has a default setting of cutting taxes. And it's uncommon that a state agency does not jump at the chance to spend money.

But the Department of Health and Environmental Control hasn't exactly been lickety split in its request for ramping up the fight against COVID-19. It's irritated legislators that instead of getting detailed plans for dramatically increasing testing, ASAP, and getting results quicker, they're hearing over and over a defense of what's happened so far.

"You've got to give us specific answers and proposals to help you. Otherwise, we're going to stay where we're at," state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Camden, told DHEC officials a month ago. "You need to let the buck stop right here. If you dont tell us, we cant get results."

Later in the hearing, he interjected, "I dont want to hear every state is facing these challenges. Am I making myself clear?"

Two weeks later, the Senate panel released a list of what should be done to identify who's infected with the virus that doesn't even sicken roughly half of those who get it, before they unknowingly spread the disease to others who could get seriously ill or die.

More than 2,500 South Carolinians have died of COVID-19 since DHEC diagnosed the first cases in early March.

At the top of the panel's recommendations are testing at least 10 percent of the state's population monthly  double the number tested in July  widespread use of simpler, saliva-based tests to help reach that goal, and funding whatever it takes to get there through the $668 million remaining in federal COVID-19 aid.

Senators start putting together a spending plan for that money over the next week. They're still waiting on DHEC to lay out its plan and attach dollar figures to it.

State Sen. Tom Davis, who led the testing panel, said his frustration level with DHEC is "relatively high," though he's sympathetic with the difficulties of dealing with a new disease that didn't even have a name until February.

"Theyre working hard, but we need to have a very specific game plan because this is serious," the Beaufort Republican told Palmetto Politics. "If all youve got is 'we intend to do this' or 'were working toward that,' were not going to get where we need to go."

He was encouraged by last week's news that the University of South Carolina began offering COVID-19 saliva tests for free to all students and staff on its main campus, and that DHEC assured him it's exploring how to replicate that statewide.

But he wants a status report.

"If there are administrative challenges, let me know what they are," said Davis, an attorney. "We can't get bogged down by bureaucratic niceties. ... We can't be sitting here like lawyers on minutia. We need to get it done."

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Marshall Taylor, the agency's acting director since June, said he appreciates legislators' support, but the answer is not all about money.

"Were competing for resources with other states and those are just challenges, and its up to us to figure out how to work around those challenges," said Taylor, formerly DHEC's chief attorney, who's had to take the helm twice since the pandemic hit.

DHEC has pledged to have at least one testing site available in all 46 counties weekly, starting this coming week  an initiative that was supposed to start Aug. 1 but delayed for more planning. The hope is to offer testing on weekends too. And they're making an effort to better publicize where and when there's a site near you.

Taylor points to how far they've come: 900 drive-thru testing events statewide since May  when DHEC set a goal of testing 2 percent of the population  265 more scheduled, and nearly 1 million South Carolinians tested cumulatively.

"But all that being said, we're here to provide the opportunity, to let people know about the opportunity and encourage them to get tested, but we cannot make people get tested," he said.

One of the agency's biggest challenges has been keeping up with the science on the virus and the evolving and sometimes contradictory guidance from both international and federal health leaders.

Initial research indicated it didn't spread easily. DHEC told people to continue their normal lives, while practicing good hygiene. Masks were actually discouraged, until research determined people spread the virus even if they had no symptoms themselves. Then DHEC urged people to mask up. Now it's proven that where mask mandates exist, spread has diminished.

"Every new understanding led to us changing our guidance appropriately," said Dr. Linda Bell, the agency's chief epidemiologist.

On Monday, federal officials seemed to make another shift on testing, saying people who are a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19  meaning they spent at least 15 minutes within 6 feet of the person  "do not necessarily need a test" if they don't have symptoms themselves. That set off a backlash nationwide, as that seemed to negate the whole point of identifying people who don't know they're sick.

Bell said the federal message was misinterpreted, that it had to do with prioritizing who's tested, rather than suggesting asymptomatic people shouldn't be tested, and left the details to states.

"What we're going to do in South Carolina isn't going to change," she said.

Senators are waiting.

The chairman of the House's budget-writing committee, Rep. Murrell Smith, said DHEC should be given some slack in this seemingly never-ending emergency.

"Everything of our life as we knew it has been changed and modified. It's difficult for me to second-guess them," said the Sumter Republican. "Are they doing everything I wish they were doing and does it satisfy me? No. But do I expect them to handle this without any hiccups? No. ... I think we need to defend them. These people are working themselves to death. I imagine there's very little sleep."
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The ruler of the United Arab Emirates issued a decree Saturday formally ending the country's boycott of Israel amid a U.S.-brokered deal to normalize relations between the two countries.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2020, photo released by the the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), from right, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, center, and the organization Secretary General, Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, chair an emergency ministerial meeting in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. Days after Gulf Arab states expressed their support for President Donald Trump's efforts at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, representatives of Muslim-majority nations gathered in Saudi Arabia and rejected the White House's plan as "biased." (Organization of Islamic Cooperation via AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The ruler of the United Arab Emirates issued a decree Saturday formally ending the country's boycott of Israel amid a U.S.-brokered deal to normalize relations between the two countries.

The announcement now allows trade and commerce between the UAE, home to oil-rich Abu Dhabi and skyscraper-studded Dubai, and Israel, home to a thriving diamond trade, pharmaceutical companies and tech start-ups.

The announcement further cements the Aug 13 deal opening up relations between the two nations, which required Israel to halt its contentious plan to annex occupied West Bank land sought by the Palestinians. But Palestinians so far have criticized the accord as undercutting one of its few bargaining chips with Israelis in moribund peace negotiations.

The state-run WAM news agency said the decree formally ending the boycott came on the orders of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and the Emirates' leader.

WAM said the new decree allows Israelis and Israeli firms to do business in the UAE, a U.S.-allied federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. It also allows for the purchase and trade of Israeli goods.

The decree of the new law comes within the UAEs efforts to expand diplomatic and commercial co-operation with Israel, WAM said. It lays out a road map toward launching joint co-operation, leading to bilateral relations by stimulating economic growth and promoting technological innovation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the decree. This is an important step toward advancing peace and prosperity in the region," he said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said in a statement the UAE decision is an important step towards peace, which will yield substantial economic and commercial achievements for both people while strengthening the stability in the region."

FILE - In this Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, file photo, the Tel Aviv City Hall is lit up with the flag of the United Arab Emirates as Israel and the UAE announced they would be establishing full diplomatic ties, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Secret talks and quiet ties Ai that's what paved the way for last week's deal between the United Arab Emirates and Israel to normalize relations. Touted by President Donald Trump as a major Mideast breakthrough, the agreement was in fact the culmination of more than a decade of quiet links rooted in frenzied opposition to Iran that predated Trump and even Barack Obama, as well as Trump's avowed goal to undo his predecessor's Mideast legacy. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File)

Already, some Israeli firms had signed deals with Emirati counterparts. But the repeal of the law widens the likelihood of other joint ventures, such as in aviation or in banking and finance.

Dubai International Airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates, has been the world's busiest for international travel for years. The Dubai International Financial Center also hosts major firms who trade in the hours between Asian and European markets. Dubai already has a major gold market and growing diamond trade.

Emirati firms likely also want to access Israeli technological know-how. Some already had even before the deal  with the cybersecurity firm DarkMatter reportedly hiring Israeli military-trained hackers.

On Monday, the first direct commercial flight by Israel's flagship carrier El Al is expected in Abu Dhabi, carrying U.S. and Israeli officials including President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Telephone calls already can be made between the nations.

The decree formally eliminates a 1972 law on the UAE's books since just after the country's formation. That law mirrored the widely held stance by Arab nations at that time that recognition of Israel would only come after the Palestinians had an independent state of their own.

Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, criticized the UAE's decree Saturday as undercutting the efforts of the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement targeting Israel. Israel has accused BDS activists of seeking to delegitimize its existence.

"While (hashtag)BDS is proving to be an effective tool of peaceful resistance & responsible, ethical investment & consumer responsibility to hold Israel to account, this happens!" Ashrawi wrote on Twitter.

Hamas, the Islamic militant group governing the Gaza Strip since seizing it in 2007, has reiterated its rejection of the UAE-Israel deal and the ending of the boycott.

The decree boosts the normalization with the Israeli occupation and legitimizes it on the Palestinian land," Hamas official Bassem Naim said.

The decree shows the UAE's eagerness to advance ties and maximize its potential benefits such as trade amid an economic slowdown, said Elham Fakhro, the senior Gulf analyst at the International Crisis Group.

The decision sends a clear message that the UAE is committed to its decision to normalize relations with Israel, Fakhro said. It does also raise questions about possible repercussions for anyone in the country calling for the boycott of Israeli goods, now that doing so contradicts the state policy."

The UAE is becoming the third Arab nation after Egypt and Jordan to currently have diplomatic relations with Israel. However, while widespread public distrust of Israel persists in those nations, the UAE never fought a war against Israel, nor did it have a historic Jewish population.

In recent years, the UAE has held quiet talks with Israel and allowed Israelis with second passports into the country for trade and talks. Opening ties may also help the Emirates access advanced American weaponry, like the F-35 fighter jet that right now only Israel flies in the Mideast.

Sheikh Khalifa has ruled the UAE since 2004. He suffered a stroke on Jan. 24, 2014, and underwent emergency surgery. He has been rarely seen since in public, though state media typically publishes images of him around Islamic holidays.

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Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has served as the UAE's day-to-day ruler since Sheikh Khalifa's stroke. Sheikh Mohammed has focused on increasing the Emirates' military might amid his suspicions of Iran  an enmity shared by Israel.

While Sheikh Khalifa holds the title of president, the UAE is governed by autocratic sheikhs. Abu Dhabi, as the country's oil-rich capital, has grown increasingly powerful since the UAE's founding in 1971 despite each sheikhdom largely governing its own affairs.

The decree comes after a trip through the Mideast in recent days by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who hoped to build on the UAE-Israel deal.

The accord also came as a major foreign policy win to Trump as he campaigns ahead of the November election against Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Both Israel and the UAE have viewed the Republican president as an ally.

___

Associated Press writer Fares Akram in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report.
Indoor spaces with good ventilation and fewer closed air-conditioned spaces are the reason for fewer deaths due to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in developing Asian countries including India, said an analysis published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health.

The virus remains airborne in enclosed spaces, leading to repeated exposure and a build-up of high viral load in the upper respiratory tract, increasing the severity of the disease and mortality, said authors from Delhi and Mangalore.

People in the developing countries tend to spend less time in air-conditioned enclosed places, where the viral load is higher due to lack of ventilation. This could be the reason for fewer deaths reported from several Asian countries. In fact, the initial surge in cases was reported from European countries, where people might have stayed indoors longer in the winter months of January and February, said Dr Shyam Aggarwal, the first author of the study and chairman of the oncology department at Sir Ganga Ram hospital, which collaborated with Max Smart Superspeciality hospital in Delhi and Kasturba Medical College in Mangalore for the article.

Also read: Flouting Covid-19 norms in metro may attract heavy fines once it reopens

In India, the overcrowded homes is leading to the spread. Even though not many people spend time in air-conditioned offices in India, the problem here is that of several people living in close proximity in small houses leading to transmission within families, he said.

While examining whether airborne transmission of the viral infection is possible, the World Health Organization in July said that short-range aerosol transmission, particularly in specific indoor locations, such as crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces over a prolonged period of time with infected persons cannot be ruled out.

Clusters of Covid-19 infections have been reported across the world in such inadequately ventilated spaces such as a cluster of 10 cases reported in people who had eaten at an air-conditioned restaurant in January end in Guangzhou, China.

Also read: Covid-19 Unlock 4.0 - What to expect from September 1

Another cluster of 52 people was reported from a choir practice in Washington, US in March. Over 100 cases of Covid-19 were traced back to a dance fitness class in South Korea in February. One of the more recent clusters of 27 cases was linked to a coffee shop in South Korea in August.

The doctor says there is a need to increase air exchange in such enclosed air-conditioned spaces. To make places that do not have enough ventilation and are completely air-conditioned, the number of air exchange  circulation of outdoor air in the air-conditioning system  every hour has to be increased. In some places, there were just five air exchanges each hour once summer started as it puts more strain on the system and leads to more electricity consumption. This has to be about 12 to 15 exchanges an hour, said Dr Aggarwal.

Experts say that the existing evidence suggests that ill-ventilated, completely air-conditioned buildings must be avoided, but whether it leads to higher mortality is not known.

In a healthcare setting, some procedures lead to aerosolization of the bronchial fluids that have a high viral load and it has been seen that it puts people in the areas at a higher risk of infection. In other building, if adequate outdoor air infusion is not ensured and some way of killing the viral particles  such as plasma ionisation or UV ray treatment  then there may be a higher risk of infection, said Dr Neeraj Gupta, a professor in the department of pulmonology at Safdarjung hospital.

But I do not think it can explain the disparity in the number of deaths in various countries. Scientists are still trying to figure out the causes of fewer deaths in some places  whether it is demography, an unconducive environment for transmission, the virus mutating to become milder, genetic factors, use of certain medicines or vaccines like HCQ and BCG, he said.
Dialog welcomes best practice in customer choice View(s):

Dialog Axiata PLC, following the announcement by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRC) with respect to the implementation of Number Portability (NP), has welcomed the re-initiation by the TRC of a roadmap to reach International Best Practice in maximising Customer Choice in the Telecommunications Industry.

Number portability which enables switching of mobile and fixed line numbers across competing service providers is a customer facility widely practiced internationally and is a key facet of a liberalised telecommunications market.

In a media release, Dialog said it first proposed in July 2008, the initiation of a roadmap to alleviate consumer choice bottlenecks including number portability. The company believed then and has continued to champion over the years the paradigm that maximising consumer choice would result in the enhancement and development of the industry overall resulting in benefits to all service providers and their customers.

Dialog is honoured by the trust placed in the brand and its services by over 15 million Sri Lankan consumers. The success and growth of the company would not have been possible if not for our customers exercising their choice. Open competition and customer choice is at the root of our success and is a paradigm we deeply respect. Advanced technologies enable not only a suite of advanced facilities but also the freedom of consumers to choose the best, said Supun Weerasinghe, Director/Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC.

We are very happy to see the TRC moving forward with the next steps in the liberalisation of our industry and we congratulate the TRC for initiating the process of implementing number portability in Sri Lanka. Dialog is also optimistic that the TRC will move forward swiftly with other similar enablers of consumer choice, Mr. Weerasinghe added.

SLT welcomes move to initiate number portability The Sri Lanka Telecom Group (SLT) has welcomed the TRCs progressive move to bring number portability. One of the first decisions taken by the new Board of SLT was to lobby for number portability in Sri Lanka. The SLT Group said it was excited with the new possibilities number portability brings. SLT stands perfectly poised to offer its best-in-class plethora of communication solutions to a transformational nation on the cusp of unparalleled development. SLT believes, this technological convenience will support the Presidents saubhagye dakma to take every enterprise to its next stage of development while introducing new energy to a nation determined to build an export driven economy. We are the nations telecommunication service provider. Our mandate is to enable the countrys transformation. Sri Lanka Telecom and Mobitel is a brand of the people of Sri Lanka and we will serve every requirement necessary for personal, professional and national growth with absolute pride, said Group Chairman Rohan Fernando in a media release. We are very excited to offer the number portability solution to our customers. We have invented a basket of solutions that can transform any local enterprise. We are determined to give our prepaid and postpaid customer base unparalleled 5G speeds, convenience and affordability, added Lalith Seneviratne, the Group CEO.
It's now really compulsory to wear masks or face coverings in most indoor locations - as opposed to a polite request - but there is definitely no excuse not to have one in the Wee County!

Since the start of the pandemic, the volunteer sewists at Masks for Louth have produced an eye-popping 12,439 masks between them, for the frontline services in County Louth.

At one stage, they were shipping out 1,700 per week, and two women made over 1,000 masks each!

Ardee woman Kay O'Reilly was honoured with a community award from LMFM, but Lorraine Brady also manufactured an incredible 1,200 masks too.

But locally, it was all the brainchild of Caroline Sheelan and Tina McDonnell who lead the charge from day one.

'For such a small county we had a huge response alight, and our volunteers have been amazing,' says Caroline.'And as we were mainly donating them to frontline workers, carers and emergency, staff and the volunteers were also using the same patterns for their own families and friends too, chances are there are a couple of thousand more than the figures I'll give you.'

The masks have been created following a specific pattern, carefully developed and selflessly shared by Mary Murphy, Masks4AllIreland, which is where Caroline and Tina teamed up.

'I broke my needle way back on April 8th, and that's when I met Tina, and under Mary's guidance and encouragement, we have built a team of amazing people who have all been part of the process of getting over 12,000 reusable masks to where they are most needed, all across Co. Louth. (that equates to well over a quarter of a million disposable masks.... 330,000 actually)!'

She says they are immensely proud of what has been achieved, through hard work, dedication, team work and a collective passion to offer help in some way to those who are helping us through these.

'One of our more urgent requests over the past number of weeks, among others is for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, and in the beginning, we were responding to individual requests, but with a staff of over 2,000 there, it simply isn't feasible for us to deliver masks to individual addresses,' explains Caroline, whose had her own troubles throughout this - having broken her knee-cap twice whilst expecting and having a brand new baby Daniel!

'So over the past number of weeks, we have been sending masks to Head of PPE, Ben Hannity, and with his help, and Sean Moriarty transport, we are able to get these masks to where they are needed, in a much more timely and sustainable manner than if we were to attempt to meet each request individually'.

The sewists - the term for 'sewing artists' - still have a long way to go with the pandemic not nearing an end, but many have gone back to work, so production has slowed down.

'Masks are now available in most shops, and we've been at this for four months, and we can't than our volunteers enough - thy have been tremendous, and we have to also say a huge thank you to Tully's, The Crafty Fox, and Wool Works in Drogheda, for providing fabric and elastic and also to Washington's for cleaning the fabric before production,' says Caroline, who hails from Dundalk but is a teacher in the Sacred Heart school.

'We got a fantastic donation from Drogheda Lion's Club to purchase fabric, and are still supplying what we can to all care facilities, and we would still welcome donations through our Go Fund Me page Masks for Louth.'
If the original Nokia Power Earbuds BH-605 flew below your radar, we recommend giving our review a quick read. These turned out to be a hidden gem, offering great audio quality and an amazing battery life. If you can live with the slightly bigger and heavier design, there really isnt much else to want out of the 90 MSPR buds.

Well, apparently a Lite version is nearly ready for prime time, as evidenced by a grainy photo and a Bluetooth SIG certification document. Going by the BH-405 model number, we dont really know what the Power Earbuds Lite have skipped-on to get that lite designation. We can, however, clearly see that they sport an upgraded Bluetooth 5.1 connection, which should offer better connection and lower power consumption, compared to the Bluetooth 5.0 chip inside the original Power Earbuds. Meaning that, theoretically, the light could offer even better battery life than the 5-ish hours of music playback the originals manage, with 150 extra hours worth of juice from the 3,000 mAh battery in the carrying case.

Color us intrigued, especially if the Power Earbuds Lite retain some other features of their siblings, like the IPX7 rating.

HMD Globals participation in IFA 2020 is already quite certain, along with info that the company will be unveiling a slew of new budget to mid-range devices at the show - the Nokia 2.4, 3.4, 6.3 and 7.3. Perhaps, the new Power Earbuds Lite will be joining the show on September 3.

Source | Via
There are currently more than 14,000 firefighters struggling to battle roughly 7,000 blazes in California, many working 24-hour shifts. Among those pushed to the limit, as this years fire season in California burns an area now the size of the state of Delaware, are approximately 3,100 inmates trained as wildland firefighters.

Video transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MICHAEL THOMAS: Sometimes we don't even get to sleep or, like, take a break or anything. You-- you got to, you know, protect that land, you know, got to protect that house or put that fire out.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

My name's Michael Thomas. I'm 27, and I was in the fire camp for about 11 months [INAUDIBLE] San Luis Obispo over by Santa Barbara area. It was a-- a crazy experience for me because, one, you go to the fire camp, and it's like a-- a percentage of your time. So let's just say, if I'm doing five years, I can get my time knocked in half just by being on the-- on the fire squad, you know, helping putting these fires out to get a-- an early release date.

So that's why people are really risking their lives to do that was just to get out early. Or, you know, some people want to be productive. They don't want to be sitting in a cell or-- or, you know, just being around those crazy kind of people out there. So me being as productive as I like to be, and, you know, I'm just a hardworking person naturally. And I wanted to go home. I didn't want to be sitting in no prison cell, so I took the initiative to get on that fire crew to-- so I could get that early release date.

It was a fun experience, though, you know, just being the front line of the fire. You know, as a little kid, you know, oh, a firefighter. You know, people look up to that type of thing. So it was a great experience. I learned a lot. And I had the high hopes of coming home and, you know, thinking I've got some type of career chance with being a firefighter. But it didn't go as-- as planned.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

FRANCIS LOPEZ: My name is Francis Lopez from Richmond, California, and I was in the Konacti fire camp from 2015 to 2017.

Story continues

DAYANA CONTRERAS: And my name is Dayana Contreras. I am his partner, mother of his child, and we were together-- I was actually pregnant during his sentence. So we were together during that time that he was in fire camp.

FRANCIS LOPEZ: I was a 85-percenter or, so there were no benefits for me going to fire camp. I didn't get any time reduction. This is before prop 47 passed. So all of the 85-percenters that ended up at fire camp, we were just there because we wanted to do something with our time to be productive. And I think that's what it was for me at first. It kind of gave me just a sense of purpose, to be able to impact the world positively in-- in the lowest point of my life.

And, you know, going through the experience for me was more of like a self-journey because you-- you were able to see the work that you put in. And it was a crazy dynamic because on one side, you still are incarcerated, but on the other side, you're help-- you're literally saving people's homes, saving lives, saving, you know, whole communities. It was, like, self-healing.

But on the other side of it, I mean, as far as, like, the work, the work was strenuous. We didn't get paid much. And mind you, even if you do get paid, the amount that you do get paid, restitution still comes out of that. So for lack of better terms, you're working your [BLEEP] off, you're really not getting compensated for it.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MICHAEL THOMAS: When there wasn't a fire, we was probably getting a dollar a day. When there was a fire, we was getting $2 a day. It was bad, too. Like, food-- we would be out on these fires weeks at a time, months. Sometimes we wouldn't even come back to the prison for months. We were spending all our energy and time. And we'd come back exhausted, and they wouldn't give us a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Something you would give to, like, an elementary school kid when he first gets to school, giving us those little things every single day.

Like, they expected us to just be OK with that, and we're firefighters. And the food we're getting when we're out on the fires is OK, but, you know, [INAUDIBLE]. We got people [INAUDIBLE]. The slave work and the labor was not worth what I went through. The health, they don't take care of us health-wise. Like, it's poor. They just throw us out there. They just-- that's it.

FRANCIS LOPEZ: I mean, there were times I thought it was going to be over. You're battling wildfires. So it's like, think of it like this. You in the back of a truck. You can't see out of it because they don't allow the inmates to look out of the vehicles. So, you know, you're driving, you're just pothole after pothole, and you see-- you just start smelling smoke, smelling stuff burning.

And as soon as you-- you hop out the back of the [INAUDIBLE], helicopters flying, water everywhere, radio chat. It's a crazy scene. I remember one time, one fire specifically, we were, like, on a hill that was probably about-- it was, like, this steep, and we're going down. And mind you, I-- I was the sawyer on my crew. So what that means is I had the chainsaw.

So we're going down, and I'm going down a hill like this chainsawing, you know, like, brush out the way and, like, holding myself up while we sliding down. And it-- and it's just like, you know, I mean, it's crazy, man. I can't really put it in any other words. But it was times of having me tell her before, I said, man, I don't know how we made it out because, you feel me, it was-- it was bad.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

DAYANA CONTRERAS: That photo specifically that he sent me, I was pregnant during his last time on fire camp. And so I dealt with high anxiety of, is he going to make it home, you know, to be here for me and-- and our child? And the only reason that I got myself to be OK with it was because I saw that-- what it was doing for him mentally and how it was helping him. And he'd go weeks without contacting me because he's out on fires. And so I could have had an ultrasound or I could had an update with my pregnancy, and I had to wait days at a time, if not weeks, to let him know.

And realistically, if we're putting value on lives, I understood that the inmates' lives were less valuable than those of the official, you know, firefighters. And just living with that every day was a little torturous. So, you know, I was just impelled to-- compelled to post a tweet and kind of give a shoutout to anyone out there that maybe has a family member or a loved one out there right now, just, you know, let them know that they're appreciated.

FRANCIS LOPEZ: You know, when you first touch down in prison, I sign a life waiver. You know, you-- you sign where-- where your belongings are going to go to and who they going to contact if you die right when you get booked into the prison. So my mentality in prison was, I could die on the yard. I could die, you know-- you could die anywhere. And-- and I think that's part of the trauma that people deal with when they're incarcerated because you know that really any day could be your last, because all it takes is one little thing to go bad, something to pop off, and it's about to go up.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MICHAEL THOMAS: Yeah, I would do it again because I know mentally I'm strong enough for it. Like, if you're not mentally strong, there is really nothing at all. I've never have been to boot camp, but I think it's pretty close to that. They actually had this program called the Ventura Program, which is a firefighter reentry program. So, you could, you know, leave parole and can go into the fire program and actually become, like, a-- a real firefighter with these guys. But there's so many, like, loopholes you have to do.

I did my application, and when I got out-- because you do the application 90 days before you go home. I did-- I made sure I was on top of everything. I got home, and these guys asked me, oh, did I turn in the application? I'm like, here's the start of their bull crap again. So I just kind of just felt unmotivated after that, and I didn't want to pursue it no more.

FRANCIS LOPEZ: If you're a felon, you can't apply to be a city firefighter at all. And-- and then for me, like, I came home to a daughter, so I just had to get back right away. And-- and with that being said, it's-- it's hard because, I mean, I told her, I said, I'll do it definitely. I had no problem with it. I really liked the work, and I was actually really, really good at what I did.

But it's just like, there are no resources, and I feel like the least they could do is at least set up people with interviews. You know, we went through this program. We did all of this for communities. I mean, they're thanking us for being heroes and all of this. But when we get out, it's just we're the felons. And that's kind of what it always is.

[MUSIC PLAYING]
New Delhi, Aug 29 : The Delhi Commission for Women, on Friday night rescued a 20-year-old girl from a sex racket allegedly running in a house in Rohini.

The girl had dialled the Commission's 181 helpline seeking help. The DCW team got into action after the girl informed them that one of her old acquaintances had lured her with the promise of a high paying job and had instead pushed her into prostitution.

He had told her that he could help her earn easy money using a "shortcut". The girl agreed and went with him to a house situated in Rohini sector 6 on August 25. It was there that the girl realised that she was being pushed into prostitution.

Upon reaching the house in Rohini, she was told to engage in prostitution with several clients visiting the house on a daily basis. She was told that she would be paid Rs 1,000 per client. When the girl protested, she was threatened, beaten up and locked inside the house.

The DCW team reached the given address along with the police and found that there were 3 girls and some men inside the house apart from the main perpetrator Jitesh who fled the scene while his partner was nabbed.

The 20 year old girl who had called DCW for help was rescued and all other people present at the spot were taken to the police station. The survivor, in her statement, told the police that she was threatened and beaten up whenever she protested.

An FIR has been registered and three accused have been arrested. Police is trying to arrest Jitesh who is still at large. The survivor was taken for medical examination after her statement was recorded.

DCW Chief Swati Maliwal stated, "DCW team showed great courage and was able to rescue the girl safely. At the same time, we were also able to shut down the sex racket. We managed this with proper cooperation from the Delhi Police. There are sex rackets running in many houses in Delhi which need to be immediately shut down. DCW is working hard day and night trying to ensure women's safety in the capital."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 05:03:25|Editor: huaxia

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Video: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Aug. 28, 2020 asks India and other countries around the world to embrace clean energy in order to recover better from COVID-19. (Xinhua)

Investments in renewable energy, clean transport and energy efficiency during the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic could extend electricity access to 270 million people worldwide.

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday asked India and other countries around the world to embrace clean energy in order to recover better from COVID-19.

A three-wheeled electric vehicle is seen at Bolpur, some 160 kilometers away from Kolkata, India on May 7, 2019. (Xinhua/Tumpa Mondal)

He made the appeal at the 19th Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture, an annual event to commemorate Darbari Seth, an Indian pioneer for renewable energy.



India has all the ingredients for exerting the leadership at home and abroad envisioned by Darbari Seth, said Guterres.

The drivers are poverty alleviation and universal energy access -- two of India's top priorities. Scaling up clean energy, particularly solar, is the recipe for solving both, he said.

Investments in renewable energy, clean transport and energy efficiency during the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic could extend electricity access to 270 million people worldwide -- a third of the people that currently lack it. These same investments could help create 9 million jobs annually over the next three years, he said in a recorded video message.

Photo taken on May 31, 2018 shows a thermal power station constructed by Chinese company SEPCO III, a branch of Shandong Electric Power Construction Corporation, in Cuddalore, southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. (Xinhua/Zhang Naijie)

Investments in renewable energy generate three times more jobs than investments in polluting fossil fuels. With the COVID-19 pandemic threatening to push many people back into poverty, such job creation is an opportunity that cannot be missed.

"Clean energy and closing the energy access gap are good business. They are the ticket to growth and prosperity," said Guterres.

Yet, subsidies for fossil fuels are still some seven times more than subsidies for clean energy in India. Continued support for fossil fuels in so many places around the world is deeply troubling, he said. "Investing in fossil fuels means more deaths and illness and rising health care costs. It is, simply put, a human disaster and bad economics."

Not least, because the cost of renewables has fallen so much that it is already cheaper to build new renewable energy capacity than to continue operating 39 percent of the world's existing coal capacity.

This share of uncompetitive coal plants will rapidly increase to 60 percent in 2022. In India, 50 percent of coal will be uncompetitive in 2022, reaching 85 percent by 2025.

Rescue operations is underway at the site of a mine collapse accident in Godda district, eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, Dec. 30, 2016. At least eleven workers died and over 50 others were feared trapped after a state-run coal mine collapsed in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand on Thursday night. (Xinhua)



"The coal business is going up in smoke," he said.

The advantages of India's renewable energy resources are plain to see. They are low-cost, protected from volatile commodities markets, and offer three times the job potential of fossil fuel power plants. And they can improve air quality at a time when cities are literally choking, said Guterres.

With its vast size and ecological diversity, India is already experiencing many of the worst impacts of climate change. Floods and droughts are getting more frequent and severe, causing major damage to food systems, local economies and human health. If global warming continues unchecked, India will face the brunt of the climate crisis, he warned.

Like all other countries, India is at a crossroads.

The country can become a true global superpower in the fight against climate change if it speeds up its shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, he said. "I call on Indian leaders to take the decisions, make the investments and adopt the policies necessary to continue this vital journey. Today is the time for bold leadership on clean energy and climate action. I call on India to be at the helm of the ambitious leadership we need," he said.

People walk in thick smog in New Delhi, India, Nov. 13, 2019. (Photo by Javed Dar/Xinhua)

Both the pandemic and the climate crisis have raised fundamental questions about how to ensure the health and well-being of the world's people and about how nations must cooperate to advance the common good, he said. "Young people, in particular, are looking to all of us to uphold intergenerational solidarity and take bold steps toward sustainability, equality and social justice. At this pivotal moment, as the United Nations marks its 75th anniversary, India has a crucial role to play."

The challenge for the world is urgent and clear. To keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, global emissions need to be halved by 2030 and the world will need to be carbon neutral before 2050. These goals are still achievable. But, today, the world is at a crucial juncture, said Guterres.

As governments mobilize trillions of dollars to recover from COVID-19, their decisions will have climate consequences for decades. These choices can either propel climate action forward, or set the world back years, he said.

"This is why I have urged governments to take six climate-positive actions to recover better from the pandemic: invest in green jobs; do not bail out polluting industries; end fossil fuel subsidies; take climate risks into account in all financial and policy decisions; work together; most important, leave no one behind."

The lecture was organized by the Energy and Resources Institute. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also spoke at the virtual event. 
Occupation Television presenter and journalist. Age 50. Relationship status Married.

Best known for Her work as a news anchor. Currently Promoting her new podcast.

Georgie Gardner: "Tim is a wonderful father and has enabled me to have a big job. He is calm and consistent, which is good for me." Credit:James Brickwood

Theres a statue of my maternal grandfather, Robert Rowell, in Derby, in the far north-west

of Western Australia. An accountant by trade in Perth, he became a stock, station and shipping agent in the Kimberley from 1938 to 1970. He was a man of great vision and an influential businessman and community leader.

In that remote region of the country, he was the contact for key visitors. He was part of the welcoming party for the Queen and Prince Philip when they visited Koolan Island, north of Derby, in 1963. He instilled in me a great appreciation for the Australian outback and for Indigenous people, and Im so grateful to him for that.

My father, Preston, was a stockbroker. He taught me to appreciate the simple things in life. He took my siblings Katie and John and me crabbing and mushroom picking during winters in Perth. Wed come home and feast on beautiful, simple produce. I adored that about him.
Brad Crochet sat on his front porch in Orange Friday afternoon, sipping a cold beer while assessing the damage that still lay on his lawn.

A 100-foot pine tree was uprooted and spread across the street to his neighbors yard. Behind Crochets house, another fallen tree had crushed his new storage shed.

After returning from his evacuation to San Antonio, Crochet spent most of Friday morning trying to get a head start on clearing the debris, but more pesky rain gave him the chance to take a break.

It is what it is, Crochet said as he took a sip. Ive got a lot of work waiting for me in the next couple days.

Evacuees throughout Southeast Texas are starting to make their way back after Hurricane Laura. Whats waiting for them once they arrive home is a question that had many residents anxious as they returned.

I had gotten a call from my neighbor that the big tree was down, Crochet said of his time away, but other than that I didnt know what to expect.

Across town, Maria Ramirez was dealing with problems of her own. While the tree at Crochets house had fallen relatively harmlessly across the street, Ramirez wasnt so lucky.

When she returned home Friday morning, she found a huge tree along 16th Street had sheared off and crashed through the roof of her garage and kitchen.

The mandatory evacuation order in Orange wasnt officially lifted until 5 p.m., but Ramirez was glad she got home early in order to assemble a group of friends and family to help clear the property.

Meanwhile, more fortunate evacuees spent Friday helping others. That was the case for Dale and Peggy Lack of Port Neches, who own two ice houses in Beaumont.

They had previously evacuated with their son, first to their camp in the lake areas, then pressed on to Longview after losing power.

During the TPC Group plant explosion in November, the Lacks Port Neches home was basically destroyed. Since then, theyve been living in a trailer, and didnt need to worry about any home damage from Laura when they returned Friday.

Instead, Dale was busy fixing the ice houses. Vehicles were already pulling up to check if ice was available.

Among those who stopped by shortly after the machine on College Street kicked in was Keemani Cole. He had just returned from evacuating, and needed ice to store food.

Peggy helped him dump three bags into his ice chest, then refused payment.

Usually if were here when people come, we give them the ice for free, she said.

Power was still a problem for many Beaumont residents Friday. Skylar and Nathan French sat with their young son, Atticus, having breakfast at The Toasted Yolk. They did not evacuate, instead choosing to stay and hunker down in their home.

Once they said Category 5, we started stressing a little, Skylar said. Now, the power loss is the most stressful.

In Port Arthur, Major Thurman Bartie announced the city is extending its mandatory evacuation order through the weekend. That means residents who evacuated via bus from Bob Bowers Civic Center will not return until Monday.

Jefferson County Precinct 2 Constable Chris Bates estimated roughly 50 percent of Port Arthur residents evacuated.

Beaumont residents who evacuated by bus from West Brook High School were set to return late Friday night.

mfaye@beaumontenterprise.com

kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered immediate conduct of integrity test on the two buildings at No 16B and 14, Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja, affected by the Friday crash of a light helicopter belonging to Quorum Aviation Limited.

The three crew, including the pilot, died in the unfortunate incident.

Recall that the ill-fated helicopter with registration Number 5N-BQW flying from Port-Harcourt to Lagos on Friday, August 28, 2020, at about 12 noon, crash-landed in the premises of the above mentioned two buildings at Opebi, Ikeja en-route Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu, who arrived the area at about 2pm during an on-the-spot assessment of the area on Saturday, subsequently, directed immediate integrity test on the affected buildings.

Addressing newsmen after the assessment, Sanwo-Olu said, I was at the site of the helicopter crash at Opebi for an on-the-spot assessment.

We sincerely sympathize with the families of the victims. I met with the residents of the buildings and we all thanked God for His abiding grace.

I have ordered immediate conduct of integrity test conduct on both of the affected buildings to know the level of impact.

We are taking on the responsibility of renovations and will provide all the necessary support to cushion the effects of this tragic incident.

Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message earlier, signed on his behalf by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, promised that his Government would work with all the relevant Federal Government agencies to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the accident so as to prevent a reoccurrence in the future.

He prayed that God would grant the deceased eternal rest and grant the families they left behind the fortitude to bear the loss.

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In recent months, the worlds biggest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, has lost market share in China to the United States as the worlds top oil importer has boosted imports from America and reduced purchases from the Kingdom. China has imported record volumes of crude oil in recent months, taking advantage of the lowest crude prices in two decades in April stock up on dirt-cheap oil.

In their bargain-hunting for low-priced oil, Chinese state oil giants and independent refiners alike snapped up cheap U.S. cargoes in April, which were loaded in May, started to arrive in China in June, and set records in July.

At the same time, Chinese oil imports from Saudi Arabia  after hitting all-time highs in May and June thanks to the bargain prices the Saudis offered in the brief price war for market share in March and April  slipped in July as availability of crude from the Middle East shrank after May with the OPEC+ cuts.

Chinese refiners were opportunistic buyers of crude in March and April, and given the shorter tanker travel time between the Middle East and China, compared to the U.S.-China route, Chinese imports of crude oil from Saudi Arabia slumped as early as in July from the record highs of the previous two months. Meanwhile, the roughly 45-day route from the U.S. to China means that the cheap American crude oil loaded in May started arriving in China en masse in July.

Last month, Saudi Arabia slipped to the third spot on the list of Chinas key oil suppliers behind Russia and Iraqthe first time in two years that the Kingdom has not been the number-one or number-two oil supplier to the worlds top oil importer.

Related: Why Shale Executives Should Jump On The ESG Trend Now

The OPEC+ production cuts have surely played a role in Chinese buyer preferences. The lower exports from the Middle East tightened the availability of those grades, pushing up the price of the Middle East Oman/Dubai benchmark, against which the Gulf oil producers price their oil going to Asia.

While Saudi Arabias oil exports to China in July declined by 23.4 percent to 1.26 million barrels per day (bpd)  making Saudi Arabia Chinas third-largest oil supplier  Chinese imports of U.S. crude oil soared by 139 percent year over year, to around 864,200 bpd, placing America at the fifth place among Chinese suppliers.

To compare, in each of May and June, China imported 2.16 million bpd of Saudi crude, a record high. Saudi Arabia has lost market share in China not only to the U.S. but also to Brazil, estimates from Reuters columnist Clyde Russell show.

The key reason for this development was similar to the reason for the high imports from the U.S.China going bargain-hunting for ultra-cheap crude oil when prices crashed in March and April, courtesy of the Saudi-Russian oil price war, among other, pandemic-related, things.

Data from Refinitiv Eikon suggests that Chinas U.S. crude oil imports will continue to be strong in August, while the visibility for September and afterwards is somewhat lower, although a recent Bloomberg report suggested that China had chartered tankers that could deliver as much as 37 million barrels of crude oil from the United States in Septembera possible record high.

In August, Saudi Arabia is not ramping up its crude oil exports just yet, despite the fact that the OPEC+ group is easing the production cuts by a collective 2 million bpd as of August 1.

Related: Hydrogen Is Cleaning Up One Of The Worlds Dirtiest Industries

After September, the Saudis could claw back some market share lost to the U.S. (and Brazil) over the past two months, as the opportunistic Chinese buying of American oil may have come to an end, Reuters Russell argues.

Despite increased purchases of U.S. oil in recent months, analysts do not believe that Chinas primary motivation for this has been trying to fulfill its pledge in the Phase 1 U.S.-China trade deal to buy much more U.S. energy products. The record-high monthly imports of oil from America were instead the result of the bargain-hunting for cheap oil during the March-April price rout.

Saudi Arabia has a chance to boost its market share in China again at some point by the end of the year. But it will not be the Saudis that will dictate the marketit will be demand and refining margins in Asia, the price differentials of grades from various regions, and, of course, Chinas policy of oil purchases going forward.



By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com



More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
New Delhi:

A 26-year-old youth from Sirsa in Haryana was stabbed to death allegedly by a girl in New Zealand last week and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has stepped in to help his family bring back home his mortal remains.



Swaraj directed the Indian High Commission in New Zealand to help the family of deceased Hardeep Singh after they reached out to her on Twitter.



Deol family - Rania (Sirsa) : I hv seen news report and given instructions to our High Commissioner in New Zealand, the External Affairs Minister tweeted.



According to Hardeeps grandfather Baldev Singh Deol, he had gone to New Zealand on a study visa to pursue a course in hotel management.



According to reports in New Zealand media, Hardeep suffered serious injuries during an assault on Christmas on Sunday at Cashmere house. He was taken to Christchurch Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.



Local police said a 22-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, adding the charge was likely to be replaced with a murder charge.



They said the inquiry has been upgraded to a homicide investigation.The Minister, who is recuperating after undergoing a kidney transplant on December 10, is known for her prompt response to Indians who are in distress abroad, many of whom approach her through Twitter for help.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
A level one emergency was declared at 3.20pm on Saturday as firefighters from across Malaga province mobilised to tackle flames at the Laguna Village hotel and shopping complex in Estepona.

Around thirty homes, several restaurants and the Kempinsky hotel in the Rio Padron area had to be evacuated with the A-7 motorway also cut off in both directions. Flames and smoke were visible from as far away as Marbella.

Three helicopters, various vehicles and thirty firefighters specialised in dealing with wild fires were involved in the operation.

photos GalleryFlames engulf popular Estepona leisure spot

According to sources consulted, the flames originated in forest land north of the A-7 but strong winds in the area at the time carried them south, setting fire to one of the buildings in the Laguna Village complex, where the roofs are made of wood.

According to witnesses, the flames then carried from one building to another, helped by the wind, before reaching the Kempinski hotel.

According to the mayor of Estepona, Jose Maria Garcia Urbano, this left the shopping centre "completely burned to the ground" but "no has one suffered injuries".

Urbano has also confirmed that the fire has been "contained", but not yet extinguished, but that those evacuated from their homes would soon be able to return with the wind helping to carry the smoke away quickly.
Asish Mehta By

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Caught atop the terrace of a single-story house amidst incessant rains all night, with a frothing Brahmani river swirling around the building, could be unnerving for anyone.

Picture a family stranded there with their three-month-old baby! Thanks to the Odisha Fire Service, the morning of Friday brought an end to the nightmare of one such family in Sankarakul village of Jajpur districts Bari block after incessant rains triggered flash floods in the area.

A 24-year-old woman, Manasi Guru, her infant daughter, husband KN Das were stranded on the terrace of their house after Brahmani river breached embankment on Thursday night.

Along with them were Manasis parents-in-law Srikant and Minati and another relative Dhruba Charan.

When Bari Tehsildar informed fire personnel about the stranded family at about 6.35 am, a seven-men team proceeded on a rescue boat and reached the spot within 25 minutes.

Three sides of the house were surrounded in deep water and on reaching the spot, we found out that the family was in great distress, said Bari fire stations leading fireman, Jagannath Hembram.

As the water current was strong, the fire personnel threw a rope to the stranded persons on the terrace and they tied it with the building.

The rescue team members reached the house with the help of the rope. They were unable to find anything in the building, following which they carried the infant in a pail.

Water level on one side of the house was up to the chest. One of the personnel walked ahead till the powerboat while we followed him with the rescued persons who were provided life-buoys for their safety, said Hembram. The operation lasted for about 2 hours and 40 minutes.

The rescue act invited praise from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who commended the efforts of Bari fire station personnel. Commend Odisha Fire Service personnel of Bari fire station, Jajpur, for their swift response to rescue marooned families including an infant.

The successful operation saved six people stranded in flood water at Sankarakul in Bari block, said the Chief Ministers office in a tweet.That was not the only major rescue of the day as Chandikhol fire station personnel rescued a pregnant woman from Badchana block.

At least 180 persons were rescued from five villages in Badchana in two fire service power boats. Similarly, teams from Binjharpur fire station, Dasarathapur, Jajpur and Rasulpur rescued 134 persons from several villages in the district.

DG Fire Services, Satyajit Mohanty reviewed the situation and probability of flood in Mahanadi river. The State fire control room is operational 24X7 to monitor the relief and rescue operations in all the flood affected areas.

Seven rescue teams each with power boats have been deployed in Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore districts while nine teams are mobilized in Kendrapara.

Five teams each from southern range and northern range are on stand-by and under the control of Collectors of Puri and Jagatsinghpur to undertake rescue and relief operations in the areas likely to be affected by Mahanadi.
CALEDONIA, MI -- Caledonia High School will be closed through Sept. 11 because of coronavirus exposures to some students, officials said Friday, Aug. 28.

Classes will be conducted online during the closure, which runs from Aug. 31 to Sept. 11.

As of Friday, five students and one staff member tested positive for COVID-19, up from four students a day earlier.

RELATED: Four Caledonia schools students test positive for coronavirus, no in-person school Friday

We did not come to this decision lightly. We have been working closely with the KCHD (Kent County Health Department) after the High School closed Friday to assess the magnitude of the outbreak and the extent of student and staff exposure,' according to the school districts Aug. 28 letter to families.

The issue started Tuesday, Aug. 25 -- the first day of school -- when school officials became aware that a student was showing COVID-19 symptoms. The student did not attend class that day.

But the student had contact the previous weekend with other student who did attend Tuesday, at least for a few hours in the morning.

Unfortunately, this recent outbreak appears to be the result of a social gathering with students outside of school where social distancing guidelines and masking recommendations were not followed, according to a Thursday district letter to families.

Families had a choice of in-person or online learning.

Kent County Health Department contact tracers have now identified more than 100 people who had contact with the coronavirus-positive individuals.

Those people have been asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.

District leaders are urging any students with coronavirus symptoms or who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 to get tested.

The high school administrative team will be sending out teaching and learning instructions including what to expect for over the next two weeks.

Additionally, all athletic and extracurricular activities will be postponed until the high school is able to reopen, unless groups can meet virtually.

Caledonia enrolled 4,841 students last school year, according to state data. There were 1,492 students at the high school.

This week, one other Kent County school district announced a COVID-19 case. Students in multiple districts in Kent and Ottawa counties returned to school in-person.

Grandville Public Schools, which reopened Monday with in-person and online classes, said a staffer at Grandview Elementary tested positive for the virus. The employee worked a half-day and all students overseen by the person and staff have been contacted.

The school schedule was not changed.

More on MLive:

Grand Rapids area students thrilled to be back in class for first day of school

Schools in-person classes bring relief to Hollands working parents

Mike Pence says Trump will lead recovery after COVID recession at Michigan campaign rally
MONTGOMERY TWP  A high honor given to Montgomery Townships police department is much more than just another plaque on a wall.

Its a sign that the department has been working on ways to improve and meet the needs of the community since well before this summers unrest, according to Police Chief Scott Bendig.

A lot of those standards by which people are calling law enforcement into question, are actually things that are frequent for us to be doing as an accredited organization, Bendig said.

We speak very clearly on the use of choke holds. We speak very clearly on being mindful of ensuring that were hitting all the proper training that we need to hit. Weve had a body-worn camera program since last year, he said.

On August 24, Bendig and the board of supervisors received the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commissions highest honor, the Premier Agency designation, which has been given to only ten departments in the state, out of 126 who are accredited and nearly 1,100 statewide. The department has qualified for accredited status since 2004, and Bendig said particular credit is due to retired police Chief Richard Brady and former Lieutenant Gordon Simes for starting the program, and current Lieutenant William Peoples and Officer Brian Gerrard for making sure the department keeps up with PLEACs latest policies and procedures.

Theres policies regarding uses of force, about the minimization of force once compliance is obtained  all kinds of things that were really points of concern for society in light of the George Floyd incident, Bendig said.

Thats probably one of the greatest things of accreditation: it really makes sure you are practicing those best standards that are out there for law enforcement, he said.

When a department enters the accreditation process, according to the chief, all of their policies and procedures are submitted to PLEAC, which then reviews the policies and recommends any needed changes. Once those are updated, the department must then document its compliance, an ongoing process that, if successful, earns accreditation status every three years after an inspection by outside law enforcement professionals, usually from the other side of the state.

It can get contentious, because its human nature. Sometimes people have different opinions of how standards should be maintained, Bendig said.

But once theyre done with the assessment, they present to the accreditation board. And if the board agrees that we should be accredited, we go forward. And then we start again, he said.

Those inspections check to make sure the department is following nearly 400 standards and regulations set forth by PLEAC, which cover everything from use of force, de-escalation, body camera usage, and anti-bias, to hiring practices and employee background investigations. Those rules constantly grow stricter  the department is currently working on revising policies in response to a recent update from PLEAC, and each re-accreditation must come with proof theyre complying.

Its a series of systems of checks and balances, to make sure that we are being forward-thinking, professional, and doing all the right things that we should be as a law enforcement entity, Bendig said.

Has COVID-19 had any impact on meeting those standards? Not per se, Bendig said last week, but the state officials have had few in-person presentations, like last Mondays in Montgomery Township, to give the awards publicly. Most training required to keep up with PLEACs policies can now be done online, according to the chief, and before the onset of the virus this spring, the department had partnered with its insurance carrier to offer implicit bias training for all officers.

Were fortunate. Weve been undergoing that type of training continuously over the past few years, but theres an example where we have to stop, pivot, turn, and try and find another venue or method by which to get that training for our officers, he said.

Bendig added thanks for the township supervisors and staff that have supported the department throughout the ongoing accreditation process, which included funding the purchase last year of more than three dozen body-worn cameras and the necessary storage space to use them.

This is just a way to make sure the profession stays professional, and does the right thing, and has policies and practices in place that make sure those things, God forbid, do not occur, he said.

Most of the departments annual events to meet and greet the public, like traditional police week and National Night Out events and the townships annual Autumn Festival, have been called off due to the pandemic, but the chief said officers have instead held an online townhall to talk policies, popped up handing out water ice to residents and are visiting public parks, in an effort to make sure they know theres a friendly face with every badge.

Its just to try and do our part, to keep people engaged, and let them know were out there to serve and help.

For more information on the Montgomery Township Police Department visit www.MontgomeryTwp.org or search for Montgomery Township Police Department on Facebook.
Essex County health officials on Saturday said they are monitoring 26 active cases of COVID-19, but that number does not include residents at the Essex Center nursing home.

Essex County Health Department spokeswoman Andrea Whitmarsh said they are not tracking those cases to recovery because the county is focused on trying to limit the spread in the community.

Were not tracking nursing home residents. Theyre isolated by design. Theyre not out in the community and their care is monitored in the nursing home. Its the same with inmates. We dont track someone who is another entitys care, she said.

We cant issue them an isolation order because theyre under the care of another institution, she added.

Whitmarsh said giving a total number would be confusing for residents and the community.

Essex County normally does not issue COVID-19 updates on the weekends, but Whitmarsh sent out a news release on Saturday saying it wanted to make clarify the numbers for the media.

We want make sure reports about current cases are accurate, to limit panic and ensure decisions about travel, school reopenings, and other activities important to our livelihoods are not further impacted, she wrote.

Whitmarsh added that it would not be accurate to say that residents have recovered just because they are not included in the case count.

The county said that there have been 44 positive COVID-19 cases among residents in the Elizabethtown nursing home since the cluster began. One resident died on Aug. 18 and four more have died since then.

A total of 30 staff members have tested positive along with seven people who had contact with staff. Of those, 10 staff members have recovered as did one of the seven who had contacts with staff.

The county has not had any nursing home cases until this cluster. The nursing home has 86 residents.

The county has had 79 cases since the Essex Center outbreak was identified on Aug. 17. Two of the cases are not linked to that cluster. County health officials believe that there were two cases in June and one in July linked to this cluster as well as one Clinton County resident who died.

Whitmarsh said health officials still do not know how the staff members became infected. They have been wearing mask and other protective gear, but some staff members have become friends outside of work and socialized.

There was a 19-day lag time between when the first infected employee was tested and when the results were received.

The testing capacity at labs is so stressed right now, she said.

Essex Center is now using a test with a 72-hour turnaround time.

Warren County spokesman Don Lehman said that Warren County Public Health does track nursing home resident recoveries. There have been 117 resident cases in nursing homes since the pandemic began, including 27 fatalities and 90 recoveries.

Each county has tracked and released data differently throughout this. There arent really any state directives for counties to release any specific information, he wrote in an email.

On Saturday:

Warren County reported one new COVID-19 case involving a person who was given a routine coronavirus test before surgery. The illness is mild and the source of infection is under investigation. That brings the total to 298 cases since the pandemic began, according to a news release. Warren County Health Services staff is monitoring eight active infections and all have mild illness that has not required hospitalization. The county has had 34 residents die from COVID-19. Before they contracted the virus, 27 of those people who died living in nursing homes, five in assisted living facilities and two at home.

Washington County reported no new cases on Saturday. There have been 254 since the pandemic began. A total of 238 people have recovered from the virus.

Saratoga County does not report updated numbers on the weekend. The county had 868 confirmed cases as of Friday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported that the number of hospitalizations has dropped to 458, the lowest since March 16. The number of people intubated is down to 48  also the lowest since mid-March. Seven people died. A total of 0.67% of COVID-19 tests given on Friday were positive. This is 22 straight days with an infection rate less than 1%.The Capital Region had an infection rate of 0.7%.

Reach Michael Goot at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com and follow his blog poststar.com/blogs/michael_goot/.

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August 28, 2020

Release

Navy to Christen Littoral Combat Ship Savannah

The Navy will christen its newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Savannah (LCS 28), during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony Saturday, Aug. 29, in Mobile, Alabama.

Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition James Geurts will deliver the christening ceremony's principal address. Mrs. Dianne Isakson, wife of former U.S. Senator John Isakson, will serve as the ship's sponsor. In a time-honored Navy tradition, Mrs. Isakson will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.

"Today we christened the sixth USS Savannah following an outstanding record of service named for a great American city. In so doing we move one step closer to welcoming a new ship to Naval service and transitioning the platform from a mere hull number to a ship with a name and spirit," said Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite. "There is no doubt future sailors aboard this ship will carry on the same values of honor, courage and commitment upheld by crews from earlier vessels that bore this name."

LCS is a highly maneuverable, lethal and adaptable ship designed to support focused mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions. The ship integrates new technology and capability to affordably support current and future mission capability from deep water to the littorals. Using an open architecture design, modular weapons, sensor systems and a variety of manned and unmanned vehicles to gain, sustain and exploit littoral maritime supremacy, LCS provides U.S. joint force access to critical areas in multiple theaters.

The LCS class consists of two variants, the Freedom-variant and the Independence-variant, designed and built by two industry teams. The Freedom-variant team is led by Lockheed Martin in Marinette, Wisconsin (for the odd-numbered hulls). The Independence-variant team is led by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama, (for LCS 6 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls).

LCS 28 is the 14th Independence-variant LCS and 28th in class. It is the sixth ship named in honor of the city of Savannah. The first was a coastal galley that provided harbor defense for the port of Savannah, 1799-1802. The second USS Savannah, a frigate, served as the flagship of the Pacific Squadron and then served in the Brazil Squadrons and Home Squadrons, 1844-1862. The third USS Savannah (AS 8) was launched in 1899 as the German commercial freighter, Saxonia. Seized in Seattle, Washington, upon the outbreak of World War I, the freighter was converted to a submarine tender and supported submarine squadrons in both the Atlantic and Pacific, 1917-1926. The fourth USS Savannah (CL 42) was a Brooklyn-class light cruiser commissioned in 1938. The warship served through the entire Mediterranean campaign, receiving three battle stars for service before decommissioning in 1945. The fifth USS Savannah (AOR 4) was a Wichita-class replenishment oiler commissioned in 1970. AOR 4 earned one battle star and a Meritorious Unit Commendation for service in the Vietnam War. The oiler provided underway replenishment services in the Atlantic and Indian oceans until decommissioning in 1995.

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2329275/

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Foreign capital continues to pour into Vietnam, bringing benefits to industrial property developers and the stock market.

Illustrative image

The stock market has witnessed strong liquidity in the last consecutive trading sessions. Capital continues flowing into the market, though listed companies have reported unsatisfactory business results because of Covid-19.

Some positive information about the US finance market could help US President Donald Trump gain some advantage in the race to the White House. This has prompted investors to bet on the possibility of the US-China trade war lasting longer.



In Vietnam, cash flow continues to pour into industrial real estate shares. Investors believe that FDI to Vietnam will soar in the time to come as multinationals try to diversify their supply chains.



Once foreign investors leave China for Vietnam and set up factories here, the demand for land and workshops in IZs will increase, which will bring benefits to IZ developers.



On the morning of August 28, LHG shares of Long Hau JSC continued an upward trend, increasing by another 5.9 percent to VND30,300 per share after rising by 7 percent for each previous session.

Analysts said though Vietnam has to compete with other regional countries in attracting FDI, the future for IZ developers is still bright, especially ones with large land funds, including rubber companies.

As such, LHG price has increased threefold since early April, from VND10,000 per share to VND30,000 per share.

SIP shares of Saigon Investment JSC also saw price increase of 2.4 percent to VND95,000 per share after increasing by 3.7 percent the last session. Meanwhile, it was traded at VND60,000 per share only in March.



Itaco, owned by Dang Thi Hoang Yen and Dang Thanh Tam, two well known businesspeople, also saw the price double from VND2,000 to VND4,570 per share.



Analysts said though Vietnam has to compete with other regional countries in attracting FDI, the future for IZ developers is still bright, especially ones with large land funds, including rubber companies.



In the long term, Vietnam is believed to be a potential market and attractive destination for foreign investors thanks to its high population, geographical position in the region, and advantages in maritime transport.



The Q2 finance reports of industrial real estate firms showed big profits. SIP reported that post-tax profit increased by eight times compared with Q1 to VND371 billion. Meanwhile, profit made by Sonadezi increased by 52 percent.



The VN Index on August 28 surged to the 880 point threshold thanks to the strong rise of some bluechips. MWG shares of The Gioi Di Dong saw the price increase by VND3,800 per share to VND92,700, and Masan shares by VND1,500 to VND55,100.



Mirae Asset predicted that the VN Index may regain the 900 point threshold by the end of 2020, as Vietnam is benefiting from global supply chain restructuring.

V. Ha

Will the VN Index recover after Covid-19? Experts all think the appearance of a new cash flow for bottom fishing will help the stock market recover after a strong correction during Covid-19.
BOI approves deal with investor despite probe By Namini Wijedasa View(s): View(s):

The Board of Investment (BOI) has approved a deal backed by a Saudi Arabian investor who is also the director of a company that bought the Edirisinghe Group businesses  a transaction now being investigated by a Presidential Commission of Inquiry.

The reportedly US$ 97.2mn agreement to set up a floating liquefied natural gas storage unit off Hambantota was signed this week between the BOI and Pearl Energy, the project company. Its Director Tania Siegertsz said her entity was backed by Omar Siraj, a Saudi Arabia-based investor.

It is not clear where funds for the project will come from. Ms Siegertsz, who reportedly founded an interiors firm called TS Designs, has been a director of Pearl Energy since July this year. According to the internet, she also worked at APL Logistics International in Colombo.

Omar Siraj M Qandeel is also a director of the Singapore-registered Blue Summit Capital Management Ltd which formed a consortium with Ben Holdings (Pvt) Ltd to purchase several Edirisinghe Group companies. In January, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa set up a Commission to determine, among other things, whether the sale of these assets had violated any of the laws prohibiting the purchase of immovable properties by foreigners.

Mr Qandeel has longstanding ties with R M Manivannan, Chairman of Supreme Global Holdings and head of SupremeSAT which claimed to have launched Sri Lankas first communications satellite in 2012. In 2017, they set up two new companies named SupremeSat Japan (Pvt) Ltd and Supreme Innovation (Pvt) Ltd.

Mr Qandeel is listed in documents lodged with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) as Saudi Arabian. His address is given as 3 Temasek Avenue, #26-03, Centennial Tower, Singapore 039190. This was the same address used by Rohitha Rajapaksa, youngest son of the Prime Minister, when he purportedly registered a company named Dycer International in Singapore.

The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore has no record of this entity. There is, however, a Dycer International with the identical registration number provided to Sri Lankas ROC incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. Dycer held a ten percent stake in SupremeSAT but divested those shares in June 2016.

The present shareholders of SupremeSAT are Supreme Global Holdings (Pvt) Ltd chaired by Mr Manivannan and J S Energy Holdings (Pvt) Ltd owned by Jaya Sudhir Jayaram, a Malaysian businessman fixer who was negotiating on behalf of Lycamobile Chairman Allirajah Subaskaran for a stake in the Edirisinghe Group through a venture called Straits Grid Pte Ltd.

J S Energy was also first registered to 3 Temasek Avenue, #26-03, Centennial Tower, Singapore 039190.
As 12,000 lightning strikes pummeled the Bay Area this month, igniting hundreds of fires, fire spotters sprang into action.

Their arsenal of tools includes thermal imagery collected by space satellites; real-time feeds from hundreds of mountaintop cameras; a far-flung array of weather stations monitoring temperature, humidity and winds; and artificial intelligence to munch and crunch the vast data troves to pinpoint hot spots.

For decades, wildfires in remote regions were spotted by people in lookout towers who scanned the horizon with binoculars for smoke  a tough and tedious job. They reported potential danger by telephone, carrier pigeon or Morse code signals with a mirror.

Now, fire spotting has gone high tech. And the technology to address it is getting exponentially better and faster, trained by a growing body of data about wildfires. Its making firefighters more nimble and keeping them safer. The only question is whether silicon-powered progress can keep up with the climate change-fueled flames.

Tech has also made fire spotting more democratic. Anyone can go online to see the satellite and camera images, while interactive maps display the conflagrations locations. Footage from some of the mountaintop cameras went viral this month as they transmitted apocalyptic images of the raging flames that ultimately burned them in the CZU Lightning Complex fires.

Amy Osborne / Special to The Chronicle

Its Netflix for fire, said Graham Kent, who runs the AlertWildfire.org system, which has about 550 cameras in California, a number he hopes to double by 2022. The cameras capture a still image every second to make time-lapse videos, using near-infrared technology for nighttime viewing. They give an intimate sense of whats going on. Theres a primal sense like were still living in caves; everyone fears fire.

The network of cameras, backed by a consortium of the University of Nevada at Reno, UC San Diego and the University of Oregon, allows authorized personnel such as fire command teams to rotate, pan and zoom to zero in on suspicious plumes of smoke. The AlertWildfire system is adding some mobile cameras  a trailer with a 30-foot tower that can be positioned anywhere its needed.

The images from the cameras and satellites, along with footage captured by piloted and unpiloted aircraft, and weather station data, are vital components in the rapidly advancing technology for fire spotting.

The new technology is helping us fight more-aggressive fires more aggressively with a calculated level of safety, said Brice Bennett, a spokesman for Cal Fire. Fire-line commanders utilize intelligence from all these different inputs. Situational awareness is paramount  fully understanding the events unfolding around you, not just whats directly in front of your face but what will occur in the next 12 hours.

The boots on the ground crews use the detailed data to get information even while theyre en route, he said. The digital maps can show where the hottest spots are, for instance, so they know what areas to avoid and where to construct fire lines.

Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit

We can use this information to understand where fires are spreading, where theyre most active and to get rapid alerts for wildfires, said Scott Strenfel, manager of meteorology and fire science at PG&E. Its pretty exciting with all this technology coming together. The earlier you can spot a fire, the earlier you can take suppression action.

During fire season, PG&E staffs its new Wildfire Safety Operations Center around the clock. Analysts in the room at the companys San Francisco headquarters monitor big-screen monitors displaying data-packed maps and information flowing in from a variety of sources.

The company used to spend a couple of million dollars a year on a smoke patrol program. Every afternoon during fire season, seven pilots would fly in set patterns (similar to a lawn-mowers path) over heavily forested areas in its service territory, looking for smoke. But satellite advances meant it could get similar information for a tenth of the cost  and have continuous coverage, Strenfel said.

Even in a test version last year, the satellite system detected an early-morning grass fire on Mount Diablo in July 2019 about 15 minutes before the first 911 calls came in, he said. PG&E now has systems in place to notify local fire agencies when its technology spots fires.

Technology comes into play after fires as well. We map burn severity to see how much damage resulted from the fire, so resource management can stabilize the landscape and mitigate hazards like flash floods, said Brad Quayle, a program manager at the Forest Services Geospatial Technology and Applications Center, which uses satellites and other technologies to detect and monitor fire activity.

Technology also helps authorities decide whether and when to evacuate locals.

A fire is a dynamic situation with high winds, dry fuels, proximity to populations, especially in California, said Everett Hinkley, national remote sensing program manager at the Forest Service. We can provide rapid updates to infer the direction and speed of those wildfires to help people calling the evacuation orders.

Although satellites have been used in fire spotting for about 20 years, a new generation of satellites and onboard tools have dramatically improved their aptitude for the task.

Weather satellites have thermal channels that can be used for fires, but theyre optimized to look at cloud temperatures (which are) very cold, not for very high temperatures, said Vincent Ambrosia, associate program manager for wildfires at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View. Newer satellites with spectral sensors and advanced optics technology now provide finer spatial resolution and data processing.

There are two types of satellites: Polar orbiter satellites are closer to Earth and provide higher-resolution images, but capture them only twice a day. Geosynchronous or geostationary satellites stay over a specific geographic area, providing images about every five minutes, but must fly about 22,000 miles above the Earth to synchronize with its orbit, so the images are more coarse.

Researchers have lengthy lists of tech improvements they hope to see in the near future.

One is unpiloted aircraft that can stay aloft for months at a time, perhaps 100,000 feet above the ground, providing persistent surveillance of a fire event, allowing (firefighters) to make real-time decisions, Ambrosia said. Its the same as the resources that support troops on the ground in battle scenarios.

Quayle likewise said hed like to see long endurance, high-altitude platforms that can serve the purpose of a satellite but fly in the atmosphere.

Several private companies are working on options such as solar-powered aircraft or high-altitude airships like dirigibles, he said, estimating that deployment is between one and five years out.

Hed also like to see satellites built specifically for fire detection, something now being developed in Canada, which is replete with remote, fire-prone forests. That satellite system is probably five years out from completion and launch, he said, noting that the rest of the world can share it.

While some have speculated that the smaller drones flown by hobbyists could be deployed, they lack the power and range to fly high enough to usefully spot fires. But their technology, too, could improve over time.

Another future upgrade is for computers to get even better at reading the data via improved artificial intelligence, to cut down on false positives. We need better machine learning to process this data overload, because you cant put enough analysts in front of screens to handle it all, Hinkley said.

Despite all the high-tech wizardry, many fires are initially reported through a traditional system: 911 calls. Blazes increasingly occur near populated areas so there are essentially millions of potential spotters on the ground.

The 911 calls in many places will be the first notification, Strenfel said.

But calls to 911 can mean a deluge of information without the specifics that firefighters need  so the satellites and cameras come into play to home in on exact locations.

In cases like we just went through, with the lightning causing 500 fires all at once, and many people calling, that information can be overwhelming, Strenfel said. The satellite detection systems (show) where these fires are in real time.

Kent from AlertWildfire said similar things about his camera network.

When a 911 call comes in, authorities can turn to a camera and see the ignition phase of that fire, he said. Cameras can also triangulate a fires exact location. Under normal circumstances, they can see 20 miles in daytime; 40 miles at night if there arent obstacles. But hes seen fires caught by cameras as far away as 100 miles in the daytime and 160 miles at night.

Sometimes traditional ways reemerge.

Cal Fires Amador-El Dorado Unit recently refurbished two dilapidated lookout towers and now staffs them during fire season with community volunteers.

Armed with a two-way radio, binoculars and an Osborne Fire Finder  a topographic paper map with sighting apertures to help gauge a fires distance and location  the volunteers have spotted 85 smokes since June 1, with seven of them being first reports, said Diana Swart, a spokeswoman for the unit.

These human volunteers get up in that tower with their old-fashioned Fire Finders from the early 1900s, she said. In these very rural wooded areas, fires otherwise may not be noticed until they get very large. Having a person out there whos actively looking is key.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned residents of Anambra in flood plains and low lands near the River Niger and its tributaries to relocate.

The South-East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Fred Anusim, gave the warning on Saturday in Enugu.

The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had earlier predicted torrential rains in September in 28 states of the country.

NIHSA early this week specifically noted that there had been disturbing growing level of water in the River Niger.

Giving the warning on Saturday, Anusim said: Some communities in the South-East have started feeling the impact of the increasing water and gradual flooding, especially those in Anambra State.

So, we are advising these communities, particularly those within natural flood-plains and low lands and those communities close to River Niger and its tributaries, to relocate to safe high-lands.

They should please evacuate while they can salvage some of their belongings and even crops they had planted in order to reduce damages and avoidable destruction.

This is the call and warning we are issuing at this moment as a proactive disaster management agency, he said.

Anusim said that before now, NEMA had met and sensitised various State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) in the South-East to provide safe high-lands that people could relocate to temporarily.

 NEMA will do the needful of supplying relief materials to the people in their various Internally Displaced People(IDP) camps in the states.

The IDPs will return back to their homes after the rains and predated flood season is over to continue their daily human and business endeavours.

The Federal Government through NEMA wants to ensure that there is minimal human and property losses this year as it is expected that all obey the expert advice from NIHSA and NIMET, he added.

Anambra has successively been flooded annually as the River Niger and its tributaries run through the state.

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Despite horrific wartime injuries, one man in Phu My Commune, the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tres Mo Cay Bac District, has become a shining example of helping others.

Le Van Y, a war veteran from the Mekong River Delta province of Ben Tre spends the allowance of a war invalids and profits from his 2,700sq.m of coconut trees to assist disadvantaged students.  Photo plo.vn

Despite being a war invalid, Le Van Y, commonly known as Tam Y, has overcome difficulties and lent a helping hand to disadvantaged people in the neighbourhood.

Thanks to his assistance, dozens of underprivileged students in the province have had the chance to continue their schooling over the past 40 years.

Talking about why he decided to do so, the 86-year-old man said seeing poor students reminded him of his tough life.

He said he felt pity when seeing students drop out of school due to their families financial difficulties.

Y said he always remembered late President Ho Chi Minh's teaching that the nation had to fight against three enemies, namely hunger, illiteracy and foreign invasions.

I was born and grew up during the war. I didt have chance to continue schooling so I suffered a lot of failures in my daily life, Y told Phap Luat thanh pho Ho Chi Minh (HCM City Legal) newspaper

My father died when I was a small child. I dropped out of school at the age of 10 and worked as a helper to support my family, he recalled.

Then he joined the army and ended up having a leg and hand amputated, becoming blind in one eye and suffering other wounds on his body.

After the countrys reunification in 1975, he returned home and never married.

In 1978, he came to each family to mobilise children and their families to let the kids go to school.

In addition to paying school fees, Y also bought books and other learning materials. He even provided them with rice. Initially, he succeeded in persuading eight students to go back to school.

Later, four students graduated from university while the rest have finished 12th grade.

Y said he spent the allowance of a war invalid and profits from farming 2,700sq.m of coconut trees to assist disadvantaged students. However, sometimes he had to borrow money from relatives to cover tuition fees or purchase bikes for the students.

I have two elder brothers who are well-off. I asked my brothers to lend me gold which I would sell for money to support the students, he said.

I told them that it would be better to lend to me rather than keep the gold in the safe, Y said, adding that he used money from selling coconuts and his monthly allowance to repay his debts.

Currently, he is providing assistance to more than 20 poor students.

Nguyen Thi Bang Chau, 14, from a poverty-stricken family in My Son Dong Hamlet, is among them.

Her parents had to travel tens of kilometres to earn money to support the family. They find it hard to afford three meals a day so sending the children to school is a luxury the family cannot afford.

Acknowledging the problem, Y decided to help cover Chau's tuition fees and learning materials.

He has bought a bike for me to help me to get to school easier, as well as clothes and food, Chau said, adding that she felt secure to continue studying with his assistance.

I am grateful for his support and promise that I will strive to study well and never make him disappointed, she said.

Ys efforts have paid off as most of the students receiving his assistance study well and have success in their lives. He has become a grandfather to many generations.

I feel glad as many students have been successful. Sometimes, they come to visit me although they are busy with work. I consider them my grandchildren and that feeling comforts me in my old age, he said.

Nguyen Van Tai, a post-graduate, who is a lecturer at Can Tho University is another example.

I am very grateful for Tam Y who supported me during my study at Can Tho University. With his help, I completed the university programme and can continue study further, he said.

Dang Thanh Du, chairman of Mo Cay Bac Districts Veteran Association, said Y has made a lot of contributions to the associations work in the locality.

He does not only whole-heartedly care for poor students but also helps other war veterans escape poverty, he said.

Despite his weak health, he upheld the moral of Uncle Ho soldiers thuong binh tan nhung khong phe (Wounded soldiers are disabled but they are still useful), Du said.

For Y, helping children is his pleasure and his calling in his old age.

I will continue to support children in difficult circumstances till the end of my life. VNS

Army physicians battle age to help the needy After returning wounded from the American War during the seventies, many military physicians decided to continue their mission to help people in need.
The Chase star Mark Labbett has revealed he's split from wife Katie so she can be free to date her lover, after their open marriage failed to work.

The quizzer, 55, broke up from his wife, 28, following seven years of marriage, listing lockdown, his mental health and their age differences as factors contributing to the split.

In a candid interview, Mark, known on the ITV quiz show as 'The Beast' admitted 'it's better for us to go our separate ways.'

All over: The Chase star Mark Labbett has revealed he's split from wife Katie so she can be free to date her lover, after their open marriage failed to work

He told The Sun: 'There was never any deceit on Katie's part but it's got to the point now where I realise it is better for us to go our separate ways and remain friendly.'

While Katie added: 'I just want everyone to know what's what and that we are all happy.'

It's been revealed that Katie, who works as a nurse, has been seeing her senior design engineer lover Scott Bate, 30, for 18 months.

Mark, who shares a three-year-old son with Katie, admitted that he had a feeling that she was seeing Scott, but decided to approach things sensibly for the sake of their son.

It's been revealed that Katie, who works as a nurse, has been seeing her senior design engineer lover Scott Bate, 30, for 18 months

Marriage breakdown: The quizzer, 55, broke up from his nurse wife, 28, following seven years of marriage, listing lockdown, his mental health and their age differences as factors contributing to the split (pictured in 2018)

But when lockdown came, things between him and Katie became strained and she started seeing Scott, resulting in Mark making the decision to end their marriage for good.

He explained: 'When Katie first came clean to me about her boyfriend, I'd had an inkling. But right from the start, my attitude was quite pragmatic  this was spilt milk, what could we do about the situation to make it OK?'

He added that because they had a 'family' he simply could just 'throw that away lightly' as they had other 'considerations'.

Amicable: 'There was never any deceit on Katie's part but it's got to the point now where I realise it is better for us to go our separate ways and remain friendly' (pictured in 2016)

The candid interview also saw Mark blame his hectic work schedule and being away from home a lot, as well as their age difference, as contributions towards the split.

While Katie continues to see her boyfriend, Mark expressed 'concerns' that Scott was 'good' to his son after the youngster began mentioning Scott's name.

Mark has said that Scott has met their son and he trusts him around their little boy. The quiz star added that he's due to move out of their family home in Herefordshire next month.

Inkling: Mark, who shares a three-year-old son with Katie, admitted that he had a feeling that she was seeing Scott, but decided to approach things sensibly for the sake of their son

Mark and Katie tied the knot at Arundel Castle, West Sussex, in October 2014.

In September last year, Mark confirmed he was still with his wife, despite her admission four months earlier that she had cheated on him with a younger man.

During an appearance on Loose Women, the TV personality was asked about the status of his marriage, where he admitted they have been 'through a rough patch.'

'Like a lot of relationships, you go through a rough patch. We're working our way through it,' Mark told the Loose Women.

Split: 'When Katie first came clean to me about her boyfriend, I'd had an inkling. But right from the start, my attitude was quite pragmatic  this was spilt milk, what could we do about the situation to make it OK?' (pictured in 2015)

'A newspaper offered us a sum of money and we kindly denied. We're quite private, there's no pictures of our son online and I'm not going to name him until he's old enough to make the decision.'

Denise Welch wanted to confirm that the couple are still together to which Mark flashed his wedding ring.

Back in May 2019, Mark's wife Katie confirmed the couple had separated, just weeks after the pair profusely denied claims of trouble in paradise with their age gap love.

Tough time: In September last year, Mark confirmed he was still with his wife, despite her admission four months earlier that she had cheated on him with a younger man

In her candid chat with The Sun, she said: 'Mark and I had been talking about separating for some time  we have been drifting for a while. He works away a lot and that's been hard. A lot of people think it's the age difference but we don't see that as the factor.'

She added that she had found happiness with a new man, Scott, explaining: 'It's more that we don't have mutual friends, and our lives are just very different. I met Scott by accident, on a night out, and we just clicked. It wasn't intentional, it just happened...

'But Mark always knew  straight from the off I was honest. He knew I was going out and who I was seeing. He was incredibly understanding. If it was anybody else it wouldn't matter, but because Mark's in the limelight people have been gossiping...

Candid: During an appearance on Loose Women, the TV personality was asked about the status of his marriage, where he admitted they have been 'through a rough patch'

'We remain good friends and he is happy for me that I've met Scott  and I'd be fine if he met someone else. So I just want to set the record straight now as I'm sick of all the speculation. I want us all to be able to get on with our lives.'

In a twist in their love story, Mark and Katie are cousins - something they realised about each other three years after they wed in 2014.

Mark said in a previous appearance on Loose Women: 'It wasn't something we were aware of at the time - it was one of those things that happened.'

The couple were totally unaware that they were second cousins when they began dating. Katie's dad and Mark's father are first cousins, meaning the pair are second cousins.
When I read the script, I was taken by it for so many reasons." Credit: Alexei Hay/Trunk Archive/Snapper Images. "Emma is married to a man who is engineering the mission, and they are equals and walk shoulder-to-shoulder in life, but he's not emasculated by her and that's also not a big deal," she adds. "The real drama is these people who are on this journey coming from richly different racial backgrounds and all working towards a goal together, while having this gravitational pull to Earth and their families, which makes this a love story too." The Nebraska-born, Washington State-raised actor was a nationally ranked athlete while at high school, competing in swimming and gymnastics, but confesses that her first real dream was to be an astronaut. "I just loved the idea of space," says Hilary. "The stars were bright where I lived and I've always been an adventurer, so the idea of that unknown grabbed my heart and spirit." Eventually, she found a new passion  acting  but Hilary never does anything by halves, so when she got the opportunity to play her childhood dream, she threw herself into research. This included visiting NASA's Mission Control in Houston, and speaking with astronauts including Peggy Whitson, the first female commander of the International Space Station.

"They were all so humble and self-deprecating," she marvels. "When astronaut Mike Massimino came to visit our set, he was wearing these funny socks, with astral space stuff on them, and I stole that for Emma!" There were plenty of challenges for the actor when it came to playing a character living in zero gravity and wearing a 16-kilogram space suit. "You're also being hung on wires by the lowest part of your hips, and they're being used as a pendulum," she continues. "It's like patting your head and rubbing your stomach; you're talking at normal speed but moving slowly, and inevitably that slows down your voice without your noticing." Hilary Swank stars in Away alongside Vivian Wu, Mark Ivanir Ray Panthaki and Ato Essandoh. Credit:Netflix via AP Hilary was 16 when her parents separated and she moved from Bellingham, Washington, to LA with her mother to pursue an acting career. In 1997, she landed what she thought was a breakthrough role, a two-year contract to appear in Beverly Hills 90210, but was let go after six months. Two weeks later, she auditioned for the role of Brandon Teena in the film Boys Don't Cry, based on the true story of a transgender man from the Midwest whose murder made headlines. That role earned Hilary her first Oscar for Best Actress, and in 2005 she won her second, starring opposite Clint Eastwood as an aspiring boxer in Million Dollar Baby. It prompted her memorable acceptance speech, in which she declared, "I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream."

"I work hard to make something happen by going down every road and turning over every rock, but if it still doesn't happen, now I know for sure, this is not meant to be," Hilary reflects of that experience. "It was great for me to have that catalyst to learn that lesson at a young age." She's embraced the same philosophy when it comes to her personal life, having met her first husband, actor Chad Lowe, when she was only 18. The couple divorced in 2007 and Hilary remarried in 2018, after mutual friends set her up with entrepreneur Philip Schneider while they were both in Germany for work. Loading "I've done a lot of growing up since those formative years with Chad," she says. "I think I had to go through all those experiences to know what would make me happy when I got to this point." Five years ago, Hilary put her career on hold after her father, Stephen, was placed on a lung transplant list. "They gave him three years to live if he didn't get a transplant, and when you get the transplant, it can take up to a year to see if it's going to work. I was in the blessed position where I could take time off work and move him in with me.

"There were a lot of complications that meant I ended up taking three years off work, as I was his primary caregiver. That was not exactly what I had anticipated, but I was grateful in the end. I got to stop working for the first time since I was 16, and step back and find out who I really was besides what I do." During her father's convalescence, Hilary also attended to growing her charity, the Hilaroo Foundation, which brings together vulnerable young people and rescue animals to increase the resilience and wellbeing of both. She also founded her own fashion label, Mission Statement, focusing on smart travel separates, which she felt were missing from her own wardrobe. While many have referred to Hilary's return as a "comeback", she glosses over the label. "My dad wasn't supposed to make it this long, but he was there to walk me down the aisle and he's here now, so it's really emotional to think of all we've been through," she says softly, her honey-coated voice full of sentiment. "It circles back to this show and what it's really about for me, because each day we have a choice in how we want to walk in life, right? I just try and remember that and, looking back at the last five years I have shared with my dad, I have no regrets at all."
During earthquakes, spider webs of faults open up below ground, allowing gases deep within our planet to percolate upward. Researchers have now compiled the first long-term record that shows a relationship between earthquakes and the release of carbon dioxide gas.

While the amount of carbon dioxide released by tectonic activity is a pittance compared with the billions of tons that human activity pumps into the atmosphere each year, the research published Wednesday in Science Advances sheds light on the planets climate-controlling carbon cycle.

Its modulating Earths climate on geological time scales, said James Muirhead, a geologist at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, not involved in the research who praised the data set a team of Italian scientists had collected.

The results could also potentially pave the way toward forecasting seismic activity.

The region around Italys central Apennine Mountains, roughly an hour east of Rome, is riddled with faults. Devastating earthquakes have repeatedly struck the area, including the LAquila earthquake in 2009. That temblor, which killed hundreds of people, made headlines again in 2012 when a judge ruled that seven Italian earthquake experts were guilty of manslaughter because they had failed to warn nearby residents of the potential risk. The areas seismic activity has been linked to escaping carbon dioxide.
New Delhi, Aug 29 : In a major breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, who is closely related to the mastermind of the 2007 Glasgow airport attack, after he was brought to India from Saudi Arabia, officials said on Saturday.

According to senior NIA officials related to the probe, Shabeel Ahmed was brought to India late Friday.

Ahmed had moved from Bengaluru to Saudi Arabia in 2010-11. He was also arrested in connection with the 2007 attack in which a person died, said an NIA official requesting anonymity.

The official said that Ahmed is the cousin of the UK airport attack mastermind Kafeel Ahmed.

Anti-terror probe agency officials said that Ahmed was also wanted in a case registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell in 2015 and was declared a proclaimed offender by a Delhi court on July 12, 2016.

In August 2017, the Indian agencies had brought in another Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) suspect named Syed Mohammed Zishan Ali from Saudi Arabia. He is believed to be married to Ahmed's sister.

The official said that the role of Ahmed in India came under scrutiny after the Special Cell busted a major AQIS network, with the arrest of Cuttack-based cleric Abdul Rehman and others in December 2015.

According to agency officials, Rehman allegedly told the police that he met Ahmed in Bengaluru in 2009, shortly after the latter had returned from the UK after serving a sentence.

The official added that Ahmed will be produced before a court later in the day in Delhi. He will taken to other places, including Bengaluru, for further investigation on transit remand.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.29

Trend:

Russia sends military cargoes to Armenia, and this seriously worries the Azerbaijani state and the public, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said to media representatives, Trend reports on August 29.

The explanations of the Russian side arent convincing enough for us. Azerbaijan is waiting for clarification regarding grounds on which the intensive arming of Armenia continues, Hajiyev said. During the [recent] events related to Azerbaijan's Tovuz, Armenia has demonstrated that it continues its aggressive policy. We arent satisfied with the answer that allegedly the [Russian] planes transport construction materials, since they can be also transported in other ways".

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.
RTHK: Second man pleads guilty over deaths of 39 migrants

A 40-year-old Irish haulier pleaded guilty on Friday to the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese men, women and boys found dead in the back of a refrigerated truck near London last year.

Ronan Hughes became the second man to plead guilty over a case that shocked Britain and Vietnam and shone a light on the illicit human smuggling trade. The other is Maurice Robinson, from the British province of Northern Ireland, who was driving the truck when the bodies were found.

Appearing at a full Old Bailey courtroom in London, Hughes stood in the dock facing the judge as the names of the 31 men and boys and eight women were read out. He admitted each charge in a process that took more than 10 minutes.

Hughes also admitted conspiring to assist unlawful immigration.

Most of those who died, aged between 44 and 15, were from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces in north-central Vietnam, where poor job prospects, environmental disasters and the promise of financial reward abroad fuel migration.

They were discovered last October in a container at the back of a truck on an industrial estate in Grays in Essex, about 30 kilometres east of London.

A third man, Eamonn Harrison, 23, also from Northern Ireland, pleaded not guilty to the same charges.

A trial is due to begin on October 5. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Graphic photos have captured the scenes in Peshawar as Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves with chains and blades.

The Muslims carried out the flagellation today during a procession to mark Ashura, the ninth day of Muharram in the first month of the Islamic calendar.

For the Shiite Muslims, Ashura is also a major religious event where followers of the faith commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn Ibn Ali al-Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who died at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.

The act of self-flagellation is seen as an act of washing away sins by those who carry out the ritual.

The pictures, taken in Pashawar, Pakistan, shows a group of Shiite Muslims wearing white trousers swinging swords and chains around to complete the flagellation.

Blood can be seen pouring from the backs of the men involved as a crowd watches.

A group of Shiite Muslims swing swords and chains around to complete the ritual of self-flagellation to mark Ashura

Blood pours from the backs of the men taking part in the flagellation as a large crowd watches on in the streets of Peshawar, Pakistan

The Shiite Muslims are seen hitting themselves, causing blood to soak down their bodies onto their white trousers

One man is captured mid-swing with a chain in hand. The act of self-flagellation is seen as a washing away of sins by those who carry it out

Shiite Muslims stood in the middle of a street in Peshawar, Pakistan, self-flagellate to makr the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad

Hussein died at the Battle of Karbala in the seventh century and Shiite Muslims commemorate his death during Ashura

Blood is seen running down the face of a man during self-flagellation in Peshawar, Pakistan. The man's hand is covered in blood and another man stood behind in a black shirt also has his face covered in blood

Deep cuts can be seen on the back of one man on the streets of Peshawar as a group of Shiite Muslims complete the ritual of self-flagellation

The ritual of self-flagellation takes place during the holy month of Muharram, which reaches it conclusion with the Ashura festival
Normally Teresa Stanfield spends her days in prisons talking with inmates about how she changed the course of her troubled life, and how they can do the same. But the coronavirus has locked her on the outside.

When COVID came and shut down programming, I was extremely disappointed, said Stanfield, Oklahoma field director with Virginia-based Prison Fellowship. But I also knew that God had a plan and we were going to do everything we could to continue to encourage our returning citizens and keep our volunteers connected.

For Stanfield, the answer was Floodlight. Developed in March after correctional facilities closed to visitors, its a collection of spiritual and inspirational programming thats delivered online and via closed-circuit television to prisons across the country, reaching a total of over 400,000 inmates  1,000 times more than Stanfields largest in-person presentations.

Its one of the most ambitious and successful examples of how faith-based organizations have adapted and innovated during the pandemic to keep up their prison ministries and services.

Some, like Prison Fellowship, are producing content for wide distribution behind bars. Others are recording religious services and prayers for specific correction systems to distribute through prison television systems. Some are turning to direct mail to inmates in the form of letters of spiritual encouragement, study lessons, Bibles and religious magazines, or sending supplies to prison officials and chaplains of various faiths and denominations to distribute.

Jehovahs Witnesses, for example, looked for every way possible to continue outreach to incarcerated populations with their message of hope at the 3,315 correctional facilities where the faiths volunteers are active, spokesman Robert Hendriks said. That has ranged from online content via CCTV to personal messages via the Postal Service.

It was not an option for us to stop our ministry, Hendriks said.

Prisons, by design restrictive and with little personal space, have been fertile grounds for the spread of the coronavirus.

According to data compiled by The Associated Press and The Marshall Project, more than 108,000 inmates had tested positive for the virus as of Aug. 25, and there have been 928 reported deaths. More than 24,000 staff members including nurses, correctional officers, chaplains and administrators tested positive as well, and 72 deaths have been publicly reported.

Overall, the rate of known infections among inmates is nearly three times that of the general U.S. population.

Jim Bright, a longtime prison volunteer with Jehovahs Witnesses in Marion, Ohio, knows that firsthand  at one of the lockups he visits, more than 80% of the inmates tested came up positive, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

I thought, Wow, this will be the first weekend in 47 years I wont be doing something at one of the prisons, Bright said. Its a big part of my life as far as getting to know those guys and helping them take care of their needs.

Now unable to visit, Bright has been sending religious literature to inmates through a prison chaplain and writing personal letters offering scriptural encouragement. One inmate wrote back to say he and a couple others were planning to teach and preach to fellow prisoners, he said.

The last time Matthew Perry, with Jewish Prison Services International, was inside the six Washington state facilities he usually visits was in early March, for the Purim holiday. He was at his second lockup of the day when authorities abruptly ushered all the volunteers out.

All the religious groups were, What do we do next? Perry said. No one knew anything at that point.

Perrys group is capable of producing video content, but the prisons where it operates arent set up for inmates to view it individually or allow them to congregate in groups for safety reasons. So like Bright, he has turned to old-fashioned mail, sending religious materials directly to Jewish inmates.

Its been a lot of adjusting, Perry said.

Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said his group has been shooting video of sermons and prayer services at mosques for distribution in state prisons. In fact the new, system-wide distribution is making its ministry far more accessible to Muslim inmates, as many of Michigans facilities are in areas lacking locally based imams to make in-person visits.

Theres actually inmates who are getting religious sermons every Friday that they normally would not get, Walid said.

One of most expansive outreach operations is run by Prison Fellowship, founded by the late Charles Colson, a top aide to Richard Nixon who served time for his role in the Watergate scandal. Staff and volunteers operate programs in hundreds of lockups, including preparing prisoners to re-enter society and building community support networks to help.

President and CEO James Ackerman said that after the Fellowships volunteers were locked out, the California Department of Corrections called to say it had a CCTV network to distribute whatever his group could produce, and was desperate for inspirational, faith-centric content.

Thus Floodlight was born. Partner organizations provided video streams and other viewing materials, while Prison Fellowship called on employees to share their own stories of inspiration and redemption.

It launched April 14 in California prisons with new content shown three times a day. Theres also religious programming produced by the state Corrections Department featuring chaplains from various denominations, as well as from outside religious groups.

Floodlight has since expanded to prisons in 43 states and will continue permanently even after lockups reopen to visitors.

Prison Fellowships in-house production team met up with Stanfield in Oklahoma City to put together her video presentation. In it, the mother of two candidly tells how she spent 20 years in and out of prison due to drug addiction, she said, before God gave her a second chance.

Her story can have great impact coming from someone whos actually been in that life, she said.

If God can use me so somebody else doesnt go out and die from addiction, Stanfield said, thats a calling.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
These are troubling times  racial injustice, politics, the pandemic. Even the air is hardly fit to breathe. You dont need another depressing story this Sunday. Instead, we offer a piece about a beautiful classic yacht that is about to begin a new life.

Theres no great moral in this except the somewhat irrational affection some people have for wooden boats, for their style, their look and the way they move through the water. This vessel is a motor yacht, 64 feet long, 89 years old, and built of teak. The boat has an appropriate name: Folly II.

Its the kind of boat you can fall in love with, said Mel Owen, a San Francisco patent attorney who is familiar with the Folly. Owen owns his own boat, the 91-year-old Pat Pending, a classic in its own right.

Falling in love is exactly what happened to Rusty Areias, a political consultant who served many years in the state Legislature. Politics is his business, but boats are his passion. He had his eye on Folly for a number of years.

He is an admirer of wooden boats built by the Stephens Brothers in Stockton and is a friend of Dick Stephens, the patriarch of the boat-building family. Though Stephens Brothers went out of business years ago, their boats  from workboats to luxurious yachts  have become West Coast classics. And Dick Stephens considered the Folly II his favorite, the best of the best.

The boat was launched in winter 1931, the depth of the Great Depression. Even in those tough times, there were people who could afford a boat like the Folly, The last word in luxury, as Motor Boating magazine called it.

The boat has berths for eight people, including two crew members, usually a captain and cook. The owners stateroom looks like it belongs on a small cruise ship; the galley is up to date in the latest 1930s style. There is even a bathtub. One owner called the boat a masterpiece of yesterday.

There were millions of poor people in the 30s, but enough wealth that Stephens kept turning out barges, tugs and yachts, made to order. It showed that you had arrived when you owned a Stephens yacht, Areias said.

The boat was launched in the last years of Prohibition and one of the first owners supposedly used the Folly to smuggle illegal liquor along the Central California coast. A luxury yacht was the perfect disguise for a rumrunner, and the boat was fast enough to dodge government agents.

Later owners included Kenneth Bechtel, the construction tycoon, Beryl H. Buck, the millionaire philanthropist, and Clessie Cummins, who developed the Cummins diesel engine. The boat was berthed at various times in San Francisco, San Diego and Monterey.

It was a familiar sight on Monterey Bay, berthed near Cannery Row for over 30 years. Sam and Patricia Garrett owned it and often anchored the big white yacht off Pebble Beach. It was a showpiece, on occasion offered for sale. But the price was always too high, and there were no takers.

Areias kept thinking about Folly II, but he had a problem: He already owned a Stephens classic yacht called Miss 102. And his wife had given him an ultimatum: no more boats.

The solution was to recruit three other boat lovers. They reached an agreement with Patricia Garrett, Sams widow, this year. They paid $119,000.

Edward Collins, one of the four, bought in sight unseen.

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.

When he first saw the Folly II, he was delighted; She is a very stylish boat, he said.

Its an amazing boat, said Bruce Jones, another of the owners. Its a boat worth preserving.

Just now the new owners are keeping the boat at a marina in Antioch, where expensive-looking cosmetic restoration work is being done. You know what they say: A boat is a hole in the water in which you pour money.

The plan is to finish up by Sept. 11 and take the Folly II to the annual Stephens Boat Roundup at the Village West Marina in Stockton, a celebration of Stephens yachts. There will be dozens of the classic boats, and the Folly II will be there in all her glory, Areias said. Dick Stephens himself will be aboard to be honored on his 100th birthday on his favorite boat.

Not long after that the Folly will be moved to San Francisco, its new home port.

Carl Nolte is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @CarlnolteSF
A second wave of coronavirus is a very serious threat which could result in another nationwide lockdown, Matt Hancock has warned.

The health secretary said the government was not ruling out reimposing restrictions across England if cases rose again this winter.

He also warned of the reasonable worst-case scenario of another surge in Covid-19 at the same time as an outbreak of seasonal flu.

A second wave is clearly visible in other parts of the world, Mr Hancock said in an interview with The Times.

It is a very serious threat. But so far in the UK we are managing to keep the number of new cases flat through a combination of test and trace and local lockdowns.

This is the reasonable worst-case scenario, that we have a bad flu and a growth in coronavirus as people spend more time indoors.

Cases go up again, and we have to use very extensive local lockdowns or take further national action. We dont rule that out but we dont want to see it.

Health leaders and medical experts have repeatedly warned of the likelihood of a second wave of the virus, often using the example of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

The governments chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance warned in July that there was a risk national measures might be needed in the event of resurgence of the virus and a report by the Academy of Medical Sciences suggested that a second wave over the winter could be even more deadly, with up to 120,000 extra hospital deaths.

However, Boris Johnson has previously attempted to play down the likelihood of another nationwide lockdown, describing the measure as a nuclear deterrent that he did not think he would have to use again.
Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, in self-exile in Lithuania, said the move is another sign that this regime is morally bankrupt, and the only way it is trying to stay in power is through fear and intimidation. This tactic will not work. The Belarusian people are no longer afraid. We will win.
Thane city saw noise-free Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations this year amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak.

No musical instrument was played during the immersion; there were no elaborate processions and fire crackers either.

The civic body authorities ensured crowd management with Thane Police.

I have been observing decibel levels in Thane since the last few years during festivals. This year was the quietest celebration, as compared to previous years. Small immersion processions during the fifth day of the annual festival were taken out. This was a welcome change. Though the key celebrations were low-key due to the pandemic, this trend will go a long way in the near future to curb the level of noise pollution, said Dr Mahesh Bedekar, a Thane-based activist.

Usually, Panchpakhadi and Ram Maruti Road get overcrowded, congested and contribute to noise pollution on the first five days of Ganesh Chaturthi and two days of immersion. But this year was an aberration from the norm.

Last year, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) authorities had feted Ganesh pandals that had celebrated a noise-free festival, where no microphone and loudspeaker was used.

The pandemic led to muted celebrations at immersion sites as well. We had released a circular on social media that highlighted various ways of immersion at home. Arrangements were made for idol donation centres, online bookings and mobile immersion tanks. Many devotees availed these facilities. An explainer was also put out about how a devotee can conduct immersion at home for an idol made of clay, or plaster of Paris. Most people were confined indoors, which made crowd management easy at immersion sites, said Manisha Pradhan, pollution officer, TMC.
Cambodias Royal Order of Sahametrei-Mahasena (Grand Officer) was posthumously presented to former Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Ngo Dien during a ceremony held at the Cambodian Embassy in Hanoi on August 28.

Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth hands over the Order to a representative of the late Ambassador's family (Photo: VNA)

The distinction was meant to honour the former Ambassadors contributions to Cambodias construction and development process, as well as bilateral ties between the Governments and people of Vietnam and Cambodia.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung lauded the significance of the awarding of the Order on the occasion of the former Ambassadors 99th birth anniversary and the 75th anniversary of the Vietnams diplomatic sector.

As Vietnams second Ambassador to Cambodia, Dien had the longest tenure in the country with 12 years of working. Earlier, he worked as a journalist and the first representative of the Vietnam News Agency for over six years and served as a veteran expert and deputy head of the B68 committee.

During more than 18 years of working in Cambodia, he made important contributions to Cambodias diplomatic sector in difficult times when the country escaped from the genocidal regime, laying a solid foundation for the bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Dung described the event as a vivid manifestation of traditional friendship and cooperation between the two nations, and a tribute to the former Ambassador together with tens of thousands of Vietnamese officials, experts and voluntary soldiers who laid down their lives for Cambodias revival and everlasting ties between the two countries.

He affirmed that the former Ambassador and his contributions will be forever remembered by generations of Vietnamese diplomats.

Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth handed over the Order to a representative of the late Ambassador's family.

He spoke highly of Dien's important contributions to Cambodia's revolutionary cause and Cambodia-Vietnam relations.

The Order was posthumously presented the late Ambassador in recognition of his contributions to the cause of national revival, reconstruction and development of Cambodia as well as the fine solidarity and friendship between the two nations, he said./.VNA
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn in 2018. He spent six years as a young crown prince in Australia, studying first at the Kings School in Parramatta before four years at the Royal Military College Duntroon and time with a regiment in Perth. Credit:AP Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size When Qantas flight 736 touched down in Sydney just before 8am on Saturday, September 5, 1970, a shy young man was on board. He was carefully guarded, with a kings most trusted aide on the flight plus a security detail, and his best friend along for the ride. No visa or entry permit was needed as the only son of Thailands king was waved through immigration; a diplomatic passport was packed in case it came in handy. After being greeted at the airport by a group of Thai students, the 18-year-old was escorted to the Wentworth Hotel to get down to the business at hand. Prince Vajiralongkorn Mahidol had to get ready for school. Nearly 50 years later he is King Rama X, a controversial figure who has been the subject of the strongest protests against Thailand's throne in decades, arguably since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932. In nearly four years since his fathers death, Vajiralongkorn has shown himself to be much more overtly interventionist in politics, consolidated army units under his direct command and converted a sovereign wealth fund into a personal fortune. Vajiralongkorn spent six years in Australia, studying first at the Kings School in Parramatta before four years at the Royal Military College, Duntroon and time with the Special Air Service Regiment in Perth. The National Archives of Australia has 490 pages of declassified cables and memos from that time, detailing how diplomats and bureaucrats concerned themselves with military drills, pocket money and more. While Vajiralongkorns school results have been expunged and other material redacted on the grounds it could harm international relations, the archives reveal the government was worried about everything from rumours of an assassination attempt and political turmoil in Thailand to his older sisters love life. Looming over all was King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the young man's father. Unhappy in its own way

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The file begins in December 1968, when ambassador David McNicol dropped off a prospectus for Duntroon at the palace. Bhumibol was hoping military school would make a man of his son, but feared a great power might manipulate the prince for its political ends. It would be helpful too because the armed forces would be the dominant ruling group for a long time to come, as an aide said to the ambassador, in a country where the mass of people were not ready for democracy. The king and queen informed the Australian ambassador in Bangkok that the Crown Prince was [redacted] proud and nationalistic; nevertheless he had his good points, reads one Department of External Affairs memo from mid-1970. Thailand's Crown Prince talks briefly with a welcoming group of Thai students on his arrival at Sydney Airport in September 1970. Credit:Antony Matheus Thomas Critchley, Canberras man in Bangkok from 1969 to 1973, was most often in the middle, typically dealing with the kings principal private secretary or Bhumibol directly. Critchley also had to break bad news: entry to Duntroon required graduating high school, and Vajiralongkorn's results from study in England were not good enough. The Kings School in Parramatta, with the countrys oldest cadet corps, was an obvious choice. A minor Thai royal, Panadda Diskul, was already a student there, although the palace was keen to keep them in separate houses. (The son of a diplomat, Panadda was a career bureaucrat until drafted into the cabinet after a coup in 2014.) On Vajiralongkorns arrival in Sydney, officials quickly concluded the prince had no chance of matriculating without a full year of high school in 1971. Persuading the palace took some delicacy.

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Sir Keith Waller, secretary of the Department of External Affairs, wrote to Critchley that Vajiralongkorn should not be exposed to the embarrassment of failure in the February 1971 [matriculation] examinations and to commencing the Duntroon course with an inadequate educational background. Critchleys audience with Bhumibol on October 16, 1970, settled it: another year at Parramatta before Duntroon in 1972. He spoke critically of the schooling in England which the Crown Prince had hated, Critchley reported. On the other hand the Crown Prince seemed to be settling in well in Australia and appreciated the friendliness with which he was being received. Declassified material pertaining to the education of then Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn in Australia. Credit:National Archives of Australia Between five and seven hours a day with tutors plus private study helped. When he first came to Australia the prince was unable to write more than five or six lines on any topic but is now able to write quite respectable essays, Sir Keith wrote in a confidential telegram to Bangkok in late 1970. By the middle of 1971, with the aid of tutors and special attention from teachers, The Kings School was pleased with his improvement and impeccable behaviour. He is not a difficult person, one heavily edited memo says. The problem is basically one of determination and attack. In September he had an excellent chance of passing when the king wondered whether he might send Vajiralongkorn to Britain to launch a frigate being built for Thailand. Sir Keith spoke to Vajiralongkorn, who clearly does not want to go but will of course comply with the kings wishes. He is working very hard and although much calmer than he was last year, is suffering from very natural pre-examination tension. The possibility of a trip to England in the present atmosphere is adding to these tensions. It was an unnecessary worry. After a phone call, the king changed his mind.

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Twists and turns A sprained ankle during the school holidays meant the prince's Duntroon days did not get off to a good start. The first five weeks adjusting to college routine were the most difficult, the Bangkok Post reported, as any cadet falling short of the standards was woken up 30 minutes early and had to stand in the cold, open field with a load of about 16-20 kilograms on his back. Whatever progress Vajiralongkorn was making was soon overshadowed by a scandal involving his older sister. The Crown Prince at Duntroon in 1972. Credit:National Archives of Australia Princess Ubolratana Mahidol, who last made international headlines when Vajiralongkorn kiboshed her attempt to become prime minister in early 2019 and who recently sided with young protesters, was studying in the US in 1972 when she ran off with a man. Academics at Chulalongkorn University were sharing stories of how the princess had asked for permission to marry a Mexican. When a diplomat refused permission, the princess said that she was going to be married anyway. Journalists were sharing similar stories, except that the press understands her to be marrying a Puerto Rican. Sir Keith shared the rumours on July 11 with the commandant of the Royal Military College, Major-General Sandy Pearson, with a word of caution that any sort of entanglement on the part of the Crown Prince could be a major disaster.

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Two weeks later, Ubolratana resigned her title to become a common citizen. Rumours of falling pregnant to her maths tutor at MIT, and of her mother seeking to persuade her to fly to Switzerland either to have [an] abortion or to release baby for adoption were reported to Canberra. A few days later they evolved again, with Queen Sirikit apparently bringing Ubolratana home from the US to have the baby privately in a southern palace. (Ubolratana married a fellow student in August 1972; the first of their three children was born more than eight years later. She did not return to Thai public life until after her divorce in 1998.) As it rocked the palace, the scandal also rattled Australias diplomatic ranks. This development in the royal family will tend to focus attention on the crown princes activities in Australia, charge daffaires Leslie Gerard Sellars wrote in a confidential memo. Vajiralongkorns views of marriage seemed germane; the prince had recently told a reporter he would accept whoever was chosen as his wife. The Thai royal family in 1966 in England, from left: Prince Vajiralongkorn, Princess Sirindhorn, 11, Princess Chulabhorn, 9, Queen Sirikit, King Bhumibol and Princess Ubolratana. Credit:UPI The year ended with Vajiralongkorn returning to Bangkok for a ceremony marking the 20-year-olds status as heir apparent. Pearson wrote to Critchley beforehand urging against making too much fuss about his progress at Duntroon. He is obviously unsure of himself, needs others to lean on and is seeking security, Pearson wrote. Should the king wish to hold a ceremony in December installing him as Crown Prince, then I would suggest for the Crown Princes sake that it be just that and not to celebrate his passing his first year at Duntroon. Life and death threats At 6.23pm on Thursday, July 5, 1973, a machine in Canberra spat out an urgent message: the managing editor of the Bangkok Post had heard Vajiralongkorn had been shot, "could we please have immediate advice".

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The truth of the matter is that schools are not yet ready to reopen and preside over the writing of the November examinations. There are a lot of preconditions that have to be met before we talk of these exams, this inclusive of ensuring the testing of the learners, teachers and the ancillary staff, and the provision of the necessary Covid-19 PPEs. The only time possible for sitting of these exams will be February next year because for learners to be ready for exams, they require at least two to three months of intense learning, its important for us to realise that exams are a process not an event, said Dr Zhou.
Peter Cardwell with Palmerston the cat outside No 10 Downing Street

A former special adviser and journalist from Northern Ireland has lifted the lid on the shadowy world of spin doctors.

Peter Cardwell (36) grew up in Richhill, Co Armagh, before working for the BBC and UTV, and then three years as a Government special adviser.

Appointed by Theresa May to advise Secretary of State James Brokenshire, he has also worked with Boris Johnsons controversial right-hand man Dominic Cummings.

In his new book The Secret Life Of Special Advisers he shares his experiences of negotiating with Martin McGuinness, the RHI scandal and helping the Prime Minister respond to a terrorist attack.

Spads are a fairly controversial role in Northern Ireland, probably the most informed part of the UK in terms of what they do, he said from his home in London.

It is a job thats cloaked in mystery because no one knows what we do and what were for.

Youre sort of a friend, youre sort of an adviser.

Youre spending a lot of time with the person and I was privileged to get to know people like James Brokenshire.

Comparing it as a mixture of British political satire The Thick Of It and the softer-focused US White House drama The West Wing, he added: You live a very crazy but privileged life, you get to meet interesting people and do fun things, even though if does take over your life.

Sometimes it never stopped, but it was brilliant and I loved it and I would highly recommend it to anyone who gets a chance to do it. Six months after starting as an adviser to Mr Brokenshire in 2016 Stormont came crashing down as Sinn Fein pulled the plug over the DUPs handling of the RHI scandal.

What you learn is that its a bit of a roller coaster, things take a lot of time and the arguments seemed to be a bit circular, he said.

Its fascinating being in a room with people that you watched on TV for years.

With Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams, it was a weird experience. They were the bogeymen of my youth, essentially, and youre sitting across the table trying to negotiate with them for the future of Northern Ireland.

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Despite the difficult task at hand, he praised his former boss Brokenshire.

He was always bringing friends to the Giants Causeway and Titanic Belfast, he loved the place, he added.

Sometimes that always didnt come over, as he had to be in a professional mode in public, but he was a heck of a lot of fun behind the scenes.

Asked about the controversial role of special advisers during the RHI scandal, he agreed that tougher regulations were needed.

Clearly politics is all about trust and I think you need to be able to trust your politicians and the people around them, he said.

I think a lot of people felt the RHI scandal meant a lot of trust was lost.

I think tightening up the regulations around Spads was probably not a bad idea, because I worked with Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness Spads.

Advisers advise ministers, and thats the way it should be.

I believe (News Letter journalist) Sam McBrides book Burned and am sure its very well-sourced, but that was also not the experience that I had as a special adviser.

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Comparing Spad heavyweights such as Cummings and Tony Blairs chief spin doctor Alastair Campbell, he said: Obviously theyre at the very top of the tree, so they have a different relationship.

Alastair Campbell was very heavily involved in the Good Friday Agreement and knows Northern Ireland very well.

But as a member of the Conservative Party, I would say what I think is forgotten is the huge preparatory work that John Major and his Government did in getting peace negotiations so far down the line.

I think, as we remember John Hume and his incredible contribution, we should also remember the lesser celebrated of the peace process like John Major, who the IRA tried to murder.

Despite Cummings causing huge controversy for allegedly breaking lockdown rules and misleading the public over Brexit, Cardwell described him as incredibly focused and charismatic.

I certainly went through the last six months of the May administration, which was really bad and difficult for a lot of people despite the best efforts of a lot of senior Spads around that time, he said.

Dominic came in on day one to speak to a dejected bunch of people.

He said three things were going to happen: Were going to get Brexit done, were going to have an election and win a huge majority.

I was sort of standing at the back of the room and thought it was ludicrous; none of that was going to happen. But all three of them did.

He is a strategic genius. Hes not everyones cup of tea but I worked with him very well.

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In his book Cardwell recalls a Cabinet meeting in the wake of Streatham terror attack in February.

I was sitting opposite Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson, and lets just say others who you might expect to be in the room after a terror attack, he said.

So he showed very strong and decisive leadership.

Boris Johnson would say what he wants to happen and Dominic Cummings makes it happen.

This idea that hes running the Government  he is, but hes carrying out the instructions of Boris Johnson.

Some of whats written about him is true as well.

He is definitely a fascinating character.

The Secret Life Of Special Advisers will be published on October 13 and is now available to pre-order on Amazon.
For Lomayumtewa Ishii, art and heritage are two parts of the same whole.

Ishii is Hopi, of the Rabbit Tobacco Clan, and was born in Sichomovi on First Mesaa place he travels often to see family and tend to his cornfield. His art, paintings with intricate geometrical patterns and deeply embedded symbolism, are rooted in Hopi ceremonies, teachings from his elders and the living things that surround himcorn, rainclouds, birds.

Most of the paintings for this collection are coexisting with Sinom, that is, the people, he says of his current exhibit at Flagstaffs HeArt Box gallery, also titled Sinom, The People. [It] is inspired by the Sinom as far as having encouraging words from your people, from your own community. And overall having them experience something where they can feel a sense of hope. Most of my inspiration comes from my heritage, my culture, hope as well.

The artist has been painting and drawing since he was young, continuing to hone the craft throughout community college and while working his current job in the local hospitality industry.

Painting, like many aspects of his life, demands careful balancebetween his life in Flagstaff and his home on Hopi, his job at a hotel and his work farming his land, his daily life in the city and leaving to attend ceremoniesin order to create works that relay forms of joy.

I really think about what my audience is going to see, how I am going to express myself through the works, Ishii says. In them is a sense of hope and joy, how you go through certain things and want to express them in a really positive manner and also have people view and express and have those kind of feelings too. That is what my paintings represent.

The painting Sonew Katsi, or Beautiful Life, is of particular importance. In the piece, Ishiis singular use of vibrant shades of blue is on full display, as are three kachina dolls which make up the focal point. Behind them the San Francisco Peaks, beside them stalks of corn stretch up as if dancing. Birds dot each corner of Sonew Katsi, a hummingbird and cardinal among them.

The painting tells the story of his life and that of family members, Ishii says. The three kachinas represent his three nieces, like daughters to him. The specific kachinas he chose to include represent, in part, the change from girl to womanhood.

There is so much good energy from [my nieces] and I wanted to portray them as beautiful, elegant, intelligent and strong young women, Ishii says. [Sonew Katsi] represents life, you see the animals, birds, the mountainsall of those things have life.

The birds, significant in certain ceremonies, also take on the role of messengers.

When we pray, we pray for everything, family, plants, and I feel like those birds are messengers of those prayers, he says. And the corn, it represents growth and posterity. We all go through different cycles of life like corn.

Corn is a deciding part of Ishiis art and life. Not only does he embed it into many of his paintings as representations of growth, cycles and maturing, he wakes up before dawn many mornings to drive two hours to tend to his own field, usually arriving just as the sun rises. A good harvest is the corn showing itself, the result of hard work and cultivating his connection to the earth and his heritage, he said. This then translates to painting.

Getting my field was a big eye opener for me and helped me develop as a person as well as my style of art, Ishii says. Its such a simple plant but it helped me to realize how woven into our culture it is and not just Hopi culture but in Indigenous culture in general. When I walk my field I think about those concepts and it makes me more connected to the land, because I am living it, I am doing it, it is part of me, so it makes that more meaningful for me and my art.

Corn also inspires Ishiis color palette, which takes influence from the vibrant shades of turquoise and bright yellow that surrounded him as a child. Blue especially is prominent in his work, inspired by the blue corn he plants in his field, the kernels often ranging from dark hues of purple and blue to baby blues.

The red corn too, Ishii points out, has a vast range: light pink, yellow, burgundy.

So I think about those types of corn and the colors, and you can see that in my art, the vibrancy, he says.

Here the artist mentions Itaanuangwa specifically. The painting, dominated by seemingly endless blues, shows two healthy corn stalksthe visual representation of Ishiis ongoing lessons about the crop and its intricacies. It was the first piece he created when he got his field and not only shows the learning process therein but also serves as a metaphor for his own changes, the coming of maturity and cycles of life.

In our hearts we pray for our well-being, nature and life. The two corn symbolize hope, prosperity and well-being, he writes in his artist statement. In dry farming, the corn endures rough elements only to become beautiful pieces of art. Similarly, we human beings are always adapting to our surroundings to make life meaningful. Through prayer, the little moisture coming their way gave them life is powerful and undeniably awesome.

For the first two years or so, learning to farm was difficult. The techniques of dry farming presented a steep learning curve for Ishii, as did lessons on how to keep elk out of the field and the tired early mornings he spent driving to Hopi.

Its hard but its beautiful, he says. Youre doing it for the benefit of the people.

This is where another critical pillar of art and life enter the framework, that is, family and elders whose stories are reflected back to them in Ishiis art and without whose guidance learning about his traditions would not be possible. Ishii focuses on his mother, father, uncles and grandmother teaching him about Hopi religious ceremonies and how to plant and cultivate corn, inspiring him in both his art and day-to-day.

This is a part of me, he says. Farming helps me spiritually and it helps me as a person. When I go to ceremonies, go home to Hopi to be in the Kiva, it helps me balance out my life. And your spirit is more energized, because basically youre living in two worldsthe city where you do what you need to survive but also going back to your community.

When he first began painting, Ishii says, he didnt think about that, howeverthe practice was more for his own enjoyment.

But growing up in a traditional household my parents taught us it was really important to be connected to your culture, through participation and ceremony, through expressing it through the visual arts, he says. Ive always been geared toward the arts in being able to express my heritage, myself and some of the lessons I have learned. That is part of having my parents guiding me.

Ishii thinks about the juncture of art and agriculture, painting and cultural heritage often, relating it to last years harvest when he filled a Marshalls bag with corn for his grandma, giving still more to friends and relatives.

Harvest, it brings so much joy. Because that is all your hard work and dedication and you want to share that with the people you love, to show them that you care for them and you think about them, he says. Thats also why my art is focused on my teachings and experiences and what it means to give corn, because youre giving people hope and happiness because it comes from you, like the artwork comes from you too.

To view Lomayumtewa Ishiis art, visit www.theheartbox.space. The exhibit will also be viewable in person until Monday, Aug. 31 at 17 N San Francisco St. Gallery hours are 1-5 p.m.

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Former President Pranab Mukherjee continues to be in deep coma and on ventilator support, but his renal parameters have improved, the hospital said on Saturday. Doctors attending on the 84-year-old Mukherjee said he remains haemodynamically stable and is being treated for lung infection.

A patient is haemodynamically stable when his blood circulation parameters -- blood pressure, heart and pulse rate -- are stable and normal, doctors say. Mukherjee was admitted to the Army's Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi on August 10 and was operated for removal of a clot in the brain the same day. He later developed a lung infection and had a renal dysfunction, the doctors said.

"Shri Pranab Mukherjee is being treated for lung infection. His renal parameters have improved. He continues to be in a deep coma and on ventilator support. He remains haemodynamically stable," a statement from the hospital said. The former President had also tested positive for COVID-19 at the time of his admission.

Mukherjee was the 13th President of India from 2012-2017.

Also read: Pakistan court jails three aides of Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed
Shivamogga : , Aug 29 (IANS) It took a joint effort of two state Forest Departments and police to unravel the origin of a seized consignment of hippopotamus ivory in Karnataka's Shivamogga last week, before it was found that this had a transcontinental connection spanning over a half a century, an official said on Saturday.

Five people have been arrested in Karnataka and Goa in this connection with the seizure.

"Last Monday, we arrested three persons attempting to sell hippo ivory. With the leads they provided, we got some clues and found that the supplier is from Goa," Conservator of Forests, Shivamogga Circle, R. Ravishankar told IANS.

Mohammed Danish, Muzaffar Hassan and Zakir Khan were arrested, on a tipoff, from Chandragutti in Shivamogga, for attempting to sell up to 12 kg hippo ivory, which they themselves did not know was of a hippo, not elephant.

The Karnataka Forest Department officials were amazed by this development as hippos are not found in the wild in India and are only in zoos.

The unprecedented development presented a challenge to the officials who were eager to know the source through which the three men procured the African animal's ivory.

As the probe required inter-state cooperation, Ravishankar said senior officials from Karnataka Forest Department coordinated with their Goan counterparts.

"We approached our senior officials. At a higher level, they had discussions for full cooperation. A team went to Goa with whatever minimum clues they had," he said.

The hunt to find the hippo ivory's source was not easy, compelling the inter-state teams to search nearly 20 places. However, they managed to track down and arrest Anil Parsekar, who ferried the hippo teeth to the arrested trio in his car for a charge of Rs 7,000 in July.

Interrogation of Parsekar led to Vishal who had multiple aliases and ekes out a living as a small-time businessman in Goa.

On interrogation after his arrest, Vishal admitted that he stole the ivory from an 80-year-old woman in Goa, whom he used to help sometimes in taking her to hospital, and bringing her back home, buying her medicines and also cleaning her home.

"The old woman used to tip Vishal some Rs 500-1,000 whenever he used to help as both her sisters have passed away and her niece who looks after her does not live nearby," he said.

D'Souza, the old woman, whose first name Ravishankar could not remember, had asked Vishal to clean her storeroom recently.

"When Vishal was cleaning it, he stumbled upon the hippo ivory and silently stole it," he said.

Vishal later entered into a deal with the three Karnataka youths to pay them a commission of 15 per cent if they sell the ivory, which all of them were thinking to be of an elephant.

It was only after the arrest of the trio, confiscation and on closer examination by the forest officials did they realize that the ivory came from a hippo.

It was then found that D' Souza's father returned from Tanzania more than 50 years ago and brought it from the African country. All these years, the ivory lay idle in the D'Souza home.

Ravishankar said that the ivory came from Tanzania 60 years ago and other details about ir are unknown. "Further investigation is on... the material has been sent to a laboratory for testing to determine its age and other details," he added.

The forest officer said that it was possible that D'Souza's father could have brought the ivory when Goa was still a Portuguese colony and not a part of India yet, to questions if D' Souza's father had committed an offence.

According to Ravishankar, hippo teeth is also recognized as ivory and this development could also be the first time that hippo ivory was seized in the southern state.
The United States is reported to be mulling over halting some part of its assistance to Ethiopia as it attempts to broker a deal with Sudan and Egypt over the Nile dam dispute.

As per Foreign Policy reports, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has approved a plan to halt foreign assistance to Ethiopia, which could affect nearly $130 million worth of aid provided to Addis Ababa. The move comes as Ethiopia readies to fill the dam despite no formal agreement with Egypt and Sudan.

Read: Nile States End Talks On Africa's Largest Dam With No Deal

As per reports, the foreign assistance cut to Ethiopia has not been formally announced by the US State Department, but officials familiar with the matter say it could affect security assistance, military, counterterrorism, anti-human trafficking programs among others. However, the cuts are not expected to impact the humanitarian aid provided to Ethiopia by the United States in other sectors such as health, education, food assistance, etcetera.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian officials have accused the Trump administration of favouring Egypt in the dispute. As per reports, the move has not gone down well on Capitol Hill either, where critics have argued that it will hamper US-Ethiopia relations in the long run.

Mike Pompeo visited Sudan on August 25 to meet with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and on the same day, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was also in Khartoum to discuss the Nile dam dispute with his Sudanese counterpart.

Read: Ethiopia Dam Reservoir On River Nile Filling Up As Talks With Egypt & Sudan Break Down

Nile dam

Ethiopia's $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been under construction since 2011 near its border with Sudan and is expected to make the country Africa's biggest power exporter upon completion.

Egypt and Sudan are seeking an agreement that would guarantee minimum flows to the countries before the project starts operating. The Nile is the only freshwater source for Egypt and Sudan and crucial to their economies, which is why the countries want a deal with Ethiopia before the project starts so that any dispute in the future can be resolved in line with the agreement.

Read: Ethiopia, Egypt And Sudan Agree To Resume Dialogues Over Disputed Nile Dam

Read: Ethiopia's Disputed Dam Reservoir Begins To Swell, See Satellite Images
Hyderabad, Aug 29 : In view of a grave security threat, the Hyderabad police has advised T. Raja Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) lone member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, not to move around on a two-wheeler and travel by a bullet-proof car allotted to him by the government.

In a letter to Raja Singh, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said that providing proper security to him was a priority.

"It is to inform that due to your threat perception, enhanced security has been provided to you and security personnel are also being alerted and checked from time to time. Special training has been organised for all your PSOs periodically," said the letter dated August 28.

The police chief wrote that on occasions, the MLA is seen moving around on a motorcycle.

"This poses a grave security threat to you. Therefore, your kind cooperation is solicited to ensure proper security. That you kindly completely avoid moving on a motorcycle and travel by the bullet-proof car allotted. The government have provided this car only for your security," it added.

Raja Singh, who is known for making controversial statements and was also booked by the police on various occasions, represents the Goshamahal Assembly constituency in Hyderabad.

He was recently at the centre of a controversy that erupted after a report in the Wall Street Journal that Facebook's content policies favoured the BJP.

The MLA however, claimed that he never posted any inflammatory content on social media.

He added that his official Facebook account was hacked and blocked in 2018.

The US newspaper quoted unnamed Facebook insiders that one of the India policy executives intervened in an internal communication to stop a permanent ban on Raja Singh after he allegedly posted communal, divisive content.
A brain dead man has breathed new life into a Covid-19 patient with severe lung infection and given new hope to a young Mumbai woman after his lungs and hands were transplanted to the respective donors.

The 34-year-old deceased mans wife also agreed to donate his heart, liver and skin for various recipients in city hospitals.

Incidentally, the hands were airlifted to Mumbai with the hope of giving the woman a real pair of limbs after she lost her hands in a train accident in Ghatkopar on January 12,2014.

The transplant that benefited more than one recipient was made possible due to the donation from the deceased, who was declared brain dead by doctors at Gleneagles Global Hospital in Chennai after intracerebral hemorrhage on Thursday, hospital sources said.

After his wifes consent, the departed mans organs were allotted to various hospitals.

While Global Hospital Chennai retained the liver, the heart, lungs, kidneys and skin were donated to different hospitals in the city.

His hands went to Monika More, a young woman from Mumbais suburban area, who was using artificial hands and is now set to get a real pair, if the bilateral surgery succeeds.

The heart and lung transplant surgeries were performed at MGM Healthcare here.

Incidentally, the 48 year-old recipient of lungs from Delhi turned out to be the first case of successful completion of a critical bilateral lung transplant on a Covid-19 positive patient, MGM Healthcare, where he is undergoing treatment, said.

It claimed this was Asias first known lung transplant on a Covid-19 positive patient and the second in the hospital since the lockdown began.

The transplant was performed on August 27 and post the transplant, the patient is doing fine in the Transplant ICU at MGM Healthcare, the hospital said in a statement.

The patients lungs were severely damaged due to Covid-19 related fibrosis after he contracted the infection on June 8 and only a small portion of the lungs was still functioning then.

As he became breathless and oxygen saturation came down, he was put on ventilator support on June 20. His condition continued to worsen in spite of it and he was airlifted to MGM Healthcare from Ghaziabad on July 20, the hospital said.

As his lung condition continued to worsen, he was put on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) support on July 25 for more than one month. Such patients are difficult to manage even in well-equipped ICUs.

Initially we were in a dilemma when his case was referred to us. But we prioritised the patients overall health over anything else. We decided to proceed with the surgery.

Our team of doctors and the other support staff took up the challenge and boldly stood by the decision to go ahead with the transplant without thinking about the risk to their own health and safety. We are happy for the patient as the transplanted lungs are working well, said Dr K R Balakrishnan, Chairman and Director of Cardiac Sciences and Director of the Heart and Lung Transplant Program at MGM Healthcare here, who led the team.

According to Dr Suresh Rao, Co-Director, Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support, the hospital accepted the heart from the same donor to another patient who was waiting for a heart transplant, thereby giving a new lease of life to two people. More, studying in a junior college in Mumbai, lost her hands at a local railway station Ghatkopar in a train accident in 2014.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya supported her with getting electronic artificial hands from his social outfit Yuvak Pratisthan in July the same year.

While More completed her graduation and started working at a local hospital at Kurla as a social worker, she subsequently registered herself for bilateral hands transplant at Global Hospital, located at Parel in that city.

Somaiya claimed that the cost of her transplant is borne by Yuvak Pratisthan and Global hospital.

The surgery was proposed in summer itself, but had to be postponed after the coronavirus crisis. Finally, the hospital and More family decided to perform the surgery on August 27, Somaiya said.

The hands were retrieved from a deceased donor at a private hospital in Chennai and airlifted to Mumbai on Thursday. The surgery conducted by a 12 member team led by Dr Nilesh Satbhai included Plastic, microvascular and reconstructive surgeons, Orthopaedic surgeons and Anaesthetists started on Thursday late night and was completed on Friday evening, a statement from Global Hospital said.

The patient has been shifted to the ICU post operatively for further management, it said.

A hospital spokesperson thanked the donor family, donor hospital, Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre, Transtan, Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation and National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation for the timely coordination and allocation.

It goes without saying that the support extended by Traffic Police and Airport Authorities of Mumbai and Chennai ensured timely transport of the organ, the spokesperson added.
PARIS - Armed with knives, some knowledge of their prey and a large dose of cruelty, attackers are going after horses and ponies in pastures across France in what may be ritual mutilations.

Police are stymied by the macabre attacks that include slashings and worse. Most often, an ear  usually the right one  has been cut off, recalling the matadors trophy in a bullring.

Up to 30 attacks have been reported in France, from the mountainous Jura region in the east to the Atlantic coast, many this summer, the agriculture minister said Friday. One attack was registered in February, according to the newsmagazine Le Point. With each attack, the mystery only seems to grow.

We are excluding nothing, Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie said Friday on France-Info, before heading to a riding club in the Saone-et-Loire region, in east central France, where a horse was attacked a day earlier.

Ears are cut off, eyes removed, an animal is emptied of its blood ..., he said, spelling out the morbid fates befalling one of Frances most beloved animals.

All means are in motion to end this terror, the minister tweeted.

After the first solid sighting of an attacker, gendarmes in Auxerre, in Burgundy, released a composite sketch this week based on a description by a man who wrangled with two attackers at his animal refuge in a village in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region.

I used to have confidence putting my horses out to pasture. Today, I have fear in my gut, Nicolas Demajean, who runs the refuge, Ranch of Hope, said Thursday on regional TV station France 3.

Alerted by his squealing pigs, Damajean faced down two attackers last Monday. He himself was injured in the arm in a struggle with one intruder wielding a pruning knife as the other slashed the sides of two ponies, now recovering but traumatized, he said. The men fled in a vehicle.

The following day, an attacker or attackers bled a young pony in the Saone-et-Loire. In another case, some of a horses organs were removed.

A donkey who reportedly participated in the past in the Christmas market in Paris was killed in a gruesome attack in June.

Theories abound as to whether the acts are a morbid rite of an unknown cult, a chilling challenge relayed by social media or copycat acts. Speculation is widespread as to how barbaric acts, some surgical, could be perpetrated without solid knowledge of equine anatomy or on a horse in a pasture presumably able to flee.

A fearful horse in a pasture wont get caught. The horse who feels confident with people ... hell come, find it normal that you put a harness on it or a rope around its neck, said veterinarian Aude Giraudet, chief of the equine division at the prestigious National Veterinary School of Alfort, outside Paris.

Im not sure you need great knowledge of horses, Giraudet said in an interview. Knowing how to approach them, from the front not the rear, is important. An ear can be slashed off while the horse is standing, but the animal would need to be prostate for grislier mutilations, she said. The veterinarian stressed that she didnt want to describe how to put a horse on the ground so as not to give the least sort of tools to make it easier for those out to kill them.

If I were in Normandy, I think I would be very very worried about this epidemic, she said, adding that security measures should be taken  at the very least installing cameras.

Two mutilations have been reported in Normandy, Frances horse country. Pauline Sarrazin, the owner of one victim, Lady, mounted a private Facebook group, Justice for our Horses after the savage June 6 killing of her horse near Dieppe, on the Atlantic coast. Aimed at sharing stories and advice, the group now has nearly 17,000 members.

Frances horse world is increasingly gripped by fear.

The president of the French Federation of Equitation offered on Friday to help police investigating the scattered cases. Serge Lecomte said earlier the federation would be a civil party in each case.

Were all afraid, said Veronique Dupin, an official of a riding club in the Yvelines region west of Paris, asking that the exact location of the stable not be identified out of caution. Her club installed cameras last year because of intruders, and someone sleeps there nightly.

Despite that, were not at ease, she said, stressing how vulnerable horses can be. They may be big, but theyre lambs.

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Unlock 4.0 guidelines: What to expect from September 1

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Aug 29: While the fourth phase of the unlock is about to begin from the first week of September, people have eyeing on the further guidelines to be released by the government regarding the lockdown.

This phase comes at a time when India's Covid-19 tally has crossed the 3.46 million mark and the number of deaths due to the disease have gone up to 62,550.

The COVID-19 case fatality rate has further declined to 1.81 per cent in the country.

Unlock 4.0 guidelines: Metro services may resume, schools likely to remain shut

There are 7,52,424 active coronavirus cases in the country currently, which account for 21.72 per cent of the total caseload, the data showed.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 and the 30-lakh mark on August 23.

Here is a look what to expect from September 1 during Unlock 4.0:

Metro services, which were halted since March 22, in Delhi and the NCR from September 1 likely to resume.

Contactless ticketing system will be put in place and passengers will not be allowed to use tokens anymore.

Flouting Covid-19 norms such as not wearing a mask, sitting on seats meant to be left vacant in order to maintain social distancing and spitting or littering on the station premises will attract hefty fines.

Schools and colleges will remain to be shut

Bars will be allowed to serve liquor over the counter for takeaways.

Cinema halls will also remain shut

In Karnataka, the academic year of colleges for various degree courses will commence from September 1 with online classes while offline classes may begin from October 1.

Domestic flights from Covid-19 hotspots will be allowed to land in Kolkata.

West Bengal will be under complete lockdown twice a week.

Local trains in Mumbai will not resume in this phase.

E-passes will be mandatory for inter-state and inter-district movement. Restrictions on liquor shops and hotels may be eased in Chennai in Unlock 4.0.
KENOSHA, Wis.: Black Lives Matter organizers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, planned for a mass rally and march on Saturday as reinforced National Guard units stood by with orders to prevent a resurgence of the unrest that convulsed the lakeside city earlier in the week.

A tense calm prevailed for a third night on Friday in the downtown area surrounding a courthouse and park that was the hub of tumultuous protests in support of Jacob Blake Jr., the Black man shot in the back by a white police officer on Sunday.

The shooting of Blake, in front of three of his children, turned the mostly white city of 100,000 people on Lake Michigan, 40 miles south of Milwaukee, into the latest flashpoint in a summer of nationwide demonstrations against police brutality and racism.

Blake, 29, survived but was left badly wounded and paralyzed from the waist down.

Anger at the shooting, captured on video that went viral, soon escalated into pitched street skirmishes, with protesters hurling firecrackers and bricks at police in riot gear who fired volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets.

Despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew, a wave of arson attacks and vandalism devastated a predominantly minority district on Monday night, and on Tuesday night three demonstrators were shot - two fatally - by a white teenager armed with a semi-automatic rifle.

The 17-year-old suspect, Kyle Rittenhouse, who walked away from the scene as police looked on, surrendered to law enforcement on Wednesday near his home in Illinois, not far from the Wisconsin border, according to his lawyers.

Since mid-week, as Governor Tony Evers deployed additional Wisconsin National Guard troops to help local law enforcement restore order, the unrest has subsided.

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

In Illinois on Friday, a hearing on a bid by Kenosha prosecutors to extradite Rittenhouse back to Wisconsin was postponed while the teen, a former lifeguard jailed held without bond, arranged for a private legal team.

He has been charged with six criminal counts, including first-degree intentional homicide, attempted homicide, reckless endangerment and unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor.

One of his lawyers, prominent Atlanta-based trial attorney Lin Wood, said his client acted in self defense. An egregious miscarriage of justice occurring with respect to this 17-year-old boy," Wood wrote on Twitter on Friday.

Blake, who has undergone multiple surgeries since the shooting, had been handcuffed to a hospital bed because of an outstanding arrest warrant. The handcuffs were removed on Friday and officers guarding Blake stood down after the warrant was vacated, his attorney, Pat Cafferty, told Reuters.

The warrant was based on a criminal complaint filed against Blake in July based on statements made by his ex-girlfriend, the mother of three of his children, that was released to Reuters on Friday.

The woman told police Blake broke into her home on May 3 and sexually assaulted her before stealing her truck and debit card.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said this week that police confronted Blake when called to the home of a woman who had reported her boyfriend was present" without permission, and officers tried to arrest him. Kaul said efforts to subdue Blake with a Taser failed, and that investigators later recovered a knife from the floor of the car that Blake was leaning into when he was shot.

On Friday, the Kenosha police union defended the officers, saying Blake was armed with a knife, fought the officers and was given several chances to cooperate before they used deadly force. This account, in a statement by union lawyer Brendan Matthews, said the scuffle with police included Blake putting one of the officers in a headlock."

Blakes lead attorney, Ben Crump, has said his client was not armed with a knife and did not provoke or threaten police.

Demonstrators and Blakes family have demanded that the three officers involved in the encounter, including the policeman who shot all seven bullets fired at Blake from behind at point-blank range, be fired and prosecuted.

The three have all been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation by the Wisconsin Justice Department.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Canada is extending a ban on most travellers entering the country until the end of September in order to limit the spread of COVID-19, the government announced Friday.

And Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning from abroad will still be subject to strict quarantine measures, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced on Twitter.

This restriction has been in force since mid-March.

An exception was made in June allowing spouses, children, parents or guardians of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to enter the country.

A deal between Canada and the United States also allows essential travellers to pass through their shared borderthe longest in the world. That agreement was extended earlier this month to September 21.

All travellers have been subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival.

Foreign nationals who show COVID-19 symptoms are barred from entering Canada.

Shipments of goods continue.

As of Friday, Canada had recorded more than 127,000 cases of the new coronavirus and nearly 9,140 deaths.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 AFP
The consultation was co-chaired by Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and Japanese Minister Kajiyama Hiroshi.

The participating ministers noted that total trade between ASEAN and Japan reached US$225.9 trillion in 2019, accounting for 8% of the blocs total. Meanwhile, Japans investment in ASEAN totalled US$20.4 trillion, or 12.7% of total foreign investment in the bloc.

These figures made Japan ASEANs fourth-largest trade partner and second-largest investor last year.

Delegates expressed concern over the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on peoples lives and regional and international economies.

They reaffirmed a commitment to joining hands to mitigate any negative impacts of the pandemic and to exerting every effort to ensure macro-economic and financial sustainability through market re-opening for trade and investment, as well as the sustainability of supply chains, in particular those for necessities such as medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and food.

The ministers stressed the importance of joint efforts in fostering economic development and social stability in the region, including the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) this year.

They also acknowledged the progress made in the implementation of the ASEAN-Japan Economic Resilience Action Plan they adopted at their virtual meeting on July 29. The plan includes specific measures to sustain the close economic ties developed by ASEAN and Japan, mitigate the adverse impact of COVID-19 on economies, and strengthen economic resilience in response to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ministers also welcomed the first protocol to amend the ASEAN-Japan Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP), which took effect on August 1.
The all-girl quintuplet birth a first for Lanka By Kumudini Hettiarachchi View(s): View(s):

A first in the country  five baby-girls born in a rare quintuplet delivery to a 29-year-old mother from Gampaha around 10 a.m. on Friday, August 28, at the De Soysa Hospital for Women, down Kynsey Road in Colombo.

This is the first all-girl quintuplet birth but we believe its the fourth time five babies have been born to mothers in Sri Lanka, said Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist Dr. Probhodana Ranaweera who with his colleague, Dr. Mohamed Rishard, both of the hospitals Professorial Unit, performed the two-hour Caesarian-section on the mother.

The babies whose weight ranges from 1.4 kg (biggest) to 1 kg (smallest), are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), while the mother who is in a critical condition is in the ICU, the Sunday Times learns.

Dr. Ranaweera said that it was a high-risk pregnancy and they undertook the challenge as the De Soysa Hospital for Women was a premier referral unit for complicated pregnancies.

We managed her medically, keeping her in hospital in the last one month and got all the necessary equipment for the C-section which was fraught with danger as we had to control and reduce haemorrhaging (bleeding). We used specialized operating techniques and special stiches, he said.

Dr. Ranaweera stressed that it would be unethical for them to release any photographs of the baby-girls and their mother, without the parents consent and until all of them were doing well and out of danger.
Dmitry Savelyev, Member of State Duma of the Russian Federation, head of Russia-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group sent a congratulatory letter to Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"Esteemed Mehriban Arif qizi,

Please allow me to cordially congratulate you on the occasion of your birthday.

A bright personality, a talented politician with tremendous creative energy, a sharp mind and intuition, a woman of incredible charm and a world-class public figure  your name itself is a symbol of selfless service to your native country and your work is an example of brilliant achievements on the path to statehood. The efforts you are making to strengthen the fraternal relations with Russia deserve the deepest respect.

I sincerely wish you great happiness, the best of health and prosperity. May peace and harmony always reign in your home and all your deeds be accompanied by success and inspiration!" the letter said.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Iran must conduct a thorough investigation into the crash of a UIA plane near Tehran and pay compensation to the victims and affected states.

This was discussed during a meeting between the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, and U.K. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and First Secretary of State, Dominic Raab, on August 28, Global Affairs Canada reported.

"Minister Champagne and Secretary Raab reiterated their commitment to ensure accountability and justice for the families of the victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752. They spoke of the need for Iran to conduct a full, transparent and independent investigation in accordance with international standards, including reparations to the victims and affected states," the report reads.

They also discussed coordination of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to the situations in Belarus, Hong Kong and the Middle East.

Minister Champagne and Secretary Raab discussed Canada-U.K. relations and cooperation on common priorities, including international security, human rights, climate change and media freedom.

On January 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down near Tehran by an Iranian surface-to-air missile, killing 176 people, including nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK).

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CAMBRIDGE  Firefighters from all six Cambridge Fire Department stations responded to an early Saturday morning blaze at two houses and a detached garage on Eagle Street.

A portion of the street was closed on Saturday. No injuries have been reported.

The first 911 call was received at 2 a.m., with firefighters officially declaring the blaze under control by 4:30 a.m.

Acting platoon chief Chris Davidson said they are actively investigating the cause of the fire.

He said it is not suspicious.

Damages are estimated around $1 million.
The executives in the banking industry and industrialists are divided over the extension of loan moratorium, which is going to end on Monday (August 31). The government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) want to end the moratorium as it hurts the health of the banks, but there is still uncertainty over the market, which is yet to come back to normalcy.

Several bankers were vocal about the removal of the moratorium, including HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh, Kotak Mahindra Bank Managing Director Uday Kotak and State Bank of India chairman Rajnish Kumar. They complained that many of the borrowers are taking undue advantage using moratorium.

An executive with an automaker said that they have expressed their concerns to the government on lifting the moratorium. "The demand is not yet back. Festival season is also not going to be encouraging," he added. Another executive with a real estate company said the bankers are worried about their profits, though they know the market reality.

Earlier, the finance ministry had consulted various industry leaders and they advised the government to continue the moratorium for companies in most affected sectors such as automobile, steel, hospitality and real estate for another three months until November.

SBI's Rajnish Kumar earlier said that the six months is long enough for allowing non-repayment. Deepak Parekh earlier said, "We see that even people who have the ability to pay whether corporate or individuals are taking advantage under this and deferring payment." Extension of moratorium beyond August will hurt banks and non-banking financing companies, Parekh said.

The government had announced one-time loan restructuring facility and deputed veteran banker KV Kamath-led panel to come out with the modalities of restructuring of loans for both corporate and individuals. The bankers are of the view that the restructuring of the loans will address most of the issues of the borrowers.

In March, RBI introduced the loan moratorium to provide relief to borrowers and help businesses to weather through COVID-19 pandemic phase. According to RBI data, nearly half of the customers, who account for around half of outstanding bank loans, availed of the benefit. The central bank had initially allowed moratorium for the three months until May 31 but later extended it till end-August. RBI allowed debt recast later.

In the meanwhile, the Supreme Court asked the government to clarify its stand on the waiver of interest on loan repayments during the moratorium period. A Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said the government had failed to clear its position on the issue and hiding behind the RBI.

Also Read: RBI fears moratorium to take a toll on banks' financial health

Also Read: Shaktikanta Das hints RBI may announce further rate cuts, measures to tackle COVID-19
"But it hasn't crystallised, and I certainly wasn't able to walk away from that meeting thinking it will happen.

"But because we had the conversation, about two or three months later they wrote to me and to Art Exhibitions Australia ... and said, would you be interested? And that was of course an extremely easy email to respond to."

It took three visits to New York to narrow down the arrangement and agree on the list of works to be sent to Brisbane, Saines said.

"Many works that ordinarily, even for a tour of this kind, they just wouldn't release  I believe they were very, very generous in releasing far more works of that very sort of top-rank of work that they house many of," he said.

"When you're doing a major exhibition of this kind, you might get a certain proportion of them, and then a balance of works that act to supplement and support the stars, as it were, of the exhibition firmament."
Is the 2019 election the last one ever? This is what Sakshi Maharaj has to say

BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj put under 14-day quarantine; BJP threatens agitation if not freed immediately

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Giridih (Jharkhand), Aug 29: BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj was forcibly home quarantined here Saturday for 14-day for violating COVID norms, prompting the saffron party to hit out at Hemant Soren government for adopting "double standards" in implementation of the rules and threatening to launch a statewide agitation if the leader was not freed immediately.

The MP from Uttar Pradesh had come to Giridih, over 200 km from Ranchi, to take part in a programme from Unnao via Dhanbad. Maharaj, who was returning to Dhanbad by road to take a train to Delhi, was intercepted by the district administration near Pirtand police station and sent to quarantine at Shanti Bhawan ashram, where he had gone to take part in a programme, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Sinha said.

The action has been taken in accordance with a state government order of 14 days quarantine for people coming to the state from outside, the DC said. "He had not informed the state government about his visit and therefore we have put him in isolation for 14 days," Sinha said.

The DC, however, said if he wanted he can apply for exemption. Maharaj slammed the adminstration for "forcibly" sending him in isolation, saying "I am Member of Parliament and Jharkhand is a part of India. Can't I meet my ailing mother? "I have to take part in a meeting of the standing committee of Parliament on Sunday and I have been forcibly quarantined here...its really disgusting," he told reporters.

The state BJP came in his support and made a scathing attack at the coalition ministry over the incident, saying "Hemant Soren government is adopting double standards in implementation of COVID norms...there is incongruency in taking action against VIP and a comman man and also between politicians of the ruling and opposition parties."

Jharkhand BJP president Deepak Prakash threatnedd to launch a statewide agitation if Maharaj was not released from coercive isolation immediately. He alleged that while he and senior party leader Babulal Marandi were sent to 14 days self isolation on return to Ranchi from Delhi recently, whereas Congress co-incharge visited the state capital from the national capital and held organisational meeting and participated in other programmes, but no such action was initiated against him.

Earlier, after getting information about visit and return of the Uttar Pradesh politician without advance information, the administration sealed borders of the district and put barricades. A team headed by Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Prerna Dixit which was following him stopped the MP at a barricade under Pirtand police station and sent him on 14 days isolation at Shanti Bhawan, the DC said. Maharaj told reporters at the spot he was intercepted that he had come to see his ailing mother in Giridih after giving prior information. He, however, said had he been told about the mandatory 14-day quarantine condition for visiting Jharkhand, he would not have come.

The BJP MP talked to Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary from the place he was intercepted in the presence of media and also put the DC over phone to the chief secretary. But, it did not help him and he was taken by the police to Shanti Bhawan for placing him under home quarantine. The MP said, RJD chief Lalu Prasad's son Tej Pratap Yadav had on Wednesday visited Ranchi to meet his father in RIMS and returned to Patna by road, but the administration did not take any similar action.

"This appears to be inspired by political jealousy," the UP BJP leader alleged. Jharkhand has a coalition government of JMM, Congress and the RJD headed by Hemant Soren. "The entire members of the state cabinet were told to go in quarantine after a minister had tested positive, but the ministers were seen moving freely and participating in programmes," Prakash, Rajya Sabha, MP, said in a statement in Ranchi.

"What kind of rule is this under which Congress ministers and party workers sit on dharna in front of the Raj Bhawan and the administration remain a mute spectator. "Lalu Prasad's son visits Ranchi to meet his father and his supporters indulge in mischievous activities but the administration looks the other way," he said.
Bay of Plentys Bay Conservation Alliance and Coromandels Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust are just two of the community conservation hubs that will receive funding to support their work connecting and supporting community conservation groups.

Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage today announced that 116 community conservation projects have been granted $5.44 million from the Department of Conservations Community Fund/ Putea Tautiaki Hapori.

The DOC Community Fund/Putea Tautiaki Hapori is designed to support practical on-the-ground projects that give our native plants and wildlife a helping hand and encourage people to get involved in conservation, says Sage.

The range of projects funded this year highlights the amazing range of work being done by volunteers and groups all over New Zealand.

The funding includes $900,000 for six community conservation hubs which will bring together like-minded people to super-charge conservation goals and outcomes in their region."

Providing funding support for community conservation groups all over Aotearoa will see more conservation work being done, more New Zealanders active in the outdoors, and more people aware of our countrys unique conservation challenges, says Sage.

Some of the 116 projects receiving funding will support research, others will help New Zealands threatened species, and others allow community groups to take their conservation goals to the next level. DOC staff help provide support to projects.

Six community conservation hubs will each receive a share of $900,000 to fund their work connecting and supporting community conservation groups. These hubs are:

 Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust, Coromandel

 Bay Conservation Alliance, Bay of Plenty

 Hawkes Bay Biodiversity Trust, Hawkes Bay

 Wild for Taranaki, Taranaki

 Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, Banks Peninsula

 Whakatipu Wildlife Trust, Queenstown Lakes

Bay Conservation Alliance currently has eleven member community conservation groups, each of them a registered charity in their own right.

The DOC Community Fund was established in 2014 to support community-led conservation projects on public and private land. Funds are directed towards practical projects aimed at conserving New Zealands indigenous biodiversity. This includes initiatives focused on restoring natural habitats and populations of our native species. More than $33 million has been awarded to over 600 different conservation projects in the first five DOC Community Fund funding rounds.

The current funding round was opened in February 2020 with a call for applications focussed on projects that restore the diversity of native plants and wildlife, including, pest control, habitat restoration and weed management.

Other projects and organisations are also receiving funding in this round.

The Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand is receiving $168,700 to produce 12 videos and organise community workshops to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems, demonstrate best practice coastal restoration, monitoring, and long-term management.

The Takaka Hill Biodiversity Group is receiving $97,699 for the Takaka Hill National Park Halo Predator Control Project to install of traps for predator control on private land in the Takaka Hill area. This land forms a corridor between Abel Tasman National Park and Kahurangi National Park. Trapping will reduce the risk of the land becoming a reservoir for predators and allow indigenous species to spread safely outside the national parks.

Hollyford Conservation Trust - Te Roopu Manaaki o Whakatipu Waitai will receive $60,000 to part fund a Project Manager role to manage the Trust's ecological restoration project and pest control operation.

Auckland-based Te Whangai Trust is receiving $36,000 to transform a wasteland in Panmure on the Tamaki Estuary into an urban ecological island. The area is currently affected by fly-tipping. Weeds and animal pests will be removed, and native plantings will encourage native species back to the area.
Igor Babushkin, Governor of the Astrakhan Region of the Russian Federation sent a congratulatory letter to Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"Dear Mehriban Arif qizi,

Please accept my sincerest congratulations on the occasion of your birthday.

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you good health, a long life, prosperity and implementation of all your plans and undertakings.

Your political knowledge and managerial talent coupled with natural charm have allowed you the opportunity to successfully combine your work as First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan with multifaceted work as the head of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

You rightfully enjoy well-deserved respect not only in your native country but also far beyond its borders.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank you for your all-round support and invaluable contribution to the development of friendly ties and business partnership between the Astrakhan Region and Azerbaijan. I am convinced that in the future, through joint efforts, we will enhance the traditions of mutual respect and trusting cooperation.

I wish you all the best, happiness, good luck, inexhaustible optimism and continued success in the noble cause of serving the people of Azerbaijan," the letter said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
CLEVELAND, Ohio  I got a 69 Chevy with a 396. Fuelie heads and a Hurst on the floor

The opening of Bruce Springsteens Racing in the Street represents one of the most iconic car lyrics in music history. And now, visitors to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame can live out those lyrics through one of the museums new artifacts.

The Rock Hall has installed a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle once owned by The Boss. To be clear: It is NOT the exact car that inspired Racing in the Street. But thats somewhat irrelevant, considering the car Springsteen sings about may or may not have existed.

Car experts have long argued that Fuelie heads couldnt fit a Chevy 396 engine because it was a big block. Regardless, the Rock Halls Chevelle is the closest most Springsteen fans will ever come to Racing in the Street.

The car is on loan to the Rock Hall from Toby Scott, a sound engineer who worked on 18 of Springsteen albums, including Darkness On The Edge of Town, Born in the U.S.A. and Tunnel of Love. Scott also oversees The Archive Concert Series available for download on Springsteens website. The Boss gifted the Chevelle to Scott in 1988.

[It] is a car [Bruce and I] had driven around New Jersey on many an occasion, recalls Scott. Although not the inspiration for the song Racing in the Street, [that songs] opening lines describe it exactly: I got a 69 Chevy with a 396, Fuelie headers and a Hurst on the floor

The 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle is currently on display on the museums bottom floor. The Rock Halls hours of operation this summer are daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for the museum, which is abiding by Ohios social distancing guidelines, must be purchased online.
Hang made the statement while answering reporters queries about PM Abe Shinzos declaration to resign on August 28.

PM Abe Shinzo has been trusted by the Japanese people for years, she said, adding that he is a leader who has made many contributions to the development of Japan and the promotion of cooperation in different fields in the region and the world.

Vietnam wishes PM Abe Shinzo good health and happiness and continuing to make important contributions to the development of Japan as well as the cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and Japan, the spokeswoman said.
Thousands of demonstrators have again gathered in the major Russian Far East city of Khabarovsk to denounce the arrest of the region's governor a month ago and to support opposition politician Alexei Navalny and Belarusian people. (AP)

Khabarovsk: Thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday in Russias far eastern city of Khabarovsk to protest against President Vladimir Putins handling of a regional political crisis and the suspected poisoning of his most vocal critic.

Putin, have some tea, protesters chanted as they marched on the citys main thoroughfare, in a reference to the case of opposition politician Alexei Navalny who fell gravely ill this month after drinking a cup of tea at an airport cafe.

Navalny, 44, was airlifted to Germany last week after collapsing during a flight to Moscow from the Siberian city of Tomsk. He is now in a medically-induced coma in a Berlin hospital.

Residents of Khabarovsk, about 6,110 km (3,800 miles) east of Moscow, started holding weekly rallies after the July 9 detention of Sergei Furgal, the regions popular governor, over murder charges he denies.

His supporters say the detention is politically motivated. At the rally, they brandished posters denouncing repression and dictatorship and demanded that Furgal be released and allowed to return to the city.

Some also expressed solidarity with opponents of Belarusian leader and long-time Putin ally Alexander Lukashenko who have been staging public protests for weeks over vote-rigging accusations in the Aug.9 presidential election.
Indian Navy ship INS Nireekshak, which was rushed to Mauritius, is assisting in oil spill containment and salvage operations, High Commission of India in Port Louis said in a tweet.

Divers @indiannavy assist

environment impact assessment



After deployment of

10-member Tech Response Team @IndiaCoastGuard &

30 T specialized eqpt. brought

on board @IAF_MCC &



Evacuation of 1,000 T oil from MV Wakashio by Indian Oil (Mauritius) Ltd#SAGAR#IndiaMauritius  pic.twitter.com/4MLRGtQOSp  India in Mauritius (@HCI_PortLouis) August 28, 2020

READ: Indian Coast Guard Sends 10-member Team To Mauritius To Assist With Oil Spill Operation

Earlier on August 24, the High Commission had tweeted stating that INS Nireekshak had docked Port Louis and resources including divers on board will be utilised for seaward search and rescue or medical support and specialised salvage operations relating to MV Wakashio.

India stands with Mauritius

Moreover, India has also sent an IAF plane with a 10-member Technical Response Team to help Mauritius in its ongoing oil spill containment and salvage operations. News agency ANI quoted the National Crisis Committee of Mauritius saying in a statement, "At around 4.30 pm, a major detachment of the vessel's forward section was observed".

India has also sent 30 tonnes of specialised equipment in an effort to help authorities and volunteers in Mauritius with the salvage, clean-up and containment of the oil spill. As per reports the equipment and the team have already landed on the island nation via an Indian Air Force aircraft.

An official release added that the India Coast Guard team sent to Mauritius is qualified in handling pollution response operations at sea, and thus will be of great assistance in the subsequent clean-up operations.

READ: Mauritius Declares Environmental Emergency After Oil Spills From Grounded Bulk Carrier

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth declared a state of environmental emergency as the grounded Japanese vessel started to leak fuel into the waters earlier this month. According to international media reports, Jugnauth called the satellite images of oil spill very sensitive.

Mauritius even appealed France for help and said that the spill represents danger for the country that heavily relies on tourism and has been hit hard by the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic. The ship was is reported to have been carrying nearly 3,800 tonnes of low-sulphur fuel oil, 207 tonnes of diesel, and 90 tonnes of lube oil.

On Wednesday, at least 14 dolphins have died so far off the Mauritius coast where a Japanese oil tanker crashed last month. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause behind the death of marine mammals. Media reports suggest that more dolphins were also spotted near the shore and appeared distressed.

Image: IndiainMauritius/ Twitter

READ: Mauritius: Oil Spills From Grounded Bulk Carrier, Officials Launch Investigation

READ: Mauritius Oil Spill: Grounded Ship Splits Apart Leaking Tons Of Residual Oil Into Water
A South African conservationist has been killed by lions he hand-reared, the family said on Thursday.

West Mathewson, 69, was walking two white lionesses on Wednesday when one of the animals attacked and killed him without warning.

The incident took place on the premises of the family-owned Lion Tree Top Lodge, in South Africas northern Limpopo province.

Known as Uncle West, he had raised the lions since they were cubs and was used to interacting with them.

Mathewsons wife Gill, 65, was driving behind her husband when the lion attacked.

She tried her best to rescue her husband, but was unable to do so, said a statement by family attorney Marina Botha emailed to AFP.

The lions have be temporarily moved to a facility while a decision on their final destination is made.

The family assured they would be released into the best environment available to them.

Mathewson and his wife had four sons and six grand-children.

The family is heart broken by the loss of their husband, father and grandfather, the statement said.

They find comfort and peace with the fact that he died while living his dream, being in nature and with his lions that were so close to his heart.

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Hyderabad: His official designation is Head of Operations for South East Asia for Beijing T Power company. A neatly drafted resume of his says he is the CEO of several companies like Linkyun Technology and Dokypay among others. But he claims he is just a translator who was sent to supervise his company's operations in India only because he spoke good English.

Chinese national Yah Hao -- arrested recently in connection with a multi-crore online gaming fraud -- continues to be a mystery to his investigators even as evidence on the Chinese firms dealings with several Indian companies has emerged along with details of employees hired by the company who played a substantial role in the fraud. More arrests in the case are expected shortly.

At the end of the four days of police custody of Yah Hao, evidence about money flow into small and big companies surfaced even as police filed another petition in a local court seeking his custody for a few more days for further questioning. Hao's lawyers have sought bail for him.

Sources told Deccan Chronicle that while Hao maintained that he was innocent and knew nothing about the alleged fraud, data retrieved from his Apple Mac laptop gave a blueprint of their India operations and the massive plans in place to expand their footprint in India in the online gaming arena.

The content of the laptop which is mostly in Mandarin also reveals the names of employees, their salaries, and the number of people to be hired as part of their expansion plans.

Sleuths have also stumbled upon evidence linking several Indian firms and payment gateways associated with the Chinese company. Data has been found about money flow into various companies and representatives of a few firms have been summoned for explanation. The police are on the lookout for some senior employees of Hao's firm who played a substantial role in the online gaming fraud. Some of them are reportedly on the run since Hao's arrest.

Hao's resume found on the laptop says he is the CEO/MD of companies like Linkyun and Dokypay among others which were established by him to expand operations. The Chinese firm was constantly establishing new companies and moving operations from one company to another. When quizzed about his role in the company, Hao claimed he was just a translator and had been sent to India as he speaks English. It is suspected that the Chinese firm entered India through a local consulting company and the sleuths are looking into whether it was in violation of the Companies Act.

However, there is a ton of data in Chinese, which sleuths suspect pertains to bank accounts and transactions. A Chinese translator, who is also a Chinese national, based in another South Indian city has been hired and tasked with retrieving the data and translating it into English. This process is expected to take a significant amount of time. The data on Hao's mobile phone is also in Chinese and it was found that he never used Whatsapp to chat with his contacts. Instead, he used WeChat, which is a Chinese multi-purpose messaging app. The sleuths are going through the chats, which so far indicate that it was mostly about the company's transactions and related deals.

Details that emerged from Hao's interrogation during the last four days have been shared with the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax sleuths who are looking into money laundering and taxation angles.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.29

By Nargiz Ismayilova  Trend:

The foreign trade operations between Azerbaijan and Luxembourg amounted to $14.8 million from January through July 2020, which is 4.9 percent more than in the same period of last year, Trend reports referring to the statistical bulletin of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee.

According to the committee, in the reporting period, the export of Azerbaijani products to Luxembourg made up $12.9 million, while a year earlier more than $12.1 million. Thus, on annualized basis Luxembourg increased import of Azerbaijani products by 1.03 times, and its share in Azerbaijans total export grew from 0.1 percent to 0.14 percent.

Meanwhile, the import of Luxembourg products to Azerbaijan declined year on year from $1.98 million to $1.93 million. The share of Luxembourg in the total import volume of Azerbaijan rose from 0.02 percent to 0.03 percent.

The ratio of export-import in foreign trade relations between the two countries from January through July 2020 continued shifting towards export of products from Azerbaijan.

In the first 7 months of 2020 the ratio of export to import was 87.2 percent to 12.8 percent, respectively, against 86.2 percent to 13.8 percent in the same period of last year. The share of exports of Azerbaijani products to Luxembourg in the total turnover of the two countries increased by 1 percent.

Thus, the balance of foreign trade turnover between the countries during the reporting period remained positive, making up $10.97 million.

In general, the foreign trade turnover of Azerbaijan amounted to $15.03 billion from January through July 2020, which is 1.4 times less than in the same period of 2019.

The balance of foreign trade turnover on an annualized basis decreased by 1.1 times and remained positive, amounting to $3.2 billion.

----

Follow the author on Twitter: @IsmailovaNargis
Harris was picked by Joe Biden as his running mate, after she dropped out of the presidential race last year due to lack of popular support

Washington: Kamala Harris is "not competent" to be president, US President Donald Trump has said as he launched an attack on the Indian-origin senator's credentials for the top post.

Addressing his supporters at a Republican campaign rally in New Hampshire on Friday, Trump said he would support seeing a female president in the US but suggested that his daughter and senior White House adviser Ivanka Trump would be a better candidate for such a role.

Harris, 55, was a presidential aspirant until last year before she dropped out of the race because of lack of popular support. Harris returned to political limelight after Joe Biden, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, picked her as his running mate in the 3 November election.

Born to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, Harris is the first Indian-American and first Black woman to be picked by a major American political party for the top post.

"You know I want to see the first woman president also, but I don't want to see a woman president get into that position the way she'd do it, and she's not competent," Trump said.

"She's not competent," he said amidst applause from his supporters, a few of whom screamed Ivanka Trump, at an election rally on Friday.

"They're all saying, 'we want Ivanka'. I don't blame you," he said responding to his supporters.

This was Trump's first election rally after he formally accepted the nomination of the Republican Party on Thursday for the presidential election.

Trump said Harris withdrew from the Democratic Party's presidential race before primary season kicked off as her popularity dropped down to single digit.

"How about her? Sheer beauty? What a beauty though. They pick a woman who starts off...She (Harris) starts off (her presidential campaign) sort of strong. She's one of the favourites. Within a period of a few months, she goes down, down 15, 12, 11, nine, eight, five, three, two," he said, underlining the popularity downslide of Harris in the few months after her highly impressive campaign launch.

"Then she goes, I'm going to leave because I've decided that I want to leave. I want to leave. She left (the race of presidency) because she wouldn't have gotten any votes. She was terrible. And this would be your president possibly. I don't think so. I don't think so," Trump said, speculating on the possibility that Harris could emerge as a Democratic presidential candidate in 2024.

Attacking Biden, Trump said he is running on the most extreme, far left platform of any nominee in American history.

"And of our foreign adversaries who are devising a plan to destroy the United States from within all they have to look, is that the Biden-Harris (ticket)," he said.

Hours before Trump delivered his acceptance speech from the South Lawn at the White House, Harris alleged that the presidents policies have been "a reckless disregard" for the danger a pandemic would pose to American lives.

She said Trump has "failed at the most basic and important job of a President of the United States. He failed to protect the American people".
Pakistani Christian girl beaten by family employers for refusing to convert to Islam

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An 18-year-old Christian servant in Pakistan was beaten for refusing her employers' demands to convert to Islam, according to her family and a London-based human rights group.

According to the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement, an interdenominational aid agency, Anika Shehzad from the Ferozwala district Shakhupura in the Punjab province was beaten earlier this month, a few days after she took a job as a live-in servant.

The charity reports that Shehzad comes from a poor family and accepted the job as a domestic servant for the Muslim family, which paid about $30 per month. She was referred to the job by a neighbor.



But after being pressured by members of the employing family for her to leave Christ and to follow Islam, Shehzad was said to have told the family that she decided to quit the job.

Her decision to quit angered the family members and they began to beat the teenager. After the beating, Shehzad was taken back to her parents home in Ferozwala.

The employer told the girls father that she had been beaten for stealing money. After the child was taken for medical treatment, her parents began asking questions about why she was beaten.

CLAAS-UK reports that in response, the employers family accused the girls father of stealing money although he never visited the house where his daughter was working.

The family has sought the help of a local member of Parliament, Tariq Masih Gill. The family believes that their daughter was beaten only because she refused to convert to Islam, according to CLAAS-UK.

CLAAS-UK Director Nasir Saeed said in a statement that even though the Punjab Domestic Workers Act was passed in Lahore High Court in January 2019, abuses against domestic servants continue in Pakistan as the law largely remains unenforced.

Christians in Pakistan are illiterate and poor, and many poor families are forced to take risks such as sending their young daughters to rich Muslim families to work as live-in domestic servants for a little money, he explained.

These young girls are often sexually harassed, tortured and sometimes are asked to convert to Islam.

According to Saeed, some cases of abuse are reported by the media, such as the case of a Pakistani judge and his wife who were jailed for torturing their 10-year-old maid and causing multiple injuries in 2016.

Several girls have even been killed, like Shazia Masih, 12, Saeed said. And several cases are taken to the courts but hardly any family has got justice. And the practice still continues because perpetrators are always influential and rich. And sometimes, victims are [pressured] to withdraw their cases and some victims are compensated with money.

Pakistan, a Muslim majority country, has long been criticized for poor human rights conditions for religious minorities.

Open Doors USA ranks Pakistan as the fifth-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution.

In addition to the enforcement of blasphemy laws that are often used to persecute religious minorities, religious minority girls are too often kidnapped, raped, and forced into Islamic marriages.

According to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the National Commission of Justice and Peace and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan recognize that as many as 1,000 young women are forcibly converted to Islam each year. Many of those women are kidnapped, forcibly married, and subjected to rape.

Throughout Pakistan, Christians face societal pressure to convert to Islam. A viral video posted to TikTok in July shows one Christian man being pressured by a group of Muslims to accept Islam but refusing to do so.
The Delhi High Court has been informed by the Medical Council of India (MCI) that all candidates, who are taking admissions in foreign universities for pursuing a medical course, can go on the condition that they qualify the NEET-UG this year or in 2021.

The MCI said that owing to the extraordinary situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as a one-time measure, candidates can go abroad for pursuing a medical course, provided they fulfil the criteria under the Eligibility Requirement for Taking Admission in an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002 for admission to MBBS courses.

The candidates should also fulfil criteria under the Screening Test Regulations, 2002 and the Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997, it said.

The submissions were made before Justice V Kameswar Rao by MCIs lawyer T Singhdev, who said the decision shall be applicable to all candidates, who are taking admission in a foreign institute or university for pursuing foreign medical qualification for which possessing National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) qualification is a prerequisite.

He said the decision has been taken by the MCI pursuant to a concurrence given by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Singhdev said it is incumbent upon candidates to qualify the NEET-UG in 2020 or 2021 and in case they fail to qualify, the decision to continue foreign medical courses will be at their own risk as they will not be entitled to appear for the screening test and thereby, would not be entitled for grant of provisional or permanent registration by the state medical council concerned.

The court was hearing a petition by Baskara Prasad S Isukapalli seeking one-time exemption, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for his daughter from the requirement of clearing NEET for admission to the Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia, for the current academic session 2020-2021.

The petitioner had also sought permission for her daughter to take admission in the foreign university in the current session and an exception to be given for an opportunity to clear NEET in the next three sessions due to the restrictions put by the DGCA, because of which she is unable to travel.

Keeping in view the submissions made by MCI, petitioner advocate Ashish Upadhyaya said he has no further grievance and that the petition be treated as closed, which was allowed by the court.

The MCIs counsel also informed the court that in another matter, the Supreme Court was informed that Vande Bharat Mission flights are available for students and efforts will be made by the Ministry of External Affairs to accommodate Indian and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) students before the NEET examination on September 13 and genuine requests for relaxation of quarantine conditions will be considered.
Empagliflozin also significantly reduced the relative risk of first and recurrent hospitalization for heart failure by 30 percent and significantly slowed kidney function decline 1

Results were consistent in subgroups with and without type 2 diabetes 1

Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization in the U.S. and Europe 2

Results from the Phase III EMPEROR-Reduced trial were published today in The New England Journal of Medicine1

Full results from the EMPEROR-Reduced Phase III trial in adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, with and without diabetes, showed that empagliflozin was associated with a significant 25 percent relative risk reduction in the primary endpoint of time to cardiovascular death or hospitalization due to heart failure.1 The trial evaluated the effect of adding empagliflozin (10 mg) versus placebo to standard of care.1 The results will be presented today at the ESC Congress 2020, the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology,3 and published in The New England Journal of Medicine,1 Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200829005006/en/

The findings from the primary endpoint were consistent in subgroups with and without type 2 diabetes.1 Key secondary endpoint analyses from the trial demonstrated that empagliflozin reduced the relative risk of first and recurrent hospitalization for heart failure by 30 percent.1 Additionally, the rate of decline in eGFR, a measure of kidney function decline, was slower with empagliflozin than with placebo.1

"Heart failure is a devastating and debilitating cardiovascular condition. Not only does it limit quality of life, but it is also a progressive disease that requires repeated hospitalizations and is accompanied by a loss in kidney function," said Milton Packer, M.D., Chair of the Executive Committee for the EMPEROR Program and Distinguished Scholar in Cardiovascular Science at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, U.S. "Results from the EMPEROR-Reduced trial show that, when given to adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, empagliflozin reduces the number of heart failure hospitalizations while slowing the decline of kidney function. These results are highly statistically significant and clinically important."

In an exploratory analysis, the absolute risk reduction observed in the primary endpoint of EMPEROR-Reduced corresponded to a number needed to treat of 19 patients over 16 months to prevent one cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure.1 An additional exploratory analysis showed that empagliflozin decreased the relative risk of a composite kidney endpoint*, including end stage kidney disease and a profound loss of kidney function, by 50 percent.1

In EMPEROR-Reduced, the efficacy results were achieved with a simple dosing regimen, with once daily dosing and no need for titration.1 The safety profile was similar to the well-established safety profile of empagliflozin.1 There were no clinically meaningful differences in adverse events including hypovolemia (decreased blood volume), hypotension (low blood pressure), volume depletion (loss of fluids), renal insufficiency (poor kidney function), hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) or hypoglycemic events (low blood sugar) compared with placebo.1

Heart failure affects over 60 million people worldwide,4 with more than one million people being hospitalized due to the condition every year in the U.S. and Europe.2 Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to the rest of the body and is the most common and severe complication of a heart attack.5,6 People with heart failure often experience breathlessness and fatigue, which can severely impact their quality of life.7,8 Individuals with heart failure often also have impaired kidney function, which can have a significant negative impact on prognosis.9

"Heart failure can have a profound impact on people living with the condition, with the potential of life limiting consequences for the heart and the kidneys," said Waheed Jamal, M.D., Corporate Vice President and Head of CardioMetabolic Medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim. "Empagliflozin was the first SGLT2 inhibitor to demonstrate a reduction in cardiovascular death and hospitalization due to heart failure in people with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, based on the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial. We continue to break new ground with the EMPEROR-Reduced results, which provide robust evidence that empagliflozin can transform the lives of millions of people through reducing cardiovascular outcomes and slowing the progression of kidney damage in people with heart failure. We look forward to exploring these data further and are planning regulatory submissions for later this year."

"Tens of millions of people live with heart failure and kidney disease," said Jeff Emmick, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President, Product Development, Lilly. "Results from EMPEROR-Reduced show that empagliflozin can help improve heart failure outcomes while also slowing kidney function decline. We are excited to share these data and, through our ongoing EMPOWER program, hope to redefine how people living with these conditions are treated."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to empagliflozin for the reduction of the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in people with heart failure.10 This designation is for the EMPEROR program, which consists of the EMPEROR-Reduced and EMPEROR-Preserved trials. EMPEROR-Preserved is exploring the effect of empagliflozin on cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure in adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction,11 an area that currently has no approved treatment options. EMPEROR-Preserved results are expected in 2021.

Additionally, the ongoing EMPA-KIDNEY study is evaluating the effect of empagliflozin on the progression of kidney disease and occurrence of cardiovascular death in adults with established chronic kidney disease, with and without diabetes.12 The FDA has also granted Fast Track designation to empagliflozin for the treatment of chronic kidney disease, demonstrating the urgent need for new treatment options for people living with the condition worldwide.13 Results from EMPA-KIDNEY are expected in 2022.

The EMPEROR and EMPA-KIDNEY studies are part of the EMPOWER clinical program, the broadest and most comprehensive of any SGLT2 inhibitor, exploring the impact of empagliflozin on the lives of people across the spectrum of cardio-renal-metabolic conditions. The program also includes the EMPACT-MI study, which will investigate the effect of empagliflozin on all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure in adults, with and without diabetes, who have had a heart attack14, and the EMPULSE study, which is exploring empagliflozin in adults, with and without diabetes, who are hospitalized for acute heart failure and have been stabilized.15

* Composite exploratory endpoint included chronic dialysis or renal transplant or sustained reduction of 40% in eGFR (CKD-EPI) or a sustained eGFR 15 mL/min/1.73m2 (for patients with baseline eGFR 30) or sustained eGFR 10 mL/min/1.73m2 (for patients with baseline eGFR 30 mL/min/1.73m2

About the EMPEROR Heart Failure Studies11,16

The EMPEROR (EMPagliflozin outcomE tRial in patients with chrOnic heaRt failure) heart failure studies are two Phase III, randomized, double-blind trials investigating once-daily empagliflozin compared with placebo in adults with heart failure with preserved or reduced ejection fraction*, both with and without diabetes, who are receiving current standard of care:

EMPEROR-Reduced [NCT03057977] investigated the safety and efficacy of empagliflozin in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Primary endpoint: time to first event of adjudicated cardiovascular death or adjudicated hospitalization for heart failure

Number of patients: 3,730

Completion: 2020

Link to lay summary

EMPEROR-Preserved [NCT03057951] investigates the safety and efficacy of empagliflozin in patients with chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Primary endpoint: time to first event of adjudicated cardiovascular death or adjudicated hospitalization for heart failure [Time Frame: up to 38 months]

Anticipated number of patients: approx. 5,990

Estimated completion: 2021

*Ejection fraction is a measurement of the percentage of blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction.17 When the heart relaxes, the ventricle refills with blood.

HFrEF occurs when the heart muscle does not contract effectively, and less blood is pumped out to the body compared with a normally functioning heart. 17

occurs when the heart muscle does not contract effectively, and less blood is pumped out to the body compared with a normally functioning heart. HFpEF occurs when the heart muscle contracts normally but the ventricle does not fill with enough blood, so less blood can enter the heart compared with a normally functioning heart.17

About the EMPOWER program

The Alliance has developed the EMPOWER program to explore the impact of empagliflozin on major clinical cardiovascular and renal outcomes in a spectrum of cardio-renal-metabolic conditions. Cardio-renal-metabolic conditions are the leading cause of mortality worldwide and account for up to 20 million deaths annually.18 Through the EMPOWER program, Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly are working to advance knowledge of these interconnected systems and create care which offers integrated, multi-organ benefits. Comprised of eight clinical trials and two real-world evidence studies, EMPOWER reinforces the long-term commitment of the Alliance to improve outcomes for people living with cardio-renal-metabolic conditions. With more than 257,000 adults studied worldwide in clinical studies, it is the broadest and most comprehensive clinical program for an SGLT2 inhibitor to date.

The development program encompasses:

EMPEROR-Reduced, in adults with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization due to heart failure 1

EMPEROR-Preserved, in adults with chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization due to heart failure 11

EMPULSE, in adults hospitalized for acute heart failure to improve clinical and patient reported outcomes 15

EMPACT-MI, to evaluate all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with and without type 2 diabetes who have had an acute myocardial infarction, with the aim to prevent heart failure and improve outcomes 14

EMPA-KIDNEY, in adults with established chronic kidney disease to reduce the progression of kidney disease and the occurrence of cardiovascular death 12

EMPERIAL-Reduced, in adults with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction to evaluate functional ability and patient reported outcomes 19

EMPERIAL-Preserved, in adults with chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction to evaluate functional ability and patient-reported outcomes 20

EMPA-REG OUTCOME , in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease to prevent major adverse cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death 21

, in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease to prevent major adverse cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death EMPRISE, a non-interventional study of the effectiveness, safety, healthcare utilization and cost of care of empagliflozin in routine clinical practice in adults with type 2 diabetes across the cardiovascular risk continuum22,23

About Heart Failure

Heart failure is a progressive, debilitating and potentially fatal condition that occurs when the heart cannot supply adequate circulation to meet the body's demands for oxygenated blood or to do so requires increased blood volume leading to fluid accumulation (congestion) in the lungs and peripheral tissues.5 It is a widespread condition affecting over 60 million people worldwide and expected to increase as the population ages.4 Heart failure is highly prevalent in people with diabetes;24 however, approximately half of all people with heart failure do not have diabetes.4,25

The empagliflozin heart failure program was initiated based on data from the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial, which assessed the effect of empagliflozin (10 mg or 25 mg once daily) in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease when added to standard of care, compared with placebo.21

About Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Conditions

Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly are driven to transform care for people with cardio-renal-metabolic conditions, a group of interconnected disorders that affect more than one billion people worldwide and are a leading cause of death.18

The cardiovascular, renal and metabolic systems are interconnected, and share many of the same risk factors and pathological pathways along the disease continuum. Dysfunction in one system may accelerate the onset of others, resulting in progression of interconnected diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and kidney disease, which in turn leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular death. Conversely, improving the health of one system can lead to positive effects throughout the others.26,27

Through our research and treatments, our goal is to support people's health, restoring the balance between the interconnected cardio-renal-metabolic systems and reducing their risk of serious complications. As part of our commitment to those whose health is jeopardized by cardio-renal-metabolic conditions, we will continue embracing a multidisciplinary approach towards care and focusing our resources on filling treatment gaps.

About Empagliflozin

Empagliflozin (marketed as Jardiance) is an oral, once daily, highly selective sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor and the first type 2 diabetes medicine to include cardiovascular death risk reduction data in its label in several countries.28,29,30

Inhibition of SGLT2 with empagliflozin in people with type 2 diabetes and high blood sugar levels prevents sugar being re-absorbed by the kidneys, leading to the excretion of excess sugar in the urine. In addition, initiation of empagliflozin also prevents salt being re-absorbed, leading to increased excretion of salt from the body and reducing the fluid load of the body's blood vessel system (i.e. intravascular volume). Empagliflozin induces changes to the sugar, salt and water metabolism in the body that may contribute to the reductions in cardiovascular death observed in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial.31

Please click on the following link for 'Notes to Editors' and 'References' https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/press-release/emperor-reduced-heart-failure-full-data

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200829005006/en/

Contacts:

Stefanie Molkenthin

Product Communication Manager

Boehringer Ingelheim

Email: press@boehringer-ingelheim.com

Phone: +49 (6132) 77 172209

Stephan Thalen

Global Business Communications

Lilly Diabetes

Email: stephan.thalen@lilly.com

Phone: +1 (317) 276 8304
COVID-19 has swept through Linda Maxwells school like a hurricane, shutting it down not once but three times since April.

The large state school in Melbournes north-west has lost 15 days of learning since April due to unplanned closures due to a case of the virus.

Year 12 student Olivia De Lesantis, one of the VCE class of 2020 whose ATAR will be adjusted for the impact of COVID-19 and remote learning. Credit:Justin McManus

We havent had any more than a three-week run since this started, the principal of Keilor Downs Secondary College said.

Since the first closure she has seen her year 12 students results on their coursework dive compared with term one.
People's Artist of the USSR Vladimir Andreev passed away today, the farewell will presumably take place on Wednesday, the rector of GITIS, Grigory Zaslavsky said.

He clarified that the artists wife Natalya Selezneva informed about his death.

"We celebrated the 90th birthday of Vladimir Andreev, he didnt feel well, he had coronary heart disease. But we hoped that everything would be fine and soon he would meet with the students whom we had just recruited at GITIS," TASS quotes Zaslavsky as saying.
Top General Says Military Will Play No Role in Presidential Vote

WASHINGTONThe U.S. armed forces will have no role in carrying out the election process or resolving a disputed vote, the top U.S. military officer has told Congress.

The comments from Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, underscore the extraordinary political environment in America. Milleys comments were released Friday.

I believe deeply in the principle of an apolitical U.S. military, Milley said in written responses to several questions posed by two Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee. In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, by law U.S. courts and the U.S. Congress are required to resolve any disputes, not the U.S. military. I foresee no role for the U.S armed forces in this process.

Milleys tone reflects the longstanding views of military leaders who insist that the nations military stays out of politics and that troops are sworn to protect the country and uphold the Constitution.

The two Democratic Congress members, Reps. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, said Friday that Trumps recent comments and his efforts to use the military to quell protests have fueled their concerns. The two lawmakers released Milleys answers.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) speaks in a file photo. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

These are just prudent questions to be asking given the things that the president has been saying publicly, said Slotkin, pointing to Trumps use of the military to clear protesters from Lafayette Square and his suggestions that he may put law enforcement at the polls to make sure voting is conducted professionally. Milleys answers, she said, demonstrated that the chairman recognized the militarys role in our elections is to essentially stay out; that the militarys role in the peaceful transition of power is to stay out.

Trump said last month it was too early to guarantee hed accept the election results.

I have to see. Look  I have to see, Trump said on Fox News Sunday. No, Im not going to just say yes. Im not going to say no. The Biden campaign at the time responded that the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.

Trump later suggested that the election should be postponed, since the coronavirus pandemic has made it likely it could take days or weeks to count mail-in ballots. But that idea was immediately refused since the election date can only be changed by Congress.

Milley has been asked if the military would refuse an order from the president if he was attempting to use military action for political gain rather than national security, Milley said, I will not follow an unlawful order.

President Donald Trump addresses supporters during a campaign rally at Manchester Boston Regional Airport in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on Aug. 28, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

This is the second time in recent months that Milley has made a public stand against military involvement in politics. In June he used a speech at the National Defense University to express regret for walking with Trump through Lafayette Square.

He said photos of him there sparked a national debate about the role of the military in civil society. And he told the military audience, we must hold dear the principle of an apolitical military that is so deeply rooted in the very essence of our republic.

By Lolita C. Baldor

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.
Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma said that approval has been received to open in 15 districts.

"The state government's planning is that there should be a Medical College in each district. Thus, approval has been received to open in 15 districts," Sharma said on Friday, according to an official release.

"At present, 8 in the private sector have been opened and there are only three districts, which do not have any Government Medical College. The State government is making all efforts to open medical colleges in these districts," he said.

He emphasised that the government is working on every point at the micro-level by which could become an example in the entire country in the health sector.

" is becoming a leading state with the efforts of the state government. Special steps are being taken up by the government in the field of healthcare, health infrastructure and health manpower under the strong leadership of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The government is not leaving any stone unturned in providing better health facilities to the general public by facing all the challenges," he said.

The Health Minister further spoke about COVID-19 and said that till now over 22 lakh tests have been done in Rajasthan and the capacity to conduct 51,640 tests per day in the state has been developed.

He said testing facilities have been developed in 22 districts of the state and soon corona testing will start in all the remaining districts.

The Health Minister said the state government is providing lifesaving injections worth Rs 40,000 free of cost to the serious patients.

"The recovery ratio of Rajasthan is better compared to other states in the country. At present, approximately 80 per cent of patients have recovered from the disease and gone home. Also, the COVID-19 fatality rate in the state is just at 1.3 per cent," Sharma said.

"A new lease of life has been given to around 211 serious patients through Plasma Therapy in 5 Medical Colleges in the state. With this therapy, 99 per cent of patients have recovered," he said while urging people who have recovered from the disease to step forward to donate plasma.

Dr Sharma said that the state government started the Nirogi Rajasthan (Healthy Rajasthan) campaign to make residents of the state healthy.

"To make the general public aware of good health, Swasthya Mitras have been made in 40,000 revenue villages by selecting one male and one female. These 80,000 Swasthya Mitras are helping during the corona time and also working to make people aware of the other national programmes. Swasthya Mitras will be selected soon in cities also," he said.

Highlighting that more than 82 per cent of children are being vaccinated on time, he said efforts are being made to achieve a 100 per cent target of vaccination in the state.

The state government has "completed the recruitment of 765 doctors".

"Now the work on recruiting 2,000 doctors is going on. Around 12,500 auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM)-GNM have been appointed in the state by completing the recruitment work," he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
People who are sentenced to serve time in prison go behind bars as punishment for committing crimes.

Although rehabilitation also can be a goal for prisoners, for the most part, prisons are a place where people pay their debt to society.

Although it can be hard to show kindness to many of these people because of the harm theyve done, prisoners should have access to essential health care while theyre incarcerated.

This should include offering them decent medical care and healthy living conditions to prevent prisoners from becoming ill or contracting diseases. But one has to wonder how well these standards were met in protecting prisoners throughout the United States from the novel coronavirus pandemic.

A recent Associated Press story reported that correctional facilities which resisted mass coronavirus testing for inmates erred in their decision to only test inmates with symptoms, leading to large initial undercounts, a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested.

The study released recently examined 13 prisons and jails in California, Colorado, Ohio and Texas, and three federal prisons in states that werent identified.

Most of the institutions waited several days or weeks before the first identified case of COVID-19 and then began mass inmate testing, the study found.

Mass testing was expensive and ate up staff time, and rearranging living space for inmates based on the results wasnt always possible, corrections officials told researchers.

Yet only testing inmates with coronavirus symptoms likely underestimated the number of infected prisoners, the study found. Symptom-based testing also runs the risk of inmates hiding symptoms out of fear of being removed from the regular prison population and being shunned by other inmates.

Broad-based testing can provide a more accurate assessment of prevalence and generate data to help control transmission, researchers said.

In one unidentified federal prison where mass testing was delayed nearly six weeks after the first coronavirus case was identified, mass testing found 77 percent of inmates were positive.

In an Ohio prison where mass testing was delayed almost two weeks after the first case, mass testing found 87 percent of inmates tested positive.

The study also suggested that multiple re-testing of inmates after initial negative tests could help curb transmission rates.

Mass testing irrespective of symptoms, combined with periodic retesting, can identify infections and support prevention of widespread transmission in correctional and detention environments, the study concluded.

In a second CDC study focused on Puerto Rico, only two cases of COVID-19 and no deaths have been reported in state prisons.

Puerto Rico restricted admission of all new inmates to a single facility, mass tested everyone regardless of symptoms, and adopted strict quarantining until tests results were available, the study found.

Puerto Ricos efforts should serve as a case study to protecting imprisoned people from the coronavirus, researchers concluded.

As of mid-August, more than 95,000 people in prison had tested positive for the illness, a 10 percent increase from the week before, according to data compiled by the Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization focusing on criminal justice, and The Associated Press.

New cases among prisoners reached an all-time high as of Aug. 14 after slowing down in June. The growth in recent weeks was driven by big jumps in prisoners testing positive in California, Florida and Texas and the federal Bureau of Prisons, along with outbreaks in Idaho, Iowa, Oregon and South Carolina.

Of prisoners testing positive, more than 62,000 have recovered, and at least 803 inmates have died, the Marshall Project/AP data showed.

Granted, with many prisons being crowded with inmates, these places arent exactly ideal settings to put social distancing guidelines into effect or come up with rules to limit gatherings of large groups.

However, we do believe that many prisons which postponed mass testing of inmates for COVID-19 need to consider a different approach. After all, prisoners with COVID-19 can pass along the disease to corrections officers, who in turn can transmit the virus to others outside the prison walls.

So to protect the health of everyone who interacts inside prisons, we believe that mass testing of prisoners for COVID-19 in a timely manner is a wise idea.
True heroes of Covid War By Gamini Weerakoon Doublespeak View(s): View(s):

Sri Lanka can truly claim to be a front runner in the war against the coronavirus pandemic with 2,984 infected cases reported and only 12 deaths while the pandemic is raging across the world with 24,662,073cases and 836,346 deaths by August 28.

The worlds most powerful country, the United States, has recorded 6,048,404 cases and 184,834 deaths while the worlds second most populous country, India, is accelerating its deadly pace  3,392,295 cases and 61,725 deaths. Some reports doubt the accuracy of the Indian statistics due to the vastness of the country and the number of its people.

Unlike Lankas victory in the Terrorist War, the COVID-19 Wars heroes are neither being declared nor are there any direct claimants.

The global Covid war is undoubtedly the deadliest war fought by humanity. The enemy was not known and there were no weapons to fight it with. Yet, our doctors, nurses, attendants, manual workers went into battle with the only protective weapon, they thought they had, the flimsy facemask. Many did not even have that at the start.

Like in a military conflict, they were on the frontline facing the deadly virus. They risked not only their lives but those of their family members, too, because after long hours of work in hospitals they went back home with the risk of carrying the virus home.

How many of these brave warriors fell victim to this virus is not known to the public as yet. They should be declared national heroes as those in many in other fields have accorded with such titles and materially rewarded.

These medical workers worked as a team and cooperated with each other showing a degree of cooperation not usually witnessed amongst them in the pre-Covid times. And they had a captain, Dr. Anil Jasinghe MD, Msc, MD (Med Adm), MPA, the then Director General of Health Services. We have not known him or spoken with him but on TV he effused an image of a typical professional in a tie and simple attire. His speeches on TV  flanked by flamboyant khaki uniformed officials of the services  were the point with a single objective: control of the disease.

In this column on July 5 this year, we said that with the general election a month away, a new brand of heroes  COVID-19 heroes  were being marketed as those who saved Lanka from the Covid pandemic. Indeed, this claim was made in the election campaign and it did not include this intrepid band of medical personnel.

We wrote: To the discerning public, the true heroes of this pandemic are those who worked on the frontline and if a superhero is called for, we recommended Dr. Jasinghe.

We did so because in these times when you cant help not bumping into a pickpocket or like on the street, who is also a proclaimed hero of some sorts, there could be plenty of claimants for Covid hero awards. The real heroes of this war against an unknown enemy should, as a poet said, cannot be forgotten: unheard, unwept and unsung.

But where is Dr Jasinghe now? He has been promoted as the Secretary to the Ministry of the Environment. A secretary to a cabinet minister is a post in the highest rungs of the administrative ladder. But there is also the cynical view that this is an instance of a square peg in a round hole and the promotion in reality is a kick upstairs to accommodate someone else with the title the Hero of the Covid War. Dr Jasinghes expertise is in public health and not on the environment. But to be fair by the doctor and all concerned, he deserved the promotion.

It could be argued that Dr Jasinghes expertise in the spread of communicable diseases is essential for environmental protection purposes. The spread of communicable diseases such as malaria, filaria, and dengue is connected with the environment and knowledge of which he possessed as a medical professional would be vital in the performance of his new job.

However, as we are all aware, the Covid pandemic is still not over though it appears to be under firm control in this country.

The threat looms over the Palk Strait. On April 26, we wrote in this column: While Sri Lankan government officials are backslapping one another on the success achieved so far in containing the pandemic, a threat with devastating potential could be developing just 22 miles away across the Palk Strait in neighbouring India. The COVID-19 virus is stepping up each day in the nation of more than one billion people and has spread right across the sub-continent. If a devastating coronavirus bomb builds up in India and there is a Covid vacuum in Sri Lanka, such a difference could unleash havoc here. This is a challenge that our Virus Warriors have to anticipate without basking in the glory of what has been already achieved.

The Covid virus is now swamping the whole of India, more so the southern states such as Tamil Nadu. Already an infected Sri Lankan who had been resident in a refugee camp in Tamil Nadu had smuggled himself across the sea and been detected by the authorities. The Sri Lanka Navy is on the alert for illegal migrants across the sea, recent press reports from the North have said.

Daily reports speak of increasing warmth of relations between the new Rajapaksa Government and New Delhi and Indian assistance on this vital issue would be welcome. It is also an opportunity for heroes in the COVID-19 Virus War to make their claims.

(Gamini Weerakoon is a former editor of The Sunday Island,

The Island and Consulting Editor of the Sunday Leader)
Some also expressed solidarity with opponents of Belarusian leader Lukashenko who have been staging public protests for weeks now

Khabarovsk: Thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday in Russias far eastern city of Khabarovsk to protest against President Vladimir Putins handling of a regional political crisis and the suspected poisoning of his most vocal critic.

Putin, have some tea, protesters chanted as they marched on the citys main thoroughfare, in a reference to the case of opposition politician Alexei Navalny who fell gravely ill this month after drinking a cup of tea at an airport cafe.

Navalny, 44, was airlifted to Germany last week after collapsing during a flight to Moscow from the Siberian city of Tomsk. He is now in a medically-induced coma in a Berlin hospital.

Residents of Khabarovsk, about 6,110 km (3,800 miles) east of Moscow, started holding weekly rallies after the July 9 detention of Sergei Furgal, the regions popular governor, over murder charges he denies.

His supporters say the detention is politically motivated. At the rally, they brandished posters denouncing repression and dictatorship and demanded that Furgal be released and allowed to return to the city.

Some also expressed solidarity with opponents of Belarusian leader and long-time Putin ally Alexander Lukashenko who have been staging public protests for weeks over vote-rigging accusations in the Aug.9 presidential election.
Charu Vijay is IEI's summer 2020 scholarship winner. Many developing nations are struggling with the transition away from fossil fuels, given that it is expensive and complicated. I'll use what I've learned utilizing novel technology to make conservation easier for every country, business and person.

Ivey Engineering, Inc. (IEI), an engineering consulting firm, is pleased to announce that Charu Vijay of Sarasota, Calif., is the winner of the summer 2020 bi-annual scholarship essay contest. Vijay, an environmental engineering major, plans to attend Tufts University in Medford, Mass., this fall.

"Thank you so much for this opportunity," says Vijay, after finding out she won the scholarship.

Vijay is IEI's seventh winner of the bi-annual scholarship. The company started the scholarship in 2017. Vijay competed with more than 100 other college students from the United States and Canada. Applicants were tasked to write an 800- to 1,000-word essay on one of three topics and were judged for creativity and originality.

Vijay's winning essay discusses six tips for hiring a building contractor for a commercial project. One tip she mentions is to select a contractor with exceptional character. "Someone with a strong moral compass will follow the right standards and be trustworthy, assets necessary for a successful project," Vijay explains in her essay.

Good communication skills is another essential contractor component of character, she says. "Through the building process, it is necessary to have someone who establishes effective methods of contact and clearly explains procedures."

"Charu's essay was thorough and creative in explaining tips to follow for hiring a contractor," says Scott Friesen, president of IEI. "The quality of her essay shows why she came out on top as the winner," he says.

Vijay chose environment engineering as a major because of her passion for saving the Earth. She felt even more determined to explore conservation after seeing the effects of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems during a school trip to Belize. She sees herself in the next 10 years starting a company that ensures access to sustainable solutions around the world.

"Many developing nations are struggling with the transition away from fossil fuels, given that it is expensive and complicated, " Vijay explains. "I'll use what I've learned utilizing novel technology to make conservation easier for every country, business and person."

"We're excited for Charu and wish her the best as she pursues her goals," Friesen says.

Any potential or current college or university undergraduate student within the United States or Canada is able to apply for the scholarship. The next deadline for essay submissions is Nov. 1, 2020. For contest requirements or for more information about the scholarship, visit IEI's scholarship web page.

About Ivey Engineering

IEI is an expert witness and building systems consulting firm in San Diego, California. Established in 1994, IEI services clients in over 40 states and in several Canadian provinces. IEI's consultants have experience in the design, construction, service and repair of HVAC, plumbing and fire protection systems, as well as energy efficiency related issues. To read more about Ivey Engineering and its consulting services, visit the companys website.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 21:51:09|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) backed by Jubaland state forces on Saturday killed six al-Shabab extremists in a fierce clash in the southern region of Lower Juba, an officer confirmed.

Aden Mohamed Ibrahim, commander of Jubaland forces, told journalists that members of al-Shabab militants launched an attack on a base run by the regional state's forces in Bar Sanguni neighborhood, but they were overpowered.

"The forces prevented the militants' attempt to overrun the base and the militants suffered severe casualties during the confrontation between the army and the attackers," Ibrahim said, adding that a government soldier was killed and two others injured during the gun battle.

Government forces have intensified operations against al-Shabab militants in the southern and central regions in recent months, but the militants are still hiding in the rural areas of those regions, conducting ambushes and planting landmines. Enditem
On Wednesday, the US government executed Lezmond Mitchell, 38, the only Native American person on federal death row in the Terre Haute, Indiana federal prison. Mitchell was a member of the Navajo tribe in northern Arizona. After receiving a lethal injection of pentobarbital, which is known to cause severe pain, Mitchells chest heaved and stomach throbbed in the death chamber for 10 minutes before he went motionless and was pronounced dead by officials 15 minutes later, at 6:29 p.m.

A 19-year-old Lezmond Mitchell [Credit: Auska Kee Mitchell]

Dozens of protesters from around the US gathered outside of the Terre Haute facility on the day Mitchell was executed to oppose the death penalty, bearing signs reading Stop State Killings and The Death Penalty Is Not Justice.

Mitchell is the fourth death row inmate in the Terre Haute prison to be executed by the Trump administration since federal executions resumed in July. His death is preceded by those of Daniel Lewis Lee, 47; Wesley Ira Purkey, 68; and Dustin Lee Honken, 52. Two more federal executions are scheduled this year, for William Emmet LeCroy on September 22, and Christopher Andre Vialva on September 24.

Under the pro-death penalty, law and order administration of President Donald Trump, the federal government has executed more inmates this year than in all previous 56 years combined.

After repeated appeals, the Supreme Court denied a last-minute effort to delay the execution Wednesday before it went forward. The court declined to review an allegation of juror bias at Mitchells 2003 trial in Arizona.

Tribal leaders from the Navajo Nation urged President Trump to commute Mitchells death sentence to life in prison, and they along with 13 other tribes ardently criticized the decision by the administration to ignore their appeals, citing the federal death sentence as an affront to their and other tribal nations sovereignty under the US Constitution. The Trump administration refused to commute the sentence.

In an appeal Wednesday to tribal nations and organizations to join the Navajo Nation in opposing the Trump Justice Departments violation of their rights, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez wrote, We dont expect federal officials to understand our strongly held traditions of clan relationship, keeping harmony in our communities and holding life sacred...What we do expect, no, what we demand, is respect for our people, for our tribal nation[.]

The sovereignty of tribal nations refers to the Constitutional right of self-government by American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Native tribes operate as distinct governments which have the same powers as the US federal and state governments to regulate their own affairs, with few exceptions.

Mitchell was convicted with a co-defendant in connection with the 2001 carjacking and stabbing murders of a 63-year-old bus driver, Alyce Slim, and her nine-year-old granddaughter, Tiffany Lee, on the Navajo reservation in northeastern Arizona. He was sentenced to death in 2003.

Mitchells attorneys, Deputy Federal Public Defenders Jonathan Aminoff and Celeste Bacchi, argued in a July 29 statement that In what the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals referred to as a betrayal of a promise made to the Navajo Nation, the Department of Justice exploited a legal loophole and sought the death penalty against Mr. Mitchell for the federal crime of carjacking over the objection of the Navajo Nation, the victims family, and the local United States Attorneys Office. The federal governments announcement that it now plans to execute Lezmond Mitchell demonstrates the ultimate disrespect for the Navajo Nations values and sovereignty.

Aminoff and Bacchi also cited government misconduct in the course of Mitchells prosecution by confining Mr. Mitchell in a tribal jail where they continually interrogated him over the course of 25 days without providing him an attorney and that it had systematically excluded Navajos from serving on Mr. Mitchells jury, resulting in a jury composed of 11 white people and only one Navajo, the latter of which the attorneys were barred from investigating.

Former Democratic President Bill Clinton resurrected and expanded the federal death penalty in 1994 as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Acta bill which was written by then Senator and current Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

Under the act, tribal governments had a say in whether or not they allowed capital punishment to be applied to their citizens. The Navajo Nation largely decided against capital punishment and expressed clearly that it did not want the death penalty for Mitchell.

Members of Alyce Slims family also objected to the decision to execute Mitchell. Michael Slim, her grandson, said during the court case, We are all guilty of sin, so its not fair for us to condemn someone...Its not my job to say we should kill him. According to the Associated Press, Michael Slim wrote to Mitchell last year saying he wanted to be his friend and advocate for him to be released from death row. The courts never responded to Slims letter, according Bacchi.

At the time of sentencing, Slims daughter Marlene had favored life in prison over the death penalty, but apparently changed course by the time the execution was carried out, potentially under pressure from others of the victims family members.

Through his lawyers, Mitchell fought the sentence, saying that he instead wanted to participate in a traditional way of resolving disputes known as peacemaking thats meant to restore harmony and balance.

On the day of the execution, his attorney released another statement, saying, Today, the federal government added another chapter to its long history of injustices against Native American people...Over the steadfast objection of the Navajo Nation, and despite urgent pleas for clemency from Navajo leaders and many other Native American tribes, organizations, and citizens, the Trump Administration executed Lezmond Mitchell, a Navajo man, for a crime against other Navajo people committed on Navajo land.

The Trump administrations decision to ignore the appeals of Native American citizens to exercise their constitutionally-protected rights is another ominous step toward dictatorship supported by a substantial section of the American ruling class, and should be understood as a warning to all workers in the US. It is not a coincidence that Mitchell was executed on the third day of the Republican National Convention, during which one far-right speaker after the next delivered homages to the police and military and denounced peaceful protests against police violence.

The Trump administration is spearheading its fascistic agenda, aimed at violently suppressing the rights of the entire working class, by attacking its most vulnerable sections first as has been seen in the war waged on immigrants and refugees.

The deplorable conditions in which the vast majority of the Native American population lives are the result of the American capitalisms violent rise to world power. According to 2010 US Census data, Native Americans have an average life expectancy five years shorter than the average for the US as a whole and is actually far lower than the average in some regions. As recently as 1968, the average life expectancy for Native Americans in the US was just 44 years.

The poverty rate among Native Americans is 25 percent, the highest of any demographic group in the country. In 2016, the official unemployment rate was 12 percent among Native Americans, more than twice the national rate of 4.9 percent for the year, and has been attributed to a dire lack of jobs near the reservations where many Native people live and which tend to be located in rural and economically devastated areas of the US, as well as reports of employment discrimination.

Due in large part to their lower standard of living, Native Americans, especially young people, experience higher rates of mental and behavioral health issues in a country where such problems are increasingly common. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recognized suicide as the second leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native youth ages 8 to 24 years old. Coupled with a dire shortage of health care resources for Native American communities, the mental health crisis takes its toll in many forms.

The Democratic Party, for its part, has displayed its fecklessness again while Trump has trampled the Constitutional rights of US citizens, in particular the working class and poor. Democratic Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico claimed to be seeking ways to ensure tribes are respected in their decisions regarding the death penalty, according to ABC News, while making no mention of the presidents open violation of the Constitution in executing Mitchell.
Favouritism stink

Its 23 versus 23. On the face of it, the Congress power struggle is between the 23 dissenters and the Gandhis but a closer look would reveal something additional. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kapil Sibal, Manish Tiwari and others have problems more with AICC treasurer Ahmed Patel than with Sonia or Rahul.

The grudge against otherwise affable Patel is that he is pushing his favourites at all levels of the Congress hierarchy. Since Patels residential address in New Delhi is 23, Mother Teresa Crescent, Congress insiders are dubbing the leadership challenge as 23 versus 23.

New kid on the block

The BJPs nominee for a Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha seat, Zafar-ul Islam, has a past in the Congress. The BJP spokesman who got his nomination for the remaining term of the late Amar Singh from Uttar Pradesh [in Rajya Sabha bypolls, the ruling party gets the numerical strength] was a part of the Congress social media team till 2014.

Zafar, then an investment banker, had joined Deependra Singh Hoodas team and functioned from 15, Gurudwara Rakabgunj Marg, when he became disillusioned with the grand old party. There has been no looking back since. It is a different matter that not everyone in the BJP is happy over the rise and rise of Zafar-ul Islam. Veteran Shahnawaz Hussain was a contender for the Upper House berth.

Interminable wait?

Call it a Covid-19 impact but in the coming Parliament session, Central Hall will be out of bounds for journalists and ex-MPs. The Lok Sabha Speaker has already constituted a panel to look into criteria for issuance of Central Hall passes.

Cynics believe by the time the panel submits its report there will be a new Parliament building in the central vista. The panel, headed by TV personality Rajat Sharma, has not been meeting as its chairman wants to discuss issues online while most members feel a physical, offline discussion would be suitable.

Emails are being exchanged to work out a consensus. Meanwhile, senior journalists who have passes in the Long and Distinguished (L&D) category are most exercised over the delay.

Azads motivations

The Congress disquiet has rattled many, particularly the manner in which Ghulam Nabi Azad has turned dissident. Azads term is ending in early 2021 and there is no sign of renomination. At present Azad is the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, enjoying the perks of a Union minister.

There is likelihood that Mallikarjun Kharge, who was the Congress leader in the Lok Sabha during 2014-2019, may get the job in the Upper House. Some Congress insiders see more in Azads defiance pointing that he has been the only former J&K chief minister who was not booked or detained under the Public Safety Act after the abrogation of Article 370.

There is also talk of misuse of the Jammu and Kashmir State Lands (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act, 2001, popularly known as the Roshni Act during Azads chief ministerial stint.

Investigations into the land transfers subsequently said to have found that land in Gulmarg and elsewhere in the valley had been given over to ineligible beneficiaries.

Surrender to Sangh

BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia was recently at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur. It prompted Digvijaya Singh and a number of Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders to twist a notable Buddhist chant, Buddham Sharanam Gachchami, to Sangham Charanam Gachchami. In the original chanting, the disciple supposedly surrenders to the Buddha, the awakened one but in the perverted form, Scindia is accused of taking a shelter in RSS.
MBABANE  Traditional healers have not started paying taxes, resulting in government losing millions of Emalangeni in revenue.

However, they have declared that they are open to taxation, only if government would lay out the guidelines.

They said this amid revelation that at least 80 per cent of emaSwati consult traditional healers; a move that experts say is a threat to environmental conservation. It was said the country had about 8 000 traditional healers.

The Eswatini Sixth National Report (6NR) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) in its findings, said the high number of emaSwati who consulted traditional healers had an impact on biodiversity.

This is compounded by the fact that the Eswatini State of Environment Report (2012) points to a decline and extinction of some wild animal species and populations of indigenous plant species. It says that approximately 25 per cent of each of the terrestrial ecosystems has been lost to some form of land use.

Commercial farming and traditional healers are just some of the forms of land use quoted.

A traditional healer told Eswatini News that healers charge varying amounts depending on the extent of work and the prescription by ancestors. However, he said it was general practice that they started engaging in the total cost of treatment after payment of E100 as consultation single fee.

Implication

If 80 per cent of emaSwati consult traditional healers, the implication is that 908 000 have been to a healer. If they go once a year, this further implies that the country is losing out on about E90.8 million. In their reaction to this, Spokesperson of the Traditional Healers Association Makhanya Makhanya said he was aware that healers used a lot of the countrys indigenous plant and animal species to formulate treatments for their clients, saying he had no qualms with taxation.

However, Makhanya said such costs would have to be pushed to the consumer, who would have to pay an increased consultation fee.

He lamented that healers did not feature on any of the government initiatives, to revive the economy, such as the Economic Recovery Plan, which carries a E30 billion stimulus package.

Makhanya said he believed the report which said 80 per cent of emaSwati consulted traditional healers because emaSwati love their culture.

If we are speaking about those that are 100 per cent emaSwati then it is true, because every liSwati knows where he originates from and respects such. A traditional healer starts getting involved with a person from the moment they are conceived in the womb. Then, in all stages of life emaSwati use traditional healers, even to connect them with their ancestors, he said.

Schooled

The Eswatini Revenue Authority (SRA) Commissioner General, Dumsani Masilela wondered why the traditional healers were not submitting the tax returns because they had been schooled on it.

We have allowed groups to invite us if they need any training. I believe they have an association that facilitates that, he said.

The Institutions Customer Services Manager Ricardo Kruger also said all who earned income were expected to pay taxes.

There is no provision in the Income Tax Order that exempts traditional healers from taxes, therefore they would be expected to comply, he said.

He said what the SRA has had to deal with is assessment of the definition of an income, when it comes to traditional healers, as well as the means of accounting for the earnings in this sector.

It is in this regard that the perception may be that the sector is exempt when that is not true, Kruger said.

Meanwhile, Reverend Bheki Magongo of the Swaziland Council of Churches said he could neither disprove nor approve of the finding of the report but said every liSwati is allowed to exercise their will to consult a traditional healer.

The difference comes when that particular liSwati has been born again by giving his/her life to Christ. The Holy Bible then stipulates a way of life which does not include consulting ancestors, he said.

He said Christians preferred medical doctors because they prescribe medication that has been tested and proven to be harmless to the body, instead of muti received through an instruction from ancestors.
Vaccine trials: Vital signs of volunteers normal

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Pune, Aug 29: Vital health parameters of the two volunteers, who have been administered the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate at a medical college here as part of the phase II clinical trial, are normal, a senior official from the medical facility said on Thursday.

Two men, aged 32 and 48, were given the first shot of the 'Covishield' vaccine, being manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), at Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday. The dose will be repeated after one month, an official said.

"Since yesterday, our medical team is in touch with the two volunteers and both are fine. They do not have any pain, fever, injection-side reaction or systemic illness post-vaccination," the medical college and hospital's deputy medical director Dr Jitendra Oswal said.

Sputnik-V: Vladimir Putin touts Russia's COVID-19 vaccine as effective and safe

After the vaccine was administered on Wednesday, both the volunteers were observed for 30 minutes and later allowed to go home, he said.

"They have been given all the necessary emergency numbers (to contact in case of need) and our medical team is also conducting follow-ups with them," he added.

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The vaccine dose will be repeated on both the volunteers after one month, the hospital's medical director Dr Sanjay Lalwani said on Wednesday.

He said in all, 25 candidates will be given the vaccine in the next seven days.

Dr Sonali Palkar, in-charge of the medical college's research cell, said four to five persons were screened on Wednesday and a decision to administer the vaccine to them as part of the clinical trial is subject to their COVID-19 and antibody test reports.

SII, the world's largest vaccine maker has signed an agreement to manufacture the potential vaccine developed by the Jenner Institute of Oxford University in collaboration with British-Swedish pharma company AstraZeneca.

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Story first published: Saturday, August 29, 2020, 9:51 [IST]
SACRAMENTO  California overhauled its rules for when businesses can operate during the coronavirus pandemic, imposing a statewide system that will allow for partial openings in areas where the disease is under better control.

Under the plan, unveiled Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom, counties will be placed into four color-coded tiers  purple, red, orange and yellow, in descending order of severity  based on the prevalence of the coronavirus in their communities and gradually move through those levels. Restrictions on business and public life will be eased as transmission drops.

Newsom said the approach is simpler, more stringent and, most important, slower than the first time the state reopened this spring. As the governor began to ease a statewide stay-at-home order in May, many counties moved swiftly to bring back businesses and revive their ailing economies, leading to a summer surge of new coronavirus cases.

We dont believe that theres a green light that says, Go back to the way things were or back to a prepandemic mind-set, Newsom said at the news conference.

Much of the state may not immediately see any changes to public life under the new system, which takes effect Monday. Thirty-eight counties, encompassing 87% of the population, fall into the most restrictive tier, purple, where indoor operations for nonessential businesses largely must be closed. All Bay Area counties, except San Francisco and Napa, are now in this tier.

Counties will have to improve in two key areas to progress from one tier to another: daily case rate and test positivity rate. They will also have to show progress in addressing health equity, which has been a major issue during the pandemic, with Black and Latino residents getting COVID-19 at much higher rates than the rest of the population. More details on the equity benchmark will be announced Tuesday.

Previously, counties had to meet benchmarks for personal protective equipment, contact tracing, testing and hospitalizations in order to proceed with reopenings. While the state will continue monitoring those areas, counties will not need to meet specific goals in those categories to advance to the next tier.

Case rates are measured by daily confirmed cases per 100,000 people, to account for population. California, for instance, has a case rate of 10.9 cases per 100,000 people. San Francisco has a case rate of 9.8 cases per 100,000 people, according to the state.

Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

The test positivity rate is the percentage of total tests that come back positive. The World Health Organization has recommended that countries keep the rate below 5% for at least two weeks before considering reopening. Californias test positivity rate is 6%. San Franciscos test positivity rate is 3.4%. For context, states that have successfully tamped down the virus, like New York, have test positivity rates of 1% or lower. States that are struggling, like Florida and Texas, have test positivity rates between 10% and 20%.

Purple counties have more than seven new daily coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents and more than 8% of tests coming back positive. Indoor dining, gyms, nail salons and other personal care services, movie theaters, museums and houses of worship cannot yet open. Hair salons and barbershops will be allowed to reopen indoors and retail stores can operate with 25% capacity.

San Francisco and Napa County are in the next-lowest tier, red, where many of those nonessential businesses will be able to reopen with limited capacity. Bars, card rooms and office buildings must remain closed. The red tier metrics require a daily new-case rate between 4 and 7 per 100,000 people and a positive test rate of 5% to 8%.

In the orange tier, businesses can be open with some modifications and limits on capacity. The required metrics are between 1 and 3.9 daily cases per 100,000 people, and a positive test rate of 2% to 4.9%.

Businesses can be nearly fully reopened when their counties are in the yellow tier, which requires them to have fewer than one new daily case per 100,000 residents and fewer than 2% of tests return positive.

Hospitalization and ICU rates will not be formally considered part of the new framework because case rates and test positivity rates are earlier indicators of transmission, said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. Hospitalizations tend to trail new cases by several weeks. However, officials will continue monitoring hospital and ICU capacity and will work with counties to pause or backtrack if hospitals or ICUs become overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, Ghaly said.

Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Statewide, the number of people hospitalized and in ICUs for COVID-19 have been trending down for the past several weeks. As of Friday, hospitalizations were down 40% compared with the peak on July 21, dropping from about 7,200 people to 4,200, Ghaly said. And the number of COVID-19 patients in ICUs has declined about 35% from the peak on July 21, dropping from 2,058 to 1,329 as of Thursday, according to state data.

The state will update counties status weekly. Counties must spend at least three weeks in each tier before they can advance to the next one  a much slower pace intended to give public health officials time to monitor the effects of the changes on transmission of the coronavirus.

If counties hit the case rate and testing targets for the next level for at least two weeks, they will be allowed to ease restrictions further. If they miss the criteria for their current tier for at least two weeks, they will drop back a level and must adopt more restrictions again.

Having four tiers rather than a binary system makes a lot of sense to me, said Dr. George Rutherford, head of the division of infectious disease at UCSF. Once youre in a tier, you cant change tiers for three weeks at least. Slowing things down will be very helpful. ... Slow and steady wins the race. This is a way to kind of keep everything clear and in front of us and not move too quickly. We know what happens if we move too quickly.

Schools can reopen for in-person instruction in counties that have been in the red tier for two weeks. But counties in the purple tier can reopen elementary schools if they receive a waiver from the local health department.

But some local officials and businesses worry the new strategy may move too slowly.

Tony Avelar/Special to the Chronicle

I do have concerns about how slow the approach should be, considering the high numbers of businesses on the brink of closure and those who have already lost their jobs, said San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa.

California Business Roundtable said it is gravely concerned that California will see a wave of permanent job loss.

As coronavirus cases surged in California in June, Newsom began shutting down much of the economy again to slow transmission. By the middle of July, the governor had ordered bars, indoor dining, movie theaters and card rooms closed statewide. In counties on a state monitoring list for heightened spread of the virus, gyms, houses of worship, hair and nail salons, offices and shopping malls were told they could only operate outdoors.

The states new system eliminates the watch list in favor of the colored tiers.

At one point, the state was monitoring more than 40 counties, encompassing nearly the entire population of California. But as some  including Napa, Santa Cruz and the states second-largest county, San Diego  fell off the list in recent weeks, pressure grew on the Newsom administration to provide guidance on how they could begin to reopen businesses.

A dropping caseload has given Newsom confidence to attempt a second reopening, which he promised would be more cautious and deliberate than the first. The seven-day average for new coronavirus cases has dipped to less than 6,000, well below a peak of more than 10,000 in late July, though still about three times higher than when the state first began rolling back lockdown measures in May.

Newsom also announced a deal this week to more than double Californias test processing capacity over the next six months, which he said could help the state return more quickly to public life.

Alexei Koseff and Catherine Ho are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff @Cat_Ho
Emergency Management Lessons from Hurricane Katrina for Conquering COVID

Fifteen years after Hurricane Katrina struck Mississippi and Louisiana on August 29, 2005, nightmarish images of the Superdomes squalor and terrified New Orleans residents on rooftops still sear our collective memory.

Katrina, in many minds, symbolizes a failed government response and a failed system to protect societys most vulnerable.

There is, however, a far more positive yet less well known dimension to the Katrina response.

Even though Florida had been pummeled by three Category 3 hurricanes and two Category 4s in the year prior to Katrina, with more than 150 people dead and a record $22.8 billion in property losses, the governments of Florida and Mississippi created a mutual aid compact to supply essential surge capacity to areas devastated by Katrina. Created under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact system established in 1995, the Florida-Mississippi compact was the largest state-to-state mutual aid compact in U.S. history, with Florida providing $100 million of the total $346 million in state-provided mutual assistance to Mississippi.

The Florida-Mississippi agreement supported a unified command structure to support responders and logistics, which later evaluations identified as crucial to Mississippis response and a deficit in Louisianas. As the media highlighted the abject failures of hurricane relief in Louisiana, the Florida Emergency Management Division, under director Craig Fugate, demonstrated in Mississippi the right way to respond to an unfolding large-scale catastrophe.

Within hours of Katrinas landfall, Fugate and Florida Governor Jeb Bush began deploying first responders to Mississippi. They even anticipated where resources would be needed and sent them in advance. Florida would ultimately contribute more than 5.5 million gallons of water, 4 million pounds of ice, and 934,000 cases of food.

Floridas superior levels of planning, orchestration, and inter-agency cooperation across all levels of government, including the management of thousands of volunteers from across the state, can instill hope for future disastersand the COVID-19 era.

Yet this feat took more than a decade of trial and error to achieve. After Hurricane Andrew, the monster Category 5 storm that hit Miami in August 1992, Floridas fledgling emergency management team was baffled as donations poured in from around the countrymuch of it useless items such as blankets. There was no system in place to store, catalog, and distribute the supplies, so they sat unused, covering whole parking lots. Over a decade of hard work paid off: By 2004, Fugate was positioning extra fuel in advance to be available along evacuation routes.

Floridas outsized role after Katrina earned Fugate his appointment in 2009 as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under President Barack Obama. He took an agency that had been universally maligned for its post-Katrina performance, particularly in New Orleans, and built it into one of the most trusted, nimble units in the federal government. At FEMA, as he had in Florida, Fugate prized advance planning and risk management, such as strengthened building codes. He convened multiple tabletop exercises every year to anticipate the effects of different scenarios. He also instituted thunderbolt exercises, where he walked into the emergency operations command center and announced surprise disaster simulations. Just before Hurricane Sandy battered New York and New Jersey in 2012, Fugate ensured that recovery resources were in place.

In Florida, Fugate had prioritized ensuring that the public understood the urgency and specific elements of hurricane preparation. When the media quizzed him on whether the state was prepared for the next season, he turned the tables and asked journalists if they had their storm shutters up yet and their emergency supplies in place. At FEMA, Fugate recognized social medias potential for increasing public disaster awareness and introduced apps to support on-the-ground reporting with photos and GPS coordinates.

This is what successful preparation, response, and long-term follow-up to a catastrophic event looks like. What would it take for the U.S. to develop an epidemic preparedness culture as robust as Floridas hurricane culture? Its time that we invest to find out.

Karen Kruse Thomas, PhD, is the Bloomberg School historian.

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This spring, he figured the Biden campaign would, like Clintons, lack a mass yard-sign-distribution plan, so he came up with one of his own. The first batch of 12,000 was delivered in mid-July, and as photos circulated on social media, Eggleston received a crush of requests for more. So far he has helped with orders of more than 92,000 signs and expects to soon hit 100,000. The Biden campaign sells yard signs for $25 on its website, but county and state parties often have to arrange bulk orders on their own.
When Chadwick Boseman signed on to play the lead role in Black Panther, he must have been aware the part carried added significance.

He played TChalla, the king of secret African kingdom Wakanda and the first black superhero in mainstream comics.

Amid sky-high expectations, director Ryan Coogler and Boseman, who has died at the age of 43, delivered one of the most radical films the genre has seen.

On its 2018 release, Marvels Black Panther proved to be a landmark moment in the fight for greater representation in Hollywood, putting black characters at the centre of a blockbuster production.

The film holds a 96% rating on review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, grossed more than 1.3 billion dollars (about 974 million) worldwide and became the first superhero film to earn a best picture nod at the Oscars.

But its legacy is perhaps better measured in the millions of fans it inspired after seeing themselves represented on the big screen for the first time.

The film sparked a worldwide celebration of African culture, with the characters famous Wakanda Forever salute giving millions an added sense of pride in their African heritage.

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It was important to us, I didnt know how other people would feel about it, Boseman said during a discussion on the films impact on Good Morning America.

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I knew just from the comic book what a Black Panther movie could be, the type of impact it could have, I knew it would be a revolutionary idea. I didnt necessarily know that people would buy out (seats in) theatres.

This thing has taken on its own life. Its amazing to watch how excited people are.

Boseman added: There is a sense of pride that Ive seen from most people when they come out of the theatre that is a very unique experience across the board, whether theyre African-American or African, or white, or Asian.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) said its key unit, Digital Dewa, has sealed a strategic partnership deal with Group 42 (G42), a leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud computing company based in Abu Dhabi.

As a Dubai 10X enabler, Digital Dewa ensures a leading role in the adoption of digital technologies with its four pillars; Solar Energy, Energy Storage, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Services which makes it the worlds first digital utility utilising autonomous systems for renewable energy, storage, expansion in AI adoption, and digital services.

This in turn, supports the Dubai 10X initiative to propel Dubai into the future, positioning it 10 years ahead of other global cities.

The deal was signed in the presence of Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dewa, and Peng Xiao, CEO of Group 42 and other senior officials from both organisations.

The partnership with Group 42 enables Digital Dewa companies - Moro Hub, InfraX and DigitalX - to introduce and implement digital and data transformation initiatives. It aims to foster new services around AI and enhance innovations across Digital Dewas service portfolio.

On the strategic tieup, Al Tayer, said: "It will strengthen Digital Dewa offerings, as they can now extensively collaborate on technological endeavours, to co-create services in the clean energy and IoT, leverage AI-led solutions for government entities and enterprises across different sectors as well as explore the commercial and operational feasibility of such opportunities."

"At Digital Dewa, we are committed to strengthening the UAE's position as a global hub for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and increase its contribution to a knowledge-based national economy that depends on innovation and future technological applications," he stated.

The new services will be hosted on Moro Hub and G42 cloud infrastructure to ensure data security and superior customer experience. The services will be managed in Moro Hubs Smart Cities Command and Control Centre, offering 24/7 support to future clients, he added.

At the signing ceremony, Peng Xiao said: "We are thrilled to team up with Digital Dewa and play a key role in the digital transformation objectives and initiatives of the country. Our expertise in the fields of AI, Big Data Analytics and cloud computing, combined with our specialised industrial know-how, allow us to develop progressive and holistic solutions to problems in every sector, empowering businesses to transition to digital environments effortlessly."

"The UAE government is committed to the digital growth and development of the nation, and we are proud to contribute to this goal in every way possible," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > When Haksar was Proved Right on Sri Lanka | M.R. Narayan Swamy

Book Title: Haksar on Indias Sri Lanka Policy; Authors: V. Suryanarayan and Ashik J. Bonofer; Publishers: Centre for Asia Studies, Chennai, and Bookventure; Pages: 96; Price: Rs 200

This is a slim but informed and, if I may say so, an accidental book. It would not have been written but for the recently published letters from the late P.N. Haksar to Thomas Abraham, a highly respected diplomat, on the Sri Lankan conflict in the 1980s. For one who was once very close to Indira Gandhi, Haksar took a stand totally divergent from that of the Prime Minister and her Special Envoy to Sri Lanka, G. Parthasarathy. The letters are a small part of Jairam Rameshs well researched 2018 book on Haksar and Indira Gandhi. But they form the crux of this study.

Parmeshwar Narain Haksar (1913-98) was an erudite scholar, diplomat and administrator who helped to politically mould Indira Gandhi in the first six or seven years as Prime Minister, a period which included the birth of Bangladesh. Although Haksar was sidelined later, the scholar in him continued to live on.

Haksar was perhaps the first of his stature to realize that India had blundered by taking Tamil militants from the fractured island under its wings even as it insisted on talks between the moderate TULF and Colombo within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. When massive anti-Tamil violence erupted in Colombo in July 1983, inflaming passions in Tamil Nadu which Indira Gandhi could not ignore, Haksar wanted Thomas Abraham to be made the Special Envoy to Sri Lanka. The Prime Minister instead chose Parthasarathy, a Tamil, although Abraham knew Sri Lanka well.

In a letter to Abraham on September 30, 1983, Haksar complained  referring to Parthasarathy  that the public image is of a Tamilian missionary speaking for Tamilians and on behalf of Tamilians. This may have been good for domestic politics in India, but I am not sure whether anyone has worked out in detail the consequences of promoting Eelam.

If you look at history with the wisdom of hindsight, this was knowledge at its best  as far as Indias then still evolving Sri Lanka policy was concerned.

Two months later, on November 2, Haksar proved (again in hindsight) that his assessment of the situation was on the dot though he was out of power. He moaned that the noises India was making are not Indian concerns but narrowly Tamilian. He told Abraham that even if the Sri Lankans en masse were against India, it is not in our interest to make it appear so. And he was aghast that the Eelam boys were gloating that the next time there is a massacre of Tamils in Sri Lanka, India shall occupy parts of the island as the Turks did in Cyprus.

Haksars disenchantment with New Delhi on Sri Lanka continued even in 1985 when he told Abraham (December 25) that his first instinct was not too wrong that India should not get involved at all as a mediator between the Tamils and Colombo. He strongly favoured that India should appear at all times to be well-wishers of all the inhabitants of Sri Lanka.

With the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984, Parthasarathy faded away from the political scene and whatever little he had achieved as a point of discussion was dumped. Rajiv Gandhi may have been friendly to Sri Lanka compared to his mother but the fact that India continued to provide sanctuary to Tamil militants and even armed and trained them covertly did not endear New Delhi to Sri Lankans.

For one who was far removed from the emotive politics of Tamil Nadu, Haksar turned out to be right on Sri Lanka, in every sense of the term. In a letter to Abraham on January 21, 1988, Haksar opened his heart: I have a peculiar sense of satisfaction when I contemplate the whole mess in Sri Lanka. I had advised Indira Gandhi, if you recall, that India should not assume a mediatory role and certainly not under the Tamil flag (read Parthasarathy). He said the Sri Lankan disaster was compounded by New Delhis pathetic reliance on M.G. Ramachandran and the LTTE. Our intelligence had no clue whatsoever.

By the time this 1988 letter was written, Indira Gandhi had been assassinated, Parthasarathy had gone into oblivion, MGR was dead, hundreds of Indian soldiers had been killed and more would die while the LTTE was only three years away from Rajiv Gandhis assassination.

The book examines other aspects of Indias Sri Lanka policy not directly related to Haksar. It argues that the Indian government needs to take the interests and sensibilities of contiguous Indian states while dealing with foreign policy in the immediate neighbourhood. West Bengal under Jyoti Basu is cited as an example. I am not sure if this is sound. Indeed, there are those who say that Indias Sri Lankan policy got derailed precisely because it weaved Tamil Nadu too solidly into its strategic planning.

The books authors also feel that given the volatile nature of our neighbourhood, India cannot rule out the possibility of its armed forces being deployed again abroad to promote Indian interests. After the Sri Lanka fiasco, one prays that this does not happen. A quick go-and-return military operation like it happened in the Maldives is one thing; deployment with no time limit is another.
The Hornet 2.0 marked Hondas entry into the hotly contested sub-200cc segment in India. The motorcycle which operated in the 160-cc segment ahead of this, now has a power plant which has grown in size and comes alongside a few additional features, some even being segment-first. But the question boils down to its abilities to take on the established badges like the Apache 200 and Pulsar 200 NS among others. Hence, we give you a glimpse of how the motorcycle fares against its closest rival, the TVS Apache RTR 200.

Design

Honda Hornet 2.0

The Hornet 2.0 is essentially a CB Hornet 160R on steroids. The motorcycle gets a few additional elements like prominent tank shrouds, sharper creases all over and all-LED lights. Unlike the previous Hornet which came with a single seat set-up, the new Hornet 2.0 gets a split seat. In addition to this, the bike gets golden USD forks along with wider tyres.

The TVS Apache RTR 200 4V

The Apache formula is a tried and tested one on in the market. Like the Pulsar, the Apache aimed at making fun riding affordable. The bike has appealed to a large number of Indians and has always been a step up in its updates up until now. The stepped away from some of the elements that we had been seeing for quite a while now. For instance, the 200 4V now gets an updated headlamp with what TVS calls the claw lamp.

Features

Honda Hornet 2.0

The Honda Hornet 2.0 gets a fully digital instrument cluster that offers all the necessary readouts like speed, tachometer, fuel-efficiency, odometer, trip meter, service reminder, etc. The bike also features gear position indicator, battery voltmeter, hazard switch, and engine start-switch.

Also Watch:

TVS Apache RTR 200 4V

The Apache RTR 200 4V gets Bluetooth-enabled instrument cluster which connects to a smartphone and shows a host of practical and fun features. The app supports things like lean angle, average speed, total distance covered and also shows call/sms notifications.

Engine

Honda Hornet 2.0

At its heart, the Honda Hornet 2.0 gets a 184 cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that makes 17 bhp and 16.1 Nm of peak torque and can propel the bike from zero to 200 m in 11.25 seconds. The engine is mated to a 5-speed transmission.

TVS Apache RTR 200 4V

Powering the 200-cc Apache is a 197-cc single-cylinder oil-cooled engine that outputs 20.5 PS and 16.8 Nm of torque through a 5-speed transmission.
P olice in Lancashire have hit out at house party revellers who were found still drinking at 7.50am.

Officers were called to the home in Burnley on Saturday morning following reports that a group of people were breaching coronavirus restrictions.

In a lengthy Facebook post, Burnley and Padiham police Inspector Chris Valentine said attendees, in their drunken stupor, claimed Covid was made up.

He said they felt no remorse for hosting the party despite being parents to two teenagers.

The prospect of social distancing breaches over the Bank Holiday made him worried about keeping his own family, his team and the people of East Lancashire safe, Insp Valentine added.

"People have become too blase about things, he wrote. Just because Covid isnt always fatal doesnt mean we can ignore it.

"I just cannot understand anyone who would risk infecting themselves or the people they care about.

"Take the people at the house party for example.

"As a parent I do everything humanly possible to protect my son and hate seeing him when hes ill no matter how serious it is.

"Why would anyone deliberately expose their family to disease for the sake of having a few drinks?

His remarks came as Priti Patel promised a crackdown on illegal raves in the UK.

The Home Secretary lashed out at the organisers of illegal raves, warning them they are not above the law.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Ms Patel cited Londons Metropolitan Police, who have responded to more than 1,000 unlicensed music events since June.

Addressing those thinking of organising such events, Ms Patel wrote: It is critical that you consider the potential impact of these events, otherwise we risk undoing all the hard work the majority have done to stop the spread of this deadly virus.

I urge you to seriously consider the risks youre creating for everyone in attendance, as well as the wider community.

The Home Secretary also defended new legislation aimed at deterring illegal music events.

Under the new measures, which came into force on Friday, organisers of illegal raves will be hit with 10,000 fines.

Meanwhile, people not wearing masks and participants in unlawful gatherings can be fined starting at 100, doubling for each repeat offence up to a maximum of 3,200.

Ms Patel said the legislation represents a crackdown on the most serious breaches of social distancing restrictions.

She added: We will not allow this breathtakingly selfish behaviour from a senseless minority to jeopardise the progress we have made together.
By Trend

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov received Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Republic of Azerbaijan Saud Abdulaziz Al Roomi on August 28, 2020, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend.

Bayramov stressed the successful development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Kuwait based on the principles of friendship that has deep historical roots.

The Azerbaijani foreign minister stressed that there is a wide range of opportunities for the development of cooperation in various areas.

Ambassador Saud Abdulaziz Al Roomi congratulated Bayramov on his appointment as foreign minister and in this regard conveyed sincere congratulations of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on further expansion of cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats, as well as on the issues of mutual support within international organizations.

Briefing the Kuwaiti ambassador on the Armenia-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is one of the biggest threats to regional security, Bayramov emphasized the position of Azerbaijan on the settlement of the conflict based on the norms and principles of international law.

The sides stressed that Kuwait always supports fair position of the Republic of Azerbaijan within international organizations.

During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The U.S. rig count, which has been in a state of freefall since oil markets crashed in March, held steady over the past week in a growing sign that the drilling sector has hit bottom and is slowly recovering.

Energy companies operated 254 oil and gas rigs nationally, the same as last week, according to Baker Hughes, a Houston oil-field services company that has been tracking the onshore rig count since the 1940s. There are 180 oil rigs, down three from last week, and 72 natural gas rigs, up three from last week, as well as two maintenance rigs in operation nationally.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 09:41:19|Editor: huaxia

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MINSK, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's statement on suspending all contact with Belarus is a concrete damage to the close relations between the two countries, Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anatoly Glaz said on Friday.

Belarus did not put the dialogue with Ukraine on the so-called pause, Glaz said, adding that the responsibility for the possible consequences of this step lies entirely with the Ukrainian side and its foreign policy partners.

Belarus is ready to continue cooperation at all levels and to the extent that Ukraine and its people are ready, the spokesman added.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the country has put all contact at the diplomatic level with Belarus on pause, adding that Ukraine has joined the statement of the European Union over the situation in Belarus.

Kuleba also informed that there are no grounds to end diplomatic relations between Kiev and Minsk, and that the Belarusian ambassador to Ukraine will continue his work.

Belarus has been witnessing mass protests after incumbent President Lukashenko won a sixth term in the Aug. 9 elections, with the opposition refusing to recognize the results.

The situation has triggered various reactions in the international community, with the United States and the European Union preparing to step in and other organizations and countries calling for constraint and urging outside forces not to interfere in Belarus' internal affairs. Enditem
<! Fani-Kayode speaking in Akwa Ibom State >

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has opened up on bankrolling of his tours in different PDP states across the nation.

Fani-Kayode, who assaulted a journalist for asking him who bankrolled his tour, finally answered the question, saying that nobody is bankrolling his tour.

He described his visits across the country as a fact finding assessment meant to evolve strategies that could help solve the countrys challenges.

Fani-Kayode, again apologized over the media outburst in Calabar, Cross River State, saying it is an action he regretted.

Speaking at a media chat to mark the end of his visit to Akwa Ibom State, Fani-Kayode said he was very impressed with the strides of Governor Udom Emmanuel in Akwa Ibom State.

Fani-Kayode, who was emphatic on his source of funding for the tour said, I am not being bankrolled by anyone. If I am being funded for this fact finding mission, I wont be able to have a mind of my own.

The former presidential spokesperson said the visit was a personal sacrifice which he had no regret undertaking.

Akwa Ibom has really impressed me. I want to say this, you are blessed to have a Governor in mould of Mr Udom Emmanuel.

Governor Udom Emmanuel has attracted massive investments into Akwa Ibom State, you can only achieve that if you have an enabling environment. Gov Emmanuel is a focused and very disciplined professional, he said.

Stressing that the visit was his first ever, he maintained that, I have never been to Akwa Ibom before but what I have witnessed since I came in has been mind-blowing. The state is not only very beautiful but truly blessed.

The PDP chieftain whose recent outburst against a journalist in Cross River State sparked uproar in the media circle expressed regrets for the action, saying it was not worthy coming from a leader.

I very much regret the Cross-River State incident, I let my anger becloud my better judgement. I deeply regret my actions on that day. My response was disproportionate and unacceptable, that is why I had to apologize to my family, friends and the Media world.

No leader should ever be found wanting on such. I have reached out to the person in question and I am still reaching out to him again in love personally to say I deeply regret my actions towards him on that very day.

Related
More than five months after testing positive for COVID-19 for the first time, Byron Bay woman Mirabai Nicholson-McKellar still struggles with the simplest of tasks.

On the days when her symptoms are bad, going for a 20 minute drive can be too much to handle.

Its completely rendered me useless, I cannot function like a normal person, she told Yahoo News Australia. The simplest things, I cant do anymore  its incredibly frustrating.

After a nightmare battle with coronavirus which included trips to the emergency room, three positive tests and nearly 60 days in isolation, she still faces an uncertain future about when  if ever  her various symptoms will subside.

Its such a slow grind coming out of this. I have no trajectory, no guidelines about when or if I will be well again, she said. I go through days and weeks where I cant even imagine being normal.

On the bad days, if she tries to do too much, immense fatigue will settle in and she can be overcome with a feeling like my skin is on fire.

In the first few months, 35-year-old Mirabai Nicholson-McKellar said she largely felt forgotten by the healthcare system as she was continually told to isolate. Source: Supplied

Arriving back in Australia from Germany on March 21, Ms Nicholson-McKellar now realises her first symptoms appeared around March 13. As she touched down in Brisbane, she told Border Force officials that she had no sense of smell or taste but was unable to get tested because she didnt have a cough or a fever.

Nearing the end of her 14 days of self-quarantine upon returning home, the 35-year-old was eventually able to get a test which came back positive.

At that moment it was very mild symptoms, I felt like I was recovering but I was put into two more weeks of quarantine, she said. But thats when her condition took a worrying turn for the worse.

I just crashed. I had fever, aches and pains, sinus infection, severe headaches, gastrointestinal [issues], diarrhoea, nausea ... just so many symptoms and then I developed a shortness of breath, chest tightness and pain. Just weeks of weird, shifting and changing symptoms.

Emergency room trip four days after being declared virus free

Story continues

After going 72 hours without symptoms, she was declared virus free by NSW Health guidelines. She tentatively ventured out but still avoided close contact with friends and family. However four days later while sitting at her computer doing some work, she was hit with a sudden burst of severe chest pain.

That was my first trip to the Emergency room, Ms Nicholson-McKellar recalled.

While in hospital on April 28, she tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time. While a positive test is not necessarily active virus, they treated me as if I was contagious, she said. I was told to quarantine again.

Chest X-rays showed her lungs looked foggy and abnormal and she was sent home with Panadol.

Ms Nicholson-McKellar has been keeping a diary of her symptoms throughout the ordeal. Source: Supplied

Her case was referred to infectious disease specialists and two weeks later she went to Lismore Base Hospital where she was tested again  and still returned a positive result. Once again she was given an automatic directive to self-isolate.

Ive been in isolation for 60 days, she thought. I havent hugged anyone. I havent seen my family.

Thankfully, extra attention saw her case escalated and when her recent swabs were analysed, she was deemed not contagious.

With the long-term effects of the virus becoming more clear, Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young shared a video message Saturday warning that some patients dont simply recover from COVID-19. In a video shared on social media, she explained that while coronavirus can be a mild disease, people arent fully recovered once they return a negative test.

As we learn more about the virus, we're learning that for a reasonable number of people, they don't recover, they'll have long-term consequences from the disease, she said.

Thats because this virus doesnt just affect the lungs, unlike flu this virus can affect every part of the body. The long-term consequences of the virus can affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels and the brain.

I was lucky because I had a positive test

While post viral syndrome is well known in the medical community, patients like Ms Nicholson-McKellar have tested the limits of the healthcare response during the first few months of the coronavirus pandemic.

Thousands of patients are dealing with what appears to be a debilitating form of post viral exhaustion that shares characteristics with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), better known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Those with post-viral syndrome often experience severe bouts of fatigue. Source: Supplied

The disease, which includes a hugely diverse range of symptoms, is notoriously difficult to assess and diagnose making it difficult for patients to get recognition, let alone effective treatment. As a result, the flood of coronavirus patients still experiencing devastating health effects months after being diagnosed have gathered in groups online where they share experiences, compare notes and vent their frustrations.

Very early on, when I went downhill, I found this girl on Instagram talking about her story and she started a support group, Ms Nicholson-McKellar recalled.

Soon there were so many people following along that they moved to a WhatsApp group which they soon outgrew and subsequently moved to an online discussion channel on Slack. On various social media platforms, self-described coronavirus long-haulers are gathering to compare their experience of Long Covid.

Honestly having contact with those people in those days when I was alone and struggling to breathe, and struggling to cope ... I just would have thought I was crazy otherwise, she said.

Because the symptoms are just so weird, you would think you were mental  no other virus Ive ever had has responded or reacted like this.

With little therapeutic treatments to speak of, many in a similar situation have expressed frustration at their health predicament.

Ive heard a lot of people have been dismissed as having anxiety, Ms Nicholson-McKellar told Yahoo News Australia. I was lucky because I had a positive test so I wasnt told it was all in my head, which I know a lot of people have.

Coronavirus long-haulers still a puzzle of pandemic

For researchers and medical professionals who work in the chronic disease field, the fact that the novel coronavirus has sparked these long-term symptoms did not come as a surprise. But that doesnt mean they know how to treat them.

I dont think anyone really knows what is happening in these patients at the moment, says Professor Axel Kallies, an infectious disease expert at Melbournes Doherty Institute.

This week he was part of a team that published a paper which could shed light on the immune response of coronavirus patients with acute forms of the disease. The paper published in Nature Immunology, showed that T cells (which work to attack disease cells) can be impaired within just a few days, losing their function and becoming exhausted. A process which was thought to happen slowly and over long periods of time.

Its pretty clear that patients that experience severe symptoms have these blunted T cell responses, and T cell exhaustion, Prof Kallies told Yahoo News Australia.

Like many virus long-haulers, it's been months of frustration for Mirabai Nicholson-McKellar. Source: Supplied

And people who recover quickly and deal with the coronavirus infection efficiently, that is associated with an efficient T cell response where you dont really have these features of immune exhaustion.

However, whether that blunted T cell response is a factor in the long-term fatigue and health issues of so-called coronavirus long-haulers remains unclear, he said.

But that is something we, and other people, want to look at. And this is only now becoming possible.

Meanwhile researchers in the field of ME/CFS are hopeful the wave of long-haulers could help the medical field better understand the disease and its onset, according to Oved Amitay, Chief Executive Officer at the Solve ME/CFS Initiative in the United States.

With the coronavirus long-haulers, if theres any silver lining to this situation its the possibility that out of COVID-19 well get a better understanding of ME/CFS, with the potential benefit for both communities, he told Yahoo News Australia this month.

We hear you: WHO meets with virus long-haulers

Due to their rapidly burgeoning numbers, coronavirus long-haulers are gaining increasing recognition from the medial community, including the head of the World Health Organisation.

These patients want three things: recognition, rehab and research. Recognition of their disease, appropriate rehabilitation services, and more research to be done into the long-term effects of this new illness, said the head of the WHO, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus after his organisation met with a group of long-haulers last week.

We hear you. My colleagues will reach out to you. Thanks. https://t.co/sygDJpvP7t  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 22, 2020

For now, people like Ms Nicholson-McKellar remain a puzzle with an unknown number of pieces still missing.

Ive kind of given up in many ways in there being any kind of medical solution to my problem, she said. It seems like Im always met with: we just dont know.

After getting what she thinks was the flu, she recently tested negative for COVID-19. I was relieved to finally have a negative swab, she said, however symptoms and bouts of fatigue persist.

If I push too hard in a day, I get this weird ... my body gets really fatigued and it feels like my skins on fire, but I dont have a fever.

Working as a filmmaker, she is lucky her boss allows her to work just one or two hours a day on the bad days but she continues to feel the weight of not knowing when her situation will improve.

With the worlds attention swirling around the acute and deadly outcomes of COVID-19, she is happy for greater recognition of how the disease is having long-lasting impacts on people of all ages.

It seems to be like [the public perception is] you die or youre fine ... But I dont think five months feeling like this is ok.

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.
Jacob Blake is no longer shackled to his hospital bed, as he had been following a police shooting in southeastern Wisconsin that left him paralysed, according to his attorneys.

Mr Blake, a black man, was shot seven times in the back on Sunday by Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey who was responding to a domestic abuse call.

Since then protesters have rallied in Kenoshas streets every night in demonstrations against police racism and brutality.

It was revealed on Thursday that Mr Blake was handcuffed to his hospital bed in Milwaukee.

His father told the Chicago Sun-Times that he was upset to learn of this given that his son is now paralysed and cannot go anywhere.

Mr Blake was wanted on suspicion of felony sexual assault when he was shot.

The Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office said in a statement that all hospitalised patients in police custody are restrained unless undergoing medical procedures.

However, when asked during a news conference whether he was concerned about Mr Blake being handcuffed, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers responded: Hell, yes.

He added that Mr Blake had already paid a horrific price.

Mr Blakes attorney in the sexual assault case said on Friday that his client was no longer in restraints. He said the arrest warrant in the sexual assault case has been vacated, although charges remain.

The Milwaukee County Sheriffs Department said in a statement that Mr Blake was no longer in custody because he has posted bond and deputies are no longer guarding him at the hospital.

In a statement, Mr Blakes attorneys in the shooting case, Ben Crump, Patrick Salvi and BIvory Lamarr, said: Fortunately, a man who is paralysed and fighting for his life after being shot seven times in the back, will no longer have to deal with the pain of having his ankles and wrist shackled and the traumatic stress of being under armed guard.

With reporting from the Associated Press
With more than 16 million people in the U.S. out of work, Americans are having to stretch financially to keep the roof over their heads. According to the Census Bureau, about a third of renters said in July that they had no confidence or slight confidence in their ability to pay for housing in August. With Republicans and Democrats in a stalemate over whether to extend an eviction moratorium and supplemental unemployment benefits, experts are warning that the country is poised for an eviction crisis of historic proportions.

1. How many people could face eviction?

About 30 million Americans are "at risk" of being evicted in coming months because they can't pay rent, according to a review of the Census survey data by the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program and the Covid-19 Eviction Defense Project, a coalition of researchers. Management consultant Stout Risius Ross, in its analysis of the Census data, put the number at 40 million. Eviction is a legal process, and the burden on landlords differs by state. But the mere threat of eviction often is enough for landlords to get someone to move out. Many landlords have been working with tenants in the hopes that more emergency rental assistance is on its way. Absent that help, the U.S. is heading for a massive wave of housing displacement and insecurity. More people will double up with family or end up homeless.

2. Will this all happen at once?

It may take a few months for evictions to ramp up. Filings actually slowed in many places during the first few months of the pandemic. Many courts were closed and a patchwork of federal, state and local moratoriums prevented evictions in many cases. The federal moratorium expired on July 24, and landlords had 30 days to notify tenants if they wanted to evict them, meaning Aug. 24 was the earliest date at which the floodgates could open. As of the end of July, 30 states lacked state-level protections against eviction during the pandemic. But even in states where there are bans, they do little to clear people's debts. Many now owe so much in back rent that they won't be able to catch up, pushing landlords to evict them when restrictions lift.

3. What's being done to avert this?

On Aug. 8, President Donald Trump signed an executive order pledging to "take all lawful measures to prevent residential evictions and foreclosures resulting from financial hardships caused by Covid-19." But that measure didn't authorize any specific action. Real relief would have to come from Congress, and that means money -- lots of it. House Democrats have passed a plan that would provide $100 billion in rental assistance and ban evictions, but that's stuck in stalled negotiation with Republicans on a new stimulus package; the Senate Republican plan for virus relief didn't address evictions. Some cities, states and the private sector have established funds to help people pay rent.

4. Why would a landlord evict someone at a time of high unemployment?

Landlords need to collect rent to cover their expenses, including mortgage payments and property taxes. Many also pay for utilities. Keeping non-paying tenants around can incur operating costs without generating any revenue. Property owners also worry that letting a renter live in a unit for free or reduced rent could encourage other tenants in a building to withhold some of their payments. Landlords may also be betting that they can fill empty units. Going into the pandemic, there was a severe shortage of affordable rental housing across the U.S. that was driving up rents faster than incomes. Vacancy rates were at decades-long lows.

5. Who gets hurt?

Studies show that evictions affect Black and Latinx renters at much higher rates than White people. Renters with children are also more likely to be forced out of their home than those without. Getting evicted can make it harder for people to find a new place to live, because landlords often don't want to rent to them. Smaller property owners with fewer financial resources may get squeezed, too, if they can't collect enough rent to cover mortgages, property taxes and maintenance. A wave of foreclosures on these properties could gut the nation's affordable housing stock, hurt city budgets and put strain on the banking system.

6. Is this a U.S.-only problem?

No. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has twice extended a ban on evictions in England and Wales, and most British renters will be afforded a six-month eviction notice period to give them extra time to address financial hardship. France temporarily extended an annual wintertime ban on evictions.
Mumbai: The ongoing investigation into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput has exposed the closely-guarded Bollywood-drug nexus to the fore.

In connection with the ongoing CBI probe into Sushant's girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty's link with an alleged drug peddler, an insider has told Zee Media in an exclusive conversation that over 70 per cent of the Bollywood celebrities take drugs.

The informer also revealed that MD is the most famous drug amongst the Bollywood actors, while weed which is known as "ganja" in Hindi is popular amongst the Television actors.

As per the informer, the code name for expensive weed is dubies and the peddler has the code name AK 47.

Blueberry and strawberry Kush are famous amongst the rich people and are reportedly sold at Rs 5,000 per gram.

Also read | Sushant's sister Shweta shares explosive WhatsApp chat exchange of Rhea, Showik, Samuel, Pithani, others on drugs wanting 'doobie', 'blueberry kush'

The informer also disclosed that the peddlers of the Filmcity and Bandra Juhu areas are most active in providing intoxicants to the film fraternity.

He unveiled that celebrities never come forward to buy drugs and instead send their drivers, servants or staff to deal with the peddlers.

"Sometimes they also talk in codewords," told the informer adding that he cannot name the film clients at the moment.

According to him, there are two big names in the drugs business in Mumbai - 'Chinku Pathan' in the South Mumbai area, whereas, 'Imma' operates in the posh areas like Bandra and Juhu.

In the exclusive interview with Zee Media, the informer also said that a person named Meeraj runs the drug business in the Filmcity area.

"Some women are also involved in the supply of drugs."

"These costly drugs arrive in Mumbai through roads from Gujarat and Punjab besides direct supply from foreign lands. When the stock arrives in the city, it is distributed between the small peddlers in retail quantities," added the informer.

"People in the film world mostly buy drugs in large quantity," stated the informer.

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is been interrogating Rhea Chakraborty for more than 5 hours now and has also been asked to sit face to face with Samuel Miranda for about 1 hour, say sources.

Rhea who has been accused of abetting Sushant's suicide was also grilled by the central probe agency on August 28 for over 10 hours.

Sushant was found dead at his residence in Bandra on June 14, sparking a furore in Bollywood and political circles with multiple agencies entering the fray. The 34-year old actor's family blamed the Chakraborty family for his death and allegedly swindling Rs 15 crore from his bank account with Rhea denying all the accusations.

Also read | CBI to conduct polygraph test on Rhea Chakraborty, Showik in Sushant Singh Rajput death case?
Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure on Friday reversed the suspension of four members of the states House of Assembly, who were earlier removed for alleged gross misconduct.

The lawmakers were suspended on July 8, 2020 from the Assembly led by Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun for alleged gross-misconduct and unruly behaviour.

Those earlier suspended include the Deputy Speaker, Ogundeji Iroju (Odigbo Constituency); Wale Williams (Ondo Constituency I); Tomide Akinribido (Ondo Constituency II); Favour Tomomowo (Ilaje Constituency II).

Three out of the lawmakers are also members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) aside Mr Akinribodo, who is a member of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The lawmakers are all loyalists of the deputy governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, and ensured that he was not illegally impeached by the Assembly.

In his judgment to the suit challenging the suspension of the lawmakers, Justice Ademola Bola described the suspension as illegal, null and void, noting that the Assembly had no power to suspend any member.

Justice Bola also ordered that a sum of N5m be paid to each of the lawmakers as damages.

He held that the lawmakers must be reinstated to their positions with immediate effect as their suspension violates sections 90, 91, 10,6 and 117 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria.

KanyiDaily had also reported how a member of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Jonathan Agbidye, was sent to prison for alleged kidnapping, armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.
WATERLOO  University of Waterloos only student-led racial advocacy service has faced calls to lose funding following a meeting on defunding the police hosted by the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association.

Racial Advocacy for Inclusion, Solidarity and Equity (RAISE) was founded in 2019 with the aim of providing racialized students peer-to-peer support and the means to report and address racism on UWs campus.

Its the second social advocacy group on campus to face a financial threat. Four years ago, students voted to eliminate the fee they paid to the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group (WPIRG). The social justice organization lost $270,000 in annual funding as a result.

The Reddit campaign against RAISE erupted a day after the groups co-ordinator, Ayesha Masud, led a presentation to UWs student government on the movement to defund police.

Earlier in the week, Premier Doug Ford had announced a $6 million increase to police budgets across the province.

In response, members from the undergraduate association  which advocates for UW students needs  met on Aug. 9 to discuss adopting a stance on policing.

The student association asked RAISE to lead a presentation at the meeting on the disproportionate impact of policing on marginalized communities. The slides were prepared by Megan Town, the student association vice president, education.

The day after the meeting, an anonymous account called defundRAISE posted a call to action on Reddit, saying RAISE attacked elected reps at the special council meeting.

The user called for RAISE to be defunded and told students to write emails to the student association demanding their money stop going to the group.

RAISE had a budget of $10,905 for the 2019-2020.

The post got immediate attention, attracting 129 comments. Some of the Reddit posts were explicitly racist.

UW student Layla Ali, who watched the controversy unfold on Reddit, found the whole conversation disturbing. Ali, who is Black, does not support defunding the police but she also disagrees with the idea of cutting funding to RAISE.

she said. A lot of eugenics  some weird stuff was going on.

The meeting itself went poorly, acknowledged student association president Abbie Simpson in a statement posted online.

During the meeting, some members argued that a stance on defunding police was overtly political and outside of the associations scope, while others said they needed more time to ask their constituents.

I think that meeting was a really tough experience for some people, because we are talking about a topic that is deeply personal, Town said.

Despite those difficulties, the association decided to send a letter to Ford on behalf of the UW student body, advocating for more funding for social services and arguing that police are not the appropriate response for non-criminal incidents.

After the backlash against RAISE, MPP Laura Mae Lindo tweeted out support for RAISE, as did UWs Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion Unit and history professor Christopher Taylor.

RAISE will not lose funding any time soon, Town said, and in fact its funding was increased to $23,570 for 2020-21 at the student associations most recent meeting on Aug. 23, to pay for part-time positions for the RAISE co-ordinators.

She explained that if students want to stop funding RAISE, they need to start a petition and get 2,900 signatures from verified UW students, which would prompt a referendum on the topic open to all students.

RAISE member and volunteer Celine Isimbi said the defunding bid just all suddenly happened, Isimbi said. It came out of nowhere.

For Isimbi, who is Black, is relieved RAISE will not lose funding. Nevertheless, she says the UW campus no longer feels like a comfortable place after seeing what some of her classmates have posted on Reddit.

Im not sure I feel safe, she said. I might be sitting in a classroom with someone who posted those anti-Black sentiments on Reddit and not know it.
Staff Sgt. Vincent Marketta, left, and Sgt. Tyler Shelton were killed Thursday when their Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed on San Clemente Island during training. (U.S. Army)

Two soldiers killed in an Army Black Hawk helicopter crash on San Clemente Island earlier this week were identified Saturday.

Staff Sgt. Vincent Marketta, 33, of Brick, N.J., and Sgt. Tyler Shelton, 22, of San Bernardino, were both Black Hawk helicopter repairers assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) with headquarters at Fort Campbell, Ky.

The loss of Staff Sgt. Marketta and Sgt. Shelton has left a scar in this Regiment that will never completely heal, Col. Andrew Graham, commander of the 160th regiment, said in a statement. Our priority now is to ensure the Families of our fallen warriors receive our complete support as we work through this tragedy together.

The Army did not release any information about the crash, which occurred off the Southern California coast. Five soldiers were on the aircraft when it went down Thursday, a Defense Department official with knowledge of the incident told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday. Three soldiers were injured.

Marketta enlisted in 2011 and deployed to Afghanistan and multiple times to Iraq, the Army said. His awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with V for valor.

Shelton enlisted in 2016 and deployed to Afghanistan, and his awards include the Army Good Conduct Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

Both soldiers will receive the Meritorious Service Medal posthumously, the Army said.

San Clemente Island is managed by the Navy and used for training. It has an airfield, special operations training area and a bombing range.

Eight Marines and one sailor died late last month when their Marine assault amphibious vehicle sank off the coast of the island during training.

Both incidents are under investigation.

Dyer writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Its a pandemic within the pandemic. Across Latin America, gender-based violence has spiked since COVID-19 broke out.

Almost 1,200 women disappeared in Peru between March 11 and June 30, the Ministry of Women reported. In Brazil, 143 women in 12 states were murdered in March and April  a 22 per cent increase over the same period in 2019.

Reports of rape, murder and domestic violence are also way up in Mexico. In Guatemala, theyre down significantly  a likely sign that women are too afraid to call the police on the partners theyre locked down with.

The pandemic worsened but did not create this problem: Latin America has long been among the worlds deadliest places to be a woman.

Spanish artist and activist aka "Jil Love" and Mexican activist Julia Klug perform during a protest against femicides in Mexico City in 2017. Source: Getty

Dont blame machismo

I have spent three decades studying gendered violence as well as womens organising in Latin America, an increasingly vocal and potent social force.

Though patriarchy is part of the problem, Latin Americas gender violence cannot simply be attributed to machismo. Nor is gender inequality particularly extreme there. Education levels among Latin American women and girls have been rising for decades and many countries have quotas for women to hold political office. Several have elected women presidents.

Research, which often centres on Indigenous communities, traces violence against women in Latin America instead to both the regions colonial history and to a complex web of social, racial, gender and economic inequalities.

Hundreds of women took to the streets in Mexico City, on 25 November 2018 to protests deaths against women. Source: Getty

Female citizens have demanded more security for all of them and justice for cases of femicide in the country. Source: Getty

Ill use Guatemala, a country I know well, as a case study to unravel this thread. But we could engage in a similar exercise with other Latin American countries or the US, where violence against women is a pervasive, historically rooted problem, too  and one that disproportionately affects women of colour.

In Guatemala, where 600 to 700 women are killed every year, gendered violence has deep roots. Mass rape carried out during massacres was a tool of systematic, generalised terror during the countrys 36-year civil war, when citizens and armed insurgencies rose up against the government. The war, which ended in 1996, killed over 200,000 Guatemalans.

Story continues

Mass rape has been used as a weapon of war in many conflicts. In Guatemala, government forces targeted Indigenous women. While Guatemalas Indigenous population is between 44 per cent and 60 per cent Indigenous, based on the census and other demographic data, about 90 per cent of the over 100,000 women raped during the war were Indigenous Mayans.

Guatemalan women carry corn during the pandemic. Source: Getty

Testimonies from the war demonstrate that soldiers saw Indigenous women as having little humanity. They knew Mayan women could be raped, killed and mutilated with impunity. This is a legacy of Spanish colonialism. Starting in the 16th century, Indigenous peoples and Afro-descendants across the Americas were enslaved or compelled into forced labor by the Spanish, treated as private property, often brutally.

Some Black and Indigenous women actually tried to fight their ill treatment in court during the colonial period, but they had fewer legal rights than white Spanish conquerors and their descendants. The subjugation and marginalisation of Black and Indigenous Latin Americans continues into the present day.

How to protect women

Latin American countries have made many creative, serious efforts to protect women.

Seventeen have passed laws making feminicide  the intentional killing of women or girls because they are female  its own crime separate from homicide, with long mandatory prison sentences to try to deter this. Many countries have also created women-only police stations , produced statistical data on feminicide, improved reporting avenues for gendered violence and funded more womens shelters.

A woman poses for a photo while taking part in a protest during the International Women's Day, in Mexico City, on March 8, 2020. Source: Getty

All these efforts to protect women  whether in Guatemala, elsewhere in Latin America or the US  are narrow and legalistic. They make feminicide one crime, physical assault a different crime, and rape another  and attempt to indict and punish men for those acts.

But they fail to indict the broader systems that perpetuate these problems, like social, racial, and economic inequalities, family relationships and social mores.

Some Indigenous womens groups say gendered violence is a collective problem that needs collective solutions.

Some Mexican Indigenous communities have autonomous police and justice systems, which use discussion and mediation to reach a verdict and emphasise reconciliation over punishment. Sentences of community service  whether construction, digging drainage or other manual labor  serve to both punish and socially reintegrate offenders. Terms range from a few weeks for simple theft to eight years for murder.

Stopping gendered violence in Latin America, the US or anywhere will be a complicated, long-term process.

The necessity of the process has been hastened by the pandemic and the lockdown that has proven deadly for many women. However grand social progress seems unlikely in a pandemic. But when lockdowns end, restorative justice seems like a good way to start helping women who didnt make it out.

The author of this article is Lynn Marie Stephen, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Graduate Faculty Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies at the University of Oregon.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read Latin American women are disappearing and dying under lockdown in full at The Conversation.
The board of ITC will consider a proposal for amalgamation of Sunrise Foods, Hobbits International Foods and Sunrise Sheetgrah with the company.

All three are wholly owned subsidiaries of ITC. The proposal will be taken up at a meeting fixed on 4 September 2020, the company announced after market hours on Friday, 28 August 2020. Shares of ITC rose 0.7% to Rs 195.55 on Friday.

ITC reported a 26.19% decline in net profit to Rs 2342.76 crore on a 17.4% fall in net sales to Rs 9501.75 crore in Q1 June 2020 over Q1 June 2019. Revenue from sale of cigarettes stood at Rs 3,853.79 crore (down 29.07% YoY) while total FMCG revenue, including cigarettes, was at Rs 7,228.36 crore (down 14.89% YoY).

ITC is engaged in the marketing of fast-moving consumer goods (FMGC). The firm operates through four segments: FMCG; hotels; paperboards, paper and packaging, and agri business. ITC is the market leader in cigarettes in India.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on August 28, 2020

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Associated Press: First, according to Japanese media, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will soon announce his resignation due to health reasons. What is China's comment? The second question is about Xinjiang's epidemic prevention and control. Some Xinjiang residents reported that they were quarantined for longer than usual. Why has the Xinjiang government taken such strict measures?

Zhao Lijian: On your first question, we have noted relevant reports. This is an internal matter of Japan and we have no comment on it. China and Japan are close neighbors. China is ready to work with Japan to continue to improve and develop bilateral relations.

On your second question, this is not a diplomatic issue. With regard to the specific prevention and control measures taken in Xinjiang, relevant authorities already released information, which have also been covered by the media. You may ask them if you are interested.

But I can tell you that back in July, after clusters of cases were reported in Xinjiang, China's relevant departments and the government of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, in line with the principle of putting people and life first, have taken effective prevention and control measures in time. Patients of all ethnic groups have received all medical treatment as needed, and concrete efforts have been made to ensure the safety and health of people of all ethnic groups. Their needs have been best attended to and they returned with their understanding, support and cooperation. At present, the epidemic situation in Xinjiang has greatly improved and the positive momentum is further strengthening.

Macau Monthly: The US Defense Department said on August 27 that the Chinese military firing ballistic missiles to the South China Sea threatens regional peace and security. What is your comment?

Zhao Lijian: Relevant training activities near the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea are routine arrangements conducted by the Chinese military off China's coast. They are not targeted at any country and have nothing to do with the South China Sea disputes. There is no basis or reason for the relevant party to make that accusation.

I would like to point out that for quite some time, the US has frequently dispatched in large numbers advanced warships, fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft all the way to the South China Sea to project its power and engage in military provocations, undermining China's sovereignty and security interests as well as the normal order of navigation in the South China Sea. The US has become the saboteur and troublemaker of peace and stability in the South China Sea. The international community bears witness to these all. The US side should stop stirring up trouble and causing discord in the South China Sea and play a constructive role in safeguarding regional peace and stability.

Reuters: China has suspended beef import from an Australian beef producer called John Dee Warwick. What's the foreign ministry's comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: The relevant department has issued a notice on the specific case. You can check on that.

Bloomberg: President Trump just delivered a speech at the Republican convention. He said among other things that China would own America if Joe Biden got elected, but if he himself was re-elected, America would no longer rely on China, and American businesses would leave China. Does the ministry have any comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: We have no comment on the US presidential election, which is an internal affair. At the same time, we urge the US not to make an issue out of China in its election.

Regarding what he said about China, I'd like to reiterate China's consistent and clear policy towards the US. We believe both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. We are committed to develop a bilateral relationship featuring no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. At the same time, we are firmly determined to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests. We urge the US to look at China and bilateral relations in an objective and rational light, work with us towards the same goal, manage differences, promote cooperation and bring China-US relations back onto the right track of coordination, cooperation and stability.

As to the so-called relocation of production capacity you mentioned, it is political manipulation that puts partisan and personal interests above US national interests. It's neither viable nor realistic. In the globalized era, the perverse practice of going against the voluntary will of the vast business community, forcibly scrapping existing cooperation between countries, and coercing companies with regard to their normal investment and operation runs counter to the law of market economy and will eventually lead to self-harm. Such unpopular moves have been and will continue to be rejected and resisted by visionary people in China and the US.

Shenzhen TV: The RCEP Ministerial Meeting was held via videolink on August 27. Can you give us details about the meeting?

Zhao Lijian: The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial Meeting was held via videolink on August 27. A Joint Media Statement was issued after the meeting. It underscores the significant role that the RCEP Agreement could play in post-pandemic recovery efforts as well as in contributing to the growth and stability of the regional and global economy. It notes that the signing of the RCEP Agreement would enhance business confidence, contribute to trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific, strengthen the regional economic architecture and maintain the stability of the regional and global industrial and supply chains, as well as demonstrate the region's support for an open, inclusive, and rules-based multilateral trading system. The Ministers were pleased with the significant progress made towards finalizing the RCEP Agreement for signing this year as planned.

China will continue supporting ASEAN centrality, working with all parties for the signing of the RCEP Agreement within this year, and playing an important role in maintaining stable regional and global economic development.

AFP: The American Institute in Taiwan today released a photo of a Taiwanese fighter jet refueling midair from an American Air Force tanker. I wonder if you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: I haven't read reports on that. Our position is consistent and clear: we firmly oppose military ties and cooperation between the US and the Taiwan region. We urge the US to fully recognize the highly sensitive nature of the Taiwan question, strictly observe the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, properly handle Taiwan-related matters and stop sending erroneous signals to "Taiwan independence" separatists.

TASS News Agency: On August 26, Kazakhstan's First President Nazarbayev suggested that Russia, China, the United States and the European Union participate in a quadrilateral summit where one of the main topics on the agenda should be the development of a multilateral agreement on a phased reduction in nuclear weapons. I wonder if China has any comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: We appreciate the efforts by Kazakhstan and its First President Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev towards the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. China stands consistently for the comprehensive prohibition and complete elimination of nuclear weapons. We hold that nuclear disarmament should follow the principle of maintaining global strategic stability and undiminished security for all and proceed in a pragmatic manner. Countries with the largest nuclear arsenal shoulder special and primary responsibilities in nuclear disarmament. Currently the international nuclear arms control system is faced with grave challenges. The US should act in a responsible attitude and respond to Russia's positive call for New START extension, and on that basis, further drastically reduce its nuclear stockpile to create conditions for other countries' participation in nuclear disarmament talks.

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In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham Cao Phong stressed that the establishment of a state for farmers and workers in the S-shaped country was the fruit of the solidarity, patriotism and intellect of the Vietnamese people under the clear-sighted and strategic partnership of the Party and beloved Uncle Ho.

He also spoke highly of the significant contributions of Vietnamese expats in Canada to the fatherlands development, helping to introduce Vietnamese products to people in the host country while attracting Canadian investors to Vietnam.

At the ceremony, the Vietnamese Embassy in Canada launched a display space of around 200 books, photos, and paintings on the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela also organised a cultural exchange programme to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Vietnams National Day in Caracas on August 28.

Broadcast on Venezolana de Television (VTV), the Venezuelan Military TV channel (TVFANB) and the Venezuelan National Assembly TV channel (ANTV), the event featured art performances by both Vietnamese and Venezuelan artists.

On the occasion, Ambassador Le Viet Duyen granted interviews to VTV8 channel of Venezolana de Television, during which he introduced Venezuelan TV viewers on Vietnams culture, cuisine and tourism.

Participants at the cultural exchange programme in Venezuela (Photo: VNA)


P Chidambaram

New Delhi: P Chidambaram on Saturday took a dig at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over her 'Act of God' remarks on the economy, saying will "the FM as the Messenger of God" answer how should the "mismanagement" of the economy before the coronavirus pandemic be described.

Sitharaman on Thursday had said the economy has been hit by the pandemic, which is an ''Act of God'', and it will see a contraction in the current fiscal.

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P Chidambaram Taking a swipe at Sitharaman over the remarks, Chidambaram said, "If the pandemic is an Act of God, how do we describe the mismanagement of the economy during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20. Before the pandemic struck India?"

"Will the FM as the Messenger of God please answer?" the former finance minister asked.

Chidambaram also slammed the Centre for asking states to borrow more to make up for revenue losses due to pending GST dues.

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He asserted that the two options given by the Modi government to the states to bridge the GST compensation gap are unacceptable.

P Chidambaram tweet

"Under the first option the states are asked to borrow by pledging their future receivables under Compensation cess. The financial burden falls entirely on the states," Chidambaram said.

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"Under the second option, states are asked to borrow from the RBI window. It is more market borrowing, only by a different name. Again, the entire financial burden falls on the states," he said in a series of tweets.
Four Men Indicted By US Attorneys For Conspiring To Sell Iranian Oil To China

Radio Farda August 28, 2020

Federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania indicted four American men August 27 allegedly conspiring to buy Iranian crude oil for a Chinese refinery as part of a scheme to circumvent U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Nicholas Hovan, 34, Daniel Ray Lane, 39, Robert Thwaites, 30, and Zhenyu Wang, 39, allegedly devised a plan to illegally buy the Iranian crude oil then ship it to China, through a secret vessel to vessel transfer, twice per month. They were expected to pocket $28 million profit per month. Each of the men was charged with conspiracy, violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and money laundering.

"The defendants allegedly conspired to sell Iranian petroleum to a Chinese refinery to enrich themselves at the U.S. Iran sanctions regime's expense," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John C. Demers. "The defendants devised a scheme to use front companies, bribes, and false contractual documents to conceal their brazenly illicit activity. We will continue to leverage all of our tools to detect and prevent individuals such as these from engaging in actions that would have harmed this nation's national security," Mr. Demers stressed.

Washington dropped the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in May 2018 and reimposed batches of devastating economic sanctions on the clergy-dominated Iran.

Since then, international organizations and oil tanker tracker companies say, Iran's oil exports fell from 2.5 million to less than 300,000 barrels per day (BPD), most of which went to China and Syria.

Nonetheless, an international tanker tracking firm, TankerTrackers.com, recently reported that Iran's oil exports are probably twice what international organizations and companies estimate.

One prevalent practice is to transfer oil between tankers on the high seas to conceal shipment of Iranian crude. Reports also maintain that Iran sells part of its oil to China as Malaysian and Indonesian crude.

The United States has so far added dozens of companies, tankers, and foreign nationals to its blacklist for violating Iranian oil sanctions.

According to the Department of Justice, the four indicted in Pennsylvania attempted to conceal the crude oil's origin by, among other things, bribing an official in the Chinese government.

Additionally, as part of their plan to launder their scheme's proceeds, the defendants tried to obtain Antigua passports to open Swiss bank accounts and launder their profit.

Prosecutors also alleged that the four plotted to launder the profits from the illicit sales through a series of shell entities and offshore financial accounts to prevent authorities from detecting the funds' origin.

"It doesn't get much lower than attempting to get rich by flouting the United States' national security interests," said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania William M. McSwain.

"The defendants here allegedly jeopardized the United States' safety and security by scheming to get in bed with Iran and China. This type of conspiracy deserves the full condemnation of my office, and it has it," McSwain asserted.

According to the indictment, between May 2019 (when the United States suspended oil waivers for Iranian customers) until February 2020, the four conspired in Philadelphia and other areas to buy Iranian oil and sell it to China.

The report says the men were arrested in February 2020. The quartet had planned the monthly sale of two Iranian oil consignments.

The defendants face a maximum possible sentence of 45 years in jail and a $1.75 million fine.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/four-men- indicted-by-us-attorneys-for-conspiring-to- sell-iranian-oil-to-china/30807008.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.

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Victoria has recorded 114 new coronavirus cases and 11 more deaths.

The figures, confirmed by the Department of Health and Human Services on Sunday, bring the state's toll from the virus to 524 and the national total to 611.

It follows 94 new cases on Saturday, which was the first day since July 5 that cases were in the double digits.

Premier Daniel Andrews said on Sunday the number of cases were still too high to roll back restrictions.

'These case numbers are too high for us to open up, and they are still too high for us to put forward a definitive plan,' he said.

'There will be a plan. It will come soon. But it will be one that we can be confident of, not something that potentially gets a few people being happier.'

Melburnians are subject to another fortnight of strict stage four restrictions including an 8pm to 5am curfew and Mr Andrews said the benefits from the first four weeks are starting to show.

Regional Victorians are under slightly less strict stage three restrictions for the same period.

Victoria has recorded 114 new coronavirus cases and 11 more deaths (pictured, a Melbourne resident walks her dog on Saturday)

The figures, confirmed by the Department of Health and Human Services on Sunday, bring the state's toll from the virus to 524 and the national total to 611 (pictured, residents wearing face masks go for a walk in Melbourne on Saturday)

The figure comes a day after the state recorded 94 new cases - the first time cases have dipped below the three figure mark since July 5

Mr Andrews also said he was confident the second outbreak of COVID-19 was coming under control.

'The contact tracing team is bigger than it's ever been and it will remain larger than the task,' he said.

'It'll be a long, long fight to keep this contained but I think our staff are equal to it.'

He reminded residents the fight was far from over, after crowds visited St Kilda beach over the weekend.

'No day at the beach is worth that.'

'Let's not make any choices that put at risk all of the progress we have made and could render all of the sacrifice we have made it meaningless. We do not want that,' he said.

Restrictions across Melbourne are due to expire on September 13 but will be reduced gradually rather than removed completely.

Health officials have indicated that recommendations for face masks could remain in place for several more months.

Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) urged Victorians on Saturday to persevere with strict lockdowns as daily coronavirus infections drop into double digits

Restrictions across Melbourne are due to expire on September 13 but will be reduced gradually rather than removed completely (pictured, Melburnians go out for a stroll on Saturday)

Mr Andrews was cautious about rushing to a return to normal, saying the path back to normality will be based on 'science and data and evidence' (pictured, Melburnians enjoy the Spring sunshine on Saturday)

Aged care facilities remained a concern, with 1305 active cases in the sector. Sixteen of the latest 18 deaths were linked to aged care.

Breaches of restrictions remain a problem, with police handing out 195 fines in the 24 hours to Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, a potential solution to the political impasse on the government's desire to extend the state of emergency beyond September 13 could be close.

Victorian upper house MP Fiona Patten said on Saturday she can get the support to make a deal with the government for a sixth-month extension of the state of emergency.

The leader of the Reason Party said in a statement on Saturday that in her proposal, the government would get an extension of powers enabling it to write and pass COVID-19-specific laws until March, not the 12 months it is after.

Health officials have indicated that recommendations for face masks could remain in place for several more months (pictured, a Melburnian sits out in the sun on Saturday)

The government would have to brief minor parties and independents once every month, justifying the continuation of the state of emergency.

If the government wants to extend the powers beyond March, it will have to come back to parliament to argue for it again.

'This is a fair arrangement that I believe could gain support of several of my colleagues and pass the parliament - only by a small margin though,' Ms Patten said.

A spokesman for Premier Daniel Andrews said on Saturday evening no deal had been struck.

Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien wants the parliament to sit every month during the state of emergency to determine whether the powers are justified.
Breonna Taylor stands dignified among shades of blue and vibrant grays. Wearing a soft, flowing dress, the engagement ring she never received, and a gold cross, Taylor actively gazes back at the viewer with her hand on her slightly forward-shifted hips. She is beautiful, proud, tenacious, omnipresent, and graceful as she adorns the cover of Vanity Fairs September issue, which is dedicated to exploring how intersecting tragediesthe coronavirus pandemic, police violence and othersare affecting the lives of Black Americans.

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Despite the glorious reimagining of Taylor, the portrait felt off-puttingly familiar to me at first, an extension of this summers flood of impassioned but schematic calls for legal action against the police officers who shot and killed her. Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor became the punchline for quirky, viral memes and even the background music for a Tik-Tok dance.

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The longer I sat with it, however, the more the cover appeared to pose an important question about the thin line between the journalistic duty to tell peoples stories and the danger of making those stories into commodities. It was indicative of an unfair choice presented to Black Americans, when so few options are otherwise available. Do we seize upon the moments to highlight, in the mainstream, the lives of those weve lostespecially when that highlighting can be done by someone with the stature of Ta-Nehisi Coates, the issues guest editor? But what does the whole exercise accomplish? If Breonna Taylor were alive, or if her death at the hands of police had not become an internet meme, would her likeness have graced the cover of a major magazines most important issue?

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Are you simply going to ask those who have been marginalized or subjugated to come inside of the institution and participate in the same process that led precisely to their marginalization? asked Angela Davis, in an interview in that same issue of Vanity Fair. Diversity and inclusion without substantive change, without radical change, accomplishes nothing.

Davis, ironically, speaks directly to the crux of my conflict with the cover and these past two weeks: Substantive changes are slow in coming. The troubles that have long faced Black Americans are beginning to get their rightful due in the mainstream. Uprisings in Ferguson following Michael Browns death changed the ways in which we covered police violence and catapulted Black Lives Matter into the limelight. Subsequent uprisings nationwide have cemented BLM as a political force, one that continues to push the transcribers of history to do so correctly and with grace. But the attention, though a step in the right direction, hasnt stopped the police violence or eliminated any negative outcomes experienced by Black people in America.

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Vanity Fairs September issue, The Great Fire, holds these lessons of the movement close. Editor-in-Chief Radhika Jones handed her publication over to Coates, who retells Taylors life story through her mother, and opened the door for many trusted Black voicesincluding Davis, Eve L. Ewing, Jesmyn Ward, Kimberly Drew, and othersto deliver raw perspectives on this current moment in American history.

Representation and visibility are tricky concepts. Race animated both political conventions. Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, a Black woman whose identity has been the subject of much debate, advised viewers of the perils of structural racism during her acceptance speech. Vice President Mike Pence reiterated the Republican stance on law and order during social uprisings. JaRon Smith, an adviser to President Trump, lobbied for the commander-in-chiefs true conscience while Republican Sen. Tim Scott presented himself as the embodiment of a Black dream un-deferred.

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But this doesnt mean either partylet alone bothhas treated Black Americans adequately. And despite one being significantly worse than the other, Black folks are well aware the choice is to go with the lesser evil. Its a familiar choice, as with choosing whether to work during a pandemic or go hungry; as with choosing between saving money or taking care of your family; as with centering a major magazine around your plight or not sufficiently appearing in its pages at all.

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This brings me back to Taylors cover. Seeing Black women, and seeing us honestly, is valuable. But the line between visibility and commodification is thin in America. Taylor is still there as a symbol of caring about the larger systemic problem of police violence against Black folks. Evoking her name and likeness in this manner is an attempt to fill a need it cant ever alleviate. Im not convinced that a major magazine would have loved a Black woman, who is not a celebrity, enough to put her on the cover of their September issue had her story not ended so horrifically, so unfairly. Black women, in order to receive adequate recognition, either have to be exceptional, down and out, or dead. At the same time, Black folks oft have to seize on these moments in order to illuminate the masses.

Its all very unfair.
Ishwar Ramlutchman, the only Indian to be adopted as a prince of the Zulu Kingdom, has been conferred with three honorary degrees for his philanthropic initiatives.

Ramlutchman received the triple honour - an honorary doctoral degree in Humanitarianism and Conflict Resolution, an honorary masters degree in Christian Religious Studies, and an honorary professors degree in Humanitarianism and Community Development - from the Los Angeles Development Church and Institute recently.

Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has lauded Ramlutchman. Zwelithini is the reigning King of the Zulu nation under the Traditional Leadership clause of South Africas republican Constitution.

When I adopted Ishwar Ramlutchman, I gave him the name of Mabheka Zulu. The name Mabheka means the one who cares for my people. This was done after his heroic dedication and achievements in serving the poorest of the poor in the Kingdom of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal," Zwelithini said in a message.
Sahaya Novinston Lobo By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: A Class 11 boy who was allegedly kidnapped by his fathers former employee was rescued by the city police within four hours on Friday. The 16-year-old boy, a resident of Mudichur, was kidnapped from Tambaram on Friday morning. The accused were identified as Hariharan (21), a resident of Ulundurpet, Sarath Kumar (29), of Dindigul, and Vignesh (20), of Tirunelveli.

Police said the boys father Thangaraj owns a restaurant at Mudichur where Hariharan had worked a few months ago. Hariharan was fired from the job soon after the lockdown. Sarath Kumar owned the car used for kidnapping while Vignesh was a close friend of Hariharan.

The boy was driving a moped to nearby saloon around 10 am. The kidnappers were waiting along the road since 6.30 am. When the boy crossed, Vignesh jumped out of the vehicle and threatened the boy to get inside the car, said a police officer. When the police checked CCTV footage at the spot, they also saw Hariharan getting out of the car and threatening the boy, after which they were seen boarding the car. Hariharan subsequently phoned Thangaraj demanding a ransom of Rs 5 lakh.

However, Thangaraj informed the police who immediately formed special teams to nab the kidnappers.

We through the CCTV footage and identified the vehicle. We suspected that they would be taking the GST road and informed the checkposts along the road, said B Sagadevan, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Selaiyur).

One assistant commissioner, three inspectors and ten constables were involved in the operation. The kidnappers location was last traced near Maraimalai Nagar in Chengalpattu district, said the police adding that they deployed four vehicles to nab the culprits. The kidnappers sped from the spot after noticing the police vehicles. We nabbed them after a long hot chase, said Sagadevan who was also in one of the police vehicles. The boy was rescued around 2 pm. All three accused were remanded in judicial custody.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 22:12:27|Editor: huaxia

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URUMQI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Authorities of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region refuted rumors and lies conjured up by Adrian Zenz, a so-called scholar, on population and family planning issues during a press conference Saturday.

The claims by Zenz that the natural population growth in Xinjiang has declined dramatically, or that the region used forced sterilization methods, fly in the face of the facts.

Zenz claimed women like Zamira Dawut, Mihrigul Tursun and Tursunay Zinavdin, who were subjected to "unlawful detention," were forced to undergo compulsory sterilization by the government.

In March 2013, Zamira Dawut gave birth to her third child in the maternal and child care service center in the regional capital Urumqi and signed a consent form voluntarily, firmly requesting "to have a cesarean section and tubal ligation." The center subsequently conducted the operation as she requested. She was never sterilized, nor did she undergo a "uterus removal" as she claimed, said Iljan Anagyit, spokesperson for the information office of the regional government.

Mihrigul Tursun, another woman cited by Zenz, was detained for inciting ethnic hatred and discrimination by the public security bureau of Qiemo County on April 21, 2017. Except for her 20 days of criminal detention, Mihrigul Tursun lived a free life in China. She had never been sentenced and had never studied at any education and training center. Nor was she forced to take drugs against her will as she claimed.

Another investigation showed that there was no record confirming her undergoing a contraceptive operation, while her parents also said she is fertile.

Tursunay Zinavdin said women "detained" at the education and training center had to either accept sterilization or take birth control pills, claiming she was forced to undergo an irreversible tubal ligation. The truth is that she had never undergone contraception. She has been married twice -- the first marriage with her ex-husband Tursunjan Ahmetjan ended in divorce because of her infertility, and she has no child with her present husband as well.

Iljan Anagyit said the three women are all "actresses" and their words are not to be trusted.

Contrary to Zenz's claims that "Xinjiang's natural population growth has declined dramatically," the fact is that the region's population has been increasing, said Tursunay Abdurehim with the region's statistics bureau.

From 2010 to 2018, Xinjiang's permanent population increased by 13.99 percent to about 24.87 million, with the ethnic minority population up 22.14 percent to 15.86 million. The population of the Uygur ethnic group rose by 25.04 percent to nearly 12.72 million, according to the statistics. Enditem
BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and foreign scholars came together Friday to discuss regional cooperation in the Himalayas amid the COVID-19 pandemic and building a community with a shared future for the trans-Himalayan region.

"It is imperative to speed up regional cooperation in the post-epidemic era," said Sun Hongnian, a researcher with the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, during an international symposium on Himalayan regional studies.

Sun noted that the China-Nepal-India Economic Corridor has great potential for development, and urged enhancing understanding and trust among the people of the three countries through cooperation, in order to promote connectivity among the those countries.

Wu Xi, a professor with the Southwest University of Political Science and Law, hoped that, under the influence of the Belt and Road Initiative, the cultural exchange of Tibetan Buddhism would be endowed with new connotations in line with the times.
The group then blocked the intersection near LEnfant Plaza and Independence Avenue in Southwest, chanting, It is our duty to fight for our freedom and We have nothing to lose but our chains. They applauded as an ambulance and firetruck passed through but made obscene gestures at the police.


New Delhi, Aug 29 : O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) announced the commencement of the new academic session 2020-21 for the first-year students on September 1 with a record number of new admissions.

JGU said 2,500 new students join JGU in the new academic year with an overall 50 per cent rise in admissions this year.

This is an unprecedented moment as the education sector has been severely disrupted by Covid-19 global pandemic. It has been JGU's endeavour to ensure uninterrupted learning for its students who have joined the university during the pandemic, a statement said.

Earlier, JGU had already begun the new academic session for its existing students on August 17 and classes are underway in the online mode.

JGU said it is committed to ensuring quality and continuity across all its academic programmes, while ensuring safety, security and well-being of all its students, faculty and staff.

This year, JGU has launched several new undergraduate and post graduate programmes across its nine schools with options for pursuing Humanities fellowships to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Legal Studies, Environmental Studies, Design, Political Science, Economics and Social Policy.

Over 600 faculty members to teach online using latest tech platforms and students from nearly all the states and union territories of India have joined JGU.

International students from several countries including, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, and United States of America have taken admission to JGU this year.

C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, said, "We have been deeply concerned about the future of our students and the associated safety and health concerns during this COVID-19 global pandemic. These are extraordinary times when the world of higher education and universities have been challenged by the pandemic. I am delighted to share with you that the admissions process of all the schools of JGU were completed smoothly and successfully in an Online and Remote-Proctored entrance exam format." "This has only proved that our early decision to go fully online, completely eliminating any face-to-face interaction in the entrance examination process, was the best and indeed the safest option. We were conscious of the inherent safety, security and well-being of the students, their family members and their concerns relating to health became paramount in our decision to implement the AI-Enabled, Remote-Proctored entrance exams. We began the new academic session for our existing students on 17th August and are commencing the classes for the new students on 1st September and look forward welcoming the best talent to our classrooms," he said.
Members of Beyond the Battlefield Memorial Walkers are honouring the memory of the late Bill Elwood from Belfast, pictured with his wife Lauren

A group of veterans are walking from Scotland back to their native Northern Ireland this weekend to raise funds for a charity which supports former members of the armed forces and their families.

Members of Beyond the Battlefield Memorial Walkers set out in the early hours of yesterday morning from Edinburgh Castle for the three-day walk.

Beyond the Battlefield looks after the well-being of the ex-service community in both parts of the island of Ireland who suffer with a variety of symptoms and problems related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The eight walkers hope to finish in Newtownards on Monday where they will lay wreaths at the Cenotaph in memory of fallen comrades.

Bill Anderson, one of the veterans, explained: "Our team are all volunteers who wish to help raise the awareness of The Beyond the Battlefield Charity and the work that they do for our veterans and their families in times of need.

"The charity helps our veterans and their families through such things from PTSD to benefits and pension issues plus many, many more things.

"We have lost too many of our veterans and serving military due to PTSD and they have been let down by the system."

This is the third year that the veterans have taken on the challenge, but this year's event will be particularly poignant.

One of their team, Bill Elwood from Belfast, died in February and his former comrades have chosen to complete this year's walk in his memory.

"Bill was down to walk with us but unfortunately he lost his battle against PTSD earlier this year," explained Bill.

"His wife Lauren has sent some of his ashes with us to be scattered in Edinburgh so that he can be with us at the start of our journey in spirit."

Lauren, who along with her daughter Kelsi will join the veterans on the final leg of their walk from Stormont to Ards, said: "The fact that the walkers are doing this in memory of Bill is greatly appreciated and he would be proud of them all.

"He is with them in spirit."

The 130-mile walk is being led by Eric Larkin, who served in the Light Infantry.

He will be walking with other veterans representing the Royal Tank Regiment, Welsh Guards, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Engineers and the UDR.

Eric said: "As a veterans charity, Beyond the Battlefield doesn't charge for any service it carries out for its members and relies completely on grants, donations and fundraising activities.

"It's a great cause and Northern Ireland veterans are basically being forgotten about due to the Armed Forces Covenant not being honoured here."

The military covenant represents Britain's duty of care to its armed forces in return for sacrifices made in the line of duty.

There are around 150,000 former military personnel in Northern Ireland.

Former Ulster Unionist MP Danny Kinahan, who was this week appointed as Northern Ireland's first veterans commissioner, has pledged to champion the interests of ex-servicemen and women and ensure "promises made to them in the Armed Forces Covenant are fulfilled".

The veterans have set up a JustGiving page for those who want to support their walk.

Donations can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/beyondthebattlefieldmemorialwalk
Across Pennsylvania - especially in rural communities - tens of thousands of yard signs supporting Joe Biden have popped up as his fans try to replicate how President Donald Trump showed his growing support in the state when he was campaigning in 2016. And, just as quickly, some of those signs have been vanishing.

It usually happens in the dark of night, local Democrats say, but sometimes in daylight. Sometimes entire streets or neighborhoods are cleared. Pro-Biden Facebook groups have devoted long threads to strategies for deterring sign snatchers - one suggestion involves clear hair gel and pesky glitter, another electrifying the metal frame with a car battery.

While sign thefts are a problem every election year for candidates of both parties - and are an ongoing source of headaches for campaign staffers and party officials - some Democrats in Pennsylvania and several other states insist it's worse for them this year and illustrates the emotional intensity of the coming election. While there are examples of Trump signs also disappearing, there hasn't been the same level of public outcry.

Campaign staffers frequently roll their eyes at the utility of campaign signs, preferring to spend their time and money on higher-tech sales pitches. But as the Trump campaign proved in 2016, signs can create a momentum for a candidate all on their own, persuading people that siding with a candidate, even a controversial one, is safe.

Now, with many people stuck at home amid a historic pandemic, yard signs have become a stand-in for other shows of support for a candidate, such as attending a rally or marching in a parade. When that symbol vanishes, it can feel like a violation.

"The political landscape is so divisive at this point that one side literally cannot tolerate seeing the opinion of anyone else," said Erin Shifflett, whose two Biden signs, illuminated by spotlights, were stolen from her front yard in southwestern Pennsylvania. "Not only can they not tolerate it, but they're compelled to dismantle anything that they don't agree with."

Shifflett, a 46-year-old English instructor and writer, moved home to Somerset County just after the 2016 election from Dallas. Her community is filled with Trump signs and a massive Trump billboard - so she was excited when her Biden signs, put up in late July, got some car honks and thumbs up. Then one night, she and her husband heard the neighbor's dog barking.

Her husband went "tearing outside and was just within seconds of seeing them grab the signs, jump in the truck and then drive away," she said.

It's the first time she has had a campaign sign stolen - and she has put up signs for Democrats in Alabama and Texas. She plans to replace the stolen two with six new ones. Her car is now plastered with pro-Biden magnets, as is her husband's car.

"We have a giant flag coming, so it's going to be higher up on the house - they would have to scale the house like Spider-Man to get it," she said. "We may have to go to banners flying from the attic window, but we are determined to make sure that our voice is heard as well."

In 2016, rural Pennsylvania was plastered with Trump signage - an early warning to Democrats that the Republican could win the state, which had voted for a Democrat for president every cycle since 1992. Pennsylvania ended up as one of three traditionally Democratic states that flipped to Trump, securing his electoral college win.

Ahead of that election, Jeff Eggleston, a Democratic commissioner in Pennsylvania's Warren County, ordered a few thousand pro-Clinton signs and delivered them to rural communities in his minivan.

This spring, he figured the Biden campaign would, like Clinton's, lack a mass yard-sign-distribution plan, so he came up with one of his own. The first batch of 12,000 was delivered in mid-July, and as photos circulated on social media, Eggleston received a crush of requests for more. So far he has helped with orders of more than 92,000 signs and expects to soon hit 100,000. The Biden campaign sells yard signs for $25 on its website, but county and state parties often have to arrange bulk orders on their own.

"There's a lot of pent-up energy," he said. "People want to express themselves."

Just as the first signs were being delivered, Pennsylvania Democratic Party Rural Caucus Chairman Terry Noble said he caught three young boys on bikes - one wearing a "Don't tread on me" T-shirt - with a ripped-up Biden sign. He snapped their photo and tried to explain that the country accommodates a diversity of opinions and that "people have the right to be heard in that debate and in that discussion."

Noble, an attorney in Clearfield County, soon learned that his experience was not isolated. A pro-Biden Facebook group in Pennsylvania has filled with stories of missing signs - and strategies for fortifying signs from theft.

The easiest option, many have advised, is to put the sign inside a window or bring it in at night - or order a flag or banner that can be mounted high off the ground. Others have invested in motion-activated cameras or have placed signs within sight of doorbell cameras. One woman stapled her sign to a porch railing, and another positioned hers in a poison ivy patch.

And then there are suggestions about what to spread or spray on their signs to prevent theft or punish the thief: ground-up ghost peppers that irritate bare skin. A mixture of peppermint oil and Vicks. Fox, deer or coyote urine purchased at a sporting goods store. Slippery olive oil or grease. Vaseline and cayenne pepper. Vaseline and glitter. Vaseline, Tabasco sauce and glitter. Vaseline and pink glitter. Honey and glitter. Dog poop and glitter.

Glitter is key, according to numerous women in the group, because once it gets on your hands or in your car, it will be there for weeks. Maybe years. "Glitter is the herpes of the crafting world," one woman declared in a social media post.

Noble has encouraged those who've had their signs stolen to write a letter to their local newspaper and has circulated a prototype. It reads, in part: "This isn't either a joke or prank, it's another step towards chaos and away from law and order and our Constitution. It's thievery. . . . Ask yourself, 'Is this the America I really want?' We are better than this as a people and as a Nation."

In Hermitage - a city of about 15,000 in western Pennsylvania - Police Chief Eric Jewell said five campaign signs have been reported stolen in the past few weeks, all of them pro-Biden. He posted a note on the city's Facebook page, reminding everyone that "unlawful taking of any political sign owned by another is theft, a misdemeanor criminal offense, and offenders will be prosecuted." But it's difficult to do so, he said in an interview, as these crimes rarely have eyewitnesses.

"I know that this presidential election is a little more heated than the average, and I just want to make sure neighbors are respectful to each other," Jewell said. "I just don't want any thieving, period."

Eggleston, the Democratic commissioner who is ordering thousands of signs, said that he doesn't think the rate is higher than in previous years. The worst, he said, was in 2012 when some signs for President Barack Obama were slashed to demoralizing pieces. That year one of his friends mused about electrifying his Obama sign with a car battery, which Eggleston urged him not to do.

Among those stolen this year: Eggleston's own Biden sign.

"I just kind of giggle to myself, because I'm like: The dummy who stole it doesn't realize I have like 500 of them in my garage," he said with a laugh. "What I tell everyone is: Don't worry about it. Keep it in the back of your brain for Nov. 3 at about 10:30 when they announce that Trump's lost, and think about those people who stole those signs and where they're at and what they're going to be thinking when that happens."

Alton Northup, 17, put Biden signs in the front yards of his parents' houses in Pennsylvania's Erie County. The one at his dad's house was the first to go, along with all of the other signs on the street. Then the one at his mom's house was swiped, along with a Black Lives Matter sign - and a doorbell camera captured a man in a pickup truck doing the deed. Northup posted the video on Facebook and within 24 hours heard from someone who told Northup he knew the man, had seen the signs in the bed of his truck and provided an address.

After his dad scoped out the scene, Northup said he knocked on the man's door, eager to have an earnest conversation about what happened and why. No one answered, so Northup rescued his signs from the truck and took them home. He added some American flags to the yards in hopes of communicating that Democrats are patriotic and love the nation just as much as conservatives.

Even though he had video evidence, he decided not to seek criminal charges.

"The whole idea of this election is to be a better nation, be a better people," said Northup, who is excited to vote for the first time this fall. "And so I think that if we handle things more peacefully, instead of trying to hurt one another, that's a much better way to go about your life."
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Rio de Janeiro  Sat, August 29, 2020 20:09 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c41669c6 2 News Brazil,COVID-19,coronavirus,travel,destination,tourism,Fernando-de-Noronha Free

Fernando de Noronha, a tropical island off Brazil known as one of the world's most coveted travel destinations, said Thursday it is reopening to visitors, with a catch: they have to have had COVID-19.

The island, part of a pristine volcanic archipelago that limits tourism to several hundred arrivals per day, closed five months ago to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

Officials said in a post on the island's Instagram account that it would begin reopening in phases from September 1, with strict health controls to "guarantee everyone's protection."

"In this first phase, only tourists who have already had COVID-19 will be allowed to disembark," it said.

Visitors will be required to present a positive test result for the virus along with their payment of Fernando de Noronha's environmental conservation tax.

Read also: Brazilian beach tops TripAdvisor's list of best beaches 2020

"We are reopening responsibly, with caution and without hurry," the archipelago's administrator, Guilherme Rocha, told a news conference.

"Hurry is the enemy of life... We can't do everything at once."

Known for its wild, undeveloped beaches, breathtaking scenery and national marine reserve, Fernando de Noronha is home to slightly more than 3,000 permanent residents.

But its boutique hotels are typically packed with jet-setters from Brazil and abroad.

The island closed to visitors on March 21, and residents who were on the mainland were barred from returning from April to mid-June.

Those arriving on the island are now issued an ID bracelet they must wear until public health officials give them the all-clear, either after completing quarantine or obtaining two negative test results for the virus.

Brazil has the second-highest number of virus infections and deaths in the world, after the United States: nearly 3.8 million and 120,000, respectively.

But Fernando de Noronha is a "COVID-19 success story," said Rocha.

"We haven't had communal transmission on the island for a long time. And we want it to stay that way," he said.
With the Covid-19 pandemic forcing most of us to be confined within the four walls of our house, it is needless to say that our dependency for a strong and stable internet connection has risen exponentially. But while we demand a seamless internet experience at all times, chances are that you have faced patchy or unstable connectivity at some point. Understandably, for those who cannot afford a strong broadband connection, mobile data is the only way to ensure that their workflow is maintained while working from home. But what if your area doesnt offer stable mobile connectivity? Well, you can either try and request your mobile telecom operator to improve the connectivity or the most simple solution is to port your mobile number to another telecom provider that offers better service in your area. Today porting your mobile number is fairly easy and can be done without leaving your home. Here are some simple steps:

How to Port Your Mobile Number to Reliance Jio Online

- First, you need to download the MyJio app from Google Play Store or the Apple App store

- Open the app and then head over to the port section on the app

- You will come across two options that the app offers: Buy a new Jio SIM and keep the existing number or just change the network

- Next, you have to select the type of SIM you want - prepaid or postpaid

- Then choose a plan that you think is ideal for you and confirm your location for a doorstep or store pickup. Additionally, you can also track the delivery of your new Jio SIM.

How to Port Your Mobile Number to Airtel Online

- Download the AirtelThanks app available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App store

- Open the app to select plan you need and then confirm the port-in request

- An Airtel Executive will be sent at your place to the given address to collect your details and deliver your new SIM

How to Port Your Mobile Number to Vodafone-Idea Online

- Download the Vodafone-Idea app and enter your name, contact number and city on the Mobile Number Portability Page.

- Then select a Vodafone Postpaid plan that fits your requirement

- Next, click on the Switch to Vodafone Button on the app page

- Once everything is done, enter your address and pincode for the free SIM delivery
By Eleanor V. Horne and Jeffrey M. Vega

My name is Eleanor Horne, and as a young girl in school in Washington D.C. before the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision ordered the integration of nations schools, I remember opening books on the first day of classes and seeing school stamp after school stamp inked inside the covers. Those textbooks had circulated through several white schools in the district, then finally, when their spines were broken and bent, their pages creased and marked, those books made their way to my school.

I was in high school when I got my first new textbook - such a simple thing, but I remember being so excited.

I knew I wanted a better world for my daughter, for my grandson, for my great-grandson.

My name is Jeff Vega, and I was born in the late 1960s. The world I grew up in was different from Eleanors because my generation benefited from the civil rights for which her generation fought so hard.

Still, I attended a high school in North Jersey, where walls were marked with graffiti, doors were often chained shut to prevent drug dealing inside and college recruiters rarely visited. It was a school where most students were Black and brown, a segregation not imposed by the rule of law, but a segregation that remained rooted, just the same. I was fortunate to be one of the few students in my class to leave the city for college when I enrolled at Rutgers, and now I am one of only a handful of leaders of color at a foundation in New Jersey. I will soon sit on a statewide committee of foundation leaders, created by the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, working to address racial equity.

Yet, there is still so much work to be done. That is why, together, Eleanor and I, along with the staff and board of trustees at the Princeton Area Community Foundation, have spent years working to make our region a better place for all children.

Most recently, we created a COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund to help residents in our region. Studies show people of color have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, not only in terms of health, but also economics. The Economic Policy Institute found that Black workers faced high rates of job loss. Workers of color are overrepresented in industries hit hardest by pandemic-related layoffs, including domestic workers and restaurant employees, and Black and Latino workers are less likely to have the ability to work from home.

For the one in six American children who live in poverty, the economic shock of COVID-19 might never be recoverable, according to the Brookings Institution.

Thanks to generous contributions from the community, in the first phase of relief funding, we awarded over $1 million in grants to more than 50 nonprofits working to help feed families, prevent evictions and provide mental health and social services to those in need.

In phase two of funding, we plan to streamline the application process and combine resources to include grant dollars not only from the COVID-19 Fund with leadership supporters like the George H. and Estelle M. Sands Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Princeton University but also from our Community Impact and Burke Legacy Grants, the Bunbury Fund and the Fund for Women and Girls. Among the programs we hope to fund are those working to get children actively engaged in virtual education while meeting their needs, or back to school safely.

Several years ago, we created a grants program that partnered nonprofits with schools. Through that program, we learned so much about the chaotic lives of young children and teens who live in poverty, many of whom are Black and Brown.

They may be homeless, move frequently, or work long hours to help their families pay rent. Their families may not have access to transportation, and they may not feel safe walking to school through their own neighborhoods. Some children suffer from chronic health conditions, such as asthma, that are not well-controlled when regular doctors visits are difficult to come by. Once they arrive at school, they often spend their days in underfunded classrooms.

These conditions remain barriers to the equal education promised for all children by the U.S. Supreme Court in its Brown decision 66 years ago.

From conversations with local educators, we know that our poorest students are most likely to face the most significant learning loss because of the pandemic. Many of those students have also traditionally relied on school meals, and for some, schools have also been the place where they connect with other social services.

Nonprofits tell us they are now working to bridge that gap. Our discretionary grants programs depend on local nonprofits to tell us about the needs of the community, as well as respond to them.

Community is at the core of the work we have been doing for almost 30 years.

As we move forward with our discretionary grants programs, we will begin to ask nonprofits to tell us about how they are working to address racial equity and inclusion. We want to learn more about the policies and practices  either those of nonprofits or those of the structures they are working with -- that must change to provide more equity, inclusiveness, and quality programming for the people they serve.

We believe this step is an important one. This is our responsibility and ethical duty as a leader in our regions philanthropic community. Similar to the approach we took when we created some of our other grants programs, we know we dont have all the answers. But we will continue to ask questions, until together, with our community, we can begin to find a solution.

Thats because together, we can make a difference, not just for our own children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but for every child in our region, as we work toward building a thriving community with equality, equity and justice for all.

Eleanor V. Horne is a longtime trustee of the Princeton Area Community Foundation and serves as the chair of its Committee on Impact. Jeffrey M. Vega is the Community Foundation President & CEO.

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The HCMC Peoples Court sentenced a 36-year-old Colombian man, Martinez Lopez Samir, to 12 years in prison on August 26 for stealing more than US$47,000 from the Caravelle Hotel Saigon.

Martinez Lopez Samir at the court  PHOTO: THANH NIEN

At around 9 a.m. on January 11, 2019, Martinez visited the Vegas e-gaming club on the first floor of the hotel. Realizing that the cash box of the gaming machine No. 85 was unlocked, he asked the waiter for a cup of coffee and stole US$47,350 from the box and left the hotel.

After that, Martinez shared the money with two others, who played at the same gaming machine with him, and they took a taxi to Cambodia through the Moc Bai border gate in Tay Ninh Province.

Martinez was arrested on February 28, 2020, while his accomplices are still on the run. After completing his 12-year sentence, Martinez will be deported from Vietnam, the court ruled. SGT
A 19-year-old Donald Trump supporter is behind a group urging Victorians to expel Premier Daniel Andrews from office over his handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Edward Bourke started his political career aged 15 and describes himself as a 'strong conservative' and admires the likes of Donald Trump and former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

In January, Bourke launched a political group called Victoria Forward which claims to campaign for a 'better Victoria for everyone'.

Edward Bourke, 19, started political campaign group Victoria Forward in January

The group's Facebook page mercilessly trolls Premier Dan Andrews slamming his 'heavy-handed' lockdown approach.

Posts frequently suggest the state Labor leader is 'hiding from the truth', with one asking why he delayed the hotel quarantine inquiry by six weeks.

In one social media post, Victoria Forward also insisted that 72 per cent of their 15,000-strong following wanted Mr Andrews to resign.

Mr Bourke told news.com.au that Mr Andrews has 'failed to effectively manage hotel quarantine, failed to be accountable, and failed to protect the Victorian people'.

Victorian Forward claims it is a bipartisan group campaigning for ordinary people, but what many of its fans won't realise is that Bourke has strong links to the Victorian Liberal Party.

Bourke is a member of Liberal Party and in December last year he started working as Male Vice-Chair at the party's Sunbury Branch.

However when questioned about his links to the rival party Bourke said he made his loyalties clear on material produced by the Victoria Forward.

Victoria Forward frequently posts content urging Mr Andrews to resign and slamming his policies. Pictured: Mr Bourke

'Additionally, the topic of my conservative values is addressed clearly on Victoria Forwards website,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Victoria Forward has never received any financial or organisational support from the Liberal Party.

'I think its important to emphasise that Victoria Forward is about more than just my personal values, its about being a voice for Victorians and pushing for positive change.'

In one social media post, Victoria Forward insisted that 72 per cent of their 15,000-strong following wanted Mr Andrews to resign

Mr Bourke first rose to fame following a video interview with VICE Australia in 2016, where the then-15-year-old revealed his support of Donald Trump.

He also runs a government relations firm called 470 Bourke, where the teenager calls himself a 'seasoned political campaigner, activist, and strategist who has a history of success in his political predictions, comments and strategies'.

When Mr Bourke was 14 he started non-profit campaigns before taking on 'successful global political campaigns'.

Mr Bourke is also an avid coin collector, is interested in family history and owns stocks relating to mining and oil.
At the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Chhattisgarh Assembly building, the Congress chief alleged that 'anti-national and anti-poor forces' were spreading 'hatred and venom of violence' in the country

Raipur: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said that anti-national and anti-poor forces were spreading hatred and "venom of violence" in the country, and the "influence of dictatorship" on our democracy was rising.

The founding fathers would have never imagined that the Constitution and democracy will be in danger 75 years after Independence as freedom of expression is in danger and democratic institutions are being ruined, she said.

Gandhi addressed the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Chhattisgarh Assembly building in Nava Raipur, the upcoming new capital of the state, through a recorded video message in Hindi.

"For the past some time, an attempt is being made to derail our country. New challenges have come up before our democracy. Today, the country stands at a crossroads," she said in the message.

"Anti-poor and anti-national forces and those who rule by making people fight against each other have been spreading hatred and venom of violence," she said.

"Bad thinking is dominating over good thinking, freedom of expression is in danger and democratic institutions are being ruined. The influence of 'tanashahi' (dictatorship) has been increasing on 'lokshahi' (democracy)," she added.

Without naming anyone, Gandhi alleged that these elements want to suppress the voice of people.

"What do they want? They want people of the country, our youth, our tribal people, our women, our farmers, shopkeepers and small traders, jawans to keep their mouths shut," she said.

Two years from now the country will complete 75 years of Independence, the Congress president noted. "Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, former prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, GV Mavalankar (Speaker of the Constituent Assembly of India), Dr BR Ambedkar and our other forefathers would have never imagined that after 75 years of Independence, the country will face such a difficult situation and our Constitution and democracy will be in danger," she said.

Extending wishes on the foundation stone ceremony, she said, "Today is an important day and we all should take a pledge to protect the foundation of democracy. We should also take a pledge that as long as we are in power, we will take decisions keeping in mind the interests of people standing at the end of queue."

"The legislature is the biggest pillar of our democracy. Parliament and Legislative Assembly are sacred temples of our democracy which ensure protection to our Constitution. But it must be remembered that the Constitution will not be saved by buildings, rather it will be protected by emotions," she said.

"We have come a long way in the last seven decades and successfully faced several challenges and got rid of them. However, we are still far away from realizing the dreams of our forefathers," Gandhi said.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi also attended the programme through video-conference from Delhi, officials said.

Rahul Gandhi hailed the Bhupesh Baghel government for launching schemes for farmers and tribals in his message read out by Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey.

Baghel, through the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana and other schemes, has ensured that money reaches the hands of farmers, labourers and the poor, Rahul Gandhi said.

Besides Baghel, Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Charan Das Mahant and other state ministers were present at the venue.

The new Assembly building will come up over 51 acres behind the new Mantralaya (secretariat) at a cost of around Rs 270 crore, officials said.

.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

From Esquire

This article contains spoiler for Tenet



Early on in Tenet, while we're still getting the basic plot straight and before time inversion has scrambled everyone's minds, there's a scene in which Sir Michael Caine (playing a besuited version of Sir Michael Caine, who is literally called Sir Michael), utters a phrase which appeals to our sci-fi imagination.

"I presume you're familiar with the Soviet-era closed cities?"

It turns out that the Protagonist (John David Washington) is indeed familiar, so Sir Michael Crosby (Sir Michael!) offers no glossing and instead just tells him that villain Andrei Sator grew up in a closed city in the Soviet Union from where, despite it being unoccupied for decades, a huge explosion had just been detected.

This spot, which is obscured from maps, once housed a plutonium plant. It is also where a teenage Sator discovered a case of nuclear material, with his name on, while digging through rubble for fissile material. Sator's mission, sent to him from the future, is is to recover the hidden pieces of the algorithm and drop them into the "dead drop" of his nuked home town, to trigger a reaction that will reverse the flow of time and destroy the planet.

By the time the film ends, we are left to believe that closed cities are as much a figment of Christopher Nolan's imagination as a temporal war against the future. However, just like the fact that time inversion finds its basis in real physics, closed cities are a very real part of history, a fascinating relic of the Cold War with parallels today.



First established in Russian in the wake of the second world war, as the Soviet nuclear programme was gearing up, closed cities are settlements where travel is restricted and which often require authorisation for visitors to enter or remain in overnight. These areas often used to be sensitive military establishments, or secret research installations, which required more space or freedom than a conventional military base. The residents of these areas can include family members of those working on secret projects, or trusted associates who might not be directly involved with the purpose of the closed city, as well as the  think shopkeepers, cooks and cleaners  needed to keep a population ticking over.



Story continues

Photo credit: Warner Bros.

These settlements didn't appear on official maps and were generally named after the closest official city, which led to them being referred to by the euphemistic term 'post boxes' because correspondence to these areas was directed to mail boxes in other cities. Closed cities fell into two categories, the first being small communities with sensitive military, industrial, or scientific facilities, such as arms plants or nuclear research sites. These include areas such as Ozyorsk, codenamed city 40, in the Chelyabinsk area of Russia, which is home to a former plutonium production plant (but not, we think, a portal to the future). As the birthplace of the Soviet nuclear weapons programme, Ozyorsk eventually grew to a population of 100,000, including scientists, plant operatives and the prisoners who built it, none of whom officially had a home. Today, after a string of nuclear accidents, it is one of the most contaminated places on earth.

Photo credit: Vitaly Nevar - Getty Images

The other category are border cities, or areas which were closed for for security purposes. These are similar to parts of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War, where a large part of the inner German border and border between West Germany and Czechoslovakia was placed under tight restrictions.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union many closed cities came to light. However, there are still 44 publicly acknowledged closed cities in Russia, with a total population of about 1.5 million people, and another 15 or so closed cities are believed to exist, with their names and locations not made public by the Russian government. While the number of closed cities has significantly reduced since the Nineties, in 2001, foreign travel was restricted in the northern cities of Norilsk, Talnakh, Kayerkan, Dudinka and Igarka, without any exceptions.

Photo credit: Mirrorpix - Getty Images

Beyond the Soviet Union there are closed cities across the world, including China's 'nuclear town' which surrounds the largest nuclear plant in the country, and is located in western part of Gansu province in the Gobi desert. Until the Eighties the whole town was closed to outsider and, following a nuclear leak, most residents were moved to a nearby city in 2007.

In the United Kingdom the uninhabited village of Imber, England was closed in 1943 in order for the British Army to use it as a training ground for urban warfare. The space gave an exercise area for American troops preparing for the invasion of Europe during the Second World War. Though most buildings have been demolished the village church has been kept intact and the village is occasionally opened to the public.

In the United States there are closed cities in Washington, New Mexico and Tennessee which were set up during the Manhattan Project as the country produced their first nuclear weapons during World War II.

Although these secret cities are often functional spaces where the government needs them, the idea of a place a with a codename which evades being plotted on a map is exactly the sort of sci-fi spot would inspired Christopher Nolan to stage the climax of his espionage story.

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Mumbai, Aug 29 : In a fresh development in the case of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Saturday that the government will send all complaints it has received against film producer Sandip Ssingh to the CBI.

"I have received many complaints and requests to investigate the relationship between Sandip Ssingh and the Bharatiya Janata Party, pertaining to his connections with Bollywood and drugs. I will send these pleas to the CBI for a probe," Deshmukh told mediapersons here.

To a query as to why the government did nothing for the past over two months in the matter, the minister retorted by asking why the BJP government, which ruled the state for five years, did not act against Ssingh.

Ssingh is the producer of a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has been seen hobnobbing with leading BJP leaders in the past.

The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government has faced flak from the BJP in the Sushant case, the probe of which was handed over from the Mumbai Police to the CBI, with the Enforcement Directorate and the Narcotics Control Bureau also joining in.

State Congress general secretary and spokesperson Sachin Sawant has said that between September 1 and December 23, 2019, Sandip Ssingh had called up the BJP office 53 times.

"Who was he speaking to? Who is his handler in the BJP," Sawant asked, demanding a probe into the relations between Singh and BJP leaders who treat him as a "blue-eyed boy".

He further claimed that for the PM's biopic, Ssingh's Legend Global Studio was the only film company which signed an MoU worth Rs 177 crore at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, and sought to know why only that company inked the deal.

Sawant tweeted pictures of former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is now the Leader of Opposition, with Ssingh at the poster-launch of the film, "PM Narendra Modi" (2019) in which actors Suresh Oberoi and the film's lead actor Vivek Oberoi were also seen.

The Congress leader said that the leaked social media messages of Rhea Chakraborty are from the time when the BJP-led government ruled the state, so it can be 'said' that drugs were so easily available during the BJP regime.

Referring to media reports that Ssingh may flee the country, Sawant said there are many questions, such as the mystery behind the hasty CBI probe etc., which need proper investigations.

However, BJP spokesperson Ram Kadam said that the state government is attempting to mislead the people and trying to protect the politicians, the actors and the drugs mafia.

"The probe was with the state government for 65 days... Why was Sandeep Ssingh not investigated then," Kadam asked.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
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Linkedin Jean Marc Mojon (Agence France-Presse) Beirut, Lebanon  Sat, August 29, 2020 21:06 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c416767b 2 Art & Culture UNESCO,Beirut,fundraising,Lebanon Free

The UN's culture and education body will organize two conferences to seek "considerable" funding for blast-hit Beirut, its director said Thursday in the Lebanese capital.

Audrey Azoulay told AFP during a visit to a school damaged in the colossal August 4 explosion at Beirut's port that two events were in the works, including a fundraising event for Beirut's heritage, during which UNESCO would seek hundreds of millions of dollars.

"The first one will be a meeting of the Global Education Coalition dedicated to Lebanon," she said, referring to a body set up to support remote learning since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

"The country absolutely needs to be better prepared on this issue of remote learning," she said.

Azoulay said that meeting would be held on September 1.

According to UNESCO, around 160 schools were destroyed or damaged by the blast, which left more than 180 people dead and devastated entire neighbourhoods of Beirut.

Azoulay said at least 85,000 children were directly affected by the destruction the explosion wreaked.

With the start of the new school year theoretically only days away, the blast compounded a serious crisis the education system already faced due to COVID-19 and an unprecedented economic crunch.

Azoulay said a preliminary assessment showed $22 million would be needed just to rebuild damaged schools.

Read also: Beirut blast conspiracy tales abound on social media

'Soul of Beirut'

She said a second conference would be organized, probably in late September, to raise funds for Beirut's heritage and the cultural sector.

Azoulay said the aim was to "secure international funding for culture, of the kind that usually comes after reconstruction efforts".

"It needs to come now," she said. "The soul of Beirut is at stake."

Speaking at a press conference later in the day, Azoulay said several hundred million dollars would be needed just for the restoration of Beirut's heritage.

By comparison, around $100 million was raised for Mosul, Iraq's second city, whose historic center was leveled during military operations against the Islamic State jihadist group in 2017.

"We need several hundred million dollars for the heritage" of Beirut, she said, adding that UNESCO might not be able to raise all of it during the donor conference.

"What UNESCO can bring is expertise, guarantees on transparency and guarantees on the integrity of the restoration standards," she said.

Victims of the blast, the general public and Lebanese aid groups have all voiced concern that foreign aid, if not sent directly to those who need it the most, could be embezzled by the same ruling class they blame for the explosion.

Azoulay said she had raised the issue of real estate speculation in affected areas with President Michel Aoun when she met him earlier in the day.

She called for strong measures to protect affected historical neighborhoods from marauding property sharks offering to buy up homes from vulnerable landlords and tenants.

"Maybe a special status should be given to the affected zone. Maybe all transactions should be temporarily frozen. In any case, acts are needed," she said.

Topics : UNESCO Beirut fundraising Lebanon
A police car in Australia in a file photo. (Greg Wood/AFP/GettyImages)

A Five-Year-Old Child in Western Sydney Seriously Assaulted

A man and a woman have been arrested following the assault of a five-year-old child in western Sydney.

Emergency services found a boy suffering serious injuries after they were called to a Cabramatta home about 9.50pm on Aug 28.

The child was taken to hospital and remains in a serious but stable condition.

Police said a 20-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman are assisting with their inquiries.

Sydney
NEET, JEE mains 2020: The Congress, TMC, JMM and Shiv Sena on Friday said non-NDA leaders had moved the Supreme Court seeking postponement of NEET and JEE keeping in view the health and safety of students amid rising COVID-19 cases.

Ministers of six opposition-ruled states moved the court seeking review of its order permitting the Centre to conduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) this year amid the persisting coronavirus pandemic.

The review plea has been filed by ministers from West Bengal (Moloy Ghatak), Jharkhand (Rameshwar Oraon), Rajasthan (Raghu Sharma), Chhattisgarh (Amarjeet Bhagat), Punjab (B S Sidhu) and Maharashtra (Uday Ravindra Sawant).

In a joint online press conference of the parties, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the grounds on which their review petition has been filed has not been heard by the court so far and is different from those petitions which have been dismissed by the top court.

The petition for postponement of the entrance exams has aspects like safety, security and health of students, logistics which are required for holding the tests with 25 lakh students taking them and balancing health and education of students.

The review plea was filed on Friday in the backdrop of the Supreme Court on August 17 refusing to interfere with the conduct of medical and engineering entrance exams -- NEET and JEE  scheduled to take place in September saying that life must go on and students cant lose a precious year due to the pandemic.

Singhvi said that they have only sought deferment or postponement of NEET and JEE and not cancellations, as they do not want the academic year of students to be wasted.

Though a petition has been dismissed by the court in this regard, none of the points raised by us have been discussed by the court earlier. Ours is a petition for deferment and not for cancellation of exams, he said.

On August 17 the top court had dismissed a plea by one Sayantan Biswas and others seeking direction to National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts both the NEET and JEE exams, to postpone them after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured that all safeguards would be taken.

This fresh petition is a constructive, non-negative, non-destructive approach to not cancel the exams but defer them, the Congress spokesperson said.

We are doing this as our duty towards the youth and students of our country and in public interest. We are not deterred by clearly admitted constraints of both time and earlier petition dismissed, which was totally avoidable and which did not raise any of these issues. Without denying the constraints, there is always hope, Singhvi said.

He claimed that this petition represented by around 30 per cent area and population of the country.

Singhvi suggested that the exams, which are starting from September 1, be deferred till November and the academic session can start from January to save the academic year.

While JEE is from September 1 to 6, NEET begins from September 13.

The petition follows a meeting of chief ministers of seven states. It was convened virtually by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday.

Singhvi also accused the central government of being insensitive and inefficient, and termed it as a government of apathy and contradictions.

The petition says that it be listed before the Supreme Court at the earliest, otherwise grave and irreparable harm and injury would befall on the student community of our country and not only the health, welfare and safety.

Singhvi said students appearing for NEET and JEE could stand imperilled but also the public health at large would be in severe jeopardy in these COVID-19 pandemic times.

Trinamool Congress leader Derek OBrien said conducting examinations of this magnitude when the infection is at its peak poses serious health hazards for the students, their parents and persons conducting these exams.

He said the issue would also come before Parliament for discussion, where all parties will come together on it.

It is very clear that we will be speaking in one voice. The review petition is only one step in that direction. It is beyond politics and it is in the interest of students, OBrien said.

He added that in jointly filing the petition, various governments have shown great team work and it is being filed in the true spirit of federalism. OBrien added that this is a big step in fighting for the rights of students, which will be taken forward in 2020.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said many students would not be able to take these exams out of fear or due to logistical difficulties.

Besides, he said, some may even be suffering from underlying health conditions such as asthma and diabetes, thus making it even more dangerous for them to physically appear at examination centres. It seems the central government is being adamant and stubborn in holding the exams, Soren said, asking who will be responsible for the health of students.

He urged the Supreme Court to take a holistic view on the matter, noting that the central government seems to have shed its responsibility on states and is not bothered about controlling the spread of coronavirus.

Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant was also present at the conference but he had to leave for a meeting.

Singhvi argued that with recent information about the spread of the virus, conducting physical examination of such magnitude can have disastrous consequences.

He said with the prime minister giving sermons on safety every day, holding the examinations of such nature would make a mockery of the COVID safeguards.

The Congress leader noted that COVID is dormant and people are asymptomatic, and temperature guns at exam centres would not be enough as safeguards at exam centres, which have a density of 1500 students per centre for JEE and 450 for NEET.

The exam centres are a recipe for disaster as far as health of students is concerned, he said.

Asked about the chances of the petition, Singhvi said we are not deterred.
We are now excited about the prospects of a second animal in Dong Mo Lake which could potentially increase the number of known living Swinhoes Softshell Turtles to four individuals, with three in Vietnam and one in China, read the statement from the Asian Turtle Program (ATP) of Indo-Myanmar Conservation (IMC)  the organisation is sparing no efforts in protecting the critically endangered species in Dong Mo Lake.

The Hoan Kiem Turtle is believed to be almost extinct in the wild. No surviving populations were known until the first wild animal was confirmed in Dong Mo Lake on the outskirts of Hanoi in 2007. It was a long wait until a second animal was confirmed on May 24 of the same year in nearby Xuan Khanh Lake.

Fishermen in Dong Mo Lake have long claimed that a second, smaller individual of the species lived in the lake. One large Swinhoes Softshell Turtle has regularly been photographed and is the same individual who escaped during a dam break in 2008 which resulted in the rescue and return of the 69kg individual to the lake.

However, in May 2011, staff of the ATP/IMC, who continuously monitor the lake, did see a softshell turtle that appeared to be smaller than the big turtle that is regularly seen. Although some photographs have been captured of this individual in recent years, the images have not been clear, and some doubt remained over if was only one animal being seen or not.

Finally, on August 20, 2020, Nguyen Van Trong, the ATP/IMC local field officer, was able to capture a photo of two large softshell turtles emerging simultaneously. Although they appeared for only a few seconds, he was able to capture some amazing pictures.

The identity of the smaller turtles species cannot be confirmed with these photos but, together with previous observations by staff, its size of 40-50kg is a good indication that it might be a Rafetus. (Photo: Nguyen Van Trong - ATP/IMC)



The well-known large individual sits in the foreground weighed in at 69kg in 2008 when captured and could weigh between 100-130kg now in 2020. The second animal is seen not far behind and, although its not clear enough to see head markings, this also looks to be a large animal that could be 40-50kg in weight.

With few other species reaching this size in Vietnam, it gives us good hope that at least two, and possibly more, of these critically endangered Swinhoes Softshell Turtles still survive in Dong Mo Lake, although further work is required to confirm this new turtles identify, the ATP/IMCs statement said.

With a number of other sites already identified by the ATP/IMC in Vietnam, the new findings bring the hope that additional Swinhoes Softshell Turtles may be found, giving more options for the future conservation of the worlds rarest turtle species in Vietnam. These new photos will boost monitoring efforts at Dong Mo and will hopefully draw more attention to the species.

The larger well-known individual can be seen clearly in the centre of the image, while the smaller turtle appears behind it in the top left corner. (Photo: Nguyen Van Trong - ATP/IMC)

Living in wetlands, streams and large rivers in northern Vietnam, southern China and possibly Laos, the giant Swinhoes Softshell Turtle can reach up to 150kg or more in size. It was heavily hunted for food from the 1970s until the 1990s and is believed to be almost extinct in the wild.

Only three individuals have been recorded, with two in Vietnam (in Xuan Khanh and Dong Mo Lakes) and one in China.

In January 2016, the only remaining turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake in the centre of Hanoi, known as Cu Rua (Great-Grandfather Turtle) by Hanoians, was reported dead due to old age. It was believed to have lived for 200 years.

Dong Mo Lake offers hope for the worlds rarest turtle to recover. (Photo: Nguyen Tai Thang - ATP/IMC)



The two turtles in Dong Mo or more may be the only hope of conservation for this species in the world. Therefore, this lake has always been strictly supervised by the authorities and conservation organisations for many years.

The ATP/IMC has partnered with the local authorities and other conservation organisations around the world to implement a conservation action plan for the species since 2003.

ATP/IMC staff have been working hard at Dong Mo for the last 13 years to record sightings and the behaviour of the large individual while working with local communities to promote conservation. (Photo: Nguyen Tai Thang - ATP/IMC)

Nguyen Van Trong grew up on the lake and was a fisherman before picking up a camera and becoming a key part of the field staff protecting the worlds rarest turtle. Photo by: Nguyen Tai Thang (ATP/IMC).
Summer's almost gone, winter's coming on  as Bob Dylan and others sang all those years ago  and we too have gotta travel on.

The late August Bank Holiday is always a moment for reflection: What will the autumn and winter hold for the economy, for markets, and indeed for our working lives?

But this year it is not just the switch from holidays, such as they have been, back to work that preoccupies us. It is the transition from an emergency economy sustained by massive support from the Government to one that will increasingly have to stand on its own feet.

Empty streets: If office occupancy goes down to, say, half of its pre-Covid level, our city centres will be devastated

The turning point is in the past and there has been a strong rebound, but we are all rightly concerned about the durability of the expansion and the path the economy will take over the next couple of years. The warnings by Doug McWilliams on the previous page are well made.

Some things are clear. The structural shift in retailing from bricks and mortar shops towards online is set to continue. Some shops will survive of course but we will never go back to the pre-Covid model with only 20 per cent of retail sales being online.

Figuring out how we should preserve our high streets in the light of this shift is one of the great challenges our society faces.

More encouragingly, we have learnt something else. People like going out to restaurants and pubs. The Eat Out to Help Out project has been such a success that many restaurants have said they intend to keep it going even after the Government's support ends. We will see how long they can do that for, but at least we now know for sure that we are social animals and like to have fun. That is a bit of a relief in these troubled times.

But there is one thing we really know very little about and it is probably the most important single determinant of the shape and strength of the recovery over the next decade. It is whether we go back to the office.

Of course some of us will  at least for part of the time. But if office occupancy goes down to, say, half of its pre-Covid level, our city centres will be devastated.

The knock-on impact will not just be on urban transport systems and the myriad personal service businesses that office workers use, grave though that will be. If the big cities die, the entire recovery will be at risk.

The Government is very aware of this, hence the urge to get us back to work  that is, office work. But if companies plan to keep most of their staff working from home until some time next year and most of their people prefer that anyway, then no amount of urging by Ministers will move the dial.

So what will determine our working patterns in the longer run? We know a bit. Long before the virus struck there had been a steady shift towards people working from home. There were several drivers of this. One was the shift to self-employment, which has doubled in the UK as a proportion of the workforce over the past 30 years. Another has of course been the technology. A third was cost, for office space became much more expensive.

We also know that in fast-expanding industries, particularly in California, not having to bring people into an office means you can gear up faster. Not only do you not need more space. You can also hire people who live beyond regular commuting distance, widening the pool in which you can fish for talent.

However, what works in the short run may not in the long. How do new recruits get to know their colleagues? We all learn our craft by watching others do it, so how do you train people? How do you manage people you do not see?

Companies that have been happy to have staff working from home are reconsidering, with hard-driving operations in particular wanting people back. Goldman Sachs is the latest giant to encourage its people into its London offices.

My guess is that when things settle down we will find that we need to get people together in offices for most of the time. Companies that are more relaxed about home-working will lose ground to those that are more driven. And for start-ups? You need people together.

Not everything will go back as it was, and we will be more efficient as a result of what we have learnt.

But I think we will be surprised how much we need offices  and for the sake of our cities, let's hope I am right. Otherwise the winter that comes on will be a chilly one indeed.
2-in-1 complex keyhole surgery pulls patient away from danger By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Skilful multidisciplinary team at Kings Hospital performs bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing Syndrome without damaging liver or major vein kissing tumours; blood loss less than 100ml View(s): View(s):

Not just one but two, dealing a double whammy to 56-year-old Jayanthi Silva from Mutwal, Colombo 15. Then major and complex keyhole surgery lasting seven hours  a bilateral adrenalectomy to deal with life-threatening Cushing Syndrome!

Two tumours, non-cancerous neoplasms, which usually are a rarity, were affecting both Jayanthis adrenal glands causing Cushing Syndrome and the only option was surgery.

The cause of the tumours was not known but Jayanthi had symptoms of weight gain, bloating of the face and low potassium levels. She was medically-compromised as she was also suffering from diabetes, hypertension and hypothyroidism.

She was obese and could hardly walk. She had suffered several falls and there were spinal fractures and deep-vein thrombosis which were dangerous, says Consultant Surgeon Dr. Bawantha Gamage.

The patient was referred to Dr. Gamage after being diagnosed as having tumours on both the adrenal glands by Consultant Endocrinologist Dr. Sachith Abhayaratna who explains that Jayanthi had Cushing Syndrome secondary to cortisol over-secreting adrenal tumours, creating a life-threatening situation.

Jayanthi says that in July 2019 (last year), she was leaving her home when she fell to a sitting position and could not get up without help. The same recurred at dinner-time and her husband had to raise her up.

I didnt know what was happening. I was not responsive, she says, with a battery of tests while in an Intensive Care Unit for several days revealing that the potassium levels in her system had come down to dangerous levels.

By the end of last year, Jayanthi and her family knew that the only way out was the removal of the tumours and the adrenal glands. It was risky surgery. The date was set for March, this year, but the COVID-19 crisis compelled the surgical team to push it back.

For Dr. Gamage, who along with his team and other vital multidisciplinary colleagues got into action at the state-of-the-art operating theatre of the private Kings Hospital at Narahenpita, the challenge was great.

It was advanced complex surgery because there was the imminent danger of damaging the vital organ that is the liver and also the inferior vena cava (the vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower half of the body to the right atrium of the heart) which was kissing the tumours.

The team had to consider all the risk factors and then choose between an open or laparoscopic surgery. They decided on the latter. The procedure entailed the removal of both the adrenal glands which could result in major fluctuations in blood pressure.

The success of the complex minimally-invasive keyhole surgery not only hinged on the expertise and skill of the surgeon but also the efficiency of the anaesthetist, the Sunday Times learns.

It was on July 6 that Dr. Gamage assisted by his junior surgeon Dr. S.H.R. Sanjeewa and Senior Registrar Dr. Viraj Abeykoon, performed the laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy, with Jayanthi being closely monitored by Consultant Anaesthetist, Dr. Nilanganee Lamahewage.

Dr. Gamage dissected the tumour on the left side with the patient lying on her right side in a procedure lasting four hours and then turning her exactly opposite, so that she was lying on her left side, he had dissected the tumour on the right side in a three-hour procedure. The left was more compromised with the tumour being a large seven-cms.

The patient was under general anaesthesia being extensively monitored by the anaesthetic team, he says, conceding that it was a strenuous seven hours (from 4.30 to 11.30 p.m.) for all of them.

He adds: With one of the major complications being massive bleeding, we used the latest sophisticated laparoscope which has high-definition cameras. Our other advanced tools included an energy device to minimize bleeding (through cauterization) and ultrasonic dissection and bipolar diathermy.

The anaesthetic team, meanwhile, had to keep an eye on the patient as her blood pressure could drop or shoot up suddenly, which required extensive monitoring with the arterial blood pressure monitor.

Happy that they were able to perform this complex and risky procedure successfully, Dr. Gamage smiles that the total blood loss during the entirety of the procedure was less than 100ml or half a cup.

I am okay now, says Jayanthi, adding that she was in the care of maara (super) doctors.

All about the adrenal glands The major hormone-producers that are the adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal glands) are located above the kidneys. These triangular-shaped endocrine glands produce a variety of hormones including adrenaline and noradrenaline and the steroids aldosterone and cortisol. The hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands help regulate a persons metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 29)  Malaysia has fired off a diplomatic protest rejecting the Philippines territorial claims over Sabah and the Kalayaan Island Group, which covers most of the disputed Spratly Islands.

In an August 27 note verbale sent to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Malaysian government said the Philippines claim to Sabah, formerly known as North Borneo, clearly has no basis under international law.

The Permanent Mission of Malaysia wishes also to inform the Secretary-General that Malaysia has never recognized the Republic of the Philippines' claim to the Malaysian state of Sabah, the document read.

It also rejected Manilas excessive maritime claims over the entire Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea.

Philippines' Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Ed Menez said the government "is aware" of Malaysia's move and is studying "if a public response is in our interest."

Malaysia's diplomatic note was in response to the one filed by Manila in March, where it protested Kuala Lumpurs bid to extend the limits of its continental shelf, covering portions of the Kalayaan Island Group. The Philippines stressed it has sovereignty over the area, which it considers part of Palawan province.

Moreover, the Malaysian submission is projected from portions of North Borneo over which the Republic of the Philippines has never relinquished its sovereignty, the Philippines said in its diplomatic note in March.

The two regional allies have long kept the decades-old dispute in the back burner, but a tweet from Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. recently triggered a public spat.

"Sabah is not in Malaysia, Locsin tweeted, calling it a factual statement. Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein summoned Philippine envoy Charles Jose over the post, while Locsin hit back, saying he too is inviting the other countrys envoy.

The Sabah dispute

Malaysia has considered Sabah its territory since it became part of the Malaysian federation in 1963. Kuala Lumpur maintains that the United Nations and the international community have recognized Sabah as part of Malaysia.

Manila, however, insists that Sabah was merely on lease to Malaysia by the Sultanate of Sulu, which has ceded sovereignty over the area to the Philippines.

The Sultanate signed a January 22, 1878 lease agreement with the now defunct private firm British North Borneo Company over a part of Sabah, which Malaysia absorbed after the British colonizers left. Malaysia has been paying what it considers cession money of RM5,300 a year to the heirs of the Sulu Sultante until it stopped payments in 2013.

The Philippines has never relinquished its claims to Sabah and considers Malaysia's payments to the sultan's heirs as rent.

The two neighbors are founding members of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations, whose bedrock principles include cooperation and peaceful settlement of disputes. Aside from the Philippines and Malaysia, self-governing Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei also have competing claims in the resource-rich South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety.

CNN Philippines' Lara Tan contributed to this report.
New Delhi:

The Election Commission needs to build a political consensus on the issue of electoral reforms, including funding, the government said on Thursday, putting the ball back in the court of the poll panel on its long-pending demand for changes in the system of party fundings.

Responding to a string of questions on the demands of the commission to amend electoral laws to bar anonymous donations above Rs 2000 and to give it power to deregister a political party, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government will render full cooperation to the poll watchdog on the issue.

"Our government stands firmly behind the proposal to make electoral funding more transparent. This requires political consensus across political divide. EC needs to take stand in this regard. We shall render full cooperation," he told reporters.

Addressing one of his election rallies in Uttar Pradesh recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hailed EC's efforts to cleanse political system of black money.

The commission has sent to the law ministry a string of electoral reform proposals, including the one to reduce from the present Rs 20,000 to Rs 2000 anonymous political donations, power to countermand polls over proof of use of money power and authority to deregister political parties.

Several EC proposals are pending with the government which the poll body feels can help cleanse the electoral system.

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Muharram is among the holiest days for Shiite Muslims across the world and includes large processions of mourners beating their chests while reciting elegies and chanting slogans to denounce the slaughter of Hossein and his companions. The mourning reaches its peak on Ashura, the 10th day of the month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
Of the 782 cases of COVID-19 in Co. Louth, a total of 294 were in nursing home clusters.

A report by a group of government-appointed experts which investigated the distress and suffering which led to the deaths of nearly 1,000 nursing home residents, was launched last week.

The figure of 294 NH cases in Louth is the third highest in the country, behind only Dublin and Kildare.

Using data as of 26 June, 2020, the report's 782 total cases here, ranks the sixth highest in the 26 counties after Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Cavan and Meath.

Prof Cecily Kelleher, who chaired the group, said: 'As we work our way through this pandemic, we know that older people have suffered most.

'We talk of centenary and 100 years to mark the Republic of Ireland. Many of the people affected were the citizens and taxpayers who helped to create this State.

'We owe it to them now to ensure we have a healthcare system that is entirely fit for 21st-century purpose.'

The report warned that deaths experienced during the pandemic may lead to a large number of families suffering pathological grief into the future.

Death and dying grief supports were curtailed or non-existent in some instances.

The group found many nursing homes were ill-prepared for the killer infection which swept the country and led to hundreds of deaths among frail and elderly residents.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said he is now setting up an implementation group to draw up a plan based on the report's 86 recommendations, which he will cost and bring to government.

Responding to the report, Tadhg Daly of Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), representing private homes, said it should represent a milestone for care of the older person.

'NHI states its recommendations require immediate prioritisation by government and the required backing by the State to address substantive policy shortcomings that have deprioritised nursing home care within our health services,' he said.

'The report states the infectious nature of COVID-19 makes it difficult to prevent and control in residential care settings, and people within them are disproportionately likely to contract it given they are more medically vulnerable and frail.'

The organisation has now written to the minister asking for a review of visiting restrictions in light of the increased risk to residents from the resurgence in COVID-19.
Goodluck Jonathan

Goodluck Jonathan, a former Nigeria President and ECOWAS Envoy to Mali, has provided the latest update on the Malian coup following an emergency meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and other Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS on Friday morning.

It had earlier been reported that Buhari and Jonathan again joined other ECOWAS leaders in an emergency virtual extraordinary summit over the ongoing political crisis in Mali.

The summit, chaired by the current ECOWAS Chairman and President of Niger Republic, Mahmadou Issoufu, considered the report of Jonathan, who recently returned from Mali, where he interacted with the leadership of the military junta.

The ECOWAS leaders had earlier met via video conference on August 20, to deliberate on the same matter where they called for the immediate release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, and a return to constitutional order in the West African country.

The ousted Malian president, Keita, was released from detention by the military junta on August 27 in line with the request of the ECOWAS leaders.

NEWS: Buhari sacks Dokubo as Amnesty Programme Coordinator

Reacting to the development, Jonathan, in a tweet on his official Twitter handle on Friday afternoon said the ECOWAS leaders are optimistic of restoring constitutional order in Mali following the emergency meeting.

He tweeted: I briefed an extraordinary session of the Authority of #ECOWAS Heads of State and Government this afternoon on the outcome of our recent engagements with the military rulers who are now in charge of affairs in the Republic of #Mali.

I am pleased that our mediation, buoyed by the determination of #ECOWAS leaders to act decisively to achieve the restoration of constitutional order in #Mali Mali is already bearing fruits, following the release of ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
Theres rain in the forecast throughout Connecticut this Saturday with a significant chance of thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters with the Albany NWS office said there was a 90 percent chance of precipitation in the New Haven area Saturday afternoon, with weather that could produce gusty winds and heavy rain and possibly a thunderstorm.

The chance of precipitation continues into the evening hours, where its estimated at 70 percent, officials said. Again, gusty winds and heavy rain are possible.

Similar chances of rain are forecast in Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk and Greenwich, according to the NWS.

A hazardous weather outlook has been issued for Litchfield County due to the chance of thunderstorms and widespread showers, which may cause flooding, officials said.

Sunday is expected to be sunny in the New Haven area, with a high of roughly 78 degrees, as is Sunday night, when the temperature is expected to fall to about 59 degrees.

Connecticut communities are recovering from a series of strong storms that moved through the state Thursday, including in Hamden, North Haven and Bethany, where a tornado touched down just before 4 p.m.

The state also still continues to reckon from the damage done by Tropical Storm Isaias, which hit on Aug. 4.

The remnants of tropical storm Laura continued to make their way northward Saturday, but are expected to be absorbed into a cold front moving through Canada, according to the NWS Weather Prediction Center.

The storm was centered about 130 miles east of Louisville, Ky., as of 5 a.m., officials said.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Protesters took to the condo lobby of Portland's mayor Friday night as Oregon protests against racial injustice persist.

The protesters at the sit-in have issued demands, including police budget reductions and Mayor Ted Wheelers resignation, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported. A crowd of about 150 had gathered outside the building.

Graffiti is sprayed on a damaged door at City Hall in Portland Ore., on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. Officials say protesters in Portland smashed windows at City Hall in a demonstration that started Tuesday night and stretched into Wednesday morning

Portland has been gripped by nightly protests for three months since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The demonstrations, often violent, usually target police buildings and federal buildings. Some protesters have called for reductions in police budgets while the citys mayor and some in the Black community have decried the violence, saying its counterproductive.

Seventy-four people are now facing federal charges related to protests that have rocked the city for three months since George Floyd was killed, the local U.S. attorney announced Thursday.

The misdemeanor and felony charges include assaults on federal officers, arson and damaging federal property.

Earlier Friday, Wheeler had said he sent a letter to President Donald Trump declining his offers to help the city manage the protests. In early July, Trump sent more federal agents to the city to protect the federal courthouse, but local officials said their presence made things worse. The federal agents later pulled back.
By Gina Lee

Investing.com  Oil was up on Friday morning in Asia, looking to end the week with a third straight week of gains boosted by producer efforts to cut output as concerns over the global economic recovery from COVID-19 increase.

Brent oil futures rose 0.33% to $45.05 by 12:19 AM ET (5:19 AM GMT) and WTI futures were up 0.28% to $42.94. Both benchmarks saw losses during the previous session on the back of U.S. data released on Thursday that showed more than one million initial jobless claims during the past week.

Following its joint ministerial monitoring committee meeting on Wednesday, OPEC+ continues to focus on member compliance to agreed cuts, with a particular focus on members who have not done so, who could face production cuts of 2.31 million barrels daily as compensation.

Theyre really focusing on the compliance from OPEC members. Theyve called out Iraq and Nigeria for not complying. Thats all been very good for supporting prices, BetaShares Capital chief investment officer Louis Crous told Reuters.

An OPEC+ internal report said that oil demand is forecast to fall by 9.1 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2020, a 100,000 drop from its previous forecast.

But the report warned that the demand drop could increase by 11.2 million bpd if a prolonged second wave of COVID-19 hits countries such as the U.S., China, India and Europe in the second part of the year.

My expectation would be demand continues to be quite a bumpy recovery, National Australia Bank (OTC:NABZY) head of commodity research Lachlan Shaw told Reuters.

Some investors predicted that Brent futures could remain near the $45-mark but were pessimistic about a further climb in the short run.

Its difficult to see conviction either way. From a seasonal perspective, youd probably anticipate things to weaken a bit, Shaw added.

Meanwhile, Chinese buyers have reportedly chartered around 19 tankers for September to transport a record order of roughly 37 million barrels of U.S. oil to China. Should the order be placed as planned, it would smash Mays record of 35.2 million barrels, and would be an indication that China is ramping up purchases to meet its commitments under the phase one trade deal between the two countries.
Primary care

"People, who were no longer very useful at central hospitals, were deployed to these primary care centers. Once the COVID-19 pandemic broke up , the vast majority of them were vulnerable and withdrew from the service," he said.
The rising number of herd stock, plus pork imports, have helped lower the domestic pork price.

The latest report of the Department of Livestock Husbandry showed that in the first seven months of the year, 93,248 tons of pork were imported by 130 companies in Vietnam, an increase of 223 percent over the same period last year.





The imports were mostly from Canada, Germany, Poland, Brazil, the US, Spain and Russia.



In an effort to improve supply, MARD on June 12 allowed the Department of Animal Health to quarantine live pigs from Thailand for domestic slaughter.



From June 12 to August 12, Vietnam importers registered quarantine for over 5 million pigs from Thailand for breeding and slaughtering. To date, 97,338 pigs from Thailand have arrived which will be used for food.



Thailands pigs are imported at VND70,000 per kilogram and are sold at VND80,000-83,000 per kilogram in Vietnam.

As of the end of July, Vietnam had 25.18 million pigs, or 81.9 percent of total herd it had before ASF (African swine fever), about 31 million at the end of 2018. This included 2.93 million sows, an increase of 7.7 percent compared with January.

Also according to the Department of Livestock Husbandry, reports by 63 cities/provinces all show the rapid pig herd restocking.



As of the end of July, Vietnam had 25.18 million pigs, or 81.9 percent of total herd it had before ASF (African swine fever), about 31 million at the end of 2018. This included 2.93 million sows, an increase of 7.7 percent compared with January.



Thanks to the control of the epidemic, the rapid herd restock and the high import volume, the pork price has cooled down.



The live pork price has decreased by VND15,000-18,000 per kilogram compared with the peak in May to VND77,000-83,000 per kilogram.



In Mekong Delta provinces and the north, the live pork price is VND80,000-83,000 per kilogram. In the eastern part of the southern region, it is VND79,000-82,000 per kilogram. The price in the central region is the lowest, at VND77,000-79,000 per kilogram.



The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) estimates that the production cost is VND71,000 per kilogram of live pork. If following the closed husbandry process from breeder production to farming, the figure would be VND50,000 per kilogram.



This means that with the live pork prices of VND77,000-83,000 per kilogram, farmers will be able to make profit, while livestock companies will make fat profit.



Consumers now can sigh with relief as prices are on the decrease. At Hoc Mon Wholesale Market in HCM City, frst-class pork wholesale price was VND97,000 per kilogram on August 25, a decrease of VND6,000, while second-class was VND88,000, a decrease of VND7,000 compared with the day before.



These are the lowest price levels in the last three months. If compared with the peak in May, the pork price has decreased by VND18,000 per kilogram and VND24,000 for first- and second-class pork, respectively.

Bao Anh

Pork supply and demand to be in balance by year-end: official The domestic short supply of pork is expected to be offset by imports, but it is difficult to import pork now because of a decline of 12 percent in global supply of pigs, mostly caused by Asian Swine Fever (ASF).
This summer, the nation began wrestling anew with questions of race and policing after George Floyd died in the custody of Minneapolis police officers in May, setting off protests and a larger debate about the long reach of institutional racism.

It has reached in recent days to Wisconsin after Mr. Blake, 29, was shot in the back on Aug. 23 as he tried to get in his car, his three children in the back seat. Mr. Blake was hospitalized in stable condition, but the shooting, which was recorded and widely shared online, caused Kenosha to erupt in fiery protests and led to a vast national response, including a work stoppage by N.B.A. and other players.

Mr. Pellerins death  the third shooting involving Lafayette police officers in five weeks, though the other two were not fatal  has touched off a version of that discussion in Lafayette.

In the heart of town, as Joby Bonin and his sons shoveled sandbags, Mr. Bonin shrugged off the coronavirus as an overblown threat cooked up by Louisianas Democratic governor and said he saw the demonstrations as riots.

On the other side, Corey Johnson, 47, packed up dozens of sandbags into the back of his pickup. I think its sad what happened to that guy, he said, referring to Mr. Pellerin. I think they probably could have done something else. I mean youve got seven cops and youre right there.

Mr. Pellerins family contends that race influenced the violent response from officers, comparing Mr. Pellerins situation to a recent episode in which a white man driving a stolen vehicle was arrested after a police chase.

Conversely, Mr. Pellerin was followed on foot for close to half a mile with zero de-escalation measures taken during that time, lawyers for his family said in a statement. Instead, at the end of the pursuit, he was surrounded by numerous officers and quickly shot at, at least 10 times, at close range. Mr. Pellerin will never get the chance to go home to his family.
Spring is here and this warm weekend almost feels like summer - but there's still a chill of doubt in the air about whether it's appropriate to broadcast our socialising to the world.

As pubs, restaurants, parks and beaches roar back to life here in sunny Sydney, many of us have a keen eye on our friends and family in Melbourne, now entering their fifth week of stage four lockdown, with many more weeks of restrictions in sight.

Sydneysiders flocked to Bondi Beach on Saturday, but should you advertise your fun to your Melbourne friends? Credit:Steven Siewert

It's an ethical conundrum for our times. Should you upload that photo from bottomless brunch? Share those happy snaps at Manly Beach? Or should you self-censor and keep it secret, pretending to be as miserable as your locked down Victorian compatriots?

Philosopher Matthew Beard, a Sydneysider and fellow at the Ethics Centre, says people should "think twice and be mindful" before they post, but he doesn't recommend going dark entirely.
Tulsas next police chief had no idea where his life was headed when he walked into Warehouse Market to go to work at age 16. Hed lived quite a life already, but, unbeknownst to him, it was really only beginning.

Q&A: Police Chief Chuck Jordan discusses 50-year career, the Race Massacre and driving armed robber to a heist
Since Google is rolling out this feature to limited users only, theres no information how many have already received it and if it is coming to both Android or iOS users.

Recently it was found out that Google is planning to make payments easier via its Google Pay account as it is slowly rolling out Tap & Pay NFC-based payment system. For this, one would have to add his/her credit or debit card in Google Pay. Since Google is rolling out this feature to limited users only, theres no information how many have already received it and if it is coming to both Android or iOS users. But if you do see this option of adding cards under settings, you are indeed the lucky one.

So, how do you register your card in Google Pay? Its pretty simple though. Here are the steps:

-On your mobile device, open Google Pay app.

-Tap Settings > Payment methods > Add card.

-Enter the card number, expiry date, CVV, and the cardholders name and billing address.

Also read: Paytm Payments Bank has enabled banking services through Aadhar cards

-Accept Terms & conditions.

-Choose how you will verify.

-Fill the OTP number.

-Tap Activate option placed next to your new cards payment method listing.

-Enter your one-time password, which you will receive via text message to the phone number associated with your Google Pay account.

-Accept the confirmation.

This will let you use Tap & Pay at NFC enabled terminals.

In case you want to remove a card from Google Pay, you can open the app, enter settings > Payment Methods and then Remove card. Its worth adding that removing your Card from Google Pay will automatically disable all forms of tokenized card payments for you.

On the other hand, it is even possible to change the default Tap & Pay card. This can be done from the Account services option in the Settings page.
She's become known for her casual yet elegant looks while stepping out in New York City.

And Katie Holmes didn't disappoint on Friday when she was spotted in Manhattan's West Village neighborhood in a chic black button-up shirt.

The 41-year-old actress was spotted heading to the building where celebrity art dealer and playboy Vito Schnabel lives.

On the town: Katie Holmes, 41, rocked a casual yet elegant look while taking care of errands in New York City on Friday. She stopped by the building of art dealer Vito Schnabel while out

Katie's black shirt featured double breast pockets, and she wore it with rolled up sleeves and the top buttons undone to show off a bit of her cleavage.

She paired the item with high-waisted acid wash jeans that were faded above the knees.

The 5ft9in Batman Begins star completed her ensemble with chunky white trainers, and she carried a navy tote from the New York Citybased independent bookstore McNally Jackson.

She wore her brunette locks tied back in a ponytail and covered up with black cat-eye sunglasses and a navy blue mask to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Cool style: Katie's black shirt featured double breast pockets, and she wore it with rolled up sleeves and the top buttons undone to show off a bit of her cleavage

No fuss: She also wore high-waisted jeans with chunky white trainers and carried a McNally Jackson tote

During her trip, Katie headed into the West Village building where Vito Schnabel resides.

The art dealer, who is the son of the acclaimed painter and film director Julian Schnabel, was rumored to be dating Bradley Cooper's ex Irina Shayk earlier this year after the two were spotted together multiple times.

In April, a source told E! News that Vito and Irina had been longtime friends and even double dated when he was dating Heidi Klum and she was with Bradley.

Meeting up: She was seen going into Vito Schnabel's building. He was rumored to be dating Bradley Cooper's ex Irina Shayk earlier this year and was previously linked to Heidi Klum and Amber Heard

'Irina has known Vito for years and they've always been friends,' the source said.

'Vito is a big flirt and Irina is his type. She likes the attention. They are neighbors and are spending a lot of time together. When Irina's daughter is with Bradley, she has downtime and she likes the company,' they continued.

Following his earlier relationship with Heidi, Vito was also linked to Aquaman star Amber Heard.

Although Katie was headed into his building, it's possible that she may have been visiting someone else.

He's got her vote: Katie posted a humorously seductive photo of herself from an April InStyle cover shoot to match her Instagram endorsement of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

Katie has been keeping a low profile on social media throughout the coronavirus pandemic, though she took the time to post a funny endorsement of former Vice President Joe Biden and California Senator Kamala Harris.

She paired the no-nonsense hashtag '#BidenHarris2020' with a photo of herself throwing her head back seductively and highlighting her bust.

The picture was originally part of her InStyle cover shoot that was taken back in April.

The Dawson's Creek star also found time to post about some of her recent reading material, including Zadie Smith's new essay collection Intimations and rocker Patti Smith's prose poem The New Jerusalem, which was published in 2018.

Family: Katie has been riding out the pandemic in New York City with her 14-year-old daughter Suri Cruise, whom she shares with her ex-husband Tom Cruise. They were married from 20062012

Katie has been riding out the pandemic in New York City with her 14-year-old daughter Suri Cruise.

She shares the teen with her ex-husband Tom Cruise, whom she was married to from 20062012.

Her divorce from the Mission: Impossible star was finalized only ten days after she filed in 2012, and she has retained primary custody of her daughter.

You can watch Dawson's Creek on Stan in Australia.
The WA government has defended anti-Clive Palmer laws that remove state criminal liability and restricts access to documents in relation to the billionaires Balmoral South iron ore mine proposal in 2012 as tools to limit his legal avenues.

In a statement from Attorney General John Quigleys office, a spokeswoman said the government was not aware of any criminal activity by the state around the mine proposal.

Clive Palmer likened the WA government's laws to North Korea. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen/Trevor Collens

The clauses were part of extensive amendments to a state agreement between Mr Palmers companies and the state over mining operations in the Pilbara.

The amendments extinguished an arbitration process where Mr Palmer was seeking upwards of $30 billion in damages from the state, after his Balmoral South proposal was wrongfully rejected by the Barnett government without assessment in 2012. WA Premier Mark McGowan has previously said the amendments were necessary to stop Mr Palmer from "bankrupting" the state.
Weather Alert

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Very cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 20 to 29 below zero. * WHERE...Central, northern and southern Vermont and northern New York. * WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Friday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Temperatures will drop well below zero tonight into early Friday morning with northwest winds of 5 to 10 mph expected across the region. The coldest wind chills are expected between 5 AM and 9 AM Friday with winds expected to weaken as the day progresses. Temperatures will remain on the cold side throughout the day with high temperatures only climbing into the single digits above zero. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. &&
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musks neuroscience startup Neuralink on Friday unveiled a pig that has had a coin-sized computer chip in its brain for two months, demonstrating an early step toward the goal of curing human diseases with the same type of implant.

Co-founded by Musk in 2016, San Francisco-based Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer interfaces that include thousands of electrodes in the most complex human organ to help cure neurological conditions like Alzheimers, dementia and spinal cord injuries and ultimately fuse humankind with artificial intelligence.

An implantable device can actually solve these problems, Musk said on a webcast Friday, mentioning ailments such as memory loss, hearing loss, depression and insomnia.

Also read: Elon Musks wealth exceeds $100 billion while Jeff Bezos worth twice as much

But Musk said the focus of Fridays event was recruiting.

Were not trying to raise money, Musk said. Were trying to convince great people to come work at Neuralink.

Musk has a history of bringing together diverse experts to drastically accelerate the development of innovations previously limited to academic labs, including rocket, hyperloop and electrical vehicle technologies through companies such as Tesla Inc and SpaceX.

Neuralink has received $158 million in funding, $100 million of which came from Musk, and employs roughly 100 staff members, according to LinkedIn data.

During a Neuralink presentation in July 2019, Musk said the company was aiming to receive regulatory approval to implant its device in human trials by the end of this year. Beyond healthcare, Musk, who frequently warns about the risks of artificial intelligence, has said the implant would secure humanitys future as a civilization relative to AI.

Also read: Elon Musks SpaceX raises $1.9 billion in funding

Musk described Neuralinks sensor, which is roughly eight millimeters (three-tenths of an inch) in diameter, or smaller than a fingertip, as a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires.

With the help of a sophisticated robot, flexible threads or wires smaller than a human hair are implanted in brain areas responsible for motor and sensory functions while the recipient is under only local anesthesia. The device is removable, Musk said.

Neuroscience experts said that while Neuralinks mission to read and stimulate brain activity in humans is feasible, the companys timeline appeared overly ambitious.

Everyone in the field would be very impressed if they actually showed data from a device implanted in a human, said Graeme Moffat, a University of Toronto neuroscience research fellow.

Small devices that electronically stimulate nerves and brain areas to treat hearing loss and Parkinsons disease have been implanted in humans for decades.

Neuroscientists have also conducted brain implant trials with a small number of people who have lost control of bodily functions due to spiral cord injuries or neurological conditions like strokes. Humans in those trials could control robotic limbs or small objects, like a computer keyboard or mouse curser, but have yet to complete more sophisticated tasks.

Most of the current cutting-edge research in brain-machine interface is conducted on animals, scientists note, with safety challenges and lengthy regulatory approval procedures preventing larger human trials.

Brain-machine interface science has had a surge in investment activity over in recent years with startups such as Kernel, Paradromics and NeuroPace trying to exploit advancements in material, wireless and signalling technology.

The field also includes established medical device maker Medtronic PLC, which produces brain implants to treat Parkinsons disease, essential tremors, epilepsy and other conditions.

But scientists still face a range of issues, including preventing tissue scarring around the implant, the quality of measurements and the development of machine-learning algorithms to interpret brain signals, said Amy Orsborn, an assistant professor at the University of Washington who researches neural interfaces.

I dont think we know what the magic bullet is, we only know the problem, Orsborn told Reuters.

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After months of being incredibly strong-willed, I'm afraid I might weaken and reach for the bottle. I'm not talking some wimpy, overpriced rose wine here. I'm talking the hard stuff. Hair dye. I was so certain last month that I had cracked the habit of a lifetime and would quit colouring my hair.

Over the course of lockdown, I was productive and calm. I didn't write the novel and I didn't paint the house. All I had to show for the last five months of life mostly spent indoors was a head of grey root. So I thought, why not turn a negative into a positive, and keep it? This, coming from a woman who has been painting her grey hairs ever since she discovered them in her fringe at age 19, was quite a seismic shift.

In my lifetime, I have been a natural sable brown - that's the darkest brown before black - followed by a DIY plum and henna-red phase during my student days. I had morphed back into a brunette again at 21 and tried some highlights, for the fun of it, when I applied for a job in TV. Then I was talked into a Sex and the City Miranda Hobbes 'rich copper red'. The root regrowth with that colour was a total nightmare so I had to wave it goodbye. Finally I winged my way on to the blonde page in the hair salon's portfolio of hair colours so how the heck did I now find myself in this place where I was actively considering embracing the silver fox, the very thing I'd spent a small fortune trying to avoid over the last four decades?

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There's no way you can write about the practice of tinting your tresses to hide those annoying greys without dealing with the elephant in the room head-on. Hiding grey hair was, for me, about trying to look well and to hold back the ravages of time, putting the best foot forward and all of that.

Being more accepting of grey hair after years fighting it every two months is not about throwing the towel in. Lockdown has been a time of recalibration, and casting off society's expectations can be liberating. Over the years, grey hair has that unsettling quality of making you feel older as you desperately hide the telltale signs. But all that has changed, thanks in part to a new brigade of young style queens who see a value in pearlescence and having a glossy, silver mane.

They actually want to recreate the tonal magic of the 'blue rinse brigade'. That phrase used to be the ultimate put-down, a shorthand for old and boring. Tell that to the young ones wanting to pay for a head full of grey, blue and lilac-toned tresses. The irony is rich: that young teenagers are buying boxes of home-colour to acquire exactly what their mothers, and their grandmothers and ancestors before them have been fighting to hide.

Kelly Osbourne has been a major influence in young women wanting to embrace silver hair. She showcased her grey, then lilac looks in 2012 at the tender age of 27. The reason, she said, was that she always wanted to be young, and still have grey hair. How the rest of us, the ones forking out a hefty hair maintenance bill bi-monthly, smiled at her Hollywood zeal and youthful enthusiasm. But now we can enjoy where this whole debate is going as the topic is turned on its head and being grey is no longer an indicator that you're letting yourself go. Lady Gaga went for the silver tressed look too and had amazing wigs to ramp home her amour for cheveux gris. My current flirtation with the idea of keeping my army of grey roots - they are steadily marching south and measure about four inches - and allow them merge with the remnants of my blonde colour has been met with a 70:30 reaction.

Expand Close Natural beauty: Actress Helen Mirren has long embraced her silver hair / Facebook

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The majority of folks are in favour but there are the grim-faced refuseniks who sternly warn that 'it will age you, Bairbre'. On the flip side, I've been greeted with more than a few "meet your sister", when I mention that I'm thinking of giving up hair colour every two months and embracing the silver fox, which will need just the minimum of maintenance. I last got my hair 'painted' as I call it, back in February on the eve of going to Paris Fashion Week. Six months later, no one is more surprised than I am at the possibility that I might wave goodbye to being a 'bottle blonde'. I got through lockdown by applying root cover-up powder which camouflaged the greys with that annoying blue-whiteness. Then I used to go all painterly. I'd lift sections of my hair with a pencil and spray the underside of the hair with a wash-out hair colour which created the illusion of dark streaks in my hair. Hardly a masterpiece but it did the trick.

Word filtered through in early April that a chemist had received a big delivery of boxed hair dye. Even if I had been tempted to indulge in a box of DIY hair colour, there was no blonde ones left. Who knew there were so many blondes in Ireland?

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A month later, I gifted the box of blonde vegan colour I had been hiding away. It went to a happy home. In the meantime, my one mistake was going to ridiculous lengths to get a pale blonde spray which was nowhere to be found in my now 5km world. Online searches in the middle of another sleepless night do that to you and heighten the zeal but in the end, when it arrived, it was a big mistake. There was a good reason shops here had not stocked that shade of light blonde. After my spray fest, I looked like the current incumbent of the White House. My silver roots had gone a nasty orange colour and I raced off to wash my hair in the purple cleansing shampoo (now my best friend in the bathroom) and decide on my next course of action.

You might not know this, but the ancient Egyptians dyed their hair, but rarely did so while it was on their heads. Black was the most popular colour until around the 12th century BC, when plant material was used to colour the wigs.

Researching a possible move away from colour, I'm fascinated to discover more about hair and the differences in families. My late father had jet black hair on his 60th birthday while I had grey hairs at 17. Melanin gives colour to human skin, eyes, and hair and it's the ratio of two types of melanin - eumelanin and pheomelanin - that determines your natural hair colour. The size and shape that the melanin molecules form when they cluster in the hair shaft give the unique tones within a hair colour.

While I have been masquerading as a blonde in recent years, now the question for me is whether to pursue full grey, go back to blonde again or explore a middle ground of keeping the rapidly expanding grey base but maybe introducing some light minky tones to give it some depth.

My decision will be coloured by the fact that going grey will mean being more proactive about wearing the right make-up so I don't look pale and washed out.

Top make-up artist Leonard Daly says: "If your hair is really white and pale, you need to warm up your face so either use a bit more bronzer or an orangey-red lipstick. Use a warm brown instead of a cool brown toned eyeshadow. You just need to add warmth because there is no warmth in your hair anymore, that's all gone.

"Maybe every three to four months, you can get a toner put in your hair and then use the blonde shampoo at home." If you don't fancy wearing bright colour lipsticks, Leonard recommends adding warmth with scarves or jewellery.

Elena Costelloe from the Beauty Style Team at Brown Thomas says "with grey hair, what you want to do is inject some colour back into the face using subtle washes of colour to add dimension and lift the complexion. Sometimes when a lady changes her hair cut, you have to revisit your make-up wardrobe because like everything, you need to change with the times." However, she cautions that for silver-toned greys, a warm foundation can sometimes be quite ageing. "It is important to have a direct colour match to your own skin," says Elena.

Getting your roots painted blonde every few weeks brings its own financial implications. Gosh, would I be able to finally afford one of those Rick Owens leather jackets by giving up my dedication to staying blonde and embracing the old silver fox? I'm looking at this from all angles and eventualities. One night, after being awoken by the full moon, I did a bit of research as I lay there in the silvery light. I do love the style of Linda Rodin, a beauty entrepreneur and former stylist. She is older than I am but has great taste and a fab line in make-up. Grey-haired, sitting on a teal velvet couch with a cute dog, with an appropriate salt and pepper colouring. I could do that, I thought. Instagram dreaming apart, will I really have the courage to go all the way or should I find a middle ground, knowing I have the option to go back full blonde again?

Watching Winning Streak on RTE, it's hard not to notice the silver fox vibe - Sinead Kennedy with her modern woman silver locks and Marty Whelan going it au naturel. Imagine, he made front page news when he stopped getting his hair coloured and debuted his silver fox look at an Oyster Pearl selection night in Galway. I remember it well. I wrote the story!

Those were the days when going full-on grey shocked people. Earlier this year, the legendary actress Jane Fonda, who plays Grace in one of my favourite TV series, Grace and Frankie, debuted grey hair in a short elfin cut at the Oscars. Now, she has a good two decades on me and when it comes to TV, she has fabulous blonde wigs to resume her role of big-haired Grace, but embracing her silver fox roots certainly took Hollywood press by surprise. They duly reported that "grey is the new blonde". Music to my ears.

When it comes to silver-haired women on the big screen, two names always crop up: the two dames, Judi Dench and Helen Mirren. For sheer dramatic effect, I love the signature black-and-white coned beehive 'cheetah' hairstyle made famous by Daphne Guinness, a signature take on Cruella De Vil's white streaks. And who could forget the silver tresses worn with devastating style by Meryl Streep in her Miranda Priestly role in the 2006 film, The Devil Wears Prada? Christian Shannon, creative director of the Brown Sugar group of hair salons says "grey is a very empowering colour if you take it on board. That's why they gave Miranda Priestly that colour hair because it was empowering. She grabbed the hair colour and worked it with that f*** off hair style. It was a short bob but quite powerful with the quiff at the front. The way she wore it was a really strong look," says Christian.

He says dyeing hair grey is "probably one of the most difficult colours to achieve because what you have to do is bleach the hair to white and then tone it down again and it's the toner that gets you the grey". While dyeing your hair grey will require maintenance every four to six weeks, deciding to go down the route of keeping your naturally occurring grey hair is "a commitment", he notes.

"It is not something to be taken lightly because even though you think there's going to be no maintenance on it, there will be and you need to use a purple shampoo once to three times a week and you can get a toner on it to keep it fresh," Christian says. "Grey hair automatically tells people your age so you have to be really comfortable within yourself. You have to have the confidence to wear it. I would say to them 'look in the mirror and tell me what's looking back at you'.

"Does this make you feel older or do you look at this and think 'OMG, this is showing me what I've gone through in my life, I own every single one of those grey hairs and I wear them as a badge of honour'."

For years I used to joke that one day I would go to Australia, shave my head and come back grey-haired but in the end, it didn't take a trip to Oz. The Covid-19 lockdown supplied me with an opportunity to transition on several fronts, from discovering old interests and building friendships, right down to gifting me a head full of grey hair. In normal circumstances, I most certainly wouldn't have done patchy roots and uneven colour with the world watching but in the privacy of my home, it was fine. I'm fortunate because in a world of 50 shades of grey, it turns out I have a good grey. A white grey and not a 'can't make its mind up' salt and pepper. Vanity is a bitch but then, out of the blue, you hear "you have a colour some young girls would pay for" from an encouraging make-up artist I bumped into on the street. Highlights and a few slices of dark colour might be a crutch and I wouldn't say no to a blonde streak at the front. Is that cheating? The good thing is though, if it all goes pear-shaped, and I can't rock the grey, I can always reach for the bottle.

How to go grey...

When is a good time?

Christian Shannon, creative director of Brown Sugar salons recommends you "make sure that you are ready for it. I've had a few clients where it's taken a few goes but they've done it eventually. Pick a time that is right for you."

Get a new cut

Ciaran Nevin, owner of Ciaran Nevin Hair Salon in Terenure, advises that you "cut off as much as you can of the old colour in one go and go for a sharp cut, maybe a pixie style. There are many options to going classically grey. With toners, you can achieve pearlescence or introduce a funky colour. Another option is to introduce some lowlights to add interest and depth of colour."

Maintenance

Grey hair can be quite dry so Ciaran Nevin recommends treating it with care and keeping it maintained with a good shampoo. "Use a purple shampoo one to three times a week - all the top brands are doing them now - and then come into the salon for a toner every so often because it really freshens up the grey colour."

Long length?

"Long grey hair is very, very difficult to maintain because it's porous so it can absorb things from the atmosphere," says Christian Shannon. "If it is too long, the ends of your hair will absorb smoke in the atmosphere like exhaust fumes and it will yellow and too much sun will do that too."




Border Force officials are only aiming to spot check fewer than a third of arrivals at Britain's airports, it has been revealed.

The government has introduced measures which require passengers arriving in the UK to fill out an online form before they arrive in the UK from any country.

This includes countries or territories which are not on the list for mandated self-isolation and guidelines state the form must be completed within 48 hours of arriving back in the UK.

But a target of just 30 per cent has been set for agents checking passenger paperwork on their arrival into the country, a source told the Guardian.

It comes as a second wave continues to surge across Europe, with Portugal becoming the latest country to report a rise in coronavirus cases, sparking fears it may be added to the government's quarantine list.

Passengers arrive at Heathrow Airport in London, as it's revealed Border Force only check up to 30 per cent of passengers' locator forms on their return into the country

Passengers entering the UK from a number of countries, including France and the Netherlands, are expected to self-isolate and the government uses data from completed online forms to ensure this is being done correctly.

However, sources stated that of the 30 per cent spot-checked by Border Force, 10 per cent had not completed forms.

Border Force officers are expected to manually scan a QR code at the top of the passenger's document to check it has been completed successfully when they arrive in the country.

This is also to ensure the government can contact passengers if someone they've travelled with develops coronavirus symptoms.

While Home Office figures show 1.3 million passengers arrived in the UK by air in July, only three fixed-penalty notices were handed out to people who failed to self-isolate after arriving in England and Wales between 15 June and 17 August, according to figures published by the National Police Chiefs' Council on Thursday.

People have taken to social media to raise concerns about the lack of checks at airports across the UK.

Mark Hart wrote: 'Friends just arrived at Gatwick from Croatia - yep no control just straight through with no need to provide an address for their self-isolation.

'Govt not serious about this at all. Surprised?? Given track record not a bit. Total joke.'

Phillip Kerle added: 'I had the same experience coming back from Bulgaria about three weeks ago.

'My temperature was checked before going into Sofia airport. I got off the plane at Stanstad walked out. No announcements, no requests to complete a form. Nothing.'

George Beckwith tweeted: 'Arrived at Stansted Airport Saturday morning - No Physical Border control,No Covid checking, no Locator forms checked, no Customs check, no Staff/Officers around .... I just entered UK with only electronic passport check. This Country is out of control.'

Another user tweeted Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, asking: 'On recent return from a non Travel Corridor country, my locator form wasn't collected by anyone at the airport.

'Is this usual protocol? How do you plan on ensuring people actually follow the quarantine without contact information? Or is it purely relying on good faith?'

The concerns over quarantine checks come as Portugal becomes the latest country to spark fears over holiday restrictions as it experienced a surge in coronavirus cases.

Portugal is the latest country to record a surge with Spain, France and Italy all seeing surges in the number of coronavirus cases, as a second wave of infection takes hold across Europe

THIRTY wedding guests abandon British bride and groom tying the knot in Prague today A British groom getting married in Prague on Saturday has said almost 30 of his friends and family have had to leave before the wedding due to new travel restrictions. Oliver, who did not wish to share his second name, is originally from Kent but has lived in the Czech Republic for 11 years. Many of his family and friends have had to leave before the wedding takes place as they cannot quarantine when they return because of work constraints. Travellers arriving in the UK from the Czech Republic after 4am on Saturday will need to quarantine for 14 days, in a rule change announced late on Thursday night. Advertisement

Figures published yesterday showed the country recorded 399 new cases, an increase of more than a third on the previous Friday.

The UK government warns that any country sustaining a level above 20 new coronavirus cases per 100,000 citizens over the course of a week is likely to be stripped of quarantine exemption.

Portugal was only added to the UK's low-risk list last Saturday but has now seen it's highest daily total since July 12.

In total, cases in the country stand at 16.4 per 100,000 people over the past seven days.

Most recently, the Czech Republic, Jamaica and Switzerland were added to the list of countries deemed to high-risk to travel to without quarantining on return.

The Department of Transport has said that anyone returning from these countries as of today must self-isolate for two weeks.

Across Europe, countries including France, Spain and Italy continue to see increases in the number of coronavirus cases.

Yesterday France added 5,429 cases overnight, government figures showed, marking the country's largest single-day increase since April 14, and the third-largest daily rise since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile Italy, which had some of the lowest case totals in Europe after reopening its economy, registered 1,367 cases - its largest rise since May.

Spain registered another 7,296 cases, enough to push the country above the US - the world's worst-affected nation - in number of cases per million inhabitants, based on a seven-day rolling average.

Meanwhile, Hungary will close its borders to foreign visitors from Tuesday in a bid to curb the increasing number of coronavirus cases, the government has said.

Yesterday, the country recorded 132 new cases, the highest daily increase since April.

From September 1, foreigners will no longer be allowed to enter the territory of Hungary,' Gergely Gulyas, the prime minister Viktor Orban's cabinet chief said during a press briefing, according to Euronews.

He added: 'There is a risk of introducing the virus and most of the new infections are of foreign origin. Hungary is green, all other countries are now turning red.'

Hungarian citizens returning from abroad must quarantine for 14 days or must present two negative tests, which they must pay for themselves.

Hungary's government indicated that the border closure will stay in place for a month.
The arrest of a Black jogger after two San Antonio police officers stopped and questioned him about a domestic violence assault, which he didnt commit, has emerged as a catalyst for debate about police practices versus individual civil rights.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg said Friday he wants a full accounting of what prompted the officers to detain 33-year-old Mathias Ometu while he was jogging in a North Side neighborhood this week.

Nirenberg said he expects the Police Department to make public the video from the officers body cameras sometime next week, showing them detaining Ometu and later arresting him.

The encounter had escalated as the officers pushed Ometu, while in handcuffs, into a police car.

Ometu, an insurance adjuster, faces two criminal charges and spent two days in jail before he was released on bond Thursday.

I want to review those tapes, Nirenberg said Friday. We have to treat these issues seriously and the outcomes have to be from a basis of equity for every person.

On ExpressNews.com: Video shows Black joggers encounter with police

Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said his office would review all evidence and decide how to proceed with any potential criminal case.

The two officers, one of whom is Black, said they stopped Ometu early Tuesday afternoon because he matched the description of a man suspected of choking and punching a woman at a nearby apartment complex that day.

They said they repeatedly asked Ometu for his name, which he declined to provide, as was his legal right. They put him in handcuffs. After about 10 minutes, they advised him to get into the back seat of the police SUV, according to the officers report. He allegedly refused.

At that point, according to a video from a bystander, a struggle ensued as the officers tried to wrestle Ometu into the vehicle.

Ometu briefly could be heard screaming, Youre choking me. Youre choking me. Youre choking me.

In a police report, the officers wrote that Ometu kicked both of them  including one blow to the face. Shortly thereafter, the victim of the family violence incident was summoned to the scene and told police Ometu was not the man who assaulted her.

Police took Ometu to Municipal Court on South Frio for identification purposes. They arrested him on two counts of assaulting a police officer, a felony.

On ExpressNews.com: Officer suspended for use of excessive force

As news of Ometus arrest spread  both CNN and MSN published stories about the mans arrest Friday  public officials took to social media to question the actions of the officers and call for a thorough review of what happened.

Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, described the police account of what happened as inadequate.

San Antonio needs to know exactly whats going on, Castro said in a Tweet on Thursday.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said Ometus arrest exemplifies larger issues within the criminal justice system.

Here is a guy apparently doing nothing wrong other than jogging and he ends up in jail for two days, Wolff said. You know, something is wrong here.

Nirenberg echoed that sentiment.

Were having a broad national dialogue about how we can better invest in communities and ensure that we address historical inequities, including those that have had such a negative impact on communities of color and lower-income communities, Nirenberg said.

That is the backdrop of all these conversations, which makes this an extremely important issue whenever it comes up, he added. This needs to be explained.

Police union officials pushed back against the criticism Friday, saying the two officers who stopped Ometu had reasonable suspicion because he matched the description of the suspect. Police have not released the description.

On ExpressNews.com: Fired SAPD officers find new jobs in nearby town

Mike Helle, a detective and president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, said Ometu was well within his rights not to provide his name to officers.

Still, the situation could have been handled without causing any harm had Ometu complied with officers and provided them his name, Helle said.

Before they attempted to put him in the car, he started to fight, Helle said. That changes the whole dynamics of it.  He could have talked to officers and explained why he didnt want to get in the car. He didnt. He chose to fight.

Helle said police often are forced to make split-second decisions, and that they rely on verbal and physical clues that cant be detected in camera footage.

Its unfair to start second-guessing their every move, Helle said. Police officers dont have the luxury to sit back and think about every move. Its in our nature to say I would have done this. I would have done that. But how do you really know? You werent there.

Rights during stop

Civil rights activists and law experts said people who are stopped by police are afforded a number of rights  including the right to remain silent  but that they still should take a number of precautions to prevent the situation from escalating.

Geary Reamey, a law professor at St. Marys University, said police cant stop a person for no reason at all. They must have reasonable suspicion.

Reamey said that if Ometu indeed did fit the suspects description, then officers would have had a reasonable suspicion to stop and detain him. But even at that point, Reamey said, Ometu was not required to answer any questions.

If youre walking down the street, and a police officer stops you and engages you, you are not required to answer questions that an officer may ask you, Reamey said.

It does not differ in regards to a traffic stop versus a pedestrian stop, he said. But during a traffic stop, you are obliged under the transportation code to provide your drivers license, registration, or proof of insurance. Those documents, of course, will have identifying information.

Only once an arrest is being made, Reamey said, is a person required to identify themselves.

On ExpressNews.com: Fired police officer was involved in the death of a suspect four years earlier

Reamey said it can be tricky for people stopped by police to determine whether they are being detained or arrested. He suggested asking a few questions.

The first thing to do is say, Am I free to leave? Reamey said. If the officer says no, then the next question is, Am I under arrest?

Reamey said a persons choice not to engage with police is not a reflection of their guilt or innocence.

If youre a private person, maybe you just dont want to provide that information, Reamey said. We all know, not only from recent events, but events that stretch way far back in our society, that people have very different experiences with police. Some are physically painful. Some are psychologically painful. Some are fatal.

I cannot imagine, because I am not Black, but when I think of what I know about the criminal justice system, I would be very, very hesitant to engage with the police if I was Black unless I initiated it and I thought the engagement was going in a friendly and cooperative way.

He added, I would be very nervous of the police. I say that having worked with a lot of police officers who are great and competent.

Mario Salas, a community activist and a former city councilman, said its understandable why Ometu didnt want to give his name.

The first question that comes to mind is, Why am I being stopped if Ive done nothing wrong? said Salas, who is Black and Hispanic. And the answer that comes to mind, its because of my skin color. That would make a person not want to give their name.

Salas advised anyone who is stopped by police to let them know you are not a threat. Cut off your engine and put the keys on the dashboard. Keep your hands where the officers can see them.

Be respectful, he said. Dont start cussing. Give them your license and proof of insurance, and you can do that through a crack in the window. You dont have to roll it all the way down.

And remember that every person has a constitutional right not to answer any questions, at all.

If they say, Why wont you answer our questions, you can say, Thats another question, which I wont answer. 

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
BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) --The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority in Taiwan has stubbornly opened its market to problematic U.S. agricultural and livestock imports due to political motivations, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said Friday.

The move, which ran against public opinion, has damaged the health and well-being of people in Taiwan in exchange for external support for "Taiwan independence," said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

The decision is bound to be firmly opposed by people across the Taiwan Strait, he added.
Chandigarh Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday asked chief secretary Vini Mahajan to conduct a thorough probe into the alleged multi-crore post-matric scholarship scam. His statement comes amid the oppositions demand for social welfare minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsots resignation over his alleged role in the case.

Amarinder said anyone found complicit to the alleged wrongdoings, irrespective of his position within or outside the government, will be punished in accordance with the legal provisions.

The issue came to the fore on the basis of a report submitted by additional chief secretary Kirpa Shankar Saroj to the chief secretary, pointing out embezzlement of at least 63 crore in the distribution of post-matric scholarship meant for students belonging to Scheduled Castes. The report also questioned the role of Dharamsot in allegedly shielding those involved in the scam. The issue also rocked the assembly on Friday with opposition demanding resignation of Dharamsot.

The chief minister said nobody could be put on the mat without a fair probe and proper inquiry. There is rule of law, which needs to be followed, said the CM, adding that he will not succumb to Oppositions trial in the case.

However, there was no question of protecting or shielding anyone, and action will be taken against the guilty as per law, he added.

Amarinder also lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for behaving like a rogue party by baying for Dharamsots blood without a proper inquiry. Are we living in a state of anarchy, with no rule of law? Amarinder said, reacting strongly to the demand of AAP and Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha on Friday.

Do you really expect me to take action without a proper inquiry against my own minister when I have not done so even against many Opposition leaders, said the CM, pointing out that Dharamsot has already said he is ready to face any inquiry into the matter.
Donald Trump has said his administration stopped in-person briefings on election interference to Congress because Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff leaks information to the media.

The nation's top intelligence official John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence, told the Senate and House intelligence committees on Friday that the committees would only be receiving written updates about election security.

He said it was to help ensure the information 'is not misunderstood nor politicized.'

And Trump said Ratcliffe made the decision because the administration 'got tired' of intelligence about election security leaking from Congress.

'They leaked the information ... and what's even worse, they leaked the wrong information and we got tired of it,' Trump told reporters while attending a briefing on Hurricane Laura in Orange, Texas. He didn't offer details to support his statement.

He later tweeted: 'Probably Shifty Schiff, but others also, LEAK information to the Fake News. No matter what or who it is about, including China, these deranged lowlifes like the Russia, Russia, Russia narrative. Plays better for them. @DNIRatcliffe doing a great job!'

Trump on Saturday accused the chairman of the intelligence committee of leaking information

Democrats expressed outrage at the decision by Ratcliffe, who directs the office overseeing the nation's intelligence agencies.

'This is a shocking abdication of its lawful responsibility to keep the Congress currently informed, and a betrayal of the publics right to know how foreign powers are trying to subvert our democracy,' Schiff said in a joint statement with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

'This intelligence belongs to the American people, not the agencies which are its custodian.

'And the American people have both the right and the need to know that another nation, Russia, is trying to help decide who their president should be,' they said.

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said the idea that the national intelligence director's office would stop briefing Congress on foreign threats to the U.S. election is 'an outrage' and that written updates were 'flatly insufficient.'

National Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe informed Congress on Friday about the change

Ratcliffe said the move was made to ensure information 'is not misunderstood nor politicized'

'Americas election - indeed, our foundation of democracy itself - is under threat as we face weaponized disinformation from global foes around the planet,' King, a member of the Senate's intelligence committee, said in a lengthy statement.

'To stifle and limit the American peoples awareness of this fact cannot be explained - or allowed.'

Ratcliffe, who oversees the nation's intelligence agencies, sent formal notification letters Saturday to the Senate and House leadership and the chairmen and ranking members of both chambers' intelligence committees.

An official with Ratcliffe's office said Ratcliffe remains committed to meeting statutory responsibilities and keeping Congress informed.

The official said, however, that there are concerns about unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information following recent briefings on Capitol Hill.

In his letter to the committees, Ratcliffe wrote: 'I believe this approach helps ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that the information ODNI provides the Congress in support of your oversight responsibilities on elections security, foreign malign influence, and election interference is not misunderstood nor politicized.'

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who was with Trump in Texas, said lawmakers will still be sent full written readouts. Meadows said Ratcliffe is going to make sure there are 'proper tools for their oversight.'

Democrats were furious at the decision, saying it deprived the public of essential oversight

Earlier this month, the nations counterintelligence chief, William Evanina, issued a statement saying U.S. intelligence officials believe Russia is using various methods to denigrate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and that people linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin are boosting Trumps reelection bid.

U.S. officials also believe China does not want Trump to win a second term and has accelerated its criticism of the White House, Evanina wrote.

Officials have not detailed specific steps Beijing had taken to interfere in the election.
For many reasons, Hilary Swank is a figure of intrigue in Hollywood, not least because she stepped away from a stellar career in 2014. The reason for her hiatus was to focus on personal matters; namely, to return to her native Nebraska and help her father through lung transplant surgery. Six years later, he is in good health, and she is returning to the spotlight.

There have been sporadic, supporting roles in recent times; as Gail Getty in the TV series Trust, and voicing Joey Pogo in the cult animation BoJack Horseman.

Yet there is good reason that she chose the forthcoming sci-fi series Away, not just as her first major role in years, but also served as executive producer. Before becoming an actor, she had wanted to be an astronaut. Another deciding factor, as she explains in a Zoom call from her airy and spacious LA home, was the script's inclusion of multi-ethnic characters, not to mention its portrayal of gender.

There are questions that demand to be asked of Swank in an interview. How do you negotiate an acting career after you've won two Academy Awards in your 30s? After winning an Oscar for Boys Don't Cry, in which she played trans man Brandon Teena, how does she feel about the backlash against cis actors being considered for trans roles? After working with Harvey Weinstein, what are her thoughts on #MeToo? What does she make of the critical drubbing of PS I Love You? Did she watch Normal People in lockdown?

Expand Close Astronaut advice: Karen Nyberg / Facebook

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Alas, today is not the day for these questions. In the era of the Covid Zoom interview, the Hollywood PR's control over 'the talent' is even more stringent than usual. Journalists have been gently encouraged to stay on topic and discuss the project in question. Go off-piste, in other words, and cutting the interview off is as easy as clicking the 'End Meeting' button.

Luckily, Away is a TV series that's worthy of conversation.

Hollywood isn't averse to sending some of its best and brightest to the Red Planet: Tim Robbins (Mission to Mars), Sean Penn (The First) and Matt Damon (The Martian) being among the most recent. Into this varied canon comes Away, a glossy Netflix series that purports to be a sci-fi show with a difference.

Though created by Andrew Hinderaker, the showrunner is a woman (Jessica Goldberg), and the commander at the helm of the mission is a woman.

Away bears many of the hallmarks of its predecessors. There's enough technical detail to sate sci-fi nerds, but plenty of emotional heft too.

Swank is Emma Green, an astronaut who leads an international team on the first human mission to Mars. With a Nasa engineer husband Matt (Josh Charles) and teenage daughter (Talitha Bateman) back on Earth, Green comes up against plenty of personal and professional struggles during the three-year mission. The result is an ambitious and elegiac epic, with Swank showing the grit that won her those two Oscars.

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Mark Ivanir, Ato Essandoh, Ray Panthaki and Vivian Wu play the international crew, who all have their own complex personal lives.

"What's interesting about the show is them having a female commander and how that person leads with vulnerability, and not seeing that as a weakness," Swank says. "The emotional and physical toll that it takes to go into space are all things I'm super-excited about as an actor."

As peaceful as outer space seems, the physical side of the role was harder than it looks. Against a green-screen backdrop, Away's cast spent much of the shoot suspended in mid-air on wires, all while wearing 30lb suits for 12 hours a day.

"It was pretty intensive because we had to pretend we were in zero gravity," says Swank.

"I've been acting now for 29 years and it's hard for me to find roles that challenge me to my core like this one has. There were some episodes where I wondered whether I was going to be able to do it physically.

"In my head I could hear my karate instructor talk about having 'karate face', where it looks like you're not doing anything but you're actually really working hard. I actually went back to LA for a couple days and I saw my trainer and he was like 'Whoa' and I said, 'I know, astronaut boot camp!'

"To be emotionally challenged and physically challenged - those are two very different things," she adds. "I was so grateful as an artist to be collaborating with such talented people who all let ego take a back seat."

The lack of ego appears to be something that came from the top down. For Ato Essandoh, who plays British-Ghanian botanist/rookie Kwesi, working on a production that was heavy on female talent in front of and behind the camera was also a huge draw.

"That's why I'm involved," he says in a separate Zoom interview alongside co-star Ray Panthaki. "It all starts at the top, and if the top is not smooth, nothing else is going to work. I mean, Hilary as the lead of the show is such a commander and such a presence, and such a giving person. I mean, as famous as she is and accomplished as she is, she's still worried about [everyone else's] shots, and will stop to make sure we're OK."

"I think every set should have a Hilary Swank," says Panthaki.

"Yeah, even if she's not even in the show," adds Essandoh. "She's just incredible, and the most giving and generous - it was just a beautiful set to be on. There's amazing leadership [on set] boiling down to women in positions of power and having a leader like Hilary."

"On Away, we had a number of female directors and we also had a female showrunner," Swank elaborates. "That made me feel like we were going to be able to get all different perspectives on to the screen, which is what is most important."

Still, Swank realised that while Away presents a more egalitarian view of the space sector, gender equality has yet to be achieved in reality.

"One of the astronauts that I spoke to was Karen Nyberg," she says. "She's an extraordinary astronaut and I had the opportunity to discuss all of this with her. One of the things she said she found very surprising was that when she got pregnant, she was waiting to go on a mission and she was told that she now wouldn't be able to go because of her medical issue. She said, 'Being pregnant is a medical issue?' It was the choice of words she found surprising, and I understand that.

"She talked about how all female astronauts get asked about whether they are a parent and, if they are, how hard it would be for them to go into space. However, the statistics show that 90pc of the male astronauts are fathers and they never get asked that question. Only 20pc of the female astronauts are mothers."

With Swank's career comeback in full throttle - she stars in smouldering crime drama Fatale opposite Geoffrey Owens next - she isn't at fazed about a global pandemic upturning the cultural landscape. "When something is taken away from you, you have a better sense of appreciation for it, right? Whether it's a loved one or the realisation that going to a concert or movie theatre inspires you," she says.

"Actually, one of the things that will kind of resurface, I think, is the desire to go to the movie theatre and be immersed in the experience with other people from all different walks of life. I'm certainly missing that experience. [That said], it's wonderful to be at home and have it all at arm's length, just right there."

'Away' premieres on Netflix next Friday
Rehm had pressed her about Trumps false assertion that he, not Hillary Clinton, would have won the popular vote if millions of immigrants had not voted illegally. That was a claim he seemingly had heard on Infowars  the conspiracy-theory-crazed site run by Alex Jones, who at one time claimed that the 2012 massacre of 20 children and six staff members at a Connecticut elementary school was a government-sponsored hoax.
In a video conference held on Thursday, German chancellor Angela Merkel and the state premiers of the Lander (German states) decided to continue their dangerous policy of opening up the country despite increasing infection rates. In doing so, they are implementing the demand of the corporations that under no circumstances should the measures taken to combat infection take precedence over their profit interests.

Merkel and the Bavarian State Premier Markus Soder at the press conference on August 27 [Credit: Michele Tantussi/Pool Photo via AP]

For three weeks now, the daily infection figures have been well above the 1,000 mark in some cases. Last Friday, they reached 2,034, the highest level since the end of April. Nevertheless, schools and day-care centres throughout the country have been reopened without any significant safety measures and almost all restrictions on businesses have been lifted. This is to ensure that production continues and to safeguard corporate profits.

With their decisions taken on Thursday, the state and federal governments are continuing this course. For example, the heads of government announced they will introduce a uniform federal regulation that compensation for loss of income will not be granted if quarantine becomes necessary due to an avoidable trip to a risk area so designated at the start of the trip.

If, for example, workers from risk areas in southeast Europe visited their families, they would not receive compensation for the necessary quarantine on their return to Germany. Because these particular groups often receive very low wages and cannot afford to lose their earnings, the tightening of the regulations forces them to break the quarantine and return to their often extremely dangerous jobs. A rapid spread of the virus, as has already happened in many slaughterhouses, is thus inevitable.

In addition, coronavirus testing is to be significantly reduced. Citizens returning from non-risk areas following foreign trips will no longer be allowed to be tested free of charge from September 15. Anyone who wants to take a test will then have to go to a test centre and pay the 60 [$US71] or so out of their own pocket, which is a major obstacle, especially for low-income earners. From October 1, travellers from high-risk areas will no longer be subject to compulsory testing, but will merely be required to undergo a two-week quarantine, which can be shortened after five days following a negative test.

These restrictions are being justified by the reality that there is too little testing capacity. In fact, however, this capacity would have to be significantly expanded to effectively limit the pandemic. With 133,707 tests per million inhabitants, Germany is only 41st in the world, behind countries like Russia and Belarus. Germany is also far behind in Europe. Denmark alone has tested almost three times as often as Germany.

The federal and state governments also reaffirmed their commitment to the complete opening up of schools and day-care centres. It is of great importance that hygiene concepts based on the cluster strategy are designed in such a way that school closures and extensive quarantine arrangements can be avoided as far as possible, the report of the meeting stated.

Teachers and students know what this means: without distancing rules, masks or adequate ventilation, they are crammed together into classrooms. If infections occur under these conditions, they are often covered up by the authorities or tests of all contact persons are simply omitted.

This policy is to be extended to all areas of society. As the Bavarian State Premier Markus Soder explained at the press conference, it should even be possible to allow large gatherings to take place again under certain conditions. Until now, these were completely banned as potential super-spreading events.

No further restrictions have also been decided regarding parties and family celebrations, which, according to the Robert Koch Institute [German federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention], have played an important role in the pandemic over recent weeks. The German government had initially announced a limit of 25 or 50 people, but this was not decided.

There is little change in the fines for refusing to wear masks. A minimum fine of 50 was set for all federal states except Saxony-Anhalt. Since most of the federal states had long since introduced such a fine or a significantly higher fine, this affects only a few states with a total of 14 million inhabitants. Some of them had already announced the introduction of such fines anyway.

The federal government and the various state governments of all stripes are jointly implementing the deadly demands of the banks and corporations with their policies of opening up society. To secure their profits, they have been demanding for weeks that under no circumstances should there be any further major restrictions for business. Factories, public transportation, schools and day-care centres are to be kept open, even if this means the death of thousands.

For example, the President of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), Eric Schweitzer, declared last week in the news magazine Focus that a lockdown would be devastating for the German economy.

That is why schools must also be reopened completely. Anyone who has to look after children or even teach them intensively [at home] cannot at the same time work [in their usual job]. It is therefore important for the functioning of businesses that we no longer have nationwide day-care and school closures, Schweitzer said.

In a full-page special publication in the same issue of Focus, the German Association for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (BVMW) declared that a second lockdown must be prevented at all costs. We see Germanys economic sustainability at risk, it says in an Open letter to the Chancellor and all the State Premiers of Germany.

According to the association, the government must not again give priority to excessive infection control over the appropriate protection of the economy and prosperity. To this end, the reopening of schools was without any alternative even in the face of a rapid increase in infections. Regardless of the pandemic, the paper concludes that the government must rule out a further lockdown.

These are clear statements. Even if the number of infections continued to rise rapidly, hospitals fill to overflowing and hundreds of thousands of people die, business profits must be given absolute priority. To continue capitalist profiteering and the orgy of enrichment on the stock markets, the ruling class is literally walking over dead bodies.

In June, a British research team at Londons Imperial College published a study according to which, 3.1 million lives were saved by the lockdown in 11 European countries alone560,000 of them in Germany. When politicians and industry now announce that this must never happen again, they are arguing, amidst rising infection figures, for these human lives to be sacrificed in the future for the profits of the super-rich.
Uttarakhand BJP president Banshidhar Bhagat tested Covid-19 positive on Saturday about five days after a major political event was held at his Dehradun residence on August 24. Bhagat tweeted his positive status on Saturday morning.

I had undergone a Covid test yesterday in which the result was positive. I appeal to all the office-bearers and party workers who came in my contact in the last seven days to undergo a test, his tweet read.

With all your blessings, I will soon be back among you, he added.

Several BJP members and media persons were present at Bhagats residence on August 24, when MLA Pranav Singh Champion was re-inducted into the party after remaining in suspension for over a year after his gun-toting dance video became viral.

Also Read: Jan Dhan Yojana has revolutionised lives of poor: Uttarakhand CM

Devendra Bhasin, party vice-president, who, too, was present during the event said, Bhagat has asked all those party members who have come in his contact to undergo a test. Apart from this, we are following all the guidelines of the health department.

Bhasin informed, Bhagat was to attend a party meeting yesterday but didnt after he complained of uneasiness. His son, who is in Haldwani, has also tested positive for Covid-19.

Watch: Heavy rain damages houses in Uttarakhand, Badrinath National Highway shut

Bhasin said that the party office will soon be sanitized.

We will soon sanitise the party office completely and will make arrangements for rapid antigen tests for the media persons who had attended the event at his residence on Aug 24, said Bhasin.
She recently jetted into the French capital, where she swiftly received flack for ill-timed social media posts displaying her jet-set lifestyle.

But Kylie Jenner didn't let the drama stop her from having a good time as she headed for lunch with pals Zack Bia and Fai Khadra at L'Avenue in Paris on Friday.

The make-up mogul, 23, flashed a glimpse of her toned midriff in a cream crop top, worn beneath a long, black snakeskin print leather coat.

Out and about: Kylie Jenner didn't let the drama stop her from having a good time as she headed for lunch with pals Zack Bia and Fai Khadra at L'Avenue in Paris on Friday

Kylie teamed her top with a pair of matching joggers and chunky white trainers, while she carried her essentials in a chic black handbag.

The reality star wore her caramel tresses in sleek waves for the outing, while most of her face was concealed by a black face mask.

The beauty appeared in good spirits as she made her way into the eatery alongside her pals.

Kylie is in France to take meetings with executives from Coty, the parent company for Kylie Cosmetics, DailyMail.com has learned.

Lunch attire: The make-up mogul, 23, flashed a glimpse of her toned midriff in a cream crop top, worn beneath a long, black snakeskin print leather coat

Strike a pose: Kylie later shared an Instagram snap of herself in high-waisted mom jeans and a cropped leather jacket

In 2019, Coty announced that it was taking a $51% stake in Kylie Cosmetics, for a huge sum of $600 million, which at the time, valued her company at $1.2 billion.

And though she is in the city for work, she made the most of her European adventure on Friday with a visit to the world-famous Louvre Museum.

Kylie wore a chic black ensemble for this most recent outing in the City of Light, complete with a cropped black leather jacket and roomy grey jeans.

She used the jacket, which featured a long strap hanging from the waist, to cover up the busty patterned halter top she was seen modelling earlier on Instagram.

Safe: For one photo, she wore her protective face mask

Wow: She looked stunning in one sultry selfie shared to the social media platform

Strike a pose: Kylie and her pals posed on a carousel at a fairground attraction

Fashionista: Kylie teamed her top with a pair of matching joggers and chunky white trainers, while she carried her essentials in a chic black handbag

Style: The reality star wore her caramel tresses in sleek waves for the outing, while most of her face was concealed by a black face mask

Business trip: Kylie is in France to take meetings with executives from Coty, the parent company for Kylie Cosmetics, DailyMail.com has learned

The younger sister to Kim Kardashian let her chocolate brown hair hang loose, and she covered her nose and mouth with a black face mask amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Meanwhile, Kylie flew into Europe via private jet, meaning she could forego some of the restrictions imposed on those entering France.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashian star's followers were quick to comment on how the lockdown rules seem to be different for the wealthy star, however.

Earlier on Friday, the stunner took to Instagram to share a slew of snaps from atop of a rooftop in Paris, with Kylie showing off her toned tummy while in the crop top and jeans.

Jet-set: Meanwhile, Kylie flew into Europe via private jet, meaning she could forego some of the restrictions imposed on those entering France

Wow: The Keeping Up With The Kardashian star's followers were quick to comment on how the lockdown rules seem to be different for the wealthy star, however

Kyle wore her long highlighted hair down over her bare shoulders as she made her midsection the focus of the photos.

Her fans were surprised, though, that she was not in California where Governor Gavin Newsom has issued strict guidelines amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The official California State Government website currently urges people to only travel for 'urgent matters'.

There have been over 12K deaths from the pandemic in the state of California alone with almost 700K cases.

In Europe: Jenner looked like she was in a state of bliss as she showed off her toned tummy while in a crop top and jeans atop a building in Paris without a mask on earlier in the day

'You don't have to deal with COVID if ur rich,' sniped one fan.

'Is the pandemic over for rich people? I just see them taking luxurious vacations to tropical places or Europe like how is Kylie Jenner in Paris rn I don't understand.'

While another remarked, 'Kylie Jenner going to Paris during Covid while the rest of the world can't travel or visit family in other countries/states due to border restrictions just doesn't sit well with me.'

Grumblings: Her fans were surprised, though, that she was not in California where Governor Gavin Newsom has issued strict guidelines amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

France has tight restrictions on travellers from the United States due to the rampant spread of COVID-19. There have been over 181K deaths in the US and almost 6M cases.

The official website of the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in France currently states all arrivals in France from the US 'must provide the results of a virologic screening test (such as a PCR test) taken less than 72 hours before departure indicating a negative result for Covid-19.'

The website also states: 'Travelers arriving in France must self-isolate for 14 days if they have no symptoms. Anyone displaying symptoms could be subject to quarantine for up to 30 days.'
Khizri Shikhsaidov, Chairman of the People's Assembly of the Republic of Dagestan of the Russian Federation sent a congratulatory letter toMehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of Azerbaijan.

"Dear Mehriban Arif qizi,

Please accept my cordial congratulations on the occasion of your birthday. Occupying high public and now a state office, you have earned well-deserved respect among your compatriots and authority on international arena. Your multifaceted and all-encompassing activities aimed at the prosperity of native Azerbaijan, improving the well-being of the country's population, preserving culture, traditions, strengthening its position on the global arena are worthy of utmost respect.

All this is a consequence of your worthy continuation of the course set by the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, in a team with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Having the qualities necessary for such a responsible activity, determination, strong will and the ability to lead people, you remain an amazing example of femininity and inspire women with your kindness, care and charm both in Azerbaijan and in other countries of the world.

For Dagestan, as an integral part of the Russian Federation, good-neighborly and fraternal relations between our peoples are of particular value.

I am confident that they will continue to develop and grow stronger, remaining a solid foundation for successful cooperation.

Dear Mehriban Arif qizi, I wish you the best of health, peace, prosperity and the successful implementation of all your plans for the benefit of the Republic of Azerbaijan," the letter said.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
One of the UKs biggest employers is planning to close nearly 100 offices permanently in a crushing blow to the Prime Ministers campaign to get Britain back to work.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Capita  the giant Government contractor that collects the BBC licence fee, runs the London congestion charge and provides other key public services  is preparing to shutter more than a third of its 250 offices across Britain.

The huge raft of closures will make Capita the first major British firm to pull out of city and town centres as an increasing number of companies look at a permanent shift to flexible working arrangements after staff worked successfully from home during lockdown.

Under its plans, many of Capitas 45,000 UK staff will continue to work from home  as most have done since March  and will only attend a smaller number of regional hub offices part time in future.

The news will come as a huge setback to Boris Johnson just days before he launches a campaign to encourage Britons to return to their workplaces. The back-to-work drive will begin this week as schools reopen and business support schemes are wound down.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Capita (offices pictured)  the giant Government contractor that collects the BBC licence fee, runs the London congestion charge and provides other key public services  is preparing to shutter more than a third of its 250 offices across Britain

It will be a particularly bitter pill for the Prime Minister to swallow given that Capita is one of the biggest recipients of Government contracts. Last year, it made an estimated 1billion from public-sector work.

It is feared that unless Britain is weaned off working from home the economy will suffer long-term damage. Analysis for The Mail on Sunday today reveals that almost half a trillion pounds could be wiped off the economy over the next four years if workers fail to return to their offices.

Economists warn that swathes of sandwich shops, cafes and other firms that rely on the flow of commuters into town centres face ruin if home working goes on indefinitely.

Dozens of large firms including PwC and Schroders have indicated they are considering letting staff work from home more regularly after the pandemic ends.

Capitas move  which is not expected to lead to job cuts  is aimed at catering for the increasing demand from its staff for more flexible working, as well as slashing the sprawling companys costs.

The business has already decided not to renew leases on 25 of its properties, which is expected to save it 20million by 2022.

But its latest plans  dubbed the New Hybrid Norm  are expected to increase that number to nearly 100. The locations of the towns where offices will close are not yet known. The company is planning to create regional office hubs, meaning some staff will have to travel further if and when they are required in the office. Capita is also expected to reduce the amount of its office space in Central London.

As at large corporations, Capitas chief executive Jon Lewis has already told his staff that they do no need to return to the office until the New Year.

He said this month: Why would you spend up to two hours a day commuting into and from a Central London office five days a week when you can work just as effectively at home?

Capita is a giant Government contractor that collects the BBC licence fee (file image)

The company has already saved some 4million in costs from shutting around two-thirds of its offices during the pandemic. The savings are likely to be mainly in building services and would be much higher if it closed offices permanently.

It comes as the Governments focus this week shifts towards getting workers back into the office.

The push coincides with the start of the winding up of the furlough scheme on Tuesday as the taxpayers contribution to wages will drop from 80 per cent to 70 per cent before being phased out completely by the end of October.

Chancellor Rishi Sunaks successful Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme for pubs and restaurants also ends on Monday.

Capita, which counts former Tory Minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe as a director, was founded in the 1980s by Sir Rod Aldridge, who created an IT services company to manage administrative tasks for local authorities when Margaret Thatcher opened up public services to tender. It flourished in the late 1990s as outsourcing boomed under New Labour.

Although the companys fortunes have dipped in recent years  falling out of the FTSE 100 share index after financial troubles  it still earns half its revenues from public-sector work. Tussell, a data provider on UK Government contracts, estimates that Capita pocketed more than 1billion in revenues from such deals last year  the most of any IT services provider.

As well as collecting the licence fee for the BBC, Capita handles recruitment for the British Army. However, it and other outsourcers such as G4S and Serco have come under fire for failings. The firm was heavily criticised for a delayed Army recruitment project marred by missed targets and IT problems. It was awarded the ten-year 500million contract in 2012.

Earlier this month, the company was awarded a 355million five-year contract extension to manage the London congestion charge zone and low emissions zones (file image)

A report by the National Audit Office in 2018 said there were significant problems with the recruitment project after it consistently failed to deliver enough soldiers.

A Commons public accounts committee report last year said Capita took on the job without understanding its complexity.

Earlier this month, the company was awarded a 355million five-year contract extension to manage the London congestion charge zone and low emissions zones.

A Government spokesman said: This is a commercial decision for the company. We are working closely with employers across the country to help them make workplaces Covid-secure and give people confidence to go back to work safely.

There are many wider benefits of office working for businesses including employees wellbeing, learning and development, and being able to meet face to face with colleagues, as well as the impact on local communities and the small businesses that serve them.

Capita declined to comment.

Mansfield gets back to work: Nottinghamshire market town has Britain's highest percentage of workers to return to their offices since the lockdown was eased

After seeing the collapse of its mining and textile industries, Mansfield is in no mood to suffer another devastating blow to livelihoods from the coronavirus.

The plucky Nottinghamshire market town is leading the national charge to get Britain back on its feet by going back to work, recording the highest percentage of workers to return to their offices since the lockdown eased.

A report by the Centre for Cities charity found that 40 per cent had now returned to their desks  more than double the national average of 17 per cent. In London that figure is just 13 per cent.

While Mansfield has so far seen remarkably low coronavirus rates, with only 370 cases in all, locals and business leaders hail the towns can do community spirit for the rush of returners.

The towns biggest employer, Linney, a marketing, printing and packaging firm, said it was delighted productivity was at 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Pictured: Miles and Charlie Linney of the towns biggest employer, Linney, a marketing, printing and packaging firm

Conservative MP Ben Bradley said many of his constituents  Mansfield has a population of just over 100,000  were chomping at the bit to resume their pre- lockdown lives. He said: We should all be trying to get back to that as quickly and as safely as we can.

Mansfield certainly shows that its doable. There are powerful economic drivers behind that as well  town and city centres will suffer if people dont return to the office. There just seems to be a huge sense of relief that things are moving back towards normal.

The towns biggest employer, Linney, a marketing, printing and packaging firm, said it was delighted productivity was at 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

Managing director Miles Linney, the sixth generation of the family to run the firm, said he was buoyed by the vibrancy of the office since the firms 1,100 staff began their return. He said: Its great. You can just see the whole place pick up. Its vibrant again  everyone laughing and enjoying each others company.

Although staff have had quiet encouragement to go to team meetings, some still work from home a few days a week, Mr Linney said. The great thing about Mansfield folk is that they do actually stick their hand up and will offer to help out with different parts of the business. They cant wait to get back to bounce ideas off each other.

The plucky Nottinghamshire market town of Mansfield is leading the national charge to get Britain back on its feet by going back to work

Jono Edwards, who employs 234 staff at his seven restaurant and nightclub venues in Mansfield, hailed Chancellor Rishi Sunaks Eat Out To Help Out scheme as a phenomenal success  an absolute lifeline for our food businesses.

He said: Mansfield is a very resilient town and theres a very strong community spirit. In times of crisis, people do stick together.

Malcom Hall, owner of family-run store Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies, set up a new business during lockdown selling masks and safety gear. It raised over 3,000 for the NHS, donating 1 for every mask sold.

We worked 16-hour days, sometimes seven days a week, to get products in place to help businesses get their staff back to work, said Mr Hall. Mansfield is sometimes a misunderstood place. Its full of hard-working and diverse businesses. Perhaps the fact Mansfield has had setbacks in the past  from the miners strikes to the decimation of the textile industry  maybe theyve learned the way to get through things is to diversify and, to be frank, work bloody hard.

Get off Zoom and get back to the House of Commons, ministers urge MPs in an effort to show an example to Britons to return to the office

Ministers are secretly encouraging Tory MPs to sabotage plans for politicians and their staff to keep working from home  to get the House of Commons back to normal.

The sight of some MPs holding Ministers to account via Zoom video calls from their homes or constituency offices has become part of the Commons response to the pandemic. So too have been images of a Commons Chamber restricted to only about 50 people including officials  being present in person at any one time under two-metre social-distancing rules.

Government sources complain that any bid to get more MPs in by relaxing that to one metre were met by Public Health England warnings that MPs would have to make all their speeches sitting down. But The Mail on Sunday understands Ministers privately want Tory colleagues to object this week to the proposed renewal of the remote-working arrangements to show an example to the country that people should get back to work in the office. One Government source said: It only takes one MP to shout object and the renewal of remote-working would fall.

The sight of some MPs holding Ministers to account via Zoom video calls (Grant Shapps pictured) from their homes or constituency offices has become part of the Commons response to the pandemic

Yes, it could be reintroduced the following day but we need to show an example to get people back into work wherever possible.

The source also insisted any MPs who for medical reasons could not be present at Westminster should still be allowed to work from home.

However, the move is likely to spark fury from leading Opposition MPs, who only yesterday insisted that the remote arrangements were still an absolute necessity for some colleagues amid fears of further spikes of the virus.

Separately, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith insisted it was now time to get rid of the Commons two-metre rule as one metre is enough.

He told The Mail on Sunday: The Chamber is dead right now  its a dead place. Its dull because hardly anybody can get in. Everything has to be booked for questions  theres no impromptu interventions. So many people choose to be at home and do it from home. But Sir Iain added: Unless you are in the protected sector, you should be in the House.

So too have been images of a Commons Chamber (pictured) restricted to only about 50 people including officials  being present in person at any one time under two-metre social-distancing rules

The House authorities should look now to getting more people in the Chamber.

However, Commons sources hit back last night by insisting that relaxing the social distance rules to one metre would only allow another 25 MPs to be in the Chamber at any one time.

New Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey this weekend insisted that the hybrid arrangements had to continue, saying: There will be many parliamentarians and parliamentary staff with good reason for being unable to be in Westminster in person.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps faced embarrassment last week after issuing a call saying it was safe for people to return to work  from his home in Hertfordshire.
Among other relatively new habits, meditation has profoundly changed my life for the better. I began engaging in various meditation practices regularly in 2014. In some ways, meditation saved my life. It has been crucial to my mental health, and to my professional successes in the midst of a global pandemic, a global civil rights movement, and many other upheavals.

Since childhood, I have engaged in painful relationships with myself, others, and my career. Such painful relationships came from childhood traumas that manifested in the forms of shame and excessive reliance on other people and achievements for approval, a sense of identity, and safety. For me, it led to workaholism and perfectionism.

Such painful ways of relating to the world came to a head in 2014, when I experienced an existential crisis that inspired me to begin investigating how and why I was suffering, and the root causes of my many strained relationships.

Enough was enough, and I could no longer run away from myself. I began taking care of myself for the first time in my life. I began to let go of codependent relationships, excessive weightlifting, and frequenting nightclubs.

I started studying and practising different types of yoga and meditation, because many of my friends and colleagues that experienced crises in the past told me that yoga and meditation transformed their lives for the better. I have also been fascinated by East Indian culture and history since childhood, and I knew that the ancient yogis had developed a variety of effective tools for introspection and healing.

So, I joined Toronto-based meditation communities like Kirtan Toronto, The Consciousness Explorers Club, The Quiet Company, H2O Float Studio, REALThings Cushions, and Hoame. Every day, I used the Calm app  currently the worlds most downloaded meditation and sleep app  and I often meditated in sensory deprivation chambers.

I began learning from Vedic and Buddhist monks. I joined several support groups, I started reading many spiritual, psychology, philosophy, and personal development texts, and I doubled up on psychotherapy.

Some of the modalities that I engaged in, and still engage in, are not accessible to all people, but tools such as meditation, visualization, journaling, and at-home yoga practices are available to the vast majority of people.

In addition to my established career in writing, photography, directing and different forms of media production, my experiences inspired me to become a mental-health advocate in 2017. I now work with several mental health organizations doing impactful work, including but not limited to the Centre For Addiction And Mental Health (CAMH), Calm, and Thrive Global.

Furthermore, I am the Art Director for Operation Prefrontal Cortex, which is an organization and program harnessing the power of mindfulness and meditation to help reduce the incidents of gun, mass and police violence in Toronto, co-founded by Julien Christian Lutz, professionally known as Director X, and his longtime friend Danell Adams. Our organization is in the process of implementing our mindfulness-based programming throughout the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Police Services, and elsewhere  a process that has involved many conversations with city councillors and other politicians, school principals, police constables, and so on.

Operation Prefrontal Cortex exists because mindfulness and meditation have been scientifically proven to reduce violent tendencies and impulses in the human brain.

Torontos recent rise in gun violence has become alarming. In response to this significant problem, Operation Prefrontal Cortex now has a petition to bring Advance Peace to Toronto. Advance Peace is an organization that ends cyclical and retaliatory gun violence in urban neighbourhoods, reducing firearm assaults causing injury or death in Richmond, Calif., by more than 85 per cent between 2012 and 2019. Our petition now has more than 70,000 signatures.

As I look back on the most transformative existential crisis of my life, I realize that it was a beneficial opportunity  and that the collective consciousness of humanity is facing such a crisis at this moment.

Globally, humanity is in the midst of a mental-health epidemic compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The now highly publicized instances of systemic racism and police violence involving Black, Indigenous, and people of colour in Toronto is a result of many complicated factors that have been a part of human history for hundreds or thousands of years, including the current global mental health epidemic.

The gun violence in Toronto has been steadily increasing since 2016. This year is on track to be the most violent year in Torontos relatively short history, and many of the shooting incidents involve Black people and other people of colour, due to numerous factors, including but not limited to socio-economic stressors like a lack of affordable housing, access to healthy food, and more.

As far as police violence in Toronto is concerned, the Ontario Human Rights Commission recently published its findings on racial discrimination by the Toronto Police Service. The report found that Black Toronto residents were 20 times more likely than white residents to be fatally shot by Toronto police between 2013 and 2017.

Earlier this year, amid global protests against police brutality and systemic racism, the Toronto board of health voted unanimously to declare anti-Black racism a public health crisis.

Economic challenges that stem from systemic racism cause many Black, Indigenous, and people of colour to suffer. Due to the atmospheric pressure of confronting racism daily, and the generational trauma of the transatlantic slave trade, the genocide of numerous Indigenous tribes, and far more atrocities, many marginalized communities and individuals are traumatized every day. Such trauma damages the structure of the brain.

More specifically, unprocessed, chronic trauma and stress lead to the brains overreliance on the amygdala  the fight-flight-freeze part of the brain while diminishing the capacities of the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain involved in rational decision-making.

Based on countless scientific studies and my experiences, meditation can reverse brain damage that stems from unprocessed, chronic trauma and stress, rendering the meditation practitioner calmer and less reactive than they would be otherwise.

A recent study published in Behavioural Brain Research has determined that only eight weeks of daily meditation can decrease negative mood and anxiety and improve attention, working memory, and recognition memory in nonexperienced meditators.

Researchers at Central Michigan University have also found that mindfulness meditation reduces implicit race (and age) bias. The researchers focused on the impact of mindfulness on implicit age and racial bias as measured by implicit association tests (IATs). Participants listened to either a mindfulness or a control audio and then completed the race and age IATs.

Meditation also leads to metacognition  an awareness and understanding of ones thought processes, and the ability to observe thoughts and think critically. It also leads to mindfulness  non-judgmental awareness of ones thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment in the present moment.

To me, metacognition and mindfulness are the first steps toward noticing and challenging racism in ones mind and dismantling systemic racism. For example, through the process of meditating regularly for a few months or longer, one may begin to ask, why do I feel an aversion towards this particular group of people, and where did my aversion toward them come from?

In my case, meditation has helped me to accept that I will face systemic racism in my personal and professional lives, for the foreseeable future, and that those that are perpetuating systemic racism have an opportunity to change, through tools like meditation.

It was challenging for me to develop a regular meditation practice. Meditating for a couple of minutes came with much resistance since I was used to running away from uncomfortable thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. The challenges were also due to common stigmas associated with introspection and mental health amongst most people in North America, especially within Black and other racialized communities. These stigmas include associating psychological weakness with talking about emotions and mental health.

For many people meditation may equate to emptying their brain or thinking about nothing  but ceasing all thoughts is not possible, so the process of meditating is more about accepting, and in some cases, embracing thoughts, emotions, and sensations.

Now, I meditate daily, usually for 10 to 20 minutes, but sometimes as much as two to three hours per day.

Meditation can be as simple as sitting in a comfortable position for a minute, with ones eyes closed while noticing the sensations associated with ones natural breath. Such a simple practice also involves accepting all bodily feelings and thoughts that enter ones consciousness at the moment, no matter how uncomfortable or alarming they may seem.

If I can meditate regularly, almost anyone can, simply because I found the process of meditating nearly impossible during the early stages of my practice, and the discomfort during my short, one- or two-minute long meditation sessions was overwhelming. However, as time went on, and as I began to meditate regularly, my aversion toward meditation subsided.

Meditation can be a revolutionary act, and I am confident that if most people begin a regular meditation practice, the stranglehold of systemic racism will start to lose its power.
(L-R) Former Minneapolis Police Department officers Derek Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao, in booking photos. (Courtesy of Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Former Officer Charged in Floyds Death Files Motion to Dismiss Charges

Lawyers for a former Minneapolis police officer charged in the death of George Floyd have asked a court to dismiss the charges against their client.

In a motion to the court, lawyers for Derek Chauvin on Aug. 28 argued that theres a lack of probable cause supporting the charges that he faces.

Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter after a video surfaced showing him kneeling on Floyds neck for about eight minutes during an arrest. Floyd died shortly after the incident.

Floyds death sparked widespread nationwide protests and riots across the country against police brutality and calling for police reform. It also sparked a movement to defund the police, which calls for reallocating funding destined for police departments to social programs, particularly to assist the African American community.

Chauvins lawyers argued that the charges should be dismissed since Floyds alleged drug use was a crucial factor.

Put simply, Mr. Floyd could not breathe because he had ingested a lethal dose of fentanyl, the motion states (pdf).

The lawyers said the evidence showed that at the time of his death, Floyd had ingested a lethal dose of fentanyl11 ng/mlas well as methamphetamine. They added that the medical examiner told prosecutors that overdoses from fentanyl have been certified with levels as low as 3 ng/ml, citing a report by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner and a conversation between the examiner, Dr. Andrew Baker, and prosecutors.

In that conversation, the medical examiner told prosecutors that if Floyd was found dead alone with no other apparent causes, it would have been acceptable to say that he had died from an overdose.

The lawyers also argued that the medical examiner had found no bruising on Floyds back or neck, indicating that Chauvin hadnt intended to inflict harm on Floyd.

If Mr. Chauvin had intended to inflict harm to Mr. Floyds back and neck with his knee, surely there would be evidence of bruising. But clearly, Mr. Chauvin was cautious about the amount of pressure he used to restrain Mr. Floydcautious enough to prevent bruising, the motion stated.

On the same day, prosecutors filed a notice that they would be seeking an upward sentencing departure in the cases of all involved officers. Three other former officersJ. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Kiernan Lane, and Tou Thaoare charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

All four officers have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutors argued that a harsher sentence was warranted because Floyd was treated with particular cruelty.

Despite Mr. Floyds pleas that he could not breathe and was going to die, as well as the pleas of eyewitnesses for Defendant to get off Mr. Floyd and help him, Defendant and his codefendants continued to restrain Mr. Floyd, they wrote (pdf). Defendant kept his knee on Mr. Floyds neck to hold him prone on the ground for approximately nine minutes, during at least four minutes of which Mr. Floyd was motionless.

This maneuver inflicted gratuitous pain on Mr. Floyd, they wrote.
An Australian mother-of-three has turned a small market stall in Byron Bay into a multimillion-dollar tea company with the help of Facebook promoted ads.

Jordana Edwards, 39, launched Clean Tea in 2013 with her mother, who works as a naturopath and medical herbalist. The pair curated three different tea flavours at the time.

'It was born from a desire to combine my love for tea and my yearning for a clean, organic and chemical-free lifestyle,' the entrepreneur told FEMAIL.

Jordana Edwards (pictured) launched Clean Tea in 2013 with the help of her mother, who works as a naturopath and medical herbalist

'It was born from a desire to combine my love for tea and my yearning for a clean, organic and chemical-free lifestyle,' the entrepreneur told FEMAIL

'After the birth of my second baby and living in a small rural town, there was not a lot of work available. Starting my market stall in Byron Bay seemed like the easiest way to earn an income and introduce our teas to consumers.'

The brand went on to create a 'sample' box of teas that saw an increase in sales of 2,000 per cent overnight, and now they sell lots of custom 'boxes' for every occasion.

'From birthday boxes to get well soon boxes, our simple message to our customers is "We hope you find joy in every cup". We have sent thousands of gift boxes all over Australia during the pandemic with handwritten gift notes sharing love and thoughts,' Jordana said.

The Bestie Box and Care Box ($29.90) are the two most popular boxes today and the distinctive Blue Byron colour changing tea (from $12.50) is the most purchased drink.

'From birthday boxes to get well soon boxes, our simple message to our customers is "We hope you find joy in every cup,"' Jordana (pictured) said

The Bestie Box and Care Box ($29.90) are the two most popular boxes today

A $20 boosted post on Facebook in 2015 saw sales skyrocket again by over 2,283 per cent, and the team realised the power of ads to reach new customers.

Facebook ads have generated over $2.1million in sales so far and the brand generates $150,000 a month.

During the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 50 tea blends to Clean Tea's name, Jordana launched a second 'sister' company, calling it The Breastfeeding Tea Co.

After giving birth to her third baby, who suffered terribly from colic and reflux, Jordana and her mother created a 'colic tea'.

The distinctive Blue Byron colour changing tea (from $12.50) is the most purchased drink (left)

After giving birth to her third baby, who suffered terribly from colic and reflux, Jordana and her mother created a 'colic tea' (lactation tea pictured right)

'The tea was a huge success, with thousands and thousands of mothers finding relief with this pure tea that reduces wind and pain in the baby,' she said.

'At one stage, when the product was almost 70 per cent of sales at Clean Tea, we decided the tea had more opportunity to help women both in Australia and worldwide with its dedicated brand and website.'

They worked for six months on creating The Breastfeeding Tea Co, drawing on many learnings from Clean Tea, to create a brand dedicated to breastfeeding mothers.

The result was a simple yet effective range of breastfeeding safe teas including colic tea ($20), lactation tea ($20) and mama tea ($16), plus a deluxe breastfeeding box ($48) with all three.

They worked for six months on creating The Breastfeeding Tea Co, drawing on many learnings from Clean Tea, to create a brand dedicated to breastfeeding mothers

Since the launch of The Breastfeeding Tea Co and the subsequent growth of Clean Tea, Jordana has seen a 110 per cent increase in sales

'The Breastfeeding Tea Co is my passion project; truly nothing makes me happier as a business owner to know we are helping women through this important and often challenging time of their life,' Jordana said.

'We are proud to be helping small babies with wind, pain and discomfort, one cup of tea at a time.'

Since the launch of The Breastfeeding Tea Co and the subsequent growth of Clean Tea, Jordana has seen a 110 per cent increase in sales.

The team are looking forward to selling their Christmas tea boxes at the end of the year, and are excited to create more blends in 2021.

'Christmas 2020 will be very different this year in Australia, and demand is already starting for our delicious Christmas teas and Christmas boxes,' she said.

'Our most popular box of 2019, the Teacher Gift Box will also be back, an opportunity to thank your child's teacher for an unprecedented year.'
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday took a dig at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over her 'Act of God' remarks on the economy, saying will "the FM as the Messenger of God" answer how should the "mismanagement" of the economy before the coronavirus pandemic be described.

Sitharaman on Thursday had said the economy has been hit by the pandemic, which is an 'Act of God', and it will see a contraction in the current fiscal.

Taking a swipe at Sitharaman over the remarks, Chidambaram said, "If the pandemic is an Act of God, how do we describe the mismanagement of the economy during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20. Before the pandemic struck India?"

"Will the FM as the Messenger of God please answer?" the former finance minister asked.

Also Read: Recovery hopes dashed for India's recession-hit economy

Chidambaram also slammed the Centre for asking states to borrow more to make up for revenue losses due to pending GST dues.

He asserted that the two options given by the Modi government to the states to bridge the GST compensation gap are unacceptable.

"Under the first option the states are asked to borrow by pledging their future receivables under Compensation cess. The financial burden falls entirely on the states," Chidambaram said.

"Under the second option, states are asked to borrow from the RBI window. It is more market borrowing, only by a different name. Again, the entire financial burden falls on the states," he said in a series of tweets.

Chidambaram claimed that the central government is absolving itself of any financial responsibility.

This is a "gross betrayal" as well as a "direct violation of the law", he alleged.
New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Effiduase-Asokore in the Ashanti Region, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie has vowed to ensure that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will gain massive votes in his constituency.



According to him, the President deserves a second term after what he described as a superb performance in his first term.



Dr Ayew was speaking at the launch of his 2020 election campaign aimed at securing the highest votes in all the 90 districts of the constituency.



He noted that his campaign team is committed to doing a house-to-house campaign to win votes not only for himself but also for the NPP.







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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A neck gaiter. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  Face coverings such as neck gaiters, bandanas, scarves or handkerchiefs should not be used to prevent COVID-19 transmission, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

In a media release on Saturday (29 August), the ministry said that these makeshift coverings may not have a good fit around a persons nose and mouth. Furthermore, as these face coverings are made from materials that are not specific for disease prevention, they may not perform as well as purpose-built masks.

To ensure transmission rates in the community are kept low, it is critical for every member of public to put on masks that are designed or made specifically to prevent disease transmission, MOH said in the media release.

A mask should be worn such that it closely and completely covers the wearers nose and mouth, without leaving a gap between the mask and the face.

The issue on the efficacy of such face coverings was raised recently in Singapore after an incident in which a bus driver refused to allow a man wearing a neck gaiter to board the bus.

The ensuing argument, and the mans attempt to shame the bus driver on social media, earned a rebuke from Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung, while others appealed to MOH to provide clearer guidelines.

Testing to community groups with high public interaction

Meanwhile, MOH plans to begin providing COVID-19 testing to community groups such as taxi and private-hire car drivers, food delivery personnel, key vendors servicing foreign worker dormitories, as well as stallholders at hawker centres, markets and similar food and beverages establishments such as coffeeshops.

While the ministry said that there has been no local evidence that these community groups are of higher risk of infection, it will nonetheless offer a one-time testing to them, given the nature of their working environment such as the high frequency of public interaction.

The cost of the test will be fully borne by the government.

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The hospital at the centre of a baby deaths scandal was awarded a 1.2million bonus for apparently providing safe maternity care, documents show.

East Kent Hospitals was given the money by the NHS in 2018 after hitting ten targets including ensuring doctors were available out-of-hours, investigating stillbirths and providing enhanced training.

The NHS trust is now the subject of a major independent review which was launched by health officials this year after at least 15 babies died due to potentially avoidable errors.

East Kent Hospitals, at the centre of a baby deaths scandal, was awarded a 1.2million bonus by the NHS for apparently providing safe maternity care, documents show

Earlier this week the Mail revealed how staff at the hospital were suspected of covering up their deaths by not referring suspicious cases to coroners.

Bereaved families described the bonus as 'obscene' and 'immoral'.

They said it was difficult to comprehend when they felt so 'wronged'.

Other experts said it exposed the 'dysfunctionality' of the NHS's regulation system if a hospital with severe failings could be rewarded for good work.

The cash was paid by NHS Resolution, the body of the health service which oversees clinical negligence claims.

Two years ago the organisation launched a maternity incentive scheme to encourage trusts to improve their care of pregnant women and newborns.

In order to receive the payment, hospitals needed to hit ten safety targets which range from investigating deaths to ensuring experienced doctors are on hand 24/7.

The NHS trust is now the subject of a major independent review which was launched by health officials this year after at least 15 babies died due to potentially avoidable errors

Other standards include midwives being trained to monitor a foetus's heart rate.

Yet a number of the baby deaths at the trust are believed to have been caused by failings in these very areas  particularly in monitoring heart rates and ensuring doctors are available.

The year before the bonus was awarded, a baby called Harry Richford died in what a coroner later described in 'wholly avoidable' circumstances, partly brought about at the hands of a locum doctor who hadn't been properly assessed.

Harry's death in November 2017, and the inquest in January this year, prompted other families to come forward and the NHS launched a major independent review into safety.

The trust shamelessly tried to claim the bonus again last year  even though the maternity unit was under investigation  but its bid was thrown out after bereaved families intervened.

NHS Resolution said it's now reviewing the 1.2million payment made in 2018 which could lead to it being paid back.

Derek Richford, Harry's grandfather, described the trust's actions in claiming the bonus as 'immoral' and 'obscene'.

Becca Janes, whose daughter Hallie-Rae died at the trust's Ashford hospital in 2017, said: 'If they've failed women, and they're continuing to do so, they don't deserve that money.'

Shelley Russell, whose baby Tallulah-Rai was delivered stillborn at the same hospital in January last year, said: 'A bonus sounds like a reward when they have wronged so many families.'

The hospital was given the money in 2018 after hitting ten targets including ensuring doctors were available out-of-hours, investigating stillbirths and providing enhanced training

Mr Richford believes the trust would have been paid the bonus again last year had he not intervened by alerting NHS Resolution to the serious failings.

The NHS launched a major independent inquiry into East Kent Hospitals' maternity services in February this year after other families came forward.

Maureen Treadwell, from the Birth Trauma Association which supports women, said: 'Dysfunctionality on this scale cannot be blamed on individual trusts  it suggests failure from the very top of the NHS.'

A spokesman for NHS Resolution said it is reviewing East Kent Hospitals' first submission to the maternity incentive scheme.

And a spokesman for East Kent Hospitals said in year one of the scheme, the trust's board 'were assured that they could demonstrate compliance against the ten specific actions'.
Belfast City Council has said it will inspect the "derelict" state of the George Best Hotel building as its insolvent developer vowed to realise plans for the site.

Before the company's collapse, investors had paid a total of 4m to own 59 rooms in the would-be hotel.

Couples dreaming of marrying in a venue honouring the late footballer's memory paid deposits of tens of thousands of pounds.

One pair who paid 5,500 for a wedding to take place a year ago said they were stressed and wanted their money back.

Construction on the Scottish Mutual Building at Donegall Square West stopped after a litany of planning rows and disagreements.

Administrators Duff & Phelps were appointed in April after growing financial problems at Liverpool-based developer Signature Living, which owned the building.

Now the historic building is defaced by graffiti, and a rubbish chute remains on Bedford Street, intended to catch debris during construction.

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Signature Living, led by Lawrence Kenwright, said it cannot comment on the building or other former assets due to the administration, which affects other parts of their UK hospitality business. It also includes the Shankly Hotel in Liverpool.

But a source claimed Mr Kenwright intends to honour his commitments and realise the dreams of those who paid deposits.

"It was never Signature Living's intention for the building to become an eyesore and they fully intend to deliver everything they've promised once they're through this period of administration," they said.

The source claimed that the hotel investors have agreed to back a bid to gain finance, enabling completion of the hotel and other unfinished projects.

A winding-up petition was first presented against Bedford Hotel Ltd, the Northern Ireland-registered company which owns the building, in January.

Bride-to-be Catherine said she paid a further installment of her 5,500 deposit in February. She said she is also waiting to hear from a wedding planner from Northern Ireland who is employed by Signature Living to plan weddings for Rainhill Hall - another venue in Liverpool - the George Best Hotel and the Shankly Hotel Preston. The Preston venue is to be built in a historic ex-Post Office but is also unfinished.

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A spokesman for the council said it has powers to tackle dilapidated buildings "deemed to be seriously detrimental to the amenity of the area".

They said: "Council officers will undertake a site visit to assess the state of the building and whether it would meet the criteria for further action.

"Our cleansing team can also remove offensive or threatening graffiti. We are working with our statutory and private sector partners to revitalise the city centre and to address such issues."

Simon Hamilton, chief executive of Belfast Chamber, said it was "disappointing" to see the hotel fall into disrepair.

"The ideal outcome would obviously be for the hotel scheme to be taken forward and finished but we understand the significant number of challenges that will entail," he said.

"In the interim though, I think we would all want this beautiful building to be made look a little better than it currently does given its key location in the heart of Donegall Square".

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A spokesman for Duff & Phelps said its appointment "consists of the property interests of the George Best Hotel and they therefore cannot comment on status of bookings".

In its June report it said it was assessing where it will be viable to finish the hotel "never mind to open and trade the hotel, once complete".

Kenneth Crothers, a valuation surveyor based in an office on James Street South behind the building, said the building was now in a state of dereliction.

"I can't see a reasonable person not having an issue with the state of the building. It's important because of where it is as a cornerstone of Donegall Square," he said. "But now with the graffiti and the rubbish chute, it's really just portraying an air of dereliction."

A report by Duff & Phelps on the administration of Bedford Hotel in June said it owed at least 15.4m when it went bust.

Engaged couple Catherine and Mark told the Belfast Telegraph about their experience.

In an email, they wrote: "It's got beyond a joke now. We should have been married now a year this September. It's stress at the minute we could do without.

"We think Covid-19 was the icing on the cake for us and we never got to see anything inside the hotel to see what state the building was and if any work carried out at all - just photos of what it was meant to like, and loads of false hopes of when this amazing hotel was due to open. Like, never.

"We just want our money back as like normal couples we worked and saved for this special day.

"We have also had to postpone several times on other people who were involved with our day, ie, cake, flowers, music, invites, cars, etc, which is stressful and embarrassing.

"We just want to get married and put this last year behind us. We've still heard nothing back."

The couple added that they feel "so let down".

Mr Crothers said he wanted the site to be tidied up in the short-term.

He added: "I have no difficulty with the use of the building as a hotel or offices, or retail. But in this economic climate it's difficult to see any hoteliers having the appetite for it."
Kenosha, Wis.

A 17-year-old who says he went to protests in Wisconsin to protect businesses and people has become a flashpoint in a debate over anti-racism demonstrations that have gripped many American cities and the vigilantism that has sometimes met them.

On Tuesday, Kyle Rittenhouse, armed with an AR-15 style rifle, joined several other armed people in the streets of Kenosha, where businesses had been vandalized and buildings burned following a police shooting that left Jacob Blake, a Black man, paralyzed. By the end of the night, prosecutors say, Rittenhouse had killed two people and severely wounded a third.

At a hearing Friday, a judge postponed a decision on whether Rittenhouse, who is in custody in Illinois, should be returned to Wisconsin to face charges, including first-degree intentional homicide that could land him in prison for the rest of his life.

To some, Rittenhouse is a domestic terrorist whose very presence with a rifle incited the protesters. But to others  who have become frustrated with demonstrations and unrest across the country  he's seen as a hero who took up arms to protect people who were left unprotected.

"Kyle is an innocent boy who justifiably exercised his fundamental right of self-defense. In doing so, he likely saved his own life and possibly the lives of others," said Lin Wood, a prominent Atlanta attorney who is now part of a team representing Rittenhouse.

The protests in Kenosha are just the latest to erupt during a reckoning over policing and racial injustice following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. As they have in other cities, rallies devolved into violence and vandalism at some points, and the National Guard was called in. The commander of the force said Friday over 1,000 guard members had been deployed, and more were on the way.

Rittenhouse, once part of a youth cadet program for aspiring police officers, can be seen on his Facebook page posing in a blue police uniform with a silver badge and broad-brimmed hat.

In other online photos and videos, he takes target practice and brandishes a rifle above the caption, "Blue Lives Matter."

On Tuesday night, as Rittenhouse stood in front of a boarded-up building, he spoke to a reporter from the Daily Caller news site.

"People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business," Rittenhouse said. "And part of my job is to also help people. If there is somebody hurt, I'm running into harm's way. That's why I have my rifle."

The hashtag #FreeKyleRittenhouse has trended on Twitter, a self-described Christian fundraising site, GiveSendGo, says it has raised more than $100,000 for Rittenhouse's defense, and a post including photos of Rittenhouse cleaning up graffiti in Kenosha before the shooting was shared and liked thousands of times.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The night of the shootings, Rittenhouse is seen on video as a green-shirted figure running across a parking lot with a rifle followed by a man later identified as Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, according to a criminal complaint. Rosenbaum throws a plastic bag at Rittenhouse, misses, then five shots ring out, and Rosenbaum falls to the ground. He later was declared dead.

"I just killed somebody," Rittenhouse says into his cellphone, according to the complaint, and he starts running and several people give chase. "Beat him up!" one person in the crowd says. Another yells, "Get him! Get that dude!"

Rittenhouse trips and falls. One man holding a skateboard appears to try to grab the gun from Rittenhouse. A shot rings out, and the man, Anthony Huber, 26, staggers away. He also died.

In the scuffle, lasting just seconds, Rittenhouse shoots a third person armed with a handgun, according to the complaint. That man, Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, has a deep wound to his arm but has survived. After the shootings, Rittenhouse can be seen walking toward police with his gun slung over his shoulder and his hands in the air. Police riding in tactical vehicles roll right past him. He later turned himself in in his hometown of Antioch, Ill., according to Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis.

The police have faced questions about that response.

On Friday, Miskinis described a chaotic scene to reporters and said that "there was nothing to suggest that this person (Rittenhouse) was involved in any criminal behavior."

Miskinis said it was not a lapse in judgment to not stop Rittenhouse and ask for identification to see if he was old enough to carry a weapon, given the number of people on the street, many wearing masks that obscured their faces.

Wisconsin allows gun owners to openly carry in public, but a person under 18 can't legally possess or carry a firearm unless that person is hunting or target practicing with an adult or in the military.
An axe-wielding man went on a violent rampage outside a busy shopping centre which saw two men rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

Police were called to Rosebud Plaza in Victoria's Mornington Peninsular about 10.15am on Saturday with reports of a man armed with a weapon.

Witnesses told Nine News that the man was smashing car windows before going inside the shopping centre

An axe wielding man went on a violent rampage outside a busy shopping centre on Saturday morning (Pictured: police at the scene)

Police were called to Rosebud Plaza (pictured) in Mornington Peninsular in Victoria about 10.15am on Saturday with reports of a man armed with a weapon

Two men, one in his 80s and another in his 30s sustained significant injuries during the attack.

The 30-year-old suffered an upper body injury and remains in serious condition at Alfred Hospital.

The elderly man also suffered upper body injuries and was flown by helicopter to hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

Victoria Police confirmed a man was arrested as investigations continue.

There is no ongoing threat to the public.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
 Flash

Two people were killed and another injured in a helicopter crash in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub, on Friday, said Gboyega Akosile, a spokesperson to the governor of Lagos state.

Akosile told Xinhua by phone the injured has been rushed to a local hospital, and an investigation by relevant agencies has commenced.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) also confirmed the accident on its official Twitter account, saying investigation revealed that a Bell Helicopter 206B3 belonging to Quorum Aviation Ltd. crashed on Friday at 16A Salvation Road, Opebi area in Lagos.

LASEMA said a combined response team led by its Director-General Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu rescued an adult male from the scene while two adult male were confirmed dead on spot, and operation is ongoing.

According to local daily the Vanguard, Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed that three passengers were on board the flight.

"The helicopter was carrying three passengers; one is in the intensive care unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, while the bodies of the two killed on impact have been deposited in the mortuary. We are on top of challenges especially crowd control while operation is ongoing," said Oke-Osanyintolu.
The festival will run between 1 and 11 September online and in theaters, with an opening ceremony to take place at Cairo's National Theatre

On Tuesday 1 September, Egypt's Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem and president of the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre Alaa Abdel Aziz Suleiman will officially open the festivals 27th edition at the stage of Cairo's National Theatre.

The opening will also be attended by the festival's honorary president Fawzy Fahmy, who headed the event over the span of many years in the 1990s.

The ceremony will be attended by a limited number of theatre figures and audience members so the theatre does not exceed 25 percent of its regular capacity as a safety precaution against coronavirus.

The festival's 27th edition is dedicated to Sanaa Shafaei, the late actor, director and academic at the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts, who passed away on 11 August this year.

The opening ceremony will begin with a short artistic performance directed by Kamal Attia, and the honouring of eight figures who played an important role in the theatrical scene, whether in Egypt or internationally.

The festival will continue until 11 September, presenting plays by Egyptian troupes on the stages of Cairo theatres, in addition to international performances available for online viewing.

The online screenings will consist of two competitive segments  Filmed Performances and Lockdown Performances  each showcasing nine performances.

The concept behind the Lockdown Performances segment is to present theatrical productions produced during the general lockdown. As the festival's management explains, these performances have a new and unique approach to creativity and modern technical solutions.

The Filmed Performances competition focuses on plays that are no longer than 90 minutes and were produced prior to the pandemic. Over 172 theatre plays have been submitted to this segment, including 96 Egyptian shows, and the jury has chosen nine to run for the award, among them one Egyptian production.

The Live Performances segment was added to the festival in recent weeks, and it results from the culture ministry allowing some shows to be performed on theatre stages.

As such, 13 plays by Egyptian theatre-makers will be presented at the Hanager Theatre and at the stage of the Institute for Performing Arts.

The prizes awarded in three competitions have a total value of EGP 75,000. The winners will also be awarded the golden shield and the festival certificate.

In parallel with the performances, the festival will also include workshops and seminars, with some screened online and others held inside theatres.

On its fifth day, 5 September, the festival will celebrate Egyptian Theatre Day with a special evening held on the National Theatre stage.

One of the new additions to the festival is Festival Memory, a non-competitive segment which will present the nine best Egyptian performances that participated in the festival's previous editions.

The festival will also include the electronic and printed newsletter, presenting updates to the viewers on a daily basis.

The festival's 27th edition is headed by Alaa Abdel-Aziz Suleiman, who has introduced numerous changes to the event.

One of the fundamental decisions taken by Suleiman is bringing back the festival's original name  the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre  which it held from its founding in 1988 until 2010. The festival's continuity was interrupted by the January 2011 Revolution and the many changes that took place in Egypt's artistic scene in the following years. After a five-year hiatus, the festival returned in 2016 with its 23rd edition and a new name: the Cairo International Festival for Experimental and Contemporary Theatre (CIFCET).

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Small and medium sized enterprises are increasingly being turned away for grants under the Growth Hub scheme as some have been swamped with a frenzy of applications.

It comes after the Government introduced a 20million funding initiative in June to help SMEs across England recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 20million is being split up and distributed to various counties through Growth Hubs in what is understood to be varying amounts.

Time is running out! Some Growth Hubs are already turning SME applicants away and the cut-off for grants to be be awarded is 28 February 2021

SMEs can apply for grants of between 1,000 to 5,000 to help them access new technology, equipment as well as professional, legal, financial or other help.

All of the money will come from government and there will be no obligation for SMEs to contribute financially.

A MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government) spokesperson explained: 'Growth Hubs have received a large volume of enquiries and each of them will be able to provide you with further information on timing and the process for applications.

'The scheme is expected to be competitive and, in most cases, will be awarded on a first come first served basis.

'Where the number of applications exceeds the available funding, it is expected that local schemes will close.'

It's still unclear how many applicants have applied for these grants and data on this will only be produced in a couple of months.

The MHCLG spokesperson added: 'Information on the number of applications made will be available on a quarterly basis, starting from October in line with reporting requirements.'

Have all Growth Hubs run out of cash?

Some Growth Hubs have already closed their applications to new expressions of interest enquiries.

One reader applied for a grant through the Herts Growth Hub but was then sent an auto response email saying that she was being put on a waiting list.

It said: 'Thank you for your interest in the Respond, Adapt and Strengthen Grant. We have had an enormous amount of interest, as you can imagine, and we have had to deal with requests on a first-come, first-served basis as to when the expressions of interest came into us.

'We have now had to close applications but will keep your details on a waiting list, in case we can open again.'

Confusingly, not all Growth Hubs have completed their allocations and some such as the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Kickstart grant scheme and the Kent & Medway Growth Hub's South East Covid Recovery Grant (SEBCOR) are still are still welcoming expressions of interest.

What are Growth Hubs and how are they being funded? The 20million funding for small enterprises is being channelled through Growth Hubs. Growth Hubs are local public/private sector partnerships led by the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). They join up national and local business support so it is easy for businesses to find the help they need. A spokesperson for the MHCLG (ministry of housing, communities & local government) said: 'Growth hubs are a tried and tested route to support businesses with extensive knowledge and experience in this field and are well placed to provide this support quickly and effectively. Grant schemes are 100 per cent funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). An MHCLG spokesperson said: 'We have left the EU, but we continue to participate in EU funding programmes as these wind down. Projects will receive funding until the end of the current programme in 2023. 'We will target the UK Shared Prosperity Fund at the UKs specific needs, and will, at a minimum, match the size of European structural funds in all four nations. 'We are working closely with interested parties across the country as we develop this Fund and to allocate all remaining EU funding.' The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub refused to comment on any possible impact that Brexit could have. Wider Growth Hub projects are part funded by the ERDF. For example, Cornwall and Isle of Scilly Growth hub project is part funded with 2,435,909 from the ERDF, which is matched by Cornwall Council, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership.

On its website the Kent & Medway Growth Hub says it is 'working hard to put an application process in place to allow business to access this funding' and that in the meantime 'you may add your details to our expression of interest list'.

Meanwhile, the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Kickstart grant scheme website says it will open for applications from local businesses at 10am on Wednesday 2nd September.

It's not clear why some Growth Hubs are ahead while others are behind in awarding grants and processing applications.

A source close to the Kent & Medway Growth Hub offered an explanation.

Referring in particular to the Kent & Medway Growth Hub, he said: 'The grant providers don't have everything in place and ready to go which is why we're asking people to leave an expression of interest.

'When it is ready to go we can hand the expressions of interest files over to the grant providers.'

He adds that the team were expecting a 'go live' date in August. But at the time of writing, no news yet been provided.

The source said: 'We don't have a go live date yet but they are preparing a team as we've has a lot of expressions of interest.

'I suspect by early next week that the ball would start rolling and they will start contacting everyone. We don't know how it will work whether a link will be sent...'

When asked why he thought there was a discrepancy on the timings between different Growth Hubs, the source said: 'I don't know. Different counties and local authorities work at different time frames. It's difficult for all to follow the same protocol.'

Which SMEs can apply? The MHCLG (ministry of housing, communities & local government) has said that SMEs of all sectors are eligible to apply. Activities supported through the funding must be to directly respond to the impact of coronavirus and can include: An MHCLG spokesperson added: 'It's for each Growth Hub to set up their own scheme based on these eligibility criteria. 'Businesses should contact their local Growth Hub which will be able to provide further information on what activities are eligible, timing and the process for applications.'

How much cash could each business get?

The grant thresholds differ between the various Growth Hubs. The MHCLG explained: 'Growth Hubs are responsible for working with businesses in their area who wish to apply for the grants, support and advice available.

'They will also be able to provide further information on what activities are eligible, timing and the process for applications.

'The nature and value of grants awarded will reflect the needs of the businesses applying and will typically be up to 3,000. Under certain circumstances, and on a case-by-case basis, grants of up to 5,000 may be awarded.'

To date there have also been no stats published on how many SMEs have qualified for grants or how much has been paid out so there's no way of immediately knowing which Growth Hubs are closed for applications.

When pressed about this lack of information, the MHCLG spokesperson says: 'Growth Hubs have received a large volume of enquiries. Information on the number of applications made will be available on a quarterly basis, starting from October in line with reporting requirements.'

For Growth Hubs that have not yet allocated grant monies to various SMEs, there's still time to award them.

The MHCLG said the cut-off for grants to be awarded is 28 February 2021, with activity fully completed by 31 March 2021. More information about which Growth Hub to approach can be found on the Lep Network's website.

SMEs can apply for grants of between 1,000 to 5,000 to help them access new technology, equipment as well as professional, legal, financial or other help.

Kickstart scheme fiasco

The 20million SME grants come on top of the 2billion kickstart scheme, which is designed to help thousands of young people living off universal credit (UC) get work as the scheme subsidises their salaries for the first six months.

But to date companies and unemployed youth have been left in limbo as they wait for the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) iron out the final details.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak promised further details of the kickstart scheme this month, but time is fast running out with only one working day left.

When asked about the delay, the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) told This is Money that an announcement would be 'made soon'.

Some companies have already advertised for these roles on online recruitment platforms such as LinkedIn and Monster but the DWP has urged them to remove them until further notice. This has led to some online platforms scrambling to remove the related job adverts.
Coimbatore:

The local Gurudwara Singh Sabha in Coimbatore organised week-long celebrations, including procession and mass feeding as part of the 350th birthday celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh.

The celebrations, which started on Wednesday night, will go on till January 5, Sabha Vice-President Gurpreet Singh told reporters on Thursday.

A huge procession will be taken out on January 1, in which the holy book of Sikh community, Guru Granth Sahib will be placed on a flower-decked vehicle, he said. A musical band, a team performing traditional martial arts, singing of holy hymns and volunteers moving on motor -cycles, will be part of the holy procession, Singh said.

He said there were 50 to 60 Sikh families in and around Coimbatore, adding, Sikhs from Erode, Nilgiris and Tirupur will join the procession as a mark of respect to the 10th Guru. Another major attraction will be the Langar (common kitchen), where food will be served to the people, cutting across caste barriers, on all the days, Singh said.

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Jordan Warnsholz, a physician assistant in Michigan, put up a lengthy Facebook post detailing how the State of Michigan is harassing him personally and professionally. He contends that he is the victim of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's vindictive abuse of power.

What he describes is a Kafka-esque nightmare in which government agencies have criminalized minor infractions and threatened his custody over his children. Intrigued, I checked why Warnsholz blamed Whitmer for abusing her executive powers. It turns out that he sued her in May for  yes  abusing her executive powers.

In May 2020, Warnsholz was one of three people in the medical field who, along with a patient, sued Governor Whitmer; Michigan attorney general Dana Nessell; and Robert Gordon, the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The basis for their complaint was that Whitmer's executive orders  which became a byword for overreach in the early months of the Wuhan virus panic  left the medical practice unable to offer necessary treatments to its patients.

Michigan, incidentally, is one of four states that the Department of Justice is investigating because of the staggeringly high death rates for elderly residents in nursing homes. The deaths of nursing home residents in Michigan, who constitute a minute fraction of the population, accounted for 32% of all Wuhan virus deaths in that state.

Because of Whitmer's sweeping orders, the plaintiffs, including Wanrsholz, alleged that patients suffered serious harm:

The medical practices involved said they haven't been able to repair feeding tubes or perform gallbladder surgery which has resulted in patients developing gangrene. [snip] "Medicare is the older generation usually have a lot of health conditions on top of each other, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease kidney disease and without being able to monitor those these people could be heading straight into a medical life-altering emergency and we're seeing that in droves across the state," said Jordan Warnsholz, a plaintiff in the lawsuit and the owner of Wellston Medical Center and Primary Health Services. [snip] Warnsholz also said that his two practices have forgiven $214,000 in medical debt from patients since the pandemic started.

In his Facebook post, Warnsholz contends that, since filing his lawsuit, the state has harassed him, by initiating a phony criminal action again him, trying to destroy his livelihood, and threatening his custody over his children:

Sadly, it's easy to accept Warnsholz's allegations at face value. As we've seen in 2020 America, state executives are drunk on their power to control their citizens, all in the name of protecting them from what's proven to be a nasty but not apocalyptic coronavirus. Worse, threatening to take away children has proven to be one of the statists' most potent weapon against parents who fight orders that would leave them unable to feed or shelter their children.

In Salem, Oregon, for example, hairstylist Lindsey Graham kept her salon open so she would not be impoverished. Governor Kate Brown, the same woman who has allowed 88 days of Wuhan spreading, blood-spilling, fecal-throwing violence to rage in Portland, sicced Child Protective Services on Graham, just as Whitmer seemingly has done to Warnsholz.

When it comes to hairstylists, Michigan relentlessly pursued 77-year-old Karl Manke for trying to keep food on his table. Meanwhile, it allowed politically correct gay swingers' clubs to operate.

Other states have been just as bad. In Texas, an overzealous Dallas prosecutor and a smug judge sent hairstylist Shelley Luther to jail for trying to keep herself and her employees solvent. In New Jersey, Governor Murphy is doing anything he can to destroy the owners of Atilis gym.

To date, Democrat governors, especially Whitmer, have proven to be power-hungry and vindictive. It will be interesting, therefore, to hear Governor Whitmer's side of the story when it comes to the allegedly retaliatory actions that Warnsholz claims the state has taken against him.

Image: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (color adjusted in Pixlr), by Julia Pickett, CC BY-SA 4.0.




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Sexual abuse of a 3 year old child

On Thursday, agents from the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police apprehended Charles Junior, accused of sexual abuse of a 3-year-old child.



New Bishop of the diocese of Port-de-Paix

Thursday at the National Palace in the presence of President Jovenel Moise and Chancellor Claude Joseph, took place the swearing-in ceremony of the new Bishop of the diocese of Port-de-Paix, Mgr Charles Peters Barthelus (appointed by Pope Francis on April 14 2020). He replaces in this function Mgr Pierre-Antoine Paulo, O.M.I. Bishop Paulo who retired because of his advanced age.



Dimitri Vorbe freed by American justice

Friday August 28, Haitian businessman Dimitri Vorbe Executive Director and Vice President of Societe Generale d'Energie SA (SOGENER SA) arrested with his wife in Miami (Florida) by Immigration and border control officers of the Department of Homeland Security (Immigration and Customs Enforcement - ICE), on August 21 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31604-haiti-flash-dimitri-vorbe-vice-president-of-sogener-sa-arrested-in-miami.html has been released on bail after his hearing Thursday by a judge and returned home Friday afternoon.



Jeremie Airport : Creation of a fire department

As in all other Airports affiliated to the National Airport Authority (AAN) network, a fire service has just been created at Jeremie International Airport.



USAID supports inclusion of people with disabilities:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID-Haiti) is committed to supporting the rights of communities with disabilities through the new "EnpaK, Yon Kominote pou Nou Tout" program, in partnership with 8 organizations in Haiti. The program, funded to the tune of US $1 million over two years, will include, among other things, the launch of an awareness campaign on the benefits of including people with disabilities in all aspects of public life.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















John Driscoll, a former reporter at The Examiner during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s and a longtime resident of Peterborough, is being remembered by co-workers and friends who worked closely with him over his career.

Reflecting on his life and times as a reporter, friend, co-worker and all-around person, they remember him fondly as a man with great heart, determination, the ability to relate to others and an aptitude for storytelling.

Mr. Driscoll, 80, died Sunday at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre due to complications from COPD and heart issues.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Linda. A private funeral mass will be held and a public memorial will take place after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

Ed Arnold, retired managing editor of The Examiner, said Mr. Driscoll was a journalist with a heart and cared about the issues and people he wrote about.

Mr. Driscoll was a positive presence in the newsroom and in the community, he added.

Most importantly, he was a nice person who got along with everyone, Arnold said. I really enjoyed working with him through all the ups and downs that journalism brought us.

Born and raised in Peterborough, Mr. Driscoll graduated from the University of Toronto in 1961 and then began his journalism career at The Examiner.

He held jobs throughout the industry, from public relations to university professor at the University of Victoria in Victoria, B.C., where he also worked for the Victoria Times-Colonist.

Mr. Driscoll eventually made his way back to Peterborough to become the weekend feature writer for the Examiner.

Arnold recalls Mr. Driscoll having an impressive writing style and work history and he was proud to be a Peterborough resident.

He had an incredible work background and was proud to be a Peterborough person, Arnold said. He had a smooth, intelligent, clean, writing style with a curiosity so needed in the profession.

Pat Marchen, a former Examiner photographer and current Keene correspondent, recalls a conversation she had with Mr. Driscoll prior to him coming back to the Examiner after many years, shortly after The Examiners Sunday edition was launched in the early 1990s.

I bumped into John going into the Beckers in East City and told him about the new Sunday edition, said Marchen.

He said that would nice, it would provide jobs for more people. And I said, Yes. You should apply.

She said he was shocked at the mentioning of applying due to a miscommunication between an Examiner reporter and himself at the time.

He looked surprised, she said. Because of a recent misunderstanding with an Examiner reporter about something, which was due to his hearing problem, he seemed to think he was on the outs with The Examiner.

Mr. Driscoll was the type of person everyone got along with no matter who they were, said Jim Hendry, retired managing editor of The Examiner.

Hes a person who everyone likes immediately, he is engaging, he said. He was a physically small statured guy with a bright smile and bright eyes.

Hendry said Mr. Driscoll was the type of person who you could just become fast friends with, he always showed concern, asked if everything was good and remembered the birthdays and anniversaries.

You look at John and think there is a really nice person who I would like to be friends with right off the top and then he would bore that out, Hendry said.

He was always concerned about you, he was the type of guy who would call if something was going wrong and ask if stuff was OK, he remembered peoples anniversary dates and birthdays and things like that. He was just a people person.

Marchen said she remembers that while talking to Mr. Driscoll about coming back to The Examiner outside the Beckers, he held the door open for her to enter.

I remember, it was a beautiful day when John held the Beckers door open for me. Thats how I always picture him. He was such a soft-spoken gentleman, she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 22:05:10|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Saturday thanked the Chinese government for the support in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said China is among countries that have been in the forefront of supporting Zambia in the fight against the pandemic.

He said during a COVID-19 update briefing that the Jack Ma Foundation has also been among partners that have helped not only Zambia but the entire African continent in containing the pandemic.

According to him, the assistance from China, and other cooperating partners, has helped the country deal with the pandemic.

"We would not have been where we are without their support," he said, adding the country offers profound gratitude to cooperating partners.

The country recorded 123 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative cases to 11,902. The country also discharged 147 patients, bringing total recoveries to 11,092, while one death was recorded, bringing the death toll to 284. Enditem
Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) on Thursday joined journalists, editors, media directors and civil society representatives to protest against the amended draconian media law, which has been introduced this week, following the signature of the Somali President.

During the protest event held in Mogadishu on 27 August, 2020, journalists and media directors expressed grave concern by the very egregious provisions in the law. Several editors and journalists have also said that they feared for their safety since Wednesday, after the Presidents Director of Communication made a threatening speech against media houses and the journalists deemed critical to the President. Members of the civil society also noted the serious threats the media law poses to the freedom of the media.

Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Secretary General of SJS, who gave detailed explanation on the most critical articles within the media law, warned that safety and privacy of journalists will be at stake if the law continues to take effect.

Ahead of the national elections, this law is meant to create a chilling effect on freedom of the press and that of the media in Somalia. This law does not only impose censorship and threatens critical reporting, but it also forces journalists to be registered into a government database, which is unacceptable, Mr. Mumin, SJS Secretary General said Further threats are now coming from the office of the President against certain journalists and their media houses as it has been reported by several news editors and journalists. We warn those who are making these threats.

Mohamed Abduwahab Abdullahi, the Secretary General of Somali Media Association (SOMA) highlighted the need for immediate campaign to safeguard the endangered media and their journalists.

Our already endangered media houses are once again threatened with a media law which criminalises free flow of information and critical reporting. This law justifies restrictions on media coverage under pretext of vaguely worded provisions, SOMA Secretary General, Mr. Abdullahi said We are also concerned by the new threats targeting certain media and their journalists and we want to call for an immediate intervention to deal imminent threats posed by the Director of Communications of Villa Somalia, following his speech at the launch of the media law.

Hanad Ali Guled, the editor of Googjoog Media Group said he was personally affected by the media law as he feared for his safety and that of his news sources. The law forces journalists reveal their sources.

This morning I reported to work fearing that I am not safe and so my news sources. It is like Im being held between a rock and a hard place- faced with two equally undesirable threats- one posed by this law and another by the environment, Mr. Guled said.

Abdiqani Abdullahi Ibrahim, an online news editor with Kulmiye News Network (KNN) said the urgent introduction of the media law on Wednesday shows how the authorities were committed to suppress independent media ahead of the general elections.

It is like that no journalist or media house will be able to report fairly about elections, because several provisions of this law contain media censorship including the online media. We are at the greatest ever risk, Mr. Ibrahim of KNN said.

Diini Mohamed, the former chairman of the Somalia Non State Actors (SONSA) has described the media law a very wicked and a threat that need to be stopped.

The civil society is very concerned by this Media Law. I got a copy of this law and I have read it. It is wicked, it is a threat and unacceptable. I am surprised that this law forces journalists to reveal their news sources. This is very dangerous. It must be repealed, Diini Mohamed, Ex-chairman of the Somalia Non State Actors (SONSA) said.

Mr Diini personally pledged to stand with journalists and media houses in defending their freedom.

Media freedom is essential for democracy and above all safety of the journalists is the most important. I am extremely concerned that this media law requires journalists to register in a database run by the government. Why would they want to do this? I call for the journalists and their unions to stand together and oppose this law. We shall support you, Mr. Diini added.

The amended version of the media law remains the same as the previous media law, which was signed into law in 2016, and the legal comments submitted by Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Somali Media Association (SOMA) and other media associations were not incorporated, giving the government a pretext to crackdown critical media and journalists.

At the end of the event and the protest on Thursday, SJS and SOMA jointly called for an immediate review to be carried out with the incorporation of the input from the journalists, unions and media houses.
MADISON, Wis.: Rapper Kanye West filed a lawsuit Friday demanding election officials place him on Wisconsins presidential ballot in November.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Wests campaign filed the lawsuit in Brown County Circuit Court.

The state Elections Commission decided last week that West missed the deadline for filing his nomination signatures by anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes on Aug. 4.

West announced a presidential bid in July, saying hes seeking the nations highest office on a ticket he calls the Birthday Party.

Democrats claim Republicans are pushing Wests candidacy in swing states to siphon Black votes from Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Coronavirus, wildfires, smoke, blackouts  there is not much to love about 2020.

But one can always fantasize about next year.

Perhaps no industry carries more symbolism of a return to normalcy than cruise lines. Enormous ships, helplessly anchored offshore in Japan, Oakland and elsewhere while large numbers of passengers and crew got sick, became an early symbol of the coronavirus crisis.

But hope springs eternal, and people are rebooking.

Im up almost 200% in cruise bookings for next year than I was a year ago, said David Petlin, owner of Flair Travel, a travel agency in Oakland. But its also true that half of them are rebookings from customers who were forced to change their 2020 plans.

No cruise lines are currently allowed to sail from U.S. ports. That includes San Francisco, which does not expect any cruise calls for the rest of this year, according to Randy Quezada, director of communications for the port.

Its hard to say when itll start again. The date is undetermined as of now, he said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a no sail order for the U.S. on March 14, which is now extended to Sept. 30. The cruise industrys trade association voluntarily extended the no-sail order an extra month, so cruises are slated to start from U.S. ports on Nov. 1.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle

San Francisco was supposed to see its best year yet with a record-setting 117 cruise calls in 2020, but then the pandemic hit. The usually public cruise call itinerary is no longer online, though Carnival Corp. says people can book trips from San Francisco on the Carnival Miracle ship starting in April 2021 for four-day cruises to Ensenada, Mexico, and 10-day trips to Alaska.

Quezada said port officials were looking at federal and local health experts to signal when cruising would be considered safe again, and they dont want to subvert the progress thats been made in curbing the spread of the virus by getting ahead of experts.

Whats most important to us is the health and safety of our passengers and terminal staff, Quezada said.

The pandemic, with its no-sail orders, put the entire industry in a no-win situation, according to Assia Georgieva, an industry analyst and owner of Infinity Research, based in Boca Raton, Fla. Because major cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean arent incorporated in the U.S., despite having headquarters here, the companies werent eligible for federal financial assistance, she said.

The cruise companies opted to give credits in order to conserve cash to keep payroll and other operations going, she said.

Some cruise lines are offering customers refunds. Royal Caribbean for example, states that customers have the option to get cash refunds on cruises canceled by the coronavirus, but also offers generous trip credits in an effort to curb refund requests.

Rebooking isnt always ideal for customers.

San Francisco resident Sasha Lee had big plans for her 35th wedding anniversary. She was going to fly into Florida with her husband and they would hop on a cruise ship headed to the Bahamas. But a hurricane last year changed their plans. They were unsuccessful in getting a cash refund from Grand Caribbean Cruises, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla. travel agency, Lee said, and were given credits for a trip to be taken between Nov. 2019 and March 2020. They decided for March, just in time for a once-in-a-century virus.

Im giving my credits to my brother, Im just so tired of dealing with this, Lee said. I dont care for the trip anymore, and Im not quite comfortable hopping on a ship right now.

Lee said her brother wasnt exactly enthused either, but she didnt want to lose the $1,600 she had already spent. Be careful when you book this now, youre most likely to lose money, she said.

Grand Caribbean Cruises did not return requests for comment.

Denise Vasquez, who lives in San Jose, said she tried to get a refund for four months and contends she only received it after complaining about her predicament to the local Better Business Bureau agency. Vasquez booked a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise with Carnival Cruises in June, to celebrate her 60th birthday.

Theyve lost a customer forever, Vasquez said. My biggest frustration was the ineffective communication. If things are not going to work out, at least let me know.

She said because she booked the trip through Expedia, the companies kept passing the responsibility for the refund to each other. Carnival did not comment on Vasquezs case but said the volume of cancellations is something it has never seen before and that it has processed millions for the period between March and October.

We are caught up, and sincerely apologize and promise that we are working on getting any remaining guests their refunds as quickly as possible, said Vance Gulliksen, a spokesman for the company. He added that there might be small pockets of refunds still in process due to back-end technical glitches, which require a manual intervention to pull, sort and process them, he said.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Expedia did not provide comments on Vasquezs case.

San Francisco is projected to miss out on $10.7 billion in tourism spending in 2020 and 2021, according to a recent report from the San Francisco Travel Association. Revenue from cruises brings in $7.9 million for the Port of San Francisco. The port gets far more revenue from property rentals for commercial and industrial businesses, but those are suffering, too, as small businesses bear the brunt of dwindling local and international shoppers.

Jack Barber, co-owner of Cruises and Beyond in San Francisco, is worried about how long itll take for cruises, and tourism at large, to bounce back.

Business is not going well, Barber said. Most of my bookings for 2020 have now extended in 2021 and 2022. A lot of cruises are taken by retired folks, so theyre taking precaution to not put themselves in situations that are high risk.

Cruises, or any setting where people may be confined in a small space for a long period of time, are going to be at risk for transmission of the virus, said Lee Riley, an infectious disease expert at UC Berkeley.

A recent report published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, a peer-reviewed journal run by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, examined the outbreak aboard the Diamond Princess cruise that docked in Yokohama, Japan, in February. It was the site of the largest coronavirus outbreak outside of China at the time, with 712 (19%) cases among 3,711 passengers and crew. The reports authors interviewed almost half of the 437 American travelers and crew on board and reported that the attack rate for passengers in a single-person room was 18% compared with 63% for sharing a cabin with an asymptomatic cabinmate, and 81% for those with a symptomatic infected cabinmate.

A lot of cruise trips were greatly diminished after this, Barber said. There was really no way for the sector to recover the blow to its image.

Weeks later, the Grand Princess cruise ship docked in Oakland, after being stranded off the California coast for days amid a coronavirus outbreak.

Barber says despite the challenges, the cruise industry will eventually recover.

Were all figuring it out, he said. Ships need to ensure sanitation, thorough cleaning and safety. And people are beginning to have pent-up frustration staying home. Its a long road ahead but itll get better.

Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika Instagram: @shwanika

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly described Royal Caribbeans refund policy. Customers have the option to get cash refunds on cruises canceled by the coronavirus, but the company also offers generous trip credits in an effort to curb refund requests.
Canadas hog producers are trying to bridge an increasingly bitter impasse between other farm groups and the federal government over a key farm-support program.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

Canadas hog producers are trying to bridge an increasingly bitter impasse between other farm groups and the federal government over a key farm-support program.

They have put forward a good idea that, if viewed in isolation, better serves both governments and farmers than the current program, called AgriStability. However, just because it makes sense doesnt guarantee its acceptance.

Be forewarned, farm subsidies are a convoluted world where even accountants dread to tread. But a little background is needed to understand the current debate.

As far as most farmers in this country are concerned, AgriStability is broken and not living up to its promise to help them manage risk.

AgriStability is part of a suite of programs that Canadas federal and provincial agricultural ministers launched in 2008 as part of a decades-long transition away from offering farm supports through a hodgepodge of regional, commodity-specific or ad hoc programs that skewed the domestic playing field. The taxpayer share of these programs is paid 60 per cent by the federal government and 40 per cent by the provinces.

Farmers can sign up to participate in AgriInsurance, the long-standing crop insurance plan to help cover production losses, AgriInvest, a government-subsidized savings plan for rainy days, and AgriStability, a general income loss program. There is also AgriRecovery, a disaster-relief option governments can turn to in unusual circumstances.

The two programs at the heart of the deepening divide between farm groups and federal minister Marie-Claude Bibeau are AgriStability and AgriInvest.

Governments changed the formulas for AgriStability in 2013 after politicians realized the first five years into the program coincided with a period of historically high commodity prices.

Because AgriStability compensation formulas were based on a rolling average of the previous years incomes, farmers could become eligible for payments even if their income had only dropped a little and they were still making a profit. In subsidy lingo, thats a significant "moral hazard" to taxpayers.

So they changed the formula to make it harder to trigger a payment and to ensure that any compensation would never exceed farmers actual expenses.

Farmers generally grumbled and thousands simply dropped out of the program, saying it no longer provided enough assurance to make it worthwhile.

However, calls to fix AgriStability have risen over the past two years as commodity prices have softened, trade disputes have affected marketing opportunities and bad weather has cut a swath through production.

Farm Credit Canada is reporting that farmers debt-to-equity ratio has weakened since 2019, which means they are less able to weather economic downturns. Grain producers so far havent had as much of a pandemic impact, but hog and cattle producers have been hit hard.

Governments have put $100 million into the rarely used AgriRecovery program to help livestock producers. The federal minister is also pointing to the fact that Canadian farmers have around $2 billion sitting in their AgriInvest accounts. Under that program, governments match one per cent of farmers eligible deposits.

Dont be fooled by the big numbers. Farming is a big-number business. Most of those AgriInvest accounts have less than $10,000 in them. The governments point, however, is that some of those funds came from taxpayers and its only fair that farmers use that money first before asking for more. Its about optics.

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Farmers counter that the government hasnt required other Canadians to dip into their savings before qualifying for income supports through this crisis.

Most farm leaders want the AgriStability triggers for compensation to be reinstated to their 2012 levels so the threshold to qualify for a payment would be lower.

The hog producers have taken a different tact. They are proposing to leave the trigger at the current level. But if producers qualify, they would be eligible for more compensation.

That reduces the risk that farmers might receive support if they dont need it, and it would put more money in the hands of farmers who really do.

Again, its a good idea and one that in different times might fly. Unfortunately, governments are facing unprecedented deficits and demands on resources; it is about as likely to sprout wings as pigs.

Laura Rance is vice-president of content for Glacier FarmMedia. She can be reached at lrance@farmmedia.com
Economist Ashot Tavadyan has predicted an increase in exports of goods from Armenia by 2-5%.

According to him, in the first half of the year, exports fell by 6.5% to $1.109 million.

He noted that Armenias industry shows a growth trend, which will contribute to the growth of exports in the second half of the year.

Tavadyan added, however, that against the backdrop of the decline in foreign trade in the first half of the year, exports from Armenia to Belarus and Kazakhstan have increased by 28.1% and 8.6%, respectively. At the same time, in the conditions of the coronavirus pandemic, the stable growth of exports to Russia decreased by 19.1%.

In addition, imports of goods from Russia increased by 18.1% in the first half of the year, as well as the imports from Belarus.

Tavadyan also pointed to the trend of diversification of the export structure starting from 2018.

According to him, such trends show the importance of the EEU market for Armenia. According to Tavadyan, this diversification continues. "All the opportunities of the EEU should be used in order to ensure further growth of exports," he added.
Myanmar: Upcoming elections an opportunity to take a new inclusive democratic path

28 August 2020 - The Government of Myanmar should embrace upcoming national elections, scheduled for November, as an opportunity to take a new and fully inclusive democratic path, and to address the root of causes of abuses suffered by ethnic minorities, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) has urged.

According to James Rodehaver, Senior Human Rights Officer based in the OHCHR South-East Asia Regional Office, three years after the violence that forced over 700,000 Rohingyas from their homes in northern Myanmar into neighbouring Bangladesh, "conditions inside the country have deteriorated and little has been done to create viable conditions for their safe return."

Meanwhile, a new conflict has flared between Myanmar's security forces and the Arakan Army, which has negatively impacted civilians throughout the country's central and northern Rakhine state, including the members of the minority Rohingya community.

"It is crucial if the vote in November is to be inclusive, free and fair that Myanmar respect the right of all its people to participate fully and equally in the electoral processes and in all aspects of public life," Mr. Rodehaver said in a news release.

Ensure meaningful participation in elections

The November elections also offer the chance to restore political rights to the Rohingya, who were able to participate in all votes until 2010, said the news release.

However, they were excluded from the 2015 ballot, and at least four Rohingya politicians who sought to stand in the upcoming vote have had their applications rejected. This continuing process of disenfranchisement effectively prevents Rohingya from enjoying their fundamental rights.

"The Government should take immediate steps to ensure that the Rohingya can meaningfully participate in the forthcoming election, both as candidates and as voters," said Mr. Rodehaver.

The OHCHR official also called on the authorities demonstrate real commitment to the process of returns for displaced Rohingya and to take necessary measures to address the root causes that led to the crisis, including amending the 1982 Citizenship Law to restore their nationality and ensuring accountability for crimes committed against them.

A complex refugee crisis

The complex Rohingya refugee crisis erupted in August 2017, following attacks on remote police outposts in northern Myanmar by armed groups alleged to belong to the community. These were followed by systematic counter attacks against the minority, mainly Muslim, Rohingya, which human rights groups, including senior UN officials, have said amounted to ethnic cleansing.

In the weeks that followed, over 700,000 Rohingya  the majority of them children, women and the elderly  fled their homes for safety in Bangladesh, with little more than the clothes on their backs.

Prior to the mass exodus, well over 200,000 Rohingya refugees were sheltering in Bangladesh as a result of earlier displacements from Myanmar.

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In an unexpectedly sharp escalation, Belarus on Saturday removed accreditations from local journalists working for western news outlets.

The move affects about a dozen journalists from organisations including the BBC, Reuters, Radio Liberty, Agence France-Presse and Associated Press.

It follows several rounds of arrests this week, all of which suggest that Alexander Lukashenkos regime is getting serious about reasserting control.

On Friday, a TV crew working for German public broadcaster ARD was arrested. They spent the night in a police station before being deported.

In the 20 days since the disputed presidential elections, Belarus has presented anything but ideal working conditions for journalists.

In the first few days, dozens were beaten, arrested, and jailed in horrific conditions. There was evidence that some were deliberately targeted with rubber bullets.

Most foreign media were refused the right to work in the country; The Independent was an exception. Many have chosen to travel to Belarus regardless, but working undercover carries not inconsiderable risk.

Saturdays decision, which comes ahead of a mass rally planned for Sunday, was communicated to journalists in a round of morning phone calls.

They called me from the foreign ministry and said that by resolution of the governments information security commission, my accreditation has been rescinded, the BBCs Tatyana Melnichuk told local media.

To my question about what I was being accused of, I was told that they were only authorised to convey the information.

The ban has not been extended to Russian journalists from state television channels, who have been working in Belarus from a privileged position.

Journalists working for Kremlin-funded RT were almost immediately released when detained on Thursday, while their colleagues at other media outlets waited for hours.
Demand was improving in the region from recent lows caused by Covid-19-related restrictions, but market participants believed that consumption had yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.Among Pacific-coast countries, Chile remained the most active in foreign trade, while Peru and Colombia were showing signs of a slower recovery, according to market participants. In Brazil, a volatile currency exchange rate was still making clients wary of booking imports.I do not think that customers sales volumes have 100% recovered yet, a source from a mill said.

Consultations and deals in South America are not yet back to pre-pandemic levels, a US-trader added. Peru, for example, is coming back to the import market at a...
People trying to reach their homes in Cameron parish drive past downed power lines Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

At least 14 people in the US have died in the wake of Hurricane Laura. Four were in Texas and 10 were in Louisiana.

More than 600,000 are without power and 220,000 without water in Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. Laura has been downgraded to a tropical depression, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards requested federal assistance on Friday. President Donald Trump is supposed to visit the area on Saturday.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

After Hurricane Laura tore through the Texas and Louisiana coastline, hundreds of thousands of people were still without water and electricity, the Associated Press reported on Friday.

As of Friday, the death toll rose to at least 14 people in the US, 10 in Louisiana and four in Texas. The storm has since been downgraded to a tropical depression.

Damaged homes sit among flood water after Hurricane Laura. Eric Thayer/Getty Images

Five people were killed by fallen trees and one person was found drowned in a boat. The remaining eight people died from carbon monoxide poisoning, a consequence of the unsafe operation of generators.

Three of those who died from carbon monoxide poisoning were inside a Texas pool hall, where the owner had let several Vietnamese shrimp boat laborers and homeless men take shelter from the hurricane, authorities said.

Thousands of people who evacuated returned to homes destroyed by the storm. Lawrence "Lee" Faulk, resident of Cameron Parish, was one of them.

Faulk came back to a home without a roof and downed power lines covered his street.

"We need help," Faulk told the Associated Press. "We need ice, water, blue tarps  everything that you would associate with the storm, we need it. Like two hours ago."

Thousands of people throughout Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas are facing similar situations.

Destruction is seen after Hurricane Laura made landfall along the Texas-Louisiana border. Callaghan OHare/The Washington Post/Getty Image

More than 600,000 homes and businesses were without power in Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, according to utility reports tracking, AP reported on Friday. And more than 220,000 are without access to water, according to estimates from the Louisiana Department of Health.

Story continues

On Friday, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards requested federal assistance, expediting a major disaster declaration for 23 parishes in Louisiana.

"Hurricane Laura is the fifth strongest storm to make landfall in the United States in recorded history, and the first in memory to maintain major hurricane strength as it traveled through Louisiana, bringing catastrophic destruction to many parishes," Edwards said in a statement.

The White House announced that President Donald Trump will visit some of the areas impacted by Hurricane Laura on Saturday.

Read the original article on Insider
MONTREAL  Protesters in Montreal toppled and defaced a statue of John A. Macdonald on Saturday as rallies were held in several cities to demand that police services be defunded and reformed.

A spokesman for the Montreal police confirmed the statue of Canadas first prime minister was unbolted, pulled down and sprayed with graffiti at around 2:45 p.m. The statues head disconnected from its body during the incident.

Jean-Pierre Brabant said police were on hand but did not intervene other than to ask the crowd to disperse on a loudspeaker.

He said no arrests were made.

The incident came at the end of a peaceful protest in which police estimate some 200 people marched to call for police defunding as part of what they called a nationwide day of action.

Images from the event show a crowd of protesters marching in the rain under umbrellas and carrying signs bearing slogans such as We demand change.

The protest organizers, who call themselves the Coalition for BIPOC Liberation, are asking cities to reduce their police budgets by 50 per cent.

They said the diverted funds could be used to invest in alternatives to policing such as better mental health treatment, civilian conflict resolution services, and trauma-based emergency services.

But Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante condemned the vandalism of the statue of Macdonald, which she said could be neither tolerated nor accepted.

I understand and share the motivation of citizens who want to live in a more just and inclusive society, she said in a statement. But the discussion and the acts to be taken must be done in a peaceful manner, without ever resorting to vandalism.

She said the citys public art office would secure the site and co-ordinate the statues preservation.

Newly elected Conservative Leader Erin OToole was less diplomatic, saying on Twitter that Canada is a great country that people should be proud of.

We will not build a better future by defacing our past, he said. Its time politicians grow a backbone and stand up for our country.

Calls to withdraw funding from police forces have multiplied in both Canada and the United States in the months after George Floyd, a Black man in Minnesota, was killed when a police officer pressed a knee against his neck for nearly nine minutes.

This set of protests follow a week that has seen major-league athletes strike over the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot in the back seven times by a police officer. The 29-year-old was left paralyzed.

This week also saw Ontarios police watchdog clear officers who were in the Toronto home of Regis Korchinski-Paquet when she fell to her death from a 24th-floor balcony in May. The Special Investigations Unit said officers didnt commit any crimes, but the womans family said that if officers hadnt been there, she would still be alive.

Rallies were also held in Toronto and London, Ont. Others were scheduled in Fredericton, Moncton and Halifax, according to organizers.

In Toronto, a protest organized by social justice group Not Another Black Life saw a large crowd of demonstrators take over two parks before culminating in a march through the city to Toronto Police Headquarters.

Protesters were greeted by cheers from those sitting in restaurants and watching from their windows, though a few people shouted profanities at demonstrators.

Diana McCormick, a server and bar manager, had just finished her shift when she said she heard a man yelling at protesters in front of the restaurant she works at, taunting them with the phrase all lives matter.

It was at that moment McCormick decided to join the protest.

I think its a really, really important moment, where taking a stand now is becoming more contentious than it used to be, she said, pointing to increasingly volatile political rhetoric directed toward protesters from politicians and pundits.

Im not anybody important but there is strength in numbers. More of us need to physically show up and not just support from the sidelines.

The John A. Macdonald statue, which sits in Montreals Place du Canada, has been repeatedly targeted by vandals who see it as a symbol of racism and colonialism.

The statue has regularly been doused in paint by critics who cite Macdonalds role at the head of a government that created the Indian Act and established the residential school system, as well as his racist comments about Indigenous Peoples as reasons to target the monument.

Macdonald statues in other Canadian cities have been vandalized in a similar fashion.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 22:31:22|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Roadside bomb explosions on Saturday killed seven persons and wounded eight others across Afghansitan, officials said.

A roadside bomb planted by the armed insurgents struck a car in the northern Sari Pul province early on Saturday killing a father and his son, provincial police spokesman Noor Aqa Faizi told Xinhua.

According to the official, the explosive device planted on a road struck a car outside Sari Pul city, the center of the restive Sari Pul province at 06:00 a.m. local time, killing a father and his 12 years old son on the spot.

Three hours later at 09:00 a.m. local time, two more roadside bombs targeted two cars in Shahjoy district of the southern Zabul province, killing five persons and wounding four others, provincial government spokesman Gul Islam Sayal has confirmed.

Similarly, two more blasts injured four persons including one civilian in the eastern Paktia province on Saturday, police spokesman in the province Hayatullah Nizami said.

Officials have blamed the enemies of peace, a reference to the Taliban militants for organizing the roadside bombings. However, the armed outfit which is largely relying on roadside and suicide bombings have yet to claim responsibility.

Civilians often bear the brunt of war in Afghanistan as more than 1,200 civilians had been killed and over 1,700 others injured in the first six months of the year, according to Naeem Nazari, deputy head of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.

According to the watchdog, the Taliban militants are responsible for 48.5 percent of civilian casualties, the government forces for 15.5 percent and other forces including foreign troops and irresponsible armed groups as well as militant groups other than Taliban are responsible for the remaining 36 percent civilian casualties in War-torn Afghanistan. Enditem
The four Covid-19 positive prisoners who escaped from Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad: Javed (clockwise from top left), Somasundar, Abdul Arbaz, and P Narsaiah.

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad police have announced a reward for information on the whereabouts of four prisoners who escaped from Hyderabad's main Covid treatment facility, the Gandhi Hospital early on Thursday morning.

Releasing their photographs, the police invited the public to share any information they may have about the fugitives.

The four prisoners--two convicts M Somasunder and P Narsaiah, and two undertrials Md Abdul Arbaz and Md Javed had been admitted for treatment at Gandhi Hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus. They were placed in a special ward for prisoners on the second floor of the hospital.

Sometime during the night of August 26-27, the four prisoners escaped. They prised apart the iron bars of a window in the washroom, used a rope fashioned from bedsheets to climb down with and made good their escape.

The police have no clue where they went. Officials involved in the investigation said they are worried that the four men would spread the disease to people they may come in contact with.

The prisoners did not leave any clues that could help us trace them. The families and friends of the fugitives, as well as their close acquaintances have been approached for help, said one official. At the time of their escape, all the prisoners were in civilian clothes and not in prison uniforms.

The four runaway prisoners were part of a group of 16 prisoners receiving Covid-19 treatment in the special ward at Gandhi Hospital.

Arbaz and Javed had been caught less than a week ago by the Rajendranagar and Tandur police for theft. Somasunder and Narsimha were convicts in theft cases, and were undergoing treatment for psychiatric issues at the Institute of Mental Health. In 2011, Narsimha had escaped from IMH at Erragadda but was later caught.

The police have provided the descriptions of the prisoners and said that all the escaped prisoners speak Hindi and Telugu. The police also announced a reward for sharing information of the escaped prisoners and the informants' details would be kept confidential.

Any information about the prisoners can be shared on the Main Police Control Room phone numbers  040-27852333, and 9490616690, North Zone Police Control Room  040-27853599, and 9490598982, Gopalpuram ACP  9490616439, Chilkalguda Inspector of Police  9490616440 or Additional Inspector of Police, Chilkalguda - 9490616441.
Vietnam highly appreciates Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abes important contributions to fostering Vietnam-Japan relations for the sake of the two countries people and for peace, prosperity, cooperation and development in the region and the world, Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said on Friday.

Hang made the statement while answering reporters questions about the 65-year-old Japanese premiers decision to step down after a relapse in his illness.

The Japanese people have placed their trust in the outgoing Japanese leader for years, Hang said.

She added that he is a leader who has made many contributions to the development of his Northeast Asian country and the facilitation of cooperation in different fields in the region and the world.

Vietnam wishes that Prime Minister Abe good health and happiness and [that he will] continue to make important contributions to the development of Japan, as well as the cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and Japan, stated the spokeswoman.

Japans longest-serving prime minister was quoted by the Associated Press as saying at a nationally televised press briefing in Tokyo on Friday that he is stepping down because a chronic health problem has resurfaced.

Abe has had ulcerative colitis since he was a teenager and has said the condition was controlled with treatment.

Concerns about his health began this summer and grew this month when he visited a Tokyo hospital two weeks in a row for unspecified health checkups.

He is on a new treatment that requires IV injections. While there is some improvement, there is no guarantee that it will cure his condition, and he therefore decided to step down after treatment on Monday, according to the Japanese leader.

It is gut wrenching to have to leave my job before accomplishing my goals, Abe was quoted as saying by AP on Friday, mentioning his failure to resolve key issues.

He said his health problem was under control until earlier this year, but was found to have worsened in June when he had an annual checkup.

Faced with the illness and treatment, as well as the pain of lacking physical strength  I decided I should not stay on as prime minister when I am no longer capable of living up to the peoples expectations with confidence, Abe said at the news conference.

Abe, whose term ends in September 2021, is expected to stay on until a new party leader is elected and formally approved by the parliament, a process which is expected to take several weeks, according to the Associated Press.

Abe became Japans youngest prime minister in 2006, at age 52, but his overly nationalistic first stint abruptly ended a year later because of his health.

In December 2012, Abe returned to power, prioritizing economic measures over his nationalist agenda.

Abe on Monday became Japans longest-serving prime minister by consecutive days in office, eclipsing the record of Eisaku Sato, his great-uncle, who served 2,798 days from 1964 to 1972.

Born in 1954, Abe was raised in a prominent political family. His grandfather on his mothers side, Nobusuke Kishi, was Japans prime minister from 1957 to 1960 while Abes father was Shintaro Abe, Japans foreign minister from 1982 to 1986, according to the Washington Post.

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(Natural News) On August 10, the Great Derecho storm damaged 10 million acres of crops in Iowa, resulting in an increase in corn prices. Not one month has passed and a lack of rainfall in the Midwest has once again caused a surge in crop prices.

Low rainfall and the Great Derecho

Data from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) warns of further deteriorating crop conditions.

Farmers have already expressed their concern over a lack of rainfall in August, which caused an increase in corn prices, which have increased by nine percent for the past two weeks. Since the start of the week, benchmark corn prices have gone up by at least four percent at $3.39 for one-fourth of a bushel.

This is alarming as prices have already increased on August 10, Monday, after a weather complex called a derecho destroyed crops in Iowa, one of Americas key corn-growing states. (Related: Great Derecho storm just destroyed crops, grain stores all throughout the Midwest.)

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, a derecho is a widespread, long-lived wind storm associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. These weather systems are known to cause just as much damage as tornadoes. However, while the latter features spiraling winds and move in a winding path, derechos usually move in one direction along a relatively straight line causing a relatively linear path of destruction.

On the evening of August 10, a derecho sent intense winds and thunderstorms over a 700-mile stretch starting from Nebraska to Indiana. This so-called Great Derecho had winds that reached 110 to 140 mph  as strong as those of a Category 3 or 4 hurricane.

Iowa was the hardest-hit state, with three deaths reported as of August 22. Hundreds of thousands of residents in Iowa didnt have power for several days. Over 40 percent of Iowas corn and soybean crop, the crux of Iowas economy, was severely damaged by the weather system.

Patrick Marsh, science support chief at the National Weather Services Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, compared the Great Derecho to the destructive Super Derecho of 2009 that extended from Kansas to Tennessee.

According to Donnelle Eller from the Des Moines Register, the Great Derecho was responsible for about $4 billions worth of damage to homes, farms, businesses, livestock and crops in Iowa. Cedar Rapids was one of the hardest-hit cities, with over 800 buildings suffering a partial collapse of roofs, walls, ceiling, or floors. More than 20 schools were also destroyed in the storms wake.

As of Thursday, August 20, thousands of Iowans had no power while dozens relocated to shelters.

For the last 26 years, Iowa was the number-one corn producer in America. Experts have yet to determine the extent of the Great Derechos damage to this years crop.

La Nina and drought

Following damage from the Great Derecho, farmers and experts are worried about the low rainfall in the U.S. corn belt all through August. Data has suggested that the situation will continue for the rest of the week.

Matt Ammerman from commodity brokers Stone X noted that while conditions were set to become cooler by the weekend, the lack of rainfall can spell disaster for crop conditions.

Farmers were expecting Hurricane Laura to bring much-needed rain in the Midwest, but the immediate forecast for the area suggests that it will remain dry.

Although the majority of the corn crop has almost reached maturity, the plants still need moisture for the final stages. As certain areas of the Midwest receive only 15 to 40 percent of normal rainfall, the existing crop will have to survive on existing soil moisture. Ammerman posited that this can negatively affect yields.

The USDAs latest weekly crop progress report showed that the percentage of corn crops classed as good to excellent went down to 64 percent from 69 percent in the previous week. But in Iowa, figures declined from 59 to 50 percent because of the storm.

Farmers were troubled by the news as meteorological agencies have warned that a La Nina weather phenomenon will most likely occur later this year.

La Nina occurs when surface ocean waters along the Pacific coast of South America cool. This causes a chain reaction that brings droughts to the U.S. Midwest and California.

Gro Intelligence, a commodity data firm, reported that while the full impact remains to be seen, history has shown that the consequences of such climate events can be far-reaching.

During the 2012 La Nina, America went through one of its worst droughts in 50 years. In that same year, grain and soybean prices skyrocketed. On the other hand, the previous La Nina of 2017 was weak and barely affected commodity markets.

Uncertainty over the demand outlook is also heightened due to the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic and the U.S.-China trade war.

To date, the active buying of grains and soybeans by China has supported crop prices despite the tensions between both countries. In the past few weeks, Beijing has significantly increased its purchases of American agricultural crops. Commerzbank AG, a major German bank operating as a universal bank, said that this will also be reflected after some delay in U.S. export figures.

In Chicago, soybean prices have increased by 3.7 percent over the past two weeks to $9.11 for one-fourth a bushel. Wheat has also gone up by 7.3 percent to $5.31 for one-half a bushel.

For more updates on crop conditions in the U.S., visit Harvest.news.

Sources include:

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Asked by New Zealand media this week to summate the Australian reaction to the conviction of the Christchurch killer who grew up in Grafton only to murder 51 people in a Kiwi mosque in March last year, I took pause. For how do we Australians look upon him? For years we have read about gun massacres in other countries and nearly without exception they have been done by foreigners to foreigners. Its always other-worldly, some place far over there, done by strange psycho bastards bred in strange cultures to victims we dont know  and anyway, I wonder what else is on the tele tonight, praise the Lord and pass the remote?

But this, of course, was different. This was one of ours, nothing less than a homegrown terrorist, committing hideous acts on our nearest and dearest neighbours.

Hence why, to the Kiwis, I characterise our general reaction as being one of deep personal sorrow and excruciating embarrassment, mixed with great admiration at the way that New Zealand has confronted the tragedy.

The way the Kiwis came together after the murders  from Jacinda Ardern wearing the hijab to the mosque the day after the massacre to their rock-solid unity and refusal to utter his name  was nothing short of inspirational.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The domestic textile spinning mills industry on Friday urged the Centre to do away with the anti-dumping duty on Viscose Staple fibre (VSF), which was imposed a decade ago. The mills in the region have alleged that VSF is produced by a single manufacturer in the country and is sold at prices much higher than global rates, hurting mostly the small businesses.

Besides, production of the raw material in the country is not enough to meet the needs. "The removal of the duty will help a big section of the MSMEs in their growth and will create a level playing for the entire textile value chain," said Southern India Mills Association chairman Ashwin Chandran.

VSF is a major input in the manufacture of fabrics made of poly-viscose and 100 per cent viscose yarn. Seeking removal of the duty, he said, man-made fibre (MMF) products account for 20 per cent of the total Textile and Clothing (T&C) exports, whereas, in China and other exporting countries it is 80 per cent.

According to the association, India is not able to make any progress in MMF T&C exports despite being the worlds second largest producer of MMF due to price disadvantage. Removing the duty will make the entire Indian VSF textile value chain globally competitive and boost exports, Chandran said.
Ex-Liverpool captain, Jamie Carragher, has given two reasons his former team will not battle to sign Lionel Messi this summer. Altho...

Ex-Liverpool captain, Jamie Carragher, has given two reasons his former team will not battle to sign Lionel Messi this summer.

Although he admits he would love to see Messi in the Premier League, he says the reigning champions wont go anywhere near him.

I dont think Liverpool will go anywhere near that situation. Financially, number one, but also because of the way Liverpool play. City are more technical and that would suit Messi a bit more.

But how you get that deal across the line with the figures involved, Im not too sure. Its mind-boggling, Carragher told Sky Sports.

Messi, 33, looks set to leave Barcelona after handing in a transfer request this week.

The Argentina superstar has scored 634 goals in 731 appearances for the Spanish club.
Somrita Ghosh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The surge in Covid-19 cases in Delhi in the past few days could be because of peoples negligence and carelessness to follow social distancing norms and wearing of masks, according to experts. And with the opening of metro services, the cases are likely to go up more. Because the air circulation system of metros are different from that of airplanes.

A passenger travelling for a long distance inside the closed compartments with no mask remains at high risk of getting infected. The impact of metro service will be visible within a week, said Naval Kishore, professor of medicine at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. Keeping in view the rising cases, the state government plans to increase testing to nearly 40,000, which is currently about 20,000 a day. On August 4, active cases in the city had gone down below 10,000.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had then claimed it to be a success in combating the pandemic as active cases had reduced to four digit figures. But, active cases are rising once again and is currently at 13,550. For the past four consecutive days, new cases have been high.

As per the state governments daily health bulletin, 1,808 fresh cases were detected on Friday. Owing to this rise, the occupancy of beds in hospitals has also gone up. In the last 4-5 days there have been relatively more new admissions compared to the end of last month or the beginning of this month. But most of those who are getting admitted are in a stable position.

There hasnt been much rise in the number of patients on ventilators or needing oxygen, said B L Sherwal, director, Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital. Currently, there are 4,892 patients admitted in hospitals, including the ones on ventilator and oxygen while 6,850 are in home isolation. As per the health department, the recovery rate of Delhi is currently at 89.41 per cent.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 17:37:46|Editor: huaxia

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by Marwa Yahya

CAIRO, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Translation helps improve the reception of the Chinese literature in the Arab world, Fahmy Hassanien, professor of Chinese language in Ain Shams University, said.

"The reception of the Chinese literature in the Arab world has obviously improved since the 1990s, with the growing number of specialized university graduates in the field of translating the international comparative literature," said Hassanien during a video conference symposium held at the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo on Friday under the theme of Arab-Chinese Literary Translation and Exchange.

Translating the Chinese literature has been promoted in the second decade of the 21st century, Hassanien said, highlighting many national translation and publication centers and book fairs in the Arab countries have been designated for the Chinese translated literature.

"Thanks to these centers and fairs, the readers of the translated Chinese literature are tremendously increasing every day," he added, explaining that the Arab people are also eager to learn more about Chinese history and culture.

Hassanien, the translator of "Red Sorghum Clan" for the Chinese Nobel prize winner Mo Yan, said in the past ten years, the Egyptian Cultural Ministry has published 50 literary, philosophic, theatre and poetic Chinese works.

He added that in light of the increase in cultural exchange between China and Arab countries, more Chinese language departments have been opened in Arab universities.

Meanwhile, Fu Zhiming, associate dean of School of Foreign Languages Peking University, said the translation between Chinese and Arabic has really started in the second half of the past century.

Fu, also professor of the Department of Arabic Language and Culture, said that the translation from Arabic to Chinese began with individual efforts of some Chinese translators who translated the Qur'an and other Arabic books.

Later on, the translation has turned to institutional work of many Arabic studies departments that were established in several Chinese universities, Fu pointed out.

Yahya Mokhtar, a translator of the Chinese language, said that "the exchange of Arab-Chinese translated books witnessed a big momentum."

He added that the Chinese government supports strongly the translation movement, noting that "China despite its huge progress in all domains, still believes it needs to learn from and benefit of the others' experience." Enditem
- Dingdong Dantes recently posted on social media his hilarious reaction to wife Marian Riveras new milestone

- The gorgeous Kapuso star landed on PeopleAsia magazines cover for its August to September issue

- The prominent actress led the lifestyle magazines list of women of style and substance this year

- Dingdongs followers then aired their pleasant comments to the actor poking fun at his wifes achievement

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Dingdong Dantes had a hilarious reaction to his wife Marian Rivera landing on PeopleAsias cover.

Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera (Photo from Flickr)

Source: UGC

The gorgeous Kapuso star graced the lifestyle magazines August to September issue and led the list of women of style and substance this year.

Dingdong then took to social media to express his pride to the actress.

Sabi na nga ba May Samting itong nakilala ko kahapon eh. Akalain mong nasa People Asia cover pala siya? Lupet! he posted on Instagram.

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His post then garnered pleasant comments from netizens captivated by the Kapuso Primetime Queen and his reaction.

What a beauty! May purpose, may sense. Her sincerity makes her more beautiful. Thank you @peopleasia and congratulations Ms. @marianrivera.

Ang ganda Kasi Ng asawa mo idol bagay na bagay tlga kayo Sergio n marimar,proud hubby.

Nakuha mo ba number nya? Ano pang hinihintay mo, call na!!!

Talagang may samting tong talent mo na to  a Woman of style & substance.A very inspiring woman.

Love the caption! She' really a Queen! Our Queen! Congratulations! Well deserved!

Feeling ko mapapangasawa nyo po Yan si @marianrivera at Sana po magka anak kayo nang 2, babae po Sana at lalaki.

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Marian Rivera is a prominent actress, celebrity mom, and endorser in the Philippines. She is married to Dingdong Dantes and they already have two lovely and adorable children.

The Kapuso star recently shared how she prepares Dingdong for the new normal taping protocols. She said that series Descendants of the Sun, starring her husband and Jennylyn Mercado, is set to resume its taping very soon.

The gorgeous actress also recently talked about some challenges she is currently going through to help her daughter Zia take her online classes.

Please like and share our amazing Facebook posts to support the KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinions about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts and views on different matters!

Source: KAMI.com.gh
3 1 of 3 Scott Mullin Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Scott Mullin Show More Show Less 3 of 3





NEW FAIRFIELD  With pandemic precautions in place, the town plans to hold its annual ceremony next month to remember and honor the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

If the COVID-19 metrics hold where they are, First Selectman Pat Del Monaco said, the remembrance ceremony will take place Sept. 11, at Veterans Park.
But Mark S. Klein, chairman of the law firm Hodgson Russ, says it is not that simple, as long as taxpayers still have a primary residence in the state where they had been working and intend to return there. The same applies for people who have moved to the Hamptons for the last few months  they will not be exempt from New York City tax if they return to the city once the pandemic is over.
The sister of a man fatally shot by a Tennessee police officer last year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court alleging excessive force.

Channara Tom Pheap, 33, was running away and posed no imminent threat to Knoxville Police Officer Dylan Williams when Williams shot him in the back last August in the parking lot of an apartment building, according to the lawsuit filed Wednesday by Pheap's sister Sophia Pheap.

News outlets reported that Williams has disputed that account and said he shot Pheap after the man tried to choke him and then wrestled away his Taser and shocked him with it.

In November, Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen ruled that Williams use of deadly force was appropriate and legal.

The lawsuit says the city and the police department have consistently failed to properly train and discipline officers who use force. It seeks $10 million in damages from the city.

Police spokesman Scott Erland said Thursday that the city doesn't comment on pending litigation.

At the time of the shooting, police said Pheap, who is of Cambodian descent, was killed after a physical struggle.

The lawsuit says Williams, who is white, was looking for a female driver suspected of fleeing a traffic accident and stopped Pheap and began to search him. The lawsuit says Pheap tried to get away and the two struggled.

Williams fired his weapon when Pheap was more than 13 yards (12 meters) away and fleeing, according to the lawsuit.

At the moment Officer Williams fired the two shots at Mr. Pheap and killed him, the altercation between the two men had ended, the lawsuit states. They were separated by approximately 40 feet, by one witness account, with Mr. Pheap unarmed and running away from Officer Williams."

Williams said he fired his weapon because Pheap had shot him with a stun gun, and he thought Pheap would incapacitate him.

Prosecutors last year determined that Williams feared for his life and said forensic evidence and witness accounts backed up Williams' version of events.

Story continues

The lawsuit says the incident is an example of how officers are improperly trained in nonviolent de-escalation techniques and the proper use of nonlethal force.

Don Bosch, Williams attorney, told WBIR-TV on Wednesday that his client was not at fault.

While Mr. Pheaps death was tragic, Officer Williams was left with no other choice but to defend himself and others from Mr. Pheaps unlawful actions. We are confident, as with past legal reviews, that any future legal scrutiny will demonstrate Officer Williams acted appropriately.
Srinagar, Aug 29 (UNI) The Kashmir valley remained cut off from the rest of the country for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday due to closure of the 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway following mud and landslides besides shooting stones triggered by rain at several places.

Several thousand vehicles, including those carry perishable and other essentials items besides passengers, are stranded on the highway.

The highway was closed due to landslides, shooting stones over a dozen places, including Dalwas, Mehar, Trishul Morh, Cafeteria Morh, Ironstand Digdol, Panthyal, Monkey Morh, Mompassi, Battery Cheshma and other places between Nashree and Baniha.

The road clearance operation was hampered due to continued landslides, mudslides and shooting stones. However, with improvement in the weather, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have now started road clearance operation.

The road clearance operation was going on a war-footing at all the affected places, a traffic police official told UNI. However, he said, once the road is put through only stranded vehicles will be allowed to move towards their respective destinations before any fresh traffic will be allowed from Srinagar or Jammu.

Several thousand Kashmir bound vehicles, mostly oil tankers and trucks with essentials are stranded on the highway for the past about a week. Most of these vehicles had been stopped at Udhampur, Chenani and other areas in Jammu region on the highway.

However, truckers alleged that there is no arrangement of water, washroom and food since all hotels and restaurants are closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. 'We are carrying some perishable items in the trucks which could get completely damaged if there is more delay', the drivers said.

Similarly, oil tankers and empty trucks besides passengers are stranded on this side of the Jawahar tunnel.

This is the second time the highway was closed for any traffic movement due to landslides and shooting stones during the past about one week. Earlier, traffic was resumed on the highway on August 22 after remaining suspended for two days.

UNI BAS SB 0951

Passenger traffic remained suspended on the highway since March 5 due to COVID-19. Passengers having valid travel permit issued by Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir were being allowed to move. However, thousands of outside workers were brought to Kashmir valley in the recent months.
In a bizarre but yet exciting incident, a scientist discovered a dinosaur fossil while running along the shore of Hebridean island in Scotland. The dinosaur fossil was discovered by Dr. Elsa Panciroli, who was with her team members looking for remains of other animals. Panciroli, while talking to the press, said that she stumbled upon the bone of the dinosaur while running and trying to catch up with other members of her team. The dinosaur fossil is reportedly 166 million-year-old, dated to the Middle Jurassic period.

Read: Fossil Embryo Reveals New Details About sauropods That Lived 80 Million Years Ago

JURASSIC DISCOVERY KLAXON



A 166 million-year-old dinosaur bone has been found on the isle of Eigg!



Dr Panciroli (@gsciencelady) made the discovery on the Hebridean island. The find has since been identified as belonging to a stegosaurian dinosaur  like Stegosaurus pic.twitter.com/ri5nnLyqAb  National Museums Scotland (@NtlMuseumsScot) August 26, 2020

Read: Fossil Of 13-ft-long Marine Predator Found Inside Larger Animal: Study

First on isle of Eigg

The bone has been kept in the National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh, where it has been displayed for visitors. According to reports, scientists in Scotland have been searching dinosaur bones for more than 200 hundred years. Until now the only dinosaur fossil discovered in Scotland was on the Isle of Skye. This is the first time that a dinosaur bone has been found os isle of Eigg, where previously only marine reptile and fish fossils were discovered. The dinosaur fossil found on the small island is a limb bone, which is about 50 centimetres long in size.

Read: Fossil Of Long-necked Ancient Reptile Reveals The Spices Was Adaptable, Lived Underwater

The find has since been identified as belonging to a stegosaurian dinosaur, like Stegosaurus. Panciroli discovered the bone on a National Geographic funded fieldwork in 2017. The bone was badly eroded, but paleontologist and Panciroli's colleague Nigel Larkin carefully prepared it for the team to study. It was probably a juvenile, and bite marks show it was scavenged after death, said Panciroli.

Read: Fossils Reveal Dinosaur Predecessor Kongonaphon Kely Was Smaller Than A Cellphone


By Trend

Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Ali Asadov signed a decree to prolong the special quarantine regime until 00:00 (GMT +4) on September 30, Trend reports citing the Cabinet of Ministers.

According to the decree, the period for suspending the work of the Baku metro will be extended until September 15, 2020.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Actor Gurmeet Choudhary has been injured during a film shoot in Jaipur, says a report in Mumbai Mirror. The actor was shooting for an action sequence when the accident happened. Gurmeet suffered injury in his lower back and is reportedly in a lot of pain. The actor is in the pink city for the shoot of his horror flick, The Wife, which also stars actor Sayani Dutta.

Quoting a source who spoke to IANS, it said: Action scenes can be dangerous and we take adequate measures to reduce all risks, but this was just a freak accident that you cannot really account for. Gurmeet was strapped to a cable and he just slipped. His lower back is injured and he is in quite a bit of pain.

A couple of days back the actor has shared a video from Mumbai airport, on his way to Jaipur. He was seen dancing in the video and was in complete Covid-19 protective gear in a PPE suit.

Sharing the video, he had written: #MondayDanceMotivation in our new normal avatar #airport #mondaymotivation #dance #dancechallengegurmeet #gurmeetchoudhary #mumbai.

The Wife was initially scheduled to be shot in March. However, work on it had to be stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic that brought all businesses to a shutdown mid March. Expressing his thoughts about getting back to work, Gurmeet had told Mid Day in an interview: We have about 50 per cent shoot left and Im pumped to get back on the set after this unfortunate hiatus. Before leaving from Mumbai and after we landed in Jaipur, the entire team was tested.

The team ensured we stayed near the studio to avoid the unnecessary commute. This new life requires you to be extra vigilant and take care of every minute detail. Hats off to the team for putting in that extra effort to make the shoot environment fun, safe and, most importantly, a possibility, he had added.

Gurmeet is a popular face on television, having featured in shows like Yeh Meri Life Hai, Geet Hui Sabse Parayi and Punar Vivah. He has also starred in films like Paltan and Wajah Tum Ho. He was also the winner of Nach Baliye 5.

Follow @htshowbiz on Twitter

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Bosky Khanna By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The hippo ivory recently seized by Karnataka foresters is probably from the savannahs of Tanzania, and date back a century. How it reached Shivamogga, and who brought it, was solved in a record time of four days by forest department sleuths.

Believed to be the first case of hippo ivory poaching, it had created a flutter earlier this week when three youngsters had been nabbed on August 24 with the contraband in their four-wheeler in Shivamogga. Forest staffers had contacted them under the guise of buyers, and caught them.

It now transpires that fortunately, no hippopotamus was poached in or around Karnataka, and that the ivory came from a house in Mapusa, Goa. The case unravelled after foresters arrested Muzzaffar Hassan, 19, a resident of Honnavar, Mohammed Danish, 22, a resident of Bhatkal, and Zahir Khan, 30, of Soraba. Zahir had been arrested earlier by the local police in a narcotics case.

Forest officials found that one of the accused was in Goa, and the other in Honnavar. The trio gave leads to a person called Anil Parashekhar (30), who led them to Vishal alias Devaraj Pawar (30), a native of Belagavi who worked in Goa. Vishal was a driver and did odd jobs for an 80-year-old woman in Mapusa. He stole the ivory from her house and brought it to Shivamogga with Parashekhars help.

They got in touch with the three youngsters to sell the pile of ivory for a commission, Chief Conservator of Forests, Shivamogga, R Ravishankar told TNIE. Karnataka forest officials took the help of their counterparts in Goa to nab the poachers. The octogenarian reportedly told officials that she had inherited the ivory from her father, who had retired as a forest officer in Tanzania, and settled in Goa in the 1930s, along with his trophies.

The teams are now verifying the genuineness of her claims. The officials are also sending the ivory to the Wildlife Institute of India for carbon dating, forensic verification and origin. An alert has been sounded in Maharashtra and Goa to check for more such cases. The department has also asked citizens who have such wildlife trophies to come forward with ownership records for documentation and verification.
Mr Marricke Kofi Gane, an Independent Presidential Aspirant for the 2020 General Election, says when given the mandate in the December 7 polls, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) will have complete independence to operate.



The IGP, he explained, would not be appointed by the President but by a competent and independent committee to enable him or her to operate independently to strictly enforce the law and fight to reduce corruption.



With law enforcement, an independent IGP can proceed to arrest anybody found culpable to the law as the IGP will not owe any political party or government an allegiance.



Corruption, he said, had become endemic as people did not see those involved getting punished.

We have a three angled-approach to that, Catch the people, punish them but let the punishment be more than what they engaged in so that they learn from that and then recover everything they have stolen and more, Mr Gane said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.



With the campaign tagline, Gane4Ghana, the Independent movement has developed a framework to ensure that with every money his government or anyone assigned with a responsibility uses, they are accounted for and charged to deliver quality for money.



The framework shows commercial, financial, economic, strategic, and social justification for every money that is to be spent, he said.



Mr Gane said some suspected criminals were still hovering around freely probably because prisons were congested or because some persons in authority were behind their operations, and, therefore, were reluctant to let the law take its course.



When given the mandate to lead and serve the nation, the Independent Aspirant said, he would ensure that more prisons were built and that state farms were constructed for prisoners to work and produce foods for sale to generate funds for the state and to feed schools.



This, he believed, would encourage the prisoners to get into agriculture production after being released and the government would sponsor them to boost the agriculture sector.



He said prisoners needed to be corrected and made productive before being released back into society.



The Presidential Aspirant said when given the mandate, he would ensure that the nation gets a centralised citizen identification system, where every citizen would get one identification card to access healthcare, financial services among other services.



This would make it easy to track people and instill confidence in the business community to deal with their clients.



When it comes to graduate unemployment issues, the Gane4Ghana Movement intends to promote the teaching based on competency and not just theory.



The competency-based teaching will enable students to use systems, machines, equipment, software that are available in the industry, to prepare and instill confidence in them before completing school.



Many people either struggle to get jobs after completing school or are unable to deliver to industry, based on the theory they learnt in school. For me, what it means is that we need to fundamentally change our educational system, Mr Gane said.



The Movement also wants to encourage entrepreneurship training in schools to enable students to start-up businesses of their own when they dont secure jobs.



For the Presidential Aspirant, another area he has a key interest in is to strengthen decentralisation to promote equal distribution of developmental projects.



People with criminal records and convicts would have their data recorded on a database for at least five years to make members of the public exercise more caution when dealing with them.



For instance, if your child comes to tell you that my teacher is this person, you can quickly get onto the database to key in the teachers name to find out if he has any known record of defiling a child or rape, and that will let you know what to do to protect your child.



I believe that will get people to think twice about any criminal or illegal act they intend to indulge in, he said.



I am the best candidate to lead this country and among the reasons are that I have not been tinted or coloured by the NPP or NDC, and all I intend to do is to work with competent people no matter where they belong, Mr Gane said.

Source: GNA









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EDITORS NOTE: NJ Cannabis Insider produces exclusive weekly content and monthly events geared toward those interested in the marijuana and hemp industries.

If you dont know about the Accountability List, you should  especially if you own, lead or work for a cannabis business in America.

The Black women who founded Cannaclusive in 2017 to promote minority representation and defeat racist stereotypes took note of the social media messages companies posted lamenting the brazen murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer over the Memorial Day weekend. They catalogued the pledges to make the cannabis industry more welcoming to people of color.

Cannaclusive sent emails to companies requesting information. Volunteers also scoured company websites, financial records and social media accounts for information. Some employees quietly shared information with the group.

And now cannabis consumers and industry players are invited to examine the racial makeup and actions taken by 323 companies, as of Aug. 17, toward building equity for people of color. Did they also contribute to legal defense funds to defend protesters? Do they have a paid social responsibility officer? Its all there in the spreadsheet they pledge to update regularly.

Companies are somewhat on notice, Mary Pryor, a Cannaclusive co-founder and the chief marketing officer for two companies, Tonic CBD and Tricolla Farms in New York. Some have started the conversation, some have not followed through.

Overall, 32 of the 323 leaf-touching and ancillary companies were founded or are owned by people of color, and 19 said they had paid social responsibility officers, according to the List.

In the immediate aftermath of Floyds death and the protests, 242 companies issued one or more statements on social media or on their websites supporting for Black Lives Matter or pledging to enable people of color who want to gain a foothold in the cannabis industry.

There are four large, multi-state operators with New Jersey: Green Thumb Industries or GTI; Curaleaf; Acreage Holdings and Columbia Care. Two companies challenged the accuracy of The List; one company elaborated, and one, Columbia Care, which operates a dispensary and grow site in Vineland, did not respond.

People walk past The Botanist, a satellite medical marijuana dispensary on the Atlantic City boardwalk, Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. The Botanist opens Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020.Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The List says Acreage Holdings (Compassionate Care Foundation in Egg Harbor and the Botanist in Atlantic City) is the only one of the four that does not have a social responsibility officer.

That is true, Acreage spokeswoman Howard Schacter, but the search is underway.

We have been seeking the right candidate for this position for quite a while, Schacter wrote in an email. It will be a critical position for our company and finding the right candidate is paramount.

Schacter also said the List egregiously underestimated the number of Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC).

We dont comment on the demographics of our employees, although the number in that report is egregiously under-estimated. In some of our markets, for example minorities account for approximately 25% or more of our employee population, he wrote.

Acreage does not reveal how much money it donates to charities, as doing so might appear to be self-serving, Schacter wrote.

We recognize that we need to do more in the area of social justice, and have made great strides in that area in states like Illinois and Pennsylvania, Schacter wrote. In Illinois for example, we were the first multi-state operator to sign a milestone agreement with the Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition that commits us to hire 75% of employees from disproportionately impacted areas (DIAs), donate 10% of our net profits to community organizations in DIAs, contract 10% of products and services from minority and social equity businesses, and much more.

A spokeswoman for GTI (which owns Rise in Paterson), also said the Lists accounting of the company track record contains many inaccuracies.

GTI employs 26 employees in New Jersey, and of the 12 who chose to report ethnicities, 58% reported as BIPOC, Linda Marsicano, the spokeswoman, said in a written statement.

Since George Floyds death, weve donated to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, the Last Prisoners Project (profits from the opening day of three stores) and, when we open our next store in Kendall, Florida first-day profits will go to FRRC, a grassroots, membership organization...dedicated to ending the disenfranchisement and discrimination against people with convictions, said Marsicano.

GTI offered a list of programs it has donated to or volunteered with, including My Block My Hood My City; American Chambers of Commerce; the New Jersey Community Development Corporation; Second Chance Expungement Summit, and was a sponsor of National Expungement Day.

Green Thumb has been giving back in meaningful ways since its founding. We also acknowledge that we continue to learn and are committed to doing more, according to a statement from Green Thumb Corporate Responsibility Director Michael Fields.

Curaleaf (located in Bellmawr) lists its Rooted in Good initiative on its website in June as evidence of its commitment to social responsibility and inclusion issues, according to the List.

When NJCI asked for more information, a company spokesperson sent the following:

Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative is led by our VP of CSR Khadijah Tribble and focuses on four pillars: Strategic Corporate Partnerships, Sustainability, Diversity Equity & Inclusion and Social Equity. As a part of this work, our Rooted In Good initiative will launch later this year. It is focused on providing resources for social equity programming so we can deliver real opportunities across the cannabis ecosystem. We are looking at how we train and educate entrepreneurs, franchise for social equity applicants, and provide special low interest loans for incubator companies. We expect to announce details and programs, partners, investments and initiatives for Rooted in Good sometime this quarter.

Pryor said her crew will send another round of emails to the companies, some of whom obviously didnt take The List as seriously as perhaps they should have.

Nobody is perfect out there, no corporation. But intention is everything and people see that, she said.

The List is for cannabis consumers who want to financially support industry leaders who are committed to inclusion and healing the communities of color harmed by the failed war on marijuana, she said.

You dont need to buy from companies who are not doing this work. You have options. If you dont feel like you are not aware of those options, we are going to start telling you, so you dont waste your time and money.

We will make reports and announcements every month to highlight these things that are not occurring. We are going to start naming companies, Pryor continued.

Because regardless of how this election shakes out...there will be gross attacks on black and brown bodies from police, along with a lot of missed and pushed-aside opportunities to address a lack of equity and support in the industry for black and brown people. It will still be an item that doesnt goes away.

This story first appeared in NJ Cannabis Insider.

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.
The current president doesnt do that, because he lives only in the now. Detractors who are exasperated by his lying and inconsistency often suggest that it has something to do with logic, that even the indisputable fact of his having said something on videotape is not registered as evidence when he claims never to have said it. It is difficult to know what is inside his head, but from the outside it often seems as if the mendacity is better attributed to a fundamental temporal flaw in his relationship to the world. The past is simply disconnected from the present or only exists to bolster the immediate needs and exigencies of this moment. When the past is inconvenient, the past vanishes. He doesnt ignore it; rather, it simply ceases to exist.
Matt Hancock has back tracked on previous advice to urge Britons to get back to their desks, saying face-to-face contact is vital for building 'rapport' between colleagues and a 'natural part of getting things done'.

'Social relations are part and parcel of an effective working relationship that you can only really build up face-to-face,' he professed to The Times.

'It's about building rapport because working effectively in many jobs you need to build a rapport. It's harder to build that rapport by Zoom.'

His revelation stands in stark contrast to his claim last month, where the health secretary said working from home should become the 'new normal'.

The Department for Health says staff can return to their offices provided their employer has 'made arrangements for you to work safely'.

Boris Johnson has been leading calls for employers to bring staff back to the office to 'save the economy' and 'revitalise' ghost town Briton, but has failed to bring back his own civil servants.

It comes as train companies start offering three-day season tickets in a frantic bid to get commuters back onto public transport.

The embattled health secretary said that going back to the office is vital for building 'rapport' and a 'natural part of getting things done'. But last month he said working from home should become the 'new normal'

A worker wearing a face covering, puts away chairs as they prepare to close a Pret-a-Manger store in London on August 12 in London

Continuing to champion the effectiveness of the office environment, Mr Hancock told The Times: 'I was in Downing Street yesterday because I had three meetings with the prime minister and it's far easier to have those meetings face-to-face because there's a better calibre, or better quality, of discussion.'

But, revealing his see-saw-like attitude to the crisis, he told members of women's club AllBright in a web chat on 10 July: 'I definitely think (working from home) should be the norm where possible.

'We need to persuade people that allowing flexible working should continue. This is a change that is never going to go away.'

And on Thursday the Health Secretary opened a rift with officials by claiming he 'doesn't care' if his staff remain working from home.

'What I care about is how effectively people work and obviously people should come back to the office if that is what they need to do their job,' he told Times Radio.

'And also employers need to make sure the offices are Covid-secure, as we have obviously in the Department for Health, as you would fully expect us to.'

The stark U-turn comes as:

Matt Hancock warns the UK could go back into a nationwide lockdown or endure 'extensive' social restrictions this winter as SAGE plans for a worst case scenario;

Prime minister prepares for a collision with defiant unions as he launches a back-to-work drive to get civil servants to their offices;

Streets remain quiet as 24 of the UK's biggest firms confirm they have no plans to bring staff back to the offices;

Train companies consider offering three-day season ticket in attempt to lure employees back onto their services;

Trafford, Bolton and Burnley and six other boroughs are released from tough coronavirus restrictions

Britain's daily cases jump 24 per cent in a week and the death rate continues to climb.

Boris Johnson has been leading calls for Britons to get behind their desks, but many civil servants are still steering clear of their offices in Whitehall. Only a fifth of the 430,000-strong bureaucracy are expected to return soon

Tubes and train lines remain largely empty at peak rush hour times, forcing rail firms to consider offering three-day a week season tickets to get commuters back on the tracks. Pictured is a central London train station on August 26

Footfall in town and city centre streets has stagnated in recent weeks, while out-of town retail parks and urban shopping centres are slowly moving back towards their original footfall, the Office for National Statistics said

British workers are the most reluctant to return to the office because of fears of a second wave of coronavirus, a study found

Four in ten workers admit they find working from home 'a challenge' as HR staff say those who come in are resentful of colleagues Four in ten Britons who have been working from home during the pandemic have found it a challenge, according to a new survey. An Ipsos MORI poll found that of those people, their most common complaint was a lack of adequate workspace closely followed by missing their colleagues. Just 27 per cent of those surveyed said they did not find working from home a challenge, with 32 per cent saying it is very challenging. HR staff have also revealed that employees heading into the office feel aggrieved at the money and time spent commuting. This has led to some companies offering in-house staff added perks including extra paid leave and bonuses. Some disgruntled workers have even launched grievance procedures against their employer. Advertisement

Boris Johnson has been leading rallying cries to get employees back to offices, but the government was forced to admit only at the start of this month that the number of civil servants returning will be 'low'.

A risk assessment for Whitehall departments revealed that while some people 'need' to come back to the office, 'the number of people in the workplace will initially remain low compared to our normal capacity numbers'.

The PM is now reportedly on a collision course with unions as he prepares a fresh push to get civil servants to 'set an example' by returning to their desks.

Downing Street sources claimed he was determined to get 'every' official back behind their desks to demonstrate a safe return to work is possible.

'You will see a more firm direction to Whitehall to get back to the office next week,' a source said. 'The Prime Minister is very keen on getting more people back to the workplace.

'The main focus has to be on getting every civil servant back at their desk. It sets an example to the rest of the country and demonstrates that it can be done safely.'

Departments were ordered to draw up plans for phased returns in July but ministers have been forced to admit that progress has been 'slow'.

Rail firms have also jumped on the back-to-work bandwagon, offering cheaper season tickets as they try to lure back commuters.

The new three-days-a-week type is expected to be made available as soon as next month if, as expected, the government extends emergency funding of franchises.

It is thought the financial burden of commuting is putting many off from returning to work, encouraging firms to offer cheaper tickets.

The chief executive of independent travel watchdog Transport Focus told The Times: 'For many passengers, there just isn't a ticket available that fits the way we live and travel now.

'To get Britain moving again, the Government needs to accelerate the rate of fares reform so that train companies can offer a flexible season ticket... and better value for money fares across the board.'

The ONS also found 13 per cent of workers are still on paid furlough, with almost one in four (39 per cent) of companies topping up their wages

An empty tube carriage rides along the Northern line in London, on August 14 as commuters work from home

The Department for Health is advising employers to bring their staff back to the office providing sufficient Covid-secure guidelines are in place

It is expected that the offices of the future could involve face masks, plastic screens and copious amounts of hand sanitisers

This week it was revealed that 50 of the UK's biggest employers had 'no plans' to return all their staff to the office full-time in the near future.

Some 24 of the firms said they had no plans in place to return anyone to their desks. While 20 said they had opened their offices for staff unable to work from home.

London's streets and business districts remain largely deserted during rush-hour and the working week, as employees continue to work from home.

The 'ghost town' capital is doing untold damage to local businesses, which rely on commuters and office workers on lunch breaks for income.

More than 100,000 jobs have been axed in the bloodbath, as companies take action to stave off the falling revenue stream.

M&S axed 7,000 jobs last week alone from its 60,000-strong workforce. It said it expects a 'significant' number of roles will be cut through voluntary departures and early retirement.

Retail giant Debenhams said it would axe 2,500 jobs across its stores and warehouses, and another 14,000 were on the brink amid talks on liquidating the giant.

A pedestrian wears walks past shuttered shop fronts on an empty shopping street in London on August 12

Seaside towns lead the way in Britain's stalled recovery Seaside towns are leading the return to normality following Britain's coronavirus lockdown - with Blackpool, Bournemouth and Southend among the areas becoming busy with shoppers, workers and tourists once again. Data revealed the three coastal resorts alongside Birkenhead, Basildon, Chatham and Doncaster had all seen higher levels of footfall over the past week than before restrictions were brought in in March. Beachgoers at Bournemouth beach, Aug 10 But London lagged behind - with footfall still only a quarter of what it was before lockdown. It also remains under half in Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff, Oxford and Manchester. The Centre for Cities think-tank revealed the discrepancy after publishing an interactive map, which also found only 17 per cent of workers in British cities had returned to their desks in early August. Advertisement

This week the head of the employers' federation, the CBI, warned of 'ghost towns' emerging in once bustling urban centres if the struggle to bring workers back continues.

Dame Carolyn Fairbairn argued that thousands of local businesses - from sandwich bars to dry cleaners - are at risk from the stay-at-home mentality.

She also said that without a much-needed return younger staff are never going to improve, learn and progress. There is also a danger of creating a schism, she said, between the stay-at-homes and the no-choicers.

'The UK's officers are vital drivers of our economy,' she said.

'The costs of office closures are becoming clearer by the day. Some of our busiest city centres resemble ghost towns, missing the usual bustle of passing trade. This comes at a high price for local businesses, jobs and communities.'

She added that getting schools open, and then to stay open, was vital for getting parents back to work.

And said that the government needed to do more to encourage people back on to public transport through acts such as enforcing safety measures and supporting a flexible ticket scheme.

Britain's retailers have cut jobs at the fastest rate since the financial crisis in 2009 due to the crisis, creating a jobs bloodbath on the high street.

A survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) found the employment balance, which measures the number of retailers laying off and hiring staff over the past year, had dropped to minus 45 per cent in August from minus 20 per cent in May.

It comes as London's footfall languished at just a quarter of pre-lockdown levels in early August, the lowest in the UK.

And it remained below half in Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff, Oxford and Manchester, stunting the recovery.

The Centre for Cities think-tank published the figures, and revealed that only 17 per cent of workers in British cities returned to their desks in early August.

It is thought seaside towns may have seen an uptick as Britons headed to the coast for a summer staycation, now that Spain, France and other top holiday hotspots are off the list.

The gradual return to the office is thought to have helped to slightly boost the figures at inland locations.

It comes amid mounting warnings of mass unemployment when the government's furlough scheme officially comes to an end in October.

As much as 13 per cent of staff are still on paid furlough, with almost one-in-four companies topping up their wages.
Motorists could be forced to slow down to 40km/h when driving throughout the City of Sydney, as the NSW government works with local councils to reduce speed limits in areas with high numbers of pedestrians and cyclists.

Transport for NSW is negotiating with councils across the city to reduce speed limits to 10km/h in pedestrian-motorist zones, 40km/h in high pedestrian zones and to extend school zones.

City of Sydney councillor Kerryn Phelps said improving road safety was not just about dropping speed limits. Credit:Janie Barrett

Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore said NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance was assessing whether to introduce speed limits of 40km/h or less across the entire City of Sydney council area.

Mr Constance said he was "very concerned" about the increase in pedestrian deaths, but would be guided by expert advice: "We do need consistency for speed limits in the heart of Sydney."
PULWAMA: Three unidentified terrorists were gunned down by security forces on Saturday (August 29) in a joint operation of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army and CRPF Zadoora area in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

A soldier was also martyred in the operation. Reports stated that the soldier was critically injured in the encounter and rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment where he succumbed to his injuries.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered by forces in the area. The identities of the slain terrorists are yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile, it remains unknown if the encounter has come to an end or not.

Acting on a tip-off, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, 50 RR and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation on specific information about the presence of terrorists in village during midnight.

As the joint team of forces cordoned the suspected spot, hiding terrorists open fire on the search party, which was retaliated and led to an encounter.

With this, a total of seven terrorists have been neutralised by forces in Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours. So far, 153 terrorists have been killed by forces in the state this year.

According to reports, the encounter broke out at around 1 am in the wee hours of Saturday (August 29). It, however, remains unknown how many terrorists are holed up in the area.

Earlier on Friday, four terrorists were killed while one was captured alive in an encounter with security forces in Kiloora area of Shopian district.

The slain terrorists were identified as Al Badr founder and district commander Shakoor Ahmed Parry, Suhail Bhat, Zubair Nengroo and Shakir-ul-Jabbar. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes.

In 2018, Parry had escaped with four weapons of the SDPO Awantipora and formed Al Badr. Shakoor was self-styled commander of Al Badr and had recruited 10 more, most of them have been eliminated. Another is Suhail, who has been involved in killing and abduction of Khanmohs Sarpanch Nasir has been also killed. They were also involved in the abduction of TA soldier namely Shakir Manzoor Wagay resident of Shopian who has been reportedly killed. Two AK rifles and three pistols have been recovered.

During the encounter Police and security forces while exhibiting extreme professionalism also arrested one active terrorist identified as Shoiab Ahmad Bhat resident of Awantipora.

The same group is involved in the abduction of Army jawan whose dead body has still not been found.

As per police records, Parray was made SPO in 2014 in Kulgam Police. On operational grounds, he was converted as a constable in the police department and was adjusted in Police District Awantipora. Later on, he was transferred district Anantnag, where he took away 4 rifles (weapons) from the other officials and joined the terrorist outfit.

After joining the terrorist groups, he got active in the area and distributed the snatched weapons among his close associates. He was the main handler of proscribed terrorist outfit Al Badr and was involved in recruiting youth into terror ranks.
R Sivakumar By

Express News Service

A Siddha special COVID care centre functioning in Vellore district has become the first such institution in the state to get the nod for clinical trials to treat the illness.

According to Vellore district collector A Shanmuga Sundaram, Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI) has given the approval for clinical trial of Siddha medicine intervention at the care centre in Thanthai Periyar Engineering College (TPEC).

We are the first to conduct Siddha clinical study in Tamil Nadu with proper CTRI number, he said on Saturday.

Shanmuga Sundaram said Vellore district has initiated efforts for clinical study of Siddha medicine for COVID treatment and is showing the way to other districts in fighting the global pandemic.

The Siddha special COVID care centre in TPEC was launched on July 10 and since then, about 2,300 COVID patients were successfully treated.

In the beginning, the trial will be held with twenty symptomatic patients. Later, it will be expanded, said Dr S Susikannamma, district Siddha medical officer (DSMO).

Talking to The New Indian Express, she said, The patients will be monitored for white blood cells count, platelets, oxygen level, lung saturation before and after treatment.

The medicines administered to the patients will be Ashwagandha, Thalisathivadagam, Brahmananda bairavam tablets, Adathoda manapagu syrup and Adathoda decoction, the DSMO informed.

Pointing out that patients with oxygen level below 80 (mm Hg) too were successfully treated at the Siddha special COVID care centre, Susikannamma stated three such centres are functioning in Vellore, Tirupathur and Ranipet districts each.

Apart from the medicines, the patients will be undergo breathing exercises, yoga and steam inhalation too.

The atmosphere in the Siddha special COVID care centres is soothing for the patients, making them forget that they have the virus. When you feel free, it gives relief to the mind and consequently to the body, she noted.
Sometimes the nightmares are about his father or son being shot by police. Other times, the nightmares are about him being shot all over again.

Leon Ford, who survived a police shooting eight years ago, said that nightmares along with PTSD, survivor's guilt and depression are just a few of the aftereffects of life as a Black man after being shot by cops.

Ford, a 27-year-old father left paralyzed from the waist down after a traffic stop with police in Pittsburgh in 2012 led to the shooting, believes the road to healing isn't linear, but something that is seasonal and requires work throughout every stage of life.

"There's so many layers of brokenness associated with the trauma of being a survivor," Ford told ABC News. "I realized that I'm only able to be positive because of the internal maintenance that I've used to upkeep my mental health and spiritual health."

On Nov. 12, 2012, Ford, then 19, was pulled over for a traffic stop by two Pittsburgh officers in Highland Park and another officer later arrived on the scene. Although he provided identification, one officer mistook him for a gang member and jumped inside his car and during a subsequent struggle, he ended up shot five times.

PHOTO: Leon Ford, an activist, author and father, has been speaking out against police brutality after he was shot by Pittsburgh police officers in 2012, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. (KeepPittsburghDope/Instagram)

While in the hospital, Ford said he was handcuffed to his bed. Though he survived, the shooting left him paralyzed. In 2018, the city of Pittsburgh reached a $5.5 million settlement with Ford.

Ford, who has shown his support for other police shooting victims, announced a run for Pittsburgh City Council on the sixth anniversary of being shot, before he decided to bow out of the race to fulfill other commitments.

Now, Ford is offering advice for the family of Jacob Blake -- a Black man also left paralyzed from the waist down after being shot seven times in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The officers from the Kenosha Police Department who were involved in the incident have since been placed on administrative leave as the investigation continues into the shooting of 29-year-old Blake, who remains hospitalized.

Story continues

MORE: Kenosha native Melvin Gordon speaks out on Jacob Blake protests, COVID-19

While it remains unclear by medical professionals if Blake will be paralyzed permanently, Ford is opening up about the mental health ramifications as a survivor.

"I would encourage them to embrace their journey. Know that they aren't alone. They are going to be supported, they are loved," Ford said. "It's not going to be easy ... but it is possible to still have a good life."

Ford, who grew up on the East Side of Pittsburgh, said that some of his coping mechanisms include reading, meditating and sharing his story. This includes writing about his journey in his book "Untold: Testimony and Guide to Overcoming Adversity" and serving as the executive producer for the short film "LEON," where he shares details of his childhood and mentors youth in his hometown.

In June, Ford was also part of a virtual town hall series to discuss the impact of racial injustice during the pandemic which was hosted by the Obama Foundation with appearances by former President Barack Obama, the late Rep. John Lewis and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, Bryan Stevenson.

Ford, who is the father of a 7-year-old son, said that fatherhood is important to him and that he hopes to continue being a role model for his son. In a now-viral video, his son holds his father's walker and encourages him to "keep pushing" and not to "give up" as his dad recovers from his injury.

When you get shot by a police officer 5 times--and docs say that you will ever walk but your son says keep pushing  Untold 111117 pic.twitter.com/DPuTcp6i3g  Leon Ford (@LeonFordSpeaks) August 20, 2017

"My son is my motivation as I am his. My son admires me and looks up to me with the purest light in his eye," Ford wrote on social media.

Ford said that part of taking care of himself mentally is going to therapy, which he first started about a year ago after noticing how the coping strategies he had in place were no longer conducive to his needs. Among the things that he also realized weren't beneficial: watching police shootings on the internet, which often go viral.

Researchers say that constantly watching fatal shootings of Black Americans, who are disproportionately killed by police in America, on social media, contributes to emotional trauma and anxiety, according to a Rutgers study published last month.

PHOTO: Leon Ford, an activist, author and father left paralyzed from the waist down after being shot by Pittsburgh police officers in 2012, poses alongside his son. (@leonfordspeaks/Instagram)

Dr. George James is a Philadelphia-based marriage and family therapist who also has experience working with emotional trauma, specifically stress caused by racial injustices. He said finding a balance between being informed and protecting your mental health is crucial.

"Seeing Black people die and mistreated is not humane ... this is not a video game. We are talking about people's lives," he told ABC News.

James, who also serves as Council for Relationships' chief innovation officer, said that even as a Black husband and father, the current racial climate is deeply personal and often requires him to remember to follow what he preaches.

MORE: How viral videos of killings of black men take a toll on black male mental health

"I also have to practice what I say to others. My self-care and my family's self-care are extremely important. In order to be there for others I have to take care of myself," he said.

James believes that while the trauma Blake and his family are experiencing is "intense and overwhelming," having a strong support system, going to therapy and finding motivation in the stories of others will help the healing process.

"Seeing examples like Leon Ford can help them to know it's possible to make it to a better place," James said.

Black man paralyzed after police shooting on healing and his advice for Jacob Blake originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The first group of Burundian refugees in Rwanda have returned home. The initial group of 485 men, women and children opted to voluntarily return to Burundi two days ago, after living in exile for five years.

Citing the elections that were held in May in Burundi and the desire to return home, some of the returnees from Mahama camp felt it was time for them to sign up to return. So far UNHCR in Rwanda has registered 1,800 refugees who expressed their wish to opt for voluntary repatriation. Prior to any assisted return, UNHCR staff conduct a voluntariness assessment.

"I learned that there is peace back home so I have to go back and rebuild my life, said Claudine Habimana, 25, who was among those who departed.

After her first year of high school, she was forced to stop schooling and fled to Rwanda while pregnant. In the camp, Claudine had to take care of her kids and could not attend school. She is now eager to resume her studies.

"I hope I can complete school, study medicine and become a doctor, she said.

Like Claudine, Jeannette left Burundi when she was just 20 years old. As a single mother, she has struggled to raise her two children who were born in the camp.

I'm very excited to see my country again and provide a decent life for my children.

Life in a refugee camp hasn't been easy and so home is the best place for me and my family, she said. She has been monitoring the situation back home and was waiting to return once she felt conditions had gotten better.

I'm very excited to see my country again and I'm ready to work hard to provide a decent life for my children, she added.

Claudine Habimana and her son wait to return home after years of exile in Rwanda.  UNHCR/Eugene Sibomana

Claudine Habimana and her son wait to return home after years of exile in Rwanda.  UNHCR/Eugene Sibomana

Claudine Habimana and her son wait to return home after years of exile in Rwanda.  UNHCR/Eugene Sibomana

For most Burundian refugees who fled to Rwanda in 2015, their expectation was to return home as soon as the situation allowed. Some, like Claudine and Jeanette, thought they would return after a few months or a year. Years on, their prolonged displacement did not dampen their hope of eventually returning home.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has been supporting the Government of Rwanda to protect and assist Burundian refugees since their arrival in the country. Earlier this month, a virtual meeting was held between both governments and UNHCR where it was agreed to revitalize the Tripartite Agreement on Voluntary Returns of Burundian Refugees from Rwanda and begin facilitating returns.

We will help those who express a desire and request our assistance to return at this time, said Ahmed Baba Fall, UNHCRs Representative in Rwanda noting, and we will continue to support the Rwandan authorities to assist those refugees who remain in the country.

We will help those who express a desire and request our assistance to return at this time.

UNHCR in both Rwanda and Burundi are working close with authorities to ensure the returns take place in safety and dignity.

This includes activities to facilitate the returns, including pre-departure formalities such as registration, interviews to ascertain the voluntariness of their decision to return, health screening including COVID-19 tests and provision of transportation, with specific attention to the most vulnerable people. Measures to prevent spread of COVID-19 are also in place.

In Rwanda, the majority of Burundian refugees live in Mahama camp in eastern Rwanda  the largest refugee camp in the country, hosting over 60,000 Burundians. UNHCR calls for the support of the international community to mobilize necessary resources for the voluntary repatriation programme, estimated at US$ 1.4 Million to assist the return of 5,000 refugees by the end of 2020.

Since 2017, over 89,000 refugees have been assisted to return to Burundi. Nearly all of these returns have been from Tanzania with relatively smaller numbers from Kenya and the DRC.
The following letter was sent to Borough President James Oddo:

I am a small business owner very concerned with the state of affairs in New York City. More small businesses will be closing their storefronts because of the stringent and onerous regulation through Andrew Cuomo and Bill de Blasios executive orders. Because of these executive orders, we small business owners are suffering adversely and experiencing dramatic losses in revenue, increases in taxes, increased levying of fines, and revoked licenses. These actions stifle the success of our businesses and an increasing amount of small businesses will be closing due to these policies, especially right here on Staten Island.

So, I implore you to seriously answer this question: What have you done to stand up to Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasios policies? While I do understand, as a voter, it is not in your job description to do that, as the top elected official on Staten Island and the most senior elected official, you should be standing up for our small businesses by standing up to these individuals in office. Yet, I have read that you support the governors failed re-opening of the economy, which none of the colleagues in our party support.

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, Councilman Steven Matteo, Councilman Joe Borelli, Assemblyman Mike Reilly, and Senator Andrew Lanza have been explicitly and vociferously standing up for our small business owners. Where are you?

I know that you have never owned a business and you cannot relate to those in the private sector, just like Governor Cuomo or Mayor de Blasio cannot either, but the fact of the matter is that you need to stand up for small businesses by standing up to their policies, which have been nothing but malevolent and dangerous to us.

We business owners have suffered in New York before this pandemic existed and while its important to implement safety measures, the fact is that government should work with us instead of harming us.

Your inaction and inability to stand up for the small business owners (the over 9,000 people who own businesses, their families, their workers and the families of their workers) will be part of your legacy. So, stand up for us and support us by opposing Cuomo and de Blasios agenda. We small business owners will remember your inaction and we will remember that you werent there for us when we needed you.

Thank you very much for not being there for us when we needed you. You should have stood up to the governor and the mayor when they were harming, us instead of standing with them.

(Joseph Pidoriano is a New Dorp resident.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 11:01:39|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Two attendees of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Charlotte in the U.S. state of North Carolina, as well as two individuals supporting the event, have tested positive for coronavirus, Mecklenburg County has said.

"These individuals were immediately issued isolation instructions and any known close contacts were notified and issued quarantine instructions by Mecklenburg County Public Health," said county authorities in a release, adding that approximately 792 tests were conducted among individuals attending or providing support to the RNC event in Charlotte.

Mecklenburg County health officials had raised concerns over the lack of mask wearing and social distancing at the scaled-back meeting on Monday, where more than 300 delegates gathered in person to formally renominate Donald Trump and Mike Pence for the Republican presidential ticket.

Trump and Pence traveled to Charlotte on Monday to address the delegates, who were instructed to wear masks and practice social distancing, but videos of the event showed few people follow the guidance.

Nearly 25,000 residents in Mecklenburg County, whose largest city is Charlotte, have contracted the coronavirus.

Most of the RNC events were held virtually but Trump's acceptance speech from the White House South Lawn on Thursday night was delivered to a crowd of more than 1,000 people, most of whom were not wearing masks. Enditem
The Ministry of Industry and Trade on Friday handed over the state ownership in Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corp (Sabeco) to the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC).

The value of state investment transferred to SCIC is over VND2.3 trillion (US$99.3 million), accounting for 36 percent of Sabecos charter capital, or more than 230 million shares.

Fridays handover marked Sabeco as the first enterprise to complete such a transfer among 14 companies that have to transfer state capital to SCIC before August 31, according to a prime minister decision issued in June.

Up to now, SCIC has taken over VN21.9 trillion ($945.3 million) in state capital in 1,068 enterprises.

After the transfer, SCIC will have to divest all state capital from Sabeco in accordance with the prime minister decision.

Speaking at the handover ceremony on Friday, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Cao Quoc Hung said that the transfer will not interrupt production and business activities of Sabeco and will comply with the current regulations.

Meanwhile, SCIC chairman Nguyen Duc Chi affirmed that SCIC will create the best possible favorable conditions for Sabeco to continue to grow, bringing investment efficiency to all shareholders, including state shareholders.

Thailands Thai Beverage Public Co. Ltd. (ThaiBev) currently owns 54 percent of Sabeco after it purchased a majority stake worth $4.84 billion in the brewer from the trade ministry in December 2017.

After the deal, the trade ministry held nearly 36 percent of Vietnams largest local brewer by market value.

Other foreign organizations own 9.71 percent of Sabeco, and the remaining is held by small shareholders.

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The rich neighbour View(s):

Imagine one of our neighbours doing well in his business and becoming rich day by day. The way he continues to progress, surely in the years to come he is going to be one of the worlds richest persons. If we get to sit and discuss for half an hour with him over a cup of tea, I wonder what kind of things we would ask him. I am sure many would eye his money thinking that giving away some money to a friend is not a big deal from a rich person. Some may think of borrowing some money, but never think seriously of how to pay it back.

I feel that, however, not even a few would be interested in learning from him how he became rich. Even if he reveals some of his strategies, many would find excuses to say that such strategies cannot be applied to them or why such strategies dont work for them.

China  a distant neighbour

I am thinking of China as the rich neighbor, although our rich neighbours are not limited to China alone. China initiated its policy reforms towards an open economy in 1978, a year after Sri Lanka took this course. Since then, China has been growing to be the biggest economy in the world. It is already the worlds second largest economy producing 15 per cent of the world GDP. Twenty years ago, in 2000, having produced only 4 per cent of world GDP, China was behind the US, Japan, Germany, the UK and France. But now, China has surpassed them all except the US which still produces 25 per cent of the world GDP.

The Chinese path to prosperity is entirely a different story which inspired me to talk about China. I thought of elaborating on few of the salient features of its development, if we have any idea to learn from its strategies. Some of these strategies are not only interesting, but also surprising because they are unconventional. A closer look at them reveals that, perhaps, our conventional ideologies are quite outdated now.

China has sustained an exceptionally high rate of economic growth  as high as 10 per cent per annum on average over a long period of time, and an investment ratio as high as 40  45 per cent of GDP. What made it possible for China to be a high performing economy in the world? It was Chinas ability to conquer the global market with exports. At the time of initiating policy reforms in 1978, Chinas exports amounted to US$10 billion only, which has now increased to $2,500 billion.

China is too small

There are important characteristics of Chinas export growth, which are interesting to consider. In spite of having the worlds largest population of 1.4 billion people, the domestic market was too small to China. It always focused on the global market. As some would argue, domestic demand was even ignored and was put aside by China in order to consider later.

Exports were generated not only by domestic investment, but also by foreign investment which started to flow in massive amounts. Before policy reforms in 1978, there was no reported foreign investment in China. It started with just $50 million in 1980 and increased constantly reaching $50 billion by 2002. Over the past 10 years, Chinas foreign investment continued to remain well above $100 billion a year.

China never thought that foreign investors were going to exploit its resources or going to pull out more than what they brought in. On the contrary, with foreign investment China was able to overcome the domestic savings shortage for investment, to conquer the global markets which were already in the hands of foreign investors, and to acquire foreign technology, labour training and management practices into growing Chinese production as well.

Some of the foreign investment was only for assembly activities for exports so that actually China became an assembly centre of Asia. But China didnt cry foul about lower domestic value addition of such products or lack of their backward and forward linkages. As the assembly activities in China required parts and components to be imported from other countries in the region where they are produced, the Chinese supply chain networks triggered trade expansion and economic growth in other countries as well.

Future growth, guaranteed

China has to ensure its future expansion in line with its global vision which was incorporated into its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)  the modern silk route, connecting China to Europe via East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and, finally Africa. The modern silk route of China connects over 65 countries with two-third of world population and one-third of world GDP. On the part of China, this modern silk route ensures continuous supply of inputs to sustain the future economic growth of China on the one hand, and an open window to global markets for its output sales on the other hand.

An access to global markets through the silk route for input supply and output sales is not enough. China needs to attract even more investment and businesses and, should facilitate existing businesses to progress more. Apart from the unilateral policy reforms, China is now making another initiative to establish a special economic zone in Hainan province. The term special economic zone is used to designate a free trade and investment area which is not subject to the normal regulatory mechanism and tax system of the country. Hainan is an island  an industrialised area with an international port, similar to half of the size of Sri Lanka with about 10 million population  an ideal location for a special economic zone with a free port, as China has already already announced.

Leaving rural villages

With economic development in any country, people are leaving the rural agriculture sector to take up modern jobs in the urban sector. Therefore, the rural population should decline and the urban population should increase, although sometimes we are not comfortable with accepting that change. However, this process would further enhance economic development and improves peoples living environments.

China has, however, found that this rural-urban population composition and economic structure has not changed adequately. Besides, China already has a vast rural sector with unsustainable remote villages with small-scale agriculture and resulting poverty and hardship of rural people. What is the Chinese way of solving the problem?

The solution was embodied in Chinas New-type Urbanisation Plan (NUP) 2014-2020 which put the people at the centre of an urban plan in order to transfer 100 million rural people to urban cities. Later the plan was extended to cover 250 million rural people to accommodate in the cities by 2026. China knows that this plan would enhance even rural agriculture productivity, ensure labour supply for modern industry and service sector, and reduce poverty of rural people, even though some of us wish to look at the other side of the plan  the problems of dislocation.

Disciplined citizens

One of the most radical initiatives of the Chinese government to build a disciplined nation was the Social Credit System launched in 2014 to evaluate disciplinary standards and trustworthiness of citizens and to reward and punish them accordingly. Peoples activities such as disorderly behaviour, reckless driving, smoking in non-smoking areas, delay in bill payments, and many more related to daily affairs, all are under surveillance and recording in order to assign credits under the Social Credit System.

The punishments are often the denial of rights that average citizens enjoy. These punishments include such things as refusal of issuing tickets to planes or trains, rejection of university admissions or better schools for children, rejection from banking services, and the requirement to pay higher charges for services. And we should also know that all these punishments also carry social condemnation as well. Some may consider it a violation of fundamental rights, but it is also important to note that fundamental rights are not always absolute as national interests may precede them.

All these examples show the sacrifice that China has made in its effort towards becoming a world economic power. Some may perceive only the wealth of China which is the outcome of that sacrifice, but hardly see the countrys harsh journey to prosperity.

(The writer is a Professor of Economics at the University of Colombo and can be reached at sirimal@econ.cmb.ac.lk and follow on Twitter @SirimalAshoka).
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - A Kansas girls killer Friday became the fifth federal inmate put to death this year, an execution that went forward only after a higher court tossed a ruling that would have required the government to get a prescription for the drug used to kill him.

Questions about whether the drug pentobarbital causes pain prior to death had been a focus of appeals for Keith Nelson, 45, the second inmate executed this week in the Trump administrations resumption of federal executions this summer after a 17-year hiatus.

Nelson, who displayed no outward signs of pain or distress during the execution, was pronounced dead at a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, at 4:32 p.m. EDT  about nine minutes after the execution began.

There was silence from Nelson when a prison official looming over him asked if he had any last words to witnesses behind the execution-chamber glass. Those observers included the mother of 10-year-old Pamela Butler. who Nelson raped and strangled with a wire 21 years ago.

Nelson didnt utter a word, grunt or shake his head no. After the official waited for about 15 seconds, his eyes fixed on Nelson waiting in vain for any sign of an answer, he turned away and began the execution procedure.

Nelson didnt appear to deliberately move a muscle or turn his head toward the family witness room, where Pamelas mom wore a T-shirt emblazoned with her daughters picture. Angel wings jutted out from behind Pamelas image.

But earlier, before curtains opened enabling witnesses to see inside the chamber, Nelsons spiritual adviser, Sister Barbara Battista, was allowed to walk up and stand two feet from the gurney, lean in and hear his last words, she told The Associated Press later.

He said he wanted me to tell his lawyers he didnt have to wear an adult diaper during the execution. He was glad about that, she said. Hed also told me (days) earlier he didnt want to be forced to do that, that it was undignified.

Battista, who stayed in the chamber as Nelson was put to death, standing farther away, said her interpretation of his silence during the public portion was that he was afraid if he said anything, he might then say something inappropriate.

Battista, a longtime anti-death penalty activist, said she made a point of addressing Nelson by his first name in his last minutes alive.

He wanted someone there who would call him Keith rather than Inmate Nelson, she said.

Nelson, whose face was obscured from witnesses behind a medical mask, remained still even as the lethal dose of pentobarbital was delivered. None of his limbs twitched or quivered, though his his chest and midsection briefly heaved and shuttered involuntarily.

The relative stillness and quiet was a contrast to the scene on on Oct. 12, 1999, as Nelson grabbed Pamela off the street and threw her into his truck. As Pamela screamed, one of her sisters who saw her abducted began screaming, too.

Pamela had been returning to her Kansas City, Kansas, home on inline skates after buying cookies. As he drove off with her, he made a rude gesture to her sister as she screamed. He later raped the fifth-grader and strangled her with a wire.

Pamelas mom, Cherri West, said she didnt expect Nelson to express remorse. She said, if anything, she thought he might curse at her and her family as he had done during criminal proceedings.

I wasnt expecting him to say anything because he never had no remorse, she said. I have no remorse for him.

Nelson showed no remorse during a sentencing hearing statement and instead blistered the district court and the victims family with a profanity laden tirade, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals noted in one ruling.

After he was declared dead and curtains were again drawn across the windows, Battista was allowed to say a prayer over, touch and anoint Nelsons body, she said.

Nelsons attorneys, Dale Baich and Jen Moreno, said in a statement Friday that they had come to know him as someone other than a killer, that they saw his humanity, his compassion, and his sense of humour.

The execution of Keith Nelson did not make the world a safer place, they said.

A flurry of filings by Nelsons legal team over several weeks zeroed in on pentobarbital, which depresses the central nervous system and, in high doses, eventually stops the heart.

In one filing in early August, Nelsons attorneys cited an unofficial autopsy on one inmate executed last month, William Purkey, saying it indicated evidence of pulmonary edema in which the lungs fill with fluid and causes a painful sensation akin to drowning.

The federal government has defended the use of pentobarbital, disputing that Purkeys autopsy proved he suffered. They have also cited Supreme Court ruling precedent that an execution method isnt necessarily cruel and unusual just because it causes some pain.

In her overturned ruling, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan halted Nelsons execution early Thursday, saying laws regulating drugs require the prescriptions, even for executions. Within hours, an appellate panel tossed her ruling.

Nelsons crime was horrific by any measure.

Nelson, who didnt previously know Butler or her family, told a co-worker a month earlier he planned to find a female to kidnap, torture, rape and kill because he expected to go back to prison anyway on other charges, prosecutors said.

After killing Butler, he dumped her body in a wooded area near a Missouri church.

With the execution Wednesday of Lezmond Mitchell  the only Native American on federal death row  the federal government under President Donald Trump registered more executions in 2020 than it had in the previous 56 years combined.

The executions of Nelson and Mitchell were carried out the same week as the Republican National Convention, where many Trump supporters sought to portray him as a law-and-order candidate.

___

Salter reported from St. Louis. AP reporters Mike Balsamo and Jessica Gresko also contributed to this report.

Follow Michael Tarm on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mtarm
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has frozen four HSBC bank accounts containing Rs 46.96 crore after it raided multiple premises of companies involved in running online Chinese betting apps, according to an official statement.

The central agency said the searches were carried out at 15 locations in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai and Pune on Friday under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

"Searches were conducted on the registered offices of the companies, their directors and chartered accountants involved in illegally running online betting apps from websites which are hosted from outside India," the federal probe agency said in the statement on Saturday.

"During the course of the search, ED has seized 17 hard disks, five laptops, phones, crucial incriminating documents and has also frozen Rs 46.96 crore held in 4 HSBC Bank accounts," it said.

ED freezes Rs 46.96 Crore held in 4 HSBC Bank Accounts & seizes 17 Hard disks, 5 laptops, mobiles, documents during searches at 15 locations in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai & Pune under PMLA in case of illegal Online Betting APPs from websites hosted from outside India. pic.twitter.com/fTXliMrQEL  ED (@dir_ed) August 29, 2020

The money laundering case is based on an FIR filed by the Telangana Police against the accused early this year, it added.

According to the statement, the probe found out that "with the help of some Indian chartered accountants, some Chinese nationals floated multiple Indian companies."

"Initially dummy Indian directors were used to incorporate the companies and after some time Chinese nationals travelled to India and took directorship in these companies," it said.

"Some locals were hired and used to open bank accounts with HSBC Bank and open trade accounts with online wallets namely Paytm, Cashfree, Razorpay, etc." the ED said.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has reacted to the decision of the Constitutional Court (CC) on the unconstitutionality of the appointment of Artem Sytnyk as director of the Bureau, calling him politically motivated and emphasizing the absence of legal grounds for the immediate dismissal of Sytnyk.

"Adopted in record time, shortly after the release of the so-called 'tapes of District Administrative Court,' which documented conversations about 'managed justice in Ukraine,' including with regard to the decision-making by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ... this decision is another step towards destruction of institutional independence of the National Bureau," the NABU said on its Facebook page on Friday evening.

In addition, the Bureau emphasized that shortly before that, the Constitutional Court deprived NABU of the right to annul illegal transactions of state enterprises through the court and "actually freed the top officials from criminal liability for illegal enrichment, which was investigated by NABU detectives."

Earlier, it was reported that the Constitutional Court announced the decision on the unconstitutionality of the decree of April 16, 2015 on the appointment of Sytnyk as director of NABU.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 14:12:43|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- When U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo whizzed around the world to propagandize Washington's Clean Network program, his dirty motive to perpetuate U.S. tech hegemony could not be more obvious.

By attempting to purge Chinese tech companies from American internet, the U.S. administration has also shown that it is ideology, rather than reason, that guides its policy-making.

The irony of Pompeo's frenzied peddling does not escape the world, as the international community, including U.S. traditional allies, has already come to the realization that the United States is really the top empire of hackers in the world.

The exposure of U.S. cyber espionage activities from PRISM to Equation Group to ECHELON, as well as the revelation that U.S. spy agencies run a 24/7 surveillance of cellphones and computers worldwide and have even eavesdropped on leaders of U.S. allies for years, have all pointed to nothing but modus operandi of a hacker state.

For the past few years, Washington's propaganda machine has been ruthlessly churning out slanders against Chinese tech companies, with the U.S. government blatantly stretching concept of national security and abusing its state power to seek to bring down certain outperforming Chinese enterprises.

The leading Chinese 5G equipment provider Huawei bears the brunt of Washington's fanatic witch-hunt. However, over the past 30 years, there has never been a single cybersecurity incident involving Huawei products like those revealed by Edward Snowden or WikiLeaks, nor a single tapping or surveillance operation like PRISM, Equation Group or ECHELON. And not a single country has produced evidence of any backdoors in Huawei products.

The White House has recently again resorted to the flimsy fig leaf of national security and issued an executive order banning any U.S. transactions with ByteDance, parent company of video-sharing social networking company TikTok.

However, according to The New York Times, even its spy agency has assessed that there is no evidence that China has intercepted TikTok's data, or used the app to intrude on users' mobile phones.

By abusing the state power against Chinese tech companies, Washington is again resorting to its old trick of outright slandering and political manipulation.

For China hardliners in Washington, who are no less than prisoners of the Cold War mindset and the zero-sum mentality, any technological advances achieved by Chinese tech companies are genuine threats in their eyes to America's global technological hegemony.

In fact, it is nothing new for Washington to use its state machine to suppress foreign tech companies by means of coercion and intimidation, preying on a list of global industry leaders including Toshiba and Alstom.

With the agenda of maintaining U.S. tech hegemony on mind, some U.S. politicians have openly discarded the principles of market economy and fair competition, which they have always flaunted.

As the world is still grappling with the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic and its economic tolls, technological development is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring economic recovery across the globe.

China and the United States have their respective strengths in the digital and technological field, and a constructive cooperation between the two largest economies will certainly constitute a driving force for the recovery of world economy in the post-pandemic era.

The artificial division of the Internet ecological chain, as sought by Washington's Clean Network program, will not only cause systemic damage to the economic interests of both sides, but also disrupt the global information and communication industry chain and supply chain, putting prospect of global economic recovery at risk.

All countries are obliged to provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for foreign companies that invest, operate and have cooperation on their soil. Washington should think twice before going further down a blind alley. Enditem
The destructive storm surge has receded, and the clean up has begun from Hurricane Laura, but officials along this shattered stretch of Louisiana coast are warning returning residents they will face weeks without power or water amid the hot, stifling days of late summer.

The US toll from the Category 4 hurricane stood at 14 deaths, with more than half of those killed by carbon monoxide poisoning from the unsafe operation of generators.

President Donald Trump plans to tour the damage in Louisiana and neighboring Texas on Saturday.

Across southwestern Louisiana, people were cleaning up from the hurricane that roared ashore early Thursday, packing 150 mph (240 kph) winds. Many were deciding whether they wanted to return home to miserable conditions or wait until basic services are finally restored.

At First United Methodist Church in Lake Charles, a work crew was battling water that continued to pour into the church building as it rained Friday.

This roof blew off. Theres some of it over there, said Michael Putman, owner of Putman Restoration, pointing to part of the roof resting near the side of the building. A pile of black garbage bags sat outside the church, filled with insulation and ceiling tile.

Putman lives in Shreveport, which also got damage from the storm. But he said he drove down to Lake Charles to help the minister, who was his high school pastor.

We slept in our truck in the parking lot last night, he said.

Simply driving was a feat in Lake Charles, a city of 80,000 residents hit head on. Power lines and trees blocked paths or created one-lane roads, leaving drivers to negotiate with oncoming traffic. Street signs were snapped off their posts or dangling. No stoplights worked, making it an exercise in trust to share the road with other motorists.

Mayor Nic Hunter cautioned that there was no timetable for restoring electricity and that water-treatment plants took a beating, leaving barely a trickle of water coming out of most faucets. If you come back to Lake Charles to stay, make sure you understand the above reality and are prepared to live in it for many days, probably weeks, Hunter wrote on Facebook.

Caravans of utility trucks were met Friday by thunderstorms in the sizzling heat, complicating recovery efforts.

The Louisiana Department of Health estimated that more than 220,000 people were without water. Restoration of those services could take weeks or months, and full rebuilding could take years.

Forty nursing homes were relying on generators, and assessments were underway to determine if more than 860 residents in 11 facilities that had been evacuated could return.

The much weaker remnants of the hurricane continued to move across the Southern US, unleashing heavy rain and isolated tornadoes. North Carolina and Virginia could get the brunt of the worst weather Saturday, forecasters said.

When the storm moves back over the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said it could become a tropical storm again and threaten Newfoundland, Canada.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards called Laura the most powerful hurricane to strike the state, meaning it surpassed even Katrina, which was a Category 3 storm when it hit in 2005. He said Friday that officials now believe the surge was as high as 15 feet (4.5 meters).

Saturday marks the 15th anniversary of Katrina.

Hurricane Laura also killed nearly two dozen people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic en route to the US Gulf Coast.

In Lake Charles, chainsaws buzzed and heavy machinery hauled tree limbs in the front lawn of Stanley and Dominique Hazelton, who rode out the storm on a bathroom floor. A tree punctured the roof not far from where the couple was taking cover.

They regretted staying.

Theres people without homes, Stanley Hazelton said. So it was dumb. Well never do it again. Well never stay through another hurricane again.
More than 16,500 U.S. citizens and foreign nationals have been turned away at the Canada-U.S. border since March because they wanted to shop, sight-see or visit for other non-essential reasons.

While Canada Border Services Agency does not provide statistics for specific Niagara crossings citing security reasons, more than 15,200 of the people turned away were at land, rail and marine crossings.

The rest were refused entry after arriving at Canadian airports since COVID-19 border restrictions were introduced March 21.

CBSA spokeswoman Judith Gadbois St.-Cyr said in an email that travellers must demonstrate to a border services officer that they meet requirements for entry and should have documentation backing up their reasons for travel and length of stay.

When assessing admissibility, CBSA border services officers take all relevant factors into consideration prior to making a decision, she said.

Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are informed by the individual circumstances of each traveller.

Canada introduced border restrictions for all discretionary or optional travel to Canada. While Canadian citizens and permanent residents will not be turned away, others must demonstrate they qualify for essential travel, such as truck drivers moving goods or people who work in a job that supports critical infrastructure.

Since June 8, foreign nationals who are immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents can also enter Canada, provided they have no symptoms of COVID and quarantine for 14 days.

CBSA said there are no exemptions to border restrictions for compassionate reasons, such as visiting a critically ill loved one or attending a funeral.

Still, 13,463 U.S. citizens tried to cross by land, rail and water between March 22 and April 19. Another 1,810 people turned away at the border were foreign nationals.

Of the American citizens, more than 4,000 told border services officers they wanted to cross for tourism and sightseeing. Another 1,700 said they were coming for recreational reasons, while more than 740 wanted to go shopping.

More than 6,900 provided other reasons for crossing that officers deemed to be discretionary.

Land border crossings are down substantially since restrictions were put in place.

Numbers from CBSA show a total 185,377 people crossed by land into Canada between Aug. 10 to 16  an 88 per cent drop from the same time last year.

All people entering the country must self-isolate for 14 days if they have symptoms or have confirmed COVID-19 cases. Even if they dont have symptoms, they need to quarantine for 14 days.

Checking up on travellers is a coordinated effort between Canada Border Services Agency, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the RCMP.

Since the mandatory isolation order, Public Health Agency of Canada says it has made 76,700 priority referrals to law enforcement through the RCMPs national operating centre.

Niagara Regional Police have conducted approximately 300 quarantine checks to ensure people whove recently come into Canada are following proper COVID-19 isolation protocols.

NRP spokeswoman Jesse Vujasic said in Ontario, the OPP is the liaison that determines where an individual resides and then contacts the NRP for checks if they are in Niagara.

Our officers then conduct a home visit to visually inspect if the person is at home, in good health and abiding by the orders, she said in an email.

No charges have been laid in Niagara.

Across the country between March 25 and August 26, there have only been 38 tickets and one summons issued under the Quarantine Act for contraventions that have been reported back to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The Academy Award is one of the most prestigious awards show in Hollywood, and getting an Oscar is every actor's dream. Winning the trophy puts you into the A-list status, and it can boost your career and your paycheck.

It is easy to assume that A-list actors known for their blockbuster movies and amazing acting skills have already won an Oscar, but the truth is not all of them have.

Here are some of the best actors in Hollywood who are yet to win the prize.

Will Smith

Will Smith started as a rapper, and he landed a role in one of the most famous sitcoms, "Fresh Prince of Bel Air." After the show ended, he starred in numerous blockbuster movies like "Bad Boys" and "Men in Black," and it made him one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood.

Smith was not all about comedy; he also displayed his acting skill with movies like "Ali" and "Pursuit of Happyness," both of which earned him nominations. However, Smith never won the Academy Award for best actor.

Also Read: Celebrities Who Grew Up in Poverty But Are Now Millionaires

Glenn Close

Glenn Close is known as the actress with the most Academy Award nominations but never won once. She has seven nominations to her name since 1983.

In 2019, she was nominated again for her role in "The Wife." In 2012, she got nominated for "Albert Nobbs," and in 1988, she got nominated for her iconic role in "Fatal Attraction," but she was beaten out by Cher for the movie "Moonstruck."

Close won the Golden Globe last year for the movie "The Wife," and a lot of people thought she was going to bag the Oscars too, but unfortunately, she lost to Olivia Coleman, who won best actress for the movie "The Favourite."

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp is a man of many faces. He took on so many roles, and he disappeared in each one of them, yet no matter how iconic his roles are, he never won an Oscar for them.

Depp was nominated three times. In 2004 he was nominated for "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," in 2005 he was nominated for "Finding Neverland," and in 2008, he was nominated for "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." With his personal life being so complicated and his movies not doing so well lately, people wonder if he can still win in the future.

Amy Adams

Amy Adams is now labeled as the "female Leonardo DiCaprio." She has been nominated six times yet has not won an award yet, much like DiCaprio's previous fate.

Adams won other awards though, such as the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Critics' Choice Movie Awards. However, the Academy Awards just won't give in.

Adams was nominated in 2006 for "Junebug," then in 2009 for "Doubt," in 2011 for "The Fighter," in 2013 for "The Master." She was also nominated in 2013 for the movie "American Hustle," but she lost to Cate Blanchett, who won best actress for her movie "Blue Jasmine."

Related Article: Craziest Things Celebrities Did for Attention

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The BBC Symphony Orchestra held a panicked meeting over fears it was institutionally racist just weeks before the Last Night Of The Proms row, it emerged last night.

The allegation  employing the same phrase used to describe Scotland Yard following its failures in the Stephen Lawrence murder case  left some members astonished and disturbed.

After the Zoom summit, an emergency action plan was brought in to tackle so-called unconscious bias within the world-renowned orchestra, which plays at the Last Night Of The Proms every year.

An emergency action plan was brought in to tackle so-called unconscious bias within the world-renowned orchestra, which plays at the Last Night Of The Proms, pictured, every year

Classical music website Slipped Disc reported that at the meeting, which took place after the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, the orchestra decided to forge close links with Chineke!  the first professional orchestra in Europe to be made up mainly of black and minority ethnic musicians.

They also vowed to bring in guest speakers to elucidate the problems of under-representation and... unconscious bias.

One insider described the move as a tedious exercise in virtue signalling.

A BBC source last night told The Mail on Sunday that there was a culture war at the national broadcaster that had come to the fore with the row over Rule, Britannia and Land Of Hope And Glory

The source said: The new director general, Tim Davie, will have his work cut out to deal with the opposing factions.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra, pictured, held a panicked meeting over fears it was institutionally racist just weeks before the Last Night Of The Proms row

'There is a feeling in some quarters that the rush to back the Black Lives Matter movement has led to some questionable decisions.

'There is a concern that the majority of licence payers, while opposing racism, are nonetheless dumbfounded by some of the decisions being taken.

A BBC spokesman said the patriotic songs will be sung next year assuming audiences will be allowed back in the Royal Albert Hall, adding: Given were in a global pandemic, were very lucky that we can stage the Proms at all.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.: A Tennessee police officer will not be charged after fatally shooting a man who pointed an air pistol at motorists and police, who thought it was a real gun.

Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich said Friday that a Memphis police officer acted lawfully when the officer shot and killed Andre Horton, 42, in December 2018.

Investigators said motorists called police after they saw Horton walking in the middle of a north Memphis road and pointing what appeared to be a gun at passing drivers.

Horton walked toward officers when they arrived and pointed the weapon at them, Weirich said in a news release.

An officer put his car spotlight on Horton and ordered him to drop his gun, but Horton advanced to within 20 feet (6 meters) with the weapon still pointed at the officer, Weirich said.

The officer shot Horton in the chest, neck and abdomen. Horton died at a hospital.

Authorities found that Horton was holding a realistic-looking air pistol that looked like a real handgun.

These officers were responding to the concerns of panicked motorists about a man pointing a gun at them, Weirich said in a statement. He not only ignored an order to drop the weapon, but he also continued to walk toward the officers while pointing the gun at them. Mr. Horton left the officer with no choice but to discharge his weapon.

Weirich made her decision after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations probe of the shooting.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
The Wawa on the 1300 block of East Erie Avenue in Philadelphia's Juniata Park section was the scene of a shooting on Friday morning following a dispute over social distancing requirements, police said. Read more

A 22-year-old man has been arrested and will be charged with attempted murder and related crimes for shooting an off-duty security guard at a Philadelphia Wawa earlier this week following an argument about social-distancing restrictions at the convenience store, police said Saturday.

Authorities did not identify the alleged gunman. Sgt. Eric Gripp, a police spokesperson, said the man was taken into custody Friday night and that charges were pending.

Police said earlier this week that the shooting happened around 4:15 a.m. Friday after the 22-year-old argued with two security guards at the Wawa on the 1300 block of East Erie Avenue in the citys Juniata Park section.

First, police said, he got into a dispute with a guard trying to enforce social distancing and limit the number of customers allowed inside the store. At some point after that, police said, the man got into a physical struggle with a second, off-duty security guard who works elsewhere but was at the store. The 22-year-old shot that man, age 25, in the chest, police said, then drove away in an Acura.

The victim was being treated at Temple University Hospital and was in critical condition, police said.
Additional measures could and should be added to this coastal spine to offer protection to the level recommended by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Specifically, an internal line of defense that my colleagues and I have proposed  the Galveston Bay Park Plan  could be added and, with the coastal spine, would provide protection adequate to a 30-foot surge level. However, the Army Corps of Engineers cost-benefit methodology does not currently allow construction at this level of protection.

If this region wants the Galveston Bay Park Plan to be built, it would require financing through local or state government bonds, or other types of new financing vehicles, such as social impact bonds. Therefore, providing this level of protection will depend on leadership from our city and state elected officials.

For all these reasons, only with an extraordinary effort will we be able to come up with a better way to protect these facilities. Instead of having a national policy of trying to prevent horrible environmental disasters, our current policy assures that such destruction will occur. We are spending significant sums of money on inadequate protection that creates a false sense of success and security.

It is time that this issue of adequate surge protection be addressed nationally. I have lived on the Texas coast with the risk of this horrific event all my life, watching near miss after near miss. But with climate change increasing the frequency of storms and the speed at which they intensify, we cannot depend on the models and methods of the past.

The harm from such a surge would be unbelievable. Research from my colleagues at Rice University indicate that a 24-foot surge would cause the failure of storage tanks that would release a volume of nearly 90 million gallons of oil and hazardous substances. All of this would flow into adjacent neighborhoods and then into Galveston Bay, the second most productive estuary in the United States.

This time, the Houston region was fortunate. Laura went elsewhere, and although the damage to other parts of the Gulf Coast was terrible, it wasnt the catastrophe I feared. I sincerely hope that this time the reality of what could have happened will cause us to rethink our concepts of acceptable risk, take our changing climate into consideration and protect our key ecological and economic resources.
Patna:

Stressing that every section of the society is affected by black money and corruption, Bihar Governor Ramnath Kovind on Thursday said demonetisation is a"positive effort" to free the society of the ills.

"Demonetisation is a positive effort in the directionto free the society of black money and corruption," theGovernor said at the annual function of Bihar Chamber and Commerce.

"As a result of demonetisation, weaker section of the society would get relief while the financial and tradeactivities would get a boost through greater transparency themeasure would bring in," he said in his address as Chief Guest.

The governor stressed on branding of Bihar for industrial development of the state. He appealed to the Chamber to present a "road map" toboost industries in Bihar to the government.

Kovind said that Bihar which primarily has anagriculture-based economy holds tremendous potential in thefield of industries related to food processing.

Bihar Industries minister Jai Kumar Singh said that the government paid special attention to suggestions made by the leading trade and commerce body in drafting its "growth-oriented" Industrial policy.

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In recognizing the wealth and assets that exist within the city's Black community, organizers want to leave a legacy that will benefit African Americans for years. And years.

"Now we are going to have a big vehicle for solutions," said Bishop Adrian Starks during a virtual announcement on Friday with Lindsay, Mae Douglas, a longtime philanthropist, and Walker Sanders, president of The Community Foundation.

Douglas said early on organizers came across likeminded African American leaders and visionaries who had been thinking of what they could do to "advance the Black community."

Thing is, organizers had already been working on an endowment. Then George Floyd's death in Minneapolis launched a sustained movement regarding the lives of Black people and accelerated the timetable.

"This is a moment and time we think is full of possibilities," Douglas said.

Starks said that the Greensboro Equity Fund doesn't want to work in isolation and that it would take partnerships with "friends and supporters."

"We cannot do this alone," he said.
New Delhi: One of the first celebrities to have started 'Justice for Sushant', after the death of Bollywood actor on June 14, 2020, Shekhar Suman in an exclusive interview with Zee News opened up on why he feels people should let the CBI investigate and let the truth without making it sensational.

When asked about the current scenario and development in the death case, Shekhar Suman said: "I feel strange because from where it all started to what it is today, there have been various additions, new angles coming to fore every day. It seems to me that in the last 70 days the confidentiality, scepticism has increased and credibility has diminished. And that is because the story started with Nepotism, Gangism, then came Depression, Bipolar theory, to double murder, money laundering, Mumbai Police, Bihar Police, Supreme Court, personal agenda and now drugs. It looks like there is someone who is helming the narrative and sitting on the driver's seat changing the plot the way he wants and...we are going the same way."

He added, the primary question was is it a murder or a suicide. We should be looking to find out the main culprits and ensure Sushant gets justice. I started 'Justice for Sushant' from June 15 itself because I suspect foul play and believe it is not a suicide. Drug cartel, money laundering are separate issues which must be probed but I feel someone is trying to mislead the investigation by shifting the focus from the main issue of finding the truth."

He said: "Now look today it has become a battle between the news channels. People are pointing fingers at each other, which is not right. There is no need to make it sensational. This is a very emotional and serious subject."

Shekhar Suman told Zee News: "I had come forward on this subject because I felt that when the investigation should be handed over to the CBI. Now that it has, I thought I should take a back seat, but the new facts are coming out every day. Even if I don't want to, I am compelled to speak on the issue. Everywhere, there is talk of drugs, and on the other hand, one of the ambulance drivers, has revealed that while the body colour should have been white, Sushant's body was yellowish. His leg was broken etc. It seems to me that the time has come that we should sit and wait to see what conclusion the CBI investigation reaches."

Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020. The CBI is investigating the case with all possible angles in Mumbai.


At this time last year, Yoon Seok-min, his wife Kim Hyo-jung and their two children traveled to the Philippines, Vietnam, and Guam. They were considering a trip to the Hawaiian Islands this year.

Since the coronavirus health crisis began, Yoon and Kims family, like other South Koreans, have turned to a new kind of vacation: a staycation.

Staycation is a term that suggests a vacation while staying at or near ones home. Some people do staycations by changing their homes into their favorite holiday stops.

Kim and Yoon live in Yongin city, south of Seoul. Their five-bedroom apartment has small palm trees. The chairs and other furniture are made from rattan, a climbing palm grown in tropical countries.

Kim and Yoon have created the breezy feel of the tropics in each room. Their bedroom looks like something one might see at a resort hotel on the Indonesian island of Bali. The living room has things you might find in Hawaii.

Since we cant travel abroad for some time because of the coronavirus, we tried to bring those vacation spots to our home, Kim said.

Yoon and Kims complex home improvement project cost them at least $67,000.

But they are not alone in investing in their home, as social distancing forces many people indoors.

Hanssem Corporation is the largest home furnishing company in South Korea. The company says the number of houses it has refurbished between April and June of 2020 tripled from a year earlier.



Camping at home

Another kind of staycation has also become popular in South Korea. It is home-camping.

Home-camping is a term that means that people set up camping equipment at home - just as they would in the woods or at the beach.

Che Min-hee and her husband changed their Seoul apartment into an indoor campsite after a rise in coronavirus cases and two months of heavy rain.

On a day not too long ago, Che and her husband, Lee Seung-yoon, sat on folding chairs and cooked food on a small stove. Behind them, the television was showing a campfire video. This is their second weekend home-camping trip.

We were supposed to go on a week-long trip to New York this summer, which we cancelled due to the  coronavirus outbreak, said Che. Instead we spent that money on camping gear, which cost us around $8,400.

South Koreans are normally among the top ten spenders on international travel, according to the World Bank. Because of the outbreak, some people are buying camping equipment to make up for missed vacations.

South Koreas E-Mart Incorporated reports that sales of camping equipment from April to mid-July increased 51.6 percent compared to last year.

South Korean officials recently asked people to avoid leaving home and to cancel any unnecessary trips. The government is considering stronger social distancing rules.

Lee says he fears these moves mean home-camping is the safest summer vacation this year.

His 7-year-old son Lee Ji-sung is thinking about ways to be even more creative.

My friends seem to be just playing games, but its really nice that our family is doing something special, the boy said.

I think it would also be good if we can draw trees on the wall.

I'm John Russell.



Joori Roh and Hyun Young Yi reported on this story for Reuters news agency. John Russell adapted the story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.



______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

tropical  adj. of or being from an area with temperatures high enough to support year-round plant growth

refurbish  v. to freshen or brighten up, often by remodeling

triple  v. to make three times as many

according  adv. as stated by or in

draw  v. to make or create a picture
Central business district in Singapore. (PHOTO: ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images)

By Abhishek Vishnoi

(Bloomberg) -- Rising global optimism about a coronavirus treatment is prompting a top Singapore analyst to take a bullish view of pandemic-hit small stocks in the city-state.

Newsflow related to the development of a vaccine can stoke long bets on Covid losers, according to Jarick Seet, who was ranked by the Asiamoney Brokers Poll as Singapores top researcher for small-cap shares in three of the last four years. His top picks include staffing firm HRnetgroup Ltd., property developer Oxley Holdings Ltd. and event-organiser Unusual Ltd., which are all down at least 21% this year and have a market cap of less than S$1 billion (US$735 million) each.

Vaccine optimism can make some smaller companies generate exponential returns versus large caps, said Seet, the head of small and mid-cap research at RHB Securities. Some money has already started shifting to Covid-hit sectors from stocks such as makers of personal protective equipment.

In recent weeks, promising updates by a number of companies that are in the race to develop a vaccine have encouraged some investors to pivot to stocks tied to the global economic recovery and normal functioning of businesses. At the same time, Asian small-cap stocks have outperformed their larger peers this month, paring some of the latters dominance over the first seven months of the year.

Seet said he also remains bullish on Singapores technology stocks.

Semiconductor stocks will continue to rally as a lot of their clients are looking to upgrade their systems, he said. His top picks in the sector include Avi-Tech Electronics Ltd., UMS Holdings Ltd. and Frencken Group Ltd.

Meanwhile, shares of some companies linked to the pandemic that have skyrocketed this year appear to be losing steam. Medical apparel maker Medtecs International Corp. has fallen about 18% from its record earlier this month after jumping more than 4,500% for the year. Glove maker UG Healthcare Corp. has dropped around 34% from its all-time high.

Story continues

That said, the pandemic is still widening. Global cases have topped 24.4 million and several nations are battling a resurgence in infections, threatening a rebound in business activities. As for Singapore, the city-state is attempting to cautiously restart its economy after earlier entering a two-month lockdown designed to stem the spread of the virus. Gross domestic product shrank a record 13.2% year-on-year in the second quarter.

Officials are quietly confident in the economic recovery through year-end, with fiscal stimulus helping to support domestic consumption and enable businesses and workers to shift to new industries, Trade & Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Friday.

Covid-19 losers have already been punished a lot while the winners have surged a lot, Seet said. The risk-reward is attractive.

READ: Singapore Stocks Shine in Asia Boosted by U.S. Yields

 2020 Bloomberg L.P.
More than 100,000 Australians are stranded overseas because of coronavirus travel bans with reparation likely to take six months under travel caps, the airline industry has warned.

According to government estimates, 18,800 Australians in other countries are looking to return home - but industry experts claim the real figure is around 100,000.

One airline has been forced to turn hundreds of passengers with tickets away at the boarding gate, while others airlines can't sell new tickets until the current backlog of thousands of passengers is cleared.

The Board of Airline Representatives of Australia, which includes international carriers such as Qatar Airways, Etihad, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines, warned tough restrictions may leave these citizens stranded for many more months.

Naomi Nguyen (pictured), a 22-year-old from Sydney, is one such Australian stranded overseas who had been working as an English language assistant at a high school in Spain

Passengers are seen arriving into Sydney after securing a seat on a flight from Hong Kong (pictured on August 23) as they are ushered to hotel quarantine by waiting police

'Based on available data and discussions with international airlines, it is possible more than 100,000 Australians are overseas who are, or will be, seeking to return to Australia,' Barry Abrams, Executive Director of BARA said.

Mr Abrams said there was a pressing need to determine a more accurate total of how many citizens are overseas and trying to return to the country.

'Based on the current ability to return less than 4,000 Australians per week, often at only 30 passengers per flight, it would take some six months to cover 100,000 Australians overseas,' he said.

''With passenger numbers on many arriving international flights capped at about 30, the cost per passenger equation becomes terrible for airlines and passengers.'

Opposition Foreign Affairs spokesperson Penny Wong on Friday said the government should be providing financial support for those Australians stuck overseas.

The government has advised those stranded to access early superannuation withdrawals and there have been reports of consular staff advising citizens to start crowdfunding pages.

Police are seen waiting at Sydney Airport on August 23 (pictured) to take returning Australians to quarantine hotels

Mr Abrams said international airlines have told the board the are continuing to receive hundreds of requests for travel back to Australia and are effectively 'triaging' cases based on urgency.

Australia closed the nation's international borders to tourists to halt the spread of COVID-19 on March 20 and told citizens overseas that they should return as soon as possible.

In early July, however, tight international arrival caps were introduced limiting the number of passengers a plane could bring into the country - only 4,000 a week.

This is due to Australia's commitment to strict hotel quarantine for 14 days for every returning travel, amid fears large numbers of arrivals could disrupt the complicated system.

Qatar Airways (pictured) is the main airline flying Australians home with Qantas and Virgin effectively pausing international flights

There have been reports of economy passengers being bumped at the last minute for high paying business customers and planes flying with nearly empty economy sections.

Naomi Nguyen, a 22-year-old from Sydney, is one such Australian who had been working as an English language assistant at a high school in Spain when the country entered lockdown on March 14.

'Since the Australian government has now decided to bring in flight restrictions/capacities, it has been almost impossible to return home,' Ms Nguyen wrote.

'In Sydney, it is also only 30 passengers per plane. So airlines are prioritising business passengers for those 30 seats, the only way to make money.

The empty economy section of one flight back to Australia (pictured) was captured by a passenger

'Most of us in economy have literally had our seats taken off us and given to someone else willing to pay for a business one. It is cruel.'

Other Australians have also come froward expressing anger and frustration at the government for not stepping in.

'Australians are stranded overseas, businesses are unable to trade and families are separated,' one Australian wrote to Trade Minister Simon Birmingham.

Both Qantas and Virgin Australia have effectively paused international flights, leaving Doha based Qatar Airways as the biggest carrier of passengers into the country.

The airline estimates it has helped return 170,000 Australians and international travelers since March, about tenfold it's nearest competitor.

CEO Akbar Al Baker said flights had become a 'balancing act' under arrival caps with a growing list of bumped passengers unable to be placed on a replacement flight.

'Many passengers will be unable to travel back to Australia for the foreseeable future,' he said.

Naomi Nguyen (pictured), a 22-year-old from Sydney, became stuck in Spain when the country went into lockdown in mid-March

The federal government has reportedly been working on a large scale plan to bring Australians back to the country and quarantine them in remote facilities .

Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman told the Guardian the caps have been 'probably the biggest area of concern being raised' by constituents.

Colleague Dave Sharma said he had raised the issue with the government and that he was assured 'they are working towards increasing the cap'.

The airline industry is also calling on the government to relax flight caps.

'Given the existing backlog of passengers, greater flexibility within caps would also mean international airlines are better placed to support hardship cases, as there are plenty of spare seats on every flight.'Mr Abrams said.

'International airlines will continue to work with all levels of government in finding workable solutions for returning Australian citizens home during the COVID-19 pandemic'.
In 1963, while paraphrasing Charles Darwin, a Louisiana State University professor said, "According to Darwin's Origin of Species, it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself."

If there's a principle that can better be applied to running a business during a pandemic, I'd be hard-pressed to find it.

Companies of all kinds are rising to the call, adapting to meet the challenges and opportunities that come with growing online demand. Here are some of the innovative, winning strategies worthy of your attention.

Captivate customers

The sixth State of Marketing report from Salesforce revealed that real-time customer engagement is the leading challenge for marketers; in fact, marketing leaders ranked it as one of their top priorities, second only to innovation.

When the Covid-19 outbreak ruined fashion brand Michael Kors's plans to roll out a new line of customizable handbags, the company pivoted by creating a series of digital initiatives including a virtual pop-up experience in which users can take a personality quiz and get a personalized message and handbag recommendation from Kors himself. The fashion house also released a series of livestream sessions and videos featuring the handbags. Continuing down this digital path, in lieu of presenting the spring 2021 collection at New York Fashion Week this fall, it will be released via a new format the label called a "multilayered digital experience" in a press release.

Now, not every brand has a Michael Kors, but the strategy is noteworthy. Populating social and digital platforms with innovative, convenient, personalized experiences creates moments and memories that make customers feel connected to the brand, even when they can't see or touch something in person or try something on.

Give customers the experience they want

For all the headaches crises cause, they are fertile breeding grounds for reinvention. Accenture suggests there are "three lenses for creating good brand experiences in uncertain times"--empathy, adaptability, and reinvention--which I find to be spot-on. I want to focus on empathy because it serves as a gateway to the others.

Empathizing means listening, learning, and evolving from a place of compassion. In commerce, what that boils down to is investing in understanding what your customers are going through so you can provide them with choices, means, services, and products they find valuable. With today's abundance of brand touch points, advancements in analytics, and behavioral recording tools, making data-driven decisions is quite accessible; think customer analytics data, social listening tools, and customer journey mapping.

Google's new Rising Retail Categories tool was launched to help brands "understand fast-rising retail categories in Google Search, the locations where they're growing, and the queries associated with them." In a blog post, Google product manager Pallavi Naresh shared feedback from several companies that had the opportunity to preview the tool.

One example comes from a cookware company that, observing flour was a growing category in the United States, contemplated partnering with a famous local chef to create engaging content featuring recipes with flour. In a slightly less linear example, a jewelry and accessories company saw products in the "free weights" category trending, prompting its team to create strategic partnerships with fitness influencers to promote their products.

Remodel business to meet changing demands

The "dark store" retail model was around well before this pandemic, but has historically been more popular in Europe until recently. The concept, which has been growing in popularity globally thanks to Covid-19, is to convert traditional retail stores into local fulfillment centers.

The byproduct is that, with no in-store customers to tend to, retailers can accommodate growing online demand with faster deliveries while also giving the main fulfillment hubs some breathing room.

DoorDash, though it has no brick-and-mortar locations to convert, is doing something along these lines with its recent introduction of DashMart, a chain of virtual convenience stores. The launch of DashMart makes DoorDash the first delivery service to source and manage its own delivery inventory.

Here's why the model works, at least for the foreseeable future: Even after things return to whatever "normal" looks like, people have become accustomed to grocery shopping online. Data from Kantar shows that, since the pandemic started, the number of online grocery buyers has increased by 30 percent globally, and the consumers who have adopted online grocery shopping during this time have shown high satisfaction.
It was in the ladies' toilet of the Lyceum Ballroom in London that one of the most fabled relationships between a band and a record company would come into existence.

U2, then a decidedly rough-and-ready quartet with a mouthy frontman, had been in existence a few years and had aroused plenty of fans and critics, but they were struggling to find a suitable record label. Enter Island Records.

Even in 1980, Island was considered a seminal independent label, so when it started sniffing around the Dublin band, there was excitement. Nick 'The Captain' Stewart, one of Island's A&R executives - or chief talent scout, in layman's terms - liked the few London shows he saw them perform and he finally got them to sign on the dotted line in the aforementioned theatre.

For Island's founder, Chris Blackwell, the fledgling U2 were a long way from the world-beaters they would become. "I didn't love the music," he said, years later. "It was a little rinky-dink, but I believed in them." And, crucially, U2 believed in themselves too.

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Bono and friends may have all been around the tender age of 20, but they had a significant tool in their armoury: manager Paul McGuinness. He wasn't that much older, but he was much more worldly - and he had a superb understanding about how the music industry worked and how the artist was usually the one to get the bum deal.

That would not be the case this time. McGuinness sensed that Island could be made to commit to the band for the long haul and he negotiated a contract that was far better than many of U2's contemporaries would have signed. Adam Clayton later recalled: "It wasn't the greatest deal that any band had ever signed, but it was enough. It was a commitment for a couple of singles and a+n album and a little bit of money."

For McGuinness, the arrangement was a stroke of good fortune. "[The label] still retained some of its hippie character. We were very lucky to be signed to Island, in fact, because even though they were short of resources and somewhat disorganised, it was our opportunity to become good at stuff."

U2 repaid Stewart and Blackwell's faith and by 1984, when it came to negotiating a new contract, the band were in a strong position, especially after the success of their third album, War. In what industry insiders would later hold up as the gold standard when it comes to artist-friendly, financially savvy record deals, McGuinness was able to secure an especially strong undertaking that they would own all their own songs and the royalties paid to them would be well above the norm.

"Like most people, our early deals were strongly stacked in favour of the record company and the publishing company," McGuinness later said. "We were able to improve those deals over time because we were successful."

Bono put it more succinctly: "U2 were never dumb in business."

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It was remarkable confidence, especially because U2 had come close to signing contracts before but the deals had fallen through. EMI had sent an A&R man to a show in the now-defunct McGonagles in Dublin. He was enthused, but his bosses were not.

CBS had released early singles in Ireland - including the chart-topping 'Out of Control' - but had declined to take them on internationally. McGuinness had apparently wanted a CBS deal similar to the one enjoyed by the Boomtown Rats, but the label was not for turning.

Everything changed for the band once Island was on board. Soon they would release a single, '11 O'Clock Tick Tock', that would demonstrate an artistic leap from what they had done before and a debut album, Boy, would arrive within months.

Now, 40 years on, the band have rereleased that debut Island single as on limited edition 12-inch transparent blue vinyl specifically for Record Store Day, which takes place today (see panel).

The single is significant in the U2 story for reasons other than Island's backing. It offers a tantalising what-might-have-been thanks to being produced by Martin Hannett. The Englishman was among the most in-demand of producers of the day, having helped to shape the distinct monochrome sound of Joy Division. In April 1980, he came to Dublin's Windmill Lane studios to cut the record with U2 - but it would be the only piece of music he and the group would make together.

Would their first album have sounded very different to what was released later in the year had Hannett been at the control desk? Almost certainly, yes.

Island had wanted Hannett to produce the as-yet-untitled debut album, but the band had disliked the recording process with him. They felt he was trying to impose his signature sound on them. "I don't think he thought much of the rhythm section," Clayton later recalled. "It was really hard to get a backing track, and we were at it for hours. Eventually he said to Edge: 'What are we going to do? It's three in the morning and the rhythm section [Clayton and Larry Mullen] can't play in time together'."

It had all been so different in March when they had travelled to a studio in Stockport, near Manchester, to persuade him to be their producer. Their visit coincided with the recording of Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' - and that extraordinary song, the band's most emblematic track - would be released in May, the same month that '11 O'Clock Tick Tock' came out.

It was to Island staff producer Steve Lillywhite that U2 would turn for production, and the fruits of their work with him arrived in August with the 'A Day Without Me' single. Some, including executives at Island, assumed the song was about Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis, who had taken his own life a few months before, but that wasn't the case. The band had first performed the song in February and there had been no lyrical changes since then.

Lillywhite turned out to be a good fit for the young band. He had produced acclaimed singles from Siouxsie and the Banshees and XTC, seemed to get what U2 were about - post-punk, but with commercial aspirations - and he helped them to create something special in Boy, which was released in October.

"Steve was such a breath of fresh air," Bono recalled. "He was like a children's television presenter: 'OK everybody, take out a box of Cornflakes and get an old container of orange juice and chop the top off it. If you glue them together you can make a phone!' He was that side of Britain: very positive and practical. 'All right, we can find a way to make it. Larry and Adam, you can't play in time. Okay, right, I've a few ideas!'"

The album would be recorded in a little over a month - it would turn out to be by far the quickest of the 14 studio albums they have recorded to date - and it remains one of their very best too.

How different might the story of U2 have been if there had been no record deal with Island? Would another label have pushed for something very different? Would the band, who had been wrestling with demons around identity and religion, even have made an album?





Record Store Day gets its first spin

This years Record Store Day has had to be rethought due to the pandemic, and organisers are now holding three RSD Drops, over the next couple of the months, with the first one taking place today.

Most of the countrys record stores will be taking part and there is a strong emphasis on vinyl. There will be new releases from David Bowie, the Cure, Christine and the Queens and Manic Street Preachers.

The event was initially due to take place on Saturday, April 18 and initially postponed until June 20 due to lockdown restrictions. It has now been spread over three separate days to accommodate social distancing. RSD Drops will also happen on September 26 and October 24.





See recordstoreday.ie for further information.
(Natural News) In order to force compliance among those who are resisting wearing a mask and socially distancing, Prof. Parker Crutchfield, a bioethicist from Western Michigan University, is calling for water supplies all across the nation to be laced with morality pills.

Those deplorables who are rejecting the narrative that staying away from people and covering the mouth and nose with cloth is somehow helping to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) need to be forcibly drugged in order to convert them into believers, according to Crutchfield.

A user of morality pills himself, Crutchfield believes that achieving total compliance is as easy as altering peoples brain chemistry with pharmaceuticals  and doing it covertly without people even knowing it.

To me, it seems the problem of coronavirus defectors could be solved by moral enhancement: like receiving a vaccine to beef up your immune system, people could take a substance to boost their cooperative, pro-social behavior, Crutchfield is quoted as saying.

Though Crutchfield admits that the idea represents a far-out proposal thats bound to be controversial, he believes it to be the most appropriate next-step for getting everyone on board with the pro-mask, pro-distancing plandemic agenda.

So-called moral enhancement, he contends, can be made compulsory simply by administer[ing] it secretly, perhaps via the water supply. He recently published a thesis in the Conversation, a news site focusing on content sourced from the academic and research community and supported by universities from around the world, to quote LifeSiteNews, towards this end.

Since when is eugenics a proper method of getting people to do what you want them to do?

As for the types of drugs that might accomplish what Crutchfield is trying to push, oxytocin and psilocybin, the latter being a primary component of magic mushrooms, are two solid contenders, he says.

The only problem is that these substances also tend to make people do other things that Crutchfield does not like, which suggests that he may have some moral failings of his own that he needs to deal with before telling others how to live their lives.

Oxytocin, he says, can encourage ethnocentrism, which is apparently bad. But wait, we thought this drug was a moral enhancer rather than a moral detractor? Crutchfield would appear to want to pick and choose which moral enhancements to accept from this forced drugging.

Just like fluoride, a toxic substance that is also laced into water supplies to enhance peoples teeth, these morality enhancers would be fed into the pipes willy-nilly, with no regard for dosing.

But Crutchfield does not care, as he is more concerned with getting people to cooperate with others, which really means cooperate with the globalist plan to keep everyone masked and distanced probably forever  or at least until a vaccine is unveiled.

The hilarious irony of Crutchfields morality crusade is that the things for which he is crusading are questionably moral, not to mention questionably scientific. The legitimacy of social distancing, for example, has been challenged by multiple experts, including in Sweden, South Dakota, and elsewhere where lockdowns and masks were never implemented.

One study out of South Africa found that lockdowns may actually be increasing rates of illness and death, potentially causing 29 times more fatalities than if everything were simply to have remained open.

Crutchfield has plenty of straitjacket-worthy company in our modern-day insane asylum called academia; in fact, he isnt even the worst, notes Selwyn Duke, writing for The New American.

For example, Professor Richard Parncutt of the University of Graz, Austria, actually proposed in 2012 that global-warming realists and the pope be executed  for societys good.

For more related news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) plandemic, be sure to check out Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheNewAmerican.com

NaturalNews.com
When driving over the Tauranga harbour bridge I often look down at the YWAM Koha ship berthed at the end of the dock.

It was due to sail to the Pacific Islands in May but because of the global pandemic had stayed here. I wondered about the crew on board, where they all hailed from and how theyd fared.

Id also heard there had been a post-lockdown wedding between two of the captains.

The YWAM Koha is a NZ-registered medical aid ship, but its also Taurangas own. Director Marty Emmett says over the last year a deep sense of connection has grown between the Tauranga community and the vessel, with many locals volunteering their time and expertise to help with the ships mission of taking medical aid up into the Pacific Islands.

The plan is for Koha to be open for public tours later this year, but being curious, once we reached Alert Level 1 I went on board to check it out.

Shaileerae Cabreros and Bryan Clark in the YWAM Koha's galley

After signing in, it was up and down little steps until popping through one door I found myself in the galley where Bryan Clark, Kohas chef from California, was working away on food preparation with Shaileerae Cabreros from Hawaii. Shaileerae arrived last July, and Bryan in March, just before the nationwide lockdown. They are feeding around 18 people twice daily.

Once in a while I surprise them with French toast, pancakes or eggs, says Bryan who has worked in the newspaper world for 46 years. It depends on how early I wake up or how much coffee Ive had.

He laughs as he recounts becoming the adopted grandfather of a family of seven who arrived for a week to volunteer their time on board.

Hes a grandfather himself 15 times over with nine greatgrandchildren living back in the USA and Canada, staying connected via the internet.

The YWAM Koha berthed near the Tauranga harbour bridge.

Each week Koha receives food from Good Neighbour through their Food Rescue programme.

Its been amazing, says Marty.

We head up more steps until reaching the bridge, we find the newly married captains  Stephanie and Jonathan Birdsall.

Both from the UK, they also both attended the Maritime College in 1974.

Stephanie started her cadetship with BP in 1974 and I started mine with Mobil Oil in 1973, says Jonathan.

They became more aware of each other during the last decade and found they often missed each other by days as Stephanie would finish on board a ship with Jonathan arriving to captain the same ship shortly afterwards.

They made a point of meeting up in Brisbane last year and a romance blossomed. Their original plans to be married in the UK with family around them in June were quashed by the pandemic. Jonathan works week on and week off as a captain for the Interislander ferry but had taken five months break to attend a YWAM DTS course in Nelson.

Stephanie flew into NZ just before lockdown and when the country returned to Level 3 they made the decision to go ahead with a small low key wedding. Kohas crew however turned it into a bigger celebration, putting up bunting around the deck with a ship party and cake.

The vessel and its crew are hoping to welcome the public aboard mid-October, Covid dependent of course.
A wildfire prevention project in southeastern B.C. has enlisted an army of unusual soldiers to help keep dry grasses and other tinder in check.

Two-hundred cattle spent June grazing on a 52 sq. km area of Crown land south of Cranbrook, B.C., as part of the pilot project. Targeted grazing is a fire risk mitigation method already being used in southern Europe and some parts of the U.S.

The grazing is "targeted" in terms of when and where the natural biofuels are being consumed. It often has to be combined with other methods, such as prescribed burning.

Removing conifers  a major source of forest fires  is part of the Cranbrook project managed by Mike Pritchard, wildfire prevention coordinator with the B.C. Cattlemen's Association. This practice may boost the growth of grasses and increase fire risk, but those grasses are more likely to be eaten by cattle.

"When we remove conifers, we naturally increase light and increase water, and it grows grass. And so this grass is very palatable in most cases," Pritchard told Chris Walker, host of CBC's Daybreak South.

Tyler Zhao

The project used electric fencing to prevent the cattle from wandering away.

But Pritchard says electric fencing is not the ultimate solution. He's hoping Telus will provide GPS collars to be worn by cattle in October for another experiment. These collars would allow project administrators to control the movement of cattle without building physical fences.

The solar-powered collars will sound alarms when the animal is within five metres of the virtual boundary, and the animal may get zapped if it gets too close to the virtual fence.

Tyler Zhao

Pritchard runs a parallel pilot grazing project in Summerland and Peachland, B.C. He expects the project could be fully implemented next year.

The targeted grazing initiative is sponsored by the Ministry of Forests in B.C. and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, there were 569 fires across B.C. between Apr. 1 and Aug. 25 of this year, with 7,656 hectares of land burned. Most fires have occurred in the southeastern part of the province.
What factors are driving the investment trend of Thai investors into Vietnams renewable energy?

Vit Vatanayothin, partner at Baker McKenzies Bangkok office

Thai investors in the renewable energy industry have found their usual domestic markets and investment prospects rapidly drying up. This was partly due to a saturated market and excess capacities already being generated by the private sector and failure to implement the projects awarded by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, Provincial Electricity Authority, and Metropolitan Electricity Authority.

In response to these impediments, the Thai Ministry of Energy has been slow to implement new power purchase agreement (PPA) bidding rounds under various schemes with a view to cleaning up the market by terminating the backlog of previously awarded PPAs, whose project owners failed to achieve commercial operation by their respective schedules.

With the dearth of attractive and available investment opportunities at home, Thai investors that are keen to grow and accomplish the targeted installed capacities have been looking to its neighbours in the ASEAN region to seek out new golden fields.

What makes Vietnam attractive?

In recent years, Vietnam has become a hotbed of foreign direct investment activity across many sectors. Viable opportunities to either directly develop (whether solely or jointly with other foreign or local investors), or acquire conventional as well as renewable power projects (particularly solar and wind) with attractive internal rate of return (IRR) owing to high feed-in tariffs awarded by Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) have proved irresistible.

Major Thai power producers, being sophisticated investors themselves, typically do come on the scene prepared to overcome certain legal hurdles in Vietnam. In many cases, Thai sponsors have been keen to secure participation in projects based solely on high-level technical, financial, and legal due diligence findings, knowing fully that some fundamental issues found in due diligence exercises may not be resolved, and that these hurdles will cause difficulties in finding project financing on a limited-recourse basis in both international and Thai financial markets.

With a very attractive IRR in place, major Thai power producers have been very ambitious to implement the projects with the hope that these legal missteps can later be fixed one way or another without significantly hurting their IRR.

illustration photo, Shutterstock

What are some of the legal issues that investors need to be mindful of?

One of the noteworthy legal issues includes non-bankable renewable PPAs. Solar and wind PPAs awarded by EVN for some small power producer projects have historically been non-bankable, unlike some Vietnamese independent power producer PPAs. This has deterred traditional project financing by foreign lenders during pre-construction and construction phases.

Construction risks are therefore often borne by or allocated solely to project owners. Risks arising from the non-bankable PPAs are usually mitigated by full sponsor support during the operational phase.

Vietnamese law does not permit foreigners, including foreign financial institutions, to take security over immovable property in Vietnam. However, the term immoveable property is not broad enough and the interpretations of such term by Vietnamese authorities are inconsistent, as to which parts of project assets are classified as immovable property and which parts are not classified.

Another issue is that the rigorous Vietnamese exchange control regulation is not investor friendly and rigid conditions are imposed. For instance, the use of medium- to long-term offshore loans to refinance foreign debts is permitted only if such offshore refinancing does not increase the borrowing costs from those of the original foreign debts.

The State Bank of Vietnams (SBV) approval and registration requirements are also posing challenges to Thai investors. Mid- to long-term foreign loans are required to be registered with the SBV prior to disbursement, which is typically very time-consuming. The opening of bank accounts outside of Vietnam by a Vietnamese entity also requires prior SBV approval, which will only be granted on a discretionary and case-by-case basis.

Due to the lack of clear guidelines in the SBVs operations and their conservative administration of financial regulations, delays in the SBV registration process have been largely responsible for holding up financial closes where the investment is being project financed (or refinanced).

Last but not least, it is the requirement to settle payment for onshore goods and services locally and in local currency  Vietnamese exchange control regulations require payment for onshore services provided domestically (such as onshore engineering, procurement, and construction work) to be settled in VND and in Vietnam.

To avoid these legal pitfalls, foreign investors would do well to approach strategic opportunities in Vietnam with a caveat emptor mindset and seek in-depth legal, tax, and financial advice to properly structure their initial investment before offloading any capital in Vietnam.

What are the prospects of Thai investment in Vietnams renewable energy going forward?

Despite the myriad of legal snags and snares, there has been an influx of offshore renewable energy project financings in Vietnam of late. The prospect of reaping favourable returns from Vietnamese power projects, especially renewables and liquefied natural gas-to-power projects, have increased risk appetites of Thai investors and foreign lenders alike.

In following their Thai investors to Vietnam, multilateral development banks such as the Asian Development Bank and major Thai commercial banks have been granting more takeout loans (both directly and via sub-participation arrangements) on a project financing basis to refinance initial funding of projects here.

With sufficient risk allocation measures (such as project sponsors undertaking substantial financial/credit support and/or guarantee obligations), project financing on limited recourse basis is likely to continue gaining ground in Vietnam.
Srinagar, Aug 29 : An Indian Army soldier was killed in South Kashmir's Pulwama district on Saturday during an operation with militants, in which three unidentified terrorists were also neutralised by the security forces.

A joint team of the police and the army cordoned off the Zadoora area following specific information about terrorists in the area. As the security forces zeroed in on the terrorist hideout, they came under a heavy volume of fire triggering the encounter.

"Three unidentified terrorists were killed in an encounter at Zadoora area of Pulwama. Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition was recovered. Search going on," police said.

The cache of arms and ammunition include one AK-47 rifle and two pistols. "One soldier was critically injured and succumbed to his injuries. Joint operation in progress," army said.

The encounter took place just a day after four terrorists were gunned down in South Kashmir's Shopian district, which included two militants who were involved in the abduction and killing of a Kashmiri panch.
London, Aug 29 : UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned that a second nationwide lockdown cannot be ruled out if there was a resurgence in the number of coronavirus cases, it was reported on Saturday.

In a statement to The Times newspaper, Hancock said the possibility of a second wave was "a very serious threat" and that other countries were already seeing a spike in cases, metro.co.uk reported.

But the UK is managing to keep the number of new cases "flat" through the test and trace system and local lockdowns, he told The Times.

"Cases go up again, and we have to use very extensive local lockdowns or take further national action.

"We don't rule that out, but we don't want to see it," the Health Secretary added.

Hancock's remarks came as local lockdown restrictions are to be eased in parts of Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire, which will allow social gatherings from September 2 onwards.

The UK has so far reported a total of 333,798 coronavirus cases and 41,573 deaths.
Organisers of the Tour de France cycle race have confirmed that any team, including riders and support staff, which reports two cases of Covid-19 will be immediately expelled from the event. The Tour rolls out from the French Riviera on Saturday, two months later than planned and under the shadow of a coronavirus pandemic which could still shatter hopes of the world's greatest bike race making it to the Paris finish line in three weeks' time.

The Covid-19 pandemic has this race in its grip.

Tour de France organisers have confirmed that any team that has two members test positive for the coronavirus will be expelled from the Tour. This includes riders and support staff.

Belgian team Lotto has already sent home four of its members after one positive test and one "suspicious" result.

Originally scheduled for June, stage one of the three-week epic over the peaks and plains of France embarks on Saturady from Nice's Promenade des Anglais for a 154km loop. Enthusiasts will tune in to TV coverage in 190 countries.

Last Thursday, French Prime Minister Jean Castex put Nice on a Covid-19 "red zone" list with tightened health protocols.

Tiny crowds set to watch "silent" Tour

Saturday's Promenade des Anglais start in Nice will be watched by just 100 spectators.

Throughout the Tour, a virus testing unit will travel with the teams.

Current French government law limits public gatherings to 5,000.

That means a cataclysmic change for organisers, with some climbs in previous years attracting hundreds of thousands of people along the roadsides.

Health and safety protocols for riders and teams involve them being kept in virtual isolation and tested several times, with the smallest possible interaction between respective groups.

No selfies, please, we're cyclists!

Selfies will be frowned upon.

Dave Brailsford, the head of Team Ineos which has grabbed seven of the last eight Tour de France titles, admitted there remains uncertainty over the race getting to the Champs-Elysees on September 20.

"If there comes a point when it becomes too much of a risk for riders and teams, to society in general, then people need to take that on board," he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 29) Up to 6-million worth of cash reward is up for anyone who can provide information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the suspected mastermind of the Jolo, Sulu twin blasts as well as one other suspect, according to local officials.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco said authorities are looking for Abu Sayyaf Group subleader Mundi Sawadjaan, who is suspected to be the brain of the explosions that rocked the town on August 24. A 3-million reward will be provided to those who can help in the hunt.

Officials are offering the same cash reward for those who can help track down Indonesian national Andi Baso, who is also regarded as one of the suspects of the blasts that left at least 15 people dead.

Aside from the two, authorities are likewise hunting down another Indonesian national Reski Fantasya aka Cici who is said to be the wife of Baso and a suspect in the Jolo cathedral bombings in 2019. The government, however, did not specify a cash reward for her information.

According to Climaco, the reward money will be coming from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency. She also warned the public against the three saying they are believed to be on a mission to sow terror in the peninsula.

Authorities disclosed earlier that they are in hot pursuit of Abu Sayyaf bomb expert Sawadjaan following the explosions. A joint task force is also working for the immediate arrest of Sawadjaan.

The pursuit of the joint task force resulted in the death of two Abu Sayyaf members on Saturday at 9:45 a. m., as they reportedly encountered ASG members fleeing Patikul, Sulu. The encounter reportedly lasted for 30 minutes after the enemy withdrew to an unknown direction, according to the military. One soldier was killed while seven others were wounded.

Two Filipinos allegedly carried out the twin blasts and were the same alleged suicide bombers being tracked down by four military intelligence officers killed by police officers two months ago, Philippine Army chief Cirilito Sobejana said in a statement.

Jolo will also be placed under a temporary lockdown starting August 30, 8 a.m., until further notice, according to the Facebook page of its municipal government.

"May bibisita bukas sa site from national government," said Jolo Mayor Kherkhar Tan on the lockdown.

[Translation: Someone from the national government will visit the blast site tomorrow.]
At Least 15 Afghan Civilians Killed In Two Separate Attacks

By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan August 28, 2020

Afghan officials say at least 15 civilians have been killed in two separate roadside bomb blasts in the southern province of Kandahar.

The first explosion killed 12 civilians, including three children, when the vehicle they were traveling in hit an explosive device in Spin Boldak district on the morning of August 28, Kandahar governor's spokesman, Ahmad Bahir Ahmadi, told RFE/RL.

He said the blast was so strong that officials were having difficulty identifying some of the victims.

A few hours later, a second bomb hit a vehicle traveling on the same road.

Ahmadi said the driver of the vehicle and two children were killed in the blast. Another child was wounded.

Ahmadi blamed the attacks on the Taliban.

The Taliban have not commented on the incident, but they usually deny involvement in bombings that cause civilian casualties.

In Kabul, President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attacks and called on the Taliban to stop planting bombs on roads and attacking civilians.

In a statement, Ghani reiterated his calls on the Taliban to cease violence and start face-to-face talks with the Afghan government as part of a U.S.-Taliban deal signed in February aimed at ending conflict in the country.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has documented more than 1,280 Afghan civilian deaths during the first half of 2020 -- mainly as a result of fighting between government forces and the Taliban.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30809291.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.

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The Vernon County Historical Society marked the womens suffrage centennial with a celebration in Viroqua on the county museums north lawn, Wednesday, Aug. 26.

The celebration was held on Womens Equality Day, which is observed in the United States on Aug. 26 to commemorate the 1920 adoption of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution which prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United State on the basis of sex.

The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving full suffrage to women, was approved by the U.S. Senate in June of 1919, and then sent to the states to be ratified. On June 10, 1919, Wisconsin was the first state to ratify the amendment.

The Womens Suffrage Centennial Celebration included Maud Neprud (portrayed by Shaynan Holen) welcoming those in attendance.

Neprud, who was born in Coon Valley in 1892, was the first Vernon County woman elected to public office and served as County Superintendent of Schools from 1917 to 1919. She was also the first woman in Wisconsin to be elected as a county schools superintendent, according to one obituary. She died in 1981.

Circuit Court Judge Darcy Rood read a proclamation in honor of the centennial. The best way to honor the suffragists is to vote in November and every election thereafter, Rood said.

Following Roods reading of the proclamation, attendees re-created a mini suffrage march on the sidewalks around the museum. Some of the marchers wore period dress and sashes and carried parade signs.

Two womens suffrage exhibits were displayed on the museums lawn during the celebration  Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence, a poster exhibition from the Smithsonian, and Rightfully Hers, organized by the National Archives and Records Administration. The historical society is hosting these exhibits on the museums first floor.

There was also an exhibit featuring nationally-known suffragists who visited Vernon County  Lucy Stone and the Rev. Olympia Brown  and a display case highlighting Vernon County suffragists, many of whom were the first women to serve in elected offices throughout the county after Nepruds election.

Angela Cina can be reached at angie.cina@lee.net.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 20:07:32|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Ministry of Interior on Saturday expressed concerns that several provinces neighboring Myanmar might be at high risk of contracting COVID-19 cases as the number of infections rises in Myanmar.

"The interior ministry had instructed 10 provinces in close proximity to Myanmar and/or provinces that accommodate Myanmar nationals, to stay alert and tighten scrutiny in controlling patrons coming into Thai soil from Myanmar," said Chatchai Promlert, the ministry's permanent secretary.

"We have to especially stay vigilant on illegal entry across the border," said Chatchai, referring to the increasing number of illegal entry of Myanmar workers seeking for jobs in Thailand.

Thailand's Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) had previously reported that a second wave of COVID-19 outbreak had hit Myanmar.

Since Aug. 16 in Myanmar, there have been 580 cases, most of them in Sittwe, the capital of the northern Rakhine State, leading to a lockdown of since Aug. 20, said CCSA.

The 10 Thai provinces that were told to stay alert of in border interception include Kanchanaburi, Chumphon, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Tak, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Mae Hong Son, Ranong and Ratchaburi.

Thai border patrol officers had already installed barbed wire fences, surveillance cameras, and using drones at several checkpoints along the Thai-Myanmar border, to capture movement of illegal entries from Burmese side.

Thai authorities have earlier this month arrested several groups of Myanmar nationals sneaking into Thai soil to look for work.

The Thai Immigration Bureau had also issued grave warning to all foreign workers that if they were found to have sneaked into Thai soil without rightful permit and flouting the 14-day quarantine, these migrants will be banned permanent entry into Thailand. Enditem
The reopening of schools in Mississippi, as across the United States, has been a disaster for teachers, education workers, parents and students, and has already produced widespread infections across the state. Deplorable working conditions and an immediate reduction of hours and pay impelled 45 percent of school bus drivers in Columbus, Mississippi to walk out on Monday.

As of this writing, there have been outbreaks of COVID-19 reported at 720 schools in 74 of the 82 counties in Mississippi, roughly 90 percent of schools currently in session. On August 21, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs reported that 900 students and educators had tested positive for the virus since schools reopened. Around 8,000 others have been ordered to quarantine. Multiple elementary and secondary schools have had to quarantine entire classes and even switch whole schools to virtual learning due to spreading cases among students and teachers.

As is the case across the country, school districts in Mississippi were given free rein in deciding how to begin the school year, with no unified plan of action. Mississippi Today reported on the details of districts failing to uphold COVID-19 reopening promises: from teachers being provided minimal cleaning and personal protective equipment, to inconsistent or absent enforcement of mask-wearing and social distancing. Already teachers are spending their own money to buy additional cleaning supplies.

To date, Mississippi has recorded 81,294 cases of COVID-19 and 2,413 deaths. As schools reopen, the number of tests being conducted is steadily declining, part of a broader nationwide trend demanded by the Trump administration. On August 5, 14,031 tests were reported in Mississippi; by August 24, only 8,414 tests were reported, a drop of 40 percent. On August 25, the reported seven-day average positive test rate was 33.2 percent.

Despite the surge in outbreaks, Republican Governor Tate Reeves absurdly claimed this week that school reopenings are going well. During a news conference on Tuesday, he said, These numbers that we are seeing in our schools are not unexpected I am pleased at the number of isolations were seeing, the number of quarantines were seeing, and Im pleased that there are large numbers of Mississippi kids sitting in a classroom today and learning in a safe environment.

Before reopening schools, Reeves pushed to reopen the Mississippi economy early on in the pandemic. By May 11, restrictions were eased for casinos, restaurants, gyms, barbershops, hair and nail salons and tattoo parlors, leading to a huge upsurge of the virus in the state.

Like their counterparts across the US and internationally, teachers and education workers are taking a stand against the unsafe reopening, using social media to discuss their working conditions, share best practices and disseminate information about outbreaks.

On July 17, teachers held a rally at the state capitol to protest the reckless reopening and avoid preventable death. The event was organized by a newly formed group, Mississippi Teachers Unite, which describes itself as a non-affiliated group of teachers, support staff, parents, students and community members. Their Facebook page, which has almost 2,000 supporters, states, Chronically underfunded schools as well as unclear statewide guidelines do not give us the ability to reopen schools safely and will cause preventable long-term illness and death amongst students, teachers, staff, and their families.

In another Facebook group of educators opposed to the reopening of schools, with over 2,200 members, one teacher noted that in the absence of getting information on positive cases directly from the schools and districts, she has decided to anonymously collect the data herself.

Another teacher voiced anger at the underlying issue of school funding: A decade of underfunding Mississippis education leaves us standing here with our hands in the air! Districts have no money for resources to properly implement virtual learning, laptop shortages are a huge issue in most all districts across the state.

Educators understand the need to intervene to stop this deadly reopening and the need to link their fight with the struggles of other workers and parents. A post in the same group about a bus drivers walkout in Columbus, Mississippi garnered wide support among teachers who asked how they could support the drivers.

The bus drivers of Columbus Municipal School District (CMSD) refused to drive their routes on Monday, August 24 after being informed of an unexpected cut in their hours and, subsequently, pay. The school district previously contracted drivers through the company Ecco Ride but did not renew the contract after closing down during the pandemic last spring. They instead assembled their own system and hired the drivers directly.

Having already resumed work two weeks earlier, the drivers were notified when they arrived to work on Monday that they would be paid for far fewer hours than expected. Instead of the 30 hours per week that the drivers were promised, they were informed they would only be paid for 18 hours. A CMSD bus driver with up to five years experience receives an abysmal annual salary of $9,720, which is merely $12 per hour based on the new four-day, 18-hour weekly schedule. With their original 30-hour work week, the starting pay would amount to $9 per hour.

CMSD Board of Trustees President Jason Spears bluntly told the local newspaper, The Dispatch, there was confusion due to the schools reopening plans; we estimated it would be 6 hours per day, but we realized they only drive 4.5 per day. We cant pay them for hours they dont work.

The World Socialist Website spoke with drivers taking part in the action. Diana Prince said that despite the districts claim that the drivers are working fewer hours, they actually have had to take on new, additional work in the context of the pandemic. She noted, Some buses have mildew and mold. They gave us a spray bottle to sanitize the bus between routes.

Renarda Dent, another driver, confirmed that they are working more than 4.5 hours per day. When Ecco Ride was in charge, she said, they would do major maintenance to the buses over the summer. Since the district took over, nothing was done to the buses; they just sat there all summer. Some windows dont close properly, so the moisture and heat got in and mildew grew. She added that, we dont even have a proper mechanic or bus shop anymore. Were trying to put air into the tires ourselves, without any pressure gauge. Were not mechanics.

The conditions on the buses are not safe for the drivers or students. Dent said the temperatures reach over 100 degrees in the warmer months; coupled with wearing a mask, it becomes almost unbearable. Although on her particular route students were somewhat able to distance on the bus, with a seat in between each student, she knows of other routes with more kids. As far as personal protective equipment, she was given a single face shield and some extra masks for the kids.

Additionally, drivers are not being informed about known positive cases among students. Prince stated, We dont know anything. If someone is positive, were not notified. We dont know anything until word of mouth. We thought wed get paid holidays and stuff, but they let us know were not entitled to any of that.

Dent seconded, I only learned of a positive case in the high school when it came on the news. They didnt tell us anything, didnt tell us that we may have been exposed and that certain children need to quarantine. She continued, There has been so little communication and so much miscommunication from our supervisor and the district. We dont know whats going on. It seems like theyre all just winging it.

Despite at least one bus driver having already recovered from COVID-19 over the summer, the district told them that they were required to pick up all children at the bus stop, including visibly sick children. The drivers are not allowed to take the temperature of the children; its up to the schools to decide if and when children should be sent home.

Dent herself is a parent of students in the district who ride the bus. She said that she thinks they opened the schools too soon and they should shut everything down again until they get the virus under control. The district has pressured parents and students to return for in-person instruction. Her eldest son, a senior in high school, has played in the band since middle school. They wouldnt let him participate this year without going to school in person. If you choose virtual instruction, youre not allowed to participate in anything.

Emphasizing the importance of the drivers in the whole system of education, Prince said, We are the first and last person the kids see when they go to school. And they [the district] treat us as if were irrelevant. Were not asking for anything extra, just what we were told we were going to get. She noted that the drivers still do not know what is happening with their pay, saying, Everyones telling us a different story and theyre playing the blame game.

About 45 percent of the districts bus drivers participated in the work stoppage and were ordered to return their keys. Dent said they were informed by a late-night text message that they had been terminated but had not received a letter formally stating so.

Many of the drivers had to file for unemployment after the schools shut down last spring and will have to do so again after being locked out of work until further notice. The maximum state unemployment rate is $235 per week in Mississippi, the lowest in the country. The average is only $213 per week. The $600 federal unemployment payment expired a month ago with no indication that the Republicans and Democrats in Congress are working to renew it.

The drivers hope to air their grievances and have a discussion with the local school board on September 8, but there is no guarantee they will be heard. They have to fill out forms to be put on the agenda, but even then the meeting may run out of time before they have spoken.

Although the district claims that it is managing the routes with the loss of nearly half of the drivers, Dent says there is no way that they can complete all of those routes with the amount of drivers they have left. Its impossible. They say they have everything covered, but they dont. Some children get home two hours later than they are supposed to. With the remaining drivers having to pick up extra routes, social distancing is impossible since they are doubling or tripling the number of kids on board.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in the 2018-2019 school year, the average teacher salary in Mississippi ranked lowest in the country, at $45,574. Mississippi also ranks in the bottom five states for per-student spending for elementary and secondary education, at $8,692 per year in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The struggles of the Mississippi bus drivers over fair pay and safe working conditions must be linked with the broader campaign against the deadly reopening of schools. We call on educators, parents and students to form rank-and-file safety committees in every school and neighborhood. The national Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee will help guide this work. We call for the immediate closure of all opened schools and nonessential production to stop the spread of the pandemic. All nonessential workers and laid-off workers must be provided with full unemployment benefits and access to free health care.

The key task is to unite the broader working class and prepare for a general strike to halt the reopening of schools and the broader back-to-work campaign. All those who wish to take up this fight should contact us today, sign up for the WSWS Educators Newsletter, and attend the national call-in meeting this Saturday to discuss this perspective.
What is more normal  and expected  each end of summer than students and teachers to return to school? So far, the coronavirus crisis has killed an estimated 180,000 so far within United States borders. And in some cases, public school teachers have been deemed essential workers and told to return to classrooms  even if theyve been exposed to Covid-19.

On Thursday, August 20th, we gathered six experts  including educators and parents  to discuss their anxieties, hopes, and coping skills for the return to school this fall with the coronavirus pandemic unabated. Some are dealing with quarantine restrictions, others with the logistics of students in rural or urban environments in person or through virtual learning platforms. All of them are attempting to model good hygiene and habits during the pandemic so that they can make sure they all have safe and productive learning environments.

The panelists touched on a wide range of topics  from procuring PPE for themselves, the students, and their classroom, to how to handle attendance and students individual progress during the pandemic  that offered a mix of frustration in regards to misinformation, confusion as to how to handle individual students needs, and hope for the future.

Meet Our Panelists:

Laura Dow lives in Pawcatuck, CT, and she teaches at Stonington High School. She teaches 9th-12th grades special education in the self-contained setting, as well as transition support for 18-21 year olds with disabilities. She has her BA in Special Education from Hope College and and her M. Ed. in Special Education with an Inclusion Specialist Certificate from University of Michigan Dearborn.

Lynette Guastaferro is the Chief Executive Officer of Teaching Matters, a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing teacher effectiveness to improve student success. Teaching Matters mission is to close the opportunity gap of a radically unequal education system for under-served and historically marginalized children. She has over 25 years of experience in education, non-profit and private industry.

Story continues

Ashley Graves is a Secondary Self-Contained Special Education Teacher with Uplift Education and is a third year fellow with Urban Teachers at a public charter school in the Dallas, Texas area. Urban Teachers is a teacher preparation program that serves students from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds to provide an education that specializes in diversity, inclusion, and equity.

Mitch Springer currently serves as principal of Villa Rica Middle School in Villa Rica, Georgia, in the Carroll County School District which is located 40 miles west of Atlanta and serves a population of students from rural and suburban backgrounds.. Hes a graduate of the University of Georgia and has served as a middle grades teacher, elementary assistant principal, and principal before transitioning to the role of a middle school principal.

Christine Tang is the Executive Director of Families of Color Seattle (FOCS), a community-based organization that advocates for racial equity and supports families of color in the Seattle area through equitable parent programs, resource sharing, and fostering meaningful connections. She is a parent of two elementary school-aged children.

Katherine Ann Unsicker, Ed S. Teacher Leadership, is a gifted teacher with Haralson County Schools, which serves the communities of Buchanan, Tallapoosa, and Waco, Georgia. Shes the mother of five and has been teaching both in-person and virtually.

On preparing safer classroom teaching environments

Katherine Anne Unsicker: We started with a one-week push back to give the teachers more time to prepare for the new settings. How do we arrange our classrooms to give students more space? How do we arrange our day so that classes arent passing each other in the hallway using the bathrooms at the same time? Protocols for cleaning where the students are, those kinds of things.  Once we started back, we essentially changed almost every element of the students day: how they go to lunch; [how] they go to the restroom; how they interact in the classroom. And the kids just have adapted amazingly well. Children are so incredible with temperature checks, and its all become really an easier flow for them.

But then for me personally, I had a child who was in a classroom where a student tested positive after school. So then we were quarantined until yesterday when her tests came back negative and we were all clear. So it has been a daily challenge as to whats today going to bring, but it does kind of make you keep the priorities, and you focus on what you need to do and you focus on: OK, these are the three goals; these things that we need to do and some other things just kind of. Their place in the backseat until you can revisit those. So Ive been Ive been very pleased with how things have gone. But Ive had to be very flexible.

Ashley Graves: I want to be back in person with them. But what I really want is when we come back, we come back safely and with their health and their familys health in mine so that once were back, we can remain in person.  What are we using to clean the rooms  which is important for me because I have allergies  what different procedures are we going to look at? And, you know, even the benefit of going onto campus, even if it was just this out of my classroom, is we got to see what that would look like, having all of us come in: only two people in the lobby at a time; doing our temperature checks; doing a digital screening; not having to touch a whole lot of materials on our way into the building. So that really encouraged me and made me feel better. And then knowing that even though we are in virtual learning right now, were still practicing life skills with the scholars. So, for example, today we did a scavenger hunt and it was fun.  I said, OK, lets see if we can stay in our masks for five minutes. And so they said, OK! And theyre really, really focused on it. And they were showing me their different designs, and they were saying that their masks were cool. So the more that the teachers and the campuses are buying in to, you know, using this PPE, the more confident the scholars and the parents feel.

On learning to adapt to a new normal

Mitch Springer: Well, I know for me, its totally changed the preparation process because Im sure many of you seeing the Paulding County incident where the students were standing in the hallway. Well, thats really only about three miles from my school  although its in a different district and weve not started yet. So from learning from other schools that have started, its kind of made us revisit the procedures that we thought we had in place. And it made us kind of think of different things that could take place that weve not thought about. For example, the student drop-off: We thought, Well, theyre dropping off, theyre coming at the school. But then we had to really go back and develop a plan for every action that comes into the school, things that we take it for granted in years past. Thats just how school kind of operates, that wed have to go back and say, No, we really need a procedure for this. For all these different things to really be able to articulate to parents, but then to students when they come back, because its going to be a change.

For example, buses: Our district is still going to run the buses. But we had to come up with a plan for the safety on the bus as best we could be on a bus. So our students now are going to sit from back to front as we have a monitor on the bus to make sure that those due to get picked up first are in the back, so they dont have to walk by other students as they go forward. Thats something in the past, you know, weve never thought about it and we thought about, well, the procedure of maybe having the windows that we are in the south. So its still kind of warm. So we cant run the air conditioning on the bus; well have to ride with windows down. So what does that entail and how do we really articulate that to the students in terms of something being different? So schools that have opened, were trying to ask questions from them to find out different things that we can learn in order to make our procedures a little better.

On whether teachers are leaving the profession over fears and health risks

Lynette Guastaferro: Ive seen teachers [leave]; and in New York, principals and APs. I have a close friend, the superintendent, and she has just lost two principals and two APs.  I do think it really is that staff are returning but people have health concerns.  I think that theres been a feeling that teachers dont know enough about whats going to happen. [That lack of communication] has caused a lot of fear in some schools. But the majority are going back and theyre going to make it work. 

I totally agree that teachers are essential workers. But I also think that the work of education in terms of essential work, the complexity is  its not just you work here, its your work with 30-plus children and the work of planning for this with children. So some of the concerns that I think the teachers have rightly expressed is that they want to go back safely and to plan for all the children, plus the work is a little bit different than what many other essential workers have had to plan for  or with the kind of organizations, like whether its grocery stores or even hospitals, schools are way more complex. And so they need the time to plan and they need and teachers need to be felt to feel safe.

On what some parents are hoping for this school year

Christine Tang: I think that the key answer is that every parent would love for the schools to open and for the children to go to school, but they want that safely. And thats the key word: safely. And especially for us being in an urban area [like Seattle]. The concerns are higher because the risks of contagion are much higher where theres population density in higher numbers. So thats thats where a lot of parents draw the line. Unfortunately, when we talk about many families of color who are socioeconomically in a position where they might have to choose between their livelihood, their jobs and the ability to support students at home, thats a really tough choice and thats a choice that no parent, no family, should have to make in our society.

Of course, communities of color are not a monolith. And anyone who claims to speak for everyone and communities of color is not is not telling the whole story. But overall, we know that families of color have much less wealth than than white families, and much less institutional inherited wealth and a lower salary. So they are closer to financial instability just, like, a matter of a paycheck. Whether that means they they can lose their home or that means they dont have enough money for their utilities. So thats a really, really tough decision. And I would say parents would like to send their children to school safely and, unfortunately, in our school district and the nearby school districts, that could not be happening. So the decisions were made to have online learning this year.

On how to look to the future with so much uncertainty

Laura Dow: We dont know if theres a vaccine coming any time soon, so how are we going to equip kids to deal with that? How are we going to set them up in case we have to go back into full distance learning? Were opening a hybrid model. And just how can we be good role models? So, like, how could we model hygiene?  I plan to model a lot of hand-washing, a lot of sanitizing, a lot of accountability for your own space. So working in those things that will help kids to feel a sense of security and to control the things that they can and I think is going to be really important. And just remembering the whole nation has been through a trauma on so many levels and putting aside our curriculum for the first, you know, we would usually run through routines and setting up your classroom and all of those things, you kind of stand in line and then we kind of phase into the academic stuff. And I think this year, we really need to focus on taking care of the kids first and the academics will come, but the academics will not come if we dont take care of the kids needs first.

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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, August 29, 2020 10:40 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c41518b6 1 National MK-judges,constitutional-court-law,house-of-representatives,MK,judicial-review,bill-deliberation Free

A coalition of civil society groups has called on the House of Representatives to repeal problematic articles in the revision to the Constitutional Court (MK) Law, alleging they contain conflicts of interest that can harm the Courts impartiality.

Among the coalition members are West Sumatra's Andalas University's Constitution Study Center (PUSaKO), Indonesia Center for Law and Policy Studies (PSHK), Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) and judicial watchdog KoDe Inisiatif.

"The House and the government must drop the article that increases the minimum age of justices to 60 years and it should not scrap the existing regulation that justices can serve for only five years and must be reelected for another term," Hemi Lavour of Pusako said in an online press conference on Friday.

"The articles would only benefits a few justices.

The coalition said that if passed, most Constitutional Court judges who were currently in office would keep their position until they were 70 years old, 10 years longer than the maximum age for justices set in the existing 2011 Constitutional Court Law. The coalition also noted that only one judge could not continue the term because he has not reached the age of 60 at the end of his service.

Read also: Constitutional Court rejects judicial review request on tenure of its own judges

Agil Oktrayal of the PSHK lambasted the government and the House, saying the revisions were a constitutional setback, especially because the House never included the bill in the 2020 priority list (Prolegnas)

The House never came up with the academic rationalization related to the amendments," Agil said.

He also raised suspicions that the bill was being used as a "political swapping" tool as many controversial laws were currently being challenged at the Court, such as the state spending and financial relief law, the mining law, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law and the omnibus bill on job creation.

Agil further criticized the swift deliberation of the bill, which was conducted behind closed doors between the House and the government during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The deliberation process was very quick and closed [to the public]. This goes against the spirit of reform; in the Reform era of 1998, people wanted to have a Constitutional Court, he said.

The court was officially established in 2003 following mounting support from the public who demanded an institution that would allow them to challenge laws or election results.

The House Commission III overseeing legal affairs began deliberating the bill on Monday. The government then submitted the problem inventory list (DIM) of the bill on and formed a working committee with the House on Tuesday.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the government and the House discussed the bill twice in closed-door hearings.

Read also: House starts deliberating Constitutional Court Law revision

Committee member Sarifuddin Sudding said the commission and the government had agreed on several changes in the bill, such as the extension of the minimum age limit to become a Constitutional Court justice, as well as the terms of office for chief justice, deputy chief justice and justices.

If the House and the government can agree on all the revisions, the commission will pass the revision into law.

After that, we will bring the revised draft to a plenary session for the second level of deliberations, the National Mandate Party (PAN) politician said.

Constitutional justice Enny Nurbaningsih denied that the Court had any interest in the revision of the MK law.

Enny said the justices would always uphold the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct, which identify six core values of the judiciary, namely independence, impartiality, integrity, propriety, equality, competence and diligence.

The Constitutional Court justices will carry out their tasks independently. This is a non-negotiable principle, she told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
Thiruvananthapuram, August 29 : KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran has issued a diktat barring party leaders in the state from making public statements critical of party colleagues and on internal party issues.

Mullappally was forced to crack the whip after the debate over the next congress national president found reverberations in the state unit with senior congress leaders throwing muck at one another.

Taking strong exception to the verbal sparring by party leaders in public, the KPCC president reminded them that they should voice their opinion on internal issues on party forums.

Mullappallys decision comes in the wake of party Kerala unit working president Kodikunnil Suresh taking potshots at fellow parliamentarian and congress MP Shashi Tharoor the other day.

Suresh had called Tharoor a guest artist and criticized the latter for lacking political maturity. The provocation for the attack was reportedly Tharoors signing a letter along with 22 other congress leaders demanding organizational elections and appointment of a permanent AICC president. Another congress MP K Muraleedharan had also hit out at Tharoor over the letter.

Upping the ante, congress MLAs P T Thomas and K Sabarinadhan came out defending Tharoor. This gave the impression that the congress Kerala unit was a house divided.

Supporters of the party also expressed their displeasure on social media at Kodukunnil and Muraleedharans scathing attack on Tharoor.

However, with Mullappally putting his foot down, the showdown brewing within the congress party is expected to blow over.

Close on the heels of the KPCC presidents statement, Kodikunnil Suresh took to facebook to tender an apology for his outburst against Shashi Tharoor.

In his post, Suresh said that he had not intended to attack Tharoor personally but had only registered his objection to Tharoor being a signatory to the letter sent to the party high command.
Though many voters will cast their ballots by mail this year, election officials around the country still expect major crowds at polling places on Election Day. Managing the voting process requires an army of poll workers to make sure voters have everything they need to safely and securely elect their local and federal representatives.

However, as COVID-19 continues to threaten vulnerable populations  including seniors, who make up about 58% of poll workers in a normal year  polling places need young, healthy, eligible residents to raise their hands to spend the day working to ensure that our most basic democratic privilege happens without a hitch.

The Inquirer reached out to experienced poll workers from around the region to talk about why they started and what keeps them going back to the polls again and again.

Shirley Johnson

Age: 69

Neighborhood: Southwest Philly

Political party: Prefers not to say

Day job: Retired

Working the polls since: The late 90s

On rallying young voters: I try to get the people interested in the candidates theyre voting for, especially our young folks. They feel as if their vote doesnt count, but we try to educate them. We know that seniors do vote, but a lot of the seniors are leaving us. So we still need to educate the young folks on the process. And get them to do the work.

I have been a judge of elections at the polls up until maybe the last two to three years. Then we had someone younger come in, who I trained.

I go around in the community to make sure we got young folks involved. Even to help walk seniors to wherever theyre going to vote. Were trying to get young voters into a position where theyll be willing like me, for the long run. Meaning theyll get into the process and understand why you should vote.

Ill probably do as I did in the primaries  its just one site, 700 to 800 homes in that division. We are stationed at the site helping get people transportation, getting seniors rides to the polls.

Ryan Godfrey

Age: 49

Neighborhood: Cedar Park

Day job: Software engineer

Political party: Independent

Working the polls since: 2014

On the feel-good afterglow: Every division in Philadelphia is pretty small. I think we have about nine blocks in our neighborhood that we are covering. Theyre the people you see at the park. You see them as youre walking down the street or at the grocery store, and its an opportunity to put names with faces. Its satisfying every time. You get thank-yous from the people who come in. Theyre appreciative of what you are doing. For the most part people arent angry, although that happens too. At the end of the day you feel like, in the case of the presidential election, I just helped 700 people fulfill their democratic goals. That feels really good regardless of how the outcome comes out. It doesnt have to match what I personally am looking for in politicians. But the fact that democracy actually happened in my neighborhood and I was one of the vectors for that  its pretty thrilling every time.

Camilla Reel

Age: 34

Neighborhood: South Philly

Political party: Democrat

Day job: Administrative assistant

Working the polls since: 2018

On protecting her elders: Honestly, I really like seeing how the election process works. This goes way back to when I got my U.S. citizenship in 2009. I remember hearing, What can you do now that youre a U.S. citizen? You can vote, you can volunteer. At the time I was a college student  I didnt care, felt apathetic, whatever. But later it felt like the minimum thing I can do. As much as I complain about the pandemic and the social unrest, the U.S. has by and large been a pretty good country to me. So I wanted to give back.

With the pandemic especially, I noted that during the last primary on June 2, there were two elderly women as volunteers who seemed high on the coronavirus kill list. They were dragging oxygen tanks, all kinds of things  and I just didnt want that to happen again. I dont know why they volunteered, but I would just rather older people have that choice not to come [if thats safer for them].

Thats why Ive been posting on social media: if youre quote-unquote young and healthy, you should really start volunteering for the polls, because I dont want older folks to feel like they have to volunteer for something thats more likely to kill them.

Katonya Mosley

Age: 43

Neighborhood: Point Breeze

Day job: Comedian

Political party: Democrat

Working the polls since: 2018

On enforcing integrity: We hear about elections in the news all the time, we hear about people being disenfranchised at polling places, and I wanted to be on the ground and see it up close. I like the integrity. I like that there are people there who are interested in following the rules and making sure this is fair and making sure that everyone, regardless of party, can come in and cast their votes without us getting in the way. I have had the fortune of, I think, every time I voted in Philadelphia since Ive been here in 2002, there have been Black people and specifically Black women at the polling stations. And I think about the fact that thats just sort of built in for me. And how different, and how much less welcome, I would feel if I walked into a polling place that was staffed exclusively by white people.

Jeffrey Jones

Age: 50

Where you live/vote: Drexel Hill

Day job: Outdoor media

Political party: Republican

Working the polls since: 2017

On being neighborly: In the primary election some of the regular volunteers have decided that for health reasons they would not be able to participate. But the show must go on. Somebodys got to be there, the doors have to open and the polls have to be open, so there was no backing out  whether I was comfortable or uncomfortable, that was my responsibility. That was my commitment. I think that it is incumbent upon every citizen to be a part of the process and understand the process, and a part of that is getting involved and seeing and understanding what goes on before and after you cast your vote. It is a community thing. It is a way to meet your neighbors and get to know your neighbors and get a sense of your community.
Abu Dhabi-based Aurora50 has announced the successful conclusion of its inaugural two-day virtual Board Summit with announcement of new partnerships and initiatives to boost female representation at board-level.

Organised under the patronage of its co-founder Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and in celebration of Emirati Womens Day, Aurora50 created discourse between over 500 ministers, seasoned board directors and aspiring female board talent, on how to increase female representation on UAE boards.

Opening the event, Sheikha Shamma said: "Women are, and will remain, one of the most valuable resources in shaping the future of our nation. It is the responsibility of every organisation to realise this untapped potential and empower these talented individuals to take on the positions that will help them make a difference."

"On the eve of our Golden Jubilee, as the UAE charts its course for the next 50 years, we have the opportunity to achieve so much more and to truly impact change where it matters," she stated.

As part of his keynote address, Abdullah binTouq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman, Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority (Esca) said: "This years Emirati Womens Day theme underscores the importance our country attaches to tapping into the value of diversity and inclusiveness to bring about a systemic change to boardroom environments."

"Through the implementation of the recently announced flexible package and its plan of 33 initiatives designed to advance the UAEs economy and boost its business competitiveness, we look forward to creating more promising opportunities for Emirati women," he added.

At the event, Sheikha Shamma also announced the signing of a wide-ranging cooperation between the ESCA and Aurora50, outlining areas for cooperation to increase the representation of women on UAE boards.

The MoU was signed by Esca CEO Dr Obaid Saif Hamad Al Zaabi and Aurora50 co-founder and Director Diana Wilde in the presence of Sheikha Shamma and Al Marri.

The deal is aimed at enabling them to play an active role in economic activities and society in general, and allow Emirati women who have proven their leadership and success across diverse sectors to participate in the formulation of policies, strategies and economic decision-making in the corporate and business sectors, stated Al Marri.

Areas for cooperation include the organisation of training programmes in stock markets and the financial services industry; sharing statistics and exchanging information, expertise, and research; organising specialised conferences, seminars and workshops, as well as collaboration towards qualification, education and awareness.

Several other partnerships were also announced including the signing of Mubadala Investment Company as a Founding Partner and First Abu Dhabi Bank, FAB, as a Corporate Partner to the 20 for 2020 initiative.

In keeping with this years Emirati Womens Day theme, Sheikha Shamma also unveiled Manarat- Women on Boards Network, the first formal network for women serving on boards of companies listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market.

On Manarat (Arabic for lighthouses), Sheikha Shamma said: "What began as a conversation with a select group of female directors holding board seats on locally listed companies, has materialized into a tangible reality that provides female board members the opportunity to support each other and empower other competent women who aspire for board careers."

Many of these women only hold 1 board position, therefore there are opportunities for boards to source and interview these women for possible seats in the future," she added.

In its inaugural edition, The Board Summit featured a line-up of several noteworthy board directors and business leaders including Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi; Tayba Al Hashemi, CEO, Al Yasat Petroleum and Board Director, ADNOC Onshore, and Mishal Kanoo, Chairman of The Kanoo Group.-TradeArabia News Service
Seniors and disabled persons can now apply to get additional stimulus payments. There are only around 3,000 slots to be offered for both seniors and disabled.

Seniors and disabled residents at Duval County in Jacksonville, Florida can now apply and get a $300 stimulus payment. The application starts today, Saturday, and there are only 3,000 slots offered for those who will qualify for the stimulus payment.

This new round of assistance is part of the city's Senior and Disabled Financial Assistance Program designed to help seniors and disabled who are heavily impacted by the global pandemic.

Qualified individuals are those 72 years and above or those who received Social Security disability benefits.

According to a published report in News4Jax, the application of the $300 stimulus payment will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Filing of the stimulus payment application can be done through phone or online. Even though the application for the stimulus payments starts at exactly 8 a.m. today, you can take some of these steps to make sure that you get a slot.

In order to qualify for the next round of $300 stimulus payment, applicants should meet the following requirements:

Applicants must reside in Duval County;

Applicants must certify that they did not receive funds from the City's VyStar Small Business Assistance Program; Employee Retention Loan Program; Mortgage, Rent, and Utilities Relief Program; or the first round of the Senior and Disabled Financial Assistance Program;

Applicants must either be at least 72 years old or receive Social Security disability benefits;

Applicants must have experienced either a reduction in income or an increase in expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic;

Applicants' adjusted gross income did not exceed $30,000 in 2019;

Applicants may only receive one card per household;

Applicants must provide their birthdate and the last four digits of their Social Security number;

If you think that you qualified for the $300 stimulus payments, you can call 904-255-8888. It can be remembered that all 3,300 slots offered during the first round were filled just within an hour after the application began.

Once an application is approved, payment cards will be mailed directly to the applicant who will then need to activate the card, which can be used like a credit card.

In this time of global pandemic, the elderly and those who have disabilities should be given attention because aside from their daily expenses, they also need to buy medicines. Most of the time, these groups have been disregarded.

The action of Duval County in Jacksonville, Florida to give $300 stimulus payment to the seniors and disabled should serve as an inspiration to other cities across the country to do the same.

The first round of the federal stimulus package did not specifically give aid to the disabled and elderly. As long the individuals qualify, they can get the benefit.

State officials across the country should try to consider giving aids to seniors and those with disabilities. Even it is not worth $300, any amount can help those who need financial aid.
here have already been reports of sea birds becoming tangled in elastic cords

Deadly: A young seagull caught in a mask

Billions of face masks could end up in landfill if people don't stop using single-use coverings, experts have warned.

Scientists estimate that more than 124,000 tons of unrecyclable masks  the equivalent weight of 10,000 London buses  could be dumped each year unless a greener alternative is found.

There have already been reports of sea birds becoming tangled in the elastic cords that wrap around the ears.

The single-use masks are also washing up on beaches or being dumped in the streets after becoming mandatory in certain enclosed spaces.

Martin Dorey, founder of the 2 Minute Beach Clean project which maintains 850 litter-picking stations around the country, said: 'We've noticed so much of it. We're trying to recommend to everybody that they use reusable and washable masks because these things are plastic and they won't bio-degrade.

'People are also less likely to pick them up because of the perceived risk, so it's getting left. This stuff is toxic  it will kill ocean life and end up in the food chain.'

Single-use surgical masks are commonly made of polypropylene, a type of thermoplastic.

The single-use masks are also washing up on beaches or being dumped in the streets (pictured: a man and boy ride their bikes next to a discarded face mask)

Scientists at University College London calculated that if every person in the UK used one disposable surgical mask each day for a year, it would create 124,000 tons of waste. On top of that is a staggering 57,000 tons of plastic packaging that also cannot be recycled.

Expert says evidence on the use of face masks is 'not very strong in either direction' The evidence for wearing masks is 'not very strong in either direction', England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer has admitted. In an informal chat with Boris Johnson  uploaded to social media after the Government said secondary school pupils will have to wear face coverings where there are local lockdowns  Dr Jenny Harries said: 'It's only required in those areas where we can't maintain social distancing and it's school corridors where kids come out of lessons, they're maybe shouting and excited, bumping into each other, and in areas where there is a high transmission rate. 'The evidence on face coverings is not very strong in either direction. 'We are continuing to learn... it may be we do change advice in the future, that's because we're watching the science.' She added: 'At the moment the evidence is pretty stable, but it can be very reassuring in those closed environments for children and for teachers as well, to know that people are taking precautions.' Advertisement

The academics have suggested that councils install disposal units for the masks on every street.

They have also called for a public messaging campaign to get people to opt for reusable fabric coverings.

Emily Stevenson, who runs Cornish community beach clean-ups for the community interest company Beach Guardian, said: 'As soon as lockdown restrictions were lifted, we saw a sharp increase in litter, especially around Brighton and Bournemouth beaches.

'One thing that has been really tragic to see is the addition of PPE litter.

'It's something we have never seen before and now we are finding them on every beach clean. Last Thursday, we found five face masks in just half an hour at a beach.

'I went to my local supermarket this week and saw discarded face masks everywhere. In ten minutes, I had picked up 12.

'This has every opportunity to flow into water courses, into the rivers and oceans.'

About 194 billion masks and gloves are being used across the world each month, according to a recent study.

Many firms have taken to producing fabric masks, while one company, Mask Bros, has created a fully recyclable surgical mask that is accepted by most councils in their normal collections.

As well as the dangers from discarded masks, anti-plastics campaigners warn that 99 per cent of alcohol gels are likely to contain microplastics or similar ingredients that harm the planet.

Mr Dorey said: 'The gels contain a polymer which means when the alcohol dissolves, you are left with nano plastics on your hands.

'So the next time you wash, they go straight into the sea. It's a disaster really.'
Thieves made off with nine million euros in cash in the southeastern French city of Lyon on Friday in an armed attack on an armoured security vehicle, prosecutors said.

The theft is believed to be the biggest such cash heist in France since notorious robber Toni Musulin in 2009 made off with 11.6 million euros ($13.8 million), most of which was subsequently recovered.

The vehicle was attacked at around (9:00 am local time (0700 GMT) by several armed individuals as it came out of a branch of the Bank of France in Lyon.

No one was injured in the attack on the vehicle belonging to the Loomis security company "but the losses amount to nine million euros (about $10.7 million)", prosecutors said in a statement to AFP.

"The perpetrators managed to immediately flee after committing the act."

Local reports said two vans blocked the armoured vehicle, one in front and one behind.

The robbers threatened the driver, took the money, and fled in two vehicles later found burnt.

"It was an audacious attack, right in the city centre," Loomis chief executive Michel Tresch told AFP.

"The most important thing is that the cash escorts are safe and sound," he added.

The three employees are extremely shocked, Loomis trade unionist Kader Bengueche said, adding they would see a psychologist on Monday.

According to two colleagues of the attacked security team -- two men and a woman --, there have been repeated problems with the security vehicles' locking system.

While the security code is supposed to be changed for each run, the attacked vehicle had a "permanent code" which saved time for the robbers, added the colleagues who asked not to be named.

"There is clearly a fault on the part of the company," one told AFP, stressing that the driver of the attacked vehicle was a former shooting instructor trained in "defensive driving".

An enquiry was swiftly opened by police and regional specialists.

Cash handling Swedish company Loomis has been attacked several times over the years.

In May 2017, 35 million euros ($41 million) worth of goods -- cash, diamonds and gold ingots -- were stolen from one of its vehicles in Switzerland.

And in December 2016, thieves stole 70 kilos of gold dust worth 2.5 million euros ($2.9 million) from the same company near Lyon.

In March this year another notorious French robber, Redoine Faid, was sentenced on appeal to 28 years in prison for an explosives attack on a Loomis van in the northern town of Calais in 2011.

But Loomis chief executive Tresch told AFP that compared to the 2000s, there are now fewer physical attacks.

"It is a lot easier to carry out attacks (on the internet) via hackers, as opposed to attacking an armoured vehicle," Tresch said.

"It's not the same exposure."

In March this year another notorious French robber, Redoine Faid, was sentenced on appeal to 28 years in prison for an explosives attack on a Loomis van in the northern town of Calais in 2011.
Melania Trump was the sister Stephanie Winston Wolkoff never had  a really confident, perfectly coiffed, ultimate older sister, the former senior adviser to the first lady writes in Melania and Me, her epic scream of a tell-all, which comes out Tuesday. For 15 years, the women were like Lucy and Ethel, or Snooki and JWoww, lingering over lunch in chic restaurants, attending each others baby showers and surprise parties, and trading adoring emoji-laden texts. In fact, the greatest reveal in Melania and Me may be the ...
A suspect has been arrested in connection with a major incident that occurred in Gore Bay on Thursday afternoon.

Darcy Hopkin, 43, was arrested and charged for attempting to commit murder with a firearm and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Police said little else about the incident except that Manitoulin OPP responded to a call for service at a residence on Wright Street at 2:35 p.m. on Aug. 27.

All Gore Bay residents were asked to stay away from the area and remain inside their residence with their doors locked at that time.

The OPP Emergency Response Team, OPP Canine Unit, OPP Tactical Response Unit, OPP Aviation Services-Helicopter Section, OPP Critical Incident Commander, and an OPP Crisis Negotiator were deployed to the scene.

The suspect was apprehended sometime on Thursday evening.

The accused was being held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Sudbury on Aug. 28.

There are no longer any concerns for public safety.

No information was released about a possible victim.

Any person with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Little Current OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit information online at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

This reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.
This school year will be unlike any other because of the pandemic, including when it comes to its added costs.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

This school year will be unlike any other because of the pandemic, including when it comes to its added costs.

Sure there will be those typical back-to-school expenses, from pens, binders and other supplies (sometimes purchased by the teacher) to new shoes, backpacks and winter jackets.

But there are those new costs associated with the coronavirus: hand sanitizers and face masks.

And the money spent on cloth or disposable masks adds up quickly, especially for households with multiple school-age children.

"Buying masks is a new cost we havent dealt with before," says Holly Behringer, posting on Facebooks Save Money in Winnipeg group, responding to a question from the Free Press about back-to-school spending this year.

A 50-pack of disposable masks at Canadian Tire is $40, she adds.

Reusable masks are more economical long-term but may require more money up front if you require several of them.

"Kids are going to lose those things, like gloves and Tupperware," Behringer says. "Its a big new budget line in the back-to-school budget."

Parents are typically budget conscious as they fork out cash for their kids return to school in any given year. This year, however, its likely many are squeezing the bucks in the bank account a little harder, especially considering tens of thousands may still be leaning heavily on government income assistance programs, like the CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit).

Although little Canadian data has been collected on this years back-to-school shop, a U.S.-based study by Deloitte revealed spending will be relatively flat from last year, about US$529 per student. But the way parents allocate money has shifted.

For instance, the study found four in 10 expect to spend less on traditional school supplies, while spending on technology (laptops and tablets) is expected to increase by about 30 per cent. At the same time almost four in 10 are worried about their finances in relation to the costs of education.

While not a snapshot of Canadians, the study still points to how a lot of parents  Canadian and American  are preparing for the possibility of remote learning.

"With virtual, there will be additional costs and burdens that families will have," says Seung Hwan (Mark) Lee, director of retail management at Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University.

"Whats increasing the cost for parents now is if they did not have a laptop with a webcam (or a good one), or they didnt have a dedicated iPad for their kids."

Chris Dillmann / Vail Daily Budgeting for back to school is always a concern and sending children to classrooms amid the COVID-19 pandemic will include the added cost of masks (below), while remote learning could mean spending more on technology.

For one child, thats a pretty steep cost  though many households may already have some of these devices. But what about families with multiple kids and not enough tablets, for example?

It may be that some families are adding more devices to the mix to accommodate their children learning from home, says education consultant Alana Chernecki, also a mother of three grade school children.

"That can get super costly."

Chernecki is a Winnipeg-based teacher who provides curriculum and online training for homeschooling at www.artfulteachingjoyfullearning.com.

Business is booming. Parents everywhere  in Canada and beyond  worried about the health risks on in-class learning are choosing the homeschooling path.

While she offers online training, support and curriculum for about $360 per subject per year, parents willing to do some homework on their own can find plenty of free online resources for homeschooling, she adds.

"You dont even really need to buy anything," she says. "Its about being really in tune with what your child is interested in and figuring out how to weave those into academic outcomes."

Home economist and blogger Christi Posner (christiposner.com) is sending her school-age child to the classroom this year. She estimates the cost at a little under $8,000. That includes private school tuition, as well as the aforementioned expenses like supplies and clothing.

"Preparation is key," says the former credit counsellor, adding the typical spend for public school students for their parents is about $1,300 based on her experience in that role.

Like other parents, she worries about the unknown, especially with respect to the return of remote learning if in-class school shuts down again.

"What costs come with that?" She further notes kids will likely have to stay home more often if schools stay open anyway because they cant attend if they have a cold  a common occurrence during the school year. "Will you have to miss work or pay for child care if this happens?"

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Some parents will look to tutoring if remote learning returns, and the cost can run up to $100 an hour, Chernecki says.

COVID-related expenses aside, budgeting for school is a perennial concern requiring ongoing effort, says credit counsellor Sandra Fry at Credit Counselling Society in Winnipeg.

"We dont buy clothes every single month, but I tell clients that they should be putting it (money) aside to save for back to school every single month so they are ready ahead of time," she says. "But we live in a society where its acceptable to buy now and pay later."

Inevitably some families face budget crunches, and they may forgo paying one bill to pay another. Financial planning is the best strategy to avoid this scenario. That involves building a budget, ASAP, because its the best way to have clarity about where the family is financially.

If overspending is problematic  a frequent experience for many in a tap-to-pay-with-plastic world  take cash to go shopping. Fry even suggests leaving the kids at home if they often push for and succeed in getting more pricey shoes and other goods which, in turn, distorts the best laid economic plans.

"With COVID, youre not supposed to take your kids to the store anyway, so consider leaving the little income deprivers at home."
The Public safety LTE market is expected to be valued at USD 5. 9 billion in 2020 and is likely to reach USD 15. 4 billion by 2025; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21. 1% during the forecast period.

New York, Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Public Safety-LTE Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Infrastructure, Services, Deployment Model, Application And Region - Global Forecast to 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05108759/?utm_source=GNW

Adoption of LTE technology to eliminate the existing interconnectivity issues between different networks, increase in demand for unmanned vehicles globally, seamless data connectivity offered by LTE technology, and the COVID-19 pandemic is driving the need for efficient and extensive network capacity are expected to help the growth of the PS-LTE market during the forecast period.



E-UTRAN segment is estimated to hold largest share of PS-LTE market for infrastructure during the forecast period.

The growth of the end-use devices segment can be attributed to the increasing demand for LTE technology-enabled end-use devices and the surging requirement for hybrid (LTE and TETRA)-enabled devices globally.E-UTRAN is the air interface of LTE technology.



It uses orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) for downlink and single-carrier frequency divisional multiple access (SC-FDMA) for uplink, along with multiple input multiple output (MIMO) up to 4 antennas per station. OFDM is deployed to divide the available spectrum into multiple thin carriers, each carrying a part of the signal on a different frequency.



Commercial LTE segment is estimated to hold largest share of PS-LTE market during the forecast period.

The growth of this segment can be attributed to the increased deployment and high popularity of commercial PS-LTE networks in law enforcement & border control applications.This adoption is mainly due to the reduced deployment time, as well as the low initial cost of deployment.



Public safety agencies opt for this deployment model as existing networks of commercial carriers are used for public safety services, resulting in zero or negligible network CAPEX.



The law enforcement & border control application expected to hold the largest size of the PS-LTE market during the forecast period.

Increasing demand for high-speed data connectivity from law enforcement & border control agencies to share high-definition audio and video content with command centers during field operations is driving the growth of this segment.Linking these audio and video messages with face recognition systems helps public safety agencies to prevent the occurrence of potential accidents.



The development of human- and vehicle-carriable LTE network connectivity routers is expected to further fuel the adoption of PS-LTE in law enforcement & border control and other public safety applications.



Impact of COVID-19 on the public safety-LTE market

The market is likely to witness a slight plunge in terms of year-on-year growth in 2020.This is largely attributed to the extended lockdown in countries worldwide, resulting in affected supply chains of OEMs and shutdown of factories.



Since the factories were being shut, OEMs found it difficult to find vendors who were willing to supply, mainly due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic and the social distancing norms.This resulted in slowing down the existing and new deployments.



For instance, Ericsson (Sweden) reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected its sales and service delivery due to the lockdown and travel restrictions imposed by governments to curb the effects of the outbreak.Furthermore, public safety-LTE plays a crucial role during mission-critical services, its adoption as the communication standard is expected to rise, and hold a market size larger than the pre-COVID-19 forecast.



This increase in the market size is mainly because the COVID-19 pandemic is driving the need for efficient and effective communication to ensure faster response from public safety agencies to ensure the safety of people affected by the pandemic. For instance, the Abu Dhabi Police has adopted Hyteras narrowband and broadband solutions to tackle the pandemic.



Breakdown of profiles of primary participants:

 By Company Type: Tier 1  55%, Tier 2  35%, and Tier 3  10%

 By Designation: C-level Executives  72% and Directors  28%

 By Region: North America  45%, Europe  22%, Asia Pacific (APAC) 26%, and the Rest of the World (RoW)  7%



Major players operating in the PS-LTE market are Motorola Solutions, Inc. (US), General Dynamics Corporation (US), Airbus SE (Netherlands), Nokia (Finland), Harris Corporation (US), Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (China), Bittium Corporation (Finland), Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (South Korea), AT&T, Inc. (US), ZTE Corporation (China), Hytera Communications Corporation (China), and KT Corporation (South Korea).



Research Coverage:

The PS-LTE market has been segmented based on infrastructure & services, deployment model, application, end user and region. It also provides a detailed view of the market across 4 main regions: North America, Europe, APAC, and RoW.



Reasons to Buy the Report:

 This report includes statistics pertaining to the PS-LTE based on infrastructure & services, deployment, application, end user and region.

 This report includes detailed information on major drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges pertaining to the PS-LTE market.

 The report includes illustrative segmentation, analysis, and forecast for the PS-LTE market based on its segments and subsegments.

 This report includes the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the overall PS-LTE market.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05108759/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




A young boy has been rushed to hospital after suffering 'serious injuries' in a brutal attack allegedly involving one of its parents in Sydney's south west.

The five-year-old was 'seriously assaulted' at a home in Cabramatta about 9.50pm on Friday, August 29, police said.

Emergency crews found a horrific scene and took the child to Liverpool Hospital, where he is in a critical condition.

The child's injuries are understood to be gravely serious.

A man, 20, and woman, 31, were arrested at the home after a five-year-old boy was 'seriously assaulted'

A man, 20, and 31-year-old woman - known to the child - were arrested at the home and have since been charged with domestic violence offences.

A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed one of the adults arrested was the child's parent.

Police will allege in court the child had been assaulted with a wooden stick.

The man and woman were both refused bail to appear at Paramatta Bail Court on Saturday, August 29.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the recent presidential election in Belarus a success, RIA Novosti reported.

"We assume that the election has taken place," he said in an interview with Russia 1 television.

According to official results, incumbent President Aleksandr Lukashenko has won the August 9 presidential election in Belarus for the sixth timeand with 80.1% of the votes. The opposition, however, believes that opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has actually won.

Following the announcement of the official results, a mass wave of protests erupted in the country. According to official figures, more than 6,700 people were arrested in the first days of these protests. More than 120 police officers were injured and three protesters died.
Sakshi Maharaj, BJP member of Parliament from Uttar Pradeshs Unnao, was on Saturday sent to 14-day home quarantine in Jharkhands Giridih district allegedly for violating Covid-19 guidelines.

The lawmaker arrived in Giridih on Saturday to meet his old-aged ailing mother in Shanti Bhawan Ashram in districts Makadampur locality.

Giridih deputy commissioner (DC) Rahul Kumar Sinha said that Maharaj was sent to observe 14-day home quarantine in his Shanti Bhawan Ashram as per the states Covid-19 guidelines.

He came from another state without registration, which is a mandatory norm here. There are no other restrictions put on him in the Ashram. If he submits an application for exemption of home quarantine, the administration will consider it, the DC said.

He added, The parliamentarian was informed about quarantine rules in advance on Friday.

However, Maharaj forwarded an application to Jharkhand chief secretary on Saturday evening seeking exemption from home quarantine so that he can participate in Parliament Standing Committee in New Delhi on August 31.

The MP on Saturday morning arrived in Dhanbad by Rajdhani express train and undertook a road journey to reach Giridih.

While he was returning to Dhanbad in the afternoon, Giridih SDM Prerna Dikshit intercepted him and brought him back to Shanti Ashram to observe home quarantine.

With prior permission, I had come to meet my 97-year-old ill mother living in Shanti Bhawan. I had permission to stay from 10am to 5pm. But on DCs directive, I set out for Dhanbad at 12.30 pm. Administration put me forcefully in home quarantine, said Sakshi Maharaj.

I have to attend the Parliament Standing Committee meeting on August 31. The state government is acting against me under a political vendetta, the six-time parliamentarian said.

Meanwhile, BJP Giridih district president Mahadev Dubey has charged that the state government has adopted double standards in implementing Disaster Management Act. Tej Pratap had come to meet his father Lalu Prasad without permission but the government didnt act against him.
Al-Shabaab Terrorist Network: The Nature of this Enemy

U.S. Africa Command continues to train Somali forces and support operations with precision airstrikes. In 2020, U.S. Africa Command has conducted 46 airstrikes to degrade the Al-Shabaab terrorist network

By U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs , United States Africa Command Stuttgart, Germany Aug 28, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 28, 2020

Statement attributed to Col. Chris Karns, director of public affairs, U.S. Africa Command

Al-Shabaab Terrorist Network: The Nature of this Enemy

U.S. Africa Command continues to train Somali forces and support operations with precision airstrikes. In 2020, U.S. Africa Command has conducted 46 airstrikes to degrade the Al-Shabaab terrorist network.

Al-Shabaab is a dangerous enemy that presents a threat to Somalia, its neighbors, and the United States. This Al-Qaeda aligned terrorist organization increasingly employs lies, engages in criminal acts, and blends into communities to create fear and intimidate local populations. They have engaged in a series of violent acts with no regard for the Laws of Armed Conflict, to include previously attacking a hospital and deliberately seeking to place civilians in harm's way using protected structures, such as mosques, for military and offensive fighting purposes.

Al-Shabaab routinely attacks Somali citizens, military forces, and partners. Somali forces, the U.S., and international partners work toward preserving life while increasing security, stability, and ultimately, the long-term possibility of increased prosperity. Al-Shabaab relies on misinformation and lies, and the group continues to put out false information to include this week's erroneous claim about the death of U.S. forces in an attack.

U.S. Africa Command will continue to expose the nature of this enemy and who and what they representan empty future.

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'The president's niece, Mary Trump, wrote in her new book the president paid someone to take his SATs.' Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Pool/Getty Images

A professor at the University of Pennsylvania has renewed a request to investigate how President Donald Trump was admitted to the school in 1966, citing what he called "new evidence" on secretly recorded tapes in which Mr Trump's sister says a friend took his entrance exam.

The professor, Eric W Orts, is one of six faculty members who asked Penn's provost earlier this summer to launch an investigation into how Mr Trump transferred into the school. He noted the president's niece, Mary Trump, wrote in her new book the president paid someone to take his SATs.

The provost, Wendell E Pritchett, replied to Prof Orts on July 20: "We certainly share your concerns about these allegations and the integrity of our admissions process. However, as you suggest in your message, we have determined that this situation occurred too far in the past to make a useful or probative factual inquiry possible. If new evidence surfaces to substantiate the claim in the future, we will continue to be open to investigating it."

Prof Orts, a professor of legal studies and business ethics at the Wharton School, said he contacted Mr Pritchett after the Washington Post on Saturday published a story included audio of conversations Mary Trump recorded in 2018 and 2019 with Maryanne Trump Barry, the president's sister.

In one tape, Ms Barry said she did her brother's homework for him and "drove him around New York city to try to get him into college".

She said Mr Trump "went to Fordham for one year [actually two years] and then he got into University of Pennsylvania because he had somebody take the exams".

In their initial letter, the six professors wrote: "Failing to investigate an allegation of fraud at such a level broadcasts to prospective students and the world at large that the playing field is not equal, that our degrees can be bought, and that subsequent fame, wealth, and political status will excuse past misconduct."

The school's rejection of the July request was reported by the Daily Pennsylvanian, a student-run publication.

After the Post published the recording last weekend, Prof Orts said he emailed Mr Pritchett that the audio constituted the kind of "new evidence" the provost requested.

Prof Orts said he had not heard back from Mr Pritchett. The provost did not respond to a request for comment.

Ms Barry said in one of the tapes the person who took the test was named Joe Shapiro. Mr Trump knew a person with that name at Penn, but his widow and sister told the Post would have never taken a test for Mr Trump, and they said he didn't know Mr Trump until he attended Penn, so the timing was not right. Mary Trump has said it was a different Shapiro, who has not come forward or been identified.

The White House declined to comment for this article. ( Washington Post)
(Newser)  Over a hundred demonstrators gathered Thursday outside Jeff Bezos' mansion in Washington, DC, and assembled a guillotine at his front door, Business Insider reports. Led by a group called the Congress of Essential Workers, the protest was designed to oppose current employee wages at the company. It also came a day after Forbes pegged the Amazon CEO's wealth at more than $200 billion. "While [Bezos is] off living his luxury lifestyle, the people in his warehouses are suffering," said an Amazon warehouse employee who opposed the company's enforcement of mandatory overtime during COVID-19. "They make all this money off the backs of essential workers. They call us heroes, but you don't force a hero to be a hero."

story continues below

Amazon critic and former employee Christian Smallswho founded the Congress of Essential Workersposted a video of demonstrators assembling the guillotine. He urged the online retailer to increase its minimum wage from $15 per hour to $30 per hour in recognition of Bezos' immense wealth: "Give a good reason why we don't deserve a $30 minimum wage when this man makes $4,000 a second," he said. Fox Business notes that guillotines, popular during the French Revolution, were used to killed Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. But this guillotine was said to be non-functional. The protest comes at a time when Inequality.org reports that income inequality is rising worldwide and the richest 1% own 44% of the world's wealth. (Read more Jeff Bezos stories.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 05:29:27|Editor: huaxia

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Background video: Steven Monfort, Director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo, says "we're really proud of the partnership that we have with our Chinese colleagues." (Xinhua)

The zoo's giant panda team has not been able to conduct an exam of the cub, which would allow scientists to analyze its DNA and determine its sex.



WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Mei Xiang's cub, who turned a week old on Friday, "seems strong," according to giant panda keeper Marty Dearie with the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

"We were encouraged to see the cub holding up its head and using its legs to lift its body off the floor slightly," Dearie wrote in a daily update. "These are all good signs, and Mei Xiang's cub seems strong."

The keeper also noted the cub's black eye patches are "starting to come in."

Giant panda Mei Xiang is seen in a frame grab from a video feed at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States, Aug. 21, 2020. (Smithsonian's National Zoo via Xinhua)

"The bigger the cub gets, the more distinct its markings get," he continued, adding that "less obvious - but still visible - are the black leg patches and saddle."

Mei Xiang has started leaving her den to drink, a positive sign that the cub can stay warm on its own for short periods.

Newborn giant pandas rely on their mothers for warmth, since they have little fur and cannot regulate their own body temperature. During the first few days of a cub's life, a mother giant panda forgoes eating and drinking to stay with her offspring.

The zoo's giant panda team has not been able to conduct an exam of the cub, which would allow scientists to analyze its DNA and determine its sex.

This file photo taken on April 6, 2004 shows giant pandas, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Lu Mingxiang) (yc)

Mei Xiang, 22, gave birth to the cub on Aug. 21, the seventh since she and male giant panda Tian Tian began living in the zoo in 2000. Three of her cubs have survived to adulthood.

The female giant panda was artificially inseminated in March this year with frozen semen collected from Tian Tian. Veterinarians confirmed evidence of a fetus on an ultrasound earlier this month.

Part of the world-renowned Smithsonian Institution, the national zoo, located in Northwest Washington, D.C., has a decades-long partnership with Chinese scientists and curators on conserving giant pandas. 
Earlier this week, desi Twitter were left ROFLing after Trump supporter and American conservative political commentator Tomi Lahren unintentionally called US President an ullu, the Hindi word for owl which is also used as an insult and is synonymous to daft. It now turns out that Lahren was pranked into calling Trump an ullu.

She was praising Trump and said he was wise like an owl, but destroyed the entire buildup after she translated owl into Hindi. Lahren, a critic of the liberal politics, shared a video where she thanked the Indian supporters and talked about Trumps resolve to make America great again.

Well hello there to all my fans in India. I want to thank you for supporting the Make America Great Again agenda and the Keep America Great agenda. Trump 2020 is all about keeping America great. President Trump is wise like a owl or as you guys would say in Hindi, and I hope Im pronouncing this right, president Trump is wise like a ullu. I hope I said that right. You guys are on the right track. Lets keep it great,"Lahren said in the video.

A comedy writer named Ali Asghar Abedi has turned up and said that it was him who pranked the former TV host. He wrote in The Independent that he tricked Lahren to call Trump an ullu using the app Cameo- all for $85 (a little over Rs 6,000). American conservative intellectualism is on sale. How do I know this? I just bought it for $85 via the Cameo app," he wrote.

Cameo app allows people to pay public figures to say anything they are told,Abedi wrote adding that he paid Lahren $85 to call President Trump a jackass.

Lahren thought she was calling Trump wise, but ended up insulting the man whose presidency her entire career is based on," Abedi wrote.

Abedi wrote that he was aware of the fact that the prank was juvenile. But given that the Republican National Convention may be beyond satire, pranking the likes of Lahren may be one of the few ways we can derive comedy from this absurd event,"he said.

ALSO READ: Melania Trumps Green Dress to RNC is a Clean Slate for Meme Lords

Abedi also took to Twitter and said that he was behind Lahrens goofup.

In case it wasnt clear, Im the person who pranked Tomi Lahren, and I did it via @BookCameo. Best $85 Ive ever spent. https://t.co/AgIamUheLO Ali-Asghar Abedi (@AbediAA) August 25, 2020

Earlier this week, Lahren, a critic of the liberal politics and a former TV host, shared a video where she thanked the Indian supporters and talked about Donald Trumps resolve to make America great again. She said that Trump is wise as an owl and in an attempt to reach out to the Indian diaspora, she translated it. And that was the catch. Unintentionally she called Trump an ullu". She can even be heard emphasising on the correct pronunciation of the word. This literally had the South Asians laughing out loud.
4 messages demonstrators shared at the 2020 March on Washington

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WASHINGTON  On the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.s March on Washington, thousands marched in the streets of the nation's capital Friday to call for police reform, racial justice and a bolstering of voting rights.

While the rally and ensuing march from the Lincoln Memorial to the MLK Memorial was inspired by George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other recent victims of police action, the marchs main aim was calling for the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act as well as a John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act.

While there were many Black Lives Matter flags flying, speakers calling for the defeat of President Donald Trump and signs calling for the defunding of police, not all who participated In the march were supporters of the BLM political movement.

Some showed up simply to call for equality for all and offer a message of peace.

In the following pages are four things demonstrators said at Fridays March on Washington.

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Abu Dhabi, Aug 29 : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday issued a decree to formally end its boycott of Israel amid the US-brokered peace deal to normalize relations between the two countries.

The Decree comes as part of the UAE's efforts to expand diplomatic and commercial cooperation with Israel, and by laying out a roadmap towards launching joint cooperation, leading to bilateral relations by stimulating economic growth and promoting technological innovation, Gulf News reported citing the state-run WAM news agency as saying.

It added that the move was made on the orders of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and the Emirates' leader.

"Following the abolition of the Israel Boycott Law, individuals and companies in the UAE may enter into agreements with bodies or individuals residing in Israel or belonging to it by their nationality, in terms of commercial, financial operations, or any other dealings of any nature," the report said.

Based on the decree, it will be permissible to enter, exchange or possess Israeli goods and products of all kinds in the UAE and trade in them.

Saturday's development comes after Israel and the UAE on August 13 reached a historic agreement, brokered by US President Donald Trump, to work towards a "full normalization of relations".

As part of the agreement, Israel will suspend the annexation of Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank, while it focuses on expanding ties with other Arab countries with other nations in the Muslim world.

The UAE and Israel will also immediately expand and accelerate cooperation regarding the treatment of and the development of a vaccine for coronavirus.

According to reports, this is the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country in 25 years.
Washington: Thousands of people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial, the site of Martin Luther King Jnr's famous "I have a dream" speech, in the US capital on Friday (Saturday AEST) to protest against racial injustice and police brutality.

The march took place just blocks away from the White House, where US President Donald Trump accepted the Republican Party's nomination the previous night with a speech positioning him as the champion of "law and order".

Many family members of high-profile police shooting victims spoke at the event, which was announced in the days following George Floyd's death in late May.

Demonstrators wearing protective masks gather during the 'Get Your Knee Off Our Necks' march on Washington. Credit:Bloomberg

Speakers emphasised the need to vote in the November 3 election and remove Trump from office.
The reality on the ground is much more nuanced

At almost every turn at the Republican National Convention, speakers from the president on down portrayed American cities like Portland, Oregon, New York and Chicago as lawless Democratic wastelands that have been overrun with violence, looting and destruction that is forcing residents to flee for safer locales.

The reality on the ground is much more nuanced.

In downtown Portland this week, tourists from Texas enjoyed gyros at a food cart, a couple from the suburbs soaked up the afternoon sun and a recent transplant from Indiana strummed an acoustic guitar outside a shuttered Apple store, in front of a mural thats dedicated to Black people killed by police.

Its a pretty day and we feel just perfectly safe as long as weve got our masks on, said Benjamin Green, a warehouse forklift operator from Beaverton, Oregon. I dont see why theres any need to be scared to walk around out here.

The picture of American cities overwhelmed by violence has become a central theme of the 2020 presidential race. In his convention acceptance speech Thursday night, President Donald Trump called for law and order and said the country can never allow mob rule. But for the most part that portrait doesnt line up with reality.

READ MORE: RNC is our last reminder that Republicans dont plan on a fair play election

In Portland, protests have played out for more than 90 consecutive nights, frequently ending with vandalism. Hundreds of people have been arrested. But the disruption is mostly concentrated in small pockets of the city.

In those spots, including the two blocks around the federal courthouse and around some police precincts, graffiti is common and stores and restaurants are open, but boarded up. Downtown businesses this week urged the mayor to do more to address the problems.

In contrast, most neighborhoods in the city of nearly 700,000 people are untouched by the violence. Parks attract young families and joggers, and bars and restaurants cater to customers with outdoor seating areas spaced out for COVID-19.

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It seems business as usual, said Garrett Martin, who was visiting downtown from Fort Worth, Texas, with his fiancee. Weve been to a few shops. Its just the same regulations as everywhere else  we have to wear masks.

Protesters march on the Brooklyn Bridge, Thursday, June 4, 2020, in New York under a U.S. flag with the slogan I cant breathe. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Experts say violent crime has generally remained stable and low. Still, homicides and shootings are on the rise in many cities, but experts say its too soon to say whether the trend will continue, or whats driving it. Double-digit unemployment, frustrations over the pandemic and tensions over police violence could all be factors.

In many major cities, there was looting and some property destruction during the height of the George Floyd racial justice protests, but order was restored months ago in most places.

David Abrams, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, created a database tracking crime statistics in about 25 major cities during the pandemic.

The numbers are nuanced: overall violent crime is down, but there have been increases in homicides and shootings over the summer. For the first half of the year, he said, homicides were up 20% in the cities they follow.

Abrams cautions that it can be misleading to focus on crime statistics over a short time frame, such as week-to-week or month-to-month.

If you look at a longer time horizon over 10 years, 20 years, 30 years. I mean, crime is down immensely from what it was in the 80s and 90s, he said.

READ MORE: Activists see disparate police tactics amid Kenosha protests

In New York City, police recorded 280 killings through Aug. 23, up from 208 during the same period last year. Victims include a teacher hit by a stray bullet while walking his dog and a 1-year-old boy shot in his stroller.

But for a broader perspective, there were nearly 2,300 murders in New York City in 1990. In 2000, the number was 673.

The last time New York saw homicides on the scale of 2020 was in 2012, when there were 419. Back then, it was something to celebrate  the lowest number of murders in four decades. Then-Mayor Mike Bloomberg proclaimed New York City the safest big city in America.

Thats around the time that Kelly Baillon moved into her neighborhood just south of Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Baillon said she had never heard a gunshot  until Aug. 14, when her neighbor was shot in the chest outside their apartment building in the middle of the afternoon. Within a week, three more men were shot in her neighborhood, and two died.

Im afraid to walk outside, Baillon said. I cant leave my house without feeling like Im about to start crying. Just sheer anxiety.

Feeling unsafe, she flew to visit family near Bend, Oregon.

In Minneapolis, city streets have mostly returned to the way they were before the protests and destruction that rocked the city for days after Minneapolis police killed Floyd on May 25, said Michelle Phelps, a sociology professor who studies crime and policing at the University of Minnesota. But there are still some reminders of the violence, in the form of burned out buildings.

Atlanta police officer J. Coleman, left, and protester Elijah Raffington fist bump while officers kneel down with protesters in a symbolic gesture of solidarity outside the CNN Center, Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Atlanta during a protest sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)

Floyds killing sparked thousands of protests in cities and small towns across the nation. Nearly all were peaceful, and about 95% of those counted so far by the group crowdcounting.org did not have any property damage.

On Wednesday, a new wave of unrest hit Minneapolis, but in a limited area. False rumors of another police shooting of a Black man drove people downtown, where some then damaged, burglarized or burned businesses. Two police officers were injured. It turned out that the man, a suspect in a homicide, had shot himself as police were closing in.

Focusing just on that chaos misses the deeper story, Phelps said. The rise in homicides is happening in the context of a pandemic that has disrupted lives and amid the public breach of trust that was Floyds killing.

When people are disconnected from their jobs, when peoples employment is terminated or their hours cut back, when whole families are struggling to feed themselves, we have a mass epidemic of homelessness.  We should expect all of that to influence crime as well, Phelps said. Its a powder keg.

The highest risk of violence, she notes, is borne by young men of color in the poorest neighborhoods.

Phelps, a self-described white lady who lives in an upper-middle class neighborhood, said she knows no one who has moved out of the city, contrary to the assertions by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who claimed Wednesday night that people who could afford to were fleeing cities.

Back in Portland, Mayor Ted Wheeler this week took exception to the portrayal of his city as lawless.

The current national depiction of our city as a dark dystopia with nonstop violence is a lie, he said.

___

Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak and Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.

The post GOP portrayal of urban mayhem doesnt always match reality appeared first on TheGrio.
29. 8. 2020

cas cteni < 1 minuta

Police were trying to detain a woman from the crowd, but protesters did not let them do it. It happened when the protesters were waiting for the green light on the pedestrian crossing.
29.08.2020 LISTEN

It is a dawn of a new era in Ghana music. The Kumerica wave also tagged Asakaa is the latest addition to the Ghanaian music culture.

Asakaa is a drill type of music emerging from Kumasi, spearheaded by sprouting rappers who sees music as the best medium to share their stories, moods, ambitions and struggles. Their song type has been linked to the streets for the gangsta (akatafo) vibe associated with their lyrics.

The term Kumerica, a derivative of Kumasi and America is credited to Blaq Foreigner and Armani Sosa. Term was commonly used in-house to shout out fellow mates but at a point found it way into their music. This was the genesis of the movement spearheaded by a collaborative effort of Life Living Records, Trap House, and affiliated artistes including Sean Lifer, Kwaku DMC, City Boy, O'Kenneth, Reggie, Kawabanga, Loco Allday, Braa Benk, Jay Bahd and BKC's very own Obey Tunez to mention few.

To them, Kumerica was basically about living the widely-known Kumasi lifestyle akin to the U.S.A in propagating the Asakaa sound, but has grown into a springboard of propelling the culture, creativity and talents in the city to the globe.

The agenda has been on the radar of these young crops of musicians spanning over a year. These rappers associates themselves to drill music (a subgenre of Trap beats in hip-hop) but preferred to label it Asakaa. Their songs feature elements of trap, street-connected thoughts and mainly lyrics with changed wording structure: Brother becoming Dabro, Story herein Rysto Stop Posto etc, mostly related to by the Kumasi at heart.

Life Living Records - One Day

The biggest song before the current media buzz is undoubtedly One Day a collaboration by themselves for themselves highlighting the winning plan, and subsequently, individual projects were birthed under the same umbrella.

O'Kenneth & Reggie - Ya Parke

In April 2020, instagram followers of Virgil Abloh saw him endorse these talents, an indubitable milestone it was in the pursuance of their agenda, after catching up with the euphoria in the song Suzzy by Jay Bahd and Kwaku DMC. Fast forward was the release of the hard-hitting Off White Flow by Kwaku DMC in appreciation of the mileage.

Jay Bahd - Suzzy

Kwaku DMC - Off white Flow

Still on their focus, many songs kept trickling in and those who loved the wave kept in tuned with the vibe. Releases include City Boy with Idikoko, Reggie with Akata Gang Gang, and Braa Benk with Dabro; a song prophesying the Asakaa reign after Corona.

Braa Benk - Dabro

City Boy - Idikoko

Reggie - Akata Gang Gang

Earlier in August, 2020, the soldiers stood up on their feet once again to their cause in offloading the wavy and banging Akatafoc. Social media fell in love and has since marked the beginning of the Kumerica era.

Kawabanga - Akatafoc

In solidarity with the city, Kwaku DMC, Phrimpong and Ypee has made contributions in bringing some clarity to social media wording, labelling citizens of Kumerica as Kumericans.

Kwaku DMC - Oseikrom Kumasi Kumerica

YPee - Kumerica

Phrimpong - Kumerica

It must be recalled that Kumasi has been on the mission to revive and redeem it music glory, the CUE mission was the toast of every Ghanaian few years ago and here they are with the new winning trend.

Credit: Kwame Agyei Cue | Kwameweb.com
Trump narrowly lost New Hampshire to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, and is trailing Biden there this year.

US President Donald Trump has described anti-racism protesters as rioters and looters, and claimed his administration was all that stood between the American people and the left-wing mob.

During a campaign stop on Friday in the politically important state of New Hampshire, Trump acknowledged theres so much racial hatred in the US but blamed this on some news channels.

Trump, who has emphasised a law and order theme to motivate his political base, is trailing former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, in national polls ahead of the November 3 election.

But he told the crowd assembled in an airport hangar in Londonderry, New Hampshire, he was confident of victory.

Does anyone have any doubt? he asked to a chorus of support.

Much as he did on Thursday during his White House address to the Republican convention, Trump claimed to be singlehandedly protecting the country from Democratic anarchists.

We are all that stand between the American people and the left-wing mob, he said. If you want to save democracy from the mob, then you must vote to defeat an extremely poor candidate.





He also denounced as thugs protesters who sought to disrupt his White House speech on Thursday night and said Senator Rand Paul could have died when he was swarmed by protesters afterwards.

Paul on Friday said he was attacked by an angry mob of more than 100 people near the White House and had to be rescued by the police.

Theyre not protesters, Trump said. Those are anarchists, theyre agitators, theyre rioters, theyre looters.

Supporters wearing face masks due to the COVID-19 outbreak look on as US President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Londonderry, New Hampshire [Carlos Barria/ Reuters]

Trump has been criticised for not showing empathy in the wake of shootings and killings of Black men by police, including George Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis in May, sparking anti-racism demonstrations worldwide.

New protests erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin, this week after police officers shot Jacob Blake, another African American man, multiple times in front of his children. He survived.

Thousands of people also took part in a march in Washington, DC on Friday to denounce racism.

Biden and his running mate, vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris, said Trump was making America less safe with his rhetoric and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The President incites violence, inspires white-supremacist shooters, and his failed COVID response is costing thousands of lives per day. When you look at the world right now, ask yourself: Do you feel safe in Trumps America? Biden tweeted.

Trump has been obsessed, I think, with spreading fear and using division to protect his own ego, and more fundamentally to erode the foundations of the democracy that he swore to defend, Harris said at a fundraiser on Friday.





Trump narrowly lost New Hampshire to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, and is trailing Biden there this year.

In his speech, he went over some of his favourite themes, including his insistence that Mexico would pay for a wall along the US border and that Democrats would try to slash funding for law enforcement.

And he again said the coronavirus, which has killed more than 180,000 Americans already, was under control. Hopefully were at the end, he said.
Turkish Air Forces intercepted six F-16 Greek fighters over the Mediterranean Sea, the Defense Ministry said Friday, Daily Sabah reported.

According to the ministry, the Greek fighters took off from Crete Island as they approached the region where Navtex is declared.

On Aug. 27, the Turkish Air Forces radar systems detected six F-16 jets taking off from Greeces Crete island and heading for Southern Cyprus, the ministry said in a statement.

Turkish F-16 jets intercepted jets approaching the area where Turkey issued a Navtex alert in the Cyprus islands southwest and warded them off after finding out that the jets belonged to Greece, it added.

The Turkish Naval and Air Forces resolutely continue protecting Turkeys rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Rating Action: Moody's downgrades Moscow Mortgage Agency's ratings and will withdraw them following merger with Bank Solidarnost

Global Credit Research - 28 Aug 2020

London, 28 August 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") has today downgraded the baseline credit assessment (BCA) and adjusted BCA of Moscow Mortgage Agency (MMA) to b3 from b1, its long-term deposit ratings to B2 from Ba3, its long-term counterparty risk ratings (CRRs) to B1 from Ba2 and its long-term Counterparty Risk Assesment (CR Assessment) to B1(cr) from Ba2(cr). Concurrently, the rating agency affirmed the bank's short-term deposit ratings of Not Prime, its short-term CRRs of Not Prime, and its short-term CR Assessment of Not Prime(cr). The outlook on the bank's long-term deposit ratings and the issuer outlook were changed to stable from ratings under review. Today's actions conclude the review for downgrade, initiated on June 26, 2020.

Following the downgrade, Moody's will withdraw all of the above ratings. At the time of the withdrawal, the bank's long-term deposit ratings carried a stable outlook. The withdrawal of the ratings follows MMA's merger into Bank Solidarnost (Solidarnost; not rated). The merger took place on 28 August 2020, whereupon MMA ceased to exist as a separate legal entity.

Please refer to the Moody's Investors Service's Policy for Withdrawal of Credit Ratings, available on its website, www.moodys.com.

RATINGS RATIONALE

The downgrade reflects the credit negative impact of MMA's merger with Solidarnost. Moody's expects that the standalone credit profile of the merged entity will be weaker than that of MMA, given Solidarnost's poor financial metrics and its status of being under state-led financial rehabilitation since 2013 until 2030. Solidarnost's assets are approximately twice of those of the pre-merger MMA, yet it has a low capital buffer, as measured by the ratio of tangible common equity to statutory risk-weighted assets, while MMA's capital cushion prior to the merger was solid. Unlike MMA, whose profits were recently volatile but positive, Solidarnost was loss-making both at the bottom-line and pre-provision in 2019. The asset quality is similar at both banks, as they have high problem loans, yet IFRS9 Stage 3 loans are fully covered by loan loss reserves.

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The negative impact on MMA's capital and profitability will be partially offset by improvements in the merged bank's funding profile, given Solidarnost's sizeable and granular customer deposit base, consisting predominantly of retail customer funds. This is in contrast to pre-merger MMA, whose deposit base was very highly concentrated. The liquidity cushion of MMA pre-merger was higher than that of Solidarnost, but it will remain solid for the merged bank.

Governance considerations, specifically, the merged bank's substantial related-party exposure and implementation risk with respect to its strategy, were a key driver of this rating action. Strategy-wise, the merged bank's strategic priorities and business model will be different from that of MMA, which was a niche bank focusing on cooperation with the Moscow government. The merged bank plans to continue cooperating with the city on a number of its programmes, but these will be of secondary importance to the merged bank, while its key strategic priority is providing banking services to facilitate international trade and a variety of economic transactions between Russia and its trading partners in Asia Pacific, Africa and CIS..

MODERATE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Moody's continues to factor in a moderate probability of government support, given that (1) Solidarnost receives government support in the form of a financial rehabilitation package funded by the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) and the Central Bank of Russia (CBR), and (2) the City of Moscow retains a significant indirect ownership stake in the merged bank. In June 2020, Solidarnost's controlling shareholder, LLC Zarubezhenergoproekt (LLC ZEP), acquired 100% of MMA's shares from the Central Fuel Company (CFC), while the latter acquired a 47.96% stake in LLC ZEP itself. As a result, the city government's indirect stake was reduced from 100% in MMA (via CFC) to 49.72% in the merged bank (via CFC and LLC ZEP) [1].

LIST OF AFFECTED RATINGS

Downgrades, Previously Placed on Review for Downgrade:

.... Baseline Credit Assessment to b3 from b1

.... Adjusted Baseline Credit Assessment to b3 from b1

.... Long-term Bank Deposits to B2 from Ba3, Outlook Changed to Stable from Ratings Under Review

.... Long-term Counterparty Risk Ratings to B1 from Ba2

.... Long-term Counterparty Risk Assessment to B1(cr) from Ba2(cr)

Affirmations:

.Short-term Bank Deposits, Affirmed NP

.Short-term Counterparty Risk Ratings, Affirmed NP

.Short-term Counterparty Risk Assessment, Affirmed NP(cr)

Outlook Action:

....Outlook, Changed to Stable from Ratings Under Review

PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGY

The principal methodology used in these ratings was Banks Methodology published in November 2019 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1147865. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

REGULATORY DISCLOSURES

For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.

For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.

For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.

The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.

These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.

Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.

Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569.

At least one ESG consideration was material to the credit rating action(s) announced and described above.

REFERENCES/CITATIONS

[1] According to Solidarnost's regulatory filings on the Central Bank of Russia's website

Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.

Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.

Svetlana Pavlova, CFA Asst Vice President - Analyst Financial Institutions Group Moody's Investors Service Limited, Russian Branch 7th floor, Four Winds Plaza 21 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya St. Moscow 125047 Russia JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Yaroslav Sovgyra, CFA Associate Managing Director Financial Institutions Group JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service Ltd. One Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5FA United Kingdom JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454

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When I asked Facebook about concerns around the ethics of big tech entering the brain-computer interface space, Mr. Chevillet, of Facebook Reality Labs, highlighted the transparency of its brain-reading project. This is why weve talked openly about our B.C.I. research  so it can be discussed throughout the neuroethics community as we collectively explore what responsible innovation looks like in this field, he said in an email.

Ed Cutrell, a senior principal researcher at Microsoft, which also has a B.C.I. program, emphasized the importance of treating user data carefully. There needs to be clear sense of where that information goes, he told me. As we are sensing more and more about people, to what extent is that information Im collecting about you yours?

Some find all this talk of ethics and rights, if not irrelevant, then at least premature.

Medical scientists working to help paralyzed patients, for example, are already governed by HIPAA laws, which protect patient privacy. Any new medical technology has to go through the Food and Drug Administration approval process, which includes ethical considerations.

(Ethical quandaries still arise, though, notes Dr. Kirsch. Lets say you want to implant a sensor array in a patient suffering from locked-in syndrome. How do you get consent to conduct surgery that might change the persons life for the better from someone who cant communicate?)

Leigh Hochberg, a professor of engineering at Brown University and part of the BrainGate initiative, sees the companies now piling into the brain-machine space as a boon. The field needs these companies dynamism  and their deep pockets, he told me. Discussions about ethics are important, but those discussions should not at any point derail the imperative to provide restorative neurotechnologies to people who could benefit from them, he added.

Ethicists, Dr. Jepsen told me, must also see this: The alternative would be deciding we arent interested in a deeper understanding of how our minds work, curing mental disease, really understanding depression, peering inside people in comas or with Alzheimers, and enhancing our abilities in finding new ways to communicate.

Theres even arguably a national security imperative to plow forward. China has its own version of BrainGate. If American companies dont pioneer this technology, some think, Chinese companies will. People have described this as a brain arms race, Dr. Yuste said.

Not even Dr. Gallant, who first succeeded in translating neural activity into a moving image of what another person was seeing  and who was both elated and horrified by the exercise  thinks the Luddite approach is an option. The only way out of the technology-driven hole were in is more technology and science, he told me. Thats just a cool fact of life.

Moises Velasquez-Manoff, the author of An Epidemic of Absence: A New Way of Understanding Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases, is a contributing opinion writer.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com.

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" " Net Generation students are used to multitasking. iStockPhoto.com /Dan Wilton

The Net Generation college student works very much like the Internet itself. His mind resembles "hypertext," meaning that images, sounds and text link together bits of information. And that mind doesn't sit still for long.

Net Generation students are infamous for their multitasking skills and short attention spans. Growing up online, they're trained to quickly and simultaneously consume and process information from multiple media sources -- and to ignore anything "boring" or otherwise uninspiring.

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As the Net Generation Survey found, 75 percent of students instant message while doing schoolwork. At the same time, the student is also playing and downloading music, watching last night's "The Daily Show" and talking on the phone, reports the survey.

The Net Generation quickly shifts attention from one project to the next, always putting a high priority on speed. Sometimes that speed comes at a cost. Educators and researchers have found that the Net Generation lacks depth in its research and critical skills. They'll often grab information from the first page that pops up on Google, without fully examining if the Web site is a credible source.

Research shows that Net Generation college students are strong visual learners and weaker textual learners. One study examined a library class at California State University - Hayward, where students frequently ignored lengthy text directions for homework assignments. When the assignments were rewritten using images first, student scores increased by 11 to 16 percent and refusal to complete the assignment dropped by 10 to 14 percent.

The Net Generation is not only adept at process information from multiple sources, but they are intuitively drawn to creating multi-media presentations. From a childhood spent watching MTV, movies and video clips online, they have a natural eye and ear for editing audio, video and text. And since they grew up around digital video cameras and simple editing software, everyone's a filmmaker. YouTube, anyone?

Net Generation students are also strong experiential learners. They prefer to learn by discovery, rather than simply being told that something is true. They're used to the online world, where Google answers every curiosity. They read and write customer reviews on books, games and gadgets, and they trust those peer reviews more than any TV commercial or "official" critic.

More than anything, Net Generation students are excellent collaborators. They're natural at networking and love to work in teams. For the Net Generation, collaboration can occur in the same classroom or with team members across the world. They're comfortable starting and maintaining online relationships and becoming "good friends" with people they've never met in person.

That's because, for the Net Generation, the lines between the virtual and physical world are blurred, if not invisible. Not surprisingly, the Net Survey found that 80 percent of college students have instant messaged someone in the same room.

Now that we know more about how the Net Generation student learns and works, let's explore how they communicate with peers, professors and even their parents.

Are Online Classes the Solution? Since Net Generation students chat, shop and breathe online, you'd think they'd want to take all their college classes online, too? But that's not always the case. According to a study by the Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness at the University of Central Florida, older students are far more likely to be satisfied by online courses than Net Generation students. That's because many online courses are just rubber stamp copies of off-line courses that don't capitalize on the interactivity and immediacy of the Web. Discussion boards and chat rooms are a must. Net Generation students crave interactivity with their peers and professors, even if they don't meet in a physical class. Group work is very important to Net Generation students, even in online classes, something that's overlooked by many professors who assume that online students are independent workers. Net Generation students also expect quick responses from online professors, something many professors don't always have the time or interest to give. Net Generation students live in a communication environment where friends and peers are constantly "logged on" and reachable by either phone, e-mail or instant messaging. The Web is perfect for multi-media learners, but few online classes take advantage of its ability to present information not only as text, but as video, audio and images. It takes time and technical savvy to create engaging online content, two things many professors are short on.
About 220,000 people in Hong Kong signed up for the citys voluntary Covid-19 testing scheme in the first 11 hours of online registration on Saturday, with medical experts hailing the initial figures as a positive sign.

The turnout followed multiple appeals from local officials and experts, including Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen, who said the programme, which begins on Tuesday, could help the government gain control of the Covid-19 crisis without a need for further drastic social-distancing measures.

But leading infectious disease expert Professor Yuen Kwok-yung said even if the pandemic completely eased within the next two weeks, it would only be a pyrrhic victory given the death toll and economic impact, while warning the city could face a fourth wave of infections this autumn and winter.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

Hong Kong recorded 18 cases on Saturday, the 11th straight day of fewer than 30 infections, bringing the official total to 4,786 confirmed cases, with 87 related deaths.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protections communicable disease branch, said 16 of those cases involved local transmission, with 11 traced to existing patients. Five had unknown sources of infection.

[Because] 30 to 40 per cent of cases are coming from unknown sources, we feel the community still has hidden virus carriers. Now we have the mass-testing scheme ... If residents can seize this chance to find out about their own situation, it will help us understand  the spread of hidden virus carriers in the city, she said.

The five cases not yet traced included an Indonesian domestic worker who lived in Kwai Chung with an elderly woman and rarely hung out with friends.

Chuang noted that a female neighbour who lived on the same floor had been confirmed infected earlier, but said the pair did not know her and had since moved to Tsuen Wan to live with the womans daughter and granddaughter.

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A nurse at the private clinic of Dr Tse Kin-wah in Yuen Long was also confirmed with an unknown source of infection, while another part-time nurse at the same clinic tested preliminary positive.

The other three cases involved male retirees living at the Lower Ngau Tau Kok and Kwai Shing East estates as well as a worker from the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.

The two imported cases were returnees from Pakistan and the Philippines.

Other new cases included a staff member and a resident of the Hong Chi Lei Muk Shue Hostel, a home for the mentally disabled where 16 infections have now been confirmed.

Sample collection at test centres will be done by about 6,000 Hong Kong medical workers. Photo: Sam Tsang

About 10 preliminary positive cases were recorded elsewhere in the city, Chuang added.

Hong Kong also reported three fatalities connected to the disease on Saturday.

The Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin announced that a 63-year-old man who lived in Heng On Estate in Sha Tin had passed away at 8.15pm on Friday night, while a 98-year-old woman who lived in a home for the elderly in Kowloon Bays Kai Yip Estate succumbed on Saturday afternoon. Both suffered from chronic illnesses.

The other death was a 70-year-old patient at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan.

Starting on Tuesday, more than 140 coronavirus testing sites at community halls, schools and stadiums will collect samples across the citys 18 districts from 8am to 8pm, with disinfection at the facilities carried out twice a day.

The government spent about HK$2.58 million to post advertisements in 11 newspapers on Saturday to drum up support as online registration opened for the universal testing programme  about 220,000 people signed up between 7am and 5.45pm.

Asked if criticism of the free, Beijing-backed programme reflected public distrust in the government, Nip said: Whenever there is an issue involving the central government or mainland China, some people may stir up conflict or demonise and exaggerate the problem.

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip has drummed up support for the testing programme. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

If people question government policies based on [logic], there is no problem at all, but if they just make attacks regardless of the facts, I believe citizens have their own judgment.

Chinese University respiratory medicine expert Professor David Hui Shu-cheong said having about 220,000 registered signalled a good start, adding the mass testing could help eliminate hidden chains of transmission, as the transmissibility of the virus during the third wave was much higher than before.

Dr Joseph Tsang Kay-yan, an infectious disease specialist in the private sector, also called the registration figure a positive sign, estimating as many as 2 million to 2.5 million people would participate in the scheme by the end.

Tsang noted there were other reasons deterring residents from joining, including privacy issues and questions about the necessity of the tests given that social-distancing measures were again being eased.

No matter if the participation figure is big or small, its somewhat effective. We can identify and isolate asymptomatic carriers, he said. But to allow us to analyse the pandemic and determine other policies, if the age groups of participants are evenly distributed  then there will be meaningful info drawn.

Still, the registration figures appeared somewhat dwarfed by the response to the reusable CuMask+ giveaway, which opened online registration in May and attracted more than 1.5 million applications in the first 11 hours.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Health Protection noted that three employees working for different property agencies in Victoria Mall had been confirmed infected and that specimen bottles would be given to those working at the mall for virus tests.

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This article Coronavirus: experts see positive sign as 220,000 Hong Kong residents sign up for mass-testing scheme in first 11 hours of online registration first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Women wearing face masks against the coronavirus walk past United Arab Emirates and Israeli flags at the Peace Bridge in Netanya, Israel, Sun., Aug. 16, 2020. (Ariel Schalit/AP Photo)

UAE Formally Ends Israel Boycott Amid US-brokered Deal

DUBAI, United Arab EmiratesThe ruler of the United Arab Emirates issued a decree Saturday formally ending the countrys boycott of Israel amid a U.S.-brokered deal to normalize relations between the two countries.

The announcement now allows trade and commerce between the UAE, home to oil-rich Abu Dhabi and skyscraper-studded Dubai, and Israel, home to a thriving diamond trade, pharmaceutical companies, and tech start-ups.

The announcement further cements the Aug. 13 deal opening up relations between the two nations, which required Israel to halt its contentious plan to annex occupied West Bank land sought by the Palestinians. But Palestinians so far have criticized the accord as undercutting one of its few bargaining chips with Israelis in moribund peace negotiations.

The state-run WAM news agency said the decree formally ending the boycott came on the orders of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and the Emirates leader.

WAM said the new decree allows Israelis and Israeli firms to do business in the UAE, a U.S.-allied federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. It also allows for the purchase and trade of Israeli goods.

The decree of the new law comes within the UAEs efforts to expand diplomatic and commercial cooperation with Israel, WAM said. It lays out a roadmap toward launching joint cooperation, leading to bilateral relations by stimulating economic growth and promoting technological innovation.

Already, some Israeli firms had signed deals with Emirati counterparts. But the repeal of the law widens the likelihood of other joint ventures, such as in aviation or in banking and finance.

Dubai International Airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates, has been the worlds busiest for international travel for years. The Dubai International Financial Center also hosts major firms who trade in the hours between Asian and European markets. Dubai already has a major gold market and growing diamond trade.

Emirati firms likely also want to access Israeli technological know-how. Some already had even before the dealwith the cybersecurity firm DarkMatter reportedly hiring Israeli military-trained hackers.

On Monday, the first direct commercial flight by Israels flagship carrier El Al is expected in Abu Dhabi, carrying U.S. and Israeli officials including President Donald Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Telephone calls already can be made between the nations.

The decree formally eliminates a 1972 law on the UAEs books since just after the countrys formation. That law mirrored the widely held stance by Arab nations at that time that recognition of Israel would only come after the Palestinians had an independent state of their own.

Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, criticized the UAEs decree Saturday as undercutting the efforts of the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions movement targeting Israel. Israel has accused BDS activists of seeking to delegitimize its existence.

While (hashtag)BDS is proving to be an effective tool of peaceful resistance & responsible, ethical investment & consumer responsibility to hold Israel to account, this happens! Ashrawi wrote on Twitter.

Hamas, the Islamic militant group governing the Gaza Strip since seizing it in 2007, has reiterated its rejection of the UAE-Israel deal and the ending of the boycott.

The decree boosts the normalization with the Israeli occupation and legitimizes it on the Palestinian land, Hamas official Bassem Naim said.

The decree shows the UAEs eagerness to advance ties and maximize its potential benefits such as trade amid an economic slowdown, said Elham Fakhro, the senior Gulf analyst at the International Crisis Group.

The decision sends a clear message that the UAE is committed to its decision to normalize relations with Israel, Fakhro said. It does also raise questions about possible repercussions for anyone in the country calling for the boycott of Israeli goods, now that doing so contradicts the state policy.

The UAE is becoming the third Arab nation after Egypt and Jordan to currently have diplomatic relations with Israel. However, while widespread public distrust of Israel persists in those nations, the UAE never fought a war against Israel, nor did it have a historic Jewish population.

In recent years, the UAE has held quiet talks with Israel and allowed Israelis with second passports into the country for trade and talks. Opening ties may also help the Emirates access advanced American weaponry, like the F-35 fighter jet that right now only Israel flies in the Mideast.
As election-year politics, the coronavirus pandemic, police brutality and civil unrest have dominated the headlines and brought many spirits low, some work has been going on behind the scenes that could put Albuquerque and the states economy into the exosphere and beyond.

The city and states proposal to the U.S. Air Force to land the permanent headquarters for the new U.S. Space Command is due Monday. Albuquerque made the initial list of 31 locations the Department of Defense is considering for Space Command headquarters, which offers more than a thousand civilian and military jobs, potentially billions of dollars of economic activity to the region and untold private-sector contract opportunities.

The role of the Space Command, now temporarily located at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, is to coordinate all branches of military operations in space. The command is a necessary precursor to the independent Space Force.

In June, Mayor Tim Keller and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham jointly submitted a letter proposing Albuquerque as the permanent location of the Space Command. Keller says Albuquerque makes sense because the state is emerging as a center of space exploration and research. The governor says the states growing aerospace sector and defense and science installations should give us an edge. Sherman McCorkle, founder of the Kirtland Partnership Committee that is supporting Albuquerques bid, says New Mexico will score high considering its military assets, research labs and ability to meet the Space Commands mission.

The myriad space-related defense entities housed at Kirtland Air Force Base, including Sandia National Laboratories and the Air Force Research Laboratory, demonstrate the state has the people and brain power to support the Space Command. AFRLs Space Vehicles Directorate is already leading much of the militarys research and development efforts to modernize space-related defense systems.

The evaluation criteria include requirements the command be near military bases with space assets and have high-security facilities and communications capabilities. Weve got KAFB  plus Cannon and Holloman AFBs for good measure. Check, check, check.

Plus theres the Armys White Sands Missile Range and, adjacent to it, a little thing called Spaceport America, the only purpose-built commercial spaceport in the entire world. The White House and White Sands are the only sites that have protected airspace from ground to infinity.

Convenience and quick implementation should also be factors. Albuquerque is at the nexus of two major interstates, with an international airport adjacent to KAFB. Kirtland also offers extensive base infrastructure to accommodate Space Command personnel and their families. And the Starfire Optical Range at Kirtland already offers comprehensive ground-based monitoring of space assets and activity. Check, check.

And in addition to state-of-the-art, high-tech support capabilities available next door at Sandia Labs, up the interstate theres Los Alamos National Laboratory, with the strongest historical defense mission in the nation. Bonus check, check.

Sure we can focus on the challenges Albuquerque, like every major metropolitan area, faces, but given the amazing assets our city and New Mexico have when it comes to space, the question isnt why here  its why not?

New Mexico faces stiff competition from other states, several of which also have extensive space and defense-related infrastructure. But our city and states exceptionally strong grounding in this expanding defense mission and emerging industry should put it in first place.

New Mexicans who support the Space Commands location in Albuquerque should let their elected leaders know  now. The Air Force will make a final decision in early 2021. Community support should also be a factor in the site selection, and bringing this kind of high-tech expertise is the economic diversification our city and state have been looking for. Let your voices be heard to the heavens, New Mexico. Together, we can win this.

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.
August 29 : Hollywood celebrities such as Brie Larson, Jamie Foxx, Zoe Saldana and more mourn the sudden demise of actor Chadwick Boseman.

Chadwick Boseman, who played Black icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown before finding fame as the regal Black Panther in the Marvel cinematic universe, died Friday of cancer, he was 43.

Boseman died at his home in the Los Angeles area with his wife and family by his side. He was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago, his family said in a statement.

Actor Brie Larson took to her social media profile and wrote, Chadwick was someone who radiated power and peace. Who stood for so much more than himself. Who took the time to really see how you were doing and gave words of encouragement when you felt unsure. Im honored to have the memories I have. The conversations, the laughter. My heart is with you and your family. You will be missed and never forgotten. Rest in power and peace my friend

Actor Jamie Fox expressed, Please Jesus please... I know you know whats best... but at this moment our hearts are writhing with so much pain... so to lose this beautiful black king renders me weak...please watch over his family and loved ones.... @chadwickboseman you have touched the lives of all of us... u will forever be remembered in the highest regard... REST IN POWER! our black king! Our black panther

Avatar famed actress Zoe Saldana wrote, Rest in Power King TChalla. My heart is so heavy right now. Your passing has hit me hard. I will tell my sons about you forever. You were one of the classiest men I have ever met in my life. It was an honor to have shared minutes with you on screen and to have crossed paths with you during press. Though our acquaintance was light you always left a lasting impression because of your energy, poise and gentle manner. May the Universe deliver you to your promise land brother. ~ Que en paz y en poder logres descansar finalmente. Con lo poco que estuviste aqui, dejaste un legado increible!!!
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Roughly 60 people marched to Cleveland Mayor Frank Jacksons home to demand that he fire officer Jose Garcia, who fatally shot 22-year-old father Desmond Franklin.

The protest comes just days after Ohio Attorney General Dave Yosts office announced that it would review the case. Yosts office will act as the special prosecutor in the April 9 shooting that killed Franklin.

Protestors held signs that said, Enough is Enough. Black Lives Matters, Defund Police, Justice for Desmond Franklin, and Hands up. Dont shoot.

The protestors marched to the front of Jacksons home and created a circle on the street. Several police cruisers, including Jacksons security detail, kept watch over the protest. A helicopter watched the demonstration from the sky and about 10 officers from the departments bicycle unit rode through the area. Several of Jacksons neighbors came out onto their front porches to see what was happening as Franklins father, Emmanuel, spoke to the demonstrators.

I never expected a police officer to kill my son, he said. That was the last thing on my mind.

Emmanuel Franklin shouted at Jacksons home, asking him if he is really the mayor.

I stand my ground. Youre going to have to kill me to shut my mouth, Emmanual Franklin said. You took my sons life for no reason at all; because of color. Enough is enough.

The protestors yelled, Arrest Garcia. Jackson made no appearance at the demonstration, and its unclear whether he was home as the protesters gathered.

Emmanuel Franklin cried as he also decried police over violence in Cleveland.

But you sure quickly get on that platform when somebody breaks a window; when they break a window or destroy one of these radio police cars. Im tired of playing games with this system, Emmanuel Franklin said

The shooting sparked protests at the cemetery where Desmond Franklins car crashed after the shooting and at the Cleveland Police Second District, where Garcia is assigned, since Franklin was killed.

Department officials placed Garcia on paid leave administrative leave since the shooting.

A Cleveland woman who declined to give her name thinks its offensive that the city is still paying Garcia. The practice of paying officers placed on administrative leave amid internal and criminal investigations is common within Clevelands police department.

He has not been charged with any crimes for killing a man and lying about him having a weapon, she said. This happened right on the end of my street. You never really hear about it, so thats why Im here.

Police are getting away with the killings, said East Cleveland resident Protester Brenda Horta said that Desmond Franklins death represents another in a long line of Black Cleveland residents killed by its police officers.

This is not right. This is not justice, she said. Black lives dont matter (to police).

Franklin and a 17-year-old boy were at a convenience store in the citys Brooklyn Centre neighborhood.

Garcia, who was not in his police uniform and on his way to his shift in his personal car, confronted the duo about stealing items from a box truck in the parking lot. Franklin and the teen had been exchanging words. Garcia left the convenience store.

Franklin and the teen got in a car and followed Garcia. Either Franklin or the teen pointed a gun at Garcia as they drove next to each other, police said.

Garcia fired shots. One struck Franklin in the head, and his car crashed into the fence at Riverside Cemetery. The teen ran, but another off-duty police officer arrested him.

Investigators have not said if they found evidence that someone shot at Garcia. Attorneys for Franklins family have said that Franklin was shot in his temple, meaning, he was facing the road and couldnt have been pointing a gun at Garcia.

Read more crime stories on cleveland.com:
With the business potentially at an important milestone, we thought we'd take a closer look at Horizon North Logistics Inc.'s (TSE:HNL) future prospects. Horizon North Logistics Inc. provides industrial, commercial, and residential products and services in Canada. The CA$331m market-cap company posted a loss in its most recent financial year of CA$84.8m and a latest trailing-twelve-month loss of CA$41.1m shrinking the gap between loss and breakeven. As path to profitability is the topic on Horizon North Logistics' investors mind, we've decided to gauge market sentiment. We've put together a brief outline of industry analyst expectations for the company, its year of breakeven and its implied growth rate.

View our latest analysis for Horizon North Logistics

Consensus from 8 of the Canadian Commercial Services analysts is that Horizon North Logistics is on the verge of breakeven. They expect the company to post a final loss in 2019, before turning a profit of CA$45m in 2020. Therefore, the company is expected to breakeven roughly 12 months from now or less. How fast will the company have to grow to reach the consensus forecasts that anticipate breakeven by 2020? Working backwards from analyst estimates, it turns out that they expect the company to grow -5.5% year-on-year, on average,

We're not going to go through company-specific developments for Horizon North Logistics given that this is a high-level summary, but, take into account that generally periods of lower growth in the upcoming years is not out of the ordinary, particularly when a company is in a period of investment.

One thing we would like to bring into light with Horizon North Logistics is its relatively high level of debt. Generally, the rule of thumb is debt shouldnt exceed 40% of your equity, which in Horizon North Logistics' case is 42%. A higher level of debt requires more stringent capital management which increases the risk around investing in the loss-making company.

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Next Steps:

There are key fundamentals of Horizon North Logistics which are not covered in this article, but we must stress again that this is merely a basic overview. For a more comprehensive look at Horizon North Logistics, take a look at Horizon North Logistics' company page on Simply Wall St. We've also compiled a list of relevant factors you should further examine:

Valuation: What is Horizon North Logistics worth today? Has the future growth potential already been factored into the price? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether Horizon North Logistics is currently mispriced by the market. Management Team: An experienced management team on the helm increases our confidence in the business  take a look at who sits on Horizon North Logisticss board and the CEOs background. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
After winning one million-dollar race earlier this month, trainer Tony Alagna is hoping a Canadian driver can give him a sweep of harness racing's million-dollar sophomore stakes with a win in Saturday's 2020 Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Alagna is no stranger to success in the Pepsi North America Cup, winning the 2013 edition with the great Captaintreacherous. In 2019, the first crop of Captaintreacherous turned three and his son Captain Crunch gave him his first sire credit as a North America Cup winner.

In the 2020 edition of the Pepsi North America Cup there are four sons of Captaintreacherous, leading the way on the sire side. Three of those sons of Captaintreacherous hail from the Alagna stable -- elimination winner Captain Kirk, second-place finisher Capt Midnight and last week's fastest closer Captain Barbossa.



Captain Kirk, Capt Midnight and Captain Barbossa Captain Kirk, Capt Midnight and Captain Barbossa

Trot Insider (SC) caught up with the three drivers of these standout sophomores in advance of Saturday's $1 million Pepsi North America Cup.

Jody Jamieson, driver of Captain Kirk (PP3, 3-1)

SC: A different outcome than you had envisioned driving Captain Kirk on Saturday, a horse you didn't qualify for the Final. What were your thoughts on how he raced last week?

JJ: I thought he raced huge. To be first up for the distance that was first up...he was allowed to go at his own pace but to be screaming through the line like he was after being first up all that time, I thought it was very, very telling of what kind of horse he is.

SC: Post three on Saturday; thoughts on the draw and how you are coming into the Final.

JJ: I think the horse is as good as he can be coming into it; I don't know for sure as I haven't talked to anybody but I'm sure it will be all systems go when we hit the track.

SC: Tall Dark Stranger will most likely be the post time favourite but there are those that feel he can be beat. Do you agree?

JJ: I hope he's beatable just from the fact that I'm in the race! I hope I can beat him...he got a pretty cheap half in his elimination. He was out a way to get there but, still, it was a pretty cheap half. Then he came his own back half huge and fought off some horses. I don't know why they think he's beatable but I'm going to hope that he is.

SC: As a two-time North America Cup winner, how would it feel to add a third Cup to your collection?

JJ: This one would be pretty cool; I've never picked up a horse in the North America Cup after the draw so it's a pretty nice feeling and I really think we've got a shot. If we get the job done it would be right up there with some of the best races I've ever won.

I think the way the race is going to set up, Bob (McClure, who picked off Captain Kirk for Tattoo Artist) made a really good decison -- and I imagine it was a real hard one too to book off an elim winner -- but, like I said, I'm just happy to be in the catbird seat.

SC: You've got Bet On Becky in a division of the Eternal Camnation on Saturday...who else are you most looking forward to driving on the North America Cup undercard?

JJ: I think Lady Lou's got a real good shot in the Fan Hanover. I've never won the Fan Hanover before, and I got to pick her up last week and I'm really excited about her. I'm excited about Sintra, he's just in an open race but I'm still excited to drive him.

James MacDonald, driver of Captain Barbossa (PP9, 15-1)

SC: The way your month started it seemed like there was a good chance we wouldn't be talking to you about North America Cup night.

JM: I'm very blessed to have not been hurt any worse than I was.

SC: How's everything feeling since returning last Saturday?

JM: Feels great, I've been very lucky. In the bike, I feel terrific and I haven't had any ill effects from the accident so it's all systems go.

SC: And all systems go right into the North America Cup card where you pick up a very live drive with Captain Barbossa. How did that come about?

JM: Donna [Lee, assistant trainer] messaged me about driving him. I talked to Louis [Philippe Roy] after the race and I know Louis was thrilled with how he raced in the elimination, he just didn't get any room. He had lots of pace though. I expect him to be very good, the nine hole hurts but if everything goes our way on Saturday night I wouldn't be shocked if he got a good chunk or all of it.

The horse is coming into the race in good form and last week didn't hurt him at all, that's for sure. I expect a good effort from him.

SC: First million-dollar drive for you this Saturday. How does it feel to be going for a million bucks, especially given the way August 2020 started for you?

JM: I was obviously pretty disappointed when I got hurt -- not just for the sole reason that I got hurt but the timing of it all. It's not just being back in time for the North America Cup it's being back in time so people know you're there to get the right horse. A lot of factors go into picking up a drive like that. When I got hurt I was down in the dumps but it was always my goal...I'd heard stories about people coming back from collarbones quick. I worked hard with the right people and I was able to come back as quick as possible.

I'm excited to be back and to be in the North America Cup is pretty special. I'm going to take it all in and hopefully come out in the winner's circle.

SC: You've got a number of stakes drives on Saturday. Which of those horses you most looking forward to driving on the North America Cup undercard?

JM: I'm always looking to sit behind [Roses Are Red contender] So Much More. She's just such a good story and a great little mare. She deserves everything she's got so far this year, a great group of people behind her so it's good to see people like that have success. I'm really hoping for some luck with her and give them what would likely be the biggest win of their career.

Doug McNair, driver of Capt Midnight (PP5, 9-2)

SC: Congrats on getting two horses qualified for the North America Cup Final. A tough decision to have to choose between the two, I'm sure.

DM: For sure. I think Capt Midnight's just a little more advanced speed-wise than the colt of my dad's. He's gone those fast miles so he's got the experience for sure.

SC: Before we discuss Capt Midnight, perhaps a quick comment on Mayhem Hanover and his effort.

DM: He's definitely a real nice horse. He kept getting better last year at the end of the year, won the Grassroots Final and then was top five in the Breeders Crown. He's a real nice colt.

Sometimes you just don't know what to expect, he'll do the odd thing you're just not ready for. He wouldn't go to the gate one day in the Gold and I thought it cost him a lot of money because I thought he'd be first or second. He ended up getting away fourth and coming first over [and finishing fourth].

It looks like the trip [on Saturday] could set up to get him a good piece of it. I wouldn't count him out.

SC: Of course you hope your trip works out better and you get a bigger piece.

DM: My horse will get a different trip than him, for sure.



Capt Midnight (outside) finishes second to Tall Dark Stranger (covered, bottom head) in his 2020 Pepsi North America Cup elim Capt Midnight (outside) finishes second to Tall Dark Stranger (covered, bottom head) in his 2020 Pepsi North America Cup elim

SC: Talk about Capt Midnight's effort on Saturday. Do you think if the stretch was a little longer you'd have picked off Tall Dark Stranger?

DM: I was getting to him halfway down the lane. That [Tall Dark Stranger] just knows how to win. He just kept sticking his head out...it seemed like if we went a little further I might have beat him but I might not have either. He knows how to win.

It's all going to come down to the trip. I don't think you'll see Yannick [Gingras, driver of Tall Dark Stranger] stroll his way to the lead like he did last week, or go around once and win the race. There's going to be a lot more action and it's going to be an exciting race.

SC: What would a North America Cup title mean to you?

DM: I've watched them all since I was young. It would be a good feather in my cap. I'm not saying there's nothing else you'd want to win for the rest of your life but it's definitely up there. We'll play it by ear and hopefully have some luck.

SC: You have a full dance card on Saturday night; is there a horse on the undercard you're really looking forward to driving?

DM: I've got the horse that's probably going to be 2-5 in the Fan Hanover, Party Girl Hill. I'm looking forward to driving her. She raced well...first time driving her, I'm used to her now and hopefully I can keep her undefeated streak alive.

SC: North America Cup night is a night that everyone looks forward to but there's going to be a different sort of ambiance without the normal crowd there.

DM: You're right there. We're going to miss the fans we usually get....it's usually a really fun night because there's always a big crowd. We're definitely going to miss that.

The 2020 Pepsi North America Cup headlines a stakes-filled card this Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park that also includes the $400,000 Fan Hanover, $290,000 Roses Are Red, $220,000 Armbro Flight, $234,058 Nassagaweya (two divisions) and $214,645 Eternal Camnation (three divisions) for what is surely the most star-studded card of harness racing on the Canadian calendar so far this season.

$1,000,000 Pepsi North America Cup

1. Mayhem Hanover (Randy Waples / Gregg McNair) 20-1

2. Moneyman Hill (Jonathan Drury / Carmen Auciello) 20-1

3. Captain Kirk (Jody Jamieson / Tony Alagna) 3-1

4. Tall Dark Stranger (Yannick Gingras / Nancy Takter) 7-5

5. Capt Midnight (Doug McNair / Tony Alagna) 9-2

6. Denali Seelster (Trevor Henry / Dr. Ian Moore) 20-1

7. Tattoo Artist (Bob McClure / Dr. Ian Moore) 8-1

8. Allywag Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy / Brett Pelling) 4-1

9. Captain Barbossa (James MacDonald / Tony Alagna) 15-1

10. Odds On Osiris (Sylvain Filion / Melanie Wrenn) 10-1
Observation charge accumulation at nanocavity on plasmonic photocatalyst

Strong interaction between plasmonic nanoparticles and free-space light induced the evanescently confined modes on the nanoparticle surfaces, which holds great promise in plasmonic nanophotonic technologies. Plasmonic nanoparticle with the capability of generating energetic charges makes it being widely exploited in the field of photocatalysis, providing a new paradigm for conversion renewable sunlight to useful fuels and high-value chemicals.

Plasmon metal nanoparticles/semiconductors with Schottky barrier at interface are well-received photocatalysts that can achieve charge spatial separation to prolong the lifetime of separating charge for matching the timescale of surface chemical reactions. The key question in the plasmonic photocatalysis is how plasmonic charges can be effectively separated to improve charge density at catalytic sites, which is critical to multi-hole/electron-driven redox reactions, such as water oxidation.

In natural photosynthesis, hundreds of functional pigments are distributed surrounding a reaction center of photosystem II to continuously supply photogenerated charges by increasing the light absorption flux. However, due to the lack of microscopic details of charge accumulation sites in artificial photosynthesis, there is less report for mimicking natural photosynthesis to extract sufficient hot holes in plasmonic photocatalysts for efficient oxygen evolution.

In a new research article published in the Beijing-based National Science Review, inspired by natural photosynthesis, Can Li and Fengtao Fan research group from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, present an elegant approach to simultaneously address the critical problems of light harvesting and charge density at catalytic sites of plasmonic photocatalyst. The group constructed Au nanoparticle dimers on TiO2 as optical antenna, and found charge accumulation at nanocavity of Au dimers/TiO2 photocatalyst mediated by surface plasmon resonance coupling. Combining experimentally measured surface photovoltage with theoretical calculations, the local density of hot hole was demonstrated to be related to the square of local near-field intensity. Using four-electron involved water oxidation reaction as a probe reaction, the performance of Au dimer/TiO2 photoanode can be improved by one order of magnitude compared to Au NPs/TiO2 photoanode.

The current work presents a previously unrecognized effect on charge accumulation at catalytic sites of plasmonic photocatalysts. Furthermore, it should encourage others to explore the significance of plasmonic hot spot to generate more charges - not only for photodetections, but also for photocatalysis associated with multiple charges transfer processes.

###

This research received funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences Interdisciplinary Innovation Team, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics Innovation Foundation, and the Strategic Priority Research Program and Equipment Development Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

See the article:

Yuying Gao, Feng Cheng, Weina Fang, Xiaoguo Liu, Shengyang Wang, Wei Nie, Ruotian Chen, Sheng Ye, Jian Zhu, Hongyu An, Chunhai Fan, Fengtao Fan, and Can Li

Probing of coupling effect induced plasmonic charge accumulation for water oxidation

Natl Sci Rev

https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1093/ nsr/ nwaa151

The National Science Review is the first comprehensive scholarly journal released in English in China that is aimed at linking the country's rapidly advancing community of scientists with the global frontiers of science and technology. The journal also aims to shine a worldwide spotlight on scientific research advances across China.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The webinar to assess the impacts of a draft circular on national technical regulations on terminal devices of terrestrial mobile communication

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) on August 27 held a webinar to assess the impacts of a draft circular on national technical regulations on terminal devices of terrestrial mobile communication.

According to representative of the MICs Information Technology Department, the building of national technical regulations on terminal devices of terrestrial mobile communication is one of the breakthrough solutions to spur domestic business and manufacturing activities. The draft circular includes the requirement that terminal devices of terrestrial mobile communication must be integrated with 4G.

The building of the draft draws on lessons from a range of other countries including Singapore, where terminal device manufacturers and suppliers have to ensure their support of IMT-2000 technology, which are 3G and LTE-Advanced (4G).

Addressing the event, Phan Tam, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, said that technology changes constantly, especially mobile communication. Globally, some countries have deployed 5G, and Vietnam is among the pioneers.

Vietnam, agencies, and businesses related terminal device manufacturing and trading and mobile operations are not exempt from this trend. The government's goals for national digital transformation cannot be realised on 2G, he noted.

The deputy minister asked agencies and businesses to discuss measures and solutions to accelerate the transformation in a way that minimises impacts on businesses and the locals.

Currently, the draft circular is available for comments on the MIC portal.

The trend of online applications has been blossoming, especially in the COVID-19 landscape. In addition, the governments Decision No.749/QD-TTg dated June 3, 2020 on the approval of the national digital transformation programme by 2025 with vision to 2030 creates the foundation for digital transformation in digital infrastructure development: 5G network infrastructure; upgrading of 4G; commercialisation of 5G; and building regulations and a roadmap for the integration of 4G and 5G into smartphones and IoT devices.

At present, Vietnam has six mobile telecommunications service providers with over 129 million subscribers. 2G, 3G, 4G are available, and 5G will be commercialised soon.

Addressing the webinar, some mobile telecommunications service providers recommended that it is time to consider turning off 2G, maybe by 2025. 4G will bring about more values but needs time to develop services. However, the extension of 2G will facilitate businesses and associations of transportation businesses because over one million automobiles are equipped with 2G-based cruise control devices, in addition to many fishing boats.
U.S. military medical personnel or National Guard troops might assist in inoculating the public once a viable, safe vaccine is developed for COVID-19, senior government health officials said Friday.

Paul Mango, deputy chief of staff for policy at the Department of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said localities are currently developing how to vaccinate Americans when one becomes available.

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The strategy could include using pharmacies as distribution points, or setting up mass inoculation centers and employing military support, they said.

We are not going to take anything off of the table, Redfield said in response to a reporters question during a press call Friday. There is the potential for jurisdictions to want assistance from the National Guard or the military. The military is clearly providing a lead role in [the] logistics of all of this.

Currently, more than 19,800 National Guard personnel are activated and supporting pandemic response across the U.S., according to Brig. Gen. Nick Ducich, vice director of the operations directorate for the National Guard Bureau.

They are engaged in supporting testing sites, distributing food and cleaning facilities, Ducich said.

Active-duty and Reserve military members also continue to treat civilian patients in coronavirus hotspots across the United States. About 740 military medical and administrative support personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force were deployed to community medical centers in California and Texas to support coronavirus response as of Friday.

At the height of the nations pandemic response, more than 40,000 U.S. military personnel were deployed for COVID-19 operations, establishing temporary hospital facilities in New York City and elsewhere, manning Navy hospital ships and working in communities.

Currently, two vaccine candidates are in Phase III clinical trials  the step that proves effectiveness and rules out adverse reactions. According to Mango, nearly 30,000 volunteers have enrolled in the two trials, which require a total of 60,000 participants.

At the same time, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and an advisory panel at CDC are evaluating the safety of vaccine candidates and developing recommendations on which populations will get the vaccine first and where they will be distributed, Redfield said.

The Defense Department announced earlier this month that it and HHS selected McKesson Corporation to serve as the central distributor for future COVID-19 vaccines and related supplies.

McKesson previously distributed vaccines during the 2009-2010 H1N1 influenza pandemic, according to Redfield.

HHS and DoD are coordinating the national vaccine initiative, known as Operation Warp Speed. Redfield said that in the weeks ahead, communities will begin rolling out their plans for distributing a vaccine, which he and Mango said could be approved before New Years Eve.

We feel we are absolutely on track, if not a little bit ahead, in terms of our overall objective to have tens of millions of safe, effective vaccines approved before the calendar year ends, Mango said.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: U.S. Troops May Not Get Priority for a COVID-19 Vaccine After All
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Excessive force with a taser, a retaliatory arrest and offensive language.

These are a few of the accusations filed against NYPD officers on Staten Island that have been substantiated by the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) in the past several years and now are available for public viewing in a New York Civil Liberties Union database.
A dear friend of Rotary, who is a past Conroe Rotary Club President with a brilliant sense of humor and a very dry wit, recently did a hilarious Facebook post, venting a bit about our current global situation. Can we all relate? This was posted just as the double threat hurricanes were approaching the Texas Gulf Coast. He said in part its 2020 so why shouldnt we have a double hurricane? (After all, we have...) worldwide pandemic, wildfires in California ... my grandkids cant attend school, everyone looks like a bank robber, locust swarms in Africa and Asia... He went on with more personal and very funny musings before closing with I will not be shocked when a UFO lands before year-end and we have an alien invasion! Cmon man!

We all had a great laugh and thanked him for so perfectly putting into words what we were all thinking which was (and is)... What Next? Cmon Universe - give us a break!

Our Rotary Club meetings have had many shake our heads, cmon man moments too as we try to maintain our distance and still help the community. How do we help when we cant engage on a personal face to face basis, when we cant hold our usual fundraisers and when so many of our schools and hospitals cant let us in to volunteer? Not an easy task - but after a little time getting off the ground, were finding ways to help.

The Rotary Club of Lake Conroe is continuing their monthly work days at Memory Park. With a dozen or so volunteers arriving shortly after sunrise and finishing before the heat of the day, the parks four acres allow plenty of room to spread out in the wide open spaces. Such a gorgeous place to get in some service hours while taking in the beauty of Mother Nature. The club is also working on a project to take puzzles, books and activity books to a senior living center in Montgomery. Additionally, theyve made monetary donations to both Meals on Wheels and The Montgomery County Food Bank.

The Conroe Club is taking a different approach with two projects that begin today. The club will have collection boxes set up in the lobby area of Honor Cafe in downtown Conroe. One box will be for Meals on Wheels - the club is collecting non perishable food items that MOW will use to create care packages for seniors. The second box will be for Camp Hope, an organization that helps Veterans with PTSD transition into health and happiness. Camp Hope needs mens toiletries - shampoo, deodorant, shaving kits, etc - and snack items with a good shelf life, such as beef jerky, peanut butter crackers, cookies and the like. The club hopes to transition into hands on volunteering with these organizations once the virus situation allows that to happen. Club President Chris Sadler hopes that as the word spreads about the collection boxes that the bins will overflow with donations from the community and patrons of the restaurant, as well as Rotarians as they arrive for club meetings each Tuesday. For more information, contact Chris at chris@honorcafe.us.

The Rotary Club of The Woodlands continues to operate its wonderful project, The Woodlands Rotary House, day in and day out, helping patients (and their families) as they receive treatment in the Woodlands (and Conroe) Medical Center Hospitals. Club members help the guests upon arrival and any time during their stay that assistance is needed. As a large club with 200+ members, RCW has groups of members doing projects in smaller groups to make an impact in their communities south of the river, including many projects to feed the hungry.

Its taken some creative, out-of-the-box thinking, but as this crazy year rolls on, were finding new ways to lend a hand and continue Service Above Self. Thank you Rotarians and Lions and Kiwanions and all the others in our community who continue to find ways to serve. Youre doing A Beautiful Thing!
Seven months into the coronavirus crisis, with more than 30 vaccines rapidly advancing through the rigorous stages of clinical trials, a surprising number of research groups are placing bets on some that have not yet been given to a single person. The New York Times has confirmed that at least 88 candidates are under active preclinical investigation in laboratories across the world, with 67 of them slated to begin clinical trials before the end of 2021. Those trials may begin after millions of people have already received the first wave of vaccines. It will take months to see if ...
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29

Trend:

Dmitry Savelyev, Member of State Duma of the Russian Federation, head of Russia-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group sent a congratulatory letter to Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"Esteemed Mehriban Arif qizi,

Please allow me to cordially congratulate you on the occasion of your birthday.

A bright personality, a talented politician with tremendous creative energy, a sharp mind and intuition, a woman of incredible charm and a world-class public figure  your name itself is a symbol of selfless service to your native country and your work is an example of brilliant achievements on the path to statehood. The efforts you are making to strengthen the fraternal relations with Russia deserve the deepest respect.

I sincerely wish you great happiness, the best of health and prosperity. May peace and harmony always reign in your home and all your deeds be accompanied by success and inspiration!" the letter said.
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said steady progress was being made on the Dubai Metro Red Line upgradation project work with the Dubai Internet City, Damac Properties, and UAE Exchange stations nearing 40 per cent completion.

The scope of works include the construction of an additional Western entrance at Dubai Internet City station and improving the link between Damac Properties station and Dubai Marina Tram station to cope with the growing number of passengers, especially during the morning and evening peak hours.

An additional Eastern entrance will be built at UAE Exchange station to ease the arrival of passengers at the station, said the statement from RTA.

Civil works will also be made at the Eastern and Western sides of the stations entrances to improve the integration of transit means and the accessibility of metro stations. The work also includes the construction of pedestrian crossings, shaded rest areas, landscaping and signage, it added.

"The improvement of stations along with the surrounding infrastructure aims to bring happiness to commuters and enhance the experience of pedestrians and cyclists, besides providing safe and smooth mobility for people of determination," remarked Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, the Director-General and Chairman of the Board of RTA Executive Directors.

"This project is part of a master plan to improve the infrastructure of 40 metro and marine transport stations by 2025. The plan calls for improving the link between the stations and the surrounding urban and tourist destinations in a radius of 500 metres," stated Al Tayer.

"It also ensures safe and smooth accessibility of those areas to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers," he noted.

"The selection of those stations was based on several criteria such as the number of passengers, number of people of determination users, population density, geographical distribution in the surrounding areas, and the number of mobility journeys between transit means," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
P upils could be forced to isolate for 14 days if a single case of coronavirus is confirmed in their year group, according to new Government guidance published just days before schools reopen.

A rota system limiting the number of students in secondary schools at any one time could be used in local lockdown zones, while teachers and students may need to wear face coverings in communal areas.

Officials hope the staggered approach will help break transmission chains by reducing how many people students come into contact with. If a case is confirmed, every pupil in the affected persons class, or bubble, may have to quarantine for two weeks.

The fresh guidance was published by the Department for Education late on Friday evening. School leaders have criticised the timing of the announcement, which came just before a bank holiday weekend ahead of millions of pupils returning to class next week.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said any changes to school attendance will only ever be an absolute last resort.

He added: However, it is important that both Government and schools prepare for a worst case scenario, so this framework represents the sensible contingency planning any responsible government would put in place.

It came as Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that England could face fresh national and very extensive local lockdowns if there was a surge in coronavirus cases.

In an interview with The Times he said a second wave this winter was a very serious threat that was already being seen in other parts of the world.

Pupils wearing masks at St Paul's High School in Glasgow (Getty Images)

"But so far in the UK we are managing to keep the number of new cases flat through a combination of test and trace and local lockdowns, he told the paper.

This is the reasonable worst-case scenario, that we have a bad flu and a growth in coronavirus as people spend more time indoors. Cases go up again, and we have to use very extensive local lockdowns or take further national action. We dont rule that out but we dont want to see it.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the publication of the school guidance on Friday isnt the Governments finest moment.

Obviously, schools havent had any chance whatsoever to incorporate this into their planning and will now have to revisit the plans they have put in place, he said.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union NAHT, added: Weve been calling for the Government to publish a Plan B for several weeks.

Finally it is here, but another late night publication is fairly typical of what weve become used to.

Meanwhile, Labours shadow education secretary Kate Green said the timing of the guidance beggars belief.

She added: The Governments incompetence is insulting to the school leaders and teachers who have worked so hard over summer to prepare schools for children to return.

The lengthy guidance said schools should base their plans on a four-tier system, and the extra measures for secondary schools should kick in at the second tier.

It said: Schools should ideally operate a rota system that means pupils spend two weeks on-site followed by two weeks at home.

However, schools can choose to operate a one-week rota (so, five days on-site, followed by nine days at home) if this is necessary for the effective delivery of the curriculum.

The guidance added: In all areas of national government intervention, at schools where students in year seven and above are educated, face coverings should be worn by adults and pupils when moving around the premises, outside of classrooms, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained.

The DfE said any suspected coronavirus cases will need to self-isolate and get tested.

It added: If a case is confirmed, local public health officials will work with the school to take appropriate measures, including asking all members of a pupils bubble to isolate for 14 days and access remote education while other pupils continue attending.

The guidance does not apply to primary school children, as scientific evidence indicates they play a limited role in transmission, it added.

All schools remain open at tier one, while tiers three and four mean more stringent restrictions such as closures to all but pupils in vulnerable groups or children of key workers.

Earlier on Friday, Englands deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries commented on the issue of face masks for school pupils, saying: The evidence on face coverings is not very strong in either direction.

At the moment the evidence is pretty stable, but it can be very reassuring in those enclosed environments for children and for teachers as well, to know that people are taking precautions.

She said the advice could change in the future.

The DfE also updated its guidance on music performances in schools, saying singing, wind and brass playing should not take place in choirs or ensembles without significant space, plenty of natural air flow for players and audiences and strict social distancing and mitigation.

Childrens Commissioner for England Anne Longfield has also called on the Government to substantially bolster its financial and mental health support for pupils to avoid losing a generation for good.

She told The Guardian: The Government needs to be bold, and on the sort of scale that saw hospitals built in weeks, and workers paid in furlough, to make sure no child is left behind. If not they risk losing a generation for good. The stakes are simply that high.

With reporting by PA Media
Find all of the most important pandemic education news on Educating N.J., a special resource guide created for parents, students and educators.

The ongoing coronavirus outbreak and strict safety guidelines have prompted almost 200 public school districts in New Jersey to draft plans to reopen in September with all-virtual instruction instead of allowing students and teachers back into the classroom.

As of this week, 180 districts across the state have indicated they want to begin the 2020-2021 school year with all-remote learning, while 59 districts plan to fully reopen and the remaining districts want to start the new school year with a hybrid mix of in-person and remote learning, according to state officials.

All school reopening plans need to be reviewed and approved by the state Department of Education before they can be implemented. At last count, the department has received 745 total plans for reopening. Of those, 105 plans are still under review while 389 have been returned to districts for revisions requested by the state, officials said.

Keep up with the latest in N.J. schools coverage. Sign up with your email here:



For many school districts, the decision to reopen with all-virtual instruction was prompted by lingering concerns over the coronavirus and questions over whether schools can guarantee a safe environment for students and teachers.

Although state officials have declined to release the names of the districts that have sought approval to start the 2020-2021 school year with all-remote classes, NJ Advance Media has been able to confirm the following 180 districts want to do so. (For the very latest reopening plans, and additional details about specific schools, please contact your school district.)

ATLANTIC COUNTY

Atlantic City (remote at start of school year)

Brigantine (remote start, with re-entry on or before Nov. 11, the end of the first marking period)

Egg Harbor Township (virtual starting Sept. 8; plan to start hybrid schedule Oct. 26)

Hamilton Township (remote at start of school year)

Pleasantville (remote at start of school year)

Somers Point (Jordan Road School to go all-remote at start of the year; New York Avenue and Dawes Avenue schools reopening on hybrid schedule to start)

BERGEN COUNTY

Bergen County Technical Schools and Special Services (remote through Oct. 19)

Bergenfield (remote start, until Oct. 16)

Edgewater (remote for the month of September; district expects to re-evaluate in the middle of September)

Elmwood Park (through Oct. 19)

Fair Lawn (remote through Oct. 19)

Fort Lee (remote through Oct. 16)

Garfield (plan submitted to state Department of Education to start all-remote and transition to hybrid)

Hackensack (remote start, schools plan to reopen Nov. 2)

Lodi (remote start, through at least Oct. 19)

Lyndhurst (remote learning until Oct. 16; in-person instruction scheduled to begin Oct. 19)

North Arlington (remote through Oct. 16)

Palisades Park (remote through at least Oct. 13)

Ridgefield (remote through first marking period)

Rochelle Park (remote through Oct. 5)

Teaneck (remote through first marking period)

Tenafly (remote instruction for all students, district-wide)

Wallington (remote through Oct. 13)

Wyckoff (remote through Sept. 24)

BURLINGTON COUNTY

Bordentown (remote Sept. 3 through at least Oct. 9)

Burlington City (remote through at least Oct. 13)

Burlington Township (remote through first marking period)

Chesterfield (schools plan to reopen Oct. 19 with remote learning)

Eastampton (remote through first marking period)

Florence (remote through Sept 18, hybrid plan to start Sept. 21)

Lumberton (remote learning Sept. 8 to Sept. 18, hybrid learning starting Sept. 21)

Northern Burlington County Regional (students to begin 2 weeks of all-remote instruction on Sept 14, then report for in-person instruction Sept. 28 with a hybrid model)

Palmyra (remote)

Pemberton Township (remote through at least Oct. 13)

Rancocas Valley (remote Sept. 8 through Sept. 25)

Westampton (remote)

Willingboro (remote through Nov. 18)

CAMDEN COUNTY

Audubon (remote through Nov. 4)

Barrington (remote through at least Nov. 9)

Brooklawn (remote to start the school year)

Camden (remote through Jan. 31)

Clementon

Collingswood/Oaklyn (remote through mid-October)

Eastern Regional (remote start, return to school Oct. 5)

Gloucester City (through Oct. 16)

Haddon Heights (through Oct. 30)

Lindenwold

Winslow Township (through Jan. 1)

CAPE MAY COUNTY

No public school districts confirmed for planning all-virtual instruction.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Bridgeton (remote through Oct. 13)

Commercial Township (remote through Oct. 13)

Cumberland County Technical Education Center (remote start, plans to move to hybrid model Oct. 13)

Cumberland Regional (remote start)

Deerfield Township (remote through Oct. 13)

Downe Township (remote through Oct. 13)

Fairfield (remote through Nov. 2)

Greenwich/Stow Creek (through Oct. 13)

Hopewell Township (through Oct. 12)

Lawrence Township (through Oct. 12)

Maurice River School District (through Oct. 12)

Millville (through Oct. 13)

Upper Deerfield (fully remote through at least Oct. 12)

Vineland (remote through Oct. 13)

ESSEX COUNTY

Bloomfield (remote through September)

Caldwell-West Caldwell (remote to Oct. 7 except for a group of self-contained special education classes)

Cedar Grove (remote to start; district to reevaluate by end of September and look to go hybrid by Oct. 19)

East Orange (remote through September)

Glen Ridge (high school remote-only through Oct. 5)

Irvington (remote start)

Livingston (school year to start all remote)

Millburn-Short Hills (remote through first quarter of school year)

Montclair (remote start)

Newark (remote through first marking period)

Nutley (remote through first marking period)

Orange (remote learning through Nov. 25; hybrid begins Nov. 29)

South Orange-Maplewood (remote through first marking period)

Verona (most students will start with remote learning except for pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, ESL and certain other students)

West Essex Regional School District (remote to Oct. 2)

West Orange (remote start)

GLOUCESTER COUNTY

Delsea Regional (remote start)

Deptford (remote through Sept. 30)

Gateway Regional (remote through at least Oct. 13)

Glassboro Public Schools (starting fully remote, through Nov. 12)

Logan Twp. (remote for first marking period)

Monroe Township (remote through at least Nov. 16)

National Park Schools (remote through at least Oct. 13)

Pitman (remote through Oct. 5)

Washington Township (through Sept. 21)

West Deptford (all-virtual from Sept. 8 to Nov. 9)

Woodbury City (remote start, hybrid starting Nov. 9)

HUDSON COUNTY

Bayonne (remote start)

Guttenberg (remote start)

Harrison (remote through Nov. 13)

Hoboken (all virtual Sept. 14 to Sept. 19, optional in-person after that)

Hudson County Schools of Technology (remote through Sept. 28)

Jersey City (remote start)

Kearny (remote start)

North Bergen (remote through the end of September)

Union City (remote for at least the month of September)

Weehawken School District (remote to start with students moving to a hybrid schedule between Sept. 28-Oct. 14)

West New York (remote start)

HUNTERDON COUNTY

Flemington-Raritan (remote through Oct. 30)

Lebanon Township (remote start)

Readington (remote to at least Oct. 19)

MERCER COUNTY

East Windsor: (remote instruction from Sep. 9 to Nov. 9)

Ewing (remote start, return to in-person learning for those who have signed up for it: Grades K-2/SE - Sept. 9; Grades 3-5: Sept. 29; Fisher Middle School: Oct. 12; Ewing High School: Oct. 26)

Hamilton (remote through first marking period)

Lawrence Township (all students will start remote)

Mercer County Special Services (remote start)

Mercer County Technical Schools (remote through Nov. 9)

Princeton Charter School (remote start)

Princeton Township public schools (remote start)

Robbinsville (students in grades 6-12 fully remote until Oct. 12. Pk-5 will remain in the hybrid or 100% remote model)

Trenton (remote start)

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

Carteret (remote until Oct. 9; plans to begin hybrid learning on Oct. 13)

Cranbury (remote through Oct. 16)

Dunellen (remote through the Thanksgiving holiday)

Edison (remote at least until Oct. 16)

Highland Park (remote until Oct. 5 for some students)

Jamesburg (remote until Nov. 1)

Metuchen (at least until Oct. 1)

Middlesex Borough (remote start)

Middlesex Regional Education Services Commission of New Jersey (remote start)

Milltown (remote in September; district to reassess for October)

Monroe Township (remote learning until Nov. 13 and reassess for hybrid learning to start on Nov. 16)

New Brunswick (remote during first two marking periods)

North Brunswick (remote during first marking period)

Old Bridge (remote until Oct. 12)

Perth Amboy (remote until at least Nov. 18, the end of first marking period)

Piscataway (remote until at least Nov. 13)

Sayreville (remote until at least Nov. 12)

South Brunswick (remote start)

South Plainfield (remote start)

South River (plans for in-person instruction on Oct. 1)

Spotswood (remote until at least Sept. 18)

Woodbridge (remote until at least Oct. 12)

MONMOUTH COUNTY

Asbury Park (remote for first 30 instructional days; return to school Oct. 21)

Freehold Borough (remote start, will re-evaluate by Nov. 13)

Freehold Township (students in self-contained classes attend school in person beginning Sept. 8; first 2 weeks of school remain virtual for all other students, who return to school Sept. 21)

Freehold Regional High School District (through Oct. 19)

Long Branch (remote start)

Manalapan-Englishtown (remote at least the first two weeks of school for some schools)

Neptune Township (remote start, will re-evaluate by the end of October)

Ocean Township (remote until Sept. 11)

MORRIS COUNTY

Boonton (remote at the start of the school year)

Butler (remote for most students; in person instruction for specific students

Dover (remote through first marking period)

Montville (middle and high school students to start remote)

Mount Olive (district will start in-person on alternating weekly schedule or remote for grades K-3 while grades 4-12 will be synchronous full-day remote)

OCEAN COUNTY

Lacey Township (remote to start, on Sept. 8, and then a hybrid model from Sept. 21)

Toms River (remote through first marking period)

PASSAIC COUNTY

Bloomingdale (remote start, with a review on Oct. 15 and a target date of Nov. 16 or sooner to reopen schools in a hybrid instructional program)

Clifton (remote to start year; district to reevaluate conditions on Oct. 1, with possible reopening for in-person instruction on Oct. 12.

Manchester Regional High School District (school year to begin remote)

Passaic (remote through September)

Paterson (remote through at least Nov. 1)

Prospect Park (remote through Nov. 11)

Ringwood (starting all-remote)

SALEM COUNTY

Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District (remote to start; may go hybrid on Oct. 19)

SOMERSET COUNTY

Bedminster (all virtual starting Sept. 10, phase-in hybrid learning model set to begin Sept. 29 through mid-October, depending on the cohort or small group the child is in. All cohorting students will be phased in no later than Oct. 15.)

Bernards Township (remote through Oct. 1)

Bridgewater-Raritan (remote through Oct. 12)

Franklin Township (remote start)

Hillsborough (virtual until Sept. 28, with plans to start hybrid option later)

Montgomery (virtual for September, then re-evaluating plans for in-person on Oct. 12)

North Plainfield (virtual at least through the first marking period)

SUSSEX COUNTY

Sparta (remote through Oct. 30; in person instruction for students with IEPs in specialized programs)

UNION COUNTY

Berkeley Heights (Governor Livingston High School will begin remote only after a single day of hybrid instruction; remote only plan will be revisited monthly)

Cranford (virtual the first four days, starting Sept. 8, then hybrid starting Sept. 14)

Elizabeth (remote start)

Hillside (remote start, will reassess three weeks before the end of the first marking period)

Linden (remote start, will reassess the end of each month)

Plainfield (remote through at least Nov. 1)

Rahway (remote start)

Roselle (remote through first marking period)

Roselle Park (remote start)

Scotch Plains-Fanwood (remote start)

Springfield (remote through Nov. 2)

Union Township (remote start, will reassess on Oct. 15 for targeted return date of Nov. 1)

WARREN COUNTY

Phillipsburg (all remote through Oct. 5)

Warren County Technical School (all remote through first marking period)

Do you know of a school district thats planning to start remotely? Tell us about it here.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Nestor Sebastian may be reached at nsebastian@njadvancemedia.com.

Have a news tip or a story idea about New Jersey schools? Send it here.
The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection has called on all stakeholders to join the fight against human trafficking and its related issues in the country.



The call was made by Mrs. Abena Annobea Asare, Head of Human Trafficking Department at the Ministry in the commemoration of this years International Day against trafficking of persons (Blue Day) at Komenda.



She said poverty was no excuse for people to look on for human trafficking to thrive in our communities at the peril of the lives of the victims.



Mrs Asare revealed that human trafficking occurred in different forms and appealed to parents to prioritize their children's protection.



She urged stakeholders to help educate young people against rushing out to chase non-existing employment opportunities outside the country, which mostly ended up being sold into slavery.



Mrs. Florence Ayisi Quartey, the Acting Director of the Department of Children said the welfare of children must be considered paramount adding that they must be protected at all times.



She tasked parents to provide the basic needs of their wards to help reduce the temptation to depend on fraudsters who will eventually traffic them into slavery.



Mrs Quartey also appealed to religious and traditional leaders to support young people struggling to earn a living in their various communities to help curb the situation.



Mrs. Benedicta Aba Mends, the Komenda- Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipal Director of Social Welfare and Community Development who spoke on Combating Human Trafficking in Ghana, urged parents to educate their wards on the effects of teenage pregnancies.



Know the movement and activities of your child, advise them on unprotected sex, and also provide their needs.



Mr. Abbey Francis, a participant urged the Ministry to establish a coalition of chiefs and heads of clans in various communities against human trafficking to support the efforts of the Ministry in combating the menace.



He also urged parents to pay attention to what their children watch on their phones during this era of COVID-19 as they may be exposed to sexual materials on social media.

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
UN rights chief urges DR Congo to protect Nobel laureate Mukwege amid death threats

28 August 2020 - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has condemned death threats made against Congolese Nobel Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege and called for his protection.

Dr. Mukwege is best known for helping thousands of women victims of sexual violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

For decades, he has also called for perpetrators to be brought to justice and advocated against the use of rape as a weapon of war.

He survived an assassination attempt at his home in 2012.

Surge in threats

In Geneva, spokesperson for the UN rights chief, Rupert Colville, said that the recent surge of threats against him had been conveyed via social media and in phone calls to him and his family.

These were likely connected with Dr. Mukwege's condemnation of rights abuses linked to longstanding violence in the highlands of South Kivu, where mainly Banyamulenge herders have been involved in conflict against the Babembe, Bafuliru, and Banyindu communities.

This fighting has been characterized by the involvement of multiple armed groups, "both local and foreign", Mr. Colville said.

"The threats appear to be more linked to his advocacy, you know his very robust positions taken on accountability, on the protection of women, as a result of what he's seen in decades in hospital," he said.

"In terms of protectionthis is a difficult part of the country, it's a very, very violent region, so that is part of our call to the authorities that they absolutely make sure they do provide really comprehensive physical protection to Dr. Mukwege and to the rest of his team, so that they can continue their vital work on which so many women depend."

In a statement, Ms. Bachelet said that Dr. Mukwege's life "seems to be at serious risk", before welcoming President Felix Tshisekedi's public commitment to ensure his security.

'A true hero'

"Dr. Mukwege is a true hero  determined, courageous and extremely effective," the UN rights chief insisted. "For years, he helped thousands of gravely injured and traumatized women when there was nobody else to take care of them, and at the same time he did a great deal to publicize their plight and stimulate others to try to grapple with the uncontrolled epidemic of sexual violence in the eastern DRC."

Ms. Bachelet also called for an effective, prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the threats made against him.

"It is essential those responsible are brought to justice and that the truth is known, both as a means to protect Dr. Mukwege's life, but also as a deterrent to others who attack, threaten or intimidate medical workers and human rights defenders who, like him, work for the benefit of the Congolese people, often in exceptionally difficult circumstances," she maintained.

The UN rights chief also underscored the need for all relevant authorities to condemn the threats.

In order to tackle the problem in the longer term, she urged the Congolese authorities to adopt the draft law on the protection and regulation of the activity of human rights defenders "in a form that is fully consistent with international standards".

Transitional justice call

Efforts should also be stepped up to prevent further human rights violations and abuses in eastern DRC, Ms. Bachelet continued, with "concrete steps to establish transitional justice processes that grant thousands of victims of successive conflicts their right to justice, truth, and reparations."

Dr. Mukwege, a surgeon and gynaecologist,was awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize after decades of work at Panzi hospital in Bukavu - which he founded - helping women who'd endured serious sexual abuse.

He was also a firm supporter of a 2010 report by the UN Human Rights Office, OHCHR, which chronicled hundreds of serious human rights violations and abuses in the eastern DRC between 1993 and 2003, in many cases identifying the groups and entities allegedly responsible for perpetrating the crimes.

The UN-led mapping exercise followed the discovery of three mass graves in the eastern part of DR Congo in late 2005.

The Office's final 550-page report contained descriptions of 617 alleged violent incidents in the DRC between March 1993 and June 2003.

Each of the incidents pointed to the possible commission of gross violations of human rights and/or international humanitarian law, the UN human rights office said.

Only incidents backed up by at least two independent sources featured in the report. Incidents that could not be corroborated by a separate source were not included in the report, serious as they may have been.



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NEW HAVEN  Communities across the greater New Haven area are recovering from the damage wrought by a series of strong storms that passed through the state Thursday, including a tornado that is believed to have touched down from Bethany to North Haven and microbursts that snapped trees and damaged homes along the shoreline.

Based on a survey done in the wake of the storm, National Weather Service officials determined a strong EF1 tornado, with maximum wind speed of 110 MPH, tracked southeast from Bethany to North Haven between roughly 3:53 p.m. and 4:03 p.m. Thursday. Tornados range from EF0 to EF5, according to the NWS, with the latter being the most powerful.

Officials said the tornado first touched down in a forested area southeast of Judd Hill Road in Bethany, then moved through the forest along Amity Road, Munson Road and the Litchfield Turnpike, creating a path of damage about 75 yards wide with wind speeds that appeared to range between 80 and 90 mph.

The path of damage widened to about 300 yards as the tornado moved over Lake Bethany, officials said, causing significant roof damage to serveral homes and snapped hardwood trees. The wind speed was seemingly about 100 mph during this period.

The tornado then moved near Hamden Town Hall, first dropping in intensity, with wind speeds falling to 80 to 90 mph, then strenghtening back to about 100 mph.

The intensity picked upsignificantly as the tornado approached the center of Hamden, as evidenced by extensive damage to numerous buildings, including theflat roof of a two-story building across from Hamden Town Hall being torn apart, officials said. Wind speeds are estimated to be around 100 mph based on the damage to these buildings, bent metal fencing around town hall, and uprooted and snapped trees.

The tornado then reached maximum strength and width from this point on as it continued southeast across Wilbur Cross Parkway, Interstate 91, and down to the intersection of Arrowdale and Thompson St. in North Haven, officials said.

Tremendous hardwood tree damage and structural damage was indicative of wind speeds of 110 mph and an expanded width of 500 yards, officials said. It is at this point that the tornado appears to have dissipated with its destructive straight line winds fanning out to the coast.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-New Haven, visited Hamden and North Haven on Saturday morning, and was on her way to Branford and North Branford soon after 1 p.m.

She said the damage was pretty severe in both communities. In Hamden, the roof was ripped off One Evergreen, an office building operated by the Cucinelli family; in North Haven, she saw downed trees and damaged homes.

DeLauro said that, while Connecticut had declared a state of emergency, the federal government still needed to do so to trigger FEMAs ability to reimburse homeowners for trees that come down on their properties, but not necessarily on their homes.

DeLauro previously reminded FEMA that the removal of debris from private residences is an eligible activity for assistance under the Stafford Act in 2018, according to a prepared statement. She is seeking to pass the DEBRIS Act, which would require FEMA to cover the cost of removing debris around homes after disasters, not just those that have damaged them directly.

We cannot leave the hardworking families of Connecticut on their own to foot this bill, she said. The federal government, FEMA, must help cover the costs associated with removing fallen debris from owner-occupied private residences and property.

Mayor Curt B. Leng said he was confident the community would hit the financial threshold to trigger a federal emergency declaration.

The storm caused an enormous amount of damage, he said, including major harm to at least 34 homes in town and several town buildings, including Hamden Middle School and the Police Department garage.

Leng asked residents to call the Fire Department and/or Building Department if they had any concerns about damage to a structure on their property. Without being told of such issues, Leng said, the town cannot address them.

Multiple localized microburst storms then hit the shoreline from about 4:03 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., officials said, with estimated wind speeds of 90 to 100 mph. East Haven, Branford, North Branford, Guilford and North Haven were affected.

Officials said a car was crushed on Old Quarry Road in Guilford; 18 homes were heavily damaged near Sunset Road and Oak Hill Drive in North Branford; a home was destroyed on Victor Hill in Branford and several homes heavily damaged nearby; several homes were struck by trees in the Foxon area in East Haven; the grandstand bleachers were flipped over and the astroturf peeled off the new field at East Haven High School.

The prevailing pattern was numerous hardwood trees being uprooted or trunks snapped, as well as numerous utility poles and wires downed or snapped, and some accompanying structural damage, officials said.

As of 6:30 p.m. Saturday more than 3,000 people in the state still had no power  1,081 in the area covered by Eversource and 1,987 in United Illuminatings service area.

More than half of Eversources outages, 583, were in Branford. Most of UIs outages, 1,312, were in North Haven.

East Haven Mayor Joe Carfora said public works crews were cleaning up debris and working with United Illuminating to restore power for residents Saturday morning.

He asked residents to stay away from wires, ensure that generators are safely placed outside the home, and to be patient, as crews do all they can to restore normality in the community.

Tom Mahoney, fire chief and emergency management director in Branford, said power would hopefully be restored for 99 percent of residents by the afternoon.

Approximately 96 percent of Branford households lost power during the storm. Gov. Ned Lamont said at a news conference Thursday that the damage in the community was worse than any other town in the state.

Mahoney said the town had been slammed by the storm; as of Saturday morning, about 13 percent of residents remained without power and 20 roads, mostly smaller ones, still needed to be cleared. Crews were working with United Illuminating to make that happen, he said.

Were still digging out, but were making progress, said Mahoney.

In a message to the community, the office of First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove said that charging stations were opened for residents Saturday at Branford Fire Headquarters, Indian Neck Fire Station and Town Hall.

Carfora, Leng and Mahoney acknowledged the difficulty of responding to Thursdays storm on the heels of tropical storm Isaias, which prompted hundreds of thousands of power outages in the state earlier this month.

Mahoney said the town was adjusting to kind of the new normal, improving each time its emergency services were called upon for such a storm.

Leng said the various town departments, for better or for worse, had gotten good at dealing with such disasters  from the May 2018 tornado that hit Sleeping Giant State Park to Isaias to past snowstorms  and would continue to clean up from both Isaias and the Thursday tornado simultaneously.

Carfora noted the service of emergency responders in town who had, among other tasks, set up an emergency cell tower at East Haven High School to try to restore service and gone door to door to check on people.

Were East Haven  whenever we have a crisis, the whole town comes together, said Carfora. (It) makes me proud.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
The Monsoon Session is likely to start from September 14 and conclude on October 1.

New Delhi: MPs will be requested to get themselves tested for COVID-19 at least 72 hours before the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Friday.

The Monsoon Session is likely to start from September 14 and conclude on October 1.

Besides MPs, all those who are expected to enter the Parliament premises, including officials from ministries, representatives from the media and staff of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats, will get tested for the coronavirus before the start of the session, Birla said.

The Lok Sabha speaker on Friday held a long meeting with officials from the health ministry, ICMR, AIIMS, DRDO and Delhi government to finalise the arrangements for the session in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Birla said arrangements have also been made for zero-touch security checks during the session.

If required random tests for COVID-19 can be conducted during the session, he said.

The Lok Sabha speaker is the custodian of the Parliament complex and the Lok Sabha Secretariat is the nodal authority for the building. Therefore, the responsibility for making arrangements in the Parliament building lies with the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

Sources said the Monsoon Session is likely to be held in two shifts -- morning and evening.

Due to the pandemic, this will be in a way a first-of-its-kind session with various modifications.
The Novel Coronavirus lockdown which began in March, may have been imposed as a response to an emergency situation but it sure had many challenges for people. From the migrant labour crisis to a mental health pandemic triggered by isolation for long periods of time were some of those challenges.

Actor Yami Gautam recounted her own experience during the lockdown when she was stuck in her Mumbai home, away from her family in Chandigarh. Yami had promised her producers that she would not leave the city until she had fulfilled all her work commitments.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Yami said, "I must admit it wasn't easy at all, especially in the initial days (of lockdown)" says Gautam, adding: "But then, I got used to it (living alone). As far for my professional commitments, I had assured all my producers that I won't leave the city till I complete my job. And as a professional, I just couldn't have left any of my work mid-way."

Talking about stepping out of her home to finish the dubbing of a movie, Yami said, "It was tough to step out, as the fear always plays on your mind. So, I wanted to wrap it all quickly. But on the third day, I felt a bit unwell with a slight fever and breathlessness. Naturally, I was very distressed but then, I went for some home remedies including 'kadha' etc. that my mother had suggested. And thankfully, I recovered and was absolutely fine in 2-3 days."

Yami, who is now with her family in Chandigarh, also shared about her travel experience. "That flying experience, too, was so new with all those protective gear and guidelines etc. You end up feeling extremely anxious and there's a sense of fear, regardless of how much you try to keep your calm," she said.

Yami will next be seen in a romantic comedy titled Ginny Weds Sunny, starring alongside Vikrant Massey.

ALSO READ: Yami Gautam Reveals Why She Abstains From Constantly Flocking To Social Media Amid Lockdown
Dublin, Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Security as a Service Market - Forecasts from 2020 to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global Security as a Service market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.52% to reach a value of US$16.239 billion by 2025 from US$5.572 billion in 2019



There has been an increase in the number of security breaches over the past few years and has led to severe losses to the end-user industries such as BFSI, and Communication and Technology among others. This has led to an increase in the concerns among the end-users and is forcing them to adopt advanced approaches to secure their infrastructure from attacks. Security as Service providers includes the different security services companies dealing in cloud security services, data security services, ransomware protection services, and e-mail security services among others. The presence of a good number of players in this market offering tailored offerings to customers at prices lower than those for security solutions is driving the adoption of security as a service among end-users, thus boosting the growth of the market.



Moreover, there has been an increase in the adoption of advanced and cost-effective solutions such as cloud services and cloud computing, which aids the enterprises in saving significant amount of time, reducing the cost associated with adopting security solutions such as physical and logical security for providing e-mail protection, web protection, network protection, and identity and aces protection among others. This is adding momentum to the growth of the market.



However, the availability of a wide range of security solutions for diverse security needs of enterprises across industries continues to pose a threat to the adoption of security as a service (SECaaS) offered by market players as some of the enterprises still prefer On-premise deployment of security solutions to security delivered overcloud. This is hindering the growth of the market to some extent.



Yet, stringent regulations in many regions regarding the security of customer data, coupled with increasing competition across industries is pushing industry players towards adopting flexible and cost-efficient approaches to security. Huge losses associated with data breaches are forcing governments to enforce stricter data security regulations in their respective geographies. For example, on May 25, 2018, the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations), that was set by the European Union (EU) were made effective in order to effectively provide greater control to the EU residents over their personal and sensitive data.



Increasing demand for Web protection and E-mail protection



Web protection and E-mail protection are projected to hold a significant market share over the forecast period. There has been an increase in the number of the instances of malware sites, phishing web pages, phishing and ransomware e-mails, which has resulted in an increase in the demand and adoption of the web protection and e-mail protection services as they are able to provide optimum security and protection from these above-mentioned threats. Therefore, web protection and e-mail protection are expected to hold a noteworthy market share over the forecast period.



BFSI industry is expected to expand at a fairly high pace over the forecast period



The BFSI sector holds a significant share in this market and the sector is poised to show a healthy market growth over the projected period. The rapid growth of this sector, coupled with an increasing focus of banking and financial institutions on streamlining their business functions is steering them away from conventional On-premise solutions to solutions delivered overcloud. This is driving the adoption of security-as-a-service offerings by vendors among them, thus boosting the growth of the market. Availability of a good number of vendors offering tailored solutions for diverse business needs while ensuring compliance with stringent regulations is further supporting the growth of the market.



The Asia Pacific region followed by the North American region to show considerable growth over the forecast period



Geographically, the North American region is expected to hold a noteworthy market share and grow at a significant pace over the forecast period. This is attributable to the fact that there is widespread and faster adoption of advanced technologies in countries such as the US, coupled with the increasing investments in the R&D of security as service solutions. In addition, there are increasing investments in the Asia Pacific region in countries such as India, and China among others to propel the growth of industries that generate huge volumes of sensitive data from digitized business functions.



Some of the major players covered as a part of this report are Symantec Corporation, McAfee, LLC, Cisco Systems, Inc., Web Werks, Gemalto NV, Trend Micro Incorporated, Coronet, Allot, Stratejm Inc. and Cloudteria LLC.



The Security as a Service market has been segmented based on type, enterprise size, end-user industry, and geography. By type, the market has been segmented as email protection, data loss prevention, web protection, network protection, identity and access protection, and others. By enterprise size, the market has been segmented as small, medium, and large. By the end-user industry, the market has been segmented as BFSI, communication and technology, healthcare, government, defense, and others.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction

1.1. Market Definition

1.2. Market Segmentation



2. Research Methodology

2.1. Research Data

2.2. Assumptions



3. Executive Summary

3.1. Research Highlights



4. Market Dynamics

4.1. Market Drivers

4.2. Market Restraints

4.3. Porters Five Forces Analysis

4.3.1. Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.3.2. Bargaining Power of Buyers

4.3.3. Threat of New Entrants

4.3.4. Threat of Substitutes

4.3.5. Competitive Rivalry in the Industry

4.4. Industry Value Chain Analysis



5. Global Security as a Service Market Analysis, By Type

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Email Protection

5.3. Data Loss Prevention

5.4. Web Protection

5.5. Network Protection

5.6. Identity and Access Protection

5.7. Others



6. Global Security as a Service Market Analysis, By Enterprise Size

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Small

6.3. Medium

6.4. Large



7. Global Security as a Service Market Analysis, By End-user Industry

7.1. Introduction

7.2. BFSI

7.3. Communication and Technology

7.4. Healthcare

7.5. Government

7.6. Defense

7.7. Others



8. Global Security as a Service Market Analysis, By Geography

8.1. Introduction

8.2. North America

8.2.1. North America Security as a Service Market, By Type

8.2.2. North America Security as a Service Market, By Enterprise Size

8.2.3. North America Security as a Service Market, By End-User Industry

8.2.4. By Country

8.2.4.1. USA

8.2.4.2. Canada

8.2.4.3. Mexico

8.3. South America

8.3.1. South America Security as a Service Market, By Type

8.3.2. South America Security as a Service Market, By Enterprise Size

8.3.3. South America Security as a Service Market, By End-User Industry

8.3.4. By Country

8.3.4.1. Brazil

8.3.4.2. Argentina

8.3.4.3. Others

8.4. Europe

8.4.1. Europe Security as a Service Market, By Type

8.4.2. Europe Security as a Service Market, By Enterprise Size

8.4.3. Europe Security as a Service Market, By End-User Industry

8.4.4. By Country

8.4.4.1. Germany

8.4.4.2. France

8.4.4.3. United Kingdom

8.4.4.4. Spain

8.4.4.5. Others

8.5. Middle East and Africa

8.5.1. Middle East and Africa Security as a Service Market, By Type

8.5.2. 2025

8.5.3. Middle East and Africa Security as a Service Market, By Enterprise Size

8.5.4. Middle East and Africa Security as a Service Market, By End-User Industry

8.5.5. By Country

8.5.5.1. Saudi Arabia

8.5.5.2. UAE

8.5.5.3. Israel

8.5.5.4. Others

8.6. Asia Pacific

8.6.1. Asia Pacific Security as a Service Market, By Type

8.6.2. Asia Pacific Security as a Service Market, By Enterprise Size

8.6.3. Asia Pacific Security as a Service Market, By End-User Industry

8.6.4. By Country

8.6.4.1. China

8.6.4.2. Japan

8.6.4.3. India

8.6.4.4. South Korea

8.6.4.5. Others



9. Competitive Environment and Analysis

9.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis

9.2. Emerging Players and Market Lucrativeness

9.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations

9.4. Vendor Competitiveness Matrix



10. Company Profiles

10.1. Symantec Corporation

10.2. McAfee, LLC

10.3. Cisco Systems, Inc.

10.4. Web Werks

10.5. Gemalto NV

10.6. Trend Micro Incorporated

10.7. Coronet

10.8. Allot.

10.9. Stratejm Inc

10.10. Cloudteria LLC



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9srxkj

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
FLOREAL, Mauritius  The bodies of whales, turtles and other sea creatures have washed up on the shores of Mauritius, five weeks after a ship carrying thousands of tons of oil ran aground off the Indian Ocean Island.

Fishermen told NBC News they had found melon-headed whales near the spot where the Japanese-owned MV Wakashio crashed into the Point D-Esny reef off the tiny nations southeast coast July 25. The vessel began spilling oil on Aug. 6 and broke into two parts 11 days later. It was deliberately sunk Monday.

I know the spill is responsible for their deaths, Yannick Fine, 33, said, adding that some of the whales were pregnant as it was the season for them to breed and nurse their young.

They used to frolic next to my boat, he added. Now they are dead. Ive seen their mouths covered in oil, I know the spill is responsible for their deaths.

Stephan Gua, a member of the Rezistans ek Alternativ activist group, said that he and other members had seen dead creatures floating in the water earlier this week. Others found alive had blood around their mouths, he added.

Image: A dolphin carcass lies near the water at Grand Sable, Mauritius (Reuters)

Pictures shared on social media and published in the local press show the whales mutilated bodies, some with blackened mouths. Other reports said sea turtles, fish and crabs that have been found dead across the countrys shoreline.

Its devastating and these deaths are only the beginning, said Vassen Kauppaymuthoo, an oceanographer and managing director of the private company Delphinium Ltd.

The situation is going to get progressively worse. Were only seeing the tip of the iceberg, he said, adding that many of the dead animals would have been eaten by sharks or sunk to the bottom of the sea.

Shark bites seen on some of the whale bodies indicated that they had been weakened by pollution, he said. They must have suffered for a long time, he said.

He added that it was very difficult to think that something other than the oil spill and the scuttling of the MV Wakashio could have caused their deaths.

Story continues

The ship was carrying an estimated 4,000 metric tons of oil, 3,800 tons of very low sulphur fuel oil and 200 tons of diesel when it ran aground, the owner Tokyo-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd said in a statement earlier this month.

While the government said it was able to pump much of the fuel out and onto smaller tankers, some gushed from cracks in the ship, streaking the island's turquoise water and threatening its coral reefs, protected lagoons and shoreline  vital for the nations main industry, tourism.

More than 880 metric tons of oily waste were collected at 14 sites, according to a United Nations report.

Hundreds of volunteers also joined citizen-led efforts to contain the spill, which U.N. satellites revealed had heavily affected more than 18 miles of the tiny nations shoreline.

Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics

The captain and first officer were arrested on Aug. 18 and charged with endangering safe navigation of the ship, which broke into two parts and was deliberately sunk by Mauritius government Monday.

The decision was condemned by Greenpeace which has called for investigations into the way the ship has been handled.

Given how fast the decision was made between breaking of the ship and the start of towing we find it highly unlikely that any and all polluting content was removed, the organization said in an open letter Monday.

The oceanographer Kauppaymuthoo said that it was very difficult to think that something other than the oil spill and scuttling, could have caused the deaths of animals found on the coastline.

However, Mauritius Minister of Fisheries Sudheer Maudhoo disagreed with that assessment, telling a press conference Wednesday that he had been informed that the deaths were not linked to the MV Wakashio.

NBC News has independently and repeatedly approached the government for comment.

Autopsies on some of the creatures are being carried out and many are suspicious of the governments assessment, including Carina Gounden, a member of Aret Kokin Nu Laplaz, an environmental association of citizens and nongovernmental organizations on the island.

They are insulting our intelligence, she said, adding that the government had been too hasty to conclude there was no link between the ship and the animal deaths.

I have talked to people across the coast, she said. Theyre saying this is definitely abnormal.

She added that the government had not been transparent enough about its response.

In Mauritius, theres a feeling that not everything has been told to us, she said. That theres a cover-up.

Kauppaymuthoo agreed that authorities had downplayed the severity of the situation.

Theres a lack of transparency and coordination, he said. We need a smooth and efficient recovery. Id recommend getting scientists together to form an independent scientific body.

The more time we lose, the greater the impact on the environment and we need to be prepared for further horrific events to come, he added.
The Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd will acquire the retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing businesses of the Future Group on a slump sale basis

Reliance Industries Ltd on Saturday announced that its retail arm Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL) is acquiring Future Group businesses for Rs 24,713 cr to add to its fast expanding retail business and bolster e-commerce.

"Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL), subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd will acquire the retail and wholesale business and the logistics and warehousing business from the Future Group as going concerns on a slump sale basis for lumpsum aggregate consideration of Rs 24,713 crore, subject to adjustments as set out in the composite scheme of the arrangement," the company said in a statement.

A slump sale is when a business is sold for a lump sum consideration without values being assigned to the individual assets and liabilities.

Under the scheme, Future Group will merge certain companies carrying on the abovementioned businesses into Future Enterprises Limited (FEL).

As part of the same Scheme:

(i) the retail and wholesale undertaking is being transferred to Reliance Retail and Fashion Lifestyle Limited (RRFLL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of RRVL;

(ii) the logistics and warehousing undertaking is being transferred to RRVL; and

(iii) RRFLL also proposes to invest:

(a) Rs 1,200 crore in the preferential issue of equity shares of FEL to acquire 6.09 percent of post-merger equity; and

(b) Rs 400 crore in a preferential issue of equity warrants which, upon conversion and payment of balance 75 percent of the issue price, will result in RRFLL acquiring.

Isha Ambani, director, Reliance Retail Ventures, said: "With this transaction, we are pleased to provide a home to the renowned formats and brands of Future Group as well as preserve its business ecosystem, which have played an important role in the evolution of modern retail in India."

"We hope to continue the growth momentum of the retail industry with our unique model of active collaboration with small merchants and kiranas as well as large consumer brands. We are committed to continue providing value to our consumers across the country," she added.

The acquisition complements and makes a strong strategic fit into Reliances retail business, the Reliance Retail Ventures release said.

"This will help Reliance retail to accelerate providing support to millions of small merchants in increasing their competitiveness and enhance their income during these challenging times," the release said.

Disclaimer: Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd
The Bombay high court has rejected the bail application of a young man booked for stalking and later assaulting a girl with a knife since she rejected his marriage proposal.

Justice Sarang Kotwal rejected the bail plea of Amol Kashid, primarily on the ground that there was a threat to the life of the girl if the accused was released.

The very fact that the Applicant  Kashid-- constantly harassed the complainant, entered her house and attacked her with a knife in front of her mother and grandmother after she rejected his marriage proposal makes it obvious that there was a threat to the victim if he was let out on bail, said the judge.

Therefore it is not desirable to release the Applicant on bail, he added and rejected his bail plea.

The assault took place on April 9, 2019 and Kashid was arrested from Pune district the next day.

He had moved the high court for bail primarily on the ground that since the investigation was complete and the charge sheet had been filed in the case, his custody was no longer required.

Also Read: Bombay HC says hospitals cant be closed down without due process of law

It was argued on his behalf that the young man was behind the bars for about one-and-half years, ever since he was arrested on April 10, 2019. Besides, the court was also assured that since Kashid was not a resident of Pune district, he will not enter the district again so that there was no threat to the complainant or her family.

Also Read: Moderate rain in Mumbai, yellow alert issued for Saturday

Justice Kotwal, however, refused to accept the contention. The judge noted that the accused stalked and harassed the complainant for a long time. Though she did not respond to his overtures, he continued to call her and send her messages. The judge also noted that Kashid continued the harassment even after he left Shirur and went to Beed, and returned to assault the girl, who sustained six stab wounds.

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The latest market intelligence study on Cosmetic Surgery Market Share relies on the statistics derived from both primary and secondary research

The Global market has been growing persistently and is set to capture a CAGR of 7.8% over the forecast period of 20172023, reveals Market Research Future (MRFR) in a minutely analyzed research report. The global cosmetic surgery market has been observing continued growth on account of social and cultural factors such as the influence of social media and films. Interestingly, physical appearance is a social phenomenon, and the people are overwhelmingly driven to opt for cosmetic surgeries by the desire to look beautiful, flawless and young. Advertising and marketing are instrumental in shaping the cosmetic surgery market as they reinforce such beliefs among consumers which makes them indulge in cosmetic surgeries.

Also Read - https://www.medgadget.com/2020/08/population-health-management-market-2020-global-industry-demand-outlook-demand-emerging-trends-management-solution-service-providers-and-future-scope-phm-market-size.html

Photo filters available on applications such as Snapchat and Instagram have reportedly been vital in triggering body dysmorphic disorders among the youth who opt for cosmetic surgeries in an effort to look like an edited version of themselves. Rising disposable income levels in developing countries coupled with high adoption rates of invasive and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures drive the market majorly. Moreover, cosmetic surgeries are increasingly becoming affordable, and the trend of medical tourism has helped spur the growth of the market.

Technological developments in procedures and availability of skilled surgeons have helped consumers shake off their inhibitions regarding cosmetic surgeries. The rise in youth population is also a critical factor in propelling the market growth. The young population is more influenced by social media, changing beauty standards, peer pressure and form a large base of the cosmetic surgery consumers. On the downside, the side effects associated with cosmetic procedures and the high cost of cosmetic surgeries are significant market restraints. However, with more number of men opting for cosmetic procedures, the trend is likely to provide potential growth opportunities to the market. These factors in combination will help the market achieve a valuation of USD 21.97 Bn by the end of 2023.

Segmentation

The global Cosmetic Surgery Market Share has been segmented based on surgery type which comprises liposuction, eyelid and nose surgery, body contouring, facial reconstruction, cosmetic implants and others. The body contouring segment has been further segmented into tummy tuck, breast lift, others. The cosmetic implants segment has been further segmented into breast augmentation, buttock implants, chin & cheek implants.

Regional Analysis

The global cosmetic surgery market spans across the regions of North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa. North America holds the maximum share of the market owing to an increase in awareness and growing acceptability of cosmetic surgery in the region, especially the US. Moreover, the region is technologically advanced which has resulted in the development of less painful and non-invasive procedures. The Asia Pacific region is expected to showcase relatively fast growth over the forecast period, with key contributions from Japan, India, and China. There is a shift towards Latin America and Asia Pacific for owing to medical tourism for cosmetic surgeries.

Competitive Landscape

The notable players in the global cosmetic surgery market include Johnson & Johnson, Cutera, Inc., Allergan, Inc., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Syneron Medical Ltd., Genesis Biosystems, Inc., and others.

Access Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/cosmetic-surgery-market-3157

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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

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Public health officials are telling health care providers that some patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 may only need to self isolate for 10 days after developing symptoms.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Public health officials are telling health care providers that some patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 may only need to self isolate for 10 days after developing symptoms.

The new recommendation is based on updated data and research that shows people are infectious and can spread the virus to others for up to 10 days after they develop symptoms, a statement from Shared Health said Friday.

"Because this depends on each persons individual situation, public health officials/health care providers will continue to work with individuals who test positive to determine how long they should self-isolate," it said.

"Its important to note that self-isolation of 14 days is still recommended by public health or medical professionals where an individual may have had contact with a positive case of the virus."

Self-isolation of 14 days is still required for people who have been exposed to the virus, as well as travellers from outside Canada or Canadian destinations east of Terrace Bay, Ont. because the incubation period for the virus is 14 days, so it can take up to 14 days for symptoms of COVID-19 to develop after someone has been exposed to it.

 Staff
In a statement to the House of Representatives on Thursday, Labor Party member of parliament Julian Hill spoke out against the US-led persecution of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange and condemned the Australian government for being too cowardly to defend him.

A brief video of Hills remarks has been shared widely on social media. His comments were among the most strident by an official Australian politician opposing the gross attacks on Assanges legal and democratic rights. They were, moreover, a minor breach in a wall of silence surrounding the WikiLeaks founders plight that has been enforced by the Australian political and media establishment.

Significant political issues, however, were raised by Hills statement, which have not been examined by any section of the media, or elsewhere.

The Labor MP, who represents a working-class electorate in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, began by declaring: Eleven days from now, an Australian citizen will fight for his life in a London court as the United States government seeks his extradition. If this Australian is extradited and manages to escape execution, he will still face an effective death sentence in the US, confined in extreme isolation for 175 years.

Julian Assange leaving Londons Royal Court of Justice in July, 2011 [Credit: acidpolly]

Assange, Hill said, confronted the prospect in the US of being trapped in a system that ensures political prisoners like him will be systematically broken, with no hope of a fair trial...This Australian, who exposed American crimes, including international law violations at Guantanamo Bay, will be buried alive in the same oppressive system.

Hill reviewed some of the attacks on Assange by the British authorities, including his detention in the maximum-security Belmarsh Prison, despite the fact that he has not been convicted of a crime, and the denial of adequate access to his lawyers and to legal documents.

The Labor MP stated that Assange was being treated worse than a war criminal. In his major court appearances last February, the WikiLeaks founder had been in a glass box. Even war criminals accused of genocide on trial at the International Criminal Court can sit down and communicate privately with their lawyers.

Hill declared: The UK claims to be a rule of law country guaranteeing a fair trial, open justice and due process. What a joke!

In his most politically-significant comments, Hill stated: The persecution and treatment of Julian Assange are unconscionable. This is inherently political and our government is too cowardly to defend him, to even demand that he gets a fair trial.

The Liberal-National Coalition government has largely remained silent on Assanges persecution. When they have mentioned him, it has been to state that Assange will be provided with token consular assistance, like every other Australian. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously endorsed the frame-up of Assange, declaring that it is time for him to face the music. The government has feted senior figures in the Trump administration, which is spearheading the campaign against Assange.

Hill made clear that he was not speaking as an opponent of American imperialism, or the US-Australia military alliance. He warned, rather, that Australias complicity in the persecution of Assange corrupts our alliance with the United States and makes a mockery of the United Kingdoms justice system and international law.

These comments reflect fears within sections of the political establishment that the treatment of Assange threatens to provoke major public opposition directed against the entire political set-up. Hill was also, in effect, calling for a more equitable balance in the US-Australia alliance, by which the Australian ruling elite prosecutes its own predatory imperialist interests, especially in the South Pacific.

More significant than this is what Hill did not say. As a representative of Labor, a pro-war party of big business, he was unable and unwilling to indict the political forces responsible for Assanges predicament, beyond his immediate opponents in the Liberal-National government.

Hill could just as well have declared that The Labor Party and its leader Anthony Albanese are too cowardly to defend Assange, to even demand that he gets a fair trial. For obvious reasons, he did not.

Since assuming Labors leadership last year, Albanese has not made a single statement in defence of Assange and nor did his predecessor Bill Shorten. This is all the more damning, given the gross abuses of Assanges rights over that period, ably outlined by Hill himself.

Far more than cowardice, however, is involved. The political establishments consistent backing for the attacks on Assange, despite the fact that he is an Australian citizen and journalist, has been a central component of Australias ever-greater alignment with US militarism, including the plans for war with China, and a mounting turn to authoritarianism domestically.

In this, Labor has played the central role.

WikiLeaks came under attack from the previous Labor government, while the organisation was still in its infancy. In 2009, WikiLeaks published Labors blacklist of websites, blocked from view in Australia. The list refuted claims that only sites hosting illegal content were targeted, exposing significant internet censorship.

Then Labor communications minister Stephen Conroy threatened to refer WikiLeaks to the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Assange later stated that he was fearful the organisation would be targeted for police raids and other state attacks.

An even more significant response came in 2010, when WikiLeaks published a series of explosive releases, exposing US war crimes and global diplomatic conspiracies. The Labor government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard falsely stated that some of the publications, for which Assange has now been charged by the Trump administration, constituted a violation of Australian law. Gillards slanderous assertion was refuted by the AFP.

Gillard with then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2012

Undeterred, Gillard pledged that her government would work with the US intelligence agencies to destroy WikiLeaks. She threatened to strip Assange of his passport. This occurred as Labor was preparing to support US President Barack Obamas announcement of a pivot to Asia, a vast US military build-up in the region directed against China.

At the time, opposition Liberal-National representatives warned of the anti-democratic implications of Labors attacks on Assange, in language not dissimilar to that now used by Hill.

More recently, senior Labor figures responded with glee to Ecuadors illegal violation of Assanges political asylum and his brutal arrest by the British police on April 11 last year. Tanya Plibersek, Labors former deputy leader, reshared a Tweet denouncing Assange supporters as cultists. Penny Wong, the partys Senate leader, tacitly endorsed the lie that Assange is not a journalist, which plays directly into the attempted US prosecution of him on Espionage Act charges.

The record more than demonstrates that if there is to be a defence of Assange, it will not come from the Labor Party, which has served as one of his chief persecutors.

It is nevertheless noteworthy that Hills statement has not been reported in a single corporate publication or by the publicly-funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Enjoying the closest ties to the military and intelligence agencies, the official medias support for press freedom does not extend to the only Australian journalist currently behind bars.

The muted response, however, is also an indication of the feckless and for-the-record character of such parliamentary statements if they are unconnected to broader action.

Hill was speaking as a member of the Bring Assange Home parliamentary grouping, which he said would be writing to the UK High Commissioner requesting an urgent meeting to relay our concerns and demand his extradition be blocked as he is not receiving a fair trial in the UK.

It will come as a surprise to most that the cross-party grouping now includes 24 MPs, given that the majority of them appear never to have mentioned Assange in public.

In addition to Hill, six other Labor MPs are in the grouping. None of them has a substantial public profile or leadership position. They have noted that they are defending Assange in a personal capacity and not as party representatives.

The most outspoken supporters of Assange from the grouping have been independent MP Andrew Wilkie, right-wing populist National Party representatives Barnaby Joyce and George Christensen, and Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson.

Nine other Greens MPs have signed up, but none of them, including party leader Adam Bandt, have done anything more than issue very occasional statements. The party has not mobilised its membership in defence of Assange or initiated a public campaign.

This is because a struggle against imperialist war, for democratic rights and in opposition to the major parties is anathema to the Greens upper-middle class constituency. The party has concentrated its last two federal election campaigns on appealing for a coalition with Labor, or even the Liberals, and propped-up the minority Gillard Labor government as it initiated the assault on Assanges rights.

As the Socialist Equality Party insisted in a recent National Congress resolution: [T]he only way to block Assanges extradition to the US and secure his freedom is through the development of a mass international movement, centred in the working class. Millions of workers have entered into explosive struggles over the past years, including in Britain, the US, and, increasingly, in Australia. These will intensify over the coming period.

The task of all those fighting for Assanges freedom, including the SEP, is to turn to this movement, and to explain that the fight for the WikiLeaks founders liberty must be inscribed on the banner of every struggle in defence of democratic rights, for social equality and against war.
A Sydney pub has copped a $10,000 fine for breaching COVID-safe regulations three times.

The Phoenix Hotel in Woollahra is the latest hospitality venue to be issued with a double fine after it was found in breach of distancing rules and other safety measures.

When Liquor & Gaming NSW inspectors visited the pub for a third time this week after previously visiting twice in June, they found COVID safety still below standard and issued a total of $10,000 in fines.

The Phoenix Hotel in Woollahra is the latest hospitality venue to be issued with a double fine after it was found in breach of distancing rules and other safety measures

Director of Compliance Dimitri Argeres said the escalating approach to non-compliance meant repeated violations could result in venues being shut down.

'When we visited venues in June, we provided education and advice. Now when we return, we want to see that they've turned things around,' Mr Argeres said in a statement on Saturday.

'The Phoenix Hotel should have been aware of their sign-in obligations and spacing between chairs, tables and patrons.

'If you've been visited by us already, you're not off the hook - we will show up again and we will have higher expectations the next time around,' he said.

Liquor & Gaming, SafeWork NSW and NSW Fair Trading completed 896 inspections during a blitz over the past two weeks and fined 31 hospitality venues.

Compliance failures were mainly related to inadequate sign-in procedures and record keeping, out of date COVID-19 Safety Plans and issues with hygiene and physical distancing.

Inspectors from the three agencies have so far handed out 90 fines to hospitality businesses, worth $361,000.

Around 64 per cent of fines have gone to licensed cafes and restaurants and 24 per cent to pubs, hotels and small bars.

'The COVID safe requirements are there for a reason. All venues, particularly those we have previously visited, need to make sure they are fully compliant,' Mr Argeres said.

More than 76,000 NSW businesses are now registered as COVID safe - it is a mandatory requirement for hospitality venues.
By Trend

The process of returning of Azerbaijani citizens from abroad, both by road and air transport, to the country continues, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said.

Hajiyev made the remark at the briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers held on Aug. 29, Trend reports.

He advised the citizens to refuse from trips to foreign countries, except for urgent issues.

"We call on the citizens to refuse from trips abroad, if possible, if they have no urgent need for this. The sanitary and epidemiological situation can worsen at any time, and citizens may face difficulties in returning home."

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Ghislaine Maxwell is the first prisoner in the city of New York to be visited by a lawyer since the start of the pandemic.

The British socialite received the visit ahead of inmates who have been waiting far longer in federal facilities in both Manhattan and Brooklyn, where she is detained.

She is charged with abetting Jeffrey Epsteins sexual abuse of young girls.

Covid-19 social distancing and lockdown rules have prevented visits for close to six months, but the New York Daily News reports that two of her attorneys visited her on Friday.

Attorney Sean Hecker, who is involved in a legal case over visits and conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Centre, where Ms Maxwell is being held, told TV channel CNBC he knows that it is the first visit.

It is outrageous that the first in-person visit would be granted to a well-heeled British socialite who the president of the United States stated that he wished well, said Mr Hecker.

It only serves to confirm that our government doesnt understand that they operate two different systems of justice, one for the well-heeled and well-connected, and one for everyone else.

Mr Hecker said federal officials have been discussing one-hour visits from one lawyer for inmates at the jail, but Ms Maxwell had a three-hour visit from two of her legal team.

The US Bureau of Prisons says it does not comment on specific inmates conditions of confinement or visits but that pandemic protocols remain in place.

A statement clarifies: While in general legal visits are suspended, case-by-case accommodations will be accomplished at the local level and confidential legal calls will be allowed in order to ensure inmates maintain access to counsel. We are facilitating attorney client-visitation, as well as judicial proceedings, via video conference, primarily at our detention centres.

Ms Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to charges of recruiting and grooming underage girls, as young as 14 years old, to be abused by Epstein. She has been held without bail in solitary confinement since the beginning of July.

The Independent has asked the Bureau of Prisons for comment.
RTHK: Trump surveys aftermath of Hurricane Laura

President Trump got a firsthand look on Saturday at the damage from Hurricane Laura on a post-Republican National Convention trip that allowed him to use the trappings of his office to try to project empathy and leadership.

His stops, first in Louisiana and later in Texas, came two days after the Category 4 storm slammed the Gulf Coast, leaving at least 16 dead and wreaking havoc with severe winds and flooding. While the storm surge has receded and the cleanup effort has begun, hundreds of thousands remain without power or water, and the situation could last for weeks or months.

I'm here to support the great people of Louisiana. Its been a great state for me, he said in Lake Charles. It was a tremendously powerful storm. He said he knows one thing about the state: They rebuild it fast.

During the slightly more than two hours he spent in the city, Trump met with officials and relief workers but not with any of the residents whose homes had been ripped apart in the storm.

He did, however, get a good look at the extensive damage and the debris strewn across the city of 80,000 people, beginning with the bird's eye view from Air Force One as it came in to land.

His first stop was a warehouse being used as a staging area for the Cajun Navy, a group of Louisiana volunteers who help with search and rescue after hurricanes and floods. Good job, Trump told them.

Trump then toured a neighbourhood with Governor John Bel Edwards and acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, making his way down a street blocked by felled trees and where houses were battered by the storm, one with its entire roof torn off.

Edwards has said Laura was the most powerful hurricane ever to strike his state, surpassing even Hurricane Katrina, which was a Category 3 when it hit almost exactly 15 years ago.

Whether you come from Louisiana or 5th Avenue In New York, you know about Katrina, Trump said.

Trump has sometimes struggled with his role as consoler-in-chief, failing to project empathy when visiting places hard hit by tragedy and disaster. That includes in Puerto Rico, where Trump was photographed tossing rolls of paper towel into the crowd, which some saw as inappropriately playful, given the circumstances. During a trip to the Carolinas in 2018, Trump marvelled at a yacht floodwaters had washed onto a familys property, telling them, At least you got a nice boat out of the deal. And he was caught on camera telling a person hed handed out food to have a good time.

Showing empathy has come more naturally for his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, who issued a statement on Saturday saying he and his wife were praying for those hurt by the storm and promising that we will be there to help you build back better.

In a possible subtle dig at the incumbent, Biden praised the response of families in the hurricane-hit states and thanked them for reminding Americans that no disaster, no single person, no injustice can match the humble, personal, courageous ways that Americans choose decency every single day.

Laura, which packed 240-kilometre-per-hour winds and a storm surge as high as 4.5 metres, toppled trees and damaged buildings as far north as central Arkansas. More than 580,000 coastal residents evacuated in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

The US death toll from the storm rose to 16 on Saturday, with more than half of those killed by carbon monoxide poisoning from the unsafe operation of generators. The hurricane also killed nearly two dozen people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as it barreled toward the US. (AP)

This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A police car crashed into several motorbikes and people on Bui Vien Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, located within the city's backpacker area, on Friday night.

The car was moving on Bui Vien Street in Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1 when it suddenly plowed into multiple motorbikes and pedestrians on the street, a source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

The vehicle belongs to Pham Ngu Lao Ward Police, the source confirmed.

Camera footage shows that the car dashed from one side of the street to the other, knocking off a dumpster and a street-cleaning worker.

The vehicle went on to sweep through a number of motorbikes, tables and chairs on the sidewalk in front of restaurants along the street.

The scene where a police car dashed to a number of people, motorbikes, tables and chairs on Bui Vien Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, August 28, 2020 is seen in this photo uploaded on Facebook.

Other footage showed a man sitting in front of a restaurant quickly jumping out of harm's way before the vehicle swept across the sidewalk and collided with an electric cabinet, producing sparks.

A parking lot attendant and a sanitation worker sustained injuries in their head and leg and were rushed to a nearby hospital, local media reported.

Several motorbikes, tables and chairs were also damaged.

Function forces in District 1 came to investigate the scene later on the same night.

Bui Vien and nearby streets make up the citys busiest nightlife area, which is also dubbed the backpacker area due to its vibrant community of foreign travelers and expats.

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Mr. Joseph Whittal, Chairman, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), has advocated for the creation of the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) to regulate their activities in line with the Constitution.



He said adopting the ORPP by Ghana, just as it pertains in other countries, would take off some burdens (such as registration of political parties, granting them certificate and inspecting their audit statement of accounts) from the shoulders of the Electoral Commission (EC).



The EC is certainly overburdened with all public elections and referenda and so to add a regulator of political parties or as we call them 'Registrar of Political Parties in other countries, I think it is an overdo, Mr Whittal said at the launch of the Citizens' Anti-Corruption Manifesto (CACM).



I am aware of other countries in Africa, who have an independent political parties registrar responsible for ensuring registration of political parties, granting them certificates, going through their audit statement of accounts and making sure that they obey the laws.



He cited that Papua New Guinea, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean, had a political parties registrar, which was independent of their Electoral Commission; declaring that other countries in Africa have got it too.



So, if the evidence shows that for a long time the EC has not being able to activate that aspect of its role, we must be thinking of having it off and giving it to an independent body that will handle that aspect very well.

He said while Ghanaians were seeking to address the standing issue of political parties campaign financing, they should also be looking at the structure that would take care of it.



The CACM report, was compiled by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) and the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), with funding from STAR-Ghana Foundation.



It is aimed at making combating corruption a key election issue in 2020 and thereby improve Ghana's anticorruption performance in subsequent years.



Mrs Beauty Emefa Narteh, the Executive Secretary of the GACC, expressed the hope that political parties would embrace the issues identified by citizens and be guided by the broad recommendations to fashion out their own specific approach to addressing corruption in Ghana.

Source: GNA









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

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Copenhagen, N.Y. -- A 23-year-old Copenhagen man has been arrested and charged with first-degree sex abuse, according to New York State Police.

Warren A. Wilkerson was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

Wilkerson had sexual contact with a girl younger than 11 years old in the Town of Greg, according to state police.

He was arraigned via Skype and was released on his own recognizance.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who arrived in Artsakh on a working visit, and Artsakh President Arayik Haroutyunyan visited the Kashen mining complex of the Base Metals company.

The two, accompanied by the heads of the company, toured the complex, got acquainted with the progress of the work carried out, activities, and further plans of the company.

Base Metals is one of the largest industrial associations of Artsakh, as a result of which various programs are also being implemented in some areas. The arrivals were informed that production is being carried out thanks to technical equipment that meets modern environmental standards.

During the meeting after the completion of the tour, the company executives spoke in detail about the ore mining process and the prospects for the company's development in the industry.
 Flash

The United States should stop making waves and sowing discord in the South China Sea and play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the comments at a daily news briefing in response to a question about U.S. Department of Defense claims Thursday that China launched a ballistic missile test in the South China Sea on the morning of Aug. 26, threatening regional peace and security.

Relevant training activities near the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea are routine arrangements conducted by the Chinese military off China's coast. They are not targeted at any country and have nothing to do with the South China Sea disputes, said Zhao.

"The relevant accusations are groundless and unjustified," he said.

Zhao said that, over a period of time, the United States has frequently dispatched in large numbers advanced warships, fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft all the way to the South China Sea to project its power and engage in military provocations, undermining China's sovereignty and security interests as well as the normal order of navigation in the South China Sea.

The United States has become the saboteur and troublemaker of peace and stability in the South China Sea, and the international community bears witness to these all, Zhao said.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A motorcyclist was hospitalized with serious injuries Friday evening after he was hit by a car attempting a U-turn in Grand Rapids.

Police responded to the crash at 5:56 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at the intersection of Monroe Avenue and Travis Street in Grand Rapids, according to a news release issued by Grand Rapids Police Department.

The motorcyclist, a 53-year-old man, is listed in stable condition at a Grand Rapids hospital, police said Saturday morning.

Police say the crash was caused by a driver who attempted a U-turn in front of the motorcyclist. The driver of the car remained on the scene during investigation.

Grand Rapids police are asking anyone with information related to the crash to call 616-456-3380. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or www.silentobserver.org.

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STOCKHOLM - Far-right activists burned a Quran in the southern Swedish city of Malmo, sparking riots and unrest after more than 300 people gathered to protest, police said Saturday.

Rioters set fires and threw objects at police and rescue services Friday night, slightly injuring several police officers and leading to the detention of about 15 people.

The violence followed the burning Friday afternoon of a Quran, near a predominantly migrant neighbourhood, that was carried out by far-right activists and filmed and posted online, according to the TT news agency.

Later, three people were arrested on suspicion of inciting hatred against an ethnic group after kicking the Muslim holy book.

The head of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations expressed unequivocal condemnation of the burning of the Quran by far-right extremists ... as despicable and totally unacceptable, his spokeswoman said.

Miguel Moratinos called on religious leaders of all faiths to denounce all violence based on religious belief, spokeswoman Nihal Saad said, adding that such deplorable acts perpetrated by hate-mongers ... and other radical groups incite violence and tear apart the fabric of our communities which are an affront to U.N. values and the alliance which works to strengthen inter-culutral and inter-religious dialogue.
Pierre Gasly has urged thieves not to destroy sentimental items that were stolen from his home in Normandy during the Spanish GP weekend.

The Alpha Tauri driver had revealed on social media after returning from Barcelona that the thieves stole various items including watches and racing memorabilia.

"I can only hope that they don't throw things away, because these very personal mementos like a helmet from my time in Super Formula are hardly worth anything to them," Gasly told Speed Week.

"As you said, they will find out that these sorts of items are very difficult to sell."

He said police are investigating the incident, "but so far there is nothing".

"These are pieces that I can't just buy new in the next shop - they are irreplaceable memories for me. I hope to get good news soon," said Gasly.

(GMM)
The decades-old dream of zipping around in the sky as simply as driving on highways may be becoming less illusory.

Japanas SkyDrive Inc., among the myriads of aflying cara projects around the world, has carried out a successful though modest test flight with one person aboard.

In a video shown to reporters on Friday, a contraption that looked like a slick motorcycle with propellers lifted about two meters off the ground, and hovered in a netted area for four minutes.

Tomohiro Fukuzawa, who heads the SkyDrive effort, said he hopes athe flying cara can be made into a real-life product by 2023, but he acknowledged that making it safe was critical.

aOf the worldas more than 100 flying car projects, only a handful has succeeded with a person on board,a he told The Associated Press. aI hope many people will want to ride it and feel safe.a

The machine so far can fly for just five to 10 minutes but if that can become 30 minutes, it will have more potential, including exports to places like China, Fukuzawa said.

Unlike airplanes and helicopters, eVTOL, or aelectric vertical takeoff and landing,a vehicles offer quick point-to-point personal travel, at least in principle.

They could do away with the hassle of airports and traffic jams and the cost of hiring pilots, they could fly automatically.
Amid a surge in Covid-19 cases, the Goa government has ordered that no more 50 percent of the staff of each department at the state secretariat should report to work. This comes after the states premier administrative block witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases among its staff.

On account of the increase in Covid-19 cases in the Secretariat, Departments/Offices it is directed that not more than 50% strength of the secretariat employees shall attend the office on a particular day and the remaining employees shall work from home on an alternate day basis, an order issued by the joint secretary of general administration said.

The orders which come into effect from August 31 will remain in force at least until September 11, the order stated.

The comes over ten days after a staff of the secretariat protested against the governments inaction in introducing social distancing measures for employees. Back then, the number of cases was only around a dozen. It has now crossed 50.

Also read: Unlock 4.0 - What to expect from September 1

On August 18, around 150 employees, alarmed by the rising Covid-19 cases in the administrative complex, had gathered in the foyer while a few called on the chief secretary to urge him to introduce either a 50 percent workforce or staggered a mode of working for the employees.

If this continues like this then we will all become positive and the administration will totally collapse. So before it collapses, the government should do something and send out some guidelines. We cannot work from home because we dont have amenities. At least we can work at 50 percent strength, but there should be some clarity on how we are supposed to work, Sukarna Pai, an employee of the revenue department, said.

Besides the secretariat, several other government departments have been plagued by Covid-19 with cases being detected in the electricity department, rural development agency, the Goa State AIDS Control Society and some district court complexes.

The Goa government also resisted making it optional for teachers to work and conduct online classes from home. Instead, the government insisted that they report to school on all working days which led to some cases of infection among teachers.
Jeffrey Wright promises that The Batman will be different to the other movies (Image by Warner Bros)

Jeffrey Wright has promised that The Batman is going to be much different to other comic-book movies, insisting that the upcoming blockbuster will use the genre to take a look at crime and corruption in American cities.

The acclaimed star of Westworld made this admission during his recent appearance on SiriusXM's The Jess Cagle Show, calling The Batman an opportunity.

Read More: Colin Farrell unrecognisable in first 'The Batman' trailer

Comic book films have sucked a lot of oxygen from the cinematic room. But with Batman, we have an opportunity to use all of the trappings of that genre to explore some things in an American city through a lens of crime, corruption that are really grounded and relevant and interesting.

So the detective work there is an exploration of Gotham but it also becomes an exploration of a city very much like New York City."

Jeffrey Wright says The Batman will take a look at crime and corruption in modern cities (Image by Warner Bros)

Matt Reeves, who is directing and has co-written The Batman, also opened up about how different the film will be to the previous incarnations of the Caped Crusaders cinematic antics during last weekends DC FanDome, via ComicBook.com.

"It's not an origin tale, and you're meeting him in the early days. What's really important about this iteration is that you know a lot of the other stories are about how he had to master his fear and master himself in order to become Batman and that in that Batman state, he's sort of in his best self.

Read More: 'The Batman' spin-off is a Gotham-set prequel about corrupt cops

For me, what was exciting was not doing that, not doing the origin, not doing what we've seen done so beautifully in other movies, but instead to meet him in the middle of this criminological experiment to see him in the becoming of Batman and to see him make mistakes as Batman, see him grow and fail and be heroic do all of the things that we associate with Batman but in a way that felt very human and very flawed."

Well get to see what Reeves delivers with his version of The Batman when it is finally released on October 1, 2021.
The House has asked for the same documents that the state department turned over for a Senate investigation into Hunter Biden

Washington: The House Foreign Affairs Committee is moving to hold Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in contempt after he has repeatedly rejected the committee's subpoenas for records related to Ukraine that the department has turned over to the Republican-led Senate.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., said Friday that the panel will prepare a contempt resolution because of what he called Pompeo's unprecedented record of obstruction and defiance of the House's constitutional oversight authority.

The House has asked for the same documents that the state department has turned over for a Senate investigation into Democrat Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, and his activities in Ukraine, but Pompeo has refused to provide them.

In a letter to Engel this week, the department said Pompeo would turn over the documents if the House panel was investigating, like the Senate, identical or very similar corruption issues involving Ukraine and corrupt influence related to U.S. foreign policy.

Democrats have said they believe that investigation by the Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Committee is a politically motivated, election-year probe that is aiding Russia's attempts to sow chaos in American democracy and spreading Russian disinformation.

The committee's contempt resolution will also cite Pompeo's refusal to comply with a subpoena issued during the House impeachment inquiry last year.

The House impeached President Donald Trump in December  and the Senate acquitted him in February  for his pressure on Ukraine to investigate Hunter Biden as his father was running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Trump. The president and his associates asked Ukraine for the probes as he was withholding military aid to the country.

Mr. Pompeo is demanding that the committee do essentially the same thing Russia is doing, according the Office of the Director of National Intelligence: ''spreading claims about corruption'' in order to ''interfere in the American presidential election,'' Engel said.

In other words, Pompeo will give the committee what we were seeking if we join in a smear of the president's political rival. Sound familiar?

The contempt resolution is the latest  and likely futile  attempt by the Democrat-led House to pressure Trump's administration into complying with requests for testimony and information on a wide range of issues.

While congressional subpoenas are legally binding, officials who have rebuffed Congress have faced little consequence for defying them, while Trump has fired or demoted federal employees who have complied with requests individually.

Contempt itself is largely a symbolic gesture that has generally been used to embarrass officials who refuse congressional requests, and Democratic attempts to legally fight the administration's refusals have been drawn out in lengthy court battles.

The State Department has also defied subpoenas in the committee's investigation of Trump's firing of the department's inspector general, Steve Linick, which Democrats have alleged came in retaliation for probes of Pompeo that the watchdog was conducting.

Pompeo has denied knowledge of any investigation into his own conduct. Pompeo and his aides have said all of the House subpoenas are politically motivated, without merit, and unnecessary as the information and testimony could be otherwise obtained.

The department said the committee had not shown that its demand on the Ukraine documents was for a legitimate legislative purpose and suggested that it was entirely partisan.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Senate homeland panel, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, has said his Ukraine investigation is rooted in facts and has called the idea he is pushing foreign propaganda completely false. He says he hopes to get a report out by Election Day.

Pompeo has also faced criticism for making a speech at this week's Republican National Convention. The address was condemned by Democrats and others as an inappropriate breach of decades of diplomatic precedent and a possible violation of federal law prohibiting executive branch employees from overt political activism while on duty.
SRINAGAR: A fierce gunbattle broke out between the security forces and the terrorists in the Panthachowk area in Srinagar's outskirts, police sources said on Saturday.

The encounter began after a group of unidentified terrorists fired upon a joint check post of security forces in Panthachowk.

According to reports, the entire area has been cordoned off and firing is currently on from both sides.

So far, there is no report about any casualty.

A tweet from the Kashmir Police said, Police & CRPF at #Panthachowk, joint parties cordoned off the area. During search in the area, #terrorists again fired upon search parties, leading to an #encounter. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice.

#Terrorists fired upon joint naka of Police & CRPF at #Panthachowk, joint parties cordoned off the area. During search in the area, #terrorists again fired upon search parties, leading to an #encounter. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice  Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) August 29, 2020

Earlier, some terrorists attacked the joint naka party of security forces on the main road near Panthachowk after that a massive search operation was launched by joint team of J&K Police, 20 and 50 Battalions of Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF in Dobey Mohalla.

A police officer said, As the joint team cordoned the suspected house, the hiding terrorists fired searching party. The fire was retaliated by the joint party and encounter started.

IGP Kashmir confirmed the exchange of fire between the security forces and the terrorists.

The sources in J&K Police said at least 2-3 terrorists are believed to be trapped in the area.
Australian and New Zealand officials are still working behind the scenes to set up a travel bubble between the two countries, but community transmission of coronavirus will have to fall to zero before the proposal takes off.

New Zealand Trade Minister David Parker said Australia had been his country's first choice for a travel bubble but the serious outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria had put the plan on hold for now.

Australians might get a chance to cross the ditch for a holiday in New Zealand before the end of the year. Credit:Getty Images

At that point, his country switched focus to neighbouring Pacific Island nations but the outbreak of community transmission in Auckland has put that plan on hold as well.

Regardless of the delay, Parker said "all of the rules that lie behind that [the travel bubble] are continuing to be worked through quite successfully by government officials".
Today, the newly appointed head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Jeyhun Bayramov, arrived in Russia on an official visit for the first time.
Rhea Chakraborty shares a video of her father, requests police protection

Rhea Chakraborty requested Mumbai Police for protection as she shared a video of her father on Instagram. Her father was mobbed by reporters while entering the house premises. In the post, she alleged threat to her and her family members. She wrote, This is inside my building compound, the man in this video is my father Indrajit Chakraborty (retd. Army officer) We have been trying to get out of our house to cooperate with ED, CBI and various investigation authorities to cooperate. There is a threat to my life and my family's life. We have informed the local police station and even gone there, no help provided. We have informed the investigation authorities to help us get to them, no help arrived. How is this family going to live? We are only asking for assistance, to cooperate with the various agencies that have asked us. I request @mumbaipolice to please provide protection so that we can cooperate with these investigation agencies.  Rhea will be questioned by the CBI today in Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Sushant was found dead in his apartment in Mumbai on June 14. Watch the full video for more. ...read more
The mother of Noah Donohoe "hopes and prays" that the mystery of the missing minutes around the time the tragic schoolboy disappeared will be revealed, a coroner's court has heard.

Coroner Joe McCrisken said there is "no evidence" to indicate that anyone else was involved in the death of the 14-year-old.

At a second preliminary inquest in relation to Noah's death, Mr McCrisken said he had asked the Attorney General to probe recent "baseless and inaccurate" posts on the tragedy, warning it may result in legal action.

Outlining more details around the case on Friday, he said it was time to set "fact against fiction".

The 14-year-old was found dead in a storm drain near the M2 motorway in June, six days after he went missing in north Belfast. A post-mortem examination found that Noah died as a result of drowning.

Police believe he entered the drain in the Northwood Road area. He had cycled there from his home in south Belfast and, shortly before he went missing, was seen with no clothes on. Prior to that he was spotted falling off his bike on the Shore Road.

His disappearance prompted a major search operation.

Noah's mother Fiona and aunt Niamh attended the hearing at Belfast Coroner's Court, where the family's legal representative, lawyer Niall Murphy, also addressed proceedings.

He said "a vacuum" exists from just after 6pm on June 21 - the day Noah went missing - and his family are hoping for answers. It includes missing parts of a compilation of CCTV footage of Noah's last movements.

At an initial hearing last month, the coroner had demanded an end to the "baseless and inaccurate" and potentially criminal speculation about Noah's death.

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On Friday he expressed regret that "some individuals have chosen not to respect my request and the request of the family and rumours, speculation and conspiracy theories continue to be circulated".

"I have asked the Attorney General to investigate those publications which I consider may breach the Contempt of Court Act, with a view of the Attorney General taking legal action," he said.

"Today, in conjunction with the police and my counsel, I am providing some details which will dispel the many baseless and inaccurate rumours which continue to circulate. Today I will set fact against fiction."

The coroner said police have compiled video footage which covers Noah's journey from his home off the Ormeau Road to Northwood Road.

He posited that Noah entered the storm drain by "lifting a metal drain cover, which at that time was not secured".

"I have examined the drain cover, as have police officers, and it seems entirely possible for Noah to have been able to lift that cover and enter the drain system at that location," Mr McCrisken explained.

The coroner described the drain as running underground from Northwood Road to Shore Road to Seaview, under an access road at a Translink cleaning facility, continuing under the M2 motorway before discharging close to Duncrue Road.

"Noah's body was found by specially trained police officers between two drain access points within a section of the tunnel running under the Translink access road," Mr McCrisken added.

"The environment within the drain system can be described as challenging, with the drain system backfilling with water during intervals between low and high tides.

"I consider that, based upon all of the evidence before me at this stage, and the evidence includes extensive CCTV footage and witness statements, that Noah acted alone when he travelled to Northwood Road and entered the drain system.

"Investigations, however, are ongoing and I have reassured the family this morning that further evidence will be assessed as it is received.

"But that is my preliminary view based upon the evidence that is before me presently."

He stressed that at present there is "no evidence" linking Noah's death to the death of any other individual or with "an attack on any other individual or individuals in that area or in close proximity to Northwood Road".

"There is no evidence at present to suggest that any other person was involved in Noah's disappearance and death," continued Mr McCrisken.

He added that the police team charged with investigating Noah's death continue to gather evidence, and he is awaiting the full post-mortem examination report and findings, along with further forensic evidence.

Mr Murphy, the solicitor, said Ms Donohoe had watched the compilation of nine minutes of CCTV footage of her son's last movements.

"While this nine minutes represented the most harrowing experience of Fiona Donohoe's life, to view the last recorded moments of Noah, she is appreciative of having had the opportunity to do so," he said.

He added that Ms Donohoe wishes to express gratitude to businesses, public authorities and residents who volunteered the footage.

"Fiona acknowledges that the compilation is not a constant continuous video track of Noah's movements and notes that there are blind spots in the journey, particularly, and perhaps most relevant, the sensitive part of the journey from Skegoneill Avenue to his final sighted destination," he said.

"Fiona accepts and respects that this is an ongoing investigation and she hopes and prays that the vacuum that currently exists from 1801 onwards will be filled.

"And again she appeals to the residents to exhaust their memories and CCTV if any is still held to help complete the evidential picture."

He also explained that contrary to a recent media report, which put the final CCTV sighting of Noah at 6.11pm on the day of his disappearance, police understand following clarification, that the correct time is 6.03pm.

"Fiona appreciates these timings will be evidentiary verified at the full inquest," he added.

Ms Donohoe has launched an awareness campaign in her quest to get answers around what happened to her son, which was supported by several councils, including Belfast, which lit up city hall in blue in honour of the teenager's memory.

Mr Murphy revealed that she is also to present at some point in the future an "enduring and fitting legacy to her beautiful son". A further preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 2 and a full inquest is due to be heard on January 18 next year.
Loading Some of the victims fired with anger. Mustafa Boztas, who was injured in the attack, told the terrorist he was "just an insignificant killer who's lonely, scared and left alone to suffer all eternity. Ahad Nabi, whose father Haji Mohammed Daoud Nabi was shot at the Al Noor mosque, told the terrorist he was weak. He called him a sheep with a wolfs jacket on. I am strong and you have made me stronger, Nabi said. Others wanted the killer to know that his creed was a failure, and that his act had served only to bolster the ideals of Kiwi society he so hated  its diversity, unity, peace and tolerance.

Zahid Ismail, who lost his twin brother, Junaid Ismail, in the attack, said his family would look after his brothers children, who will become confident, proud Kiwis who will live in the same place their daddy lived. Junaids sister Raesha Ismael said the massacre had made her stronger internally. Illustration: Reg Lynch Credit: After the events I dont feel I have to hide my faith at work anymore, she said. Other victims elevated the grace of the faith the terrorist hated. Janna Ezat, who survived the shooting but lost her son, said to the killer: "In our Muslim faith, we say, if we are able to forgive, forgive. I forgive you."

Angela Armstrong, daughter of Laura Armstrong, who was killed inside the Linwood Islamic Centre, said the crime had led her to a greater understanding of the faith to which her mother converted. Previously she had listened to the medias narrative about Islam, rather than my own mum ... Mum tried to tell me about the goodness at the heart of Islam. Loading The more I listened, the more it seemed to me this public grief, this testimony of damage, was the grace-filled antithesis of everything the terrorist stood for. The Christchurch terrorist was always going to get the maximum sentence. So why did all these people feel compelled to speak about the unspeakable damage he had inflicted on them? Victim impact statements can be tendered privately to a judge, but these were spoken in open court, as a public act that was profoundly social, a counter to the anti-social nihilism of the killer.

It is inherent to our humanity that we have our hurt acknowledged. We see over and over how healing that acknowledgment can be in reparation for crimes and other wrongs. The statements also inspired empathy, which is probably the best revenge you can get on a murderous white supremacist who wants Westerners to see Muslim people as sub-human. Julia Quilter, associate professor of law with the University of Wollongong, says victim impact statements have two primary functions. First, they inform the sentencing court about the harm caused by the crime, in order to influence punishment via sentencing. "The other important factor is an expressive function," Quilter says, "to allow victims to move beyond being a witness and allow a therapeutic process, tied to the idea of therapeutic justice." The terrorists aspiration for a white-pure West is the mirror of Islamic State's utopia of a caliphate. He is the same as what he hates. He expressed belated remorse for his crimes but the judge rejected it as insincere.

Dostoyevskys great novel is a literary depiction of guilt. What guilt should Australia feel? The Grafton-raised terrorist was radicalised online but he was made in Australia. He was stunted by online gaming culture and the rankest corners of the white supremacist internet. Loading The ideas  if you can elevate them to that  from those corners are no longer marginal. In the mainstream politics of Trump, folk who espouse those views are very fine people. In Australia, the Christchurch terrorist had been an avid follower of the United Patriots Front. And the anti-Islamic sentiment from some of our political leaders looks extremely ill-advised in retrospect. What can we do to honour the Christchurch dead, and pay tribute to the unspeakable pain of the living? Patrol the borders of our public debate with unstinting vigilance. Harden our stance to the creep of extremism. Demand policy that forces online giants such as Facebook to account for the hatred to which they give a platform. Listen to victims.
Salah Eddine al-Namrush confirmed as defence minister while General Mohammad Ali al-Haddad has been named army chief.

The head of Libyas internationally recognised government has appointed a new defence minister and army chief after days of protests against poor public services and living conditions in the country.

The Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, on Saturday promoted deputy and acting Defence Minister Salah Eddine al-Namrush to the ministrys top job and appointed General Mohammad Ali al-Haddad as head of the army.

The order came hours after the United Nations-recognised GNA announced the suspension of Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha over his alleged support for protesters last week.

Army chief al-Haddad hails from Misrata, 200km (125 miles) east of Tripoli, home to fighters that have fought alongside the GNA in its battle to repel troops loyal to eastern Libya-based military commander Khalifa Haftar.









The appointments came days after al-Sarraj announced a government reshuffle in response to growing popular discontent in Tripoli and other western Libyan cities under its control.

Since Sunday, hundreds of demonstrators staged rallies in Tripoli against corruption and extended shortages of power, water and fuel in the oil-rich North African country. Gunmen fired on crowds on several occasions.

In response, the GNA said Bashagha has been temporarily suspended pending an inquiry on his statements about the protests and incidents in Tripoli and other cities.

Bashagha, who was visiting the GNAs main backer Turkey on Saturday, said in a statement posted on the interior ministrys Facebook page that he was ready to submit to an investigation.

But he demanded any hearing be broadcast live for the sake of transparency. He is set to return to Tripoli later on Saturday.

Libya has endured almost a decade of violent chaos after a 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi, with the GNA and a Haftar-backed eastern administration now vying for power against a backdrop of dozens of local conflicts.
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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, August 29, 2020 08:49 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c414ac07 1 World diplomacy,UNGA,Jokowi,UN,anniversary,middle-powers Free

After years of skipping the United Nations General Assembly, President Joko Jokowi Widodo is set to finally attend the largest annual multilateral summit next month to deliver a speech  albeit not in person  at the general debate session for the first time during his tenure.

President Jokowi will participate in the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, especially in the general debate session, said Grata Endah Werdaningtyas, the Foreign Ministrys director for international security and disarmament, on Thursday.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the General Assembly is to be held under a hybrid arrangement, with only two delegates from each countrys permanent representation office in New York to be allowed to physically attend, while others, including leaders, will attend virtually.

All speeches from world leaders and ministers, including the Indonesian President, will be delivered in the form of a pre-recorded message [...] to be broadcast virtually by the UN, Grata told reporters during a virtual briefing.

The general debate is part of a series of annual high-level meetings at the UNGA that are scheduled to take place from Sept. 21 to Oct. 2.

In addition to the presidential address, senior Indonesian officials will attend a number of high-level meetings, including the UNs 75th anniversary celebration, which will virtually bring together top diplomats from around the world.

In the five years of his first term, Jokowi relied on his then-vice president, Jusuf Kalla, to represent him at faraway international fora, owing to his global acclaim and the wide-ranging respect he commands.

Some officials have noted the President's disdain for extensive travel, while others argue his presence overseas is not necessary to pursue the nation's interests. In any case, Jokowi has been selective in the international events he attends, with a clear preference for economic forums like the G20 and the Belt and Road Initiative.

The last Indonesian president to give a speech in front of world leaders at the UNGA was Jokowi's predecessor, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, during his final year in office in 2014.

Dewi Fortuna Anwar, a research professor at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Center for Political Studies, said Indonesia had been criticized for Jokowis lack of presence at multilateral forums like the UN, and that this year, there was no excuse for skipping the event.

We arent asking the President to attend [the event] every year, but there are occasions when he should represent the nation. It is unfortunate that there is criticism of Indonesias lack of global leadership, she said.

Amid a weakening of the global multilateral system, Dewi said it was necessary for Indonesia, as a middle power country and nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council, to attend events at the UN and raise issues that required attention.

Read also: Middle powers must step up to promote multilateralism

Indonesia assumed the rotating presidency of the UNSC this month, the second time in a two-year term that ends later this year. It was also president of the council in May last year.

During Thursdays press briefing, Grata said the President planned to touch on the important role the UN would play in addressing various global challenges, such as overcoming the pandemic and its impacts on the global economy.

Indonesia has called on other countries to bolster multilateralism  particularly among middle powers  and expressed its commitment to maintaining the UNs status as the worlds major platform for international cooperation.

Various countries have welcomed the call and affirmed that it was time for middle powers to step up to defend the multilateral system of international governance.

Read also: COVID-19 pandemic a wake-up call for multilateralism, Indonesia's top diplomat says

Indonesia has forged several middle power alliances such as MIKTA between Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia.

At the UN, Indonesia exercised its duties as president of the Security Council this month by raising various issues it finds to be of particular concern, such as peacekeeping, UN reforms and the Palestine question. These topics were raised despite opposition from veto-wielding members of the council.

One recent sticking point in the Security Council was the US demand for the council to reimpose sanctions on Iran, despite Washington having pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal. After consulting with other members, Indonesia, as council president, determined there was not a sufficient consensus to proceed with sanctions.

After receiving the letter from the US secretary of state, the president of the Security Council also received separate letters from 13 other UN Security Council members  including Indonesia's own letter in a national capacity  which in essence was not in line with US views, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said in a recent briefing.

She stressed that Indonesia had carried out its duties as council president in accordance with the provisions and procedures in force at the Security Council.

Indonesia conducted inclusive bilateral consultations with all members of the Security Council to ask for the views of each member on steps the president of the UN Security Council could take, she said.
New Delhi: Onam is the major harvest festival in Kerala which falls on the 22nd Nakshatra Thiruvonam in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingam. According to the ancient legends, the Malayalam festival marks the annual trip of King Mahabali to the state he once ruled.

The festival is celebrated in the month of Chingam according to the Malayalam calendar which is equivalent to the Hindu solar calendar followed by people in other parts of India. The festival is spread over 10 days and culminates with Thiruvonam, the most important day.

This year, celebrations began on August 22 and will culminate on September 2. Several people took to social media and extended Onam wishes.

Atham, Chitira, Chodhi, Vishakam, Anizham, Thriketa, Moolam, Pooradam, Utthradom and finally Thiruvonam together make Onam an elaborate ceremony. Onam signifies the annual homecoming of King Mahabali from Patala Loka, where he was sent by Lord Vishnus Vamana avatar.

Legend of Onam:

It is believed that King Mahabali, the most benevolent Raja of Kerala visits his kingdom to see his subjects happy and prosperous on the occasion of the auspicious harvest festival.

Women participate in Pookolam (rangoli made of flowers) and perform Kaikottikali, a dance form. Dressed in their best fineries, women look resplendent in an off-white Kasavu sari with golden border, teamed up with gold jewellery. The men look dapper in white Veshti (dhoti) and shirt.

People get together to participate in a number of cultural activities to celebrate the festival in unison. Boat race (Vallam Kali), Pulikali (folk dance in the disguise of a tiger) and other dance and art forms specific to Kerala.

Sadya, an elaborate meal with 26 food preparations adds more fervour to the festivities.

Onam greetings to all our readers!
Warren Buffett turns 90 tomorrow.

The number itself isnt that remarkable (there are a couple million of 90-somethings in the U.S these days). Its what Buffett has accomplishedand what he may still do thats astonishing.

At 90 years of age Buffett has never been more of a force (more on that in a bit). And with all due apologies to his partner, Charlie Munger, nevermind Tony Bennett and Jimmy Carter, Buffett has to be the most impactful nonagenarian in America, if not the world.

Buffetts life and achievements have been singular, and as he never fails to point out, uniquely American. To be clear though, his is not an up-from-poverty story. Buffett came from privilege. His father was a Congressman from Nebraska (and as a die-hard conservative, close to a political opposite of his son.) Still the Buffetts werent rich and beyond that, while his background surely helped, it certainly didnt make him one of the successful people on the planet.

People always ask me what Warren Buffett is like. Well, for one thing hes purposeful and self-aware. Buffett has thought a great deal about longevity, for instance, but not in an obsessive, cryonics way. He told me this in a conversation I had with him last year:

If I gave you a car, and it'd be the only car you get the rest of your life, you'd take care of it like you can't believe. Any scratch, you'd fix that moment. You'd read the owner's manual, and you'd keep a garage, and do all these things. And you get exactly one mind and one body in this world. And you can't start taking care of it when you're 50. By that time, you'll rust it out, if you haven't done anything. So you should really make sure that you just remember that you've just got one mind and body to get through life with, and to do the most with it.

Before I get to his other salient attributes I want to add some disclaimers here because already I can see the Twitterati rolling their eyes, so here goes: Yes, Warren Buffett is a businessman. You may not like some of the companies he owns or in which he has invested. Yes, he makes money, lots of money. (You may not like that either.) Here is a guy who has become extraordinarily wealthy and did it in a fair way, says Robert Miles, longtime Berkshire Hathaway shareholder and author of "The Warren Buffett CEO. But Miles notes: Hes a shark. Obviously youre not going to be that successful and rich without being an ace negotiator.

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Buffett has made mistakes too, many of them in fact, (which hes happy to discuss.) Also Buffett isnt posing as some sort of country hayseed like some suggest, trying to fool people. Hes actually one of the most sophisticated people youll ever meet. He just happens to be polite, friendly and live in Nebraska. (Do all rich people have to be rude, icy and live in Greenwich?)

His commercial achievements are stunning, which as of today are marked by a pair of sixes. Berkshire Hathaway, which hes run for 55 years, is now the 6th largest company in America, and Buffetts $82 billion fortune makes him the 6th richest citizen of planet Earth. Howd he do that? Its this notion of patience, the notion of focus, and the notion of looking at companies with a telescope is what I think is important to underscore what Buffett is doing, legendary investor Mario Gabelli told me this week. Take the cash up. Let other people run it. Reallocate the cash flow. That's his business skill set. At 90, you don't need hand-eye coordination. So he can do this for another 50 years. I just hope they come up with some medicine, some aphrodisiac or some dynamic that keeps him going.

Buffetts footprint is bigger than ever. He gets even more calls from CEOs, politicians and societal leaders. His market moves attract more attentionlike when he sold airlines stocks or bought gold this year. Internationally hes more well known than hes ever been. Since the financial crisis of 08-09, the luster of the U.S. financial model began to wane in China and all over the world, says Li Lu, founder and chairman of Himalaya Capital Management, a multi-billion dollar investment firm which has business ties to Berkshire Hathaway. The example of Buffett and Berkshire on the contrary have increased their influence precisely because they point to a different way of conducting yourself. Hes singled out as someone whos not typical of American ways. I dont think the current tense relationship between China and the U.S. has in any way dented his reputation.

At 90 years old, thats impact.

But even more than that, Buffett has become a paradigm for living. Thats really why millions around the globe hang on his every word. Or why when you go to his annual meeting in Omaha, tens of thousands sit in stone silence for hours listening to him and Munger wax poetic. Ive always felt it was like a church in there, or a cult, which it kind of is. Except in this cult the members invest in Berkshire Hathaway stock and make moneyand they get to keep it!

Every person Ive ever spoken to about Buffett for any period of time, talks about his effect on them.

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett participates in a newspaper throwing contest prior to the Berkshire annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska May 2, 2015. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Hes made remarkable changes in my life and me personally, says Sharon Osberg, a longtime friend who plays bridge with Buffett a couple times a week. Having the privilege of observing his behavior in difficult situations has taught me a lot about how to do that. And I learned how to be happy. (Osberg recalls that when she first met Buffett decades ago I got into his office, and started rolling dice on the floor. I was on hands and knees rolling dice with him.)

Li Lu says he walked into a lecture Buffett was giving years ago at Columbia University and ...was instantaneously taken by him. What he basically taught me in that course was that somebody with high moral principles and integrity can make a lot of money off the market by being wise and smart and moral, Lu says. For many years, he and Charlie were my role models. Normally I dont take a living person as a role model, knowing how fragile human beings are. But for 25, 30 years he and Charlie never disappointed me in how to conduct business and life.

Says author Miles: Hes transformed my life personally, more than anyone else in terms of modeling good behavior and having fun. Hes made me a better person, made me rethink my own philanthropy, in terms of helping those who through no fault of their own were born on the wrong side of track.

I showed up at the Berkshire meeting to learn how to become rich and make a lot of money and compound stocks at a high rate, says Wall Street hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson. And instead, what I got was a dose of what they call worldly wisdom, about developing good habits and the importance of integrity becoming a learning machine and how to be a good spouse and all these other things that have really helped shape me second only to my parents, I suppose.

Buffett often talks about the importance of giving to your family and friends, the people you love. And he walks this talk, like when he flew to New York in June of last year to attend a 90th birthday party of his long standing pal, Carol Loomis, retired editor at Fortune, and sing a goofy song in her honor. (Now thats how to stay young.)

And theres a zillion more.

I know thats a lot of gushing testimonials. But could anyone really say the same things about Buffetts fellow mega-billionaires Bezos, Zuckerberg, Koch or Bloomberg? True, you might admire them or learn from them, but what people around the globe have received from Buffett is in another league.

Of course everyone always asks what will happen to Berkshire once Buffett finally does retire or pass on. Buffett has heard this 90 million times, and for decades. And hes been working on succession, and for decades. As my colleague Sam Ro points out, its almost as if Buffett wants us to focus on his succession plan because it draws more attention to Berkshire, something Buffett has been unapologetically P.T. Barnumesque about.

And whos to say the torch cant be passed smoothly? Steve Jobs certainly did right by Apple when he picked Tim Cook, a point not lost on Buffett, particularly now that he owns $120 billion of Apple stock, worth almost 25% of Berkshires market value. Buffetts two trusted lieutenants, (Ajit) Jain and (Greg) Abelnot to be confused with Cain and Abel, or at least Berkshire shareholders hope notare increasingly hands on and poised to lead.

Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, pauses while playing bridge as part of the company annual meeting weekend in Omaha, Nebraska U.S. May 6, 2018. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

When you love your life, of course you want it to go on and on, says Laura Rittenhouse, consultant and author of Buffett's Bites: The Essential Investor's Guide to Warren Buffett's Shareholder Letters. But the fact that he put the succession plan into place says he has certainly confronted the inevitable.

For now and the foreseeable future (whatever that means when youre 90), Buffett is still running things, aware that hes being scrutinized in a way, well, that any 90-year-old CEO would. In fact, Osberg says she and Buffett were just talking about that.

We had that discussion a couple nights ago. He finds it interesting that so many people are interested in his mental faculties. He totally understands, she says. I literally told him this on Tuesday, I have not noticed a decline in him. Hes slower at some things, physically the body gets slower when youre older. He walks slower, knees hurt, or whatever. He would tell you certain things he feels hes slower at mentally, but nothing important. Like remembering names, something that none of us can do anymore. It really is amazing.

A recent interview in a nice piece by the Omaha World Herald this week, noted longevity is in Buffetts familys genes. His mother lived to be 92, and his sister Doris who died this month was also 92. Baby sister Bertie, whom Buffett said he will be visiting next month, is 86. My dad is going to outlive us all, and Im not kidding, said his daughter Susie Buffett in the article. Ill bet a lot of money he will get to 100. (If Buffett did, hed be bucking the odds of course.)

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett bites into an ice cream during a trade show at the company's annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska May 3, 2014. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc on Friday said quarterly profit declined 4 percent, falling short of analyst forecasts, as earnings from insurance underwriting declined and bad weather disrupted shipping at its BNSF Railway unit. REUTERS/Rick Wilking (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

And famously Buffett eats like a first-grader, which he explained to me a couple of years ago: I actually eat exactly what I like to eat. If I liked it on my sixth birthdayon my sixth birthday party, when we had hot dogs, and hamburgers, and Coke, and ice cream with chocolateI still like it. And I don't care about anything, subsequently. I discovered it all by the time I was six. And if somebody offered me a deal when I was 20, and said, you're going to live one year longerinstead of living to 88, you'll live to 89, or whatever it may beif you eat nothing but broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, and onions, and all these things, take the last year off. It probably won't be that good anyway. So I eat what I like to eat. I'm not venturesome, in that area.

But shhhh, there may be some concessions to health and wellness afoot. Osberg tells Yahoo Finance that Buffett eats salmon once a week. And she reports he now exercises faithfully on his treadmill. The real trick though Osberg says is his attitude. Everybody talks about his attitude and how happy, cheerful he is. Thats the gospel truth. He loves every day. Every single day, he loves. Im not sure I've ever met a person who feels that way. But he does.

On May 2 of this year, three of us; my wife and I, along with Susie Buffett, sat on the empty floor of the CHI Health Center Omaha and watched Buffett and Greg Abel address Berkshire shareholders remotely for the companys annual meeting, (streamed by Yahoo Finance I might add.) As Buffett got up on the platform, he smiled and waved at us, looking spry enough. Little did we know. Buffett then began to speak and answer questions, unscripted for four hours and 28 minutes straight, no breaks, on almost every subject under the sun.

He was impassioned that afternoon, talking about America in the time of COVID-19:

Nothing can stop America when you come down to it, even with the scariest of scenarios. It may have been tested during the Great Depression, and it may be tested now to some degree. In the end the answer is never bet against America. That in my view is true today as it was in 1789 and even was true during the Civil War and depths of the depression, Buffett said.

It was a tour de force, as draining as it was impressive, and it may have been his best, most impactful talk ever.

Not bad for an 89-year-old. And now hes 90.

Here then are birthday wishes from Mario Gabelli, which sound about right:

Warren, holy cow, you're only 90? I want to be there for what the Italians used to say cent'anni, which meant 100. Now, it's centocinquanta, 150 years. That's the birthday party that I'm going to have to give you a birthday wish for. But 90 going to 100 is at least a start. Happy birthday, Warren.

Yes indeed, happy birthday Warren. Long may you run. Whatever youve been doing has worked so far, so please keep doing it.

This article was featured in a Saturday edition of the Morning Brief on August 29, 2020. Get the Morning Brief sent directly to your inbox every Monday to Friday by 6:30 a.m. ET. Subscribe

Andy Serwer is editor-in-chief of Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter: @serwer.

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A 34-year-old man from Mumbais Govandi has been arrested for sexually assaulting his 21-year-old sister-in-law. Citys Shivaji Nagar police arrested him on Friday from Baiganwadi locality.

The survivor told police in her statement that she and her brother-in-law were alone at home last year in the month of June, when he took advantage of the situation and sexually assaulted her.

According to the police, the womans ordeal did not stop at that. He again molested her and used to threaten to drive her out of the house by asking his brother to divorce her if she ever revealed the episodes to anyone.

Also Read: Sushant Singh Rajput death: CBI questions Rhea, brother; ED issues summons to Goa hotelier

Police said that while the victim didnt reveal her ordeal out of fear, her suffering continued unabated, giving her the courage to report the accused.

Following her complaint, on August 27, police registered a first information report (FIR) under section 376 (Punishment for rape), 354 (Assault or use of criminal force against woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code against the womans brother-in-law and arrested him.

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The Catholic Bishops Conference of Liberia says that even in the face of a heinous crime such as Rape, the death sentence is ultimately not a solution.

English Africa Service - Vatican City

This week, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Liberia released a statement in which they raised concerns about the worrying trend of violence in their country.

The dignity of the human person

In a statement released on behalf of other Bishops, CABICOL President, Bishop Anthony Fallah Borwah of the Diocese of Gbarnga, said that while the Church did not condone the diabolical act of violence perpetrated against women and children, the death penalty was ultimately not the solution becasue violence cannot drive out violence.

In as much as we strongly condemn this nefarious act (of Rape), the death penalty cannot serve as a remedy to this problem. As Bishops of the Catholic Church, we uphold the teaching of the Church as contained in the revised version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in number 2267 which states that the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person, The Bishops said.

There have been growing calls from anti-rape campaigners and some senior members of Liberian society for severe punishments, to include the death penalty, for perpetrators of Rape.

On 16 July 2008, the Liberian Senate re-introduced the death penalty for armed-robbery, hijacking and terrorism. Activists now want the death penalty extended to the crime of Rape.

A disturbing culture of militancy among party cadres

The Bishops, in their statement, also address themselves to the wider problem of violence in Liberian society particularly political violence.

As the country prepares of the 8 December referendum and senatorial elections the Bishops warn against the tragic institutionalisation of violence, hate speech and a culture militancy among party cadres.

Sadly, our cry (May 2019 statement) got little attention as violence seems to be perpetrating itself ad infinitum. Again, we call on political actors and their followers to refrain from violence, the Bishops plead with Liberians.

COVID-19: Heed the advice of health experts

The Bishops nonetheless commend the Government, medical personnel, members of the joint security services, the media and cooperating partners for efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19. While noting the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the economy, they urge their compatriots to adhere to the advice health of experts in preventing contagion.

There is therefore the need to continue to follow the basic health protocols of washing of hands, wearing of face masks and social distancing until a definite global solution is found," said the Liberian Bishops.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

PULWAMA: Three militants and a soldier were killed in an ongoing gunfight in south Kashmirs Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

A police official said a joint contingent of police, CRPF and army launched a combing and search operation in Zadoora area of Pulwama district in the early hours today after receiving information about the presence of militants there.

J&K: Three unidentified terrorists killed by Police & security forces in an encounter that started last night in Zadoora area of Pulwama. Search is going on. More details awaited. (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/QBUQfM85Qn  ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2020

He said while the security forces were conducting searches in the area, militants hiding in the besieged area fired on the troops.

The fire was returned by the security personnel, triggering an encounter.

In the ensuing gunfight, three militants were killed and an army man critically injured, defence spokesman in Srinagar Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.

He said the injured soldier was evacuated to army hospital in Srinagar, where he succumbed to injuries.

The defence spokesman said the joint operation was going on when reports last poured in.

He said an AK assault rifle and two pistols have been recovered from the possession of the slain militants.

A police official said the identity of the militants was being ascertained.
The U.S. Postal Service removed six mail collection boxes in Oakland on Friday  a move the USPS said was meant to prevent vandalism during expected demonstrations in the city. Local elected leaders, however, condemned the decision and said it could interfere with voting in the upcoming presidential election.

Rep. Barbara Lee and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said the removal of the blue bins comes just as voters will need them to mail their ballots.

In a two-page letter addressed to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, Lee asked for the Postal Service to reverse course, noting the boxes are being taken out three months before the Nov. 3 election. She called the decision a highly unusual and unfair penalty for communities like Oakland that often engage in dissent and protest against injustice and said her constituents are terrified and outraged about the potential obstruction of their constitutional right to vote.

Schaaf said, Trumps regime will stoop to any level to interfere with a free election. Their cowardly attempt to suddenly remove mailboxes from downtown Oakland wont silence our voice or stop our vote.

Lee wrote to DeJoy that he has testified under oath to the House Oversight and Reform Committee that he would postpone any additional removals of collection boxes from across the country until after the election. She said officials with the Postal Services Bay-Valley District alerted her office on Friday that it had removed up to 12 collection boxes in downtown Oakland, but postal officials told The Chronicle they were removing six.

Lee said the postal services collection box removal anytime protesters demonstrate will create an undue burden on this community, and certainly will interfere with services, including mail-in voting. She asked DeJoy to reverse any operational orders or equipment removals that could result in the disenfranchisement of millions of Americans who are relying on mail-in voting in this election.

She described downtown Oakland, where the boxes were being temporarily removed, as one of the most accessible and easiest places in the East Bay for people to use boxes. Lee said shes worried that even if some of the boxes are replaced before mail-in voting begins in October, their sudden disappearance so close to the election will cause confusion and could have a chilling effect on voting in my district.

Augustine Ruiz, a postal service spokesman for the Bay Area, including San Francisco and Bay-Valley Districts, told The Chronicle on Friday that the removal of six collection boxes is a temporary, precautionary measure to ensure the sanctity for that mail and to minimize the destruction of postal property ahead of anticipated demonstrations in the city. Ruiz said the boxes are expected to be replaced on Monday.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Ruiz told The Chronicle that postal service officials assured Lee that there there should be no concern because their decision to remove the boxes and the upcoming election are totally unrelated.

He said Oakland is the only Bay Area city where collection boxes were being temporarily removed. He said there have been instances of postal service property being vandalized in previous demonstrations, but could not immediately provide dates and locations of the alleged vandalism. He said he did not know why Oakland was the only Bay Area city to undergo temporary removal of some boxes.

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.

If protests continue, Ruiz said, postal officials will have to wait and see if demonstrations call for a prolonged removal of collection boxes.

The six impacted collection boxes are in the following locations: 1645 Telegraph Ave., 1700 Broadway, 1515 Clay St., 661 Washington St., 799 Broadway, and 899 Washington St.

To our knowledge, USPS has not removed all boxes in the area in response to past protests, Lee wrote. I also understand that we have had no reports of damage to collection boxes or to mail related to the protest in Oakland this week over the horrific shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Oakland, along with other cities in the Bay Area, has had demonstrations for decades. This week, hundreds of people protested in Oakland streets following the police shooting of Blake, a Black man shot multiple times, including in the back, by a white police officer in Kenosha.

Ruiz said collection boxes were not removed during the weeks-long demonstrations following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, and said he did not know why postal officials did not remove boxes in response to those protests.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
Four Southeast Texans died and a child was in serious condition Friday after three separate incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning involving improperly-placed generators used following power outages caused by Hurricane Laura.

Six people thought to be homeless sought shelter in a Port Arthur pool hall, where they initially had a generator outside for power, according to Justice of the Peace Brad Burnett. They later moved the generator inside, causing the death of two Vietnamese men  53- and 60-years old  and one unidentified person.

Three others found alive but critical inside the pool hall were taken to a nearby hospital, Burnett said.

Burnett ordered an autopsy on the three dead Port Arthur residents.

A generator was found running inside the business, and officers responding to the scene were tested for poisoning due to high levels of carbon monoxide on arrival, according to Burnett.

The six individuals allegedly approached the owner of the business to seek shelter before Hurricane Laura made landfall. The owner was not in the business when the storm hit, and was not able to be reached for comment by press time.

While early information led investigators to believe the deceased were shrimpers, they later confirmed they were homeless, Burnett said.

In a separate incident near 1 a.m. Friday, 17 Mid-County residents were brought to various local hospitals after extreme carbon monoxide exposure of 400 parts per million, Port Neches Assistant Fire Chief Mike Stegall told The Enterprise.

Sixteen of those suffering exposure were released Friday in stable condition, while one child was flown to Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston. Their condition was unknown Friday evening.

All 17 were in one residence, Port Neches fire officials said.

In Beaumont, police found 61-year-old Alphonso Devon Williams dead in his N. 7th Street residence Friday.

When officers arrived at about 3:51 p.m., they found Williams in an upstairs garage apartment with a generator in the garage below, the department said.

An autopsy has been ordered, but his death is believed to have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

The exposure and loss of life comes as large amounts of Southeast Texas continue to be without electricity. Utility crews continue to work to restore damage caused by Thursday mornings storm.

The National Weather Service has put out several alerts regarding the safe operation of generators.

Portable back-up generators produce carbon monoxide  an odorless, colorless gas that kills without warning.

It claims the lives of hundreds of people every year and makes thousands of others ill, a NWS alert said.

Tips from the service include never using a generator inside your home or garage, even if doors and windows are open; and only using generators outside more than 20 feet away from your home, doors and windows.

An alert from Port Neches Fire Chief Paul Nelson went out Friday afternoon warning against using generators inside.

Please ensure you are using generators safely, the recorded message said. We have had two incidents in Port Neches in the past 24 hours. Use generators outside; do not use inside your home.

Burnett reiterated that, adding that generators can be useful or deadly.

They can be your friend, or they can be your enemy, Burnett said. It's something that you don't realize it is happening to you. You can actually just go to go to sleep while it's happening and it's got you.

I'd ask everyone, if you're using a generator, please be mindful of this. And if you know someone that's using a generator, please tell them what happened. I think that would save somebody right there.

According to media in Louisiana, a family of five in Lake Charles died Friday of carbon monoxide poisoning, claiming the most lives to date in the aftermath of the storm.

Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie extended the mandatory evacuation order Friday afternoon until Aug. 31 as all of the city remains without power.

If you are somewhere else right now  and I hope that you are  in Port Arthur conditions are still not what you want them to be in terms of having power and having a lot of debris cleaned up and picked up, he said. Therefore, what Im asking you to do is try to remain where you are if you can.

isaac.windes@hearstnp.com

twitter.com/isaacdwindes
Security forces attend the scene of a security alert on Wheelers Road, Hannahstown, Belfast following the discovery of a suspicious device. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

A security alert in Hannahstown has ended.

A suspicious object discovered in Wheelers Road has been examined and declared as being nothing untoward.

Police thanked the public for their patience.
The United States military on Saturday accused Russian fighter pilots of conducting an unsafe and unprofessional intercept of a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber that was conducting routine operations over the Black Sea on Friday morning.

According to a statement from the Air Force, two Russian Su-27 jets crossed to within 100ft of the nose of the B-52 multiple times as the US bomber flew over international airspace.

The US military said the Russian pilots shift to afterburner mode caused turbulence for the American aircraft, limiting the pilots ability to maneuver.

In modern aviation, when pilots activate afterburners, it injects fuel directly into the exhaust stream of a turbine engine, increasing the thrust so that the aircraft can accelerate.

Video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense shows an American B-52 bomber being intercepted by Russian Su-27 jets over the Black Sea on Friday morning

The Russian government claims that the B-52 was flying toward the Russian border, while the Americans say the bomber was in international airspace

The above stock image shows a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet. Russian aircraft routinely fly close to American planes that patrol sensitive regions

Actions like these increase the potential for midair collisions, are unnecessary, and inconsistent with good airmanship and international flight rules, said General Jeff Harrigian of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa commander.

While the Russian aircraft were operating in international airspace, they jeopardized the safety of flight of the aircraft involved.

We expect them to operate within international standards set to ensure safety and prevent accidents.

The Russian government did not share the American assessment of the incident.

The Defense Ministry in Moscow said in a statement that the American B-52 was approaching the state border of the Russian Federation.

To identify the air target and prevent violation of the state border of Russia, two Su-27 fighters were raised into the air, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

After the foreign military plane turned away from the state border, the Russian fighter safely returned to the home airfield.

The above image is a file photo of a B-52G Stratofortress bomber. The United States on Friday flew six B-52 bombers over all 30 NATO alliance members in what military observers say is a show of force

The entire flight of Russian Su-27 fighters took place strictly in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.

The American aircraft was not allowed to violate the state border of the Russian Federation.

Russian and American planes frequently intercept each other over in international airspace that borders sensitive areas with geopolitical significance.

The incident is the latest indicator of increased military tensions between the two Cold War-era foes.

The Russian military on Thursday blamed US troops for a collision of Russian and US military vehicles in Syria's northeast.

US officials said Wednesday that a Russian vehicle sideswiped a light-armored US military vehicle, injuring four Americans, while two Russian helicopters flew overhead, one as close as 70 feet from the US vehicle.

On Friday, the US military flew B-52 bombers over all 30 NATO member countries in what is perceived by observers as a show of force meant to dispel doubts about Washingtons commitment to the alliance.

High-speed confrontation: This is the moment before the Russian vehicle from which the video footage came hits the US armored vehicle as the two patrols move fast across a field in the east of Syria with a Russian military helicopter flying low overhead

Rammed: The Russian video captures the moment the Kremlin's armored vehicle hits its U.S. equivalent. Four American troops were injured, with minor concussions

Russian presence: One still from the video shows how the Russian armored vehicle which rammed the American troop-carrier was not alone - at the right is another armored Russian vehicle

Six US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers will fly over all 30 NATO nations in Europe and North America on August 28, US European Command said in a statement Friday.

Meanwhile, the Russian navy conducted major war games near Alaska involving dozens of ships and aircraft, the military said on Friday, the biggest such drills in the area since Soviet times.

Russia's navy chief, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, said that more than 50 warships and about 40 aircraft were taking part in the exercise in the Bering Sea, which involved multiple practice missile launches.

'We are holding such massive drills there for the first time ever,' Yevmenov said in a statement released by the Russian Defense Ministry.

As part of the exercises, the Russian nuclear submarine Omsk surfaced near Alaska on Thursday, U.S. military officials said.

Russia's Varyag missile cruiser fires a cruise missile as part of the Russian navy maneuvers in the Bering Sea in this undated video grab provided by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service

Russian warships take part in maneuvers in the Bering Sea in this undated video grab provided by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service

The North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command are closely monitoring the submarine, Northern Command spokesman Bill Lewis said.

'We have not received any requests for assistance from the Russian Navy or other mariners in the area,' Lewis said from Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. 'We always stand ready to assist those in distress.'

Lewis declined to provide further details about the submarine, including its proximity to Alaska. He only said it was operating in international waters near Alaska.

'We closely track vessels of interest, including foreign military naval vessels, in our area of responsibility,' Lewis said.

The Russian military exercise is taking place in international waters, well outside the US territorial sea, he said.

The presence of Russian military assets in the war games caused a stir for U.S. commercial fishing vessels in the Bering Sea on Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

'We were notified by multiple fishing vessels that were operating out the Bering Sea that they had come across these vessels and were concerned. So they contacted us,' Coast Guard spokesman Kip Wadlow said earlier Thursday.

The Russian nuclear submarine Omsk is seen in a file photo. The submarine surfaced in international waters near Alaska on Thursday, US military officials confirmed

A Russian submariner looks in periscope during a naval exercise in the Bering Sea, in this undated video grab provided by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service

A Russian submarine surfaces during naval maneuvers in the Bering Sea. The Russian navy has conducted massive war games near Alaska involving dozens of ships and aircraft

The Coast Guard contacted the Alaskan Command at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, which confirmed the ships were there as part of a pre-planned Russian military exercise that was known to some U.S. military officials, Wadlow said.

Wadlow did not have information about the scope of the exercise or how many Russian vessels were involved, referring those questions to the Alaskan Command.

Officials at the Anchorage base referred questions to Air Force officials at the U.S. Northern Command.

It wasn't immediately clear when the exercises began or if they had finished.

Yevmenov emphasized that the war games are part of Russias efforts to boost its presence in the Arctic region and protect its resources.

'We are building up our forces to ensure the economic development of the region,' he said. 'We are getting used to the Arctic spaces.'

The Russian military has rebuilt and expanded numerous facilities across the polar region in recent years, revamping runways and deploying additional air defense assets.

Russian warships take part in maneuvers in the Bering Sea in an image from Russian military

Russia has prioritized boosting its military presence in the Arctic region, which is believed to hold up to one-quarter of the Earths undiscovered oil and gas. Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited estimates that put the value of Arctic mineral riches at $30 trillion.

Russia's Pacific Fleet, whose assets were taking part in the maneuvers, said the Omsk nuclear submarine and the Varyag missile cruiser launched cruise missiles at a practice target in the Bering Sea as part of the exercise.

The maneuvers also saw Onyx cruise missiles being fired at a practice target in the Gulf of Anadyr from the coast of the Chukchi Peninsula, it added.

Russian state RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russia's Pacific Fleet sources as saying that the surfacing of the Omsk nuclear submarine was routine.

Also late Thursday, NORAD sent F-22 fighter jets to intercept three groups of two Tu-142 Russian maritime patrol aircraft that came close to Alaska.

The Russian aircraft remained in the area for about five hours and came within 50 nautical miles of Alaska. Officials said the Russian jets remained in international air space, and at no time entered United States or Canadian sovereign air space.

'Our northern approaches have had an increase in foreign military activity as our competitors continue to expand their military presence and probe our defenses,' Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of NORAD, said in a statement. '

A cruise missile is launched from a submarine during Russian navy drills in the Bering Sea

This year, weve conducted more than a dozen intercepts, the most in recent years. The importance of our continued efforts to project air defense operations in and through the north has never been more apparent.'

It cited former Russian navy's chief of staff, retired Adm. Viktor Kravchenko, as saying that by having the submarine surface in the area the navy may have wanted to send a deliberate signal.

'It's a signal that we aren't asleep and we are wherever we want,' RIA Novosti quoted Kravchenko as saying.

The presence of Russian military assets in the area caused a stir for U.S. commercial fishing vessels in the Bering Sea on Wednesday.

'We were notified by multiple fishing vessels that were operating out the Bering Sea that they had come across these vessels and were concerned,' U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Kip Wadlow said Thursday.

The Coast Guard contacted the Alaskan Command at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, which confirmed the ships were there as part of a pre-planned Russian military exercise that was known to some U.S. military officials, he said.

The Russian military has expanded the number and the scope of its war games in recent years as Russia-West relations have sunk to their lowest level since the Cold War after Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, and other crises.
MUZAFFARNAGAR: A girl was allegedly abducted in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district by four people who wanted to sell her for marriage, an official said on Saturday (August 29).

The teenager, said to 18-year-old, was abducted from her house at a village under Sikheda police station area on August 18 by a man and three women.

According to reports, the accused abducted the victim after intoxicating her. She was then taken to a house in Haryana's Panipat where she was held hostage, childcare helpline official told PTI.

The suspects - Karam Vir, Saroj, Radhika and Puja, were trying to sell the her to another man for money. However, the girl somehow managed to escape after she got conscious and reached her parents house and narrated her ordeal, according to helpline in-charge Poonam Sharma.

On August 22, she approached the childcare helpline and the matter was handed over to the police on August 27, Sharma added.

A case has been registered against four people under sections 366 (abducting a woman to compel her marriage), 368 (wrongfully keeping in confinement) of the Indian Penal Code. The suspects are on the run, the official added.
T rent Alexander-Arnold misses out for Liverpool in Saturday's Community Shield clash against Arsenal.

The defender missed the Reds pre-season training camp in Austria this summer as a result of what was described as a minor injury complaint.

Andy Robertson shifts over the right-back with Neco Williams slotting in on the other flank.

Virgil van Dijk does start however, despite sustaining a deep cut above his eye during Liverpools final friendly, a 2-2 draw with RB Salzburg.

Pool via REUTERS

Jurgen Klopp remains without a players who missed out on pre-season due to fitness concerns.

He does however have his first-choice attack all available and starting.

New signing Konstantinos Tsimikas is among the subs.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Robertson, van Dijk, Gomez, N Williams; Wijnaldum, Milner, Fabinho; Mane, Firmino, Salah.

Subs: Adrian, Tsmikas, Keita, Grujic, Jones, Minamino, Elliott, Koumetio, Brewster
Ted, you said on a recent podcast that the pandemic has forced you to, in a way, get real. Where does that leave you in regard to the Emmys?

DANSON Its such a jumble. Heres what I will stick with that I know is true and not ego: I cant wait, if I were to win and had the opportunity to say something, to once again in public reaffirm how much I love going to work with these people every day and how much it meant to me. How much it meant to me that kids came up in airports and were so excited and that they watched the show, and that their parents loved that they watched the show.

Then theres other emotions. I wonder if celebrities are not the celebrities anymore, which I think is good. Were talking about such monumental things in this country, besides the election. Were talking about climate change and Black Lives Matter and Covid. Were talking about the courage of first responders and the people who have sacrificed their lives, so that celebrities like me get to stay home. The whole celebrating celebrities, which in a way is what award shows are, feels a little tricky to navigate.

CARDEN Ive been feeling the same thing. I am so honored to be included in this list of people that I so admire and its something that Ive been working for, for my whole career. But its a weird moment to be patting ourselves on the back.

DANSON Ill pat you on your back. The first couple of weeks of doing the show, I felt so sorry for my new friend who had to play a robot. I get to play a demon. Poor DArcy is going to play a computer. Lo and behold this astounding part develops. What makes you so special is having this portrayal of this robot-like person come through you. When you contained it inside this little container of not a robot, it was just like you, DArcy, bursting out of that at all times. It was really fun to watch it.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29

By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:

National Power Grid of Uzbekistan JSC signed an agreement on electricity supply with the Afghan company Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) for 10 years , Trend reports with the reference to the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade in Uzbekistan.

The agreement was signed during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Sardor Umurzakov and Afghan Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar.

During the meeting, topical issues of trade and economic, investment and transport and logistics cooperation between the two countries were discussed, as well as prospects for joint projects in the fields of energy, construction of railroads, trade and infrastructure development in Afghanistan.

In particular, the issues of accelerating the construction of the Surkhan-Puli-Khumri power transmission line and working out the relevant draft agreement, as well as expert negotiations to prepare for the signing of a draft agreement on international motor transport were discussed.

The parties also considered the issues of strengthening cooperation in the development of transport corridors through the implementation of joint projects in the field of railway transport.

Moreover, sides reached an agreement to take additional measures to create conditions for increasing trade turnover, including the development of infrastructure for the expansion of cross-border trade and organization of supplies of agricultural and industrial products in demand in the market of the two countries.

During the meeting, the parties also agreed to establish a mechanism of permanent contacts in order to ensure quality and timely implementation of bilateral agreements and prompt resolution of all emerging issues.

---

Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
The 10- day Ganesh Chaturthi festival began in India on August 22 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In view of the virus outbreak, the festival is being celebrated in a subdued manner this year to curb the spread of infection. Many people are bringing home idols of Ganesha on the occasion. However, this year the festival is celebrated in a much more restricted way due to ongoing pandemic. Lets take a look at how people are celebrating this years festival while following the precautionary measures. (Image: AP)

Ganapati is not a lord of subtleties. Among all the gods in the Hindu pantheon, Ganapati festivals are celebrated with boundless zeal and energy. The festivities dedicated to the elephant-lord are loud, rambunctious and quite boisterous. Evidence for the same can be found in the manner in which Ganesh Chaturthi festival is celebrated across India, especially in Maharashtra. The city of Mumbai is the epicentre of the festival; by rough estimates, there are around 14,000 major Ganesh pandals that dot the length and breadth of the city, with some idols towering over 25 feet in height. The festivities usually start with a bang, with the veiled idols being taken or driven to homes and pandals all over the city accompanied by pomp and revelry. And the culmination is on the 11th day when the idols are immersed into a lake, pond or sea in a much grander procession.

This year though, things are pretty different. Just like everything else, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the festivities. It has been a very unusual and muted Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated tempered with anguish and trepidation. A month or so back, the state government of Maharashtra had issued strict guidelines defining how the festival is to be celebrated. There were limitations on the size, gathering, and the manner in which the visarjan would be conducted. Whatever hope there was of some normalcy, it was shattered by the ever-galloping number of COVID-19 cases in India. The festive spirit was dampened, and many pandals and societies decided not to play host this year. Even the ones that were bringing home Ganesha this year would do so in a very subdued manner. Some of the more prominent pandals that are famous for their ostentatious celebrations decided to indulge in social work, setting up blood donation or plasma collection camps.

An inclusive festival

One of the most compelling aspects of Ganesh Chaturthi happens to be its inclusiveness. The elephant-god tends to bring people together, as people gather at the various pandals and housing colonies to celebrate the fest. This spirit of the festival had persisted quite like the way Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak had envisaged back in the 19th century, when he promoted the idea of celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi on a collective level, rather than closeted individual ones. Yet, even when people bring Ganapati to their homes for 1.5 days, three days or even five days, there's a public aspect to it -- as the friends, neighbours, colleagues will visit the home to partake in the festivities. In short, Ganesh Chaturthi is not meant to be a private affair and could not be celebrated as one. That was the truth till this year when all that changed.

For the past many years, my home has been one of the thousands that host the elephant-lord for 1.5 days. In the months preceding the festival, we were not sure if we will be able to celebrate it. The biggest issue at hand was the quarantine rule. In June there was a case in my building, and for 15 straight days, the main doors to our wing were barricaded, and we could not step out. The Arogya Setu App continued to display rising numbers in the 500m and 1km vicinity. How could we bring Ganesha home, if we were locked in our own?

The second big issue was that of safety precautions. Could you trust the artist who is crafting the idol? Could one 'sanitise' the idol with alcohol-based sanitisers? And won't it be risky to go to visarjan like other times, because of the crowds? These and many other doubts were swirling in mind. One good outcome of these concerns was the sheer spike in Eco-Ganesha; idols that were made out of the mud that could either dissolve in water or be converted into a potted plant. Ganesha idols made from 'shaadu maati', a form of clay, were pretty popular and much in demand. Fortunately, having an eco-friendly idol was never a choice for us, as we had shifted to it years back.

Finally, Ganesha did arrive, and despite all the permutations and computations, we were able to partake in the festivities. It was mighty odd, not to have anyone visiting the home, not even the neighbours, but then virtual communication replaced the real-world connection. Darshan on Zoom meetings or WhatsApp video-calling became a part of the whole festivities. The visarjan was done in one of the artificial pond, one of the many created by the municipal corporation for the same. Not surprisingly, there weren't even a quarter of the number of visarjans that take place during normal times. The implication was quite clear, just like the various pandals and the housing colonies, a vast majority of individuals had chosen to skip the festivities, and the rest did so in a staid manner.

An eco-friendly edition

Oddly, this Ganesh Chaturthi was not only the most muted but also the most environment-friendly. All the factors contributed to make this year's festival the greenest one -- ever. Over the past couple of years, there has been a rising consciousness in regards to the ecological impact of the festival, but much of this has been centred around the idol. Almost every year, newspapers are filled with post-visarjan pics of water bodies that are polluted beyond measure or the fragmented parts of the idol strewn across the beaches. This has led to a sort of movement for eco-friendly Ganesh idols, one that is made of clay and devoid of any artificial colours or additives. Yet, much of the eco-friendliness around the event started and stopped with the idol. Indeed, an idol was an important part, but there were a whole lot of other factors that also need to be factored in, to assess the EIA of the festival honestly. A couple of years back, I had written about how we need to move from eco-friendly Ganapati to Net-zero Ganapati.

To give an illustration, let us take the most famous Ganesha pandal in Mumbai, the famous Lalbaugcha Raja in the Dadar area. The idol towers at over 15 feet, with the one in 2019 standing at respectable 20 feet. The idol is made from POP or plaster of Paris, as the dimensions of a tall idol cannot be created in clay. But beyond the environment-unfriendly idol, there is the bit about the paraphernalia that goes along with the festivities. Last year, the theme was based on Chandrayaan - 2. India's moon-rover was set to make a rendezvous with the lunar soil on the day of the Ganesh Chaturthi, and this prompted the theme replete with several dummy astronauts handing near the idol, with huge LED screens displaying inter-galactic images like that of Earth, Moon to the solar system. Little wonder then that the Lalbaugcha Raja attracts record number of visitors; it is estimated that some 1.5 million people visit this Ganesh pandal daily during the 10-day festival.

Now consider the CO2 emissions that emanate from Lalbaugcha Raja pandal, namely, constructing the massive archways, the huge HVAC, the decoration, the security set-up, etc. Add to that, the emissions that accrue from a million and a half people visiting the pandal, their emissions in travelling and so on. Finally, you have the visarjan, which is a 20-hour procession covering 8 km from Parel to Girgaum Chowpatty. Millions partake in this procession.

And, Lalbaugcha Raja is just one pandal; the city of Mumbai has some 14,000 major Ganesh pandals and thousands of medium ones. The environmental cost from all these pandals and individual celebrations will be staggering.

Sadly, the inclusive ethos of the festival has been replaced by an ostentatious display of money and power. Take the case of the Goud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Seva Mandal, Matunga, Ganapati that took out an insurance cover of Rs 266.65 crore. The idol was covered with gold ornaments weighing 68 kg, and some 350 kg worth silver had been offered at the GSB pandal. There seems to be a race among the major pandals, as to which one will attract the most crowd, garner the most significant donations, get the most eye-balls, and so on. There was a Marathi film released almost a decade back titled Morya that touched upon how vested interests had commercialised the festival. Many people wonder if the Vinayaka, or the supreme lord, would himself be pleased by this extravagant and splashy display carried out in his name.

In that context, Ganesh Chaturthi 2020 was the most environment-friendly one; fewer pandals, muted display and technology (virtual darshan) cutting travel-related emissions. This year, the beaches won't be littered with broken idols, the water bodies won't be choked by thousands of idols, there won't be tonnes of plastic waste to be picked up every day as people discard bottles and food packets. Wonder if we will return to our normal environment-unfriendly ways next year, who knows.

On a personal note, I did kind of miss the zest and zeal of the Ganesha festival. Yet, somehow, I am not too sad about missing it either.

Shashwat DC is Founder Editor at Sustainabilityzero.com . With deep interest in history, and mythology, he is also a passionate champion of the environment & bio-diversity. Using his keyboard, he highlights issues related to sustainability, ESG, CSR, and sustainable development.
When close to half the companies in the United Kingdom have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") above 17x, you may consider Jersey Electricity plc (LON:JEL) as an attractive investment with its 11.8x P/E ratio. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it's limited.

The recent earnings growth at Jersey Electricity would have to be considered satisfactory if not spectacular. It might be that many expect the respectable earnings performance to degrade, which has repressed the P/E. If that doesn't eventuate, then existing shareholders may have reason to be optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

View our latest analysis for Jersey Electricity

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Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on Jersey Electricity will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

Does Growth Match The Low P/E?

Jersey Electricity's P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's only expected to deliver limited growth, and importantly, perform worse than the market.

If we review the last year of earnings growth, the company posted a worthy increase of 5.5%. Although, the latest three year period in total hasn't been as good as it didn't manage to provide any growth at all. Therefore, it's fair to say that earnings growth has been inconsistent recently for the company.

In contrast to the company, the rest of the market is expected to decline by 3.8% over the next year, which puts the company's recent medium-term positive growth rates in a good light for now.

In light of this, it's quite peculiar that Jersey Electricity's P/E sits below the majority of other companies. It looks like most investors are not convinced at all that the company can maintain its recent positive growth rate in the face of a shrinking broader market.

The Bottom Line On Jersey Electricity's P/E

Story continues

Using the price-to-earnings ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn't sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company's future prospects.

We've established that Jersey Electricity currently trades on a much lower than expected P/E since its recent three-year earnings growth is beating forecasts for a struggling market. We think potential risks might be placing significant pressure on the P/E ratio and share price. One major risk is whether its earnings trajectory can keep outperforming under these tough market conditions. It appears many are indeed anticipating earnings instability, because this relative performance should normally provide a boost to the share price.

The company's balance sheet is another key area for risk analysis. Our free balance sheet analysis for Jersey Electricity with six simple checks will allow you to discover any risks that could be an issue.

It's important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20x).

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
Australias Catholic Church has chosen mental health as the theme of its Social Justice Sunday, August 30. According to Auxiliary Bishop Terence Grady of Sydney, mental illness affects all sectors of Australian society, with indigenous people, asylum seekers and refugees being the hardest hit.

By Robin Gomes

The Catholic Church in Australia is calling on society to take mental illness seriously, saying it affects all right across the board. There is no section of society which is not touched by mental health problems. Church institutions, especially parishes, can help reach out to those suffering mental strain.

Auxiliary Bishop Terence Brady of Sydney made the point while speaking to Vatican News ahead of Social Justice Sunday, which the Church in Australia is marking on Sunday.

In the lead-up to the August 30 observance, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) released a 19-page Social Justice Statement 2020-21, examining the extent, gravity and causes of mental ill-health in Australian society and urging action to address them. Entitled, To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today, the statement calls on faith communities, governments and individuals to make mental health a priority.

Bishop Brady, who is Bishop Delegate for the Australian bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, said the Covid-19 pandemic has certainly accelerated mental ill-health but in Australian society, and probably in most other western societies, mental illness is a huge problem.

Vulnerable groups

While welcoming the deinstitutionalisation of mental health care in Australia, the countrys bishops say that without adequate funding of community health services, many disadvantaged groups fall through the safety nets. Factors such as poverty, living conditions and personal security contribute to mental ill-health.

Even though the problem is really right across society, Bishop Brady said, it is serious particularly in certain groupings. It certainly is a major issue among the indigenous people and among asylum seekers and refugees, many of whom, he lamented, have been living mostly in detention for even up to a decade.

There are also the homeless and street people and those in low-income groups who are affected. You can find huge pockets of mental ill-health even among what Bishop Grady described as the upper echelons of society or well-to-do people. As a young priest, he remembered hearing on the radio that an upscale area of Sydney had the highest rate of abuse in the family.

While visiting homeless shelters and prisons, Bishop Brady said, you see so many signs of mental illness. Many of the homeless shelters and prisons could really be almost branded as psychiatric centres.

He lamented a tendency to sweep this grave and pervasive problem under the carpet. In many of the western society, mental health has been a problem for generations and it will continue to be so unless we address it, he warned. But, he said, the good news is that we know so much about this problem that we can change it if we really want to. Of course, resources are needed for that.

Churchs network, especially the parish

It is here that the Church of Australia can make a difference, in caring for those affected by mental illness, Bishop Brady said. Through its vast education system, with universities, colleges, schools and also hospitals, he said, the Church can help connect with people and help them.

Above all, parishes can bring a wonderful change, and reach out to those with mental illness. If youve got a good, strong parish life with good infrastructure, a lot of mental health care, of how we help and support people, can take place within the parish community, Bishop Brady said. This is why the Church in Australia is strengthening the local parishes because a whole lot of things can be done through it, but especially in the area of mental health.

Church needs to regain its credibility

Bishop Brady said that the Church in Australia is also putting a little bit more pressure on the political leaders to take mental health much more seriously than they have been. However, in many ways, in many parts of Australian society, the Catholic Church has lost its voice, because of the child sexual abuse crisis, among other things.

The Church, he said, needs to regain its confidence and credibility, in order to be able to speak out for those in difficulty and those on the margins of society. It needs to pressure the political leaders and those who govern to draw their attention to mental health as well as to other areas.
HANOI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Economic ministers from the 10 ASEAN members and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) agreed to enhance economic relations and work together for a stronger multilateral trading system at a virtual meeting on Friday.

At the 4th ASEAN-HKSAR Economic Ministerial Meeting, the ministers acknowledged the importance of having collective action and international cooperation in the economic recovery process while recognizing the critical role of the rules-based multilateral trading system and the importance of free and open trade and investment in sustaining efforts for a post-COVID 19 environment, said the meeting's joint media statement.

They agreed to enhance economic relations between the ASEAN and the HKSAR, including through utilization of the ASEAN-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA) and the ASEAN-Hong Kong Investment Agreement (AHKIA), the statement said, noting that the two agreements have entered into force for the HKSAR and eight ASEAN members.

The ministers looked forward to the full implementation of both agreements by end of 2020 to deliver a strong message illustrating concerted efforts in pursuing free and open trade and investment, according to the statement.

The statement also noted that the total bilateral merchandise trade between the two sides reached 111 billion U.S. dollars in 2019.

The meeting took place within the framework of the 52nd ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting and related meetings under the co-chair of Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and the HKSAR government's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Yau Tang-wah.
Fingal County Council has been awarded a total of 35,000 under the Public Service Innovation Fund, which aims to support innovation from public service bodies to promote collaboration and improved approaches to service delivery.

Two Digital Fingal projects - the 3D Virtual Reality Model to Enhance Citizen Engagement and the Building Smart Traffic Control Room and IoT Sensor Testbed for Traffic Congestion - were successful in their applications.

Some 20,000 has been awarded to develop a 3D Virtual Reality model to enhance citizen engagement in Balbriggan. The proposal is to create a 3D Virtual Reality (VR) Model which will be located in the new Our Balbriggan Hub to connect with residents, public services and business in a meaningful way.

The Hub situated in Georges Square, in the centre of the town will be the engine room for the recently published Our Balbriggan 2019 - 2025 Town Rejuvenation plan and is where the Our Balbriggan team will be based. Having VR technology will enable the team to engage further with the citizens and help them to visualize how their town will be developed.

This project will be led by the Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Department, supported by the Digital Fingal Team.

A further 15,000 has been secured for the development of a smart pilot project. The funding will go towards developing intelligent traffic solutions and trialling IoT sensors in the Dublin 15 pilot area, in partnership with ESB Innovation. This will enable Fingal County Council to use real-time data to improve traffic flows, reduce congestion and monitor traffic and environmental data.

This project will be led by the Operations Department of Fingal County Council, supported by the Digital Fingal team.

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. David Healy said: 'Using all forms of technology to better engage with and improve the lives of residents is a key goal for the council.

'The funding that has been secured will allow us to do this through engaging better with our communities and to improve the efficiency of infrastructure in the county for the benefit of our residents.'

AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council said: 'Fingal County Council is always looking to innovate and use the latest technology in the services that we provide to our communities.

'The funding secured from the Public Sector Innovation Fund will allow our Digital Fingal team, alongside the Our Balbriggan team, to engage better with our residents in Balbriggan as well using technology to improve the road experience of our residents.

'We will continue to invest in new technology to keep up to date to provide top quality services to our residents.'
Removed from the urban dialogue on climate change as well as the media gaze, farmers and herders around Bengaluru's Byramangala lake tackle pollution and landlessness.

In 2017, images of a frothing Bellandur lake  Bengalurus largest water body  were widely broadcast. Incredulous viewers saw giant clouds of foam drifting and accumulating through the city. As citizens complained of the unbearable stench rising from the water, environmental groups came down hard on the industries responsible, even taking the matter to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which initiated a rejuvenation process. It is a different matter that the approach towards the revival of the lake faces severe criticism from environmentalists, activists, and academics alike.

A couple of years on, with the desilting of Bellandur lake underway, tucked some 50 kilometers away in Bidadi Taluk, Byramangala lake confronts a similar reality. However, removed from the oft simplistic urban dialogue on climate change as well as the media gaze, farmers and herders from neighbouring villages push on even as toxic froth from the 1018-acre reservoir spills along the shoreline, impacting their drinking water sources and exposing them to vector-borne issues. In the midst of all this though, filmmaker Bharat Mirle and Quicksand Studios six-minute short film, Stories of Resilience, puts forth glimpses of their incredible adaptability.

Every winter as pastures go dry, local farmers throng the lake to secure fodder for their animals. How they totter down the wetland, while balancing bundles of grass weighing 30 to 40 kg, is explained by one such farmer: The water has great manure in it, so the grass grows well. The grass has formed a thick layer and floats on the surface of the water. You can walk on it. We reel in using a rope thats tied down [to a rock; sic].

And while experts say that the grass from the wetland may not be completely devoid of heavy metals, the way in which its accessed is still a fully thought-out process. The farmers have, on their own, adopted a risk management approach which gives them multiple solutions to work around the issue. They may not be ideal but they are practical and doable. So even though there is a risk, its managed appropriately  the cows eat that fodder only during the coldest months, notes urban planner, civil engineer, and member of the Bengaluru Sustainability Forum S Vishwanath.

While 85 percent of Bengalurus water bodies are severely polluted, the contamination of Byramangala lake has meant a greater shift in the lives who probably contributed least to it  the farmers. The biggest task has come as reorienting cropping patterns based on irrigational potential, made possible with the Indian agricultural sectors 2000 years experience in managing soil. Its been a tremendous change to adapt to, and thats what they have done. 40 percent of the farmers in the area are growing mulberry leaves now, for silk, adds Vishwanath.

Interestingly, the film too is careful to counterbalance troubling images of a frothing source of water by the humanisation of the experience of living near one. The camaraderie among the farmers was something that struck us and we wanted to capture their idiosyncrasies just as much. It was almost as if the lake had brought them together, recounts Mirle. Similarly, Babitha George, partner at Quicksand, remembers meeting the farmers on a trip last year, and coming back later to hear more of their stories. There are more nuances to this debate than just pollution  such as nature and humans' relationship with it  which are pushed to the back of our minds to make space for the images and statistics thrown our way.

Thats not to say farmers around the reservoir have not been completely left out of the climate change dialogue. At the moment, the regulatory framework does not incentivise local livelihoods and in the absence of structural support, civil societys nostalgia for lakes will not help assimilate farmers into the conversation, experts say. It is precisely due to this exclusion from the loop of water usage that farmers in this part of rural Bengaluru continue managing a problem that has been thrust upon them. And while installing a sewage treatment plant at Byramangala lake could take up to six months, an effective partnership between them, the state, and institutions could catalyse remediation. The farmers do need to organise, but given the extreme challenges they face just to survive on a day to day basis, it is very difficult for them to do so. The state must step in and enforce the regulations that already exist, but which they fail to monitor or sanction, adds Dr Harini Nagendra, ecologist and professor of sustainability at Azim Premji University.

Moreover, once the farmers are organised enough to identify the source of pollution, they will be more likely to demand accountability from the small and middle-scale industries which operate with impunity, without effluent treatment plants. Closing the loop in terms of usage is very important to apply pressure on the system, and we can only rely on civil society groups to make that connection clearer, Vishwanath adds, citing a farmer-led coup around the Dakshina Pinakini basin. The moment they spotted synthetic dye in the water, they were able to identify where these industrial units were. They then marched to the tehsildars office, got them to come to the illegal unit and put an end to operations.

While the industries involved may or may not invest in effluent treatment systems, both Nagendra and Vishwanath maintain that an approach which borrows from an outdated visioning of what a lake should be is a frivolous waste of energy. We do not have the money to invest in pollution control measures. There is no point conserving lakes without protecting the upstream wetlands, warns Nagendra, adding, With industrial pollution, the water, soil and air will become contaminated  people will face health issues while agriculture, fishing and livestock rearing will collapse, and in the end, communities will be forced to sell their land and migrate out of the area.

Interestingly, a quick look at the numbers seems to put citizens in a spot: It costs Rs 95 for 1,000 litres of water to be supplied to a household, and collected and treated appropriately after usage. But in Bengaluru, residents end up paying an unbelievably subsidised amount of Rs 7 a kilolitre for domestic supply of water. Are people willing to pay Rs 88 per kilolitre more to stop pollution? Because the laws are clear  polluter pays. But while the state is complicit in not telling the people the real cost of sewage treatment, the citizens are as complicit in not asking those questions, states Vishwanath, unspooling our empty, urban narratives of pollution and our ironic clamour for rights.

 All images courtesy Bharat Mirle
(Image: Twitter @itsSSR)

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput is dead, there is little doubt about that. But was he killed or did he self-kill  that is the question travelling faster than the latest virus throughout our land. A whodunit constantly turning its own pages, it is a bestseller written by us and read by us.

Every citizen is an amateur detective in the wake of this case. Fingers are a blur as they are pointing here, there, everywhere. The almost neurotic urgency to know the identity of the villain, to pin the blame on someone, anyone, renders the actors fans hysterical. A cottage industry has quickly spun around this like sickly-sweet cotton candy; for and against, accusing and defending, lies and truths, science and superstition The social media has exploded with photos, texts, theories and counter-theories, all supporting this today and that tomorrow.

Into this highly hotchpotch investigation conducted personally by every Tom, Dick and Harry, fall all kinds of passing suspicions. It is one of those rare times that all the hair on Bharat Matas head is oiled into one tight plait: politics, film industry, drug dons, underworld mafia, media, medical officials, police, seances, friendships, family and romance. This is emotional prime time.

If it is sugar daddies and nepotism at one end, it is money-laundering and swapped stretchers at the other end. On the one hand are friends who partied with him the previous night, on the other hand is a colleagues death a week earlier. Rumours and eye-witness accounts take each others place.

We are ready to lose our shit over the smallest thing. Why did his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty say I am sorry, Babu at the morgue? This has sparked a shrill debate, with academicians and minor Bollywood personalities weighing in with furious expressions. A disproportionate anger courses through us, never mind how human it is to mumble apologetically to corpses.

Is it this particular incident or is it us? There have been huge crimes before, but we waited patiently then for the truth to come to us. Of course, we had opinions; the victims mother does not look sad, we said, and how can someone have sex after killing an ex, we exclaimed. But by and large, we were muttering this to the TV or a sleeping spouse.

But everything changed with this one death. Blame it on the virus  we suddenly have a lot of spare time. Or pin it on our awakening at last to systemic and social injustices meted out to us as a people over a long, long period of time. If the CBI was to conduct a psychological autopsy on all of us right now, they would find our failures and frustrations, our insecurity over the future and a lack of trust in authorities.

This is not about a film stars death; it is about us coming of age. We have woken up to the happenings around us; no more sweeping doubts under the carpet. Sushant Singh Rajput is not just a beloved late actor. He stands for the common mans dissatisfaction with his country.

Shinie Antony is a writer and editor based in Bangalore. Her books include The Girl Who Couldn't Love, Barefoot and Pregnant, Planet Polygamous, and the anthologies Why We Dont Talk, An Unsuitable Woman, Boo. Winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Asia Prize for her story A Dogs Death in 2003, she is the co-founder of the Bangalore Literature Festival and director of the Bengaluru Poetry Festival.
The Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee at Knoxville announced on Friday that it was upholding the conviction of Cortez Lebron Sims.

On April 7, 2017, a Criminal Court jury found Sims guilty in a mass shooting at College Hill Courts on Jan. 7, 2015. Judge Barry Steelman imposed a sentence of life for the first-degree murder of Talitha Bowman, as well as concurrent sentences of 25 years for attempted murder in the shooting of Bianca Horton, her daughter Zoe Horton and Marcel Christopher.

In the appeal, attorneys for the defendant argued that the trial court erred by: (1) denying the Defendants motion for a change of venue; (2) admitting evidence related to a photographic lineup and an unavailable witnesss prior identification of the Defendant; (3) admitting a gang validation form showing the Defendants gang membership; (4) admitting a jail phone call between the Defendant and a third party; (5) admitting evidence of a gun and shell casings that were later determined to be unrelated to this case; (6) admitting a bloody onesie worn by the infant victim in this case; and (7) admitting evidence related to gang violence and an on-going gang feud.

Upon our review of the record, we determine that the trial court did not commit reversible error and affirm the judgments of the trial court. The appeals court addressed each alleged error, affirming that the investigators and prosecutors with the Hamilton County District Attorneys Office acted appropriately.

In affirming the conviction, the appeals court said "...the trial court found that the 'common thread' among these incidents was the fact that all of these victims and perpetrators are members of the Athens Park Bloods or the Bounty Hunter Bloods and the fact that all of these people are apparently, by this totality of the circumstances and circumstantial evidence, involved in something thats causing them each to be victimized.

"This opinion affirms the outstanding work of the Chattanooga Police Department and the tireless efforts of the jury in seeking justice," said Hamilton County District Attorney General Neal Pinkston.

The case was prosecuted by Lance Pope, now with the Chattanooga law firm of Patrick, Beard, Schulman and Jacoway, and Kevin Brown, now with the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
The Democratic establishment vs. progressives turf war is alive and well.

New battlefronts between moderate and left-wing Democrats have broken out in recent weeks over the future direction of the party even as they work closely together to oust President Donald Trump.

Despite presenting a mostly united front during the Democratic National Convention, opposing sides of the party are clashing over health care, climate change , police reform and primary challenges . The disagreements have largely taken place on the sidelines due to the pandemic, but they offer a glimpse at the coming fights between progressives and centrists if Joe Biden wins in November.

Progressives have been frustrated by the limits of their political capital  feelings that were exacerbated by what unfolded during the Democratic convention and afterward. Many questioned the decision to give Republican politicians more air time to present their vision for the country than actual members of the party, including stars like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Liberals lashed out at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for backing primary challenger Joe Kennedy in his bid to unseat Green New Deal co-sponsor Sen. Ed Markey. They called her move hypocritical after she cracked down last year on consultants who worked with Democratic primary challengers seeking to oust incumbents.

Days later, Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Alex Morse in his bid to take down House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal  one of her biggest targets this cycle. The two Sept. 1 elections could bolster either faction's mandate in a potential Biden administration.

Other progressives registered their discontent by voting against the official Democratic platform, taking issue with its exclusion of "Medicare for All." The Democratic National Committee revealed that nearly 1,100 delegates of more than 4,700 total voted against the platform, including Reps. Ro Khanna of California and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

Story continues

The dissent underscores that health care will be a major front in the battle between moderates and progressives if Biden wins. And while it doesnt compare to the partys heated 2016 primary, it's plain that bitterness toward the DNC lingers on the left.

We're taking steps, and it's not the perfect union at the moment, but that's why I keep on telling progressive advocates and activists that we need more progressive activists inside the party operations, said Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party. It can't just be every four years creating a petition.

Kleeb said she was encouraged that Biden and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris have both gone on the record in opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline. And others on the left are optimistic about what a Biden administration would portend for the movement. Once small in numbers, the progressive wing has expanded its reach in Congress and aims to use it to shape policy if the Democratic nominee prevails.

Some Democrats argue that Biden could be an ideal mediator between the two sides as the Democratic establishment finds itself staring down an ascendant left. Instead of stymieing them, some progressives think he could end up repackaging progressive policies as palatable solutions on issues ranging from climate change to police reform.

Joe has a long history of being quite moderate, Andrew Yang, the populist former presidential primary candidate, said in an interview. So, when Joe decides to embrace or champion a position, he drags the entire center with him.

Yang said he thinks any policy rifts between centrists and progressives are overblown. The multiple crises facing the country, he said, will make big policy prescriptions reasonable when in the past they would have been unrealistic.

Biden's climate plan, for instance, would have been seen as far too liberal for the party's nominee to embrace five years ago, liberal Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii said.

"The most impressive political feat, when you look at this climate plan, is to lay down a marker that is no doubt the most ambitious of any major party nominee and not freak anyone out, Schatz said. He added of Biden, "He's in a position to be a consequential president precisely because his movement, or our movement, covers the ideological waterfront, and it includes everybody from AOC to Colin Powell."

Tlaib pointed to other pressures that the left can apply on establishment Democrats. If they stall on police brutality, protests will make it impossible for Washington to ignore progressives, she said.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) speaks at a campaign rally in Detroit.

These are people that are out in the streets marching for Black Lives Matter, and now they're freaking United States Congress members, Tlaib said in an interview, referring to Democrats Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, who defeated longtime Democratic House members in primaries this year in St. Louis and New York City.

Bush, who has already had meetings and phone calls with members of the freshman progressive group known as the Squad, said Democrats arent meeting the moment on racial injustice and that's why she won. Most lawmakers, Bush added, cant speak to the movement or understand it the way she can as a longtime Black Lives Matter activist.

We can give them as many letters, send them as many emails, have them watch as many videos as we can, but they still have a particular perspective, Bush said in an interview. So they have theirs, and I'm walking in with mine.

Progressives are also looking to influence a potential Biden administration by continuing to challenge Democratic incumbents in Congress from the left.

If Morse wins, progressives think that they might have a better shot at passing their favored tax policy, since Neal is chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

Were seeing a number of upsets in Democratic primaries and more establishment types getting replaced with progressive-minded grassroots challengers, said Mondaire Jones, a Bernie Sanders-endorsed Democrat who won an open New York primary this year. The best way to inoculate yourself from a progressive primary challenge is to vote in the best interests of the American people.

A Morse victory would also mean the Squad would double in size next year, giving progressives more leverage in the House. In addition to health care, they see a climate change-focused jobs plan as another issue that could split the party.

In the House, there are enough progressives that have real weight to force the Biden administration to incorporate progressive demands, said Max Berger, a former aide to Elizabeth Warrens presidential campaign. If the first fight is green stimulus and green jobs, I think progressives will be largely for it. But theyll also want to make sure its big enough, equitable enough to really accomplish our goals.

Many progressives see the DNC as a barrier to their goals. They were angered recently when, they said, it removed language from the party platform after it was finalized that would have called for ending fossil fuel subsidies and tax breaks. The DNC said the Biden and Sanders campaigns both OKd its removal beforehand.

The left also blasted the DNC for failing to release the vote tally for the party platform until after the convention ended. Progressives said the DNC was trying to bury the news and that the tally should have been included in the platform committees report submitted to the convention.

It just leaves a very bad taste in the mouth, and theres been no explanation, said Norman Solomon, co-founder of the liberal group RootsAction.org , of the DNCs delay. "Its harder to win over skeptics when we have this kind of behavior.

A party official said the DNC disclosed the numbers once we received the final tallies from the states and they were ready to go and finalized.

Still, many liberals are heartened by the size of Bidens climate plan. Leah Hunt-Hendrix, co-founder of the progressive donor network Way to Win, said Biden might embrace more left-wing ideas in response to the pandemic and widespread unemployment.

Bidens climate plan took a lot of input from the Sunrise Movement and Green New Deal. That shows a lot of progress, Hunt-Hendrix said. I think Joe Biden may end up being one of the most progressive presidents. FDR wasnt all that progressive until he was in that moment in World War II and the Great Depression and needed to create a New Deal.
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The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has obliged the request of H.E. Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State to partner Federal Ministry of Health to develop the Bauchi State Health Sector to the level that can satisfy those who believe that Government is about giving services, someone who is bent on leaving a legacy of service to the people, as the Governor described himself.

H.E. Governor Bala Mohammed led in the Bauchi Team composed of the Honourable Commissioner for Health and his counterpart in the Planning Ministry of Bauchi and some other Special Aides, Friday, 28th August to intimate the Honourable Minister of Health who was at the meeting with the Permanent Secretary for Health, A.M. Abdullahi not just to apprise the Minister of the developments in the health sector of Bauchi State which the Governor disclosed already has 108 Primary Health Care (PHC) Centers in place with help from Development Partners  European Union and UNICEF but aspiring to have one PHC per political ward of the State; already deploying not less than 16% of the States annual budget to the Health Sector.

The meeting held in the Honourable Ministers Office at the Federal Ministry of Healths Headquaters.

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Governor Bala Mohammed commended Dr. Osagie Ehanire and his team for bringing the issues of the health sector to something that has been of concern to every one of us. He said It takes another thing for another to happen; identifying the COVID-19 challenge, bad as it is made it possible for you and your team to show that Nigeria can do as much as any other country in the world.

We want to look at all our inadequacies and limitations, take our political inventory, our human capital and approach our partners to find a way of closing the gaps. He remarked that not until Dr. Osagie Ehanires arrival on the scene, health sector has been a neglected sector, the primary health care, the secondary, and even the tertiary health care sector, he said. The Bauchi Governor, H.E. Bala Mohammed therefore, invited the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire to be a part of the upcoming Bauchi State Health Summit at a future date.

Governor Mohammed further disclosed his Government has been doing so much in Bauchis health sector but identified the Bauchi challenge as including the problem with implementing the Saving One Million Lives; the issue of Basic Health care Provision, stating that Bauchi has not been able to access anything despite Buachi having complied with all the guidelines; and the human capital. To the last challenge of human capital, Dr, Ehanire proffered the solution of training health care personnel from the locality that will also be quartered in that same locality so that they would not run away. If you bring from other places, they will stay a few months and they would want to go back to where they come from. So, we want to localize and indigenize human capital development for the health care sector. Dr. Ehanire also urged the Bauchi Governor to buy into the programme of One General Hospital per Local Government and supporting the General Hospital with the Staff of Tertiary Hospital, for example, the Federal Medical Center (FMC) to have the FMC adopt the General Hospital. The Honourable Minister of Health opined that since the FMC Health Care Expert already takes his salaries from Federal, and spending one week in and one week off, can take the one week off to be spent at the General Hospital. He further explained that all that may be required is for the State to give the FMC Care giver a stipend, having already been provided a place to stay.

Dr. Osagie Ehanire further sold the idea of his pet project  the Emergency Ambulance Service  NEMSAS to the visiting Bauchi State Team. He said, since bauch already has 108 PHCs with the propensity to putting more in place; Secondary Health Care Institutions and Tertiary Health Care Centers, then what remains is and emergency ambulance system which he said has the potential of reducing maternal mortality by 25 to 30%.

The Honourable Minister of Health thereafter accepted the Bauchi Governors invitation to be a part of the upcoming Bauchi State Health Summit.
Liz Truss is being urged to bolster the powers of a new trade body to avoid selling out British farmers in the rush to land post-Brexit deals.

The Minister faces warnings that her toothless trade and agriculture commission offers just limited protection against cheap, low-quality food imports flooding the country.

She launched the advisory body a month ago but announced that it would only function for six months  sparking criticism that it will not be around to scrutinise any actual trade agreements in detail.

There have also been protests that the commission will only report directly to Ms Truss, not Parliament.

The Minister (pictured) faces warnings that her toothless trade and agriculture commission offers just limited protection against cheap, low-quality food imports flooding the country

However the House of Lords is poised to vote on legislation to boost its powers, its lifespan and its influence next month.

Last night the International Trade Secretary signalled that she did not believe changes were needed  raising the prospect of a Tory backbench rebellion if the Government refuses to accept the peers proposals.

Farmers hope a robust trade commission will offer a line of defence against unsafe, cheaper food, such as hormone-fed beef and chlorinated chicken, coming into the UK under a trade deal with Washington.

One campaigner privately said last night: This is about the Government proving it will not sell out British farmers and top-quality UK food to seal a trade deal.

Cross-bench peer Lord Curry is behind the amendment to the Agriculture Bill which will call for the trade body to operate potentially for the remainder of this Parliament  until 2024  to act as a watchdog on post-Brexit trade deals as they are negotiated.

Lord Curry, who praised The Mail on Sundays Save Our Family Farms campaign, said: The commission needs to have much more authority and influence than it currently has.

'Not only should it establish the standards by which imported food should be judged for trade deals, it should continue in existence and scrutinise those deals.

Former farmer Lord Curry also raised fears that the trade commission could simply be ignored by Ministers and wants to give the body more power by requiring it to report directly to Parliament.

Sources said Lord Currys amendment was likely to be passed.

Senior Tory MP Neil Parish, chairman of the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, said Lord Currys plan seemed eminently sensible.

Mr Parish added that extending the commission for the length of this Parliament, and having it report to Parliament, will give MPs and the public real confidence the issue is being taken seriously by the powers that be.

Allies of Ms Truss, who has repeatedly insisted that the Government will not abandon the UKs high food standards, said: Liz doesnt think this is the right approach. But they added: We want Britains trade policy to protect and advance the interests of farmers.
Georgia State University researchers are working to harness deep learning and artificial intelligence to learn more about how mental illness and other disorders affect the brain.

Led by Vince Calhoun, Distinguished University Professor of Psychology at Georgia State and director of the Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), and Sergey Plis, associate professor of computer science and director of machine learning at TReNDs, the team is combining different types of brain imaging data to capture patterns that are indicative of brain disorders. Robyn Miller, assistant professor of computer science, is a co-investigator on the project. Their work is funded by a $2.4 million, four-year award from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.

We are working to combine different kinds of imaging data: data that tell us how brain structures look, how the brain is functioning over time or how the brain is connected or wired. The hope is that by transforming this mass of data into a framework, we'll have a compact way to map brain disorders." Vince Calhoun, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Brain Health & Image Analysis

Advances in brain imaging mean researchers have access to significantly more data than in the past, but the relationships among modalities, or types of data captured, are complex and poorly understood. Calhoun and Plis are focused on characterizing these relationships by merging and analyzing data from multiple sources.

"We're treating sets of modalities almost like a musical note," said Calhoun. "We want to take this data and put it in a framework so we can look at how it relates across the modalities. Together, the information could provide a signature, like a chord, that tells us how mental disorders impact the brain."

They're also looking at both linear and nonlinear relationships among various modalities.

"Correlation is focused on finding linear relationships. Even if there's a strong nonlinear relationship, you might not immediately find the connection," said Calhoun. "That's where deep learning comes into play, because it's able to detect more complex relationships, and it's also good at compressing this massive amount of data into a smaller space."

Using deep learning, the team will develop and train algorithms on thousands of existing datasets. By examining the data along two spectra, mood and psychosis, they can determine which modalities or brain regions are most relevant to specific disorders. The hope is to develop multi-modal biomarkers that healthcare experts could use for diagnosis of mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, depression or bipolar disorder.

Calhoun recently received two grants related to data sharing and analysis. A $350,000 award from the National Institute of Mental Health will expand an ongoing collaboration with psychology professor Jessica Turner. The existing project is using large-scale imaging analysis to study how symptoms associated with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression relate to changes in the brain. With the additional funding, Calhoun will analyze how APOE2, a gene that reduces the risk of Alzheimer's, changes the brain to protect against the neurodegenerative disease. The team will examine brain scans from Alzheimer's patients using COINSTAC, a software tool built by Calhoun and his group that allows researchers around the world to participate in extensive brain imaging analysis without sharing protected patient data.

A $150,000 award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse will fund a project with Jingyu Liu, associate professor of computer science who leads an imaging genomics lab at TReNDS, to evaluate various ethical and privacy issues associated with large-scale data sharing.

A third project led by Calhoun will look at brain volume patterns associated with COVID-19, and how those patterns relate to clinical disease outcomes. He and his team will examine computerized tomography scans from COVID-19 patients and compare them to scans from individuals who were not infected with SARS-CoV-2. The work is funded by a $150,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health.
KENOSHA  City Police Chief Daniel Miskinis held to his promise that more curfew-breakers would be detained Wednesday night during what ended up being the citys first night of what appeared to be entirely peaceful protesting since the police shooting of Jacob Blake Sunday. But the tactics used by law enforcement have some local residents scared.

According to Kenosha County Jail records, 36 arrests were made Wednesday, with 22 of them being held overnight for curfew violations and another nine for disorderly conduct; it is unclear how many of the arrests were directly related to protests and how many were because of other events in the city. Kenosha Police Sgt. David Wright said that, as of Thursday morning, a total of 56 arrests have been made related to the protests since Sunday. At least one person was arrested for allegedly having a flamethrower in their possession Thursday during protests that ended up being peaceful, authorities said during a press conference Friday.

Megan Levin and Kimberly Wood, Kenosha women who have become friends since they became next-door neighbors just off of Sheridan Road, had marched throughout the first couple days of protesting but said they did not participate in any of the looting, arson or destruction.

Megan Levin and Tyrell Brewton Megan Levin is shown with her fiance, Tyrell Brewton.

Like authorities in Kenosha, Levin and Wood blamed the majority of destruction on outside agitators, not locals who love their city. They both were out helping clean up Tuesday morning after fires decimated Uptown.

But after Tuesdays violence  when two men were killed and another injured after reportedly being shot by 17-year-old Illinois resident Kyle Rittenhouse  Levin decided to stay home. She has three kids, ages 13, 8 and 2.

Wood still went out, along with her 18-year-old daughter Rayann and a 19-year-old friend of Rayanns. They spent the early hours of the night marching. After curfew, which started at 7 p.m., rumors quickly spread within the marchers that law enforcement was detaining protesters who broke off from the group while leaving the 100-plus marchers mostly alone.

They were just picking people off as they were leaving, said Wood, who works as a registered nurse.

Those rumors actually kept the small group at the scene longer. At one point, during the 9 p.m. hour, Wood and the two young adults started walking back to their car  parked just off of Sheridan Road near Lou Perrines gas station  but turned back to rejoin the marchers when they saw a couple cars that they thought may have been unmarked law enforcement vehicles idling nearby.

I dont want my daughter to get tackled, Wood said.

Law enforcement officials and Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian have maintained throughout the week that the curfew is in place for the safety of residents and that having fewer people on the streets will lead to safer situations. Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser said during a Friday press conference Thank you, thank you, thank you, to Kenoshans who have been abiding by the curfew.

Other incidents

Videos and photos shared online showed law enforcement in Kenosha using unmarked vehicles without license plates to detain demonstrators. One group  from Seattle-based Riot Kitchen 206, an official nonprofit that provides food to demonstrators across the U.S.  had the window of their van smashed while multiple officers surrounded and pointed firearms at them before they were taken into custody at the intersection of 30th Avenue and Washington Road just minutes after curfew went into effect at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Police later said that those in the van were suspected of having been involved with criminal activity. Inside the vehicle, police said they found helmets, gas masks, protective vests, illegal fireworks and suspected controlled substances. Police said nine suspects were arrested for disorderly conduct and are pending charging decisions by the Kenosha County District Attorney.

Reporters planned to ask authorities in Kenosha why some protesters were being arrested and others werent, but Miskinis, Antaramian, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth and Wisconsin National Guard Adjutant General Paul Knapp did not take questions at a press conference Thursday. However, Miskinis did say that some of those who were arrested had warrants, although he did not elaborate on who they were or what the warrants were for.

Under the barrel

Levin and Wood had had guns pointed at them as well. At about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Levin received a call from her daughter  more than 100 protesters were now at Civic Center Park. Rather than walking a couple blocks back to their car near Lou Perrines, she asked Levin to pick them up.

At about 10 p.m., Levin got to the park in her Toyota RAV4. Rayann, Rayanns friend, Wood and two other demonstrators who also wanted to leave sprinted to the SUV; they didnt want to get quickly tackled while trying to go home.

Levin made a three-point turn to get out of there. After completing the turn, approximately five vehicles with blacked out windows swarmed and about a dozen officers jumped out, both women recalled. A couple of the officers had their guns drawn. Rayann began filming from the backseat. Levin and Wood, in the front seats, put their hands up.

When an officer approached the vehicle and lifted his firearm at Rayann and her friend in the backseat, she dropped the phone, ending the video.

It was a terrifying moment, Wood and Levin told The Journal Times Thursday. They were afraid to roll down their windows immediately so they could talk to the officers in case their movement was misread as something else and they would be shot.

I dont know why they were arresting people, Levin said of what was going on Wednesday. We were just peacefully protesting. There was nothing going on.

They told the officers they just wanted to get home. When an officer asked why they were running, Wood said she told him: Weve seen you guys detaining people and you werent doing it very nicely, so if we were running from anything we were running from you.

The officers then started talking among themselves. They overheard one of them say Lets just cut him a break and let them go home.

Another officer then told Levin, who was driving, get your (expletives) home now, Im not going to tell you again. They left immediately and got home safely.

We have every right to be here in protest

Despite the curfew, Wood questioned the legality of the detentions. We have every right to be here in protest, she said, citing First Amendment rights.

When asked why she marches along with the Black Lives Matter protests, Levin got emotional. Levin is Caucasian and is engaged to be married to a Black man, Tyrell Brewton, a truck driver who she says works his (expletive) off.

After seeing the video of Blake getting shot as many as seven times in the back by Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey, Brewton told his fiancee, That could have been me.

Levin and her husbands kids are mixed race. She doesnt want them to grow up in a world filled with hate. Thats why Wood says shes marching, to show that there is love coming from people of all races. I have to constantly battle for both sides. I have to stick up for White people. I also have to stick up for Black people, because I have to show my children that theres still good on both sides. We have to end the hate because theres no reason for it.

Deneen Smith of Lee Newspapers contributed to this report.

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State media says at least 17 people killed and 28 others injured in the accident in Shanxi provinces Xiangfen county.

At least 17 people have been killed after a two-storey restaurant in China collapsed during a gathering on Saturday morning, the countrys state media said.

The official Xinhua News Agency said 28 others were injured in the accident, with 21 among them reported to be in a serious condition.

The restaurant was located in Shanxi provinces Xiangfen county, about 630km (400 miles) southwest of capital Beijing.

Hundreds of rescue workers, wearing hardhats and face masks, searched for trapped people in a daylong operation.

A video posted by China Central Television showed them hefting heavy pieces of concrete. At least once, the remaining frame of the building shook but did not fall.

While the cause of the disaster was not immediately clear, China is no stranger to building collapses and deadly construction accidents.

They are typically blamed on the countrys rapid growth leading to corner-cutting by builders and the widespread flouting of safety rules.

In March, at least 10 people died after a hotel building being used to quarantine people under observation for the coronavirus in the Chinese city of Quanzhou collapsed.

In 2019, a commercial building undergoing renovation collapsed in Shanghai, killing at least 10 people.

Some 20 people were killed in 2016 when a series of crudely-constructed multi-storey buildings packed with migrant workers collapsed in the eastern city of Wenzhou.








WASHINGTON  In the race for Congress in Connecticuts 3rd District, companies with ties to both candidates have received Paycheck Protection Program loans.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, and Margaret Streicker, her Republican challenger, are not a rarity. Millions of dollars worth of the forgivable small business loans have flowed to companies linked to members of Congress and their families, as well as congressional candidates, during the pandemic.

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, the Democratic polling firm founded by DeLauros husband, Stanley Greenberg, and run by their daughter, Anna Greenberg, received a forgivable PPP loan of between $350,000 and $1 million on April 30, according to the Small Business Administration.

Stanley Greenberg no longer has any ownership share or involvement in the management of GQR, nor any knowledge of GQRs decisions, a spokeswoman for DeLauro said. When he owned the Washington, D.C.-based company in 2016, it was worth $5 million to $25 million, DeLauros 2017 financial disclosure form, required of members of Congress and candidates, showed.

DeLauro has no knowledge of GQRs involvement with the loan program, her spokeswoman said.

Streicker, also sought a PPP loan for her business. Her real estate management company, Fortitude Capital LLC, received a loan of $150,000 to $300,000 on April 27, SBA data shows. As a result of the loan, her company retained all but one salaried person, she said.

My company was an emergency service provider so we had to augment our staff and clean with more frequency and so forth, said Streicker.

Streicker isnt taking a salary from the company, she said. She reported income of $100,001 to $1,000,000 from her ownership of Fortitude Capital in the first six months of 2020, her financial disclosure form shows.

Streicker founded Fortitude Capital in Dec. 2019, after 15 years of operating another real estate management business Newcastle Realty Services in New York City. Streicker lent her campaign $350,000 this year, Federal Election Commission filings show.

No rules forbid companies associated with members of Congress or candidates from benefiting from the Paycheck Protection Program during the coronavirus pandemic. But members of Congress do have the unique position of voting on the funding and structure of the program.

Other congressional recipients from around the country include:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband, Paul Pelosi, held investments in two companies in the hospitality industry. They received at least $2.4 million in PPP loans, SBA data shows.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., and his wife jointly own KTAK Corporation, which operates multiple McDonalds restaurant locations around Tulsa, Oklahoma. KTAK received a PPP loan between $1 million and $2 million in early April, SBA data shows.

The construction company of U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, R-Ga., got a PPP loan of at least $350,000, SBA data shows. The almond processing company of U.S. Rep. TJ Cox, D-Calif, received a loan between $150,000 and $350,000, SBA data shows.

More members could have ties to companies that received loans than are currently known. The SBA only published the names of companies that received PPP loans over $150,000. Its justification was that loan size is reflective of a companys payroll and thus can reveal important business information about a company.

But the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, a panel of inspectors general supervising the governments coronavirus spending, has requested the SBA release additional loan data, revealing the names of recipients of loans $25,000 and up, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Although negotiations are currently stalled, there is bipartisan agreement in Congress that the next coronavirus legislative package should include more small business relief, likely tailored to those companies or industries that can demonstrate significant revenue impacts from the enduring pandemic.

Of course we urgently need another coronavirus relief package, and it must include additional relief for small businesses, the backbone of our local economies, DeLauro said.

Streicker expressed support for more business aid, too. She said it would be helpful if small businesses could get retroactive payroll relief during the pandemic, not just forward looking. She also floated the ideas of payroll and property tax holidays to support struggling businesses.

Were all in a tough place, she said. I dont think anyone imagined it would take this long to reboot the economy.

emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson




Haiti - Reconstruction : The Faculty of Agronomy, a $6M project





Friday, August 28 Patrix Severe, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, made a follow-up visit to the site of the Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine (FAMV).



"I made this visit to ensure that there will be a cohort of graduate students ready to serve their country each year," Minister Severe said, recalling that when he was studying at FAMV, this Unit of the State University of Haiti (UEH) had a capacity of only 35 students. The Minister was delighted to see that today the FAMV will be able to accommodate more than 500 students.



The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is financing the construction works to the tune of US $6 million. There are two buildings, one for teaching and the other a 63-room dormitory for students.



"The building is built according to seismic standards. It is erected on a general platform (raft) 75 centimeters thick. There is only the American Embassy in Haiti whose building is built on a general base 1m thick," said Monique Duperval vice-president of the construction firm Expert Concept who took the opportunity to announce that the handover of work will be done in two stages. First the faculty dormitory, which will be ready by October 2020, then the classrooms in April/May 2021.



Note that this project does not include the administrative building to house the administration of the faculty and in this regard, Minister Severe took the opportunity to appeal to donors to facilitate the construction of this administrative building.



Jocelyn Louissaint, the Dean of FAMV did not hide his satisfaction with this visit and underlined the importance of his work to reconstruct the faculty destroyed by the earthquake of January 2010, recalling "Our objective is to train engineers and agronomists in Haiti in an appropriate framework so that they can use the skills acquired and contribute to the development of the agricultural sector."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Border Security Force (BSF) has released important notices regarding the the final Medical exams for Head Constable (RO and RM). The exams will be held onwards of September 14

BSF Head Constable Final Medical Exam Date and Admit Card 2020: Border Security Force (BSF) has released important notices regarding the the final Medical exams for Head Constable (RO and RM). According to the notice, the exams will be held on 14 September 2020, and onwards from then. The candidates are required to carry their admit card along with Self-Declaration (Undertaking) regarding COVID  19.

The notification reads, The final medical examination of successful candidates who cleared descriptive written test will commence w.e.f. 14 September 2020 and onwards for the post of HC (RO) and HC (RM) in BSF Comm set-up in respective recruitment centres.

The list of candidate who have qualified for the medical exam has also been released by the BSF, canddiates may check the assigned date for them from Appendix A through to K.

ALSO READ : RRB NTPC Admit Card, Exam Date 2020 Update : Check latest update here

ALSO READ : SSC CGL Tier 2020 date announced, check notice here

Earlier, BSF RO RM Final Written Medical Exam was supposed to be held in the second week of August but was postponed due to COVID  19 Outbreak.

Candidates declared un-fit in final medical exam by the medical officer of the board can re-apply to the IG (Comn & IT), HQ DG BSF New Delhi within 15 days from the date of issue of memorandum, along with payment of Rs. 50/- in the shape of DD prepared in favour of DDO, FHQ BSF New Delhi payable to New Delhi.

The recruitment is being done to fill a total of 1248 candidates for the post of Head Constable (Radio Operator) & Head Constable (Radio Mechanic) in Group C on temporary basis.

ALSO READ : Delhi Police Constable 2020 recruitment: Know vacancy, last date to apply and how to apply @ssc.nic.in
- Renowned Black Panther actor, Chadwick Boseman, has died at 43

- Chadwick died of colon cancer which he was diagnosed with in 2016

- He reportedly died at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by his family

Famous Black Panther actor, Chadwick Boseman died of colon cancer that he has been battling for the last four years.

Boseman whose career's honour was to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther died at his home in the Los Angeles area with his wife and family by his side.

READ ALSO: Missed beyond measure: Saumu Mbuvi remembers her late mum in emotional tribute

READ ALSO: Lionel Messi net worth 2020: How much Argentine makes including endorsements

Chadwick, according to the official announcement, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016 which was then at stage III.

The disease sadly progressed to its stage IV and the famous actor visibly lost weight as photos in earlier reports gathered had shown.

"It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman. Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016 and battled it these last four years as it progressed to stage IV. A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much," read part of the statement.

READ ALSO: Kioja baada ya mrembo kumtandika jamaa kwa kutolipia asali

Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther Star, Dies at 43 Source: nbcnews.com, forbes.com

Source: UGC

Chadwick has starred in other films including Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilsons Ma Raineys Black Bottom and several more, during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy.

"From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson's Ma Raineys Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. He died in his home with his wife and family by his side," added the statement.

READ ALSO: Video of woman chasing late husband's children from their father's burial sparks reactions online

Also, the film fraternity is also mourning the death of Scooby-Doo co-creator Joe Ruby.

Ruby died on Wednesday, August 26 at his home. According to his son Craig, the animator died of natural causes at the age of 87.

Until his death, Ruby was the co-founder of production company Ruby-Spears.

He also served in the US Army before meeting Ruby-Spears co-founder, Spears.

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.

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A little more than halfway through Bee Fearless, the 10-year-old C.E.O. Mikaila Ulmer has her first encounter with a fancy advertising agency. Its experts love the mission of her lemonade business and wonder if they can help. She takes the meeting, and a designer lets her in on a secret: Its not the product you sell but the story you tell. And so we get this rarest of book breeds: the middle grade start-up memoir, by a teenager.

Any C.E.O. book ought to do two things. First, it should be a rip-roaring tale of how the author did it, warts and all.

The origin story of Ulmers company begins with bee stings, after which her parents encourage her to learn about the insects rather than fear them. The bees are in danger, it turns out, as is a large amount of our food supply if conditions worsen and they no longer pollinate en masse.

So the 4-year-old sets up a lemonade stand outside her house in Austin, Texas. She sweetens her lemonade with honey, since bees make it and its healthy. She serves it with a side of education on all things apian. The first batch of lemonade is awful, but a series of sticky experiments yields something better  unique even, after she gets the idea, from her great-grandmothers recipe, to add flaxseed. Best of all, its a product with a purpose, since she donates money to bee-related organizations.
Recent Instagram posts suggest some lucky Australians are already enjoying a tropical travel bubble  and its not Bali.

Thats right: while Sydneysiders and Melburnians debate the merits of opening up to New Zealand, Hawaii, Bali and even Greece, few of them are aware another little known tropical tourist haven is already in a travel bubble with parts of Australia.

Perhaps its better that way: last month Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands  a rocky speck in the Indian Ocean 2,600 kilometres (1,616 miles) north west of Perth (Tourism Australia)  announced an effective immediate travel bubble with Western Australia only.

Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands have reported zero coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, while Western Australia has reported just seven active cases.

Western Australias strict closed border policy, which refuses entry to any travellers without exemptions, was factored into the decision.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Christmas Island Tourism (@christmasisland) on Aug 17, 2020 at 6:35pm PDT

Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands administrator Natasha Griggs said in a statement: All visitors to Australias Indian Ocean Islands must have been in Western Australia for a minimum 14 days prior to travel, but there is no requirement to self-isolate upon arrival at the islands or upon return to Perth.

All West Australians must do is apply for an Indian Ocean Territories (IOT) Traveller Request Form as well as a form to return to WA, Yahoo News reports.

Instagram images under the hashtag Christmas Island suggest some Australians are already taking the destination up on its offer.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amy Mack (@amy.rose.m) on Aug 7, 2020 at 11:01pm PDT

Two flights to both islands leave from Perth every week, the Cocos Keelings Islands website states.

Since suffering a PR setback earlier this year when its detention centre, which was closed in 2018, became a quarantine station for people returning to Australia from Wuhan (Yahoo News), the Christmas island tourism industry is now trying to turn potential clients minds to the places natural beauty.

Nicknamed the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, Christmas island is famous for its red crabs, sea birds, whale sharks and spectacular coral reefs, Tourism Australia states. Almost two-thirds of the island is national park. Closer to Asia than mainland Australia, its home to a beguiling mix of cultures and some of the worlds most spectacular natural wonders.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Christmas Island Tourism (@christmasisland) on Aug 15, 2020 at 6:52pm PDT

Tripadvisor backs this up with a number of recommendations from grottos to lookouts (to national parks).

Tourists are still encouraged to practice social distancing even while on holiday in the Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands.

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<! Victoria Inyama >

By Nimot Adetola Sulaimon

Veteran Nollywood actress, Victoria Inyama has expressed gratitude for having the grace of growing old in her home country, Nigeria.

She stated this in reaction to young Nigerians who feel that it is an insult to be old.

According to her, it is a blessing to grow old in Nigeria as it hurts her when young Nigerians die.

When a young person dies, it breaks my heart. But it reminds me of how blessed I am, We are to still be here!.

Grateful, Grateful, Grateful. But some Nigerians filled with hate and jealousy think that calling a person old is an insult. They are not even sure they will get to that old age she added.

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On Saturday, the world woke up to the sad news of Chadwick Bosemans demise. The actor who was in his 40s was suffering from colon cancer which was first diagnosed in 2016. He had not publicly discussed his condition and continued to work on major Hollywood films. Boseman became a household name finding fame as the regal Black Panther in the Marvel cinematic universe. After the news broke on the Internet, stars from across the globe are mourning the loss of the talented actor. His Marvel co-stars like Chris Evans, Brie Larson, Mark Ruffalo and more paid tribute on social media.

Sharing a heartfelt post, Mark Ruffalo who plays Hulk in MCU wrote, All I have to say is the tragedies amassing this year have only been made more profound by the loss of #ChadwickBoseman. What a man, and what an immense talent. Brother, you were one of the all time greats and your greatness was only beginning. Lord love ya. Rest in power, King." Whereas, Captain America actor ChrisEvans posted a picture with Boseman and wrote, Im absolutely devastated. This is beyond heartbreaking. Chadwick was special. A true original. He was a deeply committed and constantly curious artist. He had so much amazing work still left to create. Im endlessly grateful for our friendship. Rest in power, King."

All I have to say is the tragedies amassing this year have only been made more profound by the loss of #ChadwickBoseman. What a man, and what an immense talent. Brother, you were one of the all time greats and your greatness was only beginning. Lord love ya. Rest in power, King. Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) August 29, 2020

Im absolutely devastated. This is beyond heartbreaking. Chadwick was special. A true original. He was a deeply committed and constantly curious artist. He had so much amazing work still left to create. Im endlessly grateful for our friendship. Rest in power, King pic.twitter.com/oBERXlw66Z  Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) August 29, 2020

Heres how other Marvel stars are responding to the Black Panther stars shocking passing.

i will miss you, birthday brother. you were always light and love to me. my god    forever and ever  https://t.co/9pORaKZuQN pic.twitter.com/awX3DiTVwn Don Cheadle (@DonCheadle) August 29, 2020

Our hearts are broken and our thoughts are with Chadwick Bosemans family. Your legacy will live on forever. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/DyibBLoBxz Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 29, 2020

THANK YOU @chadwickboseman for all you gave us. We needed it & will always cherish it! A talented & giving artist & brother who will be sorely missed RIP Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) August 29, 2020

TChalla character was first introduced to the blockbuster Marvel movies in 2016s Captain America: Civil War, and his Wakanda Forever salute reverberated around the world after the release of Black Panther two years ago.

The character was last seen standing silently dressed in a black suit at Tony Starks funeral in last years Avengers: Endgame. A Black Panther sequel had been announced, and was one of the studios most anticipated upcoming films.
The head of Libya's unity government on Saturday appointed a new defence minister and army chief, after days of protests against poor public services and living conditions.

The decrees followed the announcement hours earlier by Libya's UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) that it had suspended its interior minister after militia gunmen fired on peaceful demonstrators last week.

GNA chief Fayez al-Sarraj promoted deputy and acting defence minister Salah Eddine al-Namrush to the ministry's top job and appointed General Mohammad Ali al-Haddad as head of the army.

Haddad hails from Misrata, 200 kilometres (125 miles) east of Tripoli, the home of powerful armed groups that have fought on the side of the GNA in the battle against eastern-based Libyan National Army leader Khalifa Haftar, who tried to seize the capital last year.

The appointments come days after Sarraj announced a government reshuffle in response to growing popular discontent in Tripoli and other western Libyan cities under its control.

Hundreds of demonstrators staged rallies from Sunday in Tripoli against corruption and extended shortages of power, water and fuel in the oil-rich North African country. Gunmen fired on crowds on several occasions.

In response, the GNA said Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha "has been temporarily suspended" pending an inquiry "on his statements about the protests and incidents in Tripoli and other cities".

Bashagha, who was visiting the GNA's main backer Turkey, said in a statement posted on the interior ministry's Facebook page early on Saturday that he was ready to submit to an investigation.

But he demanded any hearing be broadcast live for the sake of transparency.

He is set to return to Tripoli on Saturday evening.

Libya has endured almost a decade of violent chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with the GNA and a Haftar-backed eastern administration now vying for power against a backdrop of dozens of local conflicts.

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Alirio Gamez wont speak about the violent situation he left behind in El Salvador in 2013, nor of the danger that still exists for his family should he say too much.

The 44-year-old asylum-seeker does admit he never wanted to leave his country. Financially, there was no incentive.

In comparison to other Salvadorans, he said he made more than $400 a month, a sum that afforded him a relatively comfortable lifestyle.

Most people make $25 a week, he said in Spanish.

Perhaps thats what made his circumstances precarious, forcing him to seek refuge.

Apprehended in McAllen, Gamez spent time in several U.S. immigration detention centers. The inhumane treatment he received, especially at the hands of Latino immigration officers, shocked him, he said, because some of their parents or grandparents probably were immigrants, too.

He called them pesado, a Spanish word meaning heavy but that in this context suggests deplorable behavior.

He was treated like a dog in detention. He corrects himself  like a dog in my country, not like dogs are treated in the United States.

Gamez paid his bond, was released with an ankle monitor and allowed to build his asylum case. In 2016, he lost that bid.

That was the same year Hilda Ramirez of Guatemala went into sanctuary, after her credible fear claim was rejected.

Both opted to defy deportation orders and seek sanctuary at a church. They hide in plain sight. At various times, theyve told journalists the names of the churches in which they live.

Gamez and Ramirez, fellow activists who talked with me via Zoom last weekend, live in small rooms in separate Austin churches.

Choosing to live in sanctuary in hopes of bringing about change is an activists choice. Its intentional. Its a road less traveled.

Most undocumented immigrants, whether facing formal deportation orders or not, just change addresses to evade authorities, said one local pastor who has given sanctuary to immigrants and asked not to be identified by name.

Millions of other migrants take different routes, he said. They live a little off the grid. They work, build lives and pray not to be discovered. They deal with constant stress, including that of dealing with unscrupulous employers who dont pay what was promised or not at all.

Churches play big roles in their lives, the pastor said. Congregations on the citys West, South and East Sides aid migrants in myriad ways outside of formally housing them.

Most Hispanic evangelical churches in the city do such sanctuary work, he said. They dont get news coverage. They dont send out news releases.

The pastor said more highly resourced churches use their privilege in a different way.

They offer sanctuary, literally, providing more intensely for fewer immigrants for longer periods of time for a larger purpose beyond that one individual or family.

Like the immigrants they house, such churches are activist oriented. They live out their faith in public ways and speak out to those wholl listen about what theyre doing. Those are the kind of churches Gamez and Ramirez have lived in for the last four years.

Theyve reached out to journalists many times before. This time, it is to talk about passages in the Democratic Partys 2020 platform that will revive the use of prosecutorial discretion  when needed to address humanitarian issues or other injustices.

Gamez and Ramirez hope Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are elected and that their administration will allow their asylum cases to be reopened.

We cant vote, but we want immigration officials to be able to use discretion, Gamez said in Spanish.

Theres no doubt the isolation has worn them down. The nation knows a little about how theyre feeling.

As activists, they have points to make. Ramirez stresses she didnt know what was going on during her credible fear interview. It was conducted in Spanish, her second language, not in her native Mam, a Mayan language.

Like the church that houses him, Gamez has chosen sanctuary, to bear witness, to serve a greater good and show a nation highly divided by immigration of all kinds that its also a humanitarian choice.

Meanwhile, they wait. Waiting is all they do. They wait for an election, a new administration and the means by which to forge change.

Elaine Ayala is a columnist covering San Antonio and Bexar County. To read more from Elaine, become a subscriber. eayala@express-news.net | Twitter: @ElaineAyala
Meadows Says Trump Would Sign $1.3 Trillion Pandemic Relief Bill, Pelosi Says Not Enough

President Donald Trump is willing to sign a $1.3 trillion COVID-19 pandemic relief bill, according to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Friday, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) continued to reject the offer and said the amount was not enough.

The president right now is willing to sign something at $1.3 trillion, Meadows told reporters at the White House.

The $1.3 trillion has been offered in private, Meadows said. The latest proposed figure is a $300 billion increase from an initial $1 trillion offer from the White House and Senate Republicans, amid government efforts to address severe disruptions nationwide caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly referred to as the novel coronavirus.

Meadows acknowledged that Pelosi wants a $2.2 trillion relief measure. Pelosi on Friday said in a dear colleague letter that she doesnt want to settle for anything less than the $2.2 trillion package that Democrats proposed.

She said in a statement on Aug. 27 after a 25-minute phone call with Meadows that she believed the amount offered by the White House would not meet the needs of Americans and blamed the tragic impasse on the Trump administration.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks about stalled congressional talks with the Trump administration on the latest pandemic relief during her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Aug. 13, 2020. (Sarah Silbiger/Reuters)

Democrats are willing to resume negotiations once Republicans start to take this process seriously, she said on Aug. 27, adding the next day, We hope Republicans will come to the table and accept our lower offer to save the lives and livelihoods of the American people.

The Democratic-led House in May had passed a $3.4 trillion relief bill, the HEROES Act, which was not taken up by the Republican-dominated Senate. The bill has been criticized by Republicans as allowing more felons and illegal immigrants to be freed from prison (pdf). It would also allow businesses to legally hire illegal immigrants.

President Trump, when asked about the negotiations over the relief bill, told reporters aboard Air Force One on a flight to Washington from New Hampshire: My impression is she wants to give no stimulus, all she wants is bailout for badly run Democrat states, adding that another stimulus package would be good.

Negotiations have involved Pelosi, Meadows, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). The talks were on the verge of collapse earlier this month over disagreements as to the size of the relief package.

Republicans in late July offered a $1 trillion bill known as the HEALS Act. Notably, the measure would omit funding for state and local jurisdictions, while Democrats HEROES Act included nearly $1 trillion in funding for those municipalities.

Jack Phillips and Reuters contributed to this report.

Read More Top Republicans Criticize Speaker Pelosi, Democrats Over Relief Bill
From time to time, I hear from people on the streets, on the phone and in the mail. Ive made a composite of a couple of their questions, so here goes:

Dear Doctor: I recently heard from you that Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is at the peak of his popularity, has less and less of a chance of being elected president, an opportunity that was denied to his father. You speak to him occasionally, so I ask you  has he forever given up his chances for the presidency? After all, Im assuming that Kamala Harris will be in a position to be our first woman president. Could Cuomo really primary her? Does he even harbor the ambition to be president? What say you? Sign me, Sasha in Schenectady.

Dear Sasha: Does a bear walk in the woods? Does Andrew, one of the most talented and ambitious politicians in the country, have any ambition to be president? He will deny that proposition until the moment he actually runs. First, Biden has to win. I think that is very likely to happen. Then Biden will have to stick to his early suggestion that he may only serve for one term. That was something that he allegedly said early on in the primary season when things werent looking too good for him. A lot can happen between now and then. Andrew is a very ambitious man, and somehow, he has gotten himself to be one of, if not THE, most popular Democratic politicians in America. Like his father, Mario, this prince knows how to be patient and think through the combinations and permutations that would be necessary for him to grab the gold ring.

Sasha, hell run if he can, and by no means should you count him out. It will be particularly interesting to see whether he eventually accepts a top position in a Biden administration. If, God forbid, something should happen to Biden, that will open up the vice presidency and I would have to believe that Andrew would be at the top of the list of those who might be appointed by then President Harris. Should the presidency shift back to the Republicans after a Biden presidency, the door would be open for an older but very much still in-there Andrew.

Dear Doctor: When are those dumb Republican senators going to show some backbone? Are they completely without honor or the ability to do whats right? In a few weeks when they lose the Senate, it will be their fault. Are they so stupid that they dont see whats coming? I read you from out of state, so sign me Beulah from Baltimore. By the way, my friend tells me that I have crush on you, but I read that you have been married to the same beautiful woman fort almost 50 years! How lucky can one woman be?

Dear Beulah: It is I who is lucky! She agrees and she is right. She is always there for me, no matter what those people who hate my guts say. In any case, back to your question. The Republican members of the Senate are between a rock and a hard place. They MUST know that Trump is a jerk who seems determined to kill American democracy and poison their planet.

Im sure they go home and shake their heads after hearing one of Trumps outrageous statements. They have got to see his love of Vladimir Putin and his obvious inability to get out of Russias grasp. But if they say that, the so-called Republican base will vote them out of office. They would rather die with the word Senator on their tombstone than exhibit guts, wisdom and courage. There really are times to do the right thing and say, To hell with it. I take it you get all of that!

Sunday Freeman columnist Alan Chartock is a professor emeritus at the State University of New York, publisher of the Legislative Gazette and CEO of the WAMC Northeast Public Radio Network. Readers can email him at alan@wamc.org.
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday rejected the New York Times' bid to dismiss Sarah Palin's defamation lawsuit over a 2017 editorial she said falsely linked her to a mass shooting.

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan said that while much of Palin's case was circumstantial, it was strong enough for a jury to find the Times and former editorial page editor James Bennet acted with "actual malice by clear and convincing evidence." in publishing the editorial.

Rakoff scheduled a Feb. 1, 2021 trial.

"We're disappointed in the ruling but are confident we will prevail at trial when a jury hears the facts," Times spokeswoman Danielle Rhoades-Ha said in an email.

Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate and former Alaska governor, sued over a June 14, 2017 editorial published after an Alexandria, Virginia, shooting that wounded four people, including then-House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.

The editorial referred to a January 2011 shooting where six people died and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was seriously wounded, and said Palin's political action committee had before that shooting circulated a map that put 20 Democrats including Giffords under "stylized cross hairs."

It also contrasted the shootings, saying the Scalise attack had "no sign of incitement as direct as in the Giffords attack."

The Times later corrected the editorial, saying there was no link between "political rhetoric" and the Giffords shooting, and Bennet has said he had not intended to blame Palin.

But Rakoff said Bennet's having substantially rewritten an earlier draft, and admission he was aware "incitement" could mean a call to violence, could suggest actual malice.

The judge also said evidence Bennet may have ignored materials inconsistent with his "angle" for the editorial could suggest his reckless disregard for the truth.

Story continues

Palin's lawyers, Shane Vogt and Ken Turkel, in an email said she appreciated Rakoff's "careful consideration of the merits."

The case is Palin v New York Times Co et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 17-04853.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Sandra Maler and Tom Brown)
The following are recent sentencings in 52nd Circuit Court in Huron County:

Shane Lee Cook, 25, of Owendale for assault less than murder, habitual second offense and two counts of domestic violence: two years and nine months to 15 years in prison, $160 restitution.

Richard A. Kula, 51, of Kinde for two counts of criminal sexual conduct fourth degree: 365 days in jail, credit for five days.

Richard A. Kula, 51, of Kinde for assault with intent for sexual penetration: three to 10 years in prison, credit for one day.

Cotey J. Harju, 27, of Bay Port for perjury: two to 15 years in prison.

James M. Perron, 68, of Port Hope for two counts of criminal sexual conduct fourth degree and habitual offender second offense: 180 days in jail, credit for one day.

Joshua R. Lesoski, 23, of Harbor Beach for probation violation (larceny of a building): 30 days in jail, credit for five days, HYTA revoked.

Sarah Lynn-Babb Mason, 39, of Sebewaing for probation violation: one year and three months to five years in prison, credit for 103 days.

Mandy E. Maikrzek, 36, of Bay Port for abandoning animals: delay of sentence, 60 days in jail, 12 months probation, not to own or care for any animals, 40 hours community service.

Susan Kay Weiss, 58, of Harbor Beach for operating while under the influence of liquor third offense, 180 days in jail, credit for two days, 48 months probation, $500 in fines, license suspended, 60 days community service.

Lisa Jean Partaka, 46, of Bad Axe for probation violation: probation continued.

William J. LaFranka, 42, of Roseville for domestic violence third offense: 180 days in jail, credit for three days, may serve in Macomb if can be arranged.

Jennifer A. Thompson, 39, of Harrison for unlawful drive away and habitual second offense: 365 days in jail credit for 85 days, 24 months probation, $2,654 restitution.

Jennifer A. Thompson, 39, of Harrison for unlawful drive away and habitual second offense: 365 days in jail, credit for 85 days, concurrent with prior sentence.

John Erin Logsdon, 59, of Ubly for operating under the influence of liquor and habitual third offense: 365 days in jail, credit for three days, 30 months probation, $600 fees and costs, 60 days community service.

Joshua Levi Armstead, 38, of Pigeon for home invasion third offense and habitual third offense: 365 days in jail, credit for 30 days, 24 months probation, $100 costs, sex offender treatment, no contact with victim.

Jason Alan Hochstedler, 42, of Bad Axe for larceny of building: 180 days in jail, 90 days held in abeyance, 24 months probation, $100 costs, restitution determined, 25 hours community service, no contact with victim, can serve in Sanilac if arranged.

Creg Franklin Klemkow, 63, of Caseville for operating under the influence of liquor: 330 days in jail, credit for 204 days, 30 months probation, $600 fines and costs, 60 days community service.

Gary Ryan Messina, 37, for probation violation: 65 days in jail, credit for 40 days, probation discharged.

Gary Ryan Messina, 37, for a second count of probation violation: 65 days in jail, credit for 40 days, probation discharged.

Ray Laverne Lane, 36, of Harbor Beach for possession of a controlled substance and habitual second offense: 365 days in jail, credit for 171 days.
On Friday, the World Socialist Web Site article Trump runs for Fuhrer was censored and removed by Reddit moderators after it received over 9,000 upvotes and was promoted to the sites front page.

A link to the article, which characterized the presidents acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention as a fascistic tirade, was posted to the subreddit r/politics at 7:10 a.m. by Reddit user u/VoteProgress.

Reddit moderator notice on link to the WSWS article Trump runs for Fuhrer stating that the post had been removed

Trump runs for Fuhrer was quickly read by thousands of Reddit users. By 1:30 PM, the WSWS article had received over 9,000 upvotes and more than 600 comments, the majority of which supported the WSWSs assessment of Trumps speech.

One of the top comments said, Its about time the media started calling it what it is. Hes a fascist, plain and simple.

At approximately 2:30 PM, r/politics moderators intervened, labeling the WSWS article as coming from an unacceptable source. The subreddit discussion was quickly terminated and the link preview of the article removed and replaced with a box stating, Sorry, this post has been removed by the moderators of r/politics: Moderators remove posts from feeds for a variety of reasons, including keeping communities safe, civil, and true to their purpose.

Andre Damon, the articles co-author, remarked on Twitter, Only civil comments about the Great Leader are allowed on Reddit.

Retweeting Damons comment, Rolling Stone journalist Matt Taibbi, a prominent critic of internet censorship, warned, Welcome to our language-policed future.

As a social media platform with 330 million users, Reddit is by far the most popular news aggregation and web content rating website on the internet. Registered users submit content to the site such as links, texts and images. Other users then vote this content up or down to determine what is most popular or what content will rise to the top of a particular subreddit. Those items that receive the largest number of upvotes end up on the sites front page.

The Reddit site, which could be described as a bulletin board form of internet technology, is organized into user-created subreddit categories that contain content relevant to a specific topic, such as news, science, movies, fitness, etc.

Among the powers of subreddit moderators is management of the links whitelist. This is a list of internet domains from which users are allowed to freely post links to the subreddit. The World Socialist Web Site was removed from the r/politics whitelist in June without notification or explanation.

The labeling of the WSWS article Trump runs for Fuhrer as coming from an unacceptable source and the termination of the discussion concerning it on r/politics is an act of outright political censorship. This is underscored by a review of some of the domains that remain on the subreddits whitelist.

There are presently 1,021 domains of publishers, organizations and government departments on the r/politics whitelist. Among the sites whitelisted are those of all factions of the Democratic and Republican parties, as well as extreme-right publications such as TheFederalist.com and Breitbart.com.

The Federalist, a far-right publication launched in 2013, has engaged in openly racist reporting by tagging content specifically as black crime. It has published numerous articles providing false and dangerous public health information about the coronavirus pandemic.

Among the Federalist articles on the pandemic is one titled How Medical Chicken Pox Parties Could Turn the Tide of the Wuhan Virus, which encourages people to risk deliberate infection for the sake of themselves and the greater good.

Breitbart.com was founded in 2010 and christened by far-right ideologue Stephen Bannon as the platform of the alt-right.

The World Socialist Web Site is blocked and banned on r/politics, while such proponents of pseudo-science, racism and right-wing violence are considered acceptable and placed on the domain whitelist. This reveals the political bias of the subreddit moderators.

It should be pointed out that Reddit was acquired by the publishing conglomerate Conde Nast in 2006 and operates as an advertising-driven, profitable social media platform. It has a Wall Street valuation of approximately $2 billion. Its leadership has joined with tech giants such as Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter in a collaboration with US government intelligence agencies on election security, a euphemism for online political censorship.

The attempt to block from Reddit readers the political analysis of the World Socialist Web Site concerning the efforts of Donald Trump and the Republican Party to create the basis for an American form of fascism serves, in particular, the political interests of the Democratic Party. The Democrats and the presidential campaign of Biden and Harris are downplaying the moves by Trump toward a personalist presidential dictatorship and the threat to democratic rights posed by the mobilization of the US military and federal law enforcement agencies against protesters in cities across the country, as well as Trumps incitement of fascist vigilantes against those demonstrating against police violence.

The reasons for this political cowardice and cover-up are explained in the conclusion of the article that has been removed by the r/politics moderators:
Gabriel Bethel Emphatically Denies his Company had any Part in Fraud or Forgery

SANTA FE, NM / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / When the coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020, countries around the world, including America, had an overwhelming need for personal protection equipment, specifically respirator masks. The public and private sector combined resources to create an otherwise impossible supply chain to deliver these emergency supplies.

When a third-party Texas PPE medical company solicited Bionet - a government vendor - to supply respirator masks ordered by the State of New Mexico, what seemed like a great relationship took an unexpected turn.

The proposed third party supplier was a Texas company with outstanding retired military credentials, including a retired General. They were introduced to Bionet through a trusted business relationship.

Given the credentials of the Texas supplier, Bionet did not hesitate to enlist their help. The Texas company was offering a stable supply at better pricing than Bionet's existing supplier.

New Mexico - August 2020: The third-party Texas supplier seemed like the perfect solution to a stable well-priced supply of the goods needed by the State of New Mexico but when the promised orders failed to arrive, both Bionet and the State of New Mexico became frustrated and threatened to cancel its contracts with the Texas supplier. At this point, the Texas supplier blamed the delays on their Chinese factory who wanted additional official credentials to release the ordered goods. The agent for the Texas supplier asked Bionet to issue a verification letter showing Bionet's government vendor status. Bionet regularly issues government verification letters to potential suppliers.

In this case, the "standard verification letter" which was an approved email verification from the Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff was not sufficient. The Texas supplier wanted specific language on the official letterhead to appease the Chinese factory. Mr. Bethel first called the Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff office for this letter but was told they had no access to the letterhead due to work from home orders. Mr. Bethel then called the LTC at the National Guard who he had collaborated with on the official letter drafting process in the past. He asked for permission from the LTC to engage with the Texas supplier in a collaborative draft process and the process began. It was made clear between all parties involved that the working draft document was not officially approved until the Adjutant General approved it for circulation, but this never took place.

Story continues

The Texas supplier with all of its celebrated retired military personnel "broke rank" and misused the unapproved National Guard draft without knowledge or authorization of Bionet or the National Guard according to Mr. Bethel.

Mr. Bethel further explained how the misused draft letter would eventually surface in another state, misrepresented by the Texas supplier as an official authorized letter, and was therefore subsequently flagged as a fraudulent forgery.

Despite the resulting allegations of forgery and misrepresentation of product deliveries caused by the Texas supplier, Gabriel Bethel, Bionet CEO, explains that Bionet followed regulations.

"The letter was an incomplete draft awaiting the Texas supplier's final approval, not a forgery of any kind."

As he explained, sending verification letters of this nature to potential new suppliers is common practice when trying to establish a new supply chain. "The request for this letter by the Texas supplier was a standard normal request. Their misuse and misrepresentation of the letter were not normal."

Bionet's email records show that the evidence posted on the New Mexico journalist's web page demonstrating a copy of the letter as "forged" does not match up. The journalist has posted a letter presumably given to him as evidence by the government. According to email records, the misspellings and alterations pointed out in the "forged letter" on the journalist's site had to take place after the letter left Bionet's possession. This means it was altered at some point following delivery to the Texas supplier and prior to being posted online. Someone along that chain of custody specifically altered the word adjutant in the letter because the original scanned draft copy was spelled correctly as reflected in the email records.

Following the discovery of the misused letter by officials the Texas supplier claimed the unauthorized letter was successful and the millions of dollars of PPE goods ordered by the state were shipped and en route; but, within a week they began to make new elaborate excuses about their delays and non-performance until their ultimate inability to perform on any single order was finally uncovered leaving both Bionet and New Mexico in a very difficult position with a relationship now strained by the abuse of credentials and ultimate non-performance of this Texas company.

"It was this company that caused every problem which occurred between New Mexico and Bionet. No money ever changed hands as a result of these unfortunate events but a great deal of precious time and effort was wasted for both Bionet and the State of New Mexico."

As Gabriel Bethel stated, "My staff and I were all working together with the government day and night to try and get emergency supplies here. Everything about the effort with the state was collaborative and well-intentioned because at the time and under the circumstances we couldn't do it without each other. It's unfortunate we encountered such a bad actor in the Texas supplier and the local press has chosen to make such an ugly story of it all.

Bionet's attorney Paul Kennedy explained: "There is no conclusive evidence of forgery or fraudulent activity between Bionet and the government as alleged by the press."

As a result of these events, Bionet remains part of a state and federal investigation surrounding these circumstances and continues to cooperate with all state and federal authorities and agencies to aid in the successful outcome of this investigation.

ABOUT BIONET

Bionet is a medical products and services development company focused on human health sciences, integrative medicine, and pharmacology.

Contact Information

Paul Kennedy

info@kennedyhernandez.com

(505)842-8662

SOURCE: Bionet





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/603811/CEO-of-Bionet-Gabriel-Bethel-Responds-to-Allegations-of-Local-New-Mexico-Reporter




A new report details how disruptive COVID-19 has been to youth across Newfoundland and Labrador, detailing widespread unemployment, struggles with online learning and pervasive mental health issues.

But Zarin Tasnim doesn't need a report to tell her that.

In the spring, the Memorial University student found herself out of the classroom, out of her two part-time jobs, one in retail and one at the school's library. Her internship, set for May, was also cancelled.

"Ever since I've arrived here, I have been working part-time jobs whenever I can, and that suddenly stopped," said Tasnim, a second-year engineering student originally from Bangladesh.

"It gave me a lot of uncertainty, you know, in life, whether I would be able to continue supporting myself through COVID."

Submitted by Zarin Tasnim

She's not alone, according to the report, released Thursday by the St. John's-based non-profit organization Choices For Youth. CFY surveyed 486 people between the ages of 16 and 29 across the province, including Tasnim, for their COVID-19 experiences, and found 61 per cent of them were unemployed, with almost three-quarters of saying it was due to the pandemic.

What is really shocking about this is just the sheer amount of young people who are encountering struggles right now. - Jen Crowe

"The reality is, we know that young people are disproportionately employed through the services sector, and many of those services aren't there any more," said Jen Crowe, CFY's strategic initiatives co-ordinator and one of those who helped put the report together.

The report also takes a glimpse to a gloomy future: 77 per cent of its respondents feel the pandemic will affect their earnings in the next six months, and is shaping their future life choices. Crowe said young people worry the careers they have been saving and studying toward might not exist in the same way ever again.

"A lot of young people we talked to don't know what the future holds for them," she said.

Story continues

Tasnim is now back at her retail job, and found a replacement work term for the summer, but said the months spent in isolation in the spring have had a huge impact on her overall finances.

"I do have worries that if we have a second wave, I can't afford to not work, again," she said.

Laura Howells/CBC

Old issues, new numbers

Those worries and uncertainty have been on a lot of young people's minds, as 67 per cent of them said their mental health has taken a hit during the pandemic.

"I did have a handful of friends who called me and tell me that they're overwhelmed," said Tasnim, "and I would be the same way. We would just support each other."

Through her work, Crowe has seen and worked with youth facing such financial and mental issues, and knows they aren't themselves new. But what is new, she said, is the numbers.

"What is really shocking about this is just the sheer amount of young people who are encountering struggles right now," Crowe said.

Tasnim said she has always had anxiety over taking tests, but finds now, in the midst of her end-of-term exams, trying to complete them online hasn't made anything better.

"There are more factors that distract you from your exam, like roommates, noise, visiting people. So I just feel like there's this element of uncertainty, again," she said, worrying that with six courses to balance this upcoming semester, her grades could be impacted.

While Tasnim has the relief not having to worry about internet speeds in St, John's, Crowe said the pandemic has shown how unequal such access is across the province. She said she's heard from one student in southern Labrador who is supposed to be studying from home this upcoming semester, but doesn't have the internet connection to keep on even footing with others in her class.

Stephen Miller/CBC

Creating an equal future

Building better bandwidth across rural areas of the province is one of the report's 12 recommendations, as Crowe said the youth surveyed had lots of ideas to create a more equal future.

"Now, in a way, we know what we need to do," she said.

The recommendations are big asks, from improving access to affordable child care and affordable housing, as well as another area that has been the subject of countrywide interest.

"We heard a really strong recommendation from young people around supporting them through basic wages or basic income, as something that was a really high priority for them," said Crowe.

While some of that work lies in government hands, at her organization, Crowe said staff will be trying to figure out how to apply the report within their own social enterprises, such as their secondhand clothing store, and she hopes more employers do the same.

"My hope is that folks can take a look at this report and really consider what is it that the young people they're working with face," she said.

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-30 05:44:46|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, Aug 29 (Xinhua) -- The number of coronavirus cases in Israel has risen to 113,465, with 1,465 new cases, the Ministry of Health said Saturday.

The death toll rose to 906 after 12 new fatalities were added, while the number of patients in serious condition rose from 414 to 438, out of 861 patients currently hospitalized.

The number of recoveries rose to 92,104, with 1,053 new recoveries, while the number of active cases rose to 20,455.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed a team of ministers to resolve the issue of ultra-Orthodox Jews travelling to the Ukrainian city of Uman amid the coronavirus crisis, the Prime Minister's Office said.

Every year, tens of thousands of religious Jews were expected to fly to Uman on the Jewish New Year in September to pray at the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, who founded the Hasidic Jewish movement named after him at the end of the 18th century.

However, Ronni Gamzu, Israel's COVID-19 project manager, expressed his objection to the mass travel amid the efforts to prevent the virus spread. Enditem
Bangladesh's Beximco Pharmaceuticals is investing in the Serum Institute of India (SII) to ensure Dhaka gets priority access to COVID-19 vaccines being developed by the Indian drug manufacturer, the company said on Friday. The deal announced by the Bangladeshi generic drugmaker comes after Dhaka said this month it was ready to hold trials of candidate vaccines being developed by India as both countries seek to curb the spread of the virus.

SII has partnered with AstraZeneca , the Gates Foundation and the Gavi vaccine alliance to produce more than a billion doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for global supply. "The investment amount will be treated as an advance and once the vaccine receives regulatory approvals, SII will include Bangladesh among the countries who will be the first to receive an agreed quantity of this vaccine from SII on a priority basis," Beximco said in a statement.

It did not give details about the size of the investment in SII nor how many vaccines Beximco might receive. "This landmark agreement reflects the deep-rooted desire for collaboration between the two countries and as representatives of the two nations, between us we can go a long way towards helping to mitigate the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," the heads of both companies said in the statement.

It said Beximco would be the exclusive supplier in Bangladesh for the vaccine being developed by SII and that the Bangladeshi company would discuss with the government the number of doses it wants. Beximco will also secure additional doses to be distributed to the private pay market in Bangladesh.

The Serum Institute is the world's largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume. It is holding trials for three potential coronavirus vaccines, including one licensed to AstraZeneca by Oxford University. Bangladesh has also approved a late-stage trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd in the hope of being a priority recipient for the jab.

Bangladesh confirmed 47 more deaths and reported 2,211 new cases on Friday, taking the total number of cases in the country to 306,794 with 4,174 deaths. India reported a record daily jump of 77,266 coronavirus infections on Friday, taking its total number of cases to 3.39 million with 61,529 deaths.
It was the butter dish of my dreams.

When youve been self-isolated at home so long because of a pandemic, once banal household goods like that become the focus of obsessive contemplation.

After weeks of searching online for the perfect replacement for my slippery, sloppy, single-stick dish, I found it  black porcelain, tight-fitting bamboo lid with a notch for a butter knife.

Two sticks fit inside easily. It kept butter cool and spreadable without melting and without the water those fancy French crocks require.

I ordered it Aug. 17 on Amazon and was told it would arrive Aug. 21. But the postal odyssey that followed was enough to melt my patience.

According to the tracking information, the dish was shipped via UPS from Windsor Locks, Connecticut, to the Tijeras Post Office, arriving Aug. 20 for the last 10-mile leg of its journey to my East Mountains home.

And there it sat.

And then inexplicably the dish was shipped to Phoenix.

That triggered an alert to Amazon, which re-sent another butter dish. Which is to say that to Amazon the butter dish was a lost cause.

This is not the first time for such lost causes courtesy of the U.S. Post Office. In July, for example, my sons prescription glasses were delayed by three weeks after the package arrived in Albuquerque then took a detour to Phoenix.

We blamed COVID-19 for the mail mix-up, although such delays didnt begin occurring with regularity until mid-July.

We didnt know then that about that same time newly appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy had just imposed his transformative initiative, which included requiring postal drivers to start their routes on schedule whether or not the processing plants had finished sorting and loading the mail.

Under DeJoys administration, the Post Office also eliminated overtime pay, removed more than 600 mail sorting machines and removed or locked up dozens of letter collection boxes  all during a pandemic.

DeJoy, a major Trump donor whose private dealings in logistics and delivery businesses have raised conflict of interest concerns, recently told Senate and House committees and others that he had imposed cost-saving measures that, oops, had the unintended consequences of slowing down mail delivery.

DeJoy has since promised to suspend further changes, but many believe the damage has been done and concerns remain on how that damage will impact an expected increase in mail-in voting in the upcoming presidential election because of COVID-19.

I asked readers to share their stories of mail mishaps. The response was overwhelming.

I had ordered a book a little over a week ago, and almost the same thing happened, Linda Morton wrote. It arrived in Albuquerque. The next update was in Phoenix, then it came back.

Ruby Ethridge said her package sat in an Albuquerque post office then went back and forth to Phoenix two to three time before being delivered.

Even mail that originates from Phoenix was not immune from delay. Jana Lee Aspin said a card she sent from Phoenix to her son in Seattle took more than a month to arrive. Barbara Madera said she and her sister mailed a certified letter July 14 from Phoenix to Nashville that was supposed to arrive July 18 but didnt until Aug. 5.

That was the beginning of the slow down, Madera wrote. And the purpose is to destroy the USPS by destroying confidence in it and force the public to pay much more for private companies to do the same work.

Pauline Turtle-Bear Guillermo said she received three USPS alerts that a package was out for delivery one day  but no package was delivered. Tracking information showed that the package was sent back to an Albuquerque facility that night, scanned in Truth or Consequences then spent the night in Williamsburg.

We got the package the next day, Guillermo wrote. But I ask, why this out of the way trip?

Donese Mayfield ordered heart medication for her dog Aug. 3 from Uniondale, New York, that arrived in Albuquerque Aug. 8 but then bounced around for nine days and received 18 different scans before it arrived. So lesson to be learned, Mayfield wrote. Dont get your personal medicines through mail order. Id have been absolutely hysterical  and possibly dead  if I had been waiting on my insulin all that time.

So how bad is it? According to an internal USPS report presented during the House hearing, the on-time delivery rate for first-class mail fell by about 8% percent from mid-July to early August. Today, the USPS states that just under 95% of first-class mail is arriving on time or no more than a day late.

Lets hope so.

So lesson to be learned: If you plan to mail your absentee ballot for the general election, do so sooner rather than later, because snow, rain, heat, gloom of night or COVID-19 may not be staying these USPS couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds, but politics still might.

As for the butter dish, the Amazon replacement  sent via UPS  arrived Aug. 22. The original butter dish arrived by mail Aug. 24.

They both live up to my dreams.

UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Reach Joline at 730-2793, jkrueger@abqjournal.com, Facebook or @jolinegkg on Twitter.
UAE ruler issues decree ending Israel boycott, allowing Israelis and Israeli firms to do business in the Arab country.

The ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has scrapped an economic boycott against Israel, allowing trade and financial agreements between the countries in another key step towards normal ties.

The US-brokered deal to open up relations between Israel and the UAE was announced on August 13. It required Israel to halt its contentious plan to annex occupied West Bank land sought by the Palestinians.

UAEs state-run WAM news agency said the move formally ending the boycott was made on the orders of UAEs leader, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi.





WAM said the new decree allows Israelis and Israeli firms to do business in the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. It also allows for the purchase and trade of Israeli goods.

The decree of the new law comes within the UAEs efforts to expand diplomatic and commercial cooperation with Israel, WAM said.

It lays out a roadmap toward launching joint cooperation, leading to bilateral relations by stimulating economic growth and promoting technological innovation.

On Monday, the first direct commercial flight by Israels flagship carrier El Al is expected in Abu Dhabi, carrying US and Israeli officials including President Donald Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Saturdays announcement formally eliminates a 1972 law on the UAEs books, since just after the Emiratess formation.

That law mirrored the widely held stance by Arab nations at that time that recognition of Israel would only come after the Palestinians had an independent state of their own.

The UAE-Israel agreement was slammed by Palestinian groups after it was announced, with the groups saying it does nothing to serve the Palestinian cause and ignores the rights of the Palestinian people.

Hamas, the group that controls the Gaza Strip, condemned the deal, which it said was a treacherous stab in the back.

200813152921879

This agreement does absolutely not serve the Palestinian cause, it rather serves the Zionist narrative. This agreement encourages the occupation [Israel] to continue its denial of the rights of our Palestinian people, and even to continue its crimes against our people, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement.

The Fatah movement said the UAE is flouting its national, religious and humanitarian duties towards the Palestinian cause.

Israel got rewarded for not declaring openly what its been doing to Palestine illegally and persistently since the beginning of the occupation, Hanan Ashrwai, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organizations (PLO) executive committee, said.

The UAE is becoming the third Arab nation after Egypt and Jordan to currently have diplomatic relations with Israel.

In recent years, the UAE has held quiet talks with Israel and allowed Israelis with second passports into the country for trade and talks.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's central bank said on Saturday it was taking legal steps to counter a lawsuit filed in a U.S. court by creditors seeking to seize $1.7 billion (1.27 billion pounds) of its assets held by Deutsche Boerse's <DB1Gn.DE> Clearstream unit.

The German stock exchange operator said earlier the creditors had filed the suit in a New York court seeking to require Clearstream to surrender assets that allegedly belong to Iran's central bank. It said the clearing house considers the claims to be unfounded and will take steps to defeat them.

Amir Hossein Tayyebi Fard, a deputy governor of the Iranian central bank, said in a statement: "After repeated legal defeats in Luxembourg, the U.S. plaintiffs are seeking legal action in U.S. courts against Clearstream. Serious legal action is also underway to counter these measures."

Tayyebi Fard did not give details of the bank's legal measures to prevent a seizure of the assets which he said were worth $1.7 billion, according to the statement posted on the bank's website.

U.S. authorities have targeted Luxembourg-based Clearstream for years in an investigation over whether it violated U.S. money laundering and Iran sanction laws. Deutsche Boerse has denied wrongdoing.

In 2019, a Luxembourg court refused to enforce a U.S. ruling that would have helped families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks claim Iranian assets held with Clearstream.

In 2012, a New York court found there was evidence to show that Iran provided material support and resources to al Qaeda for acts of terrorism. The militant group carried out the hijacked plane attacks on New York and Washington.

That court awarded the plaintiffs damages of over $7 billion. Iran denies any links to Al Qaeda or any involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks.

(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; editing by Clelia Oziel)
By PTI

KOLKATA: Bollywood actor Sunny Leone's name appeared on the college merit list in West Bengal for the third day on Saturday and the authorities of the institute have lodged a complaint with the police against mischief-makers.

The actor's name featured in the third place in the list for English honours in Barasat Government College on Saturday.

Her name was preceded by that of US pornstar Dani Daniels and webcam model from Lebanon, Mia Khalifa.

The names were accompanied with application and form numbers.

A college official said an FIR has been lodged at Barasat police station against mischief makers.

The college students union run by Trinamool Chhatra Parishad filed a separate FIR at the police station alleging that vested interests are at work to malign the educational institution.

On Friday the name of Leone, a Canada-born actor, had appeared in the 151st position in the list of 157 candidates selected for BA (Honours) in English at Budge Budge College in South 24 Parganas district.

This was preceded by her name topping the merit list again for English Honours at Asutosh College in the city on Thursday.

Asutosh College filed a complaint with the cyber cell at Lalbazar, the headquarters of Kolkata Police, and also ordered an internal probe, a college official said.

The reaction of Budge Budge College was not immediately known.

But its students union demanded a probe by college authorities to find out how the online application system could be misused this way.

The West Bengal government had earlier announced that admission to undergraduate courses will be completely online this year and no processing fee will be charged due to the hardship caused by the pandemic situation.
RONNA McDANIEL, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee: You deserve to know that they would ban fracking and eliminate fossil fuels, which would kill millions of good-paying jobs and raise the cost of driving our cars and heating our homes. You deserve to know that they want a complete government takeover of our health care system, so moms like me wont be able to take our kids to the same pediatrician theyve been seeing for years.  Monday.
Medical staff in the quarantine zone of Da Nang Hospital on July 29. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong.

Two more Covid-19 patients were recorded in Binh Duong and Da Nang on Saturday evening, taking the country's active cases to 329.

"Patient 1039" is a 20-year-old resident of Quang Phuc Commune, Ba Don District, central Quang Binh Province. On August 27, he arrived at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat airport on Vietnam Airlines flight VN5063.

He was quarantined upon entry and his test result on August 28 showed he is positive for the novel coronavirus. The patient is being treated at the General Hospital of southern Binh Duong Province.

"Patient 1040" is a 55-year-old man in Hoa Phong Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang City. From July 23 to August 13, he was under treatment at the Da Nang Hospital. On August 13, he was transferred to the central city's 199 Hospital. His test came out negative on August 14. He did a second test on August 27 and the result was positive a day later.

With the two new cases and 14 declared to have recovered on Saturday, Vietnam's Covid-19 tally rose to 1,040. Of these, 677 have recovered, 32 have died of Covid-19 and two died after a few times testing negative.

Among the 329 active patients, 45 have tested negative for the first time, 21 for the second time and 28 for the third time.

Vietnam has recorded 690 community transmissions since the epidemic broke out, of which 550 linked to the epicenter Da Nang have been recorded since July 25.

Globally, there are over 24.8 million people infected with the virus and more than 840,000 deaths.
In an era where humans are losing faith in their leaders, a birds excellent leadership is winning hearts on the internet. In a brief video, which surfaced on Twitter, a male turkey could be seen halting traffic so as to facilitate his group in crossing a rather busy road. The clip that has nor been viewed over 12.3 thousand times have left people awestruck with the skill and valour of the leader.

Shared by an Odisha based IFS officer Susanta Nanda, the 26 six-second video shows a group of turkeys crossing a highway from one end to another. However, what has left everybody stunned is the leader of the group who stands in the middle of the road to block the approaching traffic as his people walk away. The video ends by showing the leader crossing the road only after ensuring that all the other birds have made ther way into the forest.

A boss has the title...

A leader has the people  pic.twitter.com/U1p8FMe8tM  Susanta Nanda IFS (@susantananda3) August 28, 2020

'Very nice execution'

Shared with a powerful caption, the clip has created quite abuzz n the interent. Since posted, it has racked up over 1.7 likes and a variety of comments. While many have thanked Nanda for sharing it, many have saluted the bird for its quality. "Very nice execution leadership qualities," wrote one. While another added, "Male turkey halting traffic for safe crossing of the road by its wives good. But motorists also deserve appreciation for allowing them safe passage."

Read: California Wildfire Destroys Condor Sanctuary, Four Endangered Birds Missing

Read: 'Tree With An Eye': Can You Spot The Bird Hiding In This Picture?

A highly qualified leader...



-*-



A boss has the title...

A leader has the people  pic.twitter.com/qAegdAN4BP  Sreekanth Gudesa (@sreekanthgudesa) August 28, 2020

Male turkey halting traffic for safe crossing of road by it's wives good. But motorists also deserve appreciation for allowing them safe passage.  Pipalkoti (@Pipalkoti) August 28, 2020

Super Quote Sir  Shrikant Iyer  (@shrikantriyer) August 28, 2020

He is the real leader,, blocking the traffic for his "people's" safe passage..  Punam Kerketta (@kerketta_punam) August 28, 2020

Title is superb than video  Bloggersbay (@Bloggersbay1) August 28, 2020

In a similar incident, clip of elephants who are seen following the safety rules pretty seriously left interent surprised. Shared on Twitter, the visuals show elephants crossing the road in a forest on a foggy morning. Since the time it was shared, the video has garnered over 1.2 lakh views. It has also received nearly 7,600 likes. Many people have also reacted to the post. Go West or East, this beautiful beast always obliges with a delightful viewing feast!!! wrote a Twitter user. Anyone who doesnt find Elephants adorable needs psychiatric treatment, commented another.

Read: Elephants Teach 'how To Cross Road Safely'; Watch The Adorable Video

Read: Matsuyama Leads On Long Birdie To End Tough Day At Olympia


Dozens injured as Indian forces attack mourners with pellet guns and tear gas in Muslim-majority region, say witnesses.

Government forces have fired shotgun pellets and tear gas to disperse hundreds of mainly Shia Muslims participating in a Muharram procession in Indian-administered Kashmir, injuring dozens, witnesses have said.

The violence came as the disputed Himalayan region  where nearly 97 percent of residents are Muslims  observed Ashura on Saturday, the 10th day of the Muharram month in the Islamic lunar calendar.

Jafar Ali, a witness, told AFP news agency the procession started in the Bemina area on the outskirts of the main city of Srinagar and that government forces were present in heavy numbers.

Ali and other people who saw the clashes said security forces fired pellets and tear gas to break up the gathering. Police said mourners violated prohibitory orders that restrict all religious processions to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The forces fired pellets at the procession that was mainly peaceful and included women, said another witness Iqbal Ahmad.

At least 40 people were injured, according to witnesses. Medical workers at a hospital in Srinagar told The Associated Press they treated at least 30 people, some of them with pellet and tear gas injuries.

#Kashmir: A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim youth lies on a hospital bed with pellets injures fired by the government forces today during Muharram procession in Srinagar. pic.twitter.com/6BEVwh9B59  Ahmer Khan (@ahmermkhan) August 29, 2020

Residents said many other injured were taken to another hospital in the city.

Videos circulating on social media showed police in armed vehicles warning the mourners to disperse before firing shotgun pellets and tear gas on them.

Some mourners were also seen raising slogans seeking an end to the Indian rule in the disputed region.

The procession was not just peaceful but was also following health protocols, said Sajjad Hussain, a witness. They [government forces] unleashed such violence and did not spare even women mourners.

A police officer told The Associated Press they were confirming the number of injured.

A Kashmiri Muslim shouts slogans as he is detained by an Indian policeman during a Muharram procession in Srinagar [Danish Ismail/Reuters]

Several processions attacked

Muharram is among the holiest days for Muslims across the world and includes large processions of mainly Shia Muslim mourners beating their chests while reciting elegies and chanting slogans to denounce the slaughter of Husayn, Prophet Muhammads grandson, and his companions.

Police in Indian-administered Kashmir broke up several Muharram processions this week.

Officials said at least 200 people were detained in Srinagar for participating in the processions and at least seven people were arrested under an anti-terror law for raising pro-freedom slogans.

Some main Muharram processions have been banned in the Muslim-majority region since an armed rebellion broke out in 1989 demanding independence from India or a merger with neighbouring Pakistan.

But Kashmiri Muslims have long complained the Indian administration curbs their religious freedom on the pretext of law and order while promoting an annual Hindu pilgrimage to the Himalayan Amarnath Shrine in Kashmir that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Seven suspected rebels killed

The violence in Srinagar came shortly after officials said at least seven suspected rebels and an Indian army soldier were killed in two gun battles, also in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Three rebels and a soldier died early on Saturday after troops and police launched a search operation in a village in southern Pulwama district, said Colonel Rajesh Kalia, an Indian army spokesman.

On Friday, joint teams of army, paramilitary and police forces cordoned off a village in southern Shopian district following a tip that rebels were hiding there, leading to an exchange of fire, police said.

Four rebels were killed and another arrested during the operation, a police statement said.

Vijay Kumar, the inspector general of police, told reporters that one of the deceased in Fridays gunfight was the district commander of Al-Badr rebel group.

Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar to stop Muharram gatherings from becoming anti-India protests [Mukhtar Khan/AP Photo]

Conditions have worsened in Indian-administered Kashmir since August last year, when New Delhi stripped the region of its statehood and semi-autonomy, setting off widespread anger and economic ruin under a harsh security clampdown.

Since January, Indian forces have killed 180 rebels during counterinsurgency operations, according to the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, a rights group.

Based on official figures, data shows that more than half of them had joined the rebels less than a year ago, and of those, most had been active for only a few months.

At least 68 government forces and 46 civilians were also killed in the same period, the rights group said.

India and Pakistan claim the divided territory of Kashmir in its entirety. A small sliver of the region is also controlled by China.

India accuses Pakistan of arming and training the rebels, a charge Pakistan denies.

According to several human rights groups, nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict since 1989.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / Thoughtful Brands Inc. (CSE:TBI)(FSE:1WZ1)(OTCQB:PEMTF) (the "Company" or "Thoughtful Brands"), a global natural health products and eCommerce technology company, is pleased to announce it has engaged Electrik Dojo for native advertising and digital marketing services to increase brand awareness for the Company. Certain services to be provided by Electrik Dojo are anticipated to include investor relations activities under the policies of the CSE and applicable securities laws. The company will continue to look at strategic consultants to expand awareness of the Company and its activities. The Company will compensate Electrik Dojo for a two-month period at a total rate of USD $300,000.

About Thoughtful Brands Inc.

Thoughtful Brands Inc. is an eCommerce technology company that researches, develops, markets, and distributes natural health products through various brands in North America and Europe. Through continuous strategic acquisitions, the Company has a strong footprint in the CBD market, as well as the burgeoning psychedelic medicine sector. Thoughtful Brands owns and operates a 110,000 square foot pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Radebeul, Germany, where its highly skilled team conducts clinical studies utilizing naturally occurring psilocybin and other compounds found in psychedelics for the treatment of opiate addiction, while planning for future opportunities to create proprietary psilocybin products.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

THOUGHTFUL BRANDS INC.

Ryan Hoggan

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, readers are encouraged to contact Joel Shacker, President at +604.423.4733 or by email at info@thoughtful-brands.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services 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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement

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, including with respect to its plans to acquire additional revenue-producing natural health product brands and operations in both Europe and North America with the goal of establishing an international distribution network utilizing its eCommerce technology platform. 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: Thoughtful Brands Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603904/Thoughtful-Brands-Inc-Engages-Electrik-Dojo-for-Native-Advertising-and-Digital-Marketing
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, August 29, 2020 13:11 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c41563f9 4 News travel,destination,Mount-Bromo Free

The recreation area of one of East Java's most popular destinations, Mount Bromo, has reopened to tourists.

The area had been closed since March to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Following the reopening, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park Agency is requiring visitors to register online prior to arrival.

The mountainous area, which comprises several sites that sit within two East Java regencies, will also put a cap on visitor numbers, allowing only 739 travelers per day, or 20 percent of its normal capacity.

Below are the new limits at each site:

Pananjakan site in Pasuruan regency: 178 visitors per day

Bukit Cinta site in Pasuruan regency: 28 visitors per day

Bukit Kedaluh site in Pasuruan regency: 86 visitors per day

Savana Teletubbies site in Probolinggo regency, 347 visitors per day

Mentigen site in Probolinggo regency, 100 visitors per day

Read also: Bali postpones plans to welcome international travelers in September

As reported by kompas.com, the agency will impose sanctions on visitors who violate its health protocols and may close the site again without prior notice if a new coronavirus case is discovered.

Mount Bromo is an active volcano in East Java. It is part of a volcano complex that includes Mount Semeru, the highest peak on Java Island.

With a summit at 2,329 meters, it attracts visitors who enjoy light hikes and jeep tours, which are organized by locals.

Mount Bromo, the name of which derives from Hindu God Brahma, is an important site for the Javanese Hindu community as well. Cultural and religious ceremonies organized there attract tourists as much as its natural beauty. (gis/kes)
I agonized over whether to write this. But since my college recently canceled in-person classes due to COVID-19, Ive had some time on my hands, along with a flaming conscience.

My dream is a career in public service. I want my work to be guided by values, and where politics are nonexistent  or, at least, pale in comparison to the people we serve.

But if I plan to bring these values to my career, Id be remiss to stay silent now, so here it is: just because someones experience is different than yours doesnt infringe on its validity. Or your own. We are all equal, worthy, and deserving of the same dignity and respect. This shouldnt be up for debate, and yet somehow, it still is. Which is why we need to talk about the election of 2020.

I confess that I have fantasized about leaving the US behind. Running off to Europe or New Zealand and losing the baggage that comes with watching my country rip its beating heart away from the promise of unconditional life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But the fact is that I am an American, and I am firmly tied to here, and for all of the times my country has let me down, there has been an Alexander Vindman, armed with the truth that right matters, to jam that heart back in.

Some animals are wired to fight or take flight; humans got lucky. We have a choice. Ultimately, I wrote this piece because believing in my country is one of the most difficult and maddening things I have ever done. It is also a privilege.

I spent my high school years with a press pass, a pen and a notebook, listening  to SWAT team leaders to victim advocates to teachers and members of the North Penn School Board. Ive listened to my classmates bravely discuss their struggles with poverty, addiction, gun violence, and racism. There is still so much I do not understand.

I do know that every person reading this has a unique voice and a valuable story completely independent of mine; Im not asking for your trust. But I am begging for your empathy, because each of the three-hundred and thirty million humans working to build a life here is important enough to deserve it. No exceptions.

On November 3rd, there will be two choices on the ballot, but in reality, there is only one.

Im the child of parents registered to vote under different political parties, whose ancestors literally crossed both Ellis Island and the battlefields of the revolution. But I say this first and foremost as an average, well-intentioned person who chose to believe in something. There are a lot of us.

And we need to vote.

Register to vote, apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot, and send it in as early as possible. For college students living away from home, request a change of address and get your ballot sent to your dorm. (If you need help, call Montgomery County Voter Services at 610.278.3280.) Just DO it.

For those of you here who have felt left behind, who are wondering if there is a place for you in the future I describe, the answer is absolutely. Empathy and democracy are mutually inclusive. You all have a place here, because its not about what were running from; its what were striving towards.

Vote for Biden. Please, vote for Joe Biden. In the words of my father, vote like you care.

Alexis Bamford is a North Penn High School graduate, former editor-in-chief of the Knight Crier, and current freshman at American University in Washington, D.C.
A glamorous CrossFitter has been left battling a deadly rare illness brought on by excessive training in the gym.

Kiana Alvarez, 23, was experiencing 'super-intense' pain and struggling to breathe when she sought medical help after a 'really, really hard workout' days before.

The glamorous make-up artist thought she had strained herself during a 90 minute workout, but soon found herself unable to stand up straight or take a full breath.

She was eventually diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis - a rare and potentially life-threatening syndrome which breaks down muscles and destroys the hosts kidneys.

Kiana Alvarez (pictured), 23, was experiencing 'super-intense' pain and struggling to breathe when she sought medical help after a 'really, really hard workout' days before

The make-up artist (pictured) originally thought she had strained herself in the gym, but was soon unable to stand up straight or take a full breath

Ms Alvarez only heard of 'rhabdo' once before when her US bodybuilding and CrossFitting idol, Dana Linn Bailey, shared her experience with the condition online.

She shared her diagnosis with her 2million Instagram follows in April 2019 after doing a three-round, two minute per station workout, which involved GHD (glute-ham-developer) sit-ups.

Ms Alvarez only heard of 'rhabdo' once before when her US bodybuilding and CrossFitting idol, Dana Linn Bailey (pictured), shared her experience with the condition online

'I'm an athlete and I'm also super competitive with myself, so of course I'm going to push myself as hard as I possibly can. I just didn't know that something like this could even happen. I ACTUALLY OVERTRAINED. It's actually kinda a real thing, who Fxcking knew!!! Lol,' Linn Bailey posted.

'I didn't realise there was anything wrong until about five days later. To me it just felt like a really good cardio workout.

'I think I even trained legs after that workout, and I also trained the rest of the week'.

Just like Linn Bailey, Ms Alvarez discovered her creatine kinase levels in her blood - which is released when cells are damaged - were dangerously high after convincing the doctors to test her for 'rhabdo'.

Linn Bailey (pictured) shared her diagnosis with her 2million Instagram follows in April 2019 after doing a three-round, two minute per station workout, which involved GHD (glute-ham-developer) sit-ups

Just like Linn Bailey (pictured), Ms Alvarez discovered her creatine kinase levels in her blood - which is released when cells are damaged - were dangerously high after convincing the doctors to test her for 'rhabdo'

'I hassled the doctors to test me for it when they didn't know what else could be wrong,' she told the Saturday Telegraph.

Ms Alvarez said the creatine kinase levels were about 40 times the normal level - about 10,000 instead of 200 and 'all they could do was pump me with IV fluids'.

Rhabdo causes kidney failure and heart damage, and is often seen in military recruits and athletes who continue to exert themselves past the point of fatigue.

Ms Alvarez (pictured) only heard of 'rhabdo' once before when her US bodybuilding and CrossFitting idol, Dana Linn Bailey, shared her experience with the condition online

What is 'Rhabdo'? Rhabdomyolysis is a condition which causes muscles to break down or leak. This releases the muscle cells' contents into the bloodstream. Those contents contain a protein, myoglobin, which can cause injury to the kidneys. If there is pre-existing kidney disease, this can result in kidney failure and death. Source: www.healthtimes.com.au Advertisement

Maureen Brogan, an associate professor of medicine at New York Medical College said 91 per cent of her rhabdo patients were athletes participating in highly repetitive exercise with no prior experience.

'So even if you were a different type of athlete like a runner, and then you switch to biking and use quadriceps and gluteus maximus muscles at an intense rate - that first time, you may be at risk of getting rhabdo,' she said in The American Journal of Medicine, according to Australian Men's Health.

'Those are the patients that were most at risk because they may not be conditioned and are using and engaging new muscle groups for the first time at an intense rate'.

Rhabdo is usually diagnosed in a hospital and treated with intravenous fluids to help produce enough urine and prevent kidney failure, according to the Australian Government.

Ms Alvarez said she was not drinking enough water prior to her diagnosis, and she 'always trained before eating in the morning' and 'was really dehydrated'.

'They started to die. Thats what happens; it kills your muscles slowly and the fluid leaks into your kidneys and liver,' she told the Saturday Telegraph.

Ms Alvarez warned others about the dangers of over training, saying being diagnosed with rhabdo could 'happen to anyone, not just bodybuilders and CrossFitters'.

'Over-training is a thing - I didn't even know that,' she added.

'I got the all clear to go back into training so knowing me I'm straight back into the gym but just taking it easy for now.'

Daily Mail Australia reached out to Ms Alvarez for comment.
Rhea Chakraborty was summoned for the second consecutive day by the CBI for interrogation

Actress Rhea Chakraborty, who is accused of abetting the suicide of film star Sushant Singh Rajput, reached the DRDO guest house in Mumbai for the second consecutive day on Saturday for questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), an official said.

A vehicle carrying Rhea Chakraborty (28) reached the DRDO guest house in suburban Santacruz, where the probe team is stationed, around 1.30 pm. She was escorted by a police van.

Based on the request made by the CBI, the Mumbai Police provided security to Chakraborty, an official said on Saturday.

The CBI officials, who are in Mumbai to probe the actor's death case, made the request to the city police on Saturday, he said.

The CBI had on Friday questioned the actress at the DRDO guest house in suburban Santacruz in connection with the case.

"On the request made by the central probe agency, we have provided security to Rhea," the police official said.

Recently, she had said in a social media post that there was a threat to her and her family's life and sought protection from the Mumbai Police. She took to Instagram and shared a video where her father was seen being hounded by the media outside her building compound.

She said that she and her family members are trying to step out of their house to cooperate with the investigating agencies like the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED)- but are not able to do so due to the crowd gathering outside the residence.

Rajput was found hanging at his flat in Bandra on 14 June.

His father had lodged a complaint against Rhea Chakraborty and others, accusing them of abetting his son's suicide and misappropriating his money.

The Supreme Court had last week upheld the transfer of probe into the FIR, lodged by Rajput's father in Patna, to the CBI.
India had earlier planned to send around 150 Indian Army troops, 45 IAF personnel and a number of Navy officers to the military exercise to be held in Kavkaz from 15 to 26 September

New Delhi: India has decided to withdraw from a multilateral war game in Russia next month, government sources said on Saturday, a week after New Delhi had confirmed its participation in the exercise that is also expected to be attended by the Chinese and Pakistani troops.

Last week India had conveyed to Russia that it will participate in the strategic command-post exercise to be held in the Astrakhan region in southern Russia from 15 to 26 September.

Though no reason has been cited officially about India reversing its decision, people familiar with the development said that China's participation in the exercise was a major factor behind the review.

"A decision has been taken to not participate in the exercise," said a source.

It is learnt that the decision was taken following deliberations between the top brass of the military and the ministry of external affairs.

Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a bitter standoff in several areas along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh for over three-and-half months. Both the countries are holding talks at military and diplomatic levels to resolve the dispute.

Around 20 countries including all member-nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) including China and Pakistan are expected to participate in the Kavkaz exercise.

India's reconsideration on its participation in the military drill comes ahead of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's scheduled visit to Russia next week to attend a crucial meeting of the SCO.

The SCO defence ministers' meeting is expected to deliberate on regional security scenario and geo-strategic developments.

India had earlier planned to send around 150 Indian Army troops, 45 Indian Air Force personnel and a number of Navy officers to the multilateral military exercise.

Russia has been a major partner of India in the defence sector and the cooperation has been steadily growing further.

In June, a tri-services contingent from India participated at the Victory Day Parade at the iconic Red Square in Moscow to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War. A contingent from China had also attended it.

Both India and China are members of the SCO, an influential regional grouping.

The SCO, seen as a counterweight to NATO, has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations which accounts for almost 44 per cent of the world population stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the Indian Ocean and from the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea.
Knowledge about the past can preserve the biodiversity of tomorrow

Approximately 40 per cent of terrestrial ecosystems are projected to have experienced shifts in temperature during the past 21,000 years that are similar in pace and magnitude to regional-scale future forecasts.

An international team of scientists led by researchers from the University of Copenhagen and University of Adelaide, has identified and examined past warming events similar to those anticipated in the coming decades, to better understand how species and ecosystems will cope.

"Studying locations in regions such as the Arctic, Eurasia, the Amazon and New Zealand can yield knowledge of how climate has changed and how this has impacted plants and animals. Using advanced new methods, including the use of DNA to map biodiversity and precise methods for dating climate change, we have taken advantage of opportunities to find precise causalities. The past climate changes are similar to those that we expect in coming decades," explains Professor Dorthe Dahl-Jensen.

By mapping the prevalence of species using combined fossil data archives, researchers were able to see how individual plant and animal species -- and entire ecosystems -- have responded to historical temperature increases:

"During large climate shifts of the past, such as the warming from the last ice age to our current interglacial period 11-18,000 years ago, Arctic temperatures have increased by more than 10 degrees Celsius. This is a warming of the same magnitude as the UN predicts can occur in the future, as is described in IPCC reports and forecasts," says Professor Dorthe Dahl-Jensen.

Researchers observed that some species, such as antelope, were able to migrate northward, while others, including the Arctic fox, became extinct in areas of what is now Russia.

This knowledge can be used to predict how plants and animals will respond to future climate changes. During the last interglacial period -- the Eemian Interglacial Stage, from 115-128,000 years ago -- it was warmer, particularly in Arctic regions.

During this time, the central Siberian tundra shifted 200 km northwards, hippos roamed England and giant turtles crawled lazily about the US Midwest.

More accurate forecasts, based upon the past

The new knowledge compiled by researchers can be used to develop more accurate forecasts concerning which plant and animal species are being threatened with extinction.

This in turn can allow for quicker intervention through international conservation measures. The knowledge also makes it possible to map robust ecosystems, which are less sensitive to climate change.

"We have gained access to completely new knowledge about how ecosystems, plants and animals have responded to temperature increases similar to those that we are confronted with today and will be in the future. We can use this knowledge to be at the forefront of protecting and conserving biodiversity. It provides knowledge for us to protect the species that remain," says Associate Professor Anders Svensson of the University of Copenhagen's Niels Bohr Institute.

"Conservation biologists are taking full advantage of the long-term history of the planet as recorded in paleo-archives, such as those gathered by the team, to understand biological responses to abrupt climate changes of the past, quantify trends, and develop scenarios of future biodiversity loss from climate change," says the study's main author, Damien Fordham, of the University of Adelaide and the University of Copenhagen's Globe Institute.

Research into the past demonstrates that many ecosystems are able to adapt to sudden climate change, even when migration is not an option. Thus, it is important to acquire more knowledge and ensure healthy interaction between the planners of future ecosystems and this historical knowledge.

Historical archives also demonstrate that other factors, such as the impact of humans and the establishment of cities, the clearing of forests and changes to ecosystems, also have had a very significant impact on species extinction. Results just published in the journal Science.

The research article illustrates how interdisciplinary research among climate and biodiversity researchers, and the deployment of new methods, better dating and climate models can be used to generate knowledge that will advance our ability to create and preserve ecosystems.

###

This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Noratis AG / Key word(s): Capital Increase

Noratis AG decides on capital increase against cash contribution with subscription rights for existing shareholders





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.



AD-HOC DISCLOSURE ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 17 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION Noratis AG decides on capital increase against cash contribution with subscription rights for existing shareholders - Subscription period from 01.09.2020 to 15.09.2020 included - Subscription ratio 4:1 - Subscription price per new share EUR 17,55 - Issue proceeds to be used for the acquisition of further real properties Eschborn, 28 August 2020 - The Management Board of Noratis AG (ISIN: DE000A2E4MK4, WKN: A2E4MK, "Noratis") has adopted today, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, a capital increase against cash contribution with subscription right of the existing shareholders. The subscription ratio is 4:1, which means that four existing shares entitle to the subscription of one new share. The subscription price amounts to EUR 17,55 per share. The subscription period runs from 1 September 2020 to 15 September 2020, 6pm. The share capital of Noratis AG is increased to up to EUR 4,818,027.00 - by partial use of the Authorized Capital 2020 by issuing up to 963,605 new shares with a proportionate amount in the share capital of one euro per share. The gross issuing proceeds amount to up to EUR 16.9 million. The cash inflow for the company is to be used for the acquisition of further real properties. The new shares are entitled to a dividend payment as of 1 January 2020 and are scheduled to be included in the stock market trading on 21 September 2020. For the execution of the transaction the main shareholders Merz Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG (Merz) and Igor Christian Bugarski waive their proportionate subscription rights. Within the framework of a subsequent private placement, the unsubscribed new shares as well as the new shares from the main shareholder tranche will be offered to selected qualified investors at least at the subscription price. Merz has committed itself vis-a-vis ICF Bank, acting as lead manager in the transaction, and vis-a-vis the company to acquire all unsubscribed new shares within the framework of the private placement at the subscription price. Thereby the new shares from the main shareholder tranche, which are derived from the stake of Merz and Igor Christian Bugarski, are preferentially allocated to Merz. As a result, the stake of Merz in Noratis AG will rise following the capital increase. The public offer is made without prospectus in accordance with  3.2 German Securities Prospectus Act (exemption from the obligation to publish a prospectus). Before shareholders and investors decide to exercise, acquire or sell any subscription rights or acquire or sell shares it is recommended to carefully read in particular the securities information sheet (Wertpapierinformationsblatt) of the company which is scheduled to be published on 28 August 2020 on the website of the company (www.noratis.de) in the section "Investor Relations". Information and Explanation of the Issuer to this News:



About Noratis: Noratis AG (www.noratis.de) is a leading portfolio developer of residential properties in Germany. The company identifies and realizes potentials for tenants, owner-occupiers & investors, thereby creating and preserving attractive and at the same time affordable living space throughout Germany. Noratis specializes in the upgrading of ageing residential portfolios, mostly company-owned apartments, residential areas or housing estates in cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants and in peripheral areas of conurbations. After a successful development, the properties remain in the company's portfolio or are sold in the medium term to investors and/or individually to existing tenants, capital investors and owner-occupiers. In this way, Noratis creates a noticeable and sustainable added value for all stakeholders: from investors, employees and financing partners to current and future tenants. Noratis AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Investor & Public Relations Contact: edicto GmbH

Axel Muhlhaus / Dr. Sonke Knop

T +49 (0)69 905 505 52

E noratis@edicto.de

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After venting their ire against senior party leader Jitin Prasada, Congress leaders in the state are now targeting senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and questioning his actions during his role as the All India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh.

Azad is one of the 23 senior Congress leaders who signed the controversial letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, asking for a full-time party president, and also several reforms to strengthen the party.

The letter outlined an 11-point agenda to usher in reforms in the 134-year-old organisation, called for an introspection of the reasons behind the partys steady decline, and appealed to the Congress to take the initiative for the formation of a national coalition of democratic and secular forces against the Centres ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Now, former Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Nirmal Khatri has accused Azad of forcing the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance on the party in the 2017 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

As far as I know, Rahul Gandhi too was opposed to the alliance, but probably kept quiet due to Azads recalcitrance and defeatist political thinking.His principles of political science focused on politics of alliance, said Khatri in a post on the social media, directly targeting Azad.

In an interview to news agency ANI, Azad, who is leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, the letter, saying Any Congress worker having a genuine interest in the party will welcome the letter. He added in that interview that if the party didnt change, it would continue to be in opposition for the next 50 years.

Azad forgot to mention his role as in charge of Uttar Pradesh where he destroyed the Congress. In 1996, the Congress alliance with the BSP failed to work. He (Azad) entered into an alliance with the SP in 2017 and the Congress won the lowest number of seven seats in the state assembly, Khatri said.

He questioned Azad for pointing out that no election had been held in CWC for the past 23 years and asked whyhe chose to remain silent all these years. He also targeted Azad for raising issues on a public platform, saying The CWC resolved that no leader will ever speak about internal issues. Azads interview (to a news agency) is a violation of the spirit of the resolution.

There have also been demands for his removal from the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Veteran Congress leader KK Sharma questioned Azads loyalty to the party and demanded his removal from the LoP post.

Another UP Congress leader, Naseeb Pathan, said he was pained to hear Azads interview and claimed that he had reached this position only through nominations. As he has broken the partys discipline, Ghulam should be made azad (free) and expelled from the party, he said.

The Lakhimpur Kheri District Congress Committee has already passed a resolution, demanding action against all the 23 senior leaders including Jitin Prasada. Khatris comments, shared by many other partymen on the social media, have become a point of discussion in the party circles.

After the Lakhimpur Kheri resolution, a local Congress functionary, DCC president Prahalad Patel claimed that it had been passed under pressure from an office bearer of the state level Congress leadership.

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After 11 years on Cookman Avenue, Asbury Parks stalwart music shop Holdfast Records will close its storefront Tuesday, moving to an online-only format.

Co-owner Joe Koukos assures the store closure is not due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has already shuttered countless retail stores across New Jersey.

Weve had a strong online business for years now, and this frees me up to be out and about looking for records, which is the fun part, Koukos told NJ Advance Media Friday.

Holdfasts closure leaves Asbury Park, New Jerseys most vibrant music city, without a dedicated record store  another blow to a town thats been forced to keep all its live music venues closed since March (in step with most of the country).

Koukos reminds that other boutiques around the Jersey Shore destination still sell records  though none nearing the abundance of Holdfasts selection  and theres a good chance another vinyl peddler could swoop in.

Realistically, somebody will fill the void here, he said.

The stores final day of operation is Monday. Then its all online, where tens of thousands of records and CDs spanning all genres are available. An even larger catalog is on the way, Koukos said, and Holdfast will still keep its table at the next Asbury Park Record Show  whenever that may be.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of the shop for the last decade, the shop wrote on Facebook Thursday. We will still bring you the best records at amazing prices but now we will do it from our couch to yours.

Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier and Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
WASHINGTON  A day after being surrounded by an angry crowd as he left the Republican National Convention, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky took to a Fox & Friends television program Friday to say he doesnt believe he would have survived if not for the police -- and used the occasion to take shots at Portland, as well.

If we defund the police, if America becomes Portland, people will be pummeled, and kicked in the head and left senseless on the curb, he said.

Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered Thursday night around the White House for a noise demonstration and dance party in an attempt to drown out President Donald Trumps speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination.

The crowd enveloped Rand as he left the convention, yelling for him to say the name of police shooting victim Breonna Taylor, who was killed in his state.

Video posted online showed dozens of people confronting Paul and his wife, who were flanked by police officers, on a street after midnight. Protesters shouted No Justice, No Peace and Say Her Name before one appears to briefly clash with an officer, pushing him and his bike backward, sending the officer into Pauls shoulder.

Paul later tweeted that he had been attacked by a crazed mob a block from the White House. The senator and his wife kept walking and did not appear to have been touched by any of the protesters or to have suffered any injuries.

In the nine-minute conversation with host Steve Doocy, Paul repeatedly mentioned the protests in Portland, saying the rest of the country is at risk of becoming Portland without supporting police departments.

He said he believed most of the people who surrounded him were not from Washington, D.C., but were from out of town and were paid to be there. He did not specify who he believed was paying protesters to come to D.C.

He called for the FBI to arrest those protesters and question them.

Nothing indicates Trump heard the protesters, but there were a few points when a mix of sirens, music and blowhorns could be heard in the background and spectators in the back turned to see where the sounds were coming from.

Acknowledging the coronavirus pandemic, many demonstrators wore masks but social distancing was absent.

Make some noise if you want to drown out Trump, protest organizer Justin Johnson said.

After the convention concluded, there were skirmishes as protesters yelled and threw water bottles at police at the historic St. Johns Church near Black Lives Matter Plaza. There were some arrests.

Videos showed other attendees besides Paul also being confronted by protesters after leaving Trumps event.

There was a robust police presence, but the noise demonstration outside the White House was generally peaceful. There was a moment of levity at the end.

You guys gotta get some rhythm, a protester told Secret Service officers.

Would you have rhythm if you were wearing 30 pounds of gear, one responded.

The demonstration was significantly smaller than the protests that rocked the nations capital this past spring after George Floyd died at police hands in Minneapolis.

Floyds family and the families of other Black Americans who were victims of police violence were expected to participate Friday in a commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington that is being led by the Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III.

Before Trump spoke, there was a brief standoff between police and demonstrators, who shouted anti-police slogans. Free the people, fight the power, they chanted. Nearby protesters set up a small guillotine, with the District of Columbia flag as the blade.

Lafayette Park, a traditional site of demonstrations across from the White House, was sealed off and there were some street closures.

The groups ShutdownDC and Long-Live Go-Go had put out word in advance about the planned noise demonstration and dance party to coincide with Trumps speech.

Well be at the White House on Thursday to drown out (Trumps) racist rhetoric with another vision for the future of our country, the groups said in a statement.

A longtime D.C. signature sound, Go-Go music emerged last year as a battle anthem for activists fighting fast-moving gentrification in the nations capital. The music has been a regular presence in recent protests against racial injustice and rolling Go-Go trucks with live bands have appeared frequently at the epicenter of the protests, which was renamed by the city as Black Lives Matter Plaza

-The Associated Press
Demand for coronavirus testing has nosedived across the country.

Between August 13 and 21, nationally there were 12,000-26,000 tests done a day. Between Saturday August 22 to Wednesday, those numbers fell to about 4400 - 9200 a day.

With people able to travel in and out of Auckland from Monday, health experts are again encouraging people everywhere with cold and flu-like symptoms to get tested. Auckland will move down to alert level 2 at 11.59pm on Sunday.

There were 12 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Friday. Five of these were connected to the current Auckland cluster, and seven were imported cases, caught in managed isolation.

An employee at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has tested positive for Covid-19, prompting a thorough clean of its Auckland office. MBIE is one of the Government agencies spearheading the fight against Covid-19.

A group of Kiwi businessmen and former politicians are looking to strike a deal with the Kremlin to bring Russias as-yet unproven coronavirus vaccine to New Zealand. A plan is pending approval from Moscow.

A system being developed to sample sewage needs more work before it can provide early warnings of a Covid-19 outbreak like the one now under way in Auckland.

On Monday, a Government order will come into force mandating face covering on public transport.

Global toll

The global number of confirmed cases is now over 24 million, sitting at 24,563,380 according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The number of deaths worldwide is reported to be 833,466.

The United States leads the global tally, with more than 5.9 million confirmed cases, and 181,409 deaths reported - an increase of 941 deaths in 24 hours.

Brazil and India have surpassed 3.76 million and 3.38 million cases respectively.

What should I do?

Auckland is at alert level 3, with the rest of the country at alert level 2. Those levels are confirmed until 11.59pm Sunday, August 30, when Auckland joins the rest of the country at level 2 until at least September 6.

People in Auckland must work from home unless they are essential workers, and stay in their bubble.

The geographic boundary of the Auckland lockdown is the super city, with police operating roadblocks.

Under level 2 rules, there are restrictions on gatherings of more than ten people in Auckland, and masks will become mandatory on public transport, nationwide, at level 2 and above from Monday, August 31.

Auckland is undergoing a testing blitz.

If you are sick, call your GP before you visit, or call Healthline on 0800 358 5453.

To avoid contracting and spreading the virus, wash your hands properly, cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow and throw tissues away immediately.

Reach out: Find support from people who care, connect with your community or help a neighbour in need.

Stuff
A retired military dog will receive a medal for valour after it was injured tackling an al-Qaeda gunman.

Kuno will receive the PDSA Dickin Medal in a virtual ceremony in November, giving it the highest honour for military animal valour.

The three-year-old Belgian malinois and its handler were conducting a compound raid while deployed on a foreign mission in 2019 when they came under attack.

Facing machine gun fire from an insurgent, Kuno tackled the gunman, allowing the mission to be completed successfully.

Kuno was hit by bullets in both hind legs during the assault and parts of its back-left leg had be amputated before he was flown back to the UK.

As a result of its injuries, Kuno became the first dog working in the UK military to be fitted with custom-made prosthetic limbs.

Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, said: Without Kuno, the course of this operation could have been very different and it's clear he saved the lives of British personnel that day.

Kuno's story reminds us not only of the dedicated service of our soldiers and military dogs, but also the great care that the UK armed forces provide to the animals that serve alongside them.

Hero Kuno will receive the PDSA Dickin medal (PA)

Kuno will become the 72nd recipient of the PDSA Dickin Medal, with previous honours going to 34 dogs, 32 Second World War messenger pigeons, four horses, and one cat.

Jan McLoughlin, director general of the PDSA, said: Kuno's heroic actions undoubtedly changed the course of the mission and saved lives.

He took on the enemy without fear or hesitation, never faltering from his duty despite being seriously injured.

For his bravery and devotion to duty, he is a thoroughly deserving recipient of the PDSA Dickin Medal and we look forward to formally presenting his award later this year.

Additional reporting by Press Association
An escalating crisis over the increased number of migrants coming to Bosnia provoked more than 2,000 residents of the western town of Bihac to take to the streets on Saturday and protest the government's inability to handle the problem.

Bihac lies on a well trodden route for immigrants trying to reach Croatia and the European Union, and has been a hotspot for trouble for over two years.

According to the protesters, the central government is not doing enough to protect the local population, as incidents involving migrants have been on a sharp rise.

Last Friday, a riot in one of the camps near Bihac led to the stabbing of a policeman and authorities had to fire warning shots to disperse a crowd of hundreds of migrants.

Bihac residents have demanded that Sarajevo close down all camps in the area and prevent further uncontrolled movement.

The International Organization for Migration, which practically runs three major refugee camps in the Bihac area, says that over 3,000 migrants are now settled there, but that probably double that number are roaming the streets and forests around Bihac as there is no more room in these organised settlements.

The migrants, mostly from Afghanistan and Pakistan but also from Northern Africa, are trying to cross the mountains from Bihac and reach EU territory in Croatia, before moving further towards their desired destinations in Western Europe.
Tungsten isotope helps study how to armor future fusion reactors

The inside of future nuclear fusion energy reactors will be among the harshest environments ever produced on Earth. What's strong enough to protect the inside of a fusion reactor from plasma-produced heat fluxes akin to space shuttles reentering Earth's atmosphere?

Zeke Unterberg and his team at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are currently working with the leading candidate: tungsten, which has the highest melting point and lowest vapor pressure of all metals on the periodic table, as well as very high tensile strength -- properties that make it well-suited to take abuse for long periods of time. They're focused on understanding how tungsten would work inside a fusion reactor, a device that heats light atoms to temperatures hotter than the sun's core so that they fuse and release energy. Hydrogen gas in a fusion reactor is converted into hydrogen plasma -- a state of matter that consists of partially ionized gas--that is then confined in a small region by strong magnetic fields or lasers.

"You don't want to put something in your reactor that only lasts a couple of days," said Unterberg, a senior research scientist in ORNL's Fusion Energy Division. "You want to have sufficient lifetime. We put tungsten in areas where we anticipate there will be very high plasma bombardment."

In 2016, Unterberg and the team began conducting experiments in the tokamak, a fusion reactor that uses magnetic-fields to contain a ring of plasma, at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility , a DOE Office of Science user facility in San Diego. They wanted to know whether tungsten could be used to armor the tokamak's vacuum chamber -- protecting it from rapid destruction caused by the effects of plasma -- without heavily contaminating the plasma itself. This contamination, if not sufficiently managed, could ultimately extinguish the fusion reaction.

"We were trying to determine what areas in the chamber would be particularly bad: where the tungsten was most likely to generate impurities that can contaminate the plasma," Unterberg said.

To find that, the researchers used an enriched isotope of tungsten, W-182, along with the unmodified isotope, to trace the erosion, transport and redeposition of tungsten from within the divertor. Looking at the movement of tungsten within the divertor -- an area within the vacuum chamber designed to divert plasma and impurities -- gave them a clearer picture of how it erodes from surfaces within the tokamak and interacts with the plasma. The enriched tungsten isotope has the same physical and chemical properties as regular tungsten. The experiments at DIII-D used small metal inserts coated with the enriched isotope placed close to, but not at, the highest heat flux zone, an area in the vessel typically called the divertor far-target region. Separately, at a divertor region with the highest fluxes, the strike-point, researchers used inserts with the unmodified isotope. The remainder of the DIII-D chamber is armored with graphite.

This setup allowed the researchers to collect samples on special probes temporarily inserted in the chamber for measuring impurity flow to and from the vessel armor, which could give them a more precise idea of where the tungsten that had leaked away from the divertor into the chamber had originated.

"Using the enriched isotope gave us a unique fingerprint," Unterberg said.

It was the first such experiment conducted in a fusion device. One goal was to determine the best materials and location for these materials for chamber armoring, while keeping impurities caused by plasma-material interactions largely contained to the divertor and not contaminating the magnet-confined core plasma used to produce fusion.

One complication with the design and operation of divertors is impurity contamination in the plasma caused by edge-localized modes, or ELMs. Some of these fast, high-energy events, akin to solar flares, can damage or destroy vessel components such as divertor plates. The frequency of the ELMs, the times per second these events occur, is an indicator of the amount of energy released from the plasma to the wall. High-frequency ELMs can release low amounts of plasma per eruption, but if the ELMs are less frequent, the plasma and energy released per eruption is high, with a greater probability for damage. Recent research has looked at ways to control and increase the frequency of ELMs, such as with pellet injection or additional magnetic fields at very small magnitudes.

Unterberg's team found, as they expected, that having the tungsten far from the high-flux strike-point greatly increased the probability of contamination when exposed to low-frequency ELMs that have higher energy content and surface contact per event. Additionally, the team found that this divertor far-target region was more prone to contamination the SOL even though it generally has lower fluxes than the strike-point. These seemingly counterintuitive results are being confirmed by ongoing divertor modeling efforts in relation to this project and future experiments on DIII-D.

This project involved a team of experts from across North America, including collaborators from Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, ORNL, General Atomics, Auburn University, the University of California at San Diego, the University of Toronto, the University of Tennessee--Knoxville, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as it provided a significant tool for plasma-material interaction research. DOE's Office of Science (Fusion Energy Sciences) provided support for the study.

The team published research online earlier this year in the journal Nuclear Fusion.

The research could immediately benefit the Joint European Torus, or JET, and ITER, now under construction in Cadarache, France, both of which use tungsten armor for the divertor.

"But we're looking at things beyond ITER and JET -- we're looking at the fusion reactors of the future," Unterberg said. "Where is it best to put tungsten, and where should you not put tungsten? Our ultimate goal is to armor our fusion reactors, when they come, in a smart way."

Unterberg said ORNL's unique Stable Isotopes Group, which developed and tested the enriched isotope coating before putting it in a form useful for the experiment, made the research possible. That isotope would not have been available anywhere but from the National Isotope Development Center at ORNL, which maintains a stockpile of almost every element isotopically separated, he said.

"ORNL has unique expertise and particular desires for this type of research," Unterberg said. "We have a long legacy of developing isotopes and using those in all kinds of research in different applications around the world."

In addition, ORNL manages US ITER.

Next, the team will look at how putting tungsten into differently shaped divertors might affect contamination of the core. Different divertor geometries could minimize the effects of plasma-material interactions on the core plasma, they have theorized. Knowing the best shape for a divertor -- a necessary component for a magnetic-confined plasma device -- would put scientists one step closer to a viable plasma reactor.

"If we, as a society, say we want nuclear energy to happen, and we want to move to the next stage," Unterberg said, "fusion would be the holy grail."

UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The next General Election might be more than four years off and Boris Johnson has dismissed claims he could stand down next year due to ill health  but that has not stopped Tory MPs from engaging in their favourite pastime  leadership speculation.

And the consensus is, when the time comes, it is likely to be the 'experience and intellect' of Michael Gove versus the 'charm and charisma' of youthful rising star Rishi Sunak.

The chattering about how long Mr Johnson plans to serve in No 10 increased last week after The Times reported that the father-in-law of Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister's most powerful adviser, had told one of its readers that Mr Johnson would stand down in six months because of the continuing effects of his coronavirus infection.

The scenario is rejected by MPs as highly unlikely, but many think Mr Johnson might step down in 2023 to give his successor time to settle in to No 10 before the 2024 election.

Friends of Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, say they expect him to run for the party leadership then, despite the formidable threat posed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

A senior Tory told the Sunday Times: 'Michael still wants to be prime minister.' And a fellow minister commented it was like 'two armed camps.'

Rishi Sunak has seen his public ratings soar during the coronavirus crisis  above Boris Johnson's  due to successes such as his Eat Out To Help Out scheme

Friends of Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, say they expect him to run for the party leadership then, despite the formidable threat posed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak

Mr Sunak has seen his public ratings soar during the coronavirus crisis  above Mr Johnson's  due to successes such as his Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

The Chancellor is also building a powerful government-in-exile at the Treasury. But Mr Gove also has a strong Whitehall network, having seeded a string of former aides into powerful positions across government  'most of them called Henry', in the words of one observer.

Both men are also jostling for prime position as the effective 'chief executive' of the administration, with Mr Johnson as 'chairman of the board'.

While Mr Sunak, 40, has the machinery of the Treasury at his disposal, Mr Gove, 53, sits on a series of powerful Cabinet committees and is central to the key preparations for Brexit.

The speculation has been fanned by mounting backbench dissatisfaction over repeated Government U-turns, with Tory backbenchers using Whats-App groups to vent their anger. The Mail on Sunday spoke yesterday to several Tory MPs who expect the Prime Minister to stand down before the next Election.

One said: 'No one could blame Boris for not wanting to fight another General Election after what he's been through with Covid and the virus crisis. I also don't think he would want to cling on to the job. He'll want to get Brexit done, see the virus crisis safely sorted out and ensure the economy's back on track.'

The chattering about how long Mr Johnson plans to serve in No 10 increased last week after The Times reported that the father-in-law of Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister's most powerful adviser, had told one of its readers that Mr Johnson would stand down in six months because of the continuing effects of his coronavirus infection

Another said: 'He wanted to be PM and he wanted to have been PM  but does he actually like doing the job?'

One ally of the Chancellor went further to insist that Mr Sunak had to be the next leader. The MP said: 'Rishi stands out as the best choice to succeed Boris.

'He's performed superbly in the face of the pandemic when many other Ministers have been found wanting.

'Having our first ethnic minority Prime Minister would be massive for the party and for the country.'

However, one former Cabinet Minister cautioned that Mr Sunak, who only became Chancellor in February, was potentially at the height of his popularity.

He said: 'We may well be at peak Rishi now. He's got all the plaudits for the virus furlough schemes and responding to the crisis decisively.

'But who knows where we'll be when the furlough ends and un-employment really starts to climb in the winter.'

Last night, allies of Mr Gove and Mr Sunak insisted both men were getting on with their Cabinet jobs - not manoeuvring to succeed Mr Johnson.

Final week of Eat Out To Help Out saw restaurant reservations 'double compared to last year' as insiders reveal Rishi Sunak increased discount from 40% to 50% at the last minute

By Glen Owen for the Mail on Sunday

The last week of the triumphant Eat Out To Help Out scheme led to a doubling in restaurant reservations compared to the same period last year, Treasury projections suggest.

Insiders say the scheme  which ends tomorrow  was the result of 'weeks of brainstorming, debate and modelling', with the Chancellor playing a key role in the success by deciding at the last minute to change the plan from a 40 per cent off deal to 50 per cent off  realising it would stick in minds more and make the calculation much easier.

Mr Sunak's advisers had urged him to prioritise the hospitality industry because 1.4 million people working in it had been furloughed, and 76 per cent do not have a degree or higher qualification, putting them at greater risk of long-term unemployment.

Insiders say the scheme  which ends tomorrow  was the result of 'weeks of brainstorming, debate and modelling', with Chancellor Rishi Sunak playing a key role in the success by deciding at the last minute to change the plan from a 40 per cent off deal to 50 per cent off

The last week of the triumphant Eat Out To Help Out scheme led to a doubling in restaurant reservations compared to the same period last year, Treasury projections suggest (pictured: people enjoying lunch in Covent Garden, London, August 26, 2020)

The idea of a pre-paid card was rejected due to the challenges of producing 50 million debit cards.

During the first three weeks, over 64million discounted meals were claimed in more than 80,000 restaurants  the equivalent to every person in the UK making use of it once.

By the third week, the increase in reservations on the Mondays to Wednesdays when it applied had reached 61 per cent, and last week is thought to have hit 95 per cent.

So far, more than 336million has been claimed back from the Treasury, meaning it may ultimately cost more than the 500million estimate.

A source said: 'We hope it does overshoot because it means more people getting back in the habit of eating out and more jobs saved.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-30 03:24:58|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Katyusha rocket on Saturday evening landed inside the heavily fortified Green Zone in Iraq's capital Baghdad, causing no human casualties, the Iraqi military said.

The rocket was fired from an area near the Qanat al-Jaish waterway, or Army Canal, in eastern Baghdad, and landed on an empty house in the Green Zone where the U.S. embassy and some of the main Iraqi government offices are located, the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a brief statement.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but the military bases housing U.S. troops across Iraq and the Green Zone in Baghdad have been frequently targeted by mortar and rocket attacks.

The Iraqi-U.S. relations have witnessed a tension since Jan. 3, when a U.S. drone struck a convoy at Baghdad airport, which killed Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces.

The U.S. airstrike prompted the Iraqi parliament on Jan. 5 to pass a resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in the country.

More than 5,000 U.S. troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the Iraqi forces in the battles against the Islamic State (IS) militants, mainly for training and advisory purposes. Enditem
(Amends number of participants in second paragraph to 550 from 590 after health ministry corrects figures)

MADRID, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson's Janssen unit will begin Phase II trials for its COVID-19 vaccine in Spain, the Netherlands and Germany next week, Spanish health minister Salvador Illa announced on Friday, as the U.S. drugmaker expands testing for its experimental shot.

The trial will last two months and include 550 participants across the three countries, including 190 people in Spain, Illa told a news conference in Madrid.

More than 150 potential vaccines are being developed and tested globally to stop the COVID-19 pandemic, with 30 in human trials. There is so far no approved COVID-19 vaccine, except one authorised in Russia before large-scale trials. (Reporting by Nathan Allen and Jose Elias Rodriguez; Editing by Belen Carreno)
The state education department will declare the first merit list for admissions to first-year junior college (FYJC) at 3pm on Sunday.

With more than 19,000 students who have applied for admissions scoring 90% and above this year, principals said that the cut-offs are likely to go up. The state and the Mumbai division also recorded the highest pass percentage since 2004.

We are expecting the cut-offs to go up substantially across streams this year as there are so many high scorers, said Rajpal Hande, principal of Mithibai College.

Ashok Wadia, principal of Jai Hind College, Churchgate, said that while cut-offs are expected to be higher, the fact that they are unlikely to decline in subsequent lists, indicates more competition.

Over the past few years, we have seen a trend that even if the merit list goes up only by 1-2% percentage points, it does not fall in the rounds that follow. This means that there are a lot of students with the same high score which leads to seats in prominent colleges getting filled in the first one or two rounds itself, he added.

Last year, despite the state board witnessing one of its worst pass percentages in the past several years, almost all prominent Commerce colleges in the city such as Vile Parles NM College, Matungas Podar College and Churchgates HR College closed their first merit lists above 90%. The cut-offs for Arts were also quite high. While St Xaviers college at Dhobi Talao closed its first list at 94%, the cut-off at Matungas Ramnarain Ruia College was 92.6%.

Owing to the Covid-19 situation, the education department is following the zero contact process to conduct the admissions. Students will get messages on their registered mobile numbers with details of the college allotted to them.

They can confirm their admissions online and can complete the entire admission process through the portal without having to go anywhere. Students who are allotted the college of their first preference have to take admission there. If they fail to do so, they have to wait for all the regular rounds to get over to be able to get another college.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen discussed preparations for the 22nd Ukraine-EU Summit to be held on October 1 and the prospects for economic integration.

They discussed these issues during a phone conversation on August 28, the press service of the head of state reported.

Zelensky noted that the Ukrainian side is committed to close interaction with EU institutions in order to ensure the maximum efficiency of the summit.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the main issues of the Ukraine-EU agenda and further steps needed to strengthen the strategic partnership and deepen economic integration between Ukraine and the European Union. Zelensky expressed hope that a joint statement, which will be adopted following the summit, will reflect the high level of ambitions of Ukraine and the EU for the further development of relations.

"Ukraine and the EU, despite the objective difficulties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, continue the economic integration and strengthen the strategic partnership. In the near future, the Verkhovna Rada will adopt a number of laws on the implementation of the Association Agreement. During the summit, Ukraine will be ready to discuss progress in the implementation of the Agreement and key reforms," Zelensky stated.

In turn, Ursula von der Leyen stressed her full support for Ukraine's integration into the European Union.

The President also noted the importance of the EU decision to provide Ukraine with macro-financial assistance in the amount of EUR 1.2 billion to support macroeconomic stability and the reform process. He expressed hope that the first tranche of EU macro-financial assistance worth EUR 600 million would be allocated in the near future without additional conditions.

"The Government of Ukraine has already begun work on fulfilling the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding between Ukraine and the EU to make it possible to receive the second tranche of macro-financial assistance by the end of this year," the President said.

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Two of the four militants were involved in the abduction and killing of a panch from Khanmoh area of the city, police said

Srinagar: Four militants were killed on Friday in an encounter with security forces, while another surrendered in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The district commander of Al-Badr outfit and another militant involved in the abduction and killing of a panch from Khanmoh area of the city whose body was recovered from Shopian on Friday were among the slain militants.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Kiloora area of Shopian district in south Kashmir following specific information about the presence of militants, a police official said.

He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired upon a search party of the forces, which retaliated.

In the ensuing exchange of fire, four militants were killed, the official said.

Srinagar-based Defence Spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said one militant surrendered during the encounter. "One terrorist (has) surrendered. Two AKs and three pistols (were) recovered (from the encounter site)," he said.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said one of the killed militants was Shakoor Parray, the district commander of Al-Badr outfit.

"Terrorist Shakoor Parray and another terrorist Suhail Bhat who abducted and killed Khanmoh's Panch were neutralised in Friday's encounter," the IGP said.

Police on Friday recovered the body of the panch, who was reported missing 10 days ago from Khonmoh area of the city, from Shopian district.

Local residents of village Dangam in Shopian informed the police that a body seemed to be buried inside an orchard of the village, police said.

The deceased man was identified as Nisar Ahmad Bhat (45), a panch affiliated with the BJP, who was reported missing since 19 August by his family at Panthachowk in the city.
Getty Penn State University

Penn State University has reported that 28 students across its campuses have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the span of one week.

According to the data from the Penn State University's COVID-19 dashboard released on Friday, 14 students tested positive for COVID-19 after the school performed 4,474 asymptomatic tests between August 21 and 27. Meanwhile, 14 others tested positive for the novel coronavirus after 160 symptomatic tests within its student population.

Out of the new cases, 27 were reported from the institution's University Park campus in State College, Pa. One case was reported from Penn State Behrend in Erie, Pa.

RELATED: University of Alabama Reports More Than 500 Cases of Coronavirus Since Classes Began Last Week

The database listed that 1,392 students tests are still waiting for results.

There have been a total of 31 positive student cases since Aug. 7.

As for employees, the database listed that there have been zero positive results out of 125 tests performed.

Penn State said in a release on Friday that it identified 153 COVID-19 positive individuals during the school's pre-arrival testing process. Those individuals, according to the university, were put in isolation to help contain the virus.

"We must all remain extremely vigilant and continue to adhere vigorously to the safety protocols that have been put in place to mitigate the spread of the virus," Penn State President Eric J. Barron said in a statement.

RELATED VIDEO: This High School Teacher Created a Volunteer Group to Help People in Need During Coronavirus

This High School Teacher Created a Volunteer Group to Help People in Need During Coronavirus

Watch more stories in PeopleTV's Kindness & Courage: Coronavirus in America special.

"This includes wearing face masks, maintaining physical distance from one another, practicing good hygiene, and staying home when feeling ill," he continued. "With contact tracing and our efforts in quarantine and isolation, we believe we can limit the virus spread. I cant emphasize enough that we must maintain our focus on our health guidelines."

Story continues

Penn State isn't the only university whose students have tested positive for COVID-19 this fall. Last week, Notre Dame halted in-person classes for two weeks following a surge of COVID-19 cases just eight days after beginning its fall semester.

Similarly, an Oklahoma State University sorority is under quarantine after 23 members tested positive for the respiratory illness days before the start of the fall semester.

As of Friday, there have been more than 5,916,100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, and 181,300 deaths from coronavirus-related illnesses, according to a New York Times database.

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, click here.
An Azeri presidential aide said on Saturday that Russia has been supplying Armenia with weapons since a clash between the two former Soviet republics in July.

More than a dozen Armenian and Azeri soldiers were killed in July at the border between the two, which have long been at odds over Azerbaijan's breakaway, mainly ethnic Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia has called the conflict is a highly sensitive matter. Hikmet Hajiyev, a senior adviser to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, said Russia has been "intensively arming Armenia" right after the July conflict, with Russian Il-76 strategic airlifters flying towards Armenia after July 17.

The Russian foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.

Russia has a military base in Armenia and considers it to be a strategic partner in the South Caucasus region and supplies it with weapons.

Russia told Azerbaijan that those Il-76 planes were carrying building materials, Hajiyev said, adding that Baku was not satisfied with this answer.

"Construction materials are usually not supplied in aeroplanes, there are other tools for that," Hajiyev said.

"Based on observations we also have information that arms are being shipped to the Syrian territory via the Armenia territory," he added.

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Woman convicted in deaths of 6 KCFD firefighters seeks release from prison KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A woman convicted in the 1988 deaths of six Kansas City, Missouri, firefighters is seeking her release from prison. Darlene Edwards' attorneys argued Friday that she suffers from severe medical problems, including morbid obesity and diabetes.

This case was alwaysand now modern day reporters are forced to cry crocodile tears for one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in Kansas City history . . . Here's what might be some form of justice . . .
Will this vile persecution of Andy Coulson never cease? Time and again I have stated here that this Dreyfus du jour knew nothing of the naughtiness committed during his News of the World editorship. He ran the show in the laissez-faire style of his hero Peregrine Worsthorne at The Sunday Telegraph, and was as shocked (shocked!) as anyone by these allegations. Yet with those ignorant of red-top mores continuing to torment him, thank heavens for Ed Balls, who defended Andy after his little chat with the Met last week by insisting that a chap is innocent until proven guilty.

Now some, recalling how as Children's Secretary Ed so brutally removed Sharon Shoesmith long before the inquiry into Baby P's death, might wonder whether this epiphany of his about the presumption of innocence is designed to ingratiate him with the Murdoch press, with any future leadership bid in mind.

Arrant cobblers. The truth is that, if anything, Ed is too genteel for combat politics. But precisely the same could be said of David Cameron's chief spin doctor, and this campaign to drive the high-minded out of public life is precisely the sort of odious cynicism up with which we must not put.

* Someone whose devotion to the Murdoch empire has never been in doubt is my old friend Jon Gaunt, and what a busy boy he's been. Not only did Gaunty raise both the cerebral and sartorial tone on BBC1's Question Time on Thursday, where he appeared in a fetching pink shirt. Earlier that day, he thrilled listeners to Richard Bacon's Radio 5 Live show with a moving cri de coeur for Rupert to be allowed to foxify Sky News. Gaunty seems to regard himself as Britain's Glenn Beck-in-waiting, and so do I. If we must have our own Tea Party, could there be a more seemly lead chimp?

* What a Saturday night for The X Factor judges, with Louis Walsh telling Paije Richardson (short, plump, 19 and black) that he was "like a little Lenny Henry". Let's hope Louis suffers no backlash. It was solely Paije's fault for turning up to rehearsals with a 20st ex-wife in a dog collar, and doing sensationally unfunny impressions of his old Jamaican mum. And let's not forget Simon Cowell's lurch into gnomic philosophy. "If you have a lion," he said of TreyC Cohen (190-1 to win The X Factor; longer odds for any forthcoming spelling bee), "you want it to bite you, not lick you." Do you, Simon? Is that what you want? If Simon does buy the rights to Sky's Cirque du Celebrite, possibly best if he leaves mentoring the lion-tamers to Louis.

* Still with ITV Saturday prime time, I am upset to note Adam Boulton misrepresenting the great Harry Hill. "I regret losing my temper," writes Sky's political editor in his book of the post-election contretemps in which he queenily rebutted Alastair Campbell's accusation of pro-Tory bias, "but I stand by the comments I made. It was a Harry Hill 'fight, fight' moment..." What Adam overlooks is that Harry always introduces the scrap that ends the first half of his satirical show TV Burp with the declaration that he likes both contenders. Which is hardly appropriate here.

* Stories For Which You Must Write Your Own Gags, No 1. In Florida on Thursday, Mr Tony Blair will earn 50,000 for addressing a conference of toilet-roll manufacturers and purveyors of other choice sanitary products. Season punchline to taste, and ingest.

* Timely confirmation of the culture of All Souls' high table effeteness fostered by Andy Coulson comes from the News of the World columnist Carole Malone. On a 1m donation to charity by the actor Ricky Tomlinson, who spent a chunk of his twenties in the National Front before lurching leftward, she writes: "Now that's what REAL socialism ... is all about." Oh Carol, it certainly is. Real socialism is all about wealthy individuals rendering state welfare redundant by giving chunks of their fortune to the deserving poor. That's how one of the great socialist prophets put it anyway  though whether it was Marx or Thatcher I can never quite recall.
A Manhattan real estate developer has been accused of 'squatting' in a Hamptons summer home and refusing to pay the rent due to a ban on evictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Marco Ricotta, 76, has refused to leave the Westhampton Beach house for months, telling one local official, 'I don't have to leave because the governor said so,' according to the New York Post.

Homeowner Elyse Zaccaro, 53, said that Ricotta and his broker girlfriend Jodine Russo stopped paying the home's $3,000 monthly rent in April and have refused to leave the home.

Zaccaro and her husband Tommy del Zoppo, 55, purchased the four-bedroom home for $950,000 in August 2007, records show.

Marco Ricotta, 76, and his broker girlfriend Jodine Russo stopped paying the Westhampton home's $3,000 monthly rent in April and have refused to leave, the homeowner says

Ricotta, who once briefly owned the Tunnel nightclub in Manhattan, could not immediately be reached for comment by DailyMail.com.

Homeowner Elyse Zaccaro said Ricotta has refused to pay rent since April

Zaccaro says that his lease ended on May 3, and that she had planned to spend the summer in the Westhampton Beach home with her aging in-laws and her teenage son.

'We've never rented before and God knows, I'll never rent it again,' she told the Post.

'The eviction moratorium is very well intended for those in need, but it's being misapplied with no due recourse,' she added.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo imposed the eviction moratorium in the early days of the pandemic, and it has since been extended until at least October 1.

Zaccaro said that the moratorium was intended to protect the vulnerable and those who lost income in the pandemic - categories she says do not apply to Ricotta.

'He's never claimed COVID impact. He's not sick and he's never claimed financial hardship  so why is he still in the house?' Zaccaro said of Ricotta.

Zaccaro and her husband Tommy del Zoppo, 55, purchased the four-bedroom home (above) for $950,000 in August 2007, records show

It is not the first time that renters have been accused of taking advantage of the eviction ban improperly to avoid paying rent.

Earlier this month, a judge declared that a New York City woman must continue to live with a 'serial grifter' even though she's allegedly been squatting in her home for months - without paying rent.

Heidi Russell, who lives in Manhattan's West Village, told the New York Post that a city judge ordered her to keep living with Kate Gladstone, 44, who was supposed to be a short-term renter.

Russell said that she had offered to let Gladstone - who she had rented to in the past - use the spare bedroom in her 650-square-foot apartment for $2,000 a month in June 2019.

But, Russell said that she suddenly needed the room back for her mother, who was due to have surgery, so she asked Gladstone to vacate the premises by June 30, 2019.

Gladstone 'flew off the handle, yelling, "No, no, impossible, you're going to ruin my life I'm not leaving,"' Russell told the newspaper.
Matthews father Tadeusz with his fiancee Ella, 1939  shortly before they were torn apart by war

When grieving son Matthew discovered a yellowed letter in his late fathers wallet, he found himself gripped by a tragic wartime romance

Leafing through a large leather wallet full of his late fathers most important documents, Matthew Lutostanski noticed a piece of paper tucked away at the back, as if hidden from view. His father Tadeusz had recently died and Matthew had volunteered to clear out his possessions to spare his mother  now a grieving widow after 40 happy years of marriage  the agony.

But as he went through the papers in that ancient folder, he had no idea he was about to discover a secret that Tadeusz  a Polish refugee whod fled to Britain after the Second World War  had taken to his grave. It was a secret that would shock his only child to the core.

For that yellowing piece of paper folded into eight and tucked so carefully away at the back of the wallet was a letter sent to his father 11 years before  by a woman Matthew knew nothing about. My darling Tadeusz, she had written in their native Polish. At last I have found you. I thought you were dead Oh, how many times I tried to recapture those moments we shared together. We were only weeks from our wedding. How is it possible to have it all stolen in just one night?

Matthew aged eight with his parents.

Matthew stared dumbfounded at the fading lettering. Clearly this woman  Ella  had been engaged to his father before the war. And hed never known. A million questions raced through his mind: what had ripped them apart? Had his father responded to this letter? And did his mother know?

It was a quest for answers that would eventually send Matthew on an odyssey across Europe to discover his fathers incredible past  and ultimately meet the woman hed once loved

In the summer of 1939 the Lutostanski family were an established part of Polish high society, respected members of the nobility with wealth and land to their name. Marian (Matthews grandfather) had been Polands first consul to Moscow before the Russian Revolution of 1917 and his sons Tadeusz and Henryk could look forward to equally bright futures.

Tadeusz, in particular, was excited. A practising lawyer, hed met Ella, the love of his life, at university and was due to marry her in just a few months. But then, in September 1939, the Nazis invaded Poland. Even worse, they signed a non-aggression pact with Communist Russia, agreeing to carve up the country between them. Rumours began to swirl around Warsaw that the Communists were planning to round up the countrys intelligentsia and put them to death.

Warsaw was being bombed and everyone was terrified and thought they were going to die, says Matthew of his familys plight. Then one night there was a knock at the door  the Russians had come for my father.

Maria with Matthew as a baby, 1945

Tadeusz, then 23, was bundled into a lorry with no chance to say goodbye to anyone, let alone Ella, and driven to a concentration camp in Siberia. Death and starvation were the norm.

They said you lasted up to 12 months before you died and the next lot of prisoners came in, says Matthew. But somehow my father lasted a couple of years  he was reluctant to ever talk to me about it, but said it was horrendous and he doesnt know how he survived.

In 1941, the Germans invaded Russia, and Russia changed sides. Suddenly all the Poles in concentration camps were released and told to go and fight Hitler. There were huge convoys driving to Iran  where all the soldiers from his concentration camp had decided to go  and my father begged, borrowed and stole to join them. It was a gruelling journey, lasting weeks; every day theyd stop to turf the bodies of men who hadnt made it out of the truck.

Eventually they made it to Tehran, Iran, where they met up with other Polish soldiers. Then, in a nightclub one evening where the Shah of Iran was a guest, he met my mother, says Matthew. Dad said he was captivated immediately and they had a whirlwind romance.

Tadeuszs brother Henryk, who died in Auschwitz

He didnt mention Ella  he didnt know what had happened to her and thought hed never see her again. In fact, like all the other soldiers, he expected to die before the war was over.

The woman Tadeusz had met was Maria, the beautiful 20-year-old daughter of a Polish judge. When the call went out for people to help the war effort, shed immediately volunteered to drive using the skills she had picked up on the family estate. It was during her time driving huge lorries packed with soldiers that she met Tadeusz  and fell in love immediately.

But as soon as their fledgling romance began, it was over: Tadeusz had orders to go to Italy and fight at Monte Cassino. Everyone said goodbye and Dad didnt think hed meet my mum again, says Matthew. He hadnt made any promises or declared his undying love  theyd just danced the night away.

The crucial battle for Monte Cassino, a hilltop monastery near Rome, began in 1943 and, by the end in early 1944, 55,000 Allies had suffered casualties and fatalities. Astonishingly, Tadeusz survived. And, with some time off owing, he made his way to Cairo for a short holiday.

Matthew has now written a novel inspired by his fathers story

Quite by chance he bumped into my mother again, says Matthew. And they discovered that by accident theyd produced me. They got married in March 1944, then, like many pregnant women, my mother was sent to the nearest neutral country, in this case Palestine, to give birth. By the end of the war my father had a wife and child but no country to go back to because Stalin had taken over.

Both Tadeuszs parents had died in Warsaw  he never found out how  while his brother Henryk, like so many Poles, had lost his life in Auschwitz.

So, when Matthew was just two, his family came to England by boat and settled in Kensington  then a rough, bomb-crater-strewn area of London. Tadeusz was forced to take a job as a dishwasher in a local restaurant because his Polish legal skills were of no use in the UK.

He was a bright man, says his son, and he learned how to make pastries from the chef. Eventually he bought a restaurant and ran it for 15 years. Every month Princess Margaret would send her chauffeur to pick up some of his cakes.

Tadeusz, aged 22, walking his dog Aras in Warsaw, 1938

After selling up when Matthew was around 20, his parents bought a small hotel in Bournemouth, decorating it in the style of the homeland they missed so much, all dark wood and plates hung on walls. There they lived happily and devotedly until Tadeuszs death from cancer in 1986.

And it was while clearing out his effects a few weeks later that Matthew, who ran his

own marketing company, found the letter that Ella had written to his father after a chance encounter with someone who knew Tadeusz had survived.

I was absolutely dumbfounded. It was spectacularly romantic, all about his relationship with her, but she clearly didnt expect anything from him, she just wanted to say, I hear youre alive, I love you. The letter implied theyd never slept together or had an argument  there was nothing between them but pure, undiluted love.

I rocked back in my chair and thought about it and, funnily enough, I wasnt in any way upset. She was there before my mother and Dad hadnt done anything wrong. This wasnt an ex-lover, this was someone hed promised his life to. I felt she had a legitimate reason to write to him when she discovered hed survived.

Ella spoke movingly of her devastation on hearing her fiance had been ripped away from her in the night. Shed eventually met someone else and was now happily married with five children. Even though this was a part of his fathers life Matthew knew nothing about, it never crossed his mind to find out more. Yes, I was shocked and intrigued, but I didnt know who she was and I wasnt interested. It was history.

Maria in her uniform, aged 19. Dad said he was captivated immediately and they had a whirlwind romance, says Matthew

He also decided not to tell his mother. I know she knew Tadeusz had been engaged before the war, but I dont know if he told her about this letter. I suspect not. I didnt mention it because I didnt think it was necessary.

Over the next few years, divorce Matthew put the letter to the back of his mind, until one day in 2003 when one of his own four children was looking for a family tale to include in a university dissertation.

He told her the story which got him thinking about it again. And then he picked up a pen. Right from the first time I read that letter, I thought Id like to meet this woman, but I was raw from losing Dad, says Matthew.

The letter was in my desk and it used to wink at me. I always wondered what Dad had been like before the war. But while my mother was alive  she died four years after Dad  Id never done anything about it.

But in 2003 the time was right and he sent a letter to Ella in Poland. She wrote straight back. She told me theyd written ten or 20 letters between them after that first one, says Matthew. I dont know what happened to the other ones she sent him  he didnt keep them.

So I wrote back saying, Id like to speak to you. I wanted to know more. Ella sent me her number and I phoned her. She knew all about me from Dad and told me, He was so proud of you. He was quite a stern man, but hed waxed lyrical to Ella in his letters.

I asked to meet her but she didnt want to until I told her I only wanted to meet because I wanted to know more about Dad as a young man. That moved her.

And so, later that year, he found himself getting on a plane to Warsaw. I was excited and quite emotional about meeting the woman Dad would have married had war not broken out.

That night, in a restaurant in the Old Town of Warsaw over pierogi and duck, he heard the story of his fathers younger life. She was wonderful and made me laugh a lot, says Matthew. She was quite eccentric  when she laughed her wig would fall off and shed pop it back on without saying anything.

By now Ella was about 84 and a senior judge in her country. She talked about Dad in the most extraordinary terms, about how amazing he was and how deeply in love with him she was.

I learned so much about him  she only told me the good, like his ability to organise things. I got the whole story.

The only thing she wouldnt tell me was the content of his letters  she wouldnt let me see them. I was disappointed but also slightly relieved. Im not sure Id want to read my dad saying loving things to another woman.

Maria and Tadeusz in their Bournemouth hotel, 1975, where they lived happily until his death in 1986.

After a six-hour supper, they said their goodbyes. As I left I knew I wouldnt see her again, says Matthew. The reason Id gone was to find out about Dad and I had done. I didnt have any other need to have a relationship with her  Id have felt like Id betrayed my mother.

A few years ago, he heard that Ella had died. But that single meeting stayed with him until earlier this year when Britain went into lockdown and Matthew decided to write a fictionalised account of their romance. Id always thought my fathers story would make an amazing book, he says, and suddenly I had time to write it.

The result is titled Loving Two Women: A Gripping Story of Love, Duty, Sacrifice and Determination, a novel based on his fathers heartbreaking experience.

The pair together in London, 1962

When I met Ella I could see why my father had fallen in love with her, says Matthew. But he was an exemplary and loving father and husband, and nothing has changed the way I feel about him.

Matthews book Loving Two Women: A Gripping Story of Love, Duty, Sacrifice and Determination is available in paperback at amazon.co.uk, price 5.99, and on Kindle
The government is discussing the possibility of having a common electoral roll for Lok Sabha, assembly and local body elections to avoid discrepancies and bring uniformity in the voters list, officials said on Saturday. At present, the Election Commission prepares the electoral roll or voter list for Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The state election commissions, which are altogether separate bodies as per constitutional provisions, hold elections for local bodies such as municipalities and panchayats in their respective states based on their own voter lists.

Several state election commissions use the draft voter list of the EC to formulate their own rolls. The draft EC roll is often divided into wards for local body elections.

Now, the Centre is exploring the possibility of having a single voter list for Lok Sabha, assembly and local body polls as this can help bring in uniformity and also save costs involved in an entire exercise getting repeated for making separate voter lists, officials said.

There are provisions in the Constitution that empower states to formulate their own laws to hold panchayat and municipal polls. States also have powers to either have their own voter lists or to adopt the one prepared by the EC for assembly polls.

"The government is discussing whether there can be a single electoral roll for these three types of elections. Now, states have to be persuaded to adopt the central electoral roll ( the one prepared by EC)," explained a senior functionary.

According to another functionary, it is "desirable" to have one common electoral roll as at present an entire exercise gets repeated for the same purpose.

"Money is also spent for the same exercise twice. One roll can be good for voters also and there would be no discrepancy in local body and assembly voter lists," he said.

Often discrepancies have been noticed when names of voters are missing in one of the lists.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister's Office organised a meeting on the issue where top officials of the Law Ministry and the EC gave their views on the present status and the future possibilities.

Asked whether the proposed single electoral roll was linked to the idea of holding simultaneous elections, a government official said the two are not linked as simultaneous polls typically refer to holding Lok Sabha and assembly polls together in the Indian context.

The Election Commission, the Law Commission and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Personnel Ministries have supported the idea of a single voter list in the past also.

In a letter written to the government in November 1999, the Election Commission had said that separate rolls prepared by the EC and State ECs "not only create confusion among the electors because their names may be present in one roll but absent in the other, or vice versa, but also result in duplication of effort and expenditure."

In its report on Demands for Grants (2016-17) of the Law Ministry, the standing committee had also pointed out that as of now, the EC and State Election Commissions have separate electoral rolls.

"They carry out registration of voters and updation of electoral rolls separately. The numbers of voters in their electoral rolls usually vary," it had said.Also Read: Lok Sabha translator jobs 2020: Check eligibility criteria, salary, age limitAlso Read: RBI restructuring package: Industry divided on regulator's new scheme
Safety is one of two challenges preventing the technology from becoming widely used, said Derya Aksaray, an assistant professor of aerospace engineering and mechanics at the University of Minnesota. Safe autonomous technology for eVTOL aircrafts is still being developed, Professor Aksaray said.

These vehicles need to look at their environment, assess the situation and act accordingly, she said. They cannot wait for a pilot or an operator to say, Now do this, now do that. We cannot wait for that kind of micromanagement of the vehicle.

The other challenge is design: The vehicles should be powerful enough to carry any necessary weight, yet quiet enough to fly at undetermined low altitudes, she said.

Ella Atkins, a professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan, expressed mixed views on the practicality of eVTOL machines.

They are going to be more energy efficient than helicopters that use a lot of fuel but they will be less energy efficient than cars because they have to lift themselves, she said. From a cost perspective, they wont be practical to go to the grocery store.

Professor Atkins said these machines may be better suited for satellite communities of cities or countries with difficult terrain.

These vehicles can provide transportation, Professor Atkins said, adding that these communities might skip right over having roads and use the aircraft as their main form of transportation.
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The majority of those killed and injured were Black, thanks to the port's mandate -- which was typical of the military at the time -- that only Black enlistees were "allowed" to perform the dangerous task of loading ammunition onto ships. Considering that Port Chicago accounted for a whopping 15% of Black casualties during WWII, it's unlikely the top brass received any thank-you cards for this magnanimous gesture.

Several days after the disaster, an official body of inquiry found that the explosion was likely caused by an ammunition loader(s) accidentally mishandling or dropping a box, owing to how "Colored enlisted personnel are neither temperamentally or intellectually capable of handling high explosives." Unsurprisingly, the white officers who supervised the loaders escaped without being found at fault. That was despite the inquiry not only finding that the supervising officers would frequently push the loaders to load munitions faster than was allowed -- or even possible, according to professional stevedores -- to win a contest, but that several complaints had been made about unsafe working conditions at the port. One of those included a plumber who fled the port after witnessing a loader accidentally drop an artillery shell from a height of two feet.

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It then chased him for several minutes before falling into a lava pit.

The kicker, though? The inquiry found that of the black enlistees tasked with loading munitions, none had actually been trained in how to do so. Why? Because in the view of the port's higher-ups, the enlistees were "poor material" for training and would require "unusually close supervision," a problem to which the only solution was giving them no training at all. After all, what's the worst that can happen? Oh, right.

In the aftermath, families of enlistees who'd died were awarded $5,000 by Congress, although this was dropped to $3,000 after Congress learned that most victims were Black. As for the surviving loaders, they were awarded the sweet sum of $crewyou, no time off, no additional pay, no counseling, no respite, no nothing -- despite the disaster leaving many loaders traumatized and exhibiting signs of PTSD. "Everybody was scared," said survivor Percy Robinson. "If somebody dropped a box or slammed a door, people jumping around like crazy."
Professor Emerita Takyiwaa Manuh, the Vice Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), has reiterated that containing and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic has serious implication on Ghanas development agenda.



As we move into the recovery phase, it would be important to determine the drivers of labour productivity and innovations in the labour market that will provide sufficient conditions for attaining Ghanas development aspirations, Prof Manuh stated at the 12th National Development Forum in Accra.



The forum, which was organized by the NDPC was on the theme The Future of Work in Post-COVID-19 Ghana.



Prof Manuh said it was human beings (and their productivity-human capital) that drive the growth and development of nations; declaring that the means of generating and extracting productivity from employees was an important part of that process.



She noted that, the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic had challenged the peoples way to socialize and conduct their business.



The measures adopted to control the spread of the virus have prompted the need to circumvent conventional strategies for keeping employees productive, including working from home, and the use of virtual media and applications to ensure social and physical distancing, she said.



Due to the uncertainty of a cure for the virus and the new thinking of living with the virus, it begs the question, what scenarios for the future of work conditions should occupy the minds of employers as well as employees in the public, private and informal sectors of our economy.



Prof Manuh intimated that Ghana was seeking to build a solidly developed nation at 100 years and it would rely on the mobilization and full deployment of its human capital to drive that ambition.



She said that the outcome of the forum would inform policy directions for the next medium-term development agenda, 2022-2025.

Source: GNA









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Vicki Gunvalson has been expanding her real estate portfolio recently.

And the Real Housewives of Orange County alum shared videos to her Instagram stories on Friday, as she toured her new North Carolina lake house for the first time.

The 58-year-old star purchased the house online, without viewing it first, though she said after seeing it in person it was 'everything I thought it would be.'

First viewing: Vicki Gunvalson shared videos to her Instagram stories on Friday, as she toured her new North Carolina lake house for the first time (with her grandson Troy)

Vicky posed on a bench outside the house with her grandson Troy.

'So excited to finally see this vacation/rental lake house I bought online without seeing it,' she wrote. 'It's everything I thought it would be.'

The 58-year-old's daughter Briana Culberson lives in North Carolina with her husband Ryan and their sons Troy and Owen, and they are expecting baby number three.

It seems the reality TV star bought the home to be closer to family as they joined her to tour the new property.

Sight unseen: The 58-year-old star purchased the house online, without viewing it first, though she said after seeing it in person it was 'everything I thought it would be'

Lakeside: Sharing a full view of the back of the house, it was shaded and tucked between lush green trees. A long set of stairs led from the house to the lake's dock, led by wooden railing

Rustic: The kitchen featured light wood cabinets, a large island with bar seating, and dark granite counter tops that complimented cool toned back splash

Sharing a full view of the back of the house, it was shaded and tucked between lush green trees.

A long set of stairs led from the house to the lake's dock, led by wooden railing.

Inside, she only showed brief clips of the home.

The kitchen featured light wood cabinets, a large island with bar seating, and dark granite counter tops that complimented cool toned back splash.

Vaulted: For a true lake house feel, the walls were wood paneled and the vaulted ceiling above the family room featured exposed beams

Close by: The 58-year-old's daughter Briana Culberson lives in North Carolina with her husband Ryan and their sons Troy and Owen, and they are expecting baby number three (pictured in June 2020)

A hanging pot organization rack hung from a support beam over the island providing extra storage.

White appliances topped off the kitchen.

For contrast, the floors in the kitchen were done in a dark stone, while the rest seemed to be in a light wood flooring.

For a true lake house feel, the walls were wood paneled and the vaulted ceiling above the family room featured exposed beams.

Stay warm: For a rustic touch, the fireplace was done in exposed stone with a brick interior

Marveling: Vicki was video taped taking in her new home

Faux: Large windows let light into the home from the faux log exterior

For a rustic touch, the fireplace was done in exposed stone with a brick interior.

Large windows let light into the home from the faux log exterior.

Her latest purchase comes after she put her longtime Orange County home on the market and scooped up a penthouse in Puerto Vallarta.

She can take in the panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from the comfort of her jacuzzi on the breezy patio of her high-rise she bought in June.

Nice view: Her latest purchase comes after she put her longtime Orange County home on the market and scooped up a penthouse in Puerto Vallarta, which featured panoramic views of the ocean (pictured July 12)

'It's bittersweet': The Chicago-born blonde was in California recently for the 'first showing' of her five-bedroom Coto de Caza mansion, which she put on the market for $3.35M after over 26 years of living there

The Chicago-born blonde was in California recently for the 'first showing' of her five-bedroom Coto de Caza mansion, which she put on the market for $3.35M after over 26 years of living there.

Vicki is also considering buying a home in San Diego to be closer to her son Michael from her first marriage to Michael J. Wolfsmith, which ended in 1991 after nine years of marriage.

The twice-divorced mother-of-two announced she quit the Bravo series on January 24 after being demoted from housewife to 'friend' status in the 14th season last year.

The Flat Tummy Co paid partner now keeps busy recording her Westwood One podcast, Whoop It Up With Vicki, with her 62-year-old groom-to-be as well as selling $125 personalized messages on Cameo.
Gardai said they were alerted to an incident on the N11 flyover footbridge at Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow, as a result of a number of complaints received from members of the public shortly after 4pm.

Gardai attended the scene and arrested a woman in her 50s under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, 1994. She is currently in Bray Garda station.

According to The Irish Times, the woman is an anti-facemask activist who was trying to hang large banners over the edge of the footbridge.

During the livestream she called the gardai traitors to the Irish people and warned them they will go viral.

The garda asked one of the protesters for her name and address under the Public Order Act which she refused to give.

Gardai said investigations are ongoing.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Saturday said the applications received by him for a probe into alleged drug nexus in Bollywood will be forwarded to the CBI, which is probing actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case.

The CBI is currently interrogating Rajput's girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty who has been booked on the charge of abetting his suicide.

"The memorandums received by me to probe the alleged drug nexus in Bollywood will be given to the CBI for further action," the home minister told reporters.

When asked about the BJP's allegation that Mumbai Police had overlooked the drug angle when they were probing the case, the home minister said, "(BJP) leaders have good relations with Bollywood.

What did they (BJP) do when that party was in power in the state in the last five years?" Deshmukh asked.

The 34-year-old actor was found hanging on June 14 in his flat in suburban Bandra.

The Supreme Court recently upheld the transfer of an FIR, lodged by Rajput's father in Patna against Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting his son's suicide and misappropriating his money, to the CBI.

A three-member team of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) from Delhi arrived here on Thursday to probe the drugs aspect in the case.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing the case against Chakraborty.

On Wednesday, the NCB registered an FIR against Chakraborty and others.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D., Pa.) speaks in support of postal workers and the U.S Postal Service in Northeast Philadelphia on Tuesday. Read more

The Postmaster General said earlier this month that he was suspending some planned operational changes, making at least a partial retreat amid growing criticism that the Trump administration is undermining the U.S. Postal Service in a bid to hobble mail voting in the presidential election.

But that hasnt solved pervasive mail delivery problems across the Philadelphia region. At least a dozen mail sorting machines have been removed from USPS processing centers across Southeastern Pennsylvania in the last two months, union leaders say  that damage has already been done.

And while Postmaster General Louis DeJoy pulled back on additional changes, the main policy in effect that is causing delays across the country remains unchanged, union leaders said. Philadelphians are still going days without mail. And workers and experts say the Postal Services problems run deeper than just the new policies.

Staffing remains unsustainably low, the product of longtime issues exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. And while overtime pay has been restored, DeJoys enforcement of a policy that orders carriers and delivery trucks to leave for their posts on time, whether they have all their mail or not, remains in place.

In his Aug. 18 statement, DeJoy said he was suspending additional cost-saving measures  which had included removing mail sorting machines, and cutting post office hours  to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail.

But he didnt address the changes that had already been made. DeJoy, a major campaign donor to President Donald Trump, later said in Senate testimony that machines that have been removed wont be put back. A USPS spokesperson did not respond to questions about whether the delivery policy, which has resulted in dozens of bins of mail being left behind, will be reversed.

Union leaders said that most of the machines have already been disassembled and sent to scrapyards.

But the main factors contributing to the mail delays arent the removal of machines, which has generated headlines and anxiety across the country, union leaders and post office experts said. The focus on the reduction in machines also obscures the fact that machines were already being cut over the years, as mail volume decreased long before the pandemic.

More direct culprits, they said, are DeJoys policy that delivery trucks and mail carriers must leave mail behind if its not sorted by the time their shifts begin, along with widespread staffing shortages  caused by a lenient pandemic leave policy, poor retention, and widespread coronavirus cases. Those have combined to create a backlog that sometimes grows faster than it is delivered, workers say.

Months away from being efficient

DeJoy did reinstate overtime, which has helped Lehigh Valley offices catch up on deliveries, said Andy Kubat, president of the regional postal union.

Still, residents across the Philadelphia area continue to report days- and weeks-long delays.

Testifying before a U.S. Senate committee, DeJoy said that in Philadelphia, the intimidation of the coronavirus has been the main problem. He said the average availability of Postal Service employees has dropped about 4% nationwide due to the pandemic. But in urban areas like Philadelphia, where at least 143 employees have contracted the virus since March, employee attendance is down more than 25%, he said.

The Postal Service also extended its leave policy in April to allow 80 hours of emergency paid sick leave and up to 12 weeks of leave for family or child-care emergencies, which has contributed to more employee absences.

Joe Rodgers, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Keystone 157 in Philadelphia, said the Postal Service failed to hire much-needed carriers before the pandemic. Its trying to hire now, but the jobs are specialized and physically taxing, which makes it difficult to retain employees and teach them quickly.

We are months away from being efficient, Rodgers said.

Leaving mail behind

Massive USPS machines scan and sort hundreds of thousands of letters based on delivery routes. The sorted items are then placed into bins, which truck drivers bring to the designated post offices for carriers to deliver.

In the past, if a machine was running behind schedule, the Postal Service would allow the trucks to wait, or dispatch additional drivers. In a recent report, the agencys Office of the Inspector General said this is generally because managers prioritized high-quality service above the financial health of the Postal Service.

But DeJoy, a former logistics executive who has sought to improve the agencys dire finances, saw this as a shortcoming that led to unnecessary overtime. Upon his appointment in June, he ordered trucks and carriers to leave on time. That meant, he acknowledged in his Senate testimony, some mail got stuck on a dock.

A 2019 order had mandated that trucks leave on time, but was routinely ignored until recently, with USPS logging more than 590,000 late trips across the country in the second half of 2019, including more than 13,000 from a Philadelphia distribution center, according to a Postal Service report.

DeJoy cited an estimated $1 billion in annual savings in defending the trucks order before Congress.

It is really a farce to sit here and believe that we can do nothing, DeJoy said this month at a Senate hearing.

Postal employees said the wait time and extra trips are worth it to ensure people get their mail on time.

When you have a truck leaving empty because the machine has to run for another 10 minutes, wouldnt it be better to wait 10 minutes and take it all at once? Kubat said.

Trash in a box

Eight delivery bar-code sorting machines and one flat sorting machine have been decommissioned from Philadelphias Processing and Delivery Center, one of the largest such plants in the country, said Nick Casselli, president of American Postal Workers Union Local 89 in Darby. Casselli said scraps of metal parts are sitting in boxes on the floor of the Lindbergh Avenue facility.

It just looks like trash in a box, Casselli said. We have more empty spaces on the workroom floor right now than we do machinery.

Three machines have been removed from the Lehigh Valley Areas processing plant, Kubat said.

One has been thrown away, and two are disconnected just sitting in parts on the work floor, he said.

The dismantling of the letter-sorting machines has only slightly contributed to the delays seen across Philadelphia this summer, as the volume of letter mail has substantially dropped, Casselli said. But he worries that once businesses and schools reopen, mail will pick back up, and existing delays could be exacerbated.

Data reports to the Postal Regulatory Commission show that dozens of machines have been decommissioned in recent years based on volume and productivity, but the speed and amount that have been decommissioned this year is unprecedented.

A memo obtained by the Washington Post showed that the USPS planned to decommission 671 letter-sorting machines, or about 10% of its inventory, this year as part of a long-term plan to adjust to the declining use of letter mail. By comparison, 125 machines were decommissioned in 2018, and 186 were taken offline in 2019.

Staff writer Harold Brubaker contributed to this article.
San Luis Obispo County Toyota owners are invited to service at Toyota of San Luis Obispo.

Toyota drivers living in and around San Luis Obispo County, California have a local automotive service department that they can count on for quality and reliable service. Whether in need of preventative maintenance, a repair or parts installation, the experienced staff at Toyota of San Luis Obispo have the skills and know-how it takes to get the job done.

The Toyota of San Luis Obispo Service Center provides services like lube, oil and filter change, front end alignment, brake repair and replacement, service packages, windshield wiper replacement, muffler and exhaust repair, transmission and coolant flushes, spark plug replacement, electrical service, air conditioner repair, tire replacement, battery service and much more. Toyota of San Luis Obispo is also a local resource for ordering and installing Genuine Toyota Accessories and Parts, which can be ordered through the dealership and installed by its service technicians.

Toyota of San Luis Obispo also offers service specials to assist customers in making these vital services more affordable. Additionally, Toyota of San Luis Obispo services Toyota vehicles that have ToyotaCare and ToyotaCare Plus, which covers qualifying maintenance and services at no cost to the owner.

Individuals interested in servicing their Toyota at Toyota of San Luis Obispo can schedule a service appointment at https://www.toyota-slo.com. The dealership also offers a wide selection of new Toyota vehicles and pre-owned models for shoppers to choose from, which can also be accessed at its website. Inquiries can be directed to the dealerships friendly staff by calling 805-544-5087. Toyota of San Luis Obispo is located at 12350 Los Osos Valley Road.


In the middle of a bitterly cold January night in 2019, East St. Paul resident Brian Hayward woke with a start at the sound of "a really loud bang."

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In the middle of a bitterly cold January night in 2019, East St. Paul resident Brian Hayward woke with a start at the sound of "a really loud bang."

His power was off  along with that of 3,000 other Manitoba Hydro customers in the area. The lights would be restored four hours later.

What became apparent to Hayward and many of his neighbours in the hours and days that followed is that they had suffered more than a temporary loss of power.

A power surge had ruined household appliances, blown furnaces, knocked out floor heaters and left burn marks around electrical outlets. Even surge protectors got fried, some residents claimed.

Hayward found that his ceramic-top induction stove didn't work. He would eventually discover other damage as well  to a hot tub and a bathroom floor heater. All told, it cost him about $2,300 to have everything fixed.

Manitoba Hydro urged customers who believed a power surge damaged their electronic equipment to call its claims number or contact their insurance company. About 250 customers, including Hayward, filed claims with Hydro.

They're still waiting for compensation, and the Crown corporation isn't guaranteeing that they'll ever get it.

Hayward, a businessman and former grain company executive, is appalled.

Brian Hayward spent $2,300 to have various appliances and other electrical devices fixed after a power surge in January 2019. (Jesse Boily / Winnipeg Free Press)

"I actually find it irresponsible and bizarre," he said in an interview this week.

When he called the number Hydro provided, he said he was told to repair his appliances and forward copies of his bills, which he did a few months later.

Since then, despite numerous emails and phone calls with Hydro officials, including president and CEO Jay Grewal, he has yet to receive any satisfaction.

Hydro spokesman Bruce Owen said no compensation has been paid yet as a "technical review and investigation" of the power surge is ongoing.

Asked if anyone will be compensated, he said via email: "We can't speculate on that at this point, as the investigation is ongoing."

Nor would Owen divulge the total value of the 250 damage claims the corporation has received, saying it was "inappropriate" to discuss that while the probe continues.

Initially, Hydro said the power outage and surge had been triggered by a downed power line touching another line at Gateway Road and Pritchard Farm Road.

This week, the company attributed the outage to "an unexpected equipment failure, which likely resulted in the surge for some customers."

An insulator on a power line failed, Owen said. He would not identify its manufacturer.

Brian Hayward was one of 250 people to put in claims with Manitoba Hydro after the power surge. Hydro says the investigation is still ongoing. (Jesse Boily / Winnipeg Free Press)

"We're waiting for the investigation to conclude before making any decisions (regarding compensation)," the company spokesman said. "We appreciate that this long timeline is frustrating for our customers, and we're pushing to have this investigation concluded as quickly as possible so we can notify our customers as to the status of their claims."

Hayward, who heads a company that advises Canadian and international clients on corporate governance, strategy and business development, said he doesn't understand Hydro's stance.

Either it should take responsibility for the damage and compensate its customers or it should press the manufacturer for damages on their behalf, he said.

Hayward said he did not pursue a claim through his home insurance because it appeared initially that Hydro was prepared to compensate customers for their losses. He has since switched insurance providers.

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Describing himself "as a dog with a bone," Hayward said he will continue to hound the utility.

"I'm doing this because I think it's right, not because I'm worrying about the 2,300 bucks," he said.

"Who else is getting screwed here?"

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), have resolved to boycott a press conference planned for a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who is presently in the state.

In a statement on Friday, August 28, 2020, the Union directed all journalists not to attend any activity organised by the former minister who arrived the state on Thursday August 27th.

This is coming a few days after Fani-Kayode was caught on camera raining insults at a Daily Trust journalists, Eyo Charles, for asking him a stupid question during a press conference in Calabar, Cross River State.

Charles had asked Fani-Kayode who bankrolled his recent tour of some southern states. But the former minister who was infuriated by the question, said the journalist was stupid.

Reacting to the heavy criticism the video generated, Fani-Kayode said he had no apology to offer, insisting that he was insulted by the question thrown at him by the journalist at the press conference.

However, after meeting his advisors, Fani-Kayode finally apologized for insulting the journalist, adding that he regretted his action which had made him to offend many of his friends in the media.
Kangana Ranaut has been the only name to open up on Bollywood links to narcotics amid Rhea Chakrabortys alleged involvement in drugging Sushant Singh Rajput. In a new interview with Republic TV, the actress shared that she had faced a similar situation at the hands of a character actor, a person who she has alleged of assault numerous times in the past. She claimed that the man, who first became a self-appointed mentor became a self-appointed husband and used to 'drug her and assault her in house arrest.'

READ: In Sushant Case, CBI Reveals Probe Details, Says 'investigation On For Both Angles'

Kangana Ranaut speaks to Arnab Goswami on Sushant case

Speaking to Republic Media Network Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, Kangana stated that it was likely that Sushant was drugged to break his mind, or create a conspiracy around his murder. She stated Sushant was not from a family that would consume hard drugs like LSD, and that Rhea might have arranged marijuana, which is legal in some countries, from abroad for Sushant. Highlighting how Rheas name was linked to drug mafia even before she met Sushant, Kangana called the film industry a gutter for its involvement with drugs.

Kangana then shared her own journey, the difficulty for her to leave Manali at the age of 16, winning a competition in Chandigarh, and an agency then sending her to Mumbai. After living in a hostel for some time, she started living with an aunty at a flat. The Tanu Weds Manu star recalled how the character actor befriended her at this time, promising to help her in films, taking her for dinners, sending a TV at her accommodation. She claimed that the person became her 'self-appointed mentor' and impressed the aunty with his film connections, and the three started living together.

Kangana then revealed, He fought with the aunty and asked her to leave. But he kept my belongings in the home and locked me. And whatever I would do, his staff would straightaway give updates to him. It felt almost like a house arrest." The actress added, He took me to parties and once I felt an intoxication, that led to intimacy between us. Then I realised that it was not done willingly, but my drink had been spiked. And after that incident, within a week, he became my self-appointed husband. And if I tell him, you are not my boyfriend, hed charge at me with slippers to hit me.

READ:Kangana Ranaut Shares 'Tejas' Update; Says 'proud To Be Part Of Exhilarating Story'

She continued, He started taking me to meetings where people from Dubai, those associated with gold mines, coal mines, from big and small cities, would attend, and hed make me sit in the middle with the elderly men, and he himself would leave the meeting. They would take my number and I started fearing that they would supply me to Dubai.

Kangana finally got her break with the film Gangster, produced by the Bhatts in 2007. However, the news upset the 'character actor'

When I got the break, he was agitated. He started telling me after drinking that he never expected that I will get a break so soon. After that he started sedating me with injections, so that I am not able to go to shoots, I told my director Anurag Basu about it. If he would hit me and Id have bruises, Anurag would make me stay at his office for many nights, to protect me," Kangana stated.

Even after I got another flat on rent, he made a fake key and would enter anytime he wishes, she added.

An alleged statement of Bhatts to Sushant that he was going the Parveen Babi way has been doing the rounds. Kangana recalled how the person also brought the late stars topic, also revealing that person would ask her to repeat Mahesh Bhatts term repeatedly.

Kangana shared, "He started telling me, 'you will become Parveen Babi. Do you know what had happened to her? She was drugged to trigger her mental illness and thats what will be done to you as well.'"

She continued, "When I started going to the sets, Mahesh Bhatt, who came only once said, black cat in a dark room continuously. I was just 18 years old then."

She claimed even the character actor would ask her to repeat it, "Then he would ask me what Mahesh Bhatt told me. Then he would drug me and tell me to repeat black cat in a dark room for hours. All he wanted to do was create that hallucinatory feeling when one feels they are in a different world. I would have committed suicide, but maybe the blessings of my gurus and my inclination towards yoga helped me. When he felt I was going out of his grasp, he started getting more violent. During that phase, one night, I jumped from the window in a drugged condition and got an FIR registered against him."

Watch the promo above, watch the full interview soon

READ:Sushant's Sister Backs Kanganas Protection Demand Over Bollywood-narcotics Link Details

READ:Kangana Ranaut Responds To B'wood Names Linking To Narcotics' Angle, Shares Own Experience

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
The Texas Education Agency has concluded that the San Antonio Independent School District did not fulfill its obligations under federal law to provide special education to eligible inmates in the Bexar County Jail for a year ending in February.

The state agency investigated after Disability Rights Texas, an advocacy group, filed a complaint in late February on behalf of five inmates.

The TEA ordered SAISD to reach an agreement with the Sheriffs Office that requires the jail to determine the educational histories of inmates under age 22, provide space and other resources for special education classes and communicate once a month about special education referrals. Failing that, SAISD must devise a process for requesting the educational records of the younger inmates from other school districts.

I believe many correctional facilities in the state of Texas probably have this problem, said Robert Winterode, an attorney for Disability Rights Texas. We hope more school districts take notice.

It cant happen right away, officials said. For one thing, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards has suspended education in jails due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, states must provide a free and appropriate public education to students 21 and younger with disabilities.

The law obligates SAISD to provide special education in the Bexar County Jail because it is located within the school districts boundaries. It requires SAISD to identify and evaluate students aged 21 or younger who might be eligible for special education and have not earned traditional high school diplomas.

No special education was provided at the Bexar County Jail during a yearlong period that ended Feb. 24, jail staff told the TEA.

Because SAISD has intentionally failed to address the disability needs of students incarcerated at the Bexar County Jail, the school district has relinquished these young men and women to an educational No Mans Land  without any educational rights, Winterode wrote in the complaint to the TEA.

School districts do not have to provide special education to inmates between the ages of 18 and 21 in adult correctional facilities if they did not receive special education before incarceration, but those with histories of special education must be re-evaluated to devise new plans. Inmates under 18 who might be eligible must be evaluated regardless of their histories with special education.

Disability Rights Texas had filed a similar complaint against Houston ISD on behalf of Harris County Jail inmates. As a result, Houston ISD created a new position to oversee special education in the jail. Then, in January 2019, a Bexar County Jail inmate who wanted to earn a high school diploma told Disability Rights Texas the jail was not providing special education.

Winterode found four more Bexar County Jail inmates with disabilities who wanted special education and complained on behalf of them all. Four of the inmates had received special education in schools and the fifth claimed to have been eligible. None had traditional high school diplomas.

Inmates with disabilities who are working toward high school diplomas might need tutoring, specialized reading or math, counseling for emotional problems, speech therapy, screen readers or any number of other accommodations, Winterode said.

SAISD and the Bexar County Jail had an agreement for the school district to provide voluntary high school equivalency and English as a Second Language classes in the jail, but the agreement didnt spell out SAISDs special education responsibilities, said Leslie Price, school district spokeswoman.

The average stay of an inmate at the Bexar County Jail is between 40 and 45 days. When inmates arrive, jail staff ask for the highest level of education theyve completed and whether they have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. But inmates are not asked where they went to school or whether they received special education. The jail does not have access to their educational records, said Adelina Simpson, a spokeswoman for the Bexar County Sheriffs Office.

In some cases, SAISD has learned of incarcerated students in need of special education while trying to track down seemingly truant special-needs SAISD students and locating them in the jail, Price said. In other cases, advocates or parents have asked for the services. But without knowing which other school districts inmates came from or their special education history, SAISD has no way of determining eligibility for many of them, Price said.

We understood we had certain obligations, but we had obstacles, Price said.

Jail representatives told SAISD there are typically fewer than a dozen inmates under age 18 and those are segregated from the general population. Due to staffing issues, Simpson said, the jail did not agree to provide a guard to supervise separate special education classes for inmates under 18.

We currently do not have the capability to have a deputy watch one individual at a time, Simpson said in an email.

SAISD officials are considering proposed revisions to the agreement with the jail and planning for future meetings with jail staff, Price said.

Well discuss whats needed and well see where this goes, she said. The process has begun.

The school district has until July 28 next year to complete the corrective actions spelled out by the TEA or face further sanctions. The agency is also requiring SAISD to try to find and evaluate the five people named in the complaint, although some have left the jail.

Once the pandemic-induced restrictions on educating inmates are lifted and the TEAs corrective actions are in place, Bexar County Jail staff estimated three to five inmates every year will begin receiving special education.

Winterode thought the number could be higher.

They dont want to be in their cells all day, he said. This is a way for them to do something different than just sitting around. I think a lot of them would welcome it.

Alia Malik covers several school districts and the University of Texas at San Antonio. To read more from Alia, become a subscriber. amalik@express-news.net | Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN
David Poller Photography/Getty

Lana Condor is ready to show her fans the real her  through music.

On her new song, titled "For Real," the actress sings about having confidence in a relationship even when she's away from her partner. (Watch the lyric video  shared exclusively with PEOPLE  for the track below.)

Based around a journal entry Condor had written while traveling for work, the song was inspired by the balancing act she does managing both her career and her relationship with musician Anthony De La Torre.

"I've been in a pretty serious relationship for five years now, and whenever I travel I have to leave him. I always have a lot of anxiety about going off and leaving my home," she tells PEOPLE exclusively. "I had just written down this journal entry about my feelings of going back to work as things start to shoot again, and my anxieties about leaving my boyfriend and about starting life up again, especially in this insane year that we've been having."

"Leaving stability to go off on your own is an amazing thing, but coming back home, at least for me, is the most exciting part," Condor adds.

The actress has grown used to playing other people on film and says she wanted a creative outlet to showcase her own voice and "share her heart."

"In acting, you give up a lot of control being at the mercy of the writers and the producers and the directors and the studio," she says. "Music seems like a much more vulnerable, intimate experience. I can actually be truthful and hope that people will see who I really am and not the characters that I play."

RELATED: Anthony De La Torre Opens Up About Working with Girlfriend Lana Condor on Their First-Ever Duet, 'Raining in London'

"If there's anything we've learned in this year, it's that our individuality and our voices and what we believe in is more valid than anything," she continues. "If I can have someone relate to me through music like that, it will be fantastic."

Story continues

While Condor has released a few duets with her boyfriend, she says she was inspired to tackle a song on her own as "a quarantine project that I could do in the safety of my home that just felt right."

"I mean, it seems so random, but I've always loved music," she explains. "My boyfriend is a musician and I've watched him navigate the music industry for years now, and I have always been very fascinated with it. I just felt like during quarantine, why not try something new if you love it?"

"When you're on the grind of the everyday work schedule, certain days I feel like I lose what it means to just be creative and artistic," Condor says of using this time stuck at home to be productive. "This forced stop we've all had to live out has really made me refocus on doing things that I actually want to do, that I love. Whether or not anyone's going to listen to it, it's more of just a really awesome creative outlet for myself."

Condor says she's inspired by artists like Halsey ("I met her one time and I nearly had a heart attack!") and Taylor Swift, and the "authenticity" they bring to their music. "Taylor's writing is very honest and almost like a diary entry, and when you listen to Halsey's music you feel like you know her and know her heart. I want to be that comfort for other people as she is to me."

RELATED: Anthony De La Torre Opens Up About Working with Girlfriend Lana Condor on Their First-Ever Duet, 'Raining in London'

Condor has "loved" spending almost every waking moment of the coronavirus pandemic at the Los Angeles home she shares with De La Torre and their dogwho is "like our child," she saysand reveals the entire experience has strengthened their relationship.

"I've actually really enjoyed it because I'm not traveling a lot, so I can actually sit down and create routine with him," she says. "In the past couple of years, being so busy in my career, there have been times I've put our relationship on the second burner and I haven't put enough attention into it. This is time that we've been able to make up for it and be like, this is why we fell in love with each other in the first place."

Condor is currently in Canada doing reshoots for the third and final, To All The Boys... film, and says it's "tough" being away from her boyfriend for the first time in months.

"I know that seems like I'm obsessed with him, but I am!" she says. "I feel lucky to have him and have support, as I'm sure we all do during this time, because it is a lonely year. But when you have people that support you and love you, it makes things a little less scary."

While the star says she has a number of songs written that she hopes to release at some point, Condor's not ready to commit to a full collection  yet.

"People were talking about how they want an EP or an album, and I think that that's something that could definitely be in the works," she says. "But it's such a new career path that I am trying to just take it one day at a time because if there's anything that I learned, it's that tomorrow could be completely different than the moment we have right now."

"But I think anything's possible," she adds.

RELATED VIDEO: Lana Condor and Noah Centineo Pose Together at 'To All The Boys' Sequel Premiere

Lana Condor and Noah Centineo Pose Together at 'To All The Boys' Sequel Premiere

The costars and real-life best friends walked the red carpet for the 'To All The Boy: P.S. I Still Love You' premiere

As for saying goodbye to the To All The Boys... franchise, Condor says the reshoots came as a surprise, but she's enjoying the extended time as Lara Jean Covey.

"It's bittersweet because I love this world more than anything and it opened so many doors for me," she says. "I shot the movies in very formative years of my life and it's made me who I am today. It's such a part of me, so it's emotional for me to talk about it ending because I don't want to believe that there's really an ending."

"The good thing is the movie isn't out yet," she adds, "so I can just kind of hold on to it for a while!"
China urges U.S. "not to make an issue out of China in its election"

BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday urged the United States "not to make an issue out of China in its election."

"We have no comment on the U.S. presidential election, which is an internal affair. At the same time, we urge the U.S. not to make an issue out of China in its election," Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference.

Zhao said China's policy toward the United States is consistent and clear.

"We believe both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. We are committed to develop a bilateral relationship featuring no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation," he said. "At the same time, we are firmly determined to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests."

Zhao urged the U.S. to look at China and bilateral relations in an objective and rational light, work with China toward the same goal, manage differences, promote cooperation and bring China-U.S. relations back onto the right track of coordination, cooperation and stability.

As to the so-called "relocation of production capacity," Zhao said that it is political manipulation that puts partisan and personal interests above U.S. national interests.

"It's neither viable nor realistic. In the globalized era, the perverse practice of going against the voluntary will of the vast business community, forcibly scrapping existing cooperation between countries, and coercing companies with regard to their normal investment and operation runs counter to the law of market economy and will eventually lead to self-harm," he said.

Such unpopular moves have been and will continue to be rejected and resisted by visionary people in China and the United States, he added.
Toots Hibbert, Jamaicas answer to James Brown, is 80 years old and still cranking out music that sounds as fresh as his original records in the mid-1960s. His latest under the Toots and the Maytals banner, and first full-length since 2011: the album Got to Be Tough.

Raised in Kingston, Toots career mirrored Bob Marleys. In fact, the two, whose careers can be traced back to 1962, were contemporaries. Both got their starts with producer Coxanne Dodd at Studio One, and while Marley toured and recorded with the Wailers, Toots headed the Maytals.

But the two reggae pioneers went in different directions stylistically. While Marley eventually championed what was called roots reggae, Toots developed a more R&B style akin to American stalwarts Brown, Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding.

Still, Toots is credited with giving reggae its name when he christened his 1968 song Do the Reggay. He has said that he changed the word streaggae to reggae by accident, the result of which was a Maytals song. Streggae was patois for a raggedy form of dress. Marley purportedly believed that it derived from the Latin word regi, which means king.

Toots soulful approach to reggae set him apart, producing numerous regional hits such as 54-56 Thats My Number (1968), Pressure Drop and Monkey Man (1970) and Funky Kingston (1973). Several of these songs appeared on the soundtrack for the Perry Henzells 1972 film The Harder They Come, a major touchstone of reggae culture.

The old saying that the more things change the more they stay the same could be the throughline to Got to Be Tough, which, nearly two dozen albums in, is full of messages that will resonate with todays listeners. The title track is particularly meaningful with the constant killings of young black men happening in the U.S. and Jamaica. It includes the verse: Your days are getting shorter / Our youths are getting slaughtered / Things maybe hard, so hard / But we have to overcome it.

Story continues

A similar theme of bewilderment runs through Just Brutal, which recounts: Every time I keep remembering / What Grandfather said before he died / We were brought down here in slavery / Count out, knock out, TKO / I dont know, what this world is coming to.

On Struggle, Toots takes a stand against violence, pledging: We got to stop the fighting / The shooting and killing / We got to stop the fighting / Got to find a way to stop it.

Toots lightens up a bit on funkier tracks like Drop Off Head, Freedom Train and Having a Party. His solid band includes Sly Dunbar, Cyril Neville and Zak Starkey (son of Ringo Starr). Toots wrote all the songs  which alternate between reggae and R&B  except for one and produced the album. Vivien Goldman provides the liner notes.

On the records sole cover, a version of Marleys Three Little Birds, Hibbert teams up with Ziggy Marley, who refers to him as Uncle Toots after the first verse. The 1977 song from Exodus contains one of Bob Marleys most famous homilies: Dont worry about a thing / Every little thing is gonna be alright.

With this note of optimism, Toots offers a wink and nod to his fans that, despite all the bad news of late, everything somehow just may turn out ok.

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The monkey which was seized during a raid last year

Tensions were high in north Dublin this week when associates of the so-called 'Monkey Gang' expanded their territory by organising major building work beside their property on Ratoath Road, in Finglas.

The major excavation project brought them into conflict with another Traveller family who had for decades occupied the land where the building works are taking place.

Gardai were called when members of both families had a "face-off and shouting match" at the construction site on Wednesday, but no arrests were made.

Wasteland

The incident was filmed and later posted on social media.

Sources told the Herald that the extended 'Monkey Gang' crew "need more land" to build more chalets for their expanding family.

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"This site is located right beside where they live and up until a couple of weeks ago it was wasteland covered in bushes and trees," a local source said.

"But another Traveller family claim they own this land and there was an issue between the two clans when this building work began, but it seems the situation has eased now.

"It is a fairly big site and the plan for the 'Monkey Gang' seems to be to build a number of properties at the location. They are expanding their territory," the source said.

The dispute is not linked to separate garda raids which happened yesterday at nearby Avila Park, Finglas in which a different Traveller crew were being targeted by officers.

However the 'Monkey Gang' are no strangers to garda raids and their property has been raided numerous times by armed officers.

The most recent of these was on August 13 when dozens of officers, including the garda water unit, were involved in searches which failed to yield anything of major significance.

One of the raids on the Finglas gang, in April 2019, led to the seizure of a monkey in a cage.

Last November, a 46-year-old criminal considered the "number two boss" in the gang was jailed for three years for possession of more then 900,000 in illegal cash connected to the Kinahan cartel.

Gangster Bernard 'Gan' Joyce, with an address at Beauparch, Slane, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to possessing 911,600, which may have been the proceeds of criminal conduct, at Foulksmills, Co Wexford, on September 22, 2018, under the money laundering act.

Bullets

The Herald previously revealed Joyce is closely connected to the mob who gardai targeted earlier in 2019. Officers found a huge haul of weapons, bullets and the monkey in a cage.

Two other main players in his mob were busted with 220,000 of drugs cash in Holland in 2018 as part of a major operation by heavily armed members of the Dutch police force in a suburb of Amsterdam.

The duo spent a number of months in custody in the Netherlands before eventually being bailed and returned to Ireland.

The wider gang has been the subject of a number of operations by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) including a massive raid in Co Meath in November, 2018, when officers seized 1.5m in cash as well as other items.
About 54 days after he was sworn in for a second term, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed 43 ministers into his cabinet.

The ministers comprise seven past governors and seven past senators, while 14 former ministers were retained from the presidents first tenure. They were assigned portfolios about a month after  having been screened and confirmed by the Senate.

Muhammad Bello, the FCT minister, is one of the 14 retained by the president with a Minister of State, Ramatu Tijjani, assigned to assist him.

His return generated controversy among residents of the FCT as many said his administration, in the first tenure, watched as infrastructure and other public utilities in the city decayed.

PREMIUM TIMES analysis of Mr Bellos work in the past shows that he performed below average  even though he claimed to have fulfilled his promises.

This report seeks to present the scorecard of the ministers since their appointment  based on promises they made upon resumption and others made after.

Promises

Mr Bello was not asked a single question during his screening at the Senate.

He was told to take a bow and go because he is a member of the National Assembly by association while Ms Tijjani was given the same treatment based on gender.

Minister of State, Ramatu Tijjani [PHOTO CREDIT: @DrRamatuAliyu]

However, right after their portfolios were assigned on August 21, 2020, the ministers resumed office at the FCTA Secretariat in Abuja to address the press and colleagues and as usual, make promises.

Mr Bellos first promise was to consolidate on the existing solid foundation for the rapid development of the FCT during his first tenure. In order words, he planned to improve the state and infrastructure of the nations capital  a promise he made during his first tenure.

The minister also promised lasting security in the nations capital and to rid the city of illicit drug operations and users. He noted that a high percentage of criminality that occurs in the FCT is linked to drug abuse.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Bello promised to provide palliative to FCT residents to cushion the effect of the cessation of movement on vulnerable members of the society. This promise was echoed by the minister of state in August.

Other promises made by the minister include quality education in the territory as well as support for the activities of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). He also promised to support entrepreneurs in the FCT.

On her part, the minister of state promised an amicable resolution of land disputes between army and indigenes of the FCT and to work with Mr Bello towards achieving these goals.

Achievements

As part of plans to improve the FCTs infrastructure, the minister, in March, flagged off the one-way directional road traffic on the Southern Park Way in the Abuja city centre, a project which he said will connect the northern and southern sectors of the nations capital.

As part of his Safe, Functional and Efficient Traffic Management Policy, the minister enforced restriction of tricycle operations within the federal capital city.

Operators and riders of tricycles popularly known as keke napep, were banned from operating in major highways like the Ahmadu Bello Way, Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Abdulsalami Abubakar Way, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Oladipo Diya Way and other major roads in the city.

Although the act was aimed at curbing the dangers (to both riders and passengers) when on the highway, the negative impact was felt by the riders and residents as transportation became difficult.

As promised, the minister of state in June, commenced distribution of over 600,000 palliative items to the 62 council wards in the FCT, as part of measures to cushion the socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Failures

Despite commencement of some projects and the approval of nine projects by the Federal Executive Council, most FCT residents believe infrastructure in the city is deteriorating particularly due to poor maintenance.

Besides bad roads in different towns of the city, traffic lights at major points in the FCT are either not functioning or malfunctioning.

There is also the absence of street lights on some major highways leaving streets dark and dangerous to FCT residents who have often, complained about the darkness in the city while driving around town at night.

Road mishaps and crime rates have also escalated as a result of lack of these utilities and the absence of CCTVs has made it worse to detect these crimes.

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Cases of armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, one-chance, killings among other attendant security lapses (most of which happen at night) have been in the rise thereby rendering the FCT increasingly unsafe.

Despite efforts to keep the city clean, there is poor waste management and the trend of open defecation especially in satellite towns and villages of the federal capital is worrisome.

Also, there are a lot of blocked sewages across the FCT, which have caused severe flooding over the years.

Performance

The FCT, as a seat of political power, is supposed to be cosmopolitan in nature and the level of infrastructural as well as human capital development needs to be top notch, Samson Itodo, activist and Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, said.

This, he said, is because Nigeria can be assessed based on what the capital looks like just as capitals of other countries represent the image of such countries.

While he noted some improvement in infrastructure, he emphasised the need for security of lives and properties.

In Nigeria, yes, there has been some level of infrastructural development but to assess the performance of the minister, one of the things to look at is the state of infrastructure. And that means roads, street lights, how clean the environment and security.

The FCT has been notorious for harassment of women, among others. We see the AEPB (Abuja environmental protection body) that has been involved in harassing women and the rate of SGBV has become very high in the FCT nas been dragged to court several times for violating the rights of women. Hotels too, have been demolished because it is believed that those spaces are used as brothels or to habour commercial sex workers.

When you look at indices for measuring the state of development of a city, this is what you look at because the state exists for the people. And if the peoples lives and livelihood are threatened, it means the state has failed.

He also decried the rising cases of unlawful evictions in some parts of the city without compensation as well as struggle for land ownership between the government and indignes of the FCT.

This brings to the fore, the need for the position of the minister to be an elective onewhere people participate in electing who will lead them just like governors of other states.

He frowned at the poor state of electricity and security in the city. He said so much can be done.

FCT to a large extent, is one of the most insecure states of the country with increasing cases of kidnapping ad robbery.

COVID-19 is one of the cases where the poeple have felt the presence of the FCT and that didnt come about without the pressure from citizens and civic groups with regards to the distribution of palliatives.

He, however, applauded the ministers for the level of openness and inclusiveness that they adopted in the management and distribution of palliative. He urged the minister to work and make the residents feel his presence and leadership.

When asked to rate the ministers performance, Mr Itodo said they have performed below average.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on Mann Ki Baat in the 68th edition of his monthly radio programme at 11 AM on Sunday.

PM Modi had sought ideas and suggestions from people on Twitter earlier this month about topics for his radio programme where he addresses the country and range of issues.

The Prime Minister had tweeted to ask people to send their inputs by writing to him using NaMo or MyGov App or by recording their messages by calling on 1800-11-7800. Phone lines have been opened from August 10.

In the previous edition of Mann ki Baat, which was also a date when India celebrates Kargil Vijay Diwas, PM Modi had paid tributes to soldier who fought valiantly against Pakistans forces during the Kargil War. He also said that despite efforts to establish cordial relations Pakistan remained resolute in pushing cross-border terrorism.

PM Modi also reminded citizens to not let their guard down amid the rising cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). He said that it is necessary to wear masks when outside and asked those who think wearing them is troublesome to reflect upon the amount of time frontline workers have to spend in a day wearing masks. He reiterated that people need to follow all precautions to prevent Covid-19.

At many places, Covid-19 is spreading fast. We need to be extra vigilant. We have to bear in mind that corona is as fatal today as it was in the beginning - thats why we have to be cautious, PM Modi had said.
Makeshift shelters are crowded together on a hillside at an IDP camp in the town of Sadung, Waingmaw township, northern Myanmar's Kachin state, Aug. 13, 2020.

More than 400 people living in a displaced persons camp in a remote border town under the control of a rebel army in northern Myanmars Kachin state are facing a severe food shortage because government forces have cut off supplies to the insurgent-controlled area, a local Kachin humanitarian leader said Friday.

The plight of the internally displaced persons (IDPs), who have been living for nine years at a camp in Kachins Waingmaw township, is further complicated by the shutdown of border crossings from China as a measure to prevent the spread of the coronoavirus, which has flared up in parts of Myanmar.

The area is under the control of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which has engaged in periodic clashes with Myanmar forces since a bilateral cease-fire between the two sides broke down in 2011. The KIA has not signed Myanmars nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA), inked by 10 other ethnic armies since October 2015.

The government army is restricting food supplies because it [the camp] is situated in the rebel KIA-controlled territory, said Dr. Hkalam Samson, chairman of the Kachin Humanitarian Concern Committee (KHCC), which provides assistance to IDPs in the state.

Though the military allows people to cross the border, it is difficult to transport food supplies, he said.

RFA was unable to reach military spokesmen for comment.

The IDPs who live in the camp in the town of Sadung have depended on the Karuna Mission Social Solidarity (KMSS), a Yangon-based charity network operated by the Catholic Church, to provide them with basic necessities for the past nine years.

The KMSS supplies rice to the IDPs, but has no funds to buy more nutritious food like vegetables and meat for them, said the organization's Maran Gwan Jar Naw.

The camp is far from the [nearest] market, and items at the shop in the camp are very expensive, he told RFAs Myanmar Service.

The IDPs themselves have no income and no place to earn money, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

They only have rice, but [we] need nutritious food for the children, Maran Gwan Jar Naw said.

Given the towns hard-to-reach location on a mountain range, the IDPs have had to rely on food rations coming from China.

The Myanmar military, however, has prohibited the delivery of food to the camp via the main thoroughfare, Sadung Road, to enforce COVID-19 border restrictions and lockdowns.

After the coronavirus spread in China, roads were blocked and vendors from the China side could not send products, said camp IDP Swe Swe. We were facing a lot of difficulties.

As of Thursday, Myanmar registered 602 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with six deaths.

KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu said Kachin forces are providing support for getting food supplies to IDPs.

Meanwhile, the Kachin state government and Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), a Baptist Christian denomination in Myanmar, are working together to try to return to their homes some of the nearly 100,000 IDPs who live in about 140 camps.

Roughly 40,000 of those IDPs live along the Myanmar-China border, according to a 2018 report by Southeast Asia-based Fortify Rights. And about 40 percent of all displaced civilians in Kachin state are sheltering in camps in areas controlled by the KIA and associated rebel groups.

Reported by Elizabeth Jangma for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Khin Ei. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
The vast majority of Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) students will return to in-person learning in September, according to numbers released by the board Friday.

About 80 per cent of students will return to the classroom, while the rest  approximately 20 per cent  have opted for remote learning.

These numbers are similar to those of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB), which announced Aug. 20 the majority  77 per cent  of its students will attend in-person classes. Thirteen per cent will learn remotely. Ten per cent of families have not yet responded.

In an family update Friday, HWDSB announced its revised staggered-entry plan The revision will push back start days for both elementary and secondary students.

The plan provides a schedule to welcome students over the first two weeks of school to enhance health and safety preparedness, the update reads.

The first sets of students will now start Sept. 10, instead of Sept. 8. The first four days of school will involve staggered start days for students based on grade and cohort.

A staggered entry schedule will better prepare staff to support student health, well-being and achievement as staff implement new health and safety measures, the update reads.

The revised start dates gives students fewer days to adjust to classroom protocols before the regular class schedule begins Sept. 16.

Our priority is the health and safety of students and staff in the reopening process, the update reads.

The HWDSB will host a special board meeting Monday at 6:15 p.m., where trustees will receive the latest school reopening update.
<p>The 44-year-old is stable and there is "no immediate danger to his life", according to the Charite hospital in <a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/berlin-5935" target="_blank"><strong>Berlin</strong></a>, although it "remains too early to gauge potential long-term effects".</p><p>Russian officials have rejected accusations from <a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/alexei-navalny-6698" target="_blank"><strong>Mr Navalny</strong></a>'s allies that the <a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/russia-5803" target="_blank"><strong>Kremlin</strong></a> had orchestrated a deliberate poisoning of the staunch critic of <a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/vladimir-putin-5972" target="_blank"><strong>Vladimir Putin</strong></a>, although the Charite says its <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/alexei-navalny-tests-indicate-putin-critic-was-poisoned-german-doctors-say-12055768" target="_blank"><strong>early tests</strong></a> indicate that he had indeed been poisoned.</p><p>It said in its latest update on his condition on Friday that the poisoning had been "severe".</p><p>Earlier this week, the hospital said that Mr Navalny had been intoxicated with a substance from the cholinesterase inhibitor group - a series of chemicals that prevents the breakdown of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.</p><p>If acetylcholine builds up, it creates a blockage in the nervous system.</p><p>Mr Navalny remains in an induced coma in intensive care and is being mechanically ventilated.</p><p>"There has been some improvement in the symptoms caused by the inhibition of cholinesterase activity," the hospital said in a statement, but Mr Navalny's condition is still serious.</p><p>He is being treated with atropine, which is used to tackle certain types of nerve agent and pesticide poisonings.</p> <p>Mr Navalny - one of Mr Putin's fiercest domestic critics - fell ill on an internal Russian flight from Tomsk in Siberia to Moscow last Thursday, after drinking what his supporters suspect was poisoned tea.</p><p>Initially, he was treated in the Siberian city of Omsk after the plane made an emergency landing. Doctors there had dismissed suggestions he had been poisoned, but said he was too unstable to be moved.</p><p>However, he was transferred to Berlin at the weekend after a team of German specialists and a medical plane were flown in to help.</p><p>His supporters believe medics in Omsk were stalling until any poison in his system could no longer be detected. The Kremlin denies its resistance to the transfer was political and says it was purely a medical decision.</p> <p>Prime Minister <a href="http://news.sky.com/topic/boris-johnson-5853" target="_blank"><strong>Boris Johnson</strong></a> has called for a "transparent" investigation into the poisoning of Mr Navalny, which he described as <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/alexei-navalny-boris-johnson-calls-for-transparent-investigation-into-putin-critics-poisoning-12057001" target="_blank">"the most extraordinary thing"</a></strong>.</p><p>He pledged to join "international efforts to ensure justice is done" after German Chancellor <a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/angela-merkel-5924" target="_blank"><strong>Angela Merkel</strong></a> called on Russian police to "investigate this crime in detail and in full transparency".</p><p>"Those responsible must be identified and held accountable," she added.</p><p>Germany's foreign minister, Heiko Maas, has said Mr Navalny needs <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/alexei-navalny-germany-says-poisoned-putin-critic-needs-protection-until-missing-facts-established-12055622" target="_blank">personal protection</a></strong>.</p>
COVID-19 took a record toll on Canadas economy during the second quarter.

Real GDP fell 11.5 per cent during the period. Expressed at an annualized rate, it fell 38.7 per cent.

Its the worst showing for GDP since Statistics Canada started tracking it in 1961 and follows a 2.1 per cent drop, 8.2 per cent annualized, in the first quarter.

Business investment fell a record 16.2 per cent due to shutdowns, travel restrictions, work and school at home, as well as uncertainty about the global economy.

The good news is that disposable incomes actually increased during the period as government support more than offset the drag from the sharp rise in unemployment, said CIBC senior economist Royce Mendes.

That drove the household savings rate up to 28 per cent from 7 per cent in the prior quarter, potentially leaving some extra cash for spending in upcoming periods.

The month-over-month data for June showed a 6.5 per cent rise, further suggesting the economy began to turn a corner.

Statistics Canada estimates a 3.5 per cent expansion in July in its latest flash estimate.

That would put GDP on track to follow the record drop in the second quarter with a record expansion in the third, of 45 per cent annualized, said Capital Economics senior Canada economist Stephen Brown.

Even with that gain, however, GDP would remain far below the pre-virus level. And while the announcement of a big fiscal stimulus next month could boost the outlook, for now at least we think it will take until early 2022 for GDP to return to its pre-virus level.

Jessy Bains is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jessysbains.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
The interim chief executive of Northern Ireland's health watchdog has stood down and been replaced by the former boss of the Northern Trust.

Tony Stevens has come out of retirement to take up the post of interim chief executive of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) following the departure of Dermot Parsons.

It comes after it emerged Mr Parsons threatened to resign from the top post at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, claiming the Board of the RQIA had no confidence in his ability.

Mr Parsons wrote to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Michael McBride in May stating he felt his position was untenable after the RQIA Board raised concerns over the decision to scale back care home visits during the pandemic.

The board also expressed concerns about the redeployment of a number of RQIA's senior executive team "with critical loss of experience" in the months before Mr Parsons was appointed interim chief executive. The row culminated in the mass resignation of the RQIA Board.

The RQIA is the body tasked with ensuring healthcare providers such as hospitals and care homes meet minimum safety standards.

A spokesman from the RQIA refused to say whether Mr Parsons remains with the organisation or provide an explanation for him stepping down as interim chief executive.

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However, Christine Collins, interim chair of the RQIA Board, said: "I am delighted that Dr Stevens has agreed to take up post of interim chief executive at the RQIA on September 1.

"Dr Stevens brings considerable leadership experience and knowledge of the health and social care system, which will be invaluable as we reinforce and reshape the RQIA to face current and future challenges."

Meanwhile, Dr Stevens said: "I am pleased to be joining the experienced and dedicated team at RQIA at this challenging time for health and social care and the wider community. I look forward to leading RQIA in assuring the quality and safety of the health and social care services that people experience, and responding to the particular challenges that the current pandemic presents."

Mr Stevens is the third person to be appointed as chief executive of the RQIA in six months. Olive Macleod stepped down as chief executive in March this year to take up the top job at the Public Health Agency. She was replaced by Mr Parsons who has now also left the job. The performance of the RQIA has come under the spotlight in recent years.

It came under fire following a damning investigation into conditions at a care home in Dunmurry, which is currently at the centre of a police investigation.

The Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland expressed concerns that the RQIA did not act quickly enough to protect residents at Dunmurry Manor, which has since been renamed Oak Tree Manor.

And in June this year, Mr Parsons came under pressure to explain why he told the Stormont health committee in May that the RQIA was in agreement with a direction from the Department of Health to reduce care home inspections. In response to the question on the issue from chair Colm Gildernew, Mr Parsons said: "Our approach towards that was agreement."

However, in an email sent to CMO Dr Michael McBride on April 29, Mr Parsons referred to "an appearance of a fundamental difference of approach between that promoted by the CMO, chief social worker and RQIA executive team members, and that upheld by the RQIA board".

He continued: "I would also be grateful for your urgent advice as I believe that my position as interim chief executive in RQIA may be untenable... I am content to step out of this role if it will help resolve this dilemma."

In an email sent to Dr McBride on May 4, Mr Parsons reiterated a desire to resign: "It is clear that RQIA Board does not have confidence in my performance in this role... I am unsure as to with whom I should discuss resignation... unfortunately I now believe my position is untenable."
DOTD crews at the Vernon/ Rapides line on LA 121 are working on removing debris and fallen trees from the roadways. Be on the lookout for crews and equipment, and be mindful that you may encounter delays due to these ongoing operations.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announces that I-10 is open from the Texas/ Louisiana state line through the state except from mile maker 34 (I-210) in Lake Charles to mile marker 25 (I-210) in Sulphur due to a chemical fire. Motorists can use I-210 as an alternative route to avoid this road closure.

Debris remains throughout impacted areas and motorists should only drive if necessary. Clean-up operations are in effect, so please be on the lookout for DOTD crews and their equipment, and be mindful that you may encounter delays due to these ongoing operations.

DOTD reminds motorists to never drive around a road closed barricade at any time for any reason. Doing so is extremely unsafe, as well as illegal.

Call 511 or visit [www.511la.org ]www.511la.org for additional information. Out-of-state travelers may call 1-800-ROAD-511 (1-800-762-3511). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website at www.dotd.la.gov, by selecting MYDOTD, or by visiting the DOTD Facebook and Twitter pages.
New York's attorney general has filed a lawsuit to disband a nonprofit organization over rampant misuse of funds. The U.S. Justice Department has launched a civil rights investigation into whether certain governors' orders may have led to thousands of deaths in nursing homes.

Both actions would seem to be entirely in the public interest  until you consider the political threads running through each move. Legitimate matters of law may be at stake, but so is the integrity of these powerful legal offices.

The New York case was brought by a Democratic attorney general, Letitia James, against a frequent target of Democrats and liberals: the National Rifle Association. Ms. James says top NRA officers, including its high-profile executive vice president, Wayne LaPierre, diverted $64 million in the last three years alone to benefit themselves, family and cronies.

That would be an unconscionable abuse of their fiduciary responsibility, and it's entirely in Ms. James' purview to go after an allegedly corrupt nonprofit registered in the state.

But the political subtext is undeniable: Democrats have no love for either the NRA's rigid anti-gun control stance or its political support of Republican candidates. And Ms. James, like all her recent predecessors, takes full advantage of a public relations machine that has long burnished the images of politicians who have hoped to use the job as a stepping stone to higher office.

The federal probe, brought by the U.S. Justice Department under William Barr, the most shamelessly partisan attorney general in memory, concerns four governors  of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New York. All are Democrats. It's ostensibly looking at orders like Gov. Andrew Cuomo's directive, early in the coronavirus siege, that nursing homes take in COVID-19 patients who had been hospitalized but were considered ready for discharge. More than 6,200 people have died in nursing homes in New York in the pandemic. Mr. Cuomo later rescinded that order but stands by it. A state Health Department review said the nursing homes were infected by staffers who brought the virus to work.

But many lawmakers  particularly Republicans  say there is more to the story. Conspicuously, the Cuomo administration has yet to provide numbers on how many people died after they were transferred from nursing homes to hospitals. The battle has become hyperpolitical, with Republicans (and also some Democrats) demanding information that the Cuomo administration refuses to produce, which Justice now wants to see.

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New York shouldn't tolerate suspected massive misuse of nonprofit funds at the NRA. But the appropriate recourse for such corruption would be criminal charges, along with demands for restitution and structural reforms. Why is Ms. James trying to dissolve an organization whose members have a right to express their interests? And while New York surely should reveal more about the nursing home deaths, why isn't Mr. Barr similarly concerned about the rights of nursing home residents in states led by Republican governors?

The offices led by these attorneys general wield enormous power, checked only by the courts and, eventually, by voters. They must be strong instruments of the rule of law and justice, not weapons of political destruction. These cases raise the specter of the latter and, thus, doubts about the offices' integrity.
President Donald Trump, launched an attack on the Democratic Party's Vice-Presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, as he said that she was "not competent" to be the President of the United States.

Washington: President Donald Trump, launched an attack on the Democratic Partys Vice-Presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, as he said that she was not competent to be the President of the United States.

During his address to supporters at a campaign rally, he expressed his support for a female president of the United States, but said thatt he felt his daughter, senior WH official and campaign advisor, Ivanka Trump, would be better suited than Senator Harris.

Kamala Harris, after dropping out of the Democratic primaries in 2019, reemerged into the limelight, when Joe Biden, delivering on his promise to choose an African-American woman for the post of Vice-President, nominated her to be his running mate.

Also read: Vote for trump for sake of the world: Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng on CCP aggression

Also read: Chinese and 3 others data irregularities delay World Banks report

Born to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, shes the first Indian-American and first Black woman to be picked by a major American political party for the top post. You know I want to see the first woman President also, but I dont want to see a woman president get into that position the way shed do it, and shes not competent, Donald Trump said.

Shes not competent, said the President, as his supporters chanted Ivanka over and over Theyre all saying, We want Ivanka. I dont blame you, he said responding to his supporters.

Donald Trump said Kamala Harris withdrew from the Democratic Partys presidential race before primary season kicked off as her popularity dropped down to single digit.

Outlining the popularity dropoff Harris suffered during her campaign for the Presidency, he said, They pick a woman who starts offShe (Harris) starts off (her presidential campaign) sort of strong. Shes one of the favourites. Within a period of a few months, she goes down, down 15, 12, 11, nine, eight, five, three, two. Then she goes, Im going to leave because Ive decided that I want to leave. I want to leave. She left (the race of presidency) because she wouldnt have gotten any votes. She was terrible. And this would be your president possibly. I dont think so. I dont think so, Trump said, speculating on the possibility that Harris could emerge as a Democratic presidential candidate in 2024.

He also launched an attack on Joe Biden, the Presidential nominee from the Democratic party, and labelled him as running on a radically far let platform.

Kamala Harris has similarly been attacking the President, calling him a failure and saying that his policies showed a reckless disregard for the American people.

Also read: Massive protest held in Dhaka against Chinas repression of Uyghur Muslims
The Supreme Court will pronounce on Monday its order on the point of sentence against senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan in connection with the suo motu criminal contempt case over his tweets accusing former Chief Justices of India of corruption.

A bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Arun Mishra, had reserved its order on August 25 reserved its judgement on the sentence of Bhushan in connection with the case.

Reserving its order on the quantum of sentence, Justice Arun Mishra had said that there is no harm in apologising if a mistake had been done.

During the hearing, advocate Dr Rajeev Dhavan appeared for Bhushan and submitted that Bhushan has the highest regard for the institution but he has his opinion about last four Chief Justices of India about the way in which this court has gone wrong.

Attorney General KK Venugopal had said that several sitting and retired judges of the Supreme Court and high courts (former) have commented upon corruption in the higher judiciary and suggested to let Bhushan go with a warning if he expresses regret for his remarks.

Bhushan was earlier this month held guilty of contempt of court by the Supreme Court for two of his tweets, the first one posted on June 29, related to his comment/post on a picture of CJI Bobde on a high-end bike.

In his second tweet, Bhushan expressed his opinion on the role of last four CJIs amid the state of affairs in the country.

Meanwhile, another contempt of court case against Prashant Bhushan is also pending before the Supreme Court.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testifies during the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Hearings to examine implementation of Title I of the CARES Act, on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 10, 2020. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool/Getty Images)

The CARES Act and Economic Recovery

Commentary

The ink had hardly dried on the CARES Act, and already there were calls for new rounds of fiscal stimulus.

These calls have bogged down with both sides of Congress blaming each other for the impasse. The debate now seems focused not on whether additional fiscal support is needed but rather on the amount. Should that package be $1 trillion, $2 trillion, or even $3 trillion?

Those in Congress at the lower end of that spectrum have been roundly attacked for not being sensitive to people, families, and especially state and local governments that have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Its as if the Trump administration and Republican members of Congress have been at the sidelines doing nothing and mimicking the Hooverian view that prosperity is around the corner.

In fact, passage of the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act represents a bipartisan fiscal measure of three separate aid packages funded to the tune of more than $2 trillion. Even more significant than the record-breaking dollar amount of support was the rapidity with which it was enacted.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the COVID-19 recession began in the first quarter of this year. Less than two quarters later, federal debt, a proxy for the degree of fiscal stimulus, increased by more than $2 trillion. In sharp contrast to the timely passage of the CARES Act, it took the federal government more than two years during the Great Recession of 200709 to reach a similar level of support.

As in the case of a dithering Congress during the Great Recession, the Federal Reserve Board stood on the sidelines. It took almost a year before the Fed aggressively flooded the economy with liquidity. Unlike the sharp increase in Fed assets during the early stages of the COVID-19 recession, Fed assets didnt grow for nearly a year.

The degree of coordination that has taken place this time around between the fiscal and monetary policy arms has been unprecedented. As the fiscal response led to a rapid increase in the federal deficit of more than $2 trillion, Federal Reserve assets grew by a similar amount.

This close coordination was critically important in ensuring that the CARES Act would fully support an economic recovery. By sopping up the rapidly increasing supply of U.S. government bonds issued to support the higher spending deficit, the Feds expanded holdings of government debt didnt crowd out private sector spending.

As a result of the magnitude and timeliness of the coordinated fiscal and monetary responses, the devastating downturn caused by the COVID-19 economic shutdown has effectively been muted. The Blue Chip consensus forecast of real GDP growth of roughly 20 percent (SAAR) in the third quarter this year is in line with the Chapman University forecast of 19.2 percent that we issued in June 2019.

This V-shaped recovery is in sharp contrast to the Great Recession that dragged on for almost two years, a period in which no effective fiscal and monetary stimulus occurred.

On the jobs front, employment increased during the last three reporting months by a seasonally adjusted 9.3 million jobs. These gains represent an increase of more than 7 percent over Aprils low.

As further evidence that a recovery has kicked in, total retail sales reached a new high in July of $536 billion.

The stock market rally since last spring reflects investor confidence in a broad-based economic recovery. Investors are betting that corporate earnings will soon be on the rise again. This kind of Wall Street confidence is reassuring since financial markets typically recover in advance of an overall upturn in jobs and spending growth.

Rather than bemoaning the so-called parsimonious ways of those members of Congress who believe $2 trillion to $3 trillion in new rounds of fiscal stimulus may be too much too soon, they should be congratulated. Their timely legislative response, along with President Donald Trumps support, spearheaded the fastest and largest fiscal response to an economic crisis in the history of our country.

Jim Doti is president emeritus and professor of economics at Chapman University.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
LAKE CHARLES  A day after the most powerful storm to strike Louisiana in a century and a half roared through, this city of nearly 80,000 people was in shambles, with thousands of houses in ruins, trees blocking roadways and power lines strewn in the streets.

Most homes had no electricity and little if any running water Friday, leading local and state officials here to fret about a public health crisis and to encourage those who had evacuated from Category 4 Hurricane Laura to stay where they are if possible.

Mayor Nic Hunter cautioned that there was no timetable for restoring electricity and reliable water service. "If you come back to Lake Charles to stay, make sure you understand the above reality and are prepared to live in it for many days, probably weeks, Hunter wrote on Facebook.

But with thousands of homes left roofless and open to the elements, many residents of the region were eager to take steps to prevent further damage, some stringing tarps over their roofs on a gray day that saw intermittent but powerful showers. Some people said they lacked the money to remain evacuated.

President Donald Trump announced plans to visit Lake Charles on Saturday to meet with local and state officials, including Gov. John Bel Edwards, and get a firsthand look at Lauras devastation. The White House said Trump would also visit Texas.

+9 Vermilion Parish residents, camp owners, plow path through marsh grass deposited by Laura's surge Wet marsh grass covered Highway 82 in Pecan Island on Friday morning, deposited by the Gulf water Hurricane Laura pushed inland as she made la

As of Friday morning, there were 543,000 homes without power across Louisiana. Another 209,000 residents were affected by water outages caused by the storm. Edwards requested a major disaster declaration from Trump for 23 parishes affected by the storm, including Calcasieu, Cameron, Acadia and Vermilion parishes.

Edwards said Friday that Lauras death toll had risen to at least 10, including four who died when trees fell on homes, one who drowned in a boat and five people who died from carbon monoxide linked to the use of generators.

Fearsome winds

But Lauras real legacy was the massive swath of damage inflicted by the storms tornado-like winds, so powerful that those who opted to hunker down and stay were still talking about how frightening the experience was.

Don Robinson recounted a harrowing night spent in his house as it came apart around him. Robinson described his home as "breathing" through the storm as the wind rushed inside and the walls expanded and contracted.

"It was horrible, man. Im 59 years old and I always thought I wasnt afraid of anything, but she (Hurricane Laura) put fear in me," said Robinson. "Now I realize, if I dont have nowhere to go, Ill run in my Tahoe until I run out of gas and that might be a better place to survive."

Hurricane Laura damages estimated at $8 billion to $12 billion in Louisiana, analysts say Insurance companies are getting a scope of the damage caused by Hurricane Laura, with an analytics already estimating insured damage in the st

On Friday, Robinson sat outside on his shared porch with neighbors, cooking a chicken and sausage stew on a small propane burner and taking shelter from the rain that was pouring into his now-roofless home. Robinson said he had a dwindling supply of water and little cash or other supplies. He and his neighbors were worried about what comes next, saying theyd received no word about any sort of disaster aid or relief.

Robinsons modest home was among thousands across the region that had major roof and other structural damage, leaving their contents vulnerable to rain and bringing urgency to a nascent tarping effort.

Other than extensive flood damage in lightly populated coastal sections of Cameron and Vermilion parishes, Lauras winds rather than the surging Gulf waters associated with the storm caused most of the devastation. But water damage could become more of a concern if rains continue to soak the homes and buildings whose roofs now lie in piles of shingles, nails and beams on the ground.

Tarps are like gold, said Leven Abshire, 30, as he worked to cut and clear trees on Friday from debris-clogged roads in the city.

Abshire said he had a s--t-ton of tarps in the covered bed of his truck, and he was telling everyone he knows coming into Lake Charles for cleanup efforts to bring more. He was offering to tarp houses for free and give people claim forms to pass along to their insurance.

Clearing debris

Before tarping roofs, there was a mass of debris to clear, and Abshire was far from the only person out with his chainsaw. Neighborhoods across the city were humming with a symphony of two-stroke engines, as utility crews, carpenters and convoys of tree trimmers from states away poured into town. Yard signs advertising clean-up services already dotted the roads.

A crew of water technicians from Paul Davis Restoration in Houston arrived Thursday, spent the night in trucks in a parking lot and then went to work pulling a 20-by-50-foot tarp over a dentists office on Lake Street. The job could have taken two hours, but the rain made it go slower.

Every time we get up there, the rain starts again, said Steven Kull.

Kull said his crew is used to going into disaster zones, as they worked in Houston after Hurricane Harvey and in Joplin, Missouri after catastrophic 2011 tornadoes. The damage in Lake Charles, he said, is among the worst hes seen.

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President Donald Trump to tour Lake Charles, Hurricane Laura devastation Saturday President Donald Trump plans to visit Lake Charles on Saturday to meet with local and state officials and get a firsthand look at the devastat

The scene, and the effort, were familiar to veterans of storms like 2005's twin hurricanes, Rita and Katrina. The latter gave rise to a huge, federally funded effort called Operation Blue Roof that paid for small armies of workers to fan out across much of Louisiana to cover hundreds of thousands of damaged roofs with regulation blue tarps fastened down with wooden slats.

In perhaps the only lucky break Louisiana received in that dreadful summer, Katrina was followed by a period of several weeks in which almost no rain fell.

Damage could reach $12B

Rita was the previous standard-bearer for property damages in southwest Louisiana, and early estimates suggested that, despite Lauras higher wind speeds, Rita might yet remain the costliest storm to affect the region.

CoreLogic, an analytics firm, is estimating insured damage to homes and businesses in Louisiana will be between $8 and $12 billion. Similar damages in Texas are estimated at less than $500 million.

Moodys Analytics put the damage estimate in the $4 to $7 billion range, but said those were very rough guesses.

By comparison, Ritas damage was estimated at $10.5 billion -- about $13.3 billion in todays dollars.

At a news conference Friday in Ruston, where he was surveying Lauras damage to the northern part of the state, Edwards said he is concerned about how the storm might affect the spread of the coronavirus.

Edwards said southwest Louisiana was the most active region in the state for new cases before the storm arrived. He noted that about 3,000 residents of the region who fled the storm were huddled in hotels Thursday night.

Hurricane Laura might further Louisiana's coronavirus spread, John Bel Edwards says; here's why Gov. John Bel Edwards said Friday he is concerned about the impact of Hurricane Laura on the spread of the coronavirus in Louisiana.

Meanwhile, about 6,200 members of the National Guard, many of whom had been assisting with testing for the virus, were instead helping with storm recovery Friday.

"This is a very bad week for us not to be doing robust testing," Edwards said, noting that hospitalizations for the virus were up Friday compared to Thursday.

Aside from the 10 storm-related deaths, state officials Friday announced 30 more deaths from the virus.

"When you put them both together it is extremely challenging," Edwards said.

Tough road ahead

Lovetta Strong, 27, knows about challenges. She found her car trapped in deep mud ruts after trying to navigate fallen trees to reach her Lake Charles home on Friday.

Strong said she'd fled on Tuesday  taking her 13-year-old and 1-year-old sons with her to Fort Worth, Texas  and came back to gather whatever they could from their badly damaged home before fleeing again to Eunice.

Strong, who works at a local Taco Bell, has worked straight through the pandemic as an essential worker, but the fast-food joint shuttered ahead of the storm. Evacuating from Laura has wiped out her finances and Strong has yet to hear about any form of hurricane relief she might lean on.

"I probably got $80 left to my name. Thats why we had to come home, because we couldnt afford to stay there" in Texas, Strong said. "Theres no financial assistance, no food stamps have been given out, nothing has happened.

Others were more fortunate.

Hurricane Laura death toll hits 10 after Lake Charles family dies from generator fumes The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed four new deaths related to Hurricane Laura on Friday, after a family of four in Calcasieu Parish 

As George and Clara Heard walked to their home for the first time since evacuating, they found business cards from a handful of different companies tucked into their doorframe. They were among the lucky ones: Their home was almost entirely spared damage, though a neighbors roof had been torn clean away.

Down the street, David Morens used a large broom to push a thick mat of pine needles, branches and debris from the road. Morens stayed, a choice influenced by the negligible impact of Hurricane Marco earlier in the week and by the fact that his 18-year-old dog cant travel. He described the decision as perhaps the dumbest of his life.

I think probably the worst noises, house shaking that Ive ever experienced, Morens said.

Fifteen years ago, Hurricane Rita knocked down eight of Morens trees. Laura took down the last remaining one.

-Staff writers Will Sentell, Timothy Boone and Tyler Bridges contributed to this story.
Colombo Fire Chief says Liberty Plaza management was informed of poor fire fighting equipment in building prior to fire on August 17 View(s):

A routine inspection by the Colombo Fire Brigade, several weeks prior to a major fire at the Liberty Plaza shopping and residence complex, found that firefighting equipment in the building was not being properly maintained, a senior Fire Brigade officer said.

Colombo Fire Chief P. D. K. Wilson said his officers had conducted the inspection some weeks prior to the blaze that swept through a section of the complex on August 17. He said his team had advised the management to rectify the shortcomings to ensure that the firefighting equipment was in working order.

When a second inspection was to be conducted two weeks later, the complex management had told the fire brigade officers that they could not allow the inspection to take place. They had told the officers to come back on another day. This however, had proved impossible due to the sheer workload of the officers, who had many more inspections to make, Mr. Wilson said.

On the night of the blaze, the Colombo Fire Brigade had deployed 15 firefighters and three fire engines to douse the blaze.

We were able to bring the fire under control within an hours time, Mr Wilson said.

The fire had occurred between 10.30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on August 17, the day the country experienced an island-wide power failure.

The Sunday Times learns that the fire escape route at the complex was blocked as the landings had been sublet to other shops. Residents who live in the building complexs apartments were evacuated in the middle of the night and were only allowed back in to the building after several hours.

The Urban Development Authority (UDA) holds 17 percent of the management company of the building complex.

Kollupitiya Police Chief Inspector Sumith Gunaratne said only one shop on the first floor of the complex had suffered major damage due to the blaze. He said the Police were awaiting the Government Analysts report into the incident to find the cause of the fire.

Earlier in the week Liberty Plaza complex General Manager (Administration) Saman Rathnayake said that they had ruled out any sabotage in relation to the incident.

We are also awaiting the Government Analysts report to establish the cause of the fire, he said.

An employee of a shop selling footwear in the Liberty Plaza shopping complex said the shop that burned was on the first floor. Therefore, customers were unable to come to his shop which was one floor above, he said.

Another employee who works in a shop that sells garments on the ground floor said the whole building was closed. He said their garments had suffered damage due to the smoke from the fire. Some of the expensive garments sold in their shop were damaged by the smoke.

Several attempts by the Sunday Times yesterday to contact Mr. Rathnayake regarding the allegation by the Fire Brigade chief, proved futile.
Early in the month, the extroverted Venus rises at 3 a.m. and climbs above the eastern horizon about 3:30 a.m. This dazzling planet  at -4.3 magnitude (very bright)  lingers now in the constellation Gemini, but it moves quickly against the stellar background. By mid-month, Venus cruises through the constellation Cancer the crab, still in the eastern heavens before daybreak.
The child was airborne for about 30 seconds before the kite was pulled low enough for audience members to grab and release her.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police are asking for the publics help identifying a man sought for questioning in connection to the use of a stolen debit card in Concord earlier this month.

An unidentified individual entered a convenience store on Aug. 10 around 1:13 p.m. at the intersection of Richmond Road and Steuben Street, allegedly made a withdrawal using the stolen credit card of a 35-year-old woman, and allegedly used the same card to make purchases in the store, according to an NYPD media release.

The individual then left the scene on foot northbound on Richmond Road. A spokesman for the NYPD said Friday night that information on the amount withdrawn or what was purchased was not immediately available.

Police described the man sought for questioning as a light-skinned male, approximately 25 to 35 years-old, 5 feet 10 inches, and 220 pounds. The NYPD provided photo and video surveillance of the individual taken from the store where the alleged incident occurred.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident 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 their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential.
Tesco Ireland has completed the 2.7 million expansion of its Swords Airside store adding new services for customers in the North Dublin area.

Joining the state-of-the-art store, customers can now avail of the F&F clothing range as well as a new dedicated Tesco Mobile phone-shop.

Originally opened in May 2017, the Airside Retail Park store is already a hive of activity, employing 85 people, many from the local area.

The expansion has seen this investment bring the total footprint to over 28,000 square feet with the 229 free car parking spaces including a dedicated electric car charging point and a Click & Collect service.

Geoff Byrne, Chief Operating Officer at Tesco Ireland said: 'We are delighted to have completed the expansion works on our Swords Airside store. Our customers in Swords and the surrounding North Dublin area have welcomed these new services and the store into its community, which opened just three years ago.

'We're very thankful to our colleagues and customers for their patience and support as we all worked to respond to Covid-19, all the time reviewing operations to introduce measures to protect health and safety in line with public health advice. Customers can now enjoy new services like F&F and Tesco Mobile knowing that they can continue to shop these added services, safely.'

As part of Tesco's food surplus distribution programme, in partnership with FoodCloud, the Airside store has donated over 6,500 meals to local causes such as Addiction Recovery Ireland, Aoibhneas Women and Children's Refuge and Dublin Simon Community.
The high-speed rail network has become a powerful engine in south Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region fight against poverty, improving transportation conditions, driving industrial development and generating indigenous driving forces.

Since 2013, the high-speed rail mileage in Guangxi has gone from zero to 1,792 kilometers, with the region now boasting an extensive high-speed rail network.

Poor transportation in the mountainous areas of Duan Yao autonomous county previously impeded its efforts to shake off poverty.

However, construction of the Guiyang-Nanning high-speed railway, including a 72-kilometer section in Duan, will bring new development opportunities to the county.

The planned Duan high-speed railway station is only 7 kilometers away from our factory, said Lan Zhenwen, manager of Duan Xiangyun Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., which is located at Baxian industrial park.

The company produces electronic products, such as earphones, and previously delivered its products using trucks. Using this kind of transportation usually meant that it could only deliver its products to the Pearl River Delta region in south Chinas Guangdong province, as it is close to Guangxi, as using trucks to transport goods for long distances would affect the quality of electronic products.

According to Lan, the high-speed railway will cut travel time to the Pearl River Delta region from 24 hours to 8 hours, and to under 10 hours to other major Chinese cities. That will greatly speed up freight turnover and ensure that product quality is maintained during the transportation process.

The high-speed rail will also bring new business opportunities. Previously, some customers had decided not to work with Baxian industrial park due to its poor transportation. If the high-speed railway opens, it will be easier for us to attract new customers, Lan noted.

This year, Lans company will increase its investment by more than 10 million yuan to expand production scale, which is expected to create 300 more jobs and provide employment for more relocated people.

On May 15, 2016, a bullet train departed from Sanjiang South Railway Station in Guangxis Sanjiang Dong autonomous county for Guangzhou, making it the first county to have bullet train services among Chinas minority autonomous counties and national poor counties.

Over the past few years, Yao Shihus life has seen dramatic changes. Yao is a poor resident in Cendong village of Sanjiangs Fulu township. He used to work as a lumberjack outside his hometown and didnt earn much, which meant his family lived from hand to mouth. After the Sanjiang South Railway Station opened, he took high-speed trains to Guangzhou, where he earned a monthly salary of more than 4,000 yuan. He was finally able to shake off poverty in 2018.

The high-speed railway cut travel time from Sanjiang to Guangzhou from at least one day to five hours. Its so convenient. I can earn money and take care of my family at the same time, Yao said.

At the beginning of last year, Yao returned to the village to run a poultry farm. This year, he reached a cooperation agreement with a restaurant in the township, which is expected to bring him an annual income of more than 70,000 yuan.

Like Yao, several impoverished villagers first worked outside their hometown and then returned to help other residents get rich, according to Wang Xun, first secretary for poverty alleviation in Cendong.

High-speed railways in Guangxi also contribute to poverty alleviation through the development of tourism. The autonomous region has established trackless high-speed rail stations in 16 counties to provide locals with express bus services to the nearest high-speed rail stations, with 240,000 buses bringing about 2.2 million tourists.

The integrated express bus + high-speed rail network has helped promote sales of 70,000 parcels of various agricultural products and goods ordered via e-commerce platforms.

In addition, construction of the Guiyang-Nanning high-speed railway has given new impetus to the poverty alleviation efforts and economic development of local spots along the railway.

Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county broke ground on the construction of the railways Guangxi section in 2017.

We established a poverty alleviation team to build roads for the railway, which also makes travel and delivery of materials more convenient for the local people, said Zheng Fazhu, manager of the railways Guangxi section of China Railway 18th Bureau Group Co., Ltd.

The project department has built about 30 such roads linking over 30 townships and villages together, contributing to the development of featured industries.

Dongshan village in the countys Chuanshan township is one of the places to have benefited from the project. This year, the village built a poverty alleviation industrial park on a plantation of more than 8 hectares of moso bamboos and edible canna.

Due to the construction of roads for high-speed railway, this previously uncultivated land has now become highly sought after, said Lu Guohua, Party chief of the village, adding that the plants will increase villagers incomes.

So far, construction companies in Huanjiang have hired 857 local residents to help build the railway, paying total salaries of about 4.76 million yuan, and trained 2,274 local people and migrant workers.
Low cost carrier Ryanair is suspending all of its operations to Nis and Banja Luka from September until the start of the 2020/2021 winter season on October 25. Ryanair has said it is cutting flight capacity across its network by a fifth in September and October as travel restrictions to some European countries tighten. The airline noted its decision came after forward bookings "notably weakened over the last ten days" amid continued uncertainty over coronavirus case rates. The airline had so far only restored operations from Berlin to Nis, as well as from Charleroi and Memmingen to Banja Luka. The budget carrier still plans to introduce three new routes to Bosnia and Herzegovinas second largest city from October 25.
While Joe Biden and I disagree on the best path to get to universal coverage, his proposal will greatly expand access to health care, and make it more affordable for tens of millions across this country, Mr. Sanders said, specifically highlighting Mr. Bidens proposal to lower the eligibility age for Medicare to 60 and expand Medicare to include coverage of dental care, eyeglasses and hearing aids.

But if Mr. Sanderss remarks were intended to unify his supporters behind Mr. Biden nine weeks before the general election, he also went out of his way to present Mr. Biden as a moderate. All of the Biden policies that Mr. Sanders noted were widely acceptable liberal proposals. Mr. Sanders made plain that he and Mr. Biden were not ideologically aligned, in a clear effort to defend Mr. Biden from Republican attempts to cast him as a Trojan horse for socialism.

Joe Biden and I have differences of opinion, and that is no great secret. It is no great secret that Joe and I disagree on a number of issues, Mr. Sanders said, before lauding Mr. Bidens economic plan.

Mr. Trump and Republicans have repeatedly sought to misleadingly paint Mr. Biden, a relative moderate, as captured by Mr. Sanders and the far left, and never more so than during their convention last week. If Joe Biden doesnt have the strength to stand up to wild-eyed Marxists like Bernie Sanders and his fellow radicals, and there are many, there are many many, we see them all the time, Mr. Trump said in his convention speech. It is incredible, actually. Then how is he ever going to stand up for you? Hes not.

Mr. Trump also referred to a Biden-Bernie manifesto, an apparent reference to the recommendations that the Biden-Sanders joint policy task forces had put forth in July. But while those proposals  on health care, the economy, criminal justice, education, immigration and climate change  indicated deep cooperation among the moderate and progressive wings of the party, they largely hewed to policies Mr. Biden and his allies already supported, frustrating some in the partys activist wing who believed they did not go far enough.

As he has done countless times since he dropped out of the presidential race in early April, Mr. Sanders closed his remarks with an urgent plea to elect Mr. Biden.

This is a moment in history that all of us must stand together  Black and white, Latino, Asian-American and Native American, he said. We must stand together, we must defeat Donald Trump. We must elect Joe Biden as our next president, and we must create an economy that lifts our people up.
Sohum Shah puts an end to speculations around Tummbad 2, says he's working on another project
Bengaluru, Aug 29 : An 11-year-old boy from the city was rescued from the clutches of a gang of kidnappers within 24 hours of his abduction and the police also nabbed all the 6 accused, a top police official said on Saturday.

"The gang kidnapped the boy (Mohammad Umar) from outside his house in the city centre on Thursday evening on the pretext of buying kites for him and drove him to Tumakuru in a car by night. The gang's kingpin called his father on the same night and asked him to pay up Rs 2 crore as ransom for returning his son," Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant told reporters here.

As Umar is fond of kites and was familiar with the kingpin who also lives in the same locality, he went with him on his bike to buy kites from a shop in Bengaluru's eastern suburb.

"Instead of taking Umar back to his house, the gang bundled him into a car and drove to Tumakuru at night along with 4 accomplices," added the Bengaluru top cop. Tumakuru is about 70 km northwest of Bengaluru in the southern state.

Though the kingpin warned Umar's father not to complain to police if he wanted his son back alive, the latter filed a complaint in the local police station.

"As the kingpin was familiar with Umar's family and knew that his father was a well-to-do businessman, he plotted to abduct the boy for Rs 2 crore ransom and roped in 5 of his friends for executing the crime," said Pant.

Enroute to Tumakuru from the city, the gang gave Umar a soft drink laced with some sedative.

"On the basis of the complaint and details furnished by Umar's father, additional police commissioner (east) S. Murugan formed teams to locate the gang. Using surveillance, the teams located the place where the gang kept Umar and raided the spot at Tumakuru," said Pant.

When three of the abductors tried to escape, they were chased and overpowered and Umar was rescued unharmed.

"On interrogation, the accused gave details of the kingpin's whereabouts. When our raiding team confronted him at his house in the city, he tried to escape and attacked the team members, which opened fire in self-defence. The kingpin got injured but is safe," Pant added.

Lauding the police team for rescuing the boy and arresting the gang within 24 hours, Pant announced Rs 50,000 award for the team members.
India must be the only big economy (fifth largest in the world at nominal GDP of $2.94 trillion in 2019) which has no official estimate of its total workforce (only official unemployment rate is declared), how many have social security cover, how many lost their jobs due to the lockdown and how many get unemployment allowance.

On August 20, 2020 India announced "easing" of norms for unemployment allowance to cover those who lost their jobs due to the lockdown, but this is restricted to the "insured person" (IP) in the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) database. They are part of the 6% of total the workforce belong to organised sector.

The gazette notification for this is expected next month.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XXI: Will NEP 2020 bring quality and equity in education?

More than 94% workers have no unemployment allowance

The scheme under which this new unemployment allowance would be given is called Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKJ), which came into existence on December 14, 2018. ("Beemit Vyakti" means insured person.)

According to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour report of July 2020, the ESIC database has 34.9 million "insured persons" (IPs).

This number (34.9 million), however, is unreliable for two reasons.

One, it is not clear if the ESIC database has removed duplications (worker having changed job), those no longer eligible (having moved to higher salary) or dead/exhausted their unemployment entitlement, which is once in a lifetime.

Two, according to the Ministry of Labour and Employment's official website, the total number of workers is estimated at 465 million, out of which 28 million (6%) are in "organized sector" and the rest 437 million (94%) in "unorganised sector".

The Azim Premji University study of 2019, which analysed unit-level data of the government's Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) of 2017-18, estimated the total number of workers at 465.1 million in 2017-18 - which closely matches the labour ministry estimate.

Since the organised sector includes government employees (central and states), corporate sector employees and also those in the ESIC database, the insured persons in the ESIC alone can't exceed the total number of organised workforce (28 million).

The ESIC database contains workers employed in factories with 10 or more workers with a monthly salary cap of Rs 21,000. They are, thus, a subset of the organised sector workers.

What about the rest 94% of the Indian workers in the unorganised sector?

There is no unemployment allowance for them.

Apart from the ESIC, there is one more legal provision for unemployment allowance: the central government-sponsored rural job guarantee scheme MGNREGS.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XX: Do developed economies depend on private schooling and funding for quality education?

The MGNREGS workers are, however, not counted as "usual status" workers (neither in "principle status" nor "subsidiary status" employment) and hence, they are not part of the official count of workforce, says former chairman of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) PC Mohanan. He adds that the MGNREGS workers get reported only in the "daily status" surveys of the government.

Besides, there is no official estimate of how many of them have received unemployment allowance ever since the MGNREGS came into existence.

Who and how many will benefit from new unemployment allowance plan?

The original Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana proposed a "once in lifetime" unemployment allowance for a maximum of 90 days to the "insured" workers reporting jobless for three months. They are to get 25% of the average per day earning during the previous two years subject to the condition that they have fully contributed their share to the ESIC in the previous two years.

According to ESIC officials, 262 individuals have received a total of Rs 25 lakh as unemployment allowance under this scheme since December 2018.

On August 20, 2020, the scheme was modified to cover those who lost jobs due to the lockdown, which would remain in force until December 31, 2020. The new beneficiaries are entitled to 50% of their earlier average daily earnings in the previous two years, subject to the existing conditions.

The ESIC's official estimate says 3.03 million out of 8.04 million suspected to have lost jobs due to the lockdown would benefit. Their job loss estimate (8.04 million) is based on missing contributions from the ESIC database during April-May 2020.

That is, only 37% of those who have lost their jobs (of 8.04 million) and 0.64% of the total Indian workforce of 465 million would get unemployment allowance.

What would be the amount of this allowance?

Assuming that an insured worker was getting a monthly salary of Rs 21,000 (the maximum limit for ESI coverage). The allowance works out to be Rs 345 per day (50% of the total earnings in 24 months divided by 730 days). A maximum payment for 90 days would mean Rs 31,068.

ESIC has estimates that the change would cost Rs 4,638 crore.

Since many more may lose their jobs during June-December 2020, it estimates an additional outgo of Rs 1,776 crore, taking the total to Rs 6,711 crore.

There is a second scheme under the ESIC that provides for unemployment allowance: Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana (RGSKY) of 2005.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XIX: How India relies on low-paid ad hoc teachers for schooling children

The RGSKY applies only in cases where a factory is closed. According to ESIC officials, very few claims are filed under this scheme in normal times because proving closure of a factory is difficult. That is because the electricity connection to the factory may continue or the factory premise may be in use for other purposes etc.

The ESIC officials don't expect any claim to be filed under this scheme in the current scenario.

What about job losses in unorganised sector?

The workers covered under the ESIC are organised sector workers.

What about the unorganised sector workers who are the hardest hit due to the lockdown?

There is no official data on such job loss.

That is because neither the labour ministry nor any other government agency is tracking it. Private estimates exist but vary widely and are of no use for official assistance. (For more read " Rebooting Economy VI: Is Modi govt ignoring job crisis in India or unable to tackle it? ")

This lack of data is not surprising because, officially, India does not even disclose the total number of COVID-19 cases.

Here is an interesting side. The homepage of the only official agency that provides the COVID-19 numbers, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is reproduced below. There is no sign of daily cases or total cases.

The daily cases are embedded in a link on the next page.

That page is replaced daily, removing the previous day's data. Since the total cases are never disclosed, this page needs to be downloaded and saved every day from January 30, 2020 to determine the total caseload. On the other hand, it takes a few seconds to go to the Johns Hopkins' COVID-19 tracker to know that India's total caseload on August 25, 2020 stood at 3.17 million.)

The relevance of this will be clear soon.

Unemployment allowance under MGNREGS: A big mystery

The official website of MGNREGS does not disclose how many have received unemployment allowance since it was operationalised in 2006.

What this means is that not disclosing relevant information is not an accident.

Section 7(1) of the MGNREG Act of 2005 provides for unemployment allowance.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XVIII: Does quality education really matter to India?

It reads: "If an applicant for employment under the Scheme is not provided such employment within fifteen days of receipt of his application seeking employment or from the date on which the employment has been sought in the case of an advance application, whichever is later, he shall be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance in accordance with this section."

How does one find out how many are eligible or given unemployment allowance?

Researchers and activists working in the area say this can be found out by looking at the individual pages on panchayats in the MGNREGS's MIS database. Since there are 250,000 pachayats in India nobody dares to get into it. Why can't the MIS database provide a state-wise page for this as it does for other aspects of MGNREGS?

It is, however, relatively easier to find out how many demanded work but did not get it (unmet demand).

The MIS has a dedicated state-wise excel sheet on it. For example, its August 25, 2020 page shows 95.4 million individuals had demanded work since April 1, 2020, of which only 80.2 million got work during the same period and hence, the unmet demand stood at 15.2 million or 15.9% (of those who demanded work).

This page too is erased and replaced daily.

This MIS page does not reveal how many did not get work for 15 days, which is required to determine how many are eligible for the unemployment allowance.

The official strategy is evident: deny information and continue violating the law without being caught or questioned. The strategy has worked well since 2006.

Here is another way of looking at this data.

As on August 25, 2020, 15.2 million individuals sought manual MGNREGS work in rural India since April 1, 2020 but didn't get (lockdown started on March 25, 2020).

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XVII: Why governments promote shadow banking

Does that say something about the state of unemployment in rural India?

There is no such job scheme for urban jobless workers.

Is India serious about providing social security to workers?

The apathy to job loss, job security and unemployment allowance is systemic.

India introduced a new legislation, Code on Social Security, 2019, in the Lok Sabha in 2019 to provide social security to its unorganised sector workers (437 million).

That was the year that the PLFS 2017-18 report declared that the unemployment rate had reached a 45-year high at 6.1%. The Code of 2019 was expected to provide good protection to workers, especially the unorganised workers.

It did the opposite. It removed the unemployment allowance provided in its previous draft.

This was disclosed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, which examined the Code of 2019 and submitted its report in July 2020.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XVI: How governments run shadow banking and risk financial stability

It recorded the exchanges on unemployment allowance with the government.

The relevant part read: "Asked to state whether it was a fact that the Code on Social Security, 2019 had left out 'unemployment allowance' which was included in the earlier draft, the Ministry deposed as under: "As regards 'unemployment allowance' ESIC provides unemployment allowance to the insured persons (IP) through two schemes namely Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana and Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana..."

The panel's own observations about the workings of the ESIC are revealing: "...the total number of workers/employees covered under the Scheme is even less than half of that covered by EPF when actually the threshold limit for EPF is twice than that of ESIC. The Ministry have reasoned that the coverage of ESIC is less due to the fact that the Scheme does not operate at an all India level and through the Social Security Code, the coverage of ESIC will extend to the entire country which will enhance coverage for the existing 3.49 crore families to 10 crore families..."

The panel took the government's assertion at face value.

It didn't strike the panel that the ESI Act was passed in 1948 and the ESIC under it was operationalised in 1952. If the ESI Act of 1948 couldn't ensure all-India coverage of organised sector workers in 73 years (68 years of ESIC operations), how would the Code of 2019 do so and extend it from 34.9 million to 100 million and how many years would it take?

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XV: Why shadow banking should worry policymakers in India and elsewhere

As for the social security cover for unorganised sector workers, the government told the panel: "For the unorganised workers basic social security has been taken care of in the proposed code."

What is this basic social security system for unorganised workers in the Code of 2019?

The government said: "...clause 109(1)(vi) of the Code provides the flexibility to formulate schemes on any benefit as may be determined by the Central Government. The demand of universalisation including social security benefits for unorganised sector will be through formulation of schemes in the field of pension, insurance, Provident Fund, housing, medical, other benefits determined by the Central Government from time to time, etc."

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XIV: Debt vs equity; why businesses are debt-driven

The panel did do some hard-talk about this though, pointing out several flaws in the Code of 2019: lack of comprehensive data on unorganised sector workers, lack of concrete schemes and funding mechanism, and lack of comparative study of social security programmes run by central and state governments to determine how to go about new schemes.

Ironically, 73 years after gaining independence, India is yet to provide social security cover to all organised workers, constituting just 6% of its total workforce.

As for the rest 94% of its workforce, unorganised sector workers, they would have to wait for years before the Code of 2019 brings about a comprehensive database, formulates schemes, finalises funding before any benefit reaches them.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XIII: Why Indian corporates are debt-ridden

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XII: Is private sector inherently more efficient than public sector?

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XI: Why are private companies so prone to financial frauds?
Race to produce vaccines against COVID-19 must ensure that the poor are not left behind, says Crispin Maslog.

A mad race to produce a vaccine against COVID-19 has begun with the world's superpowers leading the pack. At stake are millions of lives and billions of dollars.

Among the frontrunners is the US with its futuristic-sounding Operation Warp Speed. Europe and China also have their own leading candidate vaccines. As the race heats up, cheering and waiting on the sidelines for the crumbs are the less developed Asian, African and South American countries, where most of the clinical trials for the vaccines will be or are being conducted already.

Normally, it takes at least four years to develop a vaccine before it is marketed. But in the COVID-19 age, health experts are optimistically predicting a vaccine in one year or less. There is a sense of urgency and we hope for an early breakthrough.

Meanwhile, at the head of the line waiting for the vaccine, expected to be ready by the end of the year, are the populations of the Western countries. They are, of course, the priority for their governments which funded the research in the first place.

Developing world as trial labs

Poor Asian countries and the rest of the developing world, unfortunately, have to wait at the end of the line. That is why some of them have agreed to be guinea pigs for the vaccine trials in the hope that they will be given preference when the vaccines are rolled out for use. Beggars cannot be choosers.

Mid-August President Rodrigo Duterte committed the Philippines to participate in the phase 3 trials of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. Joining the Philippines in the clinical trials are Saudi Arabia and the UAE. However, the Philippine President's rash acceptance of the Russian offer of clinical trials in the country might be a catastrophic mistake because the Russian project is suspect.

Indonesia has started a late-stage human trial of a Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine that will involve as many as 1,620 patients. No less than the Indonesian President Joko Widodo launched the trial at a ceremony in Bandung, West Java, in mid-August.

The Indonesian decision to be a clinical trial partner with China might be a better bet because China is a leader in the race to produce a vaccine.

The vaccine candidate produced by Sinovac Biotech is among the few in the world to enter phase 3 clinical trials, or large-scale testing on humans  the last step before regulatory approval. CoronaVac, is undergoing a late-stage trial in Brazil and Sinovac expects to test it in Bangladesh also.

Asia is the favourite destination of drug manufacturers for clinical trials for several reasons. Among them are medical expertise in specific therapeutic areas, availability of vast patient pools, excellent laboratories and infrastructure, comparable quality and lower costs. Another factor is comparable incidence and prevalence of Western diseases.

There is likewise worldwide data acceptability. Data from clinical trials in Asia are routinely accepted by the regulatory agencies  US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA). Also, the costs in Asia for procedures, diagnostic tests and visits are generally 30-40 per cent lower than in the US and Europe.

Science must trump politics

As the race heats up, a word of caution is in order. Scientists must not sacrifice scientific integrity for politics but should follow the strict protocols for scientific research and production. Governments must put science over politics in the race to the vaccine.

Safety and effectiveness are crucial to vaccine development. A blunder in the clinical trials caused by rushing procedures, for example, could lead to deaths that will set back research and development by many years.

As it is, there is already "vaccine hesitancy" among the public everywhere, especially among the uninformed. Polls show that US citizens have become less confident about the safety of vaccines.

Polling by the opinion and data company YouGov in May found 55 per cent of US adults saying that they would get a COVID-19 vaccine. By the end of July, that figure had dropped to 41 per cent  well below the 6070 per cent experts think will be needed to achieve "herd immunity".

There is also substantial scepticism against vaccines in other countries, according to a recent study by the Wellcome Trust. In France, less than half of people believe vaccines are safe. In Ukraine  the most sceptical country in the world  the figure is just 29 per cent. Let us not feed this vaccine hesitancy with instances of failure.

Who gets the vaccines first?

As the superpowers rush to the finish line, the rhetorical question arises: who gets the vaccines first? Rhetorical because, unless an international body intervenes, we know the poor will get it last. Some Asian and African countries have negotiated agreements, but not most of Asia and Africa.

And even for those who negotiated for agreements, there are no guarantees, and whether the amount of doses that will be obtained will be enough to cover majority of the population.

Unless governments subsidize the vaccines partially or fully they will be unaffordable for the poor. Early reports say the Chinese vaccines will cost US$145 per shot in the open market, while those from Oxford, UK, will only cost US$4-10 because they will be subsidized. Some countries plan to provide free vaccinations, and even pay people to be vaccinated to ensure herd immunity, about 70-90 percent of the population.

There is hope on the horizon via COVAX, a consortium of 172 economies now being organized and "working with vaccine manufacturers to provide countries worldwide equitable access to safe and effective vaccines, once they are licensed and approved".

"It is the only global initiative that is working with governments and manufacturers to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide to both higher-income and lower-income countries," say the organizers in a news release.

In the scramble for a vaccine, countries can... come together to participate in an initiative which is built on enlightened self-interest and also equity, leaving no country behind." Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Organizer of COVAX

This is a welcome development and we hope it succeeds. May the best developed vaccines and humanity win. No shortcuts, please.
Glenwood Burley, a retired Richmond police officer, said hes not sure that there is all that much tweaking that needs to be done with the department. He cited the low morale among the rank and file, who he said have been stretched thin by the recent civil unrest, and the lack of vocal support expressed by city officials.

The police department is currently in need of stabilization, said Burley, referencing the recent turnover at the top. But he added that he thought communication between officers and the public could be improved, as well as the perception of the department in some of the neighborhoods it patrols the most.

At the task forces Aug. 21 meeting, the group posed some daunting questions about whether the department would acknowledge the harm it has done in some of Richmonds most vulnerable communities and whether those communities can heal, if police dont make the acknowledgment. Along with policy recommendations, Stoney tasked the group to help our city heal.
When I was 18 years of age, I had occasion to visit the Gare de l'Est in Paris. I don't even remember why I was there, but I remember a vivid moment of the experience.

I gazed on the line of trains waiting to depart from their platforms: the destination boards read "Varsovie" (Warsaw), "Moscou" (Moscow), "Istanbul" and "Pekin". This was what it meant to be a continent! You could take a train all the way to Russia or Turkey or China, all overland.

An epiphany, surely, for a person coming from an island. An island is so different from a continent - obvious, but seldom reflected on. An island is a place apart - defined, in the Oxford Dictionary as not only surrounded by water, but "a thing that is isolated, detached". The very word isolate derives from late Latin insula, which is also cognate with insular.

To be an islander has its benefits: Gavin Francis, the Scottish doctor and travel writer who is obsessed with islands, believes that islands are therapeutic, because their sense of "containment" can bring peace of mind. "Islands help to recalibrate what matters."

But the island and the islander can become isolated, in a cut-off sense. And over the last six months there seems a perceptible drift in Ireland to revert to an attitude of isolation. Foreign travel has collapsed. The aviation industry - so crucial to an island - is in a parlous state, and is often condemned for struggling to keep going "just for profit". Within the island of Ireland itself, people are urged to "self-isolate" - to become islands within themselves.

New Zealand, which cut itself off from the rest of the world so as to halt the spread of Covid-19, has been cited as an admirable model, although New Zealand is a more remote Pacific island which has no international border on its territory, has fewer trade connections, and no Treaty with a continent, as Ireland has with the EU.

There is an unconscious, maybe primitive, urge within islanders to contain themselves, not to let "outsiders" into their secluded island world.

Ireland is an archipelago of islands - with at least 80 around the coast, of which 20 are inhabited, so the presence of islands abounds. Visitors may be made welcome, but there is suspicion, too, of outsiders. Visitors to Ireland have been described as carriers of disease, "spreaders", a nefarious presence. Disapproval has been voiced that anyone at all should be landing at Irish airports during this summer of the coronavirus. Fear of a pandemic is understandable, and health precautions are sensible, but what of the psychological impact of sealing ourselves off from the outside world? Some have felt a sense of cultural suffocation at not being able to get up and go, to emerge from the island state, to escape the "staycation". People can connect globally through modern media, but it is never quite the same as being there, as having the experience.

Charles de Gaulle excluded Britain from what was then the European Economic Community, calling the island of Britain "insulaire". Descriptively, he was correct. Island natives are of the "insula", though they may see the foreigners as the isolated ones. "The continent is isolated by fog," went a BBC weather forecast in 1938.

For more than two centuries, until 1868, Japan was separated from the outside world, and it was a period of peace and serenity. They cursed the Portuguese for disturbing their island tranquillity. Japan, too, is "insulaire" - content with its island status, encompassing 6,000 islands.

There are, I think, some people in Ireland today who would like to emulate 17th -century Japan. Gavin Francis in his book Island Dreams points out that islands have always been places of containment, and thus ideal for imprisonment: Alcatraz, Robben Island, Chateau d'If. And of contained exile: Elba, St Helena.

The fascination of being marooned on an island was captured by Daniel Defoe with the legend of Robinson Crusoe, based on the experience of Alexander Selkirk. Defoe wrote about the further adventures of Robinson Crusoe, but readers were only interested in his island story.

Ireland's geographical insularity has always been accompanied by the psychological need to connect with the world beyond the island. Sometimes that was forced, through economic emigration, but often it was led by a natural curiosity: the Irish diaspora is the evidence of that global inter-connectedness. Brendan the Navigator was an early model.

The islander loves the island, but there is also the urge to be connected, to be part of a bigger whole. As John Donne wrote in 1624: "No man is an island, entire of itself/Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main."

The child psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott believed that the island experience of isolation brought a benefit: he thought that periods of waiting in isolation are periods of healing. "Waiting and waiting and waiting," is what he recommended. That just about describes the state we're in!
Hong Kong authorities have stepped up maritime patrols in an effort to catch criminal suspects seeking to flee the city for Taiwan, a government source has said, as officials called on the self-governed island to return several suspects reportedly intercepted in its waters late last month.

The revelation that Taipei was holding the suspects came after mainland officials on Wednesday arrested another 12 Hong Kong activists who were also allegedly en route to Taiwan, at least one of whom was facing national security law charges in the city.

The Hong Kong source who confirmed the heightened patrols told the Post on Saturday that he believed the recent high-profile interceptions would have a deterrent effect on local suspects who wished to flee the city by illegal means by demonstrating that the cost of such an escape could be huge.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

Taiwanese newspaper China Times reported on Friday that the five Hong Kong activists were intercepted by the Taiwan Coast Guard at the end of July after their boat ran out of fuel and drifted towards the Pratas Islands, also known as the Dongsha Islands in Chinese.

It was reported that the five included a 24-year-old who was charged in Hong Kong for rioting, assaulting a police officer and possession of offensive weapons over last years months of social unrest. Also reportedly aboard was Man Ka-kin, 21, who had skipped a court appearance over a rioting charge involving the storming of the Legislative Council in July of 2019.

Protesters storm the Legislative Council during a protest against the extradition bill on the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China last year. Photo: Edmond So

The five have been sent to Kaohsiung city in southern Taiwan.

The Mainland Affairs Council in Taipei has yet to respond to inquires from the Post.

Commenting on the issue, Hong Kongs Security Bureau said any responsible jurisdictions should cooperate to fight cross-boundary crimes, as there was an internationally recognised obligation to prevent fugitives from escaping justice by fleeing from the jurisdiction where they allegedly committed crimes.

Story continues

We urge other jurisdictions to take a clear position not to harbour any criminals who are involved in crimes in Hong Kong and to return them. The Hong Kong Government stands ready to receive their return and deal with them in accordance with the law, the bureau said.

According to the China Times, Chiu Chui-cheng, deputy minister of the Mainland Affairs Council, refused to confirm or deny the report, as the news put the Taiwanese government in an awkward position. Allowing the five to stay could violate the Beijing-imposed national security law on Hong Kong, while extraditing them would go against the political stance of the local government, led by the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, the report said.

The Taiwan Coast Guard in action. Photo: Facebook

The sweeping national security law, which took effect on June 30 in Hong Kong and prohibits in broad terms any acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, has a wide reach that also covers offences committed outside the city, though prosecution of such offences could be difficult.

But Hong Kong legal scholar Eric Cheung Tat-ming said he believed any reluctance on Taipeis part was a political consideration rather than a legal issue.

Would Taiwan leaders be afraid of being caught by Hong Kong police for breaching the national security law? he asked. I dont think so.

Cheung added that repatriating illegal immigrants to their country of residence did not require any extradition arrangement between two places, so both the mainland and Taiwan could return the Hongkongers to the city through an administrative arrangement.

Chiu on Thursday said in a press conference that the government would never encourage anyone to risk their personal safety to enter Taiwan illegally, and warned that those involved faced criminal liability.

He said the authorities would deal with political cases concerning Hong Kong and Macau residents in accordance with humanitarian principles under an established mechanism, and called on the mainland and Hong Kong governments to respect residents calls for democracy and freedoms.

An estimated 200 Hong Kong protesters have fled to Taiwan, with most on extended tourist visas.

The pro-Beijing newspaper Ta Kung Pao on Saturday accused Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, the Occupy movement co-founder, of being involved in the suspects escape, along with Huang Chunsheng of the Chi-Nan Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.

Chu denied the accusations, saying he did not know Huang personally, and had played no role in the suspects flight, adding that he reserved the right to take legal action against what he characterised as a malicious report.

Meanwhile, the fate of the 12 Hongkongers arrested by mainland officers in Chinese waters  one of whom was Andy Li, who was arrested by Hong Kong police under the national security law earlier this month  remained unclear as of Saturday evening. Mainland law stipulates that illegal immigrants can be sentenced to up to a year in prison before being repatriated.

The Hong Kong government source said he believed the group, which is currently remanded in Yantian district in Shenzhen, will be held on mainland soil for a short while until their legal procedures are complete there. However, the insider said it was unlikely that Lis national security case would be tried there.

Pro-Beijing lawmaker Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, a member of the Basic Law committee, said the mainland side might try Li for his alleged offences under the national security law if they found his case fell under one of three specific situations outlined in the law.

Under the controversial legislation, only in complex cases involving foreign elements, those where the Hong Kong government is unable to enforce the law itself, and those involving a major and imminent threat to national security will the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central Peoples Government in Hong Kong exercise jurisdiction and try the arrestees on the mainland.

Cheung, the legal scholar, said he believed Lis case did not meet that high threshold  which Beijing has insisted applied to a very small number of cases  adding that Li should be sent back to Hong Kong for his trial on allegations of colluding with foreign forces.

This article Hong Kong steps up maritime patrols amid reports of local activists being intercepted at sea while attempting to flee to Taiwan first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020.
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, communities across the country have discovered a powerful resource that has stepped forward to make a difference: Americas teenagers.

They have delivered groceries to older adults, offered online tutoring, emailed sick children, helped feed the hungry. And then there are those like 15-year-old Valerie Xu, who raised money to buy masks to donate to a Dallas hospital and homeless shelter.

People have a good heart and are willing to help, and are willing to contribute to our society, Xu said.

Xu began raising funds in March. She was alarmed that some health care workers were having trouble getting masks, and disheartened to hear about unfounded animosity directed at Asian Americans over the virus that first was detected in China.

The response, she said, helped restore her optimism, and left her very inspired.

In Cupertino, California, Nelson Mu, 17, and fellow high school students started teaching online classes to younger children after schools closed in the spring. More than 2,500 kids from across the U.S. now are taking the free virtual courses on everything from math and science to art and dance, taught by a couple hundred teens through the organization YAPA Kids.

People want to make a positive change, Mu said. That actually makes me extremely optimistic for the future.

Early on in the pandemic, friends Dhruv Pai, 16, and Matthew Casertano, 15, of Silver Spring, Maryland, realized they were both delivering groceries to their grandparents. They decided to reach out to friends to do the same for other older people who were self-isolating.

Teens Helping Seniors now has more than 650 volunteers nationwide and in Canada making free deliveries. The pandemic, Pai said, has reignited the spirit of volunteering in our generation and within our community.

Casertano said it has been rewarding to get to know the people receiving the grocery deliveries.

It also provided a way for us to feel like we were making a difference in the world at a time when this pandemic was sort of disconnecting us from everyone else, he said.

Xu started raising money to buy masks in March, when supplies were scarce in the United States. Xu has relatives in China, a major manufacturer, and figured out she could get quality masks from suppliers there at a good price. She found some whose products were approved by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and enlisted her Mandarin-speaking mothers help to reach out to them.

Xu so far has raised more than $23,000, which includes more than $12,000 from donations on her GoFundMe page, a $10,000 match from a company and $1,200 she contributed from her own savings. The 52,600 masks shes purchased so far include surgical, FFP2 and three-layer varieties.

The first donation was in April to UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, followed by another in June to the same hospital and to a homeless shelter, where staff and clients alike wear them.

Dr. John Warner, executive vice president for health system affairs at UT Southwestern, said donations like Xus not only helped supplement their stock while the supply chain replenished, but also gave staff a much-needed morale boost.

Warner said it has been encouraging to see how many young people are pitching in in times of crisis.

Theyre so bright and so innovative, he said, so thats been very fun to watch.
A woman wearing a protective mark is seen at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on March 10, 2020 in New York City. There are now 20 confirmed coronavirus cases in the city including a 7-year-old girl in the Bronx.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art reopens its doors to the public on Saturday after the coronavirus pandemic forced it to close for an unprecedented 5 months.

The iconic New York City museum, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, is projecting $150 million in lost revenue from the pandemic through next June and had to cut its staff by 20% through a combinations of layoffs, furloughs and early retirement packages. Like many museums throughout the world, the Met is facing an uncertain road ahead.

"It's an exceptionally difficult time for the cultural landscape," spokesman Ken Weine said in an interview. "We are very eager to reopen. But we will be reopening in a very different environment."

Across the country, cultural institutions of all sizes have experienced serious financial challenges during the pandemic. According to a June survey from the American Alliance of Museums, 16% of museums believed they faced a significant risk of permanent closure without additional financial relief.

Even the Met  with a $3.3 billion endowment and a 150-year history of generous donors  has struggled amid the financial shock.

Before the pandemic, the museum was on its way to balancing its budget, according to CFO Jamie Kelleher.

"But of course, Covid hit and the world changed," she said.

The Met closed on March 13 after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency and shuttered most cultural institutions. That left the museum, which has an annual budget of around $300 million, without any of its usual revenue from admissions, retail sales and restaurants. Its more than 2 million square feet of gallery space, usually filled with both tourists and local New Yorkers, sat empty.

The museum cut spending on programming and new acquisitions and also trimmed executive pay. It also has received about $4 million via the CARES Act Employee Retention Credit.

"Those measures were taken with an eye toward doing everything we could to preserve jobs," Weine said.

The Met ultimately decided to reduce its headcount by more than 400 positions  some 20% of its staff. These cuts were made through a combination of volunteer retirement programs, furloughs and layoffs.

When the coronavirus crisis first hit, the museum launched an emergency relief fund, which redirects some endowment earnings as well as support from trustees and other donors. To date, the museum's trustees have raised $30 million for this effort.

"So that fund is going to be able to address half, if not more than half, of the lost revenue that we expect over this period," Kelleher said.

Memberships, which usually makes up about 10% of total revenue for the Met, aren't expected to drop significantly. Members are "very eager to return," Weine says, and were able to go Thursday and Friday before it reopened to the general public.

Most corporate support comes through exhibition sponsorships, Kelleher says. Despite changed exhibition dates, most sponsors have remained flexible and haven't pulled any significant deals, she said.

Bank of America is the lead corporate sponsor of "Making The Met, 1870-2020"  the signature exhibition celebrating the Met's 150th anniversary. The exhibition features more than 250 works of art and explores the museum's history and development.

"What is unique about the American system of funding culture, and philanthropic funding in general, is it's philanthropy that funds many of the things that our society treasures and relies on the most," Weine said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Aug. 14 that museums, in addition to aquariums and other cultural centers, in New York City would be able to reopen August 24. The state requires operating at 25% capacity, with timed entry. Masks and temperature checks will also be required.

"The challenges will continue, even after we reopen," Weine said.

The Met has seen record numbers of visitors in recent years. In Fiscal Year 2019, 28% of the Met's more than 7 million visitors were international tourists. Now, the Met will be reopening to a limited and almost entirely local audience.

"What has been striking in these months is how uncertain the terrain is and how every day, it can and has moved in a different direction, from the public health reality to the pace of the economic recovery," Weine said.

In this environment, preparing for the future can be a challenging task. The Met is continuing to model several different scenarios for the months and years ahead.

Kelleher says that what seemed to be pessimistic outlooks 6 months ago have actually turned out to be optimistic.

"We need to be prepared to be able to weather a storm that is a lot longer than we ever thought," she said.
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Hundreds of migrants were lifted to safety from a rescue boat funded by street artist Banksy after it became so overcrowded that it was in danger of capsizing in the Mediterranean.

Some 209 migrants were transferred from the MV Louise Michel on to another rescue boat, after its crew put out a series of mayday alerts saying the vessel could not move due to an overcrowded deck.

Earlier on Saturday, Italian coastguards had reached the Louise Michel  stranded in waters between Malta and the island of Lampedusa  but were only able to rescue 49 of the most vulnerable passenger, including 13 children.

But late last night, a fellow rescue boat Sea Watch 4 arrived to help 'all remaining guests' off the Louise Michel, according to a tweet put out by the latter's crew.

The ten-strong crew of the Louise Michel also tweeted: 'It's not over: We demand a Place of Safety for all survivors, now.'

Crew members of civil sea rescue ship Sea-Watch 4 and medical Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on inflatable boats help migrants to get off the rescue ship

The MV Louise Micheal, named after a female anarchist, lying in waters between Malta and the island of Lampedusa

Migrants rescued by Sea-Watch 4 a week ago in the international waters off Libya watch crew members of civil sea rescue ship Sea-Watch 4 on inflatable boats help migrants to get off the rescue ship

Sea-Watch 4 crew members and medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) help migrants from the Louise Michel to board Sea Watch 4

Migrants who were just were helped off the rescue ship wrap themselves in blankets and wear face masks to protect themselves against coronavirus

Civil sea rescue ship Sea-Watch 4 crew and Doctors without Borders members help migrants and cover them with blankets

The Louise Michel's passengers were mainly African men believed to have set off from the Libyan coast in flimsy dinghies  but also include women and children

The Louise Michel last night remained dangerously overloaded and was said to be 'losing its balance' but other rescue ships have started to help get migrants off the boat

The 100ft former French navy vessel, named after a female anarchist, had been almost double its maximum safe capacity of 120 and was said to be 'losing its balance'

The 100ft former French navy vessel, named after a female anarchist, had been almost double its maximum safe capacity of 120 and was said to be 'losing its balance'.

In earlier tweet its crew had asked for urgent help, posting: 'We repeat, #LouiseMichel is unable to safely move and nobody is coming to our aid.

'The people rescued have experienced extreme trauma, it's time for them to be brought to a #PlaceOfSafety. We need immediate assistance.'

But migration activists criticised Banksy for launching a rescue ship in the Mediterranean, saying it would only encourage people smugglers to put more migrants on small boats and send them towards Europe.

The boat features some of Banksy's trademark work, including a girl in a life vest holding a heartshaped safety buoy.

The Sea-Watch 4 vessel has a clinic and has already rescued 201 migrants onboard and is itself still in search of a host port

Migration activists criticised Banksy for launching a rescue ship in the Mediterranean, saying it would only encourage people smugglers to put more migrants on small boats and send them towards Europe

An Italian coastguard vessel rushed to Louise Michel after it sent out a call for help. They are pictured here being helped into the new vessel

Migrants traveling away from Louise Michel which features some of Banksy's trademark work, including a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped safety buoy

So far this year, 550 migrants have died trying to cross the 300- mile stretch between Libya and the coasts of Italy and Malta

On Wednesday, 45 people  including five children  died when the engine on their boat exploded off the coast of Libya. A migrant being lowered onto Sea-Watch 4 a

Migrants who have just been helped off the Louise Michel queue to see crew members and doctors including an injured man with crutches

Appealing for help, Lea Reisner, head of operations for the Louise Michel, said: 'The people have sat in a mix of salt water and fuel for days'

Alp Mehmet, chairman of campaign group Migration Watch, said: 'Although Banksy may think what he is doing is helping, his actions are only serving to encourage this evil trade of migrant trafficking

'Solar blankets' are often used in emergency situations because they keep the body warm during cold weather and deflect heat during hot weather

A crew member takes the temperature of a migrant who has just been helped off Banksy's ship who is wearing protective clothes and a face mask

A crew member gives a migrant a face mask in order to protect the large amounts of people on the boat from spreading coronavirus

So far this year, 550 migrants have died trying to cross the 300- mile stretch between Libya and the coasts of Italy and Malta.

The Louise Michel's passengers were mainly African men believed to have set off from the Libyan coast in flimsy dinghies  but also include women and children.

One of the dinghies carrying the migrants also had a dead body, which was taken on board and then placed on a life raft, covered by a white sheet. The life raft was then attached to the Louise Michel.

Appealing for help, Lea Reisner, head of operations for the Louise Michel, said: 'The people have sat in a mix of salt water and fuel for days. It is night and European states are not doing their f****** job. They deny responsibility while we are trying to keep everyone alive.'

But Alp Mehmet, chairman of campaign group Migration Watch, said: 'Although Banksy may think what he is doing is helping, his actions are only serving to encourage this evil trade of migrant trafficking.

These people only care about making money and profit from others' misery.

'By launching this search and rescue operation in the Mediterranean, traffickers will be able to convince more migrants to attempt the perilous crossing.'

Migrants are being scanned for body temperature by volunteers as they arrive

An injured migrant is being transferred to hospital at Lampedusa. Official data shows that more than 19,500 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean from Africa to either Italy or Malta this year

Rescued migrants arrive after being transferred at the commercial port of Lampedusa. Last night, the United Nations also weighed into the furore by saying it was concerned about the lack of dedicated EU-led search and rescue efforts

Pictured: Migrants being transferred at the commercial port of Lampedusa. Official data shows that more than 19,500 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean from Africa to either Italy or Malta this year

Pictured: A group of migrants wearing protective clothing waiting to be transferred by the minibus from the port to the Lampedusa after disembarking from the ship

On Wednesday, 45 people  including five children  died when the engine on their boat exploded off the coast of Libya.

Official data shows that more than 19,500 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean from Africa to either Italy or Malta this year.

Although Banksy has not said how much he has paid towards the vessel, the Louise Michel is believed to have cost 860,000.

Last night, the United Nations also weighed into the furore by saying it was concerned about the lack of dedicated EU-led search and rescue efforts.

In a statement, the UN High Commission for Refugees said: 'The humanitarian imperative of saving lives should not be penalised or stigmatised, especially in the absence of dedicated state-led efforts.'

Italian coastguards yesterday reached the vessel but were only able to rescue 49 of the most vulnerable passengers, among them 13 children

Men from different African nationalities wait to be assisted by crew members of the Louise Michel and Astral rescue vessels, after being located sailing adrift on an overcrowded rubber boat

An Italian Coast Guard boat gets ready to dock in the port before disembarking a group of migrants from Libya that were rescued near the coast of Lampedusa by the ship Louis Michel

A Banksy-funded refugee rescue boat is stranded in the Mediterranean Sea with a dead migrant onboard after becoming too overcrowded to sail safely

In a statement, the UN High Commission for Refugees said: 'The humanitarian imperative of saving lives should not be penalised or stigmatised, especially in the absence of dedicated state-led efforts'

There are more than 200 people on board the Louise Michel and one dead body, according to tweets posted from the vessel's account

There are more than 200 people on board the Louise Michel, including 10 crew members, with dozens of migrants suffering from fuels burns and dehydration after days at sea

The Louise Michel set off in secrecy on August 18 from the Spanish port of Burriana, near Valencia. Banksy remained silent about the crisis in the Med last night, but earlier issued a video on his Instagram page, where he told his 10 million followers: 'Like most people who make it in the art world, I bought a yacht to cruise the Med.

'It's a French navy vessel we converted into a lifeboat, because EU authorities deliberately ignore distress calls from non-Europeans.'

Banksy, who hides his real identity, is believed to have asked a controversial German sea pilot and human rights activist called Pia Klemp for help.

Her company Sea-Watch has provided the all-vegan ten-man crew for the vessel, which sailed under the German flag.

Sea-Watch rescued more than 1,000 migrants in the Med last year, which has angered the Italian Government.

Italian authorities have charged Ms Klemp in absentia with aiding illegal immigration.
Gov. Gavin Newsom outlines color-coded COVID-19 system for county to reopen businesses View Photo

Sacramento, CA  California will switch from the watch list system to a new color-coded system based on a countys number of cases and the percentage of positive tests.

On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new process for reopening businesses beginning Monday, August 31st that is slower and more gradual than what the state implemented earlier this summer. The new process will put more power with the state instead of the counties.

Newsom insisted, Were going to be more stubborn this time and have a mandatory wait time between moves. We didnt do that last time.

The new rules create a four-tier, color-coded system that counties will move through depending on their status related to a countys risk level, new cases, and positive test. The color-coded system is below:

Tuolumne Countys metrics are 1.6 new COVID-19 positive cases per 100K and 1.4% positivity rate putting it in the yellow or Minimal status. Calaveras County is in the Red Substantial status with 4.8 new COVID-19 positive cases per 100K and a 3.2% positivity rate.

A big difference from the old watch list is how quickly counties will be allowed to move on and off using the color-coded system. The aforementioned metrics will have to be meet for three weeks before counties can move to another tier and reopen certain businesses. If those metrics worsen for two consecutive weeks, the county will move back to a more restrictive tier. The state is hoping this results in less back and forth for businesses that are allowed to reopen, then forced to close back up.

Newsom did not indicate which businesses will be included in which color tier or what the reopening will look like. The new rules come nearly two months after the governor shut down bars, indoor restaurant dining and other businesses following a surge in cases. Newsom says this time the state is making sure that we really hold strongly to these buffers in terms of criteria and data and holding that criteria and data in line for an extended period of time.

To date, 38 out of the 58 counties in the state are classified as purple, nine are red, eight are orange and three are yellow. Schools in counties that are in the purple category will not be allowed to open. Click here to find out the tiers for other Mother Lode and surrounding counties.
A Texas man was forcefully arrested by law enforcement for 'jogging while black', witnesses said, as they searched for a different man believed to be involved in a nearby domestic violence incident.

Mathias Ometu, 33, spent two days in the Bexar County Jail after he was arrested by two San Antonio Police Department officers this week.

The department has since acknowledged that Ometu was not the suspect they were looking for, and the victim corroborated that fact, but he was still charged and taken into custody.

Mayor Ron Nirenburg has now called full investigation into the incident.

Cell phone footage shows the two San Antonio Police Department officers roughly shoving Ometu into the back of a police cruiser while he screams 'you're choking me' several times.

Cell phone footage shows Mathias Ometu (center) being forcefully shoved into a police cruiser on Tuesday in San Antonio, Texas

The officers, including one black man, wrestle a handcuffed Ometu head first into the back seat and begin pushing him by his feet.

'The only thing he did was not give his name. He was just jogging,' witness Jennifer Rodriguez says in the footage. 'I walked right past him.'

'I can't believe this is happening right here,' he boyfriend, Victor Maas, chimes in as sirens blare in the background.

'And of course, here come some more cops. I'm sure they're going to make it worse.'

Ometu continues to scream in pain as the officers eventually detain him in the police vehicle after a three-minute struggle.

Witnesses who recorded the encounter said Ometu was not aggressive with officers and was arrested for 'jogging while black'

According to a police report obtained by CNN, Ometu was seen walking out of an apartment complex on Tuesday afternoon as officers dispatched to a 911 call about a man suspected of punching and choking a woman.

The two officers stopped Ometu, an insurance adjuster, because they had 'reasonable suspicion to believe' he 'matched the description of an alleged strangulation family violence incident.'

Officers asked Ometu several times for his name and date of birth, but he refused to respond, the police report said.

The Texas Penal Code states that a person being detained or questioned by police is not required to provide identifying information.

Ometu refused to get into the police cruiser and was 'placed in the patrol vehicle' following a 'long struggle...using only open hand techniques,' the report said.

Mathias Ometu (left) was arrested on Tuesday by San Antonio police despite officers looking for an entirely different suspect , Darren Anthony Smith Jr. (right) for domestic violence

LEFT a 2017 mugshot of Darren Anthony Smith Jr. a domestic violence suspect w/ robbery warrant SAPD was searching for Tuesday.



RIGHT is Mathias Ometu, the man police stopped and say refused to identify himself. Ometu is now facing 2 felonies for assault on police. @KENS5 pic.twitter.com/NzHJU7itQd  Aaron Wright (@AaronKENS5) August 29, 2020

Police alleged that Ometu kicked the officers, striking one in the face, during the struggle.

The domestic violence victim met with officers after Ometu was detained and explained that he was not the intended suspect.

Ometu was still transported to Municipal Court for 'identification purposes,' according to the report. He was charged with two counts of assault on a peace officer.

He was initially assigned to a court-appointed defense attorney who died in 2011. Court records show that another lawyer has since been appointed to him.

Ometu's arrest for 'jogging while black' came after the February killing of Ahmaud Arbey, a 25-year-old Georgia man who was shot dead by two white men while jogging through a neighborhood.The suspects said they suspected him of being a robber, despite having no concrete evidence.

A police department spokeswoman said in a statement released Thursday that the incident was under administrative review.

'The individual contacted was in close proximity to the call, and he matched the physical and clothing description provided by the victim,' the statement said, which did not indicate whether their intended suspect had been apprehended.

Rodriguez, who witnessed the incident with Maas, told CNN that at no time did Ometu appear aggressive with the officers.

Additional footage taken by Rodriguez shows Ometu handcuffed and calmly standing by the police cruiser for around six minutes before officers begin pushing him.

Rodriguez said she was walking her dog around 2pm that day when she saw Ometu jogging.

During the incident, Ometu was seen struggling with officers and yelling 'you're choking me' several times

The San Antonio Police Department has admitted that Ometu was not the initial suspect and the victim told corroborated that fact

Suddenly, police arrived and approached Ometu to speak with him. After about 20 minutes they placed him in handcuffs.

Rodriguez then walked to a nearby office where Maas was working and knocked on the window to get his attention. The pair then began filming the incident.

'His crime was jogging while black. They made up any reason to harass this guy,' Maas wrote on Facebook regarding the footage.

Maas also alleged that the officers used Tasers on Ometu, but that was not shown in video footage.

The couple said the incident lasted around an hour, but they only captured 20 minutes of the encounter.

The Bexar County District Attorney's Office is waiting for the police department to finish their investigation before they 'review all evidence and decide how to proceed with any potential criminal case,' attorney Joe Gonzales told CNN.

In a statement, the San Antonio Police Department defended the action of its officers.

Victor Ometu: 'You can't just arrest someone for anything. I imagine he's scared. He's never been in trouble before'

BLM wow Posted by Victor Maas on Tuesday, August 25, 2020

'The suspect fled before police arrived, but the victim provided officers with the suspect's information and officers also obtained information that the suspect was also wanted for a felony robbery warrant,' the statement read.

'The individual contacted was in close proximity to the call and he matched the physical and clothing description provided by the victim.

'That was the only reason he was stopped and questioned as the officers legitimately believed he was the wanted suspect.'

The department added that video of the incident will be reviewed to ensure proper protocol was followed.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg spoke out against the incident and said he wants an investigation conducted.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg has called for an investigation into the incident after video surfaced on social media

Julian Castro, a former presidential hopeful, also publicly condemned the incident on Twitter

'I am seeking a full accounting of this incident, which is currently under investigation. We have to approach this situation seriously because every single resident deserves fair and equitable treatment from their city,' he wrote on Twitter.

Julian Castro, a former presidential hopeful, also publicly condemned the incident on Twitter.

'Mathias Ometu was jogging in San Antonio and was wrongfully detained by SATXPolice,' he wrote.

Victor Ometu, Mathias Ometu's father, said that he contacted his son's friend, who paid a portion of Mathias Ometu's bail, which was set at $20,000.

Mathias Ometu was released Thursday, officials said.

'You can't just arrest someone for anything,' Victor Ometu said. 'I imagine he's scared. He's never been in trouble before.'
Nirupama Viswanathan By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: City corporation officials have intensified testing in zones with high COVID-19 viral loads, taking swab samples of even asymptomatic residents in high-risk areas.

On Saturday morning, residents of Selliamman Nagar extension were approached by corporation staff and asked to get their swab samples drawn at the mobile sample collection centre that was brought to their street.

"All residents were called for testing, irrespective of whether they have (ILI) symptoms or not. Almost all of us went and got tested," said a resident.

A local corporation official told The New Indian Express that they were trying to get as many people as possible tested because the area had previously reported a large number of cases.

"There were several cases in this area, especially in streets like Muniappa Nagar. We have a list of areas that will be covered today and the remaining areas across the whole zone (Valasaravakkam) will be covered in the coming days," said a corporation official.

The official added that they will not force anyone, as long as they are asymptomatic, to get tested although they would recommend it for the residents own benefit.

Similarly, a corporation official in Kodambakkam zone, another zone that continues to record a high number of cases, said that the exercise aims to catch any stray cases of COVID-19.

"Apart from clusters, we dont want to let any stray cases, including those among asymptomatic shop vendors and others who have the potential to spread to more people, go undetected, the official said.

So we bring out mobile sample collection units and ask residents to get tested. This is being done in all zones where high number of cases are reported -- Anna Nagar, Kodambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Adyar and so on, he added.

Usually, those who report ILI symptoms during the door-to-door survey are tested for COVID-19, apart from asymptomatic individuals with the potential to spread to a large number of people, like street vendors and traders in markets, who are tested regularly.

When contacted, a senior corporation official said that the strategy was to test more people in places where high number of cases are reported.

This is done so that infected persons can be identified quickly and isolated so that the spread can be controlled, the official said.

However, the official said that testing is not compulsory for asymptomatic individuals and is only mandatory for contacts and symptomatic people.
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New York: Environmentalists are expressing alarm over an increasing number of dead dolphins that have washed ashore on Mauritius after a Japanese ship ran aground last month, spilling oil into the famed blue lagoons off the Indian Ocean island.

Greenpeace said on Friday that 39 dead dolphins had been found since the ship struck a coral reef on July 25, spilling 1000 tonnes of fuel oil into the sea. A government report said that as of Thursday the toll was 26 dead melon-headed whales  which are members of the dolphin family  as well as one bottlenose dolphin.

In this photo supplied by Greenpeace, dolphins lay dead on the shore on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. Credit:AP

The deaths  which have been increasing in recent days  have added to growing concern that the spill could be disastrous for Mauritius, whose lagoons, lush tropical jungles and mountains attracted 1.3 millions visitors last year.

Greenpeace said that an urgent investigation was needed to determine whether the oil spill was killing the marine mammals. The organisation said that the dead dolphins had not eaten and were under stress.
Mail-in primary election ballots are processed at the Chester County Voter Services office in West Chester, Pennsylvania, on May 28: AP Photo / Matt Rourke

A judge has ordered an Iowa county to invalidate 50,000 requests for absentee ballots after the elections commissioner pre-filled out personal information  a decision that sided with the Trump campaign.

Judge Ian Thorn issued the temporary injunction ordering Linn County Auditor Joel Miller that he must inform voters in the second largest Iowa county that the forms should have not been pre-filled with information, thus they cannot be processed.

"It is implausible to conclude that near total completion of an absentee ballot application by the auditor is authorised under Iowa law where the legislature has specifically forbidden government officials from partially completing the same document," Judge Thornhill wrote in a Thursday ruling.

"Not every county can afford the prepopulated request forms," he added.

The county will have to re-send out ballot requests to voters for them to fill out, otherwise the voters will have to vote in-person on Election Day.

The Trump campaign and Republican party filed a lawsuit against Linn County, which is home to Cedar Rapids, as one of dozens of legal battles regarding absentee ballots the groups were taking on ahead of the November election.

In the lawsuit, the campaign said absentee ballot requests should have been blank except for the election date and type, per the Iowa secretary of state's directions. These rules were ignored in the more than 140,000 requests sent out to residents.

According to the lawsuit, the county already received back 50,000 completed forms, all of which are now void.

"Because the defendant sent the ABR [absentee ballot request] forms to voters with the required security information pre-populated, there is no assurance that the ABR forms returned to his office were actually sent by the voter listed on the ABR," the Trump campaign wrote in its lawsuit. "If the defendant mails absentee ballots in response to the prepopulated ABR forms, any of those absentee ballots that are cast would be subject to challenge and may not be counted in the 2020 general election."

Story continues

The county has said that it plans to mail out new request forms to any voter impacted.

"Voters should rest assured that even if they submit multiple requests, they will only receive one ballot," the county said in a statement Thursday.

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel said in a statement Thursday that the "ruling upholds a key voter protection mechanism and will help to ensure Iowa's elections are free, fair and transparent."

Absentee ballots have become a popular form to vote in recent months amid the coronavirus pandemic, but it has faced attacks from the president and his campaign over the possibility voter fraud could occur.

More states have moved towards allowing their residents to vote by mail come the November election to avoid large gatherings at polling places, causing increased scrutiny into the process.

Iowa residents voted by absentee ballot for the primary election in June, and it led to record turnout for votes cast.

Then the Republican-led Legislature passed a law making it harder for residents to vote because it required them to fill out their four-digit voting identification numbers on the form  something few voters know.

That was why election commissioners provided absentee ballot request forms with the information already included, so it would prevent voters from leaving the area blank and thus requiring auditors to contact them to complete the application.

The ruling on Thursday by Judge Thornhill was the first of others to come after the Trump campaign filed lawsuits in two other Iowa counties and in other states across the US.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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The High Court has appointed an interim examiner to the Irish arm of the fashion retailer chain 'New Look'.

New Look Retailers (Ireland) Limited, which operates 27 stores and employs 475 people, had sought the protection of the courts due to financial difficulties and losses caused by the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the High Court on Friday evening Mr Justice Max Barrett said he was satisfied to appoint experienced insolvency practitioner Mr Ken Fennell of Deloitte as interim examiner to the company.

Noting the company's financial difficulties, the judge said the contents of an independent expert's report which stated that the company has a reasonable prospect of survival as a going concern, if certain steps are taken.

Those steps included the appointment of an examiner, who will attempt put together an agreed scheme of arrangement with the firm's creditors.

Seeking the Mr Fennell's appointment, Kelley Smith Bl for the company said that in the recent past the company had been profitable and its products are popular with the public.

However like many other businesses, the retailer had been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Its stores were closed after the country went into lockdown in March, and have been reopened on a phased basis since June.

The company had suffered losses due to the closures and reduced footfall in its stores, and, as things stand it expects to be cash flow insolvent, and unable to pay its debts as they fall due by October, counsel said.

Its biggest creditors are Revenue and its landlords, the court heard. As part of the proposed examinership process the company will be seeking reductions on it leases, which may have to be repudiated, the court heard.

The company's UK parent is currently undergoing a Creditor's Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) as it attempts to restructure its finances arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Counsel said that the independent experts result showed that the appointment of an examiner to put together a survival scheme was in the best interests of all stakeholders, including the firm's 475 employees.

The report, counsel added, also stated that all the relevant stakeholders would fare much better through a successful examinership process compared to liquidation.

Following the conclusion of submissions from counsel the judge said he was satisfied to appoint Mr Fennell as the firm's examiner on an interim basis. There will be another hearing next month.
In the 2016 presidential election, rural Americans, like much of the electorate, voted with a surge of hope. Regardless of which candidate people voted for, it was clear that he or she would begin a new era.

In fact, democratic elections, by definition, are about hope: for a better economy, a better life for the next generation, a livable environment and community, a chance to get ahead, a voice. Rural, suburban and urban residents alike have typically shared these hopes, if not the path to realization.

But in 2016, rural turnout and hope were unusually strong because it seemed that in Donald Trump, white working-class people in small towns and farm country might have a championsomeone who understood and respected them and might rescue the moribund rural economy. Trump had cringe-inducing flaws, but choosing him was a chance many rural voters (Im not talking about the fringe here) took as a matter of survival.

So much for all that. In November 2020, rural Americans again will vote, perhaps in even larger numbers than four years ago. And most will vote for Trump againbut this time, theyll vote without hope.

Deep down, every rural voter whos conscious realizes theyve been played, againtheir values and interests have been betrayed whether by Trump himself (not a majority view), by the party establishment and people around Trump, by a political elite of both parties whom they believe never gave Trump a chance, or by their own yearning for a savior.

So, many rural residents feel deep disappointment, anger, resignation and a sense of having slipped back furtherbereft of hope that things will get better for them no matter who is elected.

But you can still count on rural Americans turning out to vote, en masse and in person. Pro-Trump signs are emerging overnight like mushrooms across south-central Pennsylvania, including one positioned on a homeowners rooftop and weighted with tires (though in a high wind, Trump support could be deadly, which is a metaphor of sorts).

But why bother to vote when they didnt win in 2016 and wont win in 2020, in terms of their interests actually being addressed? For the same reasons as before: To defy the political/intellectual class and send them a message. But this time its the Alamo, a rural last stand:

As hope dims, defiance is the only thing left and must be loud enough to be acknowledged. With political representation still weighted in favor of less populated areas, the message likely will be noticed.

A wild card is whether enough traditional Republicans will quietly vote for Joe Biden to take the edge off the working-class Trump vote in rural areas. In fact, terror of Republicans breaking ranks underlies the Franklin County Republican Committees near-hysterical meltdown over District Attorney Matt Fogals mild acknowledgement of black concerns.

But Trump voters in the rural enclaves will nonetheless impress national pundits with their numbers and vehemence.

The Democratic National Convention was heavy on hope and uniting across chasmsspeakers reflected a long checklist of constituencies, including disaffected moderate Republicans. But the party still couldnt find a timeslot to specifically acknowledge the downward economic trajectory of the rural working class, especially younger white men lacking college degrees.

These are rural Americans whove been on the short end of affordable health care, economic assistance, educational opportunities, livable wages, and crumbling infrastructure and institutions. Their realities didnt improve and wont improve under Trump despite the feel-good chest beating.

Rural areas see pandemic-driven economic trouble building and expect little help from Washington regardless of which party controls the House and Senate. Plus, rural schools and hospitals are even more at risk. Meanwhile, the GOP distracts with false flashpoints, such as mail-in voting, Antifa and masks. A neighbor of mine recently mentioned Antifa and her dismay over the assertion (false) that protest organizers provided bricks for participants to throw during marches. Yet Antifa is the absolute least of the threats to small-town life.

In the end, if the fear-mongers and alternate-reality spinners on display at the Republican National Convention succeed, fear could be as potent a factor driving rural voting for Trump as defiance. But fear is a counterproductive reason to vote for Trump, if your goal is acting in your best interests.

It would make more sense to vote for the party who ignored youthen hold their feet to the firethan to vote for the party who contemptuously played you while cutting you off at the knees. Some rural voters will recognize this.

But for others, a last stand, a primal scream, a suicidal drive off the cliff as the movie credits roll will seem far more satisfying.

Becky Bennett lives in south-central Pennsylvania and is a freelance writer and editor. She was editor of the Public Opinion newspaper in Chambersburg for 18 years. Across the Divide examines rural perspectives on issues facing Pennsylvania and the nation.
z1b/iStockBy ERIN SCHUMAKER, ABC News

(KENOSHA, Wisc.) -- The American Civil Liberties Union is calling for Kenosha's top law enforcement leaders to resign after Jacob Blake, a Black man, was paralyzed after being shot in the back by a white Kenosha officer, and resulting protests turned deadly.



Two days after Blake was shot, a counter-protester allegedly shot and killed two demonstrators. Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old from Antioch, Illinois, has been charged in Wisconsin with two counts of homicide, one count of attempted homicide, two counts of recklessly endangering safety and one count of possession of a dangerous weapon.



The ACLU called for the immediate resignation of Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis and Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth in a statement this week, charging that Beth's deputies "fraternized with white supremacist counter-protesters" and "allowed the shooter to leave as people yelled that he was the shooter." The ACLU further alleges that Miskinis "blamed the unidentified victims in Tuesday night's shooting for their own deaths."



At a news conference following the death of the two protesters, Miskinis pointed out they had broken the city's 8 p.m. curfew.



"Persons who were out after the curfew became engaged in some type of disturbance and persons were shot," he said. "Had persons not been in violation of that, perhaps the situation might not have happened."



Miskinis has since said his comments were taken out of context.



During a Wednesday news conference, Beth attributed officers' failure to arrest the shooter on the spot as having "tunnel vision" in a high-stress situation. While Beth himself wasn't at the scene after the shooting, he imagined that the "screaming," "hollering," "chanting" and nonstop radio calls contributed to a chaotic scene in which the shooter walked free.



Beth previously had been criticized for making racist public comments. At a 2018 news conference, he called a group of Black individuals who were arrested after shoplifting and getting into a high-speed car chase with police "garbage people."



"We need to build warehouses to put these people into it and lock them away for the rest of their lives," Beth said during the 2018 new conference. "Let's stop them from truly, at least some of these males, from going out and getting 10 other women pregnant and having small children."



After meeting with the NAACP, Beth released a public apology letter.



"I should have kept my comments better directed toward the incident itself and not allowed my emotions to get the better of me," he wrote. He would go on to recant that letter. "Everything I basically said in the press conference is really the way I feel," he told the Kenosha News.



"The ACLU strongly condemns Sheriff Beth and Police Chief Miskinis' response to both the attempted murder of Jacob Blake and the protests demanding justice for him," said Chris Ott, executive director of the ACLU of Wisconsin. "Their actions uphold and defend white supremacy, while demonizing people who were murdered for exercising their First Amendment rights and speaking out against police violence."



The Kenosha Police Department didn't immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.



ABC News' Catherine Thorbecke contributed to this report.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
In his message of congratulations, Antonio Guterres hailed Vietnam for being always a strong partner since its admission to the UN in 1977.

The Vietnamese army has been joining the UN's peacekeeping activities and Vietnams leading role in fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals lays a solid foundation for the country to carry out the Sustainable Development Programme 2020, he said.

Vision and aspiration of the Sustainable Development Goals will become more important than ever when the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN leader stressed.

According to him, Vietnam has been making important contributions to supporting sustainable peace in its capacity as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

The 75th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day is concurrent with the time when the country assumes the roles as ASEAN Chair and UNSC non-permanent member, reflecting its strong presence on the international arena, he added.
Vijay, the Thalapathy of Tamil cinema is all set to join hands with popular filmmaker AR Murugadoss once again. The duo's upcoming project, which has been tentatively titled as Thalapathy 65, is expected to have an official launch soon. In a recent interview, director Murugadoss confirmed that the Vijay starrer is not a sequel to Thuppakki.

In his interview, the filmmaker revealed that he was originally planning a sequel to Thuppakki, which marked his first collaboration with Vijay. Kalaipuli S Thanu, the producer of the blockbuster movie also gave a green signal to the sequel and allowed to use the title Thuppaki 2 for the project.

However, when AR Murugadoss approached Vijay with the sequel idea, the actor made it clear that he is not interested in doing a second part to Thuppakki at this point in his career. Instead, Vijay asked the director to develop a fresh idea for Thalapathy 65. So, Murugadoss decided to drop Thuppakki 2 and narrated a fresh story to Vijay.

The Master actor was impressed with the story narrated by AR Murugadoss and asked him to kickstart the scripting. The reports suggest that the actor-director duo has also struck a deal with the renowned production banner Sun Pictures for Thalapathy 65. In that case, the project will mark Vijay's fourth collaboration with AR Murugadoss, after Thuppakki, Katthi, and Sarkar.

The duo was originally planning to launch the project on the auspicious occasion of Vinayaka Chathurthi. But they dropped the plan later, as Vijay instructed director AR Murugadoss to make a few changes in the script. Reportedly, the actor has decided to launch the project officially, only after the director completes the script. However, the sources suggest that Thalapathy 65 will get an official launch very soon.

Also Read:

Here's Why Thalapathy 65 Was Not Officially Announced On Vinayagar Chaturthi!

Bigg Boss Tamil 4 Promo Is Here! Kamal Haasan Looks Uber Cool As He Gives Message On 'New Normal'
General view of a Starbucks coffee shop in London Reuters

Starbucks has begun rolling out tumblers with a black-and-white, Halloween-themed pattern.

The cups glow in the dark.

Starbucks is also selling a six-pack of reusable cups with glow-in-the-dark lids for hot drinks.

While you can't use the cups in stores amid the pandemic, customers can show the new Halloween-themed tumbler when ordering for a 10-cent discount.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Fall is here for Starbucks, and that doesn't just mean new drinks.

The coffee retailer is already serving their fall menu, including the Pumpkin Spice Latte, but now their fall drink accessories are starting to roll out in stores too, and the most notable addition is a new glow-in-the-dark lineup.

The coffee company has officially begun rolling out glow-in-the-dark drinkware for both hot and cold beverages, a Starbucks spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider.

Details about the upcoming offerings began circulating on social media back in August. Instagram accounts @sirensaviors and @raindrop_resell previously posted about the new glow-in-the-dark tumbler, with the latter saying "I managed to find these and they haven't been released yet, the sku didn't even ring up," in their post, which was first spotted by BestProducts.

The venti-sized cup has a "bluish purple lid, a straw, and detailing, and the outside is covered in a black and white pattern with skull, moon, and bird designs," BestProducts reports. When in the dark, the white parts of the cup have a green glow.

The cup is also available in a tall size as well.

Starbucks is also selling a six-pack of glow-in-the-dark reusable cups for hot drinks, according to a company spokesperson.

Both of these cups are already becoming popular items on the resale market, with both types of cups being sold for as much as $50 on resale websites such as eBay and Poshmark.

Since the seasonal drinkware is still rolling out to stores, it's probably a good idea for shoppers looking to get their hands on the cups to call ahead to see if the store has any in stock.

And keep in mind that with pandemic policies in place, baristas won't be able to fill up your new cup with your favorite Starbucks drink inside the store. Starbucks suspended the use of reusable cups to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, but you can still show your glow-in-the-dark tumbler when ordering for a 10-cent discount.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, said in a statement.The UK went into a transition period with the European Union after the Brexit so that both sides can work out the details of their engagements.The new measures proposed on Friday are necessary because during the transition period, a new potential Covid-19 vaccine must be granted a licence by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).The British government launched a consultation on Friday which will look to amend the Human Medicine Regulations 2012.The measures could come into force by October, ahead of the winter season.The regulations will permit the MHRA to consider giving temporary authorisation allowing patients to benefit while it undergoes the full licensing process, with reinforced conditions attached to ensure safety, quality and efficacy.Source: IANS
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka.

Wednesday, Aug. 26

11:46 p.m.  A deputy assisted a 32-year-old Lee Township woman regarding her 26-year-old sister-in-law posting rude things on her Facebook page. The deputy explained to both parties how to handle differences like mature adults to not prevent future issues.

11:30 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Jerome Township location in reference to a report of a disabled vehicle parked in the roadway. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered the vehicle was unoccupied and off the roadway. There was a significant amount of blood inside of the vehicle, but there was not any recent damage indicating it was involved in a crash. The caller said the 40-year-old Edenville Township man driver appeared to be OK and was picked up from the scene by an unknown woman. The deputy made several attempts to locate the driver but was unsuccessful. The deputy made contact with family who had recently spoken with the driver and advised he was OK. The vehicle was impounded and is being held until contact is made with the driver.

10:25 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Lee Township church in reference to a report of people on the roof of the building. The deputy checked and did not observe anyone on the roof.

9:57 p.m.  A deputy responded to a car-deer crash in Warren Township.

7:33 p.m.  A 33-year-old Midland Township woman came to the Law Enforcement Center to report a fraud. She said she received a phone call from Border Patrol, and the subject on the phone convinced the woman to get $2,500 in gift cards in order to protect her account.

7:32 p.m.  Deputies arrested a 22-year-old Lincoln Township man on two contempt of court warrants out of the Midland courts.

6:13 p.m.  Officers performed a death investigation in the 4000 block of North Cambridge Street.

5:56 p.m.  A 65-year-old Mount Haley Township resident reported that two small Trump/Pence campaign signs were taken from the end of his driveway during the night of Aug. 25. The signs are valued at about $10 each. There are no suspects at this time.

5:40 p.m.  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Ingersoll Township.

5:18 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 1800 block of Eastlawn Drive.

4:34 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash causing injuries in the 100 block of North Saginaw Road.

3:36 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Eastman Avenue and West Wackerly Street.

2:49 p.m.  A deputy assisted a Michigan Department of Corrections parole officer with a parole detainer. The deputy went to the Lee Township address and arrested a 33-year-old man on a parole detainer.

1:12 p.m.  Officers responded to a aggravated felonious assault in the 700 block of Jerome Street.

11:23 a.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of South Saginaw Road and East Patrick Road.

11:09 a.m.  A deputy was asked to call a 62-year-old Jerome Township woman in regard to her seeing a suspicious man on her front porch through her video camera. The deputy called and spoke with the woman, and she said she looked at the video again and noticed that it was a bug on the camera lens and not a person standing on her porch.

11 a.m.  Officers responded to a larceny report in the 600 block of Shirewood Lane.

8:11 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to the area of westbound U.S.-10 near N. Waldo Road for the report of a single-vehicle crash.

8 a.m.  Officers responded to a domestic assault in the 1800 block of Eastlawn Drive.

1:29 a.m.  A deputy responded to a Greendale Township parking lot for a man who appeared to be unresponsive in a vehicle. The deputy made contact with the 30-year-old, who was on his way home to Alma and parked to take a nap because he felt tired. The man was not intoxicated and left the area.
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday urged the Centre and the Supreme Court to reconsider the decision to hold the NEET and JEE exams amid the coronavirus pandemic. He said the exams should be postponed for three to six months in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation.

Everyday more than 70,000 cases of coronavirus are being reported in the country. But amid this situation, NEET-JEE exams are being conducted. If anything happens to the students then who will be responsible for it?" Singh asked in a statement. I request honourable HRD Minister at the Centre and the Supreme Court to reconsider this decision as we also have to secure the future of children," the Rajya Sabha MP said.

I pray to you with folded hands to postpone the exams for at least 3-6 months. When the coronavirus graph starts flattening or the number of cases starts reducing, then you can hold these exams through physical distancing," he said. We all want to secure the future of children. Their one year should not go wasted, but their health, too, should not get affected," the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said.

The veteran Congress leader was reacting to the development wherein six Ministers of opposition-ruled states moved the Supreme Court on Friday, seeking review of its order allowing the Centre to conduct NEET and JEE entrance exams this year amid the persisting COVID-19 pandemic. On August 17, the top court had refused to interfere with the conduct of medical and engineering entrance exams NEET and JEE scheduled to take place in September saying that life must go on and students cant lose a precious year due to the pandemic.
One of the most important features of tech policy is the sheer number of disciplines it intersects with. With the pandemic getting worse, in India, we have gone back and forth on locking down areas to stop the spread of the virus. Over the past few weeks, we have seen lockdowns happen in Jharkhand and West Bengal. As you hear how and where lockdowns are being imposed try to keep in mind the role e-commerce plays in making sure such measures are effective.

It has also been fascinating to witness how the governments thinking has evolved in this regard. There has been renewed importance placed on the sector. And thats not just because of reports of a new draft e-commerce policy, but because of how e-commerce has been seen as a mitigating instrument to manage lockdowns.

During the earlier days, goods and services were classified into essential and non-essential. That classification is not reflective of how the world works. On a macro level, kirana stores may be essential but if the trucking industry is not, kirana stores do not have a lot of supply. On a micro level, the charger to my laptop is an essential commodity for me to sustain my livelihood, but in the eyes of the government, it is not.

And that is fundamentally key to managing the lockdown. Citizens need supplies to survive, and if they cant get them online, they are going to venture out. Hence, e-commerce needs to adapt and fast. The government seems to realise this. Since the classification mentioned above, the government has learned and moved on to appreciate the role of e-commerce in keeping citizens safe. According to a report by Economic Times, the government has been keen on enabling partnerships between e-commerce companies and kirana stores to ensure better last mile delivery of goods.

Given this, and the urge to be competitive in a cut throat environment, e-commerce companies have kept pace. Not only have the supply chains not completely collapsed, but companies such as Zomato and Amazon have enabled contactless deliveries to minimise putting the citizen at risk.

Sellers and buyers have also responded accordingly. According to Business Insider, both Amazon and Flipkart saw a 9X increase in the number of sellers coming back to the platforms for business. On the consumer front, demand also doubled for non-essential goods that would enable people to spend more time at homefor example, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and innerwear.

None of this would have been possible had the market not been encouraged to operate in a usual manner. And while that is half the battle, there is also a need to promote more offline sellers to get online. Small and medium offline sellers are going to be severely hit by the pandemic. Their demand base has taken a hit. They could only reach a section of the people in their geographical vicinity before the crisis. Now, even that section is afraid to venture out. With virtually non-existent sales, margins diminish, and it is hard to pay staff a living wage.

The only option here is to move online. Doing so provides reach to a broader segment of the population and enables access to a distribution network that covers the length and breadth of the country. But moving online has its own challenges. As I mentioned in an earlier column, the current structure has put in place monetary and compliance hurdles for offline sellers to move online. Having obstacles may have made sense in a world without the pandemic, it certainly does not now.

Earlier this week, I was having a conversation that revolved around whether it would make sense to have a framework that would enable the government and the industry to work well together. My initial response to that was to question the role the government could play in enabling the e-commerce sector. To have a framework that identifies spaces where the government could make life easier for e-commerce companies, the first step is to look at how and if the government is acting as a hurdle.

To that end, there are only two things the Union and State governments need to do. Firstly, ease barriers to entry into the online space for offline retailers. Failure to do that can have lasting impacts on the offline retail space, without giving it a chance to survive. Secondly, work in collaboration with e-commerce companies while imposing lockdowns because lockdowns in one area can impact supplies to others.

At this point in time, nationwide e-commerce supply chains are an asset that needs to be strengthened. Failure to carry this out successfully can make lockdowns ineffective. Citizens going out to buy goods during a lockdown is an unintended, anticipated consequence and hence, should be mitigated.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
(Newser)  Over a two-week period in August, the US Marshals Service conducted "Operation Not Forgotten," searching for missing kids in the Atlanta metro area. Now, per the agency, nearly 40 kids are known to be in safe hands due to that mission. A USMS release reports that it tracked down 26 missing children, as well as the safe location of 13 others, in 20 counties in the Atlanta and Macon area, arresting nine individuals in the process. The children's ages were said to be between 3 and 17, per ABC News. The kids involved "were considered to be some of the most at-risk and challenging recovery cases in the area," the USMS release notes, at risk for being victimized by sex trafficking, sexual or physical abuse, child exploitation, medical conditions, and mental health issues.

story continues below

A regional fugitive unit of the USMS, as well as its missing children's division, worked alongside the nonprofit National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and state and local agencies to locate the children. WSB-TV has the names of those arrested. "When we track down fugitives, it's a good feeling to know that we're putting the bad guy behind bars," the head of the USMS' Missing Child Unit says in a statement, per CBS News. "But that sense of accomplishment is nothing compared to finding a missing child." Donald Washington, the director of the USMS, agrees. "The message to missing children and their families is that we will never stop looking for you," he says in his own statement. He said in a Thursday presser that a similar mission in Cleveland has turned up 15 children so far. (Read more missing child stories.)
Tensions erupted in the village when a group of Kannada activists barged into the venue to install Rayanna statue at 3.30 am on Friday

Hubballi: The tussule between Kannadigas and Marathi people in Belagavi has resurfaced in the form of a statue row this time. Kannadigas are demanding installation of the freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna's statue at a circle in Peeranawadi village situated at the outskirts of Belagavi, while Maratha-speaking people urging the government to install the Maratha emperor Shivaji's statue at the venue.

Tensions erupted in the village when a group of Kannada activists barged into the venue to install Rayanna statue at 3.30 am on Friday, forcing the police officials to resort to laticharge against the irate Marathi-speaking people who staged protest by pelting stones.

The Kannada activists had made a similar attempt at an unauthorised installation of Rayanna statue on August 15. But, police officials had stopped their attempt when Marathi-speaking people opposed the move and demanded removal of the statue from the venue. Police had also taken the Rayanna syatue into their possession.

The Marathi-speaking people are contending that a Shivaji statue is already there near the circle and installing the Rayanna statue at Shivaji circle will create confusion in the minds of people visiting the village.

The statue row between Kannadigas and Marathas has been posing a tough challenge to the government and politicians, especially those who hail from Kuruba community to which Rayanna also belonged. Some Kannada activists are targeting rural development and panchayat raj minister, Kuruba leader K S Eshwarappa, who tried to mobilise the community by launching Sangolli Rayanna Brigade to showcase his strength to his rivals within BJP and Opposition parties. The minister will visit Belagavi on Saturday to find a solution to the issue through negotiations with both groups.

"Pro-Kannada organsations are demanding the district administration and government since last 4-5 years to install Rayanna statue at the venue. But our demand is not fulfilled despite submitting several memorandums to the local elected representatives. Therefore, we decided to instal the statue on Friday morning," senior Kannada activist Ashok Chandaragi said.

The security has been beefed up as tensions continued in the village. Home minister Basavaraj Bommai has directed senior police officials in Bengaluru to visit the village to supervise security arrangements.

Meanwhile, the Kannada activists have staged a protest by holding a procession from administrative building of Suvarna Soudha to the office of the Belagavi deputy commissioner. The district in-charge minister Ramesh Jarkiholi also held meetings with officials and assured the Kannada activists that row will be resolved soon.
Samsung launched the Galaxy M31s smartphone in the M Series in India last month as the successor of the M31 that was launched earlier this year. This comes with upgraded camera, Infinity-O AMOLED display, 25W fast charging and 128GB storage as a standard. Specifications look great on paper. Is the phone worth the price? Let us dive into the review to find out.

Box Contents

Samsung Galaxy M31s 6GB RAM, 128GB storage version in Mirage Black colour

2-pin 25W charger with Adaptive Fast Charging (5V-2A/9V-1.67A/12V-2.1A)

USB Type-C to Type-C Cable

Quick Start Guide and Warranty information

Display, Hardware and Design

Samsung has finally moved from the Infinity U display from earlier M series models to a 6.5-inch Full HD+ Infinity-O Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 10802400 pixels at about 404 PPI, aspect ratio of 20:9. The display looks bright, thanks to 420 nits brightness, offers good color reproduction and the sunlight legibility is good as well. Since it has an AMOLED panel, it offers true blacks. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

Similar to the other Samsung phones, there is Blue light filter that is said to reduce eye strain by limiting the amount of blue light emitted by the screen, You can set it for sunrise to sunset and also set a custom schedule. You can change font size and style and select apps that you want to use in the full screen aspect ratio. There is also dark mode, which looks great on the AMOLED screen. The phone doesnt have DC dimming or low brightness anti-flicker mode that is present in some AMOLED screen phones in the price range. I didnt notice any screen flicker issues in low brightness on the phone.

It doesnt have notification LED, but there is Always on display with tap to show option that shows the AOD screen for 10 seconds after you tap the screen. You can also set a schedule. There are a lot of options to choose from such as clocks, GIF or you can download any AOD from Themes section.

On the top, there is an 32-megapixel camera in the tiny punch-hole and the earpiece is present on the top edge. There is also a tiny space in the top left corner for the proximity sensor and the phone also has an ambient light sensor. It has gyroscope and magnetic sensor, otherwise known as magnetometer for VR. There is a small chin below the screen.

The phone has shiny plastic frame which attracts fingerprints, but it doesnt slip out of your hands easily. On the right side, there is a fingerprint sensor, which doubles up as a power button, just below the volume rockers. On the left side there is a single tray that houses dual nano SIM slots and a microSD card slot that accepts cards up to 512GB. At the bottom, there is a 3.5mm audio jack, USB Type-C port, loudspeaker grill and the primary microphone.

On the back, there is a quad camera module arranged in a rectangular array. There is single LED flash next to the camera module. Even though the phone has a huge 6.5-inch screen, it is compact to hold. It is 9.3mm thick compared to 8.9mm M31 and weighs 203 grams, compared to 191g M31. The glasstic back has a gradient design, which attracts fingerprints and smudges easily. It is prone to scratches on the right side with day-to-day use, but it is not as bad as earlier M series phones. It is recommended to get a case since Samsung doesnt provide one in the box. The overall the build quality is decent, but it cant be compared to Samsungs A series phones. It is not splash resistant like some phones in the price range.

Camera

It has a 64-megapixel rear camera with Sony IMX682 sensor, 0.8m pixel size and f/1.8 aperture, compared to Samsung GW1 ISOCELL Bright sensor in the predecessor. The secondary camera is now a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, compared to 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens in the M31. The 5-megapixel depth sensor and a 5-megapixel macro sensor with f/2.2 aperture is retained. The phone has a 32-megapixel camera on the front with Sony IMX616 sensor with f/2.2 aperture. There is Live Focus that makes use of the 5-megapixel depth sensor. You can also adjust the bokeh effect before or after the shot. There is selfie portrait option for the front camera that uses software to blur the background. There is also a wide-angle option for the front camera.

It has Auto mode, Food, Night, Panorama, Macro, Pro, Live Focus, Super Slow-mo, Slow motion and Hyperlapse as well as Pro mode to adjust ISO, shutter speed, focus, white balance and exposure manually. You can choose 64MP option from the aspect ratio settings on the top. It also has AR stickers that lets you add stickers. It also has scene optimizer, which is AI mode that automatically detects modes and you can also enable auto HDR option.

There is a Single Take feature that takes 7 photos and 3 videos with a tap for up to 10 seconds footage. The phone has partial Cam2API support and there is no RAW support for Exynos devices.

Coming to the image quality, daylight shots are way better than the M31, and the camera captures a good amount of detail, creates well exposed photos with good dynamic range and detailing, and dynamic range can further be improved enabling HDR mode from the settings, which automatically turns on HDR when needed. Even though the phone has a 64-megapixel sensor, the final output has 16-megapixel resolution, which is common in phones with large sensors. Autofocus speeds are fast and accurate. Ultra-wide shots from the 12MP camera is good in daylight. Even though the edges look a bit curved due to the ultra-wide lens, Shape Correction is automatically applied that automatically crop the edges, still some images look a bit curved at the corners, which is common in wide-angle lenses.

Macro shots from the main camera is good, and there is a dedicated macro mode, but there is no touch to focus option in this mode so it is hard to focus. Live focus is good at detecting the edges. Low-light performance is good, which can be improved further with Night mode that offers more details, but you need to keep your hand steady, since it takes two to three seconds to process. However, images shot using night mode are zoomed, and are captured in 8-megapixel resolution compared to 16-megapixel. 64-megapixel shots have good amount of details, but the colours are not vibrant, and the images are about 10MB in size. Images with flash is good.

The 32-megapixel front camera is good in most case. Wide-angle mode takes images in 12-megapixel resolution after pixel binning, while the normal mode takes images in 8-megapixel. Software blur in the live focus mode doesnt have good edge detection since it blurs some parts.

Check out some camera samples (Click the image for the full resolution sample).

It can record videos at maximum 4K resolution at 30 fps from both front and back cameras. There is also 1080p 30fps both in main and wide-angle camera, but there is no 1080p 60fps option, which is a restriction due to processor. It can shoot slow motion at 720p at 480fps and there is also super slow motion, which shoots an 8-second video with 6 seconds of slow motion, and also lets you add custom music for the slow motion part. You can also enable EIS for 1080p videos. Video quality is good, and the audio crisp since it has a secondary microphone. Check out the video samples below.

Software, UI and Apps

Coming to the software, the phone runs on Android 10 with Android security patch for July 2020. On the top of Android 10, it has Samsung One UI 2.1, which brings several features, but it still doesnt have screen recording option.

The advanced features option has Games Launcher that gathers your games downloaded from Play Store and Galaxy Apps into one place for easy access, smart pop-up view, Screenshots, direct share, motion gestures like lift to wake, double tap to wake, smart stay, smart alert that vibrates when you pick the phone up after missing calls or receiving messages, easy mute by putting your hand over the screen or turning your phone face down, one-handed mode that lets you use the phone easily with one hand, finger sensor gestures to open and close the notification panel using the fingerprint sensor, palm swipe screenshot capture, swipe to call or send messages. Dual messenger lets you sign in to a second account of social media apps and the Panic mode lets you Send SOS message by pressing the Power key three time.

The Device maintenance option lets you manage your devices battery life, storage, RAM usage, and security all in one place. Out of 128GB (UFS 2.1) in our unit, 110GB is free. Out of 6GB LPDDR4x RAM, about 5.5GB is usable and 3.2GB is free when default apps are running in the background. Since this has UFS 2.1 storage, we got sequential read speeds of about 489MB/s.

Apart from the usual set of utility apps and Google Apps, the smartphone comes with Facebook, Netflix and Microsoft OneDrive. There is also ShareChat, Trell, Snapchat and Candy Crush. You get option to install apps when you are setting up the phone, which you can choose not to. As a part of cost-cutting, the Samsung Galaxy M series phones dont have Samsung Pay, Samsung Pass, Secure Folder, Bixby Voice/Vision, Samsung Cloud, Kids Mode, Easy Mode and Samsung Knox.

Fingerprint Sensor and Face unlock

The fingerprint sensor is present on the side, and it immediately unlocks the phone just by keeping your finger so that you dont have to press it. You can add up to 3 fingerprints, and adding fingerprint is easily with few swipes. It has support for Face recognition, which doesnt work well if the lighting is poor in the room, if you are hats, or use heavy makeup.

Music Player and FM Radio

YouTube Music is the default music player. It has equalizer, Dolby Atmos, UHQ upscaler, Surround and Tube Amp Pro sound effects that can be enabled from the settings. All these improve the audio when listening through earphones. It has FM Radio support with support for recording. That said, audio through third-party headphones is good. Loudspeaker output from the mono speaker is good as well. The phone comes with Widevine L1 support out-of-the-box so that you can enjoy HD content on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar and other streaming apps.

Dual SIM and Connectivity

The connectivity options include, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz) with VoWiFi for Jio and Airtel, Bluetooth v5 and GPS with GLONASS. It has support for USB OTG. It has 4G connectivity with support a lot of bands and has Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) and WiFi-Calling or Vo-WiFi support for Reliance Jio, Airtel and more. The dialer and messaging have familiar UI. Since this is a dual SIM phone, you get option to select either SIMs when calling or sending text message. Moving on, the call quality is good, and we did not face any call drops and the earpiece volume was loud. Speaker output during calls were good as well.

The Galaxy M31ss head SAR is 1.38 W/Kg, which is more than 1W/kg, even though the limit in India is 1.6 W/kg (over 1 g). This is way higher than the 0.383 W/Kg value in M31, so we recommended you to use a headset if you are on a long call.

Performance and Benchmarks

It is powered by Exynos 9611 Octa-Core (Quad 2.3GHz A73 + Quad 1.7GHz A53) SoC, same as several other M series smartphones. The performance was smooth during daily usage, and enabling reduce animations from the settings improves it further, since it reduces motion effects on the screen, such as when the apps are opened or close. RAM management was good as well. With the Mali-G72MP3 GPU, the gaming experience was good. PUBG Works in HDR, but there are frame drops. Other mid-range games were smooth without much frame drops. The phone doesnt get heated up on normal usage, but it is slightly warm when gaming.

Based on the benchmark scores, it is clear that the SoC is placed towards the end compared to other Snapdragon SoCs, and the Exynos struggles in GPU scores, which is visible if you play games in high settings. Check out some synthetic benchmark scores below.

Battery life

The 6000mAh battery offers brilliant battery life that lasts more than a day with heavy use. With average use it lasted close to three days. I got about 8 hours of screen on time during my use with use of camera and social apps like Instagram, YouTube playback, Chrome browsing etc. mostly on Wi-Fi and occasional 4G use for close to 3 days. Adaptive battery saving and other options will let you increase the battery life, but the performance might be affected.

In our One Charge rating, the Samsung Galaxy M31s scored 18 hours and 54 minutes, which is almost same as the M31. Samsung has offered USB Type-C and 25W fast charging, an upgrade from the usual 15W chargers. Charging with the bundled charger about 1 hours and 50 minutes to reach 100% from 0%, and 0 to 50% took about 50 minutes, which is good for a phone with a 6000mAh battery.

Conclusion

Overall, the Galaxy M31s, is a worthy upgrade to M31 at a slightly higher price compared to the predecessor. It has upgraded cameras, better Infinity-O AMOLED display and 25W fast charging while retaining the huge 6000mAh battery. Glass back, lack of splash-resistant body, Samsung Pay are few things that needs to be compromised.

Competition

POCO X2 is an option if you need 120Hz refresh rate screen and dual front cameras. The realme 6 Pro is a good competition with a 90Hz screen and dual front cameras and the realme X2 with an AMOLED screen is also a good option, but the realme 7 Pro is all set to launch soon. Samsungs own Galaxy M51 with a 7000mAh battery is gearing up to launch next month, but it will cost more.

Availability

The Galaxy M31s comes in Ocean Blue and Space Black colors, and now costs Rs. 20,499 for the 6GB RAM with 128GB storage and Rs. 22,499 for the 8GB RAM with 128GB storage version, compared to launch price of Rs. 19,499. It is available from Amazon.in and Samsung.com.

Pros

FHD+ Infinity-O Super AMOLED screen

Good battery life with 25W fast charging

Good cameras

Dedicated Dual SIM and microSD Slots

Cons

Back is prone to scratches

Same old Exynos 9611 SoC

Average low-light camera performance
Romania's Foreign Ministry (MAE) has informed that from September 1 all air passengers entering Egypt through any airport regardless of the state from which they travel must produce a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken 48 hours, at the latest, before entering the country.

Therefore, MAE reminds people arriving in Egypt from Romania will be allowed entry only upon producing a COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken 48 hours taken 48 hours, at the latest, before arrival in Egypt.

According to the information provided by Egyptian authorities, the rule will also be imposed on air passengers transiting through Egypt, even if the state of final destination does not require the presentation of a such a test.

Information on the new measure is available at the following link: cairo.mae.ro/local-news/1136.

Romanian citizens can request consular assistance by calling the Romanian Embassy in Cairo: 002027359546, with the calls being rerouted to the Centre for Contact and Support of Romanian Citizens Abroad (CCSCRS) and taken over by call centre operators. Romanian nationals facing a difficult, special situation of an emergency nature may also call the emergency line of the Romanian Embassy in Cairo: 002027359546.

MAE recommends visiting the websites: www.mae.ro/node/52005 and cairo.mae.ro.
The Secretary, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State chapter, Abimbola Fagoyinbo-Francis, has called on the federal government to urgently intervene in cassava farming in the country.

Mrs Fagoyinbo-Francis told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that government intervention would help avert looming scarcity of the crop.

According to her, many farmers boycotted cassava cultivation in 2020, and this development could lead to scarcity of the produce.

She said the reason for the boycott was due to the huge losses recorded in 2019 by many farmers as a result of glut.

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The AFAN scribe said that in 2019, many farmers went into cassava cultivation but there was no market, off-takers or government agencies to buy the produce, leading to excess production and glut.

She said that in the process, many farmers lost so much money that they decided to boycott it this season.

Last year, I lost over N600,000 to cassava cultivation and I know many farmers that also lost their money to it.

There (was) so much cassava production last year and buyers started buying them at a lower price and it resulted to shortage for many of our farmers.

We sold a tonne of cassava for as low as N10,000, now it is being sold at N30,000 per tonne and it is not even available because farmers have boycotted it.

Many farmers boycotted cassava cultivation this year due to fear of the unknown. They fear that what happened last year might happen again.

Now, there is no cassava on the farms, it will take an average of nine months to harvest cassava, she said.

Mrs Fagoyinbo-Francis called for urgent government intervention to avert the looming scarcity of cassava in the country.

She said that with the present situation, there might be shortage of cassava production this season because farmers do not want to have the same experience this year.

There may not be enough cassava for garri, cassava flour and other food items. Even if cassava is available, it will be very expensive.

Already, garri is not affordable now. Go to the market and see for yourself. It is no longer a cheap food anymore, she said.

Mrs Fagoyinbo-Francis urged the federal government to provide support for small-holder farmers on land clearing and preparation to mitigate the effects of the boycott.

She said without funding and support from the government, farmers might continue to boycott cassava cultivation, thereby resulting into serious food shortage.

Mrs Fagoyinbo-Francis said very few farmers that had gone into cassava farming this season had spent a lot of money on land clearing and preparation.

She said that due to COVID-19, many farmers left their farms, adding that only few farmers actually cultivated cassava this year.

Government needs to come in now and support cassava farmers through funding.

This will affect the price of garri this year because there will be shortage of cassava to process into garri.

I sold six tonnes for less than N100,000, it was a great loss to me.

I know of a farmer that has spent over N370,000 for land preparation for cassava already this year, aside planting.

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How do you expect it not to be expensive, when you have spent so much on planting and it will take an average of nine months to harvest cassava.

By end of 2020 and early next year, cassava will be very expensive and the only solution is government intervention, Mrs Fagoyinbo-Francis said.

(NAN)
Right-wing attacks and plots account for the majority of all terrorist incidents in the United States since 1994, and the total number of right-wing attacks and plots has grown significantly during the past six years, the Center for Strategic & International Studies concluded after examining terror plots in the United States from 1994 to May of this year. Right-wing extremists perpetrated two-thirds of the attacks and plots in the United States in 2019 and over 90 percent between January 1 and May 8, 2020.

The anti-fascist protesters known as antifa have committed violent acts but arent known to have ever killed anyone, while right-wing extremists have killed hundreds. Just a few days ago, a Trump supporter, Kyle H. Rittenhouse, allegedly shot two protesters dead in Kenosha, Wis. One cant help wondering if Rittenhouse, an impressionable 17-year-old living in Illinois, was galvanized to take a gun and drive to Kenosha because of panic promoted by Trump and Fox News.

After fulminating about threats from Black Lives Matter protesters, Tucker Carlson of Fox News seemed to defend the Kenosha killings, saying, How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would?

At the Republican convention, Vice President Mike Pence warned voters, You wont be safe in Joe Bidens America, and cited a federal officer, Dave Underwood, killed during the riots in Oakland. But the man charged with killing Underwood was Steven Carrillo, a follower of the extremist right-wing Boogaloo movement.

I covered the Portland protests and was duly tear-gassed by the federal agents dispatched by Trump to create violent street scenes. Sure, Portland had a genuine problem with protest violence, but it was inflamed by Trump  and those leftists who did throw rocks or set fires played into the hands of Trump, even as they damaged their own city.

I asked Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon what she thought of Trump turning the state into a punching bag.

He has nothing else, she said. He has to scare the bejesus out of people.

This is all about distraction from his appalling failure to provide a national response to Covid-19, she added.
VILNIUS, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Lithuania will continue working towards sanctions on Belarus officials, despite a threat by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to boycott its port, the spokesman for President Gitanas Nauseda told Reuters.

"The president supports effective sanctions on Belarus, at European, regional and national levels. They are used as an answer to violence of government institutions and human rights violations in the country", spokesman Antanas Bubnelis said.

Earlier on Friday Lukashenko threatened to cut off transit routes through the country and boycott Lithuanian ports if sanctions were imposed.

Lithuania said this week it could sanction 118 Belarus officials, including Lukashenko, which it says are responsible for violence against protestors and forged president elections.

The sanctions would bar them from entering the country. (Reporting By Andrius Sytas)
In the news item titled 'Aviation accident at Baneasa Airport because of faulty landing gear' broadcast on Friday at 18:15 on the English newswire the second paragraph will read correctly '68 persons on board,' instead of '84 passengers on board,' according to a rectification sent by CNAB Spokesman Valentin Iordache.

We hereby broadcast again the news item in the correct form:

Bucharest, Aug 28 /Agerpres/ - An aviation accident occurred on Friday at Bucharest Baneasa - Aurel Vlaicu airport, after a Boeing 767 aircraft, a special regime flight, recorded a malfunction on the main landing gear, according to the information provided by the spokesman of the Bucharest National Airports Company (CNAB), Valentin Iordache.

The aircraft had 68 persons on board (44 passengers and 24 crew members), who were evacuated safely and were not injured.

The accident took place at 14:52, and an investigation is already underway, being carried out by the Authority for Investigations and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (AIAS).

"Airport crews (firefighters, ambulances) acted promptly, according to specific procedures. The airport's landing-takeoff runway is closed. The commercial traffic, which takes place at Henri Coanda Airport, was not affected," mentions Iordache.
In a concerted effort to augment the benefits of 5G technology, Qualcomm Incorporated QCOM recently joined forces with a leading tech behemoth  Ericsson ERIC. Markedly, the companies successfully concluded interoperability tests, which demonstrate the feasibility of 5G connectivity on the back of much talked-about carrier aggregation technology. This pioneering achievement of industry forerunners marks a significant milestone in an era when telecom companies are automating operations, while making seamless migrations from 4G to 5G technology.



Qualcomm and Ericsson have been working for quite some time now related to the development and commercialization of a standalone (SA) core 5G network worldwide. Apparently, these two companies conducted a trial run last year leveraging Qualcomms Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System. The test was compliant with 3GPP 5G NR specifications, thereby enabling service providers and global OEMs to unleash the full potential of 5G as well as network slicing in enterprise-grade cloud services and Industrial IoT. Notably, the latest 5G trial success is expected to not only reinforce the close-knit relationship between the companies but also enhance the overall 5G experience across global markets.



The carrier aggregation test for 5G technology was conducted at Ericsson's labs in Beijing, China. Markedly, carrier aggregation technology refers to an amalgamation of two or more channel spectrums into a unified data channel to enhance data throughput capacity. As part of the trial, the tech bellwethers witnessed top-speed of 2.5 Gbps in a 70% downlink configuration by combining 60 MHz and 100 MHz within 2.5 GHz Time Division Duplex (TDD) spectrum. In early 2020, Verizon Communications Inc. VZ had collaborated with Qualcomm and other tech giants to check the efficacy of 5G Ultra-Wideband network, thereby achieving peak speeds of 4.2 Gbps on its live 5G network.



Apart from the 5G SA test in China, Qualcomm and Ericsson had conducted another trial in Sweden that showcased the viability of data calls using the carrier aggregation technology. Apparently, they aggregated 20 MHz carrier from the 600 MHz Frequency Division Duplex band with 100 MHz carrier from the 2.5 GHz TDD band. The 5G infrastructure equipment utilized in these tests were a 5G-backed smartphone device powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon X60 5G Modem-RF System along with Ericsson Radio System. With the completion of this significant milestone, 5G network performance is expected to improve when mass deployments take place in 2021.



Leveraging on such indigenous products and technology collaborations, Qualcomm aims to retain its leadership in 5G, chipset market and mobile connectivity. It is one of the largest manufacturers of wireless chipset based on baseband technology. The San Diego, CA-based wireless technology company is focused on three areas  computing, connectivity and electrification. With more than 150 5G design wins, Qualcomm is reportedly the only chipset vendor with 5G system level solutions covering both sub-6, gigahertz and millimeter wave bands. Also, it is helping customers experience a seamless transition to super-fast 5G networks, delivering low-power resilient multi-gigabit connectivity with best-in-class security. Markedly, Qualcomm aims to expand its product portfolio and develop mobile phone chips for the masses.



Qualcomm has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 19.8%. Shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have soared 51.8% compared with the industrys growth of 24.9% in the past year.

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Clearfield has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 45.6%, on average.

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New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday (August 29) wrote a letter to Mumbai police to provide protection to Rhea Chakraborty as she has claimed a threat to her and her familys life.

On the CBI demand, the Mumbai police confirmed that it will provide protection to Rhea Chakraborty whenever she commutes from her residence to DRDO guest house.

Earlier on Thursday (August 27), actor Rhea Chakraborty had urged Mumbai police to provide her protection as she is being hounded by the media outside her building compound. She also said that some media persons are trying to enter her building compound forcefully.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Mumbai police soon arrived at Rhea's residence to provide her protection before she departs for the DRDO office with her brother Sovik Chakraborty to carry forward the CBI investigation.

Earlier on August 28, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) interrogated Rhea Chakraborty, who is accused of abetting actor Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide, for over ten hours.

According to CBI sources, agency officials questioned Rhea about her relationship with Sushant. Her statement was recorded by CBI`s Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Superintendent of Police Nupur Prasad.

On accessing the details of the interrogation it was found that Riya could not give direct answer to the questions of the CBI.

She left the DRDO guest house for home after the questioning by the CBI but again left her house and arrived at the Santa Cruz Police Station demanding protection.
The overarching lesson of the triumphant Republican National Convention this week is that America is great, and that it is good and proper for an American president to put America first. In that, of course, the RNC is echoing President Trumps consistent statements since he began running for president four years ago. But the Presidents America-First message remains one of the most maligned, misinterpreted, and misrepresented aspects of his entire program.

In fact, the presidents primary job is clear from the oath of office that every president recites in order to assume office, and it isnt to provide health care for illegal aliens, or to make sure that Somalia isnt riven by civil war, or to make sure America is diverse. It is simply this: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Or, to put it even more simply, as Rating Americas Presidents: An America-First Look at Who Is Best, Who Is Overrated, and Who Was An Absolute Disaster explains, the primary job of the president of the United States is to put America first.

Nonetheless, this point is hotly controverted. In Donald Trumps inaugural address on January 20, 2017, he declared: From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, its going to be America First... We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world -- but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first.

In response, neoconservative pundit William Kristol tweeted: Ill be unembarrassedly old-fashioned here: It is profoundly depressing and vulgar to hear an American president proclaim America First.

Eight months later, at the UN General Assembly, Trump explained that his guiding principle was simple common sense: As President of the United States, I will always put America first, just like you, as the leaders of your countries will always, and should always, put your countries first.

Indeed. As Trump continued, All responsible leaders have an obligation to serve their own citizens, and the nation-state remains the best vehicle for elevating the human condition.

That is axiomatic. Yet Kristol was not alone in his disgust that the president would use this phrase and make it the principal focus of his presidency. The idea that all responsible leaders have an obligation to serve their own citizens primarily, rather than those of the world at large, has been out of fashion since World War II, and in many ways since World War I. It has been mislabeled, derided, and dismissed as isolationism, a fear or unwillingness to engage with the wider world, even as it is becoming increasingly interconnected and inter- dependent. But it does not necessarily mean that America will withdraw from the world; it only means that in dealing with the world, American presidents will be looking out primarily for the good of Americans.

The term America first has also been associated, quite unfairly, with anti-Semitism. This is largely due to the malign legacy of the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh, who as the spokesman of the antiwar America First Committee before World War II, railed against the forces that, he said, were pressing this country toward war: the British, the Jewish, and the Roosevelt Administration. He granted that No person with a sense of the dignity of mankind can condone the persecution of the Jewish race in Germany, but insisted that instead of agitating for war, the Jewish groups in this country should be opposing it in every possible way, for they will be among the first to feel its consequences. Particularly after Pearl Harbor, Lindbergh was widely accused of anti-Semitism; the America-First principle was tainted by association with suspicions that to be pro-American meant being anti-Semitic.

That connection has been revived and reinforced today by young man named Nicholas Fuentes, who hosts a podcast entitled America First and has made classless statements likening Jews to cookies and claiming that it would have been impossible in the span of World War II to bake as many cookies as the number of Jews murdered during the Holocaust. His supporters insist that he isnt anti-Semitic and doesnt deny the Holocaust, and that these claims are exaggerated by his enemies. However, in this video from November 2019, Fuentes mockingly affirms that he does not deny the Holocaust, and repeats several times the baseless claim that if he did deny it, he would be murdered, as he claims other Holocaust-deniers have been.

This video is repulsive and stupid: Holocaust deniers are not being murdered and are not cowering in fear for their lives. Fuentes is either dishonest or misinformed, and he certainly doesnt have anything to do with any genuine America-First principle.

The founding principles of the republic, notably the proposition that, as the Declaration of Independence puts it, all men are created equal, and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, shows that putting America first has nothing to do with such petty and irrational hatreds.

And far from the America-First being some eccentric minority view that Trump has borrowed from extremists, Rating Americas Presidents shows that the Founding Fathers and every president up until Woodrow Wilson took for granted that the president of the United States should put his nation first and would have thought it strange in the extreme that this idea should even be controversial.

The controversial nature of Donald Trumps policies and personality as well as decades of conditioning have made many people suspicious of the phrase America First, but what should an American president put first if not the interests of his people? Even internationalism was originally sold to the American people as being the best course to follow for the protection of America and its people.

Today there is more reason to revisit and embrace the America-First principle than there has been in a century. Socialism and nationalism have found favor among some Americans since before the First World War. Nowadays, however, although the entire Democratic Party is embracing socialism, it is still massively discredited as a political philosophy. Its sister ideology, internationalism, is facing more opposition today than it has since before World War II.

Accordingly, its time the assumptions of the likes of William Kristol and the Left were challenged openly, and the America-First principle reclaimed. This is all the more important to do in light of the fact that several generations of American children have now been raised to despise the Founding Fathers as racist slaveowners and to consider American history to be one long record of racism, imperialism, and oppression. Its time we put America First again in no small part by recalling what made America great.

Robert Spencer is the director of Jihad Watch and a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center. He is author of 21 books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) and The Truth About Muhammad. His latest book is Rating Americas Presidents: An America-First Look at Who Is Best, Who Is Overrated, and Who Was An Absolute Disaster. Follow him on Twitter here. Like him on Facebook here.

Image: NeedPix
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 04:54:12|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- A car bomb exploded on Friday evening near a Turkish military point in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, a war monitor reported.

The car went off on the M4 road south of the Jisr al-Shughur area in the countryside of Idlib near the administrative border with the Hama province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The car exploded while reconnaissance drones were hovering overhead, said the observatory, adding that the drones might have hit the car bomb before reaching the Turkish point.

After the explosion, unknown armed men attacked the Turkish point and engaged with the Turkish soldiers and allied Syrian rebel groups, said the observatory. The clashes were still ongoing near the base with no reports on losses yet, it added.

The Turkish forces later fanned out from south of Jisr al-Shughur near the M4 road as armored vehicles patrolled the area, according to the report.

Also on Friday evening, an unknown armed group attacked a position of the Turkey-backed rebels near the Zawiya Mountain region in the southern countryside of Idlib, leaving wounded militants.

Turkey maintains several observation points in Idlib as part of an agreement with Russia to observe a cease-fire between the government forces and the rebels in Idlib.

However, the observatory repeatedly reported lawlessness and infighting among the Turkey-backed rebels in areas controlled by Turkey in northern Syria. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 00:21:27|Editor: huaxia

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File photo shows the Jinqing Island of Yongle Islands, located in the Xisha Islands, in south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The United States should stop making waves and sowing discord in the South China Sea and play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the comments at a daily news briefing in response to a question about U.S. Department of Defense claims Thursday that China launched a ballistic missile test in the South China Sea on the morning of Aug. 26, threatening regional peace and security.

Relevant training activities near the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea are routine arrangements conducted by the Chinese military off China's coast. They are not targeted at any country and have nothing to do with the South China Sea disputes, said Zhao.

"The relevant accusations are groundless and unjustified," he said.

Zhao said that, over a period of time, the United States has frequently dispatched in large numbers advanced warships, fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft all the way to the South China Sea to project its power and engage in military provocations, undermining China's sovereignty and security interests as well as the normal order of navigation in the South China Sea.

The United States has become the saboteur and troublemaker of peace and stability in the South China Sea, and the international community bears witness to these all, Zhao said. 
A flash message detailing the incident was issued, and 5th District police officers saw an SUV matching the description of the one that was stolen in the 4900 block of South Lake Shore Drive in East Hyde Park and began pulling it over.
EVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE

(A True Story)

By Daniel Nayeri

When I was growing up, my bedtime stories involved great warriors and kings, the heroes of ancient Persia. Many came from the Shahnameh, an epic Persian poem that weaves the history of Iran like a colorful tapestry. In Everything Sad Is Untrue, Daniel Nayeri weaves an equally rich history of his familys journey from Iran to America.

In this epic tale, our hero is Khosrou, a 12-year-old boy named after a real king. His battle? Fifth grade. Khosrou lives in Oklahoma, having fled Iran with his sister and his mother, whom the secret police threatened for practicing Christianity. Khosrous father stayed behind.

In Oklahoma, things arent great for Khosrou. His father is just a voice on the phone; his mother, who was a doctor in Iran, has to work different jobs to make ends meet; his classmates shoot paper clips at his neck.

But in Mrs. Millers class, Khosrou is a storyteller. He has a treasure chest of memories and family myths. His assignment is to tell them. In the stories he weaves, Khosrous family is not poor but had their land stolen generations ago, and his dad is still with him. Khosrou spins these tales like a modern-day Scheherazade: He understands the manipulative nature of storytelling, how he can use it to string his classmates along. To survive.
Germany Mulls Russia Response As Navalny's Condition Remains 'Serious'

August 28, 2020

The Berlin hospital treating Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny after a suspected poisoning says the Kremlin critic is still in an induced coma but his condition is stable and his symptoms are improving.

Charite Hospital said August 28 that the 44-year-old remains in an intensive-care unit and on a ventilator, describing his condition as serious but not life-threatening.

Navalny fell ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow on August 20, forcing the plane he was traveling on to make an emergency landing in Omsk, where he spent two days in the hospital before being evacuated to Germany.

Doctors at the renowned German hospital have concluded that Navalny was poisoned by the group of active substances called cholinesterase inhibitors. Cholinesterase are a group of chemicals that are found in several drugs as well as in some pesticides and nerve agents. He is being treated with the antidote atropine.

"While his condition remains serious, there is no immediate danger to his life," Charite said in a statement. "However, due to the severity of the patient's poisoning, it remains too early to gauge potential long-term effects."

Navalny's team says he was deliberately poisoned and the Kremlin had a role, an accusation the Russian government has denied. Russian doctors said their tests did not find any trace of poison while they treated Navalny.

Navalny's suspected poisoning has prompted Western governments to call for full transparency, with policymakers mulling a number of responses if the Kremlin is confirmed to have had a role.

So far, Russian officials have brushed aside allegations Navalny was deliberately poisoned and shown little indication they plan to fully investigate the case.

Speaking at her annual summer news conference on August 28, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that once there is more clarity on what happened to Navalny, Germany will try to ensure a "European reaction" against those responsible.

"We will try that, once we have more clarity on the circumstances," Merkel told reporters, noting that a coordinated response was taken after the poisoning of former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Britain in March 2018.

"We have an obligation to do everything so that this can be cleared up," she said. "It was right and good that Germany said we were prepared...to take in Mr. Navalny. And now we will try to get this cleared up with the possibilities we have, which are indeed limited."

Omid Nouripour, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, said that it is time for Germany to "wake up" regarding its relations with Russia in the wake of Navalny's suspected poisoning.

"I hope that the people will wake up in this country seeing the systematic way of attacks on people who are not like-minded with the Kremlin," Nouripour told RFE/RL by telephone, pointing to a long line of Kremlin opponents injured or killed in Russia and abroad.

"My government asked for investigations, common investigations with Russia," Nouripour said. "This is wishful [thinking]. I would love to see that, but I do not see that coming."

Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

He called for Germany to reconsider its dealings with Russia on such projects as the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a contentious underwater Baltic Sea pipeline that will bring gas from Russia to Germany.

"I think that the question of Nord Stream is a question of [political] will," he added.

But Merkel rejected the idea that the Navalny case should be linked to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline

"Our opinion is that Nord Stream 2 should be completed," she said. "I don't think it is appropriate to link this business-operated project with the Navalny question."

Expressing hope that Navalny can recover, Nouripour said that dialogue with Russia must continue. But he also said that Russia should face consequences for its actions.

He called for Western European countries to coordinate their response, saying that "the most important thing is to keep the European Union together and to make us strong when it comes to resilience to the hybrid warfare that a lot of countries in Europe are suffering from."

Kremlin-controlled Gazprom is seeking to complete the last 160 kilometers of the contentious pipeline along the bottom of the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, despite U.S. sanctions aimed at preventing it from doing so.

Merkel has strongly opposed U.S. extraterritorial sanctions.

The Green Party's view on foreign-policy questions is increasingly pertinent in Germany, where the party consistently polls second behind Merkel's conservatives ahead of federal elections scheduled for the second half of next year. That could put the Greens in a position to join a future government.

Based on an interview conducted by RFE/RL's Rikard Jozwiak, with additional reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30809254.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.

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Heather Clark was in a fog of grief as she tried to navigate her way through finalising her husband's accounts and personal details after he died five months ago.

The corporate general manager describes herself as "supremely organised" and thought she had everything in place for when her husband, Doug, died of bladder cancer on April 1.

Heather Clark at home in Potts Point. Credit:Dean Sewell

Instead, she was faced with bureaucratic hurdles as she battled to cope with losing her husband. She finally broke down in a Service NSW branch as she tried to transfer ownership of her husband's boat.

"The biggest message is to be organised because the reality is, and COVID has reinforced this, we need to accept and talk about people dying and even the most supremely organised people will find it so hard to do what needs to be done when you are in that fog," Mrs Clark said.
Reporter

Stephanie Earls is a news reporter and columnist at The Gazette. Before moving to Colorado Springs in 2012, she worked for newspapers in upstate NY, WA, OR and at her hometown weekly in Berkeley Springs, WV, where she got her start in journalism.
Staying at home with a young childand not being allowed to go out at allcan be such a test of many things. But for working mum, Goh Yiping, a partner at a venture fund, juggling work and parenting when youre stuck in a hotel room for 14 days brought about even more demanding challenges especially when you have a toddler with you. Read: quarantined with a toddler.

In an interview with theAsianparent, Yiping shared her experiences throughout the mandatory stay-at-home notice (SHN) she served with her husband and their 2-year-old child at a designated hotel upon returning home to Singapore from Spain.

Quarantined With a Toddler

Though her family has already experienced being forced into lockdown together for months during the circuit breaker period earlier this year, Yiping said being quarantined with a toddler in a hotel room was an experience like no other.

Despite the Governments advice to defer all travels abroad, Yiping and her family had to travel out of Singapore for compassionate reasons. They have been away for over a month before returning here in early August.

Unfortunately, when they returned, her 2-year-old son Andres was suffering from diarrhoea and had a fever. Yiping and her husband then requested to serve the mandatory SHN period of 14-days at their home. While the Government allows travellers from select low-risk countries to serve their SHN at home, the rest are required to have theirs at a designated SHN facility.

I had to explain to them that its gonna be so tough for a toddler to get better and recover in a hotel room. There is no real comfort to provide a sick child.

Quarantined With a Toddler

Quarantined with a Toddler: Yipings son Andres was unwell in the first couple of days of their SHN period, suffering from diarrhoea and running a fever. | Image source: Goh Yiping

However, even though they travelled as a family, Yiping said their request to serve their SHN period at their residence was denied. Unfortunately, we had to live with the rejection eventually. The only saving grace was because we knew we were going to serve SHN, we came, I would say, overly prepared. (sic)

Story continues

Yiping said that it helped a lot that they were assigned two adjoining rooms which allowed them to have separate spaces for different activities such as eating, working, and playing.

I wish the Government allowed at-home quarantine if it involves the whole family to make it more comfortable. Staying at the dedicated facility felt like we were the innocent lot who had to pay for the small handful who broke SHN rules.

They put a chair outside our doors more for them to put things rather than to deter us. But it feels like a deterrent already because the chair is there and it kind of reminds you, Yiping said. | Image source: Goh Yiping

Since April 8, the Government has mandated those who leave Singapore after the announcement of the travel advisory to bear the cost of their swab tests and their stay at SHN facilities.

Yiping also noted that serving SHN at the hotel was not cheap. theAsianparent understands that SHN at dedicated facilities costs start from S$2,000 per person. This fee does not cover the cost of the tests, as well as other costs for their other personal needs.

A stay at Hilton Hotel for a mandatory SHN comes with three meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner. | Image source: Goh Yiping

According to Yiping, the hotel provided three meals every day for 14 days. The meals are quite delicious. It has a good balance of proteins, greens, carbs and vitamins, she said. She noted, however, that the meals were standard and there were no options for a kids meal.

So luckily, our son is not picky. She also added that they were allowed to get food from outside. That helps. I think the biggest concern was that if [Andres] doesnt like the food, then were kind of busted. Luckily, he was flexible. But I can imagine how it would be like for many parents with feeding issues.

We are grateful that Hilton Hotels service is excellent and they were very patient [with us]. The only gripe is they dont allow alcohol for quarantined folks! That prevented us from having our favourite choice of us-time (drinking wine). I still dont get why that is! she said jokingly.

While Yiping said the hotels services were generally pleasant, the real issue was not about the food. It was being stuck in the hotel room and not being able to go out or even open a window to breathe in fresh air.

I think some of our main concerns were the relatively small space which at some point contributes to the anxiety and the feeling of some form claustrophobia because youre stuck in a room. There was also no access to fresh air. We couldnt go out, and our room windows cant be opened. We were constantly stressed by the pile of stuff that just accumulates in time, for example, laundry.

Quarantined With a Toddler

Quarantined with a Toddler: Yiping and her husband had Andres toys brought to their hotel to keep him busy during the quarantine. | Image source: @andrestimate/Instagram

Yiping said the SHN fee covered laundry for the first few days. Three clothing pieces were allowed per person for the laundry entitlement. That means we needed to learn how to pick the right clothes to send for washing. For us, it is mostly our childs clothes.

Not being able to send things out, and refusing to pay something crazy to get the laundry done by the hotel, Yiping and her husband resorted to doing their laundry in the hotel rooms bathroom, adding that otherwise, they would have run out of clothes to wear.

It felt like we were constantly running out of clothes because there are no windows you can open, no natural ventilation. There was just the toilet hanger on which we can dry our clothes, but that meant it took days for our clothes to dry!

Yiping also shared that there were no housekeeping services for two weeks except for being supplied with new linens every week. At some point, the room starts to smell because you eat, sleep, do everything in that room.

Her tips to ensure the situation doesnt take a toll on them is to clean, tidy up at the end of every day, and make sure everything is reset for the next day. You want to keep your room tidy. You dont want the mess to irritate you and think why is this place so dirty and stinky?

Juggling Work and Parenting When Quarantined with a Toddler

Yipings husband went behind the curtain to take a call while she took a call from the other end of the room. | Image source: Yiping Goh

Id say that without a kid its gonna be way easier, we can easily take it as a couples staycation. With a kid and not [being able] to go out is tough. I feel like Im just forever working around him, you know, said Yiping.

The working mum said juggling work calls while caregiving was a big challenge, especially because her child is more clingy to [me] compared to [my] husband.

Quarantined With a Toddler

Quarantined With a Toddler: Yiping said being quarantined presented challenges not only in work but also in her parenting. | Image source: Yiping Goh

For example, in the middle of a call, my son would suddenly poop and tell me about it. As a mum, you cant help but clean him up; otherwise, it will be a stinky problem, she laughed.

According to Yiping, taking care of her child became much more manageable because they came over-prepared.

Quarantined With a Toddler

Quarantined with a Toddler: Yipings 2-year-old son Andres | Image source: @andrestimate/Instagram

Upon their arrival to the SHN facility, she and her husband had their family send them Andres toys, his books, his favourite blanket and other items he would need to keep him comfortable, entertained and happy.

The key is to keep him happy so that he behaves properly.

But Yiping admitted that the whole parenting experience while serving SHN wasnt perfect. She noted that there were instances where giving extra screen time to her child was inevitable, given the limited resources available to them while in quarantine. While she felt guilty about giving in to turning to screen time to keep Andres entertained, she said it couldnt be avoided especially since both she and her husband were working remotely and almost on full-time capacity with a very slight reduction in productivity.

Staying Healthy During Quarantine, Physically and Mentally

Yiping also spoke about being constantly off-schedule, including sleeping.

Quarantined with a Toddler: Yiping said she also had to take conference calls in the bathroom of their hotel room to avoid waking her son during the day. | Image source: Yiping Goh

It was almost like we didnt have a sleep schedule. We sleep very little, especially since our kid wakes up about three times at night. We start our day at about 7 a.m. and the full day is on. We dont have proper schedules. Everything is off the schedule like we dont even know what time to shower sometimes, Yiping added.

She also said keeping fit was a bit of a struggle for her and her husband since the hotels facilities arent accessible, and they take shifts in taking care of their child.

To continue with their fitness routine, Yiping said they bought some weights online to be able to sneak in some workouts throughout the quarantine period.

But Yiping said, ultimately, keeping their mental wellness in-check was the most important.

I think going into the quarantine with a positive mindset is super important; otherwise I really dont know how wed survive 14 days, Yiping said.

She added that it is crucial to also destress from time to time. Yiping even took up a mental wellness challenge which has been circulating online. In a Facebook post, she shared about her participation in the said challenge, which involved doing some physical exercises.

Meanwhile, the SHN required COVID-19 health checks throughout the entire 14-day period.

Yiping said they would get ICA officers checking on them, knocking on their door every day or every two days. They also get two calls per day to verify that they have not left their location. They would usually ask for one thing to show that were inside the room, usually in the rooms telephone with the room number.

Between days 8 and 10 of quarantine, you get an appointment to do a swab test. Ours was conveniently located at one of the floors of the hotel, Yiping said.

Before the end of their SHN period, Yiping and her husband had to get COVID-19 swab tests. | Image source: Yiping Goh

However, she said that while the tests went smoothly, she hoped that they were allowed to bring Andres with them at the testing area. They separated us from our son and asked our 2-year-old to wait somewhere while we get swabbed. He cried so badly and was so scared.

According to Yiping, the results came out 1-2 days before their scheduled check out.

Relationships in Quarantine

Quarantine and isolation have put marriages under a new kind of stress, and around the world, family relationships are strained due to forced home isolation.

When asked if there ever was a point during the 14-day hotel quarantine where she and her husband clashed or had a disagreement that made the quarantine difficult, Yiping said putting their child as the priority has allowed them to avoid friction.

We knew we had to set our attention to Andres and prioritise him. So throughout the quarantine, we tend to neglect a bit of each other even though we see each other all the time, she joked.

We have friends telling us that quarantine is the real test if a relationship between husbands and wives can withstand the stress. We are happy to say we worked well as a team; we went in with a positive mindset that while we hated the quarantine, we told each other to make full use of this and make it like a home. So we came out quite fine.

Friends In Need Are Friends Indeed

I think we will have some fond memories of our quarantine many years down the road, Yiping said. Especially because we had family and lots of friends who sent us comfort food, toys and treats which really helped make the whole experience more bearable.

Cravings satisfied. Yiping said their friends and family sent them food after learning they had to serve SHN in a hotel. | Image source: Yiping Goh

I posted about my quarantine experience [while serving the SHN], and that got a lot of love from friends. They began sending us food and drinks and fruits. Every other day we have friends sending something to us which spiced up our stay. That kind of turned into a staycation rather than a quarantine.

But Yiping said the food also made them long for spending time with those [people] outside even more. It made me miss spending time with my other family members. My parents, my siblings.

A local food business, Fed By Ben, also sent Yiping and her family homemade food during quarantine. | Image source: Goh Yiping

We started really beginning to appreciate all the little gestures that family members and friends do for us this quarantine season. I think friendships have deepened.

In the end, Yiping said the whole experience allowed them to understand better how to strike a balance between parenting and family time, and working full-time.

The ideal scenario, really, is not to work and just take hotel SHN as a staycation. But we like making full use of our time, Yiping said, adding that just working would have made the quarantine too taxing, but not working altogether would have made them run out of stuff to do with their son sooner, especially since they are not able to step out of their rooms.

After finishing the SHN, Yiping and her family went back to the outside world and to their real home. Yiping, her husband and their son came out negative for COVID-19, which, according to her, marked the true end to their quarantine experience.

The post 14 Days In A Hotel Room With A Toddler: A Working Mums Quarantine Story appeared first on theAsianparent - Your Guide to Pregnancy, Baby & Raising Kids.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has concluded arrangements to award research grants worth about N9 million to three deserving Nigerian startups with proposals for adaptable digital solutions for containing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

The selection of the three companies followed a careful and painstaking evaluation of 282 entries in the NCC COVID-19 Virtual Hackathon from digital innovation Startups and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by an evaluation committee set up by the Commission.

The Executive Vice Chairman, Umar Garba Danbatta, had extended invitations to operators and other industry stakeholders to participate virtually in the Grant/Prize Award ceremony, which holds in the Conference Room of the Commission at 11:00 am prompt on Tuesday September 1, 2020.

The health and economic crisis triggered by the novel COVID-19 Pandemic had challenged the global ICT community to search for digital solutions to address and contain the spread of the virus. Such solutions would allow citizens and businesses to rein in the virus and continue their activities with limited disruptions.

READ ALSO:

As a response, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) instituted a programme to award research grants to support Startups and Digital SMEs with adaptable innovative digital solutions that could address present and future impacts of pandemic and epidemic-prone diseases in Nigeria.

Under the programme, the Commission will award N9 Million research grants to three Nigerian startups with the most innovative digital solutions for containing pandemics and epidemics in the country in the thematic areas of health, community, productivity, economy and transportation. The highlights of the ceremony include pitching/demonstration of the top three solutions by the startups, announcement of the winners and presentation of research prizes.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, will give a keynote address and present prizes to the top three startups with the most promising solutions.

He will be supported by the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the NCC, Adeolu Akande, and the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Office, Mr Danbatta, with other members of the Board of Commissioners of NCC in attendance.
The SA scheme suffered deteriorating finances and a blowout in costs. Indeed, a parliamentary report in 2010 noted that EMLs fees jumped from $25 million in 2006 to almost $50 million two years later. The parliamentary report quoted the then chairman of the workers compensation scheme saying there were issues including staff turnover and the "impact on case management outcomes, customer service standards, ongoing training and support to case managers following induction; and ensuring return to work was the priority focus across the scheme." This was reiterated by an independent report by PWC in 2011 which described the claims management as weak "with limited upfront and strategic case management practice and a "reported lack of experience among agent case managers to make fast and informed decisions." SA decided to open up the system to competition. Fast forward to 2018 and the NSW workers compensation regulator, the State Insurance Regulation Authority (SIRA), was concerned about icare and the decision to move to a new claims management system and a single agent. It commissioned EY to a health check on the workers compensation scheme.

The report, obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, gave icare a red rating for operational risk. Released to SIRA in April 2018, it noted that 10,000 workers compensation claims were unable to be matched to an underlying policy file. It said EML was using a "laborious" manual procedure to do the matching which was resulting in backlogs and delays in managing claims. It said caseloads for claims managers within EML were up to 100 per cent greater than accepted industry norms, which could have an adverse impact on claims management. Even more damning, the EY report said a "lack of workers compensation experience" among claims team leaders at EML "can result in claims officers not getting the support they need in regard to difficult decisions with complex claims." David Bruce, a 27-year-old who had a back injury at work in September 2018, is one of a number of injured workers who suffered as a consequence of icare and EML. Injured worker David Bruce Credit:Kate Geraghty "The case managers never returned a phone call once in a period of six months," he said.

Since September 2018, Bruce has churned through more than 15 EML case managers  equivalent to almost one a month - which he says resulted in delays and denials of treatment and culminated in a secondary injury requiring a second surgery. "I think Id be back at work now. I think Id be back to pre-injury if I had been treated early enough," he said. But EML doesnt just operate in NSW and SA. A report released in December 2019 by the Victorian Ombudsman discussed EML as part of an investigation into workers compensation and the management of complex claims. The report lays bare how insurance agents are rewarded if they meet set targets to kick people off the workers compensation system. It includes a series of internal emails from insurance agents including EML.

In one email the insurance agent had its eye on a hefty bonus. "...we cannot take our foot off the accelerator as Maximum Reward for this measure is currently worth $687,000! ... we can do this!!" Mark Coyne resigned from the ARLC after news broke of his arrest in Singapore. Credit:Edwina Pickles EML, which didn't respond to questions for this column, calls itself a mutual. Its public face is former Queensland rugby league star Mark Coyne, who fronted parliament on Monday. But behind the mutual is a nest of companies owned by partners including former Macquarie banker Cameron McCullagh, and former fund managers Angus Gluskie and Andrew Fleetwood. Interestingly lobbying firm PremierState, which is run by Liberal powerbroker Michael Photios, includes EML as one of its clients.

Indeed, EML confirmed on Monday that it had employed David Begg, a former business partner of Photios and is who is married to NSW upper house MP Natalie Ward. Since the workers compensation scandal broke in a joint investigation with The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Four Corners, hundreds of injured workers, insiders from Treasury, politics, the insurance industry and icare have come forward, with new evidence about a system that is failing injured workers and the employers who bankroll the system. The scandal has forced resignations including icares chief executive John Nagle, an icare director and the chief of staff to the NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet. But besides a few heads rolling, little has changed to improve the lot of injured workers or employers who spend a fortune each year in premiums. This is why NSW Labor finance spokesman Daniel Mookhey led a confidence motion in the board and Treasurer in the state's upper house. Nothing will change unless the people in charge of this scheme change. The Treasurer has to go. The board has to go, he said in parliament this week.
During the talks, Mr. Hoang Binh Quan congratulated Laos on its recent achievements, expressing his belief that the country will continue to make greater achievements and successfully organise the 11th Party Congress in early 2021.

He spoke highly of Laos outcomes in the fight against COVID-19, and in socio-economic development, and suggested the two sides continue close cooperation in responding to the pandemic.

Head of the Party Central Committees Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan (Photo: VNA)



Mr. Hoang Binh Quan thanked Laos support for Vietnam as the country undertakes its role as ASEAN Chair 2020, the Chair of the 41st General Assembly of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41), and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in the 2020-2021 tenure.

He asked Laos to continue supporting ASEAN's common stance, coordinating with other ASEAN countries to well implement the Joint Statement of the 36th ASEAN Summit, and supporting Vietnams priorities and initiatives in the ASEAN Year 2020.

For his part, Sounthone Sayachak highlighted the significance of the talks, and thanked Vietnam for its support to Laos in the fight against COVID-19.

The two officials expressed their joy at the growing relations between the two nations, and emphasised the importance of the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity to the stability and development of the two countries, including contributions by the two commissions.

They informed each other of the situation of each Party and each country, including preparations for the congress of the two Parties. The two discussed international and regional issues of common concern, including the East Sea issue, and talked measures to improve the efficiency of cooperation between the two nations.

The officials affirmed that the two sides will closely coordinate to effectively implement agreements reached by senior leaders of the two Parties and States and the two commissions as well.

The pledged to continue maintaining information sharing in a timely manner, coordinating closely and effectively, and supporting each other in international and regional issues, especially within the framework of cooperation mechanisms of ASEAN, the World Trade Organisation, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the Mekong Sub-region, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world./.
Flavio Briatore will on Saturday be discharged from a Milan hospital.

The former Renault boss went to hospital for a prostate problem last week, but was then isolated when a mandatory corona test came back positive.

"The general clinical conditions allow the patient to continue therapy in home isolation, as is expected in positive cases of SARS-Cov-2," the San Raffaele hospital said.

Elsewhere in the Italian media, both Briatore's former wife Elisabetta Gregoraci and Fernando Alonso separately said the 70-year-old Italian is "fine".

(GMM)
MINSK  Belarusian authorities stripped accreditations from at least 17 journalists from major foreign news organizations who have been covering the countrys turmoil following the disputed presidential election. Two Moscow-based reporters with the Associated Press were also deported.



The move, taken on August 29 by a commission of the national Security Council, was a major escalation by President Alyaksandr Lukashenkas government as it continues to face popular protest and international condemnation for the August 9 election, and for the harsh police crackdown on opposition protesters.



In Minsk, meanwhile, thousands of people, mainly women, marched through the city center, in the latest demonstration of opposition to Lukashenka.

The crowds sang and chanted Sasha, Youre Fired!"  a reference to Lukashenka. Some protesters carried signs that said Fight like a girl! and "This is our city!"



No arrests or violence was reported, though at one moment, protesters faced off with riot police who blocked the crowds progress.

The journalists targeted includes employees of major Western news organizations, including RFE/RL, the BBC, the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence-France Presse, Germanys ARD television, Deutsche Welle, and Radio France. Without accreditations, journalists are not legally permitted to gather news within the country.

The RFE/RL journalists affected were Ales Dashchynski, Aleh Hruzdzilovich, Alyaksandra Dynko, and Uladizislau Grydzin. Raman Vasiukovich, a journalist from Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, was also among those whose accreditation was revoked.

No reason for the governments decision was provided.

The Belarus Association of Journalists reported 17 journalists had their accreditations canceled. Two Russian citizens working for the Associated Press were also deported.

'A Desperate And Ominous Move'

Journalists from Russian state-run and state-funded news media, such as the TASS news agency, Vesti TV, or the RT channel, did not appear affected by the accreditation decision. A live feed of Russias main state TV channel from Minsk made mention of the other reporters being stripped of accreditations, a group that also included several Russian citizens.



"Stripping our journalists of accreditation on grounds of 'extremism' is a desperate and ominous move by an authoritarian government to stifle the independent media and ruthlessly control the availability of credible information inside Belarus, acting RFE/RL President Daisy Sindelar said in a statement. "It's a violation of international standards and an assault on the Belarusian people who rely on us."



Four journalists from RFE/RLs Belarus Service were hit by the move, and one from Current Time, the Russian-language TV network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. Others include two from the BBC, two from AP, two from AFP, two from ARD, and two from Reuters.



Many of those affected are Belarusian citizens.

BBC journalist Tatyana Melnichuk told RFE/RL that she had been informed that her accreditation had been revoked via a telephone call from the Foreign Ministry.



"They told us that our accreditation...had been revoked and that we had to return them today or on Monday," Melnichuk said. "They didnt give any reason."

U.S. Calls For 'Restraint'



The U.S. Embassy in Minsk called on Belarusian authorities to "demonstrate restraint."



"We stand by our long-term commitment to support Belarus sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the aspirations of the Belarusian people to choose their leaders and to choose their own path, free from external intervention," the statement said.

A spokesman for European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned the revocation of press credentials.



"Instead of intimidating and hindering media in reporting, the authorities should focus on reflecting on and addressing the desires and aspirations of the Belarusian population as expressed in an unprecedented and peaceful way over the last few weeks," spokesman Peter Stano said in a statement.

Two days earlier, around 50 journalists were detained while covering postelection protests in Minsk; the group included employees from Belarusian outlets such as TUT.BY, BelaPAN, and Belsat.

In all, more than 260 people were detained during at the time, according to the human rights center Vyasna.



The Belarusian Association of Journalists said most of the journalists detained at the time were released after police checked their documents.



Four journalists who refused to hand over their smartphones for police to check were charged with participating in an unauthorized protest, the association said. A Swedish journalist will also be deported, it added.

Crisis In Belarus Read our ongoing coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election, widely seen as fraudulent.

The detentions came after nearly three weeks of protests against the official results of the election, which gave Lukashenka a landslide victory.



Demonstrators and opposition leaders are contesting those results, charging that the vote was rigged in Lukashenka's favor.



During their detention on August 27, RFE/RL journalists were searched by police, who appeared to be looking for recording equipment. Their laptops and cameras were seized, and they were ordered to open the photo galleries and other information on their mobile phones. In at least one case, a journalist was told to delete images of riot police.



One RFE/RL photographer was threatened with misdemeanor charges if he refused to comply with police orders.



Meanwhile, many websites of news organizations have seen curtailed access within Belarus amid reports that of sporadic Internet access.



Several bloggers also remain in prison, including a consultant for RFE/RL's Belarus Service on digital strategy. His detention in Zhodzina prison outside of Minsk has been extended to October 25.

Protesters, who are planning another demonstration in Minsk on August 30, have been largely defiant despite a brutal police crackdown, and widespread evidence of beatings and torture of detained protesters.



The leading opposition candidate, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, told the European Parliament this week that at least six people have been killed in the crackdown and dozens of protesters have gone missing after being detained by authorities.

With reporting by Current Time
Belarusian authorities stripped accreditation from at least 17 journalists from major foreign news organizations who have been covering the countrys turmoil following the disputed presidential election.



The move, taken on August 29 by a commission of the national Security Council, was a major escalation by President Alexander Lukashenkos government as it continues to face popular protest and international condemnation for the August 9 election, and for the harsh police crackdown on opposition protesters.



The journalists targeted include employees of major Western news organizations including RFE/RL, the BBC, the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence-France Presse, Germanys ARD television, Deutsche Welle, and Radio France. Without accreditations, journalists are not legally permitted to gather news within the country.



No reason for the governments decision was provided.



It was not immediately clear if journalists from Russian state-run and state-funded news media, such as the TASS news agency, Vesti TV, or the RT channel, faced a similar loss of accreditation.



'Desperate, ominous move'



At least 17 journalists had their accreditations canceled, the Belarus Association of Journalists reported.



"Stripping our journalists of accreditation on grounds of 'extremism' is a desperate and ominous move by an authoritarian government to stifle the independent media and ruthlessly control the availability of credible information inside Belarus, acting RFE/RL President Daisy Sindelar said in a statement. "It's a violation of international standards and an assault on the Belarusian people who rely on us."



Four journalists from RFE/RLs Belarus Service were hit by the move, and one from Current Time, the Russian-language TV network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.



Others include two from the BBC, two from AP, two from AFP, two from ARD, and two from Reuters.



Many of those affected are Belarusian citizens.



Reuters journalist Tatyana Melnichuk told RFE/RL that she had been informed that her accreditation had been revoked via a telephone call from the Foreign Ministry.



"They told us that our accreditation, like the accreditations of the BBC journalists, had been revoked and that we had to return them today or on Monday," Melnichuk said. "They didnt give any reason."

Detained Journalists in Belarus Face Charges for Covering Post-Election Protests At least 35 journalists, and more than 260 people overall were detained during Aug. 27 protests in Minsk, according to a list compiled by the human rights center Vyasna



US calls for 'restraint'



The U.S. Embassy in Minsk called on Belarusian authorities to "demonstrate restraint."



"We stand by our long-term commitment to support Belarus sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the aspirations of the Belarusian people to choose their leaders and to choose their own path, free from external intervention," the statement said.



Two days earlier, around 50 journalists were detained while covering postelection protests in Minsk; the group included employees from Belarusian outlets such as TUT.BY, BelaPAN, and Belsat.



In all, more than 260 people were detained during at the time, according to the human rights center Vyasna.



The Belarusian Association of Journalists said most of the journalists detained at the time were released after police checked their documents.



Four journalists who refused to hand over their smartphones for police to check were charged with participating in an unauthorized protest, the association said. A Swedish journalist will also be deported, it added.



The detentions came after nearly three weeks of protests against the official results of the election, which gave Lukashenko a landslide victory.



Demonstrators and opposition leaders are contesting those results, charging that the vote was rigged in Lukashenko's favor.



During their detention on August 27, RFE/RL journalists were searched by police, who appeared to be looking for recording equipment. Their laptops and cameras were seized, and they were ordered to open the photo galleries and other information on their mobile phones. In at least one case, a journalist was told to delete images of riot police.



One RFE/RL photographer was threatened with misdemeanor charges if he refused to comply with police orders.



Meanwhile, many websites of news organizations have seen curtailed access within Belarus amid reports that of sporadic Internet access.



Several bloggers also remain in prison, including a consultant for RFE/RL's Belarus Service on digital strategy. His detention in Zhodzina prison outside of Minsk has been extended to October 25.



Protesters, who are planning another demonstration in Minsk on August 30, have been largely defiant despite a brutal police crackdown, and widespread evidence of beatings and torture of detained protesters.



The leading opposition candidate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, told the European Parliament this week that at least six people have been killed in the crackdown and dozens of protesters have gone missing after being detained by authorities.



With reporting by Current Time.
The Irish Heart Foundation has launched a new service to help provide support and information for those caring for stroke victims living in Cork

The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) has launched a new service aimed at providing coping strategies and vital information for those caring for stroke victims living in Cork.

It is estimated there are more than 6,900 stroke survivors living in Cork, with the IHF urging those who care for them to contact the foundation to find out more about the free counselling service.

The programme includes up to six one-hour confidential sessions with a counsellor, offering carers a welcome opportunity to share their concerns and frustrations and learn practical tools to help them in their role.

Tracy Egan, patient services manager with the IHF, said that caring for someone that has survived a stroke was a "huge undertaking- physically, mentally and emotionally".

"When people are affected by stroke the new regime can be totally overwhelming for those caring for them," said Tracy.

"It is important that carers take care of their own mental and physical health so that they can have a reasonable quality of life, provide the care their loved ones need and cope with the demands of life as a carer."

Mother of two Carol Beirne explained how counselling has helped her as she leans to cope with life alongside a stroke survivor.

When her husband Eamonn suffered a stroke almost a year ago the family roles were reversed for Carol (65), who had previously been cared for by Eamonn when she had mobility issues.

"Sometimes there are things you just can't say to your children - my counsellor just listened. By the third week of the six week hourly sessions I felt a weight was lifted off my shoulders," said Carol.

She said the stroke had left Eamonn with hidden disabilities, including trouble processing his thoughts and his speech is affected as he sometimes struggles to articulate himself.

"Sometimes you want to finish his sentences but know not to as it's very frustrating for him, especially when he's talking to old colleagues who don't know that he had a stroke," said Carol.

She said the counselling sessions helped her handle Eamonn's emotions and frustrations, giving her an insight and new understanding on how he was feeling.

"Every time I walked out of a session, I was walking on air. A few years ago Eamonn had cared for me when I had mobility issues and now I was all of a sudden helping him. The roles were completely reversed which was hard for both of us. I used to depend on him, but now we are working as a team," said Carol.

"The counselling has also given me the confidence to write, which I give myself time to do in the mornings and in turn, it gives Eamonn his space to get emotionally ready for the day."

The free counselling supports are being made available to carers thanks to funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund.

To avail of the free counselling please email carers@irishheart.ie or contact the Irish Heart Foundation on 01 668 5001.
Representative image

The cost of launching a new vehicle ranges from a few lakhs to a few crores and auto companies leave no stone unturned to make launches successful. Bigger the noise, larger is its impact. But COVID-19 disrupted everything  no drives, no grand launch events, and no regional (dealer level) launches. Today, we take a look at how the auto companies have adopted to the new normal of online launches. But first, let us take a look at all the news that made headlines during the week.

Duacti launches Panigale V2, Honda rides in the Hornet 200

Italian superbike maker Ducati on Wednesday said it has launched the all-new version of Panigale V2 in India, priced at Rs 16.99 lakh (ex-showroom).

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has launched the Hornet 2.0 at Rs 1.26 lakh (ex-showroom, Gurgaon). This is its first launch of 2020 using the digital medium

Audi launches RS Q8 at Rs 2.07 crore

German luxury carmaker Audi on Thursday launched its latest SUV, Audi RS Q8, in India with price starting at Rs 2.07 crore.

The Audi RS Q8 is powered by a turbo 4-litre petrol engine delivering power of 600hp that can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph under four seconds.

No GST rate cut on two-wheelers just yet

The two-wheeler industrys hopes were dashed on August 27 when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made no announcement about a reduction in goods and services tax (GST).

Two-wheeler makers have pinned their hopes on a 10-percentage-point reduction in GST, from 28 percent to 18 percent, after Sitharaman said that a rate revision is required for the segment.

Automakers rush in to help dealers

Car and bike manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) are playing a saviours role to prevent auto dealers from becoming extinct.

The community was already battered, and FY20 turned out to be one of their worst years, with volumes declining 18 percent to 21.54 million units, compared to FY19.

Tata Motors not looking for UK bailout package

The UK governments bailout package, titled Project Birch, will not benefit Tata Motors. N Chandrasekaran, the companys Chairman, has said the company is not holding any funding discussions with the government on supporting the British brands Jaguar and Land Rover.

Chandrasekaran, who is also the Chairman of Tata Sons, was addressing Tata Motors shareholders at the companys 75th annual general meeting.

The new way of launching cars

The special thing about the Hyundai Creta was that it became the last known product to have a physical launch event before everything came to a stand-still following the nationwide lockdown announced in late March.

Since then a bunch of scheduled launches had to be delayed. These include the launch of the Mahindra e-KUV, Maruti Suzuki S-Cross petrol, new Honda Jazz, new Honda City, Mercedes-Benz EQC, Audi e-Tron and the BS-VI Renault Duster.

Organising a grand launch event, arranging for the to-n-fro transport of media (journalists, influencers and bloggers), dealer partners, suppliers and VIP guests became impossible overnight.

Usually a few weeks before a launch, the vehicle is given to handpicked reviewers for their feedback and to facilitate an editorial coverage which would coincide with the grand launch event. A whole different level of logistics needs to be taken care off for this including planning and selecting drive destinations and routes. This too became impossible because of the lockdown.

What the nation predicted to be a month-long affair back in April, the lockdown and its restrictions have still not been fully eased presently across the country. There are still limitations on free movement of personnel even within the state, between two cities. Some places still have compulsory quarantine rules.

Getting anxious and bored and plagued by the constant uncertainties auto makers have decided to let loose their products virtually. Press events are happening using Zoom, Microsoft Teams and other mediums. The grand ballrooms of luxury hotels have been replaced by larger platforms like Youtube, Facebook and Twitter to pull audiences.

Thus over the past few weeks from two-wheelers to luxury cars to heavy duty trucks auto companies have learnt to adopt the online way of launching new products. In addition to absolutely new models there have been launches of upgrades, derivatives and added variants too.

Instead of sparing a few crores the cost to launch the products online has dramatically come down to a few lakhs. Its a very different experience doing this online. Its a trial and error method since none of us are well versed with this. Its too early to ascertain the impact of this change, said a senior executive of a Delhi-based auto company.

Mahindra Thar, Ducati Panigale V2, Audi RS Q8, new Honda Jazz, new Honda City, Honda Hornet 200, Ashok Leyland AVTR, Kia Sonet, Maruti Suzuki S-Cross petrol, MG Hector Plus, Triumph new Tiger 900, BMW 3 Series GT, Renault Duster were some of the launches that happened in the past few weeks.

The upcoming weeks will see several more launches whose planning is going on presently. These include the Kia Sonet, Mercedes-Benz EQC, Hyundai Tucson, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Renault compact SUV, Nissan Magnite, to name a few.

Work from home and launch of products online have quickly become the new normal. At least until the COVID-19 vaccine arrives.
When is someone going to speak for London? The greatest city on the planet is being left to die a slow, silent death. Every day in the capital is like a Sunday now. The Square Mile lies largely abandoned.

Whitehall is solely patrolled by armed police and a small handful of inquisitive tourists. Footfall on Regent Street  which once contemplated introducing pedestrian speed lanes to manage the congestion  has collapsed.

Yet our capital has no champion. Sadiq Khan was elected with a mandate few modern politicians could even dream of. Yet the Mayor of London has opted to become the Moaner of London.

Every day sees a new attack on national Government. Over the furlough scheme. Over the Transport for London funding settlement. Over his claim that No 10 has 'got it in for' his city.

Sadiq Khan (pictured) was elected with a mandate few modern politicians could even dream of. Yet the Mayor of London has opted to become the Moaner of London

Once that would have simply been smart politics. Defining yourself against what you portray as a malicious national administration usually pays dividends for those elected to regional office.

But Khan has no need to play politics at all. Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey's relaunched campaign still poses little threat.

Rory Stewart has walked off the political stage. The risk of Corbynite deselection  once viewed as a genuine danger by City Hall  no longer exists.

And still there is a vacuum of leadership  even though the Covid crisis sees London more desperate for a true leader than at any time since Hitler's bombs were landing on her docks.

On Friday the Government announced it was about to launch a campaign to get people out of home-working, and back to their offices.

Oxford Circus in London is pictured on May 20, two months after the Government imposed lockdown on Britain

That was the perfect opportunity for Khan to head up the charge. His city is turning into Britain's Chernobyl.

Londoners have to go back to work, or their capital will become a wasteland. But instead of seizing the moment, he decided to turn his fire on Boris, and call for another 27 billion handout.

On one level Khan is merely another victim of the Covid culture war. It's no longer possible  if it ever really was  to have a rational discussion about responses to this pandemic.

He knows the economic reality of London's half-empty shops, restaurants and office blocks.

But his tribe will not let him acknowledge it. To them, a call for a return to work is the moral equivalent of sending people over the top at the Somme.

So in the same way those furiously opposing the 'premature' reopening of schools led the attacks on the 'exams fiasco', so Khan is cutting across the Government's pleas for people to return to work by warning of the disastrous economic impact of not letting everyone stay at home on furlough.

And this is set against the other reality  one Khan is only too well aware of  of the true Covid picture in his city.

A commuter wearing a face covering on the empty escalators at Waterloo Train Station in central London on May 13, 2020

His office publishes weekly figures on the impact of the virus across the capital. The latest reveals: 'In the week ending August 27, 2020, in London hospitals, six people who have tested positive for Covid-19 have died.

'Additionally, Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificates of five people.' At the last census London had a population of 8.1 million.

But still London is left to wither. People have  rightly  been critical of the shambolic mixed messaging coming from Ministers.

But where too is the clarity of messaging from London's Mayor? Where is the energy and determination to grab his city by the scruff of the neck, and drag it back to its feet?

Last Tuesday there was an instructive moment. Tom Cruise  who has put his money where Khan's mouth should be and returned to work in London on his latest Mission: Impossible film  drove around Central London in a cab, chatted to passers-by, then turned up at a Waterloo cinema for the screening of the film Tenet. His message  'It's great to be back in the theatre'  went global.

A man walks across the street during lunchtime in the City of London on August 21, 2020

Usually so fond of being photographed on red carpets, now Khan's contribution was a short tweet claiming 'London is open'.

Quickly followed by the chilling warning: 'This pandemic isn't over. @MetPoliceUK will be out this bank holiday weekend to support communities and keep us all safe. Think twice before planning to attend large gatherings.'

London's open. But not that open. There was a moment  just when the pubs and restaurants first began to raise their shutters, and everyone embraced the sunshine and Covid cafe culture  when the city's spirit seemed to be returning. But now autumn is approaching, and the lifeblood is again being drained from the capital's veins.

Why can't Khan see that? This was his opportunity to be London's Rudy Giuliani in the wake of 9/11. But he seems intent on sulking and posturing it away in an effort to settle scores with No 10.

One of the bizarre things about the Covid crisis is the way it has inverted traditional political orthodoxy. It used to be the Right that claimed mass unemployment was a 'price worth paying' for the greater national good.

Westminster Bridge looking towards the London Eye, was eerily quiet, devoid of traffic, and silent on empty streets as lockdown continued on May 11

But it's now the Left that seems to view economic Armageddon as nothing but an unfortunate by-product of Covid.

What's the problem? Chuck another couple of hundred billion here or there until no one in Britain tests positive, and everything's sorted.

That view may play well among those economically and politically illiterate enough to think Jeremy Corbyn was the answer to the nation's ills. But how can that be the perspective of the Mayor of Britain's economic engine room?

Yes, his powers are limited when compared to his counterparts in the US or parts of Europe.

But they are not insignificant, as Khan has acknowledged through the tenacity he has shown towards anyone attempting to dilute them. 'If they want more power in London they need to win the election,' he recently goaded Ministers.

But that's not true. Because every time Khan issues another attack on the Government, or makes another plea for yet another handout, he cedes more of his authority to his opponents.

Stanford Street looking towards One Blackfriars was empty on May 12 as people stayed at home while the pandemic raged

If the solution to London's transport problems and crime problems and housing problems really is just more central Government cash, what do we need a Mayor and Assembly for?

If Boris really does 'have it in' for the city that set him on course for Downing Street, why not let him own his perfidy? Let's do away with the middleman on The Queen's Walk, and let Londoners judge for themselves what the Government is or isn't doing for their capital.

One of the criticisms of Boris during the Covid crisis has been his over-reliance on stirring rhetoric and optimism. But his successor as Mayor is guilty of the opposite.

His powers are indeed limited, but he enjoys a massive personal mandate and platform. And it's time Sadiq Khan started using them.

The whingeing needs to stop. The begging bowl has to be put down. And London's Mayor needs to begin to rally his city.

The greatest city on Earth needs a champion. And it doesn't have much longer to find one.
Mikhail Gutseriev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SAFMAR Group Joint Stock Company sent a congratulatory letter to Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"Dear Mehriban Arif qizi,

I sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of your birthday.

Your activities in a high public office is an example of a responsible attitude to the noble cause of serving your Motherland and your fellow countrymen.

Your extensive professional experience, broad erudition, undoubted talent of a politician and remarkable human qualities have enabled you to successfully solve the most difficult problems.

I am sure there are many achievements ahead of you for the benefit of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its people.

I wish you good health, happiness and prosperity," the letter said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Like every other primary and secondary school around the county, St Patrick's Special School in Enniscorthy will be welcoming its pupils back through its doors next month to circumstances that will be very different to what the children left in March.

However, unlike many other schools it had a slight advantage in its preparations because of the fact it was opened in July for summer provisions.

Speaking to this newspaper, Principal Lee Rogers said that a lot of the work necessary to open in September was actually done in June as the school prepared for the July influx of students.

The school is in an ironic situation because the opening of the new state-of-the-art school building, where social distancing and space constraints would not be an issue, was delayed by the very pandemic that is necessitating social distancing measures to be implemented.

However, Mr Rogers said that while July saw between one third and three-quarters of the school population present on site, the school is ready for September.

'We have a reasonable handle on it, however, the buses didn't run in July, but I would expect most of the students will be back in September,' he said.

Given the nature of the school, some students might have particular concerns with regard to going back to a classroom environment and, as a result, might remain at home for the short term.

In such a scenario, Mr Rogers said the school will do everything it can to support the students.

'It will depend on the students' needs because the needs of each student is different,' he said.

'We will support them if they are at home,' he added.

Mr Rogers also said that, as far as he is aware, the school buses will run as normal and because of the fact the buses pick up pupils from all around the county, it will be impossible to stagger drop-off times.

'When they arrive, each room will act as a pod and each pod will have separate toilet facilities,' said Mr Rogers.

He also said that lunch breaks will be taken in the classrooms to minimise interaction on the corridors and around the school.

'If we had the new school it would be a dream but obviously that was delayed,' he said.

It's likely the new building will be opened in December but Mr Rogers pointed out that while the delay is lamentable it's a far more positive situation than if work on the building was only beginning

'I wouldn't fancy the chances of getting such a building done in the next few years if it wasn't started now,' he said.

'At least the school is being built and in the next short while we will be there,' he added.

There are currently 131 students on the roll in St Patrick's and the school has 20 teachers and 46 SNAs.

'Because of July, we are kind of ahead of the pack to a degree because our preparations were a little earlier and we have PPE,' said Mr Rogers.

'We have to get them [the children] back and find a way to make it work,' he added.

'We can't stay at home for the next year or so and we all just have to be careful, be sensible, and find a way to deal with it.'

Mr Rogers said the experience of July means the schools knows what it required.

'I know we got through July so I know what has to be done.'
Follows a shooting in Lozells area on Wednesday and a stabbing in Bournbrook

West Midlands Police arrived at 8pm Friday but declared man dead at the scene

Murtaza Nazit, 26, suffered a fatal gunshot wound during yesterday's shooting in the Stechford area of Birmingham

Police have tonight released a picture of a father who was shot dead in Birmingham as his family paid tribute to their 'friend and protector' and insisted 'justice will be served'.

Murtaza Nazit, 26, suffered a fatal gunshot wound during yesterday's shooting in the Stechford area of the West Midlands city - which has seen a spate of knife and gun attacks this week.

Detectives from West Midlands Police have since launched a murder investigation, following the shooting, which took on Bagshaw Road, just before 8pm yesterday.

Meanwhile, in a statement released through the force, family members paid tribute to Mr Nazit, whose death they say has left their 'lives shattered and hearts broken'.

The family said: 'Life as we knew it will never be the same.

'As a family we are united and trying to heal, but the process won't be an easy one.

Not only have we lost a father, husband, son, brother, we have lost our friend and protector.

'Everyone who knew him will have their own unique memory with him, and that, in these hard times will get them through it.'

The family also asked members of the public to to share 'distressing footage' of the incident on social media, before adding: 'We thank the police and ambulance service for their assistance and are forever grateful.

A murder investigation is under way after 26-year-old Murtaza Nazit was shot and killed in Birmingham last night in the latest of a string of gruesome killings

The victim was discovered at the scene by officers shortly before 8pm on Friday in Bagshaw Road, Stechford, following reports of shots being fired

'To god we belong and to god we shall return. Justice will be served. If not in this life then the hereafter.'

Today, Detective Chief Inspector Scott Griffiths, of West Midland's Police's homicide unit, said: 'This is a shocking crime that has resulted in a young father losing his life.

'I want to say thank you to the community who have really pulled together during this time and would urge anyone who has any information who have not yet spoken to us to get in touch.

'We are working around the clock to understand exactly what happened and find those responsible.'

In an earlier statement, he said: 'We have spoken to a number of witnesses to try and get a clear understanding of the events leading up to this incident.

'I would encourage anyone with information or dash cam footage who has not yet spoken to us to get in touch.'

He added: 'We need the help of the community to come forward with information so that we can find the person or people responsible.

'The man's family are devastated and are being supported by specialist officers at this difficult time.'

The shooting is the latest in a string of gruesome killings to hit Birmingham in the last week, which saw six people stabbed in just 12 hours and left another two people dead

Officers have secured the scene to preserve evidence and are speaking to witnesses and examining CCTV. Anyone with information should call the force on 101, quoting log 3897 from August 28.

It followed a weekend of violence in the city, which saw six people stabbed in just 12 hours and left two people dead.

West Midlands Police have identified a 22-year-old man who was fatally shot in the stomach in broad daylight as Naasir Francis.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and a 23-year-old woman and 39-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender. They were all in custody to face questioning.

A 28-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder yesterday was released with no further action.

West Midlands Police have identified a 22-year-old man who was fatally shot in the stomach in broad daylight on Wednesday as Naasir Francis

Police at the junction of Wheeler Street and Lozells Road after the fatal shooting

Naasir was fatally wounded in broad daylight on Lozells Road to the north of the city centre on Wednesday.

His family paid tribute in a statement released by the West Midlands force, saying: 'Naasir was the warm entity that bought a sense of security to the family. A deep comfort has been lost by his mother and siblings.

'A much-loved and respected young man in his community, Naasir's charming personality, birthed a light of spiritedness in the eyes of his family, a light that has dulled since his passing.'

And last Saturday another man was violently stabbed to death on the roadside in the Bournbrook area of the city.

Thomas Rogers, 26, was found with fatal injuries on the Bristol Road in Birmingham at around 4.55pm.

He was taken to hospital but pronounced dead shortly after arrival and a post-mortem examination revealed he died as a result of stab wounds to the chest.

His brother Samuel, 30, has been charged with his murder alongside a second man, 22-year-old Ryan Hurt.

Police have charged two men with murder after Thomas Rogers (pictured) was found fatally stabbed on the side of a busy Birmingham road in Bournbrook

The victim was found with fatal injuries on the Bristol Road in Birmingham at around 4.55pm on Saturday. Pictured: Police at the scene last Saturday

Police have also detained a 32-year-old suspect in Haltwhistle, Northumberland.

The week before that four young men were left injured in two double shootings 14 hours apart as the city's deputy police and crime commissioner warned: 'Things may get worse'.

Deputy PCC Waheed Saleem said: 'The recent upsurge in violence, including these recent shootings is very worrying.

'I've been saying for sometime now that the criminals are coming out of lockdown and are back committing violence and likely 'settling scores'.

'When you couple this with the usual surge in crime during the summer months, I am concerned about the possibility of very high demand for our police.'
New Delhi, Aug 29 : Airline major IndiGo on Saturday operated its maiden passenger charter to Vietnamese capital Hanoi, and Laos' Vientiane to help stranded nationals get back home.

"The flight from India repatriated 106 Vietnamese, 1 Filipino and 29 Laos nationals along with 89 Indian citizens," the airline said in a statement.

"The return flight repatriated 139 Indian nationals from Hanoi and 50 Indian nationals from Vientiane. IndiGo operated these flights while adhering to all the precautionary measures, ensuring a safe and hassle-free travel experience on-board a lean clean flying machine." According to the airline, the people returning to Vientiane consisted of Indian and foreign expats, students and Buddhist monks.

"The repatriated Indian citizens consisted of students, labourers and employees who had lost their job due to the pandemic, along with some Vietnamese diplomats who had come to serve their new term in New Delhi," the statement said.
Washington, Aug 29 : Jacob Blake, the African-American man shot by police seven times in the back in Wisconsin, has reportedly been released from handcuffs while in hospital, a media report said on Saturday.

Police in Kenosha city, where the incident took place on August 23, said that Blake was in custody for previous warrants and the handcuffs were policy, the BBC reported.

Lt Eric Klinkhammer, of the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department, told the BBC: "Blake is in custody for previous felony warrants. Our policy indicates that all people in custody outside of our jail facility shall be secured with restraints." After visiting him at the hospital on Friday, the 29-year-old's father, told reporters: "I hate it that he was laying in that bed with the handcuff on to the bed... He can't go anywhere. Why do you have him cuffed to the bed?" Later in the day, Blake's attorney, Patrick Cafferty, told US media that he was released from handcuffs and the outstanding warrants against him had been vacated.

Blake's lawyers have said it will take "a miracle" for him to walk again.

The circumstances that led up to the shooting are still under investigation.

Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian said on Friday that the citywide curfew would remain in place through the weekend.

There are more than 1,000 National Guard troops deployed in Kenosha with more on their way, the BBC reported.

Meanwhile, a court hearing for Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, charged with killing two people during unrest over Blake's shooting has been delayed till September 25.

He faces six criminal counts, including first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide and possession of a dangerous weapon below the legal age of 18.
New Delhi:

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday calls for meeting of candidates declared for UP Assembly elections on 31st December at party office in Lucknow.

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav called Samajwadi Party's core-group meeting at 10.30am at his residence on Kalidas Marg. Both youth and senior leaders were expected to be present at the meeting.

On Monday night, Samajwadi Party Uttar Pradesh chief Shivpal Singh Yadav issued the complete list of candidates for the upcoming UP state elections.

The list came out at around midnight as an emergency measure after current UP CM and his nephew Akhilesh Yadav issued a parallel list of candidates, including his loyal supporters who were dropped from the original list.

In an act of defiance to his family, Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday released the list of 235 candidates out of 403 seats for the upcoming state assembly elections.

The 235 candidates include 171 current MLAs in Akhilesh Government along with some new names. The candidates for the rest of the seats will be announced soon, a party notification said.

The list will be construed as an act war against his uncle Shivpal Yadav and father Mulayam Singh Yadav, as Samajwadi Party supremo has already issued a list of candidates for 325 candidates earlier on Wednesday.

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By PTI

NEW DELHI: Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda on Saturday said his ministry was in regular touch with the administration in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where 10 members of the dwindling Great Andamanese tribe tested positive for the coronavirus recently.

The Andaman & Nicobar administration is alert to the safety of its tribe, especially the Vulnerable Tribal Groups, (PVTGS) through Integrated Tribal development authority, he tweeted.

The minister said precautionary measures are being taken to protect these vulnerable tribal groups from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials from the ministry are regularly in touch with the local administration in Port Blair, working for the welfare of the indigenous tribal group in the islands, Munda said in another tweet.

ALSO READ | Coronavirus hits isolated Great Andamanese tribe, 10 infected

There are only 59 surviving members of the Great Andamanese tribe, all of them on Strait Island in the archipelago.

After six members of the tribe, who had travelled to Port Blair, the regions' capital, for work, tested positive for the virus, a health team travelled to the Strait Island last week to carry out tests of the remaining members.

Out of 37 samples tested, four more from the tribe were found to be positive, Health Department Deputy Director and Nodal Officer Avijit Roy had told PTI.
She is about to welcome her first child into the world, but Romee Strijd is already connecting with her soon-to-be-born baby.

Romee took to her Instagram stories on Saturday, where she shared video of herself applying stretch mark cream to her blossoming bump.

The Victoria's Secret model, 25, revealed she uses such moments to bond with her child - and maybe even feel a little kick.

Bumping along! Romee Strijd shared video of herself applying stretch mark cream to her blossoming bump on Saturday

As Romee rubbed the Lovekins cream onto her belly, she explained: 'I usually do it at night and I try to take the time to connect with the little one.

'It's very important to take the time, and I love to see if she kicks or anything. It's just very important to connect with him or her,' she added.

Romee was glowing as she beamed towards the camera with her flowing blonde hair and radiant complexion.

The model wore a shimmering tank top, a fluffy white sweater, and snake print leggings.

Mom-to-be: Strijd uses moments such as these to connect with her child

Beaming with joy! The model was glowing in her bump update

Romee has been providing plenty of bump updates with fans as of late.

On Tuesday, the mom-to-be was at it again with another snap of her burgeoning midsection.

'Getting ready for the day,' she wrote on the images.

'I love to see if she kicks or anything': Strijd enjoys feeling her little one's kicks

'Getting ready for the day': Strijd showed off her growing baby bump on her Instagram Story

The Dutch model was dressed in a beige knit crop top with spaghetti straps and a pair of tiny white shorts with black stitching around the hem.

Her top rode up on her belly as her shorts dropped down, revealing her tummy and extended navel.

With one hand she cradled her bump as she turned sideways to gaze directly into the camera.

Bared her belly: The Dutch model, 25, was dressed in a beige knit crop top with spaghetti straps and a pair of tiny white shorts with black stitching around the hem

Beautiful: With one hand she cradled her bump as she turned sideways to gaze directly into the camera

It's believed that Strijd is about five months along in her pregnancy,

She's previously revealed that she and husband Laurens van Leeuwen are having a baby girl.

The Victoria's Secret Angel announced her pregnancy in May and at the same time, shared on social media how she'd been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, which can greatly impact fertility and make it very hard for women to naturally conceive.

Strijd wrote: '2 years ago I got diagnosed with PCOS after not getting my period for 7 years. I was devastated because being a mom and starting a family with @laurensvleeuwen is my biggest dream.'

It's a girl: The Victoria's Secret Angel announced her pregnancy in May and a month later she shared with fans that she is having a daughter

She went on: 'I was so scared that I would never be able to because I got told it was harder to get babies in a natural way.. I started to research PCOS and came to the conclusion that mine was not the typical pcos. Mine was because of my body being in fight or flight mode.. which means my body was under constant stress.

'I never felt mentally super stressed so it was hard to understand this, but my life consisted of travelling all the time (no biorhythm), working out every day, eating super clean (restricting foods).'

She continued: 'I think I pressured my body too much, and honestly every body is so different but I think my weight was not good for my body to function properly and couldnt handle the constant traveling.'

The model explained: 'This was the point where I started to research natural healing for PCOS and came to the conclusion that I should do way less high intensity training, dont restrict foods, be nice to myself, and take breaks when needed.'

Strijd and van Leeuwen, whose father is a famous TV presenter in the Netherlands, eloped in October 2018 after dating since 2010.
Tomball didnt even get wet from Hurricane Laura when it hit Texas and Louisiana Thursday morning, said Tomball Fire Chief Randy Parr. But the department considered it a good exercise to go through their planning for hurricanes.

Parr said it had been quiet all night in Tomball, but they had been having daily meetings ahead of the hurricanefollowing along with weather service conference calls, tracking the forecast, and going through checklists to make sure they were prepared. But Parr said they started to feel some relief when they saw Tomball didnt look like it would be hit by the hurricane.

'There ain't no way to get to them': Storm victims who rode out Hurricane Laura asking for help

Knowing that were on the clean side and not subject to the amount of wind that the east side of a storm would have, we were starting to breath a tad bit easier, Parr said. But at the same time, we had to be prudent and take the steps necessary to be prepared in case the thing wobbled back to the west.

On Wednesday afternoon, Parr said they had decided at the meeting to continue monitoring the situation and keeping everything in place but keeping regular staffing levels. Should the hurricane have come closer to Tomball, Parr said they would have brought additional staff to the fire stations and opened their emergency operations center.

We have done this now I cant tell you how many times, and especially for (City Manager) Rob (Hauck) and myself, weve got the system pretty well down, Parr said. We now have enough people that have worked through Harvey with us that the core group of people that manage the EOC and the incident are in place and its just teaching new folks and bringing additional folks in to expand the operation.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Scars of Hurricane Laura evident as Louisiana residents assess storm damage

For serious weather events, Parr said the department has a Humvee and engines that can drive through up to 3 feet of water before they run the risk of flooding the truck. One of their trucks actually did flood during Harvey and needed to have its engine replaced, he said.

Should a hurricane hit Tomball, Parr said residents should have kits ready and stocked with food, water and other supplies, and to stay informed as to what is going on while the storm is happening.

If you live in an area that has a propensity to have high water, then you might want to seek shelter someplace else, Parr said. Were fortunate here in Tomball that the only area that really is impacted is 249 and Holderrieth, and thats basically an uninhabited area.

Hauck sent the Tomball City Council and mayor an update of what the city had done to prepare for the hurricane, which included activating the citys operations center and readying high-water and heavy equipment vehicles. Hauck also wrote that city generators had been tested and drainage ditches had been inspected and cleaned.

Shelter locations had also been identified should they have been needed and shelter management teams were organized, and the citys planning section has prepared an incident action plan.

We are prepared for the worst, and hoping for the best, Hauck wrote.

paul.wedding@hcnonline.com
Bomb Blast in Afghanistan's Kandahar Kills 13 Civilians, Source Says

Sputnik News

08:23 GMT 28.08.2020

KABUL (Sputnik) - An explosion in the Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan, close to the border with Pakistan, killed 13 civilians on Friday, a security source said.

"This morning, a bomb exploded on Tunas vehicle in the Loy Karez area of Spin Buldak district, killed 13 civilians, including women and children," the source said.

Earlier this week, a car bomb exploded near the Balkh district of northern Balkh province of the country killing at least one soldier and injuring six others.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast

Last week, the Independent Human Rights Commission in Kandahar condemned recent explosions, which caused civilian casualties, and called on all parties to the intra-Afghan conflict to protect civilian lives.

 Sputnik

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St. Catharines MPP Jennie Stevens is pushing the province to cap class sizes at 15 students at both the elementary and secondary school levels.

For the past week shes been collecting data in an online survey, which she says has been taken by more than 1,000 parents and educators.

Ive heard from a broad spectrum of people who are concerned about classroom sizes, said Stevens, an NDP member. They need to know its going to be safe.

Some school boards in Ontario, including Toronto District, have been critical of the provinces plans.

Stevens said shes disappointed Niagaras boards havent been involved in some kind of a push-back against what she called a vulnerable position we might be putting our kids in.

Asked about class sizes, District School Board of Niagara spokeswoman Carolyn Loconte said the board isnt able to share what the average will be or if a cap for elementary rooms will be implemented.

She said that depends on the outcome of a special meeting Monday night, called by the board of trustees to consider a recommendation to use an additional one per cent of the boards accumulated surplus to reduce class sizes by hiring new teachers.

Niagara Catholic District School Board spokeswoman Jennifer Pellegrini also said information on class sizes, and whether more teachers will be hired, wont be known until early next week after senior management meets.

Both boards are two of 24 in the province that are following the provincial governments adaptive model at the secondary level when classes resume after Labour Day.

The format will divide students into two groups and classrooms wont exceed a population of 15, both boards have said in their plans available online.

For Niagara Catholic high school pupils, Cohort A will attend in-person classes Monday, Tuesday and every other Wednesday. Cohort B will attend in-person Thursdays, Fridays and every other Wednesday. The days they are not in school, they will be learning at home, the board says.

Following a four-period schedule, they will take one class for a full day for 22 days, write a final exam or assessment, then move on to the next class for 22 days, according to the Catholic boards plan.

Cohorts are also part of DSBNs strategy, for those who have chosen to return to class. The public board and Niagara Catholic are following the same schedule.

While in school, 225 minutes worth of education will be provided. Students will be told to put in 300 minutes of learning when at home.

Following Labour Day, for Niagara Catholic elementary students first week, those in kindergarten to Grade 8 whose last name begins with the letters A to L will be in school Tuesday and Wednesday, and at home Thursday and Friday.

Those whose surnames start with M to Z will be at home Tuesday and Wednesday but in class Thursday and Friday.

All will begin full weeks of classes starting Sept. 14, as will online learning for students opting out of in-person education, reads Niagara Catholics Back to School Plan.

At DSBN sites, kindergarten and Grade 1 students will be back Tuesday after Labour Day.

Wednesday will see kindergarten to Grade 3 classrooms filled with students, and Thursday will mark the start of the academic year for students in kindergarten through Grade 6. By Friday, all elementary students will be back in class.

The provincial government has mandated students in Grades 4 and up are required to wear masks indoors. At the elementary level, 20 per cent of DSBN students have signed up for virtual schooling. Its slightly less among secondary students.

Classrooms are being organized to reflect physical distancing, with unnecessary furniture already removed from schools to optimize space, said Loconte.

The public board has printed thousands of signs to post in schools that will reinforce physical distancing, proper hygiene practices, directional flow in the schools, and other reminders of the new safety and health protocol students and staff will follow, she added.

The Catholic boards enrolment numbers will not be available until next week.
A local community has rallied together to help restore a house after the elderly owners received a nasty anonymous letter about the condition of the home.

Jimmy and Marilyn Curcuru have lived in their two story home in Gloucester, in the US state of Massachusetts, for over 50 years and were shocked when they received a letter in the mail demanding they paint the house.

The note simply said: Paint me. Eyesore. Your neighbours. Perkins Street, Mr Curcuru told NBC Boston.

It was frustrating to read it, and it was also hurtful.

Jimmy and Marilyn Curcuru have lived in the home in for over 50 years and were shocked when they received a nasty note demanding they paint the house. Source: GoFundMe

The 71-year-old explained he was well aware the home desperately needed a paint job but after suffering a heart attack and undergoing a quadruple bypass 15 years ago, Mr Curcuru said hes not as fit as he used to be.

"I used to enjoy working on the house when I could, but now its hard for me to do it," he told The Washington Post as the story gained national attention.

Mr Curcuru also cares for his bedridden wife, 72, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 30 years ago and he explained that, sadly, painting wasnt high on his list of priorities.

"We know that our house needs painting, they didn't need to point it out to us. If they'd knocked on the door and asked about it, I could have told them why this was happening to our house, he said.

The 'hurtful' anonymous note the couple received. Source: GoFundMe

The couples daughter Michelle Curcuru Baran posted the note on Facebook and called the authors cowards.

My family for many years took care and maintained this house as best they could, but due to some circumstances the house repairs have got to be too much for them, she wrote in the post.

Ms Baran said she was hoping for some understanding when she shared the letter but she has since been completely overwhelmed with the communitys response.

Several people responded asking where they could donate time, materials and funds to help restore the couples home.

Story continues

Jimmy (Right) and Marilyn Curcuru (Left) have lived in the home for over 50 years. Source: GoFundMe

Gloucester residents went into action and decided to set up a GoFundMe page to help the family restore the home that has been in their family for over 75 years.

This loving family is well known in Gloucester and most know the hardships they have faced, the GoFundMe page reads.

Local businesses have pledged to donate materials, time and slashed the cost of restoring the home, the page has since raised more than $40,000 of its $82,620 goal.

Mr Curcuru said they are not angry at the person who wrote the note and are focusing on the kindness of the community.

We dont care who wrote it. We want to enjoy the love and support of this great city we live in. I want to thank everyone for everything you have done and are going to do, Mr Curcuru said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

ESPANOLA  For Javier Sanchez, it felt like a punch to the gut.

He was watching Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams virtual news conference on Thursday when she was voicing concerns about New Mexicans not wearing masks or adhering to social distancing.

She named Espanola as an example, which she drove through en route to El Rito to make a speech for the Democratic National Convention from a solar array site.

In traveling to northern New Mexico, I went through Espanola, Lujan Grisham said. I didnt see a single mask, not one.

She went on to say no one wore a mask outside grocery stores, gas stations, parking lots or even hanging from the rearview mirrors of cars.

The only masks I saw were in the car I was in, she said.

Sanchez, Espanolas Republican mayor, was soon flooded with calls and texts from residents angry about the Democratic governors comments.

The mayor issued a highly-critical statement Friday condemning the governor for her comments, which he said exacerbated stereotypes of a city with a troubled reputation, prompting an apology from the governor.

Like so many others, the Governor has chosen to stroll by Espanola and make blanket assumptions about our people, Sanchez wrote. Cherry picking anecdotal evidence to draw generalized conclusions makes a mockery of our beautiful city.

Sanchez told the Journal the governors comments upset a community already facing many struggles, before and during the pandemic.

Over the years, Espanola has earned a reputation in New Mexico as a city with high rates of drug use, poverty and crime. Sanchez said those are real issues, but that Lujan Grishams comments arent helpful.

This is an exact example of how stereotypes are drawn, he said.

Chris Norris, an Espanola resident for 22 years, said he felt hurt by the governors comments. Speaking in the Walmart parking lot, he said businesses in the area are strictly enforcing masks on all residents.

I dont see one person without (a mask), he said looking around. She either wasnt looking or she must have had a blindfold on.

Norris said Espanola is often singled out for its faults, but that he doesnt know why Lujan Grisham decided to comment on his city specifically.

I wish I knew why. I guess its just an easy town to pick on, he said.

Vangie Chavez, another Espanola resident, said people do wear masks, but she agrees with the governor that not enough people in the city are complying.

Sanchez doesnt disagree.

Were no better or no worse than any other community, he said.

In a written statement Friday afternoon, Lujan Grisham maintained she saw no masks, but apologized for singling out the city and its people.

I saw what I saw, but what I saw was only a snapshot in time, her statement read. I regret that my words left the impression they did.

Walking through his popular restaurant La Cocina on Friday, many locals thanked Sanchez for standing up for the city.

Among them was former Department of Health secretary Alex Valdez, who said those in the Espanola Valley do well at wearing masks, especially in public places like Walmart.

I did not see one person not wearing a mask, he said.
AUSTIN  About a week after Texas Democrats took several Green Party candidates to court and had them knocked off the ballot for failing to pay candidate filing fees, state and national Republicans are taking a similar case to the state's highest civil court.

The Third Court of Appeals ruled against three Green Party candidates, but in the case of the Libertarians, the court dismissed the case as moot, saying it was no longer timely because the Aug. 21 deadline to declare a candidate ineligible had passed. The Republicans petition was filed Aug. 21.

This latest lawsuit filed by the Republicans names 40 Libertarian candidates, including two candidates for Texas Supreme Court, three for Texas Senate, 10 for Texas House and 25 for Congress.

The high court doesnt have much time to take action: Friday was the deadline for the Secretary of State to certify candidates for the ballot.

Its a last-ditch effort on their part, said Libertarian Party of Texas Chair Whitney Bilyeu. Theyre clearly desperate to do everything they can to remove voter choice at the polls to continue to have a one-party state here in Texas.

The Libertarians say their candidates chose not to pay the fee for various reasons: some were taking a personal stand against a law they believe to be unconstitutional, some filed with the Secretary of State during a window of time when a judge had temporarily blocked the law, and others simply did not have the funds.

The filing fees in Texas are $3,125 for the U.S. House, $1,250 for Texas Senate and $750 for Texas House. Fifty-three of 70 Libertarian candidates paid theirs, state data shows.

Lawyers for the Republicans wrote that timing is of the utmost importance because each day closer to September 19  the date ballots are mailed  makes relief less practical.

Attorney and state Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, said in a statement about the suit: I hope the outcome is that voters are given the chance to vote for candidates who followed the law in order to be on the ballot.

The cases can be traced to a 2019 law, House Bill 2504, which requires minor-party candidates to submit the same number of petitions or filing fees as major-party candidates. Separate suits seeking to overturn that law are pending.

SIMILAR CASE, DIFFERENT OUTCOME: Appeals court blocks three Green Party candidates from 2020 ballot

At the Texas Supreme Court, the Texas House Republican Caucus PAC and National Republican Congressional Committee, as well as 27 of their candidates and the GOP parties in Harris, Travis and Tarrant counties, are arguing that while the deadline to challenge eligibility may have passed, the deadline to challenge a candidates' application is Sept. 18, the day before any mail-in ballots are sent out.

While third-party candidates have seldom taken enough votes from major party candidates to change the outcome of an election, a Hearst Newspaper analysis from last year showed, as Texas elections become more competitive, their chances of doing so have gradually been improving.

The Texas Democrats succeeded in forcing the Green Party to remove candidates David Collins, who was running for Senate; Tom Wakely, who was running for the 21st Congressional District that includes portions of northern San Antonio, and Katija Kat Gruene, who was running for the Railroad Commission. The legal challenge was filed by their Democratic opponents MJ Hegar, Wendy Davis and Chrysta Castaneda, respectively.

Laura Palmer, co-chair of the Green Party, said the lawsuits have in effect allowed for unfair application of the law where some third-party candidates who did not pay fees are denied a place on the ballot while others in the same situation are allowed to stay. The three Green Party candidates have already been removed from the ballot, though two others who have not paid the fees but were not named in the suit  state House District 119 candidate Antonio Padron and state Senate Distict 26 candidate Julian Villareal  will remain on the ballot.

Elliott Scheirman, a Libertarian running against Rep. Dan Crenshaw in Houstons 2nd Congressional District, said the GOP suit is a testament to the substantial growth and support that the Libertarian Party has gained and proof that Republicans feel threatened.

You might notice that they omitted targeting Libertarians from races without a Republican running, Scheirman said. This demonstrates a cherry-picked tactic to remove competition for themselves but not for Democrats  The Green Party candidates had every right to be on the ballot, too, and Texans deserve a right to choose who they support.
In the coming weeks, Apple plans to change its iPhone software to make it more difficult for advertisers to track Apple customers, an effort that will help further one of the company's long-standing goals: Protecting the privacy of its customers.

But with Apple under the antitrust spotlight, its privacy move has also been called a power move by an advertising industry that is scrambling to adjust to the changes, expected to be included in iOS 14, the company's latest mobile operating system expected to go live next month.

On Wednesday, Facebook became the latest organization to speak openly about the changes, telling investors and users that Apple's move will hurt the social network's bottom line because it will limit the kind of personalized targeting that makes Facebook's ads so valuable to advertisers. "This is not a change we want to make, but unfortunately Apple's updates to iOS14 have forced this decision," the company said in a blog post.

Some in the advertising industry see the moves as part privacy, part self-interest on the part of Apple. Apple also offers advertising, and by limiting the amount of data outside marketers collect, Apple's access to the data becomes more valuable.

"I think there's probably 30 percent truth in that they're doing it for privacy reasons and it's 70 percent that they're doing it because it's what's good for Apple," said Nick Jordan, founder of Narrative I/O, which helps companies gather data for advertising. "It's a question for regulators and courts whether they should be able to wield the power they do over this ecosystem," he said. "They created it, but can they rule it with an iron fist?"

In an interview with The Washington Post, Apple director of privacy engineering Erik Neuenschwander said the changes were part of Apple's privacy road map. When asked whether Apple considers how regulators or competitors might view privacy changes, such as the new policies on advertiser tracking, he said the customer is always Apple's main consideration.

Facebook and Apple have sparred in the past over privacy, with Apple CEO Tim Cook making critical remarks aimed at the social network and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling out Apple for the high prices it charges for its devices. Most recently, Facebook joined a chorus of app developers in criticizing the 30% fees Apple charges for money earned on its App Store.

Apple and Facebook are both facing investigations by lawmakers and regulators into whether they have wielded their power in anticompetitive ways. Apple is facing a landmark lawsuit filed by Fortnite owner Epic Games that claims Apple is using its status an alleged monopolist to overcharge app developers with 30% fees on App Store earnings.

The latest altercation between Apple and Facebook concerns new pop-up messages expected in iOS 14. Apple says that when customers open apps, they'll be asked whether they'd like to give that specific app permission to track them with something called an "ID for Advertisers," or IDFA. Apple created the IDFA in 2012 to help app developers earn money on iOS. The unique number, assigned to iPhone customers, allows advertisers to track their movements around websites and apps by following that unique identifier.

For years, IDFA was turned on by default on iPhones. Only by going into the phone's settings could users turn off that feature. The IDFA helped Facebook and other developers learn what apps users downloaded, how frequently they used those apps, their in-app purchases, and the websites they visit on both desktop and mobile devices, and Apple TV.

With the new pop-up messages, customers will be forced to make a choice. It is likely that most consumers will opt out of being tracked. Facebook said in a blog post that it would render its off-platform ad network so ineffective that it may not make sense to offer it to developers at all. Facebook said that in testing it had seen a more than 50% drop in revenue as a result of the loss of data from Apple.

Over time, Neuenschwander said, Apple has been handing users more and control over how IDFA is used, giving them the ability to turn it off completely when the company launched iOS 10 roughly four years ago by turning on the "limit ad tracking" switch in the phone's settings.

Neuenschwander wouldn't say how many Apple customers turned that switch on in the settings.

Like Facebook, Google and several other companies, Apple runs an advertising business that relies on personal data it gathers to show people "relevant" advertising. "We collect your personal information," Apple's App Store & Privacy guidelines say. "We also use information about your account, purchases, and downloads in the Stores to offer advertising to ensure that Search Ads in the App Store and ads in Apple News and Stocks, where available, are relevant to you."

But Apple doesn't consider this data gathering "tracking," according to Neuenschwander. That's because Apple collects the data from its own users on its own apps and other services. Facebook and other advertisers, Apple says, gather data on users even when they're not using Facebook.

By reducing the amount of data Facebook and other advertising companies can gather from IDFA numbers, Apple is limiting their ability to gather data on users as they bounce from app to app, or website to website.

"There's been no discussion, no commercial transaction. They're saying this is what we decided is right in the name of privacy and this is what we're going to do," said Stuart Ingis, a partner at the law firm Venable who represents the Partnership for Responsible Addressable Media, an association of advertisers. Ingis said Apple is harming the very economy that fueled innovation and growth in app development, which in turn helped Apple sell more phones.
COPENHAGEN - A polar bear attacked a camping site and killed a foreign national in the remote Svalbard Islands on Friday, authorities on an Arctic island said, adding the animal was killed.

The man was rushed to the hospital in Longyearbyen where he was declared dead by doctors, Deputy Governor Soelvi Elvedah said. Longyearbyen is the main settlement in Norways Arctic Svalbard archipelago, which sits more than 800 kilometres (500 miles) north of the Norwegian mainland.

The attack occurred just before 4 a.m. and was being investigated, the governors office said. The victims identity and citizenship werent immediately given. No one else was injured, but six people were hospitalized for shock.

An autopsy will be conducted at the University Hospital of North Norway in Tromsoe, north of the Arctic Circle.

The polar bear was found dead in a parking lot by the nearby airport after being shot by onlookers, the governors office said in a statement posted on its website.

It wasnt clear whether the polar bear was one of two of the animals to have roamed the area this week, the governors office said.

This is also a strong reminder that we are in polar bear country and must take the precautions to secure ourselves, Elvedahl later said. Polar beers can be found all over Svalbard and be encountered anywhere throughout the year.

The website says bears may appear anywhere on Svalbard and urges people to stay as far away as possible to avoid situations that could be dangerous for you and for the bear. An estimated 20,000-25,000 bears live in the Arctic.

Svalbard is dotted with warnings about polar bears. Visitors who choose to sleep outdoors receive stern warnings from authorities that people must carry firearms while moving outside of settlements.

Norwegian broadcaster NRK said the victim was the fifth person to have been killed by polar bears since 1971. The last time it happened was in 2011 when a British teenager was killed.

In 2015, a polar bear dragged a Czech tourist out of his tent as he and others were camping north of Longyearbyen, clawing his back before being driven away by gunshots. The tourist, who was slightly injured, was among a group of six people on a combined ski and snow scooter trip on the remote islands. The bear was eventually found and killed by local authorities.

___

A previous version of this story was corrected to show that the last fatal polar bear mauling was in 2011, not 2001.
Karachi :

A mother of four in Pakistan was allegedly killed by her brother on Thursday in a suspected honour killing in the southern Sindh province, police said.

Ghulam Hussain Gopang, the brother of the woman, was arrested following the incident in the Loung Gopang village near Kot Diji of Khairpur district, they said.

Gopang confessed to have murdered his sister, saying he was motivated to commit the crime on the suspicion that his sister was in an illicit relationship with a local man, police said.

The womans husband, however, did not comment on his wifes murder, the Dawn reported.

Every year, hundreds of women are killed in Pakistan by their male relatives for dishonouring the family.

In July, a high-profile murder of social media starlet Qandeel Baloch allegedly by her brother over honour prompted the government to pass a bill in the parliament invoking stronger punishments for those involved in such killings.

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We all support your light rail project in Kano state. We are supporting this good and people-centred project Hundred percent. We are only waiting for the issue to come up to the National Assembly, to give all our support to it, hinted Chairman House Committee on Works of the House of Representatives, Honourable Engineer Abubakar Kabir Abubakar Bichi, representing Bichi federal constituency in Kano state.

He made the disclosure when the House Committee paid a courtesy visit to the governor, Friday, late evening, at his office. The Committee was in Kano as part of their oversight function, going round federal government projects being executed in the state and those projects linked to the state from other states.

While commending the governor for being an excellent example in infrastructural development, he said Your Excellency all of us here are assuring you that whenever we receive anything pertaining your light rail project in the state, we will all accept and endorse it Hundred percent.

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Assuring the governor that not only members of the House of Representatives would support governor Ganduje on that project, he assured that Even members of the Senate Committee on Works and by extension, other distinguished members, they will support you Sir. We all know your commitment and dedication to serve your people.

Engineer Bichi explained that, they need to always encourage governor Ganduje to take the state to upper level in terms of infrastructural development and the overall development of the state.

Your Excellency looking at how these Honourable members addressed you right here while introducing themselves, you will agree with me when I said, we all believe in your brilliant understanding of how to develop the state. Sir I will take them round the state before we leave to show them how you developed the state, he concludes.
MIAL (Representative Image)

Investor consortium of Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) has sent GVK Group and key lenders a legal notice opposing sale of the airport to Adani Group, adding that the move, if it goes through, would be a breach of contract.

Investors National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), and Canadas Public Sector Pension (PSP) Investments have sent to notice to GV Sanjaya Reddy and executives of State Bank of India, Goldman Sachs India, HDFC Bank, Punjab National Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank, The Economic Times reported.

The notice sent on August 27 states that constant media speculation about Adani Groups interest in MIAL was causing them concern, it added.

Moneycontrol could not immediately verify the report.

NIIF, ADIA and PSP Investments had in October 2019 agreed to buy 79 percent stake in GVK Airport Holdings for Rs 7,614 crore. The amount was to be used by GVK to service debt of holding companies and fund purchase of additional shares in MIAL.

Since then however the matter is subjudice with an arbitration tribunal. Legally, the agreement dated October 27, 2019, gives the trio exclusivity till January 27, 2021 and also prohibits GVK from bilateral deals or negotiations with competing parties.

The notice points out that the investors have allowed GVK limited exception to explore alternative transactions but added that execution or binding agreement till January-end would be a breach of the binding document.

HDFC, SBI, GVK Group, Axis Bank, PNB, Goldman Sachs, ICICI Bank and NIIF did not respond to queries, while ADIA and PSP Investments declined questions, the report said.

Investors added that they have been committed to the deal and remain committed, adding that they incurred significant cost and effort over two years. They also pointed out that they put $300 million in an escrow account for nine months as a sign of intent to invest.

The letter asked for independent and transparent sale process to find the best owner and operator for MIAL.
A dad 'with a heart of gold' who ran into his burning family home to save his beloved dogs is in serious condition in hospital after failing to retrieve his pets.

Wayne Rare, 55, his partner Toni, 51, and children Ziggy, 25, and Jacinta, 23, were asleep inside their Moona Road in Kirrawee in Sydney's south home when a fire started.

Emergency services were called following reports of a house fire early on Saturday morning, with all four family members managing to escape.

A brave Mr Rare ran back into the home in hopes of saving his beloved pet dogs Blaze, a husky, and Ilo, a staffy, but neither survived.

Blaze and Ilo (pictured) could not be saved after Wayne Rare ran into the home in hopes of retrieving them

A massive fire ripped through the Kirrawee home in Sydney's south in the early hours of Saturday (pictured)

Mr Rare suffered serious burns after his failed heroic attempt and remains in a critical condition at Royal North Shore Hospital, Daily Telegraph reported.

His partner Toni suffered smoke inhalation and remains sedated at St George Hospital in a stable condition.

The two children have already been discharged after being treated for smoke inhalation.

Diaz Nailer, a family friend and former neighbour said Mr Rare tried everything to get to the pet dogs who were treated like family.

'Wayne with his heart of gold ran back inside to try and retrieve their family dogs, but he couldn't get to them,' she said.

'It all happened so fast.'

Mr Rare, suffered serious burns to his body and smoke inhalation and is fighting for his life in hospital after being injured in the fire (pictured)

Ms Nailer launched a GoFundMe page for the family, who lost everything in the devastating fire.

'They are the most beautiful family, who welcome people into their lives with open arms,' she said

'The family is just distraught and they have lost everything  they literally have nothing left.

Police are continuing their investigation into the house fire.
China on Wednesday launched at least two ballistic missiles that it described as aircraft carrier killers during naval exercises in the South China Sea. The testing of these missiles is a response to military and other provocative measures carried out in the region by the United States and its allies.

The increasing militarization of the region significantly heightens the danger of a global conflagration, which is ultimately driven by US imperialism.

The Chinese military fired its DF-21D and the DF-26B missiles from Zhejiang Province in the southeast and Qinghai Province in the northwest respectively. Both missiles landed in the South China Sea between Hainan and the disputed Paracel Islands. The US military stated that China fired at least four missiles.

The DF-21D has a range of 1,800 kilometers and is the worlds first anti-ship ballistic missile, according to Beijing. The DF-26B has a longer range of 4,000 kilometers and can carry a nuclear payload. China said it is also capable of striking naval vessels, and could reach the US military base on Guam. It was formally unveiled earlier this month and is an updated variant of a missile first officially displayed at Chinas 2015 Victory Day parade marking the end of World War II.

The launches took place a day after Beijing accused the US military of flying a U-2 spy plane over Chinese naval drills in the Bohai Sea, deliberately entering a no-fly zone. China began holding live-fire drills in the sea, located near Beijing, last Monday and plans to continue until September 30.

Chinas Defense Ministry demanded the US stop this kind of provocative behavior and take actual steps to safeguard peace and stability in the region. It also warned that such flights could trigger misunderstandings or an unexpected incident, namely a military exchange.

In response, Washington admitted that it had conducted a U-2 flight in the Indo-Pacific region, but dismissed Beijings concerns, saying: Pacific Air Forces personnel will continue to fly and operate anywhere international law allows, at the time and tempo of our choosing.

A source close to the Chinese military told the South China Morning Post: This [the missile launches] is Chinas response to the potential risks brought by the increasingly frequent incoming US warplanes and military vessels in the South China Sea.

In addition to drills in the South China and Bohai Seas, China is conducting exercises in the Yellow Sea and near the Taiwan Strait. The drills in the South China Sea ran from Monday to today. Those in the Yellow Sea and near Taiwan took place from Saturday to Wednesday.

The US Defense Department hypocritically chastised Beijing in a statement Thursday, saying: Conducting military exercises over disputed territory in the South China Sea is counterproductive to easing tensions and maintaining stability.

In recent weeks, the US has held its own war games involving two aircraft carriers in the South China Sea, as well as exercises in neighboring waters with India near the Malacca Strait and with Japan and Australia in the Philippine Sea.

In addition, the US is now conducting its biannual Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise near Hawaii alongside nine other nationsthe largest naval exercise in the world. It is running from August 17 to 30. China had previously been invited to take part in 2014 and 2016, but had its invitation revoked in 2018 and is again absent this year.

A Chinese warship conducting a live-fire drill in 2015 [Credit: Chinese military]

Washington is also applying additional economic pressure to Beijing. On Wednesday, the Trump administration placed sanctions on 24 Chinese companies, supposedly for their roles in constructing artificial islets in the South China Sea. They have been banned from purchasing American goods. It is the first time Chinese companies have been sanctioned for their involvement in the territorial dispute.

For all its denunciations of supposed Chinese aggression, Washington has for decades sought to enforce its hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region. This included the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan, brutal wars against Korea and Vietnam, and support for right-wing dictators. Over the past decade, the US has enflamed longstanding but minor territorial disputes and ramped up tensions under the Obama administrations pivot to Asia. Under the Trump administration, it is now working to further militarily and economically confront China.

This agenda is accelerating as the US ruling class attempts to deflect growing domestic anger over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the developing economic crisis affecting millions of workers and youth. The Trump administration has accused Beijing of responsibility for the pandemic, with no evidence whatsoever, while pressing China over dangerous flashpoints like Taiwan.

In an interview on August 23, Trump issued a thinly-veiled threat that if Beijing attempted to assert control over Taiwan, Washington would launch an attack on China. I think its an inappropriate place to talk about it, but China knows what Im going to do. China knows, he stated.

Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province and the US still formally adheres to the One China policy that does not recognize Taiwan as an independent country.

Not to be out done, Democratic Party presidential candidate Joe Biden is offering himself as a more belligerent option to Wall Street in dealing with China.

The most recent US military spending bill, which has been passed by both the House and Senate in Congress, contains a clause calling for the navy to conduct port calls in Taiwan with two hospital ships, the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy.

China has made clear that if a US military vessel stops in Taiwan, it would trigger a military response. As such, the decision to use medical vessels is a dangerous and calculated flirtation with this red line.

Washingtons provocations throughout the region risk the outbreak of a disastrous war with China that could quickly spiral into a nuclear conflict. The US is seeking to eliminate an economic competitor and return China to a semi-colonial state.
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged in a video post Friday that the company erred by not taking down an event listing for a militia group that encouraged armed civilians to defend the streets of Kenosha, Wis., from civil unrest before the fatal shooting of two people this week.

Facebook removed the page for the "Kenosha Guard" and an event listing for "Armed Citizens to Protect Our Lives and Property" after the shootings Tuesday night in which Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, allegedly killed two men and seriously wounded a third.

Looking somber in a blue T-shirt and speaking in a slow, halting manner, Zuckerberg said the page and event listing violated Facebook's policies and should have been removed after the company received numerous complaints about their violent nature. He called the error "largely an operational mistake."

"The contractors, the reviewers who the initial complaints were funneled to, didn't, basically, didn't pick this up," Zuckerberg said. "And on second review, doing it more sensitively, the team that's responsible for dangerous organizations recognized that this violated the policies and we took it down."

Zuckerberg didn't say if the contractors had been disciplined for not removing the page and event listing or if Facebook would undertake additional training or consider changes to policies as a result of the event. He did not make an apology to the victims of the violence or their families in the video post.

Zuckerberg said there was no evidence that Rittenhouse followed the Kenosha Guard page or that he had been invited to the event page calling for an armed response to protests in the city.

The incident is the latest in a long succession of failures by Facebook to effectively police its platforms, including the photo-sharing site Instagram, for posts that incite, organize and glorify violence. Last week, the company had announced initiatives to intensify its efforts against militia groups and potentially dangerous conspiracy theories, such as QAnon, but Zuckerberg agreed with critics that the company failed to act appropriately against the Kenosha Guard page and the event listing.

Zuckerberg has been the subject of intense criticism from both inside and outside Facebook for not doing more to keep the company he has led since its creation in 2004 from becoming a conduit for violent ideologies.

Facebook long has had ties to serious violence in the real world. The company acknowledged in 2018 that it had been used to "foment division and incite offline violence" during ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya minority group in Myanmar. Last year, a gunman live-streamed on Facebook the shooting of Muslims in a New Zealand mosque that left dozens dead.

This year, a movement called "the boogaloo," espousing violence against government officials, spread widely on Facebook and other social media. A boogaloo adherent who was later charged with killing a security guard at an Oakland, Calif., courthouse amid protests in May wrote on Facebook, "Use their anger to fuel our fire. Think outside the box. We have mobs of angry people to use to our advantage," according to court documents.

Rashad Robinson, executive director of the civil rights group Color of Change, said Facebook's problems are not isolated failures but systemic problems rooted in a business model fueled by user engagement.

"It's optimized for growth and profit, and not optimized for safety, integrity and security," Robinson said. "The system's not broken. It's performing the way it's designed to."

The use of Facebook in encouraging armed people to convene in Kenosha has drawn particularly sharp criticism, including in an internal meeting among employees, according to news reports.

Hours before Tuesday's shootings, an administrator of the Kenosha Guard page urged Facebook users to "take up arms and defend out [sic] City tonight from the evil thugs," according to a review of social media postings by the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab. The post continued, "Nondoubt [sic] they are currently planning on the next part of the City to burn tonight!"

Facebook has removed the Kenosha Guard page for violating the company's policies against "dangerous individuals and organizations." The company also called Tuesday's shooting a "violating event" and deleted affiliated content and accounts, including that of the alleged shooter, who has been charged with first-degree homicide.

Zuckerberg opened his remarks by describing how he felt personally troubled about this and other recent events in which Black people have been killed by police or by civilians acting as vigilantes against widespread unrest in recent months.

Theres just this sense that things really arent improving at the pace that they should be, and I think thats really painful, really discouraging, Zuckerberg said. And its just another reminder that theres a lot more to do.
Eli Vlaisavljevich, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering and mechanics at Virginia Tech, received a Trailblazer Award from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health to research possible treatments for metastatic breast cancer.

The aim of the project is to develop a novel, noninvasive method that combines nanoparticles with ultrasound to selectively target and kill cancerous cells in the breast tissue. Vlaisavljevich is leading the research, in collaboration with Jenny Munson, an associate professor of biomedical engineering and mechanics in the College of Engineering and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, and Irving Coy Allen, an associate professor of biomedical sciences and pathobiology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 650,000 people receive chemotherapy in the United States each year. Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses chemicals to kill cells in the body. The powerful chemicals used often result in harsh side effects.

The novel approach proposed in this study -- nanoparticle-mediated histotripsy (NMH) -- is noninvasive, which would improve the serious, harsh side effects patients experience in alternative methods, such as chemotherapy or surgery. Histotripsy is a technique that uses focused ultrasound beams to ablate -- or destroy -- the cancerous cells. This technique is the main focus of Vlaisavljevich's lab, the Therapeutic Ultrasound and Noninvasive Therapies Laboratory.

The main focus in my lab is developing histotripsy, a noninvasive tumor ablation method, which has recently been used in human patients to treat cancer. It has shown promising results for the noninvasive treatment of solid tumors. We are excited to expand on the potential of histotripsy by using nanoparticle-mediated histotripsy to target and treat quickly-spreading tumors that couldn't be treated with only a local ablation." Eli Vlaisavljevich, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech

Histotripsy is a term coined by engineers to describe the technology that uses the method of cavitation: "histo" means "tissue," and "tripsy" means "breakdown." The high-pressure ultrasound pulses in histotripsy create bubble clouds in the tumor, which rapidly expand and collapse, to disintegrate the targeted cells and tissue. Creation of these bubble clouds is called cavitation.

In Vlaisavljevich's previous research on histotripsy in the context of treating cancer, the results have indicated histotripsy provides high precision and real-time imaging guidance, which translates to fewer mistakes -- the cancerous cells are identified, targeted, and destroyed. This method has shown significant promise for the noninvasive treatment of tumors.

However, conventional histotripsy still requires the ability to image the tumors prior to treatment. In metastatic breast cancer, the tumors are not always identified and able to be imaged prior to treatment, especially for patients with late stages of the disease.

To account for this, the researchers propose to engineer acoustically-active nanocones -- cone-shaped structures -- that reduce the pressure required to apply histotripsy. By injecting these nanocones into the body and functionalizing such that they selectively attach to breast cancer cells, this approach will allow histotripsy to be selectively generated only in regions containing the cancerous cells. The nanocones will help target the cancer cells, destroying only the cancerous tissue.

"We have collaborated on other projects with success," said Coy. "This is a new approach, though, and we are really optimistic about the outcomes. We are really excited to be doing this."

After engineering the nanocones, researchers will test the in vitro feasibility of these structures for targeting and selectively ablating breast cancer cells in a tissue-engineered 3D breast cancer model developed in Munson's lab, The Onco-Engineering Lab, before moving on to small animal studies in partnership with Allen's lab, The Allen Laboratory.

"We use 3D tissue engineering to try to replicate an in vivo microenvironment, or the patient's microenvironment," Munson said. "What's important in these models -- and why we need the 3D -- is to see how fluid moves through cells and tissues. With these models, we're able to mimic that fluid flow and see what is likely to occur in the body."

Graduate and undergraduate students will also be participating in this multidisciplinary project, gaining hands-on knowledge through conduction of vitro and in vivo tests in breast cancer models. These models will demonstrate the fluid flow, selective binding, and ablation of cancer cells.

It is expected that the project will answer the key questions needed to demonstrate the feasibility of using nanoparticle-mediated histotripsy for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, providing a key first step toward the development of this method for use in clinics, and ultimately as a cancer treatment. The researchers also expect that this method will work for patients who aren't candidates for surgical removal of cancerous tumors.

"If successful, my hope is that this work will lay the foundation for a new cancer therapy for patients with both early and late stage disease," Vlaisavljevich said. "This method could be capable of significantly improving the standard of care for cancer patients by increasing our targeting specificity and treating tumors too small to detect by imaging. While our initial work is focusing on using nanoparticle-mediated histotripsy for the treatment of breast cancer, our long-term goal is to develop this as a platform technology that can treat other aggressive cancers such as metastatic brain and pancreatic cancers as well."
President Donald Trump addresses supporters during a campaign rally at Manchester Boston Regional Airport in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on Aug. 28, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Administration Announces Deal for 150 Million New Rapid COVID-19 Tests

Fourth COVID-19 antigen test approved for emergency use, does not require special machine

The Trump administration on Aug. 27 announced that it has struck a deal to purchase 150 million new rapid COVID-19 tests to be distributed across the United States.

The $760 million deal with U.S. healthcare company Abbott Laboratories was granted emergency use authorization (pdf) by the Food and Drug Administration the day prior, Aug. 26.

The BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card test (pdf) offers results in 15 minutes and will sell for only $5, according to Abbott. It is also highly portableabout the size of a credit cardand does not require any special machine to analyze the results. The company praised the test as a rapid, reliable, highly portable, and affordable tool for detecting active coronavirus infections at massive scale.

The test could be used at point-of-care settings such as a doctors office, emergency rooms, and potentially some schools.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the announcement marks a major development that will help save more lives by further protecting Americas most vulnerable and allow our country to remain open, get Americans back to work, and get kids back to school.

 President @realDonaldTrump has announced the purchase and production of 150 million rapid tests. This is a major development that will help our country to remain open, get Americans back to work, and kids back to school!  Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) August 27, 2020

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement, By strategically distributing 150 million of these tests to where theyre needed most, we can track the virus like never before and protect millions of Americans at risk in especially vulnerable situations.

He added that the testing would potentially be deployed to schools and to assist with serving other special needs populations.

The White House noted that final production will be scaled to an unprecedented 50 million tests monthly. Abbott said in a statement that it was preparing to ship tens of millions of tests in September, ramping production to 50 million tests a month in October.

The latest effort comes as part of Operation Warp Speed, the administrations initiative to quickly develop safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics to combat the CCP virus.

This is the fourth rapid test designed to detect COVID-19 antigens, which are proteins on the viruss surface.

Two other developers of antigen tests, Quidel and Becton Dickinson, said they have not been able to meet demand for the tests. LumiraDx, another developer, is planning to ship its antigen tests by the end of August.

Scanning electron microscope image shows the CCP virus (round blue objects), the virus that causes COVID-19, emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. (NIAID-RML)

How it Works

The test involves a nasal swab and a test card with a strip that can detect the virus.

A healthcare provider swabs the patients nose and twirls that sample on a test card with a testing reagent added. After waiting 15 minutes, the healthcare provider reads the results directly from the testing card, the FDA announced of the latest test system.

The results can be read directly from the testing card, just like some pregnancy tests, the agency said. One line indicates a negative result; two lines indicate a positive result.

This test has been authorized for use in patients suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider within seven days of symptom onset, the agency noted, which means that it is not authorized for those who are asymptomatic or presymptomatic.

Read More Asymptomatic People No Longer Require CCP Virus Test: New CDC Guidance

The FDA noted, however, that results from antigen tests in general are less reliable compared to molecular tests that take longer to return the results.

In general, antigen tests are very specific, but are not as sensitive as molecular tests, the FDA announced, noting that the test could return false negative resultswhere a person tests negative when they are actually infected.

The BinaxNOW test is 97.1 percent sensitive, which means it correctly diagnoses people who have the CCP virus 97.1 percent of the time. It is 98.5 percent specific, which means that it correctly rules out the disease in 98.5 percent of healthy people. The company says these figures make the test reliable.

Due to the potential for decreased sensitivity compared to molecular assays, negative results from an antigen test may need to be confirmed with a molecular test prior to making treatment decisions, the FDA stated. Negative results from an antigen test should be considered in the context of clinical observations, patient history, and epidemiological information.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 29)  President Rodrigo Duterte expressed much regret over the resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whom he has considered a true friend closer than a brother.

Duterte had nothing but kind words for Abe, who stepped down on Friday due to health reasons.

Through many years of our engagement, I have seen a leader with a bold vision and firm determination to do what was best for his country and our region, Duterte said in a statement on Saturday.

Duterte noted that the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Japan "flourished" into a strategic partnership during Abes term.

He fondly recalled Abes visit in his Davao City home in 2017. Abe again met with Duterte in his hometown in 2019, while the Philippine President also flew to Japan for the third and fourth time that year.

To Prime Minister Abe, I pray for your speedy and full recovery, said Duterte, who has been pressed to disclose his medical records amid rising concerns about his health.

Malacanang recently shrugged off Dutertes revelation that his Barretts esophagus illness was nearing stage one cancer. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it was an old diagnosis, while Duterte announced in 2018 that his biopsy was negative for cancer.

Malacanang maintains that the 75-year-old President is "fit and healthy" for his age and will not hesitate to inform the public about the state of his health in case of serious illness, as mandated by the Constitution.

Abe, the longest-serving Japanese prime minister in history, relinquished his post after two hospital visits this week. He apologized to his constituents for being unable to fulfill his duties due to colitis, a non-curable inflammatory bowel disease.

"For almost eight years I controlled my chronic disease, however, this year in June I had a regular check-up and there was a sign of the disease," Abe said.

"I made a judgment that I should not continue my job as prime minister I need to fight the disease and need to be treated, he added.

With reports from CNN International
Russia ready to intervene if Belarus situation out of control: Putin

Global Times

Source: Xinhua Published: 2020/8/28 11:19:59

Russia is ready to intervene if the situation in Belarus gets out of control, although only as a last resort, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

"We proceed from the assumption that all the existing problems that are taking place today in Belarus will be resolved peacefully," Putin said in a televised interview.

He said that within the frameworks of the Union State and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Russia could help Belarus protect its sovereignty, national borders and stability.

Putin recalled a recent phone conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who asked Putin to form a "certain reserve of law enforcement officers," and Putin said he did.

Yet the two leaders agreed that the reserve will not be used unless the situation grows out of control and extremists "hiding behind political slogans cross certain boundaries," Putin said.

According to Putin, Belarus is perhaps the closest country to Russia ethnically, linguistically, culturally and spiritually.

"Therefore, of course, we are not indifferent to what is happening there. But this is primarily the business of the Belarusian people," Putin said.

Belarus has been witnessing mass protests after incumbent President Lukashenko won a sixth term in the Aug. 9 elections, with the opposition refusing to recognize the results.

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reported 13 new cases on Saturday, taking the total to 1,376, the Ministry of Health said.

According to the Ministry, two infected persons had arrived in from India on August 23, reports Xinhua news agency.

The other 11 cases were community transmissions, 10 of whom were linked to the Auckland cluster.

The remaining case was still under investigation.

There were 11 patients hospitalized as of Saturday, including three in intensive care units, it added.

General public were urged to seek medical advice immediately and to take a test if they develop symptoms consistent with Covid-19.

Auckland is currently under Covid-19 Alert Level 3, while the rest the country is at Level 2.

--IANS

ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The ruler of the United Arab Emirates issued a decree Saturday formally ending the country's boycott of Israel amid a U.S.-brokered deal to normalize relations between the two countries.

The announcement now allows trade and commerce between the UAE, home to oil-rich Abu Dhabi and skyscraper-studded Dubai, and Israel, home to a thriving diamond trade, pharmaceutical companies and tech start-ups.

The announcement further cements the Aug 13 deal opening up relations between the two nations, which required Israel to halt its contentious plan to annex occupied West Bank land sought by the Palestinians. But Palestinians so far have criticized the accord as undercutting one of its few bargaining chips with Israelis in moribund peace negotiations.

The state-run WAM news agency said the decree formally ending the boycott came on the orders of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and the Emirates' leader.

WAM said the new decree allows Israelis and Israeli firms to do business in the UAE, a U.S.-allied federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. It also allows for the purchase and trade of Israeli goods.

The decree of the new law comes within the UAEs efforts to expand diplomatic and commercial cooperation with Israel, WAM said. It lays out a road map toward launching joint cooperation, leading to bilateral relations by stimulating economic growth and promoting technological innovation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the decree. This is an important step toward advancing peace and prosperity in the region," he said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said in a statement the UAE decision is an important step towards peace, which will yield substantial economic and commercial achievements for both people while strengthening the stability in the region."

Already, some Israeli firms had signed deals with Emirati counterparts. But the repeal of the law widens the likelihood of other joint ventures, such as in aviation or in banking and finance.

Story continues

Dubai International Airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates, has been the world's busiest for international travel for years. The Dubai International Financial Center also hosts major firms who trade in the hours between Asian and European markets. Dubai already has a major gold market and growing diamond trade.

Emirati firms likely also want to access Israeli technological know-how. Some already had even before the deal  with the cybersecurity firm DarkMatter reportedly hiring Israeli military-trained hackers.

On Monday, the first direct commercial flight by Israel's flagship carrier El Al is expected in Abu Dhabi, carrying U.S. and Israeli officials including President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Telephone calls already can be made between the nations.

The decree formally eliminates a 1972 law on the UAE's books since just after the country's formation. That law mirrored the widely held stance by Arab nations at that time that recognition of Israel would only come after the Palestinians had an independent state of their own.

Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, criticized the UAE's decree Saturday as undercutting the efforts of the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement targeting Israel. Israel has accused BDS activists of seeking to delegitimize its existence.

"While (hashtag)BDS is proving to be an effective tool of peaceful resistance & responsible, ethical investment & consumer responsibility to hold Israel to account, this happens!" Ashrawi wrote on Twitter.

Hamas, the Islamic militant group governing the Gaza Strip since seizing it in 2007, has reiterated its rejection of the UAE-Israel deal and the ending of the boycott.

The decree boosts the normalization with the Israeli occupation and legitimizes it on the Palestinian land," Hamas official Bassem Naim said.

The decree shows the UAE's eagerness to advance ties and maximize its potential benefits such as trade amid an economic slowdown, said Elham Fakhro, the senior Gulf analyst at the International Crisis Group.

The decision sends a clear message that the UAE is committed to its decision to normalize relations with Israel, Fakhro said. It does also raise questions about possible repercussions for anyone in the country calling for the boycott of Israeli goods, now that doing so contradicts the state policy."

The UAE is becoming the third Arab nation after Egypt and Jordan to currently have diplomatic relations with Israel. However, while widespread public distrust of Israel persists in those nations, the UAE never fought a war against Israel, nor did it have a historic Jewish population.

In recent years, the UAE has held quiet talks with Israel and allowed Israelis with second passports into the country for trade and talks. Opening ties may also help the Emirates access advanced American weaponry, like the F-35 fighter jet that right now only Israel flies in the Mideast.

Sheikh Khalifa has ruled the UAE since 2004. He suffered a stroke on Jan. 24, 2014, and underwent emergency surgery. He has been rarely seen since in public, though state media typically publishes images of him around Islamic holidays.

Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has served as the UAE's day-to-day ruler since Sheikh Khalifa's stroke. Sheikh Mohammed has focused on increasing the Emirates' military might amid his suspicions of Iran  an enmity shared by Israel.

While Sheikh Khalifa holds the title of president, the UAE is governed by autocratic sheikhs. Abu Dhabi, as the country's oil-rich capital, has grown increasingly powerful since the UAE's founding in 1971 despite each sheikhdom largely governing its own affairs.

The decree comes after a trip through the Mideast in recent days by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who hoped to build on the UAE-Israel deal.

The accord also came as a major foreign policy win to Trump as he campaigns ahead of the November election against Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Both Israel and the UAE have viewed the Republican president as an ally.

___

Associated Press writer Fares Akram in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report.
Here, Brown talks with CNBC Make It about his life before Impossible Foods, his first investor pitch meeting and where he sees the brand going. The interview has been edited together for length and clarity.

Today, Impossible Foods, best known for its juicy, meat-tasting vegan burger, is valued at more than $4 billion. Its burgers are served in more than 17,000 restaurants worldwide, including via partnership deals with Burger King, White Castle and Starbucks. It's also sold in 8,000 grocery stores,

"The use of animals as a technology in food production is, by a huge margin, the most destructive technology on earth in the history of our species," Brown tells CNBC Make It.

In 2011, at the age of 57, Stanford biochemistry professor Pat Brown took a leap faith and quit his job to launch plant-based "meat" company Impossible Foods. He did it because wanted to help solve one of the world's biggest problems before he retired.

CNBC Make It: Today, you are the founder of Impossible Foods. But talk to me about life before Impossible Foods.

Pat Brown: I grew up  assuming that I ever did  about 50% of my childhood was in the Washington, D.C. suburbs and the other 50% was split in Paris [France] and in Taipei [Taiwan]. And I wasn't a very good student. I was capable, but I had very little interest in school. Fortunately, when it was time for me to go to college [in the 1980s], it was a time when the fraction of people who tried to go to college was a lot lower. So I was able to get into the University of Chicago, which is where I went for undergrad and then I stayed there for my M.D. and Ph.D. [in biochemistry].

I wanted to have more of tangible impact on the world ... so I decided to go into biomedical research. And then I did a pediatrics residency, so I spent three years as a pediatrician in Chicago, at Children's Memorial Hospital. I'd have a 36-hour non-stop day. But I loved it because you felt every moment like you were helping people.

Let's move forward to 2009. You were 57 and a professor at Stanford Medicine, Stanford University's medical school, and you took a sabbatical. How did that lead to the creation of Impossible Foods?

I used the [sabbatical] to try to figure out, what's the most important problem in the world is that I might be able to contribute to solving? The use of animals as a technology in food production is, by a huge margin, the most destructive technology on Earth in the history of our species. And once I realized that, it was a no-brainer.

Relatively quickly it became clear that you are not going to solve the [meat consumption] problem by regulation, education or trying to persuade people. Even most environmentalists that go to climate and environmental conferences are eating steak for dinner. They're not going to stop eating foods that are a big source of pleasure in their daily lives.

So that meant that the only way to solve the problem is to understand what consumers love about these foods and do a better job of delivering it than the current industry does. That means competing in the marketplace and pulling the economic rug out from under that industry. I had to start a company to make those changes and that's why I founded Impossible Foods.

What was your first pitch to get funding for Impossible Foods like?

You can't walk a block in Palo Alto [California, where Stanford is located] without tripping over a venture capitalist. I went to talk to three of the big VC firms but I was naive about what drives venture investors. It's not the same thing that drives me, it turns out.

The message that really snapped them to attention is that the there was, at that time, a $1.5 trillion global market being served by a technology [meat production] that has fundamentally not been improved since prehistoric times. And it's just waiting to be taken down by better technology.

But that was kind of like my last [pitch deck] slide. Now, I am much more upfront about this, saying that is a humongous prize for whoever can develop the technology to replace animals in the food system.

How did you create the Impossible Burger?

The premise was this is a scientific problem. We needed to understand in molecular detail how meat works.

From a nutritional standpoint, the problem was already solved [by plant-based] protein. Just to put it in perspective, the global soybean crop occupies .8% of Earth's land area and produces 150% as much protein as in all the meat consumed globally. And it uses way less fertilizer, pesticides and water than the animal agriculture industry. And it's cheaper by far.

The unsolved problem is deliciousness. So we had to study: What makes meat delicious?

We hired molecular biologists, biochemist, biophysicist and basic scientists because the the problem was not making food. It was understanding how this particular food works to create those emergent properties that people crave. So, they got started working on understanding what makes meat delicious.

And how did you find the magic ingredient, heme?

When you cook meat some kind of magical happens  there's an explosion of aroma and it's flavor profile becomes completely different. When you have an explosion of chemical activity like that, to me that suggests that there was a catalyst in there.

What I knew was that heme  besides being the molecule that carries oxygen in your blood making it red  is one of the best catalysts in nature. And it's staring right at you, because it's responsible for the red or pink color of meat. So, it's just screamingly obvious.

You can basically take vegetable broth but if you throw in heme, it tastes like meat.

When you first introduced Impossible Burger, why did you market it to restaurants as opposed to consumers?

We debuted it with a handful of world renowned, uncompromising chefs, the first of which was Dave Chang, who once made a big splash by banning on principle every vegetarian item from his menu. So this guy is a meat guy to the bone, and the perfect person for us to launch with. Someone like Dave Chang, Traci Des Jardins, Brad Farmer and Chris Cosentino, these very meat-focused chefs, wanted it on their menus. So you would be insane not to take advantage of that.

Where do you see Impossible Foods going?

I think last year we increased our sales by about threefold. This year, it's very likely to be more than twofold. In order to achieve our mission [to eliminate the need to make food from animals], we have to grow on average about twofold every year for the next 15 years.

More than 90% of the people who ever want impossible burger are current meat eaters. We need to convince them to try [Impossible Burger]. Once we do that, I think we're in.

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BCC to Offer New Certificate Programs This Fall

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Berkshire Community College will be offering two new certificate programs in the 2020-2021 academic year, including Law Enforcement and Mental Health Worker certificates  in addition to the Cannabis Industry certificate, which is now offering a second year cohort model this fall.

The Law Enforcement certificate falls under the Criminal Justice program. The certificate was developed and ratified by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Training and Education Committee as an important step in their goal to have a better educated and more professional workforce in the commonwealth. The certificate combines specialized criminal justice and general education coursework to provide students with knowledge and skills they need to compete for entry in the Massachusetts Law Enforcement field and to promote their abilities for career advancement. The rationale is to provide courses which will enhance competencies in communications (written and oral), interpersonal skill building and understanding of multicultural issues necessary for working with diverse populations, critical thinking, and reasoning in the law enforcement discipline. The 27-credit certificate can be completed in one year over two semesters.

The Mental Health Worker certificate falls under the Human Service program at the college. This new certificate offers classroom and field practicum experience for entry-level work in the behavioral health field. The courses use a variety of interactive learning strategies such as: active classroom exercises emphasizing helping skills and personal reflection; guest speakers with expertise in mental health; media; classroom discussion; experiential group work; and counseling role plays. Students will gain valuable knowledge of mental health that includes: causes of mental illness; assessment, diagnosis, treatment techniques; wellness strategies for human service workers in order to prevent burnout; and community resources for individuals and family members. Students in the MHW certificate will also learn about dually diagnosed (mental health and substance use) clients. Cultural competency, as well as legal and ethical issues, will be emphasized throughout the MHW certificate.

The 27 credit certificate program can be completed in one year over two semesters. A strong feature of the MHW certificate is that it offers stackable credits that will allow students to continue on to an associate degree in social work with a focus on mental health.

For more information about the new certificate programs offered at the college, visit the website.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 29

By Elnur Baghishov  Trend:

As many as 1,905 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, 110 more people have died from the coronavirus over the past day.

Sadat Lari added that the condition of 3,791 people is critical.

The official said that Iran's Tehran, Mazandaran, Gilan, Qom, Isfahan, Razavi Khorasan, East Azerbaijan, Kerman, North Khorasan, Semnan, Yazd, Zanjan, and Qazvin provinces are considered 'red' zones.

So far, more than 3.18 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 371,800 people have been infected, and 21,359 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 319,800 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.
Ukraine Gaming Week will Shine in Autumn

Published August 29, 2020 by Lee R

Smile-Expo will be helping ring in the new era at Ukraine Gaming Week 2020.

With new legislation coming in, Ukraine is hosting the first large scale industry event to usher in the new era with Ukrainian Gaming Week 2020.

The Event

Set for October 6-7 at Kyiv IEC, Ukrainian Gaming Week 2020 will take place at Kyiv IEC's pavilions 4- and 3-.

The Formal Confirmation

This new era formally came into being on August 12, the day after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky signed bill 2285-d into law.

The Offering

UGW 2020 will be a great place to find partners for distributing gambling hardware and software. This year UGW ranges wide with a two-day exhibition; expert conference; open lecture session; UGW Awards; and closed VIP party.

Themes

Themes for the UGW 2020 conference include the legal subtleties of gambling business regulation I the region; familiarisation with legislative restrictions on industry advertising; gambling tourism; responsible gambling; and building a positive image of the gambling industry.

Professionals on-Hand

On-hand to enlighten attendees will be a collection of international gambling experts; Ukrainian lawmakers; and specialist representatives.

After Party

The festivities at inaugural UGW are of note as well, with the UGW 2020 after-party offering a special atmosphere offering a range of leisure networking activities, comfortable and friendly vibe, stretching across to the UGW Awards ceremony as well.

Awards Ceremony

The event will be capped off October 6th with an exclusive closing party hosting VIP ticket owners; exhibitors; sponsors; speakers, and UGW Awards winners.

Open Lecture Series

The floor plan features both an October 7 open lecture session series discussing will reports with functional case studies; presentations of new products; negotiation areas; draws of prizes from exhibitors and sponsors; and a photo area.

Exhibition Floor

This will be complemented by a massive gambling exhibition space of total area 5,000 square meters expecting to host some 100 exhibitors and 3,000 attendees, with new names to include slot machine terminal developer FunGame; poker and casino gaming equipment GameMaster; and indie arcade and video slots developer Green Jade Games.

Outlook

This is obviously going to be the top UGW ever, and should not be missed for its productivity as well as fun in gaining a foothold in a bona fide newly launched market in the intriguing Baltic region.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 28: 12-year-old Yolanda Renee King, the granddaughter of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., thrusts her fist as she speaks to the

Image Source: Getty/ Chip Somodevilla

On Aug. 28, 12-year-old Yolanda Renee King gave a moving speech at the March on Washington on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the same spot where her grandfather Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historic "I Have a Dream" speech exactly 57 years earlier in 1963. "Great challenges produce great generations. We have mastered the selfie and TikTok . . . Now we must master ourselves," King said during her speech. Despite her young age, King has made it a personal priority over the years to put social justice and equality first, using her voice as the descendant of one of America's most influential leaders to encourage positive reform.

"Less than a year before he was assassinated, my grandfather predicted this very moment," she said. "He said that we were moving into a new phase of the struggle. The first phase was for civil rights, and the new phase is a struggle for genuine equality." King continued her speech by stressing the negative influences of climate change, racism, police brutality, and gun violence on society and the urgent need for change.

"My generation has already taken to the streets - peacefully and with masks and social distancing - to protest racism," King continued. "And I want to ask the young people here to join me in pledging that we have only just begun to fight - and that we will be the generation that moves from me to we. We are going to be the generation that dismantles systemic racism once and for all, now and forever. We are going to be the generation that calls a halt to police brutality and gun violence once and for all, now and forever."

This year's March on Washington, which was led by Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III, saw thousands of participants gather in front of the Lincoln Memorial. In addition to King, other speakers included the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, and Jacob Blake, who echoed King's pleas for social justice and racial equality. Watch King's powerful speech here.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday wrote to the Mumbai Police urging it to provide protection to actor Rhea Chakraborty after she claimed that there were threats to her and her familys life.Rhea was questioned by the agency for the second consecutive day in connection with the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput on Saturday, a day the actor was grilled for almost 10 hours.

The Mumbai Police has confirmed that it will offer the actor protection during her journey from her home to the DRDO guest house, where the CBI is questioning her and her brother Showik Chakraborty in connection with the case. On Friday, Rhea went to the Santacruz police station allegedly to seek protection from the Mumbai Police and claimed that she was being hounded and people were trying to forcibly enter the compound of her residence.

ALSO READ | I was not living off Sushant Singh Rajput's money: Rhea Chakraborty

The actor left for questioning only after the arrival of the Mumbai Police at her house. Rhea has been accused by the late actors father K K Singh of abetting his sons suicide and cheating among a host of other charges.Rhea is currently the subject of at least three separate inquiries  by the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-30 01:11:58|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- A total of 48 Syrian soldiers and pro-government fighters have been killed over the past week during battles with the Islamic State (IS) group in eastern Syria, a war monitor said Saturday.

The IS militants carried out attacks, bombings and shelling against government forces in the desert region of the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In addition, 50 pro-government fighters went missing in the desert while combing areas for IS militants, added the Observatory.

In the same period, 22 IS militants were killed by Russian airstrikes and in battles with the Syrian forces, according to the Britain-based watchdog.

After losing key areas across the country, the IS now has a presence in the Syrian desert region in the remote eastern countryside of Homs Province and Deir al-Zour Province. Enditem
A couple of hours from now, as my final action in the extraordinary roller coaster ride of putting together this second last magazine of The WholeNotes 25th season, I will call up our designer and ask her to place the final missing piece of the puzzle, on page five, so we can go to press.

And so began For Openers, David Perlmans column introducing the May-June issue of Torontos indispensable free, monthly (except in the summer) guide to (mostly) classical music.

Perlman is the editor-publisher-co-founder of The WholeNote, a publication whose points of distribution, thanks to the COVID-19 shutdown, plunged in the month of April from 960 to 10.

Rather than reach for a bottle of cyanide, he and his team set about redesigning what was, basically, a publication built around monthly concert listings, roughly 300 to 500 of them, for a time in which concert activity has all but ceased.

Listings in the April issue had already been accompanied by the designation postponed or cancelled and with the resumption of large-scale concerts and operas now likely months away, the magazine needed a new rationale, not to mention a restoration of its distribution outlets.

Recovering those outlets, phone call by phone call, is moving steadily ahead. Within a month more than 140 had signed up and the number keeps growing.

As a controlled circulation magazine this is the way The WholeNote works. Individual businesses agree to take usually 10 or 20 copies and make them available free to their customers.

Paid advertising helps pay the bills (the listings are free), along with a grant from the Ontario Arts Councils publishing program. Perlman nevertheless finds it a constant challenge to keep the wolf from the door.

The magazine has always been about more than listings. Signed record reviews fill its back pages and articles of musical interest occupy the front. Moreover, specialist writers continue to lobby for greater diversity, with Colin Story and Steve Wallace championing jazz and Andrew Timar, world music.

What is different in the July-August issue is the replacement of listings with essays covering specialized subject areas, with Brian Chang, for example, writing about how choirs face the challenge of social distancing and Lydia Perovic interviewing Katherine Carleton, executive director of Orchestras Canada, on how orchestras are coping.

Just as Perlman asserts there was no actual model for his enterprise in the first place, there is obviously none for the age of COVID-19. We are always improvising, he says.

He began improvising back in 1987 when he co-founded the Kensington Market Drum as a neighbourhood newspaper similarly based on controlled circulation, with local merchants paying a small fee to act as its distributors.

It was Allan Pulker, one of the newspapers columnists and now board chairman of The WholeNote, who convinced his South African colleague of the viability of a similarly structured music magazine.

Perlman had arrived from South Africa in 1975 to enter an MA program in English literature at the University of Toronto and it was one of his professors, the near-legendary Northrop Frye, who recommended him for a job in educational publishing, Among his early projects? Editing a Canadian version of the Harcourt College Handbook.

It was his publishing experience rather than add professional musical background that convinced him to subscribe to Pulkers suggestion. The idea clearly had legs.

What the future holds for such publications remains very much in doubt, at least until concert presenters are able to reopen their doors. In the meantime, with its September issue just out, The WholeNote reminds me of a dinner I attended many years ago at which I sat next to the octogenarian and very deaf American composer Virgil Thomson.

Part way through the dinner someone came up to our table and said what a pleasure it was to see the venerable notesmith. Yes, Thomson barked. Everyone expects me to be dead but Im still here.

Correction  Sept. 1, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that incorrectly referred to La Scena Musicale as a wholly independent sister enterprise of The WholeNote. In fact, La Scena Musicale was independently founded in Montreal, and has never been affiliated with The WholeNote and its founders/management. The previous version was also edited to correct the following: The previous version misstated the number of distribution locations that had been reopened at time of publication; Lydia Perovics surname was misspelled; The previous version included the names of past writers, it was edited to include names of the current specialist writers at The WholeNote magazine.
Yosef said the police would not let him through because his crowd was too small, but Brooks did not respond to questions regarding the reason. He told Yosef he had four options for his march: south on the streets of Michigan Avenue until the river, Ontario Street one block north, Ohio Street or north on Michigan Avenues sidewalk only.
KANPUR: Kanpur police on Friday (August 29) busted a betting-gambling racket and arrested 7 people who were allegedly placing bets on NEET-JEE exams but racket's kingpin managed to escape.

According to police, the bettings were also placed on NEET-JEE exams.

"We have busted a betting-gambling racket and arrested 7 people on Friday. We have recovered Rs 38.25 Lakhs cash, 10 mobile phones and register from their repossession. Racket's kingpin managed to escape. It was found that they were also placing bets on NEET-JEE exams -if exams will be held or not," said Superintendent of Kanpur Police (South) Deepak Bhuker while addressing a press conference.

While many opposition leaders are demanding the postponement of exams amid coronavirus-induced situation, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is scheduled to conduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2020 [NEET] on September 13 and Joint Entrance Examination Main [JEE] on September 1-6.

Bhuker further said that the arrested persons were placing bets on the numbers of Sensex and other markets.

"They used to place bets on the last two digits of closing and opening of the market. Racket`s kingpin Santosh Soni managed to escape. He used to run the racket through WhatsApp. They were into this for the past 4 years. We are also checking their call detail record (CDR) for further investigation," he added.
By PTI

PANAJI: Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik, who is undergoing treatment for COVID-19, is recovering steadily with "stable vitals and good respiratory efforts", a senior Goa health official said on Saturday.

Naik was admitted to a private hospital near here on August 12 after he tested positive for the infection.

"Naik is having a steady recovery with stable vitals and good respiratory efforts. The RT-PCR test conducted on him on August 28 came out positive, detecting COVID-19 virus in his body," the health department official said.

The test will be conducted once again after 48 hours, he added.

"Overall, Naik is making a very good progress," the official said.

Earlier this week, a team of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Armed Force's Command Hospital visited Goa to examine Naik and to check the requirement of shifting him to Delhi.

The team had expressed satisfaction over the treatment being given to the Union minister at the private hospital.
Between March and June, coronavirus became the leading cause of death in male care home residents in England and Wales, and the second leading cause of death in female residents. Since March, there have been at least 30,000 excess deaths in care homes due to the coronavirus, impacting thousands of families up and down the country.

Our care homes were effectively thrown to the wolves, concluded Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, which published a damning report on 29 July. It ruled that government policy to clear NHS hospital beds, which meant patients were discharged to care homes until mid-April without ever having a Covid-test, had been an appalling error.

Not only were visitors allowed to visit care homes till 2 April (after lockdown), but it wasnt until 15 April that the Department of Health began Covid-testing all residents before re-admitting them from hospital to care homes. Prior to that, there had been no requirement to do so. This led to care homes feeling pressured to take residents back with no knowledge of whether they were now carrying the virus. Approximately 25,000 people were discharged with no test.

Cathy Gardners father was in one of those homes.

On Thursday 2 April, a week after lockdown began, Dr Cathy Gardner drove the 161 miles from her home in Sidmouth, Devon, to see her father in an Oxfordshire care home just before he died. Because of Covid-19, Gardner was not allowed inside and instead was taken to the back of the building to watch her sleeping dad, Michael Gibson, through a ground-floor window. He didnt know she was there in the dark. He died the next day.

The GP who treated the 88-year-old told Gardner that her father was killed by coronavirus, which was likely brought into the home by another resident discharged from hospital. So despite Gibson never leaving the home himself, he became a sitting duck. But without a test to prove he had the virus (there were no widely available tests in care homes till 16 April, 13 days after his death), the death certificate could only record probable Covid.

Gardner, who has a PhD in virology, was angry; she hadnt seen her father - who had advanced dementia - since February and she had believed he would be kept safe in a care home setting (on 16 May, health secretary Matt Hancock said a protective ring had been thrown around care homes since the start). To make matters worse she also felt guilty for travelling to see him during lockdown in his last hours of life when (it would later emerge) Dominic Cummings had been in Durham.

I was shocked and hadnt even occurred to me he would be at risk, he was in a home and should have been safe

Michael Gibson was born in 1931. A child during the Second World War he went on to a career as a superintendent registrar of birth marriages and deaths. He was a very meticulous person, because doing that kind of job is all about accurate records, Gardner tells The Independent. During his working life he registered thousands of events. His own marriage lasted 65 years. He raised his family in Northamptonshire and took an interest in aviation history, even writing a book on planes. Later he developed dementia and was moved to Cherwood House in late 2019.

Although his dementia was advanced, Gardner says he still recognised me, I could see the love in his eyes, that love between a father and daughter. [His death] was heartbreaking, its not how I imagined his last days. I could not hold his hand and give him a smile near the end. I knew that losing my father would be tough, losing him in these circumstances is truly devastating.

It hadnt even occurred to me that my father would be at risk of Covid-19, he was meant to be safe there. Of course Gibson was not the only one to die in a home. But, unlike the thousands of other families, Gardner has taken action against the government in a bid to get answers.

In was in late January when the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) held its first meeting about the Covid-19 threat to the UK, the day before the Wuhan lockdown. It was decided by members, including Patrick Vallance and Chris Witty, that NHS facilities need only consider how they might respond to potential cases if the virus were to arrive on UK shores.

At a meeting just 18 days later, the group concluded there was now a realistic probability that there was already sustained transmission in the UK or that there would be soon (analysis by the University of Nottingham released on 25 August now suggests the first positive Covid test was on 21 February). Despite this by the end of February, Public Health England still said it was very unlikely that anyone receiving care in a care home, would become infected. The first death of a care home resident in England from Covid-19 came days later on 6 March.

Even after residents started contracting, and dying from, Covid-19, visitors were still permitted in care homes. For anyone feeling unwell or recently returned from abroad, it was up to individual discretion.

On 13 March the government said no one who believed they had the virus should be visiting a home, but continued to let friends and family visit, actively encouraging homes to consider the positive impact of seeing these people. Boris Johnson did allude to not making unnecessary visits on 16 March, but when Reuters questioned number 10, it was told he was referring to the 13 March advice, not stricter rules.

I believe that many of these deaths could have been avoided. Rather than protect them the government made their care homes a death trap

By this point Gardners father, Michael Gibson, was already unwell. The GP told her the suspected Covid-19 diagnosis over the phone. I was shocked and hadnt even occurred to me he would be at risk, he was in a home and should have been safe, Gardner explains. Over the next three weeks he deteriorated and died on 3 April.

Ironically on the final day before Gibsons death, 2 April, the Department of Health finally revised its visitor policy, saying: Family and friends should be advised not to visit care homes, except next of kin in exceptional situations such as end of life. But as the nationwide lockdown was already in place, many were not travelling anyway.

Gardner has now begun legal action against the government. Her case hinges on the accusation that the government treatment of care homes was unlawful because it exposed residents to serious harm. Legally the state is required to protect citizens and Gardners lawyers say government policy breached this legal duty to residents and workers in the advice and guidance it gave, particularly that it allowed patients back into homes without testing.

She is incensed by the hospital discharge policy which she says made care homes a death trap. Because of my virology background I have an understanding of spread, and I know you cannot bring someone with an infection like that into a care home, says Gardner. If hospitals cannot control spread, a care home is never going to be able to. It seemed there was not one iota of thought about that. (On 13 March PHE still said no PPE is required above and beyond normal good hygiene practices if neither the care worker or resident was showing symptoms).

At the same time they were telling the rest of us to lockdown, they were discharging these people into care homes. That struck me as insane, negligent, irresponsible. How on earth can that be right? says Gardner. It was so essential to protect the NHS and clear beds that they didnt care about what happened.

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On 2 June Gardners team served a pre-action letter to Matt Hancock, NHS England and Public Health England, demanding they admit the policies were unlawful and requesting Hancocks protective ring claim be retracted. But after an inadequate response, and no acceptance of wrongdoing, Gardner filed for a judicial review at the High Court. A judicial review is when a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision made by a public body. It is not about whether the decision was right or wrong but whether the right procedures were followed.

The DHSC told The Independent that it was unable to comment on potential or ongoing legal action (but it is worth noting the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report, said: The department says that it took rational decisions based on the information it had at the time, but acknowledges that it would not necessarily do the same thing again.)

I remain outraged that [its] dithering, incompetence and outright failure to lead has caused the premature death of my father and thousands of other vulnerable care home residents...

On 14 August Gardner published a statement detailing the government response to her case, which again denied wrongdoing. Its defence relies on four main points: that it is wrong in principle to consider the full scope of its failings in respect of care homes, that Gardner is not allowed to challenge policies because they were introduced after her fathers death, that she has not brought the claim soon enough (just over three months since his death), and that much of her claim is academic because the policies being critiqued have now been withdrawn.

Amazingly, the governments focus has been to try to knock out my claim on procedural grounds rather than to provide a full and transparent explanation for its handling of the crisis, says Gardner. I remain outraged that [its] dithering, incompetence and outright failure to lead has caused the premature death of my father and thousands of other vulnerable care home residents. I will continue to fight for justice for him, and for them, for as a long as I can.

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It is not known, and likely never will be, how many discharged hospital patients were carrying Covid and were responsible for care home outbreaks (between 9 March and 17 May, around 5,900 homes in England reported an outbreak). Gardner still wants answers: I am doing this on the behalf of other people who cannot. Somebody has to hold the government to account.

On 6 May Mr Johnson conceded there is an epidemic going on in care homes, which I bitterly regret but he tried to push the blame onto care homes, saying: We discovered too many didnt really follow the procedures. A statement he later clarified but did not apologise for. Instead he doubled down, claiming asymptomatic transmission was not known about early on. This has also been refuted by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, which found: It was already becoming clear in late March, and certainly from the beginning of April, that the Covid-19 infection had an asymptomatic phase, when people could be infectious.

Despite the acceptance of much fault by the committee, senior government leaders remain steadfast. On 22 July, for the first time in months, Matt Hancock, permitted care homes in England to reopen their doors, telling visitors to exercise caution and not undo all the hard work done during the pandemic. It might be the end of lockdown, but for Gardner and thousands of families supporting her case, the real battle is only just beginning.
The father of the first service member killed in combat during President Donald Trump's administration denounced him in a political ad that aired ahead of Trump's closing address at the Republican National Convention.

William Owens, father of fallen Senior Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens, reiterated his belief that Trump is to blame for his son's death.

"Just five days into his presidency, Trump ordered Ryan Owens' SEAL team into Yemen, not in the situation room with all the intelligence assembled, but sitting across a dinner table from Steve Bannon," Owens said in the ad, which is funded by the left-leaning veterans' group VoteVets.

Washington Post was among the outlets first reporting on the ad.

Read Next: SecDef Throws Support Behind Medal of Honor for Fallen Hero Alwyn Cashe

The U.S. troops authorized personally by President Trump launched wide-ranging airstrikes on the Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) terror group in Yakla, Yemen, on March 2, 2017, where the 36-year-old SEAL was killed. The raid resulted in the deaths of at least 14 civilians and at least 16 militants, but Owens was the only American fatality.

"There was no vital interest at play, just Donald Trump playing big man going to war," Owens said.

The White House and Pentagon have called the mission a success despite Owens' death. However, the operation drew scrutiny at that time, including a routine review, a "civilian casualty credibility assessment" and an investigation into the destroyed MV-22 Osprey aircraft. Officials said the U.S. didn't gather significant intelligence on AQAP's activities and planned operations from this raid.

"When you lose a 75-million-dollar airplane and more importantly American life is lost and wounded, I don't believe that you can call it 'a success'," the late Sen. John McCain said at the time, in a quote cited in the ad.

Owens also referred to Trump's 2017 Station of Union address about his son's death, where Trump honored Ryan Owens' widow, Carryn Owens.

"Donald Trump demeaned my son's sacrifice to play to the crowd," he said.

Carryn Owens, widow of Navy SEAL William "Ryan" Owens, is applauded on Capitol Hill, Feb. 28, 2017, as she was acknowledged by President Donald Trump during his address to a joint session of Congress. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The SEAL's father also extended his criticism to more recent actions by the president.

"For nearly four years, Trump has assailed our country's core values," Owens said, referring to law enforcement personnel expelling protesters from Lafayette Square by the White House to make way for a Trump photo-op in May, and the assault of a Navy veteran by federal officers in Portland, Oregon in July.

Owens also criticized Trump's muted response to media reports that Russia placed bounties on U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 181,000 in the U.S.

"Two hundred thousand Americans will have died before we vote," Owens said. "They and Ryan have one thing in common: It didn't have to be but for Donald Trump ... Don't trust Donald Trump with your kid's life, or your own."

While few family members of fallen troops have been as outspoken as Owens, Trump has been publicly criticized by other Gold Star families during his time in office. Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Army Sgt. La David Johnson, killed in Niger with 3 other soldiers in October 2017, publicly expressed anger after receiving a condolence call from Trump in which she said he struggled to remember her husbands name.

But Joe Kent, a retired Army Special Forces chief warrant officer and the widower of Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent, who was killed in Syria in 2019, has expressed support for Trump, particularly praising his efforts to pull troops out of that country.

-- Bing Xiao can be reached at bingxiao2020@u.northwestern.edu.

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Spike Lee is looking back on his experience directing Chadwick Boseman in Da 5 Bloods, remembering the late actor for his powerful performance and dedication to his role.

During his annual Brooklyn  MJ block party for Michael Jackson's birthday on Saturday, Lee paid tribute to Boseman, who died Friday at 43 after a years-long battle with colon cancer.

Lee began the virtual listening party explaining that he was "floored by the crushing news" of Boseman's death.

After dedicating Jackson's song "Gone Too Soon" to Boseman, Lee reflected on his time working with the late star, who played squad leader Stormin' Norman in the Vietnam War film released earlier this year.

"We filmed Da 5 Bloods in Thailand, and it was hot, jungles, mountains, and Chadwick was there with us all the way. I never, ever suspected that anything was wrong. No one knew he was going through treatment, chemotherapy," Lee began.

He went on to call Boseman a "trooper" and someone who "never complained," adding, "He was there every single minute in the moment. And his performance is a testament to what he put into that role, and all his roles. We miss you, Chadwick, were going to celebrate your life."

The Oscar-winning director also shared several Instagram posts in honor of Boseman and his work on Da 5 Bloods, which ended up being one of the actor's final works.

RELATED: Spike Lee Drops Trailer for His Vietnam War Netflix Movie Da 5 Bloods: 'We Ain't Playin''

In one video post, Boseman  who appears in flashbacks throughout the film  is seen singing Marvin Gaye's "God Is Love," a scene that never made it into the movie.

"That scene got me when we were shooting it. Watching that again this morning just tore me up," Lee said of the clip during the virtual party.

"GOD IS LOE. LOE IS CHADWICK.," he captioned the Instagram.

Story continues

Lee also included a powerful scene from the movie when Boseman's character offers forgiveness to Vietnam veteran Paul, played by Delroy Lindo.

Lee later posted two stills of Boseman from the Netflix film. "Stormin Norman In That Heavenly Light. MR. CHADWICK BOSEMAN.," Lee captioned one of the moving photos.

RELATED: Jamie Foxx, Kamala Harris and More Stars Pay Tribute to Chadwick Boseman: 'What an Immense Talent'

Boseman was extremely private about his personal life, keeping his 2016 cancer diagnosis a secret until his death.

Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV, his family wrote in their statement on social media Friday.

A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much, the statement continued. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilsons Ma Raineys Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. 

"He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side," the post concluded. "The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time."
Hyderabad, Aug 30 : The death toll due to Covid-19 in Telangana crossed the 800-mark on Saturday with nine more people succumbing to the virus in the last 24 hours.

The state also reported 2,751 new Covid cases during the same period to take the overall tally to 1,20,166.

The fresh fatalities pushed the death toll to 808. Health officials said the casualty rate of the state has dropped to 0.67 per cent against the national average of 1.81 per cent. Out of the total fatalities, 53.87 per cent had comorbidities.

In terms of number of cases and death toll, Telangana stands at ninth and 12th position, respectively.

Ramping up the number of tests further, the authorities tested 62,300 samples during the last 24 hours ending 8 p.m. on Friday. This is the highest number of tests conducted in a single day so far. The results of 1010 samples are awaited.

During the last six days, over 3.70 lakh tests were conducted. This has taken the overall number of tests to 12,66,643.

According to a media bulletin issued by the office of the Director of Public Health and Family Welfare, a total of 16 government and 31 private laboratories are conducting RT-PCR/CBNAAT/TRUENAT tests while there are 1076 rapid antigen test centres.

However, unlike some other states, the authorities in Telangana are not providing break-up of the type of tests conducted.

The number of cases in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) declined to 432 from 520 the previous day. The numbers also came down in Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts which reported 185 and 128 cases, respectively. Sangareddy, another district bordering the state capital, recorded 42 new cases.

Outside GHMC and surrounding districts, Karimnagar was the worst affected district with 192 new cases followed by Nalgonda (147), Khammam (132), Nizamabad (113), Suryapet (111), Peddapalli (97), Siddipet (96), Jagtiyal (88) and Mancherial (86).

During the last 24 hours, 1,675 people recovered from Covid, taking the total number of recoveries to 89,350. The state's recovery rate stands at 74.3 per cent against the national average of 76.4 per cent.

The number of active cases in the state stands at 30,008.

Age-wise Covid positive details show that 65.3 per cent of those who tested positive are in the age group of 21-50 years.

Terming this as a susceptible age group, the authorities have urged them not to go out unless absolutely necessary. They have been advised to strictly exercise precautions like wearing face masks and maintaining physical distancing.

Among Covid positive cases, 24.71 per cent are above 51 years of age and about 10 per cent are aged below 20 years.

Officials said that 64.41 per cent of those who have tested positive are male while the remaining 35.59 per cent are female.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A footy fan who invited his two friends over for drinks and to watch a game is the latest to be slapped with a fine after breaching Victoria's COVID-19 restrictions.

Two men and a woman were found at a home in Boroondara in Melbourne's eastern suburbs on Friday.

The host desperately tried to hide his guests by making them escape from the backyard and over the fence, but police found one of the men hiding behind the bushes.

Another man was found a long 300km away from his home at Shoreham beach, after travelling from the rural town of Wedderburn.

Victoria Police members wear face masks as they wander the streets of Melbourne during restrictions (pictured on August 24)

Police speak to a man wearing a mask on Chapel Street in Melbourne on August 24 (pictured) during Stage Four lockdown

Later on Friday, two men were found in a car in Greater Dandenong telling police they were out for their one hour permitted exercise - but were 20km from their homes.

Several people were busted making late night runs for cigarettes and alcohol, despite a strict 8pm curfew being in place.

195 people who was fined $1,652 for breaching Victoria's strict COVID-19 lockdown in the past 24 hours.

Under the rules, people can only leave home for essential reasons - and cannot travel from than 5kms away.

Of those who were fined 27 failed to wear a face mask when leaving their home for one of the four exemptions, 13 people at vehicle checkpoints and 66 for curfew breaches, Victoria Police said.

Police presence is seen in Dandenong following a protest of people complaining on the current Stage Four lockdown (pictured on Thursday)

Police stop and question a man walking along the Dandenong Creek on Thursday evening (pictured)

Police also investigated an illegal gather at Dandenong in Melbourne's south east on Friday, which has seen some uprising from locals against the restrictions.

A 64-year-old Dandenong man who failed to give his name and address to police was arrested for breaching the Chief Health Officer directions.

He was later released after providing identification and issued with a $1,652 penalty notice.

A protest organiser, a 48-year-old Dandenong man, was arrested at a residential address in Dandenong for breaching the Chief Health Officers directions.

He was charged with contravene bail conditions and breach Chief Health Officer directions and was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on August 29.

Police patrolled the streets along a strip in Dandenong (pictured on Thursday) that has seen people arrested over the past few days

Earlier this week, disgruntled Melburnians continued to taunt police by deliberately going on walks at the same time.

Dozens of people, including women, children and families, can be seen thumbing their noses at Stage Four lockdown laws in Dandenong in video posted to social media on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, police issued $15,000 in fines and arrested four men during a wild afternoon clash at Dandenong - amid fears the nightly walks could soon escalate into full scale riots.

Tensions in Dandenong have been flaring for days as residents continue to fight against the restrictions and curfew.

A man is taken down by police in Dandenong on Wednesday evening after going for a group walk (pictured)

Residents are required to stick to an 8pm to 5am curfew, only allowed to travel 5km from home and limited to exercising outdoors for an hour.

Victorians in Stage 4 restrictions are only allowed to leave their homes for food, work or study, exercise or compassionate reasons.

They are required to wear a mask anytime they leave the house, unless an exception applies, and are encouraged to get tested, even with the mildest symptoms.

Victoria recorded 94 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, the lowest daily totals since July 5, when just 74 new cases were recorded.

A further 18 deaths were also unfortunately reported.

The number of COVID-19 cases has slowly been dropping in the state over the past week.

People in Dandenong are all walking at the same time, which has gained the attention of the law

Most of the people walking in Dandenong appear to be wearing masks

But Premier Daniel Andrews remains adamant it is too soon to dramatically relax the rules.

'The notion we would go from stage four to stage two or stage one, all those businesses would be open like a normal second half of the year, normal spring, we're not going to be able to do that,' he said.

'It will have to be gradual and steady because we've all got to be really careful to make sure nothing we do makes it more likely that we find ourselves back here at exactly this place.

'We want to defeat the second wave and properly. That means we can avoid a third wave.'

Premier Daniel Andrews remains adamant it is too soon to dramatically relax the rules, despite the state recording its first time the infection numbers have been below 100 in months. Pictured: Victoria's COVID-19 infections since June

Mr Andrews (pictured) plans to extend Victoria's State of Emergency to 18 months in September, giving the government the power to impose further lockdown restrictions

Mr Andrews plans to extend Victoria's State of Emergency to 18 months in September, giving the government the power to impose further lockdown restrictions.

Amendments are being made to change it, despite the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 only allowing a State of Emergency to operate for six months.

'It is not an unlimited extension, it is nothing more than a recognition that this virus won't be over on September 30,' the premier said on Monday, August 24.

'I would love nothing more for there to be no need for any rules on September 14, but I don't think that is the reality.'
A haulier has pleaded guilty to his part in the deaths of 39 migrants in a trailer on the back of a lorry.

The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were found on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex, shortly after the lorry arrived in Purfleet on a ferry in the early hours of last October 23.

Among the men, women and children were 10 teenagers, two of them 15-year-old boys.

An inquest heard their medical cause of death was asphyxia and hyperthermia - a lack of oxygen and overheating - in an enclosed space.

Ronan Hughes (40), from Co Armagh, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey in London yesterday to 39 counts of manslaughter.

He also admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration between May 1, 2018 and October 24 last year.

It was alleged he played a leading role in the operation, with his trailers and drivers used to transport migrants.

Extradited

Hughes appeared in the dock alongside Eamonn Harrison (23), of Mayobridge, Co Down, who is alleged to have driven the lorry trailer to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before it sailed on the ferry to England.

Mr Harrison pleaded not guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

He and Hughes appeared in court after being extradited from Ireland last month.

On April 8, lorry driver Maurice Robinson (25), of Craigavon, Co Armagh, who found the bodies after transporting the container from Purfleet to Grays, pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter.

He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration of non-EU citizens between May 1, 2018 and October 24 last year and acquiring criminal property, but denied a further charge of transferring criminal property.

In June, Romanian Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga (28), of Essex, admitted one count of conspiring to assist unlawful immigration between May 2018 and last October.

During the hearing yesterday, Gazmir Nuzi (42), of London, appeared by video link and pleaded guilty to a single charge of assisting unlawful immigration on or before October 11 last year and last April 18.

Mr Harrison faces trial in October with three others.

Gheorghe Nica (43), of Essex, has denied 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Valentin Calota (37), of Birmingham, and Christopher Kennedy (23), of Co Armagh, have denied being part of a people-smuggling conspiracy.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 29



By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:

Given the close economic ties that Turkmenistan has with its region, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) expects a similar level of investment in the country as in the region, Chief of UNCTAD Astrit Sulstarova told Trend.

There is no information available for the amount of planned investment in Turkmenistan for this year, Sulstarova noted adding that uncertainties about forecasting are huge this year. However, UNCTAD expects decline in the foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows of transition economies.

Talking about Turkmenistans FDI last year, Sulstarova said: "UNCTAD estimated the year 2019 FDI inflows of Turkmenistan at $2.1 billion, which is 9 percent more than in 2018 ($1.9 billion)."

There is no detailed report about the sectoral breakdown of FDI inflows. Individual FDI projects target mostly natural gas, and to a lesser degree, textile and food production, telecommunications and financial services, he added.

As reported, Turkmenistan is interested in attracting investments. The investment policy carried out by Turkmenistan creates new work places and allows to improve the living conditions of Turkmenistans citizens.

The main form of foreign investment in Turkmenistan is direct investment. Foreign direct investments can improve technical level of enterprises, increase the competitiveness of products and allow manufacturers to enter international markets.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva
Theres nothing like a bag full of hot fries straight out of the fryer from your favorite fast-food restaurant.

And, everyone  whether it is the iconic McDonalds fries or those awesome Chick-fil-A waffle fries  has a favorite. But who is the king of fast-food fries in Pennsylvania?

What restaurant has the most loyal fry followers?

Well, the King is king, of course. Thats right, Burger King tops the favorite fast-food fry list in the Keystone State, according to the folks over at Spruce.

Its worth noting here that Spruce isnt a fast-food website. Its a CBD website, and theres probably a couple of good jokes about a CBD website coming up with a list of each states fast-food fry king. But they apparently had some time on their hands to do this, because they got pretty in-depth in trying to figure out which fry folks in each state loved most.

How did they do it?

According to the site, it looked at Google Trends to analyze the popularity of 24 different fast food chains fries.

And, while McDonalds was the favorite across the region and even the country  McDonalds was the favorite in 16 states  Burger King won the Keystone State.

Spruce didnt stop there, though.

It also used Google Trends to investigate the types of fries that folks in each state preferred. And there was a bit of a quirk there. The waffle fry came out atop the list, but Chick-fil-A , the fast-food joint most famous for its waffle fries, was only the most searched fry in one state  Florida.

Cheese fries finished second to waffle fries followed by curly fries. But none of those were atop the board for Pennsylvania. Per Spruce, Pennsylvanias favorite there is shoestring fries.
After more than five months in hibernation, the museums of New York are slowly starting to reopen, reawakening part of the cultural life of the city.

On Saturday, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will greet the general public after members were allowed back on Thursday. The Museum of Modern Art just opened this week, the Whitney Museum of American Art will reopen next week and the Guggenheim plans to return in October.

Its important psychologically and spiritually for the people of New York City, said Tom Finkelpearl, the citys former cultural affairs commissioner. When theres turmoil, thats the time when you want to go to a museum, to have that moment of connection with a work of art.

With practically no tourists, who usually make up the lions share of visitors, and government restrictions on capacity, the impact of museum reopenings will be more symbolic than economic, Finkelpearl said. The fixed costs will remain the same, while the revenue will plunge, he said.

Countless exhibitions in galleries and museum have been canceled or postponed. The Met alone has already cut 400 jobs and expects to lose $150 million in revenue due to the pandemic. The picture is even bleaker in the performing arts: Broadway theaters, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall plan to stay dark until at least next year.

Even at 25% of its capacity, the Met, with 2.2 million square feet of exhibition space, can accommodate as many as 2,000 people every hour, said Laurel Britton, senior vice president for revenue and operations. That number is likely hypothetical. The museum doesnt expect to have more than 4,000 visitors a day, she said. Theres a silver lining: no crowds.

I think it will increase your enjoyment of the experience, Britton said. We are going to be a hyper local museum.

For the visitors who do come, the experience will be different. At the Met, new procedures will include temperature checks outside on the plaza, timed tickets and mandatory masks. Smaller galleries and coat checks will be closed, water fountains shut down. Open seven days a week prior to the pandemic, the museum will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Some of the Mets exhibitions had only been on display for a few days before the pandemic prompted lockdowns.

Photographys Last Century, an exhibition of the collection of museum trustee Ann Tenenbaum, had opened just a few days before the closures in March. Its a display of more than 60 photographs, spanning the 20th century, by Walker Evans, Man Ray, Cindy Sherman and others. The works will enter the museum collection as part of the promised gift from her and her husband Thomas H. Lee, chairman of Lee Equity Partners.

The reopening will be bittersweet for Tenenbaum. Like many other New Yorkers, she lost relatives to Covid-19: her parents. They had traveled from Savannah, Georgia, for the March 9 exhibition opening, and they were proud of their daughters collection. It isnt clear where they contracted the coronavirus, but it could have been at a dinner with friends the night before the opening, Tenenbaum said. Several other diners also became sick.

We did have two amazing weeks with them before they died, she said. That was a gift. They loved New York so much.

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

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Actor Kangana Ranaut has opened up about an alleged Bollywood drug nexus, claiming how she also experienced it at the hands of a man she referred to as a character actor. She said this person entered her life as a self-appointed mentor while she was trying to enter the film industry and later assumed the role of a self appointed husband.

Speaking to Republic TV, the actor said she left Manali, aged only 16, and won a competition in Chandigarh. The agency then sent her to Mumbai. After her initial few days in a hostel, she started to live with an aunty in the city. It was during this time period that this character actor befriended her, promising to help her with finding work in Bollywood. He also impressed the woman she was living with and soon become her self appointed mentor, and the three started living together.

ALSO WATCH | Alleged Rhea drug link: Sushants familys lawyer says case getting serious

However, things changed after a while. Kangana was quoted as saying, He fought with the aunty and asked her to leave. But he kept my belongings in the home and locked me. And whatever I would do, his staff would straightaway give updates to him. It felt almost like a house arrest.

He took me to parties and once I felt an intoxication, that led to intimacy between us. Then I realised that it was not done willingly, but my drink had been spiked. And after that incident, within a week, he became my self-appointed husband. And if I tell him, you are not my boyfriend, hed charge at me with slippers to hit me, she went on.

She then recounted how this person would take her to meetings with people from Dubai. She said he would make her sit amid elderly men and leave the meeting himself. They would take her number. I started fearing that they would supply me to Dubai.

Kangana mentioned how this person was shocked when she got her break in films. Kanganas first film was Gangster in 2006. She mentioned how the development upset him. When I got the break, he was agitated. He started telling me after drinking that he never expected that I will get a break so soon. After that he started sedating me with injections, so that I am not able to go to shoots. I told my director Anurag Basu about it. If he would hit me and Id have bruises, Anurag would make me stay at his office for many nights, to protect me.

The report also states she told the anchor of the show that it was likely that Sushant was drugged to break his mind or to create a controversy around his murder. She said that Sushant did not come from a family that would consume hard drugs like LSD and claimed Rhea might have arranged marijuana, legal in some countries, from abroad for Sushant.

Also read: Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman dies of colon cancer at 43

After more than two months post the death of Sushant, a new drug angle has been introduced into the case. Narcotics Control Bureau has begun a probe. Previously, after a Supreme Counrt verdict, the Central Bureau of Investigation has begun investigating the death case. In a different investigation, the Enforcement Directorate too began looking for a possible financial irregularity angle.

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Before COVID-19 arrived on our shores, 60 WWII veterans had hoped to make a pilgrimage to Hawaii to celebrate the anniversary in person. Today, veteran travel to Hawaii is no longer possible given safety regulations and quarantine requirements. The 75th World War II Commemoration Committee is facilitating virtual participation for all veterans.

The 75th WWII Commemoration Committee is now faced with the unique challenge of raising over $100,000 to support high quality digital streaming of the September 2 commemoration on the deck of the USS Missouri and the Aerial of Peace historic flyover of 14 WWII aircraft. As a committee of nonprofit organizations struggling to keep their doors open as they face the impact of COVID-19, the committee is challenged now more than ever to cover these unanticipated costs to ensure every veteran is able to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience, honoring their personal service and sacrifice.

One hundred percent of funds raised will be used to support the digital streaming of the 75th Commemoration of the End of World War II events, ensuring veterans and their families can participate safely from home.

To donate, visit www.tinyurl.com/TakeCareOfOurWWIIVets.

To view all of the events happening in Hawaii for the 75th World War II Commemoration, visit: www.75thwwiicommemoration.org/victory-in-the-pacific/hawaii-events.

About Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is located on Historic Ford Island, where bombs fell during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Walk the Pearl Harbor battlefield where the attack began, enter the bullet-scarred hangars, and see the control tower and aircraft of the battle, including a Japanese Zero and the B-17 Swamp Ghost. Hear the stories of World War II heroes and their response to the attack that changed our nation and world. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum's mission is to steward American's first aviation battlefield of World War II. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that depends on membership, volunteers, and donations for support. To join, volunteer or support, visit www.PearlHarborAviationMuseum.org. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is a member of the 75th Commemoration of the End of World War II Committee, sharing the stories of the Greatest Generation and commemorating 75 years of global peace and friendship.

SOURCE Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

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Coordinated police raids launched after data analysis lead to arrests of suspected underworld members By Damith Wickremasekara View(s): View(s):

In a string of coordinated raids, police have arrested several associates of underworld gang lords, including gunmen involved in shooting incidents, and detected large quantities of drugs, a senior police officer said.

Deputy Inspector General Priyantha Jayakody, who is in charge of the Crimes Record Division, said the raids were launched simultaneously to track down shooters and drug traffickers.

The raids came after a thorough analysis of criminal activities of notorious underworld figures.

The DIG said that by creating separate databases, the western and southern police divisions were able to establish the connection between drug lords and gunmen and study the movements of organised criminal groups, the DIG said.

He added that the initiative had been taken under the direction of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne and Acting Inspector General C.D Wickrameratne.

Once we studied the structures of the organised crime groups and their movements, we learned that there are drug traffickers operating locally and internationally, he said.

DIG Jayakody said they had identified 19 big-time drug traffickers who were directing operations from foreign countries to send narcotics drugs to Sri Lanka.

He said the police had sent Interpol red notices to foreign countries, urging them that the suspects be deported to Sri Lanka.

In addition, the police, by analysing data, were able to zero in on 18 professional gunmen who worked hand in glove with the notorious drug lords. One of the objectives of the simultaneous raids were to track them down.

The DIG said that with the police launching operations against underworld criminals, there had been a decline in shooting incidents since June 16 this year.

The operations this week led to the detection of 50 kilograms of heroin and the recovery of ten illegal firearms.

One of the most recent detections was made on Friday morning. Colombo Crimes Division(CCD) officers said they carried out a raid in Orugodawatte and arrested a suspect who was transporting more than three kg of heroin in a car. The operation was launched following a tipoff. The detectives also recovered Rs. 600,000 in cash, blank cheques and two visa cards.

The suspect is being detained and interrogated by the CCD after it obtained a detention order from the Maligakanda Magistrates court.

In another incident early this week, the CCD arrested four suspects at the Colombo airports departure terminal before they left abroad. The suspects were detained and questioned under a detention order.

Police say information provided by one of the suspects police enabled them to detect 42 grams of heroin, three T-56 assault rifles, five magazines, one pistol and 170 rounds of live ammunition from a house at Mulleriyawa in Angoda.

One of the suspects is Ranasinghe Arachchige Ishara Lakmal, a resident of Sedawatta Wellampitiya. He is widely believed to be the person who smuggled Kerala Ganja to Sri Lanka. Another suspect identified as Gamage Saranga Pradeep, a resident of Rock House Lane in Modara maintained close connections with underworld groups and local and foreign drug traffickers.

Others who were arrested in recent raids were identified as Kathaluwa Liyanage Buddika, a henchman of drug lord Angoda Lokka. He had Rs. 2.9 million in his possession at the time of arrest. Nabin Mohomad Subir, a resident of Wellampitiya, is another suspect now in police custody. He was identified as another henchman of Angoda Lokka and is a suspect in the Hanwella Peoples Bank robbery.

The police said they were conducting further investigation.

In another breakthrough reported from Hinbunna area in Tangalle on Wednesday, a suspected underworld member was arrested with a T-56 firearm and a magazine consisting of 30 live bullets.

The Tangalle crimes division said the suspect was taken to the Weerakatiya Police station, where police upon interrogation found there were 25 court cases against him, mostly for burglary. He also had 11 warrants against them.

Meanwhile, the Deniyaya police have arrested a suspect the day he manufactured a gun. Also in the same area, the police raided a house of an army sergeant on Wednesday and recovered a T -56 firearm, a magazine comprising 30 bullets, three army kits and a sword.

Suspected underworld gunmen die after police shooting Two gang members who worked as gunmen for drug traffickers were shot dead by police in separate incidents, when they tried to attack police officers. The most recent incident took place on Friday at Nawagamuwa, near Kaduwela. The Police said the incident took place around 11 pm on Friday when the suspect identified as Indunil Wajira alias Indra was being brought back to Colombo after he led police officers to a place where he had hidden weapons. The officers found a 12 bore bun, a one locally manufactured gun, a grenade and some live bullets. Police said that during the return journey, the suspect pounced on the police vehicle driver and tried to strangle him using his handcuffs. The police said the vehicle went out of control as a result and hit a tree by the side of the river at Nawagamuwa. One of the police officers then shot the suspect while trying to overpower the suspect. The other incident took place two weeks ago in Malabe. Police said this happened when a notorious gunman who worked for Angoda Lokka was being taken out to a place in Malabe to show the detectives where he had hidden his weapons. Police claimed that they were forced to shoot the suspect identified as Asitha Hemathilake when he tried to throw a grenade at the police while they were collecting the weapons.
This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many families are scrambling to make tough decisions about returning back to school. The sense of uncertainty has some parents trading the once normal back-to-school routines for setting up learning spaces at home to better accommodate virtual learning, while others are focused on purchasing masks, portable hand sanitizers and face shields to increase their childs safety at school. Nearly every parent is feeling anxious and unsettled about how to manage the new set of circumstances that school in the midst of a pandemic brings.

One thing is certain; life is full of uncontrollables. Some things, no matter how hard we try, will never be ours to control. Things such as the weather, what time the bank closes, falling ill or how someone else feels, are experiences that we must learn to accept as they are. Trying to impose our will over situations and events out of our control does not affect the outcome, it only creates undue suffering. In contrast, life is also full of many things within our control. How we spend our time, where we choose to direct our efforts, with whom we choose to surround ourselves, what behaviors we engage in, are all within our control.

It is human nature, part of our protective, survival instincts, to try to control situations that are uncomfortable. It is not as common to simply focus on ourselves and what we already have at our resource.

Having a sense of agency, an internal sense of control over ourselves and our actions, increases our ability to regulate thoughts, emotions, and be aware of the choices before us. A sense of agency increases our calm and allows our bodies and minds to regulate and be available to learn. Just as our return to traditions, rituals or routines brings a sense of security, routinely practicing a return to our inner resources can increase our sense of security in seemingly out of control situations. Our children deserve the opportunity to learn about and practice cultivating their own sense of agency now more than ever.

Many back-to-school articles will give you tips for getting organized, creating a study space, planning lunches, etc. Here are some tips for helping children cultivate an increased sense of agency in these new and uncertain times.

Take time to recognize, validate, and regulate.

Without question the stress of making the right decision about school is weighing heavy on caregivers, including what to do if the schools/daycares close again. Recognize and validate that these are real and difficult experiences in your life. Give yourself permission to feel and honor your truth in this new normal world. Anything else will result in the equivalent of trying to put a cap on an exploding soda bottle; a sticky mess.

When we attempt to avoid our feelings, our thinking becomes rigid and laser-focused, in order to keep difficult feelings under control. Validating feelings can be a gateway for flexibility. Saying to ourselves, Yep, this hurts. or This is really hard. gives us space to think beyond stopping the feeling. It is in this space that we can begin to notice what is happening within our bodies. Noticing tension in our bodies, hurried thoughts, a racing heart, etc. gives us cues into what we need to regulate and move forward in a chosen way. We can take moments to step away, possibly practice focused breathing and/or release tension that is not serving the body in the moment, observe or prioritize worried thoughts, remind ourselves of our safety despite intense emotion(s), etc. These are ways we can come to realize our own sense of agency; the resources within us that can be called upon in moments of distress and unease, if only we give ourselves the space to cultivate our awareness and practice.

Share your calm: Recognize, validate and regulate with your child(ren).

Author and educator, Dr. Dan Siegel, explains in his work on interpersonal neurobiology that a child, when upset, is not able to access his/her logical, left-brain. We often describe this to kids as flipping their lid. The emotional experiences we encounter happen primarily in the limbic system of the brain. For children, this area of the brain is far more developed than the problem-solving, logical, rational, and organized area of the brain, called the prefrontal cortex, located within the frontal lobe. Parents can help to bridge the gap by serving as a substitute frontal lobe in difficult moments.

Children, when attuned to a calm and responsive parent, are better able to soothe the needs of their emotional brain and can more easily shift into a logical, problem-solving brain space. The concept of attunement is when individuals feel felt, according to Dr. Siegel. Recognizing when our children need our supportive calm is an important piece. Using language such as I notice when your child is talking in a faster pace or louder volume and staying away from comments such as I cant understand you when you are talking so fast! can help children tune into their own personal cues of emotional unrest. Encouraging noticing and curiosity makes the experience of emotions less overwhelming and creates open dialogue about individual experience.

Just as in our own emotional work, children need validation that their emotions are real, allowed, and accepted. Communicating to our children that they are allowed to feel however they do, without judgment, strengthens that feeling felt sense of attunement. It is in this space that parents can share their calm and co-regulate with their child(ren) by modeling deep breathing, quiet reflection, movement, or stretching, etc. A child who feels validated and attuned within their own body and mind, and with a trusted adult, will have a natural tendency to mirror the calm strength being shared with them.

The practice of attunement and co-regulation, shared over and over (especially in the already calm moments), builds capacity and a sense of agency in children so that they can then begin to access and practice on their own. Similar to muscle memory gained in batting practice or piano lessons, we can support our children in attuning to their individual cues and accessing the memory (neuropathways) of how a calm, regulated state feels. This knowledge can motivate children to access their inner resources for self-validation and self-regulation, thereby increasing their sense of agency.

Bring back old, or create new, traditions and routines.

Think back to previous end of summer/start of school traditions or routines that have been familiar to your family. If they still fit, use them! A sense of normalcy in the wake of an anything but normal return to school will bring with it a sense of security and safety. If old traditions no longer fit, create new ones with your childs input. Making plans for new traditions and routines communicate to our children that, while things are different and maybe even uncomfortable, it is still possible to be flexible and hopeful about new opportunities and the upcoming school year.

Allow your child(ren) to talk and ask questions about their concerns without judgment.

Our children undoubtedly have questions and concerns of their own. Many children have heard bits and pieces about the pandemic including health and safety concerns in the community, reasons why they have/have not been able to visit with friends and family, changes to the school year, concerns about another potential school closure, financial impacts on their family, and many other related topics. However, most children do not have an accurate perspective on how these concerns might impact their own world.

Our brains, while a most-amazing biological computer, will often fill in the blanks and piece together assumptions in the absence of a complete picture. Unfortunately, when it comes to worry, our assumptions are most often laden with unsubstantiated fears. Allowing our children to talk openly about their thoughts and concerns for the upcoming school year, without judgment, can allow parents to correct false perspectives as well as answer questions they might have.

Parents often share concerns about giving kids too much information for fear of making them ruminate on their worries. While avoiding worry topics is well-intentioned, it is best to provide fact-based responses that are developmentally and age appropriate. Keep in mind that an absence of facts can often result in worst-case scenario thinking. In contrast, providing facts and/or agreeing to seek facts if you do not know the answer, is another way that parents can instill a sense of safety and security in their children. This communicates to our children that we are willing to honor their questions and curiosity, and that we are willing to admit to not knowing and seeking new information. These are skills that build resilience.

Prioritize good sleep hygiene and physical movement.

It is often forgotten that sleep is a critical component of human basic needs. Without proper sleep, all other functions suffer, especially our capacity to regulate emotions. Given that children already filter the world through the emotion center of the brain (limbic system), it stands to reason that we would observe a diminished ability for our children to tolerate the world around them without proper sleep. Setting limits for screen time before bed and prioritizing a calm nighttime routine can be one of the most beneficial steps we can take as parents in supporting the healthy social, emotional, and intellectual development of our children. Here are the recommended hours of sleep per the American Academy of Pediatrics:

 Children 3 to 5 years of age should sleep 10 to 13 hours per 24 hours (including naps) on a regular basis to promote optimal health.

 Children 6 to 12 years of age should sleep 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health.

 Teenagers 13 to 18 years of age should sleep 8 to 10 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health.

In addition to sleep, movement is paramount in balancing and regulating the central nervous system. Make sure to include exercise or physical movement into your childs daily routine. Practice noticing skills to bring attention to movements that appear to increase energy or agitation, as compared to movements that appear to relax and quiet yourself or your child. Movement can enhance our moods and ability to regulate significant emotional states through the use of practices such as yoga, dance, walking, and rough and tumble play.

Practice and model self-compassion.

Were all in the together. This has been the motto of the COVID-19 pandemic, and rightfully so. One of the hallmarks of self-compassion is common humanity, the idea that there is a shared experience of being human. Many mindfulness teachers explain, Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. The practice of self-compassion allows us to experience the pain of being human while reminding ourselves that we do not have to suffer through it.

It can come as a surprise to learn that we cannot always think our way out of our pain. Many times, our thoughts are aimed at fixing or stopping the pain we are experiencing, even when the situation is not within our control. Self-compassion is the warm voice within that reminds, This is hard, but its not forever. Youve got this. I recommend doing this out loud to start, like you are talking to your best friend.

Parenting is not for wimps and doing so in a pandemic is quite literally a whole new level. Practicing self-compassion, validating your experiences, noticing and attuning to what it is you need- these are all beautiful ways to care for yourself and model for your children in the same moment, Were all in this together. And, We can do hard things.

Nicole Rickard is a therapist at Partners in Change: Psychological & Community Services, PLC.
Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker LIVE Updates: The United States may have four Covid-19 candidate vaccines in large-scale clinical trials by the middle of September, according to a report by the USA today. Health and Human Services Deputy Chief of Staff Paul Mango, who is also the agency's liaison with Operation Warp Speed, said that the US government was very pleased with the progress. He added that the agency felt it was "absolutely on track", if not a little ahead, in terms of their overall objective - which was tens of millions of (doses of) safe and effective vaccines approved for calendar year-end. Mango said that each Phase 3 clinical trial would enroll 30,000 volunteers and that the two underway currently were about halfway there.

Britain is preparing to revise its laws to allow the emergency use of any effective coronavirus vaccine before it is fully licensed  but only if the shots meet required safety and quality standards. In a statement Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government said it was adopting reinforced safeguards to allow the country's medicines regulatory agency to grant temporary authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine, provided it meets safety and quality standards.The proposed regulations would allow coronavirus vaccines to receive an emergency approval allowing people to be immunized while the full licensing process is being finished. Typically, vaccines are only used after the licensing review has been completed, a process which can take several months.

Here are the LIVE Updates on the Coronavirus Vaccine:

 WHO Sweetens Deal for Wealthier Nations | Wealthier countries that join the World Health Organization's COVID-19 vaccine plan are being offered a new option to pick and choose which shots they get while reserving a right to receive their "full share" of doses, documents seen by Reuters show. The change appears aimed at convincing governments which have negotiated their own bilateral deals securing experimental vaccines to also sign up for the global COVAX facility by Monday's deadline for submitting expressions of interest.

Story continues

"They are trying to be more flexible for self-financing countries to make it more interesting... There are some advantages to incentivise you to pay upfront," said a Western diplomat familiar with the terms. The United States, Japan, Britain and the European Union have struck their own deals to secure millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses for their citizens, ignoring the WHO's warnings that "vaccine nationalism" will squeeze supplies.

 Sanofi More Confident About Its Coronavirus Vaccines | Sanofi's confidence in its coronavirus vaccine candidates has increased this summer as the French drugmaker prepares to start clinical trials, its chief executive told Reuters. The company is working on two of the more than 150 potential vaccines being developed across the world to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than 831,000 lives and sparked economic chaos. One candidate, to be manufactured on the back of an existing platform that develops vaccines to treat flu, will use an adjuvant made by Britain's GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to boost its efficacy.

 Bangladesh's Beximco Invests in Serum Institute of India | Bangladesh's Beximco Pharmaceuticals is investing in the Serum Institute of India (SII) to ensure Dhaka gets priority access to COVID-19 vaccines being developed by the Indian drug manufacturer, the company said on Friday. The deal announced by the Bangladeshi generic drugmaker comes after Dhaka said this month it was ready to hold trials of candidate vaccines being developed by India as both countries seek to curb the spread of the virus.

 Putin Praises Russian Vaccine | The Russian president on Thursday praised a coronavirus vaccine that Russia approved for use earlier this month as effective and safe, a clear bid to address international skepticism about the shots that have only been studied for two months in a few dozen people. In an interview with the state Rossia 24 TV channel released Thursday, President Vladimir Putin insisted that the worlds first vaccine against coronavirus to receive a government go-ahead was approved in strict accordance with Russian laws that are in line with international practice and regulations.

 Peru to Start Testing China's Sinopharm Vaccine | Peru will start testing coronavirus vaccines from China's Sinopharm and U.S. drugmaker Johnson & Johnson in September, researchers said, which should help the country gain faster access to inoculations once the vaccines are approved.

Sinopharm began this week to recruit up to 6,000 volunteers in Peru, which Reuters data indicates has the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in relation to its population size. A team of Chinese scientists is expected to arrive in the Andean nation next week to work with local researchers, said German Malaga, a doctor and lead vaccine investigator at Lima's Cayetano Heredia University."This is going to happen around Sept. 3, to begin vaccinations on Sept. 8," he said. Sinopharm's clinical trials in Peru are being done with Cayetano Heredia and the state-run Universidad Mayor de San Marcos.

 China Approves Use of Emergency Vaccine | Sinovac Biotech coronavirus vaccine candidate CoronaVac was approved in July for emergency use as part of a programme in China to vaccinate high-risk groups such as medical staff, a person familiar with the matter said. China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a unit of state-owned pharmaceutical giant China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), also said it had obtained emergency use approval for a coronavirus vaccine candidate in social media platform WeChat on Sunday. CNBG, which has two vaccine candidates in phase 3 clinical trials, did not say which of its vaccines had been cleared for emergency use.

 Donald Trump Vows to 'Crush Pandemic' With Vaccine by Year-end | In a war cry against the pandemic, US President Donald Trump on Thursday vowed to "crush" Covid-19 with a vaccine by the end of the year, as he accepted the Republican nomination for a second term as POTUS. The US President said that the country is roped in deft scientist to develop the vaccines for coronavirus under 'Operation Warp Speed'.

"We are marshaling America's scientific genius to produce a vaccine in record time. We will have a safe and effective vaccine this year and together we will crush the virus, Trump said, adding that three coronavirus vaccines will be ready for production soon and could be made available this year.

 French Govt Expects Vaccine by End of 2020 or Early Next Year | New coronavirus vaccines could be available from the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021, a presentation by French Health Minister Olivier Veran suggested on Thursday. French Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday the government must move fast to head off a deadly new COVID-19 wave as the virus's reproduction level has jumped, with infections surging in the Paris region and among young people.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 09:11:59|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Aug. 28, 2020 shows the venue of the eighth East Asia Summit (EAS) ministerial meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam. Economic ministers have stressed the importance of further strengthening regional economic cooperation and accelerating post-COVID economic growth at the eighth EAS ministerial meeting. The meeting was held on Friday evening via video conference and attended by economic ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the United States. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua)

HANOI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Economic ministers have stressed the importance of further strengthening regional economic cooperation and accelerating post-COVID economic growth at the eighth East Asia Summit (EAS) ministerial meeting.

The meeting was held on Friday evening via video conference and attended by economic ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

The ministers exchanged views on efforts to maintain supply chains and market stability, and strengthen the post-epidemic economic resilience of the EAS region, calling for initiatives that will "expedite a sustainable economic recovery and resilience," according to a joint media statement of the meeting.

They discussed enhancing the application and utilization of digital technologies in the region to facilitate the digital economy, affirming that it is "especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic," according to the statement.

Resolving to take actions to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic's economic impacts, the ministers underscored the importance of strengthening regional supply chains to make them resilient to shocks and advance sustainable economic growth, the statement said.

They reaffirmed their commitment to promote trade and investment, minimize disruptions to trade and global supply chains, and facilitate supply chain connectivity, it said.

The ministers also reiterated their support for the necessary reform of the WTO, saying they will continue to work together to realize a free, fair, transparent, non-discriminatory, predictable, and stable trade environment, according to the statement. Enditem
A historian of technology and race responds to Tochi Onyebuchis How to Pay Reparations.

Tochi Onyebuchis How to Pay Reparations spoke to me. Its themes rang virtually every note of my twentysomething-year-long career. In 1998, I made my first digital footprint with a signed online petition in support of reparations for the Tulsa race riots. I endured countless run-ins with Oklahoma good ol boys while crisscrossing the state, working for candidates representing a perpetually losing political party. As an academic, I researched Black politicians and white racial resentment, and testified as an expert in federal court about cases of reverse redlining and housing discrimination. And as a historian of technology, Ive chronicledlike Onyebuchithe stories of hope and despair wrought by computing technology on Blackness and Black people, in the service of an ever-triumphant white racial order.

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America has never seen an acceptable way forward on the question of reparations. If we even get past the whys, we get twisted and tangled up in the how-tos. But in How to Pay Reparations, REPAIR Project Team statistician Wendy Guan says thats precisely what algorithms, A.I., and machine learning are good for: showing us how. And that is where the hope, the wonder, the fantasy comes from in Onyebuchis story. We learn that a team of data scientists, statisticians, politicians, and lawyers have finally developed a reparations algorithm.

Some view reparations as white Americas ticket to redemption from its original sin and Black Americas salvation from a 400-year-legacy of slavery, Jim Crow, and structural racism. But no amount of computational power can save white Americas soul, or restore Black Americans long-foreclosed-upon and deferred dreams. The belief that it can is at best a delusion. At worst, it is another in a long line of sick and sadistic tortures designed to inflict Black pain and suffering by ginning up false hope in technologies that have always worked against us.

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Throughout the storyparticularly beginning when Mayor Bobby Caine said: Imagine that. A white mayor. Spearheading a citywide reparations scheme?I was reminded of James Evans, the patriarch of the Black family on the 70s sitcom Good Times. If Evans had walked in at the beginning of the show with a fat check, his ticket out of the ghetto, youd best believe the family would be back to eating cold oatmeal in the same damned housing project by the end of the episode.

We live in a time when we conjure tools to surgically remove bias from A.I.-driven facial recognition systems by feeding it more representative training dataa time when we deploy A.I. models to optimize profit but also weed out discrimination in mortgage lending decisions (though not so well). Why does the resounding hope and tragic failure of Onyebuchis so-called reparations algorithm seem so inevitable? Why are A.I. and its allied technologies so ill-equipped to produce a solution for reparations and racism? The answer lies in Onyebuchis powerfully affective political docudrama.

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There is no way to arm an algorithm to learn and account for Americas racist past.

Neither reparations nor racism can be reduced to mere computation. When building the algorithm, Wendy was told to focus on the tangibles. We can quantify and model things like historical income disparities. Education outcomes. Geolocations of valuable institutions like grocery stores, hospitals, or banks. But Redacted, Onyebuchis data scientist, said it best. When asked, What did you feed the algorithm? Redacted responded: They expect you to say something like racism. We fed the formula 400-plus years of racism. Like its that simple.

Exactly. How do you measure the loss of an Anthony Crawford, lynched because he was an uppity Negro? How do you measure who Mrs. Mary Turner might have been or what the baby in her belly might have grown up to do and be were their lives not stolen by a lynch mobs noose? How do you quantify being left behind? Thats what happened to the Negro former farmworker whom civil rights activist Roy Wilkins was thinking of when he wrote, The computer is but one more signal that he has been kept at arms length while the rest of America pressed forward into the computer era. But all of thisthe violence, the economic toll, the psychological tollis also nebulous and unquantifiable in the same way that we cannot account for, much less model, the moral turpitude, and the social, economic, and political loss of what might have been possible.

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Sure, we can imagine designing an algorithmic system to sustain the direction and process of reparations by dynamically learning from future data. The problem is, there is no way to arm that algorithm to learn and account for Americas racist past.

But what makes us think that A.I. wont be mobilized to work toward anything but the detriment, rather than the interests of, Black people, anyway? The threatening robot dogs that stalk Onyebuchis neighborhoodseven if they are intended as pandemic surveillance, the residents know that they have other capabilitiesalready have analogues in todays world. Some of them come in the form of facial recognition systems that police use to locate and arrest protesters, or algorithms that utilize stereotypes about Black athletes brain function to defraud them of compensation for head injury. Add these things to the now all-too-familiar credit scoring algorithms that deny Black and brown folks access to employment, recidivism algorithms that keep us locked up, and detainment algorithms that divide immigrant families, just to name a few? Nah. No hope in that.

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The REPAIR Project Team devised its algorithm. Councilman Perkins made a plan and got it passed. And all an ambitious white mayor had to do was to step up and take the credit. And he couldnt even do that, much less convince white people to do something they had never done beforewillingly and openly share in the economic bounty of this country. The storys ending, not to mention the criminal roll-up that scrolled through the credits, says it all. Change here requires a deliberate, revolutionary rebalancing of social, economic, and political power. To even think seriously about doing that requires an exercise of collective human will. And there is no algorithm for that.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.


Tiana Caldwell of Kansas City, Missouri is one of millions of Americans who face being moved out of their homes by the end of the year.

This kind of forced removal is a result of the economic problems and job losses caused by the coronavirus outbreak. That information comes from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a national housing group.

Caldwell lost her job and was in treatment for cancer when she and her family were evicted in 2019.

We were doing good, and then I got canceragain. So, I was actively in treatment when we were being evictedIt was a bad experience.

Caldwell is now unemployed and has a hard time paying rent - money paid for the use of a property. She is organizing protests with KC Tenants, a group that supports affordable housing in Kansas City, Missouri.

Facing eviction

KC Tenants Director Tara Raghuvee told VOA that nearly 50 percent of renters in the state of Missouri are at risk of eviction because they cannot pay their rent.

Tens of thousands of renters in the state of Missouri were paying over 50% of their income to rent before the pandemic, and nowhundreds of thousands are unemployed or have been unemployed through some period of this pandemic.

Federal assistance

Many Americans have been receiving financial assistance through state and federal unemployment payments. But the federal assistance of $600 a week ended in late July. Activists say that millions of people are in danger of not being able to pay their rent.

Housing rights supporters are calling for rent aid and an extension of eviction prevention measures. Gina Chiala heads the Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom. The group provides legal advice about housing to poor workers in Kansas City, Missouri. Chiala said the federal government should find permanent ways to deal with housing problems for the poor.

Chiala and other housing activists want property owners to work with their tenants to negotiate lower payments when possible.

About 40 percent of the nations rental properties are owned by independent landlords. Many cannot take the losses from unpaid rent.

Tracey Benson is president and founder of the National Association of Independent Landlords. The association provides help and support to its 200,000 members nationwide.

Benson said her organization is getting calls from concerned landlords all the time. She said they are worried about losing not only their rental properties but their own homes.

Kathy Phillips is an association member in North Carolina. She owns 10 rental properties that she depends on as her only way to make a living. One of her renters has been falling behind on rent payments.

She's a single parent and I don't feel comfortable evicting a single parent in this climate...

Phillips offered her at-risk renter a 50 percent reduction on her rent for three months. She does not expect her to repay the difference.

Phillips also said she believes the federal government needs to do more for both renters and landlords.

I don't think there's a lot of answers until we have income for all these unemployed people, she said.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Julie Taboh reported this story for VOA News. Jonathan Evans adapted her story for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

evict v. to be forced to leave a place

affordable adj. at a cost that is not too high or that can be paid

tenant n. a person, business or group that pays for the use of another persons property

landlord n. a person who owns a property such as a house or building and rents it to other people
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Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, August 29, 2020 09:21 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c414c34b 1 City APJATEL,jakarta-wifi-gratis,wifi-hotspot,Jakarta-administration,Jakarta-governor,anies-baswedan,jakwifi,free-Wi-Fi Free

The Jakarta administration has launched a free WiFi program, dubbed JakWifi, to facilitate online learning and support the provision of government services.

The program aims to optimize internet connections at 2,619 hotspots and provide 1,200 more hotspots in densely populated residential areas in North Jakarta, Central Jakarta, West Jakarta, East Jakarta and South Jakarta and Thousand Islands regency.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said internet access had become a daily necessity for all households, especially during the pandemic when people have been forced to work and study remotely.

Read also: Bogor city to provide free WiFi to support online learning

The crisis has given us an opportunity to accelerate digital transformation. We hope people will not only use the free internet access to access information but also to create information, or become content creators, Anies said during the launch on Friday.

He also expressed his hope that the free WiFi program would help address the issues presented by online learning, including unequal access to internet access.

JakWifi is a collaboration between the city administration, telecommunication infrastructure provider PT Bali Towerindo and the Telecommunications Network Providers Association (APJATEL).
How does anyone who leans even slightly left reconcile the fact all Trump-supporters are at virulent white supremacists with the most racially diverse Republican National Convention in the history of Republican conventions? More to the point, not only was it racially diverse, but each black speaker celebrated both President Trump as an individual and America as a whole. There was not a hint of oppression or victimhood. (The same commentary could also be made of the amazing women as well  2024 ticket of Noem/Haley anyone? Oh wait, never mind  we hate women, too.)

From a leftist worldview, how is it possible that Trump is a racist, but blacks can celebrate him?

Seriously, though, how do the left and those infected by its pernicious thoughtlessness explain the presence of such powerful black voices and honest advocacy for Trumpian politics from the likes of Tim Scott, Daniel Cameron, Ja'Ron Smith, Kim Klacik, and others? Apparently, the fact that a black man from the American Deep South can experience a generational transition "from cotton to Congress" does not impress all folks.

As if on cue, media outlets immediately began assigning these prominent and successful individuals as the Republican Party's token "black friends." The term "Uncle Tom" even trended on Twitter. Lest the black community  nay, black individuals  wrestle with political identity and philosophy on their own, the media and leftist elites announced how they should viscerally react to dissident black voices.

The most incongruous aspect of all of this is that this crop of fiercely independent blacks are simultaneously not black if they vote for Trump, according to the Democratic candidate for president, and also tokens of the black community if they stand on stage supporting him. Which one is it?

To the left, it is impossible that a black could support Republicans, so unless they got paid off, duped, or hustled, the only remaining conclusion is that angry leftist voices consider black Republicans as less than. If a white leftist says it, is that not racist by definition  a white being better than a black?

All of this is a tiring exercise. In the political sphere, what else is Trump supposed to do exactly with the black community? He can ignore it and be a racist or focus on it and be a racist, but not both.

The left regularly impugns his character with hackneyed and outlandish charges of racism. He was compared to Hitler for caging immigrant kids, but it turned out that Obama built the facilities and "caged" them for years prior to the arrival of The Donald. He cracked down on unmitigated travel from what happened to be Muslim countries and even left off the most populous Muslim country in the world (Indonesia) but still got branded an Islamophobic xenophobe despite the implementation being a continuation of Obama-era policies. He got flak for calling Baltimore third-world, but then Kim Klacik came along and sounded off even more. Bernie got a pass for saying the exact same thing.

None of it sticks, but the beliefs persist.

All of this effort at fomenting hate, despite Trump intentionally seeking to redress real issues in the black community, from prison reform under 2018's First Step Act that alleviated low-level incarceration in the black community to historic levels of HBCU funding (just to name two). Articles by independent black women  including the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  here and here, go into more accomplishments through their own lens.

In the case of the HBCU funding, the president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund was quoted as saying at the time Trump assumed office: "This was something that, frankly, the black college community assumed would have been easily accomplished with the first African-American president, and after over eight years of repeated requests, to think that within 45 days of his presidency we were able to convene all of the [HBCU] presidents in the Oval Office..."

Even things as minor as pardoning Jack Johnson go to the root of righting wrongs. Where was Obama, the first black president, in tackling any of the real issues keeping the black community down? How did he help anyone?

The reality is that the media will focus on whatever is or is not happening and portray it negatively. There is no truth too stretched or fact too inconvenient. If Trump comes out in support of police, he is a white supremacist upholding institutional racism. If he champions the black community by directing funds to its needs or employing a diverse field of qualified individuals, he panders to them or houses a cadre of Uncle Toms whom he pays in silver pieces.

Americans, especially the black community, are starting to wake up to the empty promises and dangerous consequences of voting blue. If you live in Chicago, Seattle, New York, Minneapolis, Portland, etc., do you feel safer? Does the lack of police make your life better? If you stop to ask black Americans what they want, over 80% of them say they want the same level of policing or more compared to preGeorge Floyd. Nevertheless, the lie marches on that Democrats have blacks' interest best at heart.

In an honest world, the likes of Tim Scott, Daniel Cameron, Ja'Ron Smith, and Kim Klacik would be elevated as exemplars of what is possible in America. They are all black Americans who have overcome the legacies of slavery, Jim Crow, and segregation through their own familial and individual determinations and not let their circumstances dictate their outcomes.

Senator Scott admitted to his record of driving while black, and while it is a point of frustration for him and a terrific focus for societal improvement, it need not define his life or prevent him from achieving greatness. In a state with five million people, he is one of two U.S. senators representing all of them. That's pretty good for anybody, let alone a black man in a country alleged to hunt down blacks wherever possible.

Ms. Klacik has her own special background, which, before entering politics, includes starting a non-profit focused on assisting women intent on re-entering the workforce and obtaining financial independence. Gosh, she sounds like a monster.

For daring to speak up about the opportunity that this great nation has afforded them, they are labeled as sell-outs and tokens. When emotions run high enough, those labels are tossed aside, and pundits outright question their thought process for landing on conservative values.

So does the left think black people are stupid? Yes.

Parker Beauregard writes cultural commentary for ordinary Americans. He has been published on American Thinker, Liberty Nation, Right Wire Report, and blogs at thelastbesthope.xyz. Contact him at thelastbesthope@protonmail.com.
By virtue of their hybrid nature  they're both airlines and small businesses  some private jet companies accessed funds from two or even three buckets of federal aid. aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group/Getty

The charter companies, aircraft management firms, and ground operations and maintenance companies that comprise the private jet industry have recovered more thoroughly and swiftly than commercial airlines.

Some of these companies accessed funds from two or even three buckets of federal aid.

The industry is made up of about 1,900 companies and employs about 1.2 million people. Yet out of the $2 trillion CARES act, it scooped up a disproportionate $666 million.

Thirty-six private jet companies have received $7,538,300 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the Small Business Administration and at least 95 private jet firms got Paycheck Protection Program loans, totaling between $64.3 million and $149.9 million.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The impact of an ongoing pandemic best fought by a population of shut-ins has devastated the travel industry: Airlines are hunkering down for a years-long recovery. Planemakers have slashed production plans. Cruise companies are all but shuttered, and hotels are doing everything they can to attract guests.

One pocket of the travel business, though, has handled the turbulence surprisingly well: the private jet industry.

The charter companies, fractional ownership organizations, aircraft management firms, and ground operations and maintenance companies that cater to elite air travelers have been hit less severely, and have recovered more thoroughly and swiftly, than commercial airlines.

That's partly because private aviation was able to successfully market itself as a safer way to travel, essentially allowing well-heeled access to vacation homes and quarantine hideaways without the risks associated with commercial air travel.

But during the spring months when the pain was real, when even the rich and famous stayed terrestrial, the industry enjoyed unusually helpful government largesse. By virtue of their hybrid nature  they're both airlines and small businesses  some of these companies accessed funds from two or even three buckets of federal aid.

Story continues

And while more than 100,000 small businesses failed for a lack of aid and major airlines are already begging for a fresh round of relief. The private aviation industry is made up of about 1,900 companies  including everything from charter services with dozens of jets to sightseeing operations with just a single propeller plane  which employs about 1.2 million people, yet out of the $2 trillion CARES act, it scooped up a disproportionate $666 million.

"The Trump administration's priorities are hurting those who need help the most and helping the already wealthy and well-connected," said Kyle Herrig, president of Accountable.US, a watchdog group that produced a report on how private jet operators have received federal aid. "They have abandoned struggling small businesses and slashed aid for workers while allowing the booming private jet industry  including many Trump donors  to triple-dip in taxpayer money."

CARES Act funding hasn't done enough to support small businesses  or, some would argue, major airlines.

When Congress passed the CARES Act in late March, it included $58 billion for airlines, half under a Payroll Support Program (PSP) and half as low-interest operational loans. A separate bit of the law made small businesses eligible for fully forgivable loans of up to $10 million through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as well as facilitated loans of up to $2 million through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

Airlines receiving Payroll Support aid were prohibited from furloughing staff until after September 30. With travel demand failing to recover over the summer, the airlines say that they will cut tens of thousands of jobs without further aid. Jason E. Miczek/For the Washington Post via Getty

Even though airlines like American have received as much as $5.8 billion in PSP aid, it has not been enough to cover their entire payroll, leading airlines to encourage workers to take unpaid leaves and early retirements, according to Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants. Now, as restrictions on furloughs and layoffs expire, airlines are preparing to layoff tens of thousands of workers.

"Did the Payroll Support Program save jobs and keep people on payroll? Yes. So on balance, the program worked," Nelson told Business Insider. "I don't mean to say it worked perfectly, but it saved jobs."

"It was never funded to cover more than six months," Nelson added. "At the time, everyone hoped we'd be in a different place by now. We're not, so there needs to be an extension. A lot can change in six more months."

Meanwhile, the two programs set up to help small businesses were quickly overwhelmed by applications, and exhausted their funds within two weeks. By May 11, about 100,000 small businesses had collapsed, according to a study by researchers at University of Illinois, Harvard Business School, Harvard University and the University of Chicago.

A bunch of companies that were considered 'airlines' also landed small business grants and loans.

Although the Payroll Support Program seems written with large passenger airlines and cargo operators in mind, some 320 smaller carriers and private aviation firms have received about $935 million of the total $25 billion allocated, according to Treasury numbers. (The vast majority went to the 15 biggest commercial airlines.)

Some of those were companies like Beryl Air, an Alaskan sightseeing company which operates a single float plane and received just $2,149 in PSP funds. More than half were private jet charter companies, which together received $508,645,759 in payroll support. That makes sense: Many of these companies employ just a few dozen people and, despite their wealthy clientele, operate on thin margins.

But that's not all they got. Because many smaller private jet companies also fit the standard definition of a small business, they were eligible to receive funds under the programs meant for places like restaurants and hardware stores.

Thirty-six private jet companies have received $7,538,300 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the Small Business Administration. At least 95 private jet firms got Paycheck Protection Program loans, totaling between $64.3 million and $149.9 million (loan recipients were approved for minimum and maximum loan amounts; the Small Business Administration has not disclosed specific amounts.) Each of those companies also received grants through the airline-focused Payroll Support Program, according to data compiled by Accountable.US.

Between these three programs, 170 private jet firms received about $666 million, according to Accountable.US. Those firms also benefited from federal excise and fuel tax waivers as part of the relief bill.

Delaware-based Dumont Aviation Group, for example, received nearly $2 million in PSP grants, up to $5 million in forgivable PPP loans, and $500,000 in EIDL loans, for a total of nearly $7.5 million. (Dumont did not respond to a request for comment.)

Private jet companies received a total of $666 million in aid from the CARES Act. Media_works/Shutterstock.com

"Only the Trump administration would find three separate ways to bail out high flying private jet companies while 25% of Americans face food insecurity and unemployment tops 10%," said Kyle Herrig, the Accountable.US president.

"This is an industry that can charge clients $25,000 or more for a single flight  this government aid should've gone to support truly small businesses and the communities they serve."

The reality is more complicated for small private aviation firms.

Scorn on the private jet industry is easy to understand, especially as small businesses collapse, unemployment assistance slows, and record numbers of Americans remain jobless. Before the CARES Act was passed, Dean Baker, senior economist at the Center for Economic Policy, told CNBC, "Putting up public money to support an industry that serves the rich would be hard to justify. It's absurd."

But private aviation connotes more than extravagance.

While the rich and famous make up some of the industry's clientele  especially for leisure travel  a large share of private aviation business comes from more restrained businesses using it to access hard-to-reach or far-flung sites.

Classic examples include a regional manager for an automaker visiting several car dealerships across a few states, or manufacturing plants spread out across a region. Of the nearly 5,000 public airports in the US, only about 500 serve commercial flights. Where a work trip could take a week flying between commercial airports, renting cars, and driving out to destinations, it could only take a day or two using a chartered plane.

Nearly 2,000 private aircraft operators are certified by the FAA to charter flights, ranging from major charter operations like Jet Linx and fractional owner companies like NetJets, to helicopter couriers and sightseeing companies, to outfits with a single propeller plane taxiing passengers between remote rural areas and airports frequented by small regional airlines. The private aviation industry creates 1.2 million jobs and generates $77 billion in income, according to industry lobbyists.

The majority of these companies have just a few dozen employees, most of them specialized and certified as pilots, flight attendants, maintenance technicians, dispatchers, and the like. Although passengers pay a lot for flights, private aviation firms often operate with relatively slim margins thanks to fixed capital and operational expenses.

And the pandemic didn't leave them be.

As demand fell early in the pandemic, private aviation firms  many of which have just a few dozen employees  were forced to furlough workers until CARES Act funding came through. imaginima/Getty Images

"In April we did see a 75 percent drop in business," Nick Tarascio, CEO of New York-based Ventura Air Services  one of the companies that received funds through all three available programs  said in an email to Business Insider. "This was not for us alone, this was the experience across the private aviation sector."

As business slowed in April and initial PPP funds were delayed, Ventura furloughed 10 of its 45 employees. Once PPP and PSP funding came in, Tarascio said, the company rehired all of them.

Meg Bianco, president of an Ohio-based company that also received funds through all three programs, said that her 165-employee company likely would have collapsed without the emergency funding. (Bianco spoke with Business Insider on the condition that her company's name not be printed in the context of discussing business troubles.) The company's maintenance, repair, and operational services work dropped by 40%. Business for its ground operations unit plunged as much as 90%.

"We would have had to shut down our ground operations division without the help," Bianco said of the Payroll Support Program and SBA loans. "Margins were so slim, we wouldn't have had a choice."

The outlook for private aviation is growing even stronger. Commercial airlines and small businesses, however, are preparing for a difficult few years.

Six months into the pandemic's seizure of the United States, the outlook for the commercial aviation sector remains bleak. Analysts don't expect demand to fully recover until 2024. Small businesses overall  and especially restaurants  face a similarly grim situation. According to McKinsey, it will likely take at least five years for affected sectors to recover from the pandemic. Between 1.4 million and 2.1 million US small businesses could close permanently.

The private jet business, however, is approaching cruising altitude. Through membership programs, package sales, fractional ownership, and other schemes, demand for private aviation is continuing to grow as the wealthy find ways to travel while limiting their exposure to COVID-19.

By the end of June, traffic for private jet operators was up to 78% of the previous year's numbers, while commercial airlines were closer to 25%, according to the New York Times. Over the July 4 weekend, private jet demand actually increased 5% over 2019 levels.

For the private jet industry, a heavy helping of federal aid worked exactly as intended. Companies facing downturns were able to survive the immediate and devastating impact of the pandemic, and now find themselves strongly positioned as their unique industry sees a boom in demand.

"Many who once thought of ownership as a luxury, now see jet ownership as a necessity for protecting health and getting to places that they need to get to safely and efficiently," said Tarascio, the Ventura Air CEO.

He predicts strong growth ahead, and is in the process of acquiring three more planes.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Only a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic, a groundbreaking poll was published highlighting the shocking pace of decline of Christianity in America. The Pew research poll included the following alarming statistics:

In the last 10 ten years, the percentage of Americans identifying as Christian has dropped from 77% to only 65%

During that same time, the percentage of those unaffiliated with religion skyrocketed from 17% to 26%

Protestant Christian Americans plummeted from over half of Americans (51%) to only 43% by 2019

The percentage of atheists doubled during that period from 2% to 4%

As would be expected, the younger age cohorts, and particularly the Millennials, saw the steepest decline. Coinciding with the decline in Christianity has come the burgeoning support for socialism over capitalism by the Millennial age cohort, with over half supporting socialism over capitalism. The consequences of this upheaval explain much of what we are witnessing in society, and this should motivate Christians to reassert themselves in American life. Let me explain.

Most have witnessed the increasing and continuing anarchy and anti-police rioting (note: This is not to diminish the presence of those truly peaceful protesters, whom we support in their right of assembly) in major urban areas like Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, and others, to a level of violence not seen previously.

This anarchy has brought tens of billions of dollars of destruction in both private and public property, accompanied by rhetoric of ending the system of property rights and capitalism in America. A leading protest organizer in Portland went so far as to call for not only the abolition of police, but the "abolition of America" to the cheers of crowds.

The head of the greater New York BLM threatened to "burn down this system" in a Fox News interview. BLM activist Ariel Atkins supported "100%" the looting of private businesses in Chicago as an alleged form of reparations. The rhetoric and corresponding actions appear incomprehensible to many quietly watching throughout America, and yet continues virtually unabated.

In addition to the destruction of property and violence, which acts as a clear repudiation to Christian teachings followed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., those involved have made direct attacks against the Christian church. Most are aware of the well-publicized Bible-burning demonstration in Portland. What has not received as much coverage are the many other attacks against the Christian church, including its sacred symbols.

Catholic Action League Executive Director C.J. Doyle wrote: Given that there were four attacks on Catholic churches nationwide over a 48-hour period, from July 10 to July 12, suspicion, obviously, turns toward the left-wing extremists who have been toppling statues of Saint Junipero Serra and attempting to remove a statue of Saint Louis.

Christians praying in front of the statue of a Christian saint in St. Louis were subject to potential hearing loss by protesters disrupting prayers with air horns. Air horns blown near the ears of the women and men praying. The examples of anti-Christian radicalism abound, while calls for moving to socialism become more strident.

We should not be surprised at the increasing anarchy and corresponding calls for socialism, as Christianity plummets. Most of our founding fathers spoke about the prerequisite of religion among the American people in order for the constitutional system to work.

John Adams put it perfectly: "This Constitution was made for a moral and religious people, it is wholly unsuited to the governance of any other."

Famed Christian biographer Eric Metaxas had this to say about the connection of Christianity and anarchy within a historical context: I think a lot of the nastiness thats being directed at these statues, it really has to do with something deeper. ... You saw this with the French Revolution. There was a hatred at the bottom of it of God, of any kind of authority, and these people are drunk with the idea that they can somehow be an authority themselves, they can seize power. ... you go right for God, you go right for the Virgin Mary, my goodness, you go for churches.

Metaxas provided this warning for Christian leaders: Any Christian leader who doesnt understand that this is a Marxist, violent organization  this has nothing to do anymore with George Floyd, theyve hijacked this, and they want to burn down everything that has been built by good people over centuries, most of whom, of course, were Christians.

It's important to remember that the forefather of socialism, Karl Marx, claimed religion was the "opiate of the people" and that the future worldwide communism must take the place of religion. The Soviet Union persecuted Christians, as does Communist China to this day.

Marx claimed his primary goal in life was to "dethrone God, and destroy capitalism," as they go together. Marx also attacked the biblical "nuclear family" as a hindrance to socialism, and so it's not a coincidence that a goal of BLM is to "disrupt the nuclear family."

Pastor Marc Little has warned, we are witnessing a Marxist takeover ... fighting a new religion disguised as racial justice ... (this is) the unveiling of what has been percolating against the church ... Make no mistake: The body of Christ is the target of the Marxists, for it cannot succeed when morality stands in the way.

Peaceful protesters have every right to peacefully assemble for their cause under the First Amendment to our Constitution. I acknowledge that many are not aware of the ulterior Marxist and anti-Christian motives of those involved in the mayhem. Regardless, anarchy and calls to upend the American republican system (to move to socialism) could not occur without the massive decline in Christianity in America. It is time Christians come together, pray together and act to move America to that nation Alexis de Tocqueville wrote about in his famous treatise "Democracy in America": "There is no nation on Earth in which the Christian religion holds greater sway over the souls of men than in America". May that become the Christian future of America.
Flash flooding in Afghanistan killed at least 160 people and injured hundreds of others this week, though rescuers are continuing to search for missing people on Saturday, Reuters reports.

The big picture: The Ministry for Disaster Management said thirteen provinces were affected by flooding, including Parwan Province  just north of country's capital Kabul  where 116 people were killed, more than 120 injured and 15 people still missing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 10:40:46|Editor: huaxia

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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. soldiers were killed and three others injured in a helicopter crash during a training exercise late Thursday in Southern California, U.S. media reported on Friday, citing military officials.

The Blackhawk helicopter crash occurred on San Clemente Island, about 70 miles (around 112 km) west of San Diego, a U.S. Defense Department official with knowledge of the incident told a local news outlet, the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The soldiers involved in the incident were assigned to an element of the U.S. Army's Special Operations Command and were conducting routine training, the local daily newspaper in San Diego reported, citing a statement from the U.S. Army.

"We are still in the process of making next of kin notifications and will not release any additional information until that process is complete," J. Elise Van Pool, a U.S. Army spokeswoman was quoted as saying by the paper.

Officials said that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.

It is the second fatal accident during military training exercises in the area in a month. On July 30, nine U.S. troops were killed when their amphibious assault vehicle sank near San Clemente Island. Enditem
Boohoo investors were given another kicking after the company admitted it had suspended orders with a number of suppliers over sweatshop allegations.

Shares in the group sank by as much as 17 per cent in afternoon trading after the reports were published.

An investigation found the fast fashion retailer, which is one of the biggest companies on AIM, was selling clothes made by at least 18 factories in Leicester that may have been paying workers less than the minimum wage.

Boohoo has been rocked by claims its clothes were being packaged in sweatshop conditions

Boohoo is thought to account for up to 80 per cent of the output from the city's 1,000 factories.

Third-party audits of the suppliers failed to confirm what they were paying workers - and in some cases it appeared they were making as little as 3 or 4 an hour.

In response to the findings, made by the Guardian, Boohoo said it had drawn similar conclusions about an unspecified number of suppliers and had suspended business with them.

The online retailer, which also owns American clothes brand Nasty Gal, has been rocked by claims first made in July its clothes were being packaged in sweatshop conditions.

The crisis undid an astonishing rally in its share price since the pandemic took hold  when online retailers virtually across the board excelled  and sent investors including Standard Life Aberdeen packing.

It is still in the process of putting together its own independent investigation, led by top business barrister Alison Levitt QC, and has said it cannot comment further until that is completed.

The latest development in the sorry saga sent Boohoo shares down 9.3 per cent, or 29.8p, to 289.5p by the close.

Investors in Lloyds Banking Group were undeterred that the bigwigs at Mayfair hedge fund Marshall Wace have made the biggest bet against the lender's shares on record.

The fund has built up a 0.51 per cent short position  worth around 100million  and will make money if Lloyds' share price falls.

Lloyds' stock was up 0.5 per cent, or 0.15p, to 28.35p last night.

The move by Marshall Wace indicates that people in the City think banks are set to suffer even more in the coming months, despite having a terrible first half that saw them put billions on one side for bad loans.

Marshall Wace has also got short positions on a number of other firms hit hard by the pandemic, including Tui (whose shares dropped 1.5 per cent, or 5p, to 329.7p last night), Rightmove (up 0.2 per cent, or 1p, to 633.8p) and ailing shopping centre owner Hammerson (up 0.3 per cent, or 0.13p, to 48.43p).

Hedge fund Marshall Wace have made the biggest bet against Lloyd's shares on record

It was a mixed day for London's biggest indexes, which were thin on corporate news.

The FTSE 100 dropped by 0.61 per cent, or 36.42 points, to 5963.57, while the FTSE 250 rose 0.15 per cent, or 26.3 points, to 17788.33.

The mid-cap index was pushed higher by Russian gold miner Petropavlovsk, whose shares rose 9.2 per cent, or 3.1p, to 36.65p. The group has been embroiled in a very bitter  and very public  spat between investors and management. The investors won, and have now named Maxim Meshcheryakov as interim chief executive.

Struggling cruise company Carnival was given a boost as it announced a number of its German cruises will resume later this year. The first will be a seven-day voyage to the Canary Islands.

Shares in the group rose 3.5 per cent, or 35.5p, to 1054.5p after weeks of announcements of pushbacks and cancellations.

Greggs, on the other hand, moved into the red, falling 1.6 per cent, or 23p, to 1417p after it was forced to close its distribution centre in Leeds for a deep clean after a Covid-19 outbreak. An undisclosed number of staff there have tested positive for the illness.
Charities, churches, the city of Houston and local rapper Trae Tha Truth coordinated efforts to help victims of Hurricane Laura on Saturday, three days after the Category 4 storm heavily damaged portions of coastal Louisiana.

The Salvation Army is headed to Southeast Texas to serve food in six locations where Laura left widespread power outages.

The Southern Baptist Convention was scheduled to prepare food, starting with 5,000 meals a day, to be served by Salvation Army mobile kitchens, organization officials said in a statement. Officials planned to dispatch the kitchens to Market Basket at 2005 Texas Ave. in Bridge City, Sam Houston Elementary School at 3245 36th St. in Port Arthur, Orange Corps at 1950 Martin Luther King Drive in Orange, 114 W. Bolivar St. in Vidor, Newton County Fairgrounds at 415 Fair Park St. in Newton and Hearts Veterans Museum at 463 U.S. 75 in Huntsville.

This is a long-standing relationship that allows staff and volunteers to serve food, kept warm in cambros, as opposed to actually cooking on the mobile kitchen, said Alvin Migues, director of the Salvation Armys disaster services for the state. This simplifies and expedites serving food to hungry residents.

The organization served 4,640 meals, 5,138 drinks and 1,274 snacks Friday from the mobile kitchens, each with the capacity to prepare and dish out 1,500 meals.

Houston officials and business leaders launched donation drives to collect supplies for residents battered by the hurricane.

One effort, dubbed Houstons Paying It Forward, was coordinated by Mayor Sylvester Turners office, Kroger, Gallery Furniture and the community organization Relief Gang, according to a city news release.

After Hurricane Harvey displaced many of our family and friends in 2017, people from other cities and states helped Houston recover by donating their time, money and supplies, Turner said in a statement. Today, we are being called to action for our neighbors who were in the path of Hurricane Laura and are now experiencing great suffering and loss. We cannot sit idly by while they are in need.

Laura made landfall near Cameron, La., early Thursday with 150-mph winds, leaving a trail of wind- and storm surge-related destruction in its path.

Donation collection begins Tuesday. Requested supplies include diapers, cleaning supplies with bleach, personal hygiene items, nonperishable food, bottled water and pet food, according to the organizers.

Bethels Place Empowerment Center, a church and community center serving southwest Houston, organized a separate collection for hurricane victims in Lake Charles, La.

Houston rapper Trae Tha Truth has also pitched in. His Relief Gang organized volunteers to venture to Louisiana on Saturday, KHOU reported. He told the television station how Louisianans helped the Houston area after Harvey in 2017 and that he wanted to ensure that Texas returned the favor.

That one when Harvey hit, man, everybody across the country helped us, so that wouldnt be right for us to sit still when theyre going through what theyre going through, he said.

The convoy contained 30 to 40 trucks full of supplies, KTRK reported.

alejandro.serrano@chron.com
KAMPALA  Coffee exports from Uganda, Africas largest exporter of the commodity, surged 17.2% in July 2020 from the same month of 2019 on the back of higher output from new coffee trees.

The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) reported on Friday in a statement that the milestone was a result of the easing of coronavirus restrictions that also enabled traders to release higher stocks.

Uganda shipped 543,251 60-kilogram bags of coffee in July, up from 463,709 bags exported in the same month last year. This is the highest amount of coffee exported in a month since 1991, according to the sector regulator.

UCDA said there was increased production on account of the fruition of the newly planted coffee, and favorable weather.

Uganda strengthened its position as Africas largest coffee exporter with a record volume of 5.06 million bags in the financial year that ended on June 30, the ministry of finance figures show.

Export earnings also reached an all-time new level of US$494 million. In FY 2018/19, Uganda coffee exports reached 4.18 million bags worth US $416 million compared.

The ministry of Agriculture said the year 2020 could see Uganda, already Africas largest coffee exporter, overtaking Ethiopia as the continents largest coffee producer.

The Uganda Coffee Roadmap, which responds to a directive issued by the President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2014, aims to accelerate coffee production from the then 3.5 million 60kg bags to 20 million

Uganda is Africas second-largest coffee producer after Ethiopia and leading exporter in Africas records from UCDA show that the country registered a 38 per cent increase in export volume and 66 per cent in value earned.

From these exports the country earned $545 million (Shs1.9 trillion) up from $326 million (Shs1.1 trillion) earned last year.

About 80 per cent of Ugandas coffee is destined for the European Union and 20 per cent is exported to Sudan.

Uganda grows two types of coffee  Robusta and Arabica. Coffee is mainly grown by smallholder farmers numbering about 500,000. Coffee contributes about 30 per cent of total export earnings.

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The Red Circle is a unique heist thriller because of the poetic things that happen while we are waiting for the Warner Bros affairs to unfold.

Quentin Tarantinos love for French New Wave cinema, especially the crime dramas, is well-documented. He said directors like Jean-Pierre Melville (whose Le Samourai was discussed in an earlier column) took inspiration from the Warner Bros gangster pictures with Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney, and instead of focusing on the plot, they focused on the poetry between the lines. I was reminded of this observation when the Venice Film Festival announced that Melvilles Le Cercle Rouge (The Red Circle, 1970) would be part of their Classics line-up. (Due to COVID-related reasons, the Classics section will be screened at the festival Il Cinema Ritrovato, in Bologna, from 25 to 31 August.)

The film opens in a manner that is a universe away from the typical Warner Bros film. Its a quote that explains the title. Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, drew a circle with a piece of red chalk and said: When men, even unknowingly, are to meet one day, whatever may befall each, whatever their diverging paths, on the said day, they will inevitably come together in the red circle. Theres always a sense of the existential in crime/noir cinema, but the French take it a few steps further.

Take the scene where a soon-to-be-released prisoner named Corey (Alain Delon) is approached by a prison guard about a new job outside. The guard says Corey is the only man for the job, which he calls classic, easy, no risk if done right. Well, thats the real issue, isnt it! If done right! Corey, at first, refuses. He doesnt want to end up back here. But the guard persists. With your pedigree and your time inside, whod offer you decent work?

Were not even 10 minutes into the movie, and were already aware of something larger, something beyond Corey thats going to result in him accepting this job offer. (A grim joke: he is being released early for good behaviour.) Society wont make it easy for him to lead a straight life. Plus, theres that thing the Buddha said. When men, even unknowingly, are to meet one day One of these other men turns out to be Vogel (Gian Maria Volonte), who prises open his handcuffs and escapes from a train while being escorted by a policeman.

And how do Corey and Vogel meet? As the Buddha quote says: unknowingly. Corey is released from prison in Marseille. He buys a car and drives towards Paris. Vogel has been running (and running) in the woods, chased by policemen and dogs. He evades them, and stumbles onto a road at the edge of the forested area, and across the road is a diner, and Corey has stopped there for a meal. Vogel crosses the road and tries to open the trunks of several cars, so he can hide inside and get away. The only trunk thats open is of the car that belongs to Corey. Its almost like the universe is bringing them together.

This is most unusual because the crux of the film is a heist, and when we think of a heist movie, we think of carefully made plans, careful preparations, carefully recruited allies, carefully considered logistics. In other words, we think of deliberate actions being set in motion by people, in order to pull off a job. But here, things come together by chance.

Even a conversation among the police  one of whom is Inspector Mattei (Andre Bourvil ), the cop Vogel escaped from  conveys a sense of things happening, well, unknowingly. Matteis senior officer says, Only chance can help now.

In this scene, its not just the element of destiny (or chance, or whatever you want to call it) that leaks from the bad guys half of the story to that of the good guys. Its the very nature of good and bad itself. The head of Internal Affairs who is questioning Mattei and his senior believes that no one is innocent. All men are guilty. Theyre born innocent, but it doesnt last. Its his doctrine: Crime lurks within us. We have to flush it out.

With all this, its almost an hour before we get an inkling about the heist, which involves the job that Corey was told about in prison. Put differently, weve spent almost an hour of a 2-hour-15-minute crime film where no actual planned crime happens. (The killings that occur are of people unrelated to the job, and they happen by chance.) This is what Tarantino was talking about: the poetry between the lines, the things that happen while we are waiting for the Warner Bros things to happen.

And now we meet Jansen (Yves Montand), who becomes the third member of the team, when Vogel and Corey decide they need a marksman. And whats his background? Hes a former cop, a washed-up alcoholic. One of the best shots on the force. But the corruption of his work environment finally got to him. Jansen was once a classmate of Mattei, who is now after Vogel, who has now teamed up with Jansen. Note how everything derives from the title, how everything is circular. Its not just the traditional bad guys who are bad. The people considered the good guys are, too. Recall what the Internal Affairs head said: All men are guilty.

Once we get to the heist, the film is a cracker. It involves the usual heist-y details we love  like, a bullet made of lead, antimony and tin, a light, soft, low-density alloy that will mould the tumblers as it flattens against the lock in the jewellery store. But even during this extraordinary, wordless stretch  the kind of sequence for which the big screen and the audience were invented  theres a bit of personal redemption. Later, theres a touching bit of loyalty. This isnt to say that the Hollywood gangster/heist films had no poetry in them. Its just that the French versified it better.

Baradwaj Rangan is Editor, Film Companion (South).
Justice For Pamela

Pamela Butler's killer becomes fifth federal inmate executed this year A Kansas City, Kansas, girl's killer Friday became the fifth federal inmate put to death this year, an execution that went forward only after a higher court tossed a ruling that would have required the government to get a prescription for the drug used to kill him.Questions about whether the drug pentobarbital causes pain prior to death had been a focus of appeals for Keith Nelson, 45, the second inmate executed this week in the Trump administration's resumption of federal executions this summer after a 17-year hiatus.

Warning From Rudy

Giuliani: If Biden Is Elected, Crime Wave Will Intensify And Spread From Cities To Suburbs And Beyond Former New York City mayor and Trump lawyer Rudy Guliani spoke on the final night of the Republican National Convention on Aug. 27, 2020. Giuliani spoke of rising crime in American urban areas, claiming that in New York City, "murders, shootings and violent crime are increasing at percentages unheard of in the past.

EPIC March For Racial Equality And Police Reform

In pictures: Thousands gather for March on Washington After a summer of tension, unrest, and protests over police brutality against African Americans in the US, some 50,000 demonstrators gathered in Washington to demand racial justice. Formally called the Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks - a reference to George Floyd, who was killed in police custody in May after a policeman knelt on his neck for several minutes - speakers urged attendees to vote for change.

Kansas City Church Firebug Suspect Captured

Man arrested, charged in KC church arson A man was arrested and charged in federal court Friday with arson at a Kansas City church earlier this week.Christopher A. Durant, 38, was charged with arson at Beyond Thee Four Walls Ministries on East U.S.

Meth Town Charges Youngsters

Second young person charged in fatal Independence shooting JACKSON COUNTY, MO (KCTV) - A second young person has been charged in connection with a murder that happened earlier this month. According to the Jackson County Prosecutor, 17-year-old Isaiah Woods-Miller has been charged with second-degree murder and attempted first-degree robbery. On Thursday, it was announced that 18-year-old Ivory D.

Cash For KC Crime Victims

$300,000 granted to Kansas City-area victim resource agencies KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Several Kansas City-area organizations that serve victims of crime are getting a boost to help provide their assistance. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Friday the organizations would receive more than $300,000 in grant funds.

Arguing Politics Of Crime

Trump and Biden both have complicated records on criminal justice reform Despite billing themselves as the best bet voters have for criminal justice reform, neither former Vice President Joe Biden nor President Donald Trump has a strong record to fall back on. The Republican National Convention kicked off on Monday with Senator Tim Scott and Georgia state Representative Vernon Jones, a Democrat, lauding Trump for the First Step Act, a criminal justice reform bill the president signed in 2018.

A quick roundup of local arrests, police action and national perspective on topics related to police action, court cases and the politics of crime during an election year . . .Developing . . .
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The BBC's tax-payer funded offices are sitting empty as vast swathes of employees continue to work from home.

Workers in pubs, restaurants and shops surrounding the BBC's London and Manchester headquarters have reported a hit to their profits - with some seeing a drop of 80 per cent as staff leave their desks deserted.

Some have estimated just 20 per cent of the corporation's workforce are back in the office - despite Boris Johnson's clarion call for employees to return to workplaces last month.

Furious TV viewers are also putting pressure on the broadcaster for continuing to use 'cheap Zoom calls' instead of in-person interviews.

It comes ahead of the Prime Minister's major drive - set to launch next week - to persuade more Britons to return to their workplaces as a senior business leader warned major high streets across the country are resembling 'ghost towns'.

Footfall levels in the capital as a whole are still just a quarter of what they were ahead of lockdown - the lowest of any UK town or city.

Meanwhile in Manchester, where the BBC has its northwestern headquarters in Salford Quays, footfall is under half of what it was before restrictions were imposed in March.

A BBC spokesman told MailOnline that 'the vast majority of staff continue to work as they have over recent months'. When pressed for numbers, the spokesman said it had no further statement to add.

The BBC's tax-payer funded offices (Broadcasting House, pictured) are still sitting empty as vast swathes of employees continue to work from home

Workers in pubs, restaurants and shops surrounding the BBC's London and Manchester headquarters have reported a hit to their profits. Pictured: Quiet streets surrounding Broadcasting House in London

Bartender Harrison Grant, 32 - who lives above the Horse and Groom pub (pictured) - said a vast range of BBC workers would pack out the pub before lockdown with some staff members booking out the venue's upper level for large gatherings

Art directer at Nicholas James hair salon - who has a branch opposite the BBC studios - Simon Hewes, 46, (pictured with colleague Catherine Hindle, 33) estimates just 20 per cent of the BBC's workforce are back in the office

Jeff Ellum from PW1Custom Signage on Great Portland Street near BBC Broadcasting House

This graphic from Centre for Cities shows the average footfall in city centres for the last full week of August, compared to pre-lockdown levels. The darker the green, the closer the city centre is to pre-lockdown levels

British workers are the most reluctant to return to the office because of fears of a second wave of coronavirus, a new study has found

News about BBC staff still working from home comes as:

Tory MPs warn that businesses in urban centres are facing 'devastating consequences' if things do not go back to normal;

A government source said people who continue working from home could be the first to go if firms restructure;

Labour accuses ministers of 'threatening' workers and of 'forcing' them to make an 'unconscionable' choice between their health and their job;

A survey showed that nine out of 10 people who have worked from home during lockdown want to continue doing so in some capacity in the future;

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he believed there is a limit 'in human terms' to remote working;

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is said to be worried of further job losses among businesses that depend on office workers.

A central London pub in the Oxford Circus area - a mere yards away from the BBC's Broadcasting House HQ - said its profits are down by 80 per cent as BBC workers are no longer packing out the pub at the end of a shift.

Bartender Harrison Grant, 32 - who lives above the Horse and Groom - said a vast range of BBC workers would pack out the venue before lockdown with some staff members booking out the pub's upper level for large gatherings.

He said: 'It has been dead. We are losing 80 per cent of our profits each week. We used to make between 5,000 and 10,000 per week and we are not even making half of that now.

Local businesses aren't the only ones feeling the strain as frustrated licence-fee payers have taken to social media to vent their anger

Carlo Solari (pictured), a sandwich maker at Nani's cafe, said: 'It has been terrible. We used to do platters and food orders for meetings and events for the businesses nearby such as Colliers, the BBA and the BBC'

Bartender Mr Grant said: 'It has been dead. We are losing 80 per cent of our profits each week. We used to make between 5,000 and 10,000 per week and we are not even making half of that now'

Addressing the amount of BBC staff working from home, a spokesperson said: 'The vast majority of our staff continue to work as they have over recent months, either working remotely for those who are able to or in an office location if this has been agreed or they are in service critical roles.' Pictured: Broadcasting House in London

'Our business relied on the office workers but because they are all working from home, we are not getting the trade.

'We are making about 2,000 profit a week now if we are lucky.

'We used to have 130 hours per week shared between five members of staff but that got taken down to 40 hours per week which is only enough for one member of staff so it's just me and the managers here now.

'With furlough ending, the staff that could not come back unfortunately lost their jobs.

'We would have the BBC in most nights and they would spend fortunes. We would get everyone there, from radio to news and broadcasting.

'But because they are not there at the moment, we are losing a lot.

Footfall in town and city centre streets has stagnated in recent weeks, while out-of town retail parks and urban shopping centres are slowly moving back towards their original footfall, the Office for National Statistics said

The ONS also found 13 per cent of workers are still on paid furlough, with almost one in four (39 per cent) of companies topping up their wages

Footfall levels in the capital as a whole are still just a quarter of what they were ahead of lockdown - the lowest of any UK town or city. Pictured: The quiet streets surrounding the BBC's Wogan House in London

Chloe Peers, 22, bar manager at the Yorkshire Grey pub (pictured), also a stone's-throw from Broadcasting House, said: 'We reopened at the end of June and it has been absolutely dead'

DAME CAROLYN FAIRBAIRN: Ghost town Britain HAS to get back to work and Boris Johnson must lead the way By DAME CAROLYN FAIRBAIRN FOR THE DAILY MAIL Decisions taken over the next few weeks will shape our economy for a decade. Getting schools back is an essential component. But as important will be building the right environment to get people back into offices and workplaces. The UKs offices are vital drivers of our economy. They support thousands of local firms, from drycleaners to sandwich bars. They help train and develop young people. And they foster better work and productivity for many kinds of business. The costs of office closure are becoming clearer by the day. Some of our busiest city centres resemble ghost towns, missing the usual bustle of passing trade. This comes at a high price for local businesses, jobs and communities. Remote working has been a resounding success for many firms and employees, and none of these benefits should be lost. Many people have never worked harder, keeping businesses afloat from their desks and kitchen tables. Flexible working is here to stay and needs to remain an option for many. But there are serious downsides too. For young people, learning face-to-face in the workplace is an unbeatable way to build skills and confidence. We must not deprive the next generation of this opportunity. Not everyone has the space to work effectively at home  an ironing board in the bedroom does not make a great workspace. And the mental health challenges triggered by isolation are all too real for many. There is also the question of fairness. Many employees, from barbers to brewers, have no option to work from home. We dont want to see a new divide in our society  between those who can and cant work from the safety and comfort of their homes. For all these reasons we need more people to feel it is safe and possible to go back into their places of work. This is why we are today calling on the Prime Minister and his Government to do more to build confidence around getting people back into offices and workplaces. Getting schools open safely is a vital first step to enable parents to go back to work, but they must stay open wherever possible. This means effective test and trace, and a focus on resilience. We need government, nationally and locally, to do much more to build confidence in public transport. They need to shout louder about safety measures in place, enforce the wearing of face masks on tubes, buses and trains, and support the introduction of flexible season tickets so people can return gradually without financial penalty. And we urgently need mass widespread testing  including in the workplace  to help people feel confident and safe. We welcome the Health Secretarys recent commitment to a mass testing strategy for 2021. More flexible working is indisputably a good thing for our economy and quality of life, but we must have a balance. Its time for the UK to bring its workplaces back to life, or we will look back with regret at the jobs lost, training missed, and communities harmed. We ask the Government to work with business to build confidence in returning to offices, starting now. Advertisement

'They would call up and book the upstairs area and spend a lot of money.

'From Wednesday onwards, we would be packed every night and there would be nowhere to stand.

'It is lovely to be here when they come in. It is a great crowd and we hope to have them back soon.'

Chloe Peers, 22, bar manager at the Yorkshire Grey pub, also a stone's-throw from Broadcasting House, said: 'We reopened at the end of June and it has been absolutely dead.

'I'd say our main customers were from the BBC. Before lockdown, they would come in from about 4.30pm when everyone starts to finish work.

'We would have the odd celebrity stumble in here too after doing work at the BBC.

'People from the BBC would come in on their lunch break during the week so we'd have a regular flow of people back and forth.

'Now it tends to be empty until about 5.30pm when the few people who are back come in.

'It's very rare we will have more than one or two people in here at the same time. We are starting to get busier but it's nothing like it was before.

'We heavily rely on the workers 100 per cent. It is not the same, it is very sad.'

Carlo Solari, a sandwich maker at Nani's cafe, said: 'It has been terrible. We used to do platters and food orders for meetings and events for the businesses nearby such as Colliers, the BBA and the BBC.

'Eat Out to Help Out has helped but local workers are non-existent.

'We are working with a lot of builders and some food deliveries but it's nothing like it was before.

'We get one or two workers from the BBC but a lot of their employees are working from home at the moment.'

Colleague Agnieszka Dzibo added: 'It used to be a very, very busy shop Monday to Friday. It is very sad.

'There is nothing to do now during the week. Monday to Friday was our busiest time but now it is busier on the weekends.'

Simon Hewes, 46, is an art director at Nicholas James hair salon which opened a branch opposite the BBC studios.

He said: 'Usually evenings would be our busiest time but as people are not working at the moment, it is actually busier in the day.

'Where people are not working, it is more likely people will come in during the day.

'The BBC only has 20 per cent of its workforce back at work at the moment.

'We would have hoped they would be a big part of our clientele like with all offices around here really.'

Bar and coffee shop workers in Manchester have reported similar dips in custom.

Manager of coffee shop, Vertigo, Eliana Muir, 26, said: 'We only reopened for the first time on August 3 but we have noticed a lot of staff are still working from home.

'Fortunately, we have been a lot busier than expected but it isn't as busy as it would usually be at this time on a Friday afternoon.

'We are expecting it to pick up over the next few months when people start going back into their offices.

'There isn't usually a shortage of people in this area.'

Manager of coffee shop, Grindsmith, Lucy Dixon, 28, said: 'We never closed, we just turned into a takeaway after the announcement in March.

'At first we noticed a huge drop in sales because people weren't going to work in the offices and getting their coffees in the mornings on their way into work or on their lunch breaks.

'Being located here and not in town has affected us because a lot of our trade is the BBC and people going into offices.

She added: 'Now a few people have started going back to the office we've noticed it pick up but it's hit and miss.'

Manager of bar Dockyard Tim Nash, 29, said: 'We've taken a loss to our daytime trade because people aren't going to work in the surrounding offices.

He added: 'We are still having a few people coming in from the BBC for business meetings but usually on a Friday afternoon we are a bit busier than we are today.'

Some 40 per cent of people who have been working from home said they have found it challenging

Of the people who said working from home had been a challenge, 38 per cent said they lacked a suitable workspace while 36 per cent said they missed their colleagues

Mr Solari (pictured) added: 'We get one or two workers from the BBC but a lot of their employees are working from home at the moment'

Local businesses aren't the only ones feeling the strain as frustrated licence-fee payers have taken to social media to vent their anger.

Four in 10 workers admit they find working from home a challenge with more than a third saying they miss their colleagues Four in 10 people who have been working from home during the coronavirus crisis have found it challenging, according to a new survey. An Ipsos MORI poll found that of those people who have found being away from the office a struggle, their most common complaint was a lack of an adequate workspace closely followed by missing their colleagues. Meanwhile, the survey also revealed that a majority of workers believe it will be up to their employer to decide when they should return rather than it being their own decision. The poll found that 27 per cent of people who have been working from home said it was not at all challenging while 32 per cent said it was not very challenging. But 29 per cent said they had found it fairly challenging and just over one in 10 (11 per cent) said it had been very challenging. Of those workers who have found it challenging, the main reason cited for their struggles was a lack of suitable workspace at 38 per cent. Missing meeting with and working alongside colleagues in person was cited by 36 per cent of respondents. Other reasons for struggling were a difficulty maintaining a work life balance (34 per cent), unreliable technology and equipment (27 per cent) and being distracted by other people who are at home (24 per cent). Last month, HR staff revealed that workers who have been required to go into the office during the coronavirus lockdown felt resentful towards their colleagues who continued to work from home. Some employees felt aggrieved at the money and time spent on commuting to their workplace when their co-workers are able to remain at home. The issue has led some companies to offer their in-house staff perks including extra paid leave and bonuses. Some disgruntled workers have launched grievance procedures against their employers. Advertisement

One viewer wrote on Twitter: 'Shouldn't we all get a licence fee refund this year, the endless repeats but also the cheap Zoom calls on every programme. It's like the BBC cannot be bothered to pay anybody to write decent content.'

Anna Langton added: 'BBC directors, producers, please ask your Zoom guests to put their laptops on a pile of books. I've had enough of looking up people's noses. Also, light onto their faces.'

Poet Coral Rumble noticed a minor slip-up during a broadcast.

She added: 'I love that even the BBC Security Correspondent forgot to put the vacuum cleaner away before going on Zoom. Bet the place was a mess 30 minutes before.'

Online video calling platform Zoom has been a widely-popular tool for thousands of employees working from home during lockdown.

But the Government is increasingly concerned that continued working from home will deal a hammer blow to struggling town and city centres.

The Prime Minister is expected to step up his efforts next week to get more people back to their normal routines by reassuring the public that 'the workplace is a safe place'.

The prospect of a new campaign to encourage commuters to return to their offices will be welcomed by Tory MPs who warned that businesses in urban centres are facing 'devastating consequences' if things do not go back to normal.

But Labour has accused ministers of 'threatening' workers and of 'forcing' them to make an 'unconscionable' choice between their health and their job after a Government source said people who continue working from home could be the first to go if firms restructure.

A new survey published this week showed that nine out of 10 people who have worked from home during lockdown want to continue doing so in some capacity in the future.

But residents in Blackpool, Bournemouth and Southend are among the areas leading Britain's big push for normality as they are becoming busy with shoppers, workers and tourists again.

Data revealed the three coastal resorts along with Birkenhead, Basildon, Chatham and Doncaster have all seen higher levels of footfall over the past week than before restrictions were imposed in March.

The footfall league tables were revealed in an interactive map published by the Centre for Cities think tank, which also found only 17 per cent of workers in British cities had returned to their workplaces by early August.

Other figures have shown Britain's high streets are rebounding at a slower rate than shopping centres, with the data revealing how the reluctance of staff to return to workplaces is harming businesses.

Footfall in town and city centre streets has stagnated in recent weeks, while out-of town retail parks and urban shopping centres are slowly moving back towards their original footfall figures, the Office for National Statistics said.

The ONS also found 13 per cent of workers are still on paid furlough, with almost one in four (39 per cent) of companies topping up their wages. The ONS measured footfall compared with the same day of the week in 2019.

The director-general of the Confederation of British Industry Dame Carolyn Fairbairn this week warned commercial centres risk being permanent 'ghost towns' if office workers don't get back to their desks.

Majority of civil servants won't return to the office until CHRISTMAS as more than 20 of Britain's biggest firms have no plans for anyone to head back and 50 say they won't bring everybody back By Tom Pyman For MailOnline The majority of British civil servants are not expected to return to the office before Christmas, insiders have claimed. More than 20 of the UK's biggest employers also say they have no plans to imminently bring all staff back to the office full-time. A study found this week that British workers are the most reluctant in Europe to return because of fears of a second wave of coronavirus. Some employers say they are hamstrung by social distancing restrictions they argue prevent them from allowing many of their staff to return. As a result, many are continuing to allow employees to work remotely, with major companies such as JP Morgan now letting staff permanently split their time between home and the office if they wish, with other firms not opening up headquarters until at least next year. The majority of civil servants are also expected to steer clear of the office until at least Christmas, officials and trade unions told the Financial Times. Dave Penman, head of the FDA union, said the number of civil servants attending the office in most government departments will most likely reach 30 or 40 per cent 'over time.' 'In most departments the numbers are steadily going up but it's not going to be huge numbers, it's not going to be a majority [by the end of the year],' he said. A senior official from another union added many workers would only return to the office on a part-time basis. The source explained this would mean most civil servants would still be at home 'on any given day' as far ahead as Christmas. One Whitehall official also revealed only a handful of his colleagues had returned to the office since the easing of lockdown, and he doesn't anticipate the majority returning before next year. Advertisement

Writing in the Mail, Dame Carolyn said getting staff back into offices and workplaces is as important as the return of pupils to school.

'The UK's offices are vital drivers of our economy,' said Dame Carolyn, who speaks for almost 200,000 firms.

'They support thousands of local firms, from dry cleaners to sandwich bars. They help train and develop young people. And they foster better work and productivity for many kinds of business.

'The costs of office closure are becoming clearer by the day. Some of our busiest city centres resemble ghost towns, missing the usual bustle of passing trade. This comes at a high price for local businesses, jobs and communities.'

But even amid concerns about hard-hit high streets, the majority of British civil servants are not expected to return to the office before Christmas, insiders told the Financial Times.

More than 20 of the UK's biggest employers also say they have no plans to imminently bring all staff back to the office full-time.

A study found this week that British workers are the most reluctant in Europe to return because of fears of a second wave of coronavirus.

Some employers say they are hamstrung by social distancing restrictions they argue prevent them from allowing many of their staff to return.

As a result, many are continuing to allow employees to work remotely, with major companies such as JP Morgan now letting staff permanently split their time between home and the office if they wish, with other firms not opening up headquarters until at least next year.

Dave Penman, head of the FDA union, said the number of civil servants attending the office in most government departments will most likely reach 30 or 40 per cent 'over time.'

'In most departments the numbers are steadily going up but it's not going to be huge numbers, it's not going to be a majority [by the end of the year],' he said.

A senior official from another union added many workers would only return to the office on a part-time basis.

The source explained this would mean most civil servants would still be at home 'on any given day' as far ahead as Christmas.

One Whitehall official also revealed only a handful of his colleagues had returned to the office since the easing of lockdown, and he doesn't anticipate the majority returning before next year.

Last month, safety chiefs warned workers will not 'blindly obey' the Prime Minister's calls for a return to the office, as some of the county's biggest firms say fewer than 50 per cent of staff could come back because of social distancing.

Chairman of the British Safety Council Lawrence Waterman said he understood the importance of workers returning to the office, but said many were staying away due to the government's social distancing rules.

Addressing the amount of BBC staff working from home, a spokesperson said: 'The vast majority of our staff continue to work as they have over recent months, either working remotely for those who are able to or in an office location if this has been agreed or they are in service critical roles.

'For those in a BBC building, we've been closely following Covid workplace guidelines and continue to maintain social distancing of two metres.

'In situations where this is difficult, we're adhering to one metre plus social distancing with the addition of masks, screens and other personal protection equipment.'

BBC chief Lord Hall says broadcaster can embark on a 'big push' to move more staff out of London to make it 'more relevant to licence fee payers'

The BBC can embark on a 'big push' to move more staff out of London, the corporation's outgoing director-general has said.

Lord Tony Hall - who will be replaced by Tim Davie on September 1 - said moving away from the capital would help the organisation to be more relevant to licence fee payers.

He added that 70 per cent of BBC staff could be placed outside of London.

The BBC has several offices across the UK, including its north-western Salford headquarters and Broadcasting House in London.

The BBC can embark on a 'big push' to move more staff out of London, the corporation's outgoing director-general Lord Tony Hall has said

He told The Daily Telegraph: 'What we've learnt from Covid is that you don't need as many buildings as you think, therefore you can be more diverse in where you centre people.'

'I think we can do a big push to get more out of London, and that changes the dynamic of the discussions you have and therefore - and I hate using the the word relevance, but I will do - your relevance to the people that are paying for you.'

Lord Hall said it is not the BBC's job to 'take sides', adding: 'We should not pander to any particular group; we should be giving everybody, whoever they are, something.

'We should try to be the calm centre in what is a very stormy situation.'

In January, Lord Hall announced plans to move two-thirds of the corporation's staff outside London 'at least' by 2027.

The BBC has several offices across the UK, including its north-western Salford headquarters and Broadcasting House in London (pictured)

He added that 70 per cent of BBC staff could be placed outside of London. Pictured: The BBC studios at Salford Quays, Manchester

Lord Hall also addressed the ongoing row over plans to perform Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory without lyrics at Last Night of the Proms after critics claimed the patriotic anthems were 'racist'.

He said the controversy shows 'what the BBC does matters'.

He said the move to play orchestral versions of Rule, Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory that do not feature singing was 'the right creative decision'.

He added that 'when you haven't got an audience... it's going to feel very, very flat'.

Traditional songs, which some find controversial because of their perceived ties to imperialism, will be played without lyrics at this year's Last Night, although the BBC has confirmed they will be sung again in 2021.

Lord Hall's comments come after composer Errollyn Wallen, who has written a new arrangement of Jerusalem which will be played during the Last Night performance, hit out at Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his intervention on the issue.

She said that his comments were 'irresponsible'.

Earlier this week, Mr Johnson said he found the decision to remove the lyrics difficult to believe.

'I think it's time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history, about our traditions, and about our culture, and we stopped this general bout of self-recrimination and wetness,' he added.

Jamie Barton waving the the rainbow flag at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London last year, while singing Rule Britannia

Responding to his comments, Ms Wallen said: 'I think that is the first step, certainly cringe with embarrassment, and then go further and let's open up the history that we are all part of.

'So that is the first step.'

She added: 'I think he was being irresponsible at a time when the arts gets so little support.

Lord Hall's comments come after composer Errollyn Wallen (pictured), who has written a new arrangement of Jerusalem which will be played during the Last Night performance, hit out at Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his intervention on the issue

'It has been hung out to dry, especially with all that's happened with Covid-19.

'His remarks weren't at all helpful.'

Ms Wallen she was 'dismayed' that so many politicians waded into the row.

There is a 'hullabaloo' over the Last Night, she said, adding: 'Some of that was whipped up, to be honest.'

Earlier this week, Lord Hall confirmed the issue of dropping songs because of their association with Britain's imperial past had been discussed.

The live music leg of the BBC Proms kicked off on Friday with a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

At the beginning of the BBC Two coverage of Friday's performance, Stephen Fry, who was presenting, said it was 'extraordinary' to be there.

He added: 'It is exciting, as a Prom always is, except without the audience it's exciting for other reasons because this is such a great moment in the cultural history of our nation, that the grass is growing back up through the concrete and finally there's live music.'

The Last Night will be performed on September 12.

During the classical musical festival there will also be performances held in locations including Salford Quays and Cardiff's Hoddinott Hall.
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NATO and Afghan security forces provide relief to flood victims in Afghanistan

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

28 Aug. 2020

NATO and the Afghan security forces recently provided critical assistance to the victims of floods in the eastern province of Parwan. This is part of their efforts to work together for the security of all Afghans.

Flash floods this week in eastern Afghanistan devastated the town of Charikar, killing over 100 people and damaging or destroying hundreds of homes. Charikar is located in Parwan Province, just north of Kabul. "Let me offer my condolences to the people of Parwan for the loss of life and loss of property and to all the families that are affected," said Resolute Support Commander Gen. Scott Miller during an August 27 visit to the province.

Afghan National Security and Defense Forces and the NATO Resolute Support Mission are providing aid and assistance to help families recover. Afghan forces are leading recovery efforts, search and rescue and clearing debris. NATO has so far donated thousands of Halal meals, bottles of water and personal hygiene kits and blankets which were flown in on Coalition aircraft to help victims.

General Miller visited the province with acting Minister of Defense Asadullah Khalid and Independent Directorate of Local Governance Director Samim Katawazia to assess the damage and reassure local leaders they would receive the support they need during the crisis.

"Let me also offer my thanks to the people of Parwan for your leadership and the security forces that are stepping forward to try to alleviate the suffering of the people," he added. "They are your sons and daughters. I would ask all of you to be very vocal about your support. You have every right to be proud of them." General Miller recognized the sacrifices Afghan forces bear as they work to secure peace in the country despite ongoing high levels of Taliban violence. "I always tell the Taliban, I tell the world, that the violence needs to come down," he said. "That is very important for the people of Afghanistan."

The Resolute Support commander reiterated NATO continues to stand behind and support the Afghan people, noting his long-standing relationships with Khalid and Katawazia as a long-standing example of the tight relationships that have been built over the last two decades. "We have been through some good times and we have been through some hard times, but we always stay together. And I think that is important. Again thank you for your leadership," General Miller said.

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People wearing protective face masks walk past a bar in Marina Bay Financial District in Singapore, 7 July 2020 (PHOTO: Ore Huiying/Getty Images)

By David Ramli and Ishika Mookerjee

(Bloomberg) -- Singapore has long been the city of choice for Western expats wanting an easy entree into Asia. Clean, efficient, with low tax rates, its often seen as rivalling Hong Kong, especially with that city hit by street protests and unrest over Chinas new national security law.

Yet just when Singapore should be a magnet for global talent, some recruiters say the barriers to entry are mounting. The city is facing the worst recession in its history, forcing a rethink for some firms on expansion and hiring plans. Alongside soaring unemployment has come a spike in rhetoric against foreigners, seen by some Singaporeans as taking jobs from locals.

An experienced nurse from New Zealand is finding out how tough it can be. She seemed, on paper at least, the ideal expat -- arriving right before Covid-19. But 11 months and over 200 failed applications later, she says shes on the verge of going home, unable to land a work pass.

She was told by companies that they have a quota and the quota is met, she said, asking not to be identified for fear of jeopardising her partners work permit. When attempts to volunteer at hospitals were similarly rejected, she said she felt like she didnt belong.

The uncertain job prospects, online commentary and stricter conditions risk making Singapore a less welcoming destination just as the city-state needs foreign investment the most. And as workplaces clamp down on hiring it could further limit the options for expats who have long seen a stint in Asia as an important and lucrative experience.

The Singapore government has added to their angst by taking steps to promote local hiring, raising concern that it will come at the expense of expats. Earlier this month, it put 47 companies on a watch-list for suspected discriminatory hiring practices. The list includes banks, fund managers and consulting firms that may have pre-selected foreigners for jobs or not given Singaporeans a fair chance. This adds to the 240 companies already under scrutiny. The names of the firms werent disclosed.

Story continues

And in May, it tightened the framework that governs employment passes for foreigners, increasing the minimum monthly salary to S$3,900 ($2,840) and further expanding rules requiring employers to advertise job openings to locals first. The government said Wednesday it plans to raise that salary threshold further.

I wouldnt be surprised if there was a contraction in the number of visas issued because the demand for foreigners is going to be less in the near term, said Hays Plc Regional Director for Singapore Grant Torrens, citing the sharp contraction as the main driver.

The role of foreign workers became a key election issue this year, with several opposition candidates campaigning on claims that overseas talent is taking local jobs. The Workers Party, which clinched more seats than ever, published a manifesto that included tightening employment pass approvals.

The only reason we have foreigners here is to give an extra wind in our sails when the opportunity is there, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan said in a televised election debate in July. Now we are in a storm, and we need to shed ballast.

Balakrishnans office said in response to Bloomberg queries on the comment that there will be a disproportionate impact on the foreign workforce in a downturn.

Foreign workers on employment passes - the sort issued to highly skilled workers as opposed to work permits for blue-collar jobs -- typically comprise around 5% of the total workforce. Yet among top managers and professionals in some key sectors, the ratio of foreigners can be much higher. Non-Singaporeans made up 57% of senior management roles across the financial services sector, the government said in August.

Andrew Zee, team lead for financial services at Selby Jennings, said some of his job candidates were recently denied permits -- a first for him in more than four years -- though they were later approved on appeal.

Sirva Inc., which owns Allied Pickfords, said inquiries from people wanting to move to Singapore in the first seven months of the year were down 23% from the same period in 2019, according to Amanda Jones, senior vice president of sales and account management. Jones doesnt expect to see expat executives coming to Singapore at pre-Covid numbers until 2022 at best, especially given travel curbs and the recession.

Expats Leaving

The shift is starting to be felt in the real estate market. Ella Sherman, an associate executive sales director at Knight Frank in Singapore who specialises in expat housing, says she normally signs about four rental agreements a month this time of year. Now shes lucky to secure one, and knows of several clients heading home.

Beyond the economic woes and the pandemic lies an unease over foreigners in the country of just 5.7 million people. This has surfaced in public calls, often on social media, for more hiring of locals. When a Facebook post targeting foreign executives at $215 billion investment giant Temasek Holdings Pte went viral this month, Chief Executive Officer Ho Ching responded with a post of her own describing it as a cowardly act of hate.

Job Cuts

Companies are taking pains to describe their efforts to retain Singaporean jobs. When Millennium Hotels and Resorts laid off 159 employees this month, it noted that the move lifted its core Singaporean workforce to 69%. After casino operator Resorts World Sentosa reportedly cut 2,000 jobs last month, the Ministry of Manpower issued a statement saying the majority of affected workers were foreigners.

After the retrenchment exercise, RWS has a stronger Singaporean Core, the ministry said.

Even expats abroad are feeling the pinch. One worker was overseas and between jobs when the pandemic struck. Though he quickly found a new position, he said his employment pass submission has been rejected several times with no explanation.

Hes now stuck in Europe paying rent for his empty home in Singapore, unable to return until his visa gets approved. He declined to be identified for fear of jeopardising his application. He said the rising anti-foreigner rhetoric was equally worrisome.

For some, the social tensions were brought to the fore when a few expats were caught breaching government-imposed lockdowns by drinking and mingling outdoors without masks in May. The incident sparked an ugly debate on social media and prompted a minister to caution against the visceral reaction by locals. The offenders were fined and banned from working in Singapore, as were 134 others over May and June.

Green Cards

To be sure, some politicians are urging calm. Singaporeans want assurances that the government will continue to create opportunities and provide fair treatment, but a vast majority understand that staying open and connected is very important to Singapore, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said Wednesday.

Singapore isnt alone in fighting for local jobs. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order this month barring federal agencies from replacing citizens or green card holders with foreign workers.

And the city states status as a finance hub ensures it will always be magnet for foreign talent. Citadel, the hedge fund run by billionaire Ken Griffin, announced this week its opening a Singapore office, as did Sun Life Financial Inc., Canadas second-biggest insurer. Becton Dickinson & Co. is also expanding.

Attractive Hub

Singapore remains an attractive destination, said Rahul Sen, the global head of private wealth management at Boyden, an executive search firm. New businesses that were thinking of setting up in Hong Kong to attract greater China wealth are thinking of setting up shop in Singapore.

Even so, the avenues for many are narrowing. The nurse from New Zealand has started reaching out to health-care providers back home. Theyre eager to hire so she may head back.

Singapore is an amazing city, and we hoped that if we stayed long enough, things would change, she said. But the longer it takes, the further away it seems.

(Updates with Becton investment near end)

 2020 Bloomberg L.P.
ANN ARBOR, MI  Craig Teschendorf wasnt sure where he and his 7-month-old puppy Eleanor were going to go if they ended up homeless Friday afternoon.

After receiving a 24-hour eviction notice the day before, the 65-year-old retiree, who is disabled and uses a wheelchair, spent the day dreading being forced out of his Ann Arbor apartment amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

I dont know how Im going to move, he said.

A grassroots group of activists, including the Ann Arbor Tenants Union, wasnt going to let that happen and staged a rally ahead of the expected eviction, while reaching out to local officials to raise awareness about the situation.

Dozens gathered outside Teschendorfs apartment at the Orion MainStreet apartment complex on Lake Village Drive shortly before 3 p.m. Friday, carrying signs with messages such as No evictions: Defend our senior citizens and Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.

No pay, no rent, no evictions in a pandemic! they chanted, as some held a banner calling evictions state violence.

Ann Arbor police officers were on the scene and talked with the protesters before leaving. The eviction Teschendorf and the crowd were hoping to stave off was avoided at least for now. Theyre not 100% sure what will happen next.

City Council Member Elizabeth Nelson, D-4th Ward, was at the demonstration and said she spoke by phone Friday afternoon with a representative from Atlanta-based RAM Partners LLC, the apartment complexs parent company, and the eviction is still going to happen, just not on Friday.

It has not been averted at all, Nelson said, though she expressed hopes enough awareness has been raised to get Teschendorf some help and hopefully find a way to avoid forcing other people out on the street amid the pandemic.

Teschendorf said things werent looking good before the crowd showed up Friday.

When I see this kind of a turnout and these people care, that makes me feel good deep inside. Thank you so much, he told the crowd, clutching his chest with both hands as he sat in his wheelchair, speaking through a megaphone.

Organizers of the rally said they were there to protest a horrific eviction of a disabled and elderly resident whose caretakers have neglected to pay the rent they were responsible for.

Teschendorf previously struggled with homelessness and was receiving assistance from AdvisaCare, a home health care company hired by his disability insurance to take care of his needs, including rent, organizers said.

He didnt know that rent wasnt being paid, so this totally caught him off guard, said Julia Goode of the Tenants Union.

AdvisaCare accrued a roughly $7,000 rental debt to Teschendorfs landlord, Orion MainStreet, organizers said in a news release, adding Teschendorf was denied the ability to speak at a recent eviction hearing between the two parties because he wasnt a party in the case.

The Ann Arbor Tenants Union is appalled by the actions of the parties involved in this situation for not only failing to protect the well-being of the most vulnerable members of our community, but for lacking the empathy and compassion for others to consider pushing someone at increased risk of illness out onto the streets during a global pandemic, the release stated.

Members of the Ann Arbor Tenants Union, the Washtenaw General Defense Committee, the Mutual Aid Network of Ypsilanti, and the Huron Valley Democratic Socialists of America will be supporting the tenant in every way possible.

The apartment complexs management and AdvisaCare declined to comment on Friday and a representative of the complexs parent company couldnt be reached.

Teschendorf said AdvisaCare dropped him as a client in February, deciding they could not staff me.

Things snowballed from there, but evictions were on hold until July due to the pandemic.

Ann Arbor council urges Gov. Whitmer to reinstate eviction moratorium in Michigan

Court records show Orion MainStreet filed a civil case against AdvisaCare on March 2 in Ann Arbors 15th District Court and it went before Judge Karen Quinlan Valvo in July.

Hearings were held July 14 and 21 and a judgement was entered against AdvisaCare, which was not represented by an attorney, according to court records. Valvo ordered the eviction Aug. 18 and the case is now closed.

Local officials said nonprofit Legal Services of South Central Michigan is now assisting Teschendorf.

Ahead of Fridays rally, Goode said the Tenants Union helped raise enough money to put Teschendorf up in a hotel for a night or two if it comes to that. She argued more could have been done by all parties to mediate the situation before it got to this point and the judge didnt have to order the eviction.

She could have said this looks like a royal mess, we need to straighten this out first, Goode said. Instead she ordered to put this man out to the street.

Valvo did not respond to a request for comment.

It feels particularly egregious, Goode added. Michigans been hard hit by the pandemic. Ann Arbor is supposed to be Michigans liberal town that cares about people. ... Its going to make the whole community sicker if were evicting people. It just shouldnt happen and it really shouldnt happen in Ann Arbor.

Goode suggested the city should work with the county, Sheriffs Office and the courts to find better solutions if theres not going to be an eviction moratorium.

Officials hope to prevent evictions in Washtenaw County with program

Derrick Jackson, spokesman for the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office, said the Sheriffs Office is not doing any evictions currently, though there are civil process companies in the county that handle the work.

Will Hanna, a University of Michigan law student, attended Fridays rally and expressed thanks to Nelson for helping to make calls and raise awareness.

In my mind, she deserves a lot of credit for helping this guy out today, he said.

Whatever happens next, Teschendorf said all he knows is theres no way hes going to be separated from his yellow lab. Hes training her to be his service dog.

Thats my whole life right there, he said.

Teschendorfs situation has attracted attention from U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, who issued a statement Friday saying a disabled man reportedly being evicted from his apartment with 24-hour notice highlights real issues too many are facing. She called Teschendorfs landlord, she said.

There are real human faces on Senate inaction to passing further COVID legislation, Dingell said. Its been 105 days since the House passed the Heroes Act, which included extended eviction relief  as well as desperately needed support for struggling families and essential workers.

It also included funds for testing and tracing measures, key support for frontline workers and strengthened assistance for the American people, Dingell said.

People in Ann Arbor, people in Michigan, and people in this country cant wait another day  the Senate must act.

MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:

New deal with police union in the works as Ann Arbor officials push for reform

Ann Arbor looks like a college town once again. Heres what police are doing about it.

2 coronavirus cases identified at University of Michigan dorm

Free coronavirus testing in Ypsilanti offered Saturday

University of Michigan students talk safe socializing: You basically have to start ranking your friends
Santa A. Claus, of South Side Easton, has died after decades of brightening the holidays for children with their eye on that certain so-and-so for Christmas.

That was really his name. He told lehighvalleylive.com back in 2014 hed tried to get it changed beginning in 1986, and finally succeeded in 1995 with help from then-state Sen. Roy Afflerbach.

We all went to Harrisburg and his name was changed to Santa A. Claus, his sister, Colleen DeFelice, said Saturday. Shed just been looking through a scrapbook about his life and found a quote in one of the stories about him saying he did it, because nowadays everybody asks for ID and children do, too.

He was the Santa Claus for 18 years at the Concord Mall in Wilmington, Delaware, then played the part at Main Street Commons in Bethlehem, which used to be Orrs. Hed been the Orrs Jolly Old Elf, too, in addition to stints at the Lehigh Valley Mall and Hesss in Allentown. He was the first Santa when the Mall of America opened in Minnesota, his sister said, and worked at the Monmouth Mall in New Jersey, too.

His wife of 58 years, Dolores, portrayed Mrs. Claus at his side, and her name really does show up as Dolores S. Claus in public records.

A man with the legal name of Santa A. Claus has been portraying the Christmas figure for decades, and is seen here in November 2014 on the lower level of the Main Street Commons in Bethlehem. Claus, of Easton, died Aug. 27, 2020, at home. He was 80.Matt Smith file photo | lehighvalleylive.com

Santa A. Claus was born and raised in Catasauqua, and he and the Mrs. lived for the past few years on East Kleinhans Street in Easton.

DeFelice lives in Florida and said she got the call Wednesday afternoon that hed taken a turn. Hed been ill for the past three years, and no longer able to lend an ear to children at Christmastime, she said. She took the first flight to Pennsylvania and was with him and his family when he passed at home.

The official time was 12:25 Thursday afternoon, she said. He believed in magic.

Santa A. Claus obituary tells of a full life, with many jobs outside the holidays: Truck driver, contractor, Mack Trucks laborer.

He helped Allentown plan its St. Patricks Day Parade, and belonged to numerous Christian and philanthropic groups.

DeFelice said she didnt know much about his having been responsible (for) and participated in raising a sunken barge which was used on the Lehigh Canal, to quote a line from his obituary.

A man with the legal name of Santa A. Claus has been portraying the Christmas figure for decades, and is seen here in November 2014 on the lower level of the Main Street Commons in Bethlehem. Claus, of Easton, died Aug. 27, 2020, at home. He was 80.Matt Smith file photo | lehighvalleylive.com

After 9/11, he knew of the family of one of the pilots who was killed and made special arrangements for his children to visit with him privately and for the store merchants to donate gifts, DeFelice said.

Were getting phone calls, she said Saturday of his fans: There were families that two-three generations, they came as children, they brought their children and now theyre bringing their grandchildren. One of the messages we received was, He was the only Santa my children know.

The obituary  perhaps with a wink  lists his age as unknown, but DeFelice said shes four years younger than him and public records say he turned 80 in March.

Along with his wife and sister, survivors include two daughters, two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Services are this week.

A man with the legal name of Santa A. Claus has been portraying the Christmas figure for decades, and is seen here in November 2014 on the lower level of the Main Street Commons in Bethlehem. Claus, of Easton, died Aug. 27, 2020, at home. He was 80.Matt Smith file photo | lehighvalleylive.com

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Residents said that even with the vast loss of property here, things could have been far worse. It appears most people heeded warnings to get out of Lauras way. Cameron Parish officials had reported no fatalities as of late Friday, though there were still people known to have stayed behind who were not yet accounted for. Louisiana officials have reported at least 1o dead statewide, most from fallen trees north of here or from carbon monoxide poisoning relating to the use of generators, including a family of five in Lake Charles. Another four have been reported killed in Texas.
Anuradha Shukla By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Centres suggestion in the GST Council meeting on Thursday that states borrow from the Reserve Bank of India to make up for revenue shortfall will not be viable for states. This is because most states are already reeling under high debt as well as fiscal deficit. Under existing rules, states cant borrow more than 3.5% of their GDP.

The Union finance ministry has given the option to state governments to borrow as much as Rs 2.35 lakh crore from RBI. However, as borrowing is guided by the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, it will need some regulatory changes.

There is restriction on the amount they can borrow, which is set at 3% of their GDP and then it was extended to 3.5% during the pandemic. Now, the additional debt will be added to their limit, which will restrict their borrowing capacity for other purposes, a senior finance ministry official said.

States rely on three sources to finance their expenditure  own resources, transfers from the Centre, and borrowings. After GST, dependence on own resources and tax collections shank and, as a result, borrowing shot up.

In the current financial year, the gross borrowings of the Centre and states increased to Rs 21.6 lakh crore, while net borrowings stood at Rs 18.9 lakh crore.

As of July this year, the combined market borrowings of the Centre and states were almost 77% more than the corresponding period a year ago.

Revenue shortfall, no transfer from the Centre and inability to borrow will force states to cut their planned expenditure, say experts.

According to Soumya Kanti Ghosh, group chief economic adviser at State Bank of India, states have certain limitations on borrowing. Citing Article 293 (3) of the Indian Constitution, he said a state cant raise borrowings without the Centres consent if it has any loan outstanding which is repayable to the Government of India. Also, unlike the Centre, states cannot directly borrow from external sources.

The Centre plays the role of an intermediary in the transfer of external borrowings to states, Ghosh added.
If Abraham Lincoln is to American political oratory what Bob Dylan is to our modern popular music, a speech the Illinois state lawmaker and attorney delivered to the Young Men's Lyceum in Springfield in January 1838 might be analogous to Dylan's 1964 album "The Times They Are a-Changin'": A work that demonstrated the young performer  Dylan was 22 when the album dropped, Lincoln 28 when he gave the speech  was close to mastery of a traditional idiom while pointing to the greatness to come.

For Dylan that form was folk music, for Lincoln it was the high-flown classical oration that descended from Cicero. It was a style he would refine and whittle down to a lapidary precision through the rest of his career. The Lyceum speech runs about 3,600 words; the Gettysburg Address  justly recognized as the surpassing masterpiece of American political speechmaking  takes only 272.

I wrote about the Lyceum address four years ago as Donald Trump was stomping on his opponents in the GOP primary. I was not planning on revisiting it this year, but I'm doing a lot of unexpected things these days and I'll bet you are too.

This semi-sequel is necessitated by no less a personage that Lara Trump, the wife of the president's second son Eric and one of a dazzling number of Trump family members who spoke at last week's Republican National Convention. That list did not include the president's sister, retired federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry, who was recently revealed to have called her brother an unprincipled, cruel, lying narcissist in secret recordings made by her niece, Mary Trump, who used the material for her new memoir, "Too Much and Never Enough."

Lara Trump, like all the other Trumps who appeared at the RNC, had only extravagant praise for the paterfamilias  "a person of conviction," "a fighter and will never stop fighting for America," someone who "will uphold our values."

And then, she seemed to quote the Lyceum speech: "Abraham Lincoln once famously said: 'America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.'"

"While those words were spoken over 150 years ago, never have they been more relevant," she said.

The Lyceum speech was more than 180 years ago, but who's counting? Especially when those words were actually never spoken by Lincoln  though they've turned up on several internet memes within quotation marks next to pictures of him, which is pretty much the same as reading it in a textbook. (Donald Trump tweeted the same misquote in 2015, so maybe it's a family heirloom.)

The young lawyer's actual words were slightly more poetic: "At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide."

Chills, right? The speech is full of such darkly prophetic language, which Lincoln uses to describe the threats to the young nation posed on the one hand by mob unrest and on the other by the potential rise of a homegrown tyrant. It is, in other words, a speech that could have been quoted at length at both of this month's political conventions to stirring rhetorical effect.

Are you a Republican who fears violent protests? Are you a Democrat who believes the president is undermining the Justice Department? You'll both love Lincoln's worries about "the increasing disregard for law which pervades the country; the growing disposition to substitute the wild and furious passions, in lieu of the sober judgment of Courts; and the worse than savage mobs, for the executive ministers of justice."

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

Lincoln, or course, was speaking not about politically motivated violence but old-fashioned vigilante justice  meted out to people on the lower rungs of mid-19th-Century society, including gamblers and Black people.

But as he continued, his concerns shifted to the possibility of a new kind of leader rising in the land, a homegrown Caesar or Napoleon who wouldn't settle for "a seat in Congress, a gubernatorial or a presidential chair."

"Is it unreasonable then to expect, that some man possessed of the loftiest genius, coupled with ambition sufficient to push it to its utmost stretch, will at some time, spring up among us?," he asked. "And when such a one does, it will require the people to be united with each other, attached to the government and laws, and generally intelligent, to successfully frustrate his designs.

"Distinction will be his paramount object," he continued, "and although he would as willingly, perhaps more so, acquire it by doing good as harm; yet, that opportunity being past, and nothing left to be done in the way of building up, he would set boldly to the task of pulling down."

In slightly more than two months, voters will be asked to think about which party's vision of America they subscribe to, and what sort of president they think is best suited to help us extricate ourselves from the worst crisis in at least a half-century. My own hope is that, four years from now, I won't find myself moved to revisit the Lyceum speech.

But it's kind of up to you.

cseiler@timesunion.com  518-454-5619  @caseyseiler
A mother who made the "heartbreaking" decision not to send her five-year-old daughter to school said she had to prioritise the health of her family.

Grace Ryan, whose daughter Valerie Ryan-Lambert was due to start junior infants in St John of God's, Artane, Dublin, said she and her husband were considering deferring school by a year in the hope that the coronavirus pandemic will subside.

Ms Ryan is asthmatic and her husband Adam suffers from high blood pressure.

"We'd be in bad shape if coronavirus came into our house as it's only a small one-bedroom bungalow, so if somebody did catch it, we'd have very limited space to isolate," she said.

"We pulled Valerie out of pre-school when news about the virus being in Ireland first broke.

"It's hard for Valerie seeing the neighbours' kids going back but I think she understands the basics.

"My heart is broken over it, but we feel it's the safest decision."

Ms Ryan said going out in public initially after lockdown restrictions eased was difficult for Valerie, which ultimately helped them come to their decision.

"When it was full lockdown, she did miss her friends and started getting a bit anxious when we went outside afterwards.

"We'd a few days when she was really bad and cried when we got out of the car.

"Once we had to turn around as she was so anxious. They [kids] definitely sense it, they're catching snippets of something they don't fully understand.

"I'd prefer for her to start school when things are more normal. In other countries, kids don't start school until they are six or seven, so we might defer - but we're looking at home-schooling options also."

Ms Ryan said the liaison officer at the school was very understanding about their decision. She said, for her family, the risk of sending Valerie to school outweighed the benefits.

"There's a lot of talk at the moment about anxiety, but for me it's not anxiety, it's a legitimate fear about an imminent threat, we're not imagining things. Unfortunately, this virus is very real and we don't want to increase the risk."

The Government this week published updated advice for families and teachers who find themselves in the high-risk category.

Schools, where possible, are to make remote learning accessible for pupils who have to remain at home.

"The overall responsibility for ensuring that pupils at very high risk to Covid-19 receive appropriate support remains with the school," the advice states.

Ms Ryan said she was waiting to hear back from the school in terms of options for Valerie, should they decide not to defer.
Mayors in northern NSW have pleaded with the state government for assistance as the Queensland border closure affects access to healthcare and work.

Byron Shire mayor Simon Richardson said hundreds of thousands of people have been denied medical and employment services since the border was closed "through no fault of their own".

Drivers stopped by police at a Queensland-NSW border checkpoint in the Gold Coast hinterland. Credit:Elise Derwin

But rather than attacking the Queensland government for closing the border, Cr Richardson said the NSW government needed to step in.

"We cant just gnash our teeth and shake our fists over the border; weve got to start looking at some solutions," he said.
A haunting film showing children on a beach in Victorian England 124 years ago has been restored using artificial intelligence.

Remarkable new details about The Shrimp Fishermen emerged following work that converted the grainy 50 second clip into high-resolution colour 4k digital footage.

Now that even the background is so clear, there is a prospect of people identifying the exact stretch of British coastline where it was shot in the summer of 1896, and even identifying those being filmed.

Jean-Paul Lilienfeld, the French film director, posted the images online saying they had been restored and colourised by artificial intelligence, with an appropriate soundtrack of crashing waves and childrens laughter and shouting added.

The film from 1896 has been restored to full colour. It shows some Victorian parents and children on an un-named beach. The clip was stored in the French archives

The original black and white version is out of copyright and widely available online, meaning enthusiasts are free to fill in the data in between original frames, so creating a more flowing effect that looks closer to real life.

Impressive how it makes them so close to us, said Mr Lilienfeld, whose films have been nominated for Cesar awards in his own country.

Mr Lilienfeld said the images had originally been filmed by a crew working for Auguste and Louis Lumiere  Frances famous Lumiere brothers.

They were known the world over for their pioneering Cinematograph motion picture system, and for the short films they produced between 1895 and 1905.

This  combined with the red Kepi-style hats of two boys in the film  led many to assume that it was shot on the coast of France, where the Lumiere brothers often worked.

The films were stored in the cities of Lyon and Nimes, with only very basic French language captions with no names added  either of the beach or those on it.

Congressional archives in America in fact reveal that the film is the work of Alexandre Promio, the French-Italian film maker who travelled to England as a 28-year-old in the summer of 1896 on behalf of the Lumiere brothers.

The clip also showed three children sitting at a table and enjoying some food

His principal assignment was to make a recording for their film company of the wedding of Queen Victorias granddaughter, Maud of Wales.

Maud, the youngest daughter of the future King Edward VII, was aged 26 when she married her first cousin, Prince Carl of Denmark in London.

The marriage took place on July 22nd 1896 in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace, and Promio recorded Maud  nicknamed Harry by the Royal Family because she was a tomboy  as she travelled past St Jamess Palace in a carriage surrounded by Household Cavalry.

Others covering the wedding included reporters from the Daily Mail newspaper, that had been published for the first time two months earlier.

During his trip to the English capital, Promio also shot live scenes of traffic, people and animals at Piccadilly Circus, Tower Bridge, Marble Arch, Regents Park Zoo, and Crystal Palace Park.

It was during a trip to a nearby beach in late July or early August 1896  possibly in Kent or Sussex  that Promio filmed The Shrimp Fishermen using an original Lumiere Cinematographe (Cinematograph).

The films had been stored in Lyon and Nimes before they were reproduced in full colour

Promio is unlikely to have travelled too far from London, suggesting the scene could be a resort like Margate, where there were vast open sands, and donkey rides were common.

Promios portable device recorded on large format 68mm film which was almost double the 35mm film that was to become standard in the film industry.

This means that these surviving nitrate films are rich in detail, especially when restored in 4k digital format.

An intriguing detail picked up during the editing process of The Shrimp Fishermen is a small container being carried by a girl with the English word Shrimps on it.

As well as shrimping in the film, children can be seen in donkey-drawn carriages, accompanied by adults in straw boaters for the men and ornate hats for the women.

The children are shown 'shrimping' in the film - which means that they are fishing for shrimps

Formal dress was common on the beach during the era, when bathing wagons were wheeled into the sea so that people could swim without showing off their flesh.

Seaside resorts expanded massively, with Queen Victoria herself enjoying trips to the Isle of Wight.

Her Majesty was also a regular visitor to Nice, on the Mediterranean coast of France.

The weight of Victorian film, and the very complicated and heavy early mechanisms, meant that films were only about a minute long, and thus hard to turn into what would now be called a documentary.

There were experiments in combining sound and vision as early as the 1880s, but there was no question of The Shrimp Fishermen having an original soundtrack.

All of Promios English films, including the seaside one, were shown at Londons Empire Theatre in March 1896.

They were introduced by Auguste and Louis Lumiere in a programme that ran for a full 18 months, drawing thousands of what would have amounted to the first British cinema audiences.

Jean-Paul Lilienfeld, the French film director, posted the images online saying they had been restored and colourised by artificial intelligence

There is every chance that the English children filmed on the beach ended up having their lives devastated by the First World War.

In his commentary on the restored film, director Mr Lilienfeld said a period of unprecedented peace and prosperity in both Britain and France would end with the slaughter of the 1914  1918 war.

The boys would have been exactly the right age to be part of the generation who faced conscription into the military, and then death or wounding on the battlefields of northern Europe.

Because the children whom we see happy and carefree in this film will be between 20 and 30 years old in 1914: future widows and future machine-gunned! On the way to the great butcher's, Mr Lilienfeld wrote.
Jaipur, Aug 29 : BJP state president Satish Poonia on Saturday questioned the Gehlot Government over the death of a young farmer leader who had been staging a protest in Jodhpur for 23 days.

The farmer leader Pukhraj was participating in a sit-in staged by Kisan Sangh in Jodhpur, he passed away on Friday night after his health worsened.

Speaking to the media, Poonia said, "The young farmer leader Pukhraj fell ill after sitting on dharna in CM's home constituency on Friday night and died in the hospital. What will the state government say now and what shall it do," he questioned.

"Besides, Pukhraj's death, suicides by three farmers - Sher Singh, Motaram and Jagdish - have been reported in the state in the last few months which has brought infamy for the state," he said.

Poonia mentioned that during the assembly poll campaign, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and CM Ashok Gehlot had repeatedly promised to the farmers that their loans would be waived off, but many farmers committed suicide as they suffered under the pressure of loans from cooperative banks.

"As an opposition leader, I bring forth the plight of these farmers in front of the insensitive CM and request him to take up the issue of a farmer leader's death seriously or else farmers across the state shall stage a protest," he added.

Farmers under the banner of Kisan Sangh have been protesting in Jodhpur for over 20 days, demanding a waiver on electricity bills and also, the grant of Rs 822 that they had been receiving against Rs 10000 bills each month under the former government that has been stopped by the Congress government.
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Covid-19 curve flattening in Dharavi, rising in neighbouring Dadar and Mahim

While the Covid-19 curve has started to flatten in Dharavi, Indias largest slum cluster, the number of Covid-19 cases have doubled in neighbouring Mahim and Dadar areas in the last 40 to 60 days. Read more

Govt may ask BSNL to test domestic network for 4G

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is considering advising state-run Bharat Sanchar NIgam Ltd. (BSNL) to test a domestically consolidated end-to-end network for 4G services before selecting a telecom company to upgrade its network, HT has learnt. Read more

5 more die due to floods in Odisha, toll goes up to 12

Five more people died in Odisha on Friday, taking the death toll in the state ravaged by floods to 12. Two people have also been reported missing since August 25. Read more

Louisiana avoided Lauras wall of water? Not so, says forecaster

The 20-foot high unsurvivable wall of water Hurricane Laura was forecast to send onto the Louisiana coast showed up despite widespread reports of a lower peak, authorities said on Friday, rejecting criticism that they had raised too much alarm. Read more

Invincible Ray Parlour says Lionel Messi would fit well in England

Saturdays Community Shield tie between Premiership champions Liverpool and FA Cup winners Arsenal will be the bugle call for a season unusual in equal measure for closed-door games and the possibility of Lionel Messi playing in the Premier League. Read more

Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman dies of colon cancer at 43

Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman has died of colon cancer at 43, his family has said in a statement. The actor had been battling cancer for four years. Read more

Poco X3 camera, fast charging speed teased by company exec

Poco has confirmed that the Poco X3 smartphone will launch soon. Pocos global spokesperson has been dropping hints and now details for the upcoming smartphone. The Poco X3s camera and charging details have now been revealed. Read more

Preity Zinta is rightfully proud of her homegrown lemons in this cute Instagram video

Preity Zinta took to Instagram on August 28 to update netizens on her gardening adventures. The Bollywood actor appeared proud of her homegrown lemons and seeing them you may say rightfully so. Read more

Watch: J&K L-G Manoj Sinha takes stock of situation amid heavy rainfall
Danny Lavery is off this week. For todays column, heres a selection of classic letters from the Dear Prudie archive.

Dear Prudence,

My boyfriend and I live together and have been dating for three years. During our first year of dating, he had a weeklong affair with his ex-girlfriend. I learned about this affair two years into our relationship because he still felt guilty about it. I decided to accept that this was a one-time mistake and that I still loved him very much. This issue is that maybe three nights a week I wake up to him groaning her name and grinding into me. It makes me ill when it happens and tremendously distressed. I understand that everyone has sex dreams and that he doesnt have control over it, but it happens all the time, and if he just didnt say her name it wouldnt bother me so muchor if it wasnt the person that he had cheated on me with. I guess this isnt even a question. Its just something that I wish wasnt happening. On his part, Ive brought it up a couple of times when he found me crying in the middle of the night, and he seems genuinely surprised that he is having these dreams and truly apologetic.

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Literally Nauseated

Just to be clear, most people do not have sex dreams about past lovers so vivid that they wake their partners three nights a week by calling out their exes names and trying to hump their partners legs. Thats about as far from normal sleep behavior as I can imagine, and you dont have to convince yourself that this is something every couple goes through, because it isnt. What youve described sounds unbelievably distressing, and I dont think you should have to put up with it. Make it clear to him how much this upsets you, how regularly its happening, and how imperative it is that he go to the doctor immediately to find out if he suffers from any sleep disorders. Your boyfriend may not know what hes doing while hes doing it, but you cannot possibly move on from the past if every other night youre jolted out of your sleep because your partner is calling out the name of the woman he cheated on you with. This is an emergency situation that affects your ability to sleep as well as your emotional security; its not something for you to just get over. It is time for you to tell him to make a choice: to acknowledge your pain and seek some kind of treatment or behavioral therapy to end the night humps, or to sleep apart for the remainder of your relationship, as short as that may be.

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From: Help! My Friends Baby Died, and Now She Wants to Burn the Cot She Borrowed. (Dec. 8, 2016)

Help! Should I Admit That I Tricked My Husband Into Having Another Kid?

Danny M. Lavery is joined by Elizabeth Sampat on this weeks episode of the Dear Prudence podcast.

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Subscribe to the Dear Prudence Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Dear Prudence,

Last year I got married. My uncle, who is an alcoholic, got drunk and assaulted his then girlfriend during the reception. Neither my wife nor I have spoken to him since. He now lives with my aging grandparents as he cannot support himself due to his drinking. I called my grandparents before the holidays to let them know that my wife and I would not visit them as long as my uncle was there. They got upset and defended him at every point in the conversation, ultimately hanging up on me after saying they would no longer be in contact. My grandparents have serious health issues and may not have much longer to live. On the one hand I want to reconcile before they pass (weve been close my whole life), but how do I get past their inability to see their sons wrongdoing and how it affects others?

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Uncle Alcoholic

You cant force your grandparents to stop enabling your uncle, and you shouldnt back down from your decision not to see them while hes there. That doesnt mean you cant let them know you love them, that you miss them, and that youd like to talk on the phone or spend time together without your uncles presence or discussing him at all. But your uncle assaulted a woman at your weddingthats not a minor infraction to overlookand theres no sign hes willing to change. You set an appropriate limit with your grandparents, and they responded by cutting off contact. That doesnt mean you should completely abandon the prospect of reaching out to them before they die, but if their condition for continuing your relationship is to pretend your uncle is not culpable for his crimes, thats not a condition you ought to meet.

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From: Help! My Wife Doesnt Really Enjoy Sex. I Suspect She Might Be a Lesbian. (Jan. 5, 2017)

Dear Prudence,

Six months ago I decided to end a five-year relationship with my ex-girlfriend (we still have a mortgage together). Recently Ive been thinking Ive made a massive mistake. We split up because I felt slightly aimless within the relationship and that the spark had gone, after much trying to rekindle it. I also felt that I needed some space (Im 27 and wed been together since my second year of university so it was my only fully adult relationship). Is there any way I can broach this discussion without causing my ex pain? Its possible (even likely) that shes moved on entirely. I love her deeply so I dont want to cause her undue stress. Is there any way of doing this respectfully? Or should I accept that this is it, and that I need to let things go for good?

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Wanting to Reconnect

Theres nothing inherently wrong with wanting to get back together, but Id encourage you to get your house in order before calling up your ex and asking to reconnect. Whats changed in the last six months? Whats to prevent you from feeling aimless and de-sparked again in the future, and checking out again as a result? If your answer to those questions are nothing much, except Ive felt lonely and Im not sure, reconsider burdening your ex with that conversation. It could be that youve realized some profound truths about yourself, or it could be that youre still experiencing the nervousness and self-doubt that often follow ending a long-term relationship, and long for the security and stability you had with your ex-girlfriend, rather than your ex-girlfriend herself. So do some internal research first, and if after that, you still think you made a mistake, give her a call. Make it clear you know this is a long shot, and that youll respect any answer she gives you. Good luck either way.

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From: Help! My Wife Doesnt Really Enjoy Sex. I Suspect She Might Be a Lesbian. (Jan. 5, 2017)

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Get Dear Prudence in Your Inbox 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.

Dear Prudence,

While living abroad, I had a son who died during delivery, leading to the eventual disintegration of my relationship and my decision to move back to the U.S. Three years and countless hours of therapy later, I am single and enjoying a fabulous career. But now everyone I know is having babies. How do I handle the constant comments made by pregnant people I know about what they presume is my childless life? Things like, Oh, youll understand when you get pregnant, or Wait till youre 36 weeks pregnant! You wont want to walk uptown either! I hear this nearly every day from co-workers.

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I find it unnerving and annoyinghasnt anyone taught them not to make assumptions about other people? I feel tempted to teach them a lesson in tact, reveal my secret, and shut them up once and for all. But many of these women are on their first pregnancies, and I dont want to frighten them (my own sons death was a freak event, both unpreventable and unpredictable). And who wants to hear about someone elses dead baby when theyre about to have a living one? Ive taken to nodding and smiling, but its only becoming more common and its fraying my nerves. I avoid pregnant women now, just so I wont have to pretend. I have accidentally slipped up a few times, too, commiserating with pregnancy-related complaints only to have them look at me quizzically. When my son died, I knew I was in for a lifetime of griefbut this is an unexpected dilemma!

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How to Talk About Babies When Yours Is Dead

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One thing that might help would be to no longer think of the death of your son as your secret. Its a major part of your life, and you have the right to discuss it without worrying that you are taking anything away from other peoples pregnancies. Thats not to say you need to share it with every grocery store clerk or airplane seatmate, but you say this is happening on a daily basis at work, which must make getting through the day incredibly difficult. Having to hide your pregnancy-related commiserations must also add to your psychic strain.

My one caution would be not to reveal this information to your chatty co-workers in a moment of irritation, as a form of punishment for making casual assumptions about your life. But you can absolutely share that you have been pregnant, that you had a son, and that he died while you were giving birth to him. If you dont want to keep telling the story over and over, you could try telling one trusted friend or colleague who might then quietly spread the word. You can also let anyone know if you dont want to answer a lot of follow-up questions, and that youre doing well now; you dont owe them an in-depth discussion of the workings of your innermost soul just because youve told them about an experience that still brings you pain.

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From: Help! My Husband Wont Have Sex With Me. Can I Sleep With a Friend? (Dec. 29, 2016)

Dear Prudence,

I just opened a 529 college savings account for my 5-week-old daughter. The website offers a handy link which any party can use to contribute. I want to post the link to Facebook, with the message: Feel free to help my daughter go to school in lieu of giving gifts this year! Maybe some people would impulse-donate or actually would prefer to give money to this account rather than buying us gifts we dont need. My wife thinks this is money-grubbing and gross. I think college is expensive and if Great Aunt Moneybags impulse-donates $1,000, then its more than worth it. What do you think?

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Not Made of Money

Ive always thought of college savings accounts as falling under the provenance of parents, grandparents, and other close relatives. Posting a donation link to Facebook might not be the most effective targeting method. If you have older relatives who might be interested and able to donate to your daughters college fund, a phone call or a friendly email might be a better way of getting them to chip in. Maybe your wife would feel better about you reaching out to a handful of interested good friends and family members than to every Facebook acquaintance.

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My final (and totally objective, legally binding) opinion on the tastefulness of posting a link to your daughters college fund on Facebook is that it isnt grubbing, exactly, but it may be grubbing-adjacent. Youre asking for money for a nonemergency, but very real, expense. Call it money-scrabbling. It lacks that certain indefinable air of dignity, but so does, you know, the entire system of capitalism if you dont already have money to begin with.

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Also, congratulations on your new daughter! I hope you have a great time raising her.

From: Help! I Moved to Dubai and Told My Parents Im in Tokyo. (Nov. 19, 2015)

More Dear Prudence

My roommate has multiple sexual partners, and every night one of them stays at our house. Its the same people each week, and I have met them all, so its not like strangers are sleeping over, but its starting to feel like I have an extra roommate with a different name every few days. This isnt a typical my roommates boyfriend sleeps over every night and should pay rent scenario. I dont care at all that she dates multiple people. I just dont want to have an extra roommate every single night. How do I tell my roommate I am uncomfortable having someone stay over every night without sounding like I am judging her poly lifestyle?
Vistara operated its first long-haul flight from Delhi to London on Friday using its newly inducted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, the airline said here. The full-service carrier is scheduled to operate special thrice-weekly flights from August 28 to October 24 between the two cities, it said in a statement.

These special flights are being operated under a bilateral 'air bubble' pact signed between India and the UK amid the coronavirus-related travel restrictions. The flight on Friday departed from Delhi at 2.15 am and landed in London at 6.55 am (local time).

Also read: Vistara to start flights from India to UK, Germany, France

Vistara said on August 18 that it was seeking necessary regulatory approvals to operate similar special flights to Paris in France and Frankfurt in Germany. The airline has a fleet of 43 aircraft, including 34 Airbus A320s, one Airbus A321neo, six Boeing 737-800NGs and two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

While it received its first Dreamliner aircraft in February, the second one was received earlier this month. Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission and various bilateral air bubble pacts.

Also read: IndiGo market share soars to 60% in July; SpiceJet, GoAir, Vistara struggle

Since July, India has established such air bubbles with countries like the US, the UK, France, Germany, the UAE, Qatar and the Maldives. India is negotiating with 13 other countries to establish similar bubbles. After a gap of two months due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown, India resumed domestic passenger flights on May 25.
Hong Kong: 141 centres set for universal testing

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip today announced that 141 specimen collection centres will operate in 18 districts under the Universal Community Testing Programme.

During a press conference with the media, Mr Nip said the programme's objective is to identify infected people in the community, especially asymptomatic cases.

On the selection of specimen collection centres, basically we want to have these centres in the community in our 18 districts.

Our first priority is, of course, to identify those sites belonging to the Government. Also, the sites should be large enough so that we could put in place appropriate infection control measures and social distancing measures.

We include schools because, as you know, in schools there are school halls, playgrounds and ample areas. So basically they are suitable sites.

The Education Bureau is in liaison with the relevant schools and Im sure that they would work out suitable arrangements so that the schools operation will not be affected. In any case, there will not be face-to-face classes starting from September 1.

The programme will be launched on September 1. Citizens can book an appointment online from August 29.

Click here for the booking and testing arrangements.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce on Monday its verdict on the quantum of sentence to be awarded to activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan, convicted for contempt of court over his two tweets against the judiciary.

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra will pronounce its verdict against Bhushan, who faces simple imprisonment of up to six months or with a fine of up to Rs 2,000 or with both as punishment under Contempt of Court Act.

On August 25, the top court was urged by senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan to show judicial statesmanship" and not make Bhushan a martyr" by punishing him for contempt over his tweets criticising the judiciary, after the activist-lawyer rejected fresh suggestions from the court for an apology.

As the top court reserved its verdict on the sentence to be awarded to Bhushan, Justice Arun Mishra, who presided over a three-judge bench, at the fag end of the nearly three-hour-long hearing had asked why he cannot seek an apology and what was wrong in using this word.

Justice Mishra is demitting office on September 2.

The apex court on August 14 had held Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his two derogatory tweets against the judiciary saying they cannot be said to be a fair criticism of the functioning of the judiciary made in the public interest.

On August 25, Dhavan, representing Bhushan, had suggested that the top court recall the August 14 verdict convicting him for contempt of court and not impose any sentence and urged it to not only close the case but also to bring an end to the controversy.

Attorney General K K Venugopal requested the court to forgive Bhushan with a message that he should not repeat this act. The bench also comprising Justices B R Gavai and Krishna Murari, had given 30 minutes to Bhushan to think over" on withdrawing his statements made in the court and said he made disparaging remarks against the institution and the judges".

Venugopal had said Bhushan, who has been refusing to tender an unconditional apology for the tweets, should withdraw all statements and express regret.

The bench on August 20 had granted time till Monday to Bhushan to reconsider his defiant statement" and tender unconditional apology" for the contemptuous tweets.

Referring to Bhushans statements and his refusal to apologise, the bench had told Venugopal that mistakes were committed by all but they needed to be accepted, but here Bhushan was not willing to accept that.

Dhavan had argued that reprimanding Bhushan like dont do it again" as suggested by the attorney general will not be correct and instead a statesman-like message should be there like Mr Bhushan though we disagree with many things, but from next time you should be more responsible".

Bhushan in his statement had refused to offer an apology to the Supreme Court for his two tweets against the judiciary, saying what he expressed represented his bona fide belief which he continued to hold.

(With PTI inputs)
Team Fastrax Professional Skydiving Team Vet Fest is a great family friendly event that honors our Nations veterans.

Saturday, August 29, 2020, at 11am, the U.S. Veterans MC is holding their Annual VetFest Ohio at the Ohio Renaissance Festival Grounds in Waynesville, OH.

As part of the festivities Team Fastrax will reverently skydive in at 2pm with their large American Flag. We are honored to be part of this amazing charity event, commented John Hart, owner of Start Skydiving, and Founder of Team Fastrax. Vet Fest is a great family friendly event that honors our Nations veterans. We cant wait to be a part of this special day.

VetFest Ohio is presented by U.S. Veterans Motorcycle Club and Fox Shooting Loft. According to their website, the event will include tons of fun, live music, great prizes, vendors, and support an amazing cause. VetFest Ohio is a time for all patriots; whether military or civilian, to get together to honor the memories of every fallen Veteran from the Revolutionary War to the present day. To Honor ALL living Veterans. VetFest will honor all Active Duty Military Members and without a doubt  Honor our Flag - the symbol of our nation, and to Honor our Country, the greatest in the world.

Team Fastrax dedicates every performance to a fallen hero. They may be gone but are not forgotten. This performance by Team Fastrax is dedicated to Sgt. 1st Class Dustin Ard.

ABOUT TEAM FASTRAX

Team Fastrax, sponsored by SELECTiON.COM, is the most ambitious professional skydiving team in the world. The team has a roster of more than twenty-nine active members, with a collective of more than 300,000 skydives. Team Fastrax has performed exhibition skydives all over the world for audiences large and small as a patriotic display or as a product promotion.

ABOUT SELECTiON.COM

SELECTiON.COM is a nationwide provider of criminal and pre-employment background screenings, also referred to as a Consumer Reporting Agency. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, SELECTiON.COM is a veteran-owned company that has been in business since 1991 and offers more than 35 background and data collection services.
China's military 'will not dance to US' tune'

People's Daily Online

(China Daily) 09:48, August 28, 2020

Defense Ministry vows to uphold peace as Washington ramps up provocations

The Chinese military opposes the United States ramping up its pressure and provocations against China, and promises to take "every measure necessary" to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests as bilateral relations face an "unusually severe and complicated situation", the Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday.

When asked at a news briefing about increased US military activity around China, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, the ministry's spokesman, said that some US politicians are sabotaging China-US relations for selfish reasons and even deliberately want to create an accident or military conflict.

By doing so, Wu said, the US is disregarding the safety of front-line servicemen, the interests of people from both countries, and aspirations for peace around the world. "It will not win over any hearts," he added.

"The Chinese military will adamantly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and resolutely maintain peace and stability in the region and the world," he said.

"We hope some US politicians can see the truth, be levelheaded and stop these provocations, so that China-US military relations and bilateral ties can return to their correct course."

China-US relations are facing an "unusually severe and complicated situation", Wu said. For some time, the US has kept stirring up trouble and provocations, which has seriously undermined China's sovereignty and security, as well as military-to-military relations and bilateral ties.

"China's military will not dance to the US' tune, but also we will not bow to its reckless behavior," the spokesman said.

While commenting on remarks by US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper about his possible visit to China later this year, Wu said the defense departments from both countries are still in contact and coordinating the event.

"We hope the US side can take concrete actions, and create a positive atmosphere for the visit," Wu said.

Wu stressed that it is currently very important for the two militaries to maintain communication. Both sides should enhance dialogue and prevent risks, and work together to maintain stable relations.

"We hope the US can genuinely expand its strategic vision, view China's development with rationality and an open mind, and pull itself out of the swamp of anxiety and paranoia."

In response to the US contemplating the deployment of intermediate-range ballistic missiles in Asia, most likely in Japan, Wu said that China has repeatedly voiced its opposition on this subject.

"If the relevant parties still insist on having their own way, then China will take measures in retaliation," he said.

Regarding US interaction with Taiwan, Wu said the island is an inseparable part of China, and the Chinese military opposes any form of secession efforts, as well as the US having formal or military dealings with Taiwan.

This month, the US made a $62 billion 10-year arms deal with Taiwan, which included selling the island 66 F-16V fighter jets."US arms deals with Taiwan have always been a major undermining factor in China-US relations and regional stability," Wu said.

Referring to the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command's recently conducted real combat drills in the Taiwan Straits, Wu said, "The objective is to target foreign interference, as well as a small group of Taiwan separatists and their actions."

If the US continues with the arms deal, China will take "every measure necessary" to retaliate. "We will adamantly protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits."

Military exercises

According to local maritime safety administrations, China is holding naval drills in all four of its major adjacent waters-the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea. Since late July, the Chinese military has conducted 22 drills in these waters.

Wu said China also recently held military drills in the waters and airspace around the Nansha and Xisha islands in the South China Sea, as well as in waters off Qingdao, Shandong province, and Lyushun, Liaoning province.

"These exercises are in this year's training plan and do not target any country," he said.

The South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, a Chinese nonprofit research institution, said a US RC-135S intelligence aircraft entered the area of the South China Sea on Wednesday morning via the southeastern waters of Hainan province, where the Chinese military is holding a drill nearby.

On Tuesday, a Lockheed U-2 high altitude reconnaissance aircraft trespassed into the no-fly zone of a live fire drill by the PLA Northern Theater Command.

Li Haidong, a professor of US studies at China Foreign Affairs University, said the US military will likely continue its provocative intelligence gathering missions against China's naval exercises, so China will need to draft proper response protocols and mitigate risks.

"The China hawks in the US government are baiting China to fire the first shot and cause an accident, so that the Trump administration could distract the public from its failures," he said.

"We cannot play into their hands, and we must respond to their provocations with calm and prudence," he said."Meanwhile, we must seek dialogue with the US when the opportunity arises. Conversation is still better than confrontation. Only through high-level exchanges can we reduce our misunderstandings."

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By Matthias Blamont PARIS (Reuters) - Sanofi's confidence in its coronavirus vaccine candidates has increased this summer as the French drugmaker prepares to start clinical trials, its chief executive told Reuters. The company is working on two of the more than 150 potential vaccines being developed across the world to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than 831,000 lives and sparked economic chaos. One candidate, to be manufactured on the back of an existing platform that develops vaccines to treat flu, will use an adjuvant made by Britain's ...
Plainview Rotarians got together for their first face-to-face meeting since March 10 this past Tuesday. The meeting was well attended, and a Zoom meeting was arranged for those who were not yet comfortable with returning to the public format.

The program was presented by club member Ted Baker who is in charge of the annual Running Water Draw Arts and Crafts Festival. The event is the primary fundraiser for the organization and provides the money for the clubs local community service activities.
A 23-year-old man accused of raping a 16-year-old girl was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of sexual assault of a child, an arrest affidavit said.

Police said Jesus Lopez-Notario worked with the victim for about three weeks and began a friendship with her. On June 6, Lopez-Notario invited the teenager over to his house to hang out with him and some family members.

Soon after she arrived, the girl told officers she began drinking tequila and that Lopez-Notario tried to kiss and hug her throughout the night despite her fending off his advances, according to the affidavit.

FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox

Later in the night, the girl got in a vehicle thinking she was joining the family members to go pick someone up, but the group left in a different car, leaving her alone with Lopez-Notario in the backseat of a vehicle parked in the driveway.

She tried to get out of the vehicle, but he pulled her back in and began to forcefully undress her before she passed out, the affidavit said. The victim told police that she was woken up later by the family members trying to redress her.

They took her home and told her they were angry with Lopez-Notario and kicked him out of the house after he allegedly admitted that he had sex with the unconscious victim, according to the affidavit.

The next day, Lopez-Notario told the victim he would get her a "pill" so she doesn't get pregnant, the affidavit continued.

Lopez-Notario's bail was set at $50,000.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
Hyderabad, Aug 29 : The Telangana government has relaxed quarantine norms for international passengers arriving in Hyderabad by Vande Bharat or Air Transport Bubble flights.

The asymptomatic international passengers landing at Hyderabad Airport can now directly head home if they meet the criteria as laid down by the state government.

The state government has issued new guidelines in line with the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Passengers on business trips to Telangana with return tickets within four days of their arrival will not be quarantined at all if they show their negative RT-PCR test report conducted within 96 hours prior to departures.

Any asymptomatic passenger having a negative report of a RT-PCR test conducted within 96 hours prior to departure will be exempted from institutional quarantine and will undergo 14 days of home quarantine.

Special consideration of 14 days of home quarantine has been mandated for some categories of asymptomatic passengers without negative RT-PCR test reports. These include pregnant women, parents travelling with children 10 years or below or those travelling on medical emergencies.

However, the rest of the asymptomatic passengers without negative RT-PCR test results will have to undergo 7 days each of institutional quarantine followed by home quarantine.

Currently, Hyderabad International Airport is connected with the UK and UAE under Air Bubble agreements. British Airways has resumed its operations between Hyderabad and London four times in a week. Other airlines operating between Hyderabad and the UAE -- Etihad, Emirates and Flydubai -- are likely to resume their operations shortly.

The airport is also handling charter flights under the Vande Bharat Mission which includes Air India flights and other foreign airliners as per the regulatory norms.

From the time of lockdown till date over 55,000 Indian citizens stranded in various countries have arrived in Hyderabad and over 10,000 people of various nationalities have departed for their countries from Hyderabad.

International departures at Hyderabad airport are being handled through the fully sanitized Interim International Departures Terminal (IIDT) with thermal screening and social distancing in place.
New breakthroughs are emerging in the cannabis industry and now a New Zealand food company has developed the worlds first hemp-based meat.

According to the latest cannabis news, Sustainable Foods, the New Zealand-based food manufacturer, has pioneered the making of hemp-based fake meat. The company mainly deals in plant-based fake meat products, which sells through the Craft Meat Co brand.

Products offered to clients include soy-based burgers, sausages, and mincemeat. Over the past few months, the company together with researchers from Massey University Institute have spent time working on plant-based fake meat products.

So far, they have produced a line of hemp-based meat products, which are expected to hit the shelves in 2021. The team has been using hemp supplied by a medical cannabis manufacturer Greenfern Industries. This development shows just how fast the cannabis industry is unfolding, even as the push to legalize recreational marijuana continues.

Green fern Industries is a certified medical cannabis producer. It powers its processing and production facilities using hydroelectric power plant. Currently, New Zealand allows hemp to be grown outdoors and Greenfern believes the cost of growing hemp locally is lower than that of growing soy.

Additionally, hemp also generates higher profits. According to hemp entrepreneur Langdon Brown, hemp generates a profit of $1912 per acre while soybeans can manage around $250 per acre.
A doctor holds a sign criticizing the government medical policy at the Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. AP



The health authorities issued back-to-work orders to 278 striking doctors across the country Saturday as their collective action in protest of a medical reform plan continued.



The Korean Medical Association (KMA), which represents 130,000 doctors nationwide, ended their three-day walkout Friday. But interns and residents at general hospitals continued their action, and the KMA also vowed to launch an indefinite strike Sept. 7 unless the government withdrew its new plan to increase the number of medical students and open a new medical school.



The government has ordered not only junior doctors in the greater Seoul area but also those in the provinces to return to work, warning of possible prison terms, as the country is faced with a prolonged spike in new COVID-19 infections.



The Central Disease Control Headquarters said Saturday that it had conducted an inspection into 10 training hospitals in the country and sent out the executive order to 278 junior doctors working at emergency rooms and in intensive care units.



The Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA) representing the trainee doctors, as well as fellow doctors at major general hospitals have said they will continue their walkout indefinitely unless the government reconsiders its plan.



Those who do not follow the government order without a legitimate reason could have their licenses revoked and even face imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won (US$25,000).






After shooting three people during Tuesday nights protests in Kenosha, Wis., the gunman, with his arms raised and a semiautomatic rifle dangling off his body, walked toward police in their armored vehicles as people angrily shouted at him.

And what did police do as this white armed person walked toward them? They let him pass like he wasnt a threat to public safety.

Now, take a few seconds and imagine this: What if the armed person walking toward them was a Black man? Do you think the police would have rolled past him in their vehicles as if he were one of their own?

Authorities have since made an arrest, alleging the gunman was 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch, Ill., and alleging that he used an AR-15-type weapon to kill two people and injure a third. In a news release, an attorney for Rittenhouse said he acted in self-defense.

Before the shooting, Rittenhouse was captured in several videos alongside other men carrying long guns in Kenosha, according to a New York Times analysis of the videos. In one video posted on social media, an armed Rittenhouse talks with police in an armored vehicle. Police express gratitude and offer water bottles. In another video, Rittenhouse tells a videographer that he is protecting businesses, including a boarded-up car dealership.

He was one of many armed counterprotesters who showed up in Kenosha on the third day of civil unrest as protesters raged against another shooting in America of a Black man by a white police officer.

These counterprotesters would like for the American public to think theyre some kind of un-caped heroes rushing in to defend a community under siege.

But thats not what theyre defending. Intolerance and hatred is what these armed counterprotesters are defending.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Were witnessing a battle over America. One side is fighting for equality and all races to be treated equally and fairly. The other side is fighting for white supremacy, and they have a president in the White House and, it seems, police on their side.

On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said the fight for justice and equality lives in current social uprisings. She spoke during the virtual commemoration of the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington in which the Rev. Martin Luther King delivered the historic I Have a Dream speech.

She said the movement for justice goes on in honoring Rep. John Lewis and the other heroes who were beaten, bloodied and killed in the fight for civil rights.

To honor George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake, who were most recently attacked, and hundreds of other Black Americans harmed and murdered because of who they are, Pelosi added.

George Floyds death kicked off civil unrest in this country that wont end until the police stop killing people who dont pose an immediate threat to their safety or the safety of others. On Aug. 23, Jacob Blake was shot seven times by a Kenosha police officer as Blake tried to get into his car. Blake is now paralyzed.

Since 2015, the Washington Post has tracked police shootings, finding that Black people have been killed at more than twice the rate of white people. Heres something else: In 2018, 65% of police officers in America were white, according to Data USA, which used U.S. Census Bureau data for the report.

Police brutality and systemic racism isnt just a problem for Black people. Its Americas problem. Unfortunately, to some Americans, Black lives havent been worth much since slave owners were forced to stop selling our bodies to the highest bidder.

Jack Glaser, a UC Berkeley professor and social psychologist who researches stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination, told me theres a double standard for what police consider to be threatening.

Apparently, for police in Kenosha, a person who appears to be white walking with a gun as police respond to a shooting doesnt pose a threat.

One of the causes is just the automatic stereotypes that police and other people have associating Black people with crime and weapons and violence, Glaser said. Theres also this element of dehumanization where people generally see people of other races and ethnicities as less human, and thats especially so with white people in how they regard Black people.

In 2018, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth, in a news conference after the arrest of shoplifters who led police on a high-speed chase, said people who werent an asset should be warehoused, according to multiple news reports. Seriously.

He apologized after meeting with members of Kenoshas NAACP chapter, but the message was clear: Law enforcement gets to decide whose life matters.

Thats just one reason protesters across the nation are demanding greater police accountability.

Your whole job is predicated on the assumption that we will be afraid of you, said Erin Kerrison, assistant professor of social welfare at UC Berkeley, referring to police in general. Thats why its such a problem when people arent. It threatens your legitimacy. Your whole job is wrapped up in our complying with your assumption about what you deserve and how you get to treat us.

Here in California, the Legislature is attempting to enhance police accountability through legislation. One of the measures with a chance of passing is AB1506 from Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento. The bill would require the state attorney general to review more uses of police force, something Attorney General Xavier Becerra and his predecessor, Kamala Harris, refrained from doing. Im skeptical how effective it will be.

A bill that would require officers to intercede when present and observing an officer using excessive force was promising, but it was held, in part, because of pressure from law enforcement lobbyists, McCarty told me.

The law enforcement lobby is very influential, even in this era of post-George Floyd and the public wanting real police reform, he said. The law enforcement lobby still has a lot of reach in state politics. (The police are) afraid of change. Sometimes I think theyre afraid of the consequences and accountability, but the public is demanding it.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays and Thursdays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
A 2017 interview in which actor Chadwick Boseman hinted at his illness is going viral. The Black Panther actor died after a four-year battle with colon cancer on Friday (US time). As his Hollywood career boomed, though, Boseman was privately undergoing countless surgeries and chemotherapy to battle colon cancer, his family said in a statement announcing his death at age 43 on Friday. Hed been diagnosed at stage 3 in 2016 but never spoke publicly about it.

HuffPost journalist Matt Jacobs shared the excerpt shortly after the actors death was announced. He wrote, I interviewed Chadwick Boseman in 2017, and to think he was going through cancer while satisfying the physical demands of a Marvel movie...

In the short excerpt, the reporter asks Chadwick if he bulked up after filming the drama film Marshall between two Marvel movies. He replied, looking exhausted, Yeah, yeah, yeah. The reporter said, Youve been through the ringer, to which the actor responded, with a laugh, Oh, you dont even know. You have no idea. One day Ill live to tell the story.

I interviewed Chadwick Boseman in 2017, and to think he was going through cancer while satisfying the physical demands of a Marvel movie...https://t.co/MAB1ZYdcGS pic.twitter.com/eLdear66IU  Matt Jacobs (@tarantallegra) August 29, 2020

The actors fans were taken by his spirit. He laughed. HE LAUGHED. Knowing he was dying, he still laughed at. This man loved bringing joy to others and it is absolutely brutal he cant anymore, one person wrote in response to the tweet. That is not just strength that is heart and determination, wrote another fan.

Also read: Chadwick Boseman dies at 43, Avengers unite to pay tribute to Black Panther star: Rest in power, King

His death has been condoled by everyone from his Marvel movie co-stars to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Actor Don Cheadle wrote on his social media, I will miss you, birthday brother. You were always light and love to me. Chris Pratt expressed his prayers for Bosemans family and loved ones. Mark Ruffalo said in a statement, It was the highest honor getting to work with you and getting to know you. What a generous and sincere human being. You believed in the sacred nature of the work and gave your all. Zoe Saldana described him as a king. Brie Larson called Boseman someone who radiated power and peace and stood for so much more than himself. Chris Evans posted a message sharing that he was absolutely devastated, calling Boseman a true original. Chris Hemsworth called his death absolutely heartbreaking, adding, that Boseman was One of the kindest most genuine people (he had) met.

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Her recent social media post from the rooftops of Paris, France did not exactly go over well with fans.

But Kylie Jenner nonetheless pushed ahead with her European adventure on Friday, when she was seen with companions including Zack Bia and Fai Khadra on a visit to the world-famous Louvre Museum.

The 23-year-old makeup mogul wore a chic black ensemble for this most recent outing in the City of Light, complete with a cropped black leather jacket and roomy grey jeans.

Parisian outing: Kylie Jenner pushed ahead with her European adventure on Friday, when she was seen with companions on a visit to the world-famous Louvre Museum

Chic for Paris: The 23-year-old makeup mogul wore a chic black ensemble for this most recent outing in the City of Light

Kylie used the jacket, which featured a long strap hanging from the waist, to cover up the busty patterned halter top she was seen modeling earlier on Instagram.

The younger sister to Kim Kardashian let her chocolate brown hair hang loose, and she covered her nose and mouth with a sensible black face mask.

Jenner carried a grey snakeskin purse under her shoulder.

Stepping out: Kylie's look was complete with a cropped black leather jacket and roomy grey jeans; seen with friends including Zack Bia and Fai Khadra

Pretty profile: Jenner carried a grey snakeskin purse under her shoulder

Socially distanced: Kylie was surrounded by a phalanx of guards in addition to her friends

Clutching hands: Kylie used her jacket, which featured a long strap hanging from the waist, to cover up the busty patterned halter top she was seen modeling earlier on Instagram

She wore clunky-looking black boots, and was surrounded by a phalanx of guards in addition to her friends.

One female companion in particular who accompanied Kylie complemented her well in a beige trench coat, as the group walked along in the ages-old courtyard of the palatial art museum.

Kylie and her friend clutched each other's hands as they walked, as if for support.

Gorgeous setting: The palatial and historic Louvre Museum is home to La Joconde (or the Mona Lisa) by Da Vinci as well as the Winged Victory along with countless other classic works

Casual Firday: Kylie's buddies Khadra and club promoter Bia kept things casual in graphic t-shirts as they ambled along at somewhat of a distance from the others

Footwear: Kylie wore clunky-looking black boots

Group outing: The group walked along in the ages-old courtyard of the famed art museum

Khadra and Bia, meanwhile, kept things a bit more casual in graphic t-shirts as they ambled along at somewhat of a distance from the others.

In addition to posting sultry selfies to her Instagram on Friday, Kylie took to her Stories to share a shot of the Mona Lisa from within the Louvre, as well as a shot of gorgeous Parisian architecture set against the summer sky.

She also shared some selfie video and pictures from inside as well as outside the luxury car she used to get around.

Protected: The younger sister to Kim Kardashian let her chocolate brown hair hang loose, and she covered her nose and mouth with a sensible black face mask

Pals: One female companion in particular who accompanied Kylie complemented her well in a beige trench coat

Pretty Paris: The Louvre courtyard is flanked by gorgeous marble arcades

Close friend: Kylie and her friend clutched each other's hands as they walked, as if for support

Earlier on Friday, Kylie looked like she was in a state of bliss as she showed off her toned tummy while in the crop top and jeans atop a building in Paris without a mask on in the new Instagram photos.

Despite sharing a cosy snap with pal Fai, sources confirmed to TMZ that the pair are nothing more than close friends.

Kylie is in France to take meetings with executives from Coty, the parent company for Kylie Cosmetics, DailyMail.com has learned.

In 2019, Coty announced that it was taking a $51% stake in Kylie Cosmetics, for a huge sum of $600 million, which at the time, valued her company at $1.2 billion.

Unseasonably cool: While Kylie was seen in skimpier clothing earlier in the day, it seemed cooler when she and her friend were seen in coats later on

Relaxed: Kylie was seen arriving back in LAX by private jet on Friday evening after her trip

Safety first: Despite enjoying a jetset lifestyle during the current coronavirus lifestyle, Kyle at least wore a mask at the airport

Cosy: Kylie wore a pair of loose fitting jogging trousers for the flight

Meanwhile, Kylie flew into Europe via private jet, meaning she could forego some of the restrictions imposed on those entering France.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashian star's followers were quick to comment on how the lockdown rules seem to be different for the wealthy star, however.

Kyle wore her long highlighted hair down over her bare shoulders as she made her midsection the focus of the photos.

The top was a halter shape and showed off her body well as she added low-slung black denim boyfriend jeans.

In Europe: Jenner looked like she was in a state of bliss as she showed off her toned tummy while in a crop top and jeans atop a building in Paris without a mask on earlier in the day

All biz! The 23-year-old makeup mogul is in France to take meetings with Coty, her parent company for Kylie Cosmetics, DailyMail.com has learned

Her fans were surprised, though, that she was not in California where Governor Gavin Newsom has issued strict guidelines amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The official California State Government website currently urges people to only travel for 'urgent matters'.

There have been over 12K deaths from the pandemic in the state of California alone with almost 700K cases.

'You don't have to deal with COVID if ur rich,' sniped one fan.

'Is the pandemic over for rich people? I just see them taking luxurious vacations to tropical places or Europe like how is Kylie Jenner in Paris rn I don't understand.'

Dreamy in Paris: Kyle wore her long highlighted hair down over her bare shoulders as she made her midsection the focus of the photos

And another woman said, 'Kylie Jenner going to Paris during Covid while the rest of the world can't travel or visit family in other countries/states due to border restrictions just doesn't sit well with me.'

France has tight restrictions on travelers from the United States due to the rampant spread of COVID-19. There have been over 181K deaths in the US and almost 6M cases.

The official website of the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in France currently states all arrivals in France from the US 'must provide the results of a virologic screening test (such as a PCR test) taken less than 72 hours before departure indicating a negative result for Covid-19.'

The website also states: 'Travelers arriving in France must self-isolate for 14 days if they have no symptoms. Anyone displaying symptoms could be subject to quarantine for up to 30 days.'

Stylish by the Seine: The top was a halter shape and showed off her body well as she added low-slung black denim boyfriend jeans

This is not the first time Kylie has seemed to be free from lockdown worries: In the past week she has dined at Nobu in Malibu and attended Justin and Hailey Bieber's party. The star has also been seen entering Delilah's in West Hollywood.

Kylie stood out in a halter top as she went to the Bieber party with no mask on.

The Hidden Hills, California resident was seen in close proximity with other revelers.

She had company: The businesswoman was in the company of Fai Khadra, who is also pals with her sister Kendall Jenner

Soaking up that Paris summer sun: The daughter of Kris Jenner closed her eyes as she took in the heatwave

Different for KJ: The Keeping Up With The Kardashian star's followers were quick to comment on how the lockdown rules seem to be different for the billionaire star, however

Gripes: Her fans were surprised that she was not in California where Governor Gavin Newsom has put the public under lockdown. There have been over 12K deaths from the pandemic in the state of California alone. 'You don't have to deal with COVID if ur rich,' sniped one fan

Also with her was her supermodel sister Kendall Jenner.

They chatted up Hailey and Justin, who were also mask free. The party was to celebrate Justine Skye's birthday.

Kylie has also been seen heading to restaurants with friends as if there is no pandemic.

Another pretty pal: A blonde friend was in an Alexander Wang crop top and skirt

Just hanging out in the back of a car: Here the star was giving fans a closer look at her Dior top

No mask, just lipstick: The siren was mask free as she went to a meeting, but she seemed to be in a private car as she was driven around the city of lights

A quick trip to the Louvre: The star made sure to stop by the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa painting in person

The city streets call to her: Paris is known for its classic architecture and lanterns

A week ago she was in a sexy white outfit as she walked into the night club and restaurant Delilah in West Hollywood.

It is not known if she spent time in the restaurant or if an outdoor area was provided.

And the Kylie Skin founder has been seen many times hitting Nobu in Malibu with her pals.

Jenner shares daughter Stormi Webster, with her ex, rapper Travis Scott.

Party time: She appeared on the platform in a silk patterned tie-wrap top when she headed to Justin and Hailey Bieber's house for a party last week

Party people: Also at the big bash was her sister Kendall Jenner. They mingled with Hailey and Justin who were also mask free. The party was to celebrate Justine Skye's birthday
Democrat John DeBerry speaks out against violent riots: 'What kind of people have we become?' 'Peaceful protests end peacefully. Anarchy ends in chaos.'

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A speech given by a black Democratic representative in the Tennessee state Legislature has gone viral, with many hailing its civil rights-era moral clarity.



In remarks given on the floor of the Tennessee House on Aug. 1, Rep. John DeBerry, a Memphis-area Democrat who was forced off his party's ballot earlier this year, excoriated the tactics of those who are rioting, looting, and burning down businesses in major U.S. cities that has led to more than 30 deaths. DeBerry called upon his fellow legislators to remember the manner in which civil rights activists of decades past conducted themselves.

"What the world could see in them was the lie that was being told about them," he said of their efforts for justice.

This is like fresh water for a nation dying of thirst... Please share! https://t.co/S65DK5SuR3  Sam Harris (@SamHarrisOrg) August 27, 2020

The politician continued that he is one such man who walked into public places through back doors, sat in the back of the bus, drank out of the "colored" water fountain, and attended a racially segregated school because the law forced him to. The civil rights campaigners changed the world, he stressed, because they had courage and integrity, did not beg for citizenship but demanded it.

"How did they do it? They did it by standing like men and women of integrity and class, and common sense and values. When the riots started and folks started burning stuff down, that's when my father took my arm and we left. We left because that was not what we were there for. That was not what Dr. King was there for. That is not what others who were famous in the civil rights days were there for," he said.

DeBerry recounted that his family raised money to send his father to Washington, D.C., where Martin Luther King Jr. made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech wherein he said he longed for the day when his children would be judged not by their skin color but the content of their character.

"All we do in America right now is talk about color," he said, exasperated.

"Every issue is about race, it's about color, instead of sitting down at the table like men and women of common sense and common justice and understanding that our enemies are looking with a greedy vigilance upon us as we tear ourselves apart internally. They have been watching us for 50 years preparing step by step by step for us to kill ourselves."

Deberry, 69, was "blindsided" earlier this year when state party officials removed him from the House District 90 primary ballot because of his voting record. DeBerry frequently sides with Republicans on issues such as school choice and abortion.

"The people in my district did not take me off the ballot," DeBerry said at the time.

"A tribunal took me off the ballot that has absolutely nothing to do with my district."

"My views have always been conservative. The people in my district know this. And even though I've had opponents who have hammered me over and over about my stance on abortion, about my stance on the family, and my stance on education, [voters] have overwhelmingly elected me 13 times."

DeBerry's speech was circulated on social media, with many thought leaders whose views span the political spectrum praising it for its tone and content.

The Memphis representative noted during his remarks that he might not be serving in the state legislature next year but he nevertheless stands for his father's legacy.

"If we don't start standing for something, don't you know that the people who are looking at what's happening in Washington and Detroit and Portland and Seattle, they're getting emboldened because we act like a bunch of punks, too frightened to stand up and protect our own stuff," he said.

"What kind of a people have we become?" he said, incredulous that it was being said that people have a right to destroy taxpayer-funded property.

He emphasized: "Peaceful protest ends peacefully. Anarchy ends in chaos. And what we see happening right now, any of us with common sense, any common sense whatsoever, know that what we see is not peaceful. So we can continue to fool ourselves and mix with words and use rhetoric and public relations in order to frost this stuff over and put a nice picture on what we see that is frightening."

DeBerry's nephew is a policeman who recently told him about how he was attacked by rioters.

"You're telling me that somebody has the right to throw feces and urine in the face of those that we, as taxpayers, pay to protect us? That's OK? What has happened to us?" Deberry said, incredulous.

"If we don't get this right, right now, I've got grandchildren. I don't want to see the country we're going to have five, 10, 15, 20 years from now," he concluded, receiving loud applause.
FILE PHOTO: El Al Israel Airlines planes are seen on the tarmac at Ben Gurion International airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel

By Rami Ayyub

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - El Al Airlines <ELAL.TA> will on Monday fly Israel's first flight to the United Arab Emirates by a commercial carrier, an airline spokesman said on Friday, as the countries forge ahead with a deal to normalise ties.

The direct flight between Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport and the UAE's political capital of Abu Dhabi is due to carry an Israeli delegation and top aides to U.S. President Donald Trump, who brokered the Aug. 13 accord.

Trump's senior adviser Jared Kushner will be among the U.S. officials on the El Al flight departing on Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. (0700 GMT), a U.S official said.

A return flight from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, the El Al spokesman said, confirming timetable information on the Israel Airports Authority (IAI) website.

IAI listed the flight number for the outbound leg as "LY 971" and the return leg as "LY 972", a nod to the UAE and Israel's respective country codes.

"Next week for the first time there will be a commercial flight to Abu Dhabi. This is exactly what peace for peace looks like," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted on Friday.

Netanyahu's 'peace for peace' wording pointedly contrasts the Israel-UAE deal with the "land for peace" formula that has underpinned decades of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, but which is despised by far-right Israeli settlers and parties who oppose any land concessions or statehood for Palestinians.

There are no official air links between Israel and the UAE, and it was unclear whether El Al would be able to fly over Saudi Arabia, which has no official ties with Israel, to cut down on flight time.

The exact flight route and landing time were still being worked on, the U.S. official said.

In May, an Etihad Airways plane flew from the UAE to Tel Aviv to deliver supplies to the Palestinians to use for the novel coronavirus epidemic, marking the first known flight by a UAE carrier to Israel.

The Israel-UAE deal awaits negotiations on details such as opening embassies, trade and travel links before it is officially signed.

(Additional reporting by Steven Scheer and Tova Cohen in Tel Aviv and Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Editing by Nick Macfie, Mark Potter and Grant McCool)
This article, TikTok sale appears imminent. Rumors fly as Microsoft and Walmart team up for bid, originally appeared on CNET.com.

Chinese tech giant ByteDance may be ready to give up its control of TikTok after all, with a new report saying the social networking app's sale may be finalized within the next couple of days.

A deal for TikTok's North American and Australian operations is expected to be announced "in the coming days," CNBC reported Thursday, citing sources who wished to remain anonymous. So far, Microsoft , Oracle and "a third US company" have made bids on TikTok, CNBC added, noting that retail giant Walmart said it's teaming up with Microsoft for its bid. The report also said TikTok's US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand business are valued at up to $30 billion.

Walmart said in a statement that it believes TikTok's integration with advertising is a "clear benefit to creators and users in those markets" and offers an opportunity to bring a new spin to e-commerce.

"We believe a potential relationship with TikTok US in partnership with Microsoft could add this key functionality and provide Walmart with an important way for us to reach and serve [different types of] customers as well as grow our third-party marketplace and advertising businesses," Walmart said in the statement.

According to CNBC, Walmart had originally considered a deal with Google parent company Alphabet, but switched to Microsoft when it wasn't able to gain a majority stake in TikTok if it partnered with Alphabet.

TikTok, Microsoft and Oracle declined to comment.

The news comes after TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer resigned late Wednesday, marking a sudden end to his three-month tenure helming the company after running Disney's streaming video business.

The video-focused social networking app has had a rocky past few months. The app has grown over the past year to more than 100 million users in the US and more than 2 billion downloads around the world, making it a cultural phenomenon particularly among teenagers. Its short-video format has helped dance and comedy sketches go viral both on its service as well as on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

That popularity, though, has been blunted by announcements from a succession of US government agencies, the military, Congress and the White House warning that TikTok poses a national security risk, in part because its owner, ByteDance, is a Chinese company. The argument is that ByteDance, via TikTok, collects reams of user data and that this can be used by China's ruling Communist party against US interests.

President Donald Trump said he intends to ban the app from the US by early November unless it's purchased by an American company, touching off an odd acquisition process among the tech industry's largest non-social networking companies, particularly Microsoft.

"The spread in the United States of mobile applications developed and owned by companies in the People's Republic of China continues to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States," Trump said in his initial executive order on Aug. 6 announcing the upcoming ban. "At this time, action must be taken to address the threat posed by one mobile application in particular, TikTok."

In a legally questionable move, Trump has since demanded the entire app be sold, not just its US operations, and that he wants a "very big proportion" of the sale to go to the US Treasury. Legal experts question whether he can make such demands, and TikTok has since sued claiming that the "executive order is not rooted in bona fide national security concerns."
SYDNEY, N.S.Police in Nova Scotia say a man accused of shooting two people has been arrested in the Membertou area of Cape Breton.

Cape Breton Regional Police say the suspect is accused of shooting a man and a woman in North Sydney and Florence, N.S., on Saturday.

They say the male victim is being treated for serious injuries, while the woman is in stable condition.

Officers say theyre still investigating the shootings, and they expect to release more information as it comes in.

They did not say what charges the suspect may face.

Police had initially warned that they thought the suspect was on the run and could be armed.

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NEET, JEE mains 2020: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday demanded that the Centre postpone the JEE and NEET amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying lakhs of students and their parents are concerned about their health.

Gehlot in a video message said the country is flooded with coronavirus cases and there is a problem of transportation and hotels because of the pandemic.

The centre should take a decision quickly as little is left. The government should not hesitate to postpone the exam. The government should consider the feelings of students and parents. I hope the government will behave sensitively and postpone the exams, he said. On state-level exams which are proposed to be held in Rajasthan, the chief minister said his government is making efforts to ensure that the exams are held while maintaining social distancing.

Whereas the NEET and JEE are all India level exams and lakhs of students will take the exams. The Centre should take an appropriate decision, he said. On Friday, ministers of six opposition-ruled states also moved the Supreme Court on seeking review of its order permitting the Centre to conduct NEET and JEE amid the persisting pandemic.

The top court on August 17 had refused to interfere with the conduct of medical and engineering entrance exams -- NEET and JEE --scheduled to take place in September saying that life must go on and students cant lose a precious year due to the pandemic.
Impact investments, which aim to promote a social good or prevent a social ill, have significantly outperformed traditional bets during the coronavirus pandemic. And their returns are enticing hesitant investors to rework their portfolios.

Impact investing typically focuses on three categories: environmental, social, and governance, known as ESG. Returns can be tracked through various exchange-traded funds. For example, the S&P 500 technology ETF is up 25 percent this year, while the S&P 500 energy ETF, which includes oil and gas stocks, is down 34 percent.

Overall, 64 percent of actively managed ESG funds beat their benchmarks versus 49 percent of traditional funds through the first week in August, according to research from RBC Capital Markets.

The private markets are seeing similar interest. Take Vital Farms, which was founded in 2007 in Austin, Texas, to sells eggs from pasture-raised hens.

A few years ago, venture capitalists scratched their heads at an egg farm, said Dave Kirkpatrick, managing director at SJF Ventures, which was one of the first private investors in the farm. But Vital Farms, which grew through private investment before going public at the end of July, is valued at more than $1 billion.

Now, other investors are coming to him with questions about sustainable and profitable agriculture, said Kirkpatrick, who is also a founder of Impact Capital Managers, a trade group that seeks to show that impact investing can be a way to achieve higher returns.

The coronavirus crisis may be a turning point for wealthy investors, whom advisers have long seen as a key constituency to expand the market for investments that aim to do good and still provide solid returns.

Every time something goes wrong in the world, its a boost to impact investing, said Nancy E. Pfund, a managing partner and co-founder of DBL Partners. Theres a generalized frustration that whatever people have been doing for the last X number of years, its not working.

This has caused a shift in strategy, she said: Youre seeing people flock to impact investing, and now there are the returns.

Investment dollars have begun to follow returns. In the first half of the year, $20.9 billion went into impact funds, which was just shy of the amount of new money for all of last year, according to a report from Morningstar. (The 2019 number was, in turn, four times the 2018 total.)

The data heartens advisers who see this as a moment when they can stop making the case that individuals need to give up returns to make impact investments (a belief, known as concessionary returns, that has been largely refuted).

The impact portfolios are very significantly outperforming the traditional ones, said Brad Harrison, a co-head of impact investing at Tiedemann Advisors. It only escalated in the last year while weve been dealing with this pandemic.

Yet like all investing stories, there is some complexity to this one.

Creating an impact portfolio today is easier than it once was, but it takes considerable attention. Eric Lemelson, a philanthropist and vineyard owner in Oregon, has focused on clean-energy investments for nearly 20 years, and his portfolio has been almost entirely made up of impact investments for the past decade.

I made the decision to decarbonize the entire portfolio, Lemelson said. But the move took time.

With U.S. markets, it was relatively easy to start the move, he said. With the developing world, it was more difficult because there was less transparency.

Even in the face of data, the sector faces headwinds. Just last year, Daniel and Sheryl Tishman, whose wealth comes from the familys real estate companies, sought to put the $100 million that seeded their NorthLight Foundation into impact investments, but they encountered pushback from managers.

One manager they interviewed said that what they were trying to do was not possible, said Kate Sinding Daly, executive director of the foundation, which focuses on the environment. Thats an old-school view, she said.

Figuring out how to execute on their investment thesis was challenging. For example, the foundation had all its money in impact investments but was still switching among different assets in that sector, Daly said.

The environmental stuff was easy, she said. Its the issues around human rights, gender issues, arms, military investments, and all that stuff.

Thats a difficulty that other investors are going to run into. Excluding oil companies remains a straightforward choice. Investing in ways that promote an idea or thesis-like equity  is more complex. And its not always easy for the advisers to do it well, either.

It seems like the new queries we get are not from the asset managers but the intermediaries  the consultants and financial advisers who struggle to sort the wheat from the chaff, said Joshua Humphreys, president and senior fellow at the Croatan Institute, a think tank focused on investing for social good. Theres a big education learning curve from a lot of advisers.

Not everyone is bullish on this moment. There is some skepticism that impact investments look good because investments like energy and financial companies in traditional portfolios have not performed well over the past nine months.

The outperformance is pretty explainable by the shock to the oil industry, said Mark Cirilli, a co-founder and managing partner at MissionPoint Partners, a private equity firm. It has much more to do with the demand shock, as opposed to good companies with high ESG scores are better run in a pandemic.

Cirilli said he believed that more individual investors, even skeptical ones, were moving money into impact investments, but that the driver was sound economic fundamentals. Companies are being forced to respond to investor demands for greater corporate responsibility.

He pointed to the food industry, where several meat processing plants had serious coronavirus outbreaks in their factories, which prompted concerns about the safety and robustness of the countrys food supply chain.

COVID has raised the awareness of the fragility of our economic system, and to me, thats an investable trend, Cirilli said.

For some investors, though, the hope is that strong returns will persuade others to remake their portfolios to focus on impact. The market is changing fundamentally, Lemelson said. This is not just another challenge. Its the challenge.c.2020 The New York Times Company
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 17:46:27|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks during a high-level meeting on Tibet work in Beijing, capital of China. The meeting was held in Beijing from Aug. 28 to 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to build a new modern socialist Tibet.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the comments at the two-day seventh Central Symposium on Tibet Work, which ended in Beijing Saturday.

Xi underlined the need to fully implement the CPC's policies on governing Tibet for a new era.

Xi called for efforts to ensure national security and enduring peace and stability, steadily improve people's lives, maintain a good environment, solidify border defense and ensure frontier security.

Efforts must be made to build a new modern socialist Tibet that is united, prosperous, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful, Xi said.

Since the sixth symposium in 2015, Tibet has made comprehensive progress and historic achievements in its various undertakings, Xi said, noting achieving sustained stability and rapid development in Tibet constitutes a major contribution to the overall work of the Party and the state.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, policies on governing Tibet for a new era have taken shape, Xi said, stressing that the CPC leadership, the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the system of regional ethnic autonomy must be upheld to carry out work related to Tibet. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 18:03:27|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Aug. 9, 2019 shows a view of the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

"These two economies are still quite closely tied," former head of the International Monetary Fund's China division Prasad was quoted by CNBC as saying. "After all, it's very hard for the two largest economies in a way to stop bumping into each other in various dimensions."

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States are closely connected economically, and an economic decoupling is "a long way away," said Eswar Prasad, former head of the International Monetary Fund's China division, earlier this week.

"These two economies are still quite closely tied," Prasad was quoted by CNBC as saying. "After all, it's very hard for the two largest economies in a way to stop bumping into each other in various dimensions."

Tourists shop at a duty-free store in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, Aug. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Prasad, who is now a trade professor at Cornell University, noted that China is also actively reforming its capital markets and letting the market play a bigger role in the exchange rate regime.

"That is going to be tied in with domestic capital market development which Chinese leaders know is going to be crucial for China's sustained growth in the future," said the economist. 




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Jeremy Corbyn's brother Piers was yesterday arrested at a mass-gathering of Covid-19 conspiracy theorists who took to the streets of London to demonstrate against lockdown restrictions and vaccination programmes.

The former Labour leader's older brother was filmed being taken away from Trafalgar Square by a gaggle of mask-wearing police officers who hauled him into a van.

It is the third time the decisive anti-lockdown figure has been arrested in just over three months. He was arrested on May 16 and May 30 while protesting in Hyde Park.

More than 10,000 anti-lockdown protesters who believe coronavirus is a hoax gathered for the 'Unite for Freedom' rally which started at noon in the capital on Saturday.

Demonstrators called for an 'end to Government lies' and the restoration of all freedoms as they marched past Downing Street towards the Houses of Parliament.

Met Police announced they arrested a 73-year-old man on suspicion of breaking the new coronavirus health protection regulations at Trafalgar Square. Met police did not release the name of the man, who remains in custody.

Onlookers flocked to social media to share pictures of Mr Corbyn being hauled into the back of a police van at the central-London tourist spot.

Pictures from the demonstration show Trafalgar Square almost full of protesters - none of whom are wearing masks - holding signs that brand the pandemic as a 'hoax'. When full, the square holds up to 35,000 people.

Other signs claimed masks reduce immunity and likened the restrictions to 'child torture'. One person held a homemade placard on which he had scrawled 'no to mandatory vaccines.'

Mr Corbyn was arrested on May 16 after he used a megaphone to say 'vaccination is not necessary' and '5G towers will be installed everywhere', adding: '5G enhances anyone who's got illness from Covid, so they work together.'

There is no evidence to link 5G and Covid-19 and scientists fear that a rise in measles among children can be attributed in part to unfounded fears about vaccines.

He was then arrested again on May 30 at a protest in which he also spoke through a megaphone.

A 25-year-old man was arrested for a public order offence at the demonstration on Saturday. He was taken to a South London police station and remains in custody.

David Icke attended yesterday's protest and urged police to 'stop serving the psychopaths' and join those protesting in a speech addressing the cheering crowd.

Video from the scene showed organisers label the Government 'terrorists who are waging a war on the people of this country'.

One man says: 'This is a political agenda to commit mass genocide on the population. That is their agenda.'

Jeremy Corbyn's brother Piers was yesterday arrested at a mass-gathering of Covid-19 conspiracy theorists who took to the streets of London to demonstrate against lockdown restrictions and vaccination programmes

The former Labour leader's older brother was filmed being taken away from Trafalgar Square by a gaggle of mask-wearing police officers who hauled him into a van

More than 10,000 Covid-19 conspiracy theorists who believe the virus is a hoax gathered in London's Trafalgar Square to protest against lockdown restrictions and vaccination programmes

Demonstrators in the Unite for Freedom rally - which started at noon in the capital - called for an 'end to Government lies' and the restoration of all freedoms as they marched past Downing Street towards the Houses of Parliament (police pictured at the scene)

A protester remonstrates with police officers during a demonstration in London

Protesters march towards Westminster from Trafalgar Square during a demonstration against the Government's coronavirus prevention measures

Protesters take part in a demonstration. Participants clutch signs reading: 'Police choose your side'

A massive crowd of people took to the streets of London during the protest on Saturday. They clutched various signs as they marched to Westminster

Signs reading 'Covid cure: Strict 90-day TV-free diet' and 'we can choose' were clutched by demonstrators as they marched in London

Stand Up X is against the British Government policies of coronavirus. Pictured: Protesters were seen on the streets during the demonstration

Huge crowd of anti-vaxxers joined Jeremy Corbyn's brother and David Icke in Trafalgar Square before marching on the Houses of Parliament

Jeremy Corbyn's brother Piers (right) is a well-known conspiracy theorist who has spouted claims that the coronavirus is linked to 5G mobile networks

Protesters held signs with the words 'plandemic' and 'scamdemic'. They also read: 'Save our children' and 'no forced vaccines'

Crowds of people packed together in Trafalgar Square on Saturday. A sign reading 'we do not consent' can be seen amid the protesters

Other signs read 'smiles not masks' and 'the great reset = digital slavery.' Thousands of protesters flocked to Trafalgar Square on Saturday

Protesters are seen addressing a police officer during a demonstration against lockdown and the use of face masks on the streets of London

A Union Jack is flown behind a police line at the Unite for Freedom protest outside Downing Street on Saturday

A protester is pushed back by mask-wearing police at the Unite for Freedom protest in Trafalgar Square on Saturday

Anti-mask protesters participate in the Unite for Freedom demonstration outside Downing Street on Saturday. Participants are calling for a return to 'normal'

Signs reading 'masks are muzzles' and 'new normal = new fascism' were brandished by protesters during the demonstration on Saturday

An anti-mask protester speaks to police during the Unite for Freedom protest in Trafalgar Square on Saturday

Anti-mask protesters taking part in the Unite for Freedom protest march towards Downing Street on Saturday

Anti-mask protesters participate in the Unite for Freedom demonstration. Some clutch signs reading 'do not comply' as they take part

Demonstrators clutch signs reading 'say no to mandatory vaccines' and 'smiles not masks' as they take part in the protest on Saturday

One placard reading 'back to normal now' was seen while another read 'wanted for spreading Obsessive Covid Disorder' alongside pictures of Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock

The large crowd gathered to protest the Government's coronavirus restrictions in Trafalgar Square on Saturday

Thousands of demonstrators have gathered in London's Trafalgar Square to protest against Covid-19 lockdown restrictions

A vast crowd of people - none of whom wore masks - was seen in Trafalgar Square. They listened to a speaker during the demonstration on Saturday

Signs reading 'we are the truth' and 'no lockdowns' were held up by protesters as they demonstrated in Trafalgar Square on Saturday

One man held a sign reading: 'Please question what you are being told for the sake of my children and yours. Peace, Love and Unity. One Family!!'

A woman held a placard reading: 'I will not be masked, I will not be chipped and I will not be vaccinated.' Another sign read: 'One love for all the people of the world. No vax'

Demonstrators who believe the coronavirus pandemic is a hoax flocked to Trafalgar Square on Saturday. They were protesting wearing masks - among other things

An estimated 10,000 people attend the demonstration against coronavirus restrictions in Trafalgar Square on Saturday

Those in attendance believe the pandemic is a hoax and dozens held signs criticising the overnment's measures

Different conspiracy theory groups were in attendance and urged others to distrust the Government in London

The demonstration featured speakers and lecturers talking about their campaign to urge the Government to ease restrictions

The gathering in Trafalgar Square is one of several demonstrations taking place across the world with others in Berlin

Who is David Icke? The conspiracy theorist who once claimed he was the son of God David Icke is the notorious conspiracy theorist who often makes headlines for his controversial comments. Born in 1952, the 68-year-old former professional footballer has written more than 20 books and once tried his hand at punditry and sports reporting. In 1991, he appeared on Sir Terry Wogan's TV chat show where he declared himself as the son of God in a now-infamous clip which he describes as a 'defining moment'. It was from here that he began writing his books and making bold predictions including that the world would end in 1997. Other bizarre claims he have made include that the royal family are lizards. Icke also believes that an inter-dimensional race of reptilian beings called the Archons has hijacked the earth and is stopping humanity from realising its true potential. The 68-year-old has said that the universe is made up of 'vibrational' energy, and consists of an infinite number of dimensions that share the same space, just like television and radio frequencies, and that some people can tune their consciousness to other wavelengths. Most recently, he has suggested the coronavirus is linked to the 5G mobile network, a claim which has never been backed up by science. Advertisement

A poster advertising the event read: 'Nothing is more important as time is very short - the Government are voting for a two-year extension of their emergency Covid-19 powers in September 2020.

'The first six months was a disaster - this must not be allowed to continue! We have to take a stand.'

It lists its priorities as 'no more lockdowns, no social distancing, no masks. No track and trace, no health passports. No mandatory vaccinations, no 'new normal'. Restore all human rights that have been violated.'

The poster lists 'top world class doctors and nurses speaking out with real truth on Covid-19 against GMC constraints'.

Sonia Poulton, who was part of the protest, shared a video to Twitter to urge people to attend.

She said: 'People are coming today to make their voices heard against mandatory vaccinations, mandatory masks, mandatory anything really. No more lockdowns, no more second wave business'.

It is understood Jeremy Corbyn's brother Piers and conspiracy theorist David Icke are in attendance.

Icke, who was scheduled to speak at 3pm outside the Houses of Parliament, hit headlines in May after he made controversial unproven claims about the virus on several internet platforms, including one that it is linked to the 5G mobile network.

Both YouTube and Facebook deleted his accounts citing violation of their respective policies in relation to disputing the existence of Covid-19.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Officers have today been out across London speaking with communities about the policing operation across the long weekend, and advising them of their responsibilities under the new legislation - Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No2) (England) Regulations 2020.

'Where there were large gatherings of people, including a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, officers have continued to adopt the 4 E's approach. Officers interacted with people and were explicit in explaining what the legislation means for both organisers, and those attending.

'That if you attend a gathering of more than 30 people, you may be committing an offence, which is punishable by a fine. If you hold a gathering more than 30 people you might be committing an offence under new changes to the regulations. It is also an offence to encourage others to unlawfully participate in a large gathering.

'We encouraged them to disperse the area, and the majority of people did so, at that stage.

'Two arrests were made at Trafalgar Square. At 15:25hrs, a 73-year-old man on suspicion of breaking the new Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No2) (England) Regulations 2020. He remains in custody.

'At 13:30hrs a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence. He was taken to a South London police station and remains in custody.

'The investigation now continues to identify further individuals who may have breached the new regulations.'

Police take security measures as protesters march towards Westminster and Downing Street during the demonstration on Saturday

Protesters get vocal during a demonstration. They are pictured shouting during the protest

Protesters are seen around the Cenotaph war memorial outside 10 Downing Street during a demonstration

A protester remonstrates with police officers during the demonstration on the streets of London on Saturday

StandUp X: The 'community of struggle against the New Normal' A newly-formed group designed to oppose many of the Government's rules and restrictions to try and prevent the spread of Covid-19, StandUp X describes itself as a 'community of struggle against the New Normal'. It has already held a series of marches and says it invites anyone 'questioning the mainstream narrative' to join in its 'peaceful rallies'. On its website, StandUp X says it does not consent to the 'illegal and disproportionate measures' and argues that Britain is 'living in a state of authoritarian control'. Social distancing measures, the wearing of masks, the enforcement of lockdowns and 'Covid Ghettos' are among the rules and regulations StandUp X opposes. It also wants to take a stand against vaccinations, claiming they 'violate the principles of the Nuremberg Code' - a set of research ethics principles for human experimentation created as a result of the Nuremberg trials at the end of the Second World War. The code states: 'Any preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic medical intervention is only to be carried out with the prior, free and informed consent of the person concerned.' StandUp X warns 'forced, coerced and mandated' vaccinations will see humanity become 'a mass science experiment profiting billions for pharmaceutical companies and their partners including Bill Gates'. The group also opposes track and trace methods, describing it as a 'digital Gestapo' and a violation of personal privacy., while it claims the rollout of 5G technology is 'lethal to privacy as well as health'. Advertisement

It goes on to say: 'If you attend a gathering of more than 30 persons, you may be committing an offence, which is punishable by a fine. If you hold a gathering over 30 persons you might be committing an offence under new changes to the Regulations. It is also an offence to encourage others to unlawfully participate in a large gathering.

'It is your responsibility to check the position and ensure you are not committing an offence by being involved in a large gathering. We urge anyone arranging a gathering to inform your local police.

'We all need to continue to do our part to prevent the spread of the virus.'

In April, Icke landed London Live with a sanction from regulator Ofcom after the outlet aired an interview with the former footballer.

In the interview, Icke aired unsubstantiated theories about the virus and suggested mandatory vaccination would be 'fascism'.

Ofcom said it was 'particularly concerned' by Icke 'casting doubt on the motives behind official health advice to protect the public from the virus'.

'These claims went largely unchallenged during the 80-minute interview and were made without the support of any scientific or other evidence.'

Speaking at the event, Icke accused the police present of enforcing fascism and subjecting the people to a psychopathic regime.

Jeremy Corbyn's brother Piers is also a well-known conspiracy theorist who has spouted claims that the coronavirus is linked to 5G mobile networks.

In June, he faced charges for his part in a similar May demonstrations at Speakers Corner, Hyde Park, involving 50 people which breached lockdown rules.

The Metropolitan Police have dedicated a large police presence to monitor the demonstration and have written an open letter to those organising protests this weekend.

It reads: 'The MPS is aware that the coming bank holiday weekend may see a number of large gatherings in indoor or outdoor spaces.

'The MPS strongly advises people not to attend any large gathering for the protection of yourselves and others. We are still in the middle of a global pandemic.'

It goes on to remind the public that it is their responsibility to ensure they are not committing an offence.

'Please be advised that you may also be at risk of committing a criminal offence. Under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020 (as amended), no person may participate in a gathering which consists of more than 30 persons either indoors, on a vessel, or in a public outdoor place, unless certain exemptions apply.

' We all need to continue to do our part to prevent the spread of the virus.'

The Met published an open letter to organisers of mass demonstrations this weekend urging the public to do their part

Groups of protesters could be heard asking police why they were wearing masks at the demonstration in London

Anti-mask protesters are seen at the Unite for Freedom protest in Trafalgar Square, London, on Saturday

Protesters gathered in a bid to urge the Government to ease the lockdown restrictions and abandon their emergency powers

Many of those in attendance argue the restrictions put in place during the pandemic are a violation of human rights

None of the demonstrators in attendance in London were wearing masks or practising social distancing on Saturday

Police officers, who were wearing masks, were in attendance to keep the peace as thousands gathered in the capital city

The protesters say they are part of the Unite for Freedom movement and the demonstration is one of several across the world

Anti-maskers believe the Government's restrictions and rules in place to prevent the spread of the virus are a violation

Many in the crowd claimed pandemic was a hoax and spread anti-Government messages on signs while listening to speakers

Some called for the UK to be like Sweden, who has not seen the same level of restrictions put in place as the United Kingdom

Anti-lockdown protesters, who believe that the coronavirus pandemic is a hoax, gather at the Unite For Freedom rally

The demonstration is one of several taking place around the world under the Unite for Freedom banner.

Berlin police on Saturday disbanded a mass protest in the German capital against coronavirus curbs a few hours after it had begun after marchers failed to heed their orders to keep their distance and wear masks.

The protest came as infections rise across Europe, with similar protests during the day in Paris and elsewhere.

In Denmark, protesters take part in a demonstration against the use of face masks and other Covid-19 related restrictions near the Danish parliament building Christiansborg in Copenhagen.

Across Europe, countries including France, Spain and Italy continue to see increases in the number of coronavirus cases.

Yesterday France added 5,429 cases overnight, Government figures showed, marking the country's largest single-day increase since April 14, and the third-largest daily rise since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile Italy, which had some of the lowest case totals in Europe after reopening its economy, registered 1,367 cases - its largest rise since May.

Spain registered another 7,296 cases, enough to push the country above the US - the world's worst-affected nation - in number of cases per million inhabitants, based on a seven-day rolling average.

The latest figures show the pandemic has killed at least 842,000 people worldwide since surfacing in China late last year.

In the UK, more than 331,644 people have been infected and 41,486 people have lost their lives to the virus.

Coronavirus conspiracy marches are held across Europe as Berlin police break-up 18,000 marcher for failing to socially while droves of anti-maskers storm Paris and Copenhagen

By Luke Andrews For Mailonline

Berlin police have broken up protests for failing to wear face masks and socially distance as up to 18,000 descend upon the German capital.

The demonstrators, who were calling for an end to coronavirus restrictions, flooded into the square in front of Brandenburg gate before marching down a main street.

They blew whistles and brandished placards declaring 'Merkel must go' and 'stop the corona lies!' as they called for a return to pre-lockdown life.

They were joined by hundreds thronging the streets in London, where they declared coronavirus was a 'hoax' invented to establish a 'new world order'. And 200 more in Paris held an anti-mask rally alongside hundreds more in Berlin.

The angry march comes as Europe prepares to enforce lockdown restrictions to avoid a second wave, as the number of cases recorded kicks up to highs not seen since March.

BERLIN: More than 18,000 demonstrators took to the streets in Berlin to protest against the coronavirus restrictions

PARIS: As many as 200 more protesters took to the streets in Paris to call for an end to the need to wear a face mask

COPENHAGEN: Hundreds turned out on the streets of the Danish capital to call for an end to coronavirus restrictions

LONDON: And demonstrators also gathered in London where they declared that coronavirus was a 'hoax'

More than 18,000 anti-coronavirus protesters have descended on Berlin on Saturday to call for the end of the restrictions

Police officers moved to break up the demonstration after people refused to socially distance and wear masks

Here a group is pictured chanting as they take part in the protests against coronavirus restrictions in Berlin

A demonstrator gestures in front of German riot police during Saturday's demonstration by coronavirus sceptics in Berlin

Thousands gathered around the Victory Column in Berlin as they protested against restrictions. Germany recorded 1,500 new cases yesterday as fears of a second wave of the virus increase

A demonstrator bellow as supporters through a megaphone as he calls for an end to coronavirus restrictions

A protester drinks from a bottle as he wears a hat with a Danish flag and a placard reading 'Revolutions news' at a demonstration against the use of face masks and other Covid-19 related restrictions near the Danish parliament building

Participants brandish a placard reading 'first wave, second wave, permanent wave?' as they take part in protests in Berlin

Officers were forced to move in to break up the crowd after they failed to take into account coronavirus restrictions

A crowd chants and claps as they march past officers without wearing a face mask and fail to socially distance

Protesters take part in a demonstration against the use of face masks and other Covid-19 related restrictions at the Danish parliament building Christiansborg, in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the same time as protesters gathered in London

Pictures show thousands angrily crowding onto the streets in Berlin to demand a reversal of the rules.

The city had banned the demonstration earlier in the week, but a German regional court overruled the decision.

As many as 3,000 police officers were deployed to disperse the protesters after they failed to wear masks and maintain social distancing, in breach of guidelines.

'Unfortunately, we have no other option', Berlin police said on Twitter, adding that they had failed to comply with the safety conditions of the march.

Many were dispersed peacefully, although there was conflict when a construction container was set on fire and some roads were briefly blocked.

Until now Germany has managed the coronavirus crisis better than many of its European counterparts, with rigorous testing helping to hold down infections and deaths.

Flags blow in the wind as protesters march through Berlin to call for an end to coronavirus restrictions

Police officers move through the crowd. The city authorities had banned the protest, but their decision was overturned by a regional German court last night

A man and woman sit on chairs and blow through a vuvuzela as they call for an end to coronavirus restrictions

Protesters wave flags and brandish placards as they march through the main street in Berlin

A crowd of protesters gathers in Paris, France, to call for an end to the use of face masks in the city

They held up placards calling for an end to the need to wear a face mask in the capital

Officers surrounded the group to ensure the protest passed off peacefully and without incident

The protesters are pictured above chanting and holding up flags as they march in Paris, France

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Place de la Nation in Paris to protest against wearing face masks. Many people had their face coverings pulled below their mouths

One woman - who was not wearing a face mask - held a sign in the demonstration in Paris. She was joined by other protesters on Saturday

A sign reading 'stop' was held in front of a crowd gathered in Paris's Place de la Nation during the anti-mask protest on Saturday

Demonstrators in Paris hold their face masks in the air in protest during a demonstration against the coronavirus prevention measures in France's capital

A row of policemen surround protesters gathering in Place de la Nation in Paris to call for an easing of coronavirus measures

French police officers speak to a man in Place de la Nation during an anti-mask demonstration in the French capital on Saturday

Demonstrators sit on the ground during a rally against the Government's coronavirus restrictions in Berlin, Germany, on Saturday

Protesters hold a floating balloon with a message on it which reads 'Stop the Corona lie' in Berlin during a demonstration called by pandemic deniers

Police officers detain a demonstrator during a rally against the Government's coronavirus restrictions in Berlin

A man holds a placard reading 'march against, instead of together with Nazis' in front of police officers in a counter-protest to a rally against the Government's restrictions in Berlin

Counter demonstrators with a banner reading 'on with masks - out with the Nazis' gathered in Berlin on Saturday

A demonstrator holds a placard reading 'stop the corona lie' as she sits on the ground during an anti-mask rally in Berlin on Saturday

A demonstrator wears a face mask over his eyes during a protest against coronavirus pandemic regulations in Berlin

A man kneels in front of riot police officers at Unter den Linden in Berlin on Saturday during a demonstration against coronavirus measures

People gathered in Berlin at a protest organized by a Stuttgart-based initiative 'Querdenken 711' against the Government's policies on coronavirus

Unter den Linden Boulevard in Berlin saw vast crowds of people - who did not wear masks - gather to protest the Government's policies on coronavirus

A mask-wearing police officer is seen during a protest organised by a Stuttgart-based initiative 'Querdenken 711' in Berlin

Police take a man away at Unter den Linden in Berlin, Germany, during the anti-mask demonstration on Saturday

A huge crowd of protesters gathered in Berlin. They were demonstrating against the Government's coronavirus restrictions

A demonstrator in Zurich wears a t-shirt reading 'my body belongs to me' during a protest against the Swiss Government's measures to slow down the spread of coronavirus

A demonstrator attends a protest against the Swiss Government's measures to slow down the spread of coronavirus in Zurich

Demonstrators hold pictures of people they think are responsible in front of Brandenburg Gate, during a protest against coronavirus pandemic regulations in Berlin

A demonstrator attends a protest against the Swiss Government's measures to slow down the spread of Covid-19 in Zurich

Protesters demonstrate in front of the Reichstag Building during a rally against the Government's restrictions in Germany

Policemen stand in front of the Reichstag building after demonstrators tried to climb the stairs during the protest in Berlin

A protester stands half naked and lifts his hands up in front of the Reichstag building during a demonstration by coronavirus sceptics

A protester is held by German riot policemen in front of the Reichstag building at the end of a demonstration in Berlin

German riot policemen clear the area in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin after an anti-mask demonstration on Saturday

Police stand in front of the Reichstag building after coronavirus-sceptic demonstrators tried to climb the stairs during a protest on Saturday

A demonstrator with a flag sits in front of the Reichstag building during a demonstration against the Government's coronavirus restrictions on Saturday

Demonstrators are seen outside the Reichstag during protests against coronavirus-related restrictions imposed by the Government in Germany

People takes part in a protest against protective face masks and restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic on August 29 in Zurich

A demonstrator wrapped in a black-white-red flag displays the German Constitution book 'Grundgesetz fur die Bundesrepublik Deutschland' in front of the Reichstag building

Protesters stand in front of German riot policemen who stand guard at the Reichstag building in Berlin during the protest

Police stand in front of demonstrators near the Reichstag building in Berlin after demonstrators tried to climb the stairs

Protests against the ongoing coronavirus restrictions - such as mandatory masks - were seen in Berlin, Germany, on Saturday

Protesters were seen walking the streets of Berlin during a demonstration on Saturday. One protester had a paper bag on their head

Demonstrators hold pictures of people they think are responsible in Berlin during a protest against coronavirus regulations

But new daily infections have accelerated in recent weeks, as in much of the world. Germany recorded 1,571 new cases yesterday, the highest figure since 22 August, when 2,000 were declared.

On Friday, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged citizens to keep up their guard against the virus.

'This is a serious matter, as serious as it's ever been, and you need to carry on taking it seriously,' she said.

In London, several hundred demonstrators gathered in Trafalgar Square calling coronavirus a hoax and demanding an end to lockdown restrictions.

Many carried banners saying 'Fake News', or 'Masks are Muzzles' and rejecting any mandatory vaccination programmes.

The virus has killed more than 40,000 people in Britain.

Matt Hancock warns the UK could go back into nationwide lockdown this winter as SAGE 'worst case scenario' plans for 81,000 deaths - but experts slam the alarming model for being 'implausible'

Nationwide restrictions cannot be ruled out should England see a spike in coronavirus cases this winter, the Health Secretary has warned.

Matt Hancock also hinted that restrictions may not be eased over Christmas to avoid an 'uptick' in the number of Covid-19 cases.

Mr Hancock said countries in others parts of the world were already experiencing a second wave, adding it was 'a very serious threat'.

Meanwhile, Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood said 'draconian action' could be needed if the public do not stick to social distancing rules, hinting the Government could take stronger action than local lockdowns.

It comes as SAGE - the Government's advisory group on scientific emergencies - has estimated up to 81,000 people could die from Covid-19 this winter in the very worst case scenario.

The scientists warned the figure was 'a scenario and not a prediction' that under the worst possible conditions there could be 81,000 deaths from Covid in England and Wales. In that scenario the fatality rate would be 0.7%.

Carl Heneghan, from Oxford University, told the BBC that the model was 'implausible' and that it assumed that 'we've learnt nothing from the first wave of this disease'.

The Government told the broadcaster that its plans were under constant review, and were driven by the latest scientific advice.

Matt Hancock (pictured) said countries in others parts of the world were already experiencing a second wave, adding it was 'a very serious threat'

At the start of the outbreak it was forecast that up to 500,000 Britons could be killed by the virus, the current death toll stands at 41,486.

But Mr Hancock said the UK was managing to keep the number of new cases 'flat' through the test and trace system and local lockdowns.

Describing the worst-case scenario, he said the UK could be battling bad flu and a growth in coronavirus as people spend more time indoors.

He continued: 'Cases go up again, and we have to use very extensive local lockdowns or take further national action.

'We don't rule that out, but we don't want to see it.'

His comments come as local Covid-19 restrictions were eased in northern England, which will allow social gatherings between two homes from Wednesday in Bolton, Stockport, Trafford, Burnley, Hyndburn and parts of Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees.

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood warned the public that stricter measures could be imposed.

He told Times Radio: 'It's an enduring emergency and until a vaccine turns up there is a national resolve, there is a responsibility, a duty of every individual... also the Government needs to keep the nation safe and that's where Matt Hancock's work comes in and then Rishi Sunak needs to make sure the economy is working.

'If the nation, if individuals aren't following the rules then ultimately... we cannot break the chain of spread and therefore draconian action is required to take place.

'We'd prefer it to be local but absolutely, if that R-rating does go too high, this is a warning for every single listener: ensure that you do socially distance so we can actually contain it.

'This is an enduring emergency, I repeat. Until there's a vaccine this is the new normal that we've got to get used to.'

Mr Hancock told The Times a second wave could be 'avoidable but it's not easy', with schools reopening next week presenting new challenges in stopping the spread of the virus.

In an interview with ITV News, Mr Hancock said: 'We're doing a huge amount of planning to make sure that the NHS is prepared and can cope to make sure that people can have as much freedom to enjoy Christmas, to enjoy winter, as possible.'

But when asked whether there will be special rules to allow more people to visit one another over Christmas, Mr Hancock suggested it could lead to a rise in the number of people catching the virus.

'The danger of a rule like that is that it increases the spread of the disease,' he said.

'I mean, there are an awful lot of things I'd love to be able to do, but the risk of them is that we see an uptick in the disease.

'Hence, we've had to take decisions that you wouldn't ever want to.'

On vaccines, the Health Secretary said there is potential for it to be available this year, but that it is more likely next year.

He continued: 'It's a very difficult science, it's thankfully one that our scientists are up to, and each sign at the moment is going well and going in the right direction.

'But we don't want to raise people's hopes too much.'

The Government is responding to 'an increase in anti-vax messages and anti-test messages', he said, with a programme under way to tackle 'these sorts of conspiracy theories' which he branded as 'wrong'.

When asked about the Government's U-turns on a number of policies recently, Mr Hancock said he believed people would have been 'really cross' if they did not happen.

'We're dealing with a crisis that is entirely unprecedented,' he responded.

'We're dealing with a disease that didn't even exist, as far as we know, before December last year.

'And so, we're taking decisions guided by the science on it.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that schools were safe to attend as he encouraged every pupil to return to the classroom

'I think people would, what people would get really cross about, is if a Government refuse to change even if evidence came up that there was a better option.'

Meanwhile, BBC2's Newsnight reported that a 'reasonable worse case planning assumption' presented to the Government said there could be up to 85,000 excess deaths directly attributed to Covid-19 between July and next March across the UK, with 81,000 in England and Wales.

The broadcaster said the figures were in a document signed off by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) for the Cabinet Office at the end of July.

Socialising with colleagues is a key reason to go back to work, Hancock says Socialising with colleagues is a key reason to go back to work, Mr Hancock told The Times. He said video calls could not compare to face to face meeting: 'Social relations that are part and parcel of an effective working relationship that you can only really build up face to face,' 'It's about building rapport because working effectively in many jobs you need to build a rapport. It's harder to build that rapport by Zoom. 'I was in Downing Street yesterday because I had three meetings with the prime minister and it's far easier to have those meetings face to face because there's a better calibre, or better quality, of discussion.' The Health Secretary also expressed concern for some people's livelihoods if workers stayed at home: 'One of the big challenges is there are big shifts in the economy. 'It's really worrying news about the job losses at Pret a Manger and other places on the high street, especially when you see that at the same time as some of the coffee shops in suburban areas where people are spending more time working from home are busier than they've ever been. 'These transitions are never easy. I worry about the economic consequence.' He also said although he backed change in how people live their lives we need to be careful to think about the wider impact it may have: 'Whilst I am generally someone who is on the side of the future and seeing these evolutions as a good thing, we've got to take into account that they have a big impact when the change comes as abruptly as this one.' Advertisement

The document stressed that the figures represent a scenario, not a prediction, and aim to help the NHS and local authorities prepare for the coming months, Newsnight said.

The report goes on to state that while other restrictions could be in place until March 2021, schools are likely to remain open across the country.

It also said the Government's tracing, isolation and quarantine measures would only be 40 per cent effective in cutting the spread of Covid outside households, the BBC said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that schools were safe to attend as he encouraged every pupil to return to the classroom.

'The evidence is overwhelming that it is in the interest of the wellbeing and the health of children, young people, pupils, to be back in school rather than missing out any more,' he said.

'So, it is the healthy, safe thing to do.'

It comes as more than one million people can again mix in different households from next week, after Covid-19 restrictions were eased in parts of northern England.

From Wednesday, social gatherings can take place between two homes in Bolton, Stockport, Trafford, Burnley, Hyndburn and parts of Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees.

The decision came after local political leaders submitted their recommendations to the Government's Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC).

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'We brought in measures to protect people in these parts of northern England, and I want to thank residents who have worked so hard to get on top of this virus.

'We're seeing the positive results of our local approach, and are able to bring in increasingly targeted measures.

'It is vital we can maintain this good progress.

'I have every faith people across the country, especially in areas where we are seeing higher numbers of cases, will continue to play their part by following local rules, and self-isolating and requesting a free test as soon as they get any symptoms.'

Data showed coronavirus cases per 100,000 decreased during the week ending August 20 in Burnley from 52 to 24.6, in Bolton from 25.6 to 18.9, in Stockport from 23 to 15.1 and in Trafford from 27.1 to 17.8, said the Department of Health and Social Care.

The lifting of the measures in Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees excludes the Bradford city area, the Keighley town area, Halifax, Dewsbury and Batley.

Residents in Manchester, Rochdale, Bury, Tameside, Salford, Preston and Leicester will also still be banned from visiting others in their homes or gardens.

In addition, people in Oldham and parts of Blackburn and Pendle, where infection rates are the highest in the country, will still not be able to socialise with anyone outside their household anywhere.

Gary Hall, deputy chairman of the Lancashire Resilience Forum, which is leading the county's response to the coronavirus pandemic, said: 'If we continue on this path I am hopeful that all parts of Lancashire will have the remaining restrictions lifted soon, but this depends on people following the rules wherever they live in the county.'

Council leaders in Trafford told the Government at its now weekly review that restrictions should have been maintained, following advice from its own director of public health.

Andrew Western, Labour leader of Trafford Council, said: 'It is apparent that for all of their claims of working in collaboration with local authorities, the Government has decided to overrule the council and lift restrictions in Trafford.

'This action by Government makes a mockery of the claims of locally led decision-making and once again shows that local Government is being ignored in spite of being on the front line of this crisis.'

The latest rolling seven-day rate of new Covid-19 cases in Trafford up to August 25 was 25.3 people per 100,000, compared to 19.8 up to August 18.

Last week, Mr Hancock announced a more targeted approach to Covid-19 restrictions, in which the views of MPs would also be sought to gain 'the maximum possible local consensus'.

He added this would allow local councils to focus resources on the wards which need more targeted intervention in order to drive infection rates down.

However the Labour council leaders in West Yorkshire criticised that approach as 'confusing' and said the intervention of Tory backbench MPs 'undermines council leadership'.
A third of mobile phone owners are being hit by a loyalty penalty  which can cost them more than 400 a year.

The problem relates to the way smartphone and usage bundles are sold, according to Which?

Typically people pay a small fee upfront for the handset and sign a long-term contract  often 24 months  carrying a fixed monthly charge to cover their usage and the remaining handset cost.

However, the consumer group said millions of people continue to pay the same monthly charge long after the initial contract ends and they have paid for the handset.

Which? calculated that phone companies make around 182million a year from customers continuing to pay for a handset they already own.

A third of mobile phone owners are being hit by a loyalty penalty which can cost them over 400 a year. The problem relates to the way smartphone and usage bundles are sold (street view of a Vodafone store in Melbourne, Australia, April 7, 2018)

Typically people pay a small fee upfront for the handset and sign a long-term contract  often 24 months  carrying a fixed monthly charge to cover their usage and the remaining handset cost (pictured: file photo dated May 29, 2018 of an EE phone store)

However, the consumer group said millions of people continue to pay the same monthly charge long after the initial contract ends and they have paid for the handset (pictured: file photo dated May 29, 2018 of a Three phone store on Oxford Street, London)

Telecoms regulator Ofcom last year won voluntary commitments from most mobile sellers to reduce prices for out-of-contract customers. These came into effect in February.

But Which? said providers have taken different approaches to applying these commitments.

It found a third of customers whose contracts had ended in the last two months are effectively overpaying on their bill.

The worst affected were Three customers, where around four in ten of those whose contracts ended in the last six months said they saw no price drop.

Based on current contract costs, Which? said a Three customer with a Samsung S20 5G phone could end up overpaying by 37 a month  444 a year  once the contract term is up.

Two in five EE customers saw no drop in price when the initial contract and bundle came to an end. For Vodafone, it was three in ten.

EE and Vodafone offer small discounts to customers when contracts end, but they only take effect after three months.

Which? said an EE customer with a Samsung S20 5G phone could end up overpaying by 26.20 a month  equivalent to 314 a year.

Which? calculated that phone companies make around 182million a year from customers continuing to pay for a handset they already own (stock)

A Vodafone customer with an iPhone 11 could pay 32 extra a month  or 384 a year.

Which? head of home products and services, Natalie Hitchins, said: 'If you think you might be out of contract or overpaying, check your phone bills to see if you can save money with a SIM-only deal or with an upgrade to a new phone.'

Three said it sends all customers a notification at the end of their contract which shows their options and the corresponding prices.

EE said the Which? allegations were 'entirely wrong' and that it contacts customers before and after the end of their contract to inform them of their options.

Vodafone declined to comment.

Ofcom insisted the commitments it won from mobile networks have cut bills for millions.

But it admitted its powers are limited and criticised Three for not doing more.
Photo: (Photo : Unsplash/Luma Pimentel)

A blind mom, Taylor Ellis, was able to see her unborn baby, thanks to doctors who gave her a 3D-printed ultrasound scan of her fetus.

Upset that she could not see her baby

The mom of three was born with glaucoma and can only see very little. She cried when she went for an ultrasound scan during her 20th week of pregnancy and could not see her baby. The doctors found out that she was upset, so they did a special ultrasound. Then, through that scan, they made a 3D print out of Ellis' unborn baby girl.

Both the 26-year-old mom and her husband, Jeremy, are visually impaired. One week after the scan, the couple received the special scan results. It was a dream come true because they could see their baby's face.

See also: Pregnant Colombian Woman Thanks People for Helping Her Raise Money for Delivery

Ellis said that the 3D-printing technology, which is most commonly used to make car parts, has been "life-changing" for her. Her newborn daughter is now ten weeks old.

A new use for the 3D-printed ultrasound

Usually, John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore uses that technology to make models of spina bifida in unborn babies. It is used by surgeons to see a clear image of the babies' spines so that they know if they need to do in-womb surgery. An ultrasound sonographer found out about the technology and suggested that they use it for blind parents to see their growing babies while in the womb.

See also: California Woman Dies Tragically on the Same Day She Gives Birth to Miracle Baby

The stay-at-home mom from Cockeysville in Maryland said that she always thought what her baby would look like while inside her tummy. She was saddened because she would not have the opportunity like other seeing pregnant mothers. She explained that her sight was not that bad when she had her first two children. She was able to see them in a 2D ultrasound.

Excited to see her baby

Ellis could not contain her excitement when she received the 3D ultrasound. She felt that it was so heartwarming because she had the realization that it was her baby's face. She showed off the scan to her daughters and her parents via video chat.

Ellis also said that while her pregnancy has been so scary, it was also exciting the whole way through. She explained that she just wanted a special moment really bad.

See also: Seeing Double: Identical Twin Sisters Who Married Identical Twin Brothers Are Both Pregnant

3D printing was first developed in the 1980s for use in medicine. Using a computer program and a liquid polymer or metal stream, a 3D model could be produced. It has been used for prosthetics and dental implants, as well as for surgical tools and anatomical models.

Now, doctors use it to let blind parents see their unborn children. Thanks to modern advancement, visually impaired parents can now take a glimpse of their little one as they wait for her arrival to the world.
(Bloomberg) -- Just when you thought the year 2020 couldnt get much weirder, billionaire Elon Musk has introduced a group of pigs with mind-reading brain implants.

During an event Friday afternoon at Neuralinks headquarters in Fremont, California, Musk found himself hanging out with a passel of Yucatan swine. Several of them had previously undergone a surgical procedure in which a robot placed the latest version of Neuralinks computing implant into their brains. As a result, the brain activity of these enhanced porkers could be transmitted wirelessly to a nearby computer, allowing onlookers at the event to watch the animals neurons fire as veterinarians stroked their snouts.

Musk spoke enthusiastically at the event about the potential for the technology to address brain injuries and other disorders. "The neurons are like wiring, and you sort of need an electronic thing to solve an electronic problem," he said.

During the presentation, Musk revealed new data points around his expectations for the technology and Neuralink as a company. First off, he expects the implant procedure to start out quite pricey but to come down to a few thousand dollars over time. Once its able to fit into humans, he expects them to be able to update their devices as new models come out with more features. You would not want version one of a phone and 10 years later everyone has version three or four, he said. It will be important to remove the device and upgrade it over time.

As for Neuralink itself, Musk expects the company to go from its 100 current employees to about 10,000. Its that sort of ambition, coupled with theoretical future abilities like piping music directly into a persons mind, that could transform Neuralink from an expensive research project into a consumer electronics companyand someday justify the $158 million of capital invested so far, most of it from Musk.

For the four-year-old startup, this demonstration was meant to show that Neuralinks brain-machine interface technology is progressing toward a day when it could be safely put into humans, possibly aiding people with a wide variety of debilitating conditions while also opening the door to a host of wild, sci-fi scenarios. The event naturally veered into a free-wheeling discussion of where this type of research could go. Some Neuralink employees joined Musk on stage and talked about their desires to get rid of pain, to give people super vision and to explore the nature of consciousness. I think in the future you will be able to save and replay memories, Musk said at the event.

Story continues

But he acknowledged the inherent strangeness of such scenarios: This is obviously starting to sound like a Black Mirror episode, he said. Obviously theyre pretty good at predicting.

The first major reveal of Neuralinks plans and technology came in July 2019 during a similar event in San Francisco. At that time, Musk showed early versions of Neuralink implants and disclosed that the company had already been performing tests on mice and primates in which it was able to record and analyze the animals neuronal activity via tiny electrodes placed in their brain. This work was similar to what academic researchers and a small number of companies have been doing for decades. The goal of many of those projects is to use brain implants for miraculous feats like restoring vision for the blind, helping people who have been paralyzed or suffered strokes communicate and curing mental health disorders. And, indeed, people around the world have received implants that help with these very things.

The main argument made by Musk and other Neuralink employees is that the existing technology is too dangerous, cumbersome and limited for widespread use. The most powerful implants today require people to go through risky surgeries, and patients can often only experience the benefits of the technology while under the supervision of doctors and specialists. Beyond that, the lifespan of an implant can be short as the brain sees the device as an intruder, forming scar tissue around it that disrupts electrical signals. Neuralink, then, has tried to create a type of implant closer to a consumer electronics devicesomething that is much smaller and cheaper than existing products, less impactful to brain tissue and can process much more brain data.

Over the past couple of months, Neuralink has been implanting pigs with a device thats 22.5 millimeters across and 8 millimeters thick. The hardware has a computing chip on top with 64 minuscule threadsor wiresthat dangle off it with sensors at the ends. During the procedure, the animals are taken to an operating room at the Fremont facility and anesthetized before a surgeon performs a craniotomy on them.

Once part of the skull has been removed, a robot begins placing the threads into specific parts of the brain so that the sensors are close to neurons and can read clear brain activity signals. This sewing part of the procedure takes about 30 minutes, as the robot uses computer vision software, high-end cameras and other technology to aim the threads with exacting precision. Elon is unhappy with how long the whole procedure takes, Max Hodak, the president of Neuralink, said in an interview.

Elon is unhappy with how long the whole procedure takes

In my encounter with one charming pig named Gertrude, it was very difficult to see any evidence of the implant or the surgery. The animals wound had healed completely, and it pranced around a makeshift metal pen at Neuralinks office just like some of the other pigs that did not have implants. But, as I fed Gertrude a carrot and rubbed her snout, a massive computer screen behind her lit up with activity, showing her neurons firing and responding to my touch. Next, Gertrude farted, which I took as an approval of our interaction.

But the controversial nature of animal testing and the celebrity of its founder has made Neuralink a magnet for criticism from animal-rights activists. The company said the test subjects are cared for by animal husbandry experts and that its limiting testing on primates.

In a bid to prove the safety of its technology, Neuralink has removed the implants from some animals and found that they go back to their regular lives with no apparent ill effects, the company said. In some cases, Neuralink has managed to place two implants in a single animal, getting signals from both hemispheres of the brain at the same time. The company has also managed not just to read out brain activity but also to send in signals to the electrodes and stimulate the brain. All of this research has been taking place at Neuralinks 50,000-square foot campus, which includes facilities for robot assembly, chip and thread fabrication and animal husbandry.

At one point, Neuralink had intended to use an implant as well as another device placed behind the ear to handle things like wireless communication. Now, however, it has bundled everything into one small device. Its just simpler this way, said Hodak. The implant battery lasts about 24 hours, at which point it can be recharged wirelessly much like a smartphone. Over time, Neuralink hopes to shrink the device, while also improving its computing power.

Musk had previously said that Neuralink would like to conduct human trials as early as this year. This, of course, would require regulatory approvals and assurances that the technology is safe. The ambition of human trials this year is something we would love to do, Hodak said. Its obviously something that cant be rushed, and we can do it when were ready. While we cant sell this to you yet, its starting to feel more like a product, more concrete. Now, we have a Fitbit for the brain.

Elon is unhappy with how long the whole procedure takes

Hodak denied the claims from a recent article by health publication Stat News in which former Neuralink employees said the company might go to Russia or China, where regulators can be more lenient, for its human trials. We have never once discussed going to Russia or China, Hodak said. Neuralink has been granted breakthrough device status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which means the agency will respond more quickly to the companys filings than it would have previously but doesnt constitute an approval for testing in humans. Were very much working hand-in-hand with the FDA, Hodak said.

Musk has tried to stress the health benefits of this type of brain-machine interface technology. People who suffer from debilitating conditions would be the most likely candidates to take the risks of trying a brain implant first as they could receive dramatic benefits. Someone who had a stroke and lost the ability to speak, for example, could simply think what they want to say, and their words could be said aloud by a computer or typed onto a screen.

Of course, Musk also sees more futuristic applications of these implants like the ability to create a high-bandwidth link between humans and machines. A la The Matrix, you might be able to download a language instantly or learn martial arts, Musk has suggested. The end goal, at least for Musk, would be to help humans keep pace with artificial intelligence. Musk captured this sentiment when describing Neuralinks mission statement earlier this year: If you cant beat em, join em.

(Updates with details from the event starting in the third paragraph. )

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Union home minister Amit Shah has recovered from post coronavirus disease (Covid-19) care and is likely to be discharged soon, officials at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi said on Saturday.

Sh. Amit Shah, Honble Home Minister is admitted at AIIMS, New Delhi for post COVID Care. He has recovered and is likely to be discharged in a short time, Dr Aarti Vij, the chairperson of AIIMS media and protocol division, said.

Shah had tested positive for Covid-19 on August 2 and later tested negative for the viral disease on August 14. However, he was admitted to AIIMS on August 18 again for medical care after recovering from the viral infection.

Sh Amit Shah, Honourable Home Minister has been complaining of fatigue and body aches for last 3-4 days. He has tested negative for Covid -19.He has been admitted to AIIMS for post COVID care. He is comfortable and is continuing his work from hospital, hospital officials had said.
T he UK's coronavirus death toll has risen by 12 overnight, with cases up by more than 1,000.

This brings the country's official number of Covid-19 deaths to date to 41,498  the fifth highest in the world.

The total number of cases now stands at 332,75  the thirteenth highest count globally.

On Saturday, a further 1,108 cases of the virus were confirmed, with Department of Health data suggesting average infection numbers are creeping back up.

There are now an average of 1,173 new cases each day  an increase on last week's average of 992.

Six of the 12 new deaths reported on Saturday were recorded in England's hospitals.

Scotland saw no Covid-19 deaths for the third consecutive day, while hospitals in Wales and Northern Ireland marked a second day fatality-free.

It brings the total number of confirmed virus deaths in UK hospitals to 34,196.

The victims in England were aged between 52 and 91 and only one patient  aged 85  had no known underlying health condition.

The dates of the deaths ranged from June 23 to August 28, with the majority on or after August 27, NHS England said.

While Scotland recorded no further virus deaths, it saw its sharpest daily rise in infections for the past week  with 88 new cases confirmed.

The biggest number of new cases came from the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area, which saw a rise of 36 from Friday.

Despite the rise in cases, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said there is no need for alarm.

Areas where localised outbreaks were being dealt with saw a small increase in new cases, with six in NHS Grampian, seven in Lanarkshire, 11 in Tayside and two in the Scottish Borders.

On Twitter, the First Minister said that the rise in cases was due to an increase in testing, and the proportion of people tested returning positive results remains below one per cent.

The increase in cases just now partly reflects a greater volume of testing. Crucially, our positivity rate remains low (below one per cent again today). So no need for alarm, she tweeted.

But there is a need to be very careful and cautious  it is all very delicately balanced just now.

She continued: Hard reality is this  Covid is still out there, still highly infectious and still potentially lethal.

We take our eye off the ball, or tell ourselves its all over, at our peril. Ahead of winter, we must be vigilant and careful.

Please follow all the advice.
The Tibetan Election Commission in-exile has officially announced the commencement of the electoral process of the 2021 General Elections of 'Sikyong' (political leader/ president) of central Tibetan administration and members of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. Chief Election Commissioner, Wangdue Tsering told ANI that the registration process of the Tibetan voters will start from September 1 and it may continue till the end of October 2020.

The Tibetan Election Commission in-exile has officially announced the commencement of the electoral process of the 2021 General Elections of Sikyong (political leader/ president) of central Tibetan administration and members of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.

Chief Election Commissioner, Wangdue Tsering told ANI that the registration process of the Tibetan voters will start from September 1 and it may continue till the end of October 2020.

The registration process for voters was supposed to be done by April but now all registrations should start from September 1, which may continue till October. We have also started voter education programmes where we are introducing posters, animation films and short films as well, Tsering told ANI.

The election commission has also made provisions of punishment for negative campaigning during these elections. A candidate can be declared ineligible to contest and to vote for up to eight years if found guilty of negative campaigning or in violation of election rules.

As per the announcement, the Regional Election Commissions, the Registration Officers, and the general voters are requested to follow the voters registration process as per the election rules and regulations and the guidelines.

Also Read: Chinese researcher arrested for stealing trade secrets: US authorities

All those who fulfil the conditions laid down in Article 18 (4) are eligible to vote. As per the provisions of Article 18 (4), any Tibetan citizen who completed 18 years of age on October 31, 2020 are eligible to register. However, those who fall under the category of people specified in Article 18 (5) are disqualified from voter registration.

As per Article 18 (a) and (b) of election rules and regulations, after examining the Green Book payment details of all those who have attained the age of 18, the Registration Officer shall then register them as per their constituency, stamp their Green Book with a registration number beginning from a single digit 1 and signed by the Registration Officer.

Voters registration shall begin on September 1, 2020 and must conclude by October 15, 2020.

All registered voters as per law must have paid their Green Book dues up to March 31, 2020.

Since voter registration is extremely important, we urge all Tibetan people who are eligible to vote to kindly register within the given time, he added.

Despite the ongoing socio-economic and political crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Election Commissioner appealed to Tibetans around the world for their complete participation in the polls and to promote free, fair and credible election. (ANI)

Also Read: UNSC adopts resolution to promote womens role in Peacekeeping; India congratulates council
The ins and outs of M&A in insurance, photo Shutterstock

The insurance industry is highly regulated, especially when it comes to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activities. Undeniably M&A, including share and capital acquisition, are one of the fastest ways to expand business in the insurance market due to the existence of domestic distribution channels and a stable clientele. Moreover, insurance is a special industry where any non-compliance issue or, in the worst case, insolvency could cause tremendous disruptions to thousands of lives and create ripple effects throughout the economy. For these reasons, share and capital acquisition in insurance companies has been strictly supervised by the government.

Some notable examples of recent M&A deals in Vietnam include Sumitomo Life Insurance Companys increase of ownership in Bao Viet Holdings to 22.09 per cent at the end of 2019, and FWD Groups acquisition of Vietcombank-Cardif Life Insurance in April.

Law requirements

Articles 6, 7, and 22 of Decree No.73/2016/ND-CP dated 2016 set several conditions for an acquirer of shares/capital in a Vietnamese insurance company (target company). There are general conditions applicable to all acquirers. The first is source of finance  the acquirer must contribute capital in cash and must not finance the acquisition from loans or entrusted investment capital from other organisations or individuals.

Second is capital requirement  the acquirer must ensure that the difference between its equity and its legal capital is at least equal to the amount of capital intended for contribution to the target, or the sum to be paid to the seller.

Next is profitability. If the acquisition is of 10 per cent or more of the charter capital of an insurance company, the acquirer must be profitable for the three consecutive years immediately preceding the proposed acquisition.

Finally, there may be other conditions. Whether the acquirer is an insurance enterprise, an insurance broker, a commercial bank, a financial company, or a securities company, it must ensure financial prudence, and be permitted by the competent agency to conduct share/capital acquisition in accordance with the applicable specialised laws.

There are also more specific conditions. First is the type of acquirer  the acquirer must be an organisation to acquire capital contribution in a limited liability insurance company; or either an organisation or individual to acquire shares in a joint-stock insurance firm.

Foreign acquirers must also be a foreign insurance enterprise or subsidiary thereof permitted to conduct business in the relevant sector and have at least seven years of experience in its sector. They must also must have minimum total assets of $2 billion in the year immediately preceding the acquisition. Finally, the foreign acquirer must not have committed any serious breach of the insurance business laws of the country where it was headquartered in the three preceding years.

Acquisitions of 10 per cent or more of the charter capital of an insurance company must obtain prior written approval from the Ministry of Finance (MoF). After completion, the target company must inform the MoF.

Many conditions apply to acquirers depending on whether they are Vietnamese or foreign ones. However, the method of determining a foreign acquirer under Vietnamese laws is not only based on the country of incorporation.

According to Article 23 of the Law on Investment 2014, a Vietnamese entity must satisfy the regulations applicable to foreign entities if (a) 51 per cent or more of its charter capital is held by a foreign entity; or (b) an entity of which 51 per cent or more charter capital is held by a foreign entity; or (c) a foreign entity and an entity prescribed in item (b). Under the new Law on Investment taking effect from January 1, 2021, the threshold will be reduced to more than 50 per cent.

It follows that an acquirer incorporated in Vietnam which is 51 per cent or more owned by a foreign entity might be deemed a foreign acquirer when conducting share/capital acquisition in insurance companies in Vietnam.

Competition thresholds

According to Article 13.2 of Decree No.35/2020/ND-CP of March 24, 2020, an insurance company contemplating to participate in an economic concentration, including share/capital acquisition, must notify the National Competition Committee before implementing the deal if certain thresholds are satisfied (see box).

It is worth noting that pursuant to Article 13.3 of Decree 35, notification thresholds 1, 2, and 4 also apply to offshore economic concentrations.

Even if the acquisition of insurance companies which have affiliates or subsidiaries in Vietnam occurs entirely outside of Vietnam, such transactions are also subject to thresholds 1, 2, and 4 and merger filing requirements.
The arrest comes days after Egypt said it had taken measures to pursue all seven fugitives via Interpol after the men fled the country in July

Lebanese authorities have arrested three Egyptians who are wanted in Egypt in connection with a 2014 rape case that has recently come to light and stirred public outrage in the North African country, Lebanons state news agency NNA reported.

Police arrested the suspects after Interpol put out a request for the apprehension of seven men who fled Egypt to Lebanon after the rape case, which has been dubbed the Fairmont Nile City Hotel gang rape, was brought to light.

According to NNA, authorities arrested three of the men in Mount Lebanons town of Fatqa.

Two of the other suspects have fled the country, according to Lebanese authorities.

The arrest comes a few days after Egypt said it had taken measures to pursue all seven fugitives via Interpol after the men fled the country through the capitals airport in July.

One of the defendants in the case, which so far involves a total of nine suspects, was arrested earlier as he attempted to flee Egypt and is being detained pending investigation.

The whereabouts of the remaining suspects are currently unknown.

The suspects in the case, which has gained widespread attention on social media over the past two months, reportedly hail from affluent and powerful families in Egypt.

The alleged rape has been under investigation by Egyptian authorities since 4 August, when a complaint about the incident was filed with the country's prosecutor-general.

The complaint was first sent to the National Council of Women (NCW) by a woman alleging she was raped by several people at the luxurious Fairmont Hotel in Cairo six years ago.

The victim and a number of witnesses have been questioned by the prosecution, the prosecution said on 24 August.

The case went viral in July on different social media platforms after an anonymous Instagram account published posts accusing a group of young men of being involved in a gang rape following a party at the hotel.

The incident has gained widespread attention on social media, spawning viral hashtags in Arabic and English, including #Fairmont incident.

In statements to AFP in July, the Fairmont Nile City Hotel administration said there was an ongoing internal investigation into the allegation.

This is the second sexual assault case that has sparked public outcry in the country in the past two months. A former student at the prestigious American University in Cairo, Ahmed Bassam Zaki, was accused in viral online posts of multiple sexual assaults and was subsequently arrested.

Zaki is facing charges of attempting to have sex with two women, including a minor, without their consent. He is also accused of using blackmail to coerce women into granting him sexual favours. He is currently in detention.

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The author, W Gyude Moore, a senior policy fellow at the Center for Global Development, and a former minister of public works in Liberia, makes some insightful observations about the difference between the US and China in their economic strategy for Africa. Chinas investment in infrastructure in Africa is unsurpassed and would not be replaced by the West, if China withdrew from Africa.

Excerpts below:

It is, thus, frustrating that in its complicated, enmeshed, centuries-long history in Africa, there has never been a Western proposal for continental-scale infrastructure building. Outside Cecil John Rhodess racist civilising project of connecting Cape to Cairo from the 1870s, there has never been any programme, backed by financial resources, to build Africas rail, roads, ports, water-filtration plants, or power stations. It was the Chinese who sought to build a road, rail and maritime infrastructure network to link Africas economies with the rest of the world.

The Western argument of Chinese debt-trap diplomacy, inferior loan terms and an insidious, covert campaign to seize African national infrastructure assets rings hollow in the absence of a like-for-like Western alternative. Until the arrival of the Chinese, the infrastructure construction space in Africa was dominated by Europeans

In the past eight months, Western countries have spent more than $5- trillion to prop up their economies in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. JP Morgan projects that over 14 years (2013 to 2027), Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will cost about $1.2-trillion to $1.3-trillion. That kind of gap (both in dollars and time) makes it clear that, if it wanted to, the West could equal or surpass Chinas BRI with its own infrastructure programme. If Africa steps away from Chinas infrastructure programme, which Western country is ready and willing to fill the gap?

_________________________________________________________

China, the World Bank, and African Debt: A War of Words

Deborah Brautigam, Director of the SAIS China Africa Research Initiative, discusses in her article below, the duplicity of the World Bank, in their attacks on the China Development Bank. If the US and Western Institutions would cease attacking China, stopped peddling lies about the Africa debttrap and joined Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, Africas huge infrastructure deficit could be addressed to the benefit of all Africans.

Read: https://thediplomat.com/2020/08/china-the-world-bank-and-african-debt-a-war-of-words/

Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in the economic development policy of Africa for 30 years. He is the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com
SYRACUSE  Despite its cancellation due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday a full slate of special events and activities for this years virtual edition of the Great New York State Fair.

New Yorks state fair  the oldest and third largest state fair in the nation  was canceled last month as the pandemic held its grip on the nation.

On April 28, it was suggested that the fair wasnt going to proceed, but a final decision hadnt been made at that point.

The Great New York State Fair is a cherished tradition for which many New Yorkers build their summer vacations and travel plans around, Gov. Cuomo said in a prepared statement. Though COVID-19 has postponed our great Fair, New Yorkers have found a way to put a new spin on this 178-year long tradition to continue to virtually enjoy the fair during these challenging times.

Until its 2021 return, state fair fans can eat their favorite fair food at a drive-thru at the fairgrounds, experience virtual visits to farms, as well as live stream the unveiling of the fairs famous annual butter sculpture. Upon its completion on Sept. 1, the American Dairy Association North East will release a time-lapse video of the butter sculpture being built.

Those in search of state fair food can visit the fairs Orange Lot on weekends through the Labor Day holiday. Several fair vendors have come together to offer drive-thru food service and socially distanced drive-in movies in the evenings, a release from the governors office said.

Other online activities include various contests and virtual celebrations to mark various fair traditions.

A full list of contests the fair will hold this year are available on the fairs Facebook page at facebook.com/nysfair.

We know that people are going to miss the fair this year, New York State Fair Director Troy Waffner said. Weve received so many phone calls, emails and text messages from people for whom the fair is a tradition. We know these activities wont replace the fair but will remind us all of why we love the fair and keep us going until we can meet again.

... Rest assured, we are using this time to plan the greatest fair in our long history.

The fair will also be marking the centennial celebration of womens suffrage with photos of the suffrage movement in New York, including an effort at the state fair.

The 18-day fair, which draws more than 1 million visitors to the Syracuse area each year, was scheduled for Aug. 21 through Sept. 7 at the state fairgrounds in the town of Geddes, Onondaga County.

This is the second time the fair has been canceled since its founding in 1841. The state fair was canceled from 1942 to 1948 as the fairgrounds were used as a military training facility during World War II.

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The Trump administration announced Friday that the collection of some Social Security taxes is suspended until the end of the year.

The Trump administration released the guidance on payroll tax deferral less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the Republican National Convention. This is to make sure that millions of individuals and families will have enough money to meet their daily needs amid the global pandemic.

The suspension of Social Security Tax was both embraced and criticized. Some said that this will cause headaches for both employees and employers next year but many said that this could help many since payment intended for the Social Security tax can be used for daily expenses while waiting for the next round of stimulus aid.

The decision of Trump's administration to suspend the collection of Social Security tax will allow employers to offer their workers a temporary deferral of the 6.2 percent payroll tax until the end of this year.

Some are worried that they might pay a huge amount next year as the taxes owed would not be forgiven, and instead would come due in 2021.

when Trump signed and issued the executive order for the unemployment benefits early this month, he said he plans to terminate the collection of Social Security tax.

Trump was criticized for this action but as a President, he is doing his effort to at least help millions of Americans who are suffering from financial crises due to the pandemic.

However, it is not clear as to how many employers will take the option to help their employees.

In releasing the guidelines, the Treasury Department said: "The guidance allows employers to defer withholding and paying the employee's portion of the Social Security payroll tax if the employee's wages are below a certain amount."

Trump strongly argued that cutting off the Social Security tax means more money on workers' pockets for the rest of this year and this will boost the economy.

Even though some business owners are adamant to offer the suspension of the Social Security Tax collection because they might have difficulties in collecting it next year, Trump already said that he will terminate the collection once gets reelected.

"At the end of the year, the assumption that I win, I'm going to terminate the payroll tax, which is another thing that some of the great economists would like to see done," Trump told a reporter earlier this month.

"Tremendous growth in the U.S. will cover the costs of Social Security. We'll be paying into Social Security through the general fund," he added.

The Trump administration clarified that the President is only referring to permanently forgiving the taxes that would be deferred this year, but the President himself has repeatedly indicated he has much bigger ideas in mind.

One of these could be the second round of stimulus that he keeps on pushing but the Democrats keep on declining.

Check these out!
Good art and artists seem to be transcending boundaries of time and space, being relevant to us during this tumultuous COVID-19 period.

By Rachel Hadas

Pondering the now no-longer Dixie Chicks  renamed The Chicks  Amanda Petrusich wrote in a recent issue of the New Yorker, Lately, Ive caught myself referring to a lot of new releases as prescient  work that was written and recorded months or even years ago but feels designed to address the present moment. But good art is always prescient, because good artists are tuned into the currency and the momentum of their time.

That last phrase, currency and momentum, recalls Hamlets advice to the actors visiting the court of Elsinore to show the very age and body of the time his form and pressure. The shared idea here is that good art gives a clear picture of what is happening  even, as Petrusich suggests, if it hadnt happened yet when that art was created.

Good artists seem, in our alarming and prolonged time (I was going to write moment, but it has come to feel like a lot more than that), to be leaping over months, decades and centuries, to speak directly to us now.

Riding into the bottomless abyss

Some excellent COVID-19-inflected or anticipatory work Ive been noticing dates from the mid-20th century. Of course, one could go a lot further back, for example to the lines from the closing speech in King Lear: The weight of this sad time we must obey. Here, though, are a few more recent examples.

Marcel Prousts Finding Time Again, an evocation of wartime Paris from 1916, strongly suggests New York City in March 2020: Out on the street where I found myself, some distance from the centre of the city, all the hotels  had closed. The same was true of almost all the shops, the shop-keepers, either because of a lack of staff or because they themselves had taken fright, having fled to the country, and left the usual handwritten notes announcing that they would reopen, although even that seemed problematic, at some date far in the future. The few establishments which had managed to survive similarly announced that they would open only twice a week.

I recently stumbled on finds from the 1958 edition of Oscar Williams The Pocket Book of Modern Verse  both, strikingly, from poems by writers not now principally remembered as poets. Whereas a fair number of the poets anthologized by Williams have slipped into oblivion, Arthur Waley and Julian Symons speak to us now, to our sad time, loud and clear.

From Waleys Censorship (1940):

It is not difficult to censor foreign news.

What is hard to-say is to censor ones own thoughts,-

To sit by and see the blind man

On the sightless horse, riding into the bottomless abyss.

And from Symons Pub, which Williams doesnt date but which I am assuming also comes from the war years:

The houses are shut and the people go home, we are left in

Our island of pain, the clocks start to move and the powerful

To act, there is nothing now, nothing at all

To be done: for the trouble is real: and the verdict is final

Against us.

Return to what remains

Dipping a bit further back, into Henry James The Spoils of Poynton from 1897, I was struck by a sentence I hadnt remembered, or had failed to notice, when I first read that novella decades ago: She couldnt leave her own house without peril of exposure. James uses infection as a metaphor; but what happens to a metaphor when were living in a world where we literally cant leave our houses without peril of exposure?

In Anthony Powells novel Temporary Kings, set in the 1950s, the narrator muses about what it is that attracts people to reunions with old comrades-in-arms from the war. But the idea behind the question How was your war? extends beyond shared military experience: When something momentous like a war has taken place, all existence turned upside down, personal life discarded, every relationship reorganized, there is a temptation, after all is over, to return to what remains  pick about among the bent and rusting composite parts, assess merits and defects.

The pandemic is still taking place. Its too early to return to what remains. But we cant help wanting to think about exactly that. Literature helps us to look  as Hamlet said  before and after.

Rachel Hadas, Professor of English, Rutgers University Newark

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

 Feature image: Representational image via Wikimedia Commons.
A mom tortured and killed her 3-year-old daughter and tried to dissolve her corpse in bleach. She was later charged in court for the murder of the child.

he Mexican woman, Mayra Alejandra Chavez, 28, was exposed by the Ventura County Children and Family Services in February 2016. Welfare officers came to check the residence.

Questioning the girl, she told them that she had a sister that brought some doubts about Chavez. They knew that she had another three-year-old daughter, Kimberly Lopez. Suspicions were already afoot in regards to the domestic situation, which would lead to a gruesome event, reported Meaww.

According to Chavez and the girl's father Omar Lopez, both claimed she was not living with them. She was staying with her relatives in Mexico as an alibi why the dead child was not with them. Not believing what the couple said, the social workers were asking for proof of their claim. However, no proof was given that made them more suspicious.

The missing child reported to Oxnard Police told the Los Angeles Times about it in 2016, said the paper. Authorities offered a reward of $10,000 for any information that would lead to the child. By that time, the young girl was killed and it took several months to tell Oxnard about her cruelty.

Also read: Man Stabs Brother to Death Due to Heated Argument Overly Freshly Laundered Pillowcase

Further investigation by the police revealed how cruelly the child was treated in life and death.

According to the information, it was the evening of June 15 when the child was killed by the woman. The child has dirty diapers that stressed and angered her. In her anger, she was yanking the disposable pants hard that caused the girl to fall hard and hit her head. Right after, the young girl had seizures. The woman said it sounded like a watermelon hitting something hard.

Admitting neglect from the accident caused by her, there was no attempt done to see a doctor and the child died soon after. The couple drove to Mexico to dispose the pitiful corpse but went back to get the corpse for fear of discovery, cited San Diego Union-Tribune.

Chavez, who was the natural mother, went back to the remains and mutilated the corpse by breaking its flesh and bone using bleach with water to dissolve the broken body parts. All the contents in the bucket were poured into a sink in their rental unit.

Their attempt to destroy the remains was notable. They even used pliers to break the bones of poor Kimberly.

More was learned about the unsuitability of Mayra Chavez as a mother. Due to drug abuse, it prompted the state to get her daughter. The baby was taken from the adoptive parents when she was cleared.

Kimberly was brought back to foster care when the murderess abused the child but allowed visits with supervision.

The woman was sentenced in 2018 for the abuse and for trying to dissolve Kimberly's remains in bleach.

Related article: Hartford Man Decapitates Roommate With Samurai Sword Over Heated Argument

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Jess Patterson, owner of The Co-Op Sullivan Island, discusses making and selling frose, or frozen rose, with David and Renee. And he divulges how to make it at home.





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Have a question, query, or quagmire youd like Renee and David to answer? Click that red button to the right, or click on this link to leave us a recorded message. Press and talk away and maybe youll be featured on the show!

Come late summer, we could all use some sorta respite. Wherever we can find it. So we turned to a former Wall Streeter who gave up finance to turn the simple slushie-like frose cocktail into contented sighs and lines down the street at his beachside storefront. Not only that, Jess Patterson of The Co-Op on Sullivan Island divulges his secrets to making a frozen rose cocktail so you can replicate it at home. Wed like to remind you that there are countless more ways to take respite than frozen booze. But its not a terrible one to keep stashed in your freezer.

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Have a cooking question, query, or quagmire youd like Renee and David to answer? Click that big-mouth button to the right to leave us a recorded message. Just enter your name and email address, press record, and talk away. Well definitely get back to you. And who knows? Maybe youll be featured on the show!

Transcript

David Leite: Renee, what temperature is it in Phoenix right now?

Renee Schettler: Oh God. It was 117 the other week. I think its supposed to be 111 today.

David: Oh my God, thats like Africa hot. Thats like awful. Thats like savanna hot.

Renee: Its a little intense

David: Yeah, and poor Loki, your cat, is inside, I hope.

Renee: Loki is inside, although she is an outdoor cat. So she does get outside for a reprieve to stalk birds.

David: And whats the temperature there, Adam, up near Albany?

Adam Clairmont: David, I work all day with no windows inside a studio. I havent been outside for hours. I wouldnt even know.

David: Were hitting about 89 or 90, which is very hot here in Connecticut. And the reason why I ask all of this is because, of course, this is summertime and people like their nice cold drinks and their nice

Renee: Their blender drinks. Their slushies.

David: All that stuff. So this leads me to a very important scientific question. And its a physiological question for both of you.

Renee: Uh oh.

David: Ready?

Adam: Sure.

David: In this hot weather, do you guys get brain freeze?

Illustration: Memo Angeles

Renee: Well, yeah.

Adam: Yeah.

David: You do, right?

Adam: Yeah.

David: You do, Adam?

Adam: Yeah, of course.

David: Okay, where do you get brain freeze? Just where do you get it?

Renee: What do you mean where do you get it? You mean like at Target? Or do you get yours at Whole Foods?

Adam: Aisle number two, right?

David: No. No, Im a Walmart kind of brain freeze guy. No, where on your body do you get brain freeze?

Renee: Well, David, its called brain freeze for a reason.

Adam: Well, yeah, its in the advertising.

David: Right, so its in your head, right?

Adam: Yeah.

Renee: Yeah.

David: Up here.

Renee: Have you not experienced brain freeze?!

David: No. I have nothing going on up here when I drink something cold.

Renee: Nothing going on, thats for sure. You are a little thick-headed sometimes.

David: Yeah. Nothing. I feel absolutely nothing when I drink a big frothy, sloppy, Slurpee kind of drink thats real icy. Nothing. I will occasionally get it in the middle of my chest, like right there in my breastbone. Thats where I feel it. But Ive never once have had this brain freeze thing. Maybe I need a brain to have brain freeze. I dont know. But Ive never had that.

Renee: I probably shouldnt comment on that since you sign my paychecks.

David: Todays guest, I think, probably knows an awful lot about brain freeze.

Renee: Well, yeah. And he knows how to give it to other people. The man makes froses for a living.

Jess Patterson

David: Thats right. Yes, he does. He makes frose. This is how he makes his living, how hes built his empire. Jess Patterson is the owner of The Co-Op on Sullivan Island, all the way down there in South Carolina. Hello, South Carolina.

Photo: The Co-Op Sullivans Island

Renee: Hes waving, for those of you who cant see him.

David: I am. Im waving to my South Carolina friends and fans down there. And Jess is basically The Frose King down there. He has got some extraordinary flavors and has created an incredible following. Even during this time, lines are all the way down the street for his really wild flavors.

Renee: Were talking not just unusual. Were talking incredibly outlandish. Welcome to the show, Jess.

David: Welcome, Jess.

Jess Patterson: Of course, glad to be here.

From finance to frose

David: So before we dive into frose, I want a little background and context here. So we heard a rumor that you gave up a 16-year career as a day trader with crappy hours for this glamorous lifestyle and that youre living the dream. Can you talk about that a little bit? Are you living the dream? Is this the dream? Is this what youve always dreamed about?

Jess: Far from living the dream. The story is partially true. I was in finance on Wall Street for 17 years and we had just started a startup company, not necessarily day trading, but it was electronic execution for customers. It was market making, and we ran out of money. And at that point I decided to stop looking for another finance job and go strictly to frose 24-7.

Photo: The Co-Op Sullivans Island

Renee: Nice.

Jess: Yeah.

David: So thats not exactly a direct line from finance to frose.

Renee: A little trajectory there.

David: How did that happen, finance to frose?

Jess: Right. So Ive owned The Co-Op since 2012. And when we were up in Midtown working, my wife heard of this thing called frose at Bar Primi. This would have been in 2015 or 16. And so I went with her. I didnt want any part of it. I had no idea what it was, but

Renee: Girly drink.

Jess: Right. It was Saturday date night. We went up to the bar and she was like, Well, wed like two of the frose, and the first thing the bartender said was, Well, its still freezing. We cant keep up. And so we had a glass of rose and waited for it to freeze up and then about 45 minutes later he gave us a glass of frose and we just started talking to the bartender and he let me know that on a Saturday they serve 1,200 of them a day.

Photo: Bar Primi

Renee: Wow.

David: 1,200?! A day?!

Jess: So I did the quick math. And I looked at her and I said, We need to bring this to The Co-Op. So about a month later we bought our first machine and now we have 12 machines in one shop and were going to have 20 machines in the other shop.

Renee: Damn!

David: Wow!

Jess: Yeah. So it fits perfectly for our location. Were a block from the beach, both shops, and we just keep adding flavors and adding more machines. And at that point, yeah, the way the frose was going it didnt make any sense for me to get back into finance.

Renee: Brilliant. Well, you just got into finance in a different way.

Jess: Exactly, yes.

A flavor of frose for every craving

David: Yeah, you used your finance background to frose your life up. But heres the thing, is you dont have like ordinary bougie flavors, like just plain old frozen rose. You have sweet teacherry ColaI just saw beer daiquiri

Jess: Sure.

Renee: Wait, did it start with just the plain old classic original?

Jess: Yeah, the original frose is going to be a strawberry syrup-based frose. And we started with strawberry, and then the second flavor we had was peach. And now we have watermelon, we have cucumber watermelon, we have the majority of the fruits. And then we started to get a little bit creative with, okay, how far can we push the limits here? And just depending on what was happening in my life that day, if I had an idea of, well, Im craving a Coke, but my wife wont let methe only way Im allowed to have my sugar is through my alcoholso we just started playing around and so we did a cherry Coke. We did a cherry vanilla Coke. Yeah, you brought up the beer daiquiri.

David: Beer daiquiri. Yum.

Jess: Yeah, so we work with all the vendors for rose. We try to get a dry rose and then the beer daiquiri was just, we happened to be up in Asheville last week with all the breweries. And we went to a brewery that had a lot of sours and we started thinking, okay, well theres a lot of people out there that dont necessarily drink rose or it may not be a guy thing, but beer is.

Renee: Brilliant.

Jess: And so we just used a sour ale, added peach and a little mint, and we just started that yesterday. But I think thats going to catch on as well.

Renee: And I love that all the other flavors have caught on to the point where they sell out so quickly. On your Instagram feed, which by the way, when Im having a hard day, I will go to your Instagram feed for like five minutes and instantly be laughing out loud. Thank you for that.

David: Nobody writes Instagram captions like you do.

Jess: Thank you.

David: Talking about your therapist and the bedsheets in the hotel youre at. I mean, its pretty wild.

Jess: Yeah, thanks. We have a 19-month-old little girl, and shes got her hands full. So all my complaining, she doesnt want to hear it. So I just sort of vent it out on Instagram.

Renee: Yeah, you do. But its brilliant the way you spin it. You get in the fact that you cant drink the Coke at home by saying, Hey, limited quantities of our cherry Cola today. And then it goes into this gripe, but then you bring it back to the cherry Cola. And everybodys like, Oh, poor guy. Of course, Im going to come get some frose.

Jess: I do think that the Instagram has definitely helped sales out. So Ill continue to make a fool of myself if it helps the bottom line, for sure.

David: And as far as the way things are right now, you had online ordering for the frose and something happened.

Jess: Basically, just depending on the day, we can keep up or we cant keep up. Especially if Im an idiot and I put some post, for whatever reason, sometimes Ill offer two for the price of one. Thats a [bleep] show.

Photo: The Co-Op Sullivans Island

Renee: Im sure your staffers love that.

David: I was referring to one particular customer. She ordered something when she got there. You didnt have it anymore and she sort of went ballistic and you were throwing money at her.

Jess: Yes. You wouldnt believe even during COVID people have their heart set on a specific flavor and if they dont have it

Photo: The Co-Op Sullivans Island

Jess: So yeah, a bad customer can ruin it for everybody sometimes because Ill lose it. I cant handle it anymore.

David: She got upset. The flavor wasnt there. You gave her 50 bucks for a $10 frose. You gave her 40 extra bucks.

Jess: Yeah.

David: Thats not exactly good business.

Jess: No, but, so weve closed off our shop to customers. And so we have all of our windows open that weve sort of turned into drive-throughs even though you walk up. So our windows have become the registers.

Photo: The Co-Op Sullivans Island

Jess: And so shes up there complaining. We have the sweetest girl working the register, she is 16 or 17 years old, and this woman just keeps complaining and complaining and the line is getting longer and longer. And its really hot inside the shop, all the machines are running, and basically I was going to do whatever I could to just keep the line moving and get her out of the way, because the 16-year-old wasnt really making it work. So, yeah, I think we gave her, like, I cant even remember, maybe like nine or 10 frose and she finally left. But it was just unbelievable.

David: Sometimes these Karens are very insistent.

Jess: Yes, absolutely.

Renee: But I think that goes to show your care for your staff and your customers, which comes through loud and clear. Speaking of customers, what is the flavor that they clamor for the most.

Jess: So the most popular flavor is the original, we call it the OG. So thats going to be strawberry based. And then our second most popular is peach. So I generally describe our froses from sweet to less sweet. So a lot of people love the strawberry daiquiris or peach daiquiris or the frozen margaritas. So if you like really sweet things youre going to go for the peach. If you are like me, and Im sort of the anti-sweet, I do grapefruit. Grapefruit is by far the least sweet. So some of our new flavors have really taken off. We do like a violet lemonade. We have a prickly pear.

Renee: Very nice.

Jess: Yeah, definitely.

Renee: What would you say is the most outlandish, most out there flavor that youve come up with?

Jess: Oh my goodness, the mostwe always try to play around with some spicy ones and those can cause a lot of problems, especially if theyre too spicy. And so I would say the spicy ones are, weve made a few of them that are undrinkable. I just, I cant even do it. But people will buy it and people will enjoy it. Its just the spicy ones really get to me a little bit.

Renee: Maybe you need to team up with the local barbecue joint, the one with the wall of hot sauces, right? You need their clientele.

Jess: Right, right.

What is unicorn vomit?!

David: So tell me though, what is unicorn vomit, why is it so popular, and why do I have this very sneaking suspicion I would like to try it?

Photo: Fancy Sprinkles

Jess: Unicorn vomit, its like a hard candy, an extremely overpriced hard candy, that we found on Instagram. And so I bought 20 pounds of unicorn vomit and we just put it on top of, its most popular with like a blackberry lavender frose. Its just hard candy you put on frose. Weve sold out of unicorn vomit. We have some on backorder right now and

Renee: Oh my God. Unicorn vomit on backorder.

Jess: Right. Its more for like a lot of people like taking selfies with their frose. And so we will put it in a little plastic salad dressing container. We wont even put it in the frose and wait so they can put it on themselves, how they want to, for the perfect picture.

David: And I think you have something that no other frose place in the entire world has. You have frose flights.

Renee: Ooooh.

Jess: We do. Were takeout only now, but yes. So its sort of, if youve never had frose before, its great, especially if you wanted to try a spicy one or something super sweet or something really out there.

Renee: Nice. Jess, speaking selfishly here, I heard that theres a second location that youre opening and Im hoping you can tell us about that and that you can promise youll offer mail-order from there all the way to Phoenix.

Jess: Yeah, sure.

David: And also your truck, too. You have a truck coming out.

Jess: Yes, so we have two things currently in production. We have a second shop thats going to be on Isle of Palms. So we saw a space, we jumped on it. And its great, we were able to build for efficiency and how we need it compared to the original Co-Op, was more of like a market where you could pick up apples and oranges. So were excited. We hope to be open in mid-September. And then we also have a trailer. Were going to put four frose machines in it and we are going to start doing private parties and weddings.

Photo: The Co-Op Sullivans Island

Renee: Magnificent.

David: Excellent.

Jess: Charlestons a huge spot for weddings. And so we just want to try to be a part of those. And so we are going to start renting the trailer out.

How to make frose at home

David: So I have a confession to make. We havent been entirely honest with you. We invited you on the show to make you talk all about frose and get our listeners all excited. So now you are obligated to give us a recipe on how we can make frose at home because not everyone can get down there. So how can our listeners make a really cool frose at home?

Jess: Sure. Its fairly simple. Theres not very many ingredients. I think the best one to start with would be original frose, which is going to be strawberry-based. And so youre just going to want to try to get a bottle of the driest rose you can find. It doesnt have to be expensive. So yeah, Dark Horse is probably maybe a $7 or $9 bottle of rose. We started with that wine and we loved it.

Jess: So you have your bottle of rose and then you just need to create a simple syrup. Theres two ways to do that. And so thats just going to be a third of water, a third of sugar, and a third of strawberries. And to get the strawberries, you just need to boil the strawberries in with the sugar and the water and theres your simple syrup. And then youre going to need fresh lemon juice.

Jess: Youre going to have your dry rose. Youre going to have your strawberry simple syrup. And then youre going to have your lemon juice. So if you dont want to squeeze lemons, you can buy lemon juice. Itll work just fine. And if you dont want to take all the work to do the simple syrup, you can buy a simple syrup at any of the beer and wine places like a Monin strawberry simple syrup. A lot of people think frose has water or ice in it and thats not the case.

Jess: And so youre going to want to either empty a third or a fourth, depending on the wine, out of the bottle and then put in your lemon juice with your simple syrup. And the best thing to do is to shake that and then put it in the freezer overnight. And that will freeze overnight. And then the next thing to do when you take it out of the freezer, in 5 to 10 minutes, itll thaw out enough to move and its best just to dump it into a blender, turn the blender on, and then youre ready to go.

Photo: The Co-Op Sullivans Island

Renee: Its that simple.

David: Excellent.

Jess: Yeah, theres not a whole lot to it. [EDITORS NOTE: When Jesss wife and business partner, Liza, overheard him sharing his frose recipe with us, she chided him that he made it sound too complicated. We took notes from both of them, tried it at home, and came up with a made-from-scratch frose recipe.]

Renee: I would still rather come and buy it from you, though.

Jess: Its a lot easier just to buy it from us, yes.

David: Well, Jess, it was great talking to you and we wish you the best of luck with the new store. And we hope everyone, if they can get down there in the middle of this summer to enjoy either one of the stores or if not be able to make a Jess-inspired frose at home.

Jess: Thanks so much, guys.

Renee: Thanks for being here, Jess.

Jess: Of course.

David: Jess Patterson is the owner of The Co-Op on Sullivan Island, South Carolina and the soon-to-be open location on the Isle of Palm not too far away. And to get a taste, see what I did there, Renee? To get a taste

Renee: I heard, I heard.

David: of Jesss humor and wilder-than-hell frose flavors, check them out at Instagram @coopsullivans with an S.

Recipes on LCs specials board this week

Random Person: If I only had a brain freeze.

David: And I have to say, Renee, all that talk about frose has got me thirsty and hangry.

Renee: Youre often hangry, David.

David: Im often hangry. What are we serving up on the Specials Board this week?

Renee: Well, we took a nod from Jess and his kind of innovative spirit. So we decided to rethink some classics. Starting with a BLT. We candied the bacon.

Photo: Ann Elliott Cunning

David: Ah, very nice.

Renee: Maple. Brown sugar. And then we slipped some avocado in there as well.

David: Even nicer.

Renee: Mmm hmm.

David: Am I doing my Schweddy balls voice right now?



Video courtesy of SNL

Renee: You are so doing the Schweddy balls voice, David. We also roast stone fruit rather than leave them raw. And then we toss them with fresh, fresh, fresh mozzarella. Just the combination of textures, tastes, temperatures, its really incredible.

Photo: Sam Folan

David: I wonder if he could make a frose with peaches and mozzarella.

Renee: Hmm. How about mozzarella garnish?

David: Oh, thatd be nice with mozzarella balls. Cold mozzarella balls. Very

Renee: Cold mozzarella balls. Thats enough out of you. Alright. Thats it.

David: Thats it? Oh, okay. I stopped you in your tracks with my cold mozzarella balls.

Renee: Im scared to say anything else.

David: This podcast is produced by Overit Studios and our producer is the intoxicating Adam Clairmont. You can reach Adam at overitstudios@overitstudios.com. And remember to subscribe to Talking With My Mouth Full wherever you download your favorite podcasts. And if you like what you hear and want to support us, consider leaving a review and rating on Apple Podcasts. Chow!

Renee: Chow.

Blooper Time!

Renee: Wherever you drown in podcasts? Is that what you said?

David: Is that what I said? Wherever you drown? Wherever you drown your favorite podcasts. Thats interesting.
Petr Glybochko, Rector of I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, academician of Russian Academy of Sciences, professor sent a congratulatory letter to Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"Dear Mehriban Arif qizi,

Please allow me to wish you a happy birthday on behalf of the I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and on my own behalf.

As an outstanding statesperson and a public figure, you tirelessly work for the well-being of your people and make a tremendous contribution to the development of healthcare, science and culture. We are grateful to you for the strength and energy that you have given to international innovative projects in medical education, including the Baku Branch of the Sechenov University.

I would like to wish you all the best, well-being, prosperity, energy for new achievements, good health and happiness," the letter said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A woman was arrested under public order legislation in Wicklow this afternoon after banners opposing Covid-19 public health advice were hung from a footbridge over the N11.

The woman, in her early 50s, has made several appearances at anti-lockdown protests in recent months. She also opposes the wearing of face masks.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Several thousand women marched in the capital of Belarus on Saturday waving flags, flowers and balloons in the latest in a series of anti-government protests that have gripped the country since a disputed presidential election this month.

President Alexander Lukashenko denies opposition accusations that he rigged the Aug. 9 election to prolong his 26-year rule. He says the protesters are funded by the West, and accuses NATO of massing forces on Belarusian frontiers, which the alliance denies.

The women on Saturday staged what they called a march of solidarity, calling on Lukashenko and his government to step down.

"This is our city" and "you better protect us," chanted the crowd, many of them sporting national dress.

Streets along the protest route were cordoned off by police and security troops. Rallies on a smaller scale took place in other cities and towns.

(Writing by Andrey Ostroukh in Moscow; Editing by Frances Kerry)
Russian nationals travelling overseas may face the threat of persecution from US intelligence agencies, Russias Foreign Ministry said in a statement following the arrest in the United States of Russian citizen Yegor Kryuchkov, TASS reports.

"Following the August 22 arrest of Russian national Yegor Kryuchkov, 27, in the United States we would like to draw the attention of our fellow citizens travelling overseas to the threat of becoming the subject of persecution from US law enforcement and intelligence agencies," the statement reads.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, US law enforcement agencies continue to arrest Russians around the world. As many as 56 such incidents have taken place in third countries since 2008, with six occurring in 2019. In this regard, the ministry pointed to the cases of Viktor Bout, Maria Butina, Roman Seleznev and Konstantin Yaroshenko. "In order to make them [Russians] plead guilty in fabricated cases, they are putting strong psychological pressure on them and make their incarceration conditions unbearable. If our fellow citizens refuse to plead guilty, they are handed hefty prison sentences," the statement added.

The ministry emphasized that Russian diplomats did everything possible to provide assistance to Russian nationals, ensure their legitimate rights and speedy return home.
It is important to promote the sinicisation of Tibetan Buddhism and build an impregnable fortress to maintain stability in Tibet, President Xi Jinping said on Saturday.

Xi added it was necessary to strengthen border defence and frontier security of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), which borders India and Bhutan, adding it was necessary to educate Tibetans to strengthen the struggle against separatism.

The Chinese President was addressing the countrys top leadership at a two-day forum on future governance in Tibet in Beijing, which concluded on Saturday.

Beijing seized control over Tibet in 1950, in what is described in the Chinese narrative as a peaceful liberation, which aided the high-altitude Himalayan region to throw off its feudalist past.

Exiled Tibetan groups, led by exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, and rights groups say Beijings rule amounts to cultural genocide.

Political and ideological education needed to be strengthened in Tibets schools in order to plant the seeds of loving China in the depths of the hearts of every youth, Xi said in remarks published by state news agency Xinhua.

Xi was quoted as calling for efforts to ensure national security and enduring peace and stability, steadily improve peoples lives, maintain a good environment, solidify border defence and ensure frontier security.

It is necessary to strengthen the education and guidance of the masses, extensively mobilise the masses to participate in the struggle against separatism, and form a copper wall and iron wall (which translates as impregnable fortress in Mandarin) for maintaining stability, he said.

Efforts must be made to build a new modern socialist Tibet that is united, prosperous, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful, Xi said.

It is necessary to actively guide Tibetan Buddhism to adapt to the socialist society and promote the Sinicisation of Tibetan Buddhism, he said.

Sinicisation of religion could be broadly defined as an effort to mould religious beliefs and doctrine to bring them in line with the Communist Party of Chinas principles and objectives, and with the culture of the majority Han community. Xi in 2015 spoke about sinicising the five major religions practised in China: Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Buddhism and Daoism.

In 2019, Chinese state media announced that China had drawn up an outline to sinicise Islam by 2022 in an effort to redefine the practise of the religion and align the beliefs of Muslims with the CPC.

Chinas policies towards Tibet have come under the spotlight again this year amid Beijings deteriorating ties with Washington.

In July, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would restrict visas for some Chinese officials involved in blocking diplomatic access to Tibet and engaging in human rights abuses, adding that Washington supported meaningful autonomy for Tibet.

In a retaliatory move, China said it would impose visa restrictions on US citizens who have engaged in what it called egregious behaviour over Tibet.
All employees and employers are faced with upcoming challenges in order to return to work safely. Huntoffice have a full range of products that can ensure protocols are followed and the spread of infection is kept at a minimum. We supply a number of key ranges, that will help you negotiate your Return to Work Schedule.

Our space and planning solutions can help with social distancing, to implement a set of measures intended to prevent the spread of a contagious disease by maintaining a physical distance between people and reducing the number of times people come into close contact with each other.

HuntOffice supply a large range of social distancing solutions to help you keep pace with everything that is happening with social distancing and safety.

All business types need to think about physical distancing measures going forward. The way people move and how people interact is constantly changing, and the need to adapt is important.

Encouraging good social distancing techniques, and educating staff and customers by utilising simple crowd control solutions is paramount.

Undoubtedly, hand hygiene is at the top of the list regarding preventing the spread of infections. Hand sanitiser and hand wash should be readily available at desks, canteens and washrooms and signage displayed encouraging compliance.

Cleaning protocols will need to be managed carefully - identification of contact points and consider removing unnecessary items especially in common areas - Reception, Canteen and Bathroom facilities.

Routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops, and door handles. Disposable wipes can be used so that workers can wipe down commonly used surfaces (for example, doorknobs, keyboards, remote controls, desks).

Waste volumes will increase because of higher use of personal protective equipment (PPEs) such as gloves, facemasks and other materials including paper tissues.

To manage waste volumes, an adequate volume of waste bins should be available in the workplace, if possible, at every individual desk or common area.

Provide tissues and waste bins lined with plastic bags so that they can be emptied without contacting the contents.

Pedal-operated waste collection bins can be used, so that a 'no touch' with hands rule applies. In the absence of pedal-operated waste bins, bins with swinging lids can be opted as the alternative. Otherwise, open waste containers are better than those, which require physical opening/touching with hands. Colour coded waste segregation bins are also available. Waste bin liners should also be considered for every bin present.

IT'S very rare to find a business thriving during the coronavirus lockdown. But Newcastle West company Hunt Office supplies is doing just this. So much so, that it's founder Seamus Hunt has been able to take on five extra staff to cater for a surge in demand.

Our own business has thrived during this period," Mr Hunt explains, "We have an online business and people have been driven online. They've relied on online business a lot more as other companies have closed.

The company has seen growth by 30% year-on-year and left the businessman's fear at the start of lockdown unfounded.

We thought like everyone else we'd be letting people go during Covid-19. But instead, we've been able to take on four to five people, he said.

Headquartered in Newcastle West and marking 20 years in business, Hunt Office supplies also has a base in City West, Dublin.

With 150,000 products in stock, it's a one-stop shop for all office equipment - from stationary ink and toner, to laptops, office furniture and school supplies.

The firm also provides office fit-outs, and health and safety products. And it is with this, it has come into its own.

Mr Hunt said: We provide sanitising stations, masks and signage, towels and tissues and all this kind of stuff. We sourced a lot of the product very quickly when this hit and we were able to see business skyrocket because of it. There are 57 people working for the company, all doing so remotely at present.

The company owner is in no hurry to re-open its premises in Station Road. We are lucky we had the technology in place so people could work remotely. They would be mainly in customer service, accounts and web administration. We're keeping it under constant review. We are closed until the end of September for definite. We don't feel the need to rush back. People's health and safety is paramount. We are in the lucky position where we can work from home so why risk everything, Mr Hunt asked.

The biggest challenge for the company has been getting the stock in place.

We had to react very quickly in buying products, getting them on site, taking on customer service people to help customers through the process. A lot of work was involved, but thankfully we were able to deliver, he added.

For more, see www.huntoffice.ie, or telephone 069 77000.
US President he would support seeing a first female President in the country, but added that it should not be Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris, it was reported.

He made the remarks while speaking to supporters at an airport in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on Friday as he began his campaign trail a day after officially accepting his renomination for the November 3 election at the Republican National Convention.

Trump mocked Harris over her poor performance in the Democratic presidential primary, reports The Hill news website.

"And this would be your President, possibly? I don't think so. I don't think so.

"You know, I want to see the first woman President also, but I don't want to see a woman president get into that position the way she'd do it, and she's not competent.

"They're all saying 'we want Ivanka'... I don't blame them," the President added.

Earlier this month, Harris made history by becoming the first Indian-American and African American to formally accept the nomination for the Democratic Party's Vice Presidential candidate.

Trump's remarks on Friday came a day after the California Senator said that the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC) it was "designed to soothe his (Trump) ego".

In a speech on Thursday, Harris railed on Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying that "you can't stop it with a tweet".

Trump has launched attacks against Harris since she was named to the Democratic ticket earlier this month, The Hill news report said.

He has regularly derided her as "nasty" and also entertained a false conspiracy theory about her eligibility for the vice presidency.

--IANS

ksk/
Celebrities share the stories behind their favourite photos. This week its TV presenter and journalist James May, 57

TV presenter and journalist James May, 57, (pictured) shared the stories behind a selection of his favourite photographs

1975: Im pretty sure my father James cut my hair for this. Dad ran steel foundries, so we moved around a bit to the Midlands, South Wales and South Yorkshire. I was a church choirboy in Yorkshire and the choirmaster taught me the piano and flute. I learnt the harpsichord when I read music at Lancaster University. I thought it would make me seem deep, interesting and appealing to girls.

1990: This was when I was presenting Driven, Channel 4s rival to Top Gear. One of my early jobs was on Autocar Magazine. I edited its Road Test Yearbook  a precis of the 101 cars wed tested that year. I re-edited the copy so the drop caps at the start of each review spelt out a message about being bored and finding the whole thing a pain. I was fired.

2006: I dont know why I look grumpy here because I loved Oz And Jamess Big Wine Adventure. For this series Oz Clarke and I travelled through Frances wine regions while he tried to convert me to wine. All I had to do was drink and make facile comments but poor Oz had to brush up on every region and winemaker. Hes great company and I still see him. Hes serious, learned and sophisticated. Hes much posher and rounded than me and we had lots of drunken philosophical discussions.

2007: Flying in this 1930s Tiger Moth biplane for James Mays 20th Century was a dream come true because Ive been interested in planes since I was a boy. I never imagined Id learn to fly, because its expensive and complicated, but I was driving past an airfield with a mate and saw a sign advertising introductory flying lessons. I booked a 20-minute lesson and just kept going. I eventually got a pilots licence. Ive now owned four planes and my current one is an American Champion Scout.

2012: Here I am with Tom Cruise and The Stig at the world premiere of Jack Reacher in Londons Leicester Square. This was a publicity stunt for Top Gear. Tom was a friend of the show, having competed with Cameron Diaz in Star In A Reasonably Priced Car in 2010. At the time, they topped the leaderboard. Tom is a nice bloke  modest, approachable and unstarry. He worked hard to put in a cracking time, hes very competitive. I dread to think what he thought of the appalling state of our green room.

2013: This is me with [from left] Brian Cox, Chris Evans and Gary Barlow after driving from Lands End to John o Groats for Breast Cancer Awareness. When Chris took over on Top Gear, I dont think he realised how difficult it would be. Hes a fantastic broadcaster, but people imagine the shows formula is simple. Its actually complicated and very fragile.

2014: I joined Top Gear in 1999 but was fired because they wanted more women. Jeremy and Richard had presented the revived 2002 show when they started looking for a third presenter. They tried everybody they could think of rather than have me. Weve never understood the secret of our chemistry. We dont know if viewers find us pitiable or sympathise with us. We have the glorious problem that three is a crowd. Its true in life and very true in TV.

2020: My garage in the countryside has underfloor heating, TV and wi-fi but this one in London where I store my cars and motorcycles is a rough-and-ready bolthole which I call my zombie apocalypse bunker. We filmed some of my new driving theory test app here. I actually failed my first driving test on the emergency stop. To get me to brake, the examiner called out, Theres a child in the road. But there wasnt. So I said so.

As told to Angela Wintle. My Theory Test by James May is available on the Apple App Store, with an Android version coming soon.
El-Sisi said new universities will help provide education according to international standards and urged the public to commit to preventive measures to avoid a second wave of the coronavirus

Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated on Saturday a number of projects in Alexandria, including the 21km El-Mahmoudiya Canal Road Axis, which is set to reduce traffic congestion and reduce slums in the Mediterranean governorate.

Construction on El-Mahmoudiya axis, dubbed the Artery of Hope, began in February 2018. The axis comprises seven flyovers, 20 pedestrian bridges, and three under-construction tunnels.

El-Mahmoudiya Canal is a waterway stemming from the Rosetta branch of the River Nile. In the past years, the canal was neglected as a source of irrigation. Water levels dropped in parts of the canal, which turned into a stagnant lake and a source for diseases, according to a presidential statement.

The new project has converted El-Mahmoudiya Canal from a swampland to a major traffic axis.

During the inaugural ceremony El-Sisi said the axis will extend to Beheira, south of Alexandria. The state will re-build illegally constructed mosques and buildings that were demolished to make way for the axis, he added.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the two-year project cost EGP 5.5 billion.

El-Sisi also opened new extensions at the Alexandria National Refining and Petrochemicals Company (ANRPC) and a grain silos complex with a capacity of 90,000 tons.

Petroleum minister Tarek El-Mulla said the ANRPC extensions will add 700,000 tons of gasoline per year. Another project at the Egyptian Refining Company in Cairo adds 500,000 tons of gasoline annually.

El-Mulla added that a planned project at Upper Egypts Assiut will add, through the Assiut Oil Refining Company, 800,000 tons of gasoline per year, and extensions to Midor Company in Alexandria will annually provide 500,000 tons of gasoline.

Alexandria, which comprises six refineries and three petrochemical complexes, houses 45 percent of Egypts oil refining capacity, El-Mulla said during the inauguration ceremony, adding that it is responsible for 35 percent of the demand on national gasoline and diesel.

Egypt seeks to achieve fuel self-sufficiency by 2023, El-Mulla noted.

The new petroleum projects are meant to increase the production capacity of gasoline from 800,000 tons to 1.5 million tons annually, according to a documentary by the Armed Forces Morale Affairs Department.

The second phase of the Bashayer El-Kheir housing project was also inaugurated on Saturday. The project, comprising 992 housing units and a commercial area, is constructed over 14,400 square metres, the documentary added.

In Borg El-Arab, an industrial city in the Mediterranean governorate, a wastewater treatment plant was also opened. The plant has a daily capacity of 115,000 cubic metres, the documentary stated.

Investing in higher education

At the inaugural ceremony in Alexandria, Minister of Higher Education Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said Egypt will have a total of 28 governmental universities, 35 private universities and 18 private non-profit universities within the next two years.

Investments in the higher education sector have reached EGP 90 billion, Abdel-Ghaffar said, adding that 35 new faculties have been added to governmental universities.

Abdel-Ghaffars remarks come two weeks after Madbouly said the country will establish four new private non-profit universities, as per a presidential order, in South Sinai, Alamein city, Suez and New Mansoura.

El-Sisi said at the ceremony the state has established the new universities with modern specialties to qualify students for job opportunities.

The president added the new universities will help provide education according to international standards to encourage students against seeking costly education abroad.

Some 20,000 Egyptian students are studying abroad, spending a total of EGP 20 billion on education, Abdel-Ghaffar said.

Prevention against coronavirus

El-Sisi urged the public to continue to commit to the preventive measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, particularly because the academic year is about to start.

Last month, the education ministry said Egypt's 2020/2021 school year will start on Saturday 17 October instead of September due to the pandemic. No decision has yet been made as to whether students will attend classes full-time.

The ministry is still considering the system schools will adopt, it added.

On Wednesday, Minister of Education Tarek Shawky posted on Facebook the plan for the new academic year "will be explained in detail by the first week of September."

Egypt has witnessed a slight increase in the daily tally of coronavirus cases since Monday, reversing a low of 89 infections two days earlier, the lowest daily infection toll since early April.

Though Egypt detected 103 cases on Sunday, the numbers of the daily toll have been gradually increasing, reaching 223 new cases on Friday.

Egypt has recorded a total of 98,285 coronavirus cases since the outbreak began in mid-February.

The surge comes as the government is repeatedly urging caution to avoid a second wave of the pandemic, particularly with the advent of autumn.

Madbouly called on people on Wednesday to exercise caution to prevent a second wave of the pandemic, adding that Egypt will maintain the existing preventive measures against the disease.

"The noticeable increase in the number of infections recently prompts us to [exercise] caution, and to maintain the strict precautionary measures and penalties for violators to prevent a second wave of the coronavirus and to avoid an increase in the curve of infections and deaths as has happened in some countries," he added.

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Yves here. Lynn Fries, who did segments from Europe for the Real News, has established GPENewsdocs and is filming segments regularly on finance and global economics issues. This interview with Jan Kregel focuses on how Keynes and Minsky identified self-destructive tendencies of capitalism, and how their remedies are still relevant.

By Lynn Fries. Originally published at GPENewsdocs

Hyman Minsky, who understood that financial instability is inherent to capitalism, proposed changing the economys objective to employment.

JAN KREGEL: One of the things I think that people find very disconcerting in trying to interpret his work is that he has some very basic fundamental principles that he continues to use to analyze the capitalist system. But at the same time is always willing to stress that capitalism is a changing phenomena in which the changing financial structure has an impact on its performance.

And he was always very careful to identify the way institutions and that what he called the financial structure changed over time. And how this would change the way the system satisfied the basic requirements which he thought the capitalist system should produce. And that was to provide, or the financial structure should produce under capitalism, the financing of a reasonably stable productive structure in which it provided employment for the entire population and provided the possibility for maximizing the use of the available resources in the economy.

So this was always the thing which was at the back of his mind but the changes in the financial structure were something which were for him very, very, very, very important.

LYNN FRIES: Hello & welcome. Im Lynn Fries producer of Global Political Economy or GPEnewsdocs. And that opening clip was from a commentary by Jan Kregel on the work of Hyman Minsky.

Minksy argued that the difficulty with capitalist governments is that their objective is simply economic growth by means of increased profitability that generates investment. And that by doing that, you create a financial system that itself produces crises. Minsky argued the way around that is to change the objective. That capitalist governments should have employment as their objective instead of growth by investment.

My guest, Jan Kregel is Director of Research at the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College and Heads the Institutes ongoing research program in Monetary Policy and Financial Structure that Hyman Minsky was responsible for establishing.

Jan Kregel, welcome

JAN KREGEL: Pleased to be here.

FRIES: Jan, you recommend looking at the work of Hyman Minsky to understand crises under capitalism. The policy, for example, in the US government response in the 2007-2008 financial crisis and its aftermath, the Great Recession, you say moved in the opposite direction of what Minsky had prescribed -the rest is history, deepening unemployment and inequality. And that current COVID-19 crisis management is moving in the same direction and has devastating implications.

Jan, so we can all better understand crises under capitalism and a way forward take us through what you think are key takeaways from the work of Hyman Minsky. Like why just as the Federal Reserve acts as Lender of Last Resort to bail out too big and too interconnected to fail banks, the government should act as Employer of Last Resort to bail out households.

KREGEL: Well, Hy in the initial analysis of capitalism made the very astute representation that capitalism is a system in which the control and the operation of capital assets are determined by the ability to borrow to control those assets. So that its always the way the borrowing takes place in the system and the way the liabilities that are issued, in order to finance the acquisition of capital, [that] are crucial components of the ability of the system to produce full employment and to produce maximal well-being for the population.

So if we can simplify and say that under the postwar golden age period, you had a financial structure which was primarily set up to finance the acquisition of productive capital assets. Those productive capital assets then provided employment and they provided output.

Now that particular system Minsky criticized because its success required extremely high levels of investment in order to generate the growth in incomes that would produce increasing employment.

And the problem with this was what? Well, the problem was that the more liabilities you have to issue in order to finance capital equipment, the greater the instability that you produce in the system.

Now, where does that instability come from? Well, this is determined by one of these basic principles that Minsky used. And that was to look at the balance sheets of the various sectors of the economy: balance sheets of firms, balance sheets of households, balance sheets of the government. These balance sheets always have assets and they have liabilities. So that if the system requires a very rapid increase in investment that means that it requires a very rapid increase in the issue of liabilities by the firms in order to finance those assets.

So if you ask the next question and say, where do those liabilities end up? The response is well they have to be financed. Who finances them? And you finance them by either borrowing from the banks or selling them to the public. So that this increase in existing liabilities is not only a problem for the firms, it also ends up linking the balance sheets of the banks and the balance sheets of households.

Now the risk comes from where? The risk comes from the fact that liabilities carry debt service requirements. You borrow money; you have to be able to pay it back. You either pay debt service in the form of interest or you pay debt service in the form of dividends.

So that the risk comes where? The risk comes in terms of the cash flows. That is the income that is generated by the investments, the capital assets, have to be sufficient in order to meet the debt service on the liabilities that youve issued. So that if your liabilities are going up more rapidly than the ability of your capital assets to generate income, it means that you may not be able to meet your debt service commitments.

In simple terms, youre not able to meet your interest payments or the repayments of principle.

Now for the firms, this is a problem. This is a problem because we have legal principles which say that firms have to be able to meet their debt service commitments in order to stay solvent. Otherwise they enter into bankruptcy. But thats just the problem for the firms.

The other problem is that the firms liabilities are now also on the balance sheets of the banks or the balance sheets of households. Who have either financed those liabilities in the case of the banks, giving the firms the money to purchase the capital assets; or the households using their savings in order to also purchase those liabilities.

So that if you have fragility in the firm sector, the firms are not able to meet their debt service, this automatically has an impact on the financial sector. The financial firms are expecting to receive interest payments and repayments of principle and they find that the firms cant pay. So now its that the banks are in a condition of difficulty.

And the same thing then extends to households. So that if households have purchased say the bonds of IBM or AT&T and theyre unable to make those payments, now the households find that the value of their assets and their income is reduced.

So if we look at this interaction which is determined by the intersecting balance sheets -that is the assets and liabilities being held across the balance sheets of the firms, the banks, and the households -if it turns out that there is I would call this an excessive emphasis on investment in order to satisfy the conditions of employment and output growth, you have an increasing risk that firms will be unable to make those debt service payments.

If they cant make those debt service payments, what happens? Well, first thing is they have to cut back on investment. Second thing, the banks find that theyre unable to continue lending. So they cut back their lending to the firms. And the households now discover that their income from these assets is reduced. So they stop spending.

And the result is what? The result is a reduction in investment spending, a reduction in consumption spending, a deficiency of aggregate demand and you start a crisis. And that crisis starts first as a recession.

The recession caused by what? Caused simply by the fact that investment is falling, consumption is falling and therefore output and employment are falling. If this becomes cumulative, you then end up with the possibility that Minsky called going into a debt depression or a debt servicing depression.

Why? Well, if it now comes to be the case that firms are unable to meet their debt service, they might in fact decide, in order to meet their commitments to the bank, to start selling their capital assets. So if they start selling their capital assets, then the price of capital assets goes down. And this generates then what Minsky called following Irving Fisher, a debt deflation process.

So that debt deflation process eventually ends up where? Well, it eventually ends up with widespread bankruptcies and the conditions that we saw in the 1930s in the Great Recession.

So that Hys basic idea was that if you look at these intersecting balance sheets and if you look at the balance between the cash inflows that you got from investment in capital assets relative to the cash commitments that you had in order to pay the liabilities, that is the debts that you had to issue in order to acquire those assets, there was a very high probability that the system would enter into frequent financial crises.

Simply because the emphasis on increasing growth and increasing investments would lead to this natural result of investments growing more rapidly than the ability of those investments to produce the debt service and to keep the economy stable. So this was basically his position up until around the period of the 1980s.

In the 1980s things in the US changed. And they changed relatively rapidly. They changed in a couple of different ways. The first way was the banks were no longer really interested in financing the acquisition of capital assets by firms. At the same time, firms no longer became very interested in producing income by purchasing capital assets. And both of these sectors entered into what came to be called financial engineering.

Financial engineering meant what? Well, if you look from the point of view of firms: if you were the chief financial officer of the firm, instead of looking to find funding to buy capital assets, you now looked at the ways in which you could produce financial assets, not real assets; financial assets in order to create income. So that firms became concentrated on using the issuance of financial assets and the discrepancy in financial asset prices simply to generate incomes by trading financial assets.

Now theres a very big difference between financing investments to produce real output and issuing financial assets simply in order to generate gains from basically what is mispricing in financial markets. Now banks started doing the same thing. That is banks started looking at the ability to create income by looking at mispricing in terms of financial assets.

This is what we call the difference between financing to get a gain on a price differential and financing in order to produce income that comes from operating say a printing press or an automobile factory. And what Minsky noted was that from the 1980s onwards, increasingly the financial system was concentrating on simply pricing differentials. Some people eventually called this financialization but basically Minsky talked about this as money manager capitalism.

Why? Because he said it now came to be the case that instead of managing assets in order to assess the profitability of real investments, that is, instead of looking at General Motors and saying does General Motors produce an automobile that is able to generate profits and are those profits sufficient to cover the cost of financing that is the debt service of those liabilities; now, the bankers are simply looking at the liabilities that General Motors issues and whether they can trade those liabilities in order to make a profit amongst themselves.

And this basically became what he called money manager capitalism. He said what happened is that money managers now would generate portfolios and they would manage those portfolios not in terms of the income that the portfolios generated, that is were talking about the income from sales of output, but generated income from their ability to trade those assets in order to take advantage of pricing differentials. So you have a very large increase in the liabilities that these banks are producing relative to the underlying basic productive structure.

Now, obviously very quickly after that I know youre very familiar with the fact of the creation of hedge funds, the creation of private equity funds. All of these funds are created to do what? Theyre all created not in order to finance the acquisition of physical capital assets that generate income. Theyre all there in order to take advantage of price differentials.

So that Minsky said this had a very, very important impact on the way the system was going to operate. Why? Because now instead of having fragility of the system created by the net income generated by capital assets relative to the financing liabilities, the problem was the ability of all of these investment managers to generate a rate of return that was determined by their ability to trade.

All the investment managers or the money managers were then doing what? Well, basically they were competing against each other in order to generate the highest possible rates of return. And quite obviously as Minsky identified this meant that in order to generate these higher rates of return, it meant going into riskier and riskier types of investments.

Probably the best known example of this sort of risk was Long-Term Capital Management in the end of the 1990s. Long-Term Capital Management did not finance the acquisition of any real physical capital assets. All they did was to borrow and lend financial assets. Or we should say buy and sell financial assets in order to generate income from price differentials.

To do this because these price differentials are often times very, very slim (were talking about differentials between the bid and ask prices on the financial assets that theyre trading of 2,3 or 4 basis points [1 basis point is 1/100 of 1%]);it meant that on the trade you dont make a great deal of money.

So that if youre going to make money doing this, what do you have to do? Well, you have to go to scale. That is instead of buying and selling or selling one share, you buy a million shares. But to buy those million shares, you have to have capital. So you borrow from the banks, the capital in order to invest in these strategies of price differentials. So as Minsky rightly pointed out this meant a very substantial increase in risk.

Why? Because if it turned out that you guessed wrong on the way the prices were going to move and if you made a sufficiently large loss, then you wouldnt be able to carry. That is be able to meet the debt service on the money that you borrowed. And you would then have to default on that borrowing. And the banks would then be in difficulty.

As I mentioned in Long-Term Capital Management, this is precisely what happened. Long-Term Capital Management had borrowed so much that when their strategies went wrong, that is when they guessed wrong and they lost money, they were unable to repay the banks.

Obviously were now back to the same position in which youre creating a possibility not only of a recession but of a depression. Why? Well, if the banks stopped lending and the value of all these assets goes down, you have exactly the same process that we had before. But as you can see, the financial structure that produces the financial crisis is really very, very different.

This is just to give you an idea of two different financial structures that end up creating excessive financial liabilities relative to the possibility to service them. And a very small movement in expected values leads to a position in which people cannot make payments.

And when you cannot make payments, what do you do? You stop spending. And once you stop spending, then the economy goes into difficulty.

This basically gives you an idea of how Minsky used always this idea of looking at balance sheets, looking at the interconnectedness of balance sheets. But also looking at the financial structure as having a very determinate way of giving you an idea of where financial instability and where the possibility of recession and crisis came from.

Now, this is the basic reason why when Hy looked at alternative strategies for economic policy he came up with something which most economists considered as being very, very radical. Why? Well, obviously everybody believes that the economy is going to produce income and employment if it grows.

If its going to grow, it requires investment. But Minsky told us that if we had too much emphasis on investment, whether it was investment in real capital goods or in terms of financial assets, it was going to produce eventually a financial crisis.

Eventually Minsky turned out to be right. Because in 2007 and 2008, we did get the financial crisis which was determined basically by what? Well, this wasnt a Long-Term Capital Management problem; this was the problem of the subprime mortgages.

Minsky said maybe we shouldnt place so much emphasis on borrowing. Maybe we shouldnt place so much emphasis on the necessity of financing either accumulation in real assets or the generation of these financial assets that we have under money manager capitalism.

So he said, really what we have to look at is the primary objective. And our primary objective is what? Well, normally our primary objective is either income or employment. And in this he goes back to Keynes General Theory where Keynes talked about the general theory of, and clearly there in the title you talk about, money and employment.

So Minsky said: lets see if theres a better way to get employment than simply financing investment and then hoping that the investment generates the profitability that creates the income and allows for the employment.

So his radical proposal was to say: really what we should be doing is selecting full employment as the objective for the economy. Okay. Now he had a very simple explanation for why this was important. Because he said: look, if youre an economy that has a normal size and has a normal population, it will normally have a positive rate of population growth.

And that rate of population growth if you provide full employment will guarantee that the economy will grow at least at the rate that population is increasing. If you manage to have some technical progress at the same time, that is so that output per man is increasing, he said then by definition you know the economy is going to grow over time.

And if you have the emphasis on employment rather than the increase in liabilities, then you avoid the financial crises that comes with the risks that are created by the fact that in order to finance the expansion of the system, you have to increase liabilities in order to purchase the real capital assets as investment.

So his proposal was quite simply: lets use full employment as the mechanism to do this. Now, he also recognized that it was probably not going to be the case that the private sector on its own would produce full employment.

There are all sorts of explanations for this. One of them is the one which was put forward by Kalecki that argued that private sector manufacturers would be very hesitant to allow the economy to go to full employment. Why? Well, because they believed that this would bring about a too rapid increase in wages. And this would cause a decrease in the profitability of the private sector.

Now was that a good thing or a bad thing? Well, if your objective is to increase the welfare of the entire population, its probably a good thing. And we talk now very much about the very rapid increase in income inequality and in terms of wealth inequality. And one of the reasons for that is precisely that wages have tended to be kept down either at or below productivity levels simply in order for profitability to increase.

So that the increase in profits and the failure to achieve full employment are obviously one of the basic causes of the very sharp increase in the share of income which goes to the top 1% of the income distribution. And the other part of this is the fact that most of the financing that were doing now is not financing employment, but is simply financing the acquisition of these financial assets. If you look at the argument about the money manager capitalism, money manager capitalism generates the kinds of incomes that in fact are the major proportion of the top point zero one percent [0.01%] of the income distribution.

Minsky argued: heres a way for the government to come into the story. Minsky was very much influenced by the measures that were taken during the New Deal in order to stabilize income. And this meant spending income directly to provide employment. Okay. First thing that Roosevelt did was to create the Civilian Conservation Corps, send people out to plant trees. Producing what? Directly [producing] incomes for people who had been unemployed.

So from this Minsky got the idea that if youre really worried about income inequality, if youre really worried about unemployment and youre worried about poverty, the most important thing is not to provide mechanisms, welfare mechanisms in order to supplement the incomes of people who dont have employment. But its to give them employment directly.

And for this, he came up with what he called the Employer of Last Resort program or the Job Guarantee program. So that the other part of Minskys idea of shifting the objective from high investment and high growth to high employment was the requirement of the government to come in and directly provide employment.

Now, how was this different from the normal approach? Well, the normal approach is simply that if the economy is not producing full employment then the government should be spending. And it spends by increasing its expenditures relative to its tax yields or its tax income. Or increasing government debt, this is what basically we call debt financed expenditure. Now Minsky also, in a very coherent way, said probably this is not a very good idea.

Not a very good idea, why? Well, first of all, because it increases the amount of government debt outstanding. Now this may be a problem, it may not be a problem. Okay. But the point is that you really dont need this kind of debt financed expenditures. Because government expenditures are usually across the board expenditures. Whereas unemployment is usually a relatively specific kind of unemployment.

A very interesting historical fact in the 1930s when Britain was recovering from the recession, Keynes disciples argued very strongly to increase debt financed government expenditures. And Keynes said, no. He said, I dont think this is a good idea. And people said: well, maybe Keynes has become a non-Keynesian. He doesnt believe in debt finance expenditures.

Keynes said no. Thats not the point. The point is that the unemployment that exists in Britain right now is, for example, in the shipbuilding industry. There is no possible way the ship building industry is ever going to recover no matter how much the government spends in terms of deficit financing.

Because Britain no longer has the economic structure and the global economy no longer has a set of international prices which will allow Britain ever to become a competitor in international shipbuilding. So he said government expenditures are useless. All they do is to increase incomes, but they dont increase output and they dont increase employment.

So the problem is that we have to be very careful. Yes, we want government debt financed expenditures. But we dont want government debt financed expenditures that dont have a net impact on output and employment.

And many people said: well in the General Theory Keynes talked about taking bank notes and burying them in the ground and that that was sufficient. Well, yes, there is a passage in the General Theory where Keynes says: if nothing else can be done, better to do that. Okay.

But then he goes on very quickly to say: but it would be much better if we used those funds to build hospitals and to provide overhead infrastructure services for the economy. So were back to Roosevelt and the CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps]. What did we do? Environment.

Roosevelt was very clear in the importance of taking care of the environment. So the CCC was probably one of the first environmental expenditure programs. And theres absolutely no reason why these programs cant be used in order to provide employment that the private sector doesnt.

Minskys proposal was that not only do you need the objective for the economy to be full employment but you have to be willing to structure your economic policy in order to ensure that particular objective.

And some sort of employer government job guarantee program, Employer of Last Resort program will be necessary. And its also necessary to tailor that program so that it does support the ability of the economy to maximize the use of its particular resources.

FRIES: We have to leave it there. Many thanks to Jan Kregel who joined us from New York. And from Geneva, Switzerland thank you for joining us in this episode of GPEnewsdocs featuring a commentary of the work of Hyman Minsky by his colleague and friend, Jan Kregel.

________

Jan Kregel is director of research at the Levy Economics Institute, director of the Levy Institute masters program in economic theory and policy, and head of the Institutes Monetary Policy and Financial Structure program. He also holds the position of professor of development finance at Tallinn University of Technology. In 2009, Kregel served as Rapporteur of the President of the UN General Assemblys Commission on Reform of the International Financial System. He previously directed the Policy Analysis and Development Branch of the UN Financing for Development Office and was deputy secretary of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters. His major works include a series of books on economic theory, among them, Rate of Profit, Distribution and Growth: Two Views (1971); The Theory of Economic Growth (1972); Theory of Capital (1976); and Origini e sviluppo dei mercati finanziari (1996).
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Berlin police have broken up protests for failing to wear face masks and socially distance as up to 18,000 descend upon the German capital.

The demonstrators, who were calling for an end to coronavirus restrictions, flooded into the square in front of Brandenburg gate before marching down a main street.

They blew whistles and brandished placards declaring 'Merkel must go' and 'stop the corona lies!' as they called for a return to pre-lockdown life.

They were joined by hundreds thronging the streets in London, where they declared coronavirus was a 'hoax' invented to establish a 'new world order'. And 200 more in Paris held an anti-mask rally alongside hundreds more in Berlin.

The angry march comes as Europe prepares to enforce lockdown restrictions to avoid a second wave, as the number of cases recorded kicks up to highs not seen since March.

BERLIN: More than 18,000 demonstrators took to the streets in Berlin to protest against the coronavirus restrictions

PARIS: As many as 200 more protesters took to the streets in Paris to call for an end to the need to wear a face mask

COPENHAGEN: Hundreds turned out on the streets of the Danish capital to call for an end to coronavirus restrictions

LONDON: And demonstrators also gathered in London where they declared that coronavirus was a 'hoax'

More than 18,000 anti-coronavirus protesters have descended on Berlin today to call for the end of the restrictions

Police officers moved to break up the demonstration after people refused to socially distance and wear masks

Here a group is pictured chanting as they take part in the protests against coronavirus restrictions in Berlin

Thousands gathered around the Victory Column in Berlin as they protested against restrictions. Germany recorded 1,500 new cases yesterday as fears of a second wave of the virus increase

A demonstrator bellow as supporters through a megaphone as he calls for an end to coronavirus restrictions

Participants brandish a placard reading 'first wave, second wave, permanent wave?' as they take part in protests in Berlin

Officers were forced to move in to break up the crowd after they failed to take into account coronavirus restrictions

A crowd chants and claps as they march past officers without wearing a face mask and fail to socially distance

Pictures show thousands angrily crowding onto the streets in Berlin to demand a reversal of the rules.

The city had banned the demonstration earlier in the week, but a German regional court overruled the decision.

As many as 3,000 police officers were deployed to disperse the protesters after they failed to wear masks and maintain social distancing, in breach of guidelines.

'Unfortunately, we have no other option', Berlin police said on Twitter, adding that they had failed to comply with the safety conditions of the march.

Many were dispersed peacefully, although there was conflict when a construction container was set on fire and some roads were briefly blocked.

Until now Germany has managed the coronavirus crisis better than many of its European counterparts, with rigorous testing helping to hold down infections and deaths.

Flags blow in the wind as protesters march through Berlin to call for an end to coronavirus restrictions

Police officers move through the crowd. The city authorities had banned the protest, but their decision was overturned by a regional German court last night

A man and woman sit on chairs and blow through a vuvuzela as they call for an end to coronavirus restrictions

Protesters wave flags and brandish placards as they march through the main street in Berlin

A crowd of protesters gathers in Paris, France, to call for an end to the use of face masks in the city

They held up placards calling for an end to the need to wear a face mask in the capital

Officers surrounded the group to ensure the protest passed off peacefully and without incident

The protesters are pictured above chanting and holding up flags as they march in Paris, France

But new daily infections have accelerated in recent weeks, as in much of the world. Germany recorded 1,571 new cases yesterday, the highest figure since 22 August, when 2,000 were declared.

On Friday, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged citizens to keep up their guard against the virus.

'This is a serious matter, as serious as it's ever been, and you need to carry on taking it seriously,' she said.

In London, several hundred demonstrators gathered in Trafalgar Square calling coronavirus a hoax and demanding an end to lockdown restrictions.

Many carried banners saying 'Fake News', or 'Masks are Muzzles' and rejecting any mandatory vaccination programmes.

The virus has killed more than 40,000 people in Britain.
New As infielder Tommy La Stella learned the Angels were trading him to Oakland late Friday, boarded a flight to Houston early Saturday and arrived in time to start game two of the As doubleheader against the Astros.

Im really excited, La Stella told The Chronicle by phone Saturday. Obviously Oakland is one of the best teams in the league. This is an awesome opportunity to play in the postseason. That was the plan in Anaheim, but it didnt pan out.

The As acquired La Stella, an All-Star last season with the Angels, in exchange for infielder Franklin Barreto. La Stella said of facing the As in the past: Theyre really fun, and it seems like a great bunch of dudes. The best part of playing for Oakland is youre not playing against them.

Were set up really well for the postseason. The whole pitching staff is great, the lineup is as good as anyone in the league. I feel really good about our chances.

La Stella started at second base and went 0-for-3 with an RBI groundout in his As debut as Oakland dropped both games to the Astros and saw their AL West lead over Houston cut to 2  games. Earlier, manager Bob Melvin said the As are deciding how to incorporate the versatile infielder, who hit .295 last year with 16 homers and 44 RBIs in 80 games.

Hes a good left-handed bat thats given us a lot of trouble in the past, Melvin said. He could potentially DH on a day, he could potentially play second, hes actually played some first.  He is versatile, has a good left-handed bat. Well fit him in there some way.

Tony Kemp has been the left-handed half of the As second-base platoon and played well: His .378 on-base percentage in 75 plate appearances entering Saturday ranked third on the team behind Robbie Grossman and Mark Canha. Kemp also has experience playing the outfield, and Melvin said Kemp is always prepared for that.

His roles going to change some, Melvin said of Kemp. I talked to him a little bit this morning. Again, Im not sure how dramatically. But he can play defense late, he can pinch-run, he can start in the outfield, he can start at second. Hes done well for us, so we have to find ways to get him in the lineup, too.

Having La Stella and Kemp could allow the As to use a more left-handed lineup against right-handed starters. The As are 14-12 this season when facing a right-handed starter and 8-0 facing a left-hander. La Stella also arrived with 15 walks and seven strikeouts this season; the As entered Saturday leading the majors in strikeouts.

La Stella seems like hes a hard worker and a guy that goes about his business the right way and wants to win, third baseman Matt Chapman said on a video call Saturday. I know that we could use another left-handed bat, and for him to come in and jump in our lineup adds a guy that hits for high average and takes good at-bats every time. So its another weapon that we have and I like it.

Melvin said he is as big a Franklin Barreto fan as there could possibly be, admitting there were few opportunities this season for Barreto, whod started one game this season and was 0-for-10 with seven strikeouts.

Theres a lot of ability there, Melvin said. What youve seen here this year is really not fair to him based on the fact that he was getting no at-bats.  I just hope he gets an opportunity because I think hell do really well if given the chance to play multiple games in a row for an extended period.

New arrival: Chad Pinder, who is on paternity leave, said that Christopher James Pinder arrived at 5:18 a.m. Saturday morning at 7.8 pounds and 20.5 inches, and both his wife, Taylor, and the baby are healthy: Just beyond happy!

Melvin said its unlikely Pinder will rejoin the As for Sundays series finale in Houston and would return after the off day for Tuesdays series opener at Seattle.

Briefly: The As added catcher Austin Allen as their 29th player for the doubleheader.  Left-hander A.J. Puk threw two simulated innings Friday in San Jose and will face hitters again Monday. Melvin said Puk will throw two innings again but might enter in the middle of an inning for something a little bit different.

Matt Kawahara and Susan Slusser cover the As for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: mkawahara@sfchronicle.com, sslusser@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthewkawahara, @susanslusser
During his White House address Thursday accepting his party's nomination for a second term, President Donald Trump said the November election "will decide whether we will defend the American way of life or whether we will allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it."

Trump, who faces a strong challenge from former Vice President Joe Biden, told a large crowd on the White House South Lawn "this is the most important election in the history of our country." The 1,000-plus invited attendees, including many Republican members of Congress, were seated close to each other and most did not wear face masks, defying public health advice amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump, who trails Biden in national polls and political battleground state surveys, devoted much of his speech to a blistering attack on his Democratic opponent, denouncing him at one point as a "Trojan horse" for far left radicals and anarchists who want to destroy the country. To rousing cheers from the audience, Trump said the former vice president "is not a savior of America's soul. He is the destroyer of America's jobs. And if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American greatness."

"For 47 years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue-collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses," Trump said. "And told them he felt their pain. And then he flew back to Washington and voted to ship our jobs to China and many other distant lands."

 Tough on China

The president, in his 70-minute speech, emphasized what he called his tough approach toward China, in terms of the economy and blaming Beijing for allowing the coronavirus to escape its borders.

In fact, Trump enjoyed good relations with China leader Xi Jinping early in his administration while the two leaders engaged in major trade talks, and later, after the coronavirus began to spread, Trump praised Xi for his handling of the crisis. Once the relationship soured and Trump began blaming China for U.S. public health and economic woes, the president stepped up his criticism of Biden as a dupe of China.

"Joe Biden's agenda is made in China. My agenda is made in the USA," Trump said. If reelected, Trump promised, "We will go right after China. We will not rely on them one bit." Just before the president' speech, Biden's campaign attacked Trump as "the weakest president that we've ever had when it comes to China." "He has failed again and again to stand up for American interests to the Chinese government," the Biden campaign said in a statement.

The Democratic Party nominee's campaign contended that "when coronavirus was emerging, Trump spread Xi's lies. And his tariff war with China has devastated American farmers, businesses, consumers, and workers. He even begged President Xi to bail out his reelection campaign."
Terrorism is a cancer that potentially affects everyone just like the way pandemic impacts the entire humanity, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday. In an address at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Jaishankar also said the global responses to terrorism and pandemic have tended to emerge only when there were sufficient disruptions triggered by a specific event.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan, the external affairs minister said countries that have turned production of terrorists as "primary export" are also attempting to paint themselves as victims of terrorism. "The struggle against terrorism and those aiding and abeting it is a work in progress," he said.

The external affairs minister said it is for the international systems to create necessary mechanisms to shut down structures supporting terrorism.

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BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday it was important to keep talking to Russia despite current tensions over Belarus and the suspected poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny who is being treated in a Berlin hospital.

"We have to keep talking," she told reporters at a news conference, adding Russia was an important strategic player in the world. She also said she hoped that Russian forces would not be deployed in Belarus.

(Reporting by Berlin bureau; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Riham Alkousaa)
When you think about the sheer number of components it takes to build a business, your mind starts to race. There are the structural elements, such as the type of business, products and services, the marketing, client fulfillment and more.

As an entrepreneur, your focus might tend to be on what you need the most right now. An informal poll of entrepreneurs would probably point toward a discussion of prospecting and closing new business. It would center around getting more sales and the filling of pipelines.

While the here-and-now are essential, successful entrepreneurs think strategically. They focus on long-term moves they can make, because they understand thats the most powerful way to scale a business.

Related: 5 Personal-Finance Habits of Wealthy Entrepreneurs

Improve your relationship with money.

Too many of us start our adult life having to figure it out when it comes to money and wealth creation. The beginning years of adulthood tend to leave marks, and we carry those into entrepreneurship. This can mean pricing what we offer lower than the value we provide. It often manifests in taking on clients that an entrepreneur knows will not be a good fit, or failing to think about money as something that provides freedom.

Finances dont have to be a constant source of stress if you understand their purpose. You dont have to compromise on what you offer for consumers that arent your ideal client. The stats tell us that there were 4.3 billion internet users, 5.1 billion mobile users, 3.4 billion social media users daily, according to We Are Social. That means we dont lack opportunities to get new clients and build our business in this hyper-connected digital information age. The issue becomes how you show your ideal target client that you can help them.

Working on and creating a healthier relationship with money will reduce stress, beat fear and allow your mind to focus on what will bring in more revenue. Some things you can do are:

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Educate yourself about finances through books, courses, videos and other forms of available content.

Hire professionals who can help you organize your finances right now and plan for the future.

Related: 5 Personal-Finance Mistakes That Kill Promising Companies

2. Plan for more than right now.

Many entrepreneurs choose this lifestyle because we would do what we love, even if it were for free. That is great, but it also sets us up to work in our business and not run it as a CEO. It creates a familiar situation where entrepreneurs arent planning for the future.

You may want to work until your body and mind can no longer handle it, but you should have a financial plan in place that takes care of you and your family, whether or not youre running your business.

Financial planning for retirement is not a popular topic with entrepreneurs, but its one that needs to be addressed. Building a legacy is about more than accolades  its creating financial security through a business that aligns with your values.

Successful entrepreneurs plan strategically. Part of that planning includes setting aside money for emergencies, and using funds to build the kind of wealth that allows an entrepreneur to retire in comfort. This includes investments, assets, savings, and other financial management strategies.

You dont have to go through life feeling stressed, worried or unsure of finances and their impact on your business. You can create wealth that allows you the freedom to work, whether you want to or now.

This starts with acknowledging your current beliefs around money and doing the work to make any necessary changes. We live in the information age, which means many solid resources that can bring clarity, help you plan and beat any fear.

Plan for all possibilities and take control of your financial future.
The 56-year-old NASA satellite is set to expire and return home and disintegrate as it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere.

NASA launched The Orbiting Geophysics Observatory 1 satellite in 1964. It is the first of a series of the six-spacecraft mission of NASA's OGO program. Five other satellites were then launched one after another from 1965 to 1969. OGO-1 is the last remaining satellite and is now ready to head back home on August 29, 2020.

NASA sent OGO-1 into an eccentric orbit, taking it two days to orbit the Earth. Its goal is to study our planet's magnetic environment and its interaction with the Sun. It gathered information about the Earth's magnetosphere and operated until 1969. After that, it went on standby mode, and then all support was terminated in 1971.

OGO-1 comes back home

University of Arizona's Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) astronomers first noticed this object that appears to be heading to Earth. At first, the team thought it was an asteroid, but they confirmed that it was OGO-1.

NASA predicts OGO-1 to make a re-entry on one of its next three perigees. A perigee is a point the satellite's orbit that is closest to the planet. On Saturday, OGO-1 comes back to Earth at about 5:10 p.m. EDT over the South Pacific. Approximately, that spot will be between Tahiti and the Cook Islands.

OGO-1 will break up upon re-entering the planet's atmosphere. However, it is a typical occurrence for a spacecraft in its final operational phase. It will not pose any threat to our planet or any person, though. Near-Earth Object Observations projects will continue to track OGO-1 until its final moments. It will do so as part of its mission of monitoring natural objects' impact on the Earth's atmosphere.

Earth is littered with space junk

You may not realize it, but beyond the clouds lies the low Earth orbit. LEO is a literal orbital space junkyard. For now, the aging satellite is among the 500,000 pieces of space junk orbiting the Earth.

Space junk began accumulating since Sputnik 1 launched in 1957. That event marked the start of the Space Age and the point when we started littering space. Several decades later, the space junk increased considerably, particularly due to the 2009 satellite collision and 2007 destruction of the Fengyun-1C weather satellite.

What else comprises orbital space debris? Among these objects include rocket parts, dead satellites, flecks of paint from a spacecraft, etc. Some of these space debris travel fast and reach speeds up to 18,000 miles an hour. That speed is seven times faster than a bullet and is enough to damage a spacecraft upon impact. And this has been a growing concern because of the danger they pose to spacecraft with humans aboard.

Sadly, there is no international space law, yet that would mandate clean up of these debris pieces. In 1979, NASA began its Orbital Debris Program to look for ways to minimize orbital debris, and design equipment meant to track and remove debris in space.

Read next: Low-Cost Spacesuit: Making Space Exploration Accessible to Everyone
TikTok denied receiving an offer from UK-based investment firm Centricus Asset Management Ltd and social media app Triller Inc after a report of $20 billion bid emerged on August 28. A Bloomberg report had cited a person familiar with the matter, claiming the investment firm submitted a $20 billion bid to ByteDance for TikTok's assets in the US, Australia, New Zealand and India.

TikToks parent company ByteDance is looking to divest after data security concerns and, as a result, several non-Chinese companies have sent proposals to buy the popular video-sharing social media app. A TikTok spokesperson reportedly said that neither Centricus not Triller had contacted the company with an offer to purchase its assets.

The process of divestment escalated after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this month, banning American citizens and businesses from doing any transaction with Chinese-owned application. Microsoft Corp and Oracle Corp are among the US companies eyeing the assets of TikTok, which boasts of around100 million monthly active users in the United States alone.

Read: TikTok Sues US Government Over Ban, China Backs Companies 'taking Up Legal Weapons'

Read: Walmart Joins Hands With Microsoft In Bid To Buy TikTok; What's In It For The Retailer?

Sino-US tensions

The US government decision over TikToks service in the US has heightened tension between Beijing and Washington since the former denounced it as sheer gangster logic and daylight robbery. Chinas Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said in an interview that the Trump administration is taking actions against the Chinese video-sharing social networking service on the basis of the presumption of guilt.

Le claimed that TikTok has been communicating with the United States for nearly a year and has even made big compromises like instituting an all-American management team and storing all American user data in the US and Singapore. He added that the firm made its review policy and algorithm source code public, while hiring 1,500 Americans, and promising to create another 10,000 jobs.

Even if it ends up being acquired, a substantial portion of the money must be paid to the US government. What kind of art of the deal is this? This is sheer gangster logic and daylight robbery, the ministry website quoted Le as saying.

Read: Auschwitz Museum Slams TikTok's 'Holocaust' Trend; Calls It 'hurtful & Offensive'

Read: Top Democrat Condemns Donald Trump's Remarks Over Potential TikTok Acquisition

(Image credit: Pixabay)
The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR), Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, has urged the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) to roll out innovative programmes to build a strong human resource base, relevant to support the country's development process.



To achieve that, the minister said, the institute should start within by building a strong human resource base to help it to prosecute its mandate of providing management training and development services to enhance productivity across all the sectors of the economy.



You have a clear mandate that has been set out several years ago. You are responsible for management training and development; management consultancy and advisory services; management policy research, as well as productivity studies and performance techniques and you, must live up to this mandate, he stressed.



The minister said that at the opening of a new office complex for MDPI in Accra yesterday.



The MDPI building



The one-storey edifice, which is located near North Ridge, is a rented facility with an option to buy it outright after two years of use.



It was acquired at GH900,000 on a rent-to-buy basis, with 75 per cent of the amount as deposit for the eventual purchase of the facility.



Ms Efam Dovi (right), Board Member, MDPI, being assisted by Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah (2nd right) and Mr Kweku Odame-Takyi (left), to cut the tape to inaugurate the new office. Picture: GABRIEL AHIABOR



The building has offices for the various departments such as Human Resource, Procurement, Accounts, Transport as well as Security and Training. It also has a stores department, library and a canteen.



Remain focused



While urging the MDPI to innovate to be relevant, Mr Baffour Awuah underscored the need for the institute to remain focused on its core mandate and not be motivated by monetary gains to move outside its domain.



He said the acquisition of a new office complex was not an end in itself but that there was the need for particular attention to be turned towards human capital development.



It is not just a question of getting a new place to operate from, but this is a new branding that we are giving MDPI; so new branding also comes with a new responsibility, Mr Baffour Awuah stressed.



The minister urged the MDPI management to strive to grow the institute into a world-class institution that would be capable of competing at any level.



Milestone



For his part, the Director-General of MDPI, Mr Kweku Odame-Takyi, said the opening of the new office building was a major milestone in the march towards a robust institute.



He said one of the major challenges facing the institute was a permanent building and with that challenge almost over, the MDPI would be well-positioned to deliver on its mandate.



Mr Odame-Takyi said the institute was rolling out a programme to improve productivity at the workplace, focusing on attitudinal change and proper maintenance culture.



Background



MDPI is a subvented agency under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR).



The institute was established on October 26, 1967, under a joint Ghana government; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Project.



Legislative Instrument (LI) 1077 of July 1, 1976 incorporated the MDPI to replace the then National Productivity Centre (NPC), which had been established in June 1964, as part of the then Planning Commission.



The UNDP and ILO informally handed over the institute to the government in 1977, when the joint sponsorship ended.



The MDPI was set up to primarily achieve three objectives, one of which was to embark on practical aspects of training and problem solving, with a view to building up managerial capacity and promoting increased productivity.



The other objectives are to offer consultancy services to improve organisational efficiency and effectiveness and also conduct macro and micro economic studies, enquiries and research to determine suitable management techniques and practices to improve and develop the standard of management in all aspects.

Source: Graphic.com.gh









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A former girlfriend of Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, has spoken for the first time of her nightmare ordeal living with the child sex predator.

The 35-year-old woman  the first ex-partner to give details of the German paedophile's warped personality  said she lived in fear of his release from prison after serving a sentence for sexually assaulting her five-year-old daughter.

She had been in a relationship with Brueckner, 43, for nine months, living for a time with her daughter in his apartment beside the kiosk he worked at in Braunschweig, a city in northern Germany.

Brueckner assaulted the girl  who had blonde hair like Madeleine  in a public park before taking graphic photographs of her which he saved on a memory card.

A former girlfriend of Christian Brueckner, 43, (above) said she lived in fear of his release from prison after he served a sentence for sexually assaulting her five-year-old daughter

'I am scared because it was this trial that put him in jail. I don't want him to come out of jail,' said the woman, noting that Brueckner received only a 15-month prison sentence for the crime.

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, claimed that Brueckner repeatedly assaulted her daughter and would also launch violent attacks against her, adding: 'He hit me when he was drunk or in a foul mood. He was very aggressive.'

She described how she reported Brueckner to police for the abuse of her daughter and provided a written statement to help prosecutors.

'I believe he abused my daughter on three occasions, but the police only charged him for the one occasion because they had photos of the abuse,' she said.

She fears Brueckner may have abused other youngsters in the area because a number of parents were in the habit of entrusting him with their children. 'I am sure he abused other children. Some parents used to leave their kids with him, especially those parents on welfare,' she said.

Brueckner was first investigated by police for sexually abusing the five-year-old girl in 2014.

When police raided his flat, they found a Casio Exilim digital camera with 391 vile images and 68 videos of abuse. On the same camera, detectives found about five photographs of Brueckner abusing the five-year-old girl in a Braunschweig park.

Police identified the location and established that the pictures had been taken in 2013.

The 35-year-old woman claimed Brueckner, who is the prime suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance, repeatedly assaulted her daughter and launched violent attacks against her

It was around this time that Brueckner came to the attention of German investigators looking into the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine from a holiday apartment in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz.

Police had received a tip-off about the long-term criminal and paedophile after a nationwide appeal about Madeleine was broadcast on the German equivalent of Crimewatch.

In June, German police announced Brueckner was officially a suspect. Forensic analysis of mobile phone data showed he was near Madeleine's Algarve apartment on the night she disappeared.

Brueckner was first tried at a lower court in Braunschweig for sexually abusing the five-year-old, but was acquitted in 2016 and fled to Portugal. He was extradited back to Germany a year later to stand trial again, where he confessed to abusing the girl and owning the camera. He is currently serving his sentence in Kiel prison near Hamburg.

While in prison, Brueckner was also found guilty of raping a 72-year-old American woman in Praia da Luz in 2005.

His lawyers, who deny he had any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance, are seeking to use a procedural error to overturn his seven-year sentence for the rape.

Brueckner's lawyer Friedrich Fulscher said last week that his client was 'innocent' of any involvement in the disappearance of Madeleine.
 Flash

French President Emmanuel Macron met visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Elysee Palace on Friday.

Wang first conveyed a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Macron and handed over the books presented by Xi to Macron.

Xi's message shows that China attaches great importance to China-France relations and cherishes the friendship and trust between the two heads of state, he said, adding that China is ready to work with France to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and to deepen China-France comprehensive strategic partnership.

The pressing task now, Wang said, is to restart bilateral exchanges in all areas in an orderly manner while keeping regular COVID-19 containment measures in place, including strengthening coordination and cooperation in the research and development of COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines and in prevention of future pandemics, so as to overcome the pandemic as soon as possible and make positive contribution to the establishment of a community of common health for mankind.

Wang said that the two sides should continue to firmly support the World Health Organization in coordinating and leading global COVID-19 response, and to oppose politicizing the pandemic, adding that China is ready to speed up cooperation with France on major projects for win-win outcomes.

Noting that Europe is an important force in a multipolar world, Wang said that China and Europe have always been partners instead of rivals with their consensus far outweighing differences.

China appreciates President Macron's call for Europe to strengthen strategic independence, which not only reflects France's tradition of independence, but also demonstrates Europe's position as a pole of the world, he said.

With unilateralism and protectionism on the rise today, China and Europe should work together to uphold multilateralism and the basic norms governing international relations, and to build an open world economic system, Wang said.

China would like to see that France and Europe inject more elements of stability into the global landscape and the three sides should join hands for the next stage of the multilateralism agenda, deepen China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and stand on the right side of history, said Wang.

For his part, President Macron thanked Xi for his important message and gift of books, and asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings to Xi.

Macron welcomed Wang's visit to France and Europe, saying it is of great significance for France and China to maintain strategic communication.

France highly appreciates China's commitment to making its COVID-19 vaccine, once available, a global public good, and is ready to deepen cooperation with China in the fight against the virus and to push for more results in bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, agriculture and other areas.

Macron said that France is ready to work with China to further advance the comprehensive strategic partnership, jointly support multilateralism, strengthen communication and coordination on public health, climate change, biodiversity and issues concerning Africa, and jointly implement the Debt Service Suspension Initiative within the G20 framework.

The two sides should map out the important exchanges and political agenda for the next stage, Macron said, adding that he looks forward to visiting China again at an early date.

During his visit, Wang also met with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to President Macron, and will hold talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
(Newser)  Looks like America's top intelligence officer won't be sending anyone to brief Congress about election security anymoreand Nancy Pelosi is less than pleased, CNN reports. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe notified lawmakers Friday that his office will no longer brief congressional intelligence committees on the hot-button topic. His office, known as ODNI, will supply written reports instead. The move is designed "to ensure clarity and consistency," he wrote in a letter, and "better protect our sources and methods and most sensitive intelligence from additional unauthorized disclosures or misuse." In other words, Ratcliffe is echoing earlier concerns from intelligence officials about leaks.

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The move also follows an all-House classified briefing last month in which Pelosi grilled top counterintelligence official Bill Evaninaan exchange that upset ODNI officials, Politico reports. Pelosi accused him being vague about ongoing Russian interference in the 2020 election until Evanina acknowledged that Russia is trying to help President Trump get reelected and disparage Joe Biden. An ODNI official later said Evanina was "disappointed in the inability of some to protect classified information." As for Pelosi, she described the ODNI's new policy as "a shocking abdication of its lawful responsibility to keep the Congress currently informed, and a betrayal of the public's right to know how foreign powers are trying to subvert our democracy." (Read more Director of National Intelligence stories.)
Wellington, Aug 29 : New Zealand reported 13 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, taking the total to 1,376, the Ministry of Health said.

According to the Ministry, two infected persons had arrived in New Zealand from India on August 23, reports Xinhua news agency.

The other 11 cases were community transmissions, 10 of whom were linked to the Auckland cluster.

The remaining case was still under investigation.

There were 11 patients hospitalized as of Saturday, including three in intensive care units, it added.

General public were urged to seek medical advice immediately and to take a test if they develop symptoms consistent with Covid-19.

Auckland is currently under Covid-19 Alert Level 3, while the rest the country is at Level 2.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Red Bull Racing don't sit still. The Austrian formation has already arrived at Spa-Francorchamps with a new front wing for Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko previously announced that update two to five have never been on the car and that they have immediately changed the car from update one to six.

Front wing

"We are bringing a new front wing, we hope to improve it", says Marko to Kleine Zeitung. And for now, it looks good for Red Bull. Verstappen was able to set a third time in the first free practice session and even set the fastest time in the second free practice session on Friday. However, this doesn't say much about the qualification that will take place on Saturday afternoon.

Learning from MotoGP

Marko hopes that Formula 1 can learn from MotoGP. "MotoGP showed us in Spielberg how it should be done. And I understand when some people say that our sport has become too boring", Marko says critically.

The Austrian wants to ban radio communications and reduce technical aids. This should be possible with the new Concorde Agreement. In this agreement, there should no longer be unanimity for a change in the rules among the teams, only a majority is good enough.
The Department of Pre University Education, Karnataka on Friday declared the Karnataka II PUC revaluation result on its official website.

Candidates who have applied for the revaluation can check their results online at pue.kar.nic.in.

Direct link to check Revaluation Results - With Change

Direct link to check Revaluation Results - With No Change

Direct link to check Results of Unvalued and Change in Totalling

Karnataka 2nd PUC revaluation result 2020: How to check

1. Visit the official website of Karnataka PUC result at pue.kar.nic.in

2. On the homepage, click on the link that reads, Revaluation Results March 2020

3. A new page will appear on the display screen with three seperate links

4. Click on the links

5. Your result will be displayed on screen

6. Download and take its print out for future reference.

The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) on July 14 declared the results of second pre-university (PUC) exams 2020. This year, around 6 lakh students registered for the Karnataka 2nd PUC examinations, out of which a total of 69.2%of students passed the examination.
Mali military rulers said on Saturday they were postponing their first meeting over the transfer of powers due to "organisational reasons" nearly two weeks after ousting the president in a coup.

The junta had invited civic groups, political organisations and former rebels to consultations on Saturday, but said in a statement that the meeting was postponed to a later date.

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A former Pensions Minister is set to demand the Government extends the exemption from council tax that bereaved families receive on inherited properties for relatives unable to sell them during the pandemic.

Baroness Ros Altmann is backing a campaign by The Mail on Sunday that calls for more fairness from town halls after this newspaper uncovered dozens of cases where grieving families had been hit with unexpected council tax bills for properties once owned by their loved ones.

In many cases these are retirement flats that were owned by elderly relatives, but which cannot be easily sold as many potential purchasers are still wary about attending viewings due to Covid-19.

Demand: Baroness Ros Altmann is backing a campaign that calls for more fairness from town halls

This delay in house sales has left families paying council tax bills both on their own properties and for homes they are unable to use.

Altmann told the MoS that the current six-month council tax exemption for families once they gain control of a property through the legal process known as probate should be extended to a year.

She said: 'Given all the other measures we have introduced to help people in this time, it seems reasonable to extend the council tax exemption, particularly as in these circumstances there is not much people can do about it.

'The Government has been encouraging private landlords, for example, to tolerate receiving no rent on their properties.

'At the very least I would push for an additional six-month exemption so there would be a vacant rate exemption for a year in total.

'Central government would have to fund this as the councils don't have the money to do so.'

The peer plans to table a series of written questions once Parliament returns on Tuesday. She will ask Ministers to provide details on the number of bereaved families forced to pay council tax on empty retirement properties they have been unable to sell.

She will also ask if the Government has any intention of extending the six-month empty rates exemption to a year.

Altmann said: 'The policy of charging council tax on empty properties is right, but imposing it in the current environment is not  particularly on retirement properties where the very people who could buy them cannot get out and do viewings.'
In this May 9, 2018, file photo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, left, and Korean President Moon Jae-in pose for photo prior to their summit in Tokyo. AP



World leaders wished Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a rapid recovery Friday and praised his contributions to bilateral relations during his years as Japan's longest-serving leader. Abe announced the same day that he was stepping down because of health problems. He is expected to stay on until a new governing party leader is elected and formally approved by parliament.

___

UNITED NATIONS: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesman said the U.N. chief wishes Abe a full recovery and salutes ''the prime minister's distinguished career ... and his consistent and constructive engagement with the U.N. to address global challenges.'' Guterres ''had a very productive relationship with Prime Minister Abe,'' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, pointing to their work on a number of issues especially universal health care initiatives.

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SOUTH KOREA: South Korean President Moon Jae-in's office said Abe dedicated many years to the development of bilateral relations and achieved ''various meaningful accomplishments'' as Japan's longest-serving prime minister. It said Seoul will continue to work with Tokyo's next prime minister and Cabinet to promote ''friendship and cooperation'' between the countries. Relations between South Korea and Japan sank to their lowest point in decades last year as they feuded over trade issues, wartime history and military cooperation.

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GERMANY: Longtime German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who worked with Abe during both of his spells in office, sent him a message saying he was ''always a constructive and reliable partner in our common commitment to multilateralism, free trade, peaceful conflict resolution and rules-based order.'' ''For the future, I wish you a swift and complete recovery and personal well-being,'' she wrote.

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TAIWAN: Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Abe ''has always been very friendly to Taiwan. He has always been very positive, no matter it be his policies or his feelings toward the Taiwanese people. We cherish the friendship he has for Taiwan. We also wish him good health.''

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CHINA: China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian declined to comment directly on Abe's health, saying it was Japan's internal affair. However, he added that ''China and Japan are close neighbors. We are willing to work with Japan to jointly press ahead with continuous improvement and development of China-Japan relations.''

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BRITAIN: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab paid tribute to ''the great things'' that Abe has achieved, and said he ''leaves a strengthened U.K.-Japanese friendship, which we look forward to continuing in the years ahead. I wish him well for the future.''

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PHILIPPINES: Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. described Abe as Japan's ''greatest postwar PM'' in a tweet. He said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Abe had a frank relationship. ''Watching President Duterte and PM Abe talking was like watching two old friends, no holds barred, talking frankly and freely of the true lay of the land and what can and cannot be done,'' Locsin said.

___

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: IOC President Thomas Bach credited Abe with the return of the Olympics to Japan after the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics and 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. ''All the Japanese athletes and the athletes of the entire world are very grateful to him,'' Bach said. The Olympics were to be held in Tokyo this year but were postponed a year because of the coronavirus. (AP)


Jacob Blake, the man shot seven times in the back by Wisconsin police last Sunday, was handcuffed in his hospital bed despite being paralysed and charged with no crime, it has emerged.

The treatment of Mr Blake (29) caused outrage yesterday from demonstrators and politicians, before the cuffs were later removed.

Addressing a crowd in Washington DC, Mr Blake's father said: "There are two systems of justice in the United States. There's a white system and there's a black system. The black system ain't doing so well."

Thousands of people gathered in Washington yesterday to protest against police brutality on the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech.

In all, around 50,000 people were estimated to have attended the march, which was planned in the wake of the death of George Floyd, the black man killed by a white police officer who kept his knee on his neck.

Addressing the crowd, the civil rights leader's 12-year-old granddaughter, Yolanda Renee King, invoked one of the best-known lines of the civil rights leader's speech, where King envisioned a time his children would "not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character".

"My grandfather predicted this very moment," she said.

"He said we were moving into a new phase of the struggle. The first phase was the civil rights and the new phase is genuine equality."

In Kenosha, Wisconsin, where the shooting of Mr Blake sparked fury and deadly violence, anger spread quickly at the news of his handcuffing.

"How the f*** do you handcuff Jacob Blake that you paralysed to a hospital bed after you shot him in the back seven times?" said Rashida Tlaib, congresswoman for the neighbouring state of Michigan.

Tony Evers, governor of Wisconsin, was asked if he was concerned about Mr Blake being handcuffed. "Hell, yes," he said.

Jacob Blake Sr told the Chicago Sun Times he had just been to see his son in hospital. "I hate it that he was laying in that bed with the handcuff on to the bed," he said.

Kenosha police told the BBC that Mr Blake was in custody for previous warrants and the handcuffs were policy.

The Blake family attorney, Benjamin Crump, later said the cuffs had been removed after a date for a court appearance on those warrants was agreed. Mr Crump said it would take a "miracle" for Mr Blake to recover the use of his legs.

Patrick Salvi, Mr Crump's legal partner, confirmed that a bullet went through Mr Blake's spinal cord. He had bullets in his stomach, and had to have almost his entire colon removed. He had a bullet in the kidney, and in the arm.

Mr Blake's shooting sparked five nights of unrest in Kenosha, which on Tuesday night culminated in a Trump-supporting 17-year-old, Kyle Rittenhouse, allegedly shooting dead two protesters.

Rittenhouse is in jail in his home town of Antioch, Illinois - 30km from Kenosha. A planned extradition hearing to send him to Wisconsin for trial was delayed until September 25.

On Thursday it emerged he is being represented by lawyer L Lin Wood, nicknamed "attorney for the damned".

Mr Wood represented the security guard falsely accused in the Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta in 1996, and the parents of missing child pageant star JonBenet Ramsey. ( Daily Telegraph, London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
New Delhi: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Friday (August 28, 2020) arrested 8 people with 504 smuggled gold bars worth 42 crores from the national capital.

"Acting on the basis of specific intelligence, very meticulously and painstakingly developed over months, the sleuths of Delhi Zonal Unit of DRI intercepted 8 passengers who had arrived at New Delhi railway station on 28.8.2020 by Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express and seized from their possession 504 smuggled gold bars of foreign origin," read the official statement.

The gold bars were found to be concealed in specially tailored cloth vests worn by the passengers and the carriers of the smuggled gold were reportedly travelling on a fake Aadhar card id.

The intelligence inputs indicated that the recovered gold bars carrying foreign markings, had been smuggled into India from Myanmar through the international land border at Moreh in Manipur and the smuggling syndicate operating from Guwahati, was attempting to dispose of the contraband in the cities of Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai which notably have thriving markets for the yellow metal and jewellery made therefrom.

"The smuggling syndicate sourced and recruited poor and needy individuals from various parts of the country, to act as carriers of smuggled gold, by luring them with the prospect of quick and easy money," said the official statement.

It added, "The smugglers used air, land and rail routes to locally transport the smuggled gold. The seized gold bars are of 99.9 per cent purity and collectively weigh 83.621 kgs. The market value of the recovered contraband is close to 43 crore."

The 8 carriers have been arrested under the Customs Act, 1962 and remanded to judicial custody while the further investigation is in progress.
Why a State Attack on Bitcoin Is Neither Likely, nor Likely to Succeed

Now that bitcoin (BTC) is establishing itself as an alternative store of value, fears are growing that governments might one day be motivated to try to take it down.

Source: Adobe/poravute

Members of the Bitcoin community have recently been brainstorming scenarios involving theoretical governmental offensives against the popular cryptoasset, ranging from misinformation-based strategies to bans and even classic 51% attacks.

However, industry figures have told Cryptonews.com that they believe the probability of a serious state attack on the Bitcoin network is low.

Even if a government (or two) were motivated to attack the popular cryptoasset, the experts say that its decentralized nature could protect it against serious consequences, enabling it to circumvent bans and continue to function even after an attempted 51% attack.

The Classic 51% Attack

At the beginning of August, Bitcoin developer Matt Odell asked his Twitter followers to imagine the likeliest way a state actor might attack BTC.

There were three main types of response to the question. Prominent crypto analyst and blogger Galgitron replied by posting a link to a 2019 blog post where he explained his theories about how China could successfully attack Bitcoin with a 51% attack.

He theorized that the Chinese government could force China-based mining pools to execute a 51% attack.

While this is theoretically possible, most industry figures and experts believe it is highly unlikely.

OKEx CEO Jay Hao says,

I think that Bitcoin has now reached the stage and a level of computing where it is almost impossible for any nation-state to take down. But more than that, there is really no incentive to do so.

Jay Haos main argument is that the Bitcoin network could easily withstand any kind of 51% attack.

The OKEx chief adds,

What would they achieve after forking the chain? Bitcoin miners are not going to move to the new chain, they would simply continue to mine the old chain. The perpetrators would also be revealed and it would have really serious consequences internationally because of all the major stakeholders now involved in the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Bans, Laws, Over-Compliance

A 51% attack seems remote, given the potential fallout involved. However, one popular response to Odells question  including a suggestion from Odell himself  involves a combination of bans, laws and actions that would impose a prohibitively high degree of (i.e. Know Your Customer [KYC]) compliance.

Others agree that regulatory and legal action against bitcoin is much more likely than a larger-scale technical attacks.

Jiang Zhuoer, the CEO of China-based mining pool BTC.TOP and joint-mining platform B.TOP, opines,

I believe that if a nation-state wanted to take down bitcoin, it would do so through laws instead of a PoW [proof-of-work] attack.

That said, such laws could only (somewhat) limit the number of people using bitcoin, according to Jay Hao.

He says,

There is also no way that countries can ban people from owning something that is censorship-resistant and out of any governments control. Governments can (and have) banned bitcoin. But that doesn't stop people from using it. It does make it harder for them obviously but it's technically impossible to ban bitcoin.

Misinformation Risks

The third most common response to Odells thread revolved around misinformation: Governments may seek to undermine Bitcoins credibility while also attempting to sow confusion and conflict within the cryptocurrencys community.

Something like this is already happening. Governments  and the people running them  have long been speaking out against bitcoin, highlighting (or exaggerating) its worst aspects while underplaying its strengths.

Even with this semi-regular stream of criticism, more systematic and substantial misinformation is unlikely, mostly because it would be unlikely to succeed.

For one, many states are in fact becoming less resistant to bitcoin, despite the communitys lingering fears. This is the view of Tim Rainey, the CFO at New York-based mining services provider Greenidge Generation.

Rainey tells Cryptonews.com,

We believe that the time when major states resisted bitcoin is already behind us and we are now in the phase where regulators are seeing the potential advantages of Bitcoin and other blockchains, and are working to either integrate them into existing regulatory frameworks or create new regulations for them.

In fact, some would argue that an information war is already, in effect, extant, and has been waged against bitcoin by much of the mainstream media up until now  with little obvious effect on the tokens growth.

This is partly because crypto has its own, vibrant media sector, which provides more specialized coverage and commentary to balance out mainstream negativity.

The Future

Bitcoin is likely to become more attack-resistant in the future, in both a technical and a social, political and economic sense.

Hao explains,

Core Bitcoin developers are working all the time on making the network more resistant to any such attack. They recently released the latest Asmap software to thwart a nation-state attack, although it is not yet a fool-proof fix.

Likewise, mining concentration is slowly declining away from China, from 75% in Q3 2019 to 65% in Q2 of FY2020, per University of Cambridge data.

Dmitrii Ushakov, the CCO at Russia-based mining services provider BitRiver, explains,

To reduce the likelihood of a state attack being successful, Bitcoins hashrate should be more evenly distributed around the world in different national jurisdictions. We at BitRiver have been working towards this since 2017.

And as more people buy into Bitcoin, more governments will become averse to attacking it  for fear of upsetting vested interests, if nothing else.

Jay Hao concludes,
New Delhi:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested TMC MP Tapas Paul on Friday in connection with the Rose Valley chit fund scam case.

Earlier this week, the CBI had summoned Paul and another TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Tapas Paul for their alleged role in the case.

Paul reached the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in North 24 Parganas on Friday after being summoned by the investigative agency. The agency has charged several TMC members in its probes against chit fund companies including Saradha.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Enforcement Directorate has frozen four HSBC bank accounts containing Rs 46.96 crore after it raided multiple premises of companies involved in running online Chinese betting apps, according to an official statement. It said the searches were carried out at 15 locations in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai and Pune on Friday under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

"Searches were conducted on the registered offices of the companies, their directors and chartered accountants involved in illegally running online betting apps from websites which are hosted from outside India," the federal probe agency said in the statement on Saturday.

"During the course of search, ED has seized 17 hard disks, five laptops, phones, crucial incriminating documents and has also frozen Rs 46.96 crore held in 4 HSBC Bank accounts," it said.

The money laundering case is based on an FIR filed by the Telangana Police against the accused early this year, it added.

"Initially dummy Indian directors were used to incorporate the companies and after some time Chinese nationals travelled to India and took directorship in these companies," it said.

"Some locals were hired and used to open bank accounts with HSBC Bank and open trade accounts with online wallets namely Paytm, Cashfree, Razorpay, etc." the ED said.

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Australian MP Calls for Recognition of Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides

Julian Leeser, the Chair of the Australian Parliament's House of Representatives Standing Committees on Migration and Indigenous Affairs. The Chair of the Australian Parliament's House of Representatives Standing Committees on Migration and Indigenous Affairs, Julian Leeser MP has signed an Affirmation of Support backing the Joint Justice Initiative for national recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides.

The February 2020 launch of the Joint Justice Initiative at Australia's Parliament House featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) and Australian Hellenic Council (AHC), which declares Australia's recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides as a priority on behalf of their communities.

Leeser is the Federal Member for Berowra which covers suburbs in Sydney's Upper North Shore, and has been a supporter of Genocide recognition and justice since entering Parliament in 2016 following the retirement of veteran former Attorney General, the Hon. Phillip Ruddock.

A prominent Jewish-Australian politician, Leeser spoken for recognition of the Armenian Genocide in speeches within and outside parliament, as well as in a parliamentary debate where he emphatically called out Turkey's denial of 1915.

"I think the world has been too slow to recognise and call out the Armenian Genocide a century ago for what it was," Leeser said in the December 2018 debate. "It's time every nation in the world, including our own, recognised the Armenian genocide for what it was. It's time the Erdogan regime in Turkey owned up to their own history as well."

Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) Executive Director, Haig Kayserian welcomed Leeser's addition to the growing Joint Justice Initiative.

"Mr. Leeser has always shown great empathy for issues of genocide justice, and is a friend and advocate for truth in Australia's Parliament," said Kayserian.

"We in the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian and Greek-Australian communities are honoured to have such a strong ally in our cause for recognition and justice of the genocides faced by our ancestors in 1915."

The Joint Justice Initiative has so far announced the support of Leeser, Michelle Rowland MP, Senator Paul Scarr, Tony Zappia MP, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Senator Hollie Hughes, Senator Rex Patrick, Mike Freelander MP, Senator Eric Abetz, Senator Larissa Waters, Senator Pat Dodson, Jason Falinski MP, Josh Burns MP, John Alexander MP, Senator Andrew Bragg and Bob Katter MP, with a promise of more announcements to come.

On 25th February 2020, over 100 Federal Australian parliamentarians, diplomats, departmental officials, political staffers, academics, media and community leaders were treated to cultural performances, food, wine and brandy, as well as the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, which affirmed that the signatory public affairs representatives of the three communities were jointly committed to seeing Australia recognise the Turkish-committed Genocide against the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian citizens of the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
New Delhi:

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to for Indian Air Force Chief SP Tyagi on CBI plea seeking cancellation of his bail in VVIP chopper scam case.



On Monday, the Patiala House Court had granted bail to Tyagi in the AgustaWestland Case.



The court will pronounce order on Tyagi's co-accused Sanjeev Tyagi and Gautam Khaitan's bail plea on January 4. Till then the two shall remain in judicial custody, the court ordered.



SP Tyagi was granted bail on Rs 2 Lakh security. Court directed him not to leave Delhi NCR and to not tamper with evidence.



The Air Chief Marshal and his associated were arrested by CBI on December 9 for Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland chopper scam.

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The death toll from Hurricane Laura has risen to at least 14, as residents along the Louisiana and Texas coasts commenced a large-scale clean-up operation after being pummeled by the Category 4 storm.

On Friday, thousands of people who heeded dire warnings and fled the Gulf Coast returned to homes without roofs, roads littered with debris and the likelihood of a harsh recovery that could take months.

Hundreds of thousands of people across the two states are still without water and power, and the basic services may not be reinstalled for weeks.

The storm is estimated to have caused up to $12 billion in damage.

Meanwhile, additional;fatalities were confirmed in both Texas and Louisiana, with five people now confirmed to have been killed by fallen trees.

Eight people died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to unsafe operation of generators, including three inside a Texas pool hall, where authorities say the owner had let Vietnamese shrimp boat laborers and homeless men take shelter.

At least one person also drowned in a boat.

The death toll from Hurricane Laura has risen to at least 14, as residents along the Louisiana and Texas coasts commence a large-scale clean-up operation after being pummeled by the Category 4 storm. Pictured: Cameron, Louisiana

The damage bill from Hurricane Laura could total $12 billion in Louisiana and Texas. Pictured: a neighborhood outside Lake Charles, Louisiana

A biochemical plant was left ablaze, and burned to the ground in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana

A business owner surveys the damage of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana

Pousson's Laundromat and Barbershop in Westlake, Louisiana was left in ruins after Hurricane Laura powered through

Employees of an AutoZone in Lake Charles, Louisiana are seen salvaging items from the destroyed business

Hundreds of thousands of Louisiana and Texas residents are still without water and power, and the basic services may not be reinstalled for weeks. Pictured: downed power lines in Lake Charles, Louisiana

Water surrounds a damaged barge in Cameron, Louisiana. Hurricane Laura brought winds which packed a top wind speed of 150 mph (241 kph), making it the most powerful hurricane to strike Louisiana

The lack of essential resources was grim for the many evacuated residents eager to return.

Louisiana resident Chad Peterson told the Associated Press he planned to board up a window and head to Florida.

'Theres no power. Theres no water. Theres no utilities,' he said.

Resident 'Lee' Faulk came back to a home with no roof in hard-hit Cameron Parish, which was littered with downed power lines.

His metal storage building, 24 feet square, was thrown into a neighbor's oak trees.

Estabilishments around Lake Charles, LA., were left devastated and partially destroyed after Hurricane Laura

Flooding surrounds a damaged building in Cameron, Louisiana on Friday

Tree trimmers congregate prior to leaving on work assignments after Hurricane Laura passed through the area in Lake Charles, Louisiana

Louisiana National Guard gather in Lake Charles to plan recovery efforts following Hurricane Laura

A business owner cleans up his paint and body shop after Hurricane Laura passed through the area in Cameron Parish, Louisiana

A resident of Cameron Parish cleans up ceiling insulation which fell onto her kitchen floor during Hurricane Laura

'We need help,' Faulk said. 'We need ice, water, blue tarps - everything that you would associate with the storm, we need it. Like two hours ago.'

The White House said President Donald Trump would visit the region Saturday and survey the damage.

Lake Charles, a city of 80,000 residents that sustained some of the worst damage, is littered with fallen power lines and tree blocked paths.

Driving through the area is hazardous, as street signs have been snapped off their perches and stoplights are not working.

Mayor Nic Hunter cautioned that there was no timetable for restoring electricity and that water-treatment plants 'took a beating,' resulting in barely a trickle of water coming out of most faucets.

'If you come back to Lake Charles to stay, make sure you understand the above reality and are prepared to live in it for many days, probably weeks,' Hunter wrote on Facebook.

Caravans of utility trucks were met Friday by thunderstorms in the sizzling heat, complicating recovery efforts.

A Motel 6 in Lake Charles was left damaged by the storm, which saw winds reach a whopping 150 mph

Drone footage shows damage from the air, with roofs ripped off buildings and power lines toppled into businesses

The second level of one Lake Charles home was completely blown off, leaving debris strewn across the yard

A woman surveys damage to her grandfather's garage after his home was destroyed by Hurricane Laura in Grand Lake, Louisiana

Evacuees are seen outside the New Orleans Marriott Hotel on Friday. Some wore face masks. Residents are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic in addition to the natural disaster

A woman is seen being rescued from her third floor apartment building in Lake Charles on Friday. The complex sustained significant damage in the Hurricane

A man a helps recover items from the children's wing of the First Pentecostal Church that was destroyed by Hurricane Laura in in Orange, Texas

Forty nursing homes were also relying on generators, and assessments were underway to determine if more than 860 residents in 11 facilities that had been evacuated could return. Water outages remained a major problem in evacuated facilities, the Louisiana Department of Health said.

Meanwhile, the hurricane's remnants threatened to bring flooding and tornadoes to Tennessee as the storm, now a tropical depression, drifted north. Forecasters warned that the system could strengthen into a tropical storm again upon returning to the Atlantic Ocean this weekend.

In the storm's wake, more than 600,000 homes and businesses were without power in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports.

The Louisiana Department of Health estimated that more than 220,000 people were without water. Restoration of those services could take weeks or months, and full rebuilding could take years.

Ira Lyles returned to find that his downtown Lake Charles salon called The Parlor House survived with little damage, but his home was destroyed.

'It tore the front off, tore the front of the roof off, picked up my camper trailer and hit the side wall, and the side wall buckled and cracked inside,' he told The Associated Press.

Edwards called Laura, which packed a top wind speed of 150 mph (241 kph), the most powerful hurricane to strike Louisiana, meaning it surpassed even Katrina, which was a Category 3 storm when it hit in 2005.

He said Friday that officials now believe the surge was as high as 15 feet.

More than 580,000 coastal residents were put under evacuation as the hurricane gained strength in the Gulf of Mexico. Laura was the seventh named storm to strike the U.S. this year, setting a new record for U.S. landfalls by the end of August. Laura hit the U.S. after killing nearly two dozen people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

The hurricane's remnants (seen in red) threatened to bring flooding and tornadoes to Tennessee as the storm, now a tropical depression, drifted north. Forecasters warned that the system could strengthen into a tropical storm again upon returning to the Atlantic Ocean this weekend

On Friday, a father and son worked to repair a roof that was damaged in Homewood, Louisiana

Foodwaters cover the street in Cameron, Louisiana on Friday. Residents are still without power

A mobile home is seen destroyed by a fallen tree in Westlake, Louisiana

Rouses Market employees load water into the back of a truck in Southwest, Louisiana as clean up efforts continue

Boaters navigate a flooded road in Delcambre, Louisiana

A Wendy's restaurant is seen destroyed in Moss Bluff, Louisiana
An Amazon delivery guy made one of the greatest deliveries when he saved a family's pet dog from drowning. John Cassabria was on his way to deliver packages in Woburn, Massachusetts when he heard a howling sound. He peaked out of his van to see a snout sticking up from the water in a pool. Uncaring of anything, he hit the water and rescued an old Husky named Luka from drowning in the water. The dog's owners were out on a vacation so Cassabria sat with the old pooch for an over until the animal control arrived. The owners when they heard of the incident were so thankful, that they wrote an email of gratitude to Jeff Bezos, the CEO of the company. Amazon Delivery Woman Prays on Doorstep For Family's Child Susceptible to COVID-19, Viral Video Gives Hope About Goodness of Humanity.

The incident took place early this month. John Cassabria heard a sound while he was in the van but at that time he didn't think it would be a dog. But the moment he saw the snout, he jumped in. He had his wallet, shoes, watch everything on him but at that moment the dog's life mattered. Luka is a 14-year-old Husky who has no strength in her legs due to a case of arthritis. She could not pull herself out of the water and was tired. Any delay could have cost her life. The owners Gary and Julie Caldwell were contacted immediately. They were more than grateful and have even invited the delivery guy for dinner to thank him. Amazon Delivery Driver's Happy Dance After Recieving Surprise Treats Goes Viral; Netizens Can't Stop Smiling! (Watch Video).

Check The Pics of the Dog Rescue:

.@amazon driver John Cassabria has quite a story to tell. He was in #Woburn neighborhood & heard urgent howling coming from a backyard. He ended up diving into a pool to save a drowning husky, who didnt have strength to pull himself out due to arthritis in his back legs. pic.twitter.com/9IToXiTJk4  Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) August 28, 2020

The animal control officers arrived in time and happened to know the others. They were out of town but were more than grateful when they learned about the incident. As reported by Boston.com, Julie Caldwell wrote a note of gratitude to Jeff Bezos informing him about his employees good work. "Animals are my life and I cant imagine what Id do if my dog was in Lukas situation. I cant thank him enough. Words cannot express how grateful we are to him. In fact I have tears in my eyes as I write this email. Luka is doing fine thanks to your wonderful and courageous employee," read the email. It is unclear how Luka ended up in the pool as the owners mentioned she never goes into the water. Chances she could have tripped. But thanks to the delivery guy, Luka has been saved.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2020 05:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The discrimination against girls starts from the womb and continues to reflect in their access to food, education, employment and other resources. Representational Image

The Prime Ministers announcement to raise the legal marriageable age limit for girls from 18 to 21 years has been hailed by advocates as a historic move.

Proponents argue that the future law would address serious concerns like population control, early pregnancy and motherhood, maternal mortality, lack of opportunities for higher education, careers and gender injustice.

Equally strong views of disagreement are being articulated by scholars, NGOs, activists and opinion-makers, the author included. The opponents hold the view that the proposed law is not likely to succeed in changing the socio-cultural realities at the ground level and the gender barriers against women in achieving its intended goals.

The structural inequalities and prejudices of the society that are the root causes of the problem cannot be adequately addressed only through legal interventions.

As per the Unicef, at least 1.5 million girls under the age of 18 are married each year  making India home to the largest number of child brides. The ongoing Covid-19 crisis will further increase the number of child marriages in the country.

As seen in the aftermath of Ebola in affected countries, child marriage rates increased drastically, for reasons of deteriorating economic opportunities and future uncertainties. The sudden and prolonged March lockdown has hit hard a very large section of our countrys population; leading to economic deprivation.

As a result, poor parents, out of work due to Covid, are marrying off minor daughters to reduce financial burden. The closure of schools has further aggravated the problem.

Tragically, the poor parents see this as an opportunity to get their minor daughters married at a lower cost on ceremonies and dowry. Overall, the current unfortunate situation will further undermine the strategies and efforts of the past years to combat child marriages in India.

Families coming from lower socioeconomic strata, particularly in rural areas, are thus being compelled to marry their offspring early. Raising the legal age of marriage is not going to make any favourable impact on this section of the society.

Thus the proposed law is not a panacea for gender injustice. Though well-intentioned, it will not easily translate into desired outcomes. The law will not effectively target the underlying causes that lead to child marriages, overpopulation, malnutrition and maternal mortality.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Young Lives in 2018 noted that the high prevalence of child marriages in India is mainly due to poverty and lack of education. In addition to this, it is equally necessary to address cultural and sociological reasons behind the phenomenon.

The multiple factors that are responsible for child marriages, despite a law prohibiting it, include caste, class, custom, coercion, economy, education and poverty. The most significant factor is gender inequality and the low value associated with girls and women in India.

The discrimination against girls starts from the womb and continues to reflect in their access to food, education, employment and other resources.

The cultural and patriarchal values ingrained in our society view them as a social and economic burden on the family. Child marriage is also a part of this systematic unfairness.

In rural communities, structural inequalities and patriarchy are perpetrated in the guise of custom. Societal pressure forces families into marrying daughters early to prevent them from becoming sexually active before marriage.

The low priority assigned to providing resources for a girls education contributes to their further marginalisation. The families that want to educate their daughters are unable to do so, due to inadequacy of resources and, in many cases, lack of neighbourhood schools.

Instead of raising the legal marriageable age, girls need to be provided with equal opportunities to continue their education. Though the Right to Education Act assures education until the age of 14 years, an incremental move would be to ensure quality education till the age of 18, access to higher education, job opportunities and training. Education provides a stepping stone for girls to move out of inter-generational poverty.

This approach will make girls economically independent and strengthen their agency to make informed decisions regarding their career, reproductive health, life, and whether to marry or not.

The existing laws have not so far succeeded in curbing the problem of child marriage. Even though the minimum age of marriage is 18 years, in rural and backward areas, minor girls as young as 12 or 13 get married. The proposal will only lead to a change in the law, but will not change the societal realities.

Effectively addressing it requires enormous effort and resources. The state and society together have to challenge gender stereotypes and socio-cultural barriers to womens empowerment. They may act through well-planned interventions and awareness drives with parents and communities.

The focus of government policies and advocacy should be on enhancing capabilities, skills, education, and employability of the girls and women.

Additionally, advocating and promoting the sexual and reproductive health for girls and women would be an ideal approach to address their overall well-being and achieve desired population control.

This will enable them to make informed decisions on contraceptive services, abortion, and family planning. The social empowerment of women is needed foremost to progress towards gender equality and their emancipation.

Our society needs to deconstruct existing prejudices and treat women as autonomous individuals, equal at the household and community levels. The focus needs to be oriented towards their empowerment by providing them with education, vocations, and equal opportunities.

This approach will help better address the problems related to early marriages, a skewed sex ratio, maternal mortality and population.
The Viettel AI Open Platform, an artificial intelligence (AI) platform developed by the military-run telecoms group Viettel, was launched by the Ministry of Information and Communication at a ceremony on August 28.

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Hung, Viettel's AI technology platform will promote the application of AI in Vietnam. Photo: MT

The launch is part of a chain of events to introduce Made-in-Vietnam digital platforms to serve the national digital transformation programme to 2025 and vision to 2030 approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

According to Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Hung, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is fundamentally changing production around the world on the back of breakthroughs in the Internet and AI.

Many countries have recognised the inevitable development and significant transformational impact of AI in all aspects of life, which changes the balance of economic, military, and political power, he said, adding that AI is the heart of digital transformation.

The Viettel AI Open Platform provides platform technologies using AI to help automate, optimise, and efficiently operate organisations and businesses via the worlds most advanced techniques.

The platform is currently focusing on areas such as Vietnamese speech processing technology (Speech Processing), Vietnamese natural language processing technology (Natural Language Processing), and computer vision technology (Computer Vision).

Nguyen Manh Quy, Director of the Viettel Cyberspace Centre, said to strengthen research cooperation to boost the national digital transformation programme, Viettel is providing the platform free of charge to individuals, businesses, and organisations that registered to use it during its application development phase.

Make-in-Vietnam blockchain platform debuts to assist digital transformation The Ministry of Information and Communications, on August 13, held a ceremony to debut the akaChain blockchain platform, as part of a programme introducing Make in Vietnam digital platforms.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 17:38:07|Editor: huaxia

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Despite the impact of COVID-19 the completion of a factory to make concrete sleepers for the Bangladesh Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP), which will greatly contribute to the region's connectivity, has been achieved. Built by the China Railway Group Limited (CREC), a world-leading construction conglomerate, the assembly work of the sleeper factory, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, was completed last month. The factory, which covers an area of approximately 7,333 square meters, has been highly praised by CSC (Construction Supervision Consultant) engineers. As an active participant in the Belt and Road Initiative, Bangladesh has cooperated with China on many major infrastructure projects in recent years.
Hotel Staff Told No Need to Isolate After CCP Virus Test, Inquiry Hears

Staff at a quarantine hotel in Melbourne, Victoria identified as one of two sources behind the Australian states second wave of the CCP virus were told by health authorities they did not have to isolate after being COVID-19 tested.

Victorias COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry heard last week that about 90 percent of the states CCP virus cases since June are tied to an outbreak at Melbournes Rydges at Swanston. The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, spread from a family of four returnees to hotel staff, and security, then into the wider community.

Since June 1, Victoria has recorded 494 deaths attributed to COVID-19 and 17,061 cases.

North Melbournes Rydges on Swanston was one of the first to join the states hotel quarantine program on March 29 and was designated as a COVID hotel from April 27. It was estimated 90 percent of the guests were COVID-19 positive.

Rydges on Swanston general manager Rosswyn Menezes told the seventh hearing of the inquiry that the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) contacted him on May 26 first informing him of a possible outbreak.

The DHHS told him in a letter that a staff member may have COVID-19, and advise that anyone who spent longer than 30 minutes in the hotel May 18-26 had to get tested for the CCP virus.

I asked DHHS team leader on site, should we isolate straight away? I believed that we were advised at that point we did not have to because we were not a close contact, Menezes told the inquiry on Aug. 28.

Four days later the DHHS contacted him again, I remember getting a call from public health  advising me that everyone who was in the building between a certain date range had to self-isolate for 14 days, Menezes said.

The hotel closed on June 1-18.

DHHS epidemiologist Chalrhes Aplren told the inquiry on Aug. 18 that three hotel staff at the Rydges at Swanston tested positive for COVID-19 disease that spread to private security guards.

They were unable to identify how the virus spread from the family of four to the staff members.

Victorias contact tracers have faced challenges in their jobs: there were around 1,500 unknown cases in the state at its peak. Throughout August the number has dropped to about 460. More than 2,000 active cases are under investigation.

A police car sits outside the Rydges on Swanston hotel in Melbourne, Australia, on July 14, 2020. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The Victorian governments failed hotel quarantine system began on March 29 following a national cabinet meeting where compulsory isolation programs were agreed as a measure to limit community transmission of the CCP virus.

During a critical meeting among Victorias emergency response committee it was decided neither Australian Defense Forces nor state police will be used to guard returnees in the quarantine hotels. Instead, hiring private security guards. This decision has been met with heavy scrutiny.

The hotel quarantine inquiry was launched on July 2. The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions will be examined on Aug. 31. They were given under two days to hire the private security guards.
<! The helicopter crash >

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Government has confirmed the death of the last crew member who sustained injuries in the helicopter that crashed in Opebi area of Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

Two crew members of the three in the Bell 206-3 helicopter belonging to Quorum Aviation, had died instantly when the helicopter crashed into a building at Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja on Friday.

The last crew member, who was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH and placed on Intensive Care Unit, has also died.

With this, the three crew member on board the helicopter coming from Port Harcourt to Lagos have lost their lives.

Director General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu told PM NEWS on phone that the third crew member had died.

According to him, the third crew member died at LASUTH where he was placed on Intensive Care Unit.

Earlier, Oke-Osnyintolu had said three people were on board the aircraft when it crashed.

He said the agency received distress calls concerning a privately operated helicopter that crashed into 16 A Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja and immediately activated the emergency response plan.

He added that the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, had retrieved the black box, saying that the Bureau had also transported the wreck of the aircraft to their office for further investigations.

In his words: The Accident Investigation Bureau has retrieved the black box and transported the wreck of the aircraft to their office for further investigations.

The affected buildings will be subjected to integrity testing while the entire area will be fumigated.

Members of the public are advised to remain calm and be assured of Mr Governors commitment to the safety of life and property within Lagos State. Updates will follow on from the result of the investigation.

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David Rosen, CEO & Founder of Kira Labs I started in my garage with three tables  one for my computer, another to make the formulas and another for packaging,- David Rosen

"Celebrating the unstoppable entrepreneurs whose ambitions transform our world"

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that CEO DAVID ROSEN of KIRA LABS INC was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 Florida Award finalist. Now in its 34th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program honors entrepreneurial business leaders whose ambitions deliver innovation, growth and prosperity as they build and sustain successful businesses that transform our world. David Rosen was selected as one of 21 finalists from nearly 60 nominations by a panel of independent judges.

Award winners will be announced through a special virtual event on October 8, 2020 and will join a lifelong community of esteemed Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. This year, unstoppable entrepreneurs who have provided extraordinary support for their communities, employees and others during the COVID-19 crisis will also be recognized for their courage, resilience and ingenuity.

Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive award programs for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. The nominees are evaluated based on six criteria, including overcoming adversity; financial performance; societal impact and commitment to building a values-based company; innovation; and talent management. Since its launch, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world.

I started in my garage with three tables  one for my computer, another to make the formulas and another for packaging, Rosen said. Once everything was made and packaged, I would take it to UPS for shipping. I did it all, including customer service, without much funding. It was a lot of work, but I took great enjoyment in experiencing the true entrepreneurial lifestyle. I had very few resources to work with, but what I did have was a lean startup mentality combined with the right product at the right time. - David Rosen

Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, to be announced in November during a virtual awards gala. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in June 2021.

Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners become lifetime members of a global, multi-industry community of entrepreneurs, with exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of program alumni and other ecosystem members in over 60 countries  all supported by vast EY resources.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP America and the Kauffman Foundation.

In Florida, sponsors also include Platinum sponsor, PNC and Silver sponsor, the Orlando Business Journal.

About Kira Labs

Kira Labs Inc, a cosmetic manufacturer established in 2003, has become a leading beauty innovator and market driver for Face, Body, Hair and Home products. An early adopter to the ecommerce revolution, Kira Labs has since grown to vertically market & manufacture over 35 brands worldwide B2B & B2C through Brick and Mortar, Digital and a 360 degree omnichannel strategy.

Kira Labs has been recognized globally for its product quality and was recently named Florida Exporter of the Year 2017, Presidents Export Award 2018 and South Florida Manufacturer of the Year 2019. Kira Labs continues to grow and maintain a continuous improvement culture with the support of a strong executive, R&D, manufacturing, design, marketing & sales teams. Research and Development is a key component to our success  the Kira Labs scientific team actively sources the latest in ingredient technology from around the world. Our G.M.P compliant facility follows best practice process and protocol and products contain the highest concentrations of active ingredients to deliver dramatic results. http://www.kiralabs.com

About Entrepreneur Of The Year

Entrepreneur Of The Year is the worlds most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. Winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year title. ey.com/us/eoy

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, strategy, transaction and consulting services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

Contact: Maria Llanso

Company: Kira Labs Inc

Tel: 305-965-3561

Email: maria.llanso@kiralabs.com
Fianna Fail TD and barrister James Lawless has explained the Cabinet's 11th-hour decision to scrap plans to allow gardai crack down on house parties.

A proposal was put to Cabinet that would've made it a criminal offence to have more than six people in a home, but this would be difficult to enforce due to a provision in the Constitution, Mr Lawless outlined.
EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A man died after a late Friday night shooting in East Cleveland, police say.

The man has not yet been identified in the incident that happened about 10 p.m. on Marloes Avenue near Euclid Avenue, according to a news release from East Cleveland police Chief Scott Gardner.

Police responded to the scene and found the man lying on the ground with a gunshot would to the head, the release says.

Paramedics took him to University Hospitals where he was pronounced dead two hours later.

Police have made no arrests in the shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to call the department at 216-681-2162.

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Heartless Felons gang member one of three charged in fatal shooting of North Royalton man in Cleveland

Man accused of shouting racial slurs, threatening man with knife in Cleveland, police say

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Female government workers in rural areas go on strike to demand job recognition, better pay and proper protective gear.

Rushing from one home to another in a village in western India, health worker Ashwini Mhaske cannot afford to take a breather.

Working to keep COVID-19 at bay while caring for mothers and babies, Mhaske races between households to meet job targets and earn bonuses for an average monthly wage of 4,000 rupees ($54) that Indias army of rural health workers say is derisory.

Accredited Social Health Activists  or ASHA workers  are the governments recognised health workers who are usually the first point of contact in rural India, where there is often limited or no direct access to healthcare facilities.

Many of Indias one million all-female ASHA workers  who have conducted door-to-door checks to trace coronavirus patients in addition to their usual duties  went on strike this month to demand job recognition, better pay and proper protective gear.

Now we work all hours, with no days off, said 33-year-old Mhaske, who used to do farm work shifts to supplement her ASHA income before the coronavirus pandemic struck India in March.

Indias coronavirus cases crossed the 3.2 million mark this week  it is third in the world behind the United States and Brazil  after a surge in rural areas where two-thirds of its 1.3 billion people live.

With infections spreading further to small towns and remote regions, experts say the epidemic in India is likely to be months away from its peak, putting more strain on an already overburdened healthcare system and struggling ASHA workers.

All we [ASHA workers] are saying is that the government should think about us, Mhaske told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Osmanabad in Maharashtra state.

Pay dispute

Enlisted as part of a 2005 national programme to boost healthcare services across rural India  from maternal care to vaccination drives  ASHA workers are treated like volunteers and not covered by state governments minimum wage legislation.

They recently received a 33 percent raise to their basic monthly salary due to the pandemic, and get bonuses for extra tasks, for example, they receive 50 rupees ($0.50) for ensuring five children are immunised and 600 rupees ($8) for taking pregnant women to hospital to give birth.

Yet labour economists and campaigners said ASHA workers were still hugely underpaid for their duties, and earned about half as much as farmworkers employed under government job schemes.

In the name of community service, they are working without commensurate remuneration or rights, said KR Shyam Sunder, a professor at the Xavier School of Management in Jharkhand.

This amounts to indignity or undignified labour  the returns to the society from their work will far outweigh the meagre economic cost in regularising them.





Indias health ministry has not officially responded to ASHA workers demands for a base salary of 10,000 rupees ($136) a month.

They get task-based incentives and we already have a set of incentives  that would yield 5,000 to 6,000 rupees ($68-$82) a month, said Vikas Sheel, joint secretary at the health ministry.

Yet payment records reviewed by the Thomson Reuters Foundation of nearly 600 ASHA workers from four states  Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh  revealed average earnings of about 4,000 rupees ($55) for the month of July.

We have already increased 1,000 rupees ($14) for their COVID-19 duties, Sheel added. Right now, thats it.

Sheel said individual states had the discretion to boost the earnings of local ASHA workers and some states had done so.

But there isnt one clear payment structure for the whole country, said Ranjana Nirula, convener of the All India Coordination Committee of ASHA Workers, which is a union.

This is part of unpaid labour of women and is seen as an extension of the work women do at home.

A health worker wearing a face shield and a protective face mask checks the temperature of a man with an electronic thermometer at a school in Mumbai [Francis Mascarenhas /Reuters]

Full control

Several ASHA workers said they work around the clock and had been on call at all hours since March  when millions of migrant workers returned to their villages from cities post-lockdown.

The health workers recorded every arrival, took travel histories and helped place the labourers into quarantine, all while carrying out their maternal and child healthcare duties.

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Leela Devi Rawat, a 30-year-old ASHA worker in Udaipur in northwest Rajasthan state, said she was exhausted due to her new responsibilities yet had no choice but to keep working.

How do I run my house if I quit? My husband takes up daily wage work but has had no earnings in lockdown, she said.

Payment records for 195 workers in Maharashtra seen by the Thomson Reuters Foundation showed average earnings of 4,156 rupees ($57) in July  an increase of 60 rupees ($0.82) from February despite the 1,000 rupees ($14) wage increase that was implemented in March.





Workers said their coronavirus duties meant they had little time to carry out other tasks that awarded them bonus payments.

Asha workers have emerged as the backbone of primary healthcare in India, said physician Abhay Bang, founder of the public health non-profit, Search.

Over the years, their work has gone from part-time to full-time, he said, adding that their average workday was at least 12 hours. You call them community workers, so you dont give them government wages. But you keep full control over them.

The Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have hailed the ASHA workers in recent months for their role in containing the epidemic in India.

Yet such praise means little to many ASHA workers as their workdays get longer while their pay remains roughly the same.

I hope the payment will improve and maybe I will grow professionally, said Mhaske, who recently enrolled in a computing course to widen her career prospects.

I hope that someday it will be better.
Bengaluru police and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) recently conducted a raid at three places in the city, during which they arrested three dealers with a variety of drugs. According to Bangalore Mirror, those three people have been identified by the detectives as Anikha D, a resident of Doddagubbi in Bengaluru, M Anoop, a resident of Royal Suites Hotel Apartment in Kalyan Nagar and R Ravindran, a resident of Nikoo homes in Bengaluru.

The tabloid also states that the drugs were sourced from Western Europe. KPS Malhotra, the Deputy Director (operations) of Narcotics Control Bureau issued a statement to PTI which reads, "In follow up action, the team seized 96 pills of MDMA and 18 LSD blots at Nikoo homes in Bengaluru. Later, a lady drug supplier who had been the main kingpin of the case was intercepted and 270 pills of MDMA were recovered from her house at Dodagubbi Bengaluru."

Malhotra further stated that the accused has supplied drugs to Sandalwood stars and they are now keeping the prominent actors and musicians in the radar. "Preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused used to supply drugs to affluent sections of society, including prominent musicians and actors as well as to college students and youngsters."

For the unversed, NCB had earlier arrested Rahman K for allegedly dealing in drugs. NCB said, "Rahman had been selling MDMA and other party drugs among students of his college and the neighbouring ones."

Also Read : Sushant Singh Rajput's Ex-Bodyguard Alleges The Late Actor Had A 'Drug Addiction'

The Joint Commissioner of Police - Crime, Bengaluru, Sandeep Patil told Times of India, "These people supplied to not just Bengaluru but many of the destinations around the city, which include Chikmagaluru, Mysuru, Ramanagara and Coorg. We have managed to retrieve information from their phones and are looking at nabbing all those who are involved in these crimes, be it procuring, distributing or consuming. Our aim is to have a drug free Bengaluru."

Also Read : Sushant Singh Rajput's Family Lawyer Vikas Singh: NCB Probe May Expose Powerful Names (Exclusive)

(Representational Image)
A Northern Ireland man at the center of a human trafficking operation that left 39 Vietnamese migrants dead in a lorry pleaded guilty to manslaughter at a London court on Friday.

Ronan Hughes, 40, from County Armagh, admitted the charges at the Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, having been extradited from the Republic of Ireland in June.

The migrants  ten of them teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys  were found dead in the truck in an industrial zone east of London in October 2019.

They died of a lack of oxygen and overheating in an enclosed space, a coroner's inquest was told.

Hughes had been detained on a European arrest warrant on 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to commit unlawful immigration.

Lawyers for the Irish state told the extradition hearing in Dublin in June that he "organized and controlled the drivers."

The container arrived in England on a ferry from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge.

A number of people have been arrested and charged in Britain, France and Belgium in connection with the case, including the driver of the lorry, Maurice Robinson, also of Northern Ireland.

The 25-year-old from Craigavon pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property at a previous hearing in April.

Hughes appeared at Friday's hearing with Eamonn Harrison, 23, from Mayobridge, also Northern Ireland, who was extradited from Ireland in July.

He pleaded not guilty to the same charges and faces a five-week trial starting on October 5 with three other defendants who have also denied involvement in a people smuggling conspiracy.
She's the former Miss Universe who has since forged a career as a television presenter, brand ambassador and health and fitness aficionado.

And on Saturday, Rachael Finch showed off her incredibly toned figure as she enjoyed a day at Sydney's Palm Beach with husband Michael Miziner and their brood.

The 32-year-old looked sensational in a blue tie-dye bikini as she soaked up the sun, and at times, packed on the PDA with her professional dancer beau.

Going strong! Rachael Finch, 32, packed on the PDA with husband Michael Miziner (both pictured) at Sydney's Palm Beach on Saturday

There was not an inch to pinch on Rachael's frame as she emerged from the water in the on-trend swimwear.

She slicked her brunette locks into a low plait, and at times, concealed her gaze behind round-rimmed sunglasses and a wide-brimmed straw hat.

Rachael appeared carefree and relaxed as she enjoyed the warm weather with husband Michael, and their children, daughter Violet, six, and son Dominic, three.

Affectionate: The former Miss Universe wrapped her arms around her professional dancer beau

Husband and wife: The high-profile couple looked to be enjoying a spot of alone time together

Beach babe: Rachael showed off her incredibly toned figure in an on-trend bikini as she emerged from the surf

Stunning: The activewear founder opted for a blue tie dye bikini that flattered her curves

The activewear founder wrapped her arms around Michael's bare chest, enjoying a quick moment of alone time together.

Michael sported grey boardshorts and aviator-style sunglasses for the outing.

Clearly smitten with one another, Michael smiled as Rachael whispered something into his ear.

Style: Rachael wore a crop top-style bikini top and boy-leg swimming bottoms

Natural: The mother-of-two slicked her wet locks back off her face, drawing attention to her striking facial features

Drying off: Rachael dried off with a blue and white striped beach towel

Rachael and Michael were very much doting parents on the outing.

They came prepared with buckets and spades, and other toys for their children.

Violet looked cute as a button in a patterned swimsuit, while Dominic wore a blue rash vest, boardshorts and a cap.

Swimwear: Michael showed off his buff frame, donning grey boardshorts and accessorising with aviator-style sunglasses

Doting mother: Every inch the doting mother, Rachael carried beach toys for her children to play with

Sun-smart: Rachael accessorised her beach look with a stylish round-rimmed straw hat

Details: The brand ambassador's bikini top featured intricate detail at the back

The family were spotted building sand castles and enjoying a stroll across the sand.

As a wellness guru, Rachael is known for her educated and practical advice.

She told Daily Mail Australia last year what she will tell daughter Violet with regards to dealing with negativity, when she's at the age of having Instagram.

'For me, it really starts in the family unit, at home, ensuring that we are explaining to her what happens online,' she explained, referencing husband Michael.

The future's bright: Rachael concealed her gaze behind trendy round-rimmed sunglasses

I've got you: Rachael placed an affectionate arm around son Dominic

Sun's out: The popular television presenter worked on her tan on the outing

Quick dip: Rachael enjoyed a quick dip in the ocean after working on her tan

'And making her aware of what she is getting into before she starts getting into the online world and connecting with people in cyberspace,' Rachael continued.

'I am just going to be as open as possible and explain to her that there are sometimes not nice people out there, and to never take it to heart.

'The things that matter most are what you have in your own heart and what you have at home.'

Fun in the sun: Rachael appeared to be having a ball as she splashed around in the surf

Equipped: Michael carried a grey weekender bag, full of their beach essentials

Quality time together: The genetically blessed couple enjoyed a stroll across the sand with their son

In sync: The couple engaged in conversation as she enjoyed the family outing

Rachael also weighed in on Instagram's decision to hide the number of likes on one's post, and said creating a positive space online is also down to parenting.

'The positivity lies in the education, guidance and influence at home,' she explained.

'If we are educating our kids and guiding them through what matters and what doesn't, then when it comes time for them to be dealing with social media, they are going to be a lot more mentally and emotionally prepared.'

Creating memories: Their daughter Violet helped her brother build sand castles while their parents embraced

Too cute: Rachael held onto Dominic's hand as they explored the area
The eye of the storm...If you've ever been there, you know it's not a comfortable place to be. The UK has weathered the first leg of a Category Five economic hurricane. Destructive, disruptive and painful  with so many lives and livelihoods already lost.

Yet beyond the eye lies the second leg, which is invariably more destructive, more savage and more life-changing than the first.

This sunny summer is the eye of the storm. The final few months of Government support packages are propping up consumer spending.

Gathering storm: The UK has weathered the first leg of a Category Five economic hurricane

Many businesses are busy, buoyed up by the pent-up demand they couldn't service during the long months of lockdown. Companies, both small and large, have more cash on their balance sheets thanks to billions in loans and furlough grants.

International supply chains, which sputtered and seized up at the same time as the global economy, are now working again, albeit at a somewhat reduced clip. All this is little more than a fragile veneer, accentuated by high-visibility but low-impact schemes like the Treasury's Eat Out to Help Out discounts. Sunshine, the holiday season and our craving for a return to some form of normality have created a heady mix of collective intoxication.

Only the slow, steady drumbeat of redundancy announcements from household names, plus hastily-announced quarantine rules for our favourite holiday destinations, seem to cut through the reverie.

As autumn approaches, we must shake off this national somnolence. And we must be under no illusions about the difficulties ahead.

The next six to 12 months are going to be tough for businesses, tough for our communities and tough for both the country and the world.

So we must put the remaining days and weeks of respite to good use.

Individual businesses will be evaluating their position and deciding whether to take new risks or to batten down the hatches.

Government, on the other hand, does not have this choice.

Ministers acted swiftly and admirably at the start of the crisis  working with business and the financial sector on the emergency measures that staved off a near-complete economic collapse.

But they have lost their way since, with a disappointing Summer Statement, fingers in their ears regarding the existential plight of some businesses excluded from their rescue schemes and an unwillingness to support some of the strategic sectors that other countries have rushed to protect.

Noise levels in Westminster are increasing, with unrealistic demands from the extremes of the political spectrum. Those who say that nearly every job can be saved, if only the emergency measures enacted by the Government are extended, clearly haven't seen the writing on the wall for so many business models that simply no longer work.

And at the other extreme, we have those who would simply leave things entirely to the vicissitudes of the market, who see the annihilation of thousands of businesses and millions of jobs as simply an inconvenient fact of life.

Surely the right answer lies somewhere in between.

As autumn approaches, Rishi Sunak must get back to taking risks to support the economy  not slip back into 'wait and see' mode. As he winds down the furlough scheme, the Chancellor should be slashing the jobs tax to help viable businesses keep skilled workers and as a fillip for growing firms to hire.

Hacking back the nearly 14 per cent that employers pay the Revenue in National Insurance contributions would help businesses manage their cash flow and avoid many thousands of extra redundancies.

He should be crafting a new support package for businesses in areas affected by local lockdowns  learning the lessons from firms in Leicester, Aberdeen and elsewhere.

Money should be dedicated to speeding up the installation of new fibre broadband to accommodate the shift to more agile working patterns  and to developing a flexible season ticket system for the railway network that will help get people back into city centre workplaces.

Companies, in discussion with their employees, will decide how and when to return to offices safely. To take those decisions, and help more people get back into the workplace, businesses need crystal-clear official guidance and confidence in test and trace systems.

For many employees, returning to the workplace depends on schools reopening, the availability of childcare and confidence that they can use public transport safely.

Businesses working to help their staff return to the office should also be able to offset the investments they make to ensure their premises are Covid-secure against their tax bill, which would help many get back into city and town centres over the coming months.

The Government should use its purchasing power to help employers roll out mass testing in workplaces, public and private, which would give a huge confidence boost to a still wary workforce and to the battered high street.

Massive incentives should be put in place for business investment, which would have the double benefit of tackling both the Covidinduced economic crisis and the end of the Brexit transition.

While many businesses are struggling, there are some with cash on their balance sheets that could be invested in ways that help both their future growth and the rebuilding of the UK economy.

And the Chancellor must act quickly  before thousands of good companies face existential risks next year, weighed down by the burden of unsustainable debt.

These are huge commitments  similar in size and scope to the emergency measures already put in place. They will be needed, however, if we wish to move beyond a tentative restart and towards a more comprehensive rebuilding and renewal of the UK economy.

As the winds rise again, and the calm of recent weeks is broken  far better to help businesses weather the coming storm, rather than leave them to its mercy.
Instead, the Democratic Partys changing views on the courts  and the increasing influence on voters  was reflected in its platform. In it, the party acknowledged it recognizes the need for structural court reforms to increase transparency and accountability. While the platform didnt endorse any specific changes, the inclusion of the language was nonetheless considered a victory for liberal activists who had pushed Democratic presidential candidates to embrace an overhaul of the courts.
Business Roundup The Irrawaddy Business Roundup

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YANGON  As Myanmar reported a daily record spike in COVID-19 cases this week, some businesses decided to work from home. Meanwhile, five foreign investment proposals and one domestic investment were approved for Yangon. Moreover, the investment agencies announced the governments decision that foreign staff from companies with operations in Myanmar must have urgent business to be personally taken care of in the country if they want to re-enter by relief flight.

South Koreas giant POSCO International Corporation submitted a proposal to build a gas power plant in Bago Region, according to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy.

Praising Myanmars potential as a fast-growing digital economy, MasterCard also announced that it is opening an office in Yangon.

Yangon approves new investment

Despite the spike in COVID-19 cases in Myanmar, Yangons regional government has approved investment proposals from Japan, China, Samoa and Seychelles and a proposal from a Myanmar-based enterprise on Wednesday.

The total estimated foreign investment is US$10.65 million (14.2 billion kyats) and the domestic investment is 6 billion kyats ($4.5 million), according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA).

It said the investment will mainly focus on clothing, furniture, sesame oil, cookies and jewelry production.

According to the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC), Yangon Region receives about 60 percent of Myanmars foreign direct investment.

Investment agencies announce rules for re-entry of foreign staff

Myanmars investment agencies have announced the criteria for foreign staff seeking to re-enter the country after receiving several requests from companies.

According to the MIC and DICA, the companies requested that the government allow the re-entry of foreign experts via relief flights.

The agencies said foreigners seeking to fly to Myanmar will have to prove they have urgent tasks in the country. The statement said visas will only be issued after scrutiny from the Central Committee for Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 and other government organizations and ministries. The COVID-19 committee also instructed the Ministry of International Cooperation to inspect all requests.

The statement said all companies must contact a Myanmar embassy about relief flights.

POSCO hopes to build gas-fired power plant in Bago

South Koreas largest trading company, POSCO International Corporation, submitted a proposal to construct a natural gas-fired power plant in Shwedaung, Bago Region, according to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy.

Deputy minister U Khin Maung Win and POSCO representatives met last week in Naypyitaw. The details of the project are yet to be announced, the ministry said.

The companys offshore gas exploration began off Myanmars coast in 2000. It started commercial production in 2013 and is the main operator of the Shwe project, the largest natural gas production project in Myanmar.

MasterCard plans to open branch in Yangon

The US-based global financial services company, MasterCard announced on Tuesday that it will open a branch office in Yangon and appoint a business development manager for Myanmar.

The opening date and the amount of capital being invested are not yet known.

MasterCards services have been available in Myanmar for more than 10 years.

It said Myanmar is expected to grow by 6 percent in the next year as its digital sector develops swiftly.

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The Irrawaddy Business Roundup

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Last week, when the lower tip of Galveston Island moved out of Hurricane Lauras cone of uncertainty, Phil Bedient breathed a sigh of relief. Bedient, director of Rice Universitys storm-studying SSPEED Center, knew maybe better than anyone else in the world what a nightmare it would be if a Laura-sized storm made landfall in the wrong place.

For the last 15 years or so, Bedients team  the acronym stands for Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters  has modeled big storms possible effects on Houston.

INTERACTIVE GUIDE: How Hurricane Laura's storm surge could have decimated Houston

Laura, Bedient saw, was the fast-moving kind of hurricane. Slow storms, like Hurricane Harvey, inflict most of their pain through flooding. Fast ones, like Hurricane Ike, deal most of their destruction through wind and storm surge.

Of all the risks that hurricanes bring, a big storm surge is the rarest and most dangerous.

Imagine, Bedient said, that youre aiming a blow dryer at a brownie pan full of water, blowing the water out of the pan: Thats how a hurricane behaves in a body of water.

More for you Hotez: Scientists divided on what recent COVID decline means

In real life, that wall of water would move incredibly fast  10-20 feet per second  wiping away almost everything in its path. Beams from the first row of houses to fall would become waterborne battering rams. Ike, a Category 2 storm, pushed an 18-foot storm surge across Bolivar Peninsula, famously wiping houses off their foundations.

VISUAL ESSAY: Hurricane Laura's destructive path through Texas and Louisiana

The surge from Laura, a Category 4 storm, could have been far worse. But when the hurricane made landfall, its eye was relatively narrow, so though its winds were powerful, the surge they drove scoured a narrower area than expected. And blessedly, that area was mainly a swampy spot where few people live.

Had Laura instead come ashore at the wrong spot near Houston, Bedients models show a far grimmer outcome. If a smallish Cat 4 storm made landfall at San Luis Pass, just below Galveston, the winds would drive a storm surge as high as 26 feet.

Those walls of water would blow not only out of the open ocean, but also out of Galveston Bay, which nestles between the island and the mainland. Much of the damage to Galveston would come not as the storm pushes water forward, but hours later, as that debris-laden water comes rushing back toward the ocean.

That nightmare scenario, though, doesnt stop with Galveston. The dirty side of the storm  the most dangerous part, with the fastest-moving wind and highest storm surge  would likely affect the Houston Ship Channel, which is lined with chemical storage tanks.

'IT LOOKS LIKE A WAR ZONE': For Louisiana family, surviving Hurricane Laura seemed like a miracle

Industry, says Bedient, is prepared for a Ship Channel surge of 15 feet. But for that smallish Category 4 storm, his models show a surge of 25 feet. Thousands of chemical tanks could be affected.

Those enormous tanks are made of steel. And in the same way that a steel car will float, a surge can lift part-empty tanks  they float like ships, Bedient said  breaking their pipes and releasing whatever chemicals they contain. The tanks themselves would then become waterborne wrecking balls.

Good operators can fill their tanks to the brim and tie them down to lessen damage. But decades of environmental disasters make it obvious that such measures are unlikely to be universal. Hundreds of those tanks could go, Bedient said grimly.

After Hurricane Katrina, he saw the effects of just one tanks rupture. When New Orleans levees failed, a storm surge somewhere between 6 feet and 18 feet hit the Murphy Oil refinery. The surge knocked a tank off its moorings, and the resulting leak released more than 1 million gallons of crude oil.

That crude mixed with floodwaters, which spread the goo over roughly a square mile, contaminating 1,700 homes in nearby neighborhoods. It was Katrinas worst environmental disaster.

You could smell the crude from five miles away, Bedient remembered. Just from one tank.

A storm surge in the Houston Ship Channel, he said, could create one of the worst environmental disasters ever to befall the coastal U.S.

Zero progress

Of all the proposals to protect Texas coast from a storm surge, the Ike Dike coastal spine is the best known, and Bill Merrell, of Texas A&M-Galveston, will forever be remembered as the Ike Dike professor.

A storm like Laura, he said, was exactly what the Ike Dike was designed for.

MORNING REPORT: Get the top stories on HoustonChronicle.com sent directly to your inbox

After Ike hit in 2008, Merrell proposed a coastal spine plan to protect Galveston from future storm surges. The complex would include barriers, levees and two gates, each about the size of the Eiffel Tower, that would close off Galveston Bay from a storm surge.

The Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office are studying the project, but no funding has been approved. Cost estimates range from $10 to $32 billion, depending on which features, such as engineered sand dunes, are included. (By comparison, Hurricane Ike alone is estimated to have caused $35 billion in damage.)

Asked how much progress has our area made with surge protection since Ike, Merrell sounded bitter. Weve made none, he said. Zero.

Merrell believes his coastal spine would provide all the storm-surge protection needed. Bedient and Jim Blackburn, the co-director of the SSPEED Center, recommend layering in other approaches as well  some of which would be cheaper and faster to build, and would have benefits in addition to surge protection.

For instance, Blackburn notes, the SSPEED Center recently proposed that for the next 100 years, the silt regularly dredged from the Ship Channel to keep it passable would be used to build a system of barrier islands inside Galveston Bay  islands that would not only protect the Ship Channel from a storm surge, but also provide recreational space and wildlife habitat.

The proposal recently won the Vision Award from the American Institute of Architects-Houston, and its first phase would cost less than $3 billion. But so far it, too, has yet to find either political or philanthropic backers.

One problem, Blackburn said, is that the scale of surge-protections is often enormous, and the time to complete them is long, often on the order of 15 years. Former Houston mayor Annise Parker, Blackburn said, once explained the political difficulty to him: The hardest thing a politician can do is to go to bat for a project that wont be completed during her time in office.

Merrell, often at odds with the SSPEED Center, concurred on that point: Though storm surges pose an extraordinary threat to Houston, theres no political will to address them.

Bedient sounded resigned. I understand the physics, he said. I just dont understand the politics. Physics is straightforward.

lisa.gray@chron.com

twitter.com/LisaGray_HouTX
A British democracy activist has been captured by the Chinese after trying to make a dramatic seaborne escape from Hong Kong to Taiwan.

Andy Li, 30, who has worked with former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith and other politicians on pro-democracy campaigns, was intercepted in international waters, along with 11 other activists, as they tried to navigate the perilous South China Sea in a small boat.

Mr Li had been arrested two weeks earlier under draconian new security laws introduced by Beijing to try to stamp out protests. While he was on bail, Mr Li was warned by his lawyers that he could face life imprisonment when eventually tried.

British democracy activist Andy Li (pictured) has been captured by the Chinese after trying to make a dramatic seaborne escape from Hong Kong to Taiwan

After Mr Li, who had British National (Overseas) status, was advised that the British consulate in Hong Kong was unable to help him, he hatched the desperate escape plan.

Last night, Mr Duncan Smith, who helped to establish the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), said that Mr Li had risked his life to try to reach self-governing Taiwan which regularly offers sanctuary to people escaping the mainland.

Writing for The Mail on Sunday, right, Mr Duncan Smith said: Andy and 11 others, all young and desperate, risked everything in an attempt to escape to Taiwan. They crowded into an overloaded old boat, unseaworthy and in the hands of a novice and set out into one of the most heavily patrolled seas in the world. Sadly they were caught by the Chinese authorities.

Mr Li, 30, was intercepted in international waters, along with 11 other activists, as they tried to navigate the perilous South China Sea in a small boat (pictured)

Mr Duncan Smith  a trenchant critic of the Beijing regime  added: As long as human rights are so appallingly violated, we should not be conducting business as usual with China.

The protests in the former British colony were triggered last year by plans to allow Hong Kong citizens to be extradited to China.

Mr Li, who is now being held on the Chinese mainland, had only made it about a third of the way across the perilous 400-mile stretch to Taiwan when he was intercepted.

He was the co-founder of Fight for Freedom Stand for Hong Kong, a campaign which raised 1.7million to support pro-democracy activities, and played a role in setting up IPACs website and was involved in behind-the-scenes digital support.

The Chinese authorities told Mr Li that working with politicians such as Mr Duncan Smith was evidence of collaborating with foreign forces to undermine Hong Kongs national security.

One of Mr Lis friends said: Andy stopped volunteering for IPAC before July 1, when the new security law came into force, but the authorities wouldnt listen. Rather than spend decades in gulag-style conditions on the Chinese mainland, he and the other campaigners paid a group of people-smugglers to try take them to Taiwan.

Mr Li has worked with former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith (pictured) and other politicians on pro-democracy campaigns

They left last Saturday at 7pm local time, and called supporters an hour later on a satellite phone to say that they were international waters, but failed to call again an hour later as agreed. The seas were choppy, and the boat was old, decrepit and massively overloaded  far from seaworthy. The skipper had trained for just two days on how to handle a boat. It was a desperate attempt.

Although Andy was classed as a British National (Overseas) and had dual-nationality, the UK does not as a matter of policy provide consular support for people with that status, so he had no other option.

Five of the boats passengers were students, with the youngest being just 16.

According to local media reports, some of the activists on the boat had been linked to a foiled bomb plot last December when two home-made devices, each packed with 11lb of high-grade explosives, were found by police.

Others within the group were said to be implicated the police seizure of weapons in Hong Kong, including a Glock semi-automatic pistol and 105 bullets.

More than 9,000 people have been arrested under the new security clampdown in Hong Kong.

We can't have TikTok's HQ in Britain: IAIN DUNCAN SMITH says the UK's rush for business with Communist China shouldn't replace our moral duty to speak out and stand up for freedom

By Iain Duncan Smith For The Mail On Sunday

Two weeks ago, the young activist Andy Li was arrested under the new national security law Beijing imposed on Hong Kong. His crime? Peacefully promoting democracy in his country  without ever once condoning violence.

The Chinese authorities, however, fired a list of charges at him centring on the accusation he has collaborated with foreigners. The Hong Kong secret police want to charge him with collusion with foreign forces to undermine the state on the basis that he had talked, even before the national security law was passed, to foreign democratic politicians, including the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.

This organisation, of which I am part, is formed of politicians on the Left and the Right in 17 countries from America, Europe, Africa and Asia, who all have concerns about the aggressive nature of China. For instance, it recently published new information showing that Uyghur women in Xinjiang have been systematically sterilised and they  and their men  incarcerated in forced labour camps.

The British government is considering allowing Chinese firm ByteDance, owners of the TikTok app (file image)  to establish a headquarters in London

Andy and 11 others, all young and desperate, risked everything in an attempt to escape to Taiwan. In an old and overloaded boat, unseaworthy and in the hands of a novice, they set out into one of the most heavily patrolled seas in the world. Unfortunately, they were caught by the Chinese authorities and have been taken to an undisclosed location.

Chinas persecution of the Falun Gong, the Christians and the Uyghurs, happens while we turn a blind eye to Chinas appalling behaviour. Instead, some business and political leaders even talk of China as a reliable partner.

Shockingly, the British government is still considering allowing Chinese firm ByteDance, owners of the TikTok app  to establish a headquarters in London. This would be a grave mistake: all Chinese companies are required to hand over data to the Beijing government when required.

Its no secret that China intends to become the worlds most powerful economy with the most powerful military by 2049. To do that they need the free world to beat a path to their door to do business with them. So far, they are winning.

Andy and his comrades only wish to live with the freedoms that we in Britain take for granted every day.

The rush for business with Communist China should not replace our moral duty  even in business  to speak out and stand up for freedom. For as long as human rights are so appallingly violated, we should not be conducting business as usual with China.

Throughout history, the price of freedom has always been high.

Yet the desire for cheaper goods must never be allowed to raise the price of freedom beyond the reach of people like Andy.
17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse faces first degree murder charges after police say he shot three rioters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as protests over a police involved shooting devolved into rioting over the last week, and now National File is able to report the backgrounds of the three alleged victims.

(Natural News) (Article by Lionel Du Cane republished from NationalFile.com)

Two of the three gunshot victims died shortly after sustaining their injuries. A third was shot in the arm, causing gruesome injuries, but survived his wounds. Outpourings and eulogies of the victims followed as the mainstream and social media rushed to celebrate the fallen martyrs.

One victim, Anthony Huber, 24, was shot in the chest at close range and died at the scene for attempting to attack Rittenhouse with a skateboard as he was on the ground. Huber was lavished with praise and dubbed a hero for his actions by many.

Via National File:

Huber was arrested in 2012 for charges including domestic violence, Use of Dangerous Weapon, Strangulation & Suffocation, False Imprisonment, and battery. He was ultimately convicted of strangling and falsely imprisoning a person. Huber was sentenced to two years in prison, and was credited for 352 days served during his case. He was released from probation for this conviction in May of 2020.

Then, in 2018, after Huber was released from prison but still on probation for his 2012 conviction, he was arrested for domestic abuse, disorderly conduct, and battery. He was ultimately convicted and sentenced to probation. Huber was also caught in possession of drug paraphernalia, which is not a criminal offense in the state of Wisconsin, in 2015.

The second fatality was of 36-year-old Joseph JoJo Rosenbaum, a father of a two-year-old girl, who was seen taunting Rittenhouse by saying shoot me n***a just before he was shot in the head.

Rosenbaum was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years for two counts of sexual conduct with a minor. He served his sentence in Arizona State Prison Complex-Eyman where he racked up 42 disciplinary infractions behind bars during his lengthy sentence.

Following his stint at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Eyman, Rosenbaum was convicted of a parole violation where he was accused of tampering with a monitoring device.

The final victim, Gaige P. Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis suffered a gruesome gunshot wound to his arm, tearing away much flesh and leaving a cavity on the inside of his elbow and bicep. He is expected to survive the shooting.

In 2013, Grosskreutz was arrested and charged with felony burglary, theft, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct. It is unclear whether he was convicted of a felony.

He was arrested again in 2017. And, in 2019, he pleaded no contest to a Non-Traffic Ordinance Violation.

Grosskreutz is a member of the fringe radical movement the Peoples Revolution Movement of Milwaukee which was called a social justice reform group by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The National Guard was deployed to instill order in the Wisconsin city that was rocked by nights of civil unrest, burning buildings and vehicles, and violence.

Read more at: NationalFile.com
Readers of this column know Im not much for federal intervention in state affairs. Logic tells us the doctrine of States Rights is the way to go as local elected officials are the ones most in touch with what their citizens need.

But what happens when the states make a muck of it? What happens when community leaders worry more about their next election and appeasing dissidents and less about public safety?

The federal government has now inserted itself  albeit in a back door way  to try to restore some sense of security to besieged communities. Too bad its not in locations where riots have become a nightly event.

For three months, the city of Portland has been plagued by the violence of a band of roaming criminals who are fueled by unknown benefactors. Arson fires, looting, frightening harassment of innocent citizens and business owners, even murders are now commonplace.

Worse yet, left unchecked, this destructive Marxist-anarchist-led revolution has emboldened rioters in other cities. Hey, when local politicians order police to stand down, whats to stop those bent on revolution?

In cities as disparate as Denver, Seattle, Baltimore, San Antonio and Lafayette, Louisiana, criminal mobs have staged destructive rampages. It is certainly acceptable if citizens want to peacefully protest, but when those demonstrations morph into senseless storms of destruction, then authorities must stop the violence immediately.

The most recent rioting took place in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following yet another police shooting of a Black man. Despite two nights of terrifying violence, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers refused the Republican presidents offer of federal troops. After the rioting escalated and two people were killed, Evers agreed his state needed federal assistance.

Can we please stop playing politics here?

Is this what Americas future looks like? How much more can average citizens and business owners be asked to endure?

In the meantime, the feds have quietly pushed ahead with Operation Legend, an anti-crime program that unleashed 1,000 federal agents to help round up violent career criminals. In just six weeks the operation  named for 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro who was shot as he slept in a Kansas City, Missouri, apartment  has resulted in almost 1,500 arrests in the nine cities in which it has been deployed.

So far, the operation has taken nearly 400 firearms off the streets, and at least 90 suspected killers were arrested. Others were charged with crimes that included drug trafficking, bank fraud and bank robbery, extortion, robbery, arson, carjacking and illegal possession of a firearm, many held by ex-cons.

The operation began in little LeGends hometown of Kansas City and expanded to Albuquerque, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Memphis, Milwaukee and St. Louis. Indianapolis was added most recently.

To be clear, Operation Legend is not focused on quelling the riots. It is focused on simply assisting local officers in what must seem like an overwhelming daily grind of good vs. evil. At least its a start.

But not every city has welcomed Operation Legends federal assistance. Chicagos Democratic Mayor, Lori Lightfoot, declared she wouldnt let federal troops in to terrorize the city. She later changed her mind after Chicago murders increased nearly 200%. Tim Keller, the Democratic Mayor of Albuquerque, a city the FBI reports has the dubious distinction of having a crime rate about 194% higher than the national average, derisively called the federal agents, Trumps secret police.

Nonetheless, the feds activated the program to New Mexicos largest city, and the roundup of criminals began.

Again, can we stop playing politics with public safety?

I am a believer in states rights. But if riotous lawlessness continues, it is entirely appropriate for the president  whoever it might be  to invoke the Insurrection Act and send in federal troops. Fifteen past presidents have done so.

In 1957, President Eisenhower sent thousands of troops into Little Rock to ensure school desegregation went forward as ordered by a federal court. In the 60s, President Johnson dispatched federal troops several times to tamp down riots in five cities. There is plenty of precedent for the commander in chief to intercede  whether the governor of a state wants it or not.

Deployment of federal troops should be automatic during these troubled times. The besieged population has had enough. Damn the politics, citizens want peace.

www.DianeDimond.com; email to Diane@DianeDimond.com.
By Tracy Rucinski

CHICAGO (Reuters) - United Airlines <UAL.O> is preparing for the biggest pilot furloughs of its history after announcing on Thursday the need to cut 2,850 pilot jobs this year, or about 21% of the total, without further U.S. government aid.

Airlines, reeling from the devastating impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic on air travel, have asked the U.S. government for another $25 billion to cover employee payroll through March.

The first tranche, which banned any job cuts until Oct. 1, expires at the end of September, but talks in Washington have stalled as Congress has struggled to reach agreement on a broader coronavirus assistance package.

United's planned cuts, released in a memo to employees and shared with the media, would run between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30. They are significantly higher than the 1,900 announced earlier this week by Delta Air Lines <DAL.N> and 1,600 by American Airlines <AAL.O>.

Facing a shrinking industry in the years ahead, airlines have generally tried to mitigate the number of forced job cuts by offering early retirement or voluntary departure deals, but some carriers' packages have been more attractive than others.

"While other airlines have chosen to reduce manpower through voluntary means, it is tragic that United has limited those options for our pilots and instead has chosen to furlough more pilots than ever before in our history," the union representing United's 13,000 pilots said in a statement.

United said the numbers were based on current travel demand for the remainder of the year and its anticipated flying schedule, which it said "continues to be fluid with the resurgence of COVID-19 in regions across the U.S."

Chicago-based United is more exposed than its peers to international travel, which is expected to take longer to rebound from the pandemic.

United, which has warned that 36,000 jobs are on the line across the company, has not yet provided final furlough numbers for other work groups.

Story continues

American said on Tuesday it was cutting 19,000 jobs in addition to voluntary reductions that will see the company's workforce shrink by about 30%.

United's announcement comes on the final day of the Republican National Convention, where President Donald Trump will try to regain momentum against the backdrop of a pandemic that has killed over 180,000 Americans and produced a recession that has resulted in the loss of millions of jobs.

(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Alistair Bell)
Coronavirus cases are surging again in Europe after months of relative calm, but the second wave looks different from the first: Fewer people are dying, and the newest and mostly younger victims of the pandemic need less medical treatment.

Unlike the initial hit of the pandemic this spring, which overwhelmed hospitals and turned nursing homes into grim mortuaries, the European resurgence of recent weeks has not forced as many people into medical wards.

But the increase is widespread, and it is unsettling societies that had hoped the worst was behind them. Paris on Friday joined some other French jurisdictions in imposing a citywide mask requirement, with cases spiking. France, Germany, Spain and others posted caseloads in recent days that had not been seen since April and early May. Spain has been hit particularly hard, with per capita cases now worse than in the United States - a notable marker in Europe, which after the initial springtime spike had generally controlled the virus more successfully than America.

And with almost every European country planning a return to in-person schooling, many starting next week, public health officials are holding their breath for the impact.

The surge is a first test of the efforts Europe has made to improve its resilience in the half-year since the pandemic unleashed a wave of suffering across the world. Most European countries have improved their testing capacity. They have hired contact tracers to combat big outbreaks. They have masks and gloves for their doctors and nurses.

Many countries, including Italy, endured grinding lockdowns this spring. Now citizens are exhausted, and economies are still flagging.

"I don't think the country can survive another lockdown. And to be frank, there is no reason to," said Ranieri Guerra, a World Health Organization assistant director general who is advising the Italian Health Ministry. "It's very unlikely we'll see anything like it was in the past. The likely scenario is that we'll have some clusters here and there, even heavier than now, but very localized."

Italy was ravaged by the virus in the spring. And now it is seeing something of a resurgence. On Thursday, it reported 1,469 new cases, the biggest increase in a 24-hour period since it was emerging from lockdown in early May. In Italy, many of the new cases have been tied to travels abroad. Over the past month, the average age of a person who tested positive was 31. Throughout March, it was above 60.

Italian officials say that hospitals and nursing homes are better prepared and treatments more advanced. Though some Italians have dropped their guard, older people in particular remain cautious, wearing masks outdoors and staying away from crowds.

But Guerra said that containment depends on contact tracing and testing.

"If you don't have a system to track, trace and quarantine localized clusters, it's really difficult. This virus is very contagious," he said. "Moving from 100 cases to 200 may take a few days, but moving from 2,000 to 4,000 may take hours."

At least part of the surge in cases may stem from testing that is far more widely available than it was in the spring. Younger people who have moderate symptoms are being encouraged to get tested, unlike in March, when only those who were sick enough to be hospitalized qualified for a test in most countries.

"In February, in March, we had no clue what was circulating. We were only seeing the tip of the iceberg," said Steven van Gucht, the head of viral diseases at Sciensano, Belgium's national public health institute. "Now we are trying to see the iceberg and to adapt our behavior accordingly."

But with summer fading into fall, questions remain about how long the virus can spread among younger people before it spreads to more vulnerable older generations.

Belgium had one of the world's worst per capita death rates this spring, with most of the mortality occurring in nursing homes. Now, even though cases have nearly quintupled compared to their lowest point in late June, Belgian hospitals remain calm. Very few cases are appearing in nursing homes, and 40% of new cases have been diagnosed among people between the age of 20 and 40.

During the first wave, anti-pandemic measures in most European countries were far more stringent than in the United States. In some countries, police officers fined people for venturing past their front doors. The measures lasted for months. The payoff was that by early June, the virus had been brought under control in most countries across the continent.

This time, the European approach seems more American: decentralized, localized, a hodgepodge of individual measures that policymakers hope will add up to a pandemic that is kept in check. In Belgium and France, for example, mask-wearing is now required in many cities facing a second wave. Belgian authorities earlier this month asked citizens to drastically curtail their social interactions, limiting their close household contacts to a "bubble" of just five other people.

Whether that will be enough remains an open question.

"It's a bit too early to be too complacent about ourselves, whether we have found the magic formula," van Gucht said. "Maybe I can tell you after next winter whether this still will work."

Among European countries, Spain presents the most ominous picture. It is reporting nearly as many daily cases as it did in March, when it suffered as acutely as any country on the continent.

Experts say the country has squandered many of the gains from its springtime lockdown by reopening too quickly - without building up the deep network of contact tracers used in other Western European countries. Its latest cases largely stem from the kind of activities that the Spanish government had banned early in the pandemic: family gatherings, celebrations, dancing at nightclubs, according to epidemiologists.

"We moved very fast to reopen, and the virus was still circulating too [widely] in order to achieve a sustained reduction of cases," said Antoni Trilla, dean of the University of Barcelona Medical and Health Sciences School.

But the country is hoping that this increase won't hit with the same tragic force as the first wave. The new cases have been detected largely among the young. Coronavirus hospitalizations, despite having quadrupled over the past month, remain manageable for the health system. In Madrid, 13.6% of hospital beds are occupied by coronavirus patients; in March the city's hospitals were full.

The country's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has rejected the idea of a new national lockdown and said that conditions and knowledge of the virus have improved since the spring. Short of a lockdown, smaller measures have been taken, including the closure of nightclubs. The region of Madrid has delayed the return to school for some students and further reduced its planned class sizes.

But it is unclear whether those measures can prevent the virus from leaping to older generations when young, infected people return to their homes. Trilla said it would be "difficult" but necessary to use targeted measures to keep the virus at bay.

"We have to look at the local situation and move with surgical precision to close some schools, to isolate certain areas for a while," Trilla said.

In France, meanwhile, the government Friday recorded a spike of 7,379 new cases in the past 24 hours - the second-largest single-day caseload since the pandemic began and the latest data point in an upward swing that began last month.

France imposed one of Europe's strictest nationwide lockdowns between mid-March and mid-May, and authorities have since said that a second period of closures would be devastating for the economy.

"We're doing everything to avoid another lockdown and in particular a nationwide lockdown," Macron told journalists Friday. But he added, "Nothing can be ruled out."

In light of the recent case uptick, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced Thursday that the government had prepared a set of new lockdown plans to be deployed if necessary.

Leaders implored citizens to remain vigilant, especially as students return to class on Tuesday, masks in hand.

"Washing your hands, keeping your distance and wearing masks will be our daily life for several months," said French Health Minister Olivier Veran. "I'm not saying it's easy - I'm saying we have no choice."

- - -

Harlan reported from Rome and McAuley reported from Paris.
A homeless puppy was frozen stiff after allegedly being soaked in industrial glue by some kids. His traumatizing condition was a heartbreaking sight for his rescuers, but his transformation has to be seen to be believed.

Subdued and terrified, the little dog was believed to be around 4 months old when he arrived at HeArt of Rescue International in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2017; his rescuers named him Pascal.

Talking to The Epoch Times, the charitys founder, Rima Nur, said when she first saw Pascal he looked like a statue. The brave Pascal then endured the uncomfortable treatment to remove the glue from his body, and before long, he started to regain hope.

Pascal the dog at HeArt of Rescue International after his rescue in 2017. (Courtesy of HeArt of Rescue International)

Nur believes Pascal had been targeted by animal abusers. He was initially picked up and taken to Istanbuls public shelter, where HeArt of Rescue International pulled him out immediately, recognizing the need to act fast.

Heartbreaking footage from the rescue organization shows Pascal cowering beneath a table at the veterinary clinic, barely able to stand with his limbs bound by dried glue. The veterinary team shaved Pascal to reveal pink raw skin beneath the dried glue; the little dog, in the early stages of his recovery, had a long road ahead of him.

Pascals team quickly realized that drowning in glue was not the only affliction that the puppy was suffering. He tested positive for canine parvovirus, a contagious virus that can have an extremely high mortality rate if left untreated.

The veterinary team shaving off Pascals glued fur. (Courtesy of HeArt of Rescue International)

[Pascal] was fighting with parvo, said Nur, who is also studying to become a medical doctor.

He was fighting with the glue he was covered with, and also the psychological trauma of everything that happened to him. One of his ears had clotted because of the glue. So we didnt know if his ear would heal or if it would have to be amputated. Fortunately, it did heal.

For the next two months, until the summer of 2017, Pascal endured his treatment for parvovirus. As his skin, and psychological trauma, also began to heal, so the puppys fighting spirit returned. As Pascal grew fitter and stronger day by day, so his story was going viral online.

Everybody wants to follow him, Nur said, wanted to see what was happening to him, and it was a blessing.

Pascal with Spanish TV host Dani Rovira. (Courtesy of HeArt of Rescue International)

Eventually, Pascal moved into a boarding house with other dogs to be socialized. His transformation from an abused homeless puppy to a strong adult dog was almost complete. Then came an interesting invitation.

Pascal, by now internet famous for overcoming his unthinkable ordeal, was invited to appear on primetime Spanish television as an advocate for animal rescue. Nur accepted on Pascals behalf. The dog and his guardians met comedian and TV host Dani Rovira in Madrid, who publicized the fact that Pascal still needed a forever home.

That night, our mail system locked completely, Nur said. There were thousands of emails coming [in]. It was a very, very good feeling because its so nice to know that the world cares, that people care.

The beautiful bouncy Shepherd-mix soon found his forever home with an awesome family in Valencia, Spain, where he continues to thrive.

While taking a pause to celebrate Pascals incredible outcome, Nur lamented the fact that his story is not unique. Animal cruelty, she explained, is commonplace in Turkey; one saving grace is that people are becoming increasingly conscious of its existence, she said.

Nur said when she started this charity it was just her at the beginning, and she started rescuing animals in her country. Today, HeArt of Rescue International is registered in Amsterdam and has shelters worldwide. While Nur is aware of the fact that they cannot save every animal in need, she implores others to remember that every effort counts.

Its always a fight towards things that you want to achieve, she said. Its up to us, every one of us, to take action we can, we can all do something for better for [sic] the world.

Were taking advantage of every [natural] resource, right? So we have to give back something in return; we have to protect the world and animals and every single being in the world, so thats what motivates me.

Watch Pascals full transformation in the video below:

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
Chennai-based multi-specialty hospital MGM Healthcare has claimed to have performed Asias first bilateral lung transplant on a coronavirus-positive patient. Surgeons at the hospital conducted a bilateral (double-lung) transplant on the infected patient who was airlifted from Delhi.

The donor was a 34-year-old man, declared brain dead at the Apollo Gleneagles Global Hospital after suffering intra-cerebral hemorrhage on Thursday. His also agreed to donate his heart, liver and skin to various recipients in city hospitals.

Incidentally, the hands were airlifted to Mumbai with the hope of giving the woman a real pair of limbs after she lost hers in a mishap at Ghatkopar railway station on January 12, 2014.

The bilateral lung transplant was led by Dr KR Balakrishnan, Director of the Heart & Lung Transplant programme at MGM Healthcare hospital. Dr Balakrishnan said it was commendable that the doctors stood by the decision to perform the transplant and put their own lives at risk.

The hospital in a statement said the 48-year-old mans lungs were severely affected by coronavirus-related fibrosis and as his oxygen saturation slipped, a hospital in Ghaziabad put him on ventilator and subsequently on ECMO. He was moved to Chennai on July 20.

While Global Hospital Chennai retained the liver, the heart, lungs, kidneys and skin were donated to different hospitals in the city. His hands went to Monika More, a young woman from Mumbai who was using artificial hands and is now set to get a real pair, if the bilateral surgery succeeds.

The heart and lung transplant surgeries were performed at MGM Healthcare.

(With inputs from PTI)
The Great Andamanese are an endangered tribe whose numbers have dwindled from 8,000 in 1858 to the paltry figure of the present day. PTI Photo

The pandemic figures spelled bad news and worse for Indians on Friday morning.

After topping 75,000, the number of daily cases recorded in India rose to 77,500 and counting so that, statistically speaking, now at least one Indian citizen in every random 400 has come in contact with the Covid-19 virus.

The virus this week also infected 10 members of the dying Great Andamanese tribe of just 53 people.

This calls for urgent action. The government, at the Centre and the Union territory level, is morally bound to protect its citizens.

Many among the infected used to travel to Port Blair where they hold government jobs. With a population of around four lakhs, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has reported 2,268 coronavirus cases so far, with 37 deaths.

The government is obliged to protect the Great Andamanese from the latest epidemic also for historical reasons. The Great Andamanese are an endangered tribe whose numbers have dwindled from 8,000 in 1858 to the paltry figure of the present day.

This happened because the British settlers coercively altered their hunter-gatherer lifestyle, in the process introducing diseases among them.

Successive epidemics of syphilis, measles, conjunctivitis and other diseases blinded and decimated huge populations. It included the Jangil tribe of Rutland Island, which became extinct in 1931.

Epidemics, in fact, are a major threat to tribes that newly emerge from isolation. This was last witnessed when, three years after they were socialised, in 1999, the Jarawa tribe got almost wiped out by a measles epidemic.

The population of Jarawas stands between 250 and 400 today. The Onges number no more than 100. Thus, containing the coronavirus at this stage is vitally important, seeing as the Great Andamanese tribe, along with the Onges, Jarawas and the uncontacted Sentinelese, form part of the Indian chapter of the human genome project.

Should these people disappear, the key to solving the mysteries of human evolution will be lost forever.

Admiral D.K. Joshis officers should, therefore, swing into patrol, conduct a risk assessment and ensure complete eradication of the disease from one island to the next in a deadline-driven manner before the crisis gets out of hand.
Friday August 28 marked the 32nd anniversary of the mass execution of political prisoners in Iran.

Family members of some of those killed in the 1988 massacre got together at a derelict graveyard in Tehran to pay tribute to their lost loved ones.

None of them knew where their loved ones were buried or whether they were buried in this graveyard, Khavaran, or probably somewhere else.

Some of those who survived the massacre in prisons in Tehran and many other cities have published articles and books on how the Islamic Republic killed thousands of Marxist and Mojahedin-e Khalq prisoners many of whom had already served the long sentences handed to them by revolutionary courts.

Family members at the gathering at Khavaran on Friday sang revolutionary songs and battle hymns that reminded them of their children and their political preoccupations.

Within an hour, the Islamic Republic's security forces stormed the graveyard and dispersed the crowd.

Khavaran is the venue of several shallow mass graves where young prisoners were buried in the Summer of 1988. The executions were ordered by the Islamic Republic's founder and first Supreme Leader Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini and endorsed by a "death commission" comprised of clerics close to the ayatollah, including Judge Hossein Ali Nayeri, Prosecutor Morteza Eshraqi, former Intelligence Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi and current Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raeesi.

The Islamic Republic officials tried to keep the extent of the massacre secret for years, and it did remain secret as both rival regime factions, the reformists and hardliners, were involved in them.

Various political groups whose members have been executed have given differing figures about the number of those killed. Some independent estimates say up to 5,000 prisoners who were members of Mojahedin-e Khalq [MeK] and Marxist groups such as Fedayeen Khalq and the Communist Tudeh Party, as well as many other groups were summarily executed.

It is still not clear where most of the victims have been buried. During the past decades, there have been reports about the demolishing of some of those mass graves in various cities. Some of the graves were so shallow that eyewitnesses say they have seen parts of the remains while passing by.

As far as government-controlled media in Iran are concerned, the massacre has never happened. It was former deputy supreme leader Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri who for the first time openly talked about the massacre in an interview which was published in foreign-based media years after Montazeri was removed from his post, put under house arrest and passed away.

Montazeri called the massacre "a crime" and condemned Khomeini's order about the execution of "hypocrites who insist on their political position."

Other officials mainly denied the reports about the massacre or simply turned a blind eye to it. A recent article by Ahmad Batebi for radio Farda questioned former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi's silence about the matter and his justification for his silence. Mousavi who challenged the regime after he was declared the loser in the 2009 presidential elections, is regarded as an opposition leader now, He has been under house arrest since 2011.

Batebi wrote: "The years 1981-1989 when Mousavi was the Prime Minister mark one of the darkest periods in man's history as far as violations of human rights are concerned. Documents released by the UN and human rights watchdogs show that Mousavi and the offices he controlled ignored the international community and human rights organizations in the same way that the Islamic Republic does today. Not only individuals and offices working under Mousavi as Prime Minister did not protest what was going on, but they did their best to conceal the violation of human rights in Iran."

Many Iranians on social media have questioned Mousavi's credentials as opposition leader, demanding he ends his silence about the 1988 killings.

The Majles Speaker at the time, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Chief Justice Ayatollah Abdolkarim Mouisavi Ardabili defended the executions. Iran's current Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei who was the Islamic Republic's President at the time, said in an interview with Resalat newspaper in December 1988 that those who were executed "deserved" the death sentence.

In a 2018 report on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the executions, Amnesty International said that it had sent 16 immediate action requests to Iranian officials to stop the executions but the Islamic Republic officials never replied to those letters.

Some 32 years after the executions, not only the Islamic Republic officials refuse to let the families know about the whereabouts of their loved ones' graves, but on various occasions security officials have threatened and harassed family members for demanding information about the burial sites.
(Reuters) - Facebook Inc <FB.O> made an "operational mistake" in not acting sooner to remove a page for a militia group that posted a call to arms in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the company's Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Friday.

The social media company said on Wednesday it had removed the page for the Kenosha Guard, and an event listing there for Armed Citizens to Protect Our Lives and Property as it violated the company's policy against "militia organizations".

Facebook's action came after two people were shot and killed during protests in the town on Tuesday night, part of three nights of civil unrest that followed the shooting by a white police officer that left a Black man, Jacob Blake Jr, paralyzed.

Zuckerberg, speaking in a video message published on his Facebook profile, acknowledged the company had received complaints from "a bunch of people" about the Kenosha Guard posting.

"The contractors and reviewers who the initial complaints were funneled to basically didn't pick this up," he said. "And on second review, doing it more sensitively, the team that's responsible for dangerous organizations recognized that this violated the policies and we took it down."

Zuckerberg said the company had not found any evidence to show that the person charged with the fatal shooting during Tuesday's unrest followed the Kenosha Guard page.

News website BuzzFeed quoted an internal Facebook report as showing the event associated with the Kenosha Guard was flagged at least 455 times, and a Facebook worker as saying it accounted for 66% of all event reports that day.

Facebook declined to comment on those finding, Buzzfeed said.

Facebook said it would continue to evolve its policies for identifying potentially dangerous organizations.

"This is a new policy we launched last week and we're still scaling up our enforcement of it by a team of specialists," a spokesperson said.

(Reporting by Katie Paul and by Mrinalika Roy and Aakriti Bhalla in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and John Stonestreet)
What happens when babies with heart defects become adults?

Sophia Antipolis, France - 29 Aug 2020: More than 90% of babies born with heart defects survive into adulthood. As a result, there are now more adults living with congenital heart disease than children. These adults have a chronic, lifelong condition and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has produced advice to give the best chance of a normal life. The guidelines are published online today in European Heart Journal,1 and on the ESC website.2

Congenital heart disease refers to any structural defect of the heart and/or great vessels (those directly connected to the heart) present at birth. Congenital heart disease affects all aspects of life, including physical and mental health, socialising, and work. Most patients are unable to exercise at the same level as their peers which, along with the awareness of having a chronic condition, affects mental wellbeing.

"Having a congenital heart disease, with a need for long-term follow-up and treatment, can also have an impact on social life, limit employment options and make it difficult to get insurance," said Professor Helmut Baumgartner, Chairperson of the guidelines Task Force and head of Adult Congenital and Valvular Heart Disease at the University Hospital of Munster, Germany. "Guiding and supporting patients in all of these processes is an inherent part of their care."

All adults with congenital heart disease should have at least one appointment at a specialist centre to determine how often they need to be seen. Teams at these centres should include specialist nurses, psychologists and social workers given that anxiety and depression are common concerns.

Pregnancy is contraindicated in women with certain conditions such high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. "Pre-conception counselling is recommended for women and men to discuss the risk of the defect in offspring and the option of foetal screening," said Professor Julie De Backer, Chairperson of the guidelines Task Force and cardiologist and clinical geneticist at Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.

Concerning sports, recommendations are provided for each condition. Professor De Backer said: "All adults with congenital heart disease should be encouraged to exercise, taking into account the nature of the underlying defect and their own abilities."

The guidelines state when and how to diagnose complications. This includes proactively monitoring for arrhythmias, cardiac imaging and blood tests to detect problems with heart function.

Detailed recommendations are provided on how and when to treat complications. Arrhythmias are an important cause of sickness and death and the guidelines stress the importance of correct and timely referral to a specialised treatment centre. They also list when particular treatments should be considered such as ablation (a procedure to destroy heart tissue and stop faulty electrical signals) and device implantation.

For several defects, there are new recommendations for catheter-based treatment. "Catheter-based treatment should be performed by specialists in adult congenital heart disease working within a multidisciplinary team," said Professor Baumgartner.

###

Notes to editors

Authors: ESC Press Office

Mobile: +33 (0)7 85 31 20 36

Email: press@escardio.org

The hashtag for ESC Congress 2020 is #ESCCongress.

Follow us on Twitter @ESCardioNews

Funding: None.

Disclosures: The disclosure forms of all experts involved in the development of these guidelines are available on the ESC website http://www. escardio. org/ guidelines .

References and notes

12020 ESC Guidelines for the management of adult congenital heart disease. European Heart Journal. 2020: https:/ / academic. oup. com/ eurheartj/ article-lookup/ doi/ 10. 1093/ eurheartj/ ehaa554

2ESC Guidelines on the ESC website.

Download the free ESC Pocket Guidelines App for all mobile devices.

About the European Society of Cardiology

The European Society of Cardiology brings together health care professionals from more than 150 countries, working to advance cardiovascular medicine and help people lead longer, healthier lives.

About ESC Congress

ESC Congress is the world's largest gathering of cardiovascular professionals contributing to global awareness of the latest clinical trials and breakthrough discoveries. ESC Congress 2020 takes place online from 29 August to 1 September. More information is available from the ESC Press Office at press@escardio.org.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Representative image

A court in Pakistan has sentenced to prison three leaders of Jamat-ud-Dawa, an organisation accused by India and the United States of masterminding the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.

The sentencing comes ahead of a September deadline for Pakistan to avoid being blacklisted for failing to curb terror financing by global financial watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Inclusion on the blacklist, alongside Iran and North Korea, would mean being shunned by international financial institutions. The watchdog has called for Pakistan to prosecute those funding terrorism, as well as to enact laws to help track and stop terror financing.

Malik Zafar Iqbal and Abdul Salam were each handed 16-1/2 year total sentences on four charges, to be served concurrently, while a third man, Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki, got 1-1/2 years on one charge, according to a court judgment seen by Reuters.

The men were associates of Hafiz Saeed, who was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison in February. All the sentences are concurrent so Saeed, Iqbal and Salam will serve five years.

Saeed founded and led Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), or the Army of the Pure, a group blamed by India and the United States for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed 160 people, including Americans and other foreigners.

Saeed and his associates also face a further slew of cases for allegedly financing militant activities, while Iqbal and Makki have already been convicted in several cases.

Saeed says his network, which spans 300 seminaries and schools, hospitals, a publishing house and ambulance services, has no ties to militant groups. Jamat-ud-Dawa funds the militant wing LeT.

A 2011 U.S. sanctions designation describes Iqbal as a co-founder of LeT and in charge of its financing activities. Salam is described as the interim leader of the group during the brief periods when Saeed was arrested in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, and running its network of seminaries.
" " Paul Revere has long been lauded for his role in the American Revolution, but is he worthy? Ed Vebell/Getty Images

"The British are coming! The British are coming!"

If not for the shouts of Paul Revere coming from atop galloping horse tearing through the streets of Concord, Massachusetts, unsuspecting colonists may never have been warned of the British army's impending attack. Thanks to Revere's courageous midnight ride from Lexington to Concord in April 1775, he thwarted a certain thrashing of Colonial forces and became a pivotal figure in the American Revolution. A retelling of his hair-raising journey in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," cemented his place in history. It's a tale most Americans know.

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Except we don't, because Paul Revere's ride never actually happened -- at least not the way we think it did. Paul Revere didn't ride through the streets of Concord hollering a warning. He didn't even make it to Concord at all.

Paul Revere, an activist in the Patriot movement, rode that night with two other men, Samuel Prescott and William Dawes. Only one of them succeeded in reaching Concord to warn of the British invasion. After they left Lexington, Revere, Prescott and Dawes were arrested and detained by a British patrol. Prescott was the first to escape and set off for Concord, where he warned its residents to protect the ammunition and weapons stored in a hidden depot near the town. Dawes later escaped as well, although by some accounts he became lost in the dark and never made it to Concord.

Revere was eventually set free, but without the horse he'd borrowed for the journey. Rather than setting out for Concord, he walked back to Lexington, only to discover the city ensconced in the battle on Lexington Green. He'd still been in captivity when the first shots were fired [sources: Wolverton, The Paul Revere House].

Although he didn't yell, "The British are coming!" Revere did manage to warn all of Lexington about the British invasion in the hours before he spurred a horse toward Concord.

After the American Revolution, Revere -- an accomplished goldsmith and silversmith -- expanded his business to include a foundry from which he produced cannons and cast bells. He later opened the first copper rolling mill in North America, which at one time produced "Revereware" cookware with copper bottoms. Revere died in 1811 at age 76, and become posthumously famous for his supposed role in the Revolutionary War when Wadsworth penned the popular "Midnight Ride" poem in 1860 [source: The Paul Revere House].

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Originally Published: Mar 30, 2015
ROODHOUSE  An Indianapolis woman was cited after the semi-trailer truck she was driving hit a loaded school bus Friday afternoon on Illinois Route 267 east of Roodhouse.

The 16 students on the bus were examined at the scene and released to their parents, according to police.
A woman walks past signage for Australian universities in Melbourne's central business district on June 10, 2020, as Australian officials and leading universities rejected China's claims students should be "cautious" in choosing to study Down Under because of concerns over racist incidents during the coronavirus pandemic. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Regime Using Australian Scientists in Quest for Tech, Military Dominance

CANBERRAA new report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) shows how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been using illegal and underhanded methods to obtain research and technology from around the globe in its quest to become the worlds preeminent military power.

Official statistics show China recruited around 60,000 overseas scientists, academics, entrepreneurs and researchers between 2008 and 2016 using more than 200 overseas talent recruitment programs and at least 600 CCP overseas talent-recruitment stations, noted Alex Joske, the author of the ASPI report, Hunting the Phoenix.

The report explains how the CCP under the guise of reversing Chinas brain-drain recruited thousands of overseas scientists, including western academics and entrepreneurs in overseas talent recruitment programs such as the Thousand Talents Plan.

The CCP views technological development as fundamental to its ambitions. Its goal isnt to achieve parity with other countries, but dominance and primacy, Joske wrote.

ASPI singled out the United States as having the highest number of CCP talent-recruitment stations146 of them. Australia and Germany have the second-highest number of CCP talent-recruitment stations, with the two countries having 57 stations each.

The organisations running recruitment stations can receive as much as 200,000 (A$40,000) for each person they recruit, and as much as 150,000 (A$30,000) a year for general operation costs, the report stated.

Many recruits are given bountiful research funding and even new laboratories in a Chinese university and team of research staff.

Under the terms of the programs contract, the Chinese government owns the copyright of any research, inventions, patents or other intellectual properties produced by the academic for the duration of the agreement.

The CCP treats talent recruitment as a form of technology transfer, Joske stated in the report, noting that participants in the programs often collaborate on dual-use technologies with Chinese institutions that are closely linked to the CCP-led military Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

According to Joske, China views the talent-recruitment schemes like the Thousand Talents Program as the answer to its push to dominate future technologies and revive its military.

The deepening of military-civil fusion (a CCP policy of leveraging the civilian sector to maximize military power) means that Chinas research institutes and universities are increasingly involved in classified defence research, including the development of nuclear weapons, the report said.

Clive Hamilton, an author and professor of public ethics at Charles Sturt University in Canberra, Australia, noted last year in The Conversation that several G8 universities including the University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, and the Australian National University, have had multiple scholars and joint programs with civil-military organizations.

Of concern to both Joske and Hamilton has been the engagements with Chinese state-owned defence conglomerate China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) which specializes in developing military electronics, drone swarms and radar system.

A report by the Jamestown Foundation, notes that CETC openly declares that its purpose is leveraging civilian electronics for the gain of the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) and a majority of its products and services are destined for state and military customers.

Currently, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has signed a $10 million partnership with the CETC to develop AI, Quantum Computing and Big Data technologies.

Joske also details in his report how one Australian university scientist set up a laboratory and an artificial intelligence (AI) company in China through funding from a CCP talent-recruitment station. The company later supplied surveillance technology to CCP authorities in Xinjiang.

Surveillance Tech Used to Aid Human Rights Abuses

Amnesty International has identified the Xinjiang province of China as a hotbed for human rights abuses since the CCP initiated an anti-religious re-education campaign on the regions indigenous Islamic Turkic inhabitants, including Uyghurs, ethnic Uzbeks, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz.

Reports from Uyghurs in Xinjiang show that those interred in the camps are subjected to forced political indoctrination, forced sterilization of women, torture, and forced labour. Experts from the Council on Foreign Relations argue this has been made possible by the CCPs ability to turn Xinjiang into a surveillance state that relies on cutting-edge technology to monitor millions of people.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Aug. 27 that the government would be legislating a new Foreign Relations Bill aimed at providing the federal government with the power to view and veto agreements between foreign governments and Australias state, territories and institutions.

Speaking on Radio 2SM on Aug 28 Morrison said that the new bill would give the government the ability to stop foreign entities chipping away at the government foreign policy that will protect and promote Australian national interest.

When people elect a federal government, they elect it to look after our relationships with the rest of the world. They dont elect state governments to do that or local Governments or universities to do that, they elect the federal government to do that. So this just make sure that everybody is heading in the same direction and cant be picked off, said Morrison.
To cater to users who want an Android tab that's more reasonably priced, Samsung is working on a budget offering dubbed Galaxy Tab A7 10.4 (2020).

Earlier this month, Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab S7 line-up that comes with powerful internals and premium design. These are the latest addition to Samsungs Tab lineup and sport one of the best displays on Android tablets so far - a high-res 120Hz 2Kv panel.

Though the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 duo is a solid alternative to Apples iPads, not all users are ready to shell out a bomb to buy a tablet. To cater to those who want something more reasonably priced, Samsung is working on a budget offering dubbed Galaxy Tab A7 10.4 (2020), reports GizChina. This tab is expected to launch mid-September.

As per the listing on Dutch retailer Centralpoint, the Galaxy Tab A7 10.4 will be coming in two variants - LTE and WiFi-only. There will also be two storage options available - 32GB and 64GB.

The listing on the site also reveals the prices along with the release date - the 32GB WiFi-only version has a price tag of 235 euros ( 20,461 approx) and the LTE version in a 32GB is priced at 293 euros ( 25,511 approx).

The 64GB WiFi-only version is priced at 266 euros ( 23,160 approx) and the LTE version is for 323 euros ( 28,123 approx). All these prices are inclusive of VAT.

The expected stock date on the site is mentioned as September 12 which is the release date but this is not official yet.

The Galaxy Tab A7 10.4 (2020) is going to come with a 10.4-inch display with a resolution of 20001200 pixels. Under the hood, there is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset paired with 3GB of RAM. For graphics, the chipset uses the Adreno 610 GPU. There is a 7,040 mAh battery onboard for power.
SRINAGAR: Three terrorists belonging to the proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) were gunned down by the security forces in an encounter in the Zadoora village of Pulwama district early on Saturday (August 29, 2020).

The three slain Hizbul terrorists were identified as - Adil Hafiz, Arshid Ahmad Dar and Rouf Ahmad Mir. They were the residents of Pulwama and affiliated with Pakistan-backed proscribed terror outfit HM.

An official press release from J&K Police said, On a specific input regarding the presence of terrorists in village Zadoora area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 50RR and 182/183BN CRPF in the said area.

During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given the opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter, the release said.

In the ensuing encounter, 03 terrorists were killed, and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Adil Hafiz, Arshid Ahmad Dar and Rouf Ahmad Mir all residents of Pulwama and affiliated with proscribed terror outfit HM, the J&K Police said.

During the said encounter, one Indian Army jawan also received critical injuries who was shifted to hospital for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries and attained martyrdom.

The Indian Army paid rich tributes to the martyr for his supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

The slain Hizbul terrorists had a long history of terror crime records, the J&K Police said. They were part of groups involved in planning and executing several terror attacks in the area including attacks on Police and security establishments.

As per police records, Adil Hafiz was involved in case FIR No. 112/2020 pertaining to the attack on the Naka party at Prichoo Bridge in which one police personnel was martyred and another was injured.

Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from the inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead bodies of the killed terrorists shall be sent to Baramulla for burial purposes after completion of all medico-legal formalities.

The nearest family members of the killed terrorists shall be allowed to participate in the last rites at Baramulla, the J&K Police informed.

Incriminating materials, including arms & ammunition, were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes.

In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Pulwama and investigation has been initiated.

The J&K Police also urged people to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any.
The Congress party on Saturday has written to Facebooks chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg, the second time in a fortnight, asking him to specify the steps being taken by his company to investigate the charges against its operations in India.

In a tearing allegation, Congress has claimed that WhatsApp, has been willingly allowed by Zuckerbergs India team, to be appropriated for hate speech and the consequent tearing of Indias fabric of social harmony.

Congress general secretary in-charge of organisation KC Venugopal also asked him to explain a global media report claiming that even WhatsApp, used by 400 million Indians, is compromised and controlled indirectly by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Also read | Rahul Gandhi says demonetisation, flawed GST, failed lockdown hurt Indian economy

The congress leader said that the party is compelled to write again in such short span of time because of further information and revelations made public through a new article in a media publication, which makes three points that are alarming and violate both the spirit and the law of operations of foreign companies in India.

The senior Congress leader had written to Zuckerberg on August 18, asking him to probe allegations that the social media companys India team dispensed favourable treatment towards the ruling BJP.

Venugopal, citing the news article in his letter, claimed the BJP has been allowed to exercise control of WhatsApps India operations in return for a possible license for its payment operations, which is critical for the future of the messaging app in India.

Congress has also claimed that more than just one person in his companys leadership team in India is biased and partisan in favour of ruling BJP in their professional endeavours. The problem, Venugopal, said is larger, deeper and more pervasive than initially assumed.

Also read | Facebooks involvement in peddling fake, hate news needs to be questioned: Rahul Gandhi

The WSJ report cited interviews with unnamed Facebook insiders and claimed the companys senior India policy executive Ankhi Das intervened in internal content review processes to stop a ban on BJPs Telangana lawmaker Raja Singh, whose posts targeted the Muslim community. It said Das told staff members that punishing violations by BJP politicians would damage the companys business prospects in India.
As COVID-19 began to spread throughout the United States, New Mexicos public health agencies, national laboratories and health care organizations were already strategizing ways to effectively stem the spread when it reached our state.

These collaborators  along with every New Mexican who followed their guidance by wearing face masks, practicing social distance and minimizing outings  have helped New Mexicos cases remain low when neighboring states have experienced significant outbreaks. These efforts illustrate just how important working together is during a crisis.

One such example is the partnership of New Mexico state government, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Presbyterian Healthcare Services to understand disease spread within the state, develop accurate disease forecasts, estimate demand on the health-care system and allocate resources accordingly. During a time when so much was unknown, scientists, health officials and doctors put the available data to work for the benefit of our great state.

When early analysis by Los Alamos computer models predicted a significant increase in cases in northwestern New Mexico, Presbyterian then used its own modeling to identify available Intensive Care Unit beds and personal protective equipment across the state, partnering with the state and other hospitals to arrange for transfers of patients to hospitals with the capacity to treat them.

The computer models also helped guide the states planning to create isolated housing  such as hotels  where non-critical COVID-19 patients or those awaiting test results could live temporarily, away from family members. This is important in New Mexico, where multigenerational households number about 32,000, and it was critical to protect our most vulnerable residents. Since April, between 100 and 300 New Mexicans have occupied such facilities every day to help prevent the spread of the disease in their homes.

Other computer models developed at Los Alamos are currently helping the state decide the best path for reopening schools. These models look at potential learning scenarios  such as in-person school five days per week, hybrid online/in-person options and online-only schooling  and assess the risk for increased cases.

Another approach tracks the vulnerability of certain geographical areas based on factors such as poverty, race/ethnicity, age and household size. By identifying communities at higher risk, the state can better coordinate interventions to stop the spread of COVID-19 that are specific to each community  such as deploying Presbyterians mobile testing team to increase access to testing.

This collaboration also resulted in estimates of the person-to-person spread rate of COVID-19 in various regions of New Mexico, which has been used to assess the impact of social distancing measures. This information helps state public health officials consider mitigations and educational campaigns targeted to specific geographical areas, as well as determine whether to relax existing social distancing restrictions in other areas.

The strength in collaboration is evident: By bringing together experts from various specialties and with different perspectives so that scientifically based, data-driven assessments effectively support decision makers, our experience in New Mexico is vastly different than in many other states.

The rally of #AllTogetherNM wasnt just for every New Mexican, but for health-care organizations, national laboratories and public health offices. All three organizations have their own teams of experts and epidemiological models, which inform one another to ultimately improve the forecasts. By harnessing our various strengths and using scientific data to make informed decisions that help guide us, we have taken action against the spread of COVID-19 in our state.

New Mexicans have helped by adhering to the collaborative directions  and we are making progress. But we cant stop now. We will continue to work on robust data-based guidance, and we thank you for doing your part as we collectively navigate our way through the pandemic together.
28.08.2020 LISTEN

Kikikikikiki, folks, I'm not sick, neither am I well. You know very well that I don't start my write-ups with "kikikikikiki", doing it today means wahala dey! Charley, nsem wo ho paa, and I'm getting exceedingly tetchy.

Apart from today, the day I became excessively livid in my life was when some kids messed me up. I'll tell you what happened. I had business doing in Kumasi, and a very good friend of mine was generous enough to lend me his brand new Toyota Land Cruiser car for a week. As you know, most of such vehicles have the inscription "4x4" on them. I parked the car at a suburb of Kumasi to attend to some pressing needs, and on my return someone, probably a child had added "=16" to the "4x4" with a nail, producing some nasty scratches on the borrowed new car.

I was advised by my friend whose car I borrowed to re-spray the portion of the car where the scratches are and put the inscription "4x4=16" so that whoever did it would not have anything to write about; but he was wrong. Few days later I parked the car at the same spot with the new inscription "4x4=16" and went to do business as usual. When I came back, the incorrigible child had written "correct" beside the inscription "4x4=16" with a nail, and that was what irked me so much.

As much as the action of this child is completely wrong and must be condemned, one principle remains correct, that 4x4 = 16, and this is where I think it is correct for Former President Mahama to cancel the Agyapa Royalty deal when elected as president in December, because the whole agreement does not make sense to me, and I will explain:

As it stands now, Ghana gets USD200 million every year in royalties from gold, but through the Mineral Royalties Investment Fund, Agyapa is going to pay USD500 million to Ghana government as loan. In exchange, government will have to give Agyapa 49% of Ghana's annual royalties for 15 years which is USD98 million every year. Interestingly, the USD500 million government will get can be obtained within two and half years from our royalties, so why should we mortgage our royalties for 15 years and pay USD98 every year?

By simple arithmetic, Ghana is supposed to earn USD3 billion within the 15 years, but will earn about USD1.5 billion while Agyapa pockets close to a whopping USD1.5 billion with just USD500 million investment. Abakade, this is what we call "chempe" or "abunu", a complete rip off to the nation; such an agreement certainly can never be in the interest of the people of Ghana. Chiefs and Traditional Councils in mining communities who receive royalties are going to be shortchanged. Their royalties would be halved, that is if they are going to receive any royalty at all. President Mahama's intention is, therefore, a fantastic advocacy for the chiefs and good people of Ghana.

So, there is the need for every Ghanaian especially traditional rulers and the youth to chase out this government out on December 7. Sosket, this reminds me of parts of the lyrics from "Crazy Baldheads," a song by Bob Marley, which goes like this:

Here comes the conman

Coming with his con plan

We won't take no bribe

We've got to stay alive

We gonna chase those crazy

Chase those crazy baldheads

Chase those crazy baldheads out of the town

Friends, I'm sure you enjoyed the lyrics, Bob Marley must have been prophesying towards a time such as this, and I'm exceedingly hopeful that the people of Ghana will stay alive and alert, and will not take any bribe which will certainly be thrown at them, and not allow the dream of these people to pocket USD1.5 billion materialise. A child destined to die will not survive even if he or she is put under the armpit of the Pope. And I believe that is the fate of our friends on the other side. Very. Obvious.

Oya, I have to rehearse my gadindim dance steps for the final funeral rites of the Elephant. You can join me now: gadindim-gadem, gadindim-gadem, gadindim-gadem.

Anthony Obeng Afrane
They only launched their boutique beauty clinic Sskin this week.

But it seems booking a spot for a treatment at Amy and Emilee Hembrow's beauty clinic is the hottest ticket on the Gold Coast.

'The phone has been off the hook. We haven't advertised at all,' Emilee, 28, told the Gold Coast Bulletin on Friday.

'The phone has been off the hook!' Hembrow sisters Amy and Emilee revealed their newly opened beauty clinic is already 'booked out for the next three weeks.' Pictured left is Emilee, and right is Amy

She said appointments for treatments have been selling like hot cakes, adding: 'Our doctor is already booked out for the next three weeks.'

The mother-of-two also revealed that someone recently walked into the clinic asking for a treatment.

Emilee recalled: 'I'm not too sure where they found the address, but they said "When can I get a treatment? I'm not too sure what type of treatments you have but I want one."

Booked out! Emilee, 28, said: 'The phone has been off the hook. We haven't advertised at all.' She added that appointments for treatments have been selling like hot cakes, adding: 'Our doctor is already booked out for the next three weeks'. Pictured left is Emilee, and right is Amy

Amy, 30, told the publication that they're offering treatments and aesthetics they've often experienced at clinics in the US.

'This place (SSKIN) is where we would want to go. From the whole aesthetic through to the treatments,' the mother-of-one said.

The Hembrow sisters recently told Daily Mail Australia that their clinic's top priority is to enhance, rather than change their clients' natural beauty.

'We really stand by enhancing your natural beauty, not changing anything on your face,' Emilee said.

Just like the States! Amy, 30, told the publication that they're offering treatments and aesthetics they've often experienced at clinics in the US. 'This place (SSKIN) is where we would want to go. From the whole aesthetic through to the treatments,' she said

As mothers, the sisters' own skincare journey has changed and evolved in recent years, and have made their services versatile for everyone.

'All the treatments are definitely celebrity approved,' Emilee insisted, explaining that the salon offers skin needling, Rose Quartz signature facials, IV drip treatments, and injectables.

The sisters also claim Sskin is different to other existing clinics, as the bespoke business offers five-star treatments inside a private and discreet location.

'We didnt want it to feel clinical like a doctor's office or like a clinic in a shopping centre... we wanted somewhere where we ourselves would go,' Amy said.
"Papa, how can you vote for him?" my then thirteen-year-old son asked me one night in 2016. "He's so crude." The "him" of the question was then-candidate Donald John Trump. I answered:

Brendan, I know he swears and is crude, but so are a lot of the best men I've ever known. I've known guys who talk like sailors that would give you the shirt off their back. And I've known men who present themselves as holier than thou and would certainly never use bad words, but they'd stab you in the back and not think twice about it. Trump is crude, but those other men so worried about what he says have had their chance to run the country. A lot of those men (and women) in those debates and other pundits who express outrage at Trump's coarseness have the blood of hundreds of thousands of Christians on their hands from their Middle East wars that unleashed hell on those poor people. That's crude. And they're worried about swearing and rough language? Have those Catholics who judge Trump but supported those disastrous policies apologized? He should be mad. He should be swearing. Drive around the country and look at what has been done (not happened...what has been done) to the working class in this country while those guys make speeches and promises, and nothing ever changes for the better.

That was the way one Catholic father explained his support for Donald Trump when his son asked him. His enthusiasm for the man did not wane. Later, when Hillary Clinton ran what was probably her most memorable television ad spot, the one that featured little kids transfixed in front of the TV screen while Trump seemingly shouted, "They can go f--- themselves,"[1] my son looked at me expectantly with a look that said, "What about that?" I replied, "That right there is why I'm voting for him."[2]

You know, it turns out I was not alone.

If you want to understand why Trump is the forty-fifth president, none other than Michael Moore, the ultra-liberal, Trump-hating filmmaker, told the world before the election why the man he hated was going to win. Don't feel bad if you are almost moved to tears watching this. You should be.

That was as powerful a stump speech for Donald Trump in 2016, as you'll find. Moore's speech in Ohio to what looked like a crowd of Rust Belt Democrats, and hence, probably a lot of blue-collar Catholics, explained and justified, even if unintentionally, the natural appeal of candidate Trump to such voters. (Granted, the clip is an excerpt from a lengthier speech that was not in favor of Trump.)

In that video, Moore is talking specifically about the economic destruction of the working class that had proceeded apace under politicians of both parties for the past four decades, if not longer. But he could just as well have talked about the wars to which the poor and middle class have sent their sons and daughters and for which the results have been nothing short of disastrous, especially, again, for the Christians in the Middle East. We couldn't have done a better job of making the world safe for radical Islam had we tried  that is, until Donald J. Trump was elected, and now, more than three years later, ISIS's territory has been rolled back, and our political leadership in Washington is unafraid to identify that particular enemy by name.

In 2020, it is even more clear that we need a strong man like Trump in the Oval Office, a tough man willing to fight for us, and his enemies, the Deep State, know they need him gone. So we see the battles on the streets, the destruction of the economy, the move to manipulate our vote through global mail-in ballots (an affront to our system astonishing in its audacity), and more.

It is commonplace for politicians and pundits to refer to every election as "the most important in history." But this time, it's true.

John McCullough is co-author, along with Jesse Romero, of A Catholic Vote for Trump: The Only Choice in 2020 for Republicans, Democrats, and Independents Alike. This post is adapted and edited from the book. Available at Amazon and through the publisher, TAN Books.

[1] He did, in fact, say it at a speech in New Hampshire in reference to companies leaving the United States, but he actually mouthed or whispered the F-word rather than shouted it. [2] It should go without saying that I was not telling my son that the mere fact of Trump's using coarse language was my reason for supporting the man; rather, I was telling him, and I explained this in greater detail at the time, that I supported the righteous indignation that lay behind the language. Truth be told, the language did not bother me.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr.
The Muscrai Gaeltacht community of Beal Atha'n Ghaorthaidh is surrounded on all sides by windmills and is bracing itself this week for a decision by Cork County Council's planning department whether or not to allow a controversial windfarm and battery units proposal to go ahead near one of Ireland's premier tourist spots, Gougane Barra.

"We're surrounded on all sides almost and we understand other windfarms are planned - it's time for Cork County Council to say 'stop!'" said Tadhg O Duinnin, the chairman of the local development committee, Coiste Forbartha Bheal Atha'n Ghaorthaidh.

"I wouldn't say there's another village in Ireland which has been surrounded by wind turbines in the same way!"

The decision on the Curraglass Windfarm and Battery Unit project, which has been submitted by Wingleaf Ltd, a company directed by Michael Murnane, who is involved in multiple windfarm projects, is expected tomorrow (Friday, August 28) .

It comes as another firm directed by the Macroom environmental entrepeneur applies for 'substitute consent' to retain the windfarm developed at Cleanrath, which overlooks the village of Beal Atha'n Ghaorthaidh.

The proposed Curraglass development, which is located on the Ceim an Fhia pass, not far from Gougane, comprises seven of the tallest wind turbines ever seen in Ireland, measuring 178m from base to the highest point of the blade, as well as four battery storage units.

This proposed development replaces a decommissioned windfarm at the same site.

That windfarm was taken down a number of years ago when one of the turbines caught fire.

One of the conditions of the original application stipulated that the site should be restored to its natural state after the development's term of 20 years came to a close. That windfarm was decommissioned, however, before its term was complete.

A petition organised by the local Coiste Forbartha/Development Committee gathered 380 signatures of locals opposed to the development along with more than fifty other submissions

Work at the Cleanrath Wind Farm, which has 9 turbines measuring 150m to the highest point of their blades, had ceased following the successful legal challenge by a local couple to the original planning decision. The Supreme Court decided in December to uphold the appeal of Klaus Balz and Hanna Heubach. They had challenged the An Bord Pleanala decision because of a failure to assess the impact of noise pollution from the project.

The couple, who run a horticultural business at Barr na Gaoithe near Inchageela, applied to the High Court earlier this Summer seeking an order to compel the developer to cease work at the site as it no longer had planning permission for the development.

"We feel rotten since we saw the site notice go up," Klaus Balz told The Corkman.

"Our solicitor is preparing a submission at the moment.

"We feel the system is rigged in favour of developments like this as it appears anybody can go ahead with a windfarm and then apply for a retention."

The decision on the Cleanrath development is a matter for An Bord Pleanala rather than Cork County Council as the country's highest planning authority had granted the permission which was subsequently overturned.

Earlier this year locals complained that wind turbines were interfering with RTE reception.
Respectable residents of a south Mumbai colony embarrassingly wedged in a red-light district have raised a banner of revolt against the sex-buyers who haunt the brothels situated here practically 24x7, in Mumbai on August 29, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Respectable residents of a south Mumbai colony embarrassingly wedged in a red-light district have raised a banner of revolt against the sex-buyers who haunt the brothels situated here practically 24x7, in Mumbai on August 29, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Respectable residents of a south Mumbai colony embarrassingly wedged in a red-light district have raised a banner of revolt against the sex-buyers who haunt the brothels situated here practically 24x7, in Mumbai on August 29, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Respectable residents of a south Mumbai colony embarrassingly wedged in a red-light district have raised a banner of revolt against the sex-buyers who haunt the brothels situated here practically 24x7, in Mumbai on August 29, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Respectable residents of a south Mumbai colony embarrassingly wedged in a red-light district have raised a banner of revolt against the sex-buyers who haunt the brothels situated here practically 24x7, in Mumbai on August 29, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Aug 29 : Residents of a south Mumbai colony wedged in a red-light district have raised a banner of revolt against the sex buyers who haunt the brothels situated there practically 24x7.

Several social and non-political groups have launched a poster campaign in the tainted streets, bordellos and even the Ganesh pandals, cautioning people against the spread of coronavirus and discouraging sex-hungry men from visiting the houses of ill-repute.

Members of the Kamathipura Vyapari and Rahivasi Ekta Committee, Sainath Mitra Mandal Rukesh Girolla, and social workers like Sandeep Sable and Suresh Pabba, supported by the youth in the area, have virtually painted the red light district of Kamathipura by sticking over 250 large posters as part of the campaign.

In Grant Road East, Kamathipura is also home to one of the earliest red-light districts in the country, going back to the late 1700s, which never sleeps. It allegedly functioned on the sly even during the pandemic lockdown during the past six months.

"We have written to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, our local MP Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena), Municipal Commissioner I.S. Chahal and other dignitaries about our problems. But so far there is no response," Girolla told IANS.

As the unlockdown phase continues, the upper middle-class residents are now worried that the world's oldest profession may again flourish openly as the brothels officially 'unlock' to welcome their depraved customers.

"We are trying to ensure this doesn't happen as we don't want our vicinity to turn into a Corona hotspot. We, the people, are united in this resolve, but need help from the government, civic bodies and the police," said Girolla.

Pabba said that in Kamathipura -- spread over 42 acres, with a population of over 40,000 people -- there are around 1,500-odd commercial sex workers (CSWs).

"There have been 203 Covid-19 cases in this small area so far. All common services are shared with them like shops, vegetable vendors, milk suppliers etc. We have come out of it with immense efforts and don't want any more infection in the area," Pabba said.

"The CSWs are spread in specific buildings in the 48 gullies (lanes). Then there are the pimps, drug-peddlers and liquor vendors. Before lockdown, they were frequented by an average of 6000-8000 customers daily, but during lockdown the figures dropped by nearly 50 per cent," said Girolla, whose four generations have lived here for over 150 years.

Playing the lead role to keep the area Corona-free, Raj Mudra Pratisthan's Sable warned that its not possible to keep the virus at bay with masks, sanitisers, gloves or condoms alone, since 'physical distancing' becomes a joke in sex-trade.

"It's a dark reality since outsiders visiting these brothels can easily infect the red-light area and then the entire local community. If schools and colleges can remain closed, why should sex buyers be permitted to roam around freely? It is hardly an essential service, and must shut completely," Sable urged.

Girolla rued that since over two centuries, the locals have borne the stigma of the address with names like Grant Road, Kamathipura, Shuklaji Street, Pila House etc., which raise red-flags in the minds of people and ruin the job and marital prospects of the locals. "Our girls and women cannot move out without being leered at or solicited," he said.

"Once in Dubai, I was shocked to learn that the local Arabs had also heard of Kamathipura. We are used to strange looks from people when we give our address. But the area has transformed, there are highly-educated, middle and upper-middle class respectable citizens, among them many doctors, engineers, professionals, businessmen -- and we want the area to remain uninfected also," he declared.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Also on Dec. 1, the two clinic locations that would close  Woodlawn and Near South Health Centers  would merge patients and employees with the John Sengstacke Health Center at Provident Hospital, which is almost 3 miles away from both. None of the layoffs would come from the two health centers moving to Provident, although the hospital in general would see more than 20 layoffs by the end of Dec. 1.
LONDON, August 28, 2020 -- Last week, the Commonwealth of Dominica announced its participation in the CARICOM Travel Bubble. During the launch, which took place at Jungle Bay, the Director of Tourism and Deputy Coordinator for the reopening of borders, Colin Piper, revealed that this would place Dominica as an attractive destination for regional travellers. The bubble comprises of eight other islands: Anguilla, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, St Lucia, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda.

Dominica is also welcoming international visitors as of August 7th. However, these visitors will be subject to tests and a travel screening questionnaire. Additionally, the President of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association announced that the island is now welcoming guests. Two hotels have also been issued a COVID certificate approval including Secret Bay and the Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski  both of which are approved under Dominica's Citizenship by Investment Programme.

According to Piper, this travel bubble will enable travellers from nations that have effectively tackled the spread of the COVID-19 virus to visit Dominica easier: "So of importance is that the pre-arrival requirement to undertake the PCR Test within 72 hours is absent and thus allow travelers from the CARICOM Travel Bubble greater ability and flexibility in making plans to book a trip. So, we anticipate that with this newfound freedom, Dominica will once again become an attractive destination for travelers within the CARICOM Travel Bubble," he said.

In recent years, Dominica has become a popular destination for eco-tourism and internationally renowned for its commitment to achieving climate resilience. This was pledged by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit following Hurricane Maria and supported by Dominica's Citizenship by Investment Programme. The Programme has supported the funding of several eco-resorts, the construction of a geothermal plant and providing weather-resistant and affordable housing for citizens.

Introduced in 1993, the CBI Programme enables foreign investors and their families to acquire second citizenship once donating to the government fund or investing in pre-approved real estate options. Investors who opt for the real estate route have a variety of international brands to choose from including Hilton, the Marriott and Kempinski, alongside other boutique eco-resorts. Once successfully undergoing the necessary due diligence checks, investors gain access to benefits ranging from visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to approximately 140 destinations, alternative business opportunities and the ability to pass citizenship down.
The ASRS market is projected to grow at a significant rate from 2020 to 2025. The ASRS market was valued at USD 7. 3 billion in 2020 and is likely to reach USD 10. 7 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 8.

New York, Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Automated Storage and Retrieval System Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Type, Function, Industry And Region- Global Forecast to 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p04773665/?utm_source=GNW

0% from 2020 to 2025. An automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) is a device used in manufacturing plants, warehouses, and distribution centers for storing and retrieving loads from one storage location to another. An ASRS comprises various computer-controlled systems and equipment that are used to store and accurately retrieve materials.

COVID-19 has emerged as a global pandemic that has spread across 215 countries worldwide and disrupted various industries around the world.The prominent players across industries have been affected by this pandemic.



The foreseeable decline in the growth of end-user industries may have a considerable direct impact on the ASRS market.



The market for vertical lift module (VLM) is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Vertical lift module (VLM) market is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period.The VLM is designed to deliver stored items to the operator, thereby eliminating walk and search time.



The VLM increases productivity up to 67% and saves up to 85% of the floor space.VLM is also integrated with pick-to-light technology to improve accuracy levels.



These factors such as improved accuracy and efficiency are responsible for the increased demand of VLM in the market.



The automotive industry is projected to account for the largest share of the ASRS market during the forecast period.

The automotive industry is expected to hold the largest share of the ASRS market in 2020.The shift in demand toward electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles has prompted automakers to ramp up automotive manufacturing, which requires automotive spare parts.



Automotive suppliers have to effectively manage large amounts of goods and variation and breadth of stock.Also, these suppliers need to improve the storage capacity within the available floor space.



Thus, automated storage and retrieval systems are increasingly being used to fulfill the requirements related to material handling capacity.Due to the recent outbreak of COVID-19, the automotive industry is incurring massive financial losses.



The demand for automobiles is decreasing as people continue to be under lockdown restrictions. Skilled workers required for maintaining and optimizing ASRS in warehouses are unavailable. This has resulted in reduced demand for ASRS in automotive warehouses.



APAC is projected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period.

The ASRS market in APAC, led by China and Japan, is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period.The rapid growth of automotive, food & beverages, and healthcare industries in emerging economies such as China, Japan, Australia, and South Korea has contributed to the growth of the ASRS market in APAC.



Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the APAC region is suffering tremendous economic losses.Chinathe manufacturing hub of Asiahas suspended most of its production activities.



Various warehouses in the country are closed due to the lack of manufacturing and unavailability of workforce.The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the supply chain of various industries.



This has led to the temporary decrease in demand for ASRSs.



Break-up of the profiles of primary participants:

 By Company Type  Tier 1  40%, Tier 2  35%, and Tier 3  25%

 By Designation  C-level  48%, Director-level  33%, and Manager-level  19%

 By Region  North America - 35%, Europe  18%, APAC  40%, and RoW  7%



The key players in the ASRS market include Daifuku (Japan), Kardex (Switzerland), Murata Machinery (Japan), SSI Schaefer (Germany), TGW Logistics (Austria), KION (Germany), KUKA (Germany), Toyota Industries (Japan), BEUMER (Germany), KNAPP (Austria), Mecalux (Spain), and System Logistics (Italy).

The ASRS market has been segmented into type, fuction, industry, and region.Based on type, the market has been segmented into unit load, mini load , vertical lift module (VLM), carousel, and mid load.



Based on function, the ASRS market has been segmented into storage, order picking, distribution, assembly, kitting, and others.Industries studied in the report include automotive, metal & heavy machinery, food & beverages, chemicals, healthcare, semiconductor & electronics, retail, aviation, e-commerce, a nd others.



The ASRS market has been studied for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Rest of the World (RoW).



Reasons to buy the report:

 Illustrative segmentation, analysis, and forecast of the market based on type, function, industry, and region have been conducted to give an overall view of the ASRS market.

 A value chain analysis has been performed to provide in-depth insights into the ASRS market.

 The key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges pertaining to the ASRS market have been detailed in this report.

 Detailed information regarding the COVID-19 impact on the ASRS market has been provided in the report.

 The report includes a detailed competitive landscape of the market, along with key players, as well as in-depth analysis of their revenues.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p04773665/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




Kuno will receive the PDSA Dickin Medal in a virtual ceremony in November, giving him the highest animal honour for military animal valour.

The three-year-old Belgian Shepherd Malinois and his handler were deployed on a foreign mission in 2019 on a compound raid when they came under attack.

Against grenade and machine gun fire from an insurgent, Kuno tackled the gunman, allowing the mission to be completed successfully.

Kuno was hit by bullets in both back legs during the assault, with part of one limb having to be amputated before he was flown back to the UK.

He then became the first UK military working dog to be fitted with custom-made prosthetic limbs.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: Without Kuno, the course of this operation could have been very different and its clear he saved the lives of British personnel that day.

Advertisement

Kunos story reminds us not only of the dedicated service of our soldiers and military dogs, but also the great care that the UK Armed Forces provide to the animals that serve alongside them.

Kuno will become the 72nd recipient of the PDSA Dickin Medal, with previous honours going to 34 dogs, 32 Second World War messenger pigeons, four horses, and one cat.

PDSA director-general Jan McLoughlin said: Kunos heroic actions undoubtedly changed the course of the mission and saved lives.

He took on the enemy without fear or hesitation, never faltering from his duty despite being seriously injured.

For his bravery and devotion to duty, he is a thoroughly deserving recipient of the PDSA Dickin Medal and we look forward to formally presenting his award later this year.
Montenegro's Elections Bring Old, New Challenges Into Sharp Focus

By Andy Heil August 28, 2020

Hitting adult milestones. Making relationships work. Settling into the anxieties of independence. And getting your own house in order.

The political dominance of Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic and his Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) looks to be running into many of the same pressures as people do as they, too, near their 30s.

Djukanovic has been the tiny Adriatic coast country's driving political force since the splintering of Yugoslavia in 1991.

But he and his allies could face one of their biggest electoral challenges ever when 540,000 or so registered voters go to the polls on August 30 in a referendum on the government and its broadly pro-Western agenda.

Montenegrins and their economy are stinging from the global pandemic's toll on tourism and people's lives in their laidback corner of the Balkans. The residue of a failed Russia-backed coup during the last election, in 2016, along with a string of unresolved corruption scandals continue to taint the national political landscape.

And the country has seen near-constant protests by supporters of the powerful Serbian Orthodox Church since ruling parties rammed through a new law on religion in December 2019.

"The atmosphere around the election is more febrile than in any parliamentary [elections] since Montenegro regained its independence in 2006," says Kenneth Morrison, a professor at De Montfort University and author of the book Nationalism, Identity And Statehood In Post-Yugoslav Montenegro.

'Most Important' Vote

Djukanovic this week called the vote "the most important in Montenegro's history because we must decide whether Montenegro continues its EU integration or becomes a theocratic state."

The opposition has appealed to voters to turn the page on years of alleged corruption under DPS leadership and to safeguard religious freedom for the Serbian Orthodox Church and its believers, estimated at around half the population.

It is spearheaded by the For The Future Of Montenegro alliance, which is led by a Democratic Front party that promotes close ethno-national ties with neighboring Serbia and closer ties to Russia.

A centrist alliance called Peace Is Our Nation has polled third recently and could prove vital if, as is expected, no bloc emerges with a clear majority to govern.

A handful of smaller parties, including minority-based groups, are also running.

The DPS has a majority of 42 deputies in the current 81-seat parliament.

A widely cited poll earlier this month showed its support at around one-third of voters versus around one-quarter for the For The Future alliance.

Just as in neighboring Balkan states Serbia and North Macedonia in recent months, the pandemic has particularly hampered opposition parties' chances to make their case to voters.

But protests ostensibly aimed at the religious law and frequently organized by Serbian church leaders have tapped into the Serb identity of some voters and provided an outlet for public frustrations.

Inner And Outer Peace

Djukanovic has dominated Montenegro's strongest political party and served as president or prime minister with only a few brief gaps from the Yugoslav breakup through Podgorica's declaration of independence from Serbia in 2006 and NATO accession in 2017.

He has portrayed the vote as a stark choice between Montenegro's current pro-EU path and an abandonment of national identity in favor of outside powers like Serbia and Russia and a "dark ideology" reminiscent of "the Middle Ages."

Belgrade and Moscow reject accusations of trying to unduly influence events in Montenegro, which still has no firm date for EU membership.

Russian officials have denied involvement in a 2016 election-day coup attempt despite convictions in absentia of two Russian intelligence officers for a plot that reportedly included an order to assassinate Djukanovic.

Prosecutors argued that the coup d'etat was an effort by pro-Russian elements to derail Montenegro's final steps toward NATO membership.

A two-year trial resulted in 13 convictions, including members of Montenegro's opposition Democratic Front (DF), the Russian intelligence officers, and Serbian nationals including a police general.

The "dark ideology of the Middle Ages" remark by Djukanovic was a clear shot at the Serbian Orthodox Church, its Belgrade-based leadership, and its Montenegrin arm, officially known as the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral.

The Serbian Orthodox Church has a history of downplaying distinctions between Serbs and Montenegrins dating back a century and stoking Serb nationalism before and since a majority of voters in a Montenegrin referendum backed independence from Serbia in 2006.

More than one-third of Montenegro's 620,000 citizens still identify as Serbs, and around half of them are thought to worship under the auspices of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Those ethno-national and religious pulpits, combined with shared language and frequent family ties, have provided Belgrade and the Serbian church with powerful levers to pressure Podgorica.

Montenegro's law on religions, passed in December 2019 after a walkout by pro-Serb lawmakers, could legally strip the Serbian Orthodox Church of hundreds of religious sites. It prompted pledges by the church and its faithful in Montenegro and neighboring Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to defend Serbian Orthodox property.

Authorities this week filed criminal charges against the leader of the opposition For The Future Of Montenegro coalition, Zdravko Krivokapic, and six Serbian Orthodox priests over unauthorized "autoliturgies" that descended on the capital and blocked traffic on August 23, just one week before the election.

"In many respects, the real political battle in Montenegro is not between the DPS-led government and the opposition, but between the DPS and the Serbian Orthodox Church," says Morrison.

He says the head of the local arm of the Serbian church, Metropolitan Amfilohije, and his clergy "have been far more explicit in their appeals to voters to reject the 'godless' DPS" than in the past.

But Morrison adds that it is unclear whether such clerical outrage will translate into votes.

No Strangers To Scandal

Other government critics point to a troubling pattern of corruption and failure to prosecute bribery and other official abuses under DPS rule.

A drumbeat of scandal and failure to prosecute has followed the country's 2016 national elections.

An investigation is still not complete into accusations that senior DPS officials faked donors to flout campaign finance laws four years ago.

Two years later, Montenegrins marched in the streets after a purge of the public broadcaster and its overseers appeared aimed at ensuring programming friendlier to the ruling parties.

Last year, the government was accused of handing out apartments and mostly unrepaid loans to public officials, including prosecutors and judges.

Soon after that, months of protests broke out after a secretly recorded video appeared to show a businessman, Dusko Knezevic, handing over a cash-stuffed envelope to a senior DPS official.

And more recently, Svetozar Marovic, a fugitive former president of Serbia-Montenegro who cooperated closely with Djukanovic before his conviction on corruption charges in 2016, has leveled accusations against the DPS from neighboring Serbia.

"The situation in Montenegro has changed significantly in the past year and the potential for further deterioration exists," Morrison says. "The problem is, fundamentally, that the election will not solve any of the problems that have underpinned Montenegro's long-standing political crisis but may merely bring those problems into sharper focus."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30809376.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.

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The Chief of Ankaful-Saltpond, Nana Kwame Ntsiful V, has called for the enactment of laws against the invocation of curses in the country.



He said he was worried that the invocation of curses was gradually gaining ground in Ghana, saying it required all well-meaning Ghanaians to condemn the practice and also make it unlawful to invoke curses.



In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Nana Ntsiful noted that the phenomenon of people cursing others at the least provocation was a worrying trend which must not be allowed to flourish.



"Many young men and women in the country are so quick to resort to curses to punish or destroy their perceived enemies; a practice that is fast gaining roots in the country, but which must not be allowed to thrive.



That practice is backward and should not be encouraged in any modern society, he said.



Stakeholders must act



Nana Ntsiful, who is also the Development Chief of Kwaprow, one of the communities near the University of Cape Coast, urged traditional authorities to take the matter up by activating appropriate customary laws to curb the practice.



"People just take sheep, fowls or goats, add bottles of Schnapps and proceed to a riverside to invoke curses. That practice is very weird and should not find a place in our tradition.



Chiefs, who are custodians of our tradition, should drum into the heads of their subjects that such a practice is prohibited, as it is believed to bring mayhem, and should not find a place in modern societies, he said.



He further pleaded with political party leaders and leaders of the various religious groups to call their members who are fond of engaging in that practice to order.



He emphasised that the practice was satanic and implored traditional authorities to rise to the occasion to deal with it.



Communitys development



Touching on development, Nana Ntsiful said his community had been at the receiving end of the impact of perennial flooding and appealed to the government to help get the community a proper drainage system to deal with the challenge.



He also urged the government to help construct the road between Ankaful-Saltpond and Kuntu to ease the burden on commuters on the stretch.



He further appealed to the government to get Ankaful-Saltpond a mini harbour to replace the oil field facility which was not in use currently, intimating that a harbour would help open up the community.





Source: Graphic.com.gh









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New Delhi, Aug 29 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has unearthed a group of Indian firms running online Chinese betting apps luring people with the promise of attractive rewards on seemingly simple games of chance.

These online betting apps were being run through websites which are hosted from outside India. The ED said in a statement, "Apart from indulging in banned activities like online betting, this network of companies with their reliance on online wallets and their lax regulatory systems could have been used for hawala transactions as well." The financial probe agency on Friday conducted searches at 15 locations spread across Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai and Pune and froze Rs 46.96 crore held in four HSBC Bank accounts. Besides this 17 hard disks, five laptops, phones and crucial incriminating documents were seized during the raids.

The ED conducted searches at the registered offices of these companies, their directors and Chartered Accountants involved in illegal acts. The ED had initiated an investigation under the Prevention of the Money Laundering Act 2002 (PMLA) based on the FIRs lodged by Cyber Crime Station (CCS) of Hyderabad Police against Dokypay Technology Private Limited, Linkyun Technology Private Limited and others.

Three persons were arrested by the police namely Yan Hao, working as Manager of Beijing Tomorrow Power Company and a resident of Haidain di street in Beijing, China; Dhiraj Sarkar and Ankit Kapoor. The accused had adopted a novel modus operandi for the online betting scam.

During investigation it was revealed that some Chinese nationals floated multiple Indian companies with the help of some Indian Chartered Accountants.

Initially dummy Indian directors were used to incorporate the companies and, after some time, Chinese nationals travelled to India and became directors in these companies.

Some locals were hired and they opened bank accounts with HSBC Bank and trade accounts with online wallets namely Paytm, Cashfree and Razorpay.

Once bank accounts were opened, the internet access credentials were couriered by the Indian employees to China and major payment instructions came from the beneficiary owners who were safely ensconced in China.

The accused companies floated large numbers of similar looking websites which were hosted through Cloudflare, USA. "These websites attracted gullible persons to become members and to place bets on various online Apps which promised attractive rewards on simple games of chance," the ED said.

Further, a network of agents was hired to attract new customers or members. These agents created closed Telegram and WhatsApp based groups and attracted lakhs of gullible Indians. Referral codes were used to privately invite new members. This also helped the sponsoring member to earn commissions.

Paytm and Cashfree were used to collect money and pay commission to all these agent members. Hundreds of websites were created to promote online betting under the garb of e-commerce. All websites were not activated daily. Some were activated for placing bets and the information on daily active websites was shared with members through Telegram groups.

During the course of search, the ED has identified multiple bank accounts mostly held with HSBC Bank. Analysis of two bank accounts of Dokypay Technology Private Limited revealed that, in the last year, the account has seen a collection of Rs 1,268 crore out of which Rs 300 crore came via Paytm payment gateway and around Rs 600 crore was transferred out via Paytm payment gateway.

The account analysis of Linkyun Technology revealed a similar pattern, said the ED, adding that it is also revealed that outward foreign remittances for payments to the extent of Rs 120 crore from these accounts. Large unexplained financial transactions are also seen with other Indian Companies which are running online Chinese dating apps for Indian customers, the agency said.

The ED is in the process of obtaining information from online wallet companies, HSBC Bank, ROC and the investigation is under progress.
TDT | Manama

A four-member gang that specialises in pickpocketing worshippers at several mosques in the capital had their five-year prison sentence upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeal. The Arab nationals were previously convicted for stealing from worshippers in mosques in Um Al Hassam, Central Manama, and Salmaniya in recent years.

They were caught in Oman for similar charges and then handed over to Bahraini authorities, which had issued an international arrest warrant against them. According to court files, they stole more than BD1,200 in cash from worshippers and larger amounts they managed to withdraw through stolen bank cards.

The quartet followed a similar method in all of their operations, as they would stage a scene, with one of them pretending to collapse and lose consciousness, while the rest would take advantage of the distracted victims and steal their wallets.

They were all identified after reviewing footage captured by surveillance cameras installed at ATMs, where they had used the stolen cards, clearly showing their faces, while three of their victims also identified them
DUBAI: The president of the United Arab Emirates scrapped an economic boycott against Israel, allowing trade and financial agreements between the countries in another key step towards normal ties, the UAEs state news agency reported on Saturday.

Israel and the UAE said on Aug. 13 they would normalise diplomatic relations in a deal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump that reshapes the order of Middle East politics from the Palestinian issue to the fight against Iran.

President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a decree abolishing a boycott law as part of the UAEs efforts to expand diplomatic and commercial cooperation with Israel, leading to bilateral relations by stimulating economic growth and promoting technological innovation," the WAM news agency said.

The announcement came as Israeli flag carrier El Al Israel Airlines Ltd prepared to operate the countrys first direct flight between Tel Avivs Ben Gurion Airport and the UAEs capital, Abu Dhabi.

An Israeli government delegation and top aides to Trump, including his senior adviser Jared Kushner, are due to travel on the flight on Aug. 31, a U.S. official said.

Before the Aug. 13 deal can be officially signed, details must be agreed on issues such as the opening embassies, trade and travel links.

In Tel Aviv, Israeli Agriculture Minister Alon Schuster said Israel was working on potential joint projects that could help improve the oil-rich Gulf nations food security, such as water desalination and crop cultivation in the desert.

With their money and our experience, we could go a long way," he told a local radio station in an interview broadcast on Friday. Our job is to ensure that this fantastic mood is turned into reality."

Due to the presidential decree announced on Saturday, UAE citizens and businesses will be free to do business with Israel, including trade and financial transactions.

Following the abolition of the Israel boycott law, individuals and companies in the UAE may enter into agreements with bodies or individuals residing in Israel or belonging to it by their nationality, in terms of commercial, financial operations, or any other dealings of any nature," WAM quoted the decree as saying.

Still, Israel and the UAE do not yet have official air links, and it was unclear whether Mondays El Al flight would be able to fly over Saudi Arabia - which has no official ties with Israel - to cut down on flight time.

In May, an Etihad Airways plane flew from the UAE to Tel Aviv to deliver supplies to the Palestinians to help fight coronavirus, marking the first known flight by a UAE carrier to Israel.

(Additional reporting by Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Editing by Helen Popper)

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
* Central Mali ravaged by ethnic and jihadist violence

* State forces have withdrawn from many hotspots

* Military behind recent coup decried worsening security

* Al Qaeda-linked militants have helped broker local peace deals

By Aaron Ross

DAKAR, Aug 28 (Reuters) - A few weeks before military officers overthrew Mali's government in a bloodless coup, a series of meetings in the remote centre of the country underscored how much the state's grip on power had loosened.

Video of one gathering in the rural commune of Sangha shows leaders from the rival Dogon and Fulani communities, whose militias have slaughtered hundreds of civilians in tit-for-tat attacks this year, sitting down together and making peace.

Also surprising were the mediators: fighters from al Qaeda's Mali affiliate, who can be seen squatting in the shade with rifles and ammunition belts, many of their faces obscured by turbans and dark sunglasses.

Until recently, members of the al Qaeda-linked Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) - Mali's most powerful militant group - had sided with the semi-nomadic Fulani herdsmen when they clashed with the Dogon people over land and resources.

But flush with new recruits and weapons captured from overwhelmed state forces, the jihadists have turned to mediation in a bid to further entrench their local control, said Idrissa Sankare, a former member of parliament from the area.

"They want to have a territorial presence," he said. "If the population is with them, they won't denounce them to the army."

In the sparsely populated, semi-arid lands northeast of the capital Bamako plagued by violence and insecurity, some local people welcome the intervention, which began in July.

Whether it is enough to end ethnic bloodshed altogether remains to be seen.

Dozens of attacks by Dogon and Fulani militias killed more than 350 people in the first half of the year, and attacks by Islamist extremists killed dozens more, the United Nations' human rights office in Mali said this month.

Story continues

It is the kind of violence that former colonial power France wanted to squash when its military intervened in northern Mali in 2013. Since then al Qaeda-linked fighters have expanded into central Mali and neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.

Mali's army has been pulling out of some hotspots - part of what commanders describe as a new "operational posture" in the face of Islamist attacks - and civil administrators lack the resources to provide basic services, two officials from the central Mali region of Mopti said.

Western and regional officials fear the overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita last week could further strengthen the militants' hand.

After a previous coup in 2012, al Qaeda-linked insurgents took advantage of a power vacuum to seize Mali's desert north and start advancing on the capital Bamako.

NO STATE PRESENCE

There were no state representatives at the July 27 talks in Sangha, said a local official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons. The official verified the authenticity of the video, which Reuters has seen.

In it, a village leader warmly welcomes Dogon farmers and Fulani herders, even though their longstanding rivalry over land and resources has escalated dramatically in recent years, fuelled by what the United Nations says is deliberate incitement by Islamist militants aimed at boosting recruitment.

"I salute you and ask God to bless this meeting," says the leader, a Dogon, drawing his hands together as he sits in the dirt opposite the militants.

"The people of Sangha have called for reconciliation in the name of our blood bonds so that we can find peace again."

JNIM has not publicly commented on the meetings and any role in reconciling rival ethnic groups.

Spokesmen for the presidency and the army did not respond to requests for comment on the jihadists' recent intervention in rural Mali before the military takeover.

A spokesman for the new junta said officers were not immediately available to answer questions about them.

The meeting last month was one of several that al Qaeda-linked fighters have organised since late July in Mopti, leading to deals between rival groups that have allowed people from dozens of villages to return to fields and markets without fear of attack, four local officials told Reuters.

The militants' role is a reminder that, in spite of the French-backed military campaign that initially inflicted heavy casualties on groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, their influence is growing.

"People are tired. There's no state," said the official who had knowledge of the Sangha meeting. "I prefer a bad negotiation, a bad agreement, over heading to our deaths."

'TIRED OF WAR'

Informal talks between community leaders and JNIM about exploring the idea of reconciling warring clans began several months ago, the local officials said.

The militants told villagers their problem was with the government, not civilians, according to the officials. Feeling defenceless, villagers embraced the peace offering.

Videos from Sangha and other meetings - some mediated by the jihadists, others not - show Fulani and Dogon men shaking hands, laughing and praying together. Local officials confirmed the authenticity of the videos.

"Everyone is tired of this war," said Marcelin Guenguere, who was a senior member of the Dogon militia Dan Na Ambassagou before being elected to parliament in April. "We think that dialogue alone is the solution."

Rida Lyammouri, a senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South in Morocco, said the jihadists could be looking to bolster their negotiating position after the government said it was prepared to enter talks with JNIM.

He also said JNIM had fought a series of battles with fighters from Islamic State, which also has an affiliate in the region, since last year, reflecting a falling out between two groups that had largely avoided confrontation until then.

Islamic State, which has imposed a brutal interpretation of Sharia in areas it controls, sees JNIM as too moderate, Lyammouri added.

According to local officials, JNIM militants have not imposed the kind of draconian religious justice, such as cutting off the hands of suspected thieves, that gained al Qaeda fighters notoriety during their 2012 occupation of northern Mali.

Sankare, the former member of parliament, said some militants had initially pressured people to stop listening to music and drinking alcohol, but their strategy appeared to have changed.

"It seems they received instructions from their leadership to go preach the Sharia in the mosques and villages without coercion," he said. (Additional reporting by Tiemoko Diallo in Bamako; Editing by Alexandra Zavis and Mike Collett-White)
This is not a letter we wanted to write, but we are compelled to make several adjustments to our plans for undergraduate students this fall after consulting with Northwestern Medicine experts as well as state and local public health officials, officials wrote in an announcement emailed to the community Friday. We also have studied COVID-19s increasing spread through suburban Chicago, listened to your feedback, and learned from our peer institutions experiences during the early stages of reopening their campuses.
By Associated Press

CAIRO: The United Nations on Saturday voiced alarm over what it called a dramatic turn of events in Libya's civil war, after a power struggle between leaders of the Tripoli-based government surfaced in the wake of anti-corruption protests.

Libya is witnessing a dramatic turn of events that underlines the urgent need to return to a full and inclusive political process, the UN support mission in Libya said.

Protests over deteriorating economic conditions erupted earlier this week in the capital and elsewhere in western Libya, which is controlled by forces loyal to the UN-supported government.

In Tripoli, local militia allied with the government opened fire on the demonstrators using rifles and truck-mounted guns, and abducted some of the protesters.

Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj and his interior minister, Fathi Bashaga, initially accused outlawed infiltrators over the violence. The prime minister also said the protesters did not obtain necessary permits for their rally and described their demonstrations as riots.

However on Friday, Sarraj suspended Bashaga and referred him to an administrative investigation after the interior minister accused a government-allied militia of attacking the peaceful protesters in Tripoli this week.

Bashaga, who was excluded from two high-profile military and security meetings in the capital over the past few days, quickly responded. He said in a statement he accepted the premier's decision but demanded a public and live questioning to expose the facts of the incident.

Following the suspension of the interior minister, militias in Tripoli celebrated the decision by firing into the air, while others in Bashaga's hometown of Misrata took to the streets to show support for the minister.

The UN mission in Libya, known as UNSMIL, said it was still concerned about the excessive use of force against demonstrators as well as the arbitrary arrest of a number of civilians. It did not say how many people were detained.

Retweeting the UNSMILs statement, the U.S. embassy in Libya urged Sarraj and Bashaga toward cooperation" in the interests "the Libyan people.

Over the past two days, militias sealed off main streets and roads to prevent the demonstrators from reaching Tripolis Martyrs Square, the epicenter of the protests, according to two residents who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear reprisals.

A group of women however protested in the city center before being dispersed. Two women were wounded and four others were arrested, according to the protest movement, known as Hirak Aug. 23.

The movement called for civil disobedience until achieving their demands that include handing over power to the Supreme Judicial Council to work towards presidential and parliamentary elections.

Protests also spread to the southern town of Sabah and the eastern town of Quba, both under the control of rival east-based Libyan forces led by Khalifa Hifter.

The UN also said it is concerned about on-going human rights violations and abuses in the coastal city of Sirte, which is controlled by Hifters forces since January. It said at least one civilian was killed and several others were arrested.

The prolific use of hate speech and incitement to violence appears designed to further divide Libyans, increase polarization and tear at the countrys social fabric, the UN mission said.

Oil-rich Libya was plunged into chaos when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed. The country is now split between rival east- and west-based administrations, each backed by different armed groups and foreign governments.




OC Sees Improving COVID-19 Trends as State Unveils New Rating System

SANTA ANA, Calif. (CNS)Orange County falls within Californias new purple tier of counties for COVID-19, the worst level, but its on the verge of being upgraded to the next tier of red, Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said Aug. 28 after state officials unveiled a new rating program.

Still up in the air is how the new focus on case and positivity rates will affect the countys expectation to open up all schools to in-classroom learning after Labor Day.

We are very close, based on the last two weeks of data, to almost be moving into red, said Bartlett, who is also president of the California State Association of Counties.

County officials are asking the state for more clarification on when schools might be allowed to reopen. The county is still able to apply for elementary school waivers.

We thought we knew the formula for schools reopening, Bartlett told City News Service. But now with the tiered structure we dont have enough clarity relative to schools, so we are requesting additional information from the state.

The new system focuses more on case and positivity rates because of breakthroughs in testing and the ability to get results more quickly, which allows public health professionals to more efficiently quarantine and address hot spots and surges. Before, state officials focused on hospitalization and intensive-care unit beds because they wanted to be prepared for any surges that could hasten more deaths.

It actually encourages more testing and contact tracing, Bartlett said of the new system.

The system is also more fair to higher-population counties, because the overall case counts were being held against them and now officials are focusing more on present-day case counts, Bartlett said.

The state also includes a seven-day lag as a fail-safe to account for slower laboratories.

The new system also focuses on a third criteria beyond case and positivity rates, and that is still vague, Bartlett said.

When they define the third criteria more, that should bring more clarity to the counties on how they can operate within the guidelines, and which business sectors can open and to what capacity, Bartlett said.

Hair salons can reopen on Aug. 31 statewide, Bartlett said. If Orange Countys trends continue and it makes it into the red tier, then indoor dining, for example, could be added at 25 percent capacity after next week, Bartlett said.

Orange County reported on Aug. 28 that nine more people had succumbed to COVID-19, raising the death toll to 956. The county also reported 323 new diagnoses of the disease, raising the total to 47,782 since the pandemic began.

Newsom Unveils Color-Coded System for Reopenings

Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a four-tier, color-coded system on Aug. 28 that will use daily COVID-19 case numbers and positivity rates to guide counties ability to reopen businesses, a process he said will take a slow and more stringent approach to economic reopening.

COVID-19 will be with us for a long time and we need to adapt, Newsom said.

We must deal with this reality and this fundamental truth until there is a vaccine, until we have the kind of therapeutics that could substantially mitigate the spread and the impact of COVID-19  we will simply need to adapt our behaviors until that time.

The adjustment allows barbershops and hair salonswhich are currently restricted to outdoor operationsto reopen indoors with safety precautions starting Aug. 31, but local health officials would have to sign off on that change first.

The four-tier system replaces the states COVID-19 monitoring list, which was being used to gauge individual counties success in controlling the spread of COVID-19.

Counties on the monitoring listincluding Los Angeles and Riversidewere heavily restricted in terms of allowable business operations, while counties not on the listincluding Orange and San Diegowere given more leeway to reopen economic sectors and even schools.

Newsom called the new system a more dynamic list that we hope is not only more dynamic but much more simple to understand.

The monitoring list relied on six criterianew case rates, positivity rates, testing capacity, hospitalization numbers, and availability of intensive care unit beds and ventilators.

The new system, however, relies on two metrics: the daily rate of new cases per 100,000 residents, and the seven-day average rate of positive tests. Based on those numbers, counties are filtered into one of four tiers:

counties with more than seven new cases per 100,000 residents and a positivity rate of more than 8 percent are in the purple (widespread) category;

counties with four to seven new cases per 100,000 and a positivity rate between 5 percent and 8 percent are in the red (substantial) category;

counties with one to 3.9 new cases per 100,000 and a positivity rate from 2 percent to 4.9 percent are in the orange (moderate) category;

and counties with less than one new case per 100,000 and a positivity rate less than 2 percent are in the yellow (minimal) category.

Of Californias 58 counties, 38 are now listed in the purple, or widespread, category, which Newsom equated to being on the previous monitoring list.

Although Orange County recently fell off the monitoring list, it was placed in the purple category because the new system only allows counties to move between tiers every 21 days, and counties must meet statistical criteria for at least 14 days before moving into a new category.

For Orange County, the change means a likely delay in the possible reopening of school campuses for in-person instruction.

Los Angeles and Riverside counties both fall into the purple category. San Diego County is in the less-restrictive red category.

As counties move down the list of risk categories, restrictions on business operations are slowly eased.

In conjunction with the switch, the state revised its website, covid19.ca.gov, on which people can enter their county and choose an economic sector. The website will then tell the user what category the county is in, and provide information about what businesses are open and what types of restrictions they must adhere to.
Electricity restoration and clean up efforts are likely to be hampered in storm-struck areas of Victoria on Sunday, as gusts of up to 100km per hour batter the state again.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds on Sunday that stretch from Warrnambool to the Alpine ranges, and includes Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat.

Melbourne residents are waiting to hear when they will no longer need to boil drinking water, as many gathered on Saturday at emergency tankers to fill bottles and pots and pans after a wild storm caused widespread blackouts and potentially contaminated drinking supplies across at least 100 suburbs.

More than 270,000 households were still being urged to boil their water on Saturday afternoon as they anticipated an update at 8pm. About 10,000 homes remained without power after the vicious winds and heavy rain that lashed the state on Thursday night knocked out power to more than 130,000 customers.
Colombo, Aug 29 : The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has decided to extend a debt moratorium for the country's crisis-hit tourism sector by six months.

A debt moratorium on capital and interest for Sri Lanka's tourism sector which was initiated in April 2019 in the wake of the Easter attacks and expected to expire on September 30, has been extended until March 31 2021, Xinhua news agency quoted the CBSL as saying on Friday.

The CBSL requested licensed commercial banks and licensed specialized banks to provide moratoriums following representations made by the Ministry of Tourism and in light of the ongoing effects of the pandemic on tourism-related businesses.

Tourism industry stakeholders, including The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) and Colombo City Hotels Association (CCHA), welcomed the moratorium extension, citing difficulties faced in the wake of the 2019 Easter attacks and the pandemic.

Sri Lanka's international airports remain closed to foreign tourists, with zero arrivals recorded since May, as the government continues to keep a tight lid in order to eradicate the pandemic.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
OTTAWA - When armed soldiers arrested Mali's embattled president earlier this month and forced him to resign on television in a coup that has been widely condemned by the international community, Canada was among those to speak out in unequivocal terms.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - When armed soldiers arrested Mali's embattled president earlier this month and forced him to resign on television in a coup that has been widely condemned by the international community, Canada was among those to speak out in unequivocal terms.

"Canada strongly condemns the coup d'etat in Mali," Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a statement on Aug. 19, using diplomatic language usually reserved for only the most serious denunciations.

The minister went on to promise that Canada would work closely with West African countries, the African Union and United Nations to return Mali to civilian rule and continue implementation of a peace deal that ostensibly ended a civil war in 2014.

Champagne's statement largely reflected the priorities of not only Canada but much of the global community in Mali: maintaining peace and stability in a part of the world where war and instability could have serious ramifications for Africa and the West.

Yet there is a sense that despite sending hundreds of peacekeepers to Mali and investing hundreds of millions in assistance in the country in recent years, Canada has become largely disengaged from it thanks to a lack of political will and interest.

"It's kind of a token involvement," said Bruno Charbonneau, an expert on Mali at the Royal Military College Saint-Jean. "You throw money at the thing and hope it sticks somewhere, it has an impact. The political interest or will from Ottawa is not really there."

Mali has teetered on the edge of instability since 2012, when the country's military launched its first coup even as nomadic rebels in the north supported by jihadists linked to al-Qaeda rebelled against the government in Bamako.

Civilian rule was eventually restored and a peace agreement between the Malian government and rebel groups signed ending the rebellion, but the country continued to be riven by intercommunal divisions and violence as well as rampant corruption.

The coup on Aug. 18 that saw president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita arrested and forced to resign was an "exclamation point" or culmination of all those factors coming together, said Jonathan Sears, an expert on Mali at the University of Winnipeg.

In an interview with The Canadian Press last week, Champagne said the federal government was rethinking its relationship and support for Mali in light of the coup. But he insisted Canada could not and would not simply walk away from the country.

Canada has a long history in Mali. Not only has the West African nation been a top recipient of Canadian foreign aid for most of the past 50 years, it has also been home to a large number of Canadian-backed mines for gold and other precious minerals.

Canada's most visible contribution to Mali in recent years, however, was the yearlong deployment starting in August 2018 of hundreds of peacekeepers to provide helicopter-borne medical evacuation and logistical support to the United Nations.

Yet the UN had to practically arm twist Canada into the mission and the federal Liberal government resisted repeated requests for Canadian troops to stay longer, all of which was seen as a signal of its lack of real interest in the country.

Two years later, Canada has 10 military officers working at the UN mission headquarters in Bamako and five police officers helping train local security forces  far fewer police officers than the 20 that were promised in 2018.

While the European Union on Wednesday elected to suspend its own military and police training missions due to the coup, it wasn't immediately clear whether the UN  including Canadian troops and police  would be following suit.

"Canadian officials are continuously monitoring the situation, but no change to police deployments to Mali are envisaged at this time," RCMP spokeswoman Robin Percival said in an email.

Meanwhile, Mali remains one of Canada's top aid recipients; the West African nation has received more than $1.6 billion since 2000, according to the federal government, including almost $140 million in 2018-19.

But while Sears says that money is making a difference to some communities, his concern is that Canada is not doing enough to address the more foundational issues afflicting Mali.

Those include the numerous internal divisions that are contributing to the growing instability and violence plaguing Mali, as well as the growing disillusionment with the country's governing class due to corruption and other challenges.

"They've kind of enabled individuals in communities to cope with the larger structural problems," Sears said of Canadian projects in Mali. "But these small successes actually kind of further entrench the larger problems."

Even before the coup, some critics, such as former Canadian diplomat Louise Ouimet, had started to question the degree to which Canada was really helping Mali as it struggles to overcome its longstanding problems and chart a sustainable path forward.

"My country, Canada, seems absent from the discussions in Bamako, at least the media do not report it, while Mali has been an important country for international co-operation for more than 40 years," Ouimet wrote in an online post last month.

Mali isn't the only place where the government is facing questions; the federal Liberals have been accused of largely ignoring international affairs and faced calls for a foreign-policy review after Canada lost its UN Security Council bid in June.

Charbonneau said it would be unfair to blame a lack of Canadian involvement or interest in Mali for this month's coup, which some are hoping will finally pave the way for real reform in Bamako and usher in a new era of peace and stability for the country.

"Having said that, I have made the point that Canada should have taken much more of a leadership role in Mali, which they didn't obviously," he said. "There needs to a discussion about the approach that people are taking and have taken in Mali."

For his part, Sears is hoping Canada will step up and be among those preaching patience as the international community pushes for a return to civilian rule amid fears that a vacuum could lead to more instability and violence and empower jihadist groups.

"I'd like to see Canada be a voice for not rushing transition," he said. "Because my concern is we're going to reproduce most of the flaws of the previous transition and not really take into account some of the problems that have gotten worse since 2013."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2020.
The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Friday that Chairman Eliot Engel will begin to work on a resolution to hold Secretary of State in contempt over his refusal to provide documents about the alleged political misuse of State Department resources.

"Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today announced that the Committee will begin work on a resolution holding Secretary of State in contempt. Chairman Engel made this announcement amid Secretary Pompeo's ongoing refusal to comply with the Committee's duly authorized subpoena for records into his transparently political misuse of Department resources," the release said.

Engel said Pompeo is defying two subpoenas authorized by the Foreign Affairs Committee to look into matters related to the Trump impeachment inquiry and Ukraine.

Democrats have criticized Pompeo for allegedly violating US law and State Department policy by taking part in the Republican National Convention this week. Senate-appointed officials are prohibited from participating in political events.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the United States' economy still in limbo, last week millions of out-of-work Americans also still look for assistance while the coronavirus continues to spike.

The Labor Department shared on Thursday the same numbers with the economists' initial forecasts, noting 1 million Americans filed their initial claims for unemployment benefits.

After 23 weeks, the latest surge of assistance seekers just put the numbers over 58 million Americans who filed for the aid.

The rising number of layoffs, the claims, are just some of the numerous reasons that reflect the economic struggle as Americans continue to strive and look for assistance in order to buy groceries and pay bills while staying in their homes, USA Today reported.

Senior fellow at The Century Foundation, Andrew Stettner shared in a statement th

at after six months of struggle due to the pandemic, the main issue is not the recent layoffs but the slow pace in the rehiring process for the workers.

He also added that as the rent for September will due soon and food security remains questionable, the worst is yet to come for Americans if the Congress and President Donald Trump will not focus on the relief that is needed this pandemic.

The number of Americans seeking unemployment assistance just kept seesawing as it rises and falls from time to time but the fact remains that it is historically high as it passed the previous record of 695, 000 claims requested weekly during the 1982 recession.

The sudden swings in the numbers reflect that the US economy is still shaky as businesses gradually reopen while some are laying offs but there is a lot of rehiring recently despite the spike in coronavirus cases.

After its peak in late April, a recent number of Americans diagnosed with coronavirus have flattened but the spike still continues as there are surges in infections especially in numerous states in Southern area including North and South Dakota.

Read also: CDC Alters COVID-19 Testing Guidelines, Announces Asymptomatic Cases No Longer Need Testing

Home Owners and Renters Asks for Aid

Based on the recent survey of the Mortgage Bankers Association, 3.6 million homeowners are in forbearance according to the estimation, which means their lenders have halted or reduced their mortgage payments due to their struggle in paying but it is just temporary.

A recent survey also reflects that the number of recipients of the home loans shrank slightly.

MBA's senior vice president and chief economist, Mike Fratantoni shared in a statement that the share of loans in forbearance declined for ten succeeding weeks already.

According to People, he also mentioned that the extremely high rate of initial claims for unemployment insurance together with the still high-level unemployment still remained the main concerns economically as it is just the initial indication that many households are facing a lot of challenges.

Fratantoni also stated that the pace of those who are coming out of forbearance has slowed for two weeks in a row recently.

Due to the alarming numbers, Oxford Economics shared in a note that renters are now in great trouble as the executive action mentioned by President Donald Trump is not spelled out and as of the moment, up to 15 million Americans could face eviction.



Related article: $300 Unemployment Benefit: Who Will Get It and When?

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Queensland's deputy premier has unleashed at Scott Morrison after he questioned why a pregnant woman near the border had to fly to Sydney for treatment, before losing one of her unborn twins.

Steven Miles, the state's deputy leader, said on Saturday the Prime Minister should focus on 'the things he's responsible for, like international borders, like aged care, like supporting the Victorian government in their response'.

Mr Morrison had previously demanded an explanation as to why a northern New South Wales woman had to wait 16 hours for a flight to Sydney after pregnancy complications when facilities at Brisbane were two hours away.

Mr Morrison said he was heartbroken that Kimberley Brown (pictured, with her partner), from Ballina, in northern New South Wales, lost their child

He said the PM should not be 'lecturing those states that so far have done a very good job of keeping on top of COVID, and are doing their very, very best to keep their communities safe in an ongoing way'.

Mr Miles added that the woman's situation was a 'very tragic, very private matter' and that the border restrictions were 'clear' that those requiring emergency medical care would not be stopped.

'I can assure you we are doing everything we can to ensure these border restrictions do not limit patients [needing care]. If there is a communication problem south of the border, I want to fix it,' he said.

Mr Morrison had previously said he was heartbroken that Kimberley Brown, from Ballina, in northern New South Wales, was unable to obtain a travel exemption for urgent surgery.

Her unborn twins had developed twin transfusion syndrome - a disorder that leads to malnourishment and organ failure in one of the babies.

Mrs Brown lived just two hours from Queensland's Mater Hospital but instead had to wait 16 hours for an emergency flight and travel 750 kilometres to Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

An ultrasound later showed Mrs Brown had lost one of the babies.

Steven Miles (pictured) said on Saturday the Prime Minister should focus on 'the things he's responsible for, like international borders, like aged care, like supporting the Victorian government in their response'

The couple were forced to get an emergency flight from Lismore to Sydney despite living just two hours from a hospital in Queensland

Mr Morrison attended the Bush Summit at Cooma on Friday and said the border closures were creating more problems for families.

'It's unthinkable. To know this family has had to deal with border permits at a time when only one thing should have mattered, and that is the health of this young child,' he said.

'I know state borders are putting enormous stress and strain on Australians.

'We need to get these principles established to ease the impact of these restrictions. We've got to put aside the disagreements we've had about this and get arrangements that can be workable and also protect people's health.

MS BROWN'S CASE August 8 - Queensland shuts borders to NSW August 12 -Kimberley Brown and her husband Scott are told their twins have developed rare disorder and that one of the babies' lives was at stake. August 13 - Mater Hospital tell Ms Brown she will have to apply for a border exemption so they decide to travel to Sydney. They wait 16 hours for a flight. August 14 - Medics perform laser surgery on Ms Watt. August 27 - Ms Brown discovers she has lost one of the babies following an ultrasound. Advertisement

Mr Morrison said he understood border closures were necessary when there were reports of high COVID-19 cases in neighbouring states.

Though he said there was no excuse for closing them when cases were low.

'Much more needs to be done to ensure these border movements are made easier and ultimately to ensure they're open again,' he said.

'While the scale of the Victorian outbreak meant the borders between NSW and Vic were regrettably necessary  and they are and remain  this does not diminish the principle that border restrictions, especially where there are no or very low cases in regional areas, cannot and should not be sustained.

'Australia was not built to have internal borders. The point of federation was not to have them.'

Mrs Brown's father Alan Watt said the ordeal was extremely distressing for the family.

'I am just really upset - I don't know what to say. I am really upset this has gone as far as it had,' Mr Watt said.

'We don't blame anyone for what happened. It is just one of those things that happen.

'We just hope [the other unborn child] makes it through to a happy ending.'

Mr Morrison had previously demanded an explanation as to why the northern New South Wales woman had to wait 16 hours for a flight to Sydney after pregnancy complications when facilities at Brisbane were two hours away

Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was not involved in individual cases and that the state was always ready to help families in need of urgent care.

'We are very, very compassionate in this state,' Ms Palaszczuk said.

'If there is someone that needs emergency care, if they need a helicopter to fly them to one of their hospitals, that will happen.'

Queensland Health said it did not receive a formal transfer request and that the final decision to transfer Mrs Brown was made by NSW clinicians.

'We extend our deepest sympathies to this family,' a Queensland Health spokesperson said.
Police rescued an 11-year-old boy within 24 hours of him being kidnapped from an area in the city and arrested six abductors who demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crore for releasing him, police said on Saturday. I appreciate the Bengaluru East Division officers and staff for arresting six persons within 24 hours of kidnapping an 11-year-old boy," Bengaluru police commissioner Kamal Pant said.

According to the Additional Commissioner of police (East Zone) S Murugan, those arrested are Fahim, Mujammil, Faizan, Mohammed Shahid, Kaleel and Mohammed Zayn. All of them are in the age group of 20 to 30 years and are allegedly drug addicts, police said.

Mohammed Shahid is facing a robbery case. They were the boys neighbours. They had followed the boy for many days," Murugan said. He said the boy was playing near his house on Thursday when the gang lured him and took him away on the pretext of giving him a kite.

They took him in a car after drugging him by mixing calmpose pills in a soft drink so that he did not make any noise and drove the vehicle towards Tumakuru, police said. While the family was in distress over the missing child, in the wee hours of Friday, the boys father, who is a cloth merchant, received a call from the abductors to arrange Rs two crore.

Shaken by the call, the boys father called the police. Quickly five teams were formed, which was led by the inspectors of five police stations. The team worked in a coordinated manner and found out that the accused were in Tumakuru. The teams drove to Tumakuru and chased them for 15 kilometres until the abductors car overturned.

Police arrested five of them from the spot and rescued the boy. Mohammed Zayn, who was allegedly the mastermind, was arrested from Shyampur.

When the police team went to arrest him, he attacked them and the personnel had to open fire in self-defence, wounding him in his right leg, police said. He is undergoing treatment in hospital, they added.
This essay is adapted from Thomas Homer-Dixons new book, Commanding Hope: The Power We Have to Renew a World in Peril (Knopf Canada). Homer-Dixon holds a University Research Chair at the University of Waterloo and is executive director of the Cascade Institute at Royal Roads University. Hes also an award-winning author, focusing on threats to global security.

The rising risk of nuclear war. Donald Trumps 2016 election. Vast clouds of wildfire smoke. A global pandemic.

These four things seem like apples and oranges, but they share one key similarity: each signals that something is going awry in the story of human progress.

Of course, that story is enormously complex and can be read in many ways. By one reading, our species has made stunning advances since, say, the middle of last century. As authors such as Steven Pinker note, rates of wretched poverty, infectious disease, and mass violence have all plummeted around the world in recent decades. And when we look ahead, exciting technological advances in genetic medicine, robotics, artificial intelligence and the like seem about to bring huge improvements to (at least some) peoples lives.

But by another reading, humanity is no longer moving towards a future anymore that will allow our communities locally, nationally and globally to flourish together. If were moving anywhere at all, we seem to be sliding down a slippery slope towards a treacherous place, with unreason, self-righteous anger and racism greasing our shared descent.

Nations have abjectly failed to rid the world of nuclear weapons once and for all. The great powers (and a few smaller ones, too) still deploy these hideous machines by the thousands, many on high alert, despite countless mass protests down through the years, as well as advocacy campaigns, desperate pleas by scientists and earnest commitments by statesmen.

Worse, after several decades when treaties and detente between nuclear-armed countries did genuinely reduce the risk of nuclear war, its now escalating again, as the United States pulls out of arms-control treaties, while leaders of the United States, Russia, North Korea, India and Pakistan brag about using nukes to annihilate their enemies.

Across other fronts, too, threats to our collective well-being are multiplying.

We see economic, political and social distress soaring within many societies from widening inequalities of wealth and opportunity, large disparities in human population growth between the worlds rich and poor regions, surging flows of distressed migrants and refugees inside countries and across international borders, and cascading effects of contagious disease  so far in 2020, hundreds of millions of jobs lost and, countless companies bankrupt, and rising hunger and civil unrest in poor countries far and wide.

Were seeing, as well, worsening instabilities in key natural systems, particularly Earths climate. As humanitys staggering resource consumption and pollution output push these natural systems out of equilibrium, coral reefs die; populations of vertebrates, birds and insects, including pollinators, plummet; the Arctic ice cap shrinks; extraordinarily powerful storms ravage the worlds coastlines; droughts bake its croplands; and vicious fires rip through its forests.

We might consciously notice some of these threats  as when news of cross-border migrations or economic dislocations directly affects us, wildfire smoke blots out the sky overhead, or a new coronavirus locks down our community, costs us our jobs and destroys our savings  but most of us are only subliminally aware of the other threats, like growing economic inequality and disappearing pollinators.

Still, even this subliminal awareness can powerfully affect our general mood by creating an intuition that things are going wrong  that our lives are ever more insecure, that other people and groups are getting ahead of us, and, perhaps most alarmingly, that our children are likely to be worse off than us when they grow up.

That intuition is reinforced by an apparently nonstop stream of events  headlined in our news feeds  that not long ago would have seemed, once again, right out of a dystopian fantasy. We see video clips of young men driving trucks at high speed into families strolling in city streets; an accountant firing automatic weapons from a hotel tower into a crowd at a music festival; professed Nazis marching shamelessly in public spaces; and war combatants in Syria deliberately targeting hospitals with missiles and children  children!  with poison gas.

As the feeling that things are going wrong becomes palpable, people become more likely to perceive the world as fraught with uncertainty and bounded by constraint, and theyre more likely to think that danger and awful surprise lurk just beyond the edge of their day-to-day reality.

And as they become hesitant and anxious  as their faith in progress shrinks  they become more inclined to talk to each other in the emotional cadences of doubt and fear, and the stories they tell about their future become muted and drained of excitement and positive possibility. (The French word inquietude  a disturbing emotional state caused by fear, worry and uncertainty  captures this feeling well.)

Mood matters. When hundreds of millions if not billions of people start to feel these ways, the basic dynamic of humanitys politics can shift abruptly  as we saw, for instance, during the Great Depression and its aftermath.

Many people, scared and resentful, turn away from leaders who seem soft, incompetent, beholden to powerful elite interests and unable to come to grips with the problems affecting them, and turn towards those who are hard, angry and decisive (yet often equally or more beholden to elite interests) and who declare theyll protect families, communities and nations with whatever means necessary. Authoritarianism gains ground.

Autocrats have historically played on their followers social and economic insecurities and on fears of them to curtail basic political and civil rights, suffocate free speech and assembly, and jail or sometimes assassinate opponents and journalists. Today, even in some of the worlds oldest liberal democracies like the United States and England, populist politicians and their enablers are stoking grievances towards outsiders; attacking the free press, basic democratic norms of tolerance and forbearance, and the rule of law; and denying well-established scientific fact.

This shift is fraying the fabric of norms, institutions and laws  the liberal international order  that people worldwide have laboriously woven since the middle of the 19th century in innovative answer to world wars, genocides, financial crises, famines, pandemics and environmental calamities.

It ranges from the Geneva Protocol banning the use of poison gas to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Threadbare even at its best, this fabric is now being shredded by neglect, underfunding, the outright hostility of many nations and, most importantly, the impunity enjoyed by those who regularly violate its makeshift moral framework.

What does all of this portend? Are we at a point where the curve of our collective well-being begins to bend sharply downwards? It appears so: when we dispassionately weigh the evidence, the negative trends Ive just described seem to be starting to overwhelm the positive ones highlighted by Pinker, Gregg Easterbrook, Matt Ridley, and like-minded commentators. This new downward trend isnt inexorable, though  at least not yet. There are still many things we can do to bend our curve upwards again.

And by we here, I mean not just North Americans or members of the richer western societies, but all people, everywhere. The entire human species is involved today; our fates are too intertwined on Earth for it to be otherwise, as the COVID-19 pandemics explosive propagation through our tightly connected global networks has made abundantly clear.

Humanity cant and wont address its urgent challenges unless enough of us from a broad range of cultures and societies recognize ourselves as one group, with a shared sense of identity, facing these challenges and developing solutions together.

At this crucial moment in humanitys history, I argue, three changes are essential to keep us from descending into intractable, savage violence.

First, we need individually to better understand how and why we see the world the way we do and what makes other peoples views sometimes so different from ours. Second, instead of passively accepting a dystopian image of what will come tomorrow, we need to actively create together from our diverse perspectives a shared story of a positive future  including a shared identity as we  that will help us address our common problems and thrive. And, finally, we need to fully mobilize our extraordinary human agency to produce that future.

Each of these changes requires that we have hope. Unfortunately, though, hope has seen better days.

Barely more than a decade ago, Barack Obama could speak unabashedly of the audacity of hope in his presidential campaign, and his idea was a powerfully motivating psychological and social force in the world. And over the last 15 years, eminent thinkers and social scientists have called for radical hope, active hope and intrinsic hope. But despite these vital efforts to rejuvenate the idea, many of us have come to regard hope with disdain  as a state of mind thats naive and irresolute at best, delusional at worst.

In Dantes 14th-century epic poem The Divine Comedy, the entrance to Hell famously carries the inscription: Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. The phrase has become watered down over time, almost trite. But facing a future that promises to be hell for countless people, our task in the 21st century is to rediscover the power of the uniquely human ability to hope  an ability to envision and strive toward a positive future thats an alternative to whatever challenging or even unbearable present were living in.

I propose a way of mobilizing hopes immense psychological power, as people have done in times of great stress before and can do again. What I call commanding hope is grounded in historical and scientific knowledge of how hope works at every level  in our lives as individual human beings and in our societies too. Today, confronting challenges so large that all too often we feel unable to move, we need it more than ever.

There are no guarantees of success. The perils are real, and the chances well prevail may be small. But we face a choice between denying reality, running from the crisis, or facing that crisis head on to fight for a far better future.

Ive written this book for all of us  community activists, parents and grandparents, students and teachers, business and religious leaders, farmers and builders, scientists and engineers, nurses and doctors, restaurant and shop owners and artists, politicians and voters  all of us who choose to fight.

Commanding Hope: The Power We Have to Renew a World in Peril is released next week.

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US bombers to overfly all 30 NATO Allies in a single day

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

28 Aug. 2020

Six US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft are overflying all 30 NATO Allies on Friday (28 August 2020), training together with Allied air forces. As four US strategic bombers fly over Europe and two over North America for this long-planned event, named "Allied Sky", they will be accompanied by around 80 fighter aircraft from across the Alliance, providing an opportunity to boost Allies' ability to train and operate alongside each other.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: "Today's training event demonstrates the United States' powerful commitment to NATO, and Allied solidarity in action. As US bombers overfly all 30 NATO Allies in a single day, they are being accompanied by fighter jets from across the Alliance, boosting our ability to respond together to any challenge. Training events like this help ensure that we fulfil our core mission: to deter aggression, prevent conflict, and preserve peace."

Aircraft from 20 NATO Allies are expected to fly alongside the US bombers: Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

Based at the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, the B-52s arrived in Europe on 22 August, flying into Royal Air Force Fairford in the United Kingdom. Earlier this week, the bombers also exercised together with Norwegian F-16 and F-35 fighter aircraft off the coast of Norway.

Since 2018, the US has conducted more than 200 Bomber Task Force sorties with Allies and partners. Most recently, this involved B-1B Lancer flights over the Nordic, Baltic, and Black Sea regions in May, as well as an air policing overflight of North Macedonia, NATO's newest member. In June, B-52H Stratofortresses conducted flights over the Arctic Ocean, and later took part in BALTOPS, the largest annual exercise in the Baltic Sea.

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President Donald Trump announced a deal worth $750 million with Abbott Laboratories for rapid COVID-19 tests at the Republican National Convention on Thursday night.

Under the agreement, the administration purchased 150 million rapid tests, which take only 15 minutes to deliver a result.

According to CBS News, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday granted Abbott's test emergency use authorization for suspected COVID-19 patients.

Abbott's rapid test is the first COVID-19 rapid test that don't need any special computer equipment to show its results.

Abbott's rapid test is like the size of a credit card, which is based on a similar technology used to test other infections like flu and strep throat.

The FDA said in a statement announcing the decision the result could be read directly from the testing card. The rapid tests are similar in design to some pregnancy test kits.

"This simple design is fast and efficient for healthcare providers and patients and does not need an analyzer," the FDA noted.

According to Abbott, the test would cost only $5. The price will give a competitive edge over similar tests that need to be run through a machine. However, as per CBS News, the new test of Abbott still has limitations.

The rapid test still needs a nasal swab by a health worker like most older COVID-19 tests and the result can be less accurate than the slower types of tests.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted Trump's announcement on the purchase and production of 150 million rapid tests.





This is a major development that will help our country to remain open, get Americans back to work, and kids back to school! President @realDonaldTrump has announced the purchase and production of 150 million rapid tests.This is a major development that will help our country to remain open, get Americans back to work, and kids back to school!  Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) August 27, 2020

Meanwhile, Abbott's negative test results may need to be confirmed with a lab test in some cases, as per the FDA.

"In general, antigen tests are precise, but are not as sensitive as molecular tests," the FDA said. This means that the Abbott tests may be more likely to have false-negative results, which could miss cases where a person is actually infected.

In some cases, the FDA noted that people who test negative might need to be tested again with a molecular lab test to confirm the results.

The agency explained that due to the potential for the decreased sensitivity unlink to molecular assays, negative results from the rapid tests might need to be confirmed with a molecular test before making the treatment process.

"Negative results from an antigen test should be considered in the context of clinical observations, patient history, and epidemiological information," the FDA said.

The Trump administration's agreement with Abbott Laboratories could increase coronavirus testing in the United States despite the rapid tests' limitations. Increasing the COVID-19 testing is the public health experts' goal, which the President dismissed earlier.

As of Thursday, there were over 5.8 million COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and more than 180,000 recorded deaths, as per the John Hopkins University data.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) admiral, Brett P. Giroir, said that the agency doesn't expect the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance to affect the testing volume in the country.

Early this week, the CDC revised its COVID-19 testing recommendations to indicate that many individuals who have been exposed to the virus but are not showing symptoms may not need to be tested.

Giroir maintained that the government anticipates the volume will rise in the next couple of months as people who need to return to work and school are regularly tested.

Abbott's test could be an ideal help for such testing, as per the FDA. The agency listed "point-of-care settings," like a doctor's office, emergency room, or locations on some schools where the rapid test could be conducted.

Next month, Abbott targets to ship "tens of millions" of the tests, then ramp up to "50 million tests" per month in the first week of October.

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Three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were gunned down in an encounter, in which an Indian Army soldier also lost his life, during a security operation in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Saturday, officials said.

Inspector general of police Vijay Kumar said the terrorists were killed in a joint operation in Zadoora village of the district where 40 CRPF troopers were killed in a suicide attack last year.

The operation was launched on a specific input and in the ensuing encounter, three terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Adil Hafiz, Arshid Ahmad Dar and Rouf Ahmad Mir -- all residents of Pulwama, he said.

Police said that during Saturdays encounter one army jawan received critical injuries and was shifted to an army hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Police said the terrorists killed in Saturdays encounter had been involved in planning and carrying out previous records in the Valley. They were part of groups involved in planning and executing several terror attacks in the area including attacks on police and security establishments. As per police records, Adil Hafiz was involved in case FIR No. 112/2020 pertaining to attack on naka [patrol] party at Prichoo Bridge in which one police personnel was killed and another was injured, an official aware of the matter said.

The bodies of the terrorists have been be sent to Baramulla in the Valley, where family members can carry out the last rites, a police spokesperson said.

This was the second such encounter in 24 hours. On Friday, security forces killed four terrorists and captured another in south Kashmirs Shopian district.

On Friday forces in an encounter had killed four militants, including a top commander of Al-Badr, and captured one in south Kashmirs Shopian district. One of the four terrorists was identified as a key commander or Al-Badr , Shakoor Parray, a former police constable who was involved in recruiting youths into militant ranks in Kashmir.
But it is interesting to hang on to the idea  or the memory, even the wish-fulfilment  of a collapsed love, in a palace  with its associations of vastness and luxury  that has been reduced to a fragile skeleton the size of a dolls house. To ponder, too, the tension between lovers and mothers, and things that hover and things that stand on the ground. And to dwell, finally, on the evocation of a time  4 a.m.  when almost no one is awake, and the entire world seems to blow through your vanished defenses.
New Zealand Food Safety  NZFS -is advising parents to check baby food in squeezable pouches after some product was discovered with damaged packaging.

About 30 individual pouches of baby food across six supermarkets in Auckland, and one in Napier, have been discovered with damaged packaging. All damaged product has been removed from shelves.

As a precaution, Woolworths New Zealand have checked all baby food in all their stores and distribution centres across the country to ensure no damaged product remains on shelves. Foodstuffs is in the process of checking all baby food in its stores across the country.

The brands in which damaged product has been identified are Only Organic, Natureland and Smiling Tums.

The stores in which damaged product has been identified are Birkenhead Countdown, Auckland  15 packets. Milford Countdown, Auckland  4 packets, Meadowlands Countdown, Auckland  one packet, Three Kings Countdown, Auckland  two packs, SuperValue Avondale, Auckland  six packs, and Carlyle Countdown, Napier  one packet.

The matter is being investigated to determine the source of the damage, says New Zealand Food Safety Director of Compliance Gary Orr.

In the meantime, our advice to parents is that they should check the packaging of baby food pouches before using them. You can give the packet a light squeeze to identify any holes or other damage.

In all the damaged product that has been identified so far, the holes have been prominent and easy to see without squeezing. Of course, any product with any damaged packaging should not be consumed.

To be on the safe side, if you have any doubts about any baby food pouches in your home, please let the retailer know and return it to the store if you can, as this might help us track down the cause of the damage. If you have any medical concerns about your children seek medical advice.

Damage to packaging does occur from time to time as part of the process of manufacturing and distributing food.

While weve not yet been able to be definitive about the cause of the damaged baby food packages in this instance, were looking into the possibility that it was the result of a manufacturing fault.

The matter has also been referred to the New Zealand Police to rule out the possibility that the damage was caused deliberately, and they are investigating.

Police are making a number of enquiries to establish the circumstances of how the damage occurred.
[Follow our live Hurricane Sally updates and our map tracker.]

CARLYSS, La.  Karla Broussard was standing under the awning of her liquor store on Friday, to stay dry in the rain. All around her the town of Carlyss was a mess. Hurricane Laura had not been kind.

Power lines, and the poles attached to them, draped the Louisiana roads. The steeple at the First Baptist Church of Carlyss lay in a pile of debris by the front doors. Some homes and businesses were see-through, with missing roofs, walls, doorways. The skies were gray. Thunder rumbled in the distance.

This is way worse than Rita, she said, echoing the sentiment of many in the region this week.

Ms. Broussard was referring to Hurricane Rita, the massive 2005 storm that tore ferociously through southwest Louisiana and East Texas a few weeks after its more infamous cousin, Hurricane Katrina. It was Katrina, which crippled New Orleans and killed more than 1,500 people, that got the worlds attention. But out in the wide-open, working-class, oil-patch country to the west of New Orleans, it was Rita that became the benchmark storm for a generation.
Public health experts expressed concern Friday about President Donald Trumps largely mask-free, socially un-distanced Republican convention event on the White House lawn, saying some of his 1,500 guests may have inadvertently brought and spread the coronavirus to others.

There almost certainly were individuals there who were infected with Covid-19 but dont know it, said Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University.

Also read: Donald Trumps administration allows deferral of Social Security tax

I worry about these individuals infecting one another and most certainly going back to their home, said Wen, who previously served as Baltimores health commissioner.

Trump delivered his speech accepting the GOP presidential nomination at the Thursday night event, which continued a pattern of flouting coronavirus safety guidelines.

Few in the audience wore masks when virtually all leading public health professionals, including the administrations, say face coverings play a big part in slowing virus transmission.

Chairs were placed inches apart instead of the recommended 6 feet, leaving attendees little room to practice social distancing.

Only those guests the White House expected to be in close proximity to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were to be tested for Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.

Also read: Donald Trump says India 2nd largest country to conduct Covid-19 tests after US

Though public health officials have said outdoors is safer than indoors, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also puts the risk of Covid-19 spreading at its highest at large outdoor events and in-person gatherings where people cannot stay 6 feet apart and attendees come from out of town.

Trumps campaign issued a statement from Dr. Robert Darling, chief medical officer of Patronus Medical Corp., who said the Republican National Committees protocols are in full compliance with multiple guidelines issued by the CDC, the District of Columbia health department and other leading health authorities. He provided no details.

The campaign said Darling, a former White House physician to President Bill Clinton, has been working with the RNC to make sure the proper protocols are in place at convention sites.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, where delegates met Monday to nominate Trump for reelection, the city required a process to be put in place to trace peoples contacts in the event of an outbreak, including requiring attendees to wear trackers on their lanyards.

Masks and social distancing requirements were also in place, and attendees were required to complete a daily temperature screening and wellness questionnaire. They were tested before departing for Charlotte and retested upon arrival.

Out of nearly 800 coronavirus tests administered, two attendees and two people supporting the Charlotte event tested positive after they arrived, the county health department said. The four individuals were instructed to isolate, and any known close contacts were notified and given instructions on quarantining, the department said.

Public health officials also expressed concern over a march in Washington on Friday to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The size of the event had been scaled back because of coronavirus concerns.

Participants underwent temperature checks as part of coronavirus protocols. Organizers also reminded the marchers to practice social distancing and wear masks, though many were bare-faced and packed together.

Before a Trump rally Friday night in New Hampshire, a campaign advisory said masks for attendees were required in accordance with Republican Gov. Chris Sununus executive orders, and would be provided.

Before Trump arrived, many in the crowd did not put their masks back on after singing the national anthem. They later booed when a campaign staffer called on them to do so.

Also read: He doesnt understand presidency: Biden, Harris hit back at Trump

Wen, the former Baltimore health official, said the White House event gives the public the false impression that precautions are no longer necessary.

We, in public health, have been trying to share, to put out guidance on what to do, and when we have the president of the country and top leaders doing exactly what we are asking people not to do, how can we be seen as credible? she asked.

On Friday, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said he fell short of my own standard and apologized for not keeping his face mask on at the White House.

Tillis, who is in a tough reelection bid against Democrat Cal Cunningham, has been consistent about talking up face coverings as a key method to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Tillis campaign tweeted a picture of the first-term senator wearing a mask on the White House lawn on Thursday before Trumps speech. But other media outlets later showed images of the crowd during the speech and Tillis was seen not wearing his mask.

I thought it was very hard not to recoil at those images, said Dr. Howard Koh, a public health professor at Harvard and a former assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services under President Barack Obama.

Koh said one mitigating factor was that Trump held the event outdoors.

He said wearing facial coverings during outbreaks is expected behavior in some Asian societies and social distancing, wearing masks and avoiding large crowds are new social norms that can save lives in the United States as well.

Koh said the same guidance applies to protests, but that moving around during demonstrations might help curb the spread of the virus.
LOWELL, MI  A Lowell police officer is on paid administrative leave while the Ionia County Sheriffs Department investigates an officer-involved shooting involving a stolen vehicle early Saturday morning.

At one point during the incident, the police officer fired multiple shots at a vehicle coming at him, according to a news release issued by Lowells city manager. Its unclear from the information released if the police officers gunshots struck anyone, but one of the suspects was later treated for a gunshot wound.

The police officer, who was on patrol in downtown Lowell, noticed a vehicle driving with high-beam headlights around 2 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, according to a news release issued by the city of Lowell. The officer flashed his lights to alert the driver, who did not dim their lights in response, police said in the release.

After he noticed the vehicle did not have a license plate, the officer turned on his lights in an attempt to pull over the suspect vehicle, the release said. The suspect vehicle did not stop, accelerating away from the officer to lead a short police chase at speeds topping 100 mph, police said in the release.

The suspect vehicle eventually pulled over on a dirt road in Boston Township of Ionia County, according to the release. After the officer got out of his vehicle to approach the suspects, the driver reversed their vehicle and drove directly at the officer.

The officer responded by firing shots at the vehicle, fearing for his life, according to the release issued by Lowells city manager. The suspect vehicle hit the patrol car and fled the scene. It was eventually found abandoned in a ditch, police said in the release.

Using a drone, law enforcement agencies located the suspects, who are now in custody. Six suspects were taken into police custody, and one has been released, Lowell City Manager Michael Burns told MLive.

One suspect was treated for a minor gunshot injury in the arm, and a second suspect was treated for an abrasion on their forehead, police said.

Police confirmed the suspect vehicle was stolen, according to the release.

The involved officer was not identified in the news release.

Following our protocols, the office has been placed on paid administrative leave while the Ionia County Sheriffs Office conducts an investigation, according to the release. We are grateful neither the officer nor members of our community were injured during this incident.

Lowell police were assisted in the incident by Michigan State Police, Kent County Sheriffs Office, Ionia County Sheriffs Office, City of Ionia Department of Public Safety and the Grand Rapids Police Department.

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The one that got away  Dylan Seedin A.S.H. Smyth interviews the destination-wedding photographer on the greatest shot he never got... and one he did View(s): View(s):

The youngest of three tech-enthusiastic brothers, from his teens Dylan Seedin had always had an interest in smartphone photography. But while he was at uni (Business Admin.), one of his siblings bought a camera proper, which Seedin promptly borrowed to take portraits of his classmates. People began to ask if he would shoot their birthdays, and when he found that there was money in it, he began to train himself (YouTube, et al.), and to develop his personal style (speciality lighting).

He didnt plan to go professional  Sri Lanka doesnt pay well in the arts  until two months experience of the corporate world convinced him otherwise. So he moved into small events, then fashion shoots, then started actively approaching clients. In 2016 he was listed among the Top 150 international wedding photographers by SLR Lounge, since when work has taken him to Hawaii, Italy, Indonesia and elsewhere.

He will admit to dropping a lens over a Greek cliff edge (you dont make that mistake twice!),and once set his own shirt on fire lighting a long-exposure wedding shot using a firework. Im prepared to try a lot of things to get what I want.

The one that got away

About eight years ago, I saw a Turkish Airlines advertisement, including a timelapse of Goreme National Park in Cappadocia, the UNESCO site where everyone takes photos of colourful hot air balloons over the ancient troglodytic dwellings and religious sites. Ever since, Id been in love with the idea of it. So, in 2017, I took a trip to Turkey with a friend.

We had just two days for the Cappadocia leg, because the weather reports said thered be high winds at the other times and so there wouldnt be balloons. The first day, everything went perfectly to plan. We flew in a balloon, very early in the morning, in a clear September sky (it was about -2C!), and it was beautiful: something very different.

The second day, I had arranged a driver, explained to him where we needed to go  to an exact location  sent him the pin on Google Maps. And he said Yeah, no problem. Id visualised a drone shot, with a very specific angle of the balloons flying over, from a particular spot. I had the perfect frame in mind, so I was making sure that wed be there at a certain time, close to the caves, so wed get the balloons coming directly over the mountain ridge  and even then only if conditions were right, because balloons dont have a steering function! But I had a plan so that it wouldnt look like every other picture, and I thought that this might even sell, because not a long (lot)of people get that angle.

Explaining what I wanted to the driver was difficult, but Id showed him the pictures, told him about the abandoned cave-dwellings but in his head he was somewhere else, and he ended up taking me right to the standard tourist lookout spot  where all those other photographs are taken from  and by the time I realised it was too late. And on that one day, of course, the wind was just right.

Perhaps he thought that this would make a better picture. But he forgot that Im the photographer!

The shot that he got

The picture thats been most memorable for me was from a three-day Indian celebrity wedding a few years back, in Tangalle. It was like a royal ceremony. I had to sign an NDA!

The couple (Bollywood actor and producer Aftab Shivdasani, and his wife-to-be Nin Dusanj) had booked a whole hotel, with its stretch of river, and were about to enter the function area on this paddle boat  and then it suddenly started raining. The hotel guys had put umbrellas into the boat, just in case; but the bride and groom were already out on the water, so they didnt have much choice.

I had lenses that I could use in the rain  long-range ones, which basically push past that falling water  so I got the 7200 from my assistant and started clicking away. But a lot of photographers would also not have liked to keep on working in those circumstances. The equipment is supposed to be weather-resistant, but over time, you know No-one really wants to put that kind of investment out in the rain.

But thats what it takes to get the best shot, and we ended up with pictures that were amazing.

And the couple actually loved that it rained, because I made it look very romantic. The picture worked because they both were enjoying themselves, and its a kind of candid moment: just them in their bubble, in the middle of the river, being themselves. I couldnt even direct! So through all the noise you just get these two, and its quite intimate.

Theyd wanted my style of photography, but this was a picture that I didnt expect. It was included in the final wedding album, and it went viral round India, because Aftab is such a big deal. And people wanted to know who the photographer was  so that was good.
Three individuals were arrested in Dudelange on Thursday after they were discovered attempting to gain entry to empty homes.

A police patrol in Dudelange noticed an altercation between a group of people. Upon investigation, it transpired that three people had been stopped by a homeowner because they were ringing door bells in an apartment building.

This method is often used by burglars to check if the residents are at home. Two of the three people questioned could not provide identification and were thus taken to the police station to be searched. Officers found a screwdriver, scissors and parts of a lock-breaking kit among their possessions. Upon further investigation, police realised one of the group was a woman for whom a European arrest warrant had previously been issued. She was taken into custody and brought before an investigating judge on Friday.

Ettelbruck knife attack

On Wednesday evening, a person was attacked by a stranger wielding a knife after a brawl broke out on Rue Prince Henri around 10pm.

When police arrived on the scene, the group had fled, save for the victim of the stabbing. The patient was taken to hospital for treatment. Officers later stopped the perpetrator on a bus travelling in the direction of Luxembourg City. A case was opened as he was discovered in possession of cannabis.

On Thursday, the man admitted to stabbing another person with a knife, this time at the Kinnekswiss in Luxembourg City on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred after a verbal disagreement.

The victim has since been discharged from hospital.
Domestic air travel in China has nearly fully recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic, according to data released by a leading travel analytics company, which predicted the Asian giant's aviation market would fully recover by the beginning of September.

In the second week of August, domestic arrivals at Chinese airports reached 86 per cent of last year's levels, while flight bookings hit 98 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday citing the company, ForwardKeys as saying.

"This is a highly significant moment because it is the first time since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak that a major segment of the aviation market anywhere in the world has returned to pre-pandemic levels," Olivier Ponti, vice president of insights at ForwardKeys, said in a statement.

The company said its forecast of a full recovery is based on four factors: China's success at curbing the pandemic, domestic aviation seat capacity set to increase by 5.7 per cent in the last week of August, the start of the school year, and aggressive price promotions.

The Chinese aviation market bottomed in the second week of February and has climbed slowly since then.

The coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei province, last December.

Since then, the virus has spread across the world and has so far infected a total of 24,646,610 people and killed 835,730 others globally.
A Jet2 flight to Manchester was forced to divert to Greece on 26 August after a "drunk" passenger became disruptive on the flight.

Flight LS922 from Dalaman was just an hour into its 4 hour 45 minute journey when crew were forced to initiate a diversion.

The unnamed man, believed to be British, was said to have been shouting and "hammering" on the cockpit door, with cabin crew and passengers being forced to restrain him according to Manchester Evening News.

While Greek airports are currently closed to flights from Turkey due to the ongoing pandemic, the flight was given special permission to land at Corfu's Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport.

Upon arrival, only the disruptive passenger was permitted to disembark.

He was arrested by Greek police and has been forced to isolate pending results of a Covid-19 test. Local media reports that he is expected to be sent back to the UK for prosecution. The flight resumed without him after a 90-minute delay.

A spokesperson for the airline told The Independent: Flight LS922 from Dalaman to Manchester was diverted to Corfu on Wednesday, to offload a disruptive passenger.

"We would like to thank our highly-trained crew for their handling of the situation, and we would also like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience or upset that this caused. As a family friendly airline, we take a zero tolerance approach to disruptive behaviour.

A similar incident happened on a Jet2 flight last year.

Chloe Haines, 25, tried to open the aircraft door and storm the cockpit during a flight from London Stansted to Dalaman in Turkey on 22 June.

The Costa Coffee employee also sent one flight attendant flying across the plane according to an eyewitness, and screamed, Im going to kill everyone.

The pilots were forced to divert the flight, accompanied by two RAF Typhoon fighter jets.

Jet2 were said to be pursuing damages of 85,000.
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Parents and education leaders have slammed the timing of the Government's drastic plan to tackle coronavirus in schools after guidance was announced late on Friday evening, with millions of pupils returning to class as early as next week.

The proposals include a 'rota system' limiting the number of pupils going to secondary schools at any one time for local lockdown zones, while teachers and students may need to wear face coverings in communal areas.

The staggered approach will reduce how many people students come into contact with, helping to break transmission chains by giving enough time at home for symptoms to become apparent, said the Department for Education (DfE).

If a coronavirus case is confirmed, every pupil in the affected person's class, or 'bubble', may have to quarantine for two weeks, it added.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said any changes to school attendance 'will only ever be an absolute last resort' but it was the timing of the announcement, just before the bank holiday weekend, which left school leaders as well as families fuming.

Professor Carl Heneghan, director of the University of Oxford's centre for evidence-based medicine, said the rota plan would mean employers would need to be flexible to help manage 'disruption' for parents, who took to Twitter to express frustration.

One wrote in reply to Mr Williamson: 'What a ridiculous system you've put in place. Rota for schools? Just let the kids stay in school. Home learning DOES NOT WORK when the parents have to go to work themselves. Absolutely stupid. @BorisJohnson what are you letting these idiots do?'

Another added: 'Today at last minute we're told schools might need to go on a rota system with periods of home learning. So what advice for working parents? Work from home with the kids or go into the office? #shamblesgov'

A third concerned parent wrote: 'I can't see my employer (NHS) being particularly flexible either. A week to go and I have no idea how I'm going to get my children to school and get to work.'

A 'rota system' limiting the number of pupils going to secondary schools at any one time could be used for local lockdown zones

The Government's new plan for restrictions in secondary schools during local lockdowns Schools should operate a rota system that means pupils spend two weeks on-site followed by two weeks at home

Rota groups should consist of 'bubbles' that avoid mixing with one another

Different rota groups can use the same classrooms and facilities but schools should ensure cleaning of frequently touched surfaces takes place in between use

Vulnerable children and those of critical workers should be integrated into rota groups, even if they continue to remain on-site during weeks their rota group is scheduled to be at home

Face coverings should be worn by adults and pupils when moving around the premises, outside of classrooms, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained

Children of critical workers and vulnerable children and young people will be expected to be able to access full-time on-site provision

For learning from home, schools should set assignments so that pupils have 'meaningful and ambitious work' each day in a number of different subjects, including new material

If a positive case is confirmed, schools must send home those people who have been in close contact, advising them to self-isolate for 14 days

Close contact means face to face contact with an infected individual for any length of time, within one metre, being within one to two metres for more than 15 minutes, and travelling with them in a small vehicle, like a car Advertisement

Unions were also left frustrated by the timing of the announcement.

Asked how teachers would feel about the situation, Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think, probably, the most polite response... is a weary, resigned sense of inevitability that here we are again.

'Right at the last minute, something that we have been accused of expressing treachery in asking for - where's the plan B in case of local lockdown - at last it has arrived.'

Mr Barton added: 'To wait until the Friday night before most schools return isn't the Government's finest moment.

'Obviously, schools haven't had any chance whatsoever to incorporate this into their planning and will now have to revisit the plans they have put in place.'

The rush back to school has seen families having to queue for up to three hours in bracing wind and drizzle for new uniforms.

With many reopening next week, some parents left it late to pick up essentials, with the queue for Uniform Direct in Grimsby spanning several yards.

One mother, Marina Parker said: 'There should be another queue for people who are just collecting and one for those ordering. This has taken me three hours.'

Meanwhile, a study from South Korea suggests pupils could pass on the virus for up to three weeks after becoming infected, even if they don't show symptoms.

Professor Carl Heneghan, director of the University of Oxford's centre for evidence-based medicine told BBC Radio Four's Today programme that the new guidance was going to be 'particularly challenging' for schools.

He said: 'The difficulty for schools is that a small confined space with such a significant number of children, while trying to maintain a social distance measure, is going to be very challenging.

'There's an idea where if a single child gets an infection, you potentially have to take out the whole year or the whole bubble'.

'That's why everyone has to remain vigilant because as soon as you get a case, they're going to come in and say 'who are your close contacts? You have to go into isolation'.

'Then your parents may have to go into isolation so you can see the level of disruption escalating.'

He added: 'One important caveat to our change going forward is if your child has any symptoms they are going to stay off school.

'In the past there was a sense of 'we'll give you some Calpol, maybe you can go in' but there's going to be a sea change in how parents behave with their children going forward.

'This will create disruption for parents, because of their work regimes, so employers are going to have to be flexible in all this because it will create this level of disruption for children, for schools but also the family.'

Mr Williamson said it was 'important' government and schools prepare for a worst case scenario, but unions rounded on the Education Secretary for leaving teachers so little time to prepare.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'We've been calling for the Government to publish a Plan B for several weeks.

'Finally it is here, but another late night publication is fairly typical of what we've become used to.'

Meanwhile, Labour's shadow education secretary Kate Green said the timing of the guidance 'beggars belief'.

She added: 'The Government's incompetence is insulting to the school leaders and teachers who have worked so hard over summer to prepare schools for children to return.'

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham was also critical as he told BBC Breakfast: 'To be fair the guidance does seem fairly clear, but it was very late.

'It came out at 7.30pm on the Friday before a bank holiday.

'Why is the Government doing this again, putting out guidance so late so that head teachers don't have time to prepare?'

Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the Commons Education Select Committee, acknowledged that guidance being issued a few days before children return to classrooms is 'incredibly difficult' for teachers.

'Well, I don't know why that decision was made, I'm not in Government. It's better that it's there,' he told BBC Breakfast.

'I appreciate that it is incredibly difficult for teachers and support staff because it's just come out.

'Maybe the Government had a late last-minute science advice from the World Health Organisation, I don't know, but the important thing is that advice has been welcomed.'

Asked about a paragraph being removed from the guidance shortly after it was issued, he added: 'Clearly these things shouldn't happen and mistakes obviously have been made, and been rectified, but the important thing is that the guidance is right.

'And the Department for Education should be doing everything possible to help schools to work through the guidance and help children return to school.'

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said any changes to school attendance 'will only ever be an absolute last resort'

The rush back to school has seen families in Grimsby having to queue for up to three hours in bracing wind and drizzle for new uniforms

Families queue for three hours in last-minute dash for school uniform The rush back to school has seen families having to queue for up to three hours in bracing wind and drizzle for new uniforms. With many reopening next week, some parents left it late to pick up essentials, with the queue for Uniform Direct in Grimsby spanning several yards. One mother, Marina Parker said: 'There should be another queue for people who are just collecting and one for those ordering. This has taken me three hours.' Margaret Rodger accompanied her daughter to buy uniform and said: 'It is ridiculous. One woman popped her head round and asked the staff if she could just collect what she had ordered and was told she still had to queue like everyone else. She said she was a nurse and could not wait.' Becca Barker, 40, with Alf, 15 and Lulu, 13 said: 'It is insane. It is especially bad for those with kids. The kids have been fantastic, having to wait this long. Even the parents with really young kids have kept them really well behaved. It has been two hours we have waited.' Advertisement

The lengthy guidance said schools should base their plans on a four-tier system, and the extra measures for secondary schools should kick in at the second tier.

It said: 'Schools should ideally operate a rota system that means pupils spend two weeks on-site followed by two weeks at home.

'However, schools can choose to operate a one-week rota (so, five days on-site, followed by nine days at home) if this is necessary for the effective delivery of the curriculum.'

The guidance added: 'In all areas of national government intervention, at schools where students in year seven and above are educated, face coverings should be worn by adults and pupils when moving around the premises, outside of classrooms, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained.'

The DfE said any suspected coronavirus cases will need to self-isolate and get tested.

It added: 'If a case is confirmed, local public health officials will work with the school to take appropriate measures, including asking all members of a pupil's bubble to isolate for 14 days and access remote education while other pupils continue attending.'

The guidance does not apply to primary school children, as scientific evidence indicates they 'play a limited role in transmission', it added.

All schools remain open at tier one, while tiers three and four mean more stringent restrictions such as closures to all but pupils in vulnerable groups or children of key workers.

Earlier on Friday, England's deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries commented on the issue of face masks for school pupils, saying: 'The evidence on face coverings is not very strong in either direction.

'At the moment the evidence is pretty stable, but it can be very reassuring in those enclosed environments for children and for teachers as well, to know that people are taking precautions.'

She said the advice could change in the future.

The DfE also updated its guidance on music performances in schools, saying singing, wind and brass playing should not take place in choirs or ensembles without significant space, plenty of natural air flow for players and audiences and 'strict social distancing and mitigation'.

The reopening of schools has been met with a myriad of concerns from teachers, pupils, families and unions alike over recent weeks.

A left-wing teaching union faction has held protests and threatened to boycott the return to classes if its demands over coronavirus safety are not met.

The Education Solidarity Network, part of the National Education Union, held a 'day of action' as it calls for measures including free PPE, smaller classes to allow social distancing and weekly Covid tests for teachers.

Campaigners are also demanding that parents who don't feel comfortable letting their children return to the classroom should not be fined as demanded by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson earlier this summer.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock insisted this week it will be up to schools to make sure supply teachers do not unwittingly spread coronavirus if they teach lessons at different locations.

Concerns have been raised about the prospect of supply teachers working in more than one school and the risk of them carrying the virus from one institution to another.

The situation has drawn comparisons to what happened in care homes at the start of the pandemic when agency workers did shifts at multiple facilities.

Elsewhere, teachers have warned Boris Johnson his face masks U-turn risks creating chaos in schools amid fears pupils will bully each other over their choice of covering.

Face masks will be compulsory in the communal areas of secondary schools in parts of England which are subject to local lockdowns.

A decision on whether to wear masks in non-lockdown area schools, however, will be left to individual head teachers.

The change in policy came after days of ministers and Downing Street insisting there were no plans to change the guidance in England which had said masks were not necessary if all other hygiene measures were adhered to.

But Mr Johnson's hand appeared to be forced after Nicola Sturgeon said secondary school pupils in Scotland will be required to wear a mask when travelling between lessons.

The timing of the U-turn has prompted anger - schools in England are due to reopen next week - with teachers warning the wearing of masks could cause 'mayhem'.

They have cited fears of increased bullying, of pupils wearing dirty reused masks and of it being harder to challenge bad behaviour in corridors because it may be unclear which children are responsible.

Robo-cleaners to kill coronavirus DNA and screens to stop it spreading: Bizarre rules schools are introducing ahead of the return to class

With official Government guidance only published late on Friday evening, many school leaders had taken matters into their own hands as to how to prepare classes for the return of pupils.

Here, we take a look at some of the bizarre new rules and measures that have been introduced.

MASKS IN CORRIDORS COMPULSORY

Some schools have introduced masks with their school logo as part of their uniform

Pupils who arrive on public transport will need to bin their compulsory mask (if it's disposable) or place it in a plastic bag before washing their hands and heading into class.

Masks will also be compulsory in communal spaces for secondary pupils in areas of local lockdown.

Whether secondaries in non-restricted areas implement the rule is up to heads, but many have decided to do so.

Some schools have introduced masks with their school logo as part of their uniform.

Most primary pupils are exempt, although Eaton Mill in Milton Keynes has made masks obligatory for all pupils in Year One upwards.

Some schools say their teachers will wear masks, while unions have called for all teachers who want to wear masks to be allowed to do so.

SCREENS TO STOP VIRUS SPREADING BY SNEEZES AND STRANGE SEATING PLANS

One school went viral on social media after a teacher decorated screens around desks to look like trains to pique youngsters' interest

Children will no longer sit face to face, but side by side facing the front of class. In smaller classrooms, unnecessary furniture may be removed to accommodate the arrangements.

Some schools are putting up acrylic screens to divide desks so pupils can sit closer together.

To make this unimposing for younger children, teachers are being imaginative.

One school went viral on social media after a teacher decorated screens around desks to look like trains to pique youngsters' interest.

Other schools are planning to hold lessons outdoors.

Teachers will remain two metres from pupils as much as possible, and windows kept open in classrooms when weather allows.

Books and resources such as science equipment can be shared, but must be cleaned regularly and left for up to 72 hours before being used by a different bubble.

Two groups, Star Academies and Inspiration Trust, have said some of their schools would open on Saturdays to help children who had fallen behind.

ROBO-CLEANERS TO KILL VIRUS DNA

Campuses will be kept scrupulously clean using up-to-the-minute technology such as the Sterilight Robot, that uses UV rays to break down virus DNA. The hi-tech gizmo is being trialled by the Three Towers Alternative Provision Academy in Greater Manchester

Many schools will test pupils' temperature on arrival, with any youngster showing signs of a fever turned away.

Most will use handheld thermometers pointed at foreheads but some, such as The King David High School in Manchester and Lakeside school in Liverpool, have introduced thermal-imaging cameras that can measure up to 30 pupils' temperatures a second.

Almost 80 per cent of schools have installed extra sinks for hand washing, while hand-sanitising stations have been installed at classroom entrances.

The Department for Education says pupils must wash their hands on arrival, after breaks, when they change classrooms and before and after eating.

Campuses will be kept scrupulously clean using up-to-the-minute technology such as the Sterilight Robot, that uses UV rays to break down virus DNA.

The hi-tech gizmo is being trialled by the Three Towers Alternative Provision Academy in Greater Manchester.

BLAZERS BANNED AND CIVVIES IN

Blazers and ties, in particular, are being cast aside. With changing rooms closed, some schools are telling children who have PE to arrive in their sports kit and stay in it all day (file photos)

Although the Department for Education recommends schools return to their usual uniform policies, many heads are telling pupils to wear clothes that can be washed more regularly.

Blazers and ties, in particular, are being cast aside.

With changing rooms closed, some schools are telling children who have PE to arrive in their sports kit and stay in it all day.

Coats and bags are allowed, but equipment should be limited to essentials such as lunchboxes and stationery, hand sanitiser, tissues and water.

END OF THE SCHOOL RUN AS WE KNOW IT

THE NAHT poll found that 87 per cent of schools said they would stagger the start of their day for different year groups, to avoid crowds when the bell rings.

Different year groups will enter at different entrances and most parents will not be permitted on site.

Secondaries are encouraging pupils to walk or cycle to school where possible to limit overcrowding and parents doing drop-off are banned from chatting at the gates  even if they have to hang around for half an hour waiting to disperse children in different year groups.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has urged parents to 'drop their children off and then get on with all the tasks of their day'.

ASSEMBLIES AXED AND ONE WAY ONLY

MORE than 80 per cent of schools will have one-way systems in corridors to make sure children aren't charging into each other.

The age-old ritual of whole school assemblies has been binned, as well as collective worship at religious schools.

Some plan to stream assemblies to classes via video conferencing, while others will conduct smaller assemblies for groups of children.

BUBBLES ABOUND FOR DISTANCING

Pupils will be split into bubbles  groups created to limit the points at which infection can spread.

In secondary schools, bubbles are likely to encompass a whole year group to allow staff to teach the whole curriculum.

In primary schools with smaller numbers, bubbles may be limited to individual classes. Bubbles will take lessons, breaks and lunch at the same time.

Although social distancing isn't enforced between pupils in the same bubble, older children are still encouraged to keep apart where possible.

But in much the manner of a Venn diagram a child may, for example, be in a year group bubble and a specialist teaching bubble, with the bubbles each child belongs to logged by staff in case of an outbreak.

LUNCHBOXES FOR HUNGRY LITTLE ONES

Many schools are asking parents to provide packed lunches to ensure good hygiene (file photo)

Most schools will stagger lunch from as early as 11am to as late as 2pm to avoid overcrowding dining areas.

As with the classroom, children will sit facing the same direction rather than facing each other.

Tables and chairs will be sanitised after each bubble has eaten.

For schools that can't find room to feed children in a communal area with the new seating arrangements, meals will be taken to classrooms.

Many schools are asking parents to provide packed lunches to ensure good hygiene.

'The issue about lunchboxes is they're quite personal to the child eating the lunch, and I can almost guarantee that one child won't want to eat the lunch of the one sitting hopefully two metres distance from them,' said the Government's Deputy Chief Medical officer Dr Jenny Harries.

For schools still providing canteen lunches, some are offering reduced menus of cold food only, self-service is out and pupils will be handed their cutlery by staff.

PLAYTIME IS NOT PROHIBITED

To lessen bubble interaction, however, many schools are introducing different playground zones for different year groups in addition to staggered playtimes (file photo)

Most schools accept primary age children cannot be kept apart and will not be required to social distance during playtime.

Games such as skipping and tag could be allowed.

To lessen bubble interaction, however, many schools are introducing different playground zones for different year groups in addition to staggered playtimes.

Play equipment will be meticulously cleaned.

BUT PE MIGHT SEEM A BIT PECULIAR

Choirs and bands will be either cancelled or repositioned so pupils play back-to-back. Outdoor sports are to be prioritised. This may see the resurgence of less popular sports such as running

Given that playing wind and brass instruments and singing is believed to increase the risk of infection, choirs and bands will be either cancelled or repositioned so pupils play back-to-back.

Contact sports such as rugby are banned, and matches between other schools on hold. Outdoor sports are to be prioritised.

This may see the resurgence of less popular sports such as running.

Many schools with swimming pools are keeping them closed while those that use leisure centres for swimming may not have any lessons for a long time.

A NEW STYLE OF BREAKFAST CLUB

Other, more essential, extra-curricular activities will also be affected.

Some are closing before and after-school clubs that would have required children from different bubbles to mix.

Others, such as the Ark Charter Academy in Southsea, are adapting by bringing breakfast to year-group areas.

Parents already pushed to the brink from lack of childcare are likely to struggle for a while yet.

TWO POSITIVE TESTS MAY MEAN CLOSURE

If schools have two or more confirmed cases within a fortnight, it is possible that the whole school or year group will be sent home, and at-home learning instigated, instead (file photo)

If a pupil develops a cough or high temperature on site they will be kept apart from other pupils until they can be collected.

They and their families will then need to go into self-isolation for 14 days  as will anyone in their bubble who has been in close contact with them.

If schools have two or more confirmed cases within a fortnight, it is possible that the whole school or year group will be sent home, and at-home learning instigated, instead.

Schools are instructed not to disclose the identity of any pupil who tests positive for coronavirus unless essential to protect others.

PARENTS MAY GET PENALTY REPRIEVE

Although fines for keeping a child off school were suspended at the start of lockdown, the Government has said penalties of up to 120 may be issued to parents who keep healthy children off.

This could rack up huge bills for the one in five mothers who say they are anxious about sending their children back.

The decision to fine is at a school's discretion, however, and many will refuse to comply.'
If theres any Duggar known for being the rebel in the family, its Jill Duggar. Since 2019, fans have noticed that Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, seem to be on the outs with the rest of Jills family. And theyve gone against Jim Bob and Michelle Duggars ways by being the first in the family to send their kids to public school.

Now, Jills celebrating her sons first day. And she posted photos to Instagram for her fans. Not only that, but we noticed her outfit for the photos certainly wasnt Duggar-approved.

Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard are sending their kids to public school

RELATED: Jessa Duggar Talked About Her Past Strained Relationships With Her Siblings as Jill Duggar Preps Her Son for Public School

Jim Bob and Michelle made the decision to homeschool all 19 of their kids. But Jill and Derick are choosing differently for their sons. The couple made the controversial decision to send their son, Israel, to public kindergarten  and it looks like Jill and Derick plan on keeping their kids in public school for the entirety of their schooling.

Jill first made the announcement that she was sending Israel to public school back in February 2020. Look whos registered for kindergarten! she captioned a post showing her 5-year-old.

Now, Jills sharing more information regarding how shes getting Israel prepped for his first week. We are gonna go school supply shopping because its tax-free weekend, Jill explained in a video she posted to her family blog in August 2020. So, were gonna go get Israel school supplies. And, of course, she documented Israels first day with plenty of photos posted to Instagram.

Jills back-to-school photos featured her in ripped jeans

While Jills certainly going out on a limb with her multiple posts regarding Israels first day of school, we also cant ignore the outfit she chose. Those who follow the Duggars know Jim Bob and Michelle had serious rules regarding dress code for their kids. The girls were only allowed to wear skirts that hit below the knee, as no pants were allowed. And they also couldnt wear anything form-fitting or shoulder-bearing.

Happy first day of school for these two! Jill captioned her post. 1st day of Kindergarten for Israel and 1st day of last year of law school for Derick!

Jills first photo shows Derick next to Israel in their yard. The following photo just features Israel smiling with his backpack on. And the third photo shows Jill crouching down next to Israel in ripped, form-fitting jeans.

It doesnt look like her family supports her decision

This certainly isnt the first time Jills non-Duggar-approved outfits have been featured on her gram. She recently wore shorts to Joy-Anna Duggars baby shower even though Michelle and Jim Bob were also in attendance. So it seems the mom of two is finished worrying about what her family thinks of her lifestyle changes and is ready to embrace her new future.

While plenty of the Duggars comment on each others Instagrams, Jills parents and siblings have also been quite quiet when it comes to the posts about Israels first day of school. Amy Duggar, the rebel cousin whos supported Jill, commented, Cuties! on Israels photos. But it doesnt look like Jana, Jessa, Jinger, Joy-Anna, or Anna Duggar have made any comments.

Well have to wait and see if any of Jills siblings comment on Israels first day back. And well be even more interested to see if any other Duggars choose to put their kids in the public school system.

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The spotlight was always going to be on Trent Dalton when he released his highly anticipated second novel  but he probably didn't expect the light to shine quite so much on his face.

Dalton coyly admits he has invested in a ring light, aka a vanity light, with the hope it will provide a flattering hue during the Zoom calls that will dominate his schedule after All Our Shimmering Skies is published on September 29.

Author Trent Dalton's highly anticipated second novel All Our Shimmering Skies will be released on September 29, the same day as novels by Richard Flanagan and Craig Silvey. Credit:Paul Harris

This time round will be a very different affair to the publication of his 2018 debut Boy Swallows Universe, which saw Dalton attend an exhausting number of bookstore events, bookclubs, writers' festivals and award ceremonies.

"I am a hugger, a massive hugger. I am doomed in this new sort of landscape of social distancing," Dalton says. "The computer screen really strips about 50 per cent of the heart you want to get across. That's always going to be a challenge. I am going to do the best I can."
As he crossed the cold concourse of Preston train station on a snowy January day back in the 1990s, John Chambers knew the small stranger in the distance was his mother.

Her build, her face, the way she braced herself from the cold - it was all instantly familiar.

Yet John had not seen his mum for more than 25 years.

Now another 25 years on, the product of a once-taboo 'mixed marriage', who grew up in Belfast's loyalist Glencairn estate, is set to publish a book about his remarkable story - and opens up for the first time about losing his mum Sally McBride, the Catholic woman he spent years of his childhood believing was already dead.

"I'm nervous about the book and how it will be received, but it's been a lifetime in the making," said John (54).

"It was a very long road to discover who my mother was, and in doing so I was able to let go of a lot of the ghosts from my childhood that had troubled me for a lot of years.

"I was able to let go of the prejudices I'd grown up with, and thankfully, I got more than two decades with her to make up for the time we'd lost."

Expand Close John Chambers (left) as a child with sisters Jane, Theresa, (renamed Alison) and his brother Francis, (renamed James) / Facebook

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Whatsapp John Chambers (left) as a child with sisters Jane, Theresa, (renamed Alison) and his brother Francis, (renamed James)

John's incredible story began with the ill-fated love story between his parents, John Snr and Sally, who married in 1962.

From different backgrounds - John, from the loyalist Shankill Road and his young Catholic bride from the Falls - the sweethearts' relationship was frowned upon by their families and in the years that followed, tension between their communities quickly ratcheted up.

As children arrived on the scene - John Jnr was the third of four to arrive in 1966 - the young parents did what they could to shield them from the escalating tensions.

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But when little John was diagnosed with bone disease at just 18 months old, the pressures mounted and his parents' marriage broke up.

"As a small child, I spent a lot of time in hospital," said John, who now has more than 15,000 followers on Twitter as 'Belfast Child', which is also the title of his book, out next week.

"At first they would both be there to see me, but eventually my mum just stopped coming to visit.

"The memories are vague, but I believe at one point she took me from the hospital, and brought me and one sister with her to London," he recalls. "As far as I understand, she came back to Belfast with us and later took all four of us back."

But while young John, then aged around four, believed they were going on holiday, in fact it was his mother's hope to start a new life with her children in London.

But her plan wasn't to be. Soon, John's dad arrived and took the children home, leaving Sally in England.

"I was so young, my memories aren't clear," said John, who works in sales and marketing.

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"But we moved to Glencairn with my dad from the house we'd all lived at in the Grosvenor Road area, and Mum was out of the picture. We were told she had died in a car crash and that we didn't have to talk about it. That was it."

Growing up in the Glencairn estate, loyalist culture played a big part in John's upbringing.

"I loved it," recalled John. "My dad was in charge of the Glencairn accordion band and the Twelfth of July, the Eleventh night, for years they were some of the biggest days on my calendar."

When his father passed away aged 39 from lung cancer, John was just 10.

"It was devastating," he recalled. "We were essentially orphans because now my dad was gone, as well as my mum."

In the years that followed though, as he and his siblings moved between relatives in Belfast, the youngster heard rumours that perhaps his mother was still alive.

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"When people had a drink, they'd say 'Their mother 'is' rather than 'was' living in England', and things like that," recalled John.

"I began to realise she might be out there somewhere. Before my dad died, I'd never felt like I missed her. My life had been so busy and happy, but all of a sudden, I felt lost without her."

However, John admitted, the realisation around the same time that his mother was a Catholic, was an immediate source of shame.

"When I found out, I was horrified. I was scared of the stigma and kids in the estate finding out. So on the one hand I was over the moon to think she was alive, but disgusted she was Catholic."

After troubled teenage years, when John turned to drugs and found himself on the fringes of loyalist paramilitaries, aged 18 he took the boat to England.

"As I'd got older I'd hit the Mod scene in Belfast," he recalled. "I met more and more Catholics that way and realised we were all just pawns in this bigger game. By the time I was 18 I wanted out, so I left for London."

Already, though, he had made a couple of attempts to track down his mum.

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"I met a woman through work who put me in touch with a Catholic priest who I thought might help," he continued. "But I didn't have any information, not even her name, so it came to nothing.

"I even wrote to Dear Deirdre in The Sun, and she advised me to go to the Salvation Army, which I did. But that came to nothing, too."

It was in the mid-90s that everything changed.

"It was the strangest coincidence but a family acquaintance was on holiday in America when they met a couple from Boston, who were originally from the Falls," explained John. "The woman was my mum's sister."

The friend brought a letter home to John's sister in Belfast - and soon John was on a call to his aunt in America.

"It was bizarre because we'd never spoken to any of our Catholic relatives," he said.

"But it was amazing because she said my mum was alive, and that she missed us. She said she was in the north of England and that she'd get her to call me."

John remembers sitting by the phone at his north London flat for three hours waiting for his mum to call.

"She said, 'It's Sally, it's your mum,'" he remembers. "I broke down, it was so emotional. We talked for hours and arranged to meet.

"I went with my brother that January to Preston where she lived and when we got to the station there were loads of people but all I could see was this one woman and I just knew it was her. When she saw us she ran, and we fell into each other's arms."

After an emotional meal at a restaurant with Sally and her husband Dennis, John's bond with his mother grew.

In 2005, he and wife Simone moved to Preston, where they lived around corner from Sally until she died two years ago with their children Autumn, 21, and 13-year-old Jude.

"We were very close," said John. "We had a wonderful relationship, which became even closer when we moved to Preston after Dennis, an amazing man, passed away.

"She was a wonderful grandmother. I'd see her with the kids and it always struck me what a natural she was with them and how happy they made each other. It made me sad too though, because of what we'd missed out on."

Then, after more than 20 years since their reunion, Sally was diagnosed with cancer.

"It was devastating, but we'd been able to make up for a lot of that lost time," said John.

"I was with her when she passed away, and after being a Christian in Belfast until I was 15 or 16, some of that faith is still there in me.

"I hope she's up there watching and willing me on when I struggle sometimes, like we all do.

"I grew up in a hard situation, but I don't feel bitterness or anger because of it. My father's family did what they had to do at what was a brutal time.

"They loved and cared for us, and as I later learned, my mum loved and cared for us too."

'A Belfast Child' by John Chambers is out on September 3, and is available to buy online now. Follow John on Twitter @bfchild66 and read his blog www.belfastchildis.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 12:39:03|Editor: huaxia

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French President Emmanuel Macron (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Aug. 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

PARIS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron met visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Elysee Palace here on Friday.

Wang first conveyed a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Macron and handed over the books presented by Xi to Macron.

Xi's message shows that China attaches great importance to China-France relations and cherishes the friendship and trust between the two heads of state, he said, adding that China is ready to work with France to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and to deepen China-France comprehensive strategic partnership.

The pressing task now, Wang said, is to restart bilateral exchanges in all areas in an orderly manner while keeping regular COVID-19 containment measures in place, including strengthening coordination and cooperation in the research and development of COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines and in prevention of future pandemics, so as to overcome the pandemic as soon as possible and make positive contribution to the establishment of a community of common health for mankind.

Wang said that the two sides should continue to firmly support the World Health Organization in coordinating and leading global COVID-19 response, and to oppose politicizing the pandemic, adding that China is ready to speed up cooperation with France on major projects for win-win outcomes.

Noting that Europe is an important force in a multipolar world, Wang said that China and Europe have always been partners instead of rivals with their consensus far outweighing differences.

China appreciates President Macron's call for Europe to strengthen strategic independence, which not only reflects France's tradition of independence, but also demonstrates Europe's position as a pole of the world, he said.

With unilateralism and protectionism on the rise today, China and Europe should work together to uphold multilateralism and the basic norms governing international relations, and to build an open world economic system, Wang said.

China would like to see that France and Europe inject more elements of stability into the global landscape and the three sides should join hands for the next stage of the multilateralism agenda, deepen China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and stand on the right side of history, said Wang.

For his part, President Macron thanked Xi for his important message and gift of books, and asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings to Xi.

Macron welcomed Wang's visit to France and Europe, saying it is of great significance for France and China to maintain strategic communication.

France highly appreciates China's commitment to making its COVID-19 vaccine, once available, a global public good, and is ready to deepen cooperation with China in the fight against the virus and to push for more results in bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, agriculture and other areas.

Macron said that France is ready to work with China to further advance the comprehensive strategic partnership, jointly support multilateralism, strengthen communication and coordination on public health, climate change, biodiversity and issues concerning Africa, and jointly implement the Debt Service Suspension Initiative within the G20 framework.

The two sides should map out the important exchanges and political agenda for the next stage, Macron said, adding that he looks forward to visiting China again at an early date.

During his visit, Wang also met with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to President Macron, and will hold talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. Enditem
KENT COUNTY, MI  A West Michigan man was airlifted to a nearby hospital after he was rear-ended and pushed into oncoming traffic Saturday in a three-vehicle crash that injured one other driver.

Michigan State Police responded to the three-car crash at 4:27 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at the intersection of 14 Mile Road and Heintzelman Road in Oakfield Township, according to a news release issued by state troopers.

Police said a Greenville man, 58, was traveling west on 14 Mile Road in a Nissan and slowed before the intersection when he was rear-ended by a Ford Edge. The collision pushed the Nissan into the path of a Pontiac traveling east on Heintzelman Road, causing a second collision.

The 58-year-old driver of the Nissan was transported by Aero Med to a nearby hospital to be treated for serious injuries from the crash, according to the release.

The driver of the Pontiac was transported to the hospital by ambulance to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said the driver of the Ford Edge was uninjured in the crash. Police did not name anyone involved in the crash.

Authorities do not believe alcohol or drugs are factors in the crash, which remains under investigation by police.

Michigan State Police troopers were assisted on the scene by Oakfield Township Fire, Rockford Ambulance, Aero Med and Premiere Towing.

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Sky News

Millions of people tuned in last week across various channels to watch the prime minister give an explanation of that party in No 10 on 20 May 2020. Today, people were no doubt watching to see how he would perform amid building rumours there could be a no-confidence vote against him triggered by his own backbenchers. As one Conservative political operative put it to me on Wednesday: "Johnson won support because he could reach a wider base of voters as the Heineken politician who polled better than the party, but now he is a drag anchor on colleagues so it really is a question of when not if."
By Stanley Widianto

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia reported its biggest rise in new coronavirus cases for a second successive day on Friday, while operations at a second factory in the country's biggest province were scaled down following the emergence of new infection clusters.

Indonesia passed the 3,000 mark in new daily cases for the first time and added 105 new deaths, as authorities in West Java tackled outbreaks in three factories that the provincial governor said could be due to workers not following health measures.

Among those was at a plant owned by Japanese automaker Suzuki, which cut operations by half after 71 employees tested positive for the coronavirus. On Friday, Suzuki Indonesia said in a statement that it would remain at reduced capacity until conditions were safe.

That added to more than 200 at a factory owned by South Korean firm LG Electronics, which a spokesman said would resume operations next week.

West Java's governor, Ridwan Kamil, said the infections indicated health protocols were not being fully observed. He said there was an outbreak at a third factory, but did not elaborate.

"When it turns out there are clusters, there was action that didn't really abide by the protocols, such as not wearing masks diligently, not keeping a safe distance, not washing hands, or there were asymptomatic people running around doing activities," Kamil said.

Friday's new cases nationwide brought the infections total to 165,887 and the death toll to 7,169.

Indonesia's deaths are the most in Southeast Asia and its infections are the second highest after the Philippines.

The capital Jakarta reported on Friday its highest number of infections with 869 new cases, followed by West Java's 526.

Jakarta, a city of 10 million, on Thursday extended for two more weeks its social restrictions, meaning restaurants or worship houses must continue to operate at limited capacity.

Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, an epidemiologist at the University of Indonesia, said the government's plan to incrementally phase out Jakarta's restrictions should be slowed down.

"Ideally if there were no economic pressures, the restrictions should be tighter," he said, adding that imposing lockdowns in risky areas could be effective.

(Additional reporting by Heekyong Yang in Seoul; Editing by Martin Petty)
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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, August 29, 2020 10:11 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c414e177 1 Politics adly-fairuz,Maruf-Amin,maruf-amin-grandson,PDI-P,actor,2020-regional-elections,regional-elections,karawang,West-Java Free

The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has recommended Vice President Maruf Amins grandson, Adly Fairuz, as a candidate for deputy regent in the upcoming regional elections in Karawang, West Java.

He will be paired with PDI-P member Yessy Karya Lianti, who is also a doctor and businesswoman. She was a Democratic Party politician before joining the PDI-P.

The 33-year-old Adly is widely known as a film and soap opera actor. He ran as a legislative candidate from the NasDem Party during the 2019 election, a party in the ruling coalition. However, he failed to obtain a seat at the House of Representatives.

[Running in the ] Karawang [regional election]: Yessy Karya Lianti and Ahmad Adly Fairuz, PDI-P executive Puan Maharani said on Friday upon announcing the names of candidates recommended by the party.

PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said the party had recommended Adly for his good reputation as the star of Indonesian soap opera Cinta Fitri (Fitris Love).

Being a son or grandson of anyone [important] doesnt mean he has no right to be nominated. Whats important is his commitment, willingness to learn and follow the process, Hasto said.

Read also: Many Indonesians fed up with political dynasties: 'Kompas' survey

He added that prominent figures within the party admired Adlys acting abilities.

Someone said the late president [BJ] Habibie admired him because the former liked watching Cinta Fitri. We consider him to have a good track record, said Hasto.

Other political parties have also given their support to Yessy and Adly, namely the United Development Party (PPP), the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 10:47:23|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) for another year, till Aug. 31, 2021.

Resolution 2540, which was adopted unanimously by the 15-member council, requests the UNSOM to maintain and strengthen its presence in all of the federal member states of Somalia, subject to UN security requirements and as the security situation allows.

It expresses the Security Council's deep appreciation for the UNSOM's support for the Federal Government of Somalia, in particular with regard to the development of inclusive politics and preparations for the elections in 2021; the constitutional review process, mediation, prevention and resolution of conflicts; the development of a federated police and justice system; strengthening the rule of law and security sector reform; and coordinating capacity-building support on anti-corruption issues.

It urges the Somali authorities to create a conducive political and security climate for inclusive elections across Somalia and at all levels to foster political pluralism, ensure political space for the role, rights and responsibilities of legally constituted political parties, uphold basic rights, and condemn hate speech and incitement to violence.

It calls on the federal government and the federal member states to enhance broad-based consultations and consensus building through consultative mechanisms at all levels and with the two Houses of Parliament on key national priorities.

The UNSOM was created in June 2013 by the Security Council in support of the newly-established Federal Government of Somalia. It works with the African Union Mission in Somalia, a peacekeeping mission approved by the Security Council. Enditem
Surprising new issues uncovered by Boss probe

THAILAND: The government committee probing the alleged mishandling of the 2012 hit-and-run case of Red Bull scion Vorayuth Boss Yoovidhya has found solid evidence to prove the presence of serious problems in both the police and the prosecution, said Vicha Mahakun, chairman of the committee.

police

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 29 August 2020, 11:23AM

Vicha Mahakun waves to reporters after he arrives at the Council of State office yesterday (Aug 28) for a meeting on the Red Bull scion case. Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill.

Speaking yesterday (Aug 28) at a committee meeting at the end of its 30-day mission, Mr Vicha said the findings would not only convince Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha about the need to reform these two key organisations in the countrys justice system, but would also catch them off guard.

Every point [made in a report to be submitted to Gen Prayut] is backed by very detailed information and will take everyone who reads it by surprise, he said.

The report will clearly show that the misconduct in the mishandling of this case was committed in an organised manner and that no single person could ever have achieved it.

Mr Vicha said it will be up to the prime minister to decide whether to disclose the information found by the panel to the public.

The report will be submitted to Gen Prayut along with recommendations as to who should do what next to further prove the misconduct identified in this report and bring the culprits to justice, he said.

He earlier said his mission, assigned by the Gen Prayut, might be extended.

In related news, former Bangkok senator Rosana Tositrakul petitioned the Public Prosecutor Commission to set up a panel to conduct a disciplinary probe against Deputy Attorney-General Nate Naksuk in connection with the decision by prosecutors not to indict Mr Vorayuth on a reckless driving causing death charge.

Athapol Yaisawang, chief of the Public Prosecutor Commission, said as soon as the new set of regulations on disciplinary investigation against civil servants in the Office of the Attorney-General is published in the Royal Gazette, the disciplinary probe panel requested will be appointed.

The regulations were approved by the commission on Aug 18 and now await publishing in the Royal Gazette.
As the sale of TikTok enters its final stages, Beijing is saying it wants the last word.

In a bureaucratic two-step, China on Friday updated its export control rules to cover a variety of technologies it deemed sensitive, including technology that sounded much like TikToks personalized recommendation engine. Then on Saturday, the countrys official Xinhua news agency published commentary by a professor who said the new rule would mean that the video apps parent, the Chinese internet giant ByteDance, might need a license to sell its technology to an American suitor.

Beijings last-minute assertion of authority is an unexpected wrinkle for a deal as two groups race to buy TikToks U.S. operations before the Trump administration bans the app. Taken together, the rule change and the commentary in official media signaled Chinas intention to dictate terms over a potential deal, though experts said it remained unclear whether the Chinese government would go as far as to sink it.

The moves from Beijing ensnare TikTok and potential American buyers including Microsoft and Oracle, wedging them in the middle of a tussle between the United States and China over the future of global technology. Beijings displeasure alone could scare off TikToks suitors, many of whom have operations in China. TikTok is the most globally successful app ever produced by a Chinese company, and the conflict over its fate could further fracture the internet and plunge the worlds two largest economies into a deeper standoff.

At a minimum theyre flexing their muscles and saying, We get a say in this and were not going to be bystanders, said Scott Kennedy, a senior adviser at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies who studies Chinese economic policy.
The clean-up has begun from Hurricane Laura as officials along the Louisiana coast warn returning residents they will face weeks without power or water.

The death toll from the category-four hurricane has reached 14, including 10 in Louisiana and four in Texas. Half of the deaths were attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning from the unsafe operation of generators.

United States President Donald Trump was was touring the damaged areas in Louisiana and neighbouring Texas on Saturday.

Im here to support the great people of Louisiana. Its been a great state for me, he said in Lake Charles. It was a tremendously powerful storm. He said he knows one thing about the state: They rebuild it fast.

During the slightly more than two hours he spent in the city, Trump met with officials and relief workers but not with any of the residents whose homes had been ripped apart in the storm.

His first stop was a warehouse being used as a staging area for the Cajun Navy, a group of Louisiana volunteers who help with search and rescue after hurricanes and floods. Good job, Trump told them.

Trump then toured a neighborhood with Governor John Bel Edwards and acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, making his way down a street blocked by felled trees and where houses were battered by the storm, one with its entire roof torn off.

Edwards has said Laura was the most powerful hurricane ever to strike his state, surpassing even Hurricane Katrina, which was a category-three storm when it hit almost exactly 15 years ago. He said on Friday that officials now believe the surge was as high as 15 feet (4.5 meters).

Whether you come from Louisiana or 5th Avenue In New York, you know about Katrina, Trump said.

Trump surveys the damage from the tremendously powerful storm [Alex Brandon/AP Photo]

Incredible damage

Across southwestern Louisiana, people were cleaning up from the destructive hurricane that roared ashore early on Thursday, packing 150-mph (240-kph) winds. Many were deciding whether they wanted to stay in miserable conditions or wait until basic services were finally restored.

Lauren Sylvester returned to her townhouse in Lake Charles on Friday after heeding a mandatory evacuation order and staying with her mother in a city about 95 miles (130 kilometres) away.

The inside of her unit was not directly damaged, but the roof lost shingles. Around her home, it was a different story. Power lines and trees were down.

Its still an incredible amount of damage, said Sylvester, who was heading back to her mothers house as soon as she finished cleaning up.

As well as high-speed winds, the hurricane caused a storm surge as high as 15 feet (4.5 metres) [Gerald Herbert/AP Photo]

Simply driving was a feat in Lake Charles, a city of 80,000 residents hit head on by the hurricanes eye. Power lines and trees blocked paths or created one-lane roads that drivers had to navigate with oncoming traffic.

Street signs were snapped off their posts or dangling. No stoplights worked, making it an exercise in trust with other motorists sharing the roads.

Mayor Nic Hunter cautioned that there was no timetable for restoring electricity and that water-treatment plants took a beating, leaving barely a trickle of water coming out of most taps.

If you come back to Lake Charles to stay, make sure you understand the above reality and are prepared to live in it for many days, probably weeks, Hunter wrote on Facebook.

Caravans of utility trucks were met on Friday by thunderstorms in the sizzling heat, complicating recovery efforts.

There were 464,813 customers without power in Louisiana on Friday, according to the site Poweroutage.us.

The Louisiana Department of Health estimated that more than 220,000 people were without water. Restoration of those services could take weeks or months, and full rebuilding could take years.

Forty nursing homes were relying on generators, and assessments were under way to determine if more than 860 residents in 11 facilities that had been evacuated could return.

Amanda Abassi, second from right, serves free hot food with her daughter and extended family in front of her restaurant Royal Tandoor after Hurricane Laura passed through the area in Lake Charles, Louisiana [Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters]

Storm moves across Southern US

The much weaker remnants of the hurricane continued to move across the Southern US, unleashing heavy rain and isolated tornadoes. North Carolina and Virginia could get the brunt of the worst weather on Saturday, forecasters said.

When the storm moves back over the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said it could become a tropical storm again and threaten Newfoundland, Canada.

Haitis civil protection service said 31 people had died due to Hurricane Laura, which blasted the island nation as a tropical storm last weekend before turning into a hurricane.
USS Hershel "Woody" Williams Supports U.S. SOF Interoperability

US Navy

From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Public Affairs

28 August 2020

The Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4) is conducting interoperability training with Special Operations Forces (SOF) assigned to Special Operations Command-Africa (SOCAF) in the Mediterranean Sea.

The training aboard Hershel "Woody" Williams enables the SOF to train in a shipboard environment in preparations of upcoming operations throughout the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) area of responsibility (AOR).

"The interoperability training we have conducted with the teams from SOCAF and the 352nd Special Operations Wing in the Mediterranean has demonstrated our unique capabilities as an Expeditionary Sea Base," said Capt. David Gray Jr., Commanding Officer of Hershel "Woody" Williams (Blue Crew). "We look forward to working alongside our African partners and allies and to demonstrate our commitment to maritime security in and around the African AOR."

The SOF training, which includes small boat and aircraft operations, focuses on team interoperability with the ship for a variety of missions.

"This interoperability training between our special operations forces, Navy, Air Force, and our partners shows the strength and flexibility of our joint force," said Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, Special Operations Command Africa commander. "This new joint capability for the AFRICOM theater will allow us to engage around the continent in ways far beyond what we've done in the past."

Hershel "Woody" Williams is on a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of operations. The ship will be a long-term presence assigned to the AFRICOM mission set and will support security cooperation missions and operations in and around the African continent.

At 784 feet (230 meters) long, the ship features a 52,000 square-foot (4,830 square-meter) four-spot flight deck. Further features include a hangar, mission deck, and work and living spaces for hundreds of embarked personnel. Additionally, for the U.S. Navy crew, there is a Blue Crew and a Gold Crew, which will turn over periodically to allow for continuity while the ship remains forward-deployed.

Hershel "Woody" Williams, which is the second of a new class of sea-basing ships, departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on July 27, for its inaugural deployment following its commissioning in March. Its crew consist of a mix of U.S. Navy Sailors and Military Sealift Command civilian mariners.

The 352d SOW based at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, is part of Air Force Special Operations Command. The 352 SOW mission is to provide combat ready, responsive, specialized airpower and combat support to execute the full spectrum of SOF missions. The wing has more than 1,100 Air Force members assigned, as well as personnel associated through Joint Special Operations Air Component-Europe. The wing is the only Air Force special operations unit in the European Theater.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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On Friday, the province announced 32 new cases of COVID-19, with 18 in the Prairie-Mountain region, the southwest area of the province.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

On Friday, the province announced 32 new cases of COVID-19, with 18 in the Prairie-Mountain region, the southwest area of the province.

This raises Manitobas total cases to 1,096; with 418 currently active, 12 fatalities, and 664 people having recovered from the virus. More than half of the active cases (223) are in the Prairie Mountain region, sparking new provincial restrictions there as of last Monday: people are required to wear masks in public spaces and all indoor and outdoor gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people.

With cases rising every day, it seems Manitoba is headed towards some drastic measures as southwest Manitoba has become the proverbial canary in the coalmine.

For instance, take this weeks announcement that all students from grades 4 to 12 will be required to wear masks at school.

The virus, whether we like it or not, is spreading quickly.

The provinces test positivity rate has gone from less than 0.1 per cent to as high as three per cent this week, resulting in the province instituting a $486 fine for Manitobans who dont properly self-isolate after travelling or upon exposure to the virus.

Regardless of the arguments to "keep the economy open," unless we want to turn into the United States, the only choice is to institute strong health and safety measures this fall.

All of this has come primarily after a handful of travellers and truckers contracted the virus elsewhere and brought it back here.

"We knew that the highest risk to Manitobans was the importation of the virus," said Manitoba's chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin on Monday.

On Friday, Ottawa extended restrictions on international travel.

"Our government is extending the existing restrictions on international travel to Canada by one month, until Sept. 30, to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in our communities," said Public Safety Minister Bill Blair in a Tweet.

This week shows how a few cases become hundreds in days, especially in "communal living" communities. On Monday, Roussin said one-third of the provinces cases were in communities that live and work closely together (148 of 395 active cases at that time).

Many pointed fingers at Hutterite colonies, but Roussin refused to elaborate in order to reduce "stigmatization" and "discrimination."

Still, this is precisely why Indigenous communities have been so adamant in maintaining protective measures despite when the province "opened" up in May, removing travel restrictions and lessening health and safety precautions in phases.

Indigenous communities are the definition of "communal living" situations. Most live closely due to poverty but, like all groups, some are due to cultural reasons. People who share languages, traditions, and practices tend to live, work, and spend time together.

So, this is why there has never been an interruption to the checkstop on northern highways, like the one on Provincial Road 327 to Easterville.

I drove past there last week on my northern trip. No one is allowed into the community without proof of residency or permission.

Other checkstops run by Indigenous community members existed on highways 6 and 10 and PR 483, and plans are underway to fortify or re-institute them if the virus continues to spread.

Yet, even though these checkstops are one of the most important protective measures in our province, I cant count the number of complaints I have heard from southern Manitobans who are upset about how they couldnt get to their cottages or camping sites.

Now, do you understand?

When COVID-19 enters a "communal community" (notice I didnt say "if"), it has the potential to spread like wildfire.

Leadership must take swift and decisive action and institute a lockdown and those infected must self-isolate  like the chief and council did this week when a positive case was found at Fox Lake Cree Nation.

This one case, which involved a resident making a visit off-reserve, was taken seriously.

This is why, on Aug. 12, the federal government promised an additional $305 million to help Indigenous communities protect themselves against COVID-19 outbreaks.

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This is why its not safe to send thousands of Manitoba Hydro workers from southern Manitoba, the United States, and other provinces (especially with high cases in provinces such as Alberta) to rotate in and out of the Keeyask dam generating station up north.

This is why its crucial to listen to the calls and requests of leaders like Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Arlen Dumas. This week, they demanded the reinstatement of travel restrictions to northern Manitoba.

As of Friday, only four people in northern Manitoba have contracted the virus  all of whom have recovered.

But if this week showed us anything its that it just takes one case to make hundreds: one traveller, one worker, one visitor.

This week we got a view of what the future may look like and its worth taking seriously. Lets also learn from what Manitoba did months ago  together  and we can repeat the success then, too.

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
Some Persons With Disability (PWD) in the Ashaiman Municipality have lamented over the two year delay in the disbursement of their share of the District Assembly Common Fund.



The aggrieved PWDs numbering about 30 said for some time now, they had not been able to access their three per cent share as stipulated by the laws of Ghana, making it difficult for them to pursue their education and embark on income-generation activities resulting in harsh living conditions.



Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA), they indicated that even though they were invited to the Assembly by the Social Welfare Department to receive their monies after two years of applying, the said monies were not given to them after several hours of waiting.



According to them, the disbursement of the Disability Fund lacked transparency, indicating that they were highly disappointed at the treatment being meted to them under the guise that the Assemblys bank account was facing some unforeseen challenges.



I arrived here at 6:30 am this morning for the money but nobody attended to me, it was around 12 noon that they came to tell us that the bank account is facing some issues so, the cheques could not be issued to us, we then requested to see the Chief director but MCE showed up and told us that the money cannot be issued so we should go home,  one of the disabled stated.



They appealed to government and other stakeholders to intervene to ensure that they got their money as most of them needed it to buy medications and necessities of life.



Mr Sitsofe Adzah, Unit head of the Social Welfare at Ashaiman, responding to the issue told the Ghana News Agency that the Disability Committee made a request for disbursement of funds to the 31 beneficiaries on May 6, 2020 after assessing their applications.



Mr Adzah, who is also the secretary to the Disability Committee, added that a list of beneficiaries was submitted to the Assembly for the names to be put on a letterhead for subsequent presentation to the bank for payment.



He noted that the beneficiaries were invited to receive their cheques on Friday after an agreement between the Chairman of the Committee and the Municipal Chief Executive.



When contacted Mr Courage Wormenor, the President of Ghana Federation of the Disabled, Ashaiman branch, who also doubled as the chairman of the Ashaiman Disabled Committee, refused to comment on the issue.

Source: GNA









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Featured Video
Former Mali President Returns Home after Being Released by Junta

By VOA News August 28, 2020

Former Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is back home in the capital of Bamako Friday, a day after being released from a military base in Kita.

The National Committee for the Salvation of the People (NCSP) detained Keita during a military coup d'etat last week, and he announced his resignation a short time later.

During his detention Keita was reported to have said he was not forced from office, and does not want to return to office, but wants a speedy return to a democratically elected government.

The United Nations, along with The Economic Community of West African States, had called for the safe release of Keita, who is also known as President IBK.

The NCSP said it is seeking to set up a council to oversee the general elections as soon as possible in order to appoint a transitional president.

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IndieWire The Craft Top of the Line

Cracking the surreal visual code of the Simon Stalenhag paintings that inspired Tales from the Loop was hard enough for veteran cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth (The Social Network, Fight Club). Their strange aura of a picnic tableau with discarded robots in barren landscapes had to somehow connect with showrunner Nathaniel Halperns sci-fi series about restoring humanity in a community deprived of love and intimacy. But the Emmy-nominated Cronenweth made a breakthrough while on location in Winnipeg by shooting exterior night scenes in subzero temperatures during Magic Hour.

It was a problem that we were dealt from the very beginning because of the way the scripts written and the way time passes and having so little time at night to shoot with minors, Cronenweth said. But I was amazed at the amount of time we had at dusk once the sun shadows had become soft enough or dropped below the horizon line.

He proposed turning night to dusk since so many of the scenes took place in a forest, which gave more depth to the trees to be lit from behind.

We tried it on the first night, he said. We blocked, rehearsed and found three or four two-camera setups that served the sequence and it was flawless. And we all embraced that and made it our story. We were able to share [the] journey more closely with this approach.

For his first TV experience, Cronenweth was tapped by executive producer and director Mark Romanek to shoot the pilot. They have nearly a 25-year collaboration, most notably on One Hour Photo, and the cinematographer was intrigued by the script and dazzled by the paintings.

We wanted to maintain the intent of the paintings but present them within our own live-action world, he said. I thought Nathaniel Halperns script was such a clever story and he conceived such a thought-out sci-fi world. Just figuring out the story and the language and how best to present it was mind boggling. The more time we spent together, everything became clear when he explained his rationale for why everything happens.

Story continues

The Amazon Prime Video series focuses on inhabitants of a fictional Ohio industrial town pulled into an alternate reality, thanks to an underground floating sphere, known as The Eclipse, which serves as the mysterious source of the loop. And, in the pilot, a young girl (Abby Ryder Fortson), abandoned by her mother (Elektra Kilbey), encounters herself as an adult (Rebecca Hall) in a parallel future.

To me, its kind of Twilight Zone conceptually but much more emotionally attached to a human experience in every episode, said Cronenweth. We can mislead the audience but never lose the [connection to] the little girl.

Romanek and Cronenweth discussed camera angles, movement, and tempo in the films of Ingmar Bergman (The Seventh Seal), Krzysztof Kieslowski (Dekalog), and Andrei Tarkovsky (Solaris). Marks idea from the outset, was the nondescript, Scandinavian landscape, he said.

Initially, the cinematographers first exposure to TV was an odd experience, with two other cinematographers  Ole Bratt Birkeland and Craig Wrobleski  observing him on set because they were prepping their shows simultaneously.

You dont get invited that often as a cinematographer to sit with other people working because it makes people uncomfortable unless theyre very close friends of yours, said Cronenweth. It was very crowded, but he quickly adjusted and shot the pilot undeterred. He established the visual DNA they needed to be a part of and, ultimately, it made perfect sense.

Cronenweth shot with the Panavision Millennium DXL2 and used Panavision Panaspeed and Primo 70mm lenses. The [first part] has the warm look of a period piece and justifies the tungsten [light] sources that covered up the house, and the fall off and intimacy put the focus on the relationship between her and her mother and what [the girl] wanted most was that bond to be closer, he said.

And once she jumps out, it became all about isolating her in a world where we could help understand her fear and loneliness, Cronenweth said. And so one of the techniques we chose [featured] shallow depth of field. It was always about her and the background became more noise. And that was our choice for using a larger format sensor and using 70mm glass. And then the tonality changed and some of that warmth disappeared and it became cold and less inviting.

Shooting inside the loop, though, required a sense of scale and otherworldly power. It had to justify the events in the rest of the show, so it had to look large and ominous, and the set extensions had to look natural, Cronenweth said. You wanted it to be very industrial and without personality and not intimidating, but something that elicits curiosity and apprehension before we know what happens. Of course, you understate that so you can have an a-ha moment when they enter the room.

But, for Cronenweth, the greatest satisfaction came from bringing the story full circle when the future mom (Hall) begins bonding with her youngest son (Duncan Joiner). It starts with a misleading silhouette of Fortson turning into Hall.

And then you get that magical, soft, inviting moment again, he said. I think its one of the prettier scenes because its all about their closeups, going from awkward to comfort.

Tales from the Loop is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

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Launching the new colouring book were Christine Baker, Fingal, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh OBrien, TD, Fionnuala May, Fingal, Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Rob ODonoghue, Virginia Teehan, The Heritage Council. Pic by Shane ONeill, Coalesce

Fingal County Council Heritage Office have launched a fabulous colouring book, Colouring Fingal's Heritage, during heritage week.

The book which depicts wonderful illustrations that capture the essence of Fingal's exceptional heritage, was launched by Deputy Mayor of Fingal Cllr Rob O'Donoghue in Swords Castle along with Fingal County Architect Fionnuala May and Heritage Officer Christine Baker.

By matching cultural heritage with creativity this publication aims to introduce these sites and stories to new and varied audiences, both young and old(er)! Drawings are of varied detail to encourage all levels of colouring enjoyment. The majority of the sites included are open to the public and are there to be enjoyed by all the family.

Commenting on the publication Deputy Mayor O'Donoghue said: 'Fingal Heritage Office have produced a fantastic programme for Heritage Week 2020 and I am delighted with the opportunity to launch this Colouring Fingal's Heritage publication as part of it.

'The book contains images from across the county including Skerries Mills, Balbriggan Harbour, Clonsilla Church, The Royal Canal, Mulhuddart Holy Well and Baldoyle Vikings!.

'It will definitely have wide ranging appeal.'

'Heritage is for everyone' said Fingal Heritage Officer, Christine Baker 'And it is important to share the stories of Fingal's past with our younger citizens in an accessible way'.

While celebrating Heritage Week 2020 with a visit to Swords Castle, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O'Brien T.D. and Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council were presented with a copy of the colouring book.

The project was undertaken by the Christine Baker, Heritage Officer in conjunction with Sara Nylund of Abarta Heritage. Copies can be collected from Fingal Libraries during Heritage Week; requested from the Heritage office, or you can download the individual pages from the council's website.
Dozens Of Journalists Detained Covering Protests In Belarus

By RFE/RL's Belarus Service August 28, 2020

MINSK -- Around 50 journalists, including six from RFE/RL, were detained while covering postelection protests in Minsk on August 27, in the latest intimidation of the press in Belarus as authorities widen a crackdown.

More than 260 people were detained during August 27 protests in central Minsk, according to a list compiled by the human rights center Vyasna. The Belarusian Association of Journalists said about 50 journalists were detained, but most were released after police checked their documents.

However, four journalists who refused to hand over their smartphones for police to check were charged with participating in an unauthorized protest, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said. A Swedish journalist will also be deported.

A total of six journalists working either for RFE/RL's Belarus Service or Current Time -- the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA -- were among those detained while covering demonstrations in two different Minsk locations on August 27. All were eventually released.

Andrey Yaroshevich, a freelance camera operator working for Current Time, was among those charged with an administrative offense that can result in a fine or a jail sentence. However, his case was temporarily dropped after a court appearance on August 28 because police failed to properly fill out forms.

"Authorities are treating the media in an increasingly arbitrary manner. Not only are they refusing to accredit journalists, but they are using a variety of pretexts to detain fully credentialed journalists and prevent them from reporting what they see," said RFE/RL's Acting President Daisy Sindelar. "We are also alarmed that authorities have threatened to bring arbitrary charges against journalists who refuse police orders to surrender photos and other information. This is blatant retaliation, and an outrageous breach of norms and laws."

The detentions came after nearly three weeks of protests against the official results of the August 9 election -- which gave President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a landslide victory.

Demonstrators and opposition leaders are contesting those results, charging that the vote was rigged in Lukashenka's favor.

The demonstrations have been met with a brutal police crackdown, with widespread evidence of beatings and torture of detained protesters.

The leading opposition candidate, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, told the European Parliament this week that at least six people have been killed in the crackdown and dozens of protesters have gone missing after being detained by authorities.

But the roundup of journalists who are covering the crisis appears to signal a new strategy by Belarusian authorities.

Demonstrators on August 27 first assembled in the capital's Freedom Square to continue their calls for Lukashenka's resignation and fresh elections. The demonstration later moved to Independence Square, where police dispersed a crowd of about 1,000 and detained more than 260 people.

The Interior Ministry says detained journalists were put on a minibus and transported to a police station where officers checked whether they had valid accreditation to work legally in the country.

Belarus has received international criticism for the way its August 9 election was conducted, and for the harsh treatment of postelection demonstrators.

The official vote tally showed that Tsikhanouskaya finished a distant second to Lukashenka. But she says she is the rightful winner of the vote.

Belarusian prosecutors have jailed two leading members of Tsikhanouskaya's recently formed Coordination Council. Other leading opposition figures also have been summoned for questioning as part of what authorities in Minsk have called a "criminal investigation."

The Coordination Council's stated aim is to negotiate with Lukashenka's government for new elections, the release of political prisoners, and a peaceful transition of power.

With reporting by Current Time

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30807372.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.

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The Webb County Sheriffs Office deputy accused of selling unauthorized E-Tags would sometimes be wearing his uniform when conducting his alleged business, according to an arrest affidavit.

On Wednesday, Abraham Benavides, 39, was served with warrants charging him with tampering with a government record and temporary tag for distribution to an unauthorized person.

The case unfolded Jan. 2, 2019, when a man arrived at a towing service in the 2600 block of Guadalupe Street wanting to recover his black 2007 Volkswagen Passat. He stated that his vehicle had been impounded for not having liability insurance. He did not have a title for his vehicle because he had purchased it in San Antonio and was making payments, states the affidavit.

The car had an E-Tag with an expiration date of Jan. 6, 2019, and added that the license plate belonged to a local car lot, Yireh Auto Sales.

He further stated that he had purchased three other E-Tag license plates from that car lot for his car. He added that the seller told him it was legal.

Further investigation showed the complainant had purchased his Volkswagen at La Meta Auto Sales in San Antonio. He added he and his wife were working in San Antonio at the time. He stated that because of money issues involving car payments, rent and daycare for his children, he fell behind in paying his accounts. He returned to Laredo to stay with his father-in-law.

He did not want to drive around with expired license plates, so he sent a post on Facebook asking who would sell temporary license plates. He received an answer from a person identified on Facebook as Abraham Benavides. Benavides allegedly told him it would cost him $50 for a month and $35 for 15 days. Benavides told him he could pick it up in the 5700 block of Tarpon Lane.

The complainant stated he bought several temporary license plates from Benavides via Facebook between Aug. 26, 2018, and Dec. 22, 2018. He allegedly picked up the license plates at Tarpon Lane and at Yireh Auto Sales on 1018 S. Zapata Highway.

(The complainant) added he did not know the E-Tag license plates were illegal because at times he met with Abraham Benavides to buy the E-Tags he was in a sheriffs deputy uniform, states the affidavit.

An investigation revealed that Yireh Auto Sales did not buy or sell the Volkswagen, according to police. Further investigation showed there were five E-Tags assigned to the Volkswagen, records state.

Through the course of the investigation, Benavides was identified as the suspect in the case after having sold the temporary E-Tag license plates for vehicles not purchased from the car lot owned by Benavides, LPD said in a statement.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korea has reported 323 new cases of the coronavirus as health officials prepare to tighten distancing restrictions in the greater capital area.

The 16th consecutive day of triple-digit jumps brought the national caseload to 19,400. Fatalities reached 321 after five more deaths overnight.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Saturday that 249 of the new cases came from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where about half of the countrys 51 million people live. Health workers have struggled to track infections linked to churches, restaurants, schools and apartment buildings.

The country has added 4,630 cases over the last 16 days, raising fears about overwhelming hospitals.

Kwon Jun-wook, director of South Koreas National Health Institute, said the death toll could rise in the coming weeks as many of those who tested positive this month were 60 years or older, an age group thats more likely to experience serious health complications caused by the virus.

He said 64 of the countrys active patients are in critical condition, compared to 14 on Aug. 14, when the country began the current streak of triple-digit daily increases.

While young people may think that COVID-19 is an illness they could recover from after a certain period, it could become a life and death matter for the parents and grandparents they love and also people with existing medical conditions, Kwon said during a virus briefing, pleading for vigilance in social distancing. Each and every one of us ... is at war with COVID-19. In war, we need to maintain unity to protect the safety of ourselves and our neighbors and prevent the collapse of all our social systems.

More than 1,000 infections have been linked to a northern Seoul church led by a conservative pastor who opposes the countrys president. The spread worsened after thousands of anti-government protesters, including members of the Sarang Jeil Church and its pastor, Jun Kwang-hun, marched in downtown Seoul on Aug. 15. More than 300, including Jun, have tested positive.

Story continues

For eight days starting Sunday, restaurants in the Seoul metropolitan area will provide only deliveries and takeouts after 9 p.m. Franchised coffee shops like Starbucks will sell only takeout drinks and food while gyms and after-school academies will be shut to slow the viral spread in the region.

Authorities have already banned larger gatherings, shut down nightspots and churches, and shifted most schools back to remote learning nationwide. But they have so far resisted elevating restrictions to the highest level. Such a move would possibly include a ban on all gatherings of more than 10 people, shutting down a broader range of businesses and having private company employees work from home.

In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:

 India has recorded 76,472 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, raising its tally to over 3.4 million. A country of 1.4 billion people, India now has the fastest-growing caseload in the world. The Health Ministry on Saturday also reported 1,021 deaths for a total of 62,550. India is reporting around 1,000 COVID-19 deaths every day. There has been a spurt of new cases over the last few weeks. One of the reasons is testing: India now conducts more than 900,000 tests every day, compared with just 200,000 two months ago. Even as western Maharashtra and the three southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka remain the worst-hit regions with nearly 64% of fatalities and 55% of active cases, the virus is spreading fast in the countrys vast hinterlands. Earlier this week, members of a small tribe in the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands tested positive with experts saying the virus has now entered the widespread transmission stage.

 Malaysia has extended its pandemic movement restrictions including banning foreign tourists until the end of the year. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in a televised address late Friday that global cases have been rising and the country has seen sporadic virus clusters even though the situation was under control. Malaysia has recorded more than 9,000 cases with 125 deaths. Muhyiddin said the extension of restrictions will not disrupt daily activities as most businesses and schools have resumed. Only nightclubs and entertainment centers remain shut and international sporting events prohibited. Borders will stay closed and those entering the country will be quarantined.

 The Australian state of Victoria has reported 18 more COVID-19 deaths and 94 new cases -- the first time in almost two months that new infections have dropped below 100. The deaths take the state toll to 514 and the Australian COVID-19 death total to 601. Since Monday there have been no more than 150 new daily cases in Victoria, adding to speculation about an easing of lockdown restrictions across Melbourne, which include a daily 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. But state Premier Daniel Andrews says it is too soon to dramatically relax the rules. It will have to be gradual and steady because weve all got to be really careful to make sure nothing we do makes it more likely that we find ourselves back here at exactly this place, Andrews said. We want to defeat the second wave ... that means we can avoid a third wave.

 About one-third of students returned to school in the Chinese capital on Saturday in a staggered start to the new school year because of the coronavirus. The first batch of 590,000 students in Beijing included all three years of high school, the first and third years of middle school and the first grade of primary school. Another 400,000 students are to start school on Tuesday, and the final 520,000 on Sept. 7. Both students and teachers are required to wear masks. China reported nine new coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, bringing its official total to 85,022. All the new cases were overseas arrivals. The countrys death toll remained at 4,634.

___

Follow APs pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
The Subway Series continues Saturday (Aug. 29, 2020) as the New York Mets and New York Yankees battle at Yankee Stadium.

The first pitch is schedule for 1:05 p.m., weather permitting. Drizzle and rain is in the forecast most of the day.

The Mets are coming off a doubleheader sweep of the Yankees Friday, winning 6-4 and 4-3.

Fans can watch Saturdays game without cable on Hulu and Sling TV, two live-streaming services.

The Mets will send Rob Gsellman to the mound today to face J.A. Happ.

The Yankees have dropped seven straight games.
Ankara, Aug 29 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg spoke about the escalating tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean over the phone.

In the phone call on Friday, Erdogan told Stoltenberg that Turkey would continue to protect its rights and interests everywhere, reports Xinhua news agency.

He asked NATO to fulfil its responsibility against unilateral steps that ignore international law and damage regional peace, according a statement of Turkey's presidential office.

The President also said his country has been supporting a fair solution in the region with a win-win mentality for all countries, it added.

The tensions over Turkish natural gas explorations off Greek islands in the Eastern Mediterranean have escalated in recent weeks.

Greece considers the explorations illegal.

The European Union has also condemned the Turkish actions and asked Ankara to stop them.

The Ankara government on the other hand believes the waters, in which natural gas is being drilled on a trial basis, belong to the Turkish continental shelf.

Earlier this week, Erdogan said that his country will defend its right of hydrocarbon explorations in the Eastern Mediterranean and make "no concessions" in the ongoing disputes.

Turkey has sent an exploratory vessel Oruc Reis, which is carrying out seismic research escorted by warships in the region.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-30 02:58:15|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Head of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Moratinos on Saturday condemned the burning of the Quran by far-right extremists in the Swedish city of Malmo.

Moratinos described the incident on Friday, which triggered riots in Malmo, as "despicable and totally unacceptable nor justifiable," said his spokesperson, Nihal Saad, in a statement.

"Moratinos notes that such deplorable acts perpetrated by hate-mongers, including by far-right extremists and other radical groups, incite violence and tear apart the fabric of our communities. These acts are an affront to the objectives and values embraced by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations which works on the promotion of mutual respect and understanding and strengthening intercultural and interreligious dialogue," said the statement.

Moratinos reiterated that the desecration of sacred books and places of worship as well as religious symbols should be vehemently repudiated by all faith actors. He called on religious leaders across the faith spectrum to renew their denunciation of all forms of violence based on religion or belief, it said. Enditem
Ethnic Mongolian Parents Strike Over China's New Language Policy in Schools

2020-08-28 -- Parents in China's northern region of Inner Mongolia are refusing to send their children to school this semester in protest over changes to the curriculum by the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

A directive from the Inner Mongolia education department recently ordered an end to Mongolian-language classes for first-year primary students and an end to Mongolian-medium teaching and materials in favor of the Chinese language, teachers in the region have told RFA.

The move prompted protests from parents in the region's Tongliao city.

Photos circulated on social media of parents holding up cardboard placards on city streets and squares in Tongliao.

One placard read: "Prohibition of learning Mongolian in Inner Mongolia is violating the constitution of [the People's Republic of] China."

"It is the inalienable right of Mongolians to learn the Mongolian language," read another.

Refusal to enroll

Ethnic Mongolian rights activist Khubis said parents at one Mongolian-medium school in Tongliao had refused to enroll their children in protest.

"Yesterday [Aug. 27], none of the parents of Mongolian students in Zaruud, near Tongliao city in eastern [Inner Mongolia], went to register their children," Khubis said.

"I went to the school and but I didn't enrol mine either."

The Zaruud Mongolian Experimental Primary School responded by issuing a notice to parents on Friday, he said.

"The notice basically said that any parents who refused to enrol their kids would have their kids sent back to the school where they were previously registered," Khubis said.

"The Tongliao municipal education department notified parents that ... schools officially went back on Aug. 27, so any parents refusing to enrol are delaying their children's access to compulsory education," he said.

'Tensions are running high'

Haschuul, a resident of Shilingol League near the border with the independent country of Mongolia, said similar tensions had emerged in his hometown in Shuluun Huh banner, a county-level administrative division.

"Previously they didn't start teaching them Chinese until the third grade of elementary school, but now they have to start Chinese in the first grade," Haschuul told RFA on Friday.

"And Chinese is the language of instruction, with Mongolian as a minor subject," he said. "This will mean the gradual disappearance of our Mongolian language, so of course we have a problem with that."

Nomin, a former schoolteacher from Shuluun Huh who now lives in the U.S., said teachers have also been joining the campaign, signing petitions to ask the ruling Chinese Communist Party to reverse its policy in the region.

"People are very angry and tensions are running high," Nomin said. "They are putting pressure on teachers and parents and threatening the kids, saying that they won't get into university in future [if they don't learn Chinese]."

Plans are also afoot on social media for rallies against the new language policy on Sept. 1 in the regional capital Hohhot, and in Baotou, Wuhai, Tongliao and Hailar.

Those protesting say the new policy, which is being billed as "bilingual education" by the authorities, are in breach of the constitution, and regional ethnic autonomy laws.

Repeated calls to the complaints department of the Zaruud banner government rang unanswered during office hours on Friday.

Parents posted conversations with officials to social media in which the officials claimed that no such policy document existed, and said the parents' ire was premature given that school hadn't yet started.

However, the regional education department said in a statement on its website that it was soliciting comments on the new policy "in the light of strong public reactions and international media attention."

Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright  1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Time has erased the events that occurred in Chattanoogas neighboring county in Northwest Georgia about the judicial and political war over the building of a new and present courthouse.

Beginning in 1883 Walker County was run by a five-member commission serving two-year terms. In 1916 the terms were expanded to four years and in 1940 showing the flexibility of the electorate to form new governments. Currently in 2018 Walker County voters approved a referendum to a transition from a sole commissioner who has both legislative and executive powers to a four-member board of commissioners elected by district. The first members of the board will be elected in November 2020 and will take office in January 2021.

A Walker County grand jury on March 26, 1915, unfavorably reported on conditions at the old courthouse and recommended the erection of a new courthouse to Judge Moses Wright. As a result of the grand jury recommendation, the Walker County Board of Commissioners voted to erect a new courthouse and the voters of the county approved a bond drive to fund the cost of building the structure.

This is where the real controversy begins. Not everyone agreed where the new courthouse would be located. Those opposed to LaFayette were mostly from the northern end of the county and wanted the county seat moved to Chickamauga or at least closer to Rossville and Chattanooga. Interesting legal proceedings followed. A representative of Chickamauga filed a petition against the commissioners and numerous businesses that were involved with the courthouse bid in their efforts to stop the project.

Judge Moses Wright of the Rome Circuit Court had jurisdiction of the case but the opponents of the project did some creative judge shopping and hired the judges brother, Robert Wright of Chattanooga, as their attorney attempting to create a conflict of interest that would disqualify Judge Wright from the case since they knew that he favored the courthouse construction bill. Judge Wright denied the petition to recuse himself from the case and the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed him.

In another surprise move, the anti-courthouse supporters took their petition to Judge A.W. Fite in the Cherokee Circuit Court and asked him to remove Judge Wright from the case. Fite agreed and issued an order to that effect, took over the case, and issued a temporary restraining order against the commissioners stopping any further work on the courthouse project.

On May 26, 1916, the litigation got further heated when Judge Fite issued a contempt of court ruling against the Board of Commissioners and the publisher of the Walker County Messenger, E.P. Hall, Jr., who had published a request for bids for work to be performed on the courthouse project. Judge Wright immediately intervened in the case asserting that his court was the proper one to try the litigation and issued an injunction against the anti-courthouse group and also banned any Georgia sheriff or their deputies from acting on any orders from Judge Fite.

Undeterred by Judge Fites ruling, the Board of Commissioners contacted a construction company from Anniston, Alabama, to begin the projectat once. This resulted in a large crowd of citizens assembling on June 6, 1916, for the awarding of the builders contract. Also present was Sheriff Ward of Catoosa County who had been ordered by Judge Fite to arrest O.M. Clemmons, clerk of the Superior Court, if he should issue any process initiating the start of work on the courthouse project.

When Clemmons refused to go voluntarily with the Sheriff to Ringgold, Sheriff Ward and his support group of opposition contingents left town. From this point the legal (or illegal) proceedings really heated up on the question of which judge had jurisdiction over Walker Countys new courthouse.

Sheriff Ward returned from Catoosa County and had the construction project area roped off. Commissioner J.D. McConnell was confronted with a shotgun when he arrived at the scene and was arrested when he refused to voluntarily go to Ringgold to address Judge Fites contempt of court citation. That night, Sheriff Ward and his two deputies arrested two of the commissioners, S.P. Hall and John M. Ransom, and took them to Ringgold.

As a counter action Walker County Sheriff R.S. Garmany went to Chickamauga on Judge Wrights orders overruling Judge Fites orders and arrested S.T. Carson. He then unsuccessfully tried to arrest J.S. Alsobrook in Rossville but he had fled to Tennessee where he could not be arrested.

On June 30, 1916, Judge Fite, before a large crowd, tried the three commissioners in Ringgold with contempt of court. Sensing the seriousness of the situation he set bonds of $1,000 in each case and would release them from paying that amount if they would revoke the courthouse contract. The three refused and Judge Fite ordered them jailed.

Judge Fite then conveniently left the proceedings under the pretense of a speaking engagement and passed the hot potato to the Catoosa County Sheriff to put the three in custody but he refused and the commissioners returned to LaFayette. In the meantime, Judge Wright issued an order to the Walker County Sheriff to provide ample means for fully protecting members of the county board as well as the contractors working on the new courthouse and to jail for contempt anyone interfering with the courthouse project.

The Georgia Supreme Court entered the fray and in two orders resolved the judicial war between Judge Wright and Judge Fite. On December 22, 1916, the High Court reversed Judge Fites restraining order on building the new courthouse and on April 2, 1917, held that Judge Fite had no jurisdiction over the case, reaffirming its previous ruling that Judge Wright was not disqualified and Judge Fites order adjudging the Walker Court commissioners in contempt was invalid and dismissed.

Strangely, one of Sheriff Wards deputies was held in contempt of Judge Wrights order in helping the Sheriff to make the arrest. Because the Georgia Supreme Court also held that the sheriff of Catoosa County had no legal authority to serve arrest papers in Walker County, Ward escaped prosecution.

On April 23, 1918, the new Walker County Courthouse was formally dedicated after construction costs of $80,000 and was lauded as the most magnificent edifice in the county.

Judge Moses Wright made a formal speech at the dedication before a large crowd. Judge A.W. Fite was conspicuously absent!

Seems like things do not change much in the Lookout Judicial Circuit!

* * *



Jerry Summers



(If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com
This HPSC map shows where COVID-19 infections were reported in Cork. The larger the orange dot, the more infections

The graph shows how Covid case numbers have changed since May

Covid cases are on the rise in County Cork

According to an analysis of the number of reported COVID-19 infections, there were 222 positive diagnoses from Cork city and county notified to health authorities between May 18 and August 18.

The number of reported infections has been increasing sharply throughout Ireland, and this trend has been reflected in urban and rural areas in Cork.

In June, a total of 29 cases were reported in Cork while 27 diagnoses were reported in July. So far in August, at least 46 cases have been reported.

A total of 51 deaths from COVID-19 out of 1,777 were in Cork.

While a map sourced on the Health Protections Surveillance Centre website shows the largest number of cases in Cork city, there are several hotspots throughout the county also which will be a cause of concern, particularly as schools re-open.

This map, however, depicts the total number of cases in electoral areas since the first case was reported in February.

The highest proportion of cases were in the Fermoy urban and rural divisions, where 196 cases were reported. A significant proportion of these cases were related to an outbreak in a meat plant in the Watergrasshill area. Related to this also were the 23 reported cases in the village of Rathcormac, near Fermoy.

In Mallow's electoral divisions, 32 cases were reported while 25 were notified from Mitchelstown.

In Macroom Urban, 46 cases were reported. The numbers of cases reported in Gaeltacht Mhuscrai have been low, with markers indicating fewer than five cases each in Gort na Tiobratan and Sliabh Riach in Baile Mhuirne, and five cases also in Doire Fhinin in Beal Atha'n Ghaorthaidh.

A marker for fewer than five cases is used so as not to compromise patient confidentiality in any way.

In East Cork, 22 cases were reported in the Cobh Urban Division, with small numbers of cases in the surrounding divisions.

Moving into mid Cork, 61 cases were reported from Ballincollig, with eight in Ovens, and 19 cases have been reported in Blarney.

In the Bishopstown area, 61 cases were reported across the EDs. Eight cases were reported from the Knocknaheeny ED, at least 11 across the Glen A and B EDs, with nine cases across the Montentenotte EDs.

There were 19 cases across Youghal Urban and Rural divisions and 22 cases across Midleton Urban and Rural Divisions.

In West Cork, 56 cases were reported across the Clonakilty Urban and Rural Divisions; eight in Bandon and five in Glengarriff.

Twenty cases were reported in the Kinsale Urban and Rural divisions, and at least 33 cases were reported in the Carrigaline divisions.
Chennai, Aug 29 : Congress MP from Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari H. Vasanthakumar died here on Friday evening, officials said. He was 70.

Vasanthakumar, who was also the promoter of Vasanth & Co consumer durable retail chain, was admitted to the Apollo Hospital here sometime back after testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

His condition turned critical on Friday and he breathed his last.

He was the younger brother of veteran Congress leader Kumari Anandan whose daughter is Tamilisai Soundararajan, currently the Telangana Governor.

Vasanthakumar was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kanyakumari constituency in 2019, defeating BJP leader and former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan.

At that time, he was a sitting member of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, elected from Nanguneri seat. He subsequently resigned as an MLA.

The Vasanth & Co consumer durable retail chain is one the largest in the country with about 90 outlets, mostly in Tamil Nadu, and also in Bengaluru and Puducherry.

Meanwhile, political leaders of various parties condoled Vasanthakumar's death.

In her message, Soundararajan said her heart fails to accept that her uncle is no more.

She said the political impact of her father (Kumari Anandan) was there on her as well on Vasanthakumar but journeyed in different paths.

Soundararjan was heading the Tamil Nadu BJP unit before she was posted as Telangana Governor.

Soundararajan said though she is a Governor, she is crying as the daughter of Vasanthakumar's brother.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami said Vasanthakumar began his career as a salesman and rose up in life through his hard work.

Terming Vasanthakumar's death as a big loss for the Congress party Palainiswami said he was pained to hear about his demise due to ill-health.

DMK President M.K. Stalin said he was pained to hear about the death of Vasanthakumar.

Stalin said Vasanthakumar always used to be a pleasant person to move with and a hard worker.

Former Union Minister Radhakrishnan said Vasanthakumar was steadfast on his principles and rose up as an important Congress leader.
Dr Da Costa Aboagye, Director of Health Promotion of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has expressed worry over the publics continuous disregard for the COVID-19 safety protocols put in place to combat the disease.



He said such acts were dangerous and if not checked would erode the countrys efforts at eradicating the pandemic.



He said even though the countrys infection rate remained low due to the proper measures put in place by the government and stakeholders to combat the disease in the early stages, the virus was still active in the country.



In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr Aboagye urged Ghanaians not to be swollen-headed but rather strive to ensure the pandemic was totally eradicated.



I will continue to advise Ghanaians about COVID-19 and let them know that the virus is still living with us though the infection rate has reduced due to the proper measures in place by the government.



As the infection rate remains low, we have to make sure that it continues to reduce further down till we eradicate the pandemic from the country. So, people should not stop wearing their face masks, regular washing of hands, and regular exercise. This is the time to intensify them to finally eradicate it. I will plead with Ghanaians that the COVID-19 is still with us; it is not gone yet.



A recent survey conducted by the GHS within the Greater Accra Region revealed that only 14 per cent of Ghanaians wore the face masks.



Dr Aboagye commended the government for the stringent measures it put in place when the country recorded its first two cases of the virus.



He added that, among other measures, the closure of the countrys borders limited the importation of new cases, thus, helping the country to contain the disease.



From the March 12th March we recorded our first two cases up to date, we have been able to trace and test over 400,000 people and out of the 400,000 people we tested, almost about 43,000 people tested positive, representing 10 percent of those tested positive.



The 43,000 positive cases if it is not the proper measures put up by the government, the pandemic would have overwhelmed the country. Out of the 43,000 positive cases, about 42,246 of them have recovered and discharged and that is why we have active cases of about 1,300, he said.



Dr Aboagye commended the frontline health workers, Ministry of Health, Information Ministry, the media, and other stakeholders for their continuous efforts in the fight against the COVID-19.



Ghanas COVID-19 active cases as of Saturday, August 29 stood at 1,287.



The total confirmed cases were 43,949, with 42,392 recoveries and discharge.



The death toll, however, was 270.

Source: GNA









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Two men have been injured after allegedly being attacked by a tomahawk-wielding stranger inside a shopping centre.

The alleged attacker was inside the Rosebud Plaza in Victorias Mornington Peninsular on Saturday about 10.15am when he set upon the two men.

One of the victims was 63 and the other was 47, according to Sergeant Sarah Blackmore who addressed media from the centre following the incident.

Hes just randomly attacked them with a tomahawk. Unfortunately theyve both been transported to the Alfred Hospital, Sergeant Blackmore told reporters.

The 47-year-old man sustained serious injuries and the 63-year-old man is in a critical condition. Both men are local to Rosebud, police said.

Police at the scene of an alleged stabbing on Saturday morning. Source: Nine News

Local police arrested the alleged assailant quite quickly following the incident, she said, confirming that he had been taken into custody.

Police said the offender, of no fixed address, initially ran from the scene before being arrested a short time later.

He has since been taken to hospital for assessment and had yet to be interviewed on Saturday evening.

Police said the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined at this stage but the parties involved are not known to each other.

Witnesses tried distracting the mans attention away from the two victims in courageous efforts to stop the extremely dangerous situation from escalating further, Sergeant Blackmore said.

There were definitely people that were trying to intervene and trying to deflect his attention from the victims to try and get him to stop, she said.

It was an extremely dangerous thing to do and its not something that I would suggest for everyone to do, but it was certainly very brave.

The incident unfolded at the Rosebud Plaza about 10.15am. Source: Google Maps/Nathan McVay

The Rosebud Plaza notified shoppers of the incident via its Facebook page, informing the public the centre would be closed temporarily while police conducted investigations.

We are committed to working with the local police and encourage anyone who witnessed the incident to make contact with them, the Saturday afternoon post read.

Story continues

We appreciate continued communication regarding this incident is important and we will provide updates as we are made aware of further information.

A later update stated the centres Coles and Bakers Delight stores had been reopened for trading, while the other businesses remained closed.

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.
Around the country, including in the Philadelphia area, election officials are encouraging young, healthy, qualified people to apply to work at polling stations on Election Day. Read more

Successfully holding an election on Nov. 3 will require the help of thousands of individuals across the region and state to serve as poll workers. These public servants are the unsung heroes of election days, and many have been staffing the polls for years, if not decades, but recruiting them has become increasingly difficult for election directors. And this year, health concerns from COVID-19 have spiked the number of vacancies that need to be filled in the coming weeks. Heres what you should know before signing up. (Spoiler alert: Its definitely not too late to sign up to work the polls on Election Day this year.)

Whats a poll worker?

Poll workers are the front-line workers in our elections  the people you see at your local polling place who check in voters, operate the voting machines, and help address voters questions and concerns on Election Day. Typically, each election precinct is overseen by five poll workers: a judge of elections, the majority and minority inspectors, a clerk, and a machine inspector. Philadelphia is planning to fully staff all 1,703 precincts grouped within more than 700 polling places for the general election, meaning upward of 8,500 people will be needed in neighborhoods across the city.

What do poll workers do?

With polls open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., poll workers are the first to arrive and the last to leave, which on Nov. 3 could be well after 8 in some locations if there are lines of voters waiting to cast ballots. Preparation involves attending training (offered online and in-person in Philly) and studying materials ahead of Election Day. A poll workers duties can differ depending on the position, but several will be greeting voters at a check-in table with lists of registered voters in the precinct, while others will be providing instructions on how to use the voting machine and working to ensure that health precautions are followed.

How do I know if Im qualified?

The judge of elections and the inspectors are elected positions and can serve only within their own election precinct. However, county election officials always have to fill vacancies, a task thats become far more challenging during the pandemic. To be appointed to fill a vacancy by your county, you only have to be a registered voter within the county. (Note: Government officials are not allowed to serve as poll workers.)

Do I get paid?

Every poll worker in Pennsylvania is paid, with some counties like Philadelphia providing a stipend to attend training. Basepay in Philly was recently increased for the general election to $200 with another $50 for training.

Why do we need poll workers?

In addition to just making election days possible, poll workers are critically important to ensure that no registered voter slips through the cracks. Poll workers know what to do if someones name cant be found in the poll book, or if theyve decided to vote at the polls instead of returning their mail ballot. In this election, thousands of voters will be seeing our new voting machines for the first time, many requiring additional instruction to cast their ballot successfully. There are numerous instances where even a little confusion or missing piece of information can make or break someones franchise.

What makes this election different?

Poll workers will be all the more essential on Nov. 3, not only to make sure every registered voter can cast a ballot, but to keep everyone at the polls safe. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is expected to be available, but poll workers will have the added duty of ensuring that social distancing and other precautions are followed, and in accommodating hundreds of voters under what will assuredly be stressful conditions.

How can I learn more and sign up to be a poll worker in Philadelphia?

Thousands of new poll workers will be needed in Philadelphia and across the region to serve as poll workers this fall. The Committee of Seventy and the Voter Project encourage interested individuals to sign up online to learn more about the work and receive additional training before being directed to county election offices for possible appointment. Not every applicant will be utilized in a given county, but other volunteer opportunities and ways to support the election will be flagged. The Poll Worker Caucus Facebook group is also open to current and prospective poll workers to raise questions, and exchange ideas and resources ahead of the election.

What if I live in New Jersey or a Philly suburb and want to volunteer?

Anyone interested in Southeastern Pennsylvania (and registered to vote) should sign up with the Committee of Seventy and the Voter Project. People in Delaware or New Jersey can go to Power the Polls, a national effort to recruit poll workers in 2020.

Pat Christmas is the policy director for the Committee of Seventy, a nonpartisan advocate for better government in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
Kenosha, Wis., Mayor John Antaramian told reporters Friday that he has no intention of requesting the resignations of Police Chief Daniel Miskinis or County Sheriff David Beth, despite calls from various civil rights groups for both men to step down following the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake and the deaths of two protesters amid ongoing unrest in the Wisconsin city.

I think when you look at what has occurred over the last week and all the activities going on, everyone is doing the best that they can, Antaramian said at a press conference on Friday.

The Wisconsin city of roughly 100,000, which sits just north of the Illinois border on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, has become the latest center of civil unrest over police violence after Jacob Blake Jr., a 29-year-old Black man, was shot by police in the back at least seven times on Sunday as he opened the door to his parked car.

The shooting, which was captured on video by a bystander, quickly sparked outrage and protests demanding justice devolved into violence and looting on Sunday and Monday night, prompting city officials to declare a state of emergency and impose a curfew. The unrest also attracted members of a local militia and various other armed civilians, including Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old who was arrested in Illinois Wednesday, on a warrant from Wisconsin that identifies him as a suspect in the shooting of three people during Tuesday night's protests, killing two and injuring one.

On Thursday, the ACLU and a coalition of prominent civil rights leaders, including Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and the Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network, issued separate statements condemning the response of Kenoshas top law enforcement officials to the Blake shooting and the events that followed.

Kenosha Sheriff David Beth. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Specifically, the groups expressed outrage over widely circulated video footage from Tuesday nights protests that raise questions about the behavior of police before and after the shootings.

Story continues

Video taken shortly before the first shooting appears to show police officers fraternizing with a group of armed civilians, including Rittenhouse, who claimed to be protecting a nearby business, offering them water and expressing appreciation for their presence. The video was taken after dark, when a curfew was in effect. Additional footage from after the shootings shows Rittenhouse, still armed, walking in the street with his hands up toward police vehicles, while the officers inside appear to ignore him. Bystanders can be heard on the tape trying to get the attention of police and identifying Rittenhouse as the suspect.

At a press conference Wednesday, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth had attempted to justify the apparently blatant failure to apprehend Rittenhouse  who proceeded to leave the state and return home to Antioch, Ill.  by suggesting that his deputies may have been too distracted by all the people running and screaming and nonstop radio traffic to notice the gunman apparently attempting to surrender right in front of them.

In situations that are high stress, you have such an incredible tunnel vision, Beth said.

Meanwhile, Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis appeared to suggest that the victims were in part to blame for being out on the street, as everybody involved in the Tuesday night shooting was out after the curfew.

Had persons not been out in violation of that, perhaps the situation that unfolded would not have happened, Miskinis said. Both men dismissed officers apparently friendly interactions with armed militia members, stating simply that such groups had not been invited to assist law enforcement at the protest.

In the ACLUs statement calling for Beth and Miskinis to resign, Chris Ott, executive director of the ACLU of Wisconsin, charged that Their actions uphold and defend white supremacy, while demonizing people who were murdered for exercising their First Amendment rights and speaking out against police violence. The ACLU also cited a video of a 2018 press conference that had begun recirculating online this week in which Beth called for five people of color whod been arrested for shoplifting to be put into warehouses and lock[ed] away for the rest of their lives. Beth previously apologized for the comments after they prompted backlash.

On Friday, both he and Miskinis attempted to course-correct, while offering little in the way of new information.

Miskinis started by stating that his previous comments about the role of curfew in Tuesday nights shootings had been misconstrued.

In no way was my comment earlier intended to suggest that by being out after curfew those people were responsible for their deaths, Miskinis told reporters Friday.

Asked again to address why Rittenhouse was able to leave the scene, and then the state, after allegedly shooting three people, Miskinis doubled down on the claim that the officers seen driving past Rittenhouse were very unlikely to have heard anything being said around them, while adding a new line of reasoning that Rittenhouse was just one of many people walking around the area with weapons, and at the time there was nothing to suggest that he was the gunman.

Rittenhouse was arrested in Antioch, Ill., where he lives, after he was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in Kenosha. On Thursday, prosecutors in Kenosha County filed several more charges against the teenager, according to court records. Rittenhouse now faces five felony charges, including first-degree reckless homicide and first-degree intentional homicide, as well as one misdemeanor count for possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor.

A protester was shot in the chest in Kenosha, Wis., on Tuesday, the third day of protests over the shooting Jacob Blake Jr. by a police officer. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Rittenhouse is currently in jail in Illinois, pending extradition to Wisconsin. During a status hearing Friday morning, a judge in Lake County agreed to delay the teens extradition proceedings until Sept. 25, while his family obtains a private attorney. He has not been arraigned in Wisconsin and has not entered a plea.

Beth said that he hadnt watched any of the videos that have been circulating on social media  including the one of Blake being shot in the back by a cop except for the one showing a law-enforcement officer handing out water bottles to Rittenhouse and other armed militia members, telling them, We appreciate you guys, we really do.

Beth first claimed that, while the word SHERIFF can be seen in big block letters along the side of the camouflaged armored vehicle in the video, it wasnt one of our BearCats.

As for the officers tolerating armed civilians on the street during a violent demonstration after curfew, I support the Second Amendment, he said. The people that have been here carrying guns, they havent been arrested because thats a right they have.

But are we asking for them to come in and support things? Im not, he said.

For his part, Ive made it clear my opinion on armed militia out in the street, the mayor said. We do not want you here.  Stay away.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Human-environment conflict View(s):

Forest reserves and wetlands are recognised as international and national treasures. Following national outrage over destruction to Sri Lankas world renowned Sinharaja Forest reserve and the internatioally recognised Anawilundawa wetlands, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited the Sinharaja Forest Reserve yesterday to inspect the site after which he gave conditional approval to go ahead with the road. Elsewhere Forest Conservation Minister C. B. Ratnayake visted the Anawilundawa wetlands in Puttalam where a politically backed group cleared two acres for a prawn farm. Please see story on Page 10. Pic (right) by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
CLAIM

On August 23 and 24, some Nigerian newspapers (including The Source, The Daily Times, and SaharaReporters) reported that the Kaduna State Government arraigned Abiodun Ogunyemi, the Anglican Bishop of Zaria Diocese, over his November 2019 comment that Governor Nasir El-Rufai can never be President of Nigeria.

VERDICT

False and misleading. Documents reviewed for this article do not support the claim that the bishop is being prosecuted over his comment that the Kaduna governor will never be president.

FULL TEXT

On August 23, News Website, SaharaReporters ran a story with the headline Kaduna Government Takes Bishop To Court For Saying Governor El-Rufai Will Never Be Nigerias President. The website added that Mr Ogunyemi made the statement in November 2019 over the demolition of churches in Kaduna State.

In its own version of the story, also published on August 23, The Daily Times said Kaduna Government charges Anglican Bishop to court for saying Mr El-Rufai will never be President.

The first two paragraphs of the story read, The Kaduna State Government has arraigned an Anglican Bishop of Zaria Diocese, Abiodun Ogunyemi, in court for saying that the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, will never be President of Nigeria, Daily Times gathered.

The bishop made the statement about El-Rufai not being president in November 2019 in response to the demolition of churches in Kaduna State.

The following day, August 24, The Source published its own version of the report, saying El-Rufai docks Anglican bishop over presidency, demolition, southern Kaduna. 

The three newspaper headlines created the impression that the bishop was slammed with a lawsuit for simply prophesying that Mr El-Rufai would never be president.

VERIFICATION:

It is a fact that Bishop Ogunyemi commented on November 23, 2019 that Governor El-Rufai will never be president of Nigeria. It is also factual that the bishop was arraigned before a chief magistrates court in Kaduna on August 4. He appeared again in court on August 17 when the magistrate adjourned the case to October 28 to give room for a possible out-of-court settlement.

But the documents reviewed by DUBAWA and PREMIUM TIMES showed that Mr Ogunyemi is standing trial for defamation of character, injurious falsehood and criminal intimidation, and not for saying that Governor El-Rufai will never be president.

According to the First Information Report filed in court, the police accused Bishop Ogunyemi of commenting in Sunday Punch (published on December 15, 2019), Daily Sun (published December 13, 2019) and in a response to a letter by Bishop CSS Bello alleging as follows:

 That he was invited to the Governors Office, Kaduna, about the Zaria cathedral demolition to drag him into trouble but refused to attend the meeting and didnt enter into their trap.

 That the day the chief of Adara was invited to the said Governors Office was the very day he was waylaid on the way and killed.

 That the governor has been angry with him and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for making noise over the demolition of Zaria cathedral.

 That when the Governors House trap failed, another meeting was organised in Kano State so that he can be ambushed on the way and forced into apologising to the Governor, which he will never do.

The police then concluded that its investigation revealed that Bishop Ogunyemi committed the offences alleged contrary to Sections 371, 373 and 377 of Kaduna State Penal Code, Law 2017.

Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai [PHOTO CREDIT: @@Insidearewa]

Even in statements he made to the police on January 27 and February 11, Bishop Ogunyemi did not say or suggest that he was being tried for saying Governor El-Rufai would never become president.

He admitted granting interviews to Punch and The Sun but insisted that the words complained of were contained in personal letters he wrote to some Anglican bishops with whom he had some disagreements. He said the comments he made about the death of the Adara chief were sourced from the press and social media.

Bishop Ogunyemi is also facing a civil suit from a fellow bishop, Ali Buba Lamido, Bishop of Wusasa and Dean of the Church of Nigeria. Mr Ogunyemi had accused Mr Lamido, who is Fulani, of being a Muslim spy, planted to rise eventually to the position of Primate, just like the Muslim world planted Barack Obama to pretend as a Christian for more than 20 years.

CONCLUSION

The reports by the newspapers on the arraignment of Bishop Ogunyemi are inaccurate and misleading. Court and police documents reviewed for this report showed that Bishop Ogunyemi is not being tried for prophesying that Governor El-Rufai would not be president.

He is facing charges of defamation of character, injurious falsehood and criminal intimidation partly due to complaints made to the police by some fellow bishops of the Anglican communion who Mr Ogunyemi had attacked in the media and in letters.
Against the backdrop of increased activity by militants, the authorities have imposed stringent restrictions on movement in parts of Srinagar to curtail planned Muharram processions. DC Photo: H U Naqash

Srinagar: Hours after the security forces gunned down four Al-Barq Mujahedin militants and captured a fifth one in Jammu and Kashmirs southern Shopian district on Friday evening, a similar fire fight occurred in neighbouring Pulwama leaving three more militants dead.

One Army jawan was also killed in the second clash, the officials said here.

A spokesman of J&K police said on Saturday that its counterinsurgency Special Operations Group (SOG) together with the Armys 50 Rashtriya Rifles and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)s 182 and 183 Battalions launched a cordon-and-search operation in Pulwama Zadoora village overnight.

During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given the opportunity to surrender. However, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter, the spokesman said.

He added that the three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen cadres killed in the clash have been identified as Adil Hafiz, Arshid Ahmed Dar and Rouf Ahmed Mir- all residents of Pulwama.

In the encounter, Army jawan Prashant Sharma received critical injuries. He was evacuated to Srinagars 92-Base Army Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries later.

Defence spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia, said Sepoy Sharma was in the lead element of his party when it came into contact with the terrorists during a specific search operation launched in village Zadoora.

He said that, in the ensuing firefight, the Army jawan suffered multiple gunshot wounds on his chest and that despite being grievously injured, he continued to fight.

Sepoy Sharma, 23, who had joined the 26 Mechanised Infantry Battalion of the Army in November 2016 was a resident of village Khanjapur of Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh and is survived by his parents, the Army said.

On Friday evening, the security forces had killed Al-Badrs district commander Shakoor Parray and his close associates Suhail Bhat, Zubair Nengroo and Shakir-ul-Jabbar in a fire fight in Shopians Kilora village. Their associate Shoab Ahmed Bhat, a resident of Awantipora in Pulwama district, was, however, captured alive.

The Army said that he surrendered before the security forces. In a purported video clip circulated by the security forces through social media, Bhat says that he would now pursue his medical education and bring glory to India.

Kashmirs Inspector General of Police, Vijay Kumar, had said on Friday that Parray was engaged in the J&K police as a Special Police Officer (SPO) in 2014 and subsequently for operational grounds elevated to the post of constable and adjusted in the police district Awantipora.

Later on, he was transferred from Anantnag district where he took away four rifles from the other officials and joined the militant outfit and continued to be on the spree of snatching service weapons from his former colleagues in the police department.

The police claimed that Shakoor and Suhail were involved in the recent abduction and subsequent killing of a Panchayat functionary Nisar Ahmed Bhat whose mortal remains were earlier during the day on Friday found buried haphazardly in an orchard in Shopians Dangam village.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.29

By Nargiz Ismayilova - Trend:

Azersu OJSC, the national water operator of Azerbaijan, has announced a winner of tenders as part a project funded by the company jointly with Germanys KfW Development Bank, Trend reports referring to the electronic portal of public procurements.

The tenders envisaged services on preparing economic plan of Sheki Sukanal CJSC and Ganja CJSC via the government share in the project aimed to ensure sustainable operation and maintenance during the construction of the water supply and sewerage system, which will be built in cities of Sheki and Ganja.

Azersu OJSC, together with the German Development Bank (KfW), signed corresponding contracts for two projects with Steel Design CJSC.

The winning company - Steel Design CJSC will be paid 93,300 manat ($54,880).

As earlier reported, Azersu OJSC announced the prequalification of a contractor for the design, construction and commissioning of two large-scale water disposal projects in the cities of Ganja and Sheki, envisaged to be implemented by the end of 2020.

(1 USD = 1.7 manat on Aug.29)
The scientific task of measuring the countrys population is more at risk than ever of being overtaken by politics.

The postal service isnt the only staid federal agency to be drawn into a political battle in 2020.

Unlike the department charged with delivering mail, however, the U.S. Census Bureau has been here before. It has found itself targeted by politicians repeatedly since it conducted its first nationwide head count in 1790.

The reason is obvious: The census determines not only how much federal money each state gets but also how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes.

The census was political from the very beginning and remains so, former Census Bureau director Kenneth Prewitt wrote in an essay almost two decades ago. Although the science of measurement is used to complete the task as accurately as possible, the central purpose of the census remains: to shift power from one set of interests to another.

READ MORE: Kerry Washington says stop asking Olivia Pope for help, stresses 2020 census

And yet some fear that this year  during a time of historic partisan and cultural divides  the scientific task of measuring the countrys population is more at risk than ever of being overtaken by politics.

Throughout this years census, lawmakers, civil rights groups, states and cities have been engaged in a battle with President Donald Trumps administration as it unsuccessfully tried to add a citizenship question; filled three top positions with political appointees who have limited experience; and issued a directive to exclude residents living illegally in the country when drawing congressional districts.

What this administration has done is unprecedented in breadth and scope, said Thomas Saenz, who heads the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Every decision made about the conduct of the census has been politically infected.

People gather in in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as decisions are handed down on June 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. The high court blocked a citizenship question from being added to the 2020 census for now, and in another decision ruled that the Constitution does not bar partisan gerrymandering. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Political interference has real consequences, said Terri Ann Lowenthal, a former congressional staffer who specializes in census issues.

Story continues

Any time political leaders of whatever stripe question data  try to direct how data are collected, I think it undermines confidence in the agencies and the process, Lowenthal said. People are less likely to participate and the quality of the data collected diminishes over time.

MALDEF and other civil rights organizations have gone to court to challenge Trumps efforts. They claim the Republican administration wants to exclude people in the country illegally when congressional districts are drawn in order to benefit Republicans and non-Hispanic whites. Civil rights groups, states and cities are also challenging the Census Bureaus decision to complete the census a month early, which they fear will leave minority communities undercounted.

READ MORE: Cardi Bs US Census Campaign PSA is a whole mood

Census officials asked for an extension of an end-of-the-year deadline to turn in numbers used for drawing congressional districts, a request that passed the Democrat-controlled House. But then  when it appeared unlikely the measure would go anywhere in the Republican-controlled Senate  the bureau announced it would try to meet the original deadline. To do so, however, officials noted that they would have to finish up the census by the end of September instead of the end of October.

At times, the goals of the Census Bureaus career staff have been at odds with the agenda of political appointees in the Commerce Department, which oversees the bureau. For instance, the bureaus chief scientist warned that adding a citizenship question would result in a less accurate count.

Theres a set of very good professionals in the Census Bureau and they are dedicated people, said Steven Murdock, a former Census Bureau director in the George W. Bush administration. If you bring in people with totally different goals for the census that could lead to real problems.

Politics have a long history of influencing the census, from determining which questions are asked to what happens with the numbers that are collected.

After the 1920 census, Congress failed to redraw congressional districts in response to pushback from rural districts that didnt want to cede power to fast-growing cities, the primary destinations for immigrants.

In the 1940 and 1960 censuses, the Census Bureau found itself in the political cross-hairs after it asked questions about income and the number of bathrooms homes had. And during the 1970 and 1980 censuses, political fights were waged over how to fix the undercounting of minorities.

But perhaps the closest parallel to the 2020 census is what happened in the lead-up to the 1990 census, said Margo Anderson, a historian at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

After decades of criticism for undercounting minorities, the Census Bureau came up with a technical method to correct it. The Republican administration under President Ronald Reagan shot it down, however. An associate director resigned in protest.

Morning! A thing getting lost in the news is that Trump is ending the 2020 Census count early and it's going to disproportionately hurt communities of color all over the county.



They'll lose a lot of federal money.



Their political power will be weakened.



For 10 years.  Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) August 27, 2020

Essentially, the Commerce Department went in and said, Oh, no you dont, Anderson said. It was a bald political attack on the agency.

Johnny Zuagar, whose union represents career workers at the Census Bureau, said the debate over the agencys politicization overlooks the hard work that rank-and-file employees are putting in, day after day, to get an accurate head count.

Some workers have moved temporarily from metro Washington to far-flung states, away from their families, to work on the head count in regional offices. Others have been working late into the night every day and on weekends. Workers at the bureaus National Processing Center in Indiana are coming into the facility to process paper census forms despite risks from the pandemic, said Zuagar, president of Census Council 241.

In this hyperpolitical season, its just like people who deliver the mail. There are actually people doing the work, Zuagar said. They dont bring their politics to work. They are trying to do something that is very difficult.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Census, like Post Office, politicized in election year appeared first on TheGrio.
A pair of late-night protests calling for systemic criminal justice reforms culminated in contrasting ways Friday in Portland.

The first demonstration at Portland Mayor Ted Wheelers Pearl District condominium ended amid a dance party in the street. The second late-night protest at the North Portland police union building escalated to several arrests after someone set a large burning object against the boarded-up building.

The demonstrations began 93 days ago, after the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man. The protests have continued every night in Portland since May 28.

These are the key turning points from Friday night:

Occupying in Northwest:

As a protest outside Wheelers condo got underway around 7 p.m., about a dozen demonstrators congregated in the buildings lobby. The group pledged to stay there until the mayor listened to demands to address systemic police violence and racism.

The list included reducing the Portland Police Bureau budget, pledging never to vote for another police budget increase and resigning as mayor and police commissioner. The letter also called for the complete abolition of the police department by 2022.

The mayor never emerged. The group eventually left after more than three hours.

Tim Becker, a spokesperson for Wheeler, would not confirm whether the mayor was home. Becker said staffers were monitoring the occupation and hoped protesters remain peaceful for the safety of other residents.

One resident, David Kahn, told The Oregonian/OregonLive he was going to pick up a pizza when he stopped to talk with the protesters. He said he offered to set up a meeting Monday with Wheeler, but the group declined.

Kahn said he did not previously discuss that offer with Wheeler, but said he believed the mayor, whom he described as a friend, would be ready to meet with demonstrators.

Im certain that if he was here tonight we probably could have arranged for something, but hes not, said Kahn, the former president of the Minnesota Timberwolves basketball team. But I know for a fact that is a standing policy for him.

Even after the condo occupation ended around 10 p.m., the larger demonstration continued outside the building. At least 150 people gathered on the street, listening to live performances and dancing.

Shifting to Northeast:

Shouts among the crowd in Northwest Portland and call-outs on social media attracted more than 150 people to Peninsula Park in Northeast Portland. The event began as a vigil for Emmett Till, a Black teenager lynched on the same day 65 years ago in Mississippi.

The gathering transformed around 11:45 p.m. into a march to the Portland Police Association building, the site of frequent overnight protests. At least 150 people gathered outside the building on North Lombard Street by 12:15 a.m.

People mostly stood around as music played. Some people spray painted messages on the boarded-up building. A few people moved dumpsters to the middle of North Lombard Street and lit the contents of two dumpsters on fire to block traffic. Before that happened, someone driving an SUV navigated quickly past the crowd, forcing some protesters to scatter.

Sudden fire:

Just before 12:40 p.m., someone set a large burning object against the plywood nailed to the entrance of the police union building. The object appeared to be a mattress or box spring. The fire spread to the plywood as someone added accelerant to the fire.

Portland police immediately declared the gathering a riot and rushed in. It was the first police presence of the entire night. Some officers quickly extinguished the fire. Other officers detained several people as they repeatedly ordered the crowd to leave.

Police continued to order people to leave and make arrests for 20 minutes.

By 1 a.m., about 50 people remained across the street from the police association building. Dozens of officers stood guard near it. The two sides faced off for about an hour.

Video shared on social media after The Oregonian/OregonLive journalists left showed police eventually advanced on protesters for a second time in the early morning hours.

Officers have not yet said how many people were arrested.

A Twitter exchange:

Both late-night protests unfolded after Wheeler and President Donald Trump traded criticism on Twitter.

Wheeler condemned Trumps response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the havoc federal officers caused when they policed Portland protests. Trump responded late Friday, claiming that if Wheeler didnt get control of the city, he would send federal troops in to take care of matters the way they should have been taken care of 100 days ago!

National demonstrations:

Protests took place around the country Friday in honor of the anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream speech. Tens of thousands gathered in the nations capital.

More than 1,000 people attended a march on Portlands east side organized by Portlands NAACP chapter and the Black youth organization Fridays 4 Freedom.

Portland police announce 19 arrests:

Nineteen people were charged with interfering with a police officer during Fridays demonstrations, one of them a juvenile. Eight of those arrested were also charged with rioting. More than half of those arrested live outside Portland, according to a police bureau release.

Although some demonstrators from out of town hailed from cities in the metro area, most traveled more than an hour. One, for example, came from Anacortes, Washington near the Canada border. Another traveled from Spokane.

This story has been updated.

READ MORE:

March on Portland marks anniversary of I Have A Dream

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

Fedor Zarkhin; 971-373-2905; fzarkhin@oregonian.com; @FedorZarkhin

Bryce Dole and Beth Nakamura contributed to this story.

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Wednesday that Florida would apply for U.S. President Donald Trump's enhanced unemployment benefits, making it the 33rd state that does it.

By applying, a $300 would be added to enhanced federal unemployment benefits to those who are unemployed or partially unemployed due to the pandemic. It includes those who are receiving at least $100 in benefits every week.

Federal Emergency Management is managing the program. At least 32 states had already been approved for the grant as of now.

FEMA also provides aid for hurricanes, once the state is approved. It should also receive three weeks' worth of benefits, and additional benefits are given only with further approval.

Florida state senator Jason Pizzo, a representative of District 38, said that it would likely be at least a week before those who qualify for the unemployment benefits to receive the money.

Pizzo said it is really unfortunate because that will put the state past the end of the month when people are going to owe rent again.

"Remember you have thousands of my constituents who owe rent on the first without a moratorium extension, without this money in hand - and that's the issue. The governor took a long time to make this decision," Pizzo was quoted in a report.

FEMA's news release warned that the funding could run out at any time.

FEMA's funding is expected to last Florida for three weeks, including weeks of back pay that DeSantis spokesman Fred Piccolo said.

A FEMA spokesperson said that no state applications had been denied.

The spokesperson added that once a state's application is approved, they will have to adjust their unemployment system to access the funds and address the program's requirements.

The decision to sign Florida onto the federal program will affect thousands of Floridians who have been surviving on Florida's maximum of $275 per week benefits.

Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment benefits recipients were eligible for an additional sum of up to $600 per week in federal aid from late March through July.

These unemployment benefits were made possible through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

CARES Act was signed into law on Mar. 27. The COVID-19 relief bill also has Florida government about $5.9 billion to help Florida on pandemic-related expenses.

Unemployment benefits, however, expired at the end of July. Democrats and Republicans in Congress failed to reach an agreement to extend the program.

This pushed Trump to signed a memorandum making other government funds available to the unemployed.

Under Trump's program, Florida could have up to $400 per week in additional benefits.

But that would need Florida to pull money from its state allocation of CARES Act money to fund 25 percent of the $400 payments.

DeSantis earlier said that this was unfeasible for Florida.

DeSantis said on Wednesday that Florida did not wait to apply for the program. It took Florida officials some time to understand what was allowed in Trump's memo.

DeSantis said that the executive order came down surprisingly, saying that no one was expecting that.

"A lot of the agencies, the federal agencies, it took them many days to be able to get on the same page. So we've been working through that," DeSantis was quoted.

Check these out:

FEMA Reveals the Date You Are Expected to Receive $400 Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment Benefits May Be Cut as High as $400, GOP Leaders Said

No Need to Certify Qualifications for California Unemployment Benefits for Now
An Army aircraft crashed off Southern California during a routine training exercise, killing two soldiers and injuring three, the military said Friday.

The Army Special Operations Command released a statement saying the aircraft went down Thursday in the vicinity of Coronado, which is just off San Diego, and officials are investigating what happened. Officials declined to give any other details.

The Army said it will release more information once the families of those killed are notified.

'Our sincere condolences go out to the families and friends of the deceased,' the statement said.

An Army aircraft (not pictured) crashed off Southern California during a routine training exercise, killing two soldiers and injuring three, the military said Friday

An Army aircraft crashed off Southern California during a routine training exercise, killing two soldiers and injuring three, the military said Friday.

The Army Special Operations Command released a statement saying the aircraft went down Thursday in the vicinity of Coronado, which is just off San Diego, and officials are investigating what happened. Officials declined to give any other details.

The Army said it will release more information once the families of those killed are notified.

'Our sincere condolences go out to the families and friends of the deceased,' the statement said.
New York, Aug 29 : Museums in New York City have gradually started reopening after they were closed in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Neegulations, the museums have implemented a series of precautions including temperature checks prior to entering the buildings, the installation of hand sanitizer dispensers, mandating masks, limiting attendance to a quarter of capacity, and closing food courts.

New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo announced last week that museums could reopen as soon as August 24, at 25 per cent capacity and with timed ticketing in place.

Face coverings will be mandatory and museum authorities will be required to control the flow of movement of people.

The American Museum of Natural History plans to reopen to the public on September 9, and the Whitney Museum of American Art on September 3.

New York was once the epicentre of the pandemic in the US, though it has recently witnessed a significant reduction in infection rates and has also been gradually reopening its economy.

Other cultural institutions in the city, including Broadway theatres, the Metropolitan Opera House and New York Philharmonic, have ruled out reopening until at least the end of the year.
PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron will head to Beirut next week to pressure local politicians into pressing ahead with the creation of a government that can implement urgent reforms, a French presidential official said on Friday.

"The president has said it he will not give up. He made a commitment to do what needs to be done and to apply the necessary pressure to put this programme in place," the official told reporters ahead of Macron's visit to Beirut next Monday and Tuesday.

The official added it was time for Lebanese political parties to temporarily step aside and ensure a government of change was put into place.

(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Toby Chopra)
MediaTek, which analysts said could be among the worst affected following the latest curbs, said it will follow related global trade regulations and has applied for the permission to ship to Huawei after Sept. 15.

Taiwanese chip designer MediaTek Inc said on Friday it had applied to the U.S. government for permission to continue supplying China's Huawei after new U.S. curbs take effect in mid-September amid rising China-U.S. tensions.

The Trump administration in August expanded its curbs on Huawei and banned suppliers from selling chips made using U.S. technology to the Chinese firm without a special licence.

MediaTek, which analysts said could be among the worst affected following the latest curbs, said it will follow related global trade regulations and has applied for the permission to ship to Huawei after Sept. 15.

"MediaTek reiterates its respect for following relevant orders and rules on global trade, and has already applied for permission with the U.S. side in accordance with the rules," it said in a brief statement, without elaborating.

Huawei declined to comment.

The U.S. move this month closes potential loopholes in its earlier May sanctions that could have let Huawei buy chips using U.S. techonolgy via third parties.

The curbs underscore the growing rift in Sino-U.S. ties as Washington presses governments to squeeze Huawei out, alleging the company would hand over data to Beijing for spying. Huawei denies it spies for China.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC),, the world's largest contract chipmaker, said last month it had stopped taking new orders from the Chinese telecommunications and smartphone giant in May and does not plan to ship wafers after Sept. 15.
She said she was standing outside a Walmart on Aug. 20 when a man approached her with what he described as a petition to give somebody else a chance on the ballot. He would not answer her questions about who it was or what race it was for, Scheeler said in an interview. She said the man also folded over the cover sheet on his clipboard to hide the name of the candidate.
(Natural News) Assumes disproportionality of legally sanctioned police violence against nonwhites

(Article by Lexi Lonas republished from TheCollegeFix.com)

An academic journal editor who asked students and faculty for research proving the existence of systemic racism in policing stopped responding to The College Fix when asked if he would accept research contradicting that claim.

Northeastern University Prof. Carlos Cuevas, co-director of its Violence and Justice Research Laboratory, is one of four editors working on a special issue of the American Psychological Association journal Psychology of Violence.

In a July email to criminal justice faculty and graduate students reprinted by Law Enforcement Today last month, the professor touted his role in the issue, titled Police, Violence, and Social Justice.

Cuevas asked those doing work in this area if they would submit their work and distribute the call for papers among your colleagues and contacts. He also asked them to distribute the call to the membership of the American Society of Criminology and related divisions.

The call for papers attached to the email assumes the disproportionality of legally sanctioned police violence against members of black and brown communities.

While it specifies that only some officers use excessive force against communities of color, the description says discussions of police behavior are being couched within the wider frameworks of structural racism.

The call for papers asks for research that examines structural racism more broadly and potential social justice solutions. It asks for studies that provide context for police violence through a broader lens on structural racism among other suggested submissions.

While one of the suggestions is for studies that explore positive relationships between law enforcement and nonwhite communities, the call does not specify how the journal will treat research that does not assume structural racism in law enforcement.

Wayne State University Prof. Antonia Abbey (left), who is editor of the journal as a whole and also for the special issue, did not respond to calls and emails from The Fix asking if Police, Violence, and Social Justice seems to take a stance on an issue that is still up for debate.

The Fix also asked her if the framing of the special issue is consistent with previous special issues the journal has published, and whether Psychology of Violence would include opposing research.

One of the most prominent counterexamples came from Harvard economist Roland Fryer four years ago, finding no racial bias in police shootings.

The black professors latest research finds a spike in homicides and crime following federal and state investigations into racial bias and excessive force in policing, which he theorizes is caused by a resulting plunge in proactive police activity.

A slap in the face to Northeastern alumni in law enforcement

Law Enforcement Today, a pro-police publication that allows vetted officers to anonymously publish articles, noted that the suggestions in the call for papers dont clarify if contradictory research will be printed to contrast the false narrative of systemic racism in policing.

It said it received a tip about Cuevass email from a person who called it a slap in the face to the thousands of alumni [who] serve in law enforcement everyday. College research firm College Factual ranks Northeastern in the top 1% of the country for criminal justice students pursuing a bachelors degree.

The publication also alleged that Cuevas may have violated Northeasterns conflict-of-interest policy by using a university listserv to seek papers and his own Northeastern email to ask students for research submissions for an outside publication. The professor stands to personally gain from utilizing student and faculty emails for his work at the journal.

The author of the article, Syracuse University student Adrianna San Marco, lost her opinion column at the student newspaper earlier this summer after rejecting the concept of institutional racism for yet another publication.

The Fix asked Cuevas (right) what kind of submissions he got from his email, if he would be including evidence contrary to his assumption, and his thoughts on the conflict-of-interest accusation.

He told The Fix in an Aug. 19 email that he was unaware of the Law Enforcement Today article and that he would give it a close read before responding. He did not email The Fix after that and did not respond to followup emails.

Northeastern did not respond to emails or calls from The Fix asking if Cuevass email seeking papers and distribution of the call for papers broke its conflict-of-interest policy.

Another editor for the special issue, University at Buffalo Prof. Christopher St. Vil, told The Fix on the phone that he would respond to the email asking him the same journal-related questions as Cuevas. He didnt respond to that email or followup emails.

The fourth editor for the special issue, Howard University Prof. Tricia Bent-Goodley, did not respond to emails and couldnt be reached by phone due to Howard faculty working from home. Submissions for the special issue are due Jan. 11.

San Marcos article said the premise of the journals special issue was false: There is no epidemic of racist police officers shooting and killing black Americans.

Controlling for behavioral, demographic, and other contextual factors causes the racial disparity in police shootings to disappear, she wrote: A black man is more likely to be killed by lightning than by a police officer.

The Washington Posts own Fatal Force tracker found more whites than blacks, unarmed and armed, killed by police. Of the 14 incidents of unarmed black men shot and killed by police in 2019, several involved high-speed car chases, fights with officers, or had weapons recovered at the scene, she wrote.

FBI figures for 2018 also show a ratio of one unarmed black man shot and killed out of 67,334 black men arrested that year.

The numbers of unarmed blacks shot and killed by police are so low, most Americans recognize their names, San Marco wrote. Comparatively, every year police kill a larger number of unarmed whites, but almost no one knows their names.

Read more at: TheCollegeFix.com
Jpuras Dengue Centre secures major grant to study arboviruses Focus on diseases such as dengue, malaria and Japanese encephalitis spread by mosquitoes, ticks or other arthropods as part of the global A2CARES Programme View(s): View(s):

Tiny Sri Lanka has been sky-rocketed to the world stage in the sphere of arboviruses to help combat diseases caused by such viruses.

Securing a US$ 1.15 million grant, the University of Sri Jayewardenepuras Centre for Dengue Research has become a strong part of the global Asian and American Center for Arbovirus Research and Enhanced Surveillance Programme (A2CARES).

This major grant to the Centre for Dengue Research headed by Prof. Neelika Malavige and supported by Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, has been awarded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH/NIAID) of the United States of America (USA), on the basis of the progressive work carried out by the centre.

The collaborative team that Prof. Malavige and Dr. Jeewandara would work with in Sri Lanka includes Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Angoda; Dr. Hasitha Tissera of the Health Ministrys Epidemiology Unit; and Prof. Thashi Chang of the Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.

Explaining what arboviruses are, Prof. Malavige tells the Sunday Times that they are a group of viruses which are transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks or other arthropods.

Sri Lanka has been battered by mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria and Japanese encephalitis. We have also reported some cases of the West Nile virus, she says, going into the nitty-gritty of how A2CARES would operate under the direction of Dr. Eva Harris and Dr. Josefina Coloma both from the University of California, Berkeley, USA.

Working as a consortium, A2CARES would bring under its umbrella world-renowned investigators from the USA, United Kingdom (UK), Nicaragua and Ecuador as well as Sri Lanka, with expertise varying from arbovirology to epidemiology, immunology, viral diagnostics, phylogenetics and clinical research.

Referring to the vicissitudes faced worldwide due to the rampage of the tiny new coronavirus, Prof. Malavige underscores that A2CARES hopes to establish a network of clinical and laboratory sites to be the foundation for research on arboviruses.

The aim is to compare arboviral diseases across the different geographic regions, develop and implement cutting-edge molecular and serological testing methods and respond efficiently and effectively to new disease outbreaks.

This is timely. COVID-19 has proven that it is crucial to have a global surveillance system to detect new and emerging infections. When we look at arboviral infections, we dont have a good idea regarding the burden created by them, says Prof. Malavige, adding that the research project also aims to identify the viruses responsible for neurological infections and unusual severe febrile infections in Sri Lanka.

Picking up one of her favourite focuses which is dengue, she says that they hope to compare the complications due to dengue and other arboviral infections in Sri Lanka and Latin America, to come up with lasting solutions.

A2CARES will be part of the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Disease (CREID), a coordinated network of 10, in regions around the globe where emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks are likely to occur.

Within this network, multidisciplinary teams will keep a close eye on micro-organisms which cause diseases and their hosts (pathogen/host surveillance); study pathogen transmission, pathogenesis and immunologic responses in the host; and develop reagents and diagnostic assays for improved detection of important emerging pathogens and their vectors.

The CREID Coordination Centre will be the non-profit Research Triangle Institute (RTI) and Duke University. Based in North Carolina, USA, the RTI has regional and project offices in over 75 countries and Duke University is the home of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute.

A media release stated: The consortium leverages research infrastructure and expertise in long-term cohort and hospital-based studies in the three partner countries in Asia and Central and South America. With three decades of collaborative international research and over 200 joint publications, A2CARES investigators have extensive experience in preparing for and responding to outbreaks working closely with local and international health authorities and NIAID.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the capacity of novel human pathogens to emerge rapidly and cause widespread epidemics with new, and potentially severe, clinical outcomes. The current pandemic emphasizes the urgent need to put in place flexible and coordinated systems that can quickly respond to the emergence of pathogens and provide high-quality clinical data and specimens for multidisciplinary research efforts. A2CARES and CREID will lower the future global risk from new viruses by creating global capacity to respond to these threats.

The other partner institutions and key collaborators in A2CARES include: in the USA  Aravinda de Silva (University of North Carolina), Aubree Gordon & Joseph Eisenberg (University of Michigan), Leah Katzelnick (National Institutes of Health), Jesse Waggoner (Emory University), Shannon Bennett (California Academy of Sciences) & Ian Lipkin (Columbia University); in Nicaragua  Angel Balmaseda (Sustainable Sciences Institute) & David Parajon (AMOS Health and Hope); in Ecuador  Gabriel Trueba (San Francisco de Quito University) & Varsovia Cevallos (CIREV, National Health Research Institute INSPI); and in the UK  Nuno Faria (Imperial College London, Oxford University).
A cat at the Desloge Pound; six cats at the Farmington Pound; and four kittens at the Fredericktown Pound are seeking their owners or new homes where they can be cared for and loved.

Desloge Pound

573-431-3700 / Ask for Animal Control

Two-year-old cat named Shea is very big and sweet. Owner surrendered, hes available now for adoption.

Farmington Pound

573-747-1988

All of these cats need to be out of the pound now or they will be euthanized.

Male cat is 1-2 years old and upset in the pound. He was picked up in the 700 block of Dewey and is available now for adoption

Female cat is 6 months old and skittish in the pound. She was owner surrendered and is available now for adoption.

Male orange cat is 6 months old and skittish in the pound. He was owner surrendered and is available now for adoption.

Six-month-old cat, gender unknown, was owner surrendered and available now for adoption.

One-year-old cat, gender unknown, is friendly. It was picked up in the 200 block of North Henry Street and is available now for adoption.

Female cat was owner surrendered and available now for adoption.

Fredericktown Pound

573-783-3660, Option 4

Three male 10-week-old kittens are friendly, owner surrendered and available now for adoption.

Female, 6-week-old kitten is friendly and available now for adoption.

Dogs and cats remain for at least seven days at the Park Hills and Farmington pounds; and at least five days at the Desloge and Leadwood Pounds to allow owners the opportunity to claim them. After that, they are eligible for adoption or euthanasia. There are no adoption fees, but rescuers are required by the Missouri Department of Agriculture to sign a spay/neuter/vaccination commitment.

Contact any other pounds listed for their adoption policies and fees.

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The U.S. armed forces will have no role in carrying out the election process or resolving a disputed vote, the top U.S. military officer told Congress on Friday.

The comments from General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, underscore the extraordinary political environment in America, where the president has declared without evidence that the expected surge in mail-in ballots will make the vote 'inaccurate and fraudulent,' and has suggested he might not accept the election results if he loses.

Trump's repeated complaints questioning the election's validity have triggered unprecedented worries about the potential for chaos surrounding the election results.

General Mark Milley (left) told Congress on Friday that the military will not get involved in the election process or be willing to resolve a disputed vote, should there be conflict over the outcome in November

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, along with other Democrats, have suggested Trump may need to be removed from the White House if he refuses to accept defeat

Some have speculated that the military might be called upon to get involved, either by Trump trying to use it to help his reelection prospects or as, Democratic challenger Joe Biden has suggested, to remove Trump from the White House if he refuses to accept defeat.

The military has adamantly sought to tamp down that speculation and is zealously protective of its historically nonpartisan nature.

'I believe deeply in the principle of an apolitical U.S. military,' Milley said in written responses to several questions posed by two Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee.

'In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, by law U.S. courts and the U.S. Congress are required to resolve any disputes, not the U.S. military. I foresee no role for the U.S armed forces in this process.'

Milley's tone reflects the longstanding views of military leaders who insist that the nation's military stays out of politics and that troops are sworn to protect the country and uphold the Constitution.

But the two Congress members, Reps. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, said Friday that Trump's recent comments and his efforts to use the military to quell protests have fueled their concerns.

Over the last few months, Trump has repeatedly warned - without evidence - that the mail-in ballot process will result in a 'fraudulent' or 'inaccurate' election, suggesting he might not accept the results if he loses

The two lawmakers released Milley's answers.

'These are just prudent questions to be asking given the things that the president has been saying publicly,' said Slotkin.

She pointed to Trump's use of the military to clear protesters from Lafayette Square and his suggestions that he may put law enforcement at the polls to make sure voting is conducted professionally.

Milley's answers, she said, 'demonstrated that the chairman recognized the military's role in our elections is to essentially stay out; that the military's role in the peaceful transition of power is to stay out.'

Faced with polls showing he is trailing Biden, Trump last month said it was too early to guarantee he'd accept the election results.

'I have to see. Look ... I have to see,' Trump said on Fox News Sunday. 'No, I'm not going to just say yes. I'm not going to say no.'

The Biden campaign at the time responded that 'the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.'

Trump later suggested that the election should be postponed, since the coronavirus pandemic has made it likely it could take days or weeks to count mail-in ballots.

General Milley has consistently sought to maintain the military's nonpartisan nature. In June, he expressed regret for walking with Trump through Lafayette Square (pictured) in what turned out to be a photo op during public protests after the death of George Floyd

The president had infamously posed with a bible outside St John's Church across Lafayette Park from the White House right after law enforcement moved aggressively to push back George Floyd protesters from a nearby park

That idea was immediately slapped down, including by top congressional Republicans, since the election date can only be changed by Congress.

Milley, known to be a student of military and constitutional history, anchored many of his responses in the nation's founding document.

Asked if the military would refuse an order from the president if he was attempting to use military action for political gain rather than national security, Milley said: 'I will not follow an unlawful order.'

Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot, said: 'this is personal for me.'

She said the questions reflect concerns raised by her constituents and others around the country 'as we see the president refusing to say that he will accept the defeat; as we see the president of the United States of America questioning our democracy and or ability to run free and fair elections.'

The attorney general and other Cabinet members should be asked similar questions, she said.

The speculation about the military getting drawn into the election is fueled by Trump's inclination to use the military as partisan props.

He raised alarms  and met resistance from the Pentagon  when he threatened to use the Insurrection Act to use troops for law enforcement during the protests after George Floyd's death.

Milley's comments were in response to Reps. Elissa Slotkin (left) of Michigan and Mikie Sherrill's (right) of New Jersey, questions regarding Trump's recent comments and his efforts to use the military to quell protests

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper is yet to respond to the House Armed Services Committee's questions

Defense Secretary Mark Esper publicly said he opposed such a move - a stand that enraged Trump and nearly cost Esper his job.

The questions were also sent last month to Esper, and the answers were due Thursday. Esper is traveling in Asia this week, and Slotkin said he has not yet responded.

Slotkin is a former CIA analyst and senior Pentagon policy adviser and Sherrill served in the Navy for about 10 years.

This is the second time in recent months that Milley has made a public stand against military involvement in politics.

In June he used a speech at the National Defense University to express regret for walking with Trump through Lafayette Square in what turned out to be a photo op during public protests after the death of George Floyd.

He said photos of him there 'sparked a national debate about the role of the military in civil society.'

And he told the military audience, 'we must hold dear the principle of an apolitical military that is so deeply rooted in the very essence of our republic.'
Over 23,000 persons mostly children were reported missing in eight years in Nigeria amidst armed conflicts in the North-east of the country, according to a new report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The report, published Wednesday ahead of the annual International Day for the Disappeared on August 30, said the coronavirus pandemic is hindering the search and reunification of missing persons as large gatherings of persons are discouraged.

The report also stated that about 44,000 people are registered as missing across Africa due to conflicts, climate change, and immigration of whom 45 per cent of those are children.

Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Cameroon, Libya, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo account for 82 per cent of the disappeared persons registered by the Red Cross in the continent.

READ ALSO:

Nigeria has the highest number of the missing people registered, at about 23,000, and the report said more 20,000 missing persons are in the Northeast where Boko Haram has continued to unleash terror on defenseless residents since 2009.

Conflict in North-East

Nigerias North-east region has been enmeshed in a bloody insurgency for over a decade which has resulted in thousands of deaths and mass displacement of residents in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States.

Attacks on civilians in the region have continued despite claims by the government that the group has been defeated.

President Muhammadu Buhari came into office in 2015, winning a majority votes on the promise to tackle the northeast insecurity in six months.

In June, Boko Haram in one its deadliest attacks, killed 81 people in Gubio, a Borno community. The UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, had while commenting on the killings of the civilians, bemoaned the failing state of insecurity in the Northeast.

Reuniting the children

Aliyu Dawobe, the spokesperson of the ICRC in Nigeria told BBC Hausa Service on Thursday that the Red Cross received complaints of the missing persons in Nigeria due to conflict in the Northeast from 2012 to 2020.

He said the among the missing persons, children constitute 60 per cent of reported disappearance in Nigeria.

Those missing persons are not under the Red Cross safe custody. They were, however, under the Red Cross search following complaints by relatives of the missing persons because Red Cross does search for the missing persons, he said.

The search are mostly conducted at Internally Displaced Person Camps (IDPs), likewise, children do ask us about their missing parents which we normally ask about their names, towns, and addresses then we conduct the search, Mr Dawobe said.

He said the Red Cross in Nigeria in 2019 was able to reunite over 53 children with their parents and other missing relatives.
Down-ballot races can get lost during a presidential election year, but sometimes they create interesting political intrigue, especially in the South San Antonio Independent School District.

Longtime school board member Connie Prado, who is unopposed in her bid for re-election for Place 5 on the South San board, is also seeking a seat as an Alamo Community College District trustee on the same ballot.

In another South San race, a candidate who filed against appointed incumbent Stacey Estrada Alderete is seeking relief from the courts after she was disqualified from running. She submitted her application for candidacy early, but the district did not inform her until after the filing deadline, more than two weeks later, that her application for candidacy was incomplete.

First, the story on Prado.

Call it a COVID-19 anomaly prompted by the rescheduling of Alamo Colleges Districts May election. The college district ended up on the November ballot alongside school district board races.

In an Aug. 24 advisory, Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs said: Candidates who may be running for two offices (one normally occurring in May and one normally occurring in November) will not be removed from the ballot because they are separate elections that do not normally occur on the same date.

That leaves Prado, 71, in a crowded field of four to replace Alamo Colleges District 4 Trustee Marcelo Casillas, who chose not to seek re-election. If Prado wins, she will choose which seat to keep. A six-year term on a countywide board where her power will be diluted, or a four-year term on a smaller board where she can, and has, wreaked a tremendous amount of havoc?

Prado has served on the South San board since 1998 and has been a disruptive force. She has forced superintendents out, spent millions on failed pet projects and caused board members to resign out of sheer frustration.

Prado does not belong in public office, but it looks as if she will be around for at least another four years regardless.

In the South San Place 7 race, it also looks like four more years for Stacey Estrada Alderete, another poorly performing board member, after her opponents application for candidacy was rejected by the district under highly unusual circumstances. A court case is pending.

Alderete lost a bid for re-election after serving a term that expired in 2016, but was appointed to a vacancy on the board last year.

Lauren Granado, 30, an employee of the Alamo Colleges communications department, filed for the Place 7 seat electronically July 31, weeks before the Aug. 17 filing deadline.

She did not learn until after the deadline passed that her application was incomplete because it had not been notarized as required by law. Granado acknowledges the mistake, but believes the school district failed by not notifying her of the error in a timely manner.

The Texas Election Code states if an application does not comply with the applicable requirements, the authority shall reject the application and immediately deliver to the candidate written notice of the reason for the rejection.

The school district is not taking any responsibility for the error.

The official response from the district states: "Mrs. Granado turned in her paperwork during the filing, however her application was incomplete. As per the Office of the Secretary of State, if that application is not notarized or otherwise sworn before another person who is authorized to administer oaths, then that application does not meet the requirements of Election Code 141.031 and therefore should be rejected. Once we caught the error, we sought guidance from our attorneys and the Office of the Secretary of the State, it was determined the application was not valid."

Granado filed the lawsuit pro se  the legal term for representing herself  because she felt the public needed to be made aware of what happened.

I understand that a judges intervention in time to be placed on the ballot is a complete long shot. However, I decided to move forward with filing on a matter of principle and to have documentation through the court system, Granado said.

Its troubling a school board candidate would be disqualified over something that could have been easily fixed. Local political consultant Laura Barberena said many governmental entities provide candidates free notary services because it can be hard to find a notary these days.

That this would happen in South San is not surprising. Operations have been less than transparent in the past year since a superintendent was forced out and three board members resigned in protest. The district recently hired a new superintendent.

The handling of filings for the upcoming board elections does not instill much confidence things will be changing much in this troubled school district.

gpadilla@express-news.net
Victoria will soon receive a 'massive package of support'. Images: Getty

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has said there is a massive package of support on its way to address the financial devastation rendered by the coronavirus outbreak in the state.

As the state recorded 98 new cases - the lowest number in eight weeks - Andrews said there is reason for Victorians to be hopeful.

People can be optimistic about the fact that this strategy is working and we will see this off, defeat this in a second wave and there will be a massive package of support to save jobs and create new jobs. That is our commitment and our record, he said.

He said he was pleased to see the current strategy is working and said there will be more details provided on the pathway out of lockdown as soon as we possibly can.

We will be able to outline exactly what weeks and months ahead will look like and that will be more certain, more meaningful, more real, it just won't be commentary, but a plan based in science, medicine and evidence and that is what we have to do, Andrews said.

We will make announcements soon about what the weeks and months ahead look like and the work that we are going to do in partnership with business, in partnership with unions, workers, in partnership with every community to repair the damage that this wicked pandemic has done.

Earlier in the day, Andrews said the future will feature freer movement with pubs, restaurants, cafes and workplaces open.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

We may have masks still, in some settings. We will have physical distance, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, all those things.

We will have people back at work, we will have economic activity. We will have a massive plan of investment and support to repair the damage that this pandemic has done.

Andrews statement comes amid forecasts from NAB and ANZ predicting the lockdown could slam a $41 billion hole through Victorias economy, meaning Australias economy at large wont return to pre-virus strength for years.

Australias national accounts for the September quarter are due to be released on Wednesday, with economists forecasting a 6 per cent GDP reduction and official confirmation of Australias first recession since 1991-92.

The Victorian government and City of Melbourne on Friday held crisis talks to find a way out of the pandemics economic devastation. In the state, 10 per cent of jobs have been lost with 12 per cent of Melbourne businesses expected to close down.
Criticising the courts and judges is easy, but positive aspects of judicial system should also be highlighted, justice DY Chandrachud said on Saturday.

The Supreme Court judge, who is the chairperson of the apex court e-committee, was speaking at the launch of the panels dedicated website.

Very often we hear criticism. For a change let us talk about the positives of the judicial system. It is very easy to criticize because criticism has that element of curiosity. But let us also talk about the positives of the judicial system, he said.

Justice Chandrachud further revealed some figures relating to the functioning of the Indian judiciary during the Covid-19 pandemic. Between March 24 and August 28, a total of 28.6 lakh cases were registered in district courts across the country and 12.6 lakh cases were disposed of by the district courts. The Supreme Court heard 15,000 cases and interacted with over 50,000 lawyers during that period, he said.

Let us remind ourselves that when international courts have been talking in single digit figures, we are talking in hundreds and thousands. This, I believe, is a unique achievement of our judicial system, justice Chandrachud said while thanking the chief justices of high courts for keeping the flag flying by working through the pandemic.

About the e-committees official website, justice Chandrachud said it will be a storehouse for data and information, and will give details about the initiatives of the committee. The website, he added, is responsive and provides good navigational experience. It will also be accessible to those who have limitations of physical nature, he pointed out.

He ended his speech by giving details about the upcoming initiative of the e-committee regarding development of an inter-operable criminal justice system.

As part of this project, we are integrating every element of the criminal justice administration  the prisons, police, courts and forensic laboratories, he said.
CALIFORNIA  As the ashes pepper the skies from more than 1 million acres of wildfire burning in California and dry lightning continues to wallop northern parts of the state, the 2020 fire season is shaping up to be a monster before it's even officially started. Compared to 2019, California has already significantly tipped the scales in total acres burned and number of wildfires this year.

A staggering 2,700 more wildfires have cropped up this year than last, with an additional 1.4 million acres burned from fires that ignited just in August, according to Cal Fire. California's fire season traditionally peaks in the fall after the summer heat cooked the landscape and the winds pick up. However, unusual summer thunderstorms over the last few weeks are the glaring catalyst in this year's fire season. Having sent more than 14,000 lightning strikes ricocheting across an uncharacteristically dry landscape for this time of year, the strikes have ignited more than 700 fires and burned a combined acreage bigger than some states in the U.S.

So far, 1.6 million acres have burned since the start of 2020. Last year, a mere 259,823 acres burned and saw the smallest amount of acres burned since 2011.

17 New Photos Show Impact Of California Wildfires



"These fires are historic because they are on pace and setting the pace of a historic fire season," Gov. Gavin Newsom said at a news conference Wednesday.



This month, state has seen some of the biggest fires in over a century, with the LNU and SCU Lightning Complex fires both growing to become the second and third largest wildfires in California history.

The largest California wildfire was the devastating Mendocino Complex in July 2018, burning 459,123 acres. For comparison, the SCU Lightning Complex Fire, currently the largest fire of the season, has scorched more than 365,772 acres.

And it's far from over. According to Cal Fire, this fire season could persist into October in Northern California. Other predictions point to a very dry winter conditions this fall, with offshore winds increasing fire danger in Southern California.



Story continues

Officials are warning residents to be prepared for an extended fire season.

Here are the essential top five things you need to know about the 2020 wildfire season:

1) Did fire season arrive early?

Yes and no.

Fire season typically begins in May and ends in October and is a natural part of life in California with the state's rugged terrain and hot seasons. But a string of unusual summer thunderstorms in early August kicked the state into peak season a little early by igniting three of the largest complex fires the state has ever seen burning simultaneously within the last hundred years.

It's not unusual to see fires in August; However, fire season in California and across the West is beginning earlier and ending later each year, according to Cal Fire. The length of fire season has increased by about 75 days across the Sierras and seems to correspond with an increase in the extent of forest fires across the state, according to Cal Fire.

"It's not that we're seeing more fire, it's that the fires are able to burn at a bigger size with more destruction," said Daniel Berlant, a public information officer for Cal Fire in an informational video Tuesday.

Climate change is considered to be the key catalyst of these longer and more destructive fire trends.

"Warmer spring and summer temperatures, reduced snowpack, and earlier spring snowmelt create longer and more intense dry seasons that increase moisture stress on vegetation and make forests more susceptible to severe wildfire," Cal Fire said in a 2020 fire outlook.



Wildfires are predicted to get six times larger in the U.S. within the next 18 years, according to a study conducted by UC Merced's Sierra Nevada Research Institute in 2018.

California alone could see anywhere from a 10 to 150 percent increase in areas burned by 2039, according to Dave Shew in the 2018 report, staff chief with the state's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Its gotten to the point now where were reluctant to use the term fire season because were seeing fire impacts running year round now," he said in the report.

2) What is the 2020 fire season expected to look like in the coming months?

The 2020 fire season is expected to wind down in October, according to Cal Fire. August could be the peak of fire season for California, according to a wildfire outlook from the National Interagency Fire Center.

But as lighting continues to ravage drier than normal landscapes in the state, fire activity and large-scale fire potential has increased for September.

A significant increase of fire activity occurred in July as trees, brush and shrubbery continued to dry across much of California and lightning spread farther north and west into the Great Basin, northern California, Pacific Northwest, and northern Rockies.



The North American Monsoon is forecasted to remain intermittent, which will produce more dry lightning strikes, according to the Fire Center.

In the fall, precipitation and cooler temperatures are expected to arrive. But areas of concern will pivot to Southern California as offshore winds begin to start up. With a delayed rainy season, fuels could remain drier across most of the state.

The National Interagency Fire Center also predicts La Nina conditions this fall, which could deliver a very dry winter in California. Nonetheless, the fire season is projected to taper off in Southern California in November.

(National Interagency Fire Center)

3) How can I prepare for wildfires?



There are a number of steps you can take to prepare for an extended wildfire season. The Ready for Wildfire site has detailed steps for what to do before, during and after a wildfire.

While there's a difference between an evacuation order and an evacuation warning, Ready for Wildfire says residents should leave as soon as an evacuation is recommended and should not wait to be ordered by authorities to leave.

"Evacuating the forest fire area early also helps firefighters keep roads clear of congestion, and lets them move more freely to do their job," the preparation website recommends. "In an intense wildfire, they will not have time to knock on every door."



Review the full list of resources from Ready for Wildfire to be sure that you're prepared.

4) What are the health effects of wildfires?

With the current COVID-19 pandemic in mind, it's more important than ever to maintain respiratory health, reduce exposure to smoke and poor air quality.

As fires rage across the state, it's not only important to wear a mask to prevent transmission of coronavirus, but to prevent the inhalation of wildfire smoke which contains particulate matter such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and other menacing compounds that can worsen air quality.

Exposure to smoke can increase respiratory and cardiovascular health risks and can even land you in the emergency room according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoke from wildfires can worsen chronic heart and lung diseases as well.



The CDC also adds that children are more likely to be affected by smoke as their airways are still developing. According to the agency, children breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. People with heart and lung disease, along with older adults are also at greater risk. The CDC has a list of steps residents can take to minimize exposure to wildfire smoke.

5) Can I do anything to prevent wildfires?

About 95 percent of all wildfires are caused by humans, according to an analysis conducted by Jon Keeley, a research scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Western Ecological Research Center.

Last August, a blaze in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles was reportedly intentionally set by a pair at a homeless encampment. Before that, 2018's Ranch Fire was caused by a spark or metal fragment, which came from a hammer, Cal Fire determined.



The Ready for Wildfire website guides residents on how to be safe while using equipment, driving, burning debris and more.

Some fires are started by drivers dragging chains or low tire pressure, which can throw sparks that ignite dry brush. Other fires are started by campers who don't attend to the fire at all times or do not extinguish the fire properly.

A video from Cal Fire demonstrating best fire preventing practices can be found here.





This article originally appeared on the Across California Patch
In spite of the ongoing pandemic, many people are still dreaming of France. According to data provided by the giant of Mountain View, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum are the two locations that are most saved by users of its popular Google Maps application.

Having attracted close to ten million tourists in 2019, the Louvre will not be setting any new attendance records this year. However, the managers of the world's most popular museum can take heart in the fact that the number of visitors will likely bounce back once borders are re-opened and people are allowed to come and go as they please.

An observation that has recently been borne out by news to the effect that the French cultural bastion is ranked second in the top 10 most-saved places on Google Maps. And visitors who come to Paris to see the Mona Lisa are also more than likely to spend some time at the Eiffel Tower, which has the distinction of being placed first in the top 10 most-saved list.

For those of you who haven't tried it yet, Google Maps has a handy functionality that allows you to flag places that you would like to visit, whether they be monuments, restaurants, or museums, etc... And this is the source for the data on which the new ranking is based.

Fans of France and Paris in particular will be delighted to learn that the French capital appears no less than four times in the top 10, which also includes the Arc de Triomphe and the Pantheon, which are respectively 7th and 9th in the ranking.

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

Other locations in Europe also figure large in the plans of Google Maps users: notably the Colosseum in Rome (4th), La Sagrada Familia de Barcelona (5th) and Buckingham Palace (10th).

However, notwithstanding this overwhelming European presence, Japan can still pride itself on having two locations in the ranking, which are both in the city of Kyoto: the Kiyomizu-Dera temple and the shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, which is renowned for its seemingly endless succession of red torii gates.

Along with this ranking, Google Maps has also presented a more quirky top 10, which offers a glimpse of the place categories most saved by internet users. And as you will see, national forests, which top the list are more often saved than rivers and... ice-cream shops.

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Eiffel Tower

Louvre Museum

Kiyomizu-dera

Colosseum

La Sagrada Familia

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Arc de Triomphe

Trevi Fountain

Pantheon

Buckingham Palace


It's not looks or a head for business that have helped Alexa Chung carve out a successful career as a model and designer  it is her ability to stand on one leg for seven hours.

Alexa has worked for top fashion houses such as Chanel, but she started out in shoots for teenage magazines and says: 'I ended up being booked consistently because I would do whatever  jump in an ice bath or stand on a bed on one leg for seven hours.'

I bet she can do a great flamingo impression!

It's not looks or a head for business that have helped Alexa Chung carve out a successful career as a model and designer  it is her ability to stand on one leg for seven hours (pictured: Alexa Chung at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, May 2019)

Alexa has worked for top fashion houses such as Chanel, but she started out in shoots for teenage magazines and says: 'I ended up being booked consistently because I would do whatever  jump in an ice bath or stand on a bed on one leg for seven hours' (left: at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2018; right: in Los Angeles, 2015)

Sartorial standards are definitely slipping at one of London's most exclusive clubs  guests can now wear jeans and trainers.

The RAF Club in Piccadilly, which counts the Queen as its patron, is also allowing polo shirts and shorts in a bid to attract younger officers.

But there is some good news for traditionalists in blazers and ties  sandals, flip-flops and sportswear are still banned.

He is well-known for being one of the brashest people in showbiz world, but celebrity photographer Rankin now cringes at his past behaviour.

'I just want to apologise to a lot of people if I was ever offensive to them,' says the man who has snapped everyone from David Bowie to Kate Moss.

'I've been a bit of a d***.'

That's one way of putting it!
Saturday, August 29th, 2020 (12:01 am) - Score 4,645

The Founder and CEO of broadband ISP Voneus, Steve Leighton, has told ISPreview.co.uk in a new interview that the 2025 target for every UK home to gain access to gigabit-capable broadband is unrealistic and that Ofcoms approach to regulation needs to take more account of alternative networks (AltNets).

As a business Voneus has actually been around for a good 8 years or so, although they initially spent most of that time on developing products and services for the Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) market. By comparison theyve only really been active in the broadband connectivity sector for 3-4 years.

On the broadband side the ISP has been primarily focused on developing Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) networks for poorly serve villages and towns across various different parts of England (mostly rural areas), with a little bit in Wales. Customers of these services typically pay from about 34.99 per month for an unlimited 30-50Mbps capable superfast broadband service, which comes with a free router and installation.

So far most of that has been powered by a 2017 funding injection of 2.4 million from BOOST&Co and, more recently, theyve also secured an initial commitment of 10m from Macquarie Capital, which includes the potential to invest up to 30m in phases (here). As part of that Voneus are looking to grow their FWA coverage and to expand into doing more Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) deployments (they have started some in Devon, Bedfordshire, Somerset and Buckinghamshire).

NOTE: As a result of the latest investment Voneus is targeting a potentially addressable market of c.900,000 homes.

Suffice to say that we were keen to know where the ISP stood on some of the major developments currently taking place, such as the Governments 5bn aspiration to bring gigabit-capable broadband to every UK home by the end of 2025 (here and here). Steve Leighton, CEO of Voneus, thinks this target is unrealistic and he also wants to see the current business rates holiday on new fibre (due to end in 2022) being extended so that ISPs can properly plan their investments for the future.

On top of that Steve notes that competition for skilled engineers is starting to mean that resources are becoming increasingly scarce in the industry and extremely good engineers in particular are now starting to command a premium, which is something that can impact the cost models that providers make for their deployments. We touch on all of this in more detail below.

The Voneus Interview (Steve Leighton)



Q1. Voneus started out by building hybrid fibre optic and fixed wireless broadband networks in order to serve poorly connected communities, often in rural areas. More recently youve begun a number of Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) builds, can you tell us a little more about why youve started to harness full fibre and what sort of new challenges it has presented?

ANSWER: The utopian vision is for a full fibre UK. The Governments views on this outcome have softened recently, with the emphasis being placed much more on a Gigabit Britain. This has opened the door for alternative technologies to be used in solving the countrys connectivity problem. Our strategy is very simple. We will continue to serve the rural areas that are underserved by superfast broadband, doing so initially through our Fixed Wireless Access solution. Significantly, FWA is very quick to deploy. By using this technology we can get a community on-line and connected to a superfast service extremely swiftly. Then, when that community reaches a certain level of take-up, we will deploy fibre, confident in the knowledge that our investment will accrue revenues from day one. This approach mitigates some of the risk associated with an expensive investment in rural fibre. Therefore, one of the key challenges with rural FTTP deployment is ensuring that we have effective clustering and available fibre backhaul points to provide the economies needed for a full fibre rollout.

Q2. At present Voneus existing network connects around 5,000 UK premises (with more added daily), although youve recently secured an additional investment of 30m and have spoken of an aspiration to cover 900,000 premises.

Are you able to tell us a little more about when you expect to hit that 900,000 aspiration, how you intend to invest the extra money in order to achieve that and how many premises from the target might benefit from FTTP rather than wireless services?

ANSWER: At the time of the Macquarie investment 900,000 homes was quoted as the potential scale of the number of addressable homes in rural, poorly connected communities in the UK, highlighting the troubling extent of the UKs broadband divide. These are typically defined as homes receiving less than 10Mbps today. Our aspiration over the next 3-5 years is to grow our customer base significantly, using our investment to grow our FWA networks, as well as building FTTP infrastructure for a large number of our communities across the UK, with a strong focus on homes connected rather than homes passed. We are not short of opportunities and continue to both discover and receive inbound enquiries from communities across the UK who receive speeds of less than 10Mbps. We are supporting our organic growth with strategic acquisitions designed to bring us customers, skills and communities with the potential for fibre rollout. We are well on our way with that journey, and I think the next 6-12 months will represent a very exciting time for the company as we continue to realise our double-digit growth plans. Although our investment will fuel our buy and build strategy, we know the importance of ensuring the business, its people, and our systems scale in the same manner. With this in mind, we have made a number of strategic senior management hires from across the Telco sector to provide further insight and experience.

Q3. We note that Voneus has, on occasion, come close to crossing some of your wireless or fibre network coverage with that of a rival other than Openreach, such as Truespeed or Gigaclear. As a provider, how do you approach the issue or threat of overbuild with a rival and what sort of impact can or does it have on your plans?

ANSWER: We recognise that the UK broadband market is a competitive marketplace. The presence of alternative networks and the sharp increase of private investment in this space over the last few years demonstrates the existence of the opportunity which much of the industry is trying to take advantage of. To mitigate the impact of this competition, we use data and established criteria to decide where to implement our buy/build strategy, enabling us to spend our money wisely and achieve the best ROI, especially where we have first mover advantage. We avoid knocking on the doors of our competitors customers because our view is that the market is big enough to avoid treading on the toes of others. Why overbuild and compete when there are other, significant areas with little to no connectivity that we can focus on helping instead? However, as you point out, in some of our legacy sites, there has been some overbuild, which has established a new level of competition. Our approach in these areas is to continue to excel in providing the best possible service to our customers, which in our books encompasses superfast, reliable broadband with excellent customer service. Our local customer engagement model means that our customer base often feels a strong affinity with Voneus, which is hugely helpful moving forward as we look to take them on a journey to FTTP.

Q4. If you could change one rule or element of the current market to help your roll-out, what would it be?

ANSWER: For rural delivery wed like to use all the existing UK infrastructure to improve the speed for delivery and also to help reduce cost. As an example of this approach, Open Fibre in Italy have shown that by using the power networks infrastructure, FTTP can be deployed rapidly.

NOTE: The UK Gov are currently consulting on the use or re-use of existing infrastructure ( The UK Gov are currently consulting on the use or re-use of existing infrastructure ( here ).

Q5. The Government has recently been through a fair few rapid broadband policy changes. At the start of 2019 the plan was still to achieve full fibre coverage of every home by 2033 (viable), then it became 2025 (virtually impossible), before finally being watered down to simply gigabit-capable broadband by 2025 (this expanded the technology options beyond just FTTP to add Virgin Medias DOCSIS 3.1 cable network and possibly also fixed wireless broadband or 5G).

Since then the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has announced that he will facilitate the new 2025 target by investing 5bn of public money to help bring Gigabit broadband to those in the hardest to reach (final 20%) of premises. Given all of this, what are your thoughts on the viability of the new 2025 target and do you have any recommendations for how the funding should be spent?

ANSWER: Im not alone in thinking the 2025 target is unrealistic, even given the recent change in emphasis. Wed need to increase current rates of build across the board (I.E. all businesses that are currently building networks designed to deliver Gigabit-capable services) by a significant factor to meet that. However, as you say, support schemes exist to help soften the investment risks when delivering this broadband rurally. However, the current scheme (the rural Gigabit voucher scheme) is due to come to an end in March 2021. This makes no sense in my view  if the vision is for a Gigabit Britain by 2025, the scheme should continue to run until then at the very least. What is clear is that the initial 5bn has not been completely spent. With this in mind, companies like Voneus should be allowed to continue to build, with some level of support from the Government. Removing that support wont stop the build, because the demand will always be there, but it might slow down its progress, and contribute to missing the Governments 2025 deadline.

NOTE: We expect the new 5bn gigabit programme to include a continuation of the rural voucher scheme beyond 2021 ( We expect the new 5bn gigabit programme to include a continuation of the rural voucher scheme beyond 2021 ( here ).

Flick over to page 2 to continue this interview.
US space agency NASA has selected five proposals for concept studies of missions to help improve understanding of the dynamics of the Sun and constantly changing space environment with which it interacts around Earth.The information will improve understanding of the universe as well as offer key information to help protect astronauts, satellites, and communications signals  such as GPS  in space.

The agency will grant $1.25 million to each of these Medium-Class Explorer proposals to conduct a nine-month mission concept study. Following the study period, NASA will choose up to two proposals to go forward to launch. Each potential mission has a separate launch opportunity and timeframe.

We constantly seek missions that use cutting edge technology and novel approaches to push the boundaries of science, said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASAs Science Mission Directorate. Each one of these proposals offers the chance to observe something we have never before seen or to provide unprecedented insights into key areas of research, all to further the exploration of the universe we live in.

The proposals were selected based on potential science value and feasibility of development plans, the agency said. The cost for the investigation ultimately chosen for a flight will be capped at $250 million and is funded by NASAs Heliophysics Explorers program.

The proposals selected for concept studies are:

Solar-Terrestrial Observer for the Response of the Magnetosphere (STORM)

STORM would provide the first-ever global view of our vast space weather system in which the constant flow of particles from the Sun  known as the solar wind  interacts with Earth's magnetic field system, called the magnetosphere. Tackling some of the most pressing questions in magnetospheric science, this comprehensive data set would provide a systemwide view of events in the magnetosphere to observe how one region affects another, helping to untangle how space weather phenomena circulate around our planet.

Solar-Terrestrial Observer for the Response of the Magnetosphere, aka STORM, would provide the first-ever global view of our vast space weather system. STORM is led by David Sibeck at @NASAGoddard in Greenbelt, Maryland. pic.twitter.com/AyTzAVSFnN  Thomas Zurbuchen (@Dr_ThomasZ) August 28, 2020

HelioSwarm: The Nature of Turbulence in Space Plasmas

HelioSwarm would observe the solar wind over a wide range of scales in order to determine the fundamental space physics processes that lead energy from large-scale motion to cascade down to finer scales of particle movement within the plasma that fills space, a process that leads to the heating of such plasma.

HelioSwarm: The Nature of Turbulence in Space Plasmas would observe the solar wind over a wide range of scales. HelioSwarm is led by Harlan Spence at the @UoFNH in Durham. pic.twitter.com/3AaCnsi8DC  Thomas Zurbuchen (@Dr_ThomasZ) August 28, 2020

READ | NASA Scientist Reveals Sun's Early Behaviour Impacted Development Of Life On Earth

READ | Big Milestone: NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Powered Up In Space For The First Time

Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE)

MUSE would provide high-cadence observations of the mechanisms driving an array of processes and events in the Sun's atmosphere  the corona  including what drives solar eruptions such as solar flares, as well as what heats the corona to temperatures far above that of the solar surface.

Multi-slit Solar Explorer, aka MUSE, would provide high-cadence observations of the mechanisms driving an array of processes and events in the Sun's atmosphere. MUSE is led by Bart De Pontieu at @LockheedMartin in Palo Alto, California. pic.twitter.com/ufKNP3nmJO  Thomas Zurbuchen (@Dr_ThomasZ) August 28, 2020

Auroral Reconstruction CubeSwarm (ARCS)

ARCS would explore the processes that contribute to aurora at size scales that have been rarely studied: at the intermediate scale between the smaller, local phenomena leading directly to the visible aurora and the larger, global dynamics of the space weather system coursing through the ionosphere and thermosphere. Adding crucial information to understanding the physics at the border between our atmosphere and space, these observations would provide insight into the entire magnetospheric system surrounding Earth.

Auroral Reconstruction CubeSwarm, aka ARCS, would use CubeSats and ground observatories to provide a comprehensive picture of the drivers and response of the auroral system to and from the magnetosphere. ARCS is led by Kristina Lynch at @Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire. pic.twitter.com/k4tWN8L7uV  Thomas Zurbuchen (@Dr_ThomasZ) August 28, 2020

Solaris: Revealing the Mysteries of the Suns Poles

Solaris would observe three solar rotations over each of the Sun's poles to obtain observations of light, magnetic fields, and movement in the Sun's surface, the photosphere. Better knowledge of the physical processes visible from the pole is necessary to understand the global dynamics of the entire Sun, including how magnetic fields evolve and move throughout the star, leading to periods of great solar activity and eruptions approximately every 11 years.

Solaris: Revealing the Mysteries of the Suns Poles would address fundamental questions of solar and stellar physics that can only be answered with a view of the Sun's poles. Solaris is led by Donald Hassler at the @SwRI in Boulder, Colorado. pic.twitter.com/aTX9qiaetY  Thomas Zurbuchen (@Dr_ThomasZ) August 28, 2020

READ | NASA Captures Distant Nebula W51, One Of The Largest 'star Factories' In Milky Way

READ | NASA Creates Fifth State Of Matter Aboard The International Space Station
NASA-NOAA satellite nighttime imagery tracks Tropical Depression Laura over US

A new animation of nighttime imagery from NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite followed the path of former Hurricane Laura from its landfall in southwestern Louisiana to its movement over the Mississippi Valley.

As Laura tracks across the eastern U.S., it is generating heavy rain and has triggered watches.

On Aug. 28, Flash Flood Watches were posted for portions of northeast Arkansas, southeast Missouri, western Kentucky and Tennessee, northern of Mississippi, and northwest Alabama.

NASA's Night-Time Imagery Tracks Laura

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided days of infrared nighttime imagery of the now former hurricane Laura. Using the Worldview Application at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. an animation was created of nighttime imagery from Aug. 23 to 28, 2020 (0000 UTC) that showed the track of Hurricane Laura from the landfall and movement from southwestern Louisiana to the Mississippi Valley.

Tropical Depression Laura's Status on Aug. 28

At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Aug. 28, NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC) noted the center of Tropical Depression Laura was located near latitude 36.6 north, longitude 90.5 west. That puts the center about 85 miles (140 km) northwest of Memphis, Tenn. and about 105 miles (170 km) west-southwest of Paducah, Kentucky. The depression was moving toward the east-northeast near 20 mph (31 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue as Laura tracks along and south of the Ohio Valley through tonight. Maximum sustained winds were near 30 mph (45 kph) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 millibars.

Hazards Laura Brings Along its Path

NOAA's WPC provided a look at the hazards that Tropical Depression Laura is expected to bring along its path toward the Atlantic Ocean over the next 2 days: "Expect 1 to 3 inches, with isolated 5-inch totals from western and central Kentucky and Tennessee into northern Alabama and Mississippi. One to 2 inches, with isolated 4-inch totals are possible over southern parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. By Saturday, 1 to 3 inches of rain is forecast from the central and southern Appalachians to the Mid-Atlantic States. This rainfall will continue to contribute to isolated flash and urban flooding, and overflow of small streams and creeks across the aforementioned regions. Minor to moderate river flooding is occurring or forecast in Louisiana and Arkansas.

Gusty winds of 25-30 mph will accompany Laura's circulation as it moves toward the Lower Ohio Valley through the afternoon. Stronger gusts are possible within thunderstorms.

A few tornadoes remain possible, mainly over parts of Mississippi, Tennessee and southern Kentucky. The risk for a couple of tornadoes should redevelop Saturday afternoon and evening over parts of the mid-Atlantic from Virginia to North Carolina."

Forecast for Laura

Eventually, the remains of Laura will cross the central Appalachians Saturday, before becoming absorbed by an approaching cold front that is forecast to move off the mid-Atlantic coastline by late Saturday.

###

About NASA's EOSDIS Worldview

NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Worldview application provides the capability to interactively browse over 700 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then download the underlying data. Many of the available imagery layers are updated within three hours of observation, essentially showing the entire Earth as it looks "right now."

NASA Researches Earth from Space

For more than five decades, NASA has used the vantage point of space to understand and explore our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. NASA brings together technology, science, and unique global Earth observations to provide societal benefits and strengthen our nation. Advancing knowledge of our home planet contributes directly to America's leadership in space and scientific exploration.

For updated forecasts, visit: http://www. nhc. noaa. gov

By Rob Gutro

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 29)  The Food and Drug Administration approved clinical trials for herbal medicine lagundi as a supplement coronavirus treatment, Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Pena announced Saturday.

De la Pena said in a briefing that participants will be around 200 COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms and admitted at the Quezon Institute quarantine center, Sta. Ana Hospital, and Philippine National Police-National Capital Region community quarantine center.

Experts from the Philippine General Hospital will lead the medical research.

Ang hangad natin ay ma-address ang symptoms gaya ng ubo, lagnat at mga sore throat, De la Pena said.

[Translation: We hope that lagundi could address symptoms such as cough, fever and sore throat.]

He added that the research will also try to find out if lagundi may reduce severity of symptoms.

Other clinical trials

The FDA has yet to approve the studies which aim to look into the possible effects of another traditional medicine, tawa tawa, to COVID-19 patients, Dela Pena said.

A doctor from the University of the Philippines Visayas will be in charge of these studies once they get the green light from the food and drug regulator, he added.

Meanwhile, in vitro clinical studies conducted abroad support the potential of lauric acid, the fatty acid found in virgin coconut oil, as well as its derivative, as antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2 or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the DOST chief pointed out.

So far ang finding, meron pong modest reduction noong infectivity ng ating SARS-CoV-2 with the use of lauric acid and monolaurin, he said.

[Translation: So far, the finding is there is modest reduction of infectivity of SARS-CoV-2.]

Dahil doon (Because of those findings), even if the reduction is modest, it still justifies our experiments or clinical trials involving virgin coconut oil against COVID, he added. The clinical trials on coconut oil are ongoing.

Monolaurin, the substance formed by the bodys own enzymes upon ingestion of coconut oil and lauric acid have been known for many years to have significant antiviral activity, Fabian M. Dayrit and Mary T. Newport said in a research paper published on the website of the Ateneo de Manila University.

In March, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, a key official in the coronavirus inter-agency task force, said the National University of Singapore has agreed to the request of the Philippines to test coconut oil as a COVID-19 prophylactic since the country has no virology institute where in vitro studies could be carried out.

Other efforts of the government to combat COVID-19 include distribution of free face masks, DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said in the same briefing.

The government has started distributing locally made reusable face masks to those who cannot afford to buy them, Vergeire said.

This is to enjoin them to comply with minimum health standards, which are seen to reduce people's risk of getting the coronavirus, she added.
EU Ministers Agree On Belarus Sanctions, OSCE Offers To Mediate

By RFE/RL's Belarus Service August 28, 2020

European Union foreign ministers have agreed to impose sanctions on up to 20 senior Belarusian officials suspected of involvement in election fraud and a brutal crackdown against protesters since the country's disputed August 9 presidential election.

EU foreign ministers at a meeting in Berlin on August 28 did not rule out that Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka will at some point be among those named on the sanctions list if the country doesn't cease human rights violations.

Meanwhile, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) offered on August 28 to mediate between Lukashenka's government and opposition leaders who charge that the presidential election was rigged in favor of Lukashenka.

Belarus's authoritarian president has faced nearly three weeks of unprecedented protests since the election gave him a landslide victory. More than 7,000 people have been detained, hundreds injured, and at least three killed. More large-scale protests are planned over the weekend.

"We need to send a signal," Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics told RFE/RL after the meeting in Berlin, adding that sanctions against 20 individuals would not be enough. "But then even if we start by a smaller numberwe keep the option open that we can add more names if things get worse."

EU diplomats are not naming who may be put on the sanctions list, saying every step will follow legal and formal procedures.

'High Political Level'

Asked if Lukashenka is on the list, Sweden's foreign minister said that EU diplomats are using the term "high political level" to describe who the sanctions will target.

"Our wording is 'high political level,'" Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde told RFE/RL. "We have also decided to have an option to gradually expand the list in the future."

The EU foreign ministers were seeking in Berlin to gain political endorsements for a proposed sanctions list. Their agreement on the list allows for formal approval of EU sanctions against targeted individuals.

Western countries are trying to find a political solution to end the crisis in Belarus, which has raised concerns Lukashenka will unleash a bloody crackdown or Russia may intervene in the event of instability in its neighbor.

Linde is also the incoming OSCE chair as Sweden prepares to lead the regional security organization at the beginning of next year.

Current OSCE chair, Albanian Foreign Minister Edi Rama, told a special session of the Vienna-based body on August 28 that the situation is "deeply alarming" as he urged Belarus to allow a delegation to visit the country.

In a letter to Belarus earlier this month, Rama offered the OSCE's help to mediate in the crisis.

Linde told RFE/RL that there was political support for an OSCE visit to Belarus to support an open and constructive dialogue in the country.

"There is almost a uniform backing for the initiative by the current and the next chairs of OSCE -- in other words Albania and Sweden -- to try to arrange a visit to Minsk in order to facilitate a dialogue between the opposition and the regime," Linde said.

As an OSCE participating state, Belarus has committed "to holding genuinely democratic elections and to upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms," EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell and Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a joint statement.

Lukashenka has accused the West of waging a "diplomatic war" against Belarus, claiming that Western powers are seeking to foment a "color revolution." He also put the military on high alert, using the army to intimidate protesters while accusing NATO of amassing forces near the Belarus-Poland border in recent weeks. The alliance has denied it poses any threat.

The authoritarian president continued his tirades against the West on August 28, trying to tie his own fate as Belarus's ruler to Russia's security.

"Belarus is just a springboard to Russia, as always," he said.

"Unlike Hitler, who sent his army to Moscow, they are trying to destroy the government in place here and replace it with a new one that will ask another country for military assistance and deploy troops."

Russia, a historical ally that wields some influence over Minsk through financial and political levers, has warned the EU and the United States against interfering in Belarusian affairs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a state television interview broadcast on August 27 that Russia has prepared a force of reserve law enforcement officers who could be sent into Belarus to stop the protests.

He said the Russian security force would be used only if the situation gets out of control, "if extremists, hiding behind political slogans, cross certain boundaries and start looting, setting fire to cars, homes, banks, attempting to seize administrative buildings, and so on."

Western Warnings

In response, European leaders and the United States warned Russia against intervening in Belarus.

"I have heard many times from Russia the mantra that this is a domestic internal affair for Belarus and they do not want external interference. I suppose it's also valid for themselves," EU foreign affairs high representative Borrell said.

"It is solely for the Belarusian people to determine their own future," he added, urging Russia to "respect the wishes and democratic choices of the Belarusian people."

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on August 28 said in a statement that it is "clear to the world" that the recent presidential election in Belarus was "fraudulent."

"This is not a contest between East and West, and certainly not a contest between Russia and the United States," Biegun tweeted. "This is a battle between a ruler and his own people."

Asked about the statements from Russia, Latvia's Foreign Minister Rinkevics told RFE/RL that it would be a "huge mistake" for Russia to intervene militarily in Belarus.

"I think that would be a huge mistake from their own (Russia's) perspective, because in that case, they would actually alienate many of the Belarusian people," he said.

Linde said it is important to realize that there isn't anti-Russian sentiment in Belarus.

"The opposition is -- on the contrary -- saying that they want to maintain good relations with Russia," the Swedish foreign minister said.

Deploying Russian forces to Belarus would be a mistake, said Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the self-exiled former presidential candidate who has become an unlikely leader of the Belarusian opposition.

"This is our internal problem, an internal issue that Belarusians must resolve with the Belarusian government," Tsikhanouskaya told RFE/RL.

Tsikhanouskaya spoke with RFE/RL on August 28 from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, where she fled amid threats to her family.

With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak in Berlin, RFE/RL's Belarus Service, Current Time, Reuters, AP, TASS, Interfax, dpa, AFP, and Tut.by

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30806794.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.

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The men were arrested in May at the request of Japan, for their alleged role in Ghosns escape from Tokyo last year.

A judge in Boston signaled he may authorize the extradition of two Americans to face criminal charges in Japan for their alleged role in helping former Nissan Co. chairman Carlos Ghosn escape prosecution for financial misconduct.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell expressed skepticism at a hearing Friday about the ability of American courts to interpret Japanese law. He said denying a request by Tokyo prosecutors for the return of Michael Taylor and his son Peter could prevent the case from truly being fleshed out and truly being considered by the experts.

The Taylors were arrested in May at the request of Japan, which says they broke the law by engineering Ghosns dramatic escape from Tokyo last December. At the hearing, their defense lawyers argued the mens alleged actions arent crimes under Japans penal code. But the U.S. judge said a Tokyo court may be a more appropriate place to resolve that legal dispute.

Part of me is wondering, the more we argue about this, doesnt that suggest that this should be left to their courts to work out, rather than a court here? Cabell asked.

At the end of the hearing, Cabell said he planned to decide within a week whether the Taylors are eligible for extradition under the terms of the U.S. treaty with Japan.

The U.S. judges skepticism of the Taylors arguments wasnt a surprise. Cabell denied the men bail in July, saying their alleged actions appeared to fall squarely within the heartland of Japanese law.

Much of the Taylors defense hinges on Article 103 of Japans penal code, which prohibits harboring criminals or enabling the flight of anyone who has committed a crime or escaped from confinement.

The Taylors say that English translation doesnt capture the more complicated Japanese concept that was intended in the law  working against law enforcement authorities active pursuit of a criminal to arrest him. Because Ghosn was out on bail when he fled, the Taylors say, the authorities were not actively pursuing him.

There has to be an existing investigation, Abbe Lowell, an attorney for the Taylors, said at the hearing. In December of 2019, Mr. Ghosn was not under investigation for financial crimes. He had been charged and was out on condition of release.

But the U.S. government said that Cabell should defer to the legal interpretation of Japanese prosecutors overseeing the case, who have argued that Article 103 covers a wide range of offenses, including the type of escape plot allegedly masterminded by the Taylors.

This statute has been applied broadly, said Stephen Hassink, an assistant U.S. attorney in Boston. An extradition hearing is not the appropriate venue to make a parsing, searching determination of foreign law.
Sowing fear about the implications of a Joe Biden victory in the forthcoming presidential election to battleground state voters, Mr Trump held a rally in New Hampshire on Friday.





Fresh from accepting the Republican nomination to seek re-election, Mr Trump is looking to close his Democratic rivals lead with just over two months until polling day by launching an aggressive travel schedule  and continuing to flout coronavirus guidelines.

Mr Trump opened his rally in Londonderry with a rant against demonstrators who confronted those leaving his Republican national convention speech on the South Lawn of the White House.

Some guests at the political event, including Kentucky senator Rand Paul, needed to be escorted by police officers to safety upon leaving the White House grounds.

They walked out to a bunch of thugs, Mr Trump said, criticising District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser for not doing more to protect his supporters.

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Unhinged, manic rage, he added. You ought to see last night in Washington, it was a disgrace.

The speech marked his latest attempt to frame the general election as a dire choice between two futures for America  a theme he is expected to amplify on the campaign trail.

Mr Trump said he directed White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to study how to call in the National Guard to the nations capital.

The US leader previously ordered federal troops to the District in May amid protests over the killing of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police.

Were not supposed to go in unless we call it an insurrection, and thats a big statement, Mr Trump said.

The President incites violence, inspires white-supremacist shooters, and his failed COVID response is costing thousands of lives per day. When you look at the world right now, ask yourself: Do you feel safe in Trumps America? pic.twitter.com/Ztp6TdSwKk  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 28, 2020

But you know what were going to do?  Were going to have to look at it, because were not going to let that happen to people that go to the White House to celebrate our country.

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Mr Trump said the protesters were anarchists, adding: Theyre just looking for trouble. Has nothing to do with George Floyd. Has nothing to do with anything. They dont even know who George Floyd is.

The agitators will go from rioting in the streets to running the halls of government, he added, saying voters needed to support him to save democracy from the mob.

No-one will be safe in Bidens America, he added.

Speaking in New Hampshire, a state he lost in 2016 by fewer than 2,000 votes and is a top target for him in 2020, Mr Trump repeated unfounded allegations that thousands of voters were transported into the state from neighbouring Massachusetts four years ago.

He also launched a new attack on Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, speculating on the possibility that she could assume the presidency from the 78-year-old Mr Biden.

You know, I want to see the first woman president also, but I dont want to see a woman president get into that position the way shed do it, and shes not competent, Mr Trump said.

Shes not competent.

He suggested his own daughter, White House senior adviser Ivanka Trump, as a more suitable occupant for the Oval Office.

While the coronavirus kills 1,000 Americans each day, Mr Trump defied his own administrations pandemic guidelines on Thursday to speak for more than an hour to a tightly packed, largely mask-less crowd.
Washington, Aug 29 (UNI) US President Donald Trump has expressed sadness over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abes decision to leave his post due to deteriorating health

Abe announced his resignation from the post of Prime Minister on Friday due to the deteriorating health caused by inflammatory bowel disease. Abe said he would continue to participate in political life and contest elections.

"I want to pay my highest respect to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a very great friend of mine. We've had a great relationship and I just feel very badly about it, because it must be very severe for him to leave. He loves his country so much and for him to leave, you know, I just can't imagine what it is. He's a great gentleman and so I'm just paying my highest respect," Trump told reporters on late Friday.

Abe has served as the prime minister of Japan for two stints, first in 2006-2007 and for his second stint started in 2012.

He would remain in office till his replacement is selected. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, led by Abe, is likely to hold a leadership election in September. Kyodo reported on Saturday that Trump and Abe would hold talks over the phone on Monday.

UNI XC RKM SB 1213
Taking objection to the coverage of Sushant Singh Rajput's case, Press Council said it is not advisable to vigorously report crime related issues on a 'day to day basis and comment on the evidence without ascertaining the factual matrix.'

Taking strong objection to the coverage of the Sushant Singh Rajput case by many media outlets, the Press Council of India on Friday said the media should adhere to the norms of journalistic conduct in covering cases under investigation and is advised not to carry out its own "parallel trial".

The media should not narrate the story in a manner so as to induce the general public to believe in the complicity of the person indicted, the Press Council of India (PCI) said in its advisory.

The Council said it has noted with "distress that coverage of the alleged suicide by a film actor by many media outlets is in violation of the norms of journalistic conduct" and, therefore, advises the media to adhere to the norms framed by it.

Asserting that publishing information based on gossip about the line of investigation by official agencies on the crime committed is not desirable, the PCI said it is not advisable to vigorously report crime related issues on a "day to day basis and comment on the evidence without ascertaining the factual matrix."

Such reporting brings undue pressure in the course of fair investigation and trial, it said.

"The media is advised to refrain from giving excessive publicity to the victim, witnesses, suspects and accused as it will amount to invasion of their privacy rights," the PCI said.

Identification of the witnesses by the media needs to be avoided as it endangers them to come under pressure from the accused or associates as well as investigating agencies, it said.

The PCI asserted that the media is advised not to "conduct its own parallel trial or foretell the decision to avoid pressure during investigation and trial."

The reporting of the alleged suicide by the actor by some of newspapers is also in violation of the norms formulated by the Council for reporting on suicide, it said.

The norm prohibits publishing stories about suicide prominently and advises the media not to unduly repeat such stories, the PCI said.

The media is expected not to use language which sensationalises or normalises suicides or presents it as a constructive solution to the problems, it said.

The PCI asked the media not to use sensational headlines or use photographs, video-footage or social media links while reporting on suicide cases.

Actress Rhea Chakraborty has been accused of abetting the suicide of filmstar Sushant Singh Rajput.

The Supreme Court had last week upheld the transfer of an FIR, lodged by Rajput's father in Patna against Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting his son's suicide and misappropriating his money, to the CBI.

The 34-year-old actor was found hanging on June 14 in his flat in suburban Bandra.

*
A high-ranking US intelligence official died by suicide in front of his wife, leading to a CIA investigation of the death, but public silence from his peers.

The death of Anthony Schinella, national intelligence officer for military issues, comes at a time when his expertise might have been crucial.

He shot himself in the front yard of his home in Arlington, Virginia, on 14 June, according to a medical examiners report seen by The Intercept.

Mr Schinella was just weeks away from retirement and had only recently married his wife, Sara Corcoran, a journalist. She was in her car in the driveway of the home and told The Intercept that she was trying to get away from Mr Schinella when she witnessed the suicide.

His work was particularly sensitive as the most senior military affairs intelligence analyst and as a member of the National Intelligence Council (NIC), which prepares reports for senior policymakers in Congress and the president.

The work of the NIC has come under recent scrutiny following the uproar over the release of intelligence reports that Russia was paying the Taliban bounties to kill American troops in Afghanistan.

Shortly after the 26 June revelation in The New York Times, an NIC memo claimed that the intelligence regarding the bounties was inconclusive.

Questions then arose as to whether the memo was an effort to shield president Donald Trump who had been condemned for not moving to protect US soldiers in response to the intelligence concerning the bounties. The recently appointed director of national intelligence, former Republican congressman John Ratcliffe, is a Trump supporter.

When the details of the memo emerged in the media, there was no public mention that Mr Schinella, the NICs top expert on military operations in Afghanistan, and the Taliban, and who should have the most input on the matter, had died just over two weeks before.

In his obituary, Mr Schinellas work on the ground war in Afghanistan is described as being required reading for policymakers struggling to bring to a conclusion Americas longest war.

The Arlington County police investigation into the death remains open and the department cooperated with the CIA on its investigation, which Ms Corcoran says she has been told is complete.

After his death, Ms Corcoran discovered 24 guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and a collection of bondage gear hidden in the house.

For confidential support in the UK, call Samaritans on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255.
A 15-minute COVID-19 test from Abbott Laboratories that will be priced at just $5 has been granted emergency authorization for use in the U.S., a breakthrough that could ease the bottleneck that has crimped much of the nations testing capacity.

The product, dubbed BinaxNOW, works without relying on laboratory equipment at a time when labs can take as long as two weeks to produce results. It uses a nasal swab and a small reactive card, and it can be administered by a range of health care workers, including pharmacists, at almost any location.

Abbott will start shipping the test within two weeks and intends to manufacture 50 million tests a month by the end of October. The aim: Meet a surge in demand from Americans seeking to return to in-person schoolrooms and work.

The new test can be used at a massive scale to help overcome the current waiting game for test results, said John Hackett, divisional vice president of applied research and technology at Abbott Diagnostics, in a telephone interview.

The test uses so-called lateral flow technology, similar to the method allowing at-home pregnancy tests. Essentially, these tests run a liquid sample along the surface of a pad with reactive molecules to show a result. While a pregnancy test is designed to detect a hormone, Abbotts BinaxNOW looks for an antigen, a tiny portion of the coronavirus protein thats collected from inside the nose.

Its detecting them at a critical point in the infection cycle, when they are at the highest risk of spreading disease, Hackett said. This will be a powerful tool in preventing the transmission of the virus and helping us return to normal life.

While several other companies are selling antigen tests that also work quickly, they require some equipment to get the results. The technology also sometimes yields lower accuracy in exchange for working faster. The BinaxNOW is 97.1% sensitivity, meaning it correctly diagnoses those with the infection that often, and 98.5% specific, meaning its correctly ruled out for those without it.

BinaxNOW is the sixth test Abbott has launched to track coronavirus, including molecular tests that detect current infections and antibody tests that show someone has successfully fought off the pathogen. Since the first one was launched in March, the company has sold more than 27 million of its tests so far in the U.S.

At the same time, Abbott is launching a mobile app called Navica that will be connected to the test, giving users an electronic record of their coronavirus status. The results could be used much like a boarding pass to allow those who are negative to return to everyday activities.

Those with a positive result will be told to quarantine and contact their doctor. Health care workers who conduct the tests are required to report positive results to public health officials.

The U.S. is currently running about 800,000 tests a day nationwide, or 24 million a month, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Abbott built two new manufacturing facilities in the U.S. to produce BinaxNOW, allowing it to more than double the number of tests available to 50 million a month.

Our nations frontline health care workers and clinical laboratory personnel have been under siege since the onset of this pandemic, said Charles Chiu, a professor of Laboratory Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. The availability of rapid testing for COVID-19 will help support overburdened laboratories, accelerate turnaround times and greatly expand access to people who need it.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 22:43:42|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Work Safety Committee of China's State Council will supervise the investigation into Saturday's restaurant collapse in northern Shanxi Province, the committee said in a statement.

The committee demanded the provincial government of Shanxi to immediately investigate the incident, and the result should be released to the public upon approval by the committee.

Seventeen people have been confirmed dead after a restaurant collapsed in the city of Linfen.

By 8 p.m. 45 people had been pulled out of the debris of the collapsed two-story building, including the deaths, seven severely injured and 21 slightly injured, said the rescue headquarters.

The rescue operation is still underway. Enditem
Mr Mike Abakah-Edu, Western Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC) has reminded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and those in the fishing industry to enforce the law to bring transshipment activities to a halt.



He said the uncontrolled activities of trawlers and illegal transshipment activities, popularly known as "Saiko" currently going on in their waters, depriving artisanal fisher folks involved in the artisanal fishing sector of their livelihoods and making them poorer.

This he said this if rectified would secure the livelihood of more than 2.7 million Ghanaians.



He noted that the massive infrastructural improvement, undertaken by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in the Western Region, especially along the coastal districts of the region like landing beach sites, sea defence and roads among others may not culminate into votes for the party in the December 7, polls if this was not checked.



Mr Abakah-Edu, recounted that Chapter 718 of the 2020 Budget Statement revealed the Governments resolution to ban all domestic and international vessels found to be engaged in Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing in Ghana's territorial waters.



He lamented that the situation may be scary since the loss of livelihoods would contribute to a rise in social vices and crime within the fishing communities and society in general.



Mr Abakah-Edu, therefore, made a passionate appeal to President Akufo-Addo to bring to end activities of the industrial pair trawlers engaged in illegal transshipment of fishing in their waters.



He said, the members of GNCFC recently embarked on a peaceful protest to register their displeasure against the menace at Apewosika near Axim in the Nzema East Municipal Assembly (NEMA) in the Western Region.



Earlier in March, the fisher folks who were joined by other branches in the region hoisted red flags and clad in red bands from the house to the beach holding placards with the inscription, "Stop Saiko Now" to drum home their grievances.



The fishmongers on their part, cited July to September as their bumper harvest time, bit 9 the situation was far different this year as fishers were not getting enough fish from their fishing venture.



The fishmongers deemed the situation to illegal fishing activities in the sea like light fishing, industrial pair trawling fishing and fishing with small mesh size among others.



According to them, the situation had threatened their livelihoods as fishing was the major occupation in the area and appealed to the Fisheries Commission and the government to take swift steps to address their concern.

Source: GNA









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By Frederick T. Martens

There's an old adage, "never waste a crisis." At no time in our recent history has this become more evident than now. Convulsed by an unprecedented government shutdown, an economic Armageddon, and now violence fracturing a collective sense of domestic tranquility, the time is ripe for a revolution in criminal justice. Not just reform but rather a bold and robust rethinking of why we do what we do?

The new normal must not be a return to the old normal, with bells and whistles. It must be transformative.

As a veteran of the civil insurrections in the 60s, there is no doubt but that there are fundamental differences today that bode well for bending the proverbial arc of justice. With police taking a proactive part in peaceful protests, we are witness to a systemic transformation of policing that did not exist in the 60s.

Furthermore, there has been a universal condemnation of the actions and the inactions of the police officers who were responsible for the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. This clearly represents a transformative milestone in police-community relations.

Indeed, there appears to be a never before consensus that Black people are being disproportionately maimed and killed by unlawful police violence.

These factors will promote a healthy and soul-searching discussion that will address systemic inequalities inherent in our system of criminal justice. They will not go unnoticed as was often the case in the past.

At the heart of this systemic inequality lies one simple word: discretion. Police, and yes prosecutorial and judicial discretion, is at the heart at what is and continues to be the most difficult emotion to channel. Whether a consequence of explicit or implicit bias, the facts are that Blacks and Latinos are disproportionately arrested for drug offenses, are less likely to negotiate a favorable plea-bargain, and more likely to be sentenced to jail than white offenders. These are the stubborn facts.

Reforms over the years have attempted to corral this discretion in ways that purportedly were designed to remove its arbitrary and capricious effects. The consequence, as we now know, has been mass incarceration, which has exacerbated the inequality. So much for reform.

Nonetheless, if his viral pandemic has taught us anything, harm reduction represents a viable path to the future. Who would have predicted releasing those convicted of non-violent crimes from prison to reduce infection rates and deaths would result in no noticeable public outcry? Should we not consider this isolated experiment to be replicated on a larger scale, mitigating the collateral damage of arrest, prosecution and incarceration?

Insofar as the war on drugs has exacerbated the arrest of people of color, could we not learn from our colleagues in Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal, where fewer convictions, legalization and treatment has substantially reduced drug use, abuse and addiction? Understanding the disease of addiction would effect a change in our current criminal justice paradigm -- from one of punishment to that of treatment and harm reduction.

Frederick T. Martens is the co-author of Police Intelligence in Crime Control and author of Well Make You An Offer You Cant Refuse: A Primer on the Investigation of Public Corruption. He is a former detective/lieutenant with the New Jersey State Police and executive director of the Pennsylvania Crime Commission.

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The Border Security Force (BSF) has detected a trans-border tunnel originating from Pakistan apparently dug to push in infiltrators across Jammu & Kashmirs Samba sector. The detection has prompted the BSF to launch a major operation to check whether there were more such tunnels.

In a tweet, the BSF said the approximately 20 feet long and three-four feet wide tunnel was detected inside the Indian territory near the International Border at Sambas Basantar area. Pakistan made sandbags with Shakargarh/Karachi written were also found at the mouth of the tunnel to hide it. The place of opening of the tunnel is around 170 Mtrs from IB [international border] towards the Indian side in the field of a local farmer.

The BSF said its troops foiled nefarious design of Pakistan to infiltrate terrorists into Indian territory with this detection. Efforts of alert BSF troops deployed in our counter-infiltration grid once again resulted in neutralizing the evil designs of terrorists.

A BSF officer said there have been regular inputs about the presence of terrorists on the Pakistani side looking for infiltration options into the Indian territory.

A patrol detected the tunnel 50 metres from the border fence on the Indian side on Thursday.

BSF has found some plastic sandbags at its mouth with Pakistani markings. It was being dug nearly 25 to 30 feet beneath the ground. The BSF has launched a massive search operation and anti-tunnelling drive to detect such tunnels, said the officer on condition of anonymity.

The nearest Pakistani border post is about 400 metres from the tunnel.

The modus operandi of digging tunnels to push terrorists is an old tactic of Pakistan. It seems Pakistan has started imitating Hamas fighters, who dig out underground tunnels to enter Israel, said an officer from the counter-insurgency wing of the Jammu & Kashmir police.

In September 2019, the BSF launched an operation along the border to detect underground, cross-border tunnels. The BSF also uses ground-penetrating radars to detect tunnels.

Pakistan has chosen areas like Samba for digging such tunnels to push armed terrorists.

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Sligo University Hospital spent 586,000 last year hiring private ambulances, according to figures released at a Regional Health Forum meeting.

In 2018 the hospital spent in excess of 600,000 on private ambulance providers.Mayo University Hospital spent 1,011,480 while Galway University Hospital spent 534,292 on private ambulance operators last year.The figures were released last week to Regional Health Forum member Cllr Declan Bree. The Chief Executive of the Saolta University Health Care Group of hospitals told Cllr Bree "private ambulances are used for appointments, treatments and procedures in tertiary centres.

"They are also used for the transport of patients requiring stretcher from hospital to nursing homes".

Speaking to The Sligo Champion Cllr Bree said: "There is no sense or logic in the HSE continuing to waste millions of euro each year hiring private for profit companies for a service which the National Ambulance Service was established to provide.

"I find it shocking that Sligo University Hospital continues to spend over 10,000 a week hiring private ambulances.

"This is at a time when the hospital is crying out for funding to look after patients and to provide adequate services.

"The ongoing failure of government to provide the necessary resources to the National Ambulance Service, in essence compels regional hospitals to rely on private companies to provide additional ambulance services for non-urgent cases.

"For far too long we in Ireland have witnessed the growth of private medicine and medical corporations and the tendering out of health services, enriching private interests at the expense of the public good.

"The Covid-19 Pandemic has revealed that the public good is not compatible with private corporate profit and greed.

"It has certainly convinced the majority of people that concepts and ideas which seemed impossible a short while ago, such as a single tier health system, now make perfect sense.

"In this context we need to make our voices heard in seeking a universal public health and social care system which will deliver services in a way that is efficient, effective and sustainable." Cllr Bree added.
GREENWICH  Fifty-four years ago, a young Army soldier from Greenwich was sent on a dangerous mission in the Hua Nghia province of South Vietnam with 13 other infantrymen fighting in the jungles of Southeast Asia. And before going, he and his good friend in the platoon made a promise.

They made a pact that each would guard the other mans body in case one of them should die in battle, preventing the enemy from taking it, and each would reach out to the others family members if one didnt make it back alive.

Joseph Pecora Jr., who came from a tight-knit family in Greenwich, died during that mission. He was killed by enemy action on May 3, 1966, just 13 days after he had arrived in Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division. Four other men were killed in action on that mission, and Pecora was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star.

His good friend, Douglas Udell, kept that promise by keeping Pecorass body out of the hands of the Viet Cong. And earlier this summer, Udell kept the other part of the promise, finally tracking down Pecoras family in Greenwich and sharing the details of Joseph Pecoras final hours.

Udell, now 75, had been trying for years to track down his late friends family, but he only knew him by his Army nickname of James P, and the confusion was compounded beause another man was named Pecora in the same outfit.

Finally, over the Memorial Day weekend, Udell came across a website hosted by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund that had Joseph Pecoras proper name, a photo and his home state listed. The Vietnam veteran from Florida finally had all the information he needed to make the call he had pledged to make some 50 years earlier.

Sylvester Pecora Sr., 82, thinks about his younger brother often, and was thrilled as well as saddened to take the call from Udell, his brothers old Army buddy, shortly after Memorial Day. Pecora had been searching himself for anyone who might have known his brother or the circumstances of his death, just 10 days before his 21st birthday.

Fifth-four years, Ive been looking for somebody. Ive been looking that long, Sylvester Pecora recalled this week. He has gone out of his way to seek out Vietnam veterans for any clues about his brothers service and death in Vietnam. Never got anywhere.

As for the call from Udell, it was a complete shock, Pecora said, It was a blessing to hear from him, I was greatly moved.

Pecora, who is a neighborhood leader in the Chickahominy section of Greenwich, said he had been given scant details about his brothers death over five decades ago. Pecora knew his brother was awarded the Bronze Star, with a V-device for valor, denoting heroism in combat, for helping save the platoon, but knew little else. Press accounts at the time said Pecora was killed by the blast from an enemy grenade, which also took the life of another infantryman from Bridgeport, Antonine Kociper.

Udell was there at the time, May 3, 1966, and he said he was honored to provide more information to Pecoras brother about the circumstances of his death, as well as to share the story of their unlikely friendship. Udell, who is Black, grew up in the segregated South and had never had a white friend before.

Highly unusual for a white guy and a Black guy to become real friends, it just didnt happen. But we became real friends, Udell said from his home in northern Florida this week.

Udell was struck by his friends intelligence, as well as his open heart and lack of racial prejudice. I like a good conversation, about a whole host of things, and wed discuss everything, politics, philosophy. He was reader and loved books, and so did I. We talked all kinds of things, we had good conversations, deep conversations, Udell recalled.

While they were training at Fort Benning, Ga., Udell had run into trouble with some racist white soldiers in his unit thinking they were superior to him. As the soldiers were preparing for inspection, one of the white soldiers threw a shoe at him  hey, you there, shine my shoes.

One of the shoes hit him, and it was followed by hurled racial insults from other soldiers, Udell recounted. The young Black Army recruit was also a trained boxer, so he had little trouble repaying the insults with his fists, he recalled. But to his astonishment, Pecora soon joined in the fray.

Pecora joined in to help me. He saw there was an injustice. It was about right and wrong. And there were only four Blacks out of 75 men. And James P jumped in to help me, and that was almost unbelievable. I knew I had a friend, Udell said.

As to the night they made the pledge in May of 1966, Udell said they knew they were facing a hazardous mission in a combat operation against the Viet Cong, the irregular army that battled American troops in South Vietnam. The Viet Cong were known to hang the bodies of American soldiers in trees as a form of psychological warfare, or worse, the Army veteran said. We had promised each other, we would protect each others bodies, if one of us fell, Udell said.

And I gave him a promise, before we went on the mission. We promised each other, if anything happened to each other, and one of us survived, to find the other ones family. I made a promise to James P, and I looked for his family for many, many years, off and on, said Udell, who was badly wounded in Vietnam. He went on to run a successful business as a funeral director in Florida, send all of his children to college and become a grandfather.

Udells search finally paid off when he came across the phone number for the Pecora Brothers construction business in Greenwich, and he was on the phone with Sylvester Pecora Jr., his friends nephew. He later spoke to Sylvester Pecora Sr.

Mission accomplished, said Udell.

Sylvester Pecora Sr. said he was looking to meet with Udell in Florida later in the year. Hearing about his friendship with a Black man, working together to overcome racial barriers, made me even prouder of my brother, he said.

The 30-minute phone conversation he had with Udell elicited pride, sorrow and memories of those hard days when the statement came from the Department of Defense that James Pecora had been killed in action. He had married his high school sweetheart only eight months before shipping out. The funeral procession for Pecora that led to St. Marys Cemetery in Greenwich held hundreds of mourners in 99 cars, Sylvester Pecora recalled, based on a police tally.

It was heartbreaking at the time, Pecora said. Speaking with Udell, he said, It brought back a lot of memories.

Mary Jo Pecora-Runkle of Newtown was Joseph Pecoras niece, and a young child when he died. She was pleased that her father was able to connect with Udell and find out more about his brother, whose life was cut short in service to his country.

It was very emotional on both ends, she said, Touching. He had wonderful things to say about my uncle. It was a lifelong dream for my dad. He was able to have closure.

rmarchant@greenwichtime.com
For many students, "going back to school" this fall could be just a figure of speech.

As the pandemic persists, the decision about whether to allow in-person learning is coming down to the wire. The possibilities of distance learning are influencing how much families anticipate spending on back-to-school purchases.

Parents with children in elementary school through high school plan to spend a record $789.49 on average this year, according to an annual survey conducted in July by the National Retail Federation. This is up from last year's $696.70.

"As consumers get more information on how their specific school is operating and how classes will take place, they might adjust those budgets a little bit," said Katherine Cullen, senior director of industry and consumer insights at the NRF.

Here's how to tailor your spending for distance learning.

Expect extra purchases

This year's back-to-school list may feature items you haven't had to shop for in the past. Students attending school virtually  whether part-time or full-time  will likely need laptops, tablets or desktops, plus headphones and other tech accessories to access and engage with their classes.

If multiple people will be learning and working simultaneously in your household, you may have to shell out to get everyone their own device. Consider whether you'll also need to buy any furniture or materials, like a dry-erase board, to create a functional workspace. Working parents who need support might also incorporate child care costs, tutoring or other arrangements in their budgets.

Students starting school at home could return to the classroom. Your budget should still include staples like school supplies and clothes to cover different scenarios.

"Kids grow regardless of whether or not they're in school," Cullen said.

Hold off on others

To offset the cost of new supplies, find out which purchases you can skip while remote learning takes place. Pens and pencils will come in handy at home, but a new backpack or lunchbox probably won't get much use.

"Once you get that list from your teacher, ask them, 'What are the necessary items and what are those nice-to-haves?'" consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch said.

Before you shop for necessities, take inventory of what you already have, Woroch said. You could save money by scrounging up leftover office supplies from last school year.

"Things like half-filled notebooks can still be used. Pull out the pages that have already been written on and save the rest," Woroch said. "See what you can make do with, even if you're just making do for the next two to three months."

Tap into resources

Next, research ways to get help acquiring the items you don't have. This can reduce or eliminate additional expenses from your budget.

Some schools will lend devices like laptops and mobile hotspots to students without adequate internet access. If that isn't the case at your school, Woroch recommends checking out organizations that connect people to low-cost internet and computers. Examples include EveryoneOn and PCs for People.

Many local libraries provide free education resources such as books, tutoring services and test-prep materials. You can also use social media groups or other online forums to find free or affordable clothing and supplies from families in your community.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Shop smart

Ultimately, you'll likely have to purchase several items this back-to-school season. Strategic shopping can stretch your dollars further.

Establishing a digital relationship with retailers can help you navigate the process, especially if you're unable to physically shop in stores or aren't comfortable doing so. Follow retailers on social media or subscribe to their emails to receive news and sale information.

"Many brands and retailers are trying to be very upfront with what's in stock, what to expect if you do decide to go to the store and what you can order online," Cullen said.

Make sure to compare prices from different sellers. Do a quick internet search and use a price-comparison tool, such as the browser extension InvisibleHand, to track down the best deals.

"Retailers are constantly fluctuating prices, and with so many people shopping online right now, they're really trying to maximize their profits," Woroch said.

Another savings tip? Look for open-box or refurbished tech (ideally with a warranty) instead of buying new.

Give standard shopping advice a try, too: Ask about retailer price matching and price adjustment policies, seek out coupons and loyalty program discounts, and maximize your credit card rewards.

lschwahnnerdwallet.com
Ghana has announced the signing of its first ever Green Loan of 35m to support the government to deliver water projects to rural and peri-urban communities across the country.



The project which is to be delivered by UK based, Aqua Africa Limited will deliver clean drinking water to rural communities and small towns, and will alleviate up to 225,000 people from daily water poverty, delivering on the government's policy of Water for All.



Following the signing of a supply contract between the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources and Aqua Africa, the Ministry of Finance has signed agreements with UK Export Finance and HSBC Bank plc to finance the project.



Ghanas commitment towards combating climate change and its impact has led the government to take a key policy decision to integrate climate action into Ghanas national development agenda.



The framework of this initiative has been drawn from the Paris Agreement and SDG 13, which demands urgent action to combat climate change and its impact.



The financing of the project will enable Ghanas Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, in partnership with Aqua Africa Limited and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, to install and maintain point source and piped water systems to rural and peri-urban communities and secure revenue income from water sales using smart metering or cashless payment systems.



Mrs Cecilia Dapaah, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resource said: The fulfilment of our basic human needs in our environment is essentially dependent on adequate clean water. The Government of Ghana is poised to provide Water for All.



Ghanas Green Agenda in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals is on course with the Aqua Africa Water Project. Increasing water coverage requires a consistent investment on year to year basis since population growth and demand for water keeps increasing. That is why we welcome wholeheartedly the investment in the Aqua Africa Project.



Ghana Investment Promotion Centres CEO Yofi Grant said: It has been a great pleasure working with Aqua Africa to see this project happen. It shows the strong relationships that exist between Ghana and the UK and the collaborative effort in delivering on Ghanas Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda.



"Water is an essential need and the use of innovative technologies to sustainably deliver safe water to those who need it most, is imperative to ensuring a quality standard of living.



Her Majestys Trade Commissioner for Africa, Emma Wade-Smith expressed delight with the support of the Government of Ghana and UK Export Finance.



This deal aligns strongly with the priorities of the Ghanaian Government around sustainability; and will have a very real and positive impact on the quality of lives of thousands of Ghanaians. I look forward to visiting once the new water systems are in place.



Minister for Exports, Graham Stuart MP, said: This contract shows how UK renewable energy expertise is making a lasting and real difference to communities across the globe. We are proud to lead the world in our efforts to transition to Net Zero emissions and UKEF is backing British exporters to support other countries to meet their Paris climate goals. UKEFs support for Aqua Africa demonstrates this governments commitment to exporters with green credentials by ensuring they have the support needed to win international business during the Coronavirus pandemic and beyond.



Aqua Africas Managing Director Philip Foster said: We commend the tri-partnership approach between the Government of Ghana, UKEF and the private sector in securing agreement for this vital social impact investment project that will provide access to clean water to over 225,000 Ghanaians, in support of the Water for all policy aligned with the SDG agenda.

Source: GNA









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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 21:08:10|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Counter-Narcotics Police of Afghanistan had arrested five drug traffickers during series of operations, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement here Saturday.

The alleged drug smugglers were arrested in Zabul, Khost and Nangarhar provinces, the statement said.

An amount of illicit drug including 15 kg heroin and 24 kg hashish were seized from the arrested men during the operations, the statement added. Enditem
CAIRO - The United Nations on Saturday voiced alarm over what it called a dramatic turn of events in Libyas civil war, after a power struggle between leaders of the Tripoli-based government surfaced in the wake of anti-corruption protests.

Protests over deteriorating economic conditions erupted earlier this week in the capital and elsewhere in western Libya, which is controlled by forces loyal to the U.N.-supported government. In Tripoli, local militia allied with the government opened fire on demonstrators with rifles and truck-mounted guns and abducted some of the protesters.

Libya is witnessing a dramatic turn of events that underlines the urgent need to return to a full and inclusive political process, the U.N. support mission in Libya said.

Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj and his interior minister, Fathi Bashaga, initially accused outlawed infiltrators of instigating the violence. The prime minister also said protesters did not obtain necessary permits for their rally and described their demonstrations as riots.

However on Friday, Sarraj suspended Bashaga and initiated an administrative investigation after Bashaga accused a government-allied militia of attacking the peaceful protesters in Tripoli this week.

Bashaga, who was excluded from two high-profile military and security meetings in the capital over the past few days, quickly responded. He said in a statement he accepted the premiers decision but demanded a public and live questioning to expose the facts to the Libyan people. He did not elaborate.

Following the suspension of the interior minister, militias in Tripoli celebrated the decision by firing weapons into the air, while others in Bashagas hometown of Misrata took to the streets to show support for the minister.

The dispute between Sarraj and Bashaga threatens to deepen a rift within the U.N.-supported government less than three months after Tripoli-allied forces, with Turkish support, ended a 14-month siege by rival forces of military commander Khalifa Hifter.

Hifters forces launched an offensive in April 2019 trying to capture Tripoli. But his campaign collapsed in June when the Tripoli-allied militias, with heavy Turkish support, gained the upper hand, driving his forces from the outskirts of the city and other western towns.

The U.N. mission in Libya, known as UNSMIL, said it was still concerned about the excessive use of force against demonstrators as well as the arbitrary arrest of a number of civilians. It did not say how many people were detained.

Retweeting the UNSMILs statement, the U.S. Embassy in Libya urged Sarraj and Bashaga toward co-operation in the interests the Libyan people.

Over the past two days, militias sealed off main streets and roads to prevent the demonstrators from reaching Tripolis Martyrs Square, the epicenter of the protests, according to two residents who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear reprisals.

A group of women however protested in the city centre before being dispersed. Two women were wounded and four others were arrested, according to the protest movement, known as Hirak Aug. 23.

The movement called for civil disobedience until achieving their demands that include handing over power to the Supreme Judicial Council to work towards presidential and parliamentary elections.

The Libyan Crimes Watch, a local rights group monitoring the conflict, said Saturday a protester died of his wounds after he was shot Friday when a militia dispersed the protesters in the city centre.

Protests also spread to the southern town of Sabah and the eastern town of Quba, both under the control of rival east-based Libyan forces led by Khalifa Hifter.

The U.N. also said it is concerned about on-going human rights violations and abuses in the coastal city of Sirte, which is controlled by Hifters forces since January. It said at least one civilian was killed and several others were arrested.

Oil-rich Libya was plunged into chaos when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed. The country is now split between rival east- and west-based administrations, each backed by different armed groups and foreign governments.

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Addis Ababa, Aug 30 : The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Saturday said that the number of positive Covid-19 cases across the African continent has reached 1,228,971 amid rapid spread of the virus in a few African countries.

The Africa CDC, noting that five African countries account for about 72 per cent of all Covid-19 infections in the continent, also stressed that the death toll from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic rose to 29,087 on Saturday, Xinhua reported.

The African Union (AU) Commission's specialized healthcare agency also said that some 960,926 people who were infected with Covid-19 had recovered across the continent so far.

Amid the rapid spread of the virus across the continent, South Africa alone accounts for about 50 per cent of all Covid-19 infections in the continent, followed by Egypt which has eight percent of all Covid-19 infections in the continent, the Africa CDC said earlier this week.

According to the Africa CDC, the southern Africa region is the most affected area in terms of confirmed cases, followed by northern Africa and western Africa regions.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Despite the Covid challenges, W Capital Real Estate Brokerage, a leading property group in the UAE, said it has achieved solid sales growth in Dubai hitting AED85 to AED90 million ($23 to $24.4 million) during the eight-month period from January.

The real estate sales in Dubai have rebounded in recent months bringing their total, since the beginning of the year till now, to nearly AED39 billion.

According to data from Dubai Land Department, the real estate sector in the emirate has shown great flexibility in the face of the repercussions of the pandemic, which continued throughout the second quarter of this year.

W Capital Chairman Walid Al Zarouni said that the strong sales of the company reflect the great confidence in the real estate sector in Dubai during the period of the pandemic.

"Dubai's property is considered one of the safe havens for value, especially with the decline of the US dollar in recent months, which encouraged a number of investors to take advantage of low prices and the decline in the value of the green currency, fearing that their financial investments will be affected due to market turmoil," observed Al Zarouni.

Even with Corona crisis, Dubai has recorded more than AED10 billion sales during the second quarter, 40% less than the same period last year, but it is a very good figure in light of the economic conditions that coincided with this period," he explained.

The effects of Corona on the real estate sector have begun to fade and there is a widespread demand for real estate in Dubai, which leads to a strong phase of recovery, he added.

As for the rental market, Al Zarouni indicated that rents have significantly improved during the first eight months, amid the increased demand for leasing despite the challenges of the pandemic.

"We believe that the real estate sector was able to adapt to the crisis thanks to the use of digital platforms to complete sales, leases or collect rents and to keep potential buyers and tenants in constant contact," he noted.

According to him, the real estate sector still has a lot of investment opportunities in light of its rapid response to customers' aspirations and adapting to the new construction patterns amid the recent crisis.

The residential real estate prices have reached attractive levels and guarantee solid expected returns within a short period, amid prospects for the return of price rises during the year 2021, stated Al Zarouni.

There is a good chance until end of this year to seize opportunities before increases begin at the beginning of the first quarter of next year, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce (GAACC) announced today that Fang Fang has been selected as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Fang Fang will assume this role on September 1, 2020.

Current president and CEO Marina Bhargavas resignation is effective December 31, 2020 so the chamber will have co-leaders to ensure a smooth transition. When I informed the board last November of my intention to step down, it was before COVID-19 changed our world. Im very happy to have this transition period to support Fang Fang and help put GAACC in as strong a position as possible for 2021 and beyond, said Bhargava.

Fang has strong business and non-profit leadership experiences with a proven record of execution. She co-founded a tech startup prior to joining the Department of Commerce to build partnerships with local communities in Central Texas. "I am honored to have the opportunity to lead GAACC in the best city to live and to start a business in the United States," said Fang. "I look forward to being a part of the effort to elevate GAACC, and serving our members, our diverse Asian community and community at large."

Speaking on behalf of the board, current GAACC board chair Yuen Yung said, We are at a challenging moment for everyone, and we need creative leadership to strategically grow GAACC. As the initiator of the Austin Asian Complete Count Committee, Fang has solid understanding of our core constituent and relationships with the various ethnic groups that comprise the Asian Pacific American demographic. Her entrepreneurial background will help us take GAACC to the next level.

GAACC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for, connecting to, and educating the Central Texas Asian American business community http://www.AustinAsianChamber.org

For more information:

Marina Bhargava

512-407-8240

MBhargava@AustinAsianChamber.org
The week kicks off in Colorado Springs with a sunny Monday morning and the chance of afternoon thunderstorms with likelihood of rain at night,
Japan plans to stick to its target of attracting 60 million foreign tourists by 2030, the top government spokesman said in an interview, seeking to almost double the size of an industry that virtually came to a standstill during the coronavirus outbreak.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in an interview that the need to keep hotels and traditional inns afloat to reach that target is one reason he has pressed ahead with subsidies for domestic travel, despite criticism the policy risks further spreading the virus.

We definitely wont allow hotels and inns to go bankrupt, Suga told Bloomberg on Thursday. He said he planned to maintain employment subsidies to protect jobs in the industry. The government will continue support until the coronavirus outbreak is over, he said.

Suga said that starting up a casino-resort sector was essential for attracting visitors. Media polls, however, consistently show the public is against the idea, particularly after a corruption scandal erupted last year involving a lawmaker, while operators have grown disenchanted due to regulatory concerns.

The number of foreign visitors to Japan fell by 99.9% in July to just 3,800 people, after a ban was imposed on most non-nationals entering the country. That came after the nation hit a record of almost 32 million visitors in 2019.

* On the Tokyo Olympics, which have been postponed to next year, he said: We want to make sure they are a success.

* On the plan to introduce casinos in Japan, I want to make them a reality as soon as possible.

* Suga said he wanted to resolve the problem of foreign residents who are unable to return to Japan under current rules.

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

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Palm oil has tremendous impact on environment By Quintus Perera View(s): View(s):

The government or any authority do not have any prerogative power to allow the environment to be destroyed as it is the duty of all to preserve for the future generation in keeping with the provisions of the Constitution, according to Ravindranath Dabare, Attorney at Law and Chairman, Centre for Environmental Justice.

He was speaking at an intellects discussion on Coconut Oil and Palm Oil recently at the Colombo auditorium of the Organisation of the Professional Associations (OPA). This meeting was held prior to President Gotabaya Rajapaksas announcement, during the policy statement made at the new session of Parliament, that palm oil plantations will be discontinued forthwith.

Mr. Dabare said that there is ample evidence that palm oil cultivation and the unchecked negative use of palm oil have a tremendous impact on the environment and serious impact on the health of the people of many countries as around 80 per cent of palm oil is mixed in coconut oil and sold in the local market today.

He categorically pin pointed that there are enough and effective laws enacted in the country to prevent this impact and punish the culprits once the illegality is proved and there are even clear constitutional provisions. He said that the palm oil cultivation and use of palm oil violates a number of laws in this country.

While there is clear provision under section 17 of Chapter 27 of the Constitution it is very strange to note why appropriate remedial action is not taken by the authorities which showed that these authorities are negligent of their service by the people.

Therefore, he pointed out that it is the bounden duty of the governing authority to take all steps to preserve the environment for the future generation as provided for by the Constitution.

He said that the soil protection, wild life protection, bird life protection and several other environmental protections comes under the purview of the Central Environmental Authority. The government and other authorities are only incumbent to protect the environment for the future generations, he asserted.

So, in such circumstances, if any party or person wilfully acts to destroy the environment, the government or any other relevant authority do not have power to allow such destructive attitudes, he lamented.

Maj Gen (Rtd) D.M.S. Dissanayaka, Chairman, Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), spoke of how he was involved in the 30-year old war but did not speak of the responsibility that rests with the CAA in preventing the adulteration of coconut oil with palm oil.

Instead he described as to how during the war the coconut cultivation in the war-torn areas was completely destroyed. First the blossomed top of the tree was destroyed with mortars etc and then gradually destroyed the trunk until they totally fell to the ground. He said that the enemy and the army felled the palmirah and coconut trees to put up their bunkers.

Prof. Ravindra Vichanachchi, Lecturer, Dept of Humanities, Sri Jayawardenepura University, said that coconut has very strong resistance properties which could prevent infection of COVID-19 as it appears that those countries which use coconut extensively are immune to contracting the virus. In this sphere he said that Sri Lanka did not get this advantage as the coconut oil is adulterated with palm oil.

He said that palm oil is made out of the whole fruit, a major part of which consists of its husk and its kernel whereas coconut oil is made of the kernel and no husk is involved. He said that extensive research showed coconut oil contains chloric acid which is not present in palm oil whereas coconut is good for the health but palm oil is not according to research.

Dr. Wasantha Gunatilleke, Faculty of Agriculture, Wayamba University, speaking on the damage caused by the palm oil issue said that Sri Lanka has involved in some unnecessary things, such as Eucalyptus, pine and palm cultivation all of which are injurious to nature and in turn affect the human life.

The palm tree first came to Sri Lanka in 1968 and palm oil came in 1996 and said that while there was around 9000 palm tree growth in the country, and in 2015 government decided to plant 20,000 hectares, but he said that fortunately the cultivation has become low now.

He said that the palm tree growth is injurious to the soil, precious ground water table and indicated that a palm tree sucks around 400 to 600 litres of water, but a coconut tree evaporates only 60 litres.

The discussion was organised by the Government Medical Officers Association, Coconut growers Association and several other organisations.
by John Barwa

Tomorrow is the 12th anniversary of the 2008 anti-Christian pogrom and the Kandhamal Martyrs' Day. The aim of the celebration is so "we never lose hope in life, whatever difficulties we may encounter".

Cuttack-Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) - "The life and courage of these people is a legacy for the Church and we want to keep it for future generations": with this quote from John Paul II, Archbishop John Barwa, of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, urges his faithful to remember the martyrs of Orissa, killed in an anti-Christian pogrom in 2008. At the behest of the Bishops' Conference of the region, the day of the memory of the martyrs is set for August 30, tomorrow.

In 2008, starting from August, Hindu nationalist violence, unleashed above all in the district of Kandhamal, destroyed 395 churches and places of prayer of Adivasi and Dalit Christians; 6500 houses were burned; at least 100 people killed; over 40 women were raped, harassed and humiliated; schools, social services, health centers destroyed or vandalized; more than 75 thousand people displaced; many Dalits forced to (re) convert to Hinduism. Even today, none of those responsible for the violence have been brought to justice.

Here is the message of Msgr. Barwa:

Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and faithful,

We are commemorating the 12th Anniversary of the Kandhamal Martyrs day, on 30th August 2020. This day has been decided and dedicated as Martyrs Day by Odisha Catholic Bishops Council (OCBC). On the occasion of Martyrs Day we pay respect, homage and pray for the cause of martyrs of Kandhamal. May the words of Tertullian The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church echo in our hearts and become a reality in our holy land of Kandhamal and in the Archdiocese.

Pope John Paul II wrote in his encyclical Ut Unum Sint, All Christians share a common martyrology. Our goal is not to canonize anyone, but only to remember those who sacrificed themselves for Christ. The life of courage of these people is a legacy for the Church and we want to preserve it for future generations. We hope that the observing the martyrs day will inspire us to follow Christ in a more personal way and strengthen our faith in Christ and never lose hope in life, whatever difficulty we might encounter.

Therefore, I kindly request you all to make arrangements for prayer and adoration in your respective parishes and villages keeping in mind the present guidelines of the government in force.

+ John Barwa, SVD

Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
Photos: China Tests Converting Heavy Cargo Ship Into Helicopter Carrier

Sputnik News

19:00 GMT 28.08.2020(updated 19:29 GMT 28.08.2020)

In a recent drill, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) took a page from the US Navy's book and tested its ability to use the deck of a large semi-submersible cargo ship as a temporary helicopter landing pad.

According to a recent report published in the Chinese-language edition of the Global Times, the PLA's 71st Army Group recently tested its ability to use a semi-submersible heavy lift ship as a helicopter base.

During the drill, the PLA landed Z-8, Z-10 and Z-19 helicopters on the vessel, which had its large submersible deck painted with a trio of helipads.

The Diplomat reported the ship was the Zhen Hua 28, a 41,000-ton vessel built in Shanghai and used to transport massive sea cargo, such as other ships, cranes and even oil rigs. While the Zhen Hua 28 is a civilian vessel, the PLA has the ability to use some civilian vessels for purposes of national defense if necessary, and since 2016 has required certain classes of vessel to meet the military's requirements for communication and cargo-carrying, in case they are needed.

Chinese military expert Li Jie told the Global Times the PLA could make wide use of such a ship during times of war. While the drill tested the military's ability to use a heavy-lift ship for replenishment and as a medevac destination for choppers carrying wounded soldiers off the battlefield, the ship could also be stationed offshore for a longer period of time to serve as a repair center. He even noted such vessels could be positioned at the ends of islands or reefs as maritime relay platforms to enhance the combat radius and cross-sea abilities of the helicopters.

In addition to these convertible ships, the PLA Navy also has several Type 075 landing helicopter docks, which are more akin to aircraft carriers and suited to sailing the high seas, rather than camping offshore.

The US pioneered the use of heavy lift cargo ships in this way with its expeditionary transfer docks (ESDs) USNS Montford Point and USNS John Glenn, finished in 2013 and 2014. However, in addition to being helicopter landing pads, the US Navy ships can also deploy amphibious attack vessels such as hovercraft by lowering their decks into the water.

The US Navy later expanded on the concept with its expeditionary sea bases (ESB). These huge ships, operated primarily by civilian crews, just as the ESDs are, sport higher flight decks as well as lower decks for storing a variety of craft for both air and water. They are positioned offshore for long periods of time, such as the USS Lewis B. Puller, which is presently stationed in the Persian Gulf.

A Sputnik

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PARIS, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council will extend the mandate for a peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon for another year later on Friday, but will reduce the number of troops amid U.S. and Israeli criticism over the mission's efficiency, diplomats said.

The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) - established in 1978 - patrols Lebanons southern border, known as the Blue Line, with Israel. Washington regards Hezbollah, which supports the Syrian government and has a strong presence in south Lebanon, as a terrorist organisation.

The United States and Israel have argued that the force needs to be smaller but with more powers and more access to areas controlled by Hezbollah. They have pointed to recent incidents on the border in areas monitored by UNIFIL as examples of why the force should be bolstered. Israel struck Hezbollah targets on Wednesday after it said it had come under attack.

The renewal of the U.N. mission comes as Lebanon grapples with a financial crisis, political deadlock and the aftermath of a blast that killed 180 people.

France, overseeing the resolution's progress at the United Nations, circulated a final compromise draft on Thursday, which will be put to a vote on Friday afternoon.

The troop ceiling was lowered from 15,000 to 13,000 to meet a key U.S. demand, though one diplomat called that a symbolic change as only 10,500 troops are currently deployed.

A French presidential official said the renewal was now certain. "It's important for Lebanon and Israel," the official said. "What's expected from Hezbollah is that it doesn't do anything that could lead to an escalation."

A second Western diplomat said also said the mandate would be renewed. The United States was satisfied because it called for a detailed plan to improve the efficiency of the mission and report back to the council within 60 days, the diplomat said.

The resolution, seen by Reuters, has also been toughened, asking for UNIFIL to have access to tunnels discovered on the Blue Line, and for the Lebanese authorities to investigate them. It condemns efforts to restrict the mission's movements. (Reporting by John Irish Editing by Peter Graff)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 09:05:43|Editor: huaxia

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SAO PAULO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- A leading Brazilian vaccine producer will supply 550,000 doses of flu vaccines to Mongolia and the Philippines at the request of the World Health Organization (WHO), according to authorities.

It will the first time for the Butantan Institute, a laboratory and research center located in the state of Sao Paulo, to export the flu vaccine to those destinations in its 119-year history, said Joao Doria, governor of the state of Sao Paulo.

According to the agreement, 300,000 doses of the flu vaccine will be shipped to Mongolia and another 250,000 to the Philippines.

The Butantan Institute, the largest producer of vaccines in Latin America, has by now produced 80 million doses for the Brazilian Ministry of Health's annual campaign against the illness. Enditem
One in five boys cannot write well enough by year 9, with experts warning the problem is partly caused by waning interest in reading and could lead to significant problems for boys in their final years of school.

Boys are twice as likely to be at or below national minimum standard (NMS) by age 15 than girls, with the proportions struggling to achieve that benchmark growing from an average of 3.9 per cent of boys in year 3 to 20.6 per cent of boys in year 9.

In comparison, an average of 1.7 per cent of girls were at or below the minimum standard in year 3 over the past 12 years of NAPLAN testing, compared with nine per cent in year 9, data reported in the recent NAPLAN Review shows.

Boys are twice as likely to be at or below national minimum standard (NMS) by age 15 than girls. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Students of both genders in country areas were also struggling, with more than 50 per cent of students in very remote areas at or below the standard.
COVID-19 war expanding ties from national defense to public health worldwide. Russia, a traditional ally of India, appears keen to collaborate in manufacturing its COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, which it claims is the world's first against the deadly virus, Nikkei Asia Review writes in the article India and Russia in talks over co-manufacturing Sputnik V. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 11 announced that the vaccine, developed by Moscow-based Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in collaboration with the Russian Direct Investment Fund, had been registered -- and that one of his daughters had already been inoculated.

Because the crucial Phase 3 trials are not yet finished, there have been concerns over its safety and swift regulatory approval. "As far as Sputnik V vaccine is concerned, both the countries are in communication," Indian Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan told reporters this week when asked whether New Delhi had been formally approached by Moscow over manufacturing the vaccine. "Some initial information has been shared [with India, and] some detailed information is awaited," he said, without providing further details.

Russia's ambassador to India, Nikolay Kudashev, recently tweeted that he had "discussed certain aspects of traditional bilateral cooperation in the field of public health with Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology" in the Indian government. He too did not give details.

Analysts believe Russia wants to partner with India in making vaccines because the South Asian country is one of the largest producers of generic drugs and vaccines. India also provides a large pool of people on which the vaccine can be tested because it is the third-worst-hit nation in the pandemic, with over 3.3 million cases and 61,000 deaths.

"India can be an evaluator of effectiveness of the Russian vaccine, and if Sputnik V [is a success here] this will give a huge boost to the Russian pharmaceutical industry and that country's economy," Pankaj Jha, a professor of strategic affairs at the O.P. Jindal Global University, said.

Geopolitically, too, it would be advantageous to Russia, which would be able to tout itself not only as the first country to develop a COVID-19 vaccine but also as one that could supply other nations inexpensively due to joint manufacturing with India, he said.

"Russia would like to regain its stature, strength and also global acceptability," Jha said. "If it manages to supply its vaccine at a lower cost than those being developed by Oxford [University] and others, that would be its biggest diplomatic move. But who's going to provide the vaccine at a lower cost? It's only India, nobody else."

If India and Russia collaborate in vaccine production, it will add another dimension to their long relationship. The two already have a special strategic partnership, of which defense is an important pillar.

Among their major defense deals is a $5 billion 2016 agreement for New Delhi to purchase five units of Russia's S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile system, despite U.S. objections. The two are also reportedly finalizing a mutual defense logistics pact -- on the lines of those India has signed with the U.S., France and Australia -- that would enable them to access each other's military bases.

New Delhi and Moscow also hold an annual summit meeting. India's Ministry of External Affairs says this year's summit is to take place in October, when Putin is expected to visit.

Across the world there are more than 150 COVID-19 vaccines in various stages of clinical trials. In India, two candidates -- one from Bharat Biotech, which is collaborating with the Indian Council of Medical Research, and the other from Zydus Cadila -- began human trials last month. Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine-maker, based in the western city of Pune, also is conducting clinical trials of Oxford's vaccine.

"The whole world is working to discover the vaccine," Indian Health Minister Harsh Vardhan told reporters on Aug. 22, adding that 26 candidates had entered clinical trials and 139 others were in preclinical phases. He said India had a total of three candidates in various clinical trial phases. "If everything goes well, India would be able to get a corona vaccine by the year end," he added.

Analysts say India needs to carefully assess the Russian offer to collaborate. "Russia has taken a big gamble by going ahead with the vaccine. It's like shooting in the dark given that results from human trials have yet to be published or peer-reviewed," said Archana Jyoti, a health columnist. "Not much data is available on the vaccine efficacy and dosage. India should better wait and watch Russia's own experience with its vaccine."

In a statement on Wednesday, the Russian Direct Investment Fund said a post-registration clinical trial of the coronavirus vaccine had started in Moscow, with 40,000 people participating.

In July, a controversy erupted in India over the Council of Medical Research's unrealistic target of launching the country's first COVID-19 vaccine -- the one developed with Bharat Biotech -- by mid-August. The council soon clarified that it just intended to cut red tape and not sacrifice safety. The vaccine continues to be in clinical trials.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Chase Smothermon, one of the main players in the brutal kidnapping and torture death of an Albuquerque man in 2017, was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison on Friday.

The three-day hearing in a Santa Fe federal courthouse included testimony from a psychologist, Smothermon and others. Smothermon and three others had been arrested and initially charged in state court with the brutal mutilation and killing of 41-year-old John Soyka and the kidnapping of Soykas friend Matthew Tressler.

The case was transferred to federal court in March 2018, and the 32-year-old pleaded guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnapping in January.

My job is to find a punishment that punishes in a way that addresses all of the issues that Ive given so much thought to, but also provides hope, said Judge Martha Vazquez. And also acknowledges the loss, the violence, the circumstances of death and the life that was affected in Matthew Tressler  I believe a sentence in this case that is less than 60 years is appropriate. In effect, youre going to be serving a sentence that is all of your life.

The U.S. Attorneys Office had asked for a 60-year sentence, the maximum allowed under his plea deal, due to the depravity of the killing. The defense had asked for 40 years, which is the minimum.

If ever a defendant deserved the maximum sentence that can be imposed under the parties plea agreement, it is Chase Smothermon, Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Vierbuchen wrote in a sentencing memorandum. It is the only sentence  which would, in effect, be a life sentence  that would ensure that the defendant never harms another person.

The defense, on the other hand, said much of the depravity of Smothermons actions was the result of abuse, including sexual abuse, he experienced as a child. Attorneys argued that he deserved treatment and hope, not to be locked up for the rest of his life.

Psychologist David Lisak, a defense witness who conducted a forensic evaluation of Smothermon, said during the hearing Thursday that Smothermon told him he was sexually abused as a child by his mother and men that she brought into the home. He also said Smothermon told him she would make him have sex with older women in exchange for drugs.

There is absolutely no way a child can experience that kind of sexual abuse without being significantly harmed, Lisak said.

Smothermon and his girlfriend, Mariah Ferry  now 22  severely beat Soyka in August 2017 because they thought Soyka stole money and marijuana from Smothermons home while they were on vacation. They then put Soyka in the trunk of a car and drove him to Smothermans house, where Smothermon and Ferry killed him with a machete.

They then mutilated his body in horrendous ways before burying him in the desolate Rio Puerco area, outside Rio Rancho. Ferry had photos and videos on her phone that show the murder and mutilation, court documents say.

Smothermon and Ferry also kidnapped and beat Matthew Tressler, believing he was involved in the burglary, too; they later released him. Tressler was shown photos of Soykas mutilated body, court documents say, and suffers from post-traumatic stress.

In June, Ferry was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap.

Jose Torrez, who lived in the home where Soyka was beaten, faces up to 14 years after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to kidnap. His sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.

Another man, Mitchell Overhand, was sentenced to a year in jail and three years probation for his role in the crimes.
Dalai Lama on Saturday expressed concern over the poor health of Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who had on Friday resigned due to health issues. Dalai Lama wrote encouraging and respectful words commending Abe's years of service.

Dalai Lama on Saturday expressed concern over the poor health of Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who had on Friday resigned due to health issues. In a letter to Abe, Dalai Lama wrote, I pray that your treatment will be successful. It is admirable that you have considered the greater good of the country and decided to step down from the position of Prime Minister in order to receive medical attention. I have great respect for your leadership and dedication to the service of others, he added.

On Friday, Sputnik quoted Abe as saying at a press conference, In June this year, I was told that there were signs of recurrence of my chronic condition called ulcerative colitis, and I did my best at work while taking medicine.

Also Read: UNSC adopts resolution to promote womens role in Peacekeeping; India congratulates council

But starting the middle of last month, my physical condition changed, and I felt very exhausted. Recurrence of the disease was confirmed at the beginning of this month, he added.

Abe said he would step down because his worsened condition and treatment could threaten the decision-making process.

In politics, getting results is the most important thing. Facing illness and treatment and being in poor physical form, I could not let myself make mistakes in important political decisions and fail to achieve results, he said further.

I have decided that I should not continue to hold the position of the prime minister, as I can no longer firmly carry out the mandate given to me by the people. Ive decided to resign as Prime Minister, Sputnik reported further quoting Abe. (ANI)

Also Read: Tibetan Election Commission in-exile begins voter registration process for 2021 general elections
Winona resident Jeremy Littel remembers noticing, while on vacation in Mexico, how some youth have their eyes consistently on their phones, scrolling through social media instead of focusing on the world around them.

Instead of looking down on the behavior, the father of three decided to embrace it: He wanted in on the social media excitement.

Today, he now has about 1.6 million followers on popular social media platform TikTok.

And these followers havent just taken moments to laugh at the jokes he posts multiple times a day, but also have stepped up to help during a crisis  like when Littels business, Kickass Beef Jerky, was severely suffering because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

His journey on social media didnt start under an account with his own name, though.

He began posting on his businesss Instagram about three years ago.

Within three months of posting on this page, he found himself making connections with and talking to people such as a NASCAR driver, a world champion jet skier and a world champion longboard surfer.

For two years, and with some advice from a well-connected Instagram user, Littel was able to find success on that platform.

Then, last September, he was informed by a friend that TikTok was becoming a popular platform.

Littel, a Kenosha, Wis., native, started a profile under the Kickass Beef Jerky name with his first video being of him fishing, which racked him up more than 40,000 views.

Im like, oh my gosh, right away you can get that many views on this platform? Littel said.

But, he then began to post jokes and decided to change his name on the platform. He wanted to make the account more personal, not connected to his business anymore.

I wanted to put it to my name, and see if I can grow it that way and to have the people like me and get to know who I am as a person, Littel said.

He didnt speak of his business again on the platform until late April, when the world was suffering from the impact of the coronavirus.

Sales were down 80% for Kickass Beef Jerky at that point.

I didnt know what we were going to do, how we were going to be able to keep the doors open, Littel said.

On TikTok, he had almost a million followers at that point.

While reluctant at first, he decided it was time to ask his TikTok community for help and to have them check out his businesss website.

Within 10 days of him asking for help, there were more than 2,500 orders on their website.

Littel was brought to tears and was freaking out, he said, highly thankful for the response he received from asking for help to save the business that he took over from his father.

Littels success on TikTok is nowhere near over, as he receives sponsorship offers and watches his followers count increase.

He said that with what he makes off the platform, a college student could live off of it.

He expects that by the end of 2021, he could also be making a living off of it, too, with his wife and three kids.

His kids  who are 8, 6 and 3  are big supporters of his when it comes to social media, as they like taking part in his videos.

About his fame, Littel said it is unreal to me.

When he goes to local events such as races in Fountain City, he will be asked for autographs at least four or five times.

Littel manages two TikTok account, one of which is a backup for his current account where he posts his older videos. On his second account, he has more than 850,000 followers.

Littel spends about one to two hours each day creating content for his main account.

My main reason for being on there right now is to make someone smile, he shared.

He said that he enjoys connecting with his followers, who share with him about their lives and problems.

In the future, he may work with an agent and possibly hold meet-and-greets.

Its not all about the numbers. Its all about connecting with people on a different level, Littel said.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 29)  The Energy Regulatory Commission explained on Saturday who would benefit from its 19-million fine on power distributor Meralco for violating its quarantine-related mandates.

Yung penalty, 19 million, pupunta yan sa gobyerno Yun namang lifeliners na tinatawag o 100 kilowatt hour per month and below, ito naman ay bibigyan ng discount ng Meralco and Im sure tatalima ang Meralco diyan, ERC Chairperson and CEO Agnes Devanadera said in an online media briefing.

[Translation: The penalty, 19 million, will go to the government. Meanwhile, lifeliners, or those with energy consumption of 100kWh and below, they will be given a discount and Im sure Meralco will follow that order.]

In its August 20 decision announced this week, the ERC said Meralco failed to clearly inform consumers that their electricity bills were simply estimated during the lockdown, when restrictions prevented Meralco representatives from reading meters in households. Meralco also violated the installment payment scheme mandated by the ERC, the regulator said.

These violations resulted in thousands of bill shock complaints. It took Meralco until July 9 to correct these mistakes, Devanadera said, and the reason why the ERC sanctioned the company for each day that the issues were not addressed.

On top of the 19-million penalty, the ERC ordered Meralco to set to zero the distribution, supply, and metering charges of lifeline consumers for the next one-month billing cycle after receipt of the agencys decision. It estimated the total discount to be around 200 million.

Devanadera said this part of the decision was in compliance with President Rodrigo Dutertes directive to provide relief to the poor amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meralco has assured that it will refund any overpayment while payments made that should have been covered by the installment scheme will be credited to future bills, according to Devanadera. Households with monthly consumption of 200kWh and below in February 2020 are entitled to six monthly installments, while others can make staggered payments within four months.

Meralco, the countrys largest power distributor, was not the only company that violated ERCs advisories during the community quarantine. Devanadera said the commission has also asked a number of other distribution utilities to explain why they defied the order to stop charging consumers with the feed-in-tariff allowance and Universal Charge-Environmental Charge (UC-EC).

Hindi ko masabi kung magkano ang ating magiging multa dahil naghihintay pa tayo ng kasagutan sa ating order, Devanadera said.

[Translation: I cannot say how much the penalty would be because we are still waiting for their response.]
PVN invests some USD7.1 billion abroad. (Photo: PVN)

The opening eight months of the year witnessed the total newly granted and adjusted Vietnamese investment abroad reach a figure of USD330.2 million, a rise of 15.8% from the same period last year.

Most notably, a total of 86 projects were granted new investment registration certificates, with registered capital reaching approximately USD218.5 million, representing an annual increase of 21.3%. In addition, projects had their capital investment adjusted with an additional capital of USD111.8 million, marking a rise of 13.3% on-year.

August alone saw six projects receive new investment registration certificates whilst eight projects had adjusted investment capital, with the overall figure for newly granted and additionally increased investment capital standing at USD 77.3 million, equal to 47.8% over the same period last year, despite being 2.5 times higher than the level from July.

Vietnam News Agency quoted Foreign Investment Agency saying that local enterprises made investments abroad across 13 fields during the reviewed period. Indeed, the processing and manufacturing industry took the lead, with 10 new projects and six projects with capital adjustments featuring registered capital of USD 225.7 million, accounting for 68.4% of total outward investment capital.

Furthermore, accommodation and catering services were in second place with a total investment of USD39.6 million, making up roughly 12%, followed by the wholesale and retail sectors, along with information communication.

Overall 24 countries and territories were recipients of investment from the country during the initial eight months of the year. Of these foreign locations, Germany tops the list with four new investment projects with total capital of USD92.6 million, constituting 28% of total investment capital. Elsewhere, Laos came in second with a sum of USD86.7 million, accounting for 26.3%, followed by Myanmar, the United States, and Singapore.

Despite the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic, local firms remain active in conducting investments abroad, as indicated by the eight-month figure which stood at a higher level in comparison to the same period last year. Indeed, this 15.8% rise indicates the persistence and strong resilience of displayed by Vietnamese businesses against external shocks.

Additional SARS-CoV-2 virus test kit developed in Vietnam

The SARS-CoV-2 virus test kit has recently been successfully researched and produced at the College of Science under the Thai Nguyen University by Dr. Nguyen Phu Hung and his 12 colleagues.

Photo: soytethainguyen.gov.vn

The kit was developed using the universitys modern machines, domestic and international documents, lessons and experience from earlier kit production.

The research, which was conducted simultaneously in 2 laboratories, one in Thai Nguyen University and the other in the Thai Nguyen Central Hospital which had been licensed by the Ministry of Health for testing SARS-CoV-2, lasted 3 months before the kit was recognized to have both the sensitivity and specificity of 100% by the National Institute for Control of Vaccine and Biologicals.

Later, the SARS-CoV-2 test kit, using the realtime RT-PCR technology, was assessed of excellent research by a council of experts and researchers from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, the National Institute for Control of Vaccine and Biologicals, the Vietnam Academy of Sciences and the Vietnam  France University.

According to leaders of the Thai Nguyen provincial Department of Science and Technology, the price for each test is estimated at VND370,000, some 20-30% lower than the existing kits, while it takes a shorter time of about 30-45 minutes for each test.

Thai Nguyen province is carrying out procedures for the kit to be licensed and produced, to serve the current urgent tests in fighting COVID-19.

Vietnam attracts USD19.54 billion FDI in 8 months

Vietnam attracted USD19.54 billion worth of FDI as of August 20, down 13.7% year-on-year, Vietnam News Agency has reported statistics from the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Vietnam always attracts foreign investors. In the photo is the Japanese UMC plant in Vietnam. (Photo: baodautu.vn)

There were 1,797 new FDI projects licensed, with registered capital totalling USD9.73 billion, down 25.3% in project numbers but up 6.6% in value compared to the same period last year. The increase was attributed to the inclusion of the Bac Lieu LNG-to-power project, with investment capital of USD4 billion, or 41.1% of the total.

Meanwhile, 718 existing projects were permitted to raise their investment by more than USD4.87 billion in total, a 22.2% increase year-on-year.

Foreign investors also outlaid USD4.93 billion on share purchases or capital contributions during the period, down 48.2%.

Capital was channeled into 18 sectors, in which manufacturing and processing took the lead after receiving over USD9.3 billion, or 47.7% of the total. It was followed by power production and distribution, with over USD4 billion, real estate USD2.87 billion, and wholesale and retail USD1.21 billion.

Singapore was the largest source of FDI, with a committed USD6.54 billion, accounting for 33.5% of the total. The Republic of Korea and China followed, with USD2.97 billion and USD1.75 billion, respectively, then Japan, Thailand, and Taiwan (China).

Of the 59 localities receiving FDI in the first eight months of this year, the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu ranked top with USD4 billion. Hanoi was second with USD2.86 billion and HCM City third with USD2.62 billion, followed by Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Binh Duong provinces and Hai Phong city./.
Canada renews support for UN University Institute in Hamilton addressing world water issues: $10M

HAMILTON - Canada today announced a CDN$10 million extension of core funding through 2025 for the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, a research organization at the forefront of pressing global water challenges.

Hosted by McMaster University, UNU-INWEH has contributed important insights on world water issues, including water-borne diseases and how to meet the expected large increase in global water demand -- almost 50% by 2030 -- a need impossible to meet as conventional water sources diminish and if current ways of doing business prevail.

"As a long-time supporter of UNU-INWEH, Canada recognizes that equitable access to safe water and sanitation is critical to protecting human life. Since the lack of water and sanitation disproportionately affects women and girls, and is being exacerbated by climate change, renewed support to water management enhances women's leadership and increases resilience to climate change," says the Honourable Karina Gould, Canada's Minister of International Development.

The funding announcement coincides with World Water Week, and the United Nations' 75th anniversary.

Says UNU-INWEH Director, Vladimir Smakhtin: "Available freshwater per capita has declined more than 50% worldwide since 1960 and today the scale of the global water crisis is stunning, with four in seven people regularly experiencing some form of water scarcity."

"The coronavirus pandemic is just the latest illustration of how vitally important water is to health and well-being," he adds. "Hundreds of millions of people lack access to clean water to wash their hands, making control of the current coronavirus outbreak, and potentially other similar outbreaks in the future, even more challenging."

"The Institute recently embarked on its new five-year strategy to help the world achieve water-related Sustainable Development Goals," notes Dr. Smakhtin. "Canada's strong support for UNU-INWEH has never been more important. We are deeply grateful for its generous and continued commitment. Canada has not only been the Institute's home and principal source of funding since it began, Canadian expertise has greatly contributed to improving the management of world water issues."

"The Institute's link to the United Nations brings privileged access to global policy debates on water," says Michael Small, chair of UNU-INWEH's International Advisory Committee, a Distinguished Fellow at the Asian Pacific Foundation and Fellow at Simon Fraser University's Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. "As a hub for world-class expertise on water -- spanning academia, industry and governments -- the Institute is uniquely positioned to advance practical solutions to water-related challenges that achieve impact globally and nationally."

UNU-INWEH works to bridge the gap between the wealth of evidence and research that exists on water resources, and the practical needs of political leaders and decision makers, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries.

The new strategic plan (at https:/ / bit. ly/ 3jfiN7G ) places primary focus on four interconnected areas:

Helping countries implement water-related Sustainable Development Goals

Data and evidence in the water sector are often hard to come by in many countries making it difficult to plan and measure progress. The Institute has created a Policy Support System that helps national governments use existing and emerging national and international data to automatically build a reliable baseline of evidence for use in policy making and planning for effective and equitable water management.

The UNU-INWEH's Policy Support System automatically synthesizes and evaluates the data against the Sustainable Development Goal's targets and indicators for safe and affordable access to clean water and sanitation by 2030. In this way, users can view in one summary their strengths and gaps remaining to achieve the SDGs.

The platform has been validated and accepted in five pilot countries and is now being rolled out to 50 more.

Bringing unconventional water resources and technology revolution for future water security

Projections show over 60% of humanity will experience water scarcity by 2030. Conventional water resources - rain and river runoff - are not expected to meet growing water demands. UNU-INWEH has applied its focus to and become a go-to-source for research and information about unconventional water resources: desalination, treated wastewater, atmospheric water harvesting, and others.

In one recent study, for example, UNU-INWEH forecast a 24% increase in wastewater worldwide by 2030. Already a vast resource, the global volume of wastewater, properly treated, is enough water to fill Lake Ontario every four years. It contains enough energy to provide electricity to almost 160 million households, the study found, and enough nutrients to meet 13% of world's fertilizer needs.

In an earlier study, the Institute's experts reported that the world's roughly 16,000 desalination plants discharge 142 million cubic meters of brine daily -- 50% more than previously estimated -- and enough in a year to cover Florida under a foot (30.5 cm) of chemical-laden brine.

The Institute also evaluates the most appropriate digital technologies for adoption in water management in developing country contexts. Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, and other 21st century technologies can be put to a wide range of uses from accurate mapping of flood risks using open data sources to monitoring water quality in refugee camps.

Women -- Key to Effective Water Management -- and Migration

Water and sanitation management are more effective if women are involved, and UNU-INWEH therefore works with governments to identify opportunities for greater inclusion, representation, knowledge generation and training for women and girls.

Over the next five years, UNU-INWEH aims to enhance the capacity of national governments to obtain and evaluate baseline gender-disaggregated water data to support SDG implementation. By equipping policymakers and practitioners with gender-related information on the delivery of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, UNU-INWEH can help unlock the potential for more effective water management and use.

UNU-INWEH will also aim to identify conditions for enhanced participation of women in community-based water conflict resolution and how to create them. Future work will pay specific attention to minimizing the impacts of water-related disasters on the health of women and girls in humanitarian crises contexts. The Institute, in partnership with University of Kinshasa, is already studying large-scale migration of communities in the Congo River Basin over the past two decades, the associated conflicts that followed, and the impacts on women and girls.

A recent UNU-INWEH analysis suggests that the world will see up to 1 billion people migrating due to water- and climate-related reasons. Future work will focus on unpacking water-migration-gender interlinkages and aim for the formal recognition of migration as an adaptation strategy for water and climate crises.

Managing water- and climate-related risks

UNU-INWEH synthesizes information and suggests new ways to alleviate various chronic and emerging water-related risks, as well as climate-related risks that propagate through water.

As climate-induced floods and drought become more frequent and severe, the Institute analyzes the efficiency of the world's existing early warning systems, with a particular focus on response capabilities of the exposed populations. It is important to comprehensively categorize such systems to make further investments in their development much more effective, and to clarify the overall pathway to their improvement.

UNU-INWEH also evaluates emerging climate change-related risks to cities in the Global South, ranging from increasing frequency of extreme climate events to impacts on aging water infrastructure, for example. This knowledge will help city authorities take informed actions for increased resilience.

Undertaking research that gauge potential risks from pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern to the environment and human health will be another UNU-INWEH priority. In parallel, UNU-INWEH continues on its path to help countries eradicate chronic water-related health risks, such as arsenic contamination of groundwater, which affects some 140 million people globally. UNU-INWEH recently summarized existing knowledge on arsenic-removal techniques and suggested a four-step plan for the complete eradication of arsenic from drinking water in affected countries by 2030

The Institute is also in the process of developing a water-related disease vulnerability and surveillance tool that can measure and visualize the vulnerability of populations and regions to help health authorities anticipate and prevent these diseases, a major issue in many developing countries, exacerbated by climate change.

###

UNU-INWEH will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2021.

For more information: http://www. https:/ / inweh. unu. edu/

Related news releases:

Vast amounts of valuable energy, nutrients, water lost in world's fast-rising wastewater streams

https:/ / bit. ly/ 3lliUQH

UN University compares technologies that remove arsenic from groundwater

https:/ / bit. ly/ 3hwMtwk

UN warns of rising levels of toxic brine as desalination plants meet growing water needs

http://bit. ly/ 2sQhF25

Where the Water Is

https:/ / bit. ly/ 31rJzDs

Vast energy value in human waste: UN University

https:/ / bit. ly/ 2Qr4e4i

This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Davis approached the victim, who is 5-foot-1, from behind in the 100 Block of East Grand Avenue, forcibly grabbed her purse and pushed her down to the sidewalk, according to police.
A Pakistani court has convicted three leaders of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), including LeT founder Hafiz Saeeds brother-in-law Abdul Rahman Makki, in a case of terror financing and given them prison terms ranging from 18 months to more than 16 years.

Makki, a top JuD leader for whom the US state department has announced a reward of $2 million, Malik Zafar Iqbal and Hafiz Abdul Salam Bhuttavi were convicted by judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar of an anti-terrorism court in Lahore on Friday.

The court gave a collective prison term of 16-and-a-half years to Iqbal and Bhuttavi while Makki received a jail term of one-and-a-half years, according to reports in the Pakistani media. Iqbal and Salam were also fined Rs170,000 while Makki was directed to pay a fine of Rs 20,000.

Iqbal and Bhuttavi were named in one of the two statutory regulatory orders issued by Pakistans foreign ministry on August 18 to enforce UN Security Council sanctions against hundreds of terrorists and 93 terror entities.

Iqbal was described in the notification as a senior leader and co-founder of LeT who has held various senior positions in LeT and JUD. As of 2010, in-charge of LeT/JUD finance department, director of its education department and president of its medical wing, the notification said. Bhuttavi was described as a founding member of LeT and deputy to Hafiz Saeed.

Makki, designated a terrorist by the US treasury department in 2010, has not yet been sanctioned by the UN. He has headed LeTs political affairs and foreign relations departments and played a key role in raising funds for the group.

The case against the three men was filed by the Counter-Terrorism Department of Pakistans Punjab province. They were charged under several provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997.

In February, Hafiz Saeed and an aide were both given a five-and-a-half year jail term in two cases of terror financing by an anti-terrorism court in Lahore. The case against Saeed too was filed by the Counter-Terrorism Department.

In the latest case, the prosecution said the three men had been using a property in Vehari district that was in the name of Al-Hamad Trust, a banned organisation, to achieve their objectives in terrorism. By using this property, the trust also raised funds for terrorism.

The court ruled this property should be taken over by the state.

The Counter-Terrorism Department had registered 23 FIRs against JuD leaders in different cities of Pakistans Punjab province.

There was no immediate reaction from Indian officials to the conviction of the three men.

Indian remains sceptical of action so far by Pakistan against LeT, JuD and other groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, with officials saying such steps were being taken with an eye on an upcoming assessment of the countrys counter-terror financing regime by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in October.

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Seasonal torrential rains have claimed at least 125 lives in Pakistan and injured 71 others in the last two and a half months since the monsoon began in the country, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

The NDMA data showed that 43 people died in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, followed by 34 in Sindh, 17 in Balochistan, 14 in Punjab, 11 in Gilgit-Baltistan region and six in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir since June 15 when the monsoon started. Those killed included 59 males, 13 females and 53 children, it said.

Among those injured, 37 belonged to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Another 13 were injured in Balochistan, nine in Sindh, eight in Punjab and four in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The NDMA data showed that 951 houses were fully damaged due to the rains, floods and landslides, while another 356 were partially damaged.

The authorities so far have provided about 410 tons of food to people affected by rain and related mishaps. They were also given 14,985 tents, 2,956 blankets and 2,200 mosquito nets, in addition to other supplies.

Annual monsoon rains hit the sub-continent in the summer, bringing heavy downpour that trigger floods and affecting hundreds and thousands of people.
Whats Streaming

GET DUKED! (2019) Stream on Amazon. Three troublemaking teenagers and a strait-laced loner head out on a character-building camping excursion in the Scottish Highlands  what could go wrong? In this film, from the music-video director Ninian Doff, the boys encounter trouble in the form of a homicidal couple (played by Eddie Izzard and Georgie Glen) armed and hellbent on maintaining the integrity of the species. In her New York Times review, Manohla Dargis wrote that the movie is loud, busy and cheerfully glib, though at one point  after the weapons and politics have been brandished  it takes a brief turn to sincerity.

ALL TOGETHER NOW (2020) Stream on Netflix. This film, based on Matthew Quicks novel Sorta Like a Rock Star, follows Amber Appleton (Aulii Cravalho), a musically gifted teenager who dreams of attending Carnegie Mellon University. As an overachiever, she seems to have high school life figured out, juggling school fund-raisers, her job at a doughnut shop and volunteer work. But away from school and her extracurricular activities, Amber and her mother are struggling financially and living out of a bus depot. When she encounters a series of setbacks that threaten her college dreams, she learns to lean on others in her life including friends, young and old, and a teacher (Fred Armisen, Carol Burnett and Rhenzy Feliz) rather than shoulder the burden on her own. The movies familiar suggestion of music as a light in the darkness works primarily because its star shines so brightly, Kyle Turner wrote of Cravalho in his New York Times review.
When close to half the companies in the United Kingdom have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") below 16x, you may consider Volex plc (LON:VLX) as a stock to potentially avoid with its 24.1x P/E ratio. However, the P/E might be high for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

Volex certainly has been doing a great job lately as it's been growing earnings at a really rapid pace. The P/E is probably high because investors think this strong earnings growth will be enough to outperform the broader market in the near future. If not, then existing shareholders might be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

View our latest analysis for Volex

pe

Although there are no analyst estimates available for Volex, take a look at this free data-rich visualisation to see how the company stacks up on earnings, revenue and cash flow.

How Is Volex's Growth Trending?

In order to justify its P/E ratio, Volex would need to produce impressive growth in excess of the market.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew earnings per share by an impressive 43% last year. Although, its longer-term performance hasn't been as strong with three-year EPS growth being relatively non-existent overall. So it appears to us that the company has had a mixed result in terms of growing earnings over that time.

In contrast to the company, the rest of the market is expected to decline by 2.5% over the next year, which puts the company's recent medium-term positive growth rates in a good light for now.

In light of this, it's understandable that Volex's P/E sits above the majority of other companies. Investors are willing to pay more for a stock they hope will buck the trend of the broader market going backwards. However, its current earnings trajectory will be very difficult to maintain against the headwinds other companies are facing at the moment.

The Key Takeaway

Story continues

Using the price-to-earnings ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn't sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company's future prospects.

As we suspected, our examination of Volex revealed its growing earnings over the medium-term are contributing to its high P/E, given the market is set to shrink. At this stage investors feel the potential for a deterioration in earnings isn't great enough to justify a lower P/E ratio. Our only concern is whether its earnings trajectory can keep outperforming under these tough market conditions. Otherwise, it's hard to see the share price falling strongly in the near future if its earnings performance persists.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Volex, and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

If you're unsure about the strength of Volex's business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
The Zimbabwean government has said it would take care of civil servants who contract COVID-19 while on duty and grant them up to six months sick leave on full pay.

The government also promised to pay medical bills for frontline health staff, the government-controlled Herald newspaper reported on Thursday.

Generally, civil servants are entitled to 90 days sick-leave on full salary, but possible complications due to COVID-19 have led the government to revise the regulation.

The World Health Organisations latest protocols give two weeks as the longest recovery period, but there have been cases of people who, while no longer infectious, still suffer from complications and recurring symptoms.

The Secretary for the Public Service Commission, Jonathan Wutawunashe, said the commission was looking at several adjustments to protect its workers.

We have adjusted a lot of things to protect our workers, such as for how long can you be ill and still (be) paid a full salary.

It has been adjusted from 90 days to 180 days. It is an adjustment of what is normal.

There is normal coverage of the medical expenses for all civil servants, and we are also taking care of the medical expenses for frontline workers, he said.

The government has since instructed that the bulk of its workers work from home in a bid to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

We have said most government workers should work from home.

You will recall that we said 15 per cent should report for their workplaces physically and that move is receiving huge support.

But we realised that there is a need for more adjustments to cater for those who are going to work, risking their health and life to provide essential services to the people.

As government we are very grateful for the sacrifices and effort being put by our workers during this period, he said.

He added that negotiations were still continuing on a final agreement on improving civil servants terms of employment including their salaries and wages.

(Xinhua/NAN)
Rumor mill: Nvidia's highly-anticipated GeForce event is just around the corner. It's scheduled for September 1, and if the teases and leaks we've seen so far are accurate, it will finally bring the grand reveal of Nvidia's RTX 30-series GPUs. However, it seems we won't have to wait until the event to know what to expect from Nvidia's first three consumer-focused Ampere GPUs: their specifications have just been leaked.

Update (Sept 1): The official RTX 3000 series announcement is live, read here.

Update (Aug 31): There's less than 24 hours before Nvidia makes the official debut of Ampere on consumer RTX graphics cards, but leaks have kept on coming. Slides and photos from manufacturer Gainward have all but confirmed the rumored specs we published during the weekend.

The same CUDA cores counts (5248 cores on the RTX 3090, 4352 cores on the RTX 3080), clocks speeds, memory capacity and bandwidth as shown in the table below. It's likely Nvidia will only announce the high-end RTX 3090 and 3080 tomorrow, while the RTX 3070 will be unveiled at a later date.

The original leak comes courtesy of anonymous sources that spoke to Videocardz, claims Nvidia is preparing to launch three Ampere GPUs in September. These cards will be the GeForce RTX 3090, the GeForce RTX 3080, and the GeForce RTX 3070. Each GPU has been built using 7nm fabrication tech, and they will reportedly support PCIe 4.0 out of the box.

The cards will introduce 2nd-gen RT cores and 3rd-gen Tensor Cores, according to Videocardz, and they will likely ship with support for DP 1.4a and HDMI 2.1 connectors.

In terms of nitty-gritty specifications, we'll start with the RTX 3070. If this leak is true, the card should ship with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM clocked at 16 Gbps, across a 256-bit memory bus. The TGP should be about 220W, though the CUDA Core count and boost clock speed are unknown at the moment.

Moving on to the RTX 3080, we're looking at 10GB of GDDR6X VRAM (clocked at 19 Gbps), a 320-bit memory bus, 4352 CUDA cores, a boost clock of 1710 MHz, and a TGP of 320W. Videocardz says a second variant of the 3080 with twice the memory (20GB in total) is also in development, but it was unable to determine when the card might release.

The final leaked SKU, the RTX 3090, is an absolute monster. It's expected to have 5248 CUDA cores, a boost clock of 1695 MHz, a whopping 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM clocked at 19.5 Gbps, a 384-bit memory bus, and a TGP of 350W. Memory bandwidth for the 3070, 3080, and 3090 should be 512 GB/s, 760 GB/s, and 936 GB/s, respectively.

Strangely, Videocardz says the 3080 and 3090 will both require dual 8-pin power connectors instead of a single 12-pin connector. This seems to be at odds with the Ampere engineering video we covered a few days ago, in which Nvidia discussed its decision to transition toward 12-pin connectors for modern GPUs.

That inconsistency aside, the rest of this leak sounds fairly credible to us. Of course, we still recommend taking this information with a grain of salt -- rumors are rumors, and it's always best to wait for official confirmation before getting too invested in pre-launch spec details.
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Friday night in central London: I am standing in the foyer of Odeon's flagship cinema in Leicester Square.

Cinema-goers in face masks are waiting in line to buy food and drinks, and showing staff their tickets before taking their seats in the huge 800-capacity auditorium.

I see friends, families and couples  in total, around 80 people. They are giddy with excitement about watching Christopher Nolan's new spy thriller Tenet on a big screen after months of streaming movies from their laptops.

A few, such as 36-year-old cinema-goer Marvin Fraser, tell me the experience of being at the cinema again is 'nerve-wracking' and believe there are still too many people in the auditorium.

Still, Covid hasn't killed British cinema yet. To revive the industry, Odeon Leicester Square has taken every possible step to protect public health  and they really want you to know that they are making the effort.

Tessa Street, Odeon Leicester Square's general manager, tells me: 'We're excited to welcome everyone back to the cinema, and we really want people to know that the Hollywood magic is still there.

'We have put a huge range of measures in place to make sure people are safe. For us, the safety of our customers and our staff is absolutely paramount.'

Cinema-goers in face masks are seated in the huge 800-capacity auditorium in Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London

Cinema-goers in face masks are seated in the huge 800-capacity auditorium in Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London

Cinema-goers queue at the kiosk to buy popcorn and hotdogs before the film starts at Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square

Odeon Luxe staff in Leicester Square, London conduct a 'deep clean' of the auditorium after every screening

Tessa Street, Odeon Luxe's general manager, tells me: 'We're excited to welcome everyone back to the cinema, and we really want people to know that the Hollywood magic is still there. 'We have put a huge range of measures in place to make sure people are safe. For us, the safety of our customers and our staff is absolutely paramount'

Odeon Leicester Square's Covid-safe measures include 'one way' systems and floor plans which tell people where to stand and how to keep two metres apart from other cinema-goers.

Customers have to come in through one door and out the other, and use hand sanitiser upon entry. Odeon Leicester Square staff wearing perspex visors or masks encourage customers to cover their faces.

Odeon Leicester Square continues to sell cinema favourites hot dogs and nachos, but has axed vegan burgers, chicken strips, mozzarella sticks and afternoon tea to 'simplify' its menu.

When cinema-goers finally get inside the auditorium, each group is separated from the other by a seat  the Government's so-called 'one metre plus' guidance in action.

What Odeon Leicester Square doesn't tell you is that staff have to clean 'high-touch areas' frequently: surfaces and touch screens at ticket kiosks have to be wiped every 15 minutes, and door handles and toilets every 30 minutes. They even have to wash their hands every single time they handle paper money.

Cinema-goers entering Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London following the cinema's 'one way' traffic flow system

Cinema-goers wash their hands with sanitiser at the entrance before taking their seat at Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square

Cinema-goers excited to see Christopher Nolan's Tenet show staff their tickets at Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London

Cinema-goers queue at the kiosk to buy popcorn and hotdogs before the film starts at Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square

In a bid to prevent Covid transmission, Odeon Leicester Square has slashed their daily screenings down to three from its pre-lockdown four, and paused its midnight showings on Fridays and Saturdays. For a cinema which has still not reopened its huge 550-seat balcony, these measures are hard-hitting.

Meanwhile, staff have to empty the theatre one row at a time and conduct a 'deep clean' with anti-viral sprays and wipes for half an hour after each screening  before starting all over again.

Odeon Leicester Square closed its doors to the public on March 20, just three days before Boris Johnson ordered the British people to 'stay at home' in a televised address.

It tentatively reopened its only auditorium on August 21 and spent the next week screening popular classics including Stars Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Dirty Dancing, Jurassic Park, and Inception to entice people back. The cinema started screening Nolan's Tenet on Wednesday at a flat 25 fare for adults.

Tessa says: 'We decided to close the cinema on March 20 before the Government indicated that we should. But I didn't think that we would be closed this long.

Mustafa Aslanturk, 39, says: 'I am so excited to watch good movies on bigger screens again. I don't think corona is going to be the end of cinema, in my opinion. People like cinemas.'

Cinema-goers excited to see Christopher Nolan's Tenet (left: Stefano Dunne; right: Fatih Kaygusuz)

Ticket officers Yoshi Bravo (left), 18, and Fleur Mitchell (right), 21, as they check people's tickets at Odeon Luxe in London

Odeon Luxe staff in Leicester Square, London conduct a 'deep clean' of the auditorium after every screening

Odeon Luxe staff in Leicester Square, London conduct a 'deep clean' of the auditorium after every screening

Odeon Luxe staff in Leicester Square, London conduct a 'deep clean' of the auditorium after every screening

Odeon Luxe staff in Leicester Square, London conduct a 'deep clean' of the auditorium after every screening

'Everybody talks about how 'unprecedented' the lockdown has been. But maybe we were a bit naive or a bit over-optimistic thinking that it would last just a few weeks.

'The Government's messaging was much more successful in keeping people home than anyone expected.

'In that time, we've found that people treasure going to the cinema, in spite of streaming services. You can't replace the experience of the big screen and big speakers with a laptop at home.

'We've found that there's growing fatigue about how people watch their movie, and our customers have been telling us that they're ready to come back.

'So the question has been: How do we reopen quickly but in a safe and sensible way?'

According to Tessa, the Covid-safe measures were introduced to quash the concerns of her employees as well as cinema-goers. She explains: 'The key is confidence.

Tessa Street, Odeon Luxe's general manager, tells me: 'We're excited to welcome everyone back to the cinema, and we really want people to know that the Hollywood magic is still there. 'We have put a huge range of measures in place to make sure people are safe. For us, the safety of our customers and our staff is absolutely paramount'

Excited Odeon Luxe staff in Leicester Square, London greet cinema-goers flocking to see Christopher Nolan's Tenet

Cinema-goers in face masks are seated in the huge 800-capacity auditorium in Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London

Cinema-goers in face masks are seated in the huge 800-capacity auditorium in Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London

'We decided not to rush the reopening, but go slow and steady with it and gradually build customer confidence. We want people to recommend going to the cinema again.

'Like all businesses, a huge part of our future success will rely on word-of-mouth.

'Next, we wanted to build confidence in the staff who have to get used to the new measures and need to know what they're doing  so we didn't force anyone to come back.

'We told them they should only come back if they felt happy to. The result was that our 60 staff came back in full to us, which was great news.

'After that we sat them down and went through the new safety measures, a kind of training, in July. That really helped to allay their concerns.

'In fact, more people were concerned about using public transport again  how to get in, whether or not other people will get too close, where they've been  than getting back to work.

'When we finally did reopen, it was like the first day of school. Most staff were happy to be coming back, but the new measures took some getting used to.'

Signs at Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London tell cinema-goers to keep their distance while in the cinema

Hand sanitisers are on display at the entrance of Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London, while cinema-goers have to complete a Test and Trace form in case Odeon customers are infected with coronavirus

A few privately grumble about wearing face masks in the auditorium, with married 29-year-olds Elliot and Bianca Myers both telling me coverings are 'annoying but necessary'

Raphael Hernandez (left), 22, and Stefano Dunne (right), 23, tell me they put the Covid-safe measures out of their minds while watching Tenet, with Raphael adding: 'They take Covid so seriously, coming to the cinema is safer than being in a pub!'

She adds: 'Staff can wear either a visor or a face mask. I wear a visor because I like people to be able to see my face when I talk, but even that's strange and takes an adjustment.'

Some of the younger staff, such as ticket officers Yoshi Bravo, 18, and Fleur Mitchell, 21, tell me that they had reservations about coming back to work after months of lockdown.

Others, such as 47-year-old Will Goodchild, were just 'desperate to get back'. 'Being at the cinema is so important, for us as well as our customers,' he tells me.

'People are really happy to come out and see films on the big screen again. I was desperate to get back, to be honest. For me, I lived on my own during lockdown, so I was really ready to have contact with everyone again.

'The best part of coming back was that no one was made to come back. We were told that we could stay away for longer until we were ready or felt safe.'

Most cinema-goers are happy wearing face masks during the two-hour film, such as Danish tourists Maya Lindegaard, 39, and Thoreborm Nicolaison, 41  though Odeon staff say customers don't have to don coverings when they eat or drink

Pictured: staff member shows social distance seating plan at on a device at Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London

Odeon Luxe staff in Leicester Square, London cleaning the ticket kiosk after customers use it to buy tickets for Tenet

Most cinema-goers are happy wearing face masks, such as Danish tourists Maya Lindegaard, 39, and Thoreborm Nicolaison, 41  though Odeon staff tell me that customers don't have to don coverings when they eat or drink.

A few privately grumble about wearing face masks for two hours in the auditorium, with married 29-year-olds Elliot and Bianca Myers both telling me coverings are 'annoying but necessary'.

Coming out of an earlier viewing, 35-year-old Mo Aovao says he got so uncomfortable wearing a mask that he had to slip it off his mouth without anybody noticing him.

Above all, I sense that most people are glad that they've been able to turn off their phone, stop thinking about work, and suspend reality for a couple of hours  with or without a face mask on.

Friends Raphael Hernandez, 22, and Stefano Dunne, 23, tell me they put the Covid-safe measures out of their minds while watching Tenet, with Raphael humorously adding: 'They take Covid so seriously, coming to the cinema is safer than being in a pub!'

And as Mustafa Aslanturk, 39, says: 'I am so excited to watch good movies on bigger screens again. I don't think corona is going to be the end of cinema, in my opinion. People like cinemas.'
That means many more people than necessary are being required to isolate and submit to contact tracing, and that the true picture of the state of the virus is skewed, according to reporting by Apoorva Mandavilli of The Times. The findings suggest that shifting to faster, less sensitive tests may help communities get a better handle on the virus.

Weve been using one type of data for everything, and that is just plus or minus  thats all, said Dr. Michael Mina, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Were using that for clinical diagnostics, for public health, for policy decision-making.

The PCR test amplifies genetic matter from the virus in cycles. Large viral loads take fewer cycles to register, while even small amounts of virus  or inactive virus fragments  will register if enough cycles are run. (Dr. Mina thinks the cutoff in cycles should be no more than 30, to limit positives for samples with very little virus.)

The number of cycles at which the virus registers is called the cycle threshold, or C.T. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that it was examining the use of C.T. measures for policy decisions, and that it would need to collaborate with the Food and Drug Administration and device manufacturers to ensure the measures can be used properly and with assurance that we know what they mean.

In three sets of testing data that did include C.T. values, compiled by officials in Massachusetts, New York and Nevada, up to 90 percent of positive samples barely carried any virus, a review by The Times found. If that rate applied nationwide, then only about 4,500 of the 45,604 new U.S. cases reported on Thursday would actually require isolation and contact tracing.

Its just kind of mind-blowing to me that people are not recording the C.T. values from all these tests  that theyre just returning a positive or a negative, said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University in New York.
Coronation Street star Beverley Callard has revealed a nightmare operation left her battling to walk again.

The 63-year-old actress, who plays Liz McDonald in the ITV soap, opened up on the excruciating agony she has been enduring amid her sudden disappearance from the show.

In a new interview, Beverley revealed she has had the 'worst six months of my life' after a routine hip operation left her fearing that she'd need a wheelchair.

Surgery horror: Coronation Street star Beverley Callard has revealed a nightmare operation left her battling to walk again (pictured in 2019)

Speaking with The Mirror, the star revealed that she is suing the hospital which carried out the operation after a second opinion from a doctor led to her minor keyhole surgery being changed to a full hip replacement.

She added that she believes that the surgery, which has since left her in agony, shouldn't have happened in the first place.

She told the publication: 'I have been gone because it has been the worst six months of my life. I have been in the most excruciating pain you can imagine  like teeth grinding inside my hip.'

Beverley continued: 'But worse than that was the mental torture of thinking, "Is this the end for me?" A huge part of me thought Id never be able to return to Coronation Street  that I wouldn't even walk again.'

Pain: The 63-year-old actress, who plays Liz McDonald in the ITV soap, opened up on the excruciating agony she has been enduring amid her sudden disappearance from the show

The star, who admitted that she had even considered installing a stair lift as she could barely walk, opened up on her fear of losing her job and ability to walk.

She explained: 'Liz is famous for mini skirts, stockings and high heel shoes. Not crutches and a mobility scooter. I thought I wouldnt be able to do my job any more. That is how bad it has been. There was definite doubt over whether I would walk again.'

The blonde revealed that after initially quitting the cobbles, she changed her mind and had agreed to stay another year.

But earlier this month fans were left baffled as Liz suddenly left Weatherfield off-screen, with it revealed that she had moved to Spain.

Nightmare: In a new interview, Beverley reveals she's had the 'worst six months of my life' after a routine hip operation left her fearing that she'd need a wheelchair (pictured in 2018)

However, her plans to continue on the show were scuppered by the operation, with the star explaining the pain in the aftermath was 'absolute hell'.

Beverley's nightmare began when she visited her GP in March to seek advice on a 'niggle in my hip, in my groin on the right side'.

Her doctor said it could easily be fixed with a small operation, however, what followed was a world of pain for the star.

Beverley explained that following what she thought was a 'minor operation' at the hospital, which she is not naming for legal reasons, she was told that the surgery didn't go as planned.

Shock: The star revealed that she is suing the hospital which carried out the operation after a second opinion from a doctor led to her minor keyhole surgery being changed to a full hip replacement (pictured in character in 2015)

She explained to the publication that she was told afterwards that during the procedure, her hip had 'crumbled' and that she needed 'further operations' while there.

Days after being released from the hospital, Beverley began to experience excruciating pain which only grew worse.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the thespian was left in agony for months while she waited for a new operation.

It wasn't until a trauma surgeon pal stepped in that Beverley, who was left in constant 'tears' over the pain, got a new appointment the next day, with the surgery following afterwards.

Agony: 'I have been gone because it has been the worst six months of my life. I have been in the most excruciating pain you can imagine  like teeth grinding inside my hip'

Earlier this month, Coronation Street fans said they were 'gutted' after Beverley's character Liz was given a quiet exit despite being on the soap for 31 years.

The popular character, was said to have left the cobbles and moved to Spain during the episode.

After the episode aired several people took to Twitter to express their confusion and frustration at the storyline, with one saying Liz 'did not deserve an off-screen exit'.

During the episode Liz's absence was mentioned by Leanne Battersby, played by Jane Danson, and Steve McDonald, played by Simon Gregson, her son.

During one conversation Leanne said to Steve: 'I don't suppose it helps that your mum's in Spain either.'

Change of plan: The blonde revealed that after initially quitting the cobbles, she changed her mind and had agreed to stay another year (pictured with onscreen ex husband Jim in 2018)

'Hell': However, her plans to continue on the show were scuppered by the operation, with the star explaining the pain in the aftermath was 'absolute hell' (pictured with onscreen son Steve in 2010)

Several avid fans were left 'gutted' at Liz's underwhelming exit and took to Twitter to vent their frustration.

Corrie fan account Coronation Street Memories wrote: 'Gutted at this. Bev /Liz deserved a proper exit!'

While another fan said: 'What's the storyline with Liz McDonald in #corrie. I must have missed something'

Someone else added: 'So apparently Liz won't be returning to Corrie and last night's episode where they mentioned she had gone to Spain will be the last we hear about her. LIZ MCDONALD DID NOT DESERVE AN OFF-SCREEN EXIT'

And another disappointed fan questioned: 'Has Liz McDonald left #corrie for Spain??? Did they not film any final scenes?'
Haryana power and jails minister Ranjit Singh Chautala, 74, tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday.

The minister took to Twitter to announce his health status and said: On the doctors advice, I will remain in home quarantine. I urge all those who met me recently to undergo the Covid test. My health is fine.

Chautala had taken part in the one-day monsoon session of the Haryana assembly on Wednesday and met ministers and legislators.

While the administration and police have been imposing fines on the common man roaming outside their houses without a face mask, politicians have not been adhering to safety guidelines and even campaigning in these Covid times.

Besides Ranjit Chautala, state agriculture minister JP Dalal and Karnal BJP MP Sanjay Bhatia addressed gatherings in villages of poll-bound Baroda assembly constituency, defying social distancing norms before testing positive for coronavirus infection.

Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt of the BJP, Independent Dadri MLA Sombir Sangwan and Ellenabad INLD MLA Abhay Singh Chautala have also been campaigning in Baroda constituency by organising gatherings and not adhering to safety guidelines.

Rajya Sabha member Deepender Singh Hooda and Haryana BJP chief Om Prakash Dhankar have also interacted with villagers in Baroda assembly, ignoring safety guidelines.

Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala and his jailed father Ajay Singh Chautala were also seen interacting with people without masks. Dushyant did not wear a mask even while speaking in the assembly on August 26.

The health department is yet to collect door-to-door samples in villages of Baroda.

The assembly seat in Sonepat district fell vacant in April following the death of Congress legislator Sri Krishan Hooda.

No date has been announced for the byelection yet but politicians are in campaign mode.
Nigerias Apostolic Nuncio calls on the government to enforce laws all around the country in order to cease the violence and protect the youth.

By Francesca Merlo

In Nigeria, we so often speak of the violence caused by terrorism, and forget all the other causes of violence, which spread all throughout the country and into the ocean.

Various types of violence

Speaking to Sr Bernadette Reis, Archbishop Filipazzi, Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, notes that the violence in Nigeria is not centralised only in the North where many recent terrorist attacks have taken place. Violence is spread all throughout the country and has many causes, he says. We also see ethnic clashes and the phenomenon of kidnapping, which is perhaps not so noted, but is  a continuous problem. Off the shores, he continues, pirates in the ocean cause danger both to ships and to economic life.

The Archbishop says that he sometimes asks himself whether there might be a deeper source of violence, within the character or personality of a person. But I do not know, he concludes.

Listen to our interview with Archbishop Filipazzi

Since last January, more than 1200 people have been killed in rural areas of central and north-western Nigeria, victims of attacks and kidnappings by armed groups. Human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International, are accusing the federal state of "inaction", and of "abandoning entire rural communities, leaving them at the mercy of armed groups".

Government action

Everybody expects the governments interventions to be more and more effective, says Archbishop Filipazzi. He stresses the importance of introducing a general enforcement of the law in the country, explaining that if the law is respected by everybody, in every place", the problem of the violence will be solved. It is the government's duty to protect and enforce the law, he stresses, just as it is the government's duty to protect the lives and property of its citizens. Archbishop Filipazzi stresses that it is not a question of "what ethnic group" or "what religion" someone belongs to. The root of the violence lies in the general respect of the law and general intervention of the government to respect the law, he says.



Religion and violence

Though many people claim that violence in Nigeria stems from inter-religious tension, Archbishop Filipazzi says he would be very careful of bringing religion up as a principal cause of violence. He explains that by blaming religion we give the violence a moral justification, because you do that in the name of God, in the name of that religion. Religion can, however, at times be used to cover up for forms of violece which are not as noble as religion, he adds, warning that if we make the conflict a religious one, this can worsen the situation even further.

Pope Francis and the call of the Bishops

During his Sunday Angelus, on 15 August, Pope Francis recalled the suffering of the people of the northern region of Nigeria, describing them as victims of violence and terrorist attacks". The bishops of the country, through the voice of the President of the Bishops Conference, Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze, also addressed the government, and the Nigerian people themselves, to demand an end to the killings and the implementation of the fight against corruption.

Archbishop Filipazzi says that the local Church was very happy to hear the words of the Holy Father on August 15 and the Nigerian bishops have asked for a period of prayer, from the 22nd August to the 1st of October, which marks Nigerias National Day. He notes that just two days after Pope Francis spoke, the bishops of Kaduna  an area which suffers many acts of violence - published a Document offering advice and insight into helping stop the violence.

Church action

Archbishop Filipazzi goes on to say that though there is a lot of attention from the Catholic Church, I do not know whether society has fully followed the intervention of the Holy Father. Sometimes", he adds, "I feel that our voices are not heard at a local level.

The Church and its Bishops are close to the people, says Archbishop Filipazzi, and our faithful are victims of the violence. In the Document released shortly after the Holy Fathers Angelus address, the bishops have given some very wise indications for the future, he says. In it, they appeal to the government and to the governor of Kaduna State to have a more empathetic attitude. They also appeal to the young people because there is a danger that amidst all this violence, the young people forget how to live in peace, that they be tempted by the violence and dont hear the advice that comes from their parents, from the Church and from the leaders of their local communities.

Archibshop Filipazzi notes that another appeal was made to the media, that it present the situation according to the truth, not making room for fake news or for any form of news that could contribute to making the situation worse.. to turning people against each other.

Finally, Archbishop Filipazzi notes that many people have appreciated this advice from the Bishops, and they are working to contribute to restoring peace in the area.
Microsoft stunned the gaming industry when it announced this week it would buy game publisher Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, a deal that would immediately make it a larger video-game company than Nintendo.
The police car, which had its lights and sirens activated, was westbound on 83rd Street when it crashed into a car that was trying to turn left to go south on Rhodes Avenue about 4:35 p.m. in the citys Gresham neighborhood, police said.
Around 300 people were on the streets of Malmo, with violence escalating as the evening wore on

At least 10 people were arrested, and several police officers injured, in violence which broke out in southern Sweden after an anti-Muslim Danish politician was blocked from attending a Koran-burning rally, police said Saturday.

Protesters threw stones at police and burned tyres on the streets of Malmo late Friday, with the violence escalating as the evening wore on, according to police and local media.

The demonstration of about 300 people was connected to an incident earlier in the day in which protesters burned a copy of the Islamic holy book, police spokesman Rickard Lundqvist told Swedish tabloid Expressen.

Between 10 and 20 protesters were arrested late Friday and "have all been released," police spokesman Patric Fors told AFP.

Several police were slightly injured, he added. The violence had subsided by Saturday morning.

"Those who act like this have nothing to do with Islam," Samir Muric, an imam, said on Facebook.

"It's not right," Malmo resident Shahed told the SVT public broadcaster. "But it wouldn't have happened if they hadn't burnt the Koran," he added.

Rasmus Paludan, who leads the far-right Danish anti-immigration party Hard Line, was due to travel to Malmo to speak at Friday's event, which was being held on the same day as main weekly prayers for Muslims.

But authorities pre-empted Paludan's arrival by announcing he had been banned from entering Sweden for two years. He was later arrested near Malmo.

"We suspect that he was going to break the law in Sweden," Calle Persson, spokesman for the police in Malmo told AFP.

"There was also a risk that his behaviour... would pose a threat to society."

But his supporters went ahead with the rally, during which six people were arrested for inciting racial hatred.

"It hurts," Salim Mohammed Ali, a Muslim resident of Malmo for over 20 years, told SVT on Saturday.

"People get angry and I understand that, but there are other ways of doing things," he added.

Story continues

Paludan later put up a scathing message on Facebook.

"Sent back and banned from Sweden for two years. However, rapists and murderers are always welcome!" he wrote.

Paludan last year attracted media attention for burning a Koran wrapped in bacon -- a meat that is anathema for Muslims.

Malmo is an industrial city of 320,000 inhabitants, Over 40 percent of its residents have foreign roots.

hdy/dga/pvh/pma
The past week has seen a deepening of the disastrous crisis surrounding the reopening of schools in the US. As outbreaks continue to erupt and cases rise throughout the country, the ruling class is making clear that it will march teachers, students and their families toward death to reopen the schools, deemed to be essential in fully reopening the economy.

One of the biggest lies advanced by the Trump administration to justify reopening schools is that children are less susceptible to COVID-19 or at low risk of facing serious repercussions. Yet in the last month, as more schools and districts have opened their doors to in-person instruction, more than 74,000 children in the US have tested positive for the coronavirus, a 21 percent increase between August 6 and August 20.

Over the past two weeks, significant outbreaks have occurred in schools in multiple states.

Florida, which has reported a total of 615,806 COVID-19 cases and 11,009 deaths since the onset of the pandemic, recently confirmed that within 15 days of schools reopening, almost 9,000 new COVID-19 cases in the state have been among children. During this time, the number of children hospitalized due to COVID-19 rose from 436 to 602, and one more child died from the virus, bringing the states total number of child deaths to eight.

Texas has reported a total of 624,513 cases and a staggering 12,439 deaths. Several districts throughout the state that have reopened have reported cases in recent weeks, including over 150 school employees in districts throughout central Texas. Burnet CISD reported three positive COVID-19 cases August 27, with eight students placed in quarantine. On August 19, Leander Independent School District announced that one of its employees at Akin Elementary School died from complications due to COVID.

Mississippi has reported a total of 81,294 COVID-19 cases and 2,413 deaths. There have been reports of positive cases at over 720 schools in 74 of the state's 82 counties, which is 90 percent of the K-12 schools in the state that have recently opened to in-person instruction.

Biloxi High School recently reported that 15 students tested positive, placing 324 students in quarantine. The school will shift to online classes until after Labor Day. The entire fourth grade class, or 200 students, at Lafayette Upper Elementary School has been quarantined for two weeks after one student and six fourth grade teachers tested positive for the virus last Monday.

The disastrous conditions unfolding in schools throughout the US are taking place as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Trump administration and state governments are systematically working to curtail testing and censor news of outbreaks. Recently modified testing guidelines from the CDC have dropped recommendations for all those who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 to get tested.

The change in CDC guidelines will have immense implications and further spread the pandemic throughout schools, workplaces, homes and communities. Undermining the validity of its new guidelines, the CDC itself has estimated that 50 percent of coronavirus transmission occurs before symptoms appear, with an upper-end estimate as high as 70 percent.

The position of the Trump administration is to carry out less testing and cook the numbers in order to make it appear as if positive cases are declining.

School district and state officials are implementing additional measures to cover up the spread of COVID-19 in the schools. Citing the protection of medical privacy, a growing number of states and school districts across the USfrom Maine to Virginia, Oklahoma, California, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Floridaare deliberately concealing COVID-19 outbreaks in reopened schools from the public.

In Florida, state officials are encouraging districts not to report cases, and Republican Governor Ron DeSantis retracted a report by his own administration showing large infections in schools that had been released to the public. Desantis demanded the report be redacted, arguing that the school-related data was misrepresented to the public. DeSantis falsely claimed, It was acting like this was something that was triggered by the school year, which is totally not true.

The Duval County Department of Health in Florida instructed schools not to publish school specific data related to COVID-19 without its permission. As a result, the districts public dashboard of cases went static. The action by the county was taken after 24 cases were reported in the schools within the first three days of in-person instruction.

There is immense opposition to these criminal and deadly policies. The Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee has begun holding weekly meetings to organize this opposition and strategize a way forward. All educators, workers, students and parents who are committed to stopping the deadly reopening of schools should attend todays call-in meeting at 3:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.

From the beginning, we have warned that the Democratic-led states and cities that have announced plans to start the school year under a fully online model would implement in-person learning as quickly as possible. The decision by some districts to start the school year fully online, worked out in conjunction with the teacher unions, is proving to be a delaying tactic to bide time to implement a full reopening.

Multiple districts in Southern California are planning to reopen schools to in-person instruction in the coming weeks and months. San Diego Unified School District recently reached a tentative agreement with the San Diego Education Association that allows for one-on-one or small group TK-5 appointments on site. Sweetwater Union High School District will be online until October 2, but will have a plan for reopening in-person instruction by September 20.

Chula Vista Elementary School District in Southern California will start mostly online August 31. However, the district is starting an in-school academic enrichment program tentatively scheduled for September 8 for the children of essential workers (including staff), and homeless and foster youth.

Detroit Public Schools, Michigans largest school district, reached a sellout agreement Thursday with the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT), which sets terms for reopening schools to in-person instruction in the coming weeks. Under this agreement, 20 percent of the student population will start the school year with face-to-face instruction. The district will maintain paltry and inadequate safety measures such as temperature checks, social distancing and mask wearing, and only certain students will be offered COVID-19 tests.

Underscoring the immense opposition to these policies, 85 percent of Detroit teachers opted for online teaching for the start of the semester until November 11. The remaining 15 percent of teachers will be required to be at school sites to teach face-to-face. This Letter of Agreement does nothing to protect the lives of teachers and students, and runs roughshod over last weeks 91 percent vote in favor of holding a safety strike. The DFT stands completely exposed as an enemy of teachers and education workers.

In Hawaii, a one-week, in-person orientation for all students and staff resulted in multiple positive cases throughout Hawaii Public Schools. The district will remain mostly online until September 21, while schools will remain open to in-person instruction for certain Special Education classes and have staff report to school sites for work. Due to a spike in cases on the island of Oahu, Governor Ige issued an emergency shutdown throughout the island, yet the Department of Education, which includes all public schools, will remain open.

In New York City, the nations largest school district, a hybrid model is planned for its reopening. As of this week, there are still not enough teachers signed up for online teaching to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of students who have opted for remote learning. The plan requires each class to have one teacher for in-person and one for online instruction, causing understaffing in virtual classrooms.

Last week, United Federation of Teachers (UFT) President Michael Mulgrew said that he might call a strike if the reopened schools prove to be unsafe, i.e., after outbreaks are already confirmed.

The commonality of the two capitalist parties pervades in the drive to reopen schools. From Red to Blue states, from DeSantis to California Democratic Governor Newsom, the same murderous policies are being carried out, with the unions facilitating this process wherever they have a presence. Independent organizations of struggle must be built in each district to put an immediate stop to school reopenings.

The Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee has been formed to coordinate and facilitate the building of a network of rank-and-file safety committees in every school and neighborhood to organize the immense opposition to the murderous plan to reopen schools. All those who agree with this perspective should contact us today, join our Facebook group and make plans to attend our next online call-in meeting today, August 29. Register today and share the event widely with your coworkers!
An unannounced visit for the weekly Islamic Friday congregational prayers in Ashaiman by Vice President Bawumia sparked a massive, spontaneous endorsement of the ruling party's 2020 elections campaign slogan "4 More 4 Nana" by traders in Ashaiman upon seeing the Vice President's entourage.



After observing Jummah prayers



At a community mosque at Fitter Line, a suburb of Ashaiman, the Vice President had a torrid time making his way through the streets of Ashaiman as scores of traders spontaneously lined up on the streets to cheer on the Vice President.by



Amidst chanting of popular NPP slogans and social intervention policies, the ecstatic traders and passers-by raised up their four fingers, signifying the popular NPP 2020 campaign slogan "4 More 4 Nana To Do More".



The NPP government's flagship Free SHS Education policy also took centre stage in the chants, with the traders, especially the women, chanting "Free SHS!, Free SHS!", as well as "Free electricity and free water," referring to the government's COVID-19 social interventions.



As the Vice President's entourage slowly made its way out, the charged traders blocked the pathway, obviously demanding to see the Vice President.



Dr Bawumia granted their request and waved at them through the opened roof of his car before they opened the way for his entourage to slowly drive out through the long stretch.



As the car moved, scores of people continued to follow the car and more traders in both shops and on the streets chanted and sang praises of Akufo-Addos government.



After the Jummah prayers, Dr Bawumia visited the Ibn. Abbas mosque where he interacted with fellow Muslims, including leadership of various Islamic sects in Ashaiman.



Dr Bawumia rounded off his visit by making stopovers at the Palace of the Muslim Chief of Ashaiman and Tema, as well as the Chief Imam of Ashaiman, where he interacted with the community members.



Throughout his interactions, Dr Bawumia stressed on the government's all-inclusive policies, especially the flagship Free Senior High School, which he said is providing free senior high school education for all regardless of social and economic status.



For deprived communities such as Zongos, Dr Bawumia said the government's vision is to accelerate development through the Zongo Development Fund and improve human resource through accessible education.



He urged the people of Zongo to seize the educational opportunity the NPP government has offered by.



The Imams and the Zongo elders commended both the Vice President and President Akufo-Addo for their good works, and also prayed for them.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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A COVID-19 infected resident from a nursing home with one of the biggest outbreaks of the deadly virus in Victoria wandered out of the facility and spent almost an hour in the community.

More than 120 cases of COVID-19 have been linked to Cumberland Manor nursing home in Sunshine North.

The disappearance of the resident on August 8 raised fears about a lack of staff to cope with the large number of infected residents and keep them separate from those who had tested negative to COVID-19.

Cumberland Manor in Sunshine North. Credit:Scott McNaughton

It is gobsmacking that a resident who tested positive left this aged care home, said Aged Care Matters Director Sarah Russell. It indicates there was not enough staff on duty to supervise residents.
Poison is no laughing matter. Shakespeare knew as much: Claudius poured poison into the ears of Hamlets father who was sleeping and tried to kill Hamlet with a cup of poisoned wine. Romeo poisons himself beside what he wrongly thinks is Juliets lifeless body. Cleopatra died from a poisonous snake known as the asp.

The Alexei Navalny case in August 2020 is but the latest of the attacks on prominent critics of Kremlin policies in recent years. Poisoning is replacing old-fashioned assassination by shooting since it is more difficult to detect and prove. Putins Russia is the modern facsimile of the Borgia family of Renaissance Italy, avid for power, masters of the art of using reliable and deceptive poisons.

Alexei Navalny, a 44-year-old Moscow lawyer, is a leading member of the Russian opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his most persistent critic. He has been jailed 13 times for protests against Putin in which thousands marched. He is active in both local and national politics. He ran for mayor of Moscow in 2013, getting 27% of the vote in an election he called fraudulent. He wanted to run for the presidency in 2018 but was ruled ineligible by the Central Electoral Commission.

Since Navalny challenged Putin, his phone calls and messages have been intercepted, he has been followed and recorded on video everywhere he goes, and has often undergone police searches. His vision was permanently affected by a green chemical dye thrown in his face by opponents. In October 2019 a court ordered Navalny and the group he had founded, the Anti-corruption Foundation, which produces reports on high-level corruption in the Russian government, to pay 88 million rubles to a company that makes school dinners. The case was brought by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a restauranteur called Putins chef, who is linked to a private army of mercenaries involved as military contractors. The chef is alleged to have sought to influence the U.S. midterm elections in 2018.

Navalny in a broadcast on the BBC World Service and Radio Free Europe in March 2017 accused then-prime minister Dmitry Medvedev of corruption. Navalny was planning to be active in Russian regional elections in September 2020. He was also been critical of the Belarus presidential election and the official result on August 9, 2020 which declared that Alexander Lukashenko won with 80% of the vote.

The sequence of events concerning Navalny in August 2020 is clear, even if conclusions differ. He was at the airport at Tomsk, Siberia where he drank a cup of hot tea before his flight on August 20 to Moscow. On the flight he fell ill, experiencing extreme pain. The plane was diverted to Omsk in an emergency landing. In Omsk, Navalny was taken to hospital where he was tested by doctors who at first suggested the problem was an imbalance in carbohydrates, a metabolic disorder, possibly due to low blood sugar level, and held they had found no trace of poison in his urine. For a few days they refused to let him leave for treatment in Western Europe, but then changed their minds. They did, however, administer atropine, an antidote to nerve agents, used to treat nerve gas and pesticide poisonings. But the controversial issue is whether the Omsk doctors under pressure from the police delayed the departure long enough for any poison or toxic substance in the blood to diminish and thus make it difficult or impossible to identify.

Navalny was then flown to Berlin, in a transport arranged by the Cinema for Peace Foundation and the movie producer Jaka Bizilj, based in the German capital, and taken to the Charite hospital. He was given chemical tests which suggested he had been poisoned with a substance from the drug class of cholinesterase inhibitors, which interfere with the nervous system by blocking the breakdown of a key chemical in the body, acetycholine, that transmits signals between nerve cells, and which are used medically to treat problems such as Alzheimers disease and dementia. Navalny remains in a coma, treated with the antidote atropine. It is too early to gauge long-term effects.

The German doctors are suggesting a comparison of Navalnys condition with a Bulgarian case in which the same toxic unknown substance was used by a unit of the Chief Intelligence Directorate (GRU) on an arms dealer named Emilian Grebev in April 2015, and that the same or a very similar substance was used on Sergei Skripal on March 4, 2018 in Salisbury, England.

Notoriously, critics of Putin have paid the ultimate penalty for opposition. Some of the more prominent include Anna Politkovskaya , Russian journalist and human rights activist who was born in New York, an ardent critic of the Chechen war and of the abuse committed by Russian military forces. She was poisoned in 2004 while on a flight from Moscow but survived. She was shot, on Putins birthday, October 7, 2006, in front of her apartment in Moscow. She had warned of the fate of critical journalists -- the bullet or poison. Though five men were convicted in Moscow Criminal Court of the crime, it was left unresolved who had ordered the killing.

In the same year Alexander Litvinenko, former officer in the FSB secret service and defector was poisoned by radioactive polonium 210 in a cup of tea in a central London hotel on November 23, 2006. He had accused Putin of ordering the assassination of Poltkovskaya and of the oligarch Boris Berezovsky. British courts found only two intelligence offices guilty of the murder in absentia. But a British public inquiry concluded that Putin probably approved the assassination.

Boris Nemtsov, a physicist and liberal politician who had introduced reforms in the Russian economy, an outspoken critic of Putin, whom he called increasingly authoritarian, was shot in the back four times on February 27, 2015 on a bridge rear the Kremlin. Vladimir Kara-Mutza, a protege of Nemtsov and opposition politician, became ill on May 26, 2015 after lunch in a Moscow restaurant, and was diagnosed with poison.

Others inside and outside Russia have experienced similar attacks of poisoning. One notorious case was the fate in September 1978 of Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian dissenter, who on Waterloo Bridge in London was jabbed in the leg by an umbrella that contained a dose of ricin. He died four days later in London, killed by the Bulgarian Secret Service associated with the KGB.

In 2004, during the election campaign, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned with a toxic chemical, leading to facial disfigurement by lesions and blisters.

On November 10, 2010 in Berlins Charite hospital, high levels of mercury were found on a dissident Russia couple Viktor Kalashnikov and his wife. He was a freelance journalist and former KGB colonel who became a critic of the Kremlin. The poisoning was by the FSB, successor to the KGB.

In September 2018 Pyotr Verzilov, Russian-Canadian member and spokesman of the opposition art group Pussy Riot, became seriously ill in Moscow. He was transferred to a Berlin hospital where it was confirmed he had symptoms consistent with poisoning.

In all these cases of poisoning Russian authorities and Putin himself have denied responsibility. In the case of Navalny, the office of the Russian prosecutor general says there is no basis to open an inquiry into suspected poisoning and no indication of any deliberate criminal act committed against him. In what appears an act of brazenness, Vyacheslav Volodin, the leader of the Duma, Russias lower house, ordered a committee to see if a foreign agent, unstated the CIA, had been involved in the poisoning. Putin has exhibited no sympathy for the victims. He called Sergei Skripal a scumbag who betrayed his country, a spy, a traitor to his homeland, while he honored the suspected perpetrator, a colonel in the GRU, who in 2014 was privately made a Hero of the Russian Federation.

Though some of the evidence in Navalny's case is circumstantial and doctors have not yet able to identify a specific substance that caused the poisoning, there is an urgent need for a swift and transparent investigation by independent authorities. In the meantime it would be wise not to drink hot Russian tea, and to make sure that the umbrellas of suspicious people are upside down.
By PTI

DHAKA: Bangladesh has extended the shutdown of educational institutions, except madrasas, till October 3 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the education ministry has said.

Schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions were ordered to close since the first cases of COVID-19 appeared in March.

The shutdown has been extended several times since then.

"The ongoing holiday for all educational institutions, except Qawmi madrasas, has been extended to October 3 because of the global coronavirus pandemic," bdnews24 quoted the education ministry as saying on Thursday.

Qawmi madrasas operate without any government monitoring, supervision or support.

They run with private donations mostly.

The government has also suspended the primary education completion and equivalent examinations this year due to the coronavirus crisis, the bdnews24 report said.

According to a report in Dhaka Tribune, the government has been running a distance-learning program through TV for schools and colleges.

Classes are taking place on Facebook and YouTube for primary and secondary-level students as well.

Bangladesh has reported over 308,900 COVID-19 cases and more than 4,200 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins university data.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 01:33:20|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Dec. 30, 2016 shows the U.S. national flag on the U.S. Embassy building in Moscow, Russia. (Xinhua/Sputnik)

"Instead of sanctions' pressure, we suggest that the U.S. side sit down at the negotiating table to discuss in a bilateral format all the accumulated issues," Zakharova said.



MOSCOW, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned the U.S. decision to blacklist Russian research institutes, recalling that Washington itself was carrying out suspicious research both in the United States and abroad.

"We consider the inclusion of three Russian research institutes in the U.S. restrictive lists to be blatant," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Commerce blacklisted some 60 research institutes around the world, including three Russian institutes, one of which was working on a COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine, alleging they were involved in developing chemical and biological weapons.

Zakharova said that this U.S. move can hardly be called the right step towards cooperation in the fight against the pandemic.

She pointed out that Washington has provided no proof of its accusations, while Russia stopped developing chemical and biological weapons in 1992 and finished destroying all their stocks in 2017.

Currently, the United States remains the only member of the Chemical Weapons Convention that still possesses chemical weapons and it issues licenses to produce "various inventions related to the use of full-fledged chemical warfare agents, including nerve agents," Zakharova said.

Russia's activities in the biomedical sphere are of a purely peaceful nature and fully comply with the obligations under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), as evidenced by the annually provided information on Russian facilities and biological activities as part of the BTWC confidence-building measures, she said.

At the same time, there are questions about the biomedical activities of Washington both in the United States and beyond its national borders and there is no reason to assert that the activities carried out in U.S. biological laboratories fully comply with the BTWC, Zakharova said.

She recalled that an investigation into terrorist attacks involving the dispatch of anthrax spores to the United States in 2001 revealed that the scientist who sent out envelopes with poison worked in the biolaboratory at Fort Detrick, which is the forefront of the U.S. military's biosecurity facility.

"Instead of sanctions' pressure, we suggest that the U.S. side sit down at the negotiating table to discuss in a bilateral format all the accumulated issues," Zakharova said. 
WASHINGTON - Clifton Price Jr., a child of Jim Crow Mississippi, rested on the seat of his walker Friday beside the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial. He had decided to join the March on Washington, 57 years after he was unable to attend the first one because he couldn't leave his job as a janitor.

But his wife, Grace, has died, their daughters are grown, and Price, 81, is retired. "I decided that on my way out of this life, I can contribute to the people I'll leave behind. . . . It's like the police say: I have 'means, opportunity and motive,' " he said.

That motive took root in Price's childhood, born as he was "in the teeth of Jim Crow."

"Separate water fountains. Back of the bus. Colored side of the diner. No voting without intimidation," he said.

Because violent racism pervaded his youth, Price wasn't shocked when an African American boy was murdered 65 years ago Friday, not far from Price's Mississippi home. Emmett Till was 14, just two years younger than Price was.

Price regrets that for all the racial progress achieved in the ensuing decades, so much work remains to be done. "When I was a kid, racism was on top of the table, all right? . . . Down through the years, because of laws and demonstrations like this, they can't do that to us out in the open anymore," he said. "But the problem hasn't been removed from the system. It's not on top of the table now - it's under the table. It's still there."

The crowd was sparser at Friday's "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" March on Washington than at the 1963 gathering that drew hundreds of thousands to the Mall. The nearly six decades since also have brought with them hard-won legislative victories: the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, the Fair Housing Act and more, as millions of Black Americans have enjoyed greater freedom and prosperity.

The District of Columbia has also changed markedly. In 1963, the city was governed by three White male commissioners before the Home Rule Act of 1973 gave District residents a greater say in their governance. Today, the city's mayor, Muriel Bowser, is African American, as were her six predecessors.

And yet the parallels between 1963 and now are also in relief as change to the status of Black Americans has stubbornly failed to keep up with time. The 2020 march's themes of police brutality, voting rights and legislative action echoed the speeches of 1963.

"We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality," the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said in his "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. ". . . We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote."

Just like their predecessors, the organizers of the 2020 march are pushing for legislation to rein in police and protect voting rights.

Many at Friday's march voiced a sense of time collapsing amid fresh protests roiling the nation over police killings of unarmed Black men, fears of voter suppression in November and an increase in acts of racial hatred across the nation. They saw no clear demarcation between the dismal past and the present but a continuous line of struggle - sometimes hopeful, sometimes marked by despair.

Carol Moore was 6 in 1968 when the murder of another Black man was seared into her memory. That man was Martin Luther King Jr.

Moore, who was born in 1962, lived in the District at the time. The rioting that followed the civil rights leader's assassination that April and destroyed large swaths of the nation's capital is Moore's oldest memory of the cost of the nation's racial divisions.

"The area we lived in, the police were throwing tear gas, and I remember my eyes, I was crying," said Moore, 58, as she sat with her grown daughter on a bench Friday. "I can still remember that - my father picking me up and carrying me. Me crying, him holding onto me, running and running."

Growing up, Moore said she experienced and witnessed acts of racism, both subtle and overt, and wondered whether she would ever live in a world much different from her father's. When Alonda Moore, her daughter, was a teenager, Carol Moore warned her to be careful as a Black person in America.

"My mother had a big impact on me, from what she saw when she was young," said Alonda Moore, 23. "If I ever encounter the police, she told me what to do to get home safe. She told me there'd be people following me in stores, and that's happened, them following me, even though, of course, I had money."

After a Black man, George Floyd, was killed in police custody in Minneapolis in May, and anti-racism protests spread around the globe, Carol and Alonda Moore heard about the 57th anniversary march being planned and knew instantly that they would make the trip here from their home in Greensboro, N.C.

"It was the killing of a Black man that caused that riot" in her girlhood, she pointed out. "I've remembered that day ever since. Now, they elected [President] Barack Obama, and that was a progression. But nothing's changed, really, I don't think. It was the killing of a Black man that caused everything going on now. Black men and Black women - don't forget the women. They're all dying."

As Marlon Robinson listened to speakers at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, he viewed the historic moment through the prism of how he's been classified as an American throughout life.

When he was 5 and 6, the 65-year-old remembers being referred to legally as "colored" growing up in New York's South Bronx. He remembers that in fourth and fifth grade he checked a box that said "Negro." In 1968 and '69, he was told to give his race as "Black." In the early 1970s, it was "Afro American," and in the 1980s, it was "African American."

When Barack Obama was elected president, Robinson said people told him it was all over; America was now colorblind. Then Americans elected Donald Trump - a "charlatan," he said, who came to turn back the clock.

"I'm not going back to being colored again," he said.

Robinson, a retired New York transit mechanic, said that as he watches police shootings of unarmed Black men unfold on cellphone video, he remembers the smile on a security guard's face when he was a child.

In the 1960s, his mother had taken him on a bus south from New York to visit relatives in Newport News, Va. After their arrival, he ran to a water fountain to get a drink after the long trip.

As he bent over, he noticed a security guard walking toward him. In an instant, he felt his mom slap him and yank him out of the way. She told him in an urgent tone 'You can't drink out of there'. He looked back at the guard, who had stopped approaching them and noticed a smile had crossed his face.

"I didn't know what Jim Crow was," Robinson said. But soon enough he did and has long since been aware of how others fought and died to bring him and other Black Americans to this point. He attended the march, he said, to make sure time is not rolled back.

By some accounts, Friday's crowd was considerably more African American than those at the waves of protests against police brutality this spring and summer. Certainly, the event's clear connection with the civil rights movement was a draw to many who journeyed here.

Fronce Wardlaw, 58, had come from Fredericksburg, Va., to the Lincoln Memorial with her 17-year-old daughter, Erin, carrying memories of Erin's grandfather fighting for racial justice. He was part of the lunch counter sit-ins in Greensboro, N.C., and took part in the 1963 March. The lesson Fronce Wardlaw took from her father was this: "Whatever it took. If they got pulled off the chairs they went back on. If people spit on em, they stood there. If they got sprayed, they just took it. You know how when water is hot it boils? That's what's happening now. You can't get out of your car or watch TV - someone could come shoot you. . . . You can only kick a dog so much before it bites," she said.

Erin Wardlaw noted that photos of the 1963 march look historical because they're in black and white. "Otherwise it looks just like today," she said.

Lorre Ellingberg wasn't on the Mall in 1963 to witness King speak the words that would go down in history. Ellingberg, 72, was a teenager in Oakland when she watched the event on television. This time, she flew from her home in California, despite her asthma and fear of covid-19. Her son and niece rolled her about in a wheelchair, oxygen tubes attached to her face, before the family found a spot near the White House where she could listen away from the risky crowd. King's message seemed to call across time to her, it's awe-inspiring message resounding today. Watching King's grainy image on the television as a 16-year-old, she thought:

"Someone stood up. Someone . . . that people would listen to actually told us, back then, that Black lives mattered."

- - -

The Washington Post's Samantha Schmidt contributed to this report.
John Ratcliffe at a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on May 5, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Election-Related Briefing to Congress to Be Written Finished: ODNI

The Intelligence Community (IC)s engagement with Congress on election-related issues will be primarily going through written finished intelligence products, the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said in a letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Aug. 28.

In a letter obtained by Politico addressed to Marco Rubio, acting chairman of Senate Intelligence Committee, and Mark Warner, vice chairman of the committee, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said the move will smooth the communication.

In order to ensure clarity and consistency across the Office of the Director of National Intelligences (ODNIs) engagement with Congress on elections, the ODNI will primarily meet its obligation to keep Congress fully and currently informed leading into the Presidential election through written finished intelligence products, Ratcliffe wrote.

The IC has provided more than 60 defensive briefings and election security updates to Congress since the 2018 elections, more than a dozen of them happened in the past few months.

Many of these briefings and updates were productive and successful, he said.

However, there are several concerns the director raised about Congress members handling of the information, including information on election security, foreign malign influence, and election interference being misunderstood and politicized and sensitive intelligence being leaked.

Ratcliffe didnt elaborate on the incidents related to the above concerns.

The finished intelligence reporting will also ensure the information provided by ODNI be of the highest analytic standards, he said in the statement.

The office of Rubio didnt immediately respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times.

Rachel Cohen, Warners communication director, said in an emailed statement that the Senate Intelligence Committee hasnt received any letter from the ODNI on this.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said the ODNIs move is shameful.

This is shameful andcoming only weeks before the electiondemonstrates that the Trump Administration is engaged in a politicized effort to withhold election-related information from Congress and the American people at the precise moment that greater transparency and accountability is required, they said in a statement.

We expect the Administration and Intelligence Community to keep us fully and accurately informed, and resume the briefings. If they are unwilling to, we will consider the full range of tools available to the House to compel compliance, the House top democrats threatened.

The ODNI announced back in May that it will lead all election-related intelligence briefing to candidates, campaigns, and political organizations.

Bill Evanina, the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, was tapped to lead the efforts.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had been charged with briefings campaigns and political organizations.

The IC will continue to work in partnership with FBI and DHS to identify and integrate threat information, and Evanina and the elections team will act swiftly to deliver the timely and thorough assessments to those affected by potential malicious influence, the agency said in a May statement.
TORRINGTON  The Drakeville Volunteer Fire Department is holding its annual pasta dinner Sept. 19 at the firehouse. This annual event is a not only a fundraiser for the department but has been a long-standing tradition for the organization and the Torrington community, members said.

This year is especially crucial to ensure the financial health of the fire department, said fire chief David Maccalous. The cost of firefighting continues to rise, while funding lessens. The upkeep of gear, equipment, apparatus and even the building and grounds are all aspects of the organization we need to keep funded so that we may operate effectively.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) on Saturday wrote to vice-chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, seeking his urgent intervention in facilitating the pending semester registrations of three research scholars arrested for their alleged role in the Delhi riots, ahead of the August 31 deadline.

Sharjeel Imam, Natasha Narwal, and Devangana Kalita are accused of instigating people through their inflammatory speeches during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests before the riots. The three have denied the allegations.

The Union sought Kumars intervention to ensure the academic progress of these students is not impeded.

We are getting calls from their family members. They are also stressed, said JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, explaining why the body approached the V-C.

In its email to Kumar, the Union said Imams registration has been blocked despite repeated appeals by JNUSU. This is to bring to your immediate attention that the registration of Sharjeel Imam (PhD student/CHS/SSS) has been pending from the last semester. This is despite repeated appeals from the JNUSU to the Proctor office that the registration has been blocked.

..on behalf of JNUSU, we would request you that the registration process for the last and upcoming semester of Sharjeel Imam and the process of upcoming semester registration for Natasha Narwal (PhD student/CHS/SSS) and Devangana Kalita (PhD Student/CWS [Centre for Women Students]/SSS) who presently are students of JNU should be facilitated, the students body wrote in its letter.

Imam, a PhD student at JNUs Centre for Historical Studies, was first arrested in January followed by Narwal and Kalita in May. Narwal and Kalita are members of student collective Pinjra Tod and research scholars at the universitys School of Social Sciences.

Registrar Pramod Kumar said the current registration process is only provisional. When they [the arrested students] are out of jail, they can get the registration done depending upon the conditions of their release.

Natashas father Mahavir Narwal, a retired scientist, said, Since she is in judicial custody and doesnt have access to internet or banking facilities, I had requested that I be authorized to register for her instead. That doesnt solve the problem because I dont have her login ID and the details are saved in Natashas phone which is with the police. I have written to university officials this week to assist me in this but there has not been any response so far.

Surajit Mazumdar, general secretary at JNU teachers association, and a professor at the school of social sciences, said, ...Their continuation as students should be ensured and they should be allowed to register for the semester, and if and when they are released from custody, their period of custody can be dealt with in a manner akin to the zero semester/year provision already existing for those with medical problems. Alternatively, they can be granted special approval to discontinue their registration with the right to re-enrol as and when their custody ends.

Aakash Bhattacharya, a former JNU student and close friend of Kalita and Narwal, said, Unless administration is willing to take different measures, registration looks difficult. If they arent registered, it will be a big blow to their academic prospects because they will no longer remain students of the university.

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency must continue reimbursements for personal protective equipment and disinfectants used in public settings, including public schools, as the nation responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Governors Association said this week

State and local officials have been informed that the federal agency will change how it applies a federal emergency declaration, leaving them on the hook for the costs of things like masks, gloves, and cleaning supplies used by schools and other public organizations, the NGA said in a letter with a group of other organizations Tuesday.

PPE is a fundamental need for all COVID-19 related operations and is the definition of an emergency protective measure, that letter said. Shifting policy guidance in the middle of a pandemic is impractical, causes confusion, and disrupts operations in states and localities.

A FEMA spokesperson told Education Week that personal protective equipment continues to be an essential part of the agencys support for state and local governments during the pandemic. In an email statement, the agency did not answer whether schools qualified for reimbursement under the its guidance.

FEMA regularly reviews program policies and guidance to ensure that state, local, tribal and territorial partners have the best guidance available and to ensure the appropriate use of federal funding, the statement said. If and when FEMA issues updated policies we will ensure we communicate that clearly to all our partners and stakeholders.

But some states are already reporting concerns, the National Governors Association said.

Federal officials have told states that FEMA plans to update its guidance to say that it will reimburse for costs related to initial response to the pandemic and not to reopening, which is an arbirtrary distinction, the organizations letter says.

These communications have come from FEMA regional representatives in calls with state and local officials, including a call with our associations, said NGA spokesperson James Nash, who added that the organizations were told that guidance will not be retroactive but will be applied to reimbursements going forward. We dont have anything in writing from FEMA.

A different FEMA spokesperson told Florida news station WFTS that, to date, 184 U.S. school districts have submitted requests for reimbursements through the program and only three have been granted. The rest are in development or under review, the station reported.

Normal operation of schools and other public facilities are not considered emergency protective measures, that FEMA spokesperson told WFTS, so they dont qualify for the emergency reimbursements.

Thats despite federal guidance from organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that calls for students and school staff to wear masks and disinfect surfaces frequently. School administrators have cited those costs as major concerns as the Trump administration has pushed them to reopen school buildings rather than starting the 2020-21 school year with remote learning as COVID-19 rates continue to climb in some areas.

For months, several Florida state agencies told schools to plan for the federal reimbursements, WFTS reported. And a skim of state websites show several others have given similar guidance to their districts.

The National Governors Association signed onto the letter to FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor alongside the International City/County Management Association, the National Association of Counties, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Emergency Management Association, the National League of Cities, The Council of State Governments, and The United States Conference of Mayors.

The organizations have pushed for more assistance to help state and local governments make up for lost revenue in the next federal COVID-19 relief bill. But Congress and the White House are at odds over what to include in that aid package.

In the absence of an agreement, President Donald Trump signed an executive order this month that, among other things, will allow some federal disaster money to be used to supplement state unemployment insurance payouts.

The letter from NGA and other groups questions whether that move strained the federal disaster fund, leaving FEMA to shift the cost of things like PPE back to states.

We call on FEMA to keep its current guidance on emergency protective measures, and encourage the Administration to provide clear guidance on eligibility of funding streams from across the federal government, the letter says.

Photo: Sidewalk chalk art reminds students are to wear a mask as they arrive for the first day of school at Union High School in Tulsa, Okla., Monday. (Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP)

Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa .
After tragedy struck earlier this month, she's standing with others to help those who are suffering.

Heidi Klum appeared in an arresting selfie on her social media on Friday, wearing a special branded T-shirt that is connected to a cause supporting the victims of the explosion that occurred in Beirut, Lebanon at the start of August.

The shirt Klum wore, which says 'Rise From The Ashes,' is being sold in an effort to raise money for Offre Joie, a disaster relief organization to help rebuild the affected area.

For a good cause: Heidi Klum appeared in an arresting selfie on her social media on Friday, wearing a special branded t-shirt that is connected to a cause supporting the victims of the explosion that occurred in Beirut, Lebanon at the start of August

In the snap, the Project Runway star leans against a mirror, her long blond hair flowing over her shoulders.

Heidi creates twinning effect with her own reflection in the image.

'Join me and my friend @zuhairmuradprivate @zuhairmuradofficial in helping the people of Beirut who have lost so much,' Klum wrote in the caption.

'Rise from the ashes': The shirt is the same one seen on the likes of Becky G in similar posts

'100% of the profits from this limited edition tee support the relief efforts of Offrejoie who are on the ground responding to humanitarian needs. Please join us and get yours at represent.com/beirut #RiseFromTheAshes'

The shirt is the same one seen on the likes of Becky G, Shakira and others in similar social media posts.

The tee, designed by Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad, features a white silhouette of a phoenix, surrounded by ash.

Worn by Shakira: The tee, designed by Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad, features a white silhouette of a phoenix, surrounded by ash

Other celebrities who have posed in the shirt to raise money and awareness include: Mena Massoud of Aladdin fame, wearing a darker version

Doing her part: Julianne Hough was also seen in the garment

Other celebrities who have posed in the shirt to raise money and awareness include Mena Massoud of Aladdin fame, Julianne Hough and Spanish model Elsa Pataky.

The initiative was launched earlier this month, when Courteney Cox joined designer Zuhair Murad by modeling the shirt as well.

The blast in Beirut which occurred on August 4th, left over 180 people dead and another 6,000 injured.

The explosion, believed to be caused by poorly maintained ammonium nitrate stored at the port, caused roughly $15 billion in damages, and left an estimated 300,000 people homeless.

Superstar support: The initiative was launched earlier this month, when Courteney Cox joined designer Zuhair Murad by modeling the shirt as well
Police disband mass protest after thousands of marchers fail to heed orders to keep social distance or wear masks.

Police in the German capital have ordered the dispersal of tens of thousands of protesters demonstrating against coronavirus restrictions after many marchers failed to keep social distancing or wear masks.

Hundreds of people continued to gather at Berlins iconic Brandenburg Gate on Saturday, in a show of defiance against the police orders, with clashes reported from some parts of the city.

Unfortunately, we have no other option, Berlin police said on Twitter, referring to their order. All the measures taken so far have not led to compliance with the conditions.

A police spokesman said the protesters were dispersing peacefully, though there were also reports on social media of sporadic disturbances, such as a construction container fire and blocked roads.

Police said at least two people have been arrested after bottles and rocks were thrown at them.





Al Jazeeras Dominic Kane, reporting from Berlin, said the main protest has not been officially called off yet, but police have urged organisers to disperse as they believe that social distancing rules were not being observed.

Those protesting were people who dont like having to wear masks, whether in public places  or inside in closed spaces, Kane said.

They dont like wearing them and they dont like the distancing that they are being encouraged to observe, he said.

Protesters carried a wide range of grievances and banners proclaiming their opposition to vaccinations, face masks and the German government in general.

Some among the crowd waved American, Russian or German Reich flags, while several protesters wore clothing with white nationalist slogans and neo-Nazi insignia.

But most participants denied having far-right views.

Those are the people who have become disaffected with these rules  They tend to come from the political extremes of society, more from the extreme right than from the extreme left, said Kane.

Serious matter

Berlin police, who deployed 3,000 officers to control the crowds estimated at 18,000, had been preparing for possible violence as activists opposed to the virus measures urged social media followers across Europe to arm themselves and gather in Berlin.

Earlier this week, the city banned the protest but a German regional court overnight gave the final go-ahead by overruling the earlier decision.

Activists, angered by the citys attempt to ban their protest after demonstrators at a previous rally failed to wear masks or socially distance, flooded the city with thousands of applications for additional protests.

Until now, Germany has managed the coronavirus crisis better than many of its European counterparts, with rigorous testing helping to hold down infections and deaths.

The country has reported more than 240,000 cases and nearly 9,400 deaths so far. But new daily infections have accelerated in recent weeks, as in much of the world.

On Friday, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged the citizens to keep up their guard against the virus.

This is a serious matter, as serious as its ever been, and you need to carry on taking it seriously, she said.
The Oshiwara police have arrested a group of five students for cheating pan shop owners from Lokhandwala Complex in Andheri. The accused, according to police, purchased cigarettes from pan shops and sent fake cash credit messages to the shop owners with the help of a bulk messaging site.

The gang had purchased cigarettes worth 77,800 and the shopkeeper received messages from his bank showing a credit in his account. He later realised he was being duped and he filed a complaint.

The arrested accused are identified as Jimit Panchal, 20, Apurv Goyal, 22, Bhavik Padiyar, 22, Sagar Gala, 24 and Nisarg Maskariya, 19.

According to the police, on August 26, a pan- shop owner from Lokhandwala Market approached them and filed a complaint against an unknown person.

He said on July 10 and 11, a young boy purchased cigarettes worth 77,800. He paid online and every time the shop owner received a message saying the amount was credited. But in August, when he visited his bank, he found those three transactions missing. He then realised that he was cheated.

He then filed a police complaint and a first information report (FIR) registered under section 420(cheating), 465 (punishment for forgery), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 471 (using as genuine a forged [document or electronic record) and 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code.

Police later arrested Gala from Malad. Gala revealed names of his accomplices, and the rest four were arrested by police from the same location.

They all are college-going students and one of them is a third-year law student, said a police officer.

Gala told police he and his friends observed that most of the pan shopkeepers have started accepting money through E-wallets and dont check their account balance they just rely on the message which they get from the bank. Once they receive a message, they think that the amount is credited their account.

Investigation revealed that these accused were using two messaging platforms to send fake bank messages to their victims and police have written to those sites to know how many messages have been sent so far from these accused to other shopkeepers as well.
The first cases of COVID-19 at local schools have been reported as students and staff return to class.

There were three cases in the county, according to Pottawattamie County Public Health and the Council Bluffs Community School District. Public health Director Matt Wyant declined to identify the schools out of caution to not identify the individuals.

We have identified a few positive cases in schools throughout Pottawattamie County, Public Health Director Matt Wyant said. It was great on the part of the school systems that they were able to quickly help us with contact tracing, identifying direct contacts and getting those people out for quarantine.

Close contacts are required to quarantine for 14 days, Wyant said. If a contact exhibits symptoms of coronavirus exposure, theyre advised to take a test.

The Council Bluffs Community School District confirmed Friday evening that there was one positive case this week at Abraham Lincoln High School. School spokeswoman Diane Ostrowski said the district sent a message to parents about the case late Thursday. Friday night, the district sent a letter to Kirn Middle School parents that said an individual at the school had also tested positive.

We had shared with parents before school started that we would communicate directly with anyone considered exposed to the individual, Ostrowski said. Underscoring that if they were not directly contacted by someone from the school, their child is not considered exposed.

Ostrowski said the district plans to update local media with positive case numbers on Friday afternoons during the school year.

Pottawattamie Countys 14-day positivity rate Friday afternoon was 8.1%. The state has said a rate of 15% or higher in a district will be among the factors considered when considering a districts request to move to online-only instruction.

Iowa sees surge in cases

On Friday, the New York Times reported that Iowa had the highest per capita amount of positive cases among states in the U.S. over the previous seven days. Data collected by the newspaper showed Iowa had 6,951 cases over that time, for a rate of 220 cases per 100,000 population.

There were 60,971 positive cases in Iowa as of Friday afternoon. There have been 45,953 recoveries and 1,095 deaths.

Pottawattamie County had 87 cases per 100,000, ranking the county in the bottom third of the states 99 counties, according to New York Times data.

Of all states and U.S. territories, Iowa ranked second behind Guam. Nebraska was 26th in the country at 91 per 100,000, with Douglas County 14th in the state at 118 per 100,000.

Since the pandemic began, Pottawattamie County is at 1,675 cases per 100,000 population, 12th in the state, according to Centers for Disease Control data. At 3 p.m. Friday, there were 1,583 positive cases in the county out of 17,353 tests, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health-managed state COVID-19 website. There were 21 new cases listed over a 24-hour period. The countys overall positivity rate is now at 9.1%.

The site reported 1,304 recoveries, up from 1,280 on Thursday, according to coronavirus.iowa.gov. There have been 34 COVID-19 deaths in the state.

In Iowa Regional Medical Coordination Center region four  which includes Pottawattamie, Mills, Harrison, Cass, Crawford, Shelby, Fremont, Montgomery, Page, Adams, Audubon and Taylor Counties  there were nine hospitalized COVID-19 patients, an increase of three from Thursday, with one additional patient in intensive care for a total of five, according to the state site.

The state listed 166 available inpatient beds and 21 available ICU beds, both an increase, with 58 available ventilators. There were two COVID-19 patient on a ventilator, an increase of one.

State reports antigen testing results

The state is now including antigen tests in its coronavirus data. The Food and Drug Administration explains that there are two types of diagnostic COVID-19 tests: RT-PCR tests, that detect the viruss genetic material, and antigen tests that detect specific proteins on the surface of the virus. Antigen tests provide rapid results.

On Wednesday, the FDA said it issued an emergency use authorization for the first antigen test where results can be read directly from the testing card, a similar design to some pregnancy tests.

The FDA noted that antigen tests are very specific, though theyre are not as sensitive as RT-PCR tests. Negative results from an antigen test may need to be confirmed prior to making treatment decisions, the FDA said, adding, negative results from an antigen test should be considered in the context of clinical observations, patient history and epidemiological information.

The Iowa Department of Public Health said its move to include antigen testing comes after a steadily increasing volume of the rapid-result tests across the state.

PCR tests are considered the gold standard for clinical diagnosis of COVID-19, and is the test used by the State Hygienic Lab and TestIowa, the department said in a release. Currently in Iowa, antigen testing is being used in long-term care facilities, health care clinics, retail pharmacies and by a variety of other testing providers.

There have been four antigen tests and three positives in Pottawattamie County, according to coronavirus.iowa.gov. Wyant said hes seeking further information from the Iowa Department of Public Health on the tests and reporting, including inquiring if the county will have access to the tests. They few tests in the county wouldve been set up by a private physician and done at a private lab.

This new COVID-19 antigen test is an important addition to available tests because the results can be read in minutes, right off the testing card. This means people will know if they have the virus in almost real-time, Dr. Jeff Shuren, director of the FDAs Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a release. Due to its simpler design and the large number of tests the company anticipates making in the coming months, this new antigen test is an important advancement in our fight against the pandemic.

The FDA said the test can be used in a number of settings, including doctors offices, emergency rooms and schools. Test-maker Abbott has said it can make up to 50 million tests available monthly in the U.S. beginning in October.

Those are your rapid tests. Youre going to know within 15 to 45 minutes what your results are. That would be a huge knockoff of our wait time, Wyant said. There are a lot of benefits that come along with that.

Information about COVID-19

Symptoms in people who have been exposed to coronavirus can include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Most people experience mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks.

Older adults and people with existing health problems are among those particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the use of masks when out in public. Make sure it covers the mouth and nose. Face shields are an option as well, as they cover the eyes.

Public health officials recommend:

 Stay home as much as possible.

 Self-monitor for symptoms.

 Call your physician if symptoms appear.

 Wash hands frequently with soap and water.

 Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces.

 Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper arm/elbow.

COVID-19 testing is available in Pottawattamie County via two TestIowa locations: All Care Health Center, 902 S. Sixth St., and Western Historic Trails Center, 3434 Richard Downing Ave.

To get tested, residents must complete the online assessment at testiowa.com to schedule an appointment.

For those struggling with mental health during the pandemic, yourlifeiowa.org has several resources, including a hotline at 855-581-8111 and a text-friendly line at 855-895-8398.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has a COVID-19 screening app  1-Check COVID.

Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
With the first half of the Prospect Series season in the books, competition is heating up for a spot in the finals at Grand River Raceway on Friday, Sept. 25.

Radical J J currently has an eight-point lead atop the two-year-old trotting filly division after a win at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday, Aug. 26. The daughter of Muscle Mass is trained by Shawn Steacy, who said the Prospect Series has offered a positive introduction to racing for the late-blooming youngster.

She was a little slow getting started this year for us, said Steacy, who conditions the filly for Ontario owners David Reid of Sydenham, A K Malik Stable of Ottawa, Carmen Chrysdale of Mississauga and Bruno Dipoce of Wasaga Beach. So thats kind of why we got her started just in the Prospect Series rather than the Ontario Sires Stakes right off the get-go.

Although there have been a limited number of starters in the two-year-old trotting filly division through the first four legs, Steacy expects to see a few more heading to Flamboro Downs for the regular season finale on Sunday, Sept. 13.

With the last legs coming up, you might see, rather than just getting five, six horse fields, you might get a couple eight-horse fields going in the last leg or two, said the Brantford, Ont. resident, who leads all trainers in the Ontario Sires Stakes program. Its a good tool, I think, overall. I think [Ontario Racing] did a good thing by putting that in play.

The Steacy stable also scored a second-place finish at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday with Teacup Hanover. With 25 points from her runner-up result and five points from entering a leg that did not fill, the Crazed daughter has a total of 30 points, 28 behind her division-leading stablemate. Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, Que., Robert Macmillan of Waterloo, Ont., Bertrand Gilhespy Stable of Edmonton, Alta., and Dale Larson of Kent City, Michigan share ownership of Teacup Hanover, who has also made three starts at the Grassroots level.

The top nine point-earners from each division will battle for a purse of $15,000 in the Prospect Series Finals on September 25. Horses are only required to have entered one Prospect Series leg to be eligible for the final, but those that have participated at more than one level, like Teacup Hanover, can only compete in one final, either Prospect Series or Grassroots.

Click on the following links to view the Prospect Series' current point standings and schedule.

(With files from Ontario Sires Stakes)
UP assembly polls will be about '80 per cent vs 20 per cent'; BJP will win: Yogi Adityanath

UP: Elections not won on exit polls basis, results will be surprising: Kamal Nath

Stop love jihad, see if new law is needed: UP CM Yogi Adityanath to officials

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Lucknow, Aug 29: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Friday directed senior Home Department officials to prepare a plan to stop incidents of love jihad and see whether a new law is required, his media adviser Mrityunjay Kumar stated.

Kumar added, "There are increasing cases of love jihad being reported from different parts of the state."

According to officials, the direction came after multiple incidents reported from Kanpur, Meerut, and a recent one in Lakhimpur Kheri, where the police claim there is evidence that the women were being forced to convert and marry.

"Chief Minister instructed senior Home Department officials to prepare a plan to stop such incidents," Mrityunjay Kumar added.

Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Awaneesh Kumar Awasthi, who attended the informal meeting, said, "This is a social issue. To stop it, they would have to be taken seriously - action needs to be taken against the accused, and we have to be harsh. These days, social media is available everywhere and it goes into the mind of others as well."

Awasthi further added, "The accused should not be allowed to get bail; then the woman's family should be given monetary help, etc."

On asking if a new law will be brought in, Awasthi said that as of now the existing law needs to be implemented properly.

Suresh Raina returns home, to skip IPL | Blow to CSK | Oneindia News

Love Jihad is a conspiracy theory, used by Hindutva groups to describe inter-religious marriages on the alleged effort by Muslim men in targeting women belonging to non-Muslim communities for conversion to Islam by feigning love.

Recently in Kanpur, the police had formed a special investigating team (SIT) to probe allegations of conversion, either by force or by 'brainwashing' the women before marriage, following several cases of inter-religious marriages there.
NEW YORK, Aug. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Kingold Jewelry, Inc. (Kingold or the Company)(OTCMKTS: KGJI) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and indexed under 20-cv-03050, is on behalf of persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Kingold securities between March 15, 2018, and June 28, 2020, inclusive (the Class Period). Plaintiff seeks to recover compensable damages caused by Defendants violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act).



If you are a shareholder who purchased Kingold securities during the Class Period, you have until August 31, 2020, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Kingold purports to design, manufacture, and sell 24-karat gold jewelry and Chinese ornaments in the Peoples Republic of China.

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading because they misrepresented and failed to disclose the following adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects, which were known to Defendants or recklessly disregarded by them. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Kingold used fake gold as collateral to fraudulently secure loans; (ii) consequently, the Company would face creditor lawsuits and be delisted from the Shanghai Gold Exchange; and (iii) as a result, Defendants statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

On June 29, 2020, before the market opened, Caixin Global published an article entitled Cover Story: The Mystery of $2 Billion of Loans Backed by Fake Gold. The article stated, among other things, that Kingold had used gold bars that were actually gilded copper as collateral in loans and was now facing lawsuits as a result, and that Kingold had been delisted from the Shanghai Gold Exchange.

On this news, shares of Kingold stock fell $0.27 per share, or over 24%, to close at $0.85 per share on June 29, 2020.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, hopes for the state's economy to be rekindled by a new four-tier System Coronavirus Rules, which he announced on August 28, to stem the surge of COVID-19 transmission in the state.

The four-tier system is a color-coded classification of counties based on their daily new cases for every 100,000 people and the test positivity rate, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Tier 1 (Purple, Widespread Transmission)

Under this tier, most businesses that are nonessential will not be allowed to open. Counties with more than seven new COVID positive cases per 100,000 people daily and an eight percent and above positivity rate will be placed under this classification.

Tier 2 (Red, Substantial Transmission)

Counties with four to seven COVID cases per day for every 100,000 people and between five to eight percent positivity rate in testing will be put under this tier. While some nonessential businesses will already be allowed to open under this classification, those who operate indoor will not be allowed to open.

Tier 3 (Orange, Moderate Transmission)

Under this classification, some businesses, both indoor and outdoor, will be allowed to open but with modifications. Daily new cases must be just between one and 3.9 per 100,000 people and positivity rate at just two to 4.9 percent.

Tier 4 (Yellow, Minimal Transmission)

Counties will be classified yellow if they have a daily count of less than one COVID positive case per 100,000 people. And, test positivity rate must be at less than two percent. Under this tier, most businesses can reopen but must still adhere to safety health protocols such as social distancing.

According to Gov. Gavin Newsom, the state will be more stubborn this time by applying the 4-tier system, which he said is more stringent and a steady approach to reviving the California economy.

As put by an NBC report, counties classified on Tier 1 can allow a restaurant to open but only for outside dining.

But, for counties under tiers 2-4, they can allow restaurants to serve customers indoors but at a reduced capacity.

According to a report by the ABC, schools in counties classified as purple will not be allowed to open or hold face-to-face classes.

Each classification criteria will be the same for all 58 California counties.

For starters, all Southern California counties will be placed on Tier 1 except for San Diego.

Following the governor's announcement, 38 counties were under Tier 1; nine on Tier 2, eight for Tier 3, and three for Tier 4.

Counties will be assessed weekly on whether they can change from a restrictive classification to a less restrictive one.

Or, if COVID cases in their county have worsened and they have to be moved to a more restrictive classification. Or, if no changes, they will be made to stay on their current classification.

Counties will have to meet tier criteria for two weeks before their classification will be changed.

While changes will be announced every Tuesday starting September 8, data will be based on a full week earlier, according to information coming from Gov. Gavin Newsom's office.

Check these out:

Stimulus Checks Put on Hold Prompts Americans to Spend Less on Groceries

California, Florida, Texas Dismiss New COVID-19 Testing Plan

New COVID-19 Testing Contract In California to Address Delays, Shortages
Bhopal:

Terming the demonetization decision as "historic," Madhya Pradesh CM, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Prime Minister, Narendra Modi with his "courageous" call broke the myth that powerful people can't be harmed in the country.



"India witnessed a historic decision on November 8, 2016. This day has given a meaningful reply to the queries raised by the people at large on the style of functioning of governments.



"Often allegations are levelled against the governments that they cannot take tough decisions under pressure. They fear to take decisions that could harm powerful people," Chouhan said in his blog on the issue on Thursday evening.



"Our PM has broken the myth with his courageous decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes," he said.



"The decision of demonetisation is historic in a way that it surprised everyone and this is the distinct feature of it. India has seen decision of demonetisation twice in the history of 100 years but those decisions gave ample time to the people having black money in the form of currency to change it.



"Thus the main objective of the decision was partially met. This time, however the decision did not give any time to people with black money," the Chief Minister said.



Those criticising the decision say that it could have been taken with better planning and people should have been given ample time. It is beyond my comprehension as to whom these critics are referring to when they talk of giving time to people, he wrote in the blog.



"Who are those about whom critics say time should have been given to them. It is obvious that they are favouring those who had black money in the form of currency," Chouhan said.



The decision of the Prime Minister to encourage cashless transaction is to transform the country from a developing nation to a developed one. All the aspects should be examined before criticising such a move, said Chouhan.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
SLFP unhappy over Prof. Piyadasas ommission, blasts Dr Raghavan View(s):

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is to take up the cudgels with its parent counterpart, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), over its onetime Chairman and Secretary Rohana Luxman Piyadasa being overlooked for a National List appointment as MP.

The SLFPs grouse is that instead its partner had picked Dr Suren Raghavan, a former Governor of the Northern Province.

The issue is knotty since all SLFP members, with the exception of Angajan Ramanathan, contested on the SLPP ticket. They are therefore bound by the SLPP led main alliance the Sri Lanka Nidhas Podujana Peramuna (SLPNS) disciplinary codes. Moreover, SLPP-ers point out that Dr Raghavans name had been forwarded by none other than the SLFP leadership as among its potential National List MPs.

It is an issue they should have settled among themselves, said a senior SLPP member who did not wish to be identified. However, he said the prerogative of selecting the most suitable in the National List was one for the ruling party, the SLPP, and it did not lie with the SLFP. He spoke on grounds of anonymity.

Prof. Piyadasas SLFP supporters have prepared a dossier which lists allegations that Dr. Raghavan in a social media post had branded Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa as a traitor. These social media comments posted on December 14, 2018. He had also strongly criticised United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe when he was Prime Minister. Another claim is that Dr. Raghavan had criticised the Maha Sangha.

Food for thought: MPs express distaste over quality and cost of meals

On both sides of the aisle of Parliament, MPs were united this week in venting their displeasure over the quality of the food served to Parliamentarians in the Members Canteen after a claim by a Parliament official that the lunch served for MPs at the subsidised rate of Rs 200 per MP actually costs Rs 3000.

The comment had been made on Tuesday by Parliaments Director (Finance) during the closing stages of a two-day workshop for new MPs. The Director had been speaking on the functions of the food, catering and housekeeping departments of Parliament.

The claim that meals costing Rs 3000 each were given to MPs at the subsidised rate of Rs 200 had immediately drawn a furious response from some new MPs who were in attendance, including State Minister Seetha Arambepola and SLPP parliamentarian Premanath C. Dolawatte. Dr Arambepola told the gathering that, having had meals from the Parliament canteen over the past two days, she could say with certainty that they did not cost anywhere near that much.

Parliament officials had later corrected the error, telling MPs that the real cost of the meal was a little more than Rs 950.

The matter was formally raised by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP S. M. Marikkar in Parliament on Thursday. Mr Marikkar asked the Speaker to immediately announce the real cost of the meals, as the Rs 3000 figure had been widely reported in the media.

The people maybe feeling we eat gold. At the Parliament canteen today, the fish was not fresh. We actually eat better at home, he quipped.

The issue came up again on Friday when Mr Dolawatte said he could not accept the Rs 950 figure given by Parliament officials as a correction.

Mr Marikkar questioned whether officials had arrived at the Rs 3000 figure after dividing the cost of all meals served in Parliament, including to several thousand staff, by 225  the number of MPs.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said he had made inquiries and found that it had indeed happened as Mr Marikkar said, and that the cost of all meals served in the complex had been divided by the number of 225 MPs.

The real cost of the meal is about Rs 296. However, we will make a detailed analysis and give the exact figure later as we know that not all MPs have their meals in the canteen. In fact, there are some MPs who often do not eat from the canteen, he said.

Many new MPs get first chance to speak, but it was a race against time

Many new MPs were given the opportunity to make their first Parliamentary speeches during the two-day Parliamentary debate on the Governments Rs 1.7 trillion Vote on Account.

There are 81 first-time MPs in the Ninth Parliament and many were given the opportunity to speak. Unfortunately for them, the sheer number of speakers meant that while senior MPs were given more time, the junior first-timers rarely got more than five minutes.

Some MPs were only given four minutes to speak. By the time they thanked the voters who elected them to Parliament, their party seniors, members of their family and offered their congratulations to the presiding Member, nearly half that time was gone. Ultimately, many could not make a meaningful contribution to the debate.

Big row over delayed biopsy at private hospital

Ill treatment takes even private hospitals, though they boast of a service fit for kings and queens.

A suspected cancer patient was asked to check in and be on a fast for a needle biopsy (an examination of tissue removed from a living body to discover the presence, cause, or extent of a disease).

After waiting from morning till 4 p.m., the patient complained that no biopsy had been carried out though he was on an empty stomach overnight till that time.

At first, the duty officer breathed down the neck of the patient saying there was no biopsy scheduled. The helpless patient called the physician. All hell broke loose thereafter.

The officer apologised. The hospital reduced its charges. However, the patient had to stomach all the humiliation in that sordid encounter.

Russia allegedly using poisoned tea to eliminate critics: So to be safe drink Pure Ceylon Tea

According to an article in the New York Times last week, the Russian secret services are suspected of using a range of poisons  mostly tea ingested with poison  to eliminate critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin. But Russia is officially denying this.

The NY Times, however, has identified two of Putinss critics  Anna Politkovskaya, who survived the poisoning but was shot dead later, and Alexander Litvinenko, who died after having tea with two Russian agents. Last week, Aleksei Navalny, was another victim. He has been battling for his life after drinking tea at an airport in Siberia.

So, perhaps, Sri Lankas new tea promotion board slogan should be:

if you want to stay alive, drink Pure Ceylon Tea.

Wimal against move to make Maithri Deputy PM

Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa was accosted by a trade union official when he was walking out of his office to travel for a meeting.

There are rumours that former President Maithripala Sirisena will be made a Deputy Prime Minister. Is it true? the union official asked.

We have also heard those rumours. However, I must say one thing clearly. If that ever happens, we will be strongly opposed to the move, said Mr Weerawansa, who is also the leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF).

Press releases on trivia: What kind of diplomacy is this?

In the corridors of the Foreign Relations Ministry, the talk is the turbo-charged media campaign with a flurry of media statements which focus more on the minor achievements of some envoys and not so much on the country.

From a far corner, one envoy sent in a political report and insiders say this came after he met a school principal in that country.

Not so far from home, an octogenarian envoy wrote a three page political report after meeting the desk officer of the Foreign Office in that country.

From colder climes, a third envoy based his political report on a meeting with an Asian envoy and that too after a courtesy call he made.

In one case, the political report lists the name of the stenographer who was in attendance.

Little wonder there is much wanting in Sri Lankan diplomacy. Other than speaking for themselves, there is little or no move to counter anti-Sri Lanka statements issued by INGOs and even state bodies in some countries.
(Natural News) Snowflakes in Generation Z are reportedly triggered by complete sentences and full stops in text message exchanges, according to new research from linguistic experts.

(Article by Shane Trejo republished from BigLeaguePolitics.com)

Research indicates that Generation Z feels intimidated by full stops, preferring to speak in fragmented English. Full stops are interpreted as angry and insincere, as the creep toward idiocracy continues.

If you send a text message without a full stop, its already obvious that youve concluded the message, linguistic expert Dr. Lauren Fonteyn of Leiden University wrote in a tweet.

So if you add that additional marker for completion, they will read something into it and it tends to be a falling intonation or negative tone, she added.

Im not sure I agree about emails. I guess it depends how formal they are, explained Owen McArdle, a University of Cambridge linguist.

But full stops are, in my experience, very much the exception and not the norm in [young peoples] instant messages, and have a new role in signifying an abrupt or angry tone of voice, he added.

A Binghamton University in New York study conducted in 2015 with 126 undergraduates showed that ending a sentence normally was now perceived as insincere. Messages that end in exclamation points are looked at as more genuine and profound, according to the studys findings.

When speaking, people easily convey social and emotional information with eye gaze, facial expressions, tone of voice, pauses and so on, said researcher Celia Klin.

People obviously cant use these mechanisms when they are texting. Thus, it makes sense that texters rely on what they have available to them  emoticons, deliberate misspellings that mimic speech sounds and, according to our data, punctuation, she added.

Big League Politics has reported on how the rising political leaders from Generation Z, like anti-gun mouthpiece David Hogg and eco-fascist climate alarmist Greta Thunberg, are advocating immediate leftist totalitarianism:

Parkland gun control activist David Hogg is promoting an anti-Republican group founded by a former Hillary Clinton staffer that has its parent company located at the same address as a George Soros-linked progressive group. Here is Hogg promoting Town Hall Project, which aims to confront Republican lawmakers at town hall events What is Town Hall Project? Joe Schoffstall reported: Jimmy Dahman, a former field organizer for the Clinton campaign in Iowa, founded the Town Hall Project. Dahman claimed on CNN that the town hall events are all organic and happening at the grassroots level.The Town Hall Projects parent company is The Action Network, which was involved in demonstrations against Walmart and the protests in Ferguson. The Action Networks board of directors includes Mark Fleischman, a former vice president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Brian Young, who worked on campaigns for Howard Dean and John Kerry; Jeffrey Dugas, who worked for John Podestas Center for American Progress and Elizabeth Warrens 2012 Senate campaign; and Rich Clayton, who worked for the SEIU and the shareholder activism arm of Change to Win, a labor group that describes itself as a strategic organizing center. The Action Network is located at the same Washington, D.C., address as United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation. United We Dream has received funding from liberal billionaire George Soros. It began organizing sanctuary campus anti-Trump protests shortly after the election.

The future of America seems bleak with millions of these snowflakes now able to vote away all of their nations liberties.

Read more at: BigLeaguePolitics.com
Recent polls have shown President Trump in a dead heat with Joe Biden in Minnesota, and that was before last weeks rioting, looting and arson in downtown Minneapolis. Friends from around the country have been asking me, is this real? My answer has been, yes it is. Trump lost Minnesota to Hillary Clinton by just a point and a half. Since then, there is no doubt that Minnesota, outside the Twin Cities metro area, has gotten considerably redder. The conventional wisdom is that this is balanced out by suburban women hating Trump more than they did four years ago. Possibly this is true, but what is the evidence for it? I havent seen any. (What suburban women really hate is crime, rioting, looting and arson, but that is another story.) If the polls show the state more or less tied, they make sense.

But dont take my word for it: the Biden campaign has implicitly confirmed that their polling, too, shows that Minnesota is in play. On Thursday, Bidenannounced that Minnesota and Wisconsin are among the states he plans to visit, in person, after Labor Day. That is good news if you are a Trump supporter. I dont think there is any reasonable scenario on which Biden can win the election if he loses Minnesota and Wisconsin.
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For avid Calgary-based hiker Sarah Kuindersma, the tempest began with a coffee cup.

In June, she set out for the Devils Thumb, a protuberance of rock that looms above the iconic blue waters of Lake Louise in Banff National Park. Kuindersma had heard that people were flocking to the Rocky Mountains, so she brought extra garbage bags in anticipation shed find litter.

She was stunned by what she saw: granola bars and wrappers, masks and single-use water bottles dotted the dirt trail. She stuffed four grocery bags as she made her way up the path.

After climbing almost half a vertical kilometre, she reached the summit and turned around. On her way back she saw it: a cup from one of the nearby tea houses that had been drained and tossed to the ground in the short time shed paused to enjoy the views at the top.

It was fresh trash, a brand-new coffee cup, she said. It just hit me, like, this is horrible.

The Canadian Rockies normally attract throngs of visitors from around the world, but, because of COVID-19 travel restrictions theyve been largely reserved for Canadians.

Kuindersma says it hurts to know locals are doing this.

Im a very proud Canadian. But pride means having respect for those who live there, like the animals and the wildlife that lives there.

After chafing under months of health and travel restrictions imposed under the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians have been heading outdoors in droves, spurred on by fine summer weather and calls to people from government officials urging them to explore their provincial backyards.

In doing so, they have created havoc for park rangers and maintenance crews, who have had to deal with overcrowded trails and backcountry campsites, as well as excessive garbage.

With many Canadians venturing into the great outdoors for the first time, their inexperience is revealing itself in different ways; many campers are not properly storing their food, a mistake that can attract bears. Search-and-rescue teams have been busy responding to mishaps involving adventure-seekers; sometimes these misadventures have had fatal outcomes.

With the Labour Day weekend just around the corner, experts are urging folks to enjoy the outdoors, but to be good custodians of the environment and to take heed of safety precautions.

Remember, you are entering someone elses home  wildlife  treat it with the same respect you would show your grandmothers home, said Sarah Bulford, a former B.C. Parks ranger.

Too many people: Just outside Squamish, B.C., Watersprite Lake has seen a huge influx of day hikers and campers drawn to turquoise waters framed by dramatic peaks.

After finishing a hike one recent afternoon, Bradford McArthur was stunned to find cars parked bumper-to-bumper on both sides of the narrow dirt road leading to the trailhead.

Nice to see people getting out and enjoying it, but, like, this is craaaazy! he says in a video posted to Facebook capturing his reaction.

At the lake, there are 10 designated tent pads, but one Saturday in July saw about 60 tents, said Susanne Postill, vice-president of the B.C. Mountaineering Club. Shes been visiting the site every other weekend this summer, part of a core group of volunteers that maintains the area.

As soon as the weather got nice, it just exploded, she said.

Despite the presence of four outhouses, not all campers have been using them.

Weve had to pick up a lot of toilet paper left everywhere.

Backcountry advocates have gone to social media to issue gentle pleas for people to help ease the congestion.

Please consider not going to the Watersprite area if you can, David Scanlon, former club president, wrote on Facebook and Twitter. We are overwhelmed. Sixty tents last weekend. With tents everywhere. Well over 300 hikers. The alpine (landscape) is getting trashed.

Similar observations have been made in Ontario.

As Matteo Ferrero-Wong paddled a canoe to his backcountry campsite in Massasauga Provincial Park earlier this summer, he found he had to push through the turbulent wakes of passing motorboats far more than he used to.

Once on land, he found his mood dimmed again over the number of food wrappers and other detritus he had to pick up. In the evening, a group of campers nearby whooped and hollered while they fished, then kept their radio cranked up blasting pop music well after dark.

When you go back-country camping, youre expecting a little bit of peace and quiet. I wasnt expecting to hear people all day and night, said the 25-year-old Toronto resident.

It reminds you of city noise that youre trying to get away from.

Sarah McMichael, a spokesperson for Ontario Parks, said the province has seen a seven-per-cent increase in visitors to campgrounds, compared to last year and a 29-per-cent increase in camping in the backcountry.

That has kept maintenance crews busy.

We have seen an increase in trash being left behind at campsites and in other areas of the park, she said.

Washroom etiquette has also been a problem with visitors throwing garbage into toilets or washing dishes in sinks.

Outdoor club leaders say park users shouldnt shoulder all the blame for the problems this summer. They also point the finger at mismanagement by provincial parks officials during this pandemic.

In B.C., for instance, even though most parks in the province have reopened, there are still restrictions on access to the most popular ones, with visitors required to reserve a limited number of day-use passes. These restrictions, some advocates say, are contributing to the overcrowding in backcountry sites that have far less infrastructure.

They basically downloaded their problem of management onto us as a non-profit with no additional support or resources, said Chris Ludwig, president of the B.C. Mountaineering Club.

In a statement, B.C.s Environment Ministry denied its park restrictions were contributing to overcrowding in the back-country.

We do not believe that our day-use pass system, which is limited to selected trails at only six of the most popular B.C. parks, is responsible for the influx of visitors at other parks or recreation sites. Rather, as more British Columbians stay close to home this year and plan vacations in B.C., we can expect that outdoor opportunities are more popular than ever.

Lack of preparation: Garbage and overcrowding arent the only problems. Many people are showing up at outdoor destinations lacking basic essentials.

Search and rescuers were called to assist two hikers at Watersprite Lake who lacked water on a particularly hot day and appeared to be suffering from heat stroke, Postill said. Another pair of day hikers this month showed up at the lake around 8 p.m. They had a two-to-three-hour hike back to the car with less than an hour of daylight remaining  and no flashlights.

A mountaineering club volunteer doing trail work gave up his tent to the pair for the night.

Lack of knowledge in avoiding bears and other safety measures has been a recurring problem.

Ludwig recently posted on Facebook images forwarded to him by a concerned citizen who had visited a small B.C. back-country campsite, located on a sandspit at Lake Lovely Water. The site was not only overrun with 22 tents and about 60 people, a lot of food was being stored improperly overnight.

One photo, showing several bags hanging from trees, but still close to the ground, drew online ridicule.

What a tragic attempt at a bear hang.

Mmmm  all you can eat buffet.

The only bears that wont reach that are gummy bears. Pretty pathetic.

Alberta Parks officials say theyve seen an increase in improper disposal of garbage and storage of food. In July, Parks Canada officials in Waterton destroyed a black bear that, according to media reports, had bitten several unattended backpacks and approached a tent with people inside.

Food and garbage left out by visitors had led to this behaviour and it contributed to the animals death officials said.

The crush of outdoor excursions, in some instances, have taken tragic turns.

The Underwater Recovery Team (URT), which conducts investigations throughout B.C., has seen an increase in drownings in recent months and these calls have included complex recoveries from areas of the province that URT does not often attend, B.C. RCMP officials said in a recent news release.

The Rockies have seen a string of high-profile incidents. On the second Saturday of July, Mount Yamnuska, a popular, but challenging, day hike near Calgary, saw three separate incidents. A 30-year-old man was killed when he fell down an area of loose rock and was struck by several boulders dislodged above him, according to the RCMP. A 24-year-old suffered a head injury in the same area two hours later, and, that evening, a hiker suffered an unspecified fracture.

This month, three members of an Edmonton family drowned in a waterfall called Crescent Falls in western Alberta.

Bulford offers the following tips for people venturing into nature for the first time:

Leave no trace. Pack out what you pack in. Even if garbage facilities are available, they are infrequently emptied and often overflowing. If you can hike in food, you can hike out the packaging. Pick up after your pets. Learn how to properly dispose of your fecal waste. Learn how to properly store food when camping.

Make a trip plan. Get trained in wilderness First Aid. Research and purchase the correct clothing and gear for each activity. Remember to pack enough food and water purification. Know your groups strengths and weaknesses.

Ferrero-Wong said its great more people are discovering the joys of camping and hiking. But novices should spend the time online educating themselves on camping etiquette  the same way youd research customs before visiting a foreign country.

The beautiful parts of our country need to be maintained by us, he said. I think the way a lot of parks have been treated this summer is not sustainable.

Kuindersma says the damage shes seen this year has dimmed her enthusiasm for the mountains, but shes gotten some of that inspiration back by organizing many clean-ups, including in provincial park areas such as Kananaskis and on Crown land.

She estimates she has collected about 40 bags of trash since June, including plastic dental floss picks, Lysol wipes, juice boxes, beer cans and even bathing suits.

Thats great that you want to go to the mountains, but you also have to understand that youre visitors, she said.

I couldnt imagine a visitor coming into your house, completely trashing it and you inviting them again.

You just wouldnt want them to come back.
"We continue to put passengers who refuse to follow the required face-covering rules on our no-fly list," Delta CEO Ed Bastian wrote in a memo to staff. United Airlines

Delta Air Lines has banned about 240 passengers for refusing to wear masks during flights, CEO Ed Bastian said in a memo to employees.

The airline said in June that it would ban uncooperative passengers, and said in late-July that it had already banned more than 100.

The airline also strengthened its rules recently to combat phony medical exemptions.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

US airlines said in June that they would begin banning passengers who refused to cooperate with on-board mask requirements  and Delta has followed through on that threat hundreds of times.

Delta has banned about 240 passengers from flying on the airline, after those passengers ignored rules and requests to wear masks during flights, CEO Ed Bastian said in a memo to staff on Thursday. The airline requires passengers to wear masks in the airport and on all flights unless they are quickly eating or drinking.

"Although rare, we continue to put passengers who refuse to follow the required face-covering rules on our no-fly list," Bastian wrote. "I want to thank everyone for your continued vigilance of our policy requiring masks be worn by our people and our customers."

The number has more than doubled over the past month  on July 22, Bastian told NBC's "Today" that about 100 passengers had been banned for mask refusal.

Among those banned in recent weeks was Robert O'Neill, the former Navy SEAL known for his part in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

O'Neill was on board a flight on Wednesday, August 19, when he tweeted a selfie with the caption "I'm not a p----." Unlike a fellow passenger in a US Marine Corps hat and a flight attendant visible in the photo, O'Neill was not wearing a mask. O'Neill was banned by the airline the following day.

The airline recently strengthened its mask policy, requiring anyone claiming a medical exemption to consult with a Delta-contracted telehealth medical professional before boarding.

"Any false claims of a disability or health condition to obtain an exemption from wearing a mask or face covering may result in the suspension of travel privileges on any Delta flight for the duration of the mask/face covering requirement," the airline said when it announced the plan.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Phishing is on the rise with more than 1.6 million attempts to transfer users to phishing pages via links within e-mails blocked by its software in the first six months of the year, global cybersecurity company Kaspersky reported.

Small and medium businesses in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam among top targets of phishing in Southeast Asia.  Photo courtesy of Kaspersky

Cybercriminals targeting small and medium businesses (SMBs) proactively seeded phishing emails, it said.

The 1.6 million phishing attempts against companies with 50-250 employees represented a 39 per cent increase year-on-year.

The largest numbers were foiled in Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. Singapore had the fewest phishing emails but witnessed a 60.5 per cent increase.

Yeo Siang Tiong, the Russian companys general manager for Southeast Asia, said: Most of the lockdown measures across Southeast Asia were implemented by the end of March, which then welcomed the second quarter with millions of first-time remote workers.

Cybercriminals are making use of the current chaos to commit social engineering attacks such as phishing emails.

By including hot topics and phrases related to the COVID-19 pandemic in their messages, the chances of an unsuspected user clicking infected links or malicious attachments increase tremendously.

Threats are also harder to track over personal home networks. Add in the reality that we are all strained mentally which makes us more vulnerable to committing mistakes, it is essential for SMBs to acknowledge that working from home increases cybersecurity risks and take the necessary steps to protect data and cash flow.

To help SMBs train their employees and kick-start a cybersecurity culture, Kaspersky is offering a three-month free automated security awareness training programme until the end of September, which works with up to 500 users.

Besides, Kaspersky experts suggested that SMBs should teach employees the basics of cybersecurity, regularly remind them about how to deal with sensitive data, enforce the use of legitimate software and download from official sources, back up essential data, regularly update IT equipment and applications, configure Wi-Fi encryption, use a VPN if connecting to Wi-Fi networks that do not belong to them, use corporate services for e-mails, messaging and all other work, and protect devices with anti-virus solutions. VNS

Vietnamese businesses among top targets for phishing in Southeast Asia Cybercriminals have actively attacked small and medium businesses (SMBs) in Southeast Asia this year, according to global cybersecurity company Kaspersky.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, ARMENPRESS. According to the results of the economic analysis conducted by the Eurasian Expert Club, Armenias export volumes to Belarus and Kazakhstan have increased in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, Coordinator of the Eurasian Expert Club, political analyst Aram Safaryan said during a press conference in Armenpress.

Even under the declining trends of overall figures, our economic export and import indicators in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) inspire optimism. Our export has grown both to Belarus and Kazakhstan, after three-years growth in export to Russia we have a decline in export, but we have a major growth in import  18%, we also have increase in import volumes from Belarus. There is a certain decline in import volumes from Kazakhstan, but after analyzing the export and import volumes of the past three years, its possible to expect that there will be 2-5% export growth in the 2nd half of the year, he said.

The political analyst said Armenia needs to increase its export volumes. In case when our country has three times more import than export, its highly important to increase the export volumes, the agricultural and industrial growth volumes aimed at the export. Improving the GDP-export ratio and making Armenia an exporting country with a healthier and firmer economic structure is possible only through export, Aram Safaryan said.

The research conducted by the Expert Club showed that Armenias export volumes, compared to the first year of its membership to the EAEU, are more diversified now as the volumes of agricultural goods and reprocessing products have increased.

The Club members are confident that it is necessary to continue the export diversification.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The state health department, on Friday, reported 1,795 new Covid-19 positive cases in Pune, and 22 deaths related to the infection caused by the Sars-Cov-2 virus.

As per the states data, the progressive positive count for Pune is now 96,692, with the death toll at 2,475.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in its report released on Friday, reported 1,781 Covid-19 positives in the city, which takes the progressive positive count to 90,871 as per the PMC data.

The PMC also reported 40 Covid-19-related deaths on Friday, putting the death toll, as per the PMCs figures, at 2,168 in the city.

Currently there are 15,158 active cases in the city, of which 827 are in critical condition. This includes 498 on ventilators and 329 in ICUs.

Also, 2,414 patients are undergoing oxygen treatment.

The civic body has, till date, taken 4.32 lakh swab samples, including the 6,449 samples collected on Friday.

Also, 1,578 people were discharged on Friday which puts the count of total discharged at 73,527.

Pune district reported 3,611 new cases on Friday, taking the progressive positive count for the district to 1,60,455. Sixty-four deaths were reported in 24 hours in the district putting the death toll at 3,937. Also, district-wise, 2,193 were discharged on Friday, taking the of total number of discharged patients to 1,23,595.

The district has tested 6.69 lakh samples till date.

Deaths reported from the city on Friday include six from Sassoon General Hospital and six from the Pulse hospital; five from the Bharati Vidyapeeth hospital, four from Sahyadri hospital; three from Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and three from the Kashibai Navale hospital; two each from Inlaks and Budhrani, Noble hospital, Command hospital and Naidu hospital; and one each from Villoo Poonawala hospital, Parmar hospital, Ratna hospital and YCM hospital.

Also, 14 deaths were reported of people living outside PMC limits, but being treated in city hospitals. This includes two from the Cantonment areas and 12 from rural Pune.
Kabul, Aug 29 : At least 44 Taliban militants have been killed in Afghanistan's Kunduz province as security forces stepped up operations in the area, an army statement said on Saturday.

According to the statement, three local commanders of the armed group were among those killed in the operations backed by warplanes in the restive Imam Sahib district, reports Xinhua news agency.

Citing a senior army commander, the statement said that 37 insurgents were also injuredin ongoing crackdown.

Taliban militants who are active in parts of Kunduz province, were yet to comment on the development.
Democrats, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), immediately cried foul. This is a shocking abdication of its lawful responsibility to keep the Congress currently informed, and a betrayal of the publics right to know how foreign powers are trying to subvert our democracy, she said in a joint statement with Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.).
Chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  The Ministry of Public Securitys Investigation Security Agency on August 28 decided to detain for four months and launch criminal proceedings against Chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Nguyen Duc Chung on charges of appropriating State secret documents in line with Article 337 of the Criminal Code 2015.

The Investigation Security Agency also raided his home in Dong Da district, Hanoi, and working office.

Earlier, three defendants were also prosecuted on the same charge, including Nguyen Anh Ngoc working at the secretariat at the Hanoi Peoples Committee, Nguyen Hoang Trung, a driver of Chung, and Pham Quang Dung, a former officer at the Police Department for Corruption, Smuggling and Economic Crimes under the Ministry of Public Security.



Chung was also suspended from duties for 90 days for the verification and investigation to clarify his responsibility regarding two other cases.

The first case involves smuggling, violations of accounting and bidding regulations causing serious consequences, and money laundering at the Nhat Cuong Trading & Technical Services Co. Ltd., the Department of Planning and Investment of Hanoi, and some related agencies.

The second case regards the violation of regulations on the use and management of State assets causing waste and losses in Hanoi.
Nigeria: Fulani kidnap 14-y-o girl, 3 others after failed raid on pastors house Immediately, l and my family started praying for divine intervention from God Almighty

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Suspected Muslim Fulani herdsmen abducted a 14-year-old girl and three others after they failed to break into a pastor's house.

The suspected kidnappers first came to my house at exactly 11:57 p.m. (Thursday) and they called, spoke in Fulani and Hausa language that l should open the door for them. Immediately, l and my family started praying for divine intervention from God Almighty, the Rev. Elisha Abu Dreams, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna State, told Daily Post.

Dreams said he and his family continued to pray and they refused the attackers' demands that they open the gate of their house in Mararaba Rido in Chikun local government area.

They tried using a hammer to break the entrance to the house but could not succeed. While they were making efforts to have their way into the house, we were still praying to God for help, he said.

The suspected Fulani herdsmen then shot at the door with an automatic gun but still couldnt break open the gate. I called on the police to inform them of what we were going through and for their immediate assistance. Before the police personnel could come to the house, they left without gaining entrance to the house, Dreams said.

The suspects then barged into other houses in the neighboring village and abducted a 14-year-old girl, a police officer who was unwell, a civil defense officer and a security man.

This attack on another pastor in Kaduna state does show that there are groups still in the state that wish to harm the church and its leaders, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern commented.

Many pastors, churches and Christian villages have been attacked in past years in Southern Kaduna. Despite this, the governor of Kaduna state, El-Rufai has never attempted to protect these people, and has on many occasions blamed them for the attacks, stating that they had attacked Muslims or Fulani first, ICC added.

Fulani herders routinely attack predominantly Christian farming communities in Nigerias Middle Belt. While some believe the nomadic herders launch attacks as they look for grazing pastures, the radicals are known for similarly targeting Christian villages as the Boko Haram terrorist group that terrorizes the northern regions of the country.

A Nigerian civil society group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, estimates that 1,202 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in the first six months of 2020 by jihadists, radicalized herdsmen and others.

According to the report, the majority of the estimated 1,202 Christian death toll comes mostly from 812 killings committed by members of the Muslim Fulani herding community. Additionally, 390 Christian deaths were attributed to killings committed by radical Islamic groups in the northeast, like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, in addition to other perpetrators such as armed bandits.
In his memoirs, the late British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan recalled the 1960 U.S. presidential debates between Richard Nixon and John Kennedy.

Macmillan couldnt get over the fact that Nixon, as a sitting vice president, agreed to give Kennedy a televised forum to make his case for change.

I thought to myself that it was foolish of Nixon to accept the challenge, Macmillan wrote. For the attacking party  the Outs  necessarily have an advantage over the defenders  the Ins.

Macmillan was right.

On a debate stage, its generally easier to prosecute the case against the sitting administration than to play defense lawyer.

Thats why syndicated columnist Robert Ruark, a Lyndon Johnson supporter, encouraged Johnson to duck out of debating his GOP challenger, Barry Goldwater, in 1964.

Ruark said Johnson shouldnt risk his practical shoo-in position by dignifying Goldwater with a debate.

LBJ has charm, but he is reasonably pleat-faced, with a preponderance of nose, Ruark said. Goldwater could play leads in the pictures, and he generates vigor.

Putting aside the fact that Ruark overstated Goldwaters heartthrob appeal, his appraisal made sense in the context of 1964 politics.

The debate-ducking strategy, however, doesnt work these days. No one has shunned a general election presidential debate since Nixon in 1972. (And to be fair, he was still spooked from his bad experience with Kennedy 12 years earlier.)

Nancy Pelosi knows all that. So, on Thursday morning, when the Democratic speaker of the House floated the idea that her partys presidential nominee, Joe Biden, shouldnt bother to debate President Donald Trump, it felt more an act of gamesmanship than a serious proposal.

I dont think there should be any debates, Pelosi said. I wouldnt legitimize a conversation with (Trump), nor a debate in terms of the presidency of the United States.

Youll notice that Pelosi used basically the same argument Ruark employed for Johnson 56 years ago  apart from Ruarks fixation on Johnsons pleated face. But where Ruark told Johnson to ignore the insistent yapping of a desperate challenger, Pelosi was trying to frame the incumbent, Trump, as the desperate, illegitimate candidate in this race.

Of course, Biden quickly insisted that he planned to meet Trump in a series of debates. Really, he has no choice.

One thing weve learned over 33 televised general election presidential debates since 1960 is that these encounters rarely alter the dynamics of the race.

In fact, there are only two presidential debates that really made a major difference: the first Kennedy-Nixon debate (in which Nixons pancake makeup and upper-lip sweat wrecked him) and the lone 1980 Ronald Reagan-Jimmy Carter debate (in which Reagan brushed away Carters accurate statement that Reagan had opposed Medicare by genially quipping, There you go again).

Refusing to debate, however, would definitely alter this years race. Two months of Trump boasting that Biden is afraid of him would do Biden much more harm than any debate gaffe.

Biden cant afford to timidly run out the clock in this election. While recent national polls have Biden up by an average of 9 percentage points, the race will tighten in the coming weeks.

Trumps use of the White House as a stage prop  and repeated warnings that a Biden presidency would mean lawless dystopia in cities across the country  during the past weeks Republican National Convention surely turned off some voters but likely boosted his cause.

Given that Biden served eight years as vice president and Trump has been president for nearly four years, we all know enough to have formed pretty solid opinions of both of them.

But Biden has been dogged by questions about whether, at the age of 77, he has the requisite energy and sharpness. Thats where the debates could matter.

With unemployment above 10 percent and more than 180,000 Americans dead from the COVID-19 pandemic, its impossible for even Trumps most loyal followers to deny that the country is in worse shape than it was when Trump took office.

Biden doesnt necessarily need to convince people that change is necessary. He just needs to demonstrate that hes up to the job.

In a sense, hes in a similar position to Reagan in 1980.

Reagan hoped to close the deal with an electorate that craved a new direction but had concerns about his judgment and readiness. Reagans debate with Carter, only a week before the election, effectively clinched his victory.

One of Pelosis fears involves the format of the debates. Trump delivered more than 20 lies in his hourlong acceptance speech Thursday, and without a strong, fact-checking moderator could get away with a litany of whoppers on the debate stage.

That just adds to the challenge for Biden.

Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Gilbert, become a subscriber. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
OTTAWASen. Mike Duffy has lost his bid to overturn a court decision blocking him from suing the Senate for millions of dollars over his suspension without pay.

The Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a 2018 lower court ruling that said the Senates decision to suspend Duffy is protected by parliamentary privilege.

In a unanimous ruling released Friday, the three-judge panel said the courts do not have jurisdiction to rule on matters decided by the Senate.

They may be adjudicated only by the Senate itself, Justice Mahmud Jamal wrote in the decision.

Duffys lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, said the ruling effectively means the Senate is above the law. He said Duffy will consider seeking leave to appeal it to the countrys highest court.

In these troubled times its especially important to ensure that the government is not above the law and thats what has not happened in the Court of Appeal decision and which is why well be considering over the coming days ... an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, he said Friday in an interview.

The case is part of the Prince Edward Island senators efforts to receive $7.8 million in reimbursement and damages from the Senate, RCMP and the federal government.

Duffy was suspended without pay for nearly two years over the Senate expenses scandal, for which he was ultimately acquitted of 31 criminal charges in 2016.

Greenspon had argued the decision to suspend Duffy in November 2013 came at the direction of then-prime minister Stephen Harpers office, making it a politically motivated decision that forfeited the Senates immunity.

Duffy was named to the Senate on the advice of Harper in 2008. He left the Conservative caucus in May 2013 and now sits with the Independent Senators Group.

In his submissions, Greenspon said Harpers office threatened Duffy that hed be kicked out of Senate unless he admitted to inadvertently abusing his expense account and repaid $90,172 in housing expenses.

The threats, the lawyer argued, amounted to extortion and it should be fundamental to the rule of law that courts are able to review illegal conduct within the Senate, even in matters of privilege.

But Jamal said Duffys allegation of illegal conduct by the Senate involves no ordinary crime, and that any alleged interference by the Prime Ministers Office in the Senates decisions was integrally connected with proceedings in Parliament.

Raising these issues before the courts would unavoidably call into question the disciplinary and internal decisions taken by the Senate and the (Senates internal economy committee) on matters that ordinarily fall within established categories of parliamentary privilege, the ruling stated.

The judges said all of Duffys arguments fall within the scope of that Senate immunity and the courts therefore lack jurisdiction to adjudicate these allegations.

Sen. Duffy is very disappointed with the result and we all should be, Greenspon said shortly after the ruling was issued Friday.

If at the end of the day theres a branch of government that is immune to the rule of law, thats something that is way bigger than Mike Duffy and he knows it and Canadians should be very concerned about that.

The Senate voted to suspend Duffy without pay  along with two other senators, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau  before any charges were laid against him.

Despite his eventual acquittal on all charges by a judge who found all his expenses to be reasonable, the Senate refused to reimburse Duffy for his lost salary or his legal fees and demanded that he repay almost $17,000 in disputed expenses.

Since then, however, Greenspon noted that the composition of the Senate has changed dramatically, with an influx of non-partisan senators unaffiliated with any political party. He and Duffy will consider in the very near future whether theres any point in asking the Senate to reconsider the matter.

While any step in the direction of doing the right thing would be welcome, Greenspon said the Senates track record thus far is not encouraging.

Philippe Hallee, the Senates law clerk and parliamentary counsel, welcomed Fridays ruling.

Parliamentary privilege is a vital feature of Canadas system of parliamentary democracy and ensures that legislative bodies have the level of autonomy required to enable them, and their members, to conduct their legislative and deliberative work with dignity and efficiency, he said in a statement.

It is one of the ways in which the fundamental constitutional separation of powers is respected. Todays decision reaffirms the importance of several elements of parliamentary privilege, including the Senates control over the conduct of its proceedings and internal affairs, its disciplinary authority over its members as well as the right to free speech in the context of parliamentary proceedings.

Sen. Marc Gold, the governments representative in the Senate, declined to comment on Fridays ruling.

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Stock market: Avoiding a national crime View(s):

One would think Sri Lankans would learn. The Central Bank (CB) from 2010 to 2013 drew much flak as the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) incurred losses by purchasing stocks in companies with artificially inflated share prices. It wont be long before CB and other state entities are confronted with another disaster if prudence isnt exercised.

The Business Times reliably learns that self-proclaimed stock market gurus joined by certain influential stock market players are wooing government institutions such as the EPF (under the CB), Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) and another CB unit, Employees Trust Fund to enter the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE)  this time to buy blue chips that these investors are holding.

Most blue chip prices have increased by over 60 per cent over the past three months  after significant lows due to the hype in high valued shares.

Many scrambled to buy when foreigners started selling  mostly due to redemptions. Companies like JKH and LOLCs prices increased above 60 per cent within three months, since June. In the case of Commercial Bank, the price rose by over 50 per cent, HNB (over 31 per cent) and Sampath Bank (over 15 per cent).

Most share prices increased when locals started buying (which cannot be found fault with), but all firms werent performing  corporate earnings have taken massive hits in the last two quarters and the shares didnt boast much value. When foreigners were shedding their holdings in blue chips locals were lapping them up, because of their past values. They were bargains at the time, not now, an analyst noted.

The big guns with some of the shares are looking for a fall guy/s to park the stocks (as they did during the pump and dump era in 2010-13), he said. What better option than the SLIC, EPF, and ETF etc especially when these gurus draw a picture saying the market is performing well and now is the best time for government institutions to enter the CSE?

It is a national crime to get the government involved at this time now that prices are higher. It is in their (the influential group) agenda to dump their heated shares on government institutions, a CB source said noting that certain informal chats are already on.

Sri Lanka has come out on top on the coronavirus situation which isnt so in the rest of the world still being beat up with the disease. The whole world is expected to go through a recession and its effects will be felt here too. So the government should wait till the market is settled, the CB source said noting some politicians with the mentality (to support the current stock market hype) can be easily targeted or conned by these groups. It is not the right time to enter the market. The use of public money needs to make sure that there is a return. Locals cant sustain the ongoing foreign sales and if they want to keep the price up, they must drag government institutions to the market to buy the foreign supply, was his take on the situation. Otherwise the market will come down and players who pumped the shares will be in a dilemma, he said.

State institutions dont invest for short-term gains  doing so is basically gambling and they arent for gambling; they invest for fair returns on investment horizons, he said.

These groups forgot to promote the blue chips to state institutions when the prices of the mentioned shares were at irresistible bottoms. This is one cue for the investing authorities to not give into the pressures of the lobby groups. The only saving grace at this point in the government institutions purchasing the shares is that they are blue chips. If similar incidents like pumping and dumping happen again, the government institutions will not touch any share for the next decade, the source said.

An economist said when share prices are at their lowest, it is sensible to buy. If the share prices have risen by over 60 per cent, it is an anomaly which needs to be investigated and the decision to invest in those shares should be made on the worthiness of that particular counter.

Another analyst advised the right time to invest in stocks has passed (when the shares were really low  Commercial was at Rs.53 for example and now trading at around Rs.80). If government institutions invest now, its indirectly assisting these investors to dump their shares.
Heifer Foundation offers several ways for you to give while securing your familys financial future.

All planned gifts are made through the Heifer Foundation  a separate entity whose mission is to raise and oversee financial assets to support the work of Heifer International. The two global partners work together to support a common mission while meeting the unique individual needs of donors. Heifer Foundation staff members are experts in creating a plan that establishes a lasting legacy while providing for your current financial needs.

Heifer Foundation has developed a series of informative videos that are especially helpful as you plan your end of year giving. The first video below introduces several key strategies for charitable planning and giving. You will find more videos in this series here on the Heifer Foundation website.
The local Salvation Army sent a disaster response crew to Beaumont on Thursday to aid with Hurricane Laura relief efforts.

The team departed in the early morning hours in a 20-foot disaster canteen, according to an email to The Herald from Commander David Worthy. The SA has a large command and resource center there to provide help with food, power outages, structure damage and with those displaced. Food, he noted, is one of the immediate needs.
Beijing: About one-third of students returned to school in the Chinese capital on Saturday (August 29) in a staggered start to the new school year because of the coronavirus.

The first batch of 590,000 students in Beijing included all three years of high school, the first and third years of middle school and the first grade of primary school. Another 400,000 students are to start school on Tuesday, and the final 520,000 on Sept. 7.

Both students and teachers are required to wear masks.

China reported nine new coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, bringing its official total to 85,022. All the new cases were overseas arrivals.

The country's death toll remained at 4,634.
- A beautiful young girl captured the heart of internet users after her mom shared photos of her online

- The proud mom revealed she was looking for a modelling agency for her stunning daughter

- Mzansi used Beyonce's 'Brown Skin Girl' to describe the flawless young aspiring model

A young girl wowed South Africans with her beauty after her mom posted stunning photos on Twitter.

Social media user, Thembi Temtem, shared images of her young daughter on Tuesday, August 25.

READ ALSO: Pastor tells men to stop approaching women saying God has sent them, use good pickup lines

A proud mom shared stunning photos of her little girl and Mzansi was in awe of her beauty. Photo: @Thembi_temtem.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: 8-year-old boy becomes youngest person to pilot hot-air balloon alone in 20-minute flight

The proud mom revealed she was looking for a modelling agency for her little girl.

"Looking for a kids modelling agency for my daughter, she enjoys taking pictures," she tweeted.

"Please retweet maybe her breakthrough is in your TL," she added.

READ ALSO: 136-year-old Nyeri man shares secrets to long life: "Its God's favour"

South Africans were stunned by the little girl's flawless beauty and they used Beyonce's Brown Skin Girl to describe her.

Twitter user, @Wanda_Mbalee, commented:

"Brown skin girl, she is a beautiful Princess. Try KingKlip casting agency."

Liz Thobela, who goes by the Twitter handle @LizThobela, added:

"She is too cute for words."

READ ALSO: Former Taita Taveta Women Rep Joyce Lay loses 99-year-old father-in-law

Another tweep, @Enhle_Leti, wrote:

"She is sooo adorable."

Social media user, @KingZwide_DBN, said:

"Beautiful kid, hope she finds an agency and ample gigs."

Twitter user, @Medi1Oratile, commented:

"She's so beautiful!! A model. I hope she finds a legit agency."

Asiphile, @thesh81, added:

"oh she's so gorgeous."

READ ALSO: Strength of a woman: Photo of mom holding baby while studying goes viral

READ ALSO: Toddler goes viral after mother flimed her dancing to lullaby

In other news, a man has gone viral with his amazing works of art.

Abinoro Akporode Collins, a great Nigerian artist, makes installations with spoons, an art that always gets people talking.

Born in 1984, the man's works have been exhibited as far as United Arab Emirate.

READ ALSO: Survivor of Kimende accident that killed 12 says he was classified among dead, saved by police

Abinoro said that his passion for art started when he was a little boy.

"As a sculptor, a major challenge as a Nigerian is poor power supply resulting in the artist spending more money running generators, he said.

Despite the odds stacked against him, Abinoro is still creating arts that have never ceased to amaze people.

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
No shutdown in 7 cities where JEE, NEET examination will be held: Odisha govt

India

oi-Deepika S

Bhubaneswar, Aug 29: The Odisha government has lifted shutdown in seven cities where the JEE and NEET examination will be held in the state, an official said on Saturday.

The notification lifting the shutdown in seven cities was issued after Chief Secretary A K Tripathy on Friday announced that the state government will provide free transport and accommodation to students appearing in the JEE (Mains) and NEET.

The Special Relief Commissioners (SRC) office has released a set of guidelines for the smooth conduct of the examination. "No lockdown or shutdown will be in force in the seven examination cities from August 30-September 7 (JEE) and from September 9-14 (NEET)," the notification said.

At present bi-weekly shutdown is in force in four districts Cuttack, Khurdha, Ganjam and Gajapati - and in Rourkela town to stem the spread of COVID-19 cases.

The notification said all candidates and their guardian, as well as examination personnel, are allowed to travel from their place of stay to the examination cities/examination centres either in their personal vehicles or hired or public vehicle.

Listen to student voices, act as per their wishes: Sonia Gandhi to govt on NEET, JEE

Copy of the candidates admit card including soft copies or any other document held by the candidates and any document held by the examination personnel and staff/ representatives of service providers in support of their deployment shall be considered as valid movement passes throughout the state.

Suresh Raina returns home, to skip IPL | Blow to CSK | Oneindia News

SRC P K Jena also asked the examination organisers to ensure all safety protocols relating to COVID-19. Physical distancing, mask-wearing, no spitting in a public place, personal hygiene and sanitation, should be duly maintained inside the centre. The district authority will ensure the same outside the examination centres, he said.

The chief secretary said that as many as 37,000 candidates are likely to appear in the examination in 26 centres spread across seven different towns including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The state government will provide free transport and accommodation arrangement for candidates and their guardians.

The JEE examination will be held between September 1 and 6.

The candidates should register for availing the state government's free transport and accommodation facility. The state government will provide buses to help candidates to travel from their home town to the examination centres, he said.
Dao Quang Vinh, former Director-General of the Institute of Labour, Science and Social Affairs talks on whether Vietnam should launch a second package to help people affected by Covid-19 pandemic.

Illustrative image

Do you have any comments on the Ministry of Labour, War Invalid and Social Affairs decision to disburse US$2.7 billion to support vulnerable people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Basically speaking this support package has not really met the set objectives. The package is valued over VND62 trillion or $2.7 billion, yet by now, some VND17 trillion has been disbursed. People who have benefited from the support are those who served the country, poor households and people who live on social welfare.

However, in the COVID-19 pandemic, these groups of people are not the most affected by the pandemic. The most affected groups are people who have lost their jobs.

According to reports from local governments nationwide, they have faced quite a lot of difficulties in defining who is entitled to receive the Government financial support due to a lack of specific criteria on who should be on the list. Furthermore, the cumbersome administrative procedures have also caused slow disbursement.

Based on experiences from the first package, should we launch the second package?

We should not. Why? Because until now the budget allocated for the first package has not been fully disbursed. What we should do is have more human resources to carry out the first package. If we still want to have the second package, we should draw lessons from the first package and what was done well and what was not.

What Im worried about most is the poor co-ordination among the groups involving in the first support package.

Of course, target groups to benefit from the second social supporting campaign will include small and medium enterprises and super small enterprises and household enterprises as well as working people who are seriously affected by the pandemic.

If the Government decides to continue with the second package, what should we focus on?

First of all, we need to change the working method. With experiences from other countries, we should impose a very strict rule on what we should do and what should not. Due to our limited resources, choosing the right beneficiary groups is the most important thing. Parallel with that we should hold high the principle of transparency and accountability in all activities.

Adding to that we need to develop good and workable procedures to disburse the second package as soon as possible in the spirit of self-accountability.

Do you think that Vietnam should adjust its policy on emergency cases?

In the course of developing policies to respond to natural disasters, epidemics and others, we should include a chapter on risk assessments, including activities on how to control its negative impacts and lessons learned. Of course, in the context of a pandemic, rapid response should come first. Of course, what we can do is minimise the shortcomings, including losses, but not to avoid them. VNS

Labor Ministry proposes second support package for people affected by COVID-19 pandemic The Ministry of Labour, War Valids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) has proposed a VND18.6 trillion (US$798 million) package for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, helping them promote production and maintain employment.
In the wake of a historic Israeli-UAE deal to normalize relations, the first commercial flight from Israel to Emirates is scheduled to depart Monday, according to an Israel Airports Authority flight timetable. The direct flight will take off from Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv and arrive in the UAE's capital, Abu Dhabi.

The flight follows a US-brokered deal between Israel and the UAE earlier this month.

This is exactly what peace for peace looks like, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted today.

Currently scheduled to depart at 10 a.m., the plane is to carry an Israeli delegation led by National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat. It will also host top US aides who helped broker this months agreement, including White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, national security adviser Robert OBrien and US Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz.

A group of Israeli and American reporters are also expected to be on the plane and cover talks between US, Israeli and Emirati officials on Monday and Tuesday.

Israels government asked the countrys airlines to submit bids to host the special flight, according to Reuters. El Al, Israels flag carrier, beat our smaller rivals, including Israir Airlines.

As part of security for the flight, El Al was required to set up an aircraft with a protection system manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries.

The total flight time is unclear because it is not yet confirmed whether the plane can fly over Saudi Arabia, which has no official ties with Israel. The flight code, numbered LY971, is a nod to UAEs international calling number. Tuesdays return flight will be numbered LY972, Israels international calling code.

In May, a plane by UAEs Etihad Airways flew from the UAE to Tel Aviv to deliver coronavirus supplies to Palestinians. Etihad is the UAEs second-largest carrier behind Emirates. The flight marked the first by a UAE airline to Israel.

Earlier this month, Israel and UAE signed a historic deal to normalize relations. Under the agreement, Israel agreed to hold off on annexing large portions of the West Bank in return for cooperation with the UAE on trade, tourism, security and other areas of mutual interest. UAE is the third Arab country after Egypt and Jordan to formally normalize its relationship with Israel.

This month's deal was met with criticism by a handful of countries in the region, including sharp remarks by Turkey.

UAE has no authority whatsoever to negotiate with Israel and make concessions on vital issues for Palestine on behalf of the people and leadership of Palestine against their consent, said a release from the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The history and the conscience of the people in the region will never forget or forgive this hypocritical act.

Israel is one of Turkeys top trading partners.

Israeli and Emirati officials are expected to discuss issues of opening embassies, direct flights and visas next week. Those talks will set the stage for a signing ceremony at the White House next month.
Libya Government of National Accord's Prime Minister Fires Interior Minister Amid Protests

Sputnik News

22:35 GMT 28.08.2020

CAIRO (Sputnik)  The prime minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez Sarraj, has fired Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha amid the ongoing protests in the western part of the country, the GNA said in a statement.

"Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha will be fired and subjected to administrative proceedings," the statement said on late Friday.

The GNA added that Bashagha had to leave his post over the remarks about the rallies, as well as abuses during the protests.

Deputy Interior Minister Khalid Ahmad Mazen has been appointed acting interior minister.

Mass rallies erupted on Sunday in Tripoli and other GNA-controlled cities with demonstrators demanding better living conditions, the resignation of the current government and an end to corruption in the war-torn country. According to Libyan media, the protests resulted in clashes between security staff and a number of protesters. Following the reports about the clashes, Sarraj admitted that the security forces had resorted to excessive violence while dealing with the rallies.

A Sputnik

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Swaths of South Jersey and Central Jersey were struck by power outages Friday evening, after waves of strong thunderstorms moved through the area.

Nearly 20,000 JCP&L customers in Ocean County had lost power by 6:30 p.m., along with almost 700 customers in Monmouth County and some in Middlesex, Burlington and Hunterdon, according to the companys outage website.

By 8:15 p.m, the number of JCP&L customers without power had dropped to about 6,400. The vast majority of those outages were still in Ocean County.

Lightning strikes caused a large amounts of the outages that were seeing, Clifford Cole, a JCP&L spokesman, told NJ Advance Media.

Cole said he could not estimate when power was expected to be restored, but he said JCP&L crews were working on the problem.

PSE&G, meanwhile, was dealing with about 1,500 customers that had lost power in Burlington County at 6:30 p.m. That number had dropped to about 400 by 8:15 p.m.

Tom Garrihy, a PSE&G spokesman, said the utility was working to quickly restore power to all customers.

Atlantic City Electric was reporting fewer than 1,000 customers without power at the same time.

Much of South Jersey remains under severe thunderstorm watch through 8 p.m. on Friday night, and a series of thunderstorm warnings had been issued by the National Weather Service between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Fridays storms were New Jerseys first round of nasty weather linked to tropical moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Laura. More storms from the dissipating tropical system are expected to move through the area on Saturday, and forecasters say some of those storms could become severe with heavy downpours and damaging winds.

Utility companies warned that Lauras leftovers could cause more power outages through the weekend.

Cole said JCP&L crews will be standing by for anymore outages that occur in coming days. Garrihy echoed that message for PSE&G.

We are prepared in terms of having more crews on standby, Garrihy said.

 This afternoons t-storms and the remnants of #HurricaneLaura forecast for Saturday could cause power outages. If you experience any issues, know all the ways to report outages and stay connected with us. #PSEGStorm pic.twitter.com/RDDJ3l8A7b  PSE&G (@PSEGdelivers) August 28, 2020

This story was updated at 8:20 p.m.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com.
By Susan Hansen

The Museum of the Chinese in America (MOCA) might not exist today if not for the dedication of a loose coalition of volunteers and community activists in New York Citys Chinatown. Originally known as the Chinatown History Project, the museum was started in 1980 with a simple goal: to honor and preserve the memory of Chinese-American immigrants in the United States.

Since 2009 MOCA has been housed in a 14,000 square-foot space designed by noted Chinese-American architect Maya Lin on Centre Street. Its collection contains some 65,000 artifacts spanning 160 years of Chinese-American history, including photos, letters, clothing, household objects, and more. The collection reveals a vivid, often heartbreaking, picture of the widespread discrimination these immigrants faced, as well as the Chinese communitys ability to survive and thrive in the United States, in spite of the many obstacles.

Over the years, Barnard students and alumnae, including many with parents who were born in Hong Kong or mainland China, have played a major role in bringing MOCA to life. Two Barnard alumnae were part of the Chinatown group that launched the museum, and MOCAs current executive staff includes several Barnard graduates. All were photographed at the museum.

For more about MOCA and its exhibits, go to mocanyc.org.

Patricia Pei Tang 67

Board chair

Patricia Pei Tang comes from an esteemed Chinese family.Not only is she the half sister of famed architect I.M. Pei, her father served as head of the Central Bank of China, as well as a delegate to the Bretton Woods international monetary conference, before Chinas Communist party took power in 1949. After the revolution, her parents left for New York, where Tang was born and raised. An art history major at Barnard, she went on to work for noted art collector and dealer Eugene Thaw. She made her first trip to China in the mid-1990s. The travel helped kindle a keen interest in her Chinese ancestry, prompting her to co-found a new nonprofitthe American Friends of the Shanghai Museum. The groups mission is to raise funds and boost public awareness of the museum, which is widely regarded as one of Chinas finest cultural institutions. Tang is just as enthusiastic about MOCA, and its effort to preserve the history of Chinese-American immigrants. Its like a jewel box, she says of the museums many artifacts and exhibits. Its an education for everyone.

Fay Chew Matsuda 71

Former Executive Director

Fay Chew Matsuda recalls that assembling the museums collection was a real race against time. Sometimes it was literally dumpster diving, says Matsuda, who notes that as an older generation of Chinese immigrants passed away, irreplaceable photos, news clippings, and other mementos were being tossed in the trash. We were trying to recover history that was quickly being lost. As the daughter of Chinese immigrants, Matsuda witnessed some of that history firsthand. Her mother was a garment worker, while her father ran a laundry, and at one point, owned a restaurant in Chinatown. And though she grew up in the East Village, she recalls that going uptown to attend Barnard on a scholarship was a whole other world. For me, Barnard was a real eye-opener, says Matsuda, who majored in sociology. After more than a decade at MOCA, including two tours as executive director, she is now director of the City Hall Senior Center in lower Manhattan. But Matsuda is grateful for the opportunity she had to help build MOCA. It was about reclaiming our own history, she says, and telling the story we wanted to tell.

Helen Koh 85

Former Executive Director

Helen Koh had been living in Rhode Island when she got the offer to come work for MOCA. At the time, she wasnt all that familiar with the museum. But what she learned piqued her interest. Koh took the job, serving as MOCAs executive director from April 2012 until this past September. Kohs background was unique at MOCA; her parents are both Korean. But she notes that the Chinese experience resonates with those who came here from other East Asian countries, given that they faced similar kinds of discrimination and many of the same challenges and problems. A lot of what happened to the Chinese happened to other Asian Americans too, says Koh, who was an East Asian-studies major at Barnard and previously worked at the Manhattan-based Asia Society. MOCA is trying to help people get a better understanding of the immigrant experience, says Koh, and bring that part of history alive.

Jessica Chao 75

Former Interim Director

Back in her student days at Barnard, Jessica Chao heard about what was then called the Chinatown History Project. She was intrigued enough that she decided to check it out. I remember going downtown to attend meetings, says Chao, whose Chinese-born parents came to the United States to go to graduate school after World War II. She and others involved in the Chinatown History Project were a loose coalition of volunteers trying to preserve the stories of Chinese-American immigrants. As it turned out, they were laying the foundation for whats now MOCA. A dance major at Barnard, Chao is currently interim CEO for the Foundation for Child Development. But shes remained connected to MOCA, where she recently served as interim director. Its really a cultural home for a lot of people, says Chao. It will always have a very soft spot in my heart.

Bonnie Chin Washburn 90

Director of Operations

Bonnie Chin Washburn gave up a career in banking to join MOCA three years ago, and now serves as the museums interim chief operating officer. The daughter of Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong, Washburn grew up in Chinatown, where her father worked at a noodle factory before starting his own laundry business. I know how difficult the immigrant experience can be, she says, noting that MOCA helps bring that experience to life. These are things that youd never learn in history books, she adds. A mother of 6-year-old twin boys, she also likes the fact that MOCA is kid-friendly, and says she regularly brings her sons to exhibits and other activities at the museum. I like the idea of stories being passed down from one generation to the next, says Washburn, who also wants her sons to understand the challenges their grandparents faced. My kids are growing up learning about that different experience.
Families Of Victims Of Ukrainian Plane Crash Urge Those With Evidence To Come Forth

Radio Farda August 28, 2020

The Association of the Families of the Victims of Flight P752 issued a video message on Friday urging anyone who has information or evidence about the downing of the plane to come forward.

In a video message published on social media, Alireza Ghandchi, who lost his wife and two children in the crash, said that victims' families want to know what happened in the 3 minutes and 42 seconds between when the Revolutionary Guard fired the first of its two missiles and the crash.

"Tell us what you know about this crime," Mr. Ghandchi addressed the public.

Ukraine's flight P752 was shot down by two missiles in the early morning hours of January 8, 2020 near Tehran's International Khomeini Airport, killing all 176 passengers and crew members onboard.

Last Sunday, Touraj Dehghani-Zanganeh, the head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, announced several takeaways from the analysis of the data and cockpit talk from the plane.

According to Dehghani-Zanganeh, analysis of the data retrieved from the Ukrainian jet's flight recorders showed that the passengers and crew were not harmed for at least 19 seconds before the second missile hit the plane.

According to Dehghani-Zanganeh, during those critical seconds, the passengers remained alive and the cabin crew who realized the "unnormal situation" tried to navigate the plane, despite the serious damage caused by the missile.

Dehghani-Zanganeh's announcement added to the emotional ordeal of the families of the victims, who have been asking on social media why a second missile was fired at the plane, 25 seconds after the first, if it was fired by the operator "mistaking the plane for a cruise missile."

Iran at first denied any involvement in the crash, but after three days, when overwhelming evidence emerged showing the plane had been shot down, the Revolutionary Guard claimed it was "an accident due to human error" and that the operator of the missile had fired without orders from his superiors.

For more than six months, Iranian authorities refused to hand over the flight recordings to other countries that could decode the contents, before finally surrendering the recordings and sending to France for decoding and analysis.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/families-of- victims-of-ukrainian-plane-crash-urge-those-with- evidence-to-come-forth-/30807520.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.

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" " Beef bourguignon is just one of the many things you can cook in a Dutch oven. rudisill/Getty Images

For almost 300 years, Dutch ovens have been a tried-and-true pot used for cooking everything from stews and soups to brisket and bread. Some might even argue the Dutch oven is the pinnacle of kitchen tools; it's thick walls make it seemingly immune to destruction.

So where did the Dutch oven come from? How do you know which one's right for you? And perhaps more importantly, why don't more people own them?

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A Bit of Background

Hailing from  where else  The Netherlands, Dutch ovens made the journey outside the country thanks to a man named Abraham Darby. According to John G. Ragsdale, author of "Dutch Ovens Chronicled: Their Use in the United States," Darby worked to obtain a patent before mass-producing the heavy cast iron pots and sending them almost all over the world.

But let's back up. Dutch ovens came onto the scene during the aptly-named Dutch Golden Age: This was a period of wealth for the Dutch Republic that laid the foundation to what we now know as The Netherlands. A result of this time of riches, renaissance and renovation was the Dutch oven. Called a "braadpan" in The Netherlands, this multiuse pot was originally made of brass before Darby experimented with a cast iron design.

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What Can I Cook in a Dutch Oven?

So that brings us to the question, why do you need a Dutch oven? Well first, probably any chef will tell you that you can cook almost anything in one.

"They don't heat up your kitchen like an oven," says Ed Harris, chef and winner of the Food Network season four of "Chopped, Turbot Powered." "I use mine to make vegan chili with pasta, vegan paella and African-style roasted potatoes."

Because of its heavy weight, a Dutch oven is ideal for soups or sauces that require an all-day simmer. "If you cook items like stews and roasts, having a Dutch oven is great," Harris says.

But the uses don't end there. You can also prepare sauces like Bolognese or even casseroles. These versatile pots are also ideal for long braises in the oven  think short ribs or lamb shanks. And even a simple roasted chicken will come out crispier and tastier when cooked in a Dutch oven because it allows the bird to be roasted from all sides at the same time  something you can't achieve using a broiler pan. You can even test your bread-baking ability and bake a no-knead bread in less than two hours.

And because the Dutch oven is so heavy with especially thick walls, it's perfect for someone living in a small space. Not only does it retain heat, but it conducts it, too.

" " Homemade, no-kneed rustic bread can easily be made in a Dutch oven. Katrin Ray Shumakov/Getty Images

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Which Dutch Oven Is For You?

So now you're intrigued and think you need a Dutch oven, there a couple of popular brands that dominate the scene. Lodge and Le Creuset are two of those trusted brands. What's particularly interesting about why these two are tops is the material they're made of: enameled cast iron.

Enamel and enamel-coated cast iron are widely viewed as more versatile, easier to clean and better for achieving an even temperature, so keep that in mind.

You also need to consider size. A 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven is large enough for preparing meals for about two to four people. If you typically cook for more than that, consider a 7-, 9- or even 13-quart. (Just remember, though, the bigger they are, the heavier they will be, especially when filled with food.)

What about cost? Here's a little tip you can apply to almost every kitchen appliance: The higher the price usually means the better the quality. That applies to Dutch ovens, too. Think of it this way: You can buy one $90 Dutch oven twice during your lifetime or spend $200 on a Dutch oven that you can pass down to your children's children.

Start at the top and get one from a trusted company like Le Creuset, Lodge or Great Jones. Le Creuset tends to be on the pricier side, but this 2-quart Dutch oven (which serves one to two) starts at $230, while this 6-quart "Dutchess" from Great Jones goes for just $155.

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Caring For and Cleaning a Dutch Oven

The other reason a enamel cast iron Dutch oven is the way to go is because it's so easy to clean. Just scrub and rinse and you're golden (unlike cast iron, which needs to be seasoned regularly). However, the hard part comes when you're making sticky sauces or meaty stews. Harris has seen his share of messes in Dutch ovens.

"Allow it to cool before beginning the cleaning process," Harris says. "Fill it with warm water, a few pumps of dish soap and a couple of tablespoons of baking soda. Allow the mixture to sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Use an abrasive scrub to remove stuck-on food. Pour out half the water, continuing to scrape carefully until all food particles are removed. Once the inside is clean, wipe down the inside with a touch of oil."

Whether it's brisket or bread, the Dutch oven's robust lineage is one of many qualities that makes this versatile cooking pot a must-have in the kitchen.

NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Dutch ovens actually get their names from the Pennsylvania Dutch.
Years have already passed, but Princess Diana's death still lingers on people's minds and hearts.

After being the People's Princess, Princess Diana started to be referred to as "a great loss" to the monarchy and the country.

On August 31, 1997, then 36-year-old Princess of Wales died in a horrific car crash at the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris.

At the time of her death, she was survived by her two young sons, the then-15-year-old Prince William and then-12-year-old Prince Harry.

In the last hours of her life, Princess Diana spent her time with Dodi Fayed. The pair returned to Paris for one night before the royal princess traveled back to London.

Other than the fact that the two died after the accident, here is the detailed timeline everyone should know about the night Princess Diana perished.

What Happened on the Night Of Princess Diana's Death

After Princess Diana went on a vacation at Fayed's yacht in the South of France, the couple went to the Ritz Hotel in Paris owned by Fayed's father on August 30, 1997.

Paparazzi had been following them throughout their entire vacation at sea, but they chose to be as discreet as possible.

Upon arriving at the Ritz, the Princess of Wales called Princes William and Harry at the Balmoral Castle -- not knowing it would be the last conversation she would ever have with them.

Multiple reports revealed that Fayed planned to propose to Princess Diana that night and ordered something at Repossi jewelers. The two rings he picked were later delivered to their suite.

Later on that evening, the two left the Ritz and drove to Fayed's residence near the Arc de Triomphe. Investigators revealed that they had no initial plans of returning to the Ritz hotel as they already planned on spending time outside before heading to dinner.

However, they had to go back to Ritz due to an alarming number of paparazzi.

British investigator Lord John Stevens, who led the inquiry into Diana's death, said: "Because of the attention of the paparazzi during the journey, Dodi al Fayed instructed his chauffeur to drive instead to the Ritz Hotel."

Soon after they arrived back at Ritz, they headed to L'Espadon restaurant. Still, more photographers showed up, causing Fayed to become suspicious and paranoid about photographers.

They asked for their food to be packed up and sent to the Imperial Suite.

At 12:20 AM on August 31, 1997, they left Ritz again to head back to Fayed's apartment.

Their bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, sat in the front seat. Meanwhile, Ritz's security employee Henri Paul drove the black Mercedes S280.

Five minutes after they left the hotel, the Mercedes collided with a concrete pillar in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel.

Fayed and Paul died on the scene. Meanwhile, Rees-Jones (who was the only one to use a seatbelt) and the princess were still breathing.

Princess Diana's sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, told the BBC in a 2017 documentary, "Diana, 7 Days", that the Princess of Wales had always been cautious in putting on her seatbelt except for that night.

Dr. Frederic Maillez, who happened to be driving when the accident occurred, tried to administer first aids until an ambulance arrived. Workers even used an electric chainsaw to recover the princess from the terrible wreckage.

Maillez stayed at the scene for almost an hour while attempting to stabilize Princess Diana's condition.

As she was being transported to Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital, Princess Diana's health suddenly deteriorated. She suffered from a cardiac arrest, and the ambulance had to stop to administer AED and CPR.

An hour and a half after the crash, the ambulance finally arrived at Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital. During that moment, Princess Diana was unconscious but still alive with a heartbeat. Doctors then performed a cardiac massage as surgeons tried to reconnect a ruptured blood vessel near her heart.

Unfortunately, the doctors pronounced Princess Diana's death at 4:00 AM.

"An urgent surgery showed a severe wound to the left pulmonary vein. Despite the closure of this wound and the two-hour external and internal cardiac massage, no official respiratory circulation could be established," hospital anesthesiologist Dr. Bruno Riou said to the media one hour later.

Princess Diana's death anniversary is around the corner, and it will certainly be awesome to celebrate her life and charity works.

READ MORE: Original 'Megxit'? Princess Diana Left MYSTERIOUS Words Before Tragic Death
Amid a surge in cases, government is apprehending a crisis of oxygen and is trying to import it from neighbouring West Bengal and Jharkhand, Health Minister said on Saturday.

On the other hand, in Tripura, with a positivity rate of 21 per cent, the Covid-19 situation under the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) areas is very alarming.

Sarma said that consumption of oxygen by Covid and non-covid patients is gradually increasing in since last month and currently per day oxygen requirement is 33 MT against the state's production capacity of 37.86 MT per day.

"As on Saturday 433 patients are on oxygen support. If the number of Covid and non-covid patients increased, it would be a serious challenge for the health department to manage the oxygen. If we at all manage oxygen from West Bengal and Jharkhand, it would also be a tough task to carry the oxygen in time," he told the media.

According to the Minister, Assam's Covid-19 positive cases increased to 1,01,367 with 81,070 patients recovered from the disease and 286 people succumbed to the disease.

There are 20,008 Covid-19 infected people under treatment on Saturday across the state.

Of the total of 286 deaths took place due to Covid-19 so far in Assam, 183 people died in six of the state's 33 districts -- Kamrup (Metro 64), Dibrugarh (39), Cachar (25), Tinsuikia (20), Karimganj (18) and Kamrup (Rural 17).

With the mortality rate due to 0.28 per cent, Sarma claimed that the fatality rate of is lowest in the country though it was earlier this month 0.24 per cent.

"Assam so far completed testing of 21.47 Lakh samples. With 62,606 per million tests, Assam climbed to third position in the category in India after Delhi and Andhra Pradesh," he said.

After Assam, with 10,879 Covid-19 positive cases becomes the second most affected state among the eight northeastern states. With 96 deaths due to the coronavirus, Tripura's mortality rate is 0.88 per cent against Assam's 0.28 per cent.

In Tripura, 7,232 people have recovered from the disease while 3,529 active cases were reported on Saturday night.

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who also holds the Health Department, said that Covid-19 crisis in the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) areas is extremely alarming with the positivity rate of 21 per cent against the alarming ratio of 10 per cent.

Around five lakh people reside in the AMC areas.

"Of the 49 wards in the AMC, 753 positive cases found in nine wards. To avoid the gatherings in the government offices, 50 per cent employees of group "C" and "D" employees would be allowed to attend the office per day," Deb said in locally televised speech through the television channels.

With the rise in Covid-19 cases, the government from Saturday suspended the "Neighbourhood Classes", which was started by the education department on August 20 in open spaces (outside the class rooms) with five students in each group to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the school students.

--IANS

sc/sdr

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29

Trend:

Khizri Shikhsaidov, Chairman of the People's Assembly of the Republic of Dagestan of the Russian Federation sent a congratulatory letter toMehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"Dear Mehriban Arif qizi,

Please accept my cordial congratulations on the occasion of your birthday. Occupying high public and now a state office, you have earned well-deserved respect among your compatriots and authority on international arena. Your multifaceted and all-encompassing activities aimed at the prosperity of native Azerbaijan, improving the well-being of the country's population, preserving culture, traditions, strengthening its position on the global arena are worthy of utmost respect.

All this is a consequence of your worthy continuation of the course set by the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, in a team with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Having the qualities necessary for such a responsible activity, determination, strong will and the ability to lead people, you remain an amazing example of femininity and inspire women with your kindness, care and charm both in Azerbaijan and in other countries of the world.

For Dagestan, as an integral part of the Russian Federation, good-neighborly and fraternal relations between our peoples are of particular value.

I am confident that they will continue to develop and grow stronger, remaining a solid foundation for successful cooperation.

Dear Mehriban Arif qizi, I wish you the best of health, peace, prosperity and the successful implementation of all your plans for the benefit of the Republic of Azerbaijan," the letter said.
Some of the world's biggest airlines have called on the British and US governments to introduce testing at airports to end quarantine and help unlock 200billion in trade between the two nations.

Industry heavyweights have written to the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, his US counterpart Elaine Chao and the acting US homeland security chief Chad Wolf demanding a testing trial between New York and London by the end of next month.

Shai Weiss, the chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, and Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye are among those to have signed the letter, which has been seen by The Mail on Sunday.

High hopes: Virgins Shai Weiss, right with Richard Branson, signed a letter to Ministers

The others are Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, whose members include British Airways and easyJet, and Nicholas Calio, who runs Airlines for America. They argue a trial should be established while detailed discussions are taking place on the exact testing needed.

They say such trials should focus on routes with the biggest economic impact, highlighting the 200billiona-year trade between the UK and the US. In the letter, the bosses say: 'We believe it is vital these trials focus primarily on those markets which can quickly deliver the maximum economic impact for our recovery.

'Nowhere is this more evident than in the UK-US market, where air travel provides the backbone for the wide ranging and deep-rooted relationship between our two nations.'

They continue: 'We therefore urge both the US and UK to work closely to deliver and establish a testing trial between New York's Newark and JFK airports and London Heathrow by the end of September to gather real world evidence and data that can be used to scale up testing efficiently in the future. This would help align the UK and US with the ongoing progress of other nations.'

Earlier this month, Heathrow airport began offering tests to passengers for 150 in a move that Holland-Kaye hoped would put pressure on the British Government to lift quarantine measures.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's campaign has hired Nick Sandmann, the Kentucky teenager known for his viral encounter with a Native American man at the Lincoln Memorial last year.

Sandmann, 18, landed a paid position as grassroots director for McConnell's reelection effort in Kentucky, the senator's campaign said Friday.

Sandmann started his new role this month, and McConnell campaign manager Kevin Golden said they're 'excited' to have him on board.

As grassroots director, Sandmann will assist in developing field operations and building coalitions.

Nick Sandmann (left) was hired as the grassroots director for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (right) re-election campaign

Sandmann (left) made headlines in 2019 after a clip taken during the March For Life event where he stood closely to Nathan Phillips, a Native American man that was advocating for indigenous rights

Team Mitch welcomed Nick Sandmann to the team and confirmed his position on Twitter

'Along with our already strong team, his efforts to bring people together all across Kentucky will be critical to Senator McConnells victory this November,' Golden said in a statement.

Sandmann, a student at Transylvania University in Lexington, revealed his new position on Twitter.

'Finally got to add more to my bio than just my schools,' he wrote, to which McConnell's campaign replied 'Welcome to #TeamMitch.'

McConnell, the top congressional ally to President Donald Trump, is seeking a seventh term.

His Democratic challenger is Amy McGrath, a retired Marine combat pilot who has raised huge amounts of campaign cash but faces an uphill fight against McConnell in conservative-leaning Kentucky.

McConnell's fight for the senate seat will be against Amy McGrath (pictured), a retired Marine combat pilot whose campaign has raised large amounts of money

Sandmann first garnered national attention after he and his classmates from Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky, attended the March For Life rally in Washington D.C.

Several anti-abortion groups rallied near the Lincoln Memorial in January 2019, while activists for the Indigenous Peoples March simultaneously rallied nearby.

A viral clip showed the two groups facing off at one point with Sandmann, who was 16 years old at the time, standing before a Native American man named Nathan Phillips.

It showed Sandmann and Phillips standing close to each other, with Sandmann staring and at times smiling at Phillips as Phillips played on a drum. Sandmann was wearing a red 'Make America Great Again' cap.

Sandmann (pictured) made a virtual appearance during the Republican National Convention this week

Initial reactions painted the Covington students as the aggressors, with accusations of racism and white privilege.

Both Sandmann and Phillips later said they were trying to defuse tensions among groups that had held competing demonstrations.

Sandmann would later sue several medias outlets, including CNN and the Washington Post, over their coverage of the incident and him, which he labeled as defamation and said did not portray what actually happened that day.

The two parties settled for an undisclosed amount, but Sandmann initially sued for $275million.

Sandmann was in the national spotlight again at this week's Republican National Convention.

He gave a speech accusing news outlets of being driven by 'anti-Christian, anti-conservative, anti-Donald Trump' bias in reporting on his encounter at the Lincoln Memorial.
Pune Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has urged the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to increase the fine for not wearing masks.

Many people are still not wearing masks, which is a wrong practice. We will now increase the fine to Rs 1,000. I will have a meeting today in the afternoon and we will decide, said Pawar who was in the city to inaugurate Covid care centres at Auto Cluster, Chinchwad (216 beds) and in Baner (314 beds).

Pawar was unhappy over people not following the Covid norms of mandatory masks at public places.

Currently, the PMC and PCMC have levied Rs 500 fine from people not wearing masks.

If people continue to not wear masks then cases will keep on increasing. All doctors, police, and politicians are trying their best to control the virus and currently what we need is support from people. All should wear a mask and maintain social distance, only then can we defeat the virus, added Pawar.

Earlier, the PCMC levied a Rs 200 fine, but later on, increased it to Rs 500.

A decision will be taken soon. As people are not following rules we need to take harsh decisions. If the public does not take it seriously then we all have to bear the consequences, said Anna Bodade, assistant municipal commissioner, PCMC.

In most areas of PCMC, people were seen not following norms especially vendors who are selling vegetables and fruits.

I have noticed, along with vendors, that even buyers are not wearing masks. This is completely wrong, one should avoid wrong practices for a safe future, added Bodade.

Casual approach

An HT reporter observed on Friday that social distancing rules were completely flouted at tea stalls and snack shops.

Earlier people used to follow rules strictly, now they dont stand in a queue while maintaining social distance even after telling them many times, said Mai Wadewale, a shop owner at Dange chowk.

People have even continued spitting on roads. PCMC should take strict action for not wearing masks, and not maintaining social distance and spitting in public, said Pratham Godbole, a customer at Mai Wadewales shop.
LAKE GEORGE  There are a few hidden parking spots on Park Place where Troy LaBelle likes to leave his red pickup truck when his usual spot reserved along Canada Street is occupied.

The meters are hidden behind overgrown shrubs, making them difficult to spot even when up close. Anyone unfamiliar with the village could easily miss them, but LaBelle knows the ins-and-outs of Lake George as well as anyone.

As the villages COVID-19 inspector, hes spent nearly two months walking the streets of the popular summer destination, weaving in and out of the 193 businesses along Canada Street and beyond.

In a typical day, I can do anywhere between 10 and 20 inspections, depending on how long Im in the village, LaBelle said through an American flag-themed face mask recently.

A Post-Star reporter spent an afternoon following LaBelle, where he performed a half-dozen inspections and documented multiple violations before ending his day early. Warren County had just released guidance on the protocols for fitness centers to reopen, and there was a meeting he needed to attend.

Im curious as to what the protocols are, he said. We dont have any stand-alone fitness centers in the village, but a couple of hotels have gyms.

Its a part-time job, but one that LaBelle takes seriously. Since being hired on July 6, hes performed over 500 random inspections throughout the village and has issued numerous verbal and written warnings.

Business owners were apprehensive of his presence at first. His green polo emblazoned with the words Village of Lake George Code Enforcement didnt help matters.

I feel like some people feared that I was coming in as law enforcement  coming to crack down and pull business licenses like the states Liquor Authority, LaBelle said as he scanned the crowded sidewalks en route to his hidden parking spot.

But LaBelle said his focus is more on education. Hed rather take the time to help rearrange a few tables or clear up any confusion with the states guidelines than write a citation.

His approach has won over most business owners throughout Lake George, including Marie Bell, who operates the Lookout Cafe on Beach Road.

The restaurant is a popular destination, making it susceptible to overcrowding and other potential violations. Bell often leans on LaBelle for guidance on how to deal with it all, she said.

Whether its good, bad or indifferent, its always nice to see him because he always has insight, Bell said.

Hitting the streets

LaBelle typically begins inspections sometime in the afternoon. A list of businesses he plans to visit is kept in a leather-bound notebook along with copies of the state guidelines for each industry should any questions arise.

Standing on the corner of McGillis Avenue and Canada Street, LaBelle lays out his day: he plans to distribute a green certificate with the villages seal on it acknowledging the merchant is COVID-compliant to a few shops along Beach Road before making his way up toward Canada Street.

Thats when he notices Funarama Fun Park, a childrens theme park that doubles as an arcade. A month earlier, he issued the business a citation after noticing the facility was operating without clearance from the state  an egregious violation.

That was unfortunate, he said of the situation.

Warren County later pulled the businesss operating license. Its still the only business the LaBelle has been forced to issue a citation to, though hes handed out his fair share of warnings.

It was just something that we had to handle, LaBelle said. We havent had any repeat problems.

A closer look

Walking along Beach Road, LaBelle weaves in-and-out of businesses, passing out certificates and taking the time to listen to business owners and store managers, some who asked not to be named.

He makes stops at Slice Pizzeria, Candy Apple, Handbag Heaven and Luccis Fashion.

After talking with the owner of Luccis, he notices the store has no directional hours on the floor, leading to clustering. It seems like a minor infraction, but its one that needs to be documented.

I just want to hang back and see how things flow, LaBelle said, before filling out a form noting the violation.

Prior to becoming the villages COVID inspector, LaBelle was finishing up classes to become a state-licensed home inspector when he caught wind of an open code enforcement position in Lake George.

He submitted a resume and received an interview with Mayor Robert Blais and village trustees a short time later.

The idea was broached about possibly inspecting businesses for COVID violations, and though he was trained in construction, LaBelle said he was eager to accept the position.

Ive been trained in methodical, detailed inspection, and although my inspection background is in construction, I was more than willing to accept the challenge, he said.

LaBelle explained that he knows the difficulties business owners have been facing this summer because of the pandemic, and he takes that understanding with him when carrying out his work.

Proprietors are not only concerned about following the guidelines, but the village has been consistently busy. Major nearby attractions, like Great Escape, have never opened, LaBelle pointed out.

I try to gear my approach in a way that is assertive, but I try to be helpful and let them know Im not there to bash them, but just looking for a solution to a problem at hand before it grows into something else, he said.

A personal connection

Over the course of more than 500 inspections, LaBelle has developed a working relationship with shop owners and managers.

Conversations often start on a personal level before shifting to COVID-related matters.

At iDesign, a custom T-shirt shop on Beach Road, Ahmed Mouneeb, the stores owner, tells LaBelle how he just purchased a new car between working 13-hour days.

After rattling off some of the vehicles specs, he opens up about issues hes experienced with customers not wanting to wear masks.

My only problem is with people sometimes walking in not caring about the masks, Mouneeb said.

LaBelle listens carefully. Its a complaint hes heard all too often.

The village has directed business owners to enforce the mask mandate however they see fit, including calling law enforcement.

Masks Required signs are taped to the door and posted around the store to make the policy clear. Theres nothing more LaBelle can do than listen. His focus is only on ensuring businesses are complying with state mandates.

But if he sees an issue that can be resolved, hell try to do so.

If I see it on site, and I have a manager or a supervisor right there, I will work with them while Im on site to provide a solution, LaBelle said.

Walking along Canada Street, he spotted a few tables in front of Kabab Express that were too close together. State guidelines require spacing of at least 6 feet of distance between parties, and the current setup provided only 3 feet.

That table has got to be moved, LaBelle said before entering the store.

He asks an employee behind the counter if there are any problems or if he has any concerns before mentioning the tables.

Do you mind if I fix them for you? I know youre busy, he said.

Education vs. enforcement

For business owners like Jose Filomeno, who owns the Lake George Beach Club, LaBelles presence is a sight for sore eyes.

LaBelle visits the restaurant frequently due to the size of the establishment.

Filomeno said he knows business owners elsewhere in the state who have been struggling to keep up with state guidelines and struggle to find answers. He welcomes LaBelle because he knows hell provide answers and address any concerns.

Its not enforcement, its education, he said.

At the Village Mall, LaBelle makes a stop at Airbrush Tattoo & Body Art, a small booth that overlooks the lake.

He hands Victoria Baker, an employee working the booth, a green certificate signifying the business is COVID-compliant.

Thank you for everything that you do, LaBelle said.

No, thank you, Baker said.

Issuing citations

Back along Canada Street, LaBelle notices Lake George Vibes had no signage notifying customers that masks are required.

Rather than crack down, LaBelle explains he printed a few signs he planned to distribute to the shops owner. The signs, he said, can often be torn down by passing customers or destroyed by inclement weather.

Just more friendly remediation to offer a quick fix rather than be that iron hammer, he said.

He opens the door to the T-shirt shop and notices the cashier helping a group of customers, her mask below her chin.

LaBelle waves and then exits.

She knows me; she knows shes gotta have a mask on, he said, as he began filling out a form documenting the violation.

A follow-up inspection will be conducted to make sure all employees are doing what theyre supposed to be doing.

After filling out the form, LaBelle re-enters the store. He explains the issue about the signage and reiterates the states mask mandate.

I just wanted to make sure you know, just to be mindful of the mask wearing, LaBelle said.

The woman, whose mask was still below her nose, promptly pulled it up.

It was a friendly, albeit stern encounter.

I think that the business owners are trying to do the best they can to be compliant and theyre very understanding of the mandates being enforced, he said.

Its all about moving forward and maintaining a positive rapport and being respectful, he added.

Chad Arnold is a reporter for The Post-Star covering the city of Glens Falls and the town and village of Lake George. Follow him on Twitter @ChadGArnold.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 22:20:46|Editor: huaxia

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KATHMANDU, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Nepal recorded over 200 deaths from COVID-19 as the fatality from the pandemic doubled in just two weeks, Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population said on Saturday.

Even though the fatality rate was low compared to infections in the earlier months, there has been a surge in deaths in the recent weeks as the pandemic spreads among the communities.

COVID-19 related deaths had crossed 100 mark on Aug. 15 with total deaths of 102 till that date.

"Death toll from the pandemic reached 207 with 12 deaths in the last 24 hours," said Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson at the health ministry at a press meet on Saturday.

The Himalayan country witnessed deaths of 12 persons, record high single day deaths, on Friday and Saturday consecutively.

According to Gautam, the dead victims aged between 30 to 84 in the last 24 hours.

On May 16, Nepal reported the first death from the pandemic -- a 29-year-old woman.

Until July 21 since the first death, Nepal reported a total of 40 deaths. But, after the lockdown was lifted on July 22 which allowed almost all economic and social activities to operate, death toll also started to climb rapidly along with resurgence in COVID-19 cases.

In a recent interview Gautam told Xinhua that after the lockdown was lifted, the pandemic spread among all groups of people including young, elderly and the people with existing conditions which resulted in high number of deaths.

Along with the deaths, the number of COVID-19 patients in critical condition is also on the rise. As of Saturday, 175 patients are taking treatment at intensive care units while 22 others have been kept with the support of ventilators, according to the health ministry.

Meanwhile, the ministry reported new 884 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total infections to 37,340. Enditem
This is one macabre auction: A lock of Abraham Lincolns hair, wrapped in a bloodstained telegram about his 1865 assassination, is up for sale.

Boston-based RR Auction said bidding has opened online for the items ahead of a live auction scheduled for Sept. 12 in New Hampshire. The auction house set the minimum bid at $10,000 but expects the lock and telegram to fetch $75,000 or more, spokesman Mike Graff said.

Measuring roughly 2 inches long, the bushy lock of hair was removed during Lincolns postmortem examination after he was fatally shot by John Wilkes Booth at Fords Theatre in Washington, D.C.

It was given to Dr. Lyman Beecher Todd, a Kentucky postmaster and a cousin of Mary Todd Lincoln, the 16th presidents widow, Graff said. The physician was present when Lincolns body was examined, he added.

The hair is mounted on an official War Department telegram sent to Dr. Todd by George Kinnear, his assistant in the Lexington, Kentucky, post office. The telegram was received in Washington at 11 p.m. April 14, 1865.

A caption typed by Todds son reads: The above telegram  arrived in Washington a few minutes after Abraham Lincoln was shot. Next day, at the postmortem, when a lock of hair, clipped from near the Presidents left temple, was given to Dr. Todd  finding no other paper in his pocket  he wrapped the lock, stained with blood or brain fluid, in this telegram and hastily wrote on it in pencil: Hair of A. Lincoln.

Dr. Todd gave a slightly different account later in life, writing in 1895  three decades after the assassination and seven years before his own death  that he clipped the lock of hair himself.

In Lincoln-era papers kept at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, he wrote in an account of the autopsy: When all was over, General Hardin entered, and handed me a pair of scissors, requesting me to cut a few locks of hair for Mrs. Lincoln. I carefully cut and delivered them to General Hardin, and then secured one for myself which I have preserved as a sacred relic.

Could scientists clone Lincoln from the lock? Forget about it. Hair follicles rarely contain viable DNA, the genetic material that maps human beings.

RR Auction said it vouches for the authenticity of the lock and telegram, in part based on a 1945 letter written by Dr. Todds son, James Todd. The letter says the clipping of hair has remained entirely in the custody of our family since that time. It last was sold in 1999, the auction house said.

Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auction, disputes the notion that the offerings  particularly the lock  are a little on the dark side.

Its not macabre. Its a fascinating artifact from a horrible tragedy, he told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. Collecting locks of hair was common after someone passed away. Its such a piece of history. The assassination of President Lincoln was obviously such a shock.

Historians say the telegram itself is significant because it disproved a conspiracy theory that then-Secretary of War Edwin Stanton plotted to kill Lincoln because of their personal and political differences.

At the time, some claimed that Stanton ordered military communications to be disrupted, allowing Booth to briefly elude his captors. The time stamp on the dispatch shows that military telegraph lines were, in fact, functioning on the night Lincoln was assassinated.

The telegram is evidence to disprove the misinformation and conspiracy theories in the Lincoln assassination, Graff said.
In a series of tweets, the Islamic Republic foreign ministry officials have dismissed the U.S. Secretary of State's Mike Pompeo's remarks about returning the international sanctions on Iran.

Accusing Secretary Pompeo of "living in an imaginary parallel world," the spokesman for the Islamic Republic Foreign Ministry, Saeed Khatibzadeh, argued that since Washington is not a party to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, it cannot call for the snapback of the UN sanctions on Tehran.

After extending it for four times during the last two years of Barack Obama's and first two years of Donald Trump's presidency, the White House withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 and reimposed batches of devastating sanctions on the clergy-dominated Iran.

Pompeo reiterated on August 27 that the United States would make sure the UN international sanctions against Iran return on September 20.

Firing back sarcastically, Khatibzadeh maintained, "The hands of the clock only move in the imaginary parallel world of Pompeo."

The Islamic republic Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, for his part, dismissed recent threats of the United States for imposing sanctions against any country that stands against their snapback measures.

"After thrice being rejected by SC (United Nations Security Council), US now threatens sanctioning [sic] anyone and any entity that comes between US and its snapback," Zarif wrote in a tweet on Friday, August 28.

"Obviously they don't understand [the] law or UN. Maybe they can grasp this: You divorced the JCPOA in 2018. Your name on the marriage certificate is irrelevant," Zarif added.

Nonetheless, the U.S. still insists on being a party to the UNSCR 2231, if not the nuclear deal itself and has sent a letter to the UN Security Council to activate the snapback or trigger mechanism.
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This month marks three years since Myanmars military launched an escalated campaign against the mostly ethnic Muslim Rohingyas in Rakhine state, with systematic rape, beatings, killings and burning of villages.
Natural disasters alone are not enough to motivate local communities to engage in climate change mitigation or adaptation, a new study from Oregon State University found.

Rather, policy change in response to extreme weather events appears to depend on a combination of factors, including fatalities, sustained media coverage, the unusualness of the event and the political makeup of the community.

Climate scientists predict that the frequency and severity of extreme weather events will only continue to increase in coming decades. OSU researchers wanted to understand how local communities are reacting.

There's obviously national and state-level climate change policy, but we're really interested in what goes on at the local level to adapt to these changes. Local communities are typically the first to respond to extreme events and disasters. How are they making themselves more resilient -- for example, how are they adapting to more frequent flooding or intense heat?" Leanne Giordono, Study Lead Author and Post Doctoral Researcher, Oregon State University College of Public Health and Human Sciences

For the study, which was funded by the National Science Foundation, Giordono and co-authors Hilary Boudet of OSU's College of Liberal Arts and Alexander Gard-Murray at Harvard University examined 15 extreme weather events that occurred around the U.S. between March 2012 and June 2017, and any subsequent local climate policy change.

These events included flooding, winter weather, extreme heat, tornadoes, wildfires and a landslide.

The study, published recently in the journal Policy Sciences, found there were two "recipes" for local policy change after an extreme weather event.

"For both recipes, experiencing a high-impact event -- one with many deaths or a presidential disaster declaration -- is a necessary condition for future-oriented policy adoption," Giordono said.

In addition to a high death toll, the first recipe consisted of Democrat-leaning communities where there was focused media coverage of the weather event. These communities moved forward with adopting policies aimed at adapting in response to future climate change, such as building emergency preparedness and risk management capacity.

The second recipe consisted of Republican-leaning communities with past experiences of other uncommon weather events. In these locales, residents often didn't engage directly in conversation about climate change but still worked on policies meant to prepare their communities for future disasters.

In both recipes, policy changes were fairly modest and reactive, such as building fire breaks, levees or community tornado shelters. Giordono referred to these as "instrumental" policy changes.

"As opposed to being driven by ideology or a shift in thought process, it's more a means to an end," she said. "'We don't want anyone else to die from tornadoes, so we build a shelter.' It's not typically a systemic response to global climate change."

In their sample, the researchers didn't find any evidence of mitigation-focused policy response, such as communities passing laws to limit carbon emissions or require a shift to solar power. And some communities did not make any policy changes at all in the wake of extreme weather.

The researchers suggest that in communities that are ideologically resistant to talking about climate change, it may be more effective to frame these policy conversations in other ways, such as people's commitment to their community or the community's long-term viability.

Without specifically examining communities that have not experienced extreme weather events, the researchers cannot speak to the status of their policy change, but Giordono said it is a question for future study.

"In some ways, it's not surprising that you see communities that have these really devastating events responding to them," Giordono said. "What about the vast majority of communities that don't experience a high-impact event -- is there a way to also spark interest in those communities?"

"We don't want people to have to experience these types of disasters to make changes."
Two helicopter mechanics serving in an elite nighttime special operations unit died and three others were injured when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed in what has been described as an accident late on Thursday, the United States military said.

Staff Sgt. Vincent P. Marketta, 33, of Brick, New Jersey, and Sgt. Tyler M. Shelton, 22, of San Bernardino, California, were killed late on Thursday in an aviation mishap just off the coast of San Diego, according to the Army.

The names of the injured soldiers have not been released.

A Pentagon official told The San Diego Union Tribune that the accident was part of routine training on San Clemente Island, which lies some 70 miles west of San Diego.

Staff Sgt. Vincent P. Marketta (left), 33, of Brick, New Jersey, and Sgt. Tyler M. Shelton (right), 22, of San Bernardino, California, were killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed during routine training off the coast of San Diego on Thursday, the US Army said

Both Marketta and Shelton enlisted in the Army as repairers of the 15T UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter (seen in the above stock image)

San Clemente Island, which is controlled by the United States Navy and falls under the command of Naval Base Coronado, has an airfield, a bombing range, and a training facility for special operations units

The island, which is controlled by the United States Navy and falls under the command of Naval Base Coronado, has an airfield, a bombing range, and a training facility for special operations units, including the SEALs.

The loss of Staff Sgt. Marketta and Sgt. Shelton has left a scar in this Regiment that will never completely heal, said Col. Andrew R. Graham, commander of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne).

Their level of dedication to the 160th SOAR (A) and their exemplary service in the Army is the embodiment of what it means to be a Night Stalker and a Soldier.

In 2011, Marketta enlisted in the Army as a repairer for the 15T UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

After completing advanced training, he was assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne).

The 160th SOAR (A), known famously by their nickname Night Stalkers, provides helicopter aviation support for special operations forces that conduct nighttime missions.

In May 2011, the Night Stalkers provided cover to special forces involved in the raid that killed Osama bin-Laden, though it is not known if Marketta participated in this operation.

Sheltons aunt, Kristen Ray, posted video on her Facebook account showing a tribute to her late nephew. With the Star Spangled Banner playing in the background, her 10-year-old son, Evan Ray, drove a race car around a track while Sheltons brother, Hunter Shelton, held aloft an American flag in San Bernardino County, California, on Friday

In 2012, Marketta completed an advanced training and assessment program in 2012.

He then spent 18 months as an aircraft repairer in 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR (A).

In 2014, Marketta became an MH-60M crew chief in the 1st Battalion.

That same year, he was deployed to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

He was also sent to Iraq with his battalion in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Marketta was awarded several honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Air Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and other commendations.

Shelton also enlisted in the Army in 2016 as a Black Hawk repairer. He went through the same training regimen that Marketta completed.

In 2018, Shelton was deployed as a crew chief to Afghanistan.

Sheltons aunt, Kristen Ray, posted a video on her Facebook account showing a tribute to her late nephew.

With the Star Spangled Banner playing in the background, her 10-year-old son, Evan Ray, drove a race car around a track while Sheltons brother, Hunter Shelton, held aloft an American flag.

I honestly have no words right now Im still in stock, Kristen Ray told VVNG.com

This is the second fatal accident to claim the lives of soldiers during training operations on San Clemente Island in the last month.

Nine service members died after their amphibious assault vehicle sank in deep water during a training exercise on July 30.

Eight Marines and one sailor died in the accident. An investigation is ongoing.
Two conservation groups said they plan to sue a Hilton resort in Fort Lauderdale Beach for using outdoor lighting that harms and disorients protected sea turtles, which violates the Endangered Species Act.

The Center for Biological Diversity and the Sea Turtle Oversight Protection (STOP) said they intend to sue the Bahia Mar Resort and Marina, a Hilton Double Tree hotel, if it doesnt change outdoor and indoor lighting practices. They are pressuring Hilton to comply with Fort Lauderdales city code aimed at reducing the impact of artificial lighting on sea turtles during nesting and hatching season, which runs through October.

The Bahia Mar Resort and Marina and the Hilton Double Tree hotel have ignored their responsibility to protect sea turtles from artificial light on their properties for far too long, Richard WhiteCloud, STOPs president, said in a statement. The lights injure and harm sea turtles and their hatchlings and Bahia Mar Resort and Marina, and the Hilton Double Tree hotel must be held accountable for the thousands of sea turtles that have been harmed.

A loggerhead sea turtle leaves for the ocean on Fort Lauderdale beach on Wednesday, June 9, 2010.

The groups said that Fort Lauderdale issued citations to the resort for not complying with the beach lighting code in 2016 and 2019. STOP said it has filed 30 complaints with the city since 2014 about the lighting issue.

The resort is located on Seabreeze Boulevard across from South Beach Park, a prime nesting ground for loggerhead and green sea turtles, the groups said. The resorts hotel, restaurants and marina display bright indoor lights and blue outdoor lights that are visible from the beach, says the notice of intent to sue sent on Aug. 27. The lights have caused the disorientation of 3,853 loggerhead and green sea turtle hatchlings from 2016 to date, the letter said.

Bright lights near beaches can cause nesting females to abandon efforts to lay eggs. Artificial lights also lead hatchlings to move in the wrong direction when they emerge from nests, often causing them to crawl toward hotels and homes instead of the ocean. Sea turtles are among the most threatened animals on earth, under pressure primarily from the loss of nesting habitats around the world and poaching. They make long journeys to mate and nest, and risk being killed by overfishing, pollution and marine debris. Though conservation efforts in places like Florida have improved population numbers over the past couple of decades, the average chance of survival to adulthood is still around 1 percent or less.

Story continues

Beach lighting and seawall setback ordinances to keep the areas dark and accessible for female nesting turtles are crucial conservation measures, according to scientists. Disorientation may result in turtles being killed by predators or struck by vehicles, or cause them to die of exhaustion or dehydration, said the notice.

City lights can disorient baby sea turtles causing them to scramble along the beach looking for the surf. But a new study found that even disoriented turtles werent too tired to swim.

Lisa Namour, the hotels General Manager, said Bahia Mar is working to fix the issues.

Upon notification of a possible concern, we took immediate action and have implemented several steps to reinforce our commitment to sea turtle protection through the nesting process and their journey to the sea, which includes adjusting certain exterior lights , creating a guest awareness program to engage visitors to support our efforts and eliminating plastic straw use, among other actions,  she said in an emailed statement.

Fort Lauderdales code requires that no artificial light shall illuminate any area of the citys beaches. For existing developments, this requires actions such as turning off lights at night during nesting season, or installing screening, tinting, shielding and other measures to ensure that interior and exterior lights do not reach the beach.

The letter proposes some solutions to Hiltons lighting problem, including the installation of shields to direct exterior lights toward the ground and the use of turtle-friendly, amber-colored LED lights.

Fort Lauderdale Beach is prime habitat for these miraculous creatures, and were hopeful Hilton will do the right thing by fixing its lighting problem, said Jaclyn Lopez, Florida director at the Center for Biological Diversity. With hatchlings continuing to emerge, the resort must act quickly to ensure no more sea turtles are harmed.
Correction: An earlier version of this editorial incorrectly decscribed an exchange between Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and U.S. Rep. Katie Porter about postage rates.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy knew the rate of a first-class postage stamp  55 cents  when asked by U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., during his appearance Monday before the House Oversight Committee. But he did not know the price of a postcard, which is 35 cents.

These werent gotcha questions. Even getting both questions wrong wouldnt have been reason for concern or mockery, although a lack of knowledge about postage does suggest a lack of knowledge about the Postal Service. The concern is that as President Donald Trump continues to make baseless claims about the unreliability and corruption of mail-in voting, DeJoy is overseeing changes at the United States Postal Service that could potentially slow the delivery of mail-in ballots to the benefit of Trump. Yes, he has assured the public that ballots will be prioritized, but lets remember this assurance only came after widespread concern about these postal changes.

Porters larger point in asking DeJoy those questions was to understand why a man with little knowledge of the agency, began making dramatic changes, with little consultation, upon taking office in June. DeJoy said that reducing overtime, limiting trips and removing mail-sorting machines across the country were cost-saving measures.

His testimony may not have suspended suspicions for the motives for these changes, but it hopefully suspended harm to the electoral process. While denying accusations by Democratic lawmakers that the changes he made were politically motivated, DeJoy announced he would postpone them until after the election. This is welcome, but why implement significant changes right before an election in which many Americans will vote by mail because of the pandemic? Why inject doubt?

There are issues that must still be resolved, including investigation of nondelivery of the mail. A few days before DeJoys hearing, San Antonio Rep. Joaquin Castro visited the citys main post office on Perrin Beitel where six mail-sorting machines had been removed. But a postal workers union leader alleged that workers were told, before Castros arrival, to move 30,000 to 54,000 undelivered pieces of mail, some dated in March.

The very real, perennial problem of the USPS is its dire financial condition. DeJoy was correct in accusing Congress of not doing more to help. In fact, in 2006, Congress passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, or PAEA, requiring the USPS to create a $72 billion fund to pay for 75 years of future retirement health care, something no other federal agency is asked to do.

But earlier this year, Trump blocked emergency funding for USPS and threatened to veto the $2.2 trillion stimulus package unless a $13 billion grant for USPS was removed. It was replaced with a $10 billion loan. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has warned Trump will oppose future stimulus packages if relief for the Postal Service is included.

Last weekend, the House of Representatives passed a bill that includes $25 billion to USPS. Were the bill to get through the Senate, which is unlikely, Trump has said he will veto it.

Which brings us back to an issue that wont be resolved before November and is fueling at least some of the drama and angst over USPS: Trumps hostility to the agency. Initially the hostility was stoked because he wanted it to charge Amazon, owned by Jeff Bezos, who also owns the Washington Post, higher rates for shipping products.

That Trump or any elected or appointed officials would go after the USPS is remarkable since it is easily the most popular federal agency in the nation. An April Pew Research Center poll found that USPS has a 91 percent approval rating among the American people.

That Trump will continue to sow doubt about the Postal Services ability to do its job and the accuracy of the votes Americans will cast is distracting and troubling. His attacks on mail-in voting set a potential stage for widespread doubt about the election outcome  no matter who wins. This is how democracies are destabilized.
Seaweed has many benefits; it may replace plastic as a future source of fuel and food.





Seaweed's Characteristics

Seaweed is classified as algae. It is fast-growing, uses energy from the sun, and consumes carbon dioxide and nutrients from seawater. Scientists are suggesting that seaweed may be able to help mitigate carbon emissions and climate change.

Cultivating Seaweed

A seaweed cultivation rig is anchored to the seafloor. It has ropes that are latticed and have lengths of 50,000 meters or 164,000 feet. The strings are designed so that they can withstand large and rough waves. According to seaweed producer and Ocean Rainforest managing director Mr. Gregarsen, the rig's main structure goes down 10 meters to avoid large breaking waves.

They have cultivation areas in the North Atlantic in Denmark's territory. According to Mr. Gregarsen, the site is rich in nutrients and has deep waters. Also, it has a stable 6 to 11 C temperature range. All of these factors make the area ideal for seaweed growth. This year, they will be harvesting roughly 200 tons.

Gregersen's group is one of many seaweed farms set up in North America and Europe due to increasing demand from various industries, including the food sector. It is gaining demand because it can be utilized as feed and food, and it can also replace fossil fuel-based plastic packaging products.

READ: Scientists Are Baffled by Origin of New Species of Red Algae Threatening Coral Reefs of Hawaii





Production in the US

Ocean Rainforest has recently been funded by the US Department of Energy to replicate its Danish system and build a similar California one. California wants to start industrialized production for use as biofuels.

Large-Scale Production

Gregersen's company is planning on doubling production this year. They are planning to mechanize their production and make their operation large-scale and more efficient. Gregersen says only a few companies can make seaweed a profitable venture.





Various Uses of Seaweed

Dried seaweed is used in the manufacture of food, while fermented seaweed is used as animal feed. Seaweed extract has many benefits, such as cosmetics, toothpaste, pet food, and medicines. These products have seaweed-derived hydrocolloids utilized for their thickening or gelling properties.

More products may find seaweed useful. Many firms currently work on making alternatives to plastic and textiles. Soon, seaweed may be used as water capsules, drinking straws, and biodegradable packaging.

READ ALSO: Scientists Create Gel Optical Fiber Produced From Saltwater Algae





The Seaweed Business

Production boomed from 2005 to 2015. Supply has doubled and surpassed 30 million tons per year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. Seaweed is currently worth over six billion dollars globally.

Farming in Asia has long been established, and the main global production and cultivation occur here. The operation, however, is labor-intensive.

According to Denmark Aarhus University senior scientist Annette Bruhn, European labor is really expensive, so major efforts in upscaling and mechanization are needed to make farming viable and economical. She says that they have to increase yield and decrease costs.

However, she adds that farming systems cannot readily be replicated due to different conditions. Sintef, a Norwegian research innovator, is developing new technologies in streamlining seaweed farming. Another innovator is Portugal-based AlgaPlus, which cultivates seaweed inland.

Helena Abreu, AlgalPlus managing director, says inland farming has advantages such as controlled conditions and production all year round. South African and Canadian farms also grow seaweed inland.

With the seaweed's potential to replace plastic and be a fuel and food source, Abreu believes the market will still grow since more companies and newcomers continue to enter all parts of the seaweed value chain.

READ NEXT: 50,000-Year-Old Indian Lake Just Turned Pink, Baffling Scientists, and Experts





Check out for more news and information on Plastics on Nature World News.
During the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of students have not been able to attend online classes due to lack of access to the internet. There have been a lot of incidents where students were required to travel long distances to reach a place where they could find proper internet connectivity. Two sisters in western El Salvador face the same problem. They walk a kilometre to climb a mountain, then scramble up an olive tree to get a signal to access their online college lessons.
Lawyers argue whether SC has right to hear Ranjans contempt of court case By Ranjith Padmasiri View(s): View(s):

The submissions in the contempt of court case against MP Ranjan Ramanayake were concluded this week with arguments over whether the Supreme Court had the power to hear the case.

The landmark case was heard before a three-member bench comprising Justices Sisira de Abrew (presiding), Vijith Malalgoda and Padman Surasena.

Appearing for Mr Ramanayake, M.A. Sumanthiran PC argued that the SC did not have the power to deal with contempt of court in this case, and that that contempt of court is not defined as an offence. He argued that there was no procedure laid down in the Constitution to deal with contempt of court cases and so the procedure in the Civil Procedure Code should be followed.

Mr. Sumanthiran said the SC only had the power under Article 105 (3) of the Constitution to look into instances of contempt of court where either the SC itself or its judges had been referred to. He argued that Mr Ramanayake had only referred to judges and that his statement would only be in contempt of court under Article 105 (3) if it either directly brought the SC or a SC judge into contempt.

In response, Additional Solictor General Sarath Jayamanne submitted that the SC, under Article 118 of the Constitution is the highest and final superior Court of record in the country. Further, Article 105(3) of the Constitution sets out that the Supreme Court shall havethe power to punish for contempt of itself, whether committed in the court itself or elsewhere.

Although Mr Ramanayakes statement was not made in the Supreme Court, it would fall within the scope of elsewhere, he argued. He emphasised that it is only the Supreme Court who can interpret what committed elsewhere means.

Mr. Jayamanne referred to how judges is defined in Section 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act as the presiding officer of a court including the SC, and judge can also mean the SC itself.

Mr. Sumanthiran then argued that assuming but not conceding that the SC did have the power to look into this matter, that they should have followed the Civil Procedure Code and not criminal procedure. In response, Mr. Jayamanne argued that the SC is not bound to follow the Civil Procedure Code as the SC the highest court in the country.

Mr Ramanayake had also taken up the position that he never intended to speak badly of judges, but only intended to criticise lawyers. He said the word judges had slipped out of his mouth. Mr. Jayamanne citing the MPs statements to the media countered this. The case will be mentioned next on the September 14 for clarifications.
Across the state, renters are facing evictions, despite an eviction moratorium issued by Gov. Phil Murphy. The moratorium, which was part of an executive order, is meant to help renters who are struggling to pay their rent because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

More than 15,000 renters in New Jersey are facing evictions as of this month, according to the latest court data, which housing advocates fear is going to greatly increase once the moratorium expires.

The moratorium, which did not stop the filing of evictions since April 1, has instead stopped the enforcement of evictions until 60 days after the states public health emergency expires. Renters can stay in their homes until then, even if they cant pay their rent.

On Thursday, Murphy extended the states public health emergency order, which also extends the statewide eviction moratorium, ensuring it will not expire earlier than the end of November.

However, the current situation is devastating to many tenants in Trenton, many of whom are low-income and were already struggling to pay their bills, said Mosudi Idowu, the director of the Rapid Re-housing program at the Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton.

At the nonprofit, Idowu works with renters who are facing evictions. He said he had about 60 requests for support in his program, and he will be able to help most of them.

The program uses a combination of federal funds  from the Department of Housing and Urban Development  and county funds to help homeless individuals and families in Burlington and Mercer counties find affordable, permanent housing, while helping with three to six months of financial assistance.

Financial hardships because of coronavirus

During the coronavirus outbreak and widespread restrictions imposed by the state, many tenants working in the retail sector or similar fields were not given full-time positions or faced a reduction in hours, Idowu said. And others were unable to go back, he added.

As a result of this, they are owing an average of about four to six months rent as of today, he told NJ Advance Media in early August. And what made matters worse, is some of them were struggling even before COVID to make the payment.

Idowu said some tenants have been able to receive unemployment benefits, but those who are undocumented  and were working under the table  are even more impacted by the crisis.

And now with COVID, no one knows when its going to end, he said. Its really devastating on the population.

Employment is key to the programs requirements, Idowu said, since its designed to help people who are able to secure employment.

It doesnt mean you have income or employment, but you must demonstrate your ability to secure employment with a reasonable time, he said, adding that means three months.

The city of Trenton is also aware of the circumstances many renters are facing. Since June, the city has received seven complaints regarding eviction threats, said Will Skaggs, a spokesman for the city.

When someone reports this type of incident, the Office of Citizens Concerns informs the tenants of their rights, including the current moratorium on evictions, and asks the tenant to follow up if the threats continue, Skaggs said, adding that has not happened yet.

However, when the statewide moratorium on evictions expires, Trentons Emergency Solutions Grant for homeless protection will resume, Skaggs said. The grant is funded through the federal economic stimulus bill known as the CARES Act.

If a tenant applies, meets the criteria and is eligible for the program, the city provides payment for up to six months of rental arrears, he said. Trenton has also allocated $100,000 in CARES Act funding for legal services for city residents facing eviction due to the pandemic, he said.

Since July 2018, the city of Trenton has helped keep over 550 residents in their homes by providing back rent assistance, with help from local nonprofits, Skaggs said.

Problems with unemployment benefits

Cynthia Mendez, the director of housing stability services at the Mercer County-based nonprofit Arm In Arm, said one of the biggest difficulties people had was accessing and receiving their unemployment benefits.

So what we saw were people were able to pretty much pay their rent (in) April and May. And then difficulty started happening, she told NJ Advance Media, adding that the expiration of additional federal benefits contributed to the crisis.

So June, and especially July and August, and especially when that extra $600 went away, people were definitely facing some hardships, she said.

But thanks to generous donors, Arm In Arm has been able to assist people on a larger level than the nonprofit typically provides, Mendez said. The nonprofits three food pantries have also seen an increase in people, she added.

The bottom line is people are still struggling. I dont know if people are returning to work at levels pre-pandemic, she said. Even if they are, its still going to take them a month or two to catch up, if they ever catch up.

How do you ever catch up if you potentially owe thousands of dollars? Mendez said, referring to the months of back rent many tenants may owe. But your heart goes out to the landlords too. They have to pay their mortgages. Its a catch-22.

Earlier this month, Murphy introduced a new emergency aid program that will allow certain landlords to make up for lost back rent from tenants affected by the pandemic, through a $25 million pool of grant money.

The small rental apartment building landlords who receive the federal funds will then be required to cancel the back rent and late fees of those tenants who werent able to pay from April to July.

But regardless of current protections, grant money and donor funds, advocates are still concerned about whats to come for many renters in the area.

People are relatively safe because they have the moratorium, but my staff and I have a feeling that number will escalate if and when Gov. Murphy lifts the moratorium, Mendez said.

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Police are searching a river in Suffolk after human remains were found in two black bin bags inside a submerged shopping trolley.

The murder probe was launched after the bags were discovered by a passerby in the River Stour, Sudbury, on Thursday.

The member of the public reported the bags to a ranger, who moved them from the shopping trolley before realising they contained bones and calling the police.

Suffolk Police are searching the River Stour and its banks (pictured on Saturday) after two black bin bags were found in a submerged shopping trolley on Thursday

Police have shut the footpath between Meadow Gate and Croft Gate, and there is also an emergency navigation closure at the Croft Road footbridge

Police were called to the River Stour, between Meadow Gates and Croft Bridge in Sudbury at around 4.30pm the same day.

The incident is being treated as suspicious and police have confirmed the remains are human.

On Saturday, police said they had closed an area around the river to allow their search to continue.

The force said they had shut the footpath between Meadow Gate and Croft Gate, including Croft Road footbridge.

An emergency navigation closure for the River Stour at the Croft Road footbridge had also been put in place, police said.

Both the river and its banks are being searched with the help of divers from the Metropolitan Police's marine policing unit.

The River Stour is being searched by police (pictured on Saturday) with the help of divers from the Metropolitan Police's marine policing unit

Police were called to the River Stour, between Meadow Gates and Croft Bridge in Sudbury at around 4.30pm after a passerby spotting the bags in the water

There are two police scenes  one around the area of the river where the bags were discovered and the other around the spot where the bags were moved to

Suffolk Police said the closures are likely to stay in place into early next week and thanked local residents for their patience and understanding.

The force previously confirmed they launched a murder investigation due to the 'suspicious circumstances' in which the bones were found.

Police previously said a post-mortem examination was due to take place on Saturday.

There are now two police scenes  one around the area of the river where the bags were discovered and the other around the spot where the bags were moved to.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Jones, of Suffolk police, has called for people to get in touch with any information

Suffolk police were called to the River Stour in Sudbury on Thursday at around 4.30pm after a bag of bones was found, which police later confirmed were human

Police confirmed they launched a murder investigation due to the 'suspicious circumstances' in which the bones were found

Police have launched a murder investigation and hope analysis of the human remains will lead to a suspect.

A Suffolk police spokesman said: 'A sensitive and methodical process will now take place over the coming days as the bones are examined and forensic tests are conducted.

'Various other investigative work and searches will also be carried-out, which will need to utilise a number of specialist resources.'

A Home Office post-mortem examination is due to take place tomorrow, but a police spokesman said the investigation will take time.

The area has been cordoned off by Suffolk police as they try to work out when the trolley was dumped in the water

Detectives believe that other people may have already seen the trolley and want to know when it was dumped into the water

Circled is the bag of bones which police have confirmed are human remains

Police have launched a murder investigation and hope analysis of the human remains will lead to a suspect

Inspector Kevin Horton, Local Policing Commander for Sudbury, said: 'We appreciate that local residents are likely to find this discovery alarming and as such we will be increasing police patrols in the town to provide reassurance.

'Officers are also likely to remain at the scene over the weekend and in to the early part of next week.

'Discoveries such as this are extremely rare  especially in Suffolk  and as such we do not believe there is any cause for concern to members of the public.

'We would ask anyone with information about this discovery to make contact with the Major Investigation Team immediately.

'This includes anyone who believes they saw the bags in the river prior to yesterday afternoon, or saw the shopping trolley either in this location or elsewhere along the river.'
As a child in New York City, Steven Roberts attended a predominantly Black church whereas is common in Black churches across the USGod and Jesus were depicted as white men.

Being watched and policed by a white Jesus was confusing, says Roberts, now an assistant professor of psychology at Stanford University and co-director of its Social Concepts Lab. Perhaps it was partly his pastors framing of God as a judge, he tells Quartz, but the contrast between the Black congregants and the all-seeing white man who featured prominently in the room, high and mighty, made him feel uncomfortable.

Many Black Americans have made similar observations. In a BBC interview in 1971, Muhammad Ali famously cataloged all the questionable white cultural symbolsincluding angels, the men in Leonardo da Vincis The Last Supper, and a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jesusthat he would ask his mother about when he was a boy. The writer James Baldwin spoke of his community being victimized by an alabaster Christ. And more recently, Black Lives Matter activists have called to remove images of a white, Eurocentric Jesuswhich are counterfactualas intentional symbols of white supremacy in the US.

Scholars have documented how those depictions have supported a white supremacist agenda. And theyre beginning to investigate how the whiteness of divine images has impacted the mental landscape for Black Americans. Recent research led by Simon Howard, a psychology professor at Marquette University, suggested that white religious icons are linked to subtle anti-Black and more marked pro-white sentiment among Black Americans who have been exposed to those images.

Roberts is continuing that line of investigation. He led a team of psychologists for a study published this year in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology that investigated a related question: How does the race and gender assigned to a metaphysical God relate to real life ideas about who belongs in positions of leadership? And how might Gods whiteness contribute to overwhelmingly white and male corporate leadership?

Story continues

They discovered that among US Christians and non-Christians alike, and among adults and children, the more people see God as white, the more likely they are to favor a white candidate for a corporate managerial role.

Roberts and his team are not suggesting that, on its own, the widely viewed image of a white God explains the grossly unequal racial representation in US corporate leadership. The reasons for that are myriad. But their results indicate that the widespread imagining of God as white has helped to build and protect the rigid racial hierarchy that exists in organizations.

Racism is not about bad apples or people who hate other people, says Roberts. Racism is embedded in our images and in our school systems, its the air that we breathe. Were all affected and infected by it.

Western culture has wallpapered peoples psyches with images of a bearded supreme figure who is white and masculine. The effects of that conditioning on how we choose managers and CEOs need to be made visible.

Draw a picture of God

Roberts paper, co-authored by other Stanford researchers and psychologists from Vanderbilt and California Polytechnic State University, involved several studies that tried to get to heart of the dynamics between racialized leaders and religious figures.

First, controlling for racist, sexist, and conservative belief systems, the psychologists found that white Christians were indeed more likely to see God as white, whereas Black Christians were more likely to see God as Black. When asked to select candidates for a hypothetical leadership role at an invented company, participants who saw God as white were more likely to choose a white man for the role. But if someone saw God as Black, they were more likely to select a Black candidate.

The extent to which God is conceptualized as White, which may be a deeply rooted intuition, predicted increased ratings of White candidates, even among Black Christians, the study authors write.

For another study, the psychologists recruited Christian children of various races and asked them to draw pictures of God. Separately, they presented the kids with photos showing the faces of Black men and women, and followed up: There are lots and lots of people at the place where I work, the psychologists said. But only three of them are bosses. Which three do you think are bosses?

Both Black and white children depicted God as male and white, suggesting that this vision of God forms early in a persons development, says Roberts, and is only later adjusted to match their in-group. And similarly to the adults who saw God as white in the first study, the children were not partial to Black faces as contenders for boss.

In brighter news, the children were just as likely to select women as men as bosses. For children, the psychologists surmised, Gods race was more relevant than Gods gender. Sadly, however, the first few studies all supported the hypothesis that the more adults and children see God as white, the more inclined they are to view white people as the best fit for a managerial role.

Who should rule the planet Zombot?

Roberts and his team also wanted to explore the association between Gods image and a leaders physical attributes in isolation, outside of a strictly Christian context. What would happen if God had an entirely different identity? Asking people to picture God as a different race or gender was ruled out, so they dreamed up a fictional planet instead.

The planet used in their study, called Zombot, is inhabited by two peoples, Hibbles and Glerks. These peoples shared one supreme being, Liakbor, who created everything on Zombot, including the water and lands, the grass and trees, and all of the creatures that live on it.

Even on planet Zombot, the psychologists found that US Christian adults believed that Hibbles should rule when Liakbor was a Hibble, and that Glerks should rule when Liakbor was a Glerk. Neither group was expected to take control when the creator was a generic alien.

The psychological associations participants made between God and the beings that looked like God also worked in reverse: When shown images of one groupeither Hibbles or Glerksliving in a fine castle on Zombot, participants assumed that Liakbor was of the same Zombotian extraction as that privileged tribe.

Roberts and his team then recruited 51 preschoolers of various backgrounds who had never heard of God at all and introduced them to Zombot. Like the adults, the four and five-year-olds in that study used information about a fictional God to make inferences about who should be in leadership, Roberts says. It was one of the more important findings because it shows that this is not a Christian thing. Its a psychological thing about, What identity do you attribute to God?

What is going on?

Simon Howard at Marquette Universitywho was not involved in Roberts study, and also remembers being puzzled by a white Jesus in his childhoodcalls the research phenomenal.

Its pretty compelling evidence when you take all his studies together and the interpretation is that the way in which people imagine or conceptualize deities does influence who they think should be in power, he told Quartz.

Still, Roberts and his co-authors acknowledge the studys limitations: It focuses on US culture and Christianity, and future research may want to pose the same questions in multiple cultures and among other faith groups. They ask: Does the conception of God as a White man emerge among racial minorities in predominately European contexts, such as Germany and Sweden? What about in predominantly Black and Brown contexts with a heavy Christian influence, such as Ghana and Mexico?

Howard, too, believes the color of Gods skin in famous paintings like Warner Sallmans Head of Christ, which has been reproduced a billion times all over the world, is part of the story, but not the full explanation for the racial hierarchy in American business. He sees the relationship as mostly indirect.

When someone in power shares racial membership with God or a boss-like figure in our lives, people might be reluctant to question those individuals, Howard proposes. If this person is likening themselves as a Godand were not necessarily supposed to challenge authority or challenge God, then we might be less likely to challenge the white men who are in positions of power. And if theyre going unchallenged, they may maintain power.

In hiring practices, he says, a societal bias towards white candidates might be explained by associating Godliness with whiteness, meaning whiteness is either superior or more competent than blackness or non-whiteness.

The very existence of a white-dominated hierarchy also reinforces the notion that God is white, as Roberts Zombot study would suggest. Were stuck in a kind of self-perpetuating loop of racial oppression. Its existence is real and meaningful, the authors write, no matter why Gods race was deemed white in the public imagination in the first place.

How do we change?

In a delightful moment within the mostly discouraging project, Roberts was leading a group of researchers working with children when he learned just how open young minds could be. One of the psychologists asked a child, What does a boss look like? The kid pointed at Roberts.

It was so cute to me because it highlighted that they didnt really know what we were talking about, Roberts says. And they have such a flexible concept. Im not a white guy, so that was fun.

But by adulthood, he says, its just a whole different situation.

Indeed, in another one of his studies, an adult participant who was shown a painting featuring a Black, female deity by the Afro-Cuban American artist Harmonia Rosales, left this written response for the researchers: The artist is challenging the notion that #1 God is a man, #2 God is White. If I were at an art gallery and saw this painting, I would walk by shaking my head as it is just one more politically correct recreation of who God is. Disgusting! Oh, and I say this as an African American woman.

That was shocking, says Roberts. It was also sobering evidence about how adults might reject or even be repulsed by information that challenges their long-established vision of Gods human form. To address racial inequities in leadership by asking people to rethink Gods skin color or gender might not be fruitful.

Addressing this issue early in a persons life, when children are still forming their ideas about the world, might be the best way to disrupt the pattern of mental model making. My belief is that kids dont come into the world with this belief that theres a white man floating in the sky. Thats something you learn, says Roberts, who also teaches a popular undergraduate class called How to Make a Racist. Nobody enters into the world wanting to believe that some people are more deserving or better than others; thats something that people learn and pick up on the way, and that has consequences, he says.

The study offers clear evidence to suggest that if kids dont have that belief in mind, theyre not going to make that inference that whoever God is, whoever shares that identity on Earth is actually the best, he continues. But the problem is: how do we, in practice, prevent them from getting that concept?

Maybe with this research and other work, teachers, educators, everyone can start to think: How can we prevent those things being learned? How do we prevent ourselves from even teaching those things? How do we change?

Simon also argues for rethinking the religious imagery children are exposed to in the same way that Americans are now questioning Confederate symbols. A Confederate statue conveys a certain meaning, and if people think that they should come down based on what they represent, then why arent we having that same conversation about statues and images of Jesus being portrayed as white? he asks. Were not ready as a society to have that conversation, but its one that should be had, becauseand I say this without any reservationI think images of Christ portrayed as white are white supremacy in plain sight.

The members of Roberts Social Concepts Lab are also studying interracial relationships and racism within science. The findings of their work, Roberts says, doesnt lay blame for racist outcomes with one group or even bad intentions. Nobody is saying that the church is bad or this kind of relationship is bad, he explains, Were just saying, Hey look, race and racism in our images and our culture has implications for how we behave. It has implications for who we elect to leadership positions as implications for who we fall in love with.

Black ministers who have been talking for decades about how damaging it is to portray God as white have written to Roberts with notes of gratitude. Theyve been trying to preach to their congregations and to people about how these images can be damaging, he says, but no one ever believed them. Now they have the data as proof.

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Locals in the Russian Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk have held their 50th protest against the July arrest of the region's popular former governor, Sergei Furgal. The pro-Furgal demonstrations have attracted tens of thousands of protesters on weekends since they started on July 11. Local media reports said that "thousands" came out on the streets on August 29, demanding that Furgal, who had been sent to Moscow following his arrest on suspicion of involvement in several murders more than a decade ago, be returned to the Khabarovsk region for "a fair trial" by jury. Demonstrators also voiced support for pro-democracy protests in Belarus against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Many demanded an investigation into the suspected poisoning on August 20 of prominent opposition figure Aleksei Navalny, who has remained in intensive care after being airlifted to Berlin for tests and treatment.
By Eli Walsh

Bay City News Foundation

Biologists with the National Park Service will begin a coyote research and tracking project next week in the northern part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Wildlife biologists plan to temporarily capture some of the coyote population in the Marin Headlands and place remote GPS tracking collars on them before they are released back into the wild.

Park staff in the Marin Headlands are conducting the study in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Marin Society, the University of California at Davis and the One Tam partnership in Marin County.

According to officials with the recreation area, the study will help future management of the area's wildlife and protect the public from food-seeking coyotes.

Marin Headlands visitors can expect to see coyotes wearing satellite collars and colored ear tags as well as park staff scouting areas that have high levels of coyote traffic.

Visitors who spot a coyote with a tracking collar and ear tag are advised to take a photo and report it using the iNaturalist mobile research app.

If approached by a coyote or other wild animal, visitors should make loud noises and large movements like waving the arms to scare the animal away.

Such incidents should also be reported to park dispatch by calling (415) 561-5510.

Members of the public are advised to never approach or feed wild animals like coyotes to keep them wild. Properly disposing of trash can also prevent animals associating humans with food.

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.
The Parkside and the Characters of Long Ago

by Mimi Loupe

November 2012

I am eighty one years old and grew up in one house in the Parkside District. I went to Parkside Grammar School, Aptos Jr. High, Lincoln High, and graduated from San Francisco State.

I don't want to take anything away from a great city like San Francisco with its beautiful cathedrals, institutions of higher learning, skyscrapers, and beautiful vistas. But my memories of San Francisco are a city with many small towns. When anyone my age meets another San Franciscan, we always ask what district they were from and what high school they went to. I am still smarting from hearing Parkside School renamed for Dianne Feinstein. Oh, not for political reasons, but rather, because she grew up in the Richmond. How about naming it after one of our Parkside notables? This is our little town.

Unlike other areas in California, San Francisco embraces its charactersthose dear folks that wander around town harming no one, but marching to a different drummer. I would like to tell you about three of them, so they won't be forgotten. They added to the fabric of a long ago Parkside.

My first "character" lived on my street. At one time he was a successful business man. One day that all changed. Why? We'll never know. I grew up seeing him in a sharp business suit heading to Taraval Street and the L Line. Then one day he changed to work clothes and a long black overcoat. He would set out each morning, at the same time, with a large burlap bag. He never looked to the left or right, intent on his new job... picking up old candy wrappers, empty cigarette packs, and any other garbage tossed on sidewalks or parks. (We were a generation of Litter Bugs.) His job now, to keep the Parkside clean and neat. Every evening he returned with a bag full of litter and each morning set out again. He let his hair grow long. ( A man with long hair? A novelty in those days.) He did this for a number of years and was never chided or told to stop. In his new world he was performing a service and at the same time letting us know how much he cared for our little town, the Parkside.

We only knew character number two as "Bud." Bud could be found most days just up the street from the Parkside Theater, almost in front of Zim's. He was a tall young man, maybe in his twenties, in pressed slacks and shirts, blond hair combed neatly, and always carrying a metal lunch pail. I never saw him without a smile on his face. When asked where he was going, he would always reply, "to work." He greeted everyone, waved them goodbye as they rode by on the L streetcar. On my visits back to the old neighborhood, I can't cross 19th and Taraval without thinking of Bud.

Character number three is from the Depression and the 1930's. A real mystery man. We only knew him as "The Man With No Legs." Some said he was injured in World War One, but none of the children or parents knew where he came from or where he lived. We would hear him first. He would sing long ago forgotten melancholy songs from a megaphone he carried. You could hear him from a block away. He had lost his legs just below or above the knee. (It was rude to stare, so we only got a glance.) He was strapped in something I only remember as a wooden board with wheels. I believe he moved around the hills of Parkside pushing himself with his free arm. Our mothers would give us a dime and we would run from our homes, drop it in a cup attached to his board, and scurry inside again. We never shared a word or conversation. Sometimes I can almost hear those forgotten sad songs.

These three are all sweet memories of men who walked our neighborhood, never harmed, and were treated with respect. Only in San Francisco!

Contribute your own stories about western neighborhoods places.
Two men napping in a secluded spot. Circa 1900s. Robert Neff Collection



By Robert Neff



Korean summers are miserably hot and humid. About a century ago, the only escape from the stifling heat at night was to seek cool relief by sleeping outside. Of course, this was not without dangers. Tigers still stalked the darkness and occasionally made off with hapless woodsmen and lonely travelers. Yet, surprisingly, tigers were not the greatest danger  wolves were.



In September 1928, the DongA Ilbo reported that, despite the danger of wolves, people were forced to sleep outside to escape the heat. The number of wolf attacks is staggering. While sleeping next to their parents, children were snatched from their front porches or yards. The parents gave chase after hearing the terrified screams but few were successful in rescuing them alive. Often only shredded clothing, a few pieces of bones and blood splatter bore witness to the fates of the victims.



Not all sleeping victims were children. On September 7, 1929, a farmer, 40, was found dead on a small raised platform that served as a guard post for keeping watch over the crops in the fields. Apparently he had fallen asleep and was set upon by wolves as evidenced by the severe mauling to his neck and abdomen.



Domestic animals were also dangerous to outside sleepers.





A group of farmers resting. Circa 1900s. Robert Neff Collection
Colaiste Abbain Adamstown opens today (Tuesday, 25th) to first year students for an induction after weeks of preparation by staff and management to ensure everyone's safety.

Deputy principal Lorraine Simmons said: 'Staff have worked diligently to ensure the safe re-opening of their school has happened on schedule.'

Ms Simmons said parents and guardians of students in Colaiste Abbain were delighted to have their children back into the school routine.

According to Principal Mr Nolan: 'This would not have been possible without the buy-in from all members of our community. A school is a community of learning for all its members not just students and, for management, this has certainly been a new and challenging learning experience. We are delighted to be opening on schedule thanks to the hard work of many members of school staff.'

Colaiste Abbain has made every effort to maximise space in the school to ensure social distancing is adhered to, he said. Canteen facilities are still available to all students on a staggered basis at lunchtime with senior cycle students getting access at break time. First, second and third years return on Thursday, followed by senior students on Friday, with all students having their first week back on Monday.

The canteen has a new pre-order online facility for breakfast and lunch. Class groups all have designated areas in the school and a new one-way system will ensure social distancing on the corridors.

The students themselves will be involved in leadership roles in mentoring students through the Meitheal Programme, Prefect System and Students Council.

All year groups will recommence with an induction regarding Covid-19 and managing the safe and sustainable return to school, safe movement around the school grounds and wellbeing for all.

The staged re-opening means that all students will be back in full time education on August 31.

'We will continue to need and look for parental and guardian support in ensuring we are best placed to work through the coming weeks. Everyone will be expected to be more organised this year and parents and guardians will have to play an active role in ensuring students have their necessary materials for classes the next day. Visitors for now are restricted to the school. The central focus for us all is on the young people who make up the core of our community. I am confident we will continue to work to ensure the best experience for each of them in the weeks and months ahead,' Mr Nolan said.
The Duggar family, famed for their show Counting On, introduced the TV viewing world to the concept of modern-day courtships. The Bates family, who run in the same social circle as the Duggars, also follow courtship rules when they wed. While family followers have long suspected there are some major differences between the Bates family and the Duggar family, their different courtship lengths are the most glaring. The Bates family appears to be much less likely to rush to the altar, but is that really the case?

The Duggar family appears to marry quickly

The Duggar family appears to move quickly once they find someone they are interested in. They are especially quick to move from announcing a courtship to announcing an engagement. Some of the siblings agreeing to spend their life with their partner just three months after entering a romance.

Jill Duggars engagement ring | D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra

RELATED: Counting On: What Are the Rules for Courtship In the Duggar Family?

Jill Duggar, who married Derick Dillard in 2014, courted for just over a month before Derick proposed. Joy Duggar and Austin Forsyth courted for 49 days before he popped the question, and Joseph Duggar dated Kendra Caldwell for just two and a half months before he asked her to become his wife. The familys longest courtship to date was between Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald. Jessa was the first Duggar daughter to enter a courtship. She dated Ben for 11 months before they announced their engagement.

The Bates family seems to take things much slower

The Bates family appears to be a bit laxer when it comes to courtship rules, and their courtships seem to last significantly longer than the Duggar familys courtships. According to Duggar Data, the average Bates courtship lasts 236 days. After the proposals, the couples generally take about 100 days to plan a wedding.

RELATED: Bringing up Bates: Carlin Bates Admits to Being Dumped

Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart had the longest courtship out of the Bates family thus far. The couple began dating in September 2016 but did not announce their relationship until March 2017. They announced their engagement in September 2018, two years after they began dating. Nine months later, they married. Erin Bates and her husband, Chad Paine, had the shortest courtship. The couple began their romance in December 2012. Chad asked for Erins hand in marriage in August 2013, and the pair wed in November 2013.

Does the Bates family wait longer to get married, really?

While it seems as though the Bates kids are a bit slower to commit to marriage than the Duggars, family followers think they may just announce courtships earlier than the Duggar family. Eagle-eyed viewers note that many of the Duggar kids partners appear in photographs and videos long before the family announces the relationship. Its possible that the Duggar family simply stretches out the getting to know you phase of dating before they promote the official relationship. Jeremy Vuolo, for example, was spied at Jessas baby shower months before he officially began courting Jinger Duggar.

The Bates family | James Ambler / Barcroft USA / Getty Images

RELATED: Does the Bates Family Have More Failed Courtships Than the Duggar Family?

That might also be the reason why the Duggar family appears to have less failed courtships than the Bates family. To date, the Duggars have only publicly acknowledged one failed romance. The Bates family, on the other hand, has had to announce a breakup three times. Zach Bates, Nathan Bates, and Trace Bates have all announced splits. So far, only Josiah Duggar has publicly ended a relationship, although family critics believe both Jana Duggar and Josh Duggar have had failed relationships in the past.
CALGARYThe union representing workers at the Sofina Foods/Lilydale poultry processing plant in Calgary is calling for the immediate closure of the plant following a COVID-19 outbreak.

An Alberta Health official confirms there had been 19 cases as of Friday and 18 of those cases are considered active.

The Calgary facility, which also had an outbreak in April, manufactures fresh chicken products and employs about 450 people.

An official with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 401, has called for the immediate closure of the facility until the outbreak has been contained and the workplace is safe.

A request for comment from Sofina Foods was not immediately returned.

Union president Thomas Hesse said Sofina advised it would cancel the second shift scheduled to work Friday after concern expressed by workers and the union.

Health and government authorities, company officials, and union representatives have closely monitored this evolving situation, Hesse said in a statement.

Unfortunately, in spite of recent interventions, positive case numbers continue to increase. Whatever is being done is clearly not enough. The risk of spread is too high, and the possible costs are too grave.

Hesse said there are no assurances that work scheduled for next week will be halted and workers have the right to refuse dangerous work.

Sofina Foods operates 16 plants across Canada.

Read more about:
Japanese PM, the nations longest-serving, has announced he will step down from his post due to health reasons.

Japans Shinzo Abe, the nations longest-serving prime minister, has announced he will step down from his post due to health reasons.

Abe, who turns 66 next month, has suffered from ulcerative colitis since he was a teenager.

The chronic condition is thought to be aggravated by stress.

Here is what some international leaders are saying about his decision to resign:

US President Donald Trump

I want to pay my highest respect to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe  a great friend of mine. I just feel very badly about it.

Trump said Abe loved his country very much, adding that he planned to call the Japanese leader.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian

In recent years, the relationship between China and Japan has returned to the right track and achieved new developments  We express a positive assessment of the important efforts made by Prime Minister Abe to achieve these ends and at the same time wish him a speedy recovery.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Abe Shinzo has achieved great things as PM of Japan  for his country and the world. Under his stewardship, the UK-Japan relationship has gone from strength to strength in trade, defence and our cultural links. Thank you for all your years of service and I wish you good health.

.@AbeShinzo has achieved great things as PM of Japan  for his country and the world. Under his stewardship the UK-Japan relationship has gone from strength to strength in trade, defence and our cultural links. Thank you for all your years of service and I wish you good health.  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) August 28, 2020

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

I regret his resignation and wish him all the very best. We worked very well together.

Russia

The Kremlin regrets that Prime Minister Abe has decided to step down, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, describing the working relations between Abe and President Vladimir Putin as brilliant.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen

Prime Minister Abe was always friendly to Taiwan, whether on policy or the rights and interests of Taiwans people  he was extremely positive. We value his friendly feelings towards Taiwan and hope he is healthy.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Prime Minister Abe struck me as a person of great integrity. He has led by example and showed what hard work, passion, and care for others can achieve.

There is much Japan and New Zealand see eye to eye on. Our shared commitment to democracy and the rules-based international system makes Japan an important partner for New Zealand, especially in the Indo-Pacific region where we share common goals.

South Korea presidential spokesman Kang Min-Seok

We regret the sudden resignation announcement of Prime Minister Abe, who has left many meaningful achievements as Japans longest-serving prime minister, and has also especially played a large role for development in South Korea and Japans bilateral relations.

We wish the prime minister a quick recovery. Our government will continue cooperation with the new prime minister and the new cabinet for improved ties with Japan.
The Niger State commissioner of finance on Wednesday informed press men that the state is the process of establishing a Debt Management Bureau as well as grant full autonomy to the state procurement board.

The states debt sustainability ratio is in the lower 20 per cent threshold,which happens to be one of the lowest in the country. According to the Domestic Debt Data for the 36 states of the federation and the FCT as at March 31,2020, Niger State is the 6th lowest on the list.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bellos administration is ensuring the states debt profile remains within a manageable/sustainable threshold.

The current debt profile of the state includes bonds entered into by previous administrations,bailout,budget support funds from the Federal Government amongst other things.

In order to properly manage and strengthen the debt Management Processes,the government has decided to set up a Debt Management bureau.

The bureau when established will give clear processes to the debt of the state.

Furthermore,a special account, where certain percentage of the state income will be kept for the management of its debt, will be set up.

This is to ensure transparency while assuring stakeholders that government is determined to honour all its financial obligations at all times.

The commissioner also stated that,full autonomy will be granted to the state Procurement Board to enable it operate without interference from any quarters.

The Commissioner for Finance who was the chairman of the Board,will be replaced by a retired High Court judge or a retired civil servant that must have risen to the position of a Permanent Secretary before leaving service.

When the bill is passed and assented to, the Director General of the Board will be screened and confirmed by the House of Assembly. Other members of the Board will be representatives of the Ministry of Justice, local government, planning and the organised labour.

The procurement board is also establishing an e-procurement portal to facilitate for e-procurement.

This is to ensure transparency,ease of access by the public without physical contact as well as provide an independent and level playing ground in procurement process, the proposed bill is expected to provide legal backing for the e-procurement.

Consequently,two bills are being proposed to the house of Assembly;one on the establishment of the Debt Management Bureau and the other for Niger State Procurement Board.

All this effort by Niger Government is to block all leakages, ensure transparency and promote accountability.
NuScale Power announced today that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed Phase 6 reviewthe last and final phaseof the Design Certification Application (DCA) for the companys groundbreaking small modular reactor (SMR) with the issuance of the Final Safety Evaluation Report (FSER). The FSER represents completion of the technical review and approval of the NuScale SMR design. With this final phase of NuScales DCA now complete, customers can proceed with plans to develop NuScale power plants with the understanding that the NRC has approved the safety aspects of the NuScale design.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200828005299/en/

An artists rendering of NuScale Powers small modular nuclear reactor plant. Photo courtesy of NuScale

This is a significant milestone not only for NuScale, but also for the entire U.S. nuclear sector and the other advanced nuclear technologies that will follow. This clearly establishes the leadership of NuScale and the U.S. in the race to bring SMRs to market. The approval of NuScales design is an incredible accomplishment and we would like to extend our deepest thanks to the NRC for their comprehensive review, to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for its continued commitment to our successful private-public partnership to bring the countrys first SMR to market, and to the many other individuals who have dedicated countless hours to make this extraordinary moment a reality, said NuScale Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Hopkins. Additionally, the cost-shared funding provided by Congress over the past several years has accelerated NuScales advancement through the NRC Design Certification process. This is what DOEs SMR Program was created to do, and our success is credited to strong bipartisan support from Congress.

NuScales DCA was completed in December 2016 and accepted by the NRC in March 2017. The review process demonstrated both the simplicity of NuScales SMR design and the thoroughness of the companys application. As an example, during the rigorous Phase 1 review process, which included 115,000 hours spent reviewing the DCA, the NRC issued far fewer requests for additional information compared to other design certification applications. NuScale spent over $500 million, with the backing of Fluor, and over 2 million labor hours to develop the information needed to prepare its DCA application. The company also submitted 14 separate Topical Reports in addition to the over 12,000 pages for its DCA application and provided more than 2 million pages of supporting information for NRC audits.

The NRC embraced the challenge of reviewing the first-ever small modular reactor DCA, which at the time not only marked an important milestone for NuScale, but also for the nuclear industry as a whole. NuScale appreciates the dedication, time, and effort of the NRC throughout this multi-year process, often with reviews completing ahead of schedule. As a long-time former NRC employee, including as an executive in the Office of New Reactors, I can say that this early issuance of the FSER is truly a credit to everyone at the NRCincluding technical review and project staff, management, and the Commission, said NuScale Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Tom Bergman.

NuScale continues to maintain strong program momentum toward commercialization of its SMR technology, including supply chain development, standard plant design, planning of plant delivery activities, and startup and commissioning plans. The company fields growing domestic and international customer interest from those who see the NuScale power plant as a long-term solution for providing reliable, safe, affordable, and operationally flexible carbon-free energy for diverse applications. NuScale has signed agreements with entities in the U.S., Canada, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Jordan. Similar agreements with other entities are being negotiated.

About NuScale Power

NuScale Power has developed a new modular light water reactor nuclear power plant to supply energy for electrical generation, district heating, desalination, and other process heat applications. This groundbreaking small modular reactor (SMR) design features a fully factory-fabricated NuScale Power Module capable of generating 60 MW of electricity using a safer, smaller, and scalable version of pressurized water reactor technology. NuScale's scalable designa power plant can house up to 12 individual power modulesoffers the benefits of carbon-free energy and reduces the financial commitments associated with gigawatt-sized nuclear facilities. The majority investor in NuScale is Fluor Corporation, a global engineering, procurement, and construction company with a 60-year history in commercial nuclear power.

NuScale is headquartered in Portland, OR and has offices in Corvallis, OR; Rockville, MD; Charlotte, NC; Richland, WA; and London, UK. Follow us on Twitter: @NuScale_Power, Facebook: NuScale Power, LLC, LinkedIn: NuScale-Power, and Instagram: nuscale_power. NuScale has a new logo, brand, and website. Watch the short video.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200828005299/en/
A poll by Morning Consult finds President Trump in better shape after the GOP Convention than before it. According to this poll, Trump now trails Biden by 50-44 among likely voters. Before the Convention, he trailed 52-42.

This bounce seems to be a function of respondents viewing Biden less favorably than before, rather than viewing Trump more favorably. Morning Consult found that Bidens favorability numbers have weakened while the presidents have remained steady.

Thats not surprising. Speakers at the GOP Convention savaged Biden. Indeed, the most effective part of Trumps acceptance speech was his attack on the former vice president, in my opinion.

Speakers also lauded the president, of course. But voters pretty much know what they think of him, I imagine. Speeches arent likely to move that needle. Only an improvement in the nations outlook, especially as regards the Wuhan coronavirus, is likely to have that effect.

I did find one mild surprise in the Morning Consult numbers.

Trump left the convention with a slightly worse standing among voters of color, trailing Biden by 28 points among Hispanic voters (33 percent to 61 percent) and 74 points among Black voters (9 percent to 83 percent).

This, despite relentless pitching to Blacks.

The optimist in me says that most of the Black voters who expressed no preference to pollsters (8 percent of them) are closet Trump supporters. If just half of them are, then Trump would be at 13 percent with this group of voters (assuming the other 92 percent are being honest with the pollsters). Thats probably about 5 points lower than the campaign hopes for, but about 5 points higher than in 2016.

The Morning Consult survey is just one poll. We shouldnt read too much into it.

However, Allahpundit calls attention to a YouGov poll (for Yahoo News) that also suggests a GOP bounce. It too finds that the Biden lead is down to 6 points  47 to 41. At the end of July, YouGov had Biden up by 9 points.

YouGov states:

The convention appears to have boosted perceptions of Trumps strength and convinced a small number of former Biden supporters to move toward the president. But the unrest in Kenosha, Wis., following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a major talking point at the RNC, has not had a clear impact on voters choices  at least not yet.

(Emphasis added)

A 3 to 4 point convention bounce wouldnt be bad by contemporary standards, especially given that the GOP Convention wasnt a ratings smash.

If the two polls cited above accurately reflect the current state of public opinion, the Trump campaign still has plenty of work to do. However, it also has a message that seems to move voters.

In my view, though, the key to the election is probably the course the pandemic takes in the U.S. during the next six weeks (or so).
Indie author Rob Price had a clear vision when he launched Gatekeeper Press in 2015: to open the gates of the book publishing world. Price, who has served a term as chairperson of the Independent Book Publishers Association since the presss founding, says he has since observed a noticeable shift in how self-publishing is perceived, both within the industry and by readers in general.

As more and more self-published titles hit major bestsellers lists, Price says, weve seen a thawing in the book industrys attitude toward self-published books as a whole. There are clear signs of thisincluding self-published titles increasingly appearing on the shelves at bricks-and-mortar stores and libraries, as well as recognition of the value and viability of indie books from professional review channels.

Price says freedom and autonomy for authors is central to Gatekeeper Presss approach, and that writers are seeing the advantage of the increased control over the publishing and promotional process. Having navigated self-publishing himself, Price says he recognizes the need for new models that will guarantee writers 100% royalties and rights, 100% control, global distribution, one-on-one attention, and a single, trusted location to have their books professionally edited, designed, formatted, and made available for sale all over the world.

For many authors, self-publishing is becoming a preference rather than the default option following rejection from agents or traditional publishers. Tony Chellini, director of sales and business development for Gatekeeper Press, says self-publishing is having its moment. I genuinely believe self-publishing is the way of the futureand, in fact, its really the way of the present, Chellini says. Traditional publishing is great for those that can make millions in book advance fees, but for the 99% of the rest of us, self-publishing has risen to the challenge and surpassed traditional publishing.

Price points to one of Gatekeeper Presss earliest authors, Elise Kova, whose indie success led her to turn down subsequent offers from multiple traditional publishing houses, as an example of self-publishings growing favorability among authors. Weve worked with many authors who had done the same thing, he says, and countless others who chose to self-publish with us after having been published traditionally.

Price is aware that, despite how far self-publishing has come, predatory companies still exist in the space. A number of writers have come to Gatekeeper Press after negative experiences, Price says. We hear horror stories from our authors about terrible service, poor quality, price gouging, complete unresponsiveness, and theft of royalties, he says. This is why we think looking to independent reviews and getting referrals is so important in the self-publishing space.

Publishing in isolation

Price says there has been a steep uptick in the number of people who have contacted Gatekeeper Press for consultations over the past several months. With more people home from work, they have more time to write, Price says. He sees another reason for the increase in consultations during these peculiar times: This massive global event has altered the course of history and caused us all to reexamine life in general, he says. The pandemic is wreaking incalculable suffering and heartache; it is tearing some families apart and bringing others together. It is a cosmic shift for everyone alive todayand cosmic shifts lead to new ideas, thoughts, and stories.

Price has also observed thematic trends since the pandemic began. Numerous authors have sought consultations for childrens books that aim to help young readers cope with the changes brought on by social distancing. There have also been pandemic-related medical books, and even dating books with chapters on dating during quarantine, he says. And since the killing of George Floyd in late May, Price says he has observed an increase in submissions of books about racial inequality. Weve seen an influx of African American authors telling all kinds of stories, he says, from those that directly address the tragedies of systemic racism, to those intended for traditionally underserved audiences, like young African American readers.

Chellini says he is accustomed to meeting authors who have been working on their books for so longsometimes years, even decades. In many cases, he notes, recent circumstances have stirred in these authors a desire to finish their manuscripts and finally publish their work. They are ready and excited to take the leap and to share their creativity with the world. Another recent trend hes noticed is that a number of Gatekeeper Press authors have chosen to include last-minute prologues that address the paradigm-shifting events of the momenta perk of indie publishings flexibility.

More than ever before, Price finds himself in a position to give urgently needed writing and publishing advice to authors who may be facing uncertainty in their own lives. That being said, his advice has remained consistent since before the pandemic. He tells authors to ask questions and research, research, research. Specifically, he says, authors need to determine how much attention their book will receive from a publishing service, where their book will be listed for sale, and what percentage of royalties and ownership rights they will be allowed to retain. The physical world is a scary enough place right now as it is, Price says. The world of self-publishing doesnt have to be if youre armed with the right information and have the helping hand of a trusted partner.
Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings has discounted an attempt to portray him as undermining, sabotaging, betraying or maligning the then President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, who died in office in July 2012.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) founder is accusing his former appointee, Professor Kwamena Ahwoi, of employing fabrications and grapevine accounts in his book in an attempt to smear him.

The book  Working with Rawlings  attempts to chronicle the history of the role played by Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi, a former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development during the Rawlings administration and in the process has made damning allegations against the then former President, his wife and some NDC gurus.

However, Mr. Rawlings, in his latest reply to some of the allegations, said he was disappointed in Prof. Ahwoi because he employedfabrications and grapevine accounts to paint a denigrating picture.

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. President Rawlings has over the past four decades tolerated various views, recognizing the fact that as a public figure one will not be immune to such, even when said opinions are vicious and derogatory, Mr. Rawlings said in a statement signed by Kobina Andoh Amoakwa of the Communications Directorate of the Office of the former President.

He said the public deserves to be served the truth as far as some of the contents of the book are concerned.

The book is generously economical with the truth given that President Rawlings supported President Mills consistently from the year 2000, much to the chagrin of many of those who morphed into his post-victory supporters in 2006, he added.

Private Call

According to Mr. Rawlings, after a landslide victory in the 2006 NDC primaries, the then candidate Prof. Mills travelled to South Africa for medical treatment and while he was there, he (Mills) called him (Rawlings) and indicated his desire to forego the candidature for the presidential election owing to his medical state.

Following this conversation, ex-President Rawlings indicated that he held a meeting with some leading members of the NDC to express concern about the state of candidate Mills' health and urged them to identify recognizable party members who could step in.

He noted that he is on record to have suggested that some known personalities in the party should position themselves to demonstrate that the NDC had enough presidential material.

Ahwoi Diatribe

Bizarrely, Kwamena Ahwoi has written a lengthy diatribe about how Rawlings coerced his brother (Ato Ahwoi) to contest Mills ahead of the primaries, leading to the breakdown of their healthy relationship.

The NDC founder said he took the responsible and pragmatic approach after he received that politically unnerving call from Professor Mills, asserting that he consulted the party leadership to take strategic steps to fill the gap which by Professor Mills' account was imminent.

No Betrayal

Urging some members of the party to position themselves for a potential contest, was in no way an attempt to undermine, sabotage, betray or malign Professor Mills as the author shamelessly infers in his book.

For him, more disappointing is the impression created that he (Ahwoi) was and is unaware of that critical phone call from Professor Mills (while in South Africa) to him (Rawlings).

The ex-President said this is rather telling of Prof. Ahwoi to deny this well-known crisis merely in his bid to deride and denigrate the genuine efforts of him to arrest a crisis.

Manipulative Agenda

He narrated that when Professor Mills returned to Ghana, meetings were held with him without the knowledge or participation of him as founder of the NDC, where Professor Mills was convinced by those present, not to withdraw his candidature and actually made to believe that he (Rawlings) was working to undermine him.

That was when the mistrust began, and Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi was and is well known to be one of the master-architects of that manipulative agenda that pushed a very unwell candidate Mills into the 2008 general election.

Having worked with Professor Mills on various policy and manifesto achievements during his presidency, the aim was to support him and the NDC party back into government, for the good work of the pre-2000 NDC Administration to continue (sic), the statement said.

Mills' Admission

Former President Rawlings admitted being critical of President Mills' administration and said he did it openly and with the best of intentions.

According to him, he had meetings with the late President Mills, offering counsel and suggestions strictly to the good of Mills' presidency and that of his government, saying that he has always remained consistent in his open and bona fides criticisms of President Mills' administration which, to date, are still outstanding matters.

The lack of dedication to the party ideals of probity and accountability, as well as the monetization of the NDC internal electoral processes, was also part of his open criticisms of the Mills' administration.

Daily Guide
"A worker in Gigafactory Nevada ended up turning down a $1 million incentive, working closely with the FBI, and thwarting a planned cybersecurity attack against the electric car maker."  Tesla blog post

Billionaire entrepreneur and Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Friday disclosed details that prosecutors hadn't involving "a 27-year-old Russian, an insider at an unnamed corporation and an alleged million-dollar payment offered to help trigger a ransomware extortion attack on the firm," AP reports  "the scheme took aim at the electric car company's 1.9 million-square-foot factory in Sparks, Nevada, which makes batteries for Tesla vehicles and energy storage units."

Here is the criminal complaint filed by the FBI Las Vegas Field office on August 25 2020.

Much appreciated. This was a serious attack.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 27, 2020

"This was a serious attack," Musk tweeted Thursday night, following publication of a Tesla blog post that detailed the attack. From the Teslarati post, "Tesla employee foregoes $1M payment, works with FBI to thwart cybersecurity attack" 

This Tuesday, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, a Russian citizen accused of conspiring to breach the network of a US company and introduce malware to compromise the said company's networks. Media reports about the incident have identified the US company to be electric car maker Tesla. Interestingly enough, a criminal complaint filed by the FBI Las Vegas Field Office suggests that the attempted cybersecurity attack is no ordinary hacking attempt  it may very well be part of a well-financed, organized, scheme. The remarkable story began when a Russian-speaking, non-US citizen working at Tesla's Gigafactory Nevada was contacted by Kriuchkov. The employee, whose identity has not been revealed, has access to the electric car maker's computer networks. On July 16, the Russian citizen contacted the Giga Nevada employee through WhatsApp asking to meet with him in Sparks, Nevada. As noted in a report from Clearance Jobs, the fact that Kriuchkov approached a Russian-speaking, non-US citizen working at Gigafactory Nevada suggests that the team behind the cyberattack attempt has done their research well.

And more about the attempted payout, again from the Associated Press:

Reaching out to the unnamed worker via WhatsApp in July, Kriuchkov allegedly flew to the United States with a Russian passport on a tourist visa and sought to entice the worker to betray Tesla. Kriuchkov allegedly took the worker, who he'd he'd first met in 2016, on a road trip to Lake Tahoe before offering the person $1 million to plant malware on computer systems at "Victim Company A." Kriuchkov floated the scheme at a Reno area bar on Aug. 3 after the two drank heavily until last call, the complaint says. But the plant worker informed Tesla, which contacted the FBI and won the employee's cooperation. In subsequent meetings monitored and recorded by federal agents, Kriuchkov laid out a scheme to have the worker infect Tesla computers with a program that would steal valuable data before scrambling plant systems with ransomware, according to the complaint. Kriuchkov was quoted as saying the inside job would be camouflaged with a distributed denial of service attack on plant computers from outside. Such attacks overwhelm servers with junk traffic. If Tesla didn't pay, the purloined data would be dumped on the open internet. The complaint says Kriuchkov told the Tesla worker that his organization had executed similar "special projects" on other companies on multiple occasions, with one victim supposedly surrendering a $4 million ransom payment. According to the complaint, Kriuchkov added that his organization employed sophisticated encryption that would mask the Tesla worker's participation and mentioned that one hacker in his group was a high-level employee of a government bank in Russia.

More: Tesla targeted in failed ransomware extortion scheme
As fire crews continue to battle numerous large wildfires across the western third of the United States, no additional help can be expected from Mother Nature as more dry weather and stifling heat are in the forecast for the region.

While a storm system that moved through the West to close out the weekend and the beginning of the week kept temperatures near normal, very little moisture associated with this system led to a high fire threat across the Northwest.

Gusty winds and low relative humidity levels created conditions that would allow any ongoing fires or new flames to spread quickly.

The storm system departed the area late Monday and made way for the next heat event for the West to begin. An area of high pressure is forecast to build over the region into the middle of the week. As the high settles in at midweek, temperatures are expected to trend higher.

"High temperatures across the region are expected to reach 6-12 degrees above normal for this time of year," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Nicole LoBiondo.

Excessive heat watches have been issued across the southwestern U.S. due to the extreme heat forecast to build over the holiday weekend.

"Sunday now looks the hottest, and so hot in fact that highs may approach all-time records," the National Weather Service said. "Nighttime temperatures will also warm up, only adding to the discomfort and serious health risk."

"This will also help to worsen drought conditions that have been building throughout the summer," LoBiondo said.

As air stagnates with high pressure over the region, air quality will deteriorate further throughout the week. Areas of extensive smoke, due to ongoing, large wildfires, will continue to envelope portions of the West.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

A storm system expected to track into the Northwest will act to increase winds, especially across this region. The fire danger with each passing storm will depend on how much precipitation the storm will bring.

Story continues

Any rain from these storms may be too spotty to offer any relief from the drought conditions or aid fire crews battling the blazes across the region.

Fires have been setting records across the western third of the United States this season. Fires from California to Colorado have grown to some of the largest each state has recorded.

The SCU Lightning Complex and LNU Lightning Complex fires, both located in Central California, have each grown to over 375,000 acres burned each, falling short of the largest fire in California history set back in 2018.

Both fires are about 60% contained as of Monday afternoon, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).

The fires burning across the state have claimed seven lives in recent weeks, according to The Associated Press. Nearly a quarter of a million people were placed under evacuation orders and warnings, the AP reported.

The fire near Grand Junction in Colorado grew to about 140,000 acres on Thursday, according to The Denver Post, making it the largest fire in state history. This surpassed the Hayman fire that burned near Denver in 2002.

"More than 900 firefighters have continued battling the fire since it first ignited by a lightning strike July 31, about 18 miles north of Grand Junction," reported the Associated Press.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Liz Truss

Liz Truss will this week set out her ambition for a gold standard trade deal with Australia which would wipe tariffs on spirits, clothing and cars, as the Government prepares to step up talks next month.

The International Trade Secretary will tell MPs that UK officials are intensifying talks as they push for a wide-ranging agreement which includes financial services, telecoms, technology, food and drink.

The Government also hopes to make it easier for professionals to travel and work in Australia, with politicians in Canberra calling for the two sides to agree to freedom of movement in any post-Brexit deal.

A Whitehall source On Saturday night said both sides were optimistic a deal can be struck before the end of the year, with the UK also hoping to conclude a deal with Japan in the same time frame.

With the second round of negotiations due to commence in the fourth week of September, Ms Truss will hail a trade deal with Australia as a critical step to fulfilling the UKs ambition of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The trade bloc, comprising 11 nations including Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, accounts for 13 per cent of global commerce, with 95 per cent of goods traded between members tariff-free.

The UK is said to be particularly drawn to the bloc due to huge growth potential as well its high standards in areas such as digital and data.

On Saturday night Ms Truss said: We want a gold standard deal with Australia that pushes new frontiers in trade and delivers for the whole country.

We are intensifying talks over the next few weeks, and fighting hard for British interests in areas like financial services, telecoms, tech, and food and drink.

Together with our great friend Australia, we will stand up for rules-based free trade and help advance it globally. Strategically, a deal is an important step towards British membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) - which will open up new opportunities for our businesses and hitch Britain to one of the worlds biggest free trade areas.

Story continues

The UK intends to secure zero-tariffs on UK exports including whisky, gin, sausages and cars, currently set at five per cent, as well as simplifying customs processes, and making it easier for professional and financial services companies to operate in Australia.

The Government believes the deal would boost the UK economy by 500m, increase UK wages by 400m, and drive up exports by 900m in the long-term.

Tony Abbott - Stefan Postles/Getty Images AsiaPac

It comes just days after it was reported that Tony Abbott, the former Australian prime minister, is set to join the UKs Board of Trade as part of the drive to strike free trade deals around the world.

While Downing Street has not yet confirmed the appointment, which is expected to be as an advisor, Mr Abbott is due to be in London this week to address the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee and speak at a think tank event.

Mr Abbott, who served as premier between 2013 and 2015, has previously suggested that the UK should prioritise striking deals with economically advanced Commonwealth countries, describing them as the obvious place to start.

In a foreword to a paper published in 2017 by the Tory backbench Free Enterprise Group, Mr Abbott added: "Of course, no two countries are more like-minded than Britain and Australia. We have a language, a set of values and a large slab of history in common.

If Britain is determined to make the most of Brexit...why not strive for a one page free trade agreement with Australia? The movement of goods between our two countries should be absolutely free of tariffs or quotas.

"And each countrys product and service standards should be recognised in the other."
A joint Greek-US aeronautical exercise was held in the sea area south of Crete - Shutterstock

As warships bristling with 21st century weapons systems prowled the eastern Mediterranean, Turkeys president drew on a rather earlier era to underline his latest round of sabre-rattling towards Greece.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan chose the anniversary of a battle that took place near 1,000 years ago as an opportunity to warn the Greeks that they would be swept aside if they stood in the way of Turkish ambitions in the region.

At the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, the Turkish Seljuk Empire beat Christian Byzantine forces, capturing the Byzantine emperor and forcing entry into the great hinterland of Anatolia.

The battle is celebrated as marking the birth of the state of Turkey; nearly a millennium later, President Erdogan was in bellicose mood.

Turkey will take what is its right in the Mediterranean, in the Aegean and in the Black Sea, he said during the speech on Wednesday.

If anyone wants to stand before us and face the consequences, they are welcome to. If not, stay out of our way and we will continue with our work.

Turkish coast guard and gendarmerie in a parade in Ankara - Anadolu

The Greeks were not only acting like pirates but were unworthy of the Byzantine legacy, he said, in a further allusion to the tangled conflicts of the past.

The punchy rhetoric was emblematic of Turkeys increasingly assertive posture in a dispute which now risks spiraling into military confrontation between two NATO members.

The crisis began earlier this month when Turkey sent a survey vessel, escorted by warships, to prospect for oil and gas in the Aegean.

Ankara argues that the many small Greek islands that lie off the Turkish coast should not be taken into account when delineating maritime boundaries and accuses Athens of trying to grab an unfair share of untapped resources.

Greece was furious, saying that the flotilla was trespassing in its waters and impinging on its exclusive economic zone.

On August 14, the confrontation threatened to escalate when a Greek frigate collided with a Turkish warship in waters between Crete and Cyprus.

Story continues

The Turkish survey vessel Oruc Reis, seen in Istanbul - Reuters

The Greek ship, the Limnos, was approaching the Turkish survey vessel when it came into the path of one of its naval escorts, the Kemal Reis  named after an Ottoman admiral of the 15th century who battled the Venetians.

The Greek frigate manoeuvred to avoid a head-on collision and in the process its bow touched the rear of the Turkish frigate, in what the Greeks described as an accident. President Erdogan seized on the incident to issue an aggressive warning, saying that any attack on the survey vessel, the Oruc Reiss, would incur a high price.

Greece and Turkey have been squabbling over the Aegean for decades. In 1996, they nearly went to war over a barren collection of rocks known as the Ima islets.

An uneasy detente then set in and the tension was largely forgotten by the rest of the world.

Now it has erupted again, with potentially ruinous consequences for both countries and even the spectre of full-blown war.

Germanys foreign minister warned this week that the two countries are staring into the abyss.

Greece held a military exercise with US forces near the island of Crete - Greek National Defence Ministry

"The situation is very risky," said Heiko Maas. "Whoever moves closer and closer to the abyss can at some point fall down. Nobody wants to solve this conflict militarily, which would be absolute insanity. Any spark, however small, could lead to a disaster.

There are two key factors that make the current crisis particularly dangerous.

Firstly, Turkey has become more emboldened recently, buoyed by successful military interventions in Libya and Syria.

It feels hemmed in and contained by maritime demarcations that were drawn up nearly a century ago.

Many in the West accuse president Erdogan of pursuing neo-Ottoman adventurism to expand its sphere of influence.

Turkey is meddling in Libya, Syria, Iraq and the Aegean  all areas that used to belong to the Ottoman Empire, said Angelos Chryssogelos, an expert on the eastern Mediterranean from London Metropolitan University.

What you see is a concerted effort by Turkey to liberate itself from the obligations that it assumed when it was founded. It is similar to what Russia is doing in Ukraine and Crimea. Erdogan is matching nationalist, Kemalist ideas with a neo-Ottoman agenda which has a populist dimension.

Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, chairing a cabinet meeting - Anadolu

The recent conversion of Hagia Sophia, Istanbuls former basilica, back into a mosque is part of that nationalist agenda.

Many Turks do not see it that way. They argue that the current laws about continental shelves and offshore drilling rights are deeply unfair to Turkey and need to be changed.

The reason Turkey has resorted to hard power tactics is related to its policy objectives. It wants to demonstrate to Greece that Turkey will never accept the imposition of what it sees as an unfair partition of the eastern Mediterranean and it wants to convince the Greek authorities that the only way to resolve this is to negotiate directly, said Sinan Ulgen, chairman of Edam, an Istanbul-based think tank.

There is broad consensus over this within Turkey because it is seen as part of Turkeys national sovereignty. Its not politically partisan, its almost unanimous.

Ian Lesser, the executive director of the German Marshall Fund of the US, a think tank, said: Turkey is much more assertive and much more conscious of its maritime interests. It has used its military with some success in Libya and Syria. Its capacity to project power is greater it was in the past.

Theres a long-standing Turkish argument that the international demarcations of the sea work against them. In their view, it condemns them to being a continental actor without access to the sea.

Dr Lesser, an expert in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern affairs, says another element that has changed is Ankaras relationship with the West, which is almost at breaking point.

Western policymakers are not sure whether to regard Turkey as an ally or a rogue state. Probably a bit of both, said Dr Lesser. Theres a complete breakdown of trust between Turkey and European capitals.

With Turkeys long-discussed accession to the EU now at an impasse, the West has less leverage over Ankara than it did in previous crises.

A second factor is that there are far more countries involved in the dispute this time around compared to back in 1996.

France and the UAE have sent aircraft and warships to back up Greece, while Cyprus, Israel and Egypt also have a stake in prospecting for hydrocarbons in the eastern Mediterranean.

The more warships and fighter planes there are jostling for space in the region, the greater potential there is for an accident or miscalculation that could lead to war.

It is not just oil and gas prospecting that has fueled tensions between the neighbours. They are at odds over Cyprus, which has been ethnically divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974, as well as Turkish accusations that Athens mistreats the ethnic Turkish minority in the Greek region of Western Thrace.

A French helicopter carrier is escorted by Greek and French warships in the eastern Mediterranean - Greek National Defence via AP)

Economic problems at home have also fueled president Erdogans aggressive posturing abroad.

Erdogan has serious internal problems, mostly to do with the economy, and has decided that the best defence is offence, Petros Markaris, an author and social commentator who was born in Istanbul to Greek and Armenian parents, told an Italian newspaper, La Stampa. His political discourse is inspired by the desire to revive the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey does not want war, most analysts agree, but its brinksmanship is highly dangerous in such a volatile context.

The idea is not to go to war but to place ships and planes in areas so as to stake a claim.

They are constantly applying pressure and trying to carve out space, to open up the agenda as much as possible, said Prof Chryssogelos.

I dont think Turkey is looking for war but there is always the risk of an accident.

Turkey upped the ante on Friday night by announcing that it will conduct live fire exercises northwest of Cyprus from this weekend until Sept 11.

In all likelihood there will not be a deliberate military confrontation, said Dr Lesser. But with more military exercises and more forces in the region, the risk of something going wrong is there. This is what worries many observers.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 21:23:24|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- "A sound and stable China-UK relationship is not only in the fundamental interests of the two peoples but also conducive to world peace and prosperity," a spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in Britain said Saturday.

Responding to a report carried by The Times newspaper on Friday, the spokesperson said: "We hope the public could look at China and its development in an objective and rational light, take a comprehensive and pragmatic perspective on China-UK cooperation and support the sound and steady development of China-UK relationship."

The newspaper report echoed recent "worrying noises in the UK regarding the China-UK relations," the spokesperson noted. "Some politicians and institutions deliberately twist and smear the normal exchange and cooperation between the two countries or even clamor for the so called 'new cold war' against China."

"China and the UK are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and important members of the G20 (the Group of 20 major economies in the world) and other international organizations," the spokesperson said.

"Both are countries of global influence and shoulder the important mission of safeguarding world peace and promoting development," the spokesperson added. Enditem
Australian racing officials are investigating a leading thoroughbred operation after its owner was accused in a US court of being involved in an international money-laundering scheme linked to a fake cryptocurrency.

Phoenix Thoroughbreds, which co-owns Australian group 1 winner Farnan which is trained by Gai Waterhouse, was banned from racing in France earlier this month after a prosecution witness alleged in a New York court that its Dubai-based owner Amer Abdulaziz Salman had stolen $161 million in the OneCoin cryptocurrency scheme.

Farnan wins race 7 the Longines Golden Slipper during 2020 Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens. Credit:Getty Images

OneCoin has been described as one of the worlds biggest cryptocurrency scams and is estimated to have swindled $7.2 billion from investors across Europe, Africa and Australia.

Investors purchased the virtual coins after being told they would skyrocket in value, but they were never able to cash them out. At least one Australian victim lost $100,000 in retirement funds.
BERLIN (Reuters)protest under way - Berlin police on Saturday disbanded a mass protest in the German capital against coronavirus curbs a few hours after it had begun after marchers failed to heed their orders to keep their distance and wear masks.

The protest came as infections rise across Europe, with similar protests during the day in Paris and elsewhere.

Unfortunately, we have no other option," Berlin police said on Twitter. All the measures taken so far have not led to compliance with the conditions."

A police spokesman said the protesters were dispersing peacefully, though the police also reported on Twitter pockets of disturbance, such as a construction container fire and blocked roads.

Police, who deployed 3,000 officers to control crowds estimated at 18,000, had been preparing for possible violence as activists opposed to the virus measures urged social media followers across Europe to arm themselves and gather in Berlin.

Earlier this week the city banned the protest but a German regional court overnight gave the final go-ahead by overruling the earlier decision.

Activists, angered by the citys attempt to ban their protest after demonstrators at a previous rally failed to wear masks or keep their distance, flooded the city with thousands of applications for additional protests this weekend.

Until now Germany has managed the coronavirus crisis better than many of its European counterparts, with rigorous testing helping to hold down infections and deaths.

But new daily infections have accelerated in recent weeks, as in much of the world.

On Friday, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged citizens to keep up their guard against the virus.

This is a serious matter, as serious as its ever been, and you need to carry on taking it seriously," she said.

Protesters had gathered before the Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin ahead of Saturdays march with signs reading Stop the corona lies" and Merkel must go".

About two hundred anti-mask activists held a rally in Paris to protest against sanitary measures with slogans such as No to the health dictatorship" and Let our children breathe".

(Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus: open https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser.)

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Toronto-based Gitanjali Kolanad has a lived a life immersed in Indian art, history and culture. She practised and taught bharata natyam for over 40 years, performing solo or choreographing shows in major cities across the world. Her work is often multi-disciplinary, arising out of collaborations with international artists.

But dance is only one aspect of her creativity. She also practises and teaches the ancient Indian martial art of kalaripayat, and is an award-winning writer of two non-fiction titles.

We caught up with her about her riveting debut novel Girl Made of Gold (Juggernaut), set in an older time in India when girls of lower castes were married to the gods as devadasis and left at the mercy of predatory temple priests.

In your book, there is an element of sexual slavery for the devadasis. However, many today including dancer Aranyani Bhargav present Indias devadasis as enviable figures  women with sexual independence and individual freedom, unlike regular women. What is your take on this image of devadasis so glorified today?

I asked a North Karnataka devadasi a similar question. She responded with her own question: If it was so great to be a devadasi, why were only low-caste girls initiated? Wouldnt high-caste girls also be eager for all these benefits? After that, I shut my mouth and listened.

Sexual freedom is a double-edged sword  it means no one protects you from the sexual demands of high-caste men. These women spoke of constant harassment once their status was known, even when they got educated and took other kinds of jobs.

Gijanjali Kolanad

And it is one thing to choose to be a devadasi as a grown woman, it is quite another to force it on a child. Just like child marriage and caste injustices of various kinds, the institution of devadasi, which is both casteist and sexist, had to be abolished once the newly emerging India began to recognize and enshrine within its Constitution the equal rights of its citizens.

The most outspoken opponents of the devadasi system came from within that community. Muthulakshmi Reddis mother was a devadasi and Moovalur Ramamirthammal was a devadasi who ran away so she could marry the man she loved rather than be forced to take a patron.

Both of them were deeply involved with the Indian independence movement, they were fiery revolutionaries but in order to fit the facts to their agenda, Western or Western-educated academics had to paint them as bourgeois or influenced by Victorian morality.

Is it really Victorian morality to fight for girls to have control of their bodies, their sexuality, their career choices? Here are the words of the granddaughter of Ranganayaki, the famous devadasi of Tirutani: But my mother and I, we didnt learn dancing. I have an MA in Social Sciences. We are not for the devadasi system, we are against it. We have developed an aversion for this dancing. Shouldnt she be able to make that choice? The system didnt provide that autonomy.

The glorification of devadasis by young women dancing today is an indication of the success of the process Rukmini Devi and others of her generation initiated, whereby the dance form was severed from sex work; this allows them to engage in dance but pay no price, as those women had to.

If these dancers found it impossible to get married (to an Indian man), or hard to rent an apartment, or were approached by men for sex after a performance, since dance equals sex work, all of which were still part of my experience dancing in Madras even in the 1980s, maybe they wouldnt think being a devadasi was so wonderful.

Gijanjali Kolanad With Kalanidhi Narayanan in 1984

Even within the Tamil devadasi community, not all of them were great dancers or musicians. For example, while performing a javali thats still quite popular today, Nimattale mayanura  in which the dancer asks, Where is that nose ring you promised me?  my father told me that the dancer would come down and feel around in mens laps, stroking them surreptitiously.

When dancers glorify devadasis, they do so by ignoring a whole range of practices like this one, the worst being the rape of young girls for a price.

Almost every ancient culture has its levels of prostitution that segregate sex workers into those for regular men and those for royalty. How would you compare the devadasi system in India with other similar systems in the world?

I think it is most comparable to the geishas of Japan. Many of the same obsessions existed  with paying a high price and having the rights to a girls first night for example, and the deep connection to cultural practices such as music and dance and the tea ceremony. And the way the art forms flowered within that hothouse setting  beautiful talented women dancing for an extremely knowledgeable and receptive audience, tuned in to every nuance of the performance. That is the same environment within which bharata natyam developed.

The devadasi system may have been dismantled legally after Independence but does it continue in some other form today, away from public glare?

The word devadasi is pretty amorphous and is used to cover a lot of different practices. In North Karnataka, there are women called devadasis who are associated with a temple, come from low castes, do sex work and are considered auspicious. Western academics like Saskia Kersenboom make much of that auspiciousness, but when I asked these women about it, they laughed derisively: So? They call me in through the back door, I remove the evil eye, they give me 10 rupees and I leave. They wont even let me have a glass of water.

Their first night is sold for a high price even today, and among the women I spoke to it was as young as 11, and definitely before 16, except for one girl where the family waited till she was 18 because she was somewhat mentally deficient. The NGO that was working with them told me that even if they were put into school and got good jobs, once the background of the girls came to light, they were expected to have sex with any man who wanted it.

Another system that comes close is the bar girls of Bombay. They generally belong to performing-arts castes, and men come to them not for sex but for the illusion of love. In fact, it was when the law prevented them from dancing in bars that they were forced into sex work.

When did you start learning bharata natyam?

I studied ballet as a little kid in Winnipeg, so when we came back to India for two years when I was 10, my mother organized bharata natyam classes for me. The first teacher was a very traditional guru, he tied me to a pillar to get aramandi properly and beat me with a thin stick from a broom when I made mistakes, very stinging blows on my bare leg that really hurt! I complained to my mother, and he was changed for a nice teacher who said everything I did was great. Between the two of them I didnt learn much.

When I was 16, getting into sex and drugs, my parents took the drastic action of spiriting me out of Canada and dumping me with my grandparents in Trichy. I was desperate to get away, so when I saw an article about Kalakshetra in Femina, I convinced my parents to let me go there. Thats the first time I really saw bharata natyam, and what was needed to do it properly.

I describe the experience as falling in love, because it isnt rational. Just like that bad boyfriend you keep trying to leave and end up going back to, I tried to quit many times and get a real job. But eventually Id drop whatever I was doing and go back to dance. Its not a very forgiving art form. It is all-consuming, you have to give your body over to it  train, eat properly, and practise for hours whether you have a performance or not.

How is the dance form connected with devadasis, and is that what sparked your interest in their history?

While I was studying bharata natyam at Kalakshetra, in the early 1970s, I had the opportunity to see many dancers. There were many more stylistic variations in those days, Pandanallur style, Tanjore style, Vallavoor style. So I could have switched and gone to one of the hereditary community of dance gurus, many of whom were teaching in Madras at the time.

But to me the Kalakshetra style of doing adavus seemed the most beautiful  precise, neat lines and an unfussy way of dressing and being on stage. I never actually saw the great devadasi dancer Balasaraswati, though she was performing in those days. The choice as I remember it was between seeing Bala, the legend, or Yamini Krishnamurthy, the rising star, and I chose Yamini. I dont regret it, because Yaminis performance is burned into my memory, it was unforgettable.

I started researching into the history of devadasis when some of the statements that academics were making about dance didnt accord with my experience. For example, they claimed Rukmini Devi was sanitizing the dance, based on some Brahminical version of puritanism. She was still very much an iconoclast when I studied at Kalakshetra and I knew that the academics were misrepresenting her.

I saw many erotic padams and some of them expressed a rather regressive view of female sexuality. Rather than a censorious attitude, a decision not to perform such padams was grounded in a contemporary understanding of the artists role, and frankly an artistically valid choice. I myself didnt always want to dance about yearning for some man who was treating me badly.

How long did it take you to write your new novel, and how different was the process this time compared with your previous books?

The novel has taken about 10 years, from the first idea to completed book. I dont like to think about how long and difficult the process was, because I want to write a sequel. My first book, Culture Shock: India, which was aimed at long-term visitors to India, helping them negotiate the cultural potholes that might spoil their journey, took about a year. My second book was a collection of short stories, Sleeping with Movie Stars, about my experience learning dance, which took about three years.

I had no idea a novel was so difficult. You have to have the time and solitude to let the characters come to life inside you, and its really very intense. I honestly dont know how other writers manage to do this while also doing some regular job. I could only write when I had uninterrupted time with nothing else to do.

What have you observed about sexism in classical arts such as bharata natyam? Does it affect men as well?

The classical arts tend to be sexist, since classicism develops according to strict rules. Look at ballet. Bharata natyam promotes a certain restrictive idea of women and men and their relationship. Both sexes can easily get trapped within that limited understanding, but these ideas that have become enshrined are in fact not intrinsic to it.

That is what Rukmini Devi was able to recognize and thats what I love about the form  one neednt be held back by those strictures. Bharata natyam is a physical language capable of expressing radical and transformative visions if the dancer is willing to use it fully. Some of Rama Vaidyanathans performances, most recently, have moved me with their sublime beauty.

When did your association with kalaripayat begin, and do you still practise it now as a form of exercise?

I saw a performance by Kavalan Narayana Panickers troupe in New Delhi, and it was stunning, so powerful. The next day they held a workshop and I was the only one to attend. So I had all these gorgeous Malayali actors to myself. They used kalaripayat as their training technique. I became so fascinated I went to Kerala to learn more, and finally found a teacher in Madras, P A Binoy. I have been practising ever since.

When I started having knee problems from bharata natyam, I took the kalari massage as treatment, which I continue to take once a year. I credit my health and well-being to the practice and the massage. It is such a beautiful form, sinuous, powerful, graceful, with a deep philosophical aspect, and so much to learn that you can do it your whole life. It is a powerful antidote to the elitism of bharata natyam.

My first guru told me, When you enter the kalari, you leave every sign of caste and class at the door. I practised with auto-rickshaw drivers, bus conductors, shopkeepers. Now I study with Vikas Gurukkal in Calicut.

Youve had a long association with the performing arts. Please share something about your most memorable performance and what stayed with you.

I loved performing, but I didnt have that many opportunities so I can remember almost all my performances. One, in Italy, with a troupe put together by the very handsome dancer Kama Dev, was on a stage constructed in a fountain, with curved staircases on either side. The setting was exquisite.

Similarly, I danced in Suwon, Korea, and the stage had an ancient stone wall and massive gate as the backdrop. That was spectacular.

I danced once in Delhi with my guru Nana Kasar doing the nattuvangam. One piece was an Ashtapadi from Gita Govinda, in which I enact Krishna teasing me by hiding while I search for him in the dark forest. I became so immersed in it that when I mimed the sudden touch of Krishnas hand, I reacted, startled as if by an actual touch. Guruji noticed and said afterward, That was you dancing, not any of your teachers, and I felt so joyous.

Another time in a performance that Id choreographed, The Seven Deadly Sins, my musician and friend Babu Parameswaran, said, That was sexy. That was a great compliment, coming from Babu.
Secretary of State Al Haig declaring control of the government as doctors labored to save Ronald Reagans life; Attorney General John Ashcroft deferring to Jim Comey rather than authorize mass domestic surveillance from a hospital bed: To these strange moments in debilitated American history we can now add Dr. Anthony Faucis laryngoscopy.

As it happens, the most trusted, if gravelly, voice of the nations public health apparatus was having his vocal cords operated on when the White Houses coronavirus task force approved dubious new guidelines on testing for the pathogen.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he was under general anesthesia last week when the task force agreed to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions new advice that known close contacts of infected people need not get tested unless they have COVID-19 symptoms. His account contradicted that of White House testing czar Adm. Brett Giroir, who said Fauci and other top government docs had signed off on the revisions, which also drop the recommendation that those traveling from areas of high coronavirus spread quarantine for 14 days.

Both changes disregard one of the best-known dangers of the virus: its capacity to be transmitted by people who havent developed symptoms and in many cases never will. The nations top disease-fighting agency thereby advised us to ignore an essential aspect of a pandemic with which we have six months of contrary experience. No wonder the plot had to be set in motion while Fauci was comatose.

Discouraging exposed Americans from seeking a diagnosis is sadly in keeping with President Trumps long-standing failure to muster sufficient testing or even consistently acknowledge its importance. Reliable, rapid testing for the virus, along with tracing contacts and isolating infected people, is the only way to safely resume regular economic and social activity in areas where the virus is spreading.

To his credit, Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected the revised federal guidance this week as not the policy in California. But the state has also struggled to mount an adequate and competent testing regime. Last month, state officials announced that due to supply shortages, some testing capacity would have to be reserved for symptomatic people and specific outbreaks.

Newsom is at least trying to do something about this. He announced this week that a $1.4 billion deal with Massachusetts firm PerkinElmer will allow the state to perform an additional 150,000 tests a day, more than doubling capacity, and reduce turnaround from an average of five to seven business days  long enough to render results of little use in stopping the contagion  to under two days.

While Newsoms coronavirus mega-contracts havent always turned out as advertised, such an increase in timely testing would be a boon to the state, particularly after the governor green-lighted a second, slower resumption of economic activity Friday. Ready access to testing remains the only reliable way to catch outbreaks and prevent the sort of surge in infections that accompanied Californias first reopening. The CDCs proposed retreat from testing isnt an alternative; its a surrender.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Eliot Engel has announced that the panel will carry out contempt proceedings against US secretary of state Mike Pompeo.

In a statement on Friday, Mr Engel said that the committee will begin drafting a resolution of contempt, after Mr Pompeo has repeatedly refused to provide subpoenaed documents as part of an investigation to determine whether he has misused government resources for political purposes, according to The Hill.

The committee is beginning proceedings against Mr Pompeo as he is still yet to hand over documents relating to Ukraine that were subpoenaed for president Donald Trumps impeachment enquiry in 2019.

Mr Engel and the committee are also drafting the resolution because Mr Pompeo provided Republican controlled senate committees documents subpoenaed by his panel, for an investigation into Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his son.

In July, Mr Engel issued a subpoena for more than 16,000 pages of documents the State Department sent to the Republican backed Senate Finance and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees, but the State Department has refused to provide them.

On Friday, Mr Engel wrote: The Secretarys ongoing defiance of two duly authorised subpoenas on matters directly linked to American foreign policy towards Ukraine has left the committee no further option but to begin drafting a resolution finding Secretary Pompeo in contempt of Congress.

The committees chairman added: He seems to think the office he holds, the department he runs, the personnel he oversees, and the taxpayer dollars that pay for all of it are there for his personal and political benefit.

Mr Engel accused the secretary of state of attempting to disrupt Novembers presidential election, by helping the Republican led committees investigate Mr Biden, but not Mr Trump.

The Senate investigation is looking into Mr Bidens son, Hunter Biden, and his position on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma, according to ABC News.

So far there is no evidence to support corruption by the Democratic presidential nominee, but Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised Hunter as part of his reelection campaign.

In a press release issued in June, the Office of William Evanina, the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Centre, said the Russian government is taking active measures to primarily denigrate former vice president Biden.

The office added that the Ukrainian member of parliament Andriy Derkach is spreading claims about corruption  including through publicizing leaked phone calls  to undermine Biden and the Democratic Party, according to ABC.

In reference to the investigation, Mr Engel said: I want no part of it. Under no circumstances will I amplify Putins debunked conspiracy theories or lend them credence. And I wont stand by and see the committee or the House treated with such disdain by anyone.

In a response to the subpoena last week, the State Department wrote that it does not need to give the committee the documents, as the panel is investigating Mr Pompeo and not the investigation against the former vice president and his son.

The committee chair said that Mr Pompeos final response makes it clear where he stands: the Department would turn over the documents if the committee announced that we, too, were pursuing an investigation into the same conspiracy theory thats been debunked again and again.

Mr Pompeo is separately being investigated by the House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, over a speech he delivered at the Republican National Convention (RNC) earlier this week.

The subcommittee is investigating whether Mr Pompeo breached the Hatch Act, by delivering a speech to the RNC while he was away on diplomatic duty in Jerusalem.

The Hatch Act, that was brought into law in 1939, states that civil service employees cannot engage in political activity and the subcommittee alleges that his speech on Tuesday breached the federal law.
The Piluttis

The allure of the front porch

by Cynthia Furlong Reynolds

Published in August, 2020

Graphic artist/illustrator/author Deb Pilutti spent the early quarantine days organizing and clearing out her basement, creating a larger studio for her artwork. But the porches, not the basements, initially attracted her family to the Eberwhite neighborhood.



"We came here by accident," Pilutti says. "We lived a half mile away and we often walked downtown to Washtenaw Dairy. When we passed this street, we admired the front porches and the way the neighbors were always out socializing."



In 1994, they moved into a charming circa-1928 house with a big front porch in the post-World War I neighborhood. "Our decision to move didn't affect my husband's commute [Tom is a Ford engineer in Dearborn], but we decided this was the way we wanted to live," she says. "It turned out to be a great place to raise a family and participate in Ann Arbor's rich downtown life."



Now that the children have scattered to D.C. and San Francisco, the Piluttis occasionally discuss downsizing, but they aren't ready to pack. "We like to walk with a purpose--and we can easily walk to the library, Michigan Theater, the restaurants and bars and bookstores downtown. That's reason enough to stay."



Trained in graphic design at Purdue, Pilutti worked in Chicago and St. Louis before moving to Ann Arbor so her husband could attend grad school. She created the website for Ann Arbor-based olliebollen.com, becoming a partner and designing some of the toys and children's products it sold. But she dreamed of combining her love of reading with her passion for illustrating.



A chance encounter with children's writer Nancy Shaw led her to membership in the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Then a mutual friend introduced her to a local manuscript critique group for children's writers. She dipped her toe in the waters of children's publishing, juggling painting with her freelance graphic design assignments. And then one day she told herself she had to treat children's books as a full-time

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job--"but it was definitely a leap of faith to go out on my own."Her ideas come in myriad ways. She grins and explains, "It's a very messy process that involves a lot of staring and thinking." Her books often start with random sketches and doodles, until one catches her eye and inspires a story. "I ask questions and explore topics I like or think are funny. I'm often drawn to the idea of unlikely friendships."The results? Eight books and two awards: she was a finalist for the Michigan Great Reads Great Books Award (for The Secrets of Ninja School) and won the International Picture Book Show Award (for Idea Jar).Covid-19's lockdown gave her the time and energy to create a basement studio, but Pilutti says she's not sure how being at home all the time will affect her career or the publishing industry. "My days haven't changed remarkably, except my husband now works at home. And," she adds, smiling again, "before the quarantine, much of my staring was done in coffee shops."We'll see changes in publishing after this, I'm sure. But one thing will remain the same: we still need stories. Lots of stories. Good stories." [Originally published in August, 2020.]
An inside peek at Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussexs experience in the royal family unfolds in the new book Finding Freedom. One royal expert who reviewed the book believes theres a lot of whining on the part of the Sussexes, claiming that their skin seemed to get thinner and thinner amid the media scrutiny.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince Harry and Meghans story unfolds in Finding Freedom

Finding Freedom, written by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, takes royal fans behind the palace doors and gives a look at some of what Meghan and Harry endured while in the royal family.

The couple faced an excessive amount of media scrutiny and, according to the books authors, didnt feel supported by the palace during that time.

During the August 21 HeirPod podcast episode, Scobie shared his thoughts on whether there was an exact moment where it all went so wrong for Prince Harry and Meghan.

Scobie pointed to a build-up of frustration after several different moments rather than one incident that prompted Prince Harry and Meghan to make the decision to exit the royal family.

I think where it really started to crack was during the Duchess of Sussexs pregnancy because I think that was a time in which the press commentary, particularly in certain sections of the tabloids, became extremely negative at such a vulnerable moment in any womans life, Scobie explained.

I think that was really one time where the couple, and particularly Meghan, felt extremely unprotected by the institution of the monarchy, he added.

RELATED: How Queen Elizabeth Took Back Control of the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Exit Situation, Expert Explains

Were Prince Harry and Meghan too sensitive about the criticisms?

Theres no denying that Prince Harry and Meghan were on the receiving end of a lot of negative press, but Write Royalty writer Patricia Treble believes that perhaps the storytelling in Finding Freedom paints the couple as whining and overly sensitive.

In Trebles review of the book, she explains how whining is rarely a good look but sadly, what will be remembered about Finding Freedom are whines.

She points to many of the small issues the book tries to magnify. Meghan complaining that Kate didnt offer to take her shopping in London at a time when she and Harry were avoiding the press; Kates birthday present to Meghan of a bouquet of flowers being dismissed as unworthy; even how the Sussexes were treated at the 2019 Commonwealth service, mere weeks after they blindsided the royal family by their public demands to carve out a new life inside the royal family; and tiaragate, Treble notes.

They wanted to change the rules, expert says

Treble further explains that the book also focuses on whines about how the press treated them, though she admits that some of their complaints are justified.

Yet that wasnt exactly a new situation for the Windsors, Treble writes. The royals have been dealing with intense media coverage for years. Theyve built coping mechanisms.

The expert believes that the biography highlights how sensitive the Sussexes had become. But Harry and Meghans skins seemed to get thinner and thinner in Finding Freedom. They were reading their own press and their distress grew with every critical and/or fake or fluffy article, every reader comment filled with vitriol and racism. They wanted to change the rules, and, when the press didnt fall in line, they left.

While Treble admits that Megxit was their right, she asserts that doing so less than two years into their joint lifetime commitment is also the ultimate whine.
The men are associates of Hafiz Saeed, leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba, currently serving a prison sentence of 11 years.

A court in Pakistan has sentenced to prison three leaders of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, an organisation accused by India and the United States of masterminding the 2008 attack in Mumbai.

The sentencing on Saturday, which was not related to the Mumbai attack itself, came ahead of a September deadline for Pakistan to avoid being blacklisted for failing to curb terror financing by global financial watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Inclusion on the blacklist, alongside Iran and North Korea, would mean being shunned by international financial institutions.

The watchdog has called for Pakistan to prosecute those funding terrorism, as well as to enact laws to help track and stop terror financing.

Malik Zafar Iqbal and Abdul Salam were each handed more than 16 years in jail on four charges, to be served concurrently, while a third man, Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki, got a year-and-a-half on one charge, according to a court judgement seen by the Reuters news agency.

The men were associates of Hafiz Saeed, who was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison in February.

Hafiz Saeed, Jamaat-ud-Dawa head and founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, was sentenced to 11 years in prison earlier this year [File: Mohsin Raza/Reuters]

All the sentences are concurrent so Saeed, Iqbal and Salam will serve five years each.

Saeed founded and led Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a group blamed by India and the US for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed at least 160 people, including foreigners.

He and his associates also face a further slew of cases for allegedly financing rebel activities, while Iqbal and Makki have already been convicted in several cases.

Saeed says his network, which spans 300 seminaries and schools, hospitals, a publishing house and ambulance services, has no ties to armed groups.

A 2011 US sanctions designation describes Iqbal as a co-founder of the LeT and in charge of its financing activities.

Salam is described as the interim leader of the group during the brief periods when Saeed was arrested following the Mumbai attacks, and running its network of seminaries.
17:27 | Lima, Aug. 28.

According to Supreme Decree No. 145-2020-PCM , published in El Peruano official gazette for the implementation of this plan, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) seeks cooperation, participation and opinion from representatives of public and/or private entities based in the influence areas of oil sector (projects) in Loreto, mainly from the Regional Government and representatives of indigenous organizations in the assistance field.
Extinction Rebellion demonstrations are being held across the country this weekend as the environmentalist group gears up for a renewed period of uprisings.

A funeral march in Lewes, East Sussex, and a fancy-dress tea party at Gatwick Airport are among protests planned to disrupt the Bank Holiday.

The collective  which demands greater and faster action to combat the climate crisis  says these events will be followed by even more demonstrations set to run from Tuesday.

During those, different groups will gather near Stansted, Luton and Leeds Bradford airports in protest against planned expansions.

They will say there should be no return to business as usual for the aviation industry following its shut down during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

Along similar lines in London, parents have been invited to take their children for a feed and play-in outside the Bank of England to protest against fossil fuel bailouts during the Covid-19 crisis, while other activists will march from Brighton seafront to the capital in what they call an epic voyage of rebellion.

Oxford, Cardiff, Leicester and York will all also see protests.

A statement on the groups website said: There should be no going back to the industries that are causing the most damage in this climate and ecological crisis.

While the collective recommends protestors wear masks, it does not say if such demonstrations will be socially distanced.

However, they will take place minus the presence of co-founder Roger Hallam.

The 54-year-old was among five people charged with conspiring to cause criminal damage at the upcoming protests on Wednesday. All have been remanded in custody.

Almost 2,000 people were arrested last summer when Extinction Rebellion protesters brought parts of central London to a standstill for a fortnight.
Nasa astronaut Jeanette Epps looks set to be the first black woman to live on the International Space Station after being chosen for a 2021 mission.

Epps trip will be her first spaceflight, as well as being a pioneering mission for Nasa.

The journey will be the first crewed operational flight of Boeings Starliner. Alongside SpaceXs Crew Dragon, that spacecraft represents part of Nasas hopes for sending its astronauts to the International Space Station and beyond in the future, though it has run into high-profile problems during its testing.

Epps will fly on the Starliner alongside fellow Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams and Josh Cassada as part of a six-month mission that will see her make history as the first black female astronaut to live on the space station.

Nasa has had a number of black astronauts in the past, many of whom went to space as part of Space Shuttle missions, which included work to build the International Space Station. But as yet no black American has lived on board that space station as part of a crew.

Recommended Nasa to hunt for air leak on the International Space Station

The first black person ever to reside on the International Space Station is likely to be Victor Glover, who is scheduled to be part of a mision later this year. He will take part in the first operation mission using SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft, which had its final test earlier this year as part of the Demo-2 launch.

Epps had been scheduled to head to the International Space Station in 2018, becoming its first ever black resident as she did so. But months before the scheduled launch, Nasa removed her from the crew, with little information given on why the decision had been made.

She has now finally been reassigned, as part of the Starliner mission. Epps has a doctorate in aerospace engineering, and worked at the CIA as an intelligence officer before being recruited as part of the 2009 astronaut class.

Though Epps mission is scheduled for 2021, significant work will have to be done before she can actually set off. Her crew is set to be part of the first operational flight of Boeings Starliner  a spacecraft that is still undergoing production, and which has run into problems during tests.
Photograph: Muhammad Hamed/Reuters

Mehedi Mehedi, a 36-year-old Bangladeshi garment worker who had spent 14 years working in Jordan, left the country forever last December. It was not an easy decision to make: Mehedi had met his wife in Jordan, he had no guarantees of finding a job back in Bangladesh, and he was desperate to work in order to support his chronically ill father.

In Jordan, Mehedi had been working for a subcontracting factory that supplies apparel to brands like Ralph Lauren, Under Armour and American Eagle. But after spending his last six months without regular pay, he had reached a breaking point.

I would work 24-hour days at least twice a month, Mehedi said. He explained that every time he would confront his supervisor about his delayed salary, the supervisor would reassure him that he would get paid the following week, which would ultimately result in going months without compensation. Mehedi said that after complaining to several labor rights organizations  including the National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) in Jordan and Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services (BOESL)  to no avail, he decided to cut his losses and return to Bangladesh.

What can I do? says Mehedi with a sigh, This country isnt for me.

Mehedis ordeal is a far cry from the hopeful vision that was cemented on the evening of 24 October 2000, when the then-president, Bill Clinton, and King Abdullah II of Jordan signed the first ever free trade agreement between the United States and an Arab nation.

Jordans King Abdullah II and then-president Bill Clinton in the Oval Office of the White House in 1999. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS

It will be good for the United States, good for Jordan, and good for the long-term prospects for peace in the Middle East, said Clinton, standing in the East Room of the White House as he delivered his preceding remarks. It will eliminate duties and break down commercial barriers. It will also cement the bonds of friendship that already exist between Jordan and the United States.

Fueled by migrant workers and a duty-free market, what followed over the course of two decades was the transformation of Jordans garment industry into a magnet for apparel manufacturing, as the Wall Street Journal described it. American companies such as Walmart and Target established factories in Jordans Al-Hassan industrial zone in the city of Irbid. Five years after the agreement had gone into effect, Jordans garment exports to the US had already surged twentyfold, ultimately comprising 95% of the countrys overall apparel exports. Today, dozens of American fashion brands, including Nike, Gap and Hanes source apparel from factories in Jordan.

Story continues

But the rapid growth of Jordans garment sector thrust another issue into the limelight: a labor violations crisis that dominated headlines in both Jordan and the US.

In 2006, the National Labor Committee (NLC) published a 126-page expose detailing cases of rampant sexual assault, physical abuse, grueling work hours and human trafficking in major Jordanian factories producing apparel for Victorias Secret, Kohls, JCPenney and other American retailers. These are the worst conditions Ive ever seen, Charles Kernaghan, NLC executive director, told the New York Times in 2006. You have people working 48 hours straight. You have workers who were stripped of their passports, who dont have ID cards that allow them to go out on the street. If theyre stopped, they can be imprisoned or deported, so theyre trapped, often held under conditions of involuntary servitude.

In February 2008, the Better Work Jordan (BWJ) initiative was launched as a response to this crisis. Created as a partnership between the International Labor Organization and the International Finance Corporation, and supported by the Jordanian Ministry of Labor and the US Department of Labor, BWJ has steadily worked towards improving labor conditions in Jordanian factories that export to the US. Through a combination of research, training programs and random compliance assessments, BWJ has made significant strides in dealing with issues such as the confiscation of workers passports and the use of forced labor tactics.

Better work is now part of the ecosystem here. We have this kind of mutual trust that weve gained over a long period of time, says Tariq Abu Qaoud, BWJs program manager, who has held multiple positions in the garment sector over the past 20 years. But the most challenging part is figuring out how to change the mindset of some stakeholders in order to improve working conditions, said Abu Qaoud. There are some norms that have been in the country for many years, and thats what we need to change.

Abolishing these norms has proven to be a herculean task. Despite the progress introduced by BWJ in recent years, labor rights activists and researchers around the world continue to highlight cases of sexual misconduct, physical and verbal harassment, wage theft and hazardous work environments that continue to plague the sector.

Downtown Amman in Jordan. Photograph: Andre Pain/EPA

Last year, in a study conducted by the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) about the working conditions for female Bangladeshi garment workers in Jordan, all participating focus groups reported having experienced some form of verbal abuse.

The report noted that workers  are meant to function like pieces of the machinery they are required to handle. In one interview, a participant described the physical abuse she had experienced during peak season: When I made a mistake, the supervisor took me to the floor-in-charge to complain. He got very upset with me and punched me in my face. Another described the racist language directed toward her, Bangladeshis are cheap. If I send back one, I can get back 10!

The report also emphasized the impact these abuses had on the psychological wellbeing of workers. Last year alone, four migrant garment workers in Jordan committed suicide. I dont want to get up in the morning and go to work. I wish I would never have to wake up again, one woman told a researcher  a quote that was later chosen as the title of the study.

The activists who spoke to the Guardian described these abuses as the result of a systemic problem. The people here, the ones with connections, they dont joke around with this. And they wont go easy on the people who bring it up, said one woman, a labor rights activist at the Workers Center in the industrial zone. Having worked closely with migrant workers over the years, she has faced multiple lawsuits from factory owners and their counterparts for protesting labor violations and leaking information to the press (The government of Jordan and America combined have not done as much for us as she has, Mehedi had declared at one point, laughing).

A former garment worker herself, she told the Guardian about other incidents migrant workers have come to her with; of the crowded, often bedbug-infested workers dormitories and the unhygienic food they are provided with; supervisors taking off their shoes and threatening to throw it at employees who dont meet their demands; a worker who was choked and his toes bloodied after a manager stomped on his feet, who refused to report the incident to police despite her urging him to do so.

I can guarantee you, 1 million per cent, that the brands know about the situation, said a Workers Center employee. They read reports about it. They come in and they search and they look at the residences and the food. And its never up to par. And even with that, they dont do anything. They take no action. They just want to run their businesses.

The issue of American brand accountability in Jordan was also highlighted by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRC) in 2017. After approaching 21 US brands  including Nike, JC Penney, Under Armor, and Costco  on how they tackle abuse against migrant workers making their clothes in Jordan, only six brands responded to the survey, and the report concluded, Low engagement on the situation in Jordan by brands  indicating brands may not be prioritizing action in a region where serious abuses  including forced labor  are known to occur.

The Guardian reached out to 12 American brands who source, or have sourced, products from the Jordanian garment factories where such labor abuses reportedly occurred. Only three responded, and none addressed the specific allegations. In an email, a spokesperson for Costco declined to comment. In another email, an Under Armour spokesperson said that when they detect issues with partner factories in Jordan, including any issues regarding foreign migrant workers, we work with the supplier  to ensure that applicable laws and these codes of conduct are complied with and respected. A representative for Walmart wrote that they hold suppliers accountable  using independent third parties to evaluate supply chain practices and, when necessary, investigating allegations of wrongdoing by our suppliers or the facilities they use.

Although auditors do come in for random checks on behalf of the brands, Ahlam Al Teerawi, a representative for the trade unions office in the industrial zone, described how these audits are often viewed as a formality. Unfortunately, when the auditors come by for routine checks, and choose 10-15 workers to interview at random, HR often gets to them first and lectures them on what to say. She describes a system in which workers who give positive feedback are rewarded with bonuses, while those who report violations or concerns are at risk of getting fired and deported.

Beyond these existing issues, the Covid-19 pandemic has been particularly detrimental to the Jordanian garment industrys migrant-majority workforce. Recent local media reports have shed light on the mass layoff of hundreds of garment workers who were left stranded in Jordan for months without pay. Former Burmese, Cambodian and Sri Lankan migrants workers at Vega Textile, which has produced apparel for American brands including Gap and Banana Republic, and Camel Textile, which has sold garments to Ralph Lauren and Talbots, were among those laid off, prompting protests from migrants in Jordan and rights groups abroad.

Farhan Ifraim, the chairman of the Jordan Garments, Accessories & Textiles Exporters Association (JGATE) acknowledges the problems that persist in Jordans garment industry, but maintains that they are isolated in nature, and do not speak to a larger pattern. There is nothing that is 100% perfect. We are improving every day. Obviously we have issues, we have challenges, but we are hacking them, he says. It is a regulated sector, its a sector that is  I hate for somebody to call it a sweatshop or anything near a sweatshop.

Ifraim, a 25-year garment industry veteran and factory CEO, moved from the United Arab Emirates back to Jordan in 2005. Like many others in the apparel sector at the time, he wanted to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the Free Trade Agreement that first launched Jordan into the spotlight as a global textile hub.

In todays world, developing countries can achieve growth without making some of the mistakes developed nations made on our path to industrialization, said President Clinton, before signing the landmark agreement 20 years ago. The idea that to grow more you had to exploit both workers and the environment, is simply no longer true.

Whether that statement rings true for garment workers in Jordan, however, remains unclear.
TORONTO - Economists say there is no doubt that Canada is experiencing a recession, but the exact criteria determining one is underway can be fraught with confusion.

Broadly speaking, a recession is a period of business contraction where economic activity declines. But what exactly constitutes a decline, and over what time period, is the subject of much debate.

An often-cited definition is two consequitive quarters of negative gross domestic product (GDP) reading.

Some economists prefer the C.D. Howe Institutes definition of a pronounced, persistent and pervasive decline in aggregate economic activity based on both GDP and employment metrics.

Ive always taken the definition of two quarters of negative growth... but this is just another example that we are in uncharted territory, said Sheila Block, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternativess senior economist.

This is just another way that the pandemic is redefining things.

Her remarks come after Statistics Canada said Friday that the economy posted its steepest decline on record in the second quarter, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The agency said GDP contracted at an annualized rate of 38.7 per cent for the three-month period, the worst showing since the start of 2009 at the height of the global financial crisis. That follows a first-quarter drop of 8.2 per cent, marking two quarters of GDP declines.

The contraction bolsters opinions that Canada has been in a recession throughout the pandemic.

This is definitely a recession and a big one, said Avery Shenfeld, an economist at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

However, he said it doesnt require two quarters of negative GDP growth  a method he never uses  to arrive at that conclusion.

The two quarters method, he said, comes from the National Bureau of Economic Research, a U.S. non-profit organization that analyzes the economy.

Decades ago, Shenfeld said the bureau established a committee of economists to retroactively determine dates of when recessions started and ended, so researchers would have the same data.

They said that a recession is basically a period of material decline in economic activity, which typically includes two consecutive negative quarters, but it doesnt have to, he said.

In other words, if you had a huge drop and it only took place in one quarter, they would still call that a recession or if you had a drop in one quarter, a small rebound and then another drop, they would put the three quarters together and say over that three quarters, the economy declines so were going to call that three quarters of recession.

Shenfeld looks for material weakening in the economy on the kinds of things that people would normally think of such as household income, employment and GDP.

Block has stuck to the two quarter method, but notes the character of recessions has changed in recent decades.

For example, with the 2008 and 2009 (recession), we climbed out of it much more quickly than we had out of the early 80s or the mid-90s recessions, she said.

It was a very V-shaped recovery.

The V-shape refers to a sharp but brief period of economic decline that is followed by a quick rebound.

Shifts in the way recessions unfold have pushed economists to seek more accurate ways to characterize recessions and deal with revisions to economic data that emerge over time, but Block doesnt think there is any debate that we are in a recession now.

It just may end up looking different than we have seen before, she said.

I think it was Jim Stanford (the economist and director for the Centre for Future Work), who referred to ... a Loch Ness monster-shaped recession and I like that.

This report by The Canadian Press as first published Aug. 28, 2020.

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Sonu Sood further demanded to postpone the JEE Main and NEET exams, writing it is not only an exam for students but it is also an exam for the government

Actor Sonu Sood who has been helping out a number of people during the COVID-19 lockdown period has been quite vocal in his support for the postponement of NEET and JEE exams as well.

The actor recently shared a message on social media offering to help students who might face difficulty in reaching their exam centres.

The actor shared a message on Twitter alongside the caption, "In case JEE, NEET doesnt get postponed.

The message itself read, "Students appearing for #NEET #JEE 2020 I am standing by you. If you are stuck anywhere, let me know your areas of travel. I will help you reach your examination centres. No one should miss their exam because of resources.

Check out the post

 I N C A S E  #JEE_NEET doesnt get

postponed. pic.twitter.com/D2iYzt4wf4  sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 28, 2020

The actor had earlier posted a message for students of Bihar, Assam and Gujarat as well. He had tweeted, "In case #JEE_NEET happens: To all the students who will be appearing & are struck in flood-hit areas of Bihar, Assam & Gujrat. Do let me know ur areas of travel. Trying to make ur travel arrangements to reach ur examination centres. No one should miss their exam bec of resources."

Incase #JEE_NEET happens: To all the students who will be appearing & are struck in flood hit areas of Bihar, Assam & Gujrat. Do let me know ur areas of travel. Trying to make ur travel arrangements to reach ur examination centres. No one should miss their exam bec of resources https://t.co/fv5GqjOq90  sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 28, 2020

Recently the actor had also demanded to postpone the JEE Main and NEET exams, writing that it is not only an exam for students but it is an exam for the government as well.
There were no Ukrainian army casualties.

No violations of the ceasefire in the Joint Forces Operation zone in eastern Ukraine's Donbas were recorded on Friday, August 28.

There were no Ukrainian army casualties, the JFO Command said in a morning update on Facebook on Saturday, August 29.

Read alsoUkraine's JFO HQ reports enemy death toll in Donbas since start of new truceThe Ukrainian military continue adhering to the ceasefire and are ready to respond to any attack by the enemy, it said.

Since Saturday midnight, the sides have continued observing the full and comprehensive ceasefire.

Background
Capping a week of protests and outrage over the police shooting of a Black man in Wisconsin, civil rights advocates on Friday denounced police and vigilante violence against Black Americans at a commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Thousands gathered near the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic, I Have a Dream address, a vision of racial equality that remains elusive for millions of Americans.

The event came on the heels of yet another shooting by a white police officer of a Black man -- 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin -- that sparked days of protests and violence that left two dead.

"I want to give space for Black people in the crowd to say they are not OK, said Jumaane Williams, New York City's public advocate, who addressed march attendees shortly after the programme began.

We are like the nameless grandmothers who got in the streets and said, 'We will make you live up to what America says she is,' Williams said. We are here. We're not going anywhere.

Activist Frank Nitty, who said he walked 750 miles for 24 days from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Washington for Friday's march, spoke to the audience about persistence in the fight for justice.

"Are y'all tired? Because I'm tired, Nitty said. They think this is a negotiation, but I came here to demand change. My grandson ain't gonna march for the same things that my granddaddy marched for. This is a revolution.

March attendee Jerome Butler, 33, of D.C., echoed Nitty's sentiment. My hope is that my son doesn't have to be out here in another 50 years protesting the same thing, Butler said.

Early on, the march was shaping up to be the largest political gathering in Washington since the pandemic began. Many attendees showed up wearing T-shirts bearing the image and words of the late Rep. John Lewis who, until his death last month, was the last living speaker at the original March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which went on to become one of the most famous political rallies in US history, and one of the largest gatherings at the nation's capital with over 200,000 people advocating for social change.

Participants streaming in for the march late Friday morning stood in lines that stretched for several blocks, as organizers insisted on taking temperatures as part of protocols. Organizers reminded attendees to practice social distancing and wear masks throughout the program.

Martin Luther King III, a son of the late civil rights icon and the Rev. Al Sharpton, whose civil rights organization, the National Action Network, planned Friday's event, delivered keynote addresses that show the urgency for federal policing reforms, to decry racial violence, and to demand voting rights protections ahead of the November general election.

We've come to bear witness, to remain awake, to remember from where we've come and to carefully consider where we're going, King said. Whether you're here in person or watching on (television networks), thank you for joining us for this March on Washington. "We're taking a step forward on America's rocky but righteous journey toward justice, he added.

We didn't just come out here to have a show," Sharpton said. "Demonstration without legislation will not lead to change. And to underscore the urgency, Sharpton assembled the families of an ever-expanding roll call of victims: Blake, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner, among others.

Arbery and Martin both were killed by white men who pursued them with guns.

Following the commemorative rally, participants will march to the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in West Potomac Park, next to the National Mall, and then disperse.

Turnout in Washington was expected to be lighter than initially intended due to city-imposed pandemic restrictions that limit out-of-state visitors to the nation's capital. To that end, the National Action Network organized a handful of satellite march events in South Carolina, Florida and Nevada, among others.

Robbie Williams, 67, travelled to the march from Covington, Kentucky, and said attending was her way of speaking to my children and my people. My message to my children is to stand up no matter what. And to the police: get some education and read your bibles, Williams said, adding that she also wants Black communities to honestly confront internal violence and homophobia.

Representation of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender-nonconforming people in the movement was addressed by several march speakers, including David Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, a Black LGBTQ civil rights organization.

I stand here in the spirit of our brother Bayard Rustin, he said, referring to the King adviser who helped organize the original march. Without his brilliance and his commitment to our intersectional social justice, there would not have been a March on Washington. If you care about Black people like I do, if you love Black people like I do, you've got to love and care about all of us, Johns said.

While participants march in Washington, Sharpton has called for those in other states to march on their US senators' offices and demand their support of federal policing reforms. Sharpton said protesters should also demand reinvigorated US voter protections, in Lewis' memory.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over the past decade, the European Union has widely been viewed as being ahead of the renewables curve, and it recently-launched new hydrogen strategy has only served to cement its credentials. The EU has a highly ambitious plan to install 40 gigawatts of electrolyzers within its borders and support the development of another 40 gigawatts of green hydrogen in nearby countries by 2030 that can export to the EU. That is a good 320x the current global installed capacity of 250 MW. But one desert country could soon make the EUs hydrogen plans seem pedestrian: Australia is single-handedly developing a monster 15,000-megawatt project that will generate hydrogen for export, potentially making the worlds driest continent the Saudi Arabia of renewables.

Dubbed the Asian Renewable Energy Hub, the $20B project is set to become the worlds largest wind-solar hybrid with the vast amounts of renewable energy generated used to produce hydrogen for export.

It is a classic example of the hydrogen economy finally taking off, with some experts predicting that hydrogen could soon become a globally traded energy source, just like oil and gas.

Natural gas hydrogen injection

As part of the mega-project, a 5,000-megawatt renewable hydrogen export operation is being developed in Western Australia in the remote town of Kalbarri off the shores of the Indian Ocean about 2,715 miles from Sydney.

However, given the challenges of transporting hydrogen, the first phase of the Kalbarri project at first aims to blend the hydrogen directly with natural gas in order to lower its carbon footprint. Earlier in the year, the UK became one of the first countries to successfully implement grid injection of hydrogen, with the country injecting the gas into its natural gas network to create a 20% hydrogen/natural gas blend--the highest in Europe. A 20% volume blend allows customers to continue using their existing gas appliances and nat gas pipeworks with no need for extra adjustments. According to ITM Power, the company implementing a pilot project at Keele University, a 20% hydrogen blend rolled out across the entire country could save ~6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions every year, or about the equivalent of taking 2.5 million cars off the roads.

Related: Putin Would Like To See Oil Prices Above $46 Per Barrel Phase one of the project could be complete in just two years.

The second phase of the Kalbarri project will see the gas compressed and supercooled, just like LNG, and then exported to Asian nations like Korea, Japan, and Singapore. The hydrogen exports could kick off in four years and take another three years to scale.

The third phase of the project actually has the local residents most excited: Using the hydrogen to manufacture green steel for export. Given that steel production accounts for ~7% of global carbon emissions, steel made from renewable energy is expected to become a multi-billion industry as countries move to decarbonize. Kalbarri could be exporting green steel in a decade or less.

However, the hydrogen economy will have to face--and overcome--the same cost conundrum that wind and solar have faced over the past decade.

The cost conundrum

Over the years, the hydrogen economy has endured many false dawns, mainly due to technical and, mostly, cost issues. This has led to a situation whereby wind and solar energy are now competitive with traditional fossil fuels in electricity generation, whereas hydrogen remains considerably more expensive.

For instance, fueling a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) in California costs around $16.50 per kilogram compared to $3.232 per gallon of regular petrol in the same state. Light-duty FCEVs are typically 2.5x more fuel-efficient than comparable gasoline-powered vehicles, which means that achieving price parity with gasoline would require that 1 kilogram of hydrogen sells for not more than $8.08. In other words, hydrogen costs need to fall by 50% to become competitive with fossil fuels.

Luckily, there is hope on the horizon.

Related: Oil Major Equinor Stops Drilling In U.S. Shale Patch

According to a recent report by the Hydrogen Council, ...scaling fuel cell production from 10,000 to 200,000 units can reduce unit costs by as much as 45%, irrespective of any major technological breakthroughs, and can impact multiple end-use cases. Scaling up to 70 GW of electrolysis will lead to electrolyser costs of less than $400 per kW.

This already appears to be happening in California: FirstElement Fuel has reported selling hydrogen for $12 per kilogram plus tax for a total $13.11 per kilogram and expects prices to continue coming down as hydrogen production cost falls.

Currently, California has a network of 43 open retail hydrogen refueling stations, capable of dispensing more than 11,800 kilograms of hydrogen each day. That is enough to support nearly 17,000 light-duty FCEVs or more than double Californias fleet of 7,000 FCEVs ( 5,000 FCEVs in 2018).

Source: California Energy Commission

Looking beyond FCEVs, the Hydrogen Council says Fuel Cells for Combined Heat and Power (FC-CHP) are likely to achieve cost parity with both low-carbon (hydrogen boilers and heat pumps with grid electricity) and natural gas (boiler plus grid electricity and natural gas CHP) by around 2030. The organization estimates that the cost of fuel cells and hydrogen tanks could decline by 70% by 2030, driven by larger market volumes of fuel cells and tanks, while the cost of hydrogen supplied could fall by up to 40% by the same timeframe to $4.50/kg and $6/kg.

Hydrogen fuel cell generators may also become viable alternatives to backup generators that use diesel or natural gas in remote locations where batteries and renewables are not viable due to suboptimal conditions. For instance, currently, hydrogen generators could save more than 40% compared to a solar plant and battery in places like Edinburgh.

In a nutshell, it could take the hydrogen economy about a decade before it can fully compete with traditional fuel sources or renewables on a cost basis.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
After receiving their last expanded unemployment check nearly a month ago, Joseph Sansone and his wife, Victoria, saw their income drop by 87%. They hoped to get a $300-per-week boost to their benefit after the presidents recent executive memorandum, but they receive too little from unemployment to qualify.

I thought everyone was included, said Joseph, who gets just $87 a week in unemployment. I called to find out if you had to make at least $100 a week. Unfortunately, the website was right and we are ineligible.

Joseph and his wife, who receives only $95 a week, are among the 6% of unemployment insurance (UI) recipients  or close to 1 million out-of-work Americans  who dont qualify for the minimum set by the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program.

New Yorkers in need wait in a long line to receive free produce, dry goods, and meat at a Food Bank For New York City distribution event at Lincoln Center on July 29, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images)

Jobless workers must receive at least $100 a week of unemployment benefits to qualify, leaving out many of the lowest income Americans who are likely struggling the most. Its also a departure from the far more lenient minimum of $1 a week the CARES Act required for the extra $600 weekly bonus that expired at the end of July.

Read more: Coronavirus stimulus checks: Whats stopping a second round of payments?

It just doesn't make any sense except to be cruel, said Gbenga Ajilore, a senior economist at the Center for American Progress, a nonprofit for public policy research and advocacy, told Yahoo Money earlier this month. What you're saying is that the people who are getting under $100 don't deserve extra benefits, but people who get over $100 deserve the benefits.

Its costly to be poor

The $100 minimum was set to prevent fraud and abuse, a White House official told Yahoo Money. The $1 requirement under the CARES Act is too susceptible to gamesmanship, he said.

But for Joseph and Victoria, who were both laid off from their manufacturing jobs in Anderson, Indiana at the end of February, unemployment income has been their lifeline.

Joseph Sansone received his last expanded unemployment check nearly a month ago, now he gets just $87 a week in unemployment. Photo: Courtesy of Joseph Sansone

They each got the $600 weekly unemployment bonus that helped them pay all of their monthly utility bills and rent along with household supplies and everyday necessities. Now, they must choose which bill to pay using the $728 a month they get in benefits before tax. Their $625 rent would take up most of it.

Story continues

We have already received a notice to either pay rent or vacate our home, said Joseph, who also has a daughter doing remote learning. Bills are adding up fast that we can't pay.

Read more: How to approach your finances and fears during a pandemic

They purchase only the necessities like hygiene items, barely put any gas in their car, and make very small payments on whatever bill theyre able to. They have exhausted all their savings and no longer have a safety blanket, Joseph said.

It's costly to be poor because you have to make these trade-offs, Ajilore said. Housing, food, transportation, child care, health care.

Deep down I am terrified

Theres an economic impact, too, if these workers dont get that extra in unemployment. While high-income earners curbed their spending the most during the pandemic, low-income families spent much closer to their pre-pandemic levels. In that way, they were supporting the economic recovery.

This comes as over 27 million Americans lost the extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits at the end of July and have since seen a drop in benefits ranging from 52% to 72%, according to an analysis by Evercore ISI.

Unemployed Americans see a drop in their unemployment benefits between 52% to 72% without the extra $600, according to an analysis by Evercore ISI. Graphic: David Foster / Yahoo Finance

We're shooting ourselves in the foot by leaving these people out, Ajilore said. When low-income people get that money, they put it right back into the economy.

Read more: Heres what you need to know about unemployment benefits eligibility

Joseph and Victoria call their employer every week to see when theyll be recalled to work, but, so far, there have been no answers. Theyve had no luck finding another job to cover basic expenses and worry that theyll soon get evicted.

I spend all my free time applying for different jobs. During this pandemic, it seems to be extremely difficult, Joseph said. Deep down I am terrified that I won't be able to pay the bills.

Denitsa is a writer for Yahoo Finance and Cashay, a new personal finance website. Follow her on Twitter @denitsa_tsekova.

Read more:

Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Reddit.
Let's face it. The government of Guam is more generous with its own workforce, not just when it comes to pay and raises, but also with leave b Read more
Philippines: 2 terrorist widows responsible for twin suicide bombings that killed 15 near cathedral

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The Philippines Army said two widows of pro-Islamic State fighters were behind this weeks twin suicide bombings that killed at least 15 people and wounded 80 others near a cathedral in a southern Philippine island, which is a stronghold of Islamist terror group Abu Sayyaf.

There were two bombers. A suicide bomber was involved in the first explosion. The second suicide bomber blew herself up after she was arrested after the first explosion, military spokesman Brig. Gen. William Gonzales said, according to UCA News.

On Monday, the two women blew themselves up in the attacks that killed at least 15 people  including seven soldiers, six civilians and a policeman  and injured 80 others in the city of Jolo, the capital of mainly Muslim Sulu province in the far south of the country, whose population is majority Roman Catholic.

The first attacker was the wife of Norman Lasuca, the first-ever suicide bomber in the Philippines, and the other was the wife of Talha Abu Talha, an Islamic State bomb expert, who was killed in a clash with security forces in November 2019 in the southern Philippines, according to International Christian Concern.

Bishop Charlie Inzon of the Vicariate Apostolic of Jolo expressed deep grief and sorrow.

We have lost brothers, sisters and friends, and we are in deep grief and sorrow. We are one with their families in this difficult time, for they were also a family to us, UCA News quoted Inzon as saying. They have died as martyrs witnessing to their Christian faith as they braved to stay in Jolo despite constant intimidation and risks.

The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need also condemned the bombings.

Those responsible for these atrocities are cruel and ruthless, devoid of any ounce of humanity or respect for life and property, the group said in a statement. This crime is even rendered more unconscionable because of the hardships our people are going through during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In June 2018, Catholic priest Richmond Nilo was gunned down in a chapel in Zaragoza town in Nueva Ecija province, at the altar where he was preparing to celebrate mass.

In January 2019, Islamic extremists claimed responsibility for an attack that killed 20 churchgoers and soldiers at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, also known as the Jolo Cathedral.

In August 2019, pastor Ernesto Javier Estrella of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Antipas, Cotabato Province, was shot and killed on the Island of Mindanao.

The region has been under martial law since 2017 following a series of attacks from suspected members of the terrorist group in the area.
While India reported more than 75,000 fresh Covid-19 infections for the third consecutive day, the novel coronavirus pandemic gallops in south-east Asia while in most of the other parts of the world the epidemic curve is either moving south or getting flattened.

Follow latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic here

In each of the last ten days, the Covid-19 numbers in India outpaced the infection counts coming from the USA and Brazil  the two countries that cumulatively have the worlds maximum number of Covid-19 patients.

On August 20, India recorded 69,652 new cases as against USAs 37,908 and Brazils 47,784. Ten days later, India continues to be in the pole position with 76,472 cases in comparison to USAs 46,194 and Brazils 44,235. On Aug 26, the combined caseload of USA and Brazil was lower than India.

With the exception of the south-east Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions, a decrease in the weekly case incidence was reported across the World Health Organisation regions in the last seven days, according to a WHO analysis that analysed the Covid-19 data for the week ending on August 23. The increase in the Eastern Mediterranean region was nominal compared to south-east Asia.

Riding high on Indian numbers, south-east Asia currently accounts for 28% and 15% of newly reported cases and deaths respectively, globally in the past seven days (ending on Aug 23). The region has seen a steady increase in reported cases and deaths, with a 4% increase in the same period.

A Group of Ministers on Covid-19 headed by the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday took stock of the grim situation a day after some of the worst affected states were asked by the Centre to pull up their socks and reduce the number of new infections and deaths.

Within the country, eight states (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana) contributed to around 73% of the active caseload as of Saturday, the Union Health Ministry said in a statement. Moreover, seven States (Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) account for 81% of total deaths.

While discussing the concerns on Covid-19 management, the GoM reiterated its continued attention on the promotion of wearing masks, physical distancing and respiratory etiquettes, the ministry said in a statement. The rising caseload, however, has been attributed to an increase in Covid-19 tests with the country testing 9-10 lakh samples daily for the past week.
Kolkata, Aug 29 (UNI) Continuing with its mission to work together and support the nation in the current situation, IndiGo, operated its maiden passenger charter to Hanoi, capital of Vietnam and Vientiane, capital and largest city of Laos helping stranded nationals to get back home.

The flight from India repatriated 106 Vietnamese, 1 Filipino and 29 Laos Nationals along with 89 Indian citizens. The return flight repatriated 139 Indian nationals from Hanoi & 50 Indian nationals from Vientiane. IndiGo operated these flights while adhering to all the precautionary measures, ensuring a safe and hassle-free travel experience on-board a lean clean flying machine.

Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said, We are pleased to have successfully operated our first passenger charter to Vietnam and Laos to support the repatriation of citizens from India, Vietnam and Laos. We would like to extend our gratitude to all Embassies and Civil aviation authorities of India, Vietnam and Laos for helping us with necessary and timely approvals. We look forward to supporting not just Indian, but citizens across the world, in this hour of need.
Pedestrians look to get out of heavy rain as Batman Avenue is flooded as massive storms hit Melbourne city on March 6, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.(Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Nearly 200,000 Victorian Households Told to Boil Water by Authorities

Victorian authorities have extended a warning for drinking water after deadly storms caused problems at treatment plants.

Residents of 101 suburbs including those supplied by Yarra Valley Water and South East Water were on Aug 29 told to boil water because it may not be safe to drink, and posed a risk of gastro.

The warning applies to about 200,000 households.

Water agencies are working around the clock to check water quality and that boiled water notice will come off as soon as it is safe to do so, Premier Daniel Andrews said.

The instruction applies for all water used for consumption, washing, baby formula, food preparation and making ice.

Its very important people have that extra precaution  so that people arent getting sick because of the unavoidable issues with power at one particular water treatment plant.

Parts of Victoria were hit by wild storms on Thursday night, costing three lives including four-year-old boy Ayan Kapoor, who was struck by a tree in suburban Melbourne.

A 36-year-old woman in Fernshaw in regional Victoria was killed after a tree hit the ute she was in and a 59-year-old man died when a tree fell on his car as he was leaving a shopping centre in Belgrave.

As the cleanup continues on Saturday the weather bureau has warned of another rough front due on Sunday.

Andrews said emergency crews received about 3000 calls for assistance after the recent storms and all but about 100 had been finalised.

On Saturday morning some 13,000 homes and businesses remained without power, down from 180,000 at the peak of outages.

Andi Yu in Melbourne
Lukashenko: Belarus, Russia Could Unite Troops in Case of Threat on Western Border

Sputnik News

Oleg Burunov. Sputnik International

15:13 GMT 28.08.2020(updated 15:14 GMT 28.08.2020)

Late last week, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pledged that Minsk would "react without warning" to any attempt aimed at violating the country's western borders.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday that Minsk and Moscow will use a joint group of armed forces if someone starts "twitching" on the western border of the Union State of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

He referred to his recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the two discussed the issue.

"We have an agreement. I said: 'let's think about what we will do' and he told me that 'we know what they want'. Putin has already gone through several such stages, [.] and he knows what is happening around the borders. We have agreed on the matter and we will cope with this problem", Lukashenko said.

At the same time, the Belarusian president noted that the core of the joint group will consist of his country's army and that both Minsk and Moscow will be ready to pacify any adversary without hesitation.

Lukashenko stressed that by taking appropriate action, Moscow is saving not only Belarus, but Russia as well because "there is a threat against the Russian Federation itself".

The statement followed Putin's interview with the broadcaster Rossiya 24, in which the Russian president specifically touched upon the ongoing protests in Belarus following Lukashenko's re-election.

Putin said that Moscow and Minsk have reached a deal stipulating that the Kremlin will provide law enforcement reserves in accordance with Russia's obligations in the two's defence sphere, should the situation in Belarus begin to spiral out of control.

This came after Lukashenko vowed last Saturday that Minsk will "react without warning" to any attempt to violate the country's western borders as he responded to a report by the country's Defence Ministry about an increased number of aircraft spotted close to the borders of Belarus.

Earlier that day, Lukashenko underscored that putting the army on combat alert and deploying troops on the country's western borders was his main decision in 25 years.

He also accused Western nations of directly interfering in the situation in his country, citing attempts to prod Belarus to sit down for talks with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which he said is all "about financing".

Additionally, Lukashenko accused NATO members of providing "evident" military support for the destabilisation of the situation in Belarus.

The remarks were made amid the current political crisis in Belarus, which was sparked by mass protests-turned-riots in Minsk and beyond on the evening of 9 August, when the official results of the presidential election showed that incumbent Alexander Lukashenko was winning a landslide victory with over 80 percent of the vote.

A Sputnik

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Narrative Wins Funds, Launches Data Marketplace

Data acquisition and distribution software company Narrative has raised $8.5m in Series A funding, to support the launch of 'a new category: Data Streaming', replacing the data broker industry model. As part of this the firm has launched a Data Streams Marketplace.



Narrative's platform promises to simplify the buying and selling of information by eliminating inefficiencies in data transactions. The privately-held firm was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in New York City.



The round was led by G20 Ventures, with additional funding from existing investors Glasswing Ventures, NathCapital, Revel Partners, Tuhave Venture Partners and XSeed Capital.



The new Marketplace offers data acquisition via an interface the firm says will be 'familiar to anyone who has shopped online': users can browse and purchase the data they need 'in minutes' without the need for extensive training, 'legal wrangling and red tape'. The Marketplace sits alongside solutions for data discovery, onboarding, enrichment, identity resolution, and privacy and compliance.



Founder and CEO Nick Jordan comments: 'As sales and services companies, data brokers have become intermediaries who are doing what they want with data in ways you don't know. With a data broker, you get what they send to you. That's how they make money. This is sub-par; it's not agile - and you can't optimize it. We have shortened the data supply chain by going direct - cutting out the broker, and making data liquid and transparent'. He adds: 'We are excited to have the backing and expertise from G20 Ventures, and all of our investors as we scale up the business'.



The Narrative Data Streams Marketplace is immediately available and free to use, via app.narrative.io .




Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 16:52:19|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed in an alleged shootout in the southern Philippine province of Cotabato around noontime on Saturday, police and local official said.

A local official said the victims, all male, were aboard a convoy of motorcycles traveling along a road in Kabacan town when the shooting happened.

A police investigation is underway to look into the motive of the attack and to identify the victims, a local official said.

Police have yet to issue an official statement on the incident. Enditem
Koichi Hamada, professor emeritus of economics at Yale University and an economic adviser to Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo

TOKYO (Reuters) - A key economic adviser of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe defended the premier's "Abenomics" stimulus policies, saying that bold monetary easing has helped address a damaging yen rise that hobbled an economic recovery.

"The basic success of Abenomics is from its first arrow, or its bold monetary policy, which saved the Japanese economy from decades of stagnation," Koichi Hamada, professor emeritus of economics at Yale University, told Reuters.

"As for the third arrow of structural reforms, we can say that labour shortages helped streamline operations and boost efficiency," he said.

"But we didn't see enhanced progress in productivity partly because the Japanese society tends to be averse to radical changes," he said in a written interview on Thursday, a day before Abe's surprise decision to step down.

After sweeping to power in late 2012, Abe deployed his three arrows of "Abenomics" - large-scale monetary easing, fiscal spending and structural reforms - to reignite the world's third biggest economy after years of subpar growth and falling prices.

Hamada was among those who played a key role in crafting "Abenomics", providing the academic backbone of the programme.

With his resignation, Abe leaves behind a mixed legacy with some quick-hit successes overshadowed by his failure to make lasting changes to an economy hobbled by low productivity and an ageing population.

(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko and Leika Kihara; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
We begin with gravely distressing  though unimpeachably exclusive  news from the High Court, where the first libel-related contempt case in memory seems imminent.

Mr Justice Tugenhadt, dear old Eady J's successor as defamation top dog, has referred the News of the World to the Attorney General over its 3 October report about Jordan and Peter Andre's libel case, which was then scheduled to begin four days later. Headlined "It's all out Jor!", this seemed a touch one-sided in Team Peter's favour, with "a source" calling defendant Ms Price "a liar".

If Tugs was worried enough by its prejudicial impact to contemplate a contempt application, concern turned to fury on Thursday when Anthony Hudson, for the newspaper, dismissed such an application as meritless. "Meritless?" said Tugs (best to hear the word as "Handbag?" in the brogue of Edith Evans). When a day later the paper's lawyers apologised seven times (in the style of the defendant title, that's, SEVEN TIMES!!!) his heart remained unmelted.

Whether yesterday's NoW story  headlined "Jor A Maniac", under the same byline as the 3 October report, and featuring pictures of Jordan holding a phone at the wheel  will make Tugs reconsider the sincerity of those apologies, who can say?

But what an intriguing dilemma for the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve. Does he go to war with the judiciary and liberal media by declining to prosecute? Or does he inflame Downing Street, News International and the bridgehead between them known as Andy Coulson, by taking on the Murdoch empire? We wish him all the luck in the world solving that conundrum.

* What a glorious few weeks for Melanie Phillips and her campaign to alert us to the vicious anti-semitism plaguing Britain. Ed Miliband elected Labour leader, Howard Jacobson winning the Booker, Danny Cohen appointed controller of BBC1... How much more proof of liberal-establishment Jew-hatred do people want? All it needs is for Katie Waissel to win The X-Factor, and Mad Mel will be on the first plane, passport application in hand and relief in her stout heart, to Tel Aviv.

* Speaking of Howard, I was outraged when, in the midst of his victory speech, BBC News cut away to some minor human-interest story in the Atacama. So was Howard's mother. "All those months they've been down there," she correctly observed, "and for another few minutes they couldn't hang on?"

* The reporting laurels down there, meanwhile, go to Richard Desmond's Daily Star. "Chile Mine To Open As Theme Park" was Friday's splash on the Chilean Tourist Board's plans to cash in on the "underground hell-hole". This was such a brilliant exclusive that it feels churlish to mention it wasn't an exclusive at all. But churl is what we do, so let it be stated that the story was lifted wholesale from a website. In the Star's defence, there were no glaring clues that it was a spoof. The site's name, by the way, is thespoof.com.

* William Hague has replaced the special adviser in the twin-bed, I read, with Will Littlejohn, son of a certain homosexuality-fixated columnist. You couldn't, could you? Not even with Jeffrey Archer's imagination and a phial of mescaline at hand could you make that one up.

* Tally ho, tally ho, the Bullingdon Boys are off on a Fox hunt! At least someone has released the hounds after the Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, who so vexed Downing Street with his leaked letter to David Cameron. And we may all guess who. The Mail on Sunday reports "astonishing claims" from "senior Tory sources" that Foxy is a boozer.

Myself, I suspect the confusion stems from his natural ebullience. The good doctor is merely a tease  as he confirmed at one conference bash by hijacking a pair of blue rinses to dwell on the source of the Scissor Sisters' name, ignoring a hack's attempts to deflect him from his anatomical analysis of the lesbian love act in question.

The prospect of losing such a mischievous wit from the Cabinet is horrendous. But once such snippets start appearing in Downing Street-friendly papers, the hunted does well to waste little time finding a very deep hole.
Labor has called for an independent investigation into the Berejiklian government's decision to raise the Rural Fire Service Commissioner's pay by 11 per cent amid a pay freeze for public servants.

RFS chief Rob Rogers had his total annual remuneration lifted from $403,905 to $450,012 on July 13, according to salary details obtained by the Sun-Herald under freedom of information laws.

RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers speaks at a media event on August 25, with Emergency Services Minister David Elliott looking on. Credit:Jessica Hromas

The RFS said Mr Rogers' remuneration grading "has not changed since the previous incumbent", without providing details of former RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons' salary.

"Following external advertisement and a comparative assessment process, Deputy Commissioner Rogers was appointed to the role of Commissioner on an ongoing basis at a revised negotiated [package]," it said, adding the annual compensation was "based on individual merit factors, including demonstrated knowledge, experience and assessed levels of capabilities".
This article is the third in a series that focuses on your childs transition back to school. The series will run throughout August and into September. Go to www.loveparenting.ie to read earlier articles in the series and to access online supports and resources relating to your childs return to school.

I think we can all agree the last few months have been difficult and have thrown up many unforeseen challenges for us parents.

We did our best in the circumstances and often this involved letting some of our good routines slide. If you are like me your teenage children are sleeping in until all hours and are often the ones turning off the lights at an ungodly hour! Others will admit to the fridge constantly being open with a help yourself if youre hungry approach. For others screen time, play time, bath time and sleep time are all over the shop. BUT, the return to school is coming fast. If you are like me, this fills me with dread as I now have to address all these established habits. So what can we do?

When routines are in place children feel more secure. Parents feel calmer and more in control. By adjusting our summer routine, it will help children understand that the summer is coming to an end and help prepare them for the return of school. Easier said than done right? Where do you start?

Begin by having plan in your own head about what routines you would like to see happen. Agree this with your partner to ensure you dont have mixed messages. Set a time to have the chat about routines with your child. Get their views on this and agree a plan together.

Make sure that they understand the plan. Remember Rome wasnt built in a day so put the plan into place gradually, making small adjustments daily. Talk to your child to see if the plan is working and make changes if they are needed.

Bedtimes will be the first on my list. It wont be easy as it is still bright at 10pm, but It needs to be done. Start by adjusting bedtimes gradually. Two weeks before the first day of school, start to move your childs bedtime earlier at night.

Wake them a small bit earlier each morning. Continue this process every night until your child is waking at the same time that will be necessary once school starts.

Aim to create a relaxing wind-down routine. For about an hour before you want the lights turned off for the night encourage calming activities. For younger children this might be taking a bath or reading a book together. For older children this could be listening to music, taking a shower or meditation. By repeating this every night in the weeks leading up to the first day of school it will help your child to anticipate sleep time, making it easier for everyone once school starts again.

Next up, screen time. We know that less screen time before bed will improve the quality of their sleep. Yes, they love playing with their friends on line and who doesnt enjoy a game of Mario Cart?

They can still do this, but - earlier in the day. Aim for no screen time an hour before your child goes to sleep. Avoid screens in their bedroom. Watch those smart phones too. Agreeing a plan in advance on technology will prevent problems and fighting in the long run.

Last but not least mealtimes. Plan to adjust mealtimes gradually in August to match up with school lunch breaks. Chat about the importance of eating well.

Encourage your child to think of food as fuel for their body. Involve them in decisions about what they eat, the weekly shop, meal planning and preparation.

So we have a plan. One day at a time and the hard work will pay off. Dont forget that you are doing a great job in a very difficult time. Good luck!

This article was written by the Tusla Prevention, Partnership and Family Support team, a member of Parenting Limerick. For more information and resources for parents on this topic, as well as local parenting and family support services, go to www.loveparenting.ie.
New Delhi, Aug 29 : It cant get more ironical than this. Exactly at the moment Prime Minister Imran Khan was trying his best to extricate Pakistan out of the notorious list of terror supporters and promoters, he finds himself sinking deeper into his countrys well-developed terror bog.

Reports came out this week that the US and Syria have nabbed 29 Pakistanis who were fighting for the dreaded Islamic State (IS) against the Syrian government. Interestingly, nine of these 29 are women. Now the US is interrogating them to find out who sent them to Syria to fight and whether they were in league with other terror organizations before joining IS.

Pakistan has been on the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) grey list since 2018 for playing a pivotal role in terror financing and money laundering. If it does not show the FATF that it has cleaned up terror organizations from its soil, it will be moved into the black list which will entail sanctions from multilateral agencies. The country has been making vague noises about battling terrorism and being a victim of terror groups, but its efforts get undone through evidence submitted by Afghanistan and India about Pakistan's unbridled support to terror groups and individuals.

The FATF is an inter-governmental body that was established by the G-7 countries in 1989 to fight money laundering. In 2001 it widened the scope to include human trafficking and terror financing. It first included Pakistan in the grey list from 2012 till 2015. Soon enough Pakistan managed to get itself into the list the second time in 2018. Now it wants out as it faces financial sanctions at a time when its economy is floundering and external debt touches new highs. Despite overwhelming evidence in support of Pakistan being a haven for terror elements, China and Turkey have been helping it out.

In March this year, American journalist Lindsey Snell broke the news that Pakistani mercenaries are joining the Syrian conflict in support of Turkey. The civil war in Syria that started in 2011 has multiple actors, countries and sects fighting each other. Snell's information caused much excitement as this was the first time that Pakistani men in the Syrian quagmire were coming to fight against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Snell indicated on her Twitter that nearly 1,400 Pakistani mercenaries were coming to support a Turkish-backed militia against Assad. Snell's information caused an uproar because the Pakistanis had been coming to Syria but in support of Assad - the Shia fighters of the Pakistani Taliban vintage.

Because of this sectarian background, people took note when the American journalist reported that Pakistani mercenaries would be opposing the Syrian government. In other words, the Pakistani Sunni fighters battling on the side of Turkish militia may end up fighting Pakistani Shia militants of the Pakistani Taliban on the side of the Assad government.

Over the years Pakistan has become used to receiving the body bags of its militant nationals from the Syrian battlefield as they have been involved since the early days of the conflict. In March this year, news agencies reported that up to 50 Pakistani Shia fighters had been killed by Turkish forces and they had been given burial in the Iranian holy city of Qom. Pakistanis keen to join the jihad in Syria leave for pilgrimage to the Shia holy sites in Iran and Iraq, take terror training and join Iran-backed groups supporting the Assad regime.

The Pakistani hand in militancy in Syria is not surprising as men from the country have been crisscrossing continents for jihad for decades. Besides the Syrian involvement, Pakistanis have been involved in terror in almost every part of the world including the notorious September 2001 attacks in the US and the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai.

Though Pakistan has been an ally in the US-led 'global war against terrorism', an aftermath of the September 11 attacks, it continued playing a double game, sheltering Osama bin Laden in the country while sending American troops on a wild goose chase in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush mountains. Funnily, while hunting the Al Qaida militants with American forces, Pakistan also kept providing unstinted support to the terror group-all under the nose of the Americans.

Pakistan has been immensely successful in exporting terrorism. This export has been a favourite with all of its governments irrespective of political affiliations, and also the military. Nobel prize winner Malala's attacker escaped from a Pakistani jail while the doctor who helped catch terror leader Laden languishes in one.

The infernal state policy tool of using terrorists to bleed other countries, which all Pakistani governments have wielded so successfully keeps coming back to bite the country, as happened during the Pakistan Army School attack. Now countries are closing ranks on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism that piggy-rides on religious fundamentalism which the Pakistani governments and the army have so lovingly nurtured.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
The police sources said that 68 people were detained for violating an official ban on Muharram processions

SRINAGAR: The police on Friday detained dozens of Shia mourners to foil repeated attempts made by them to take out a Muharram tazia procession through the streets of uptown Srinagar.

The mourners had earlier emerged out of dark alleys of the Citys Batamaloo, Shaheed Gunj and Dal Gate areas, chanting slogans and rhymes in praise of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Islams Prophet Muhammad, who was martyred along with 71 of his family members and companions in the Battle of Karbala in October 680.

The witnesses said that as the police came in their way, the mourners offered stiff resistance and marched ahead but only to be overpowered by the cops, bundled into police vans and then driven to Shaheed Gunj and Kothi Bagh police stations.

The police sources said that 68 people were detained for violating an official ban on Muharram processions and rallies in the Valley announced by Kashmirs Divisional Commissioner, Pandurang K Pole, earlier in view of the spike in COVID-19 deaths and positive cases.

The sources said that among the detainees are two youths who raised a banner reading Free Kashmir while attempting to march along Srinagar street. Earlier this week, the police had arrested two youth on charge of raising pro-freedom slogans at one of the Muharram tazia processions on the outskirts of Srinagar.

At dawn on Friday, the J-K police and Central armed police forces sealed Srinagars central square Lal Chowk, its neighbourhood and some other parts the summer capital by laying spools of Concertina razor wires and other barricades to enforce a security lockdown.

The officials said that restrictions under Section 144 CrPC were imposed on areas falling under eight police stations - Batamaloo, Shaheed Gunj, Karan Nagar, Maisuma, Kothi Bagh, Shergari, Krala Khud and Ram Munshi Bagh.

On Thursday, Pole had urged the heads of religious organizations to use their influence and make people aware of the importance of following coronavirus related SOPs, including social distancing protocol and use of face masks while commemorating martyrdom of Imam Hussain.

Several Shia religious organizations and leaders had earlier announced that no mass rallies, processions or congregations (gatherings) would be held this year to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain in view of coronavirus and appealed the devotees to follow SOPs strictly while even holding restricted majalis (mourning assemblies) in their respective areas. However, such appeals were ignored in some areas, including the central town of Budgam where the police used force to break up a large mourning procession on Wednesday.

In Kashmir Valley, an official ban remains in force on organizing mourning rallies and processions along select traditional routes on the 8th and 10th day of Muharram, mainly in Srinagar, ever since the separatist campaign became violent way back in 1989. Only small mourning rallies and processions with certain restrictions would be permitted in the areas having sizable Shia populations, including at Imam Barahs or the places where functions connected with Muharram are held by them traditionally. However this year, the authorities decided to impose a blanket ban on such rallies and procession in view of COVID-19.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have scheduled a peaceful demonstration for September 1, to demand the reopening of schools nationwide.

Recall that in March, the federal government, through the Ministry of Education, ordered an indefinite closure of all schools across the country to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The virus has so far been contracted by over 51,000 people across the country, killing more than a thousand.

There have been agitations from different quarters, including teachers unions and students, calling for a total reopening of schools since commercial and political activities have resumed.

The government, in the past two months, has continued to assure that the schools will be reopened in no distant time. It is, however, yet to come up with a specific date.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued by the leadership of the Joint Campus Committee (JCC) of NANS in Osun State, a mass action has been slated to hold on Tuesday at Olaiya Junction in Osogbo, the state capital.

The statement was signed by Agbogunleri Michael, Ogunsakin Femi, Raji Keji Asimiyu; the Chairman, Secretary-General and Public Relations officer respectively.

It stabs logic that a nation which ought to prioritize Education has relegated it to the least important of issues to be discussed and attended to with respect to eased restrictions, regardless of our consultation efforts to see to the opening of Schools government has turned deaf ears to the yearnings of the average Nigerian Student; This is unacceptable, the committees executives, stated.

The student body, in its demands, said the federal government should reopen schools and put preventive measures in place on all campuses.

It added that education should be appropriately funded while imploring the federal government to reach a consensus with aggrieved members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU) who have vowed not to resume until the government yields to their welfare demands.

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Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, the spokesperson of NANS in the southwest, Kazeem Olalekan, said the association is embarrassed by the manner in which the government is handling the issue of school resumption.

He said the government at all levels has failed to take a decisive step in ensuring that academic activities commence.

Though, we acknowledge that the debate on reopening of schools at a time like this is prone to mixed reactions, albeit, we are not oblivious of the fact that the disagreement cannot be disconnected from lack of political will linked to years of unseriousness and recklessness on the part of our political officeholders. However, it must be made known that at the receiving end of this indecisiveness are students that are left idle at home with nothing worthwhile being done to ensure that students resume to classes.

It is on record that the World Health Organisation has hinted to the world that COVID-19 is not leaving us any moment from now, hence, there is a need for the government to take a decisive step in ensuring that schools reactivate learning activities, Mr Olalekan said.
A Myanmar police officer examines one of the makeshift graves where the bodies of three ethnic Ta'ang villagers were found in Neng Kat village tract, Muse township, Myanmar's northern Shan state, Aug. 21, 2020.

The Myanmar military has said it will investigate the deaths of three ethnic Taang civilians, who died while being detained by soldiers in Myanmars restive northern Shan state, and hold those responsible to account, a village administrator and local residents said Friday.

The move came two days after RFA published video and written accounts earlier on Tuesday that the bodies had been discovered in makeshift graves last week in Muse township.

Mai Nyi Tun, 28, from Man Kan village; Mai Alone from Lwe Mon village; and Nyi Leik, 40, from Mai Sat village, all in Namhkam township, disappeared at the end of May after being detained by Myanmar soldiers following a clash with the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a Taang civil society group and the relatives of the dead told RFA in the earlier report.

The group and family members have demanded that the government army  the alleged perpetrators of the killings  be brought to justice for the crime. The military initially had denied responsibility for the killings.

Colonel Hla Moe, commander of the armys Light Infantry Division No. 99, met with village administrators, a local lawmaker and Taang civil society officials on Thursday in Muse and told them that an investigation would be conducted, said Nyan Moe, administrator of Neng Kat village tract where the bodies were found.

Those who attended the meeting vouched for the testimonies of villagers who were detained by soldiers from the army division along with the three deceased men, but later escaped. Those who got away said the soldiers who abducted them wore the insignia of Light Infantry Division No. 99 on their uniforms.

The soldiers had asked the villagers to look down, Nyan Moe said. They asked two of the villagers who died to lie down on their stomachs. The villagers got a glance of their insignias with No. 99 on them.

The Taang Literature and Culture Organization issued a statement on Wednesday about the three men who died in military custody.

We called the [army division] by name in our statement because we have witnesses who are confident about what they saw, said Taang National Party lawmaker Nyi Sein, chairman of the civil society group.

But the military officer didnt say anything about it, he said, referring to Colonel Hla Moe. The division commander said he would inspect his soldiers [and] obtain the truth through interrogation.

I think he meant that he might either confirm or reject our testimonies, Nyi Sein added.

RFA could not reach Myanmar military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun in time for comment before publication.

Tied to trees

Nyan Moe said Mai Nyi Tun and Nyi Leik were from his village tract and that they earned a living by making charcoal.

Local villagers had searched for all three missing men for 10 days before filing missing persons reports with authorities. Civil leaders also filed a report at the police station in Muse.

When RFA contacted Muse police for comment about the investigation, the person who responded to the call refused to answer questions over the phone.

Kham Aung, the older sister of Mai Nyi Tun, told RFA she was not aware of the meeting between the division commander and civil society leaders, but said she did not wish to see any other villagers disappear and die.

I dont want such things to happen to civilians anymore, whether the offenders are the military troops or any other armed groups, she said.

The bodies of the trio were dug up on Aug. 21 in the presence of family members, local residents, a forensic physician, policemen, and civil administrators.

Tar Aik Thein Win, secretary of the Taang Literature and Culture Organization, said that the spot where the villagers were killed was the site of a former TNLA camp.

There are trenches near the site. The villagers were shot and buried in the trenches, he told RFA, adding that the bodies showed signs of possible torture.

It seemed like the villagers were tied to the trees when they were killed, he said. Their bodies were found tied in strings. I dont know if they were killed by torture or by shooting.

The forensic physician refused to comment on the causes of death, and now the bodies have been cremated, Tar Aik Thein Win said.

The Taang, also called Palaung, are one of Myanmars 135 officially recognized ethnic groups. Besides Shan state, they also can be found in southwestern Chinas Yunnan province and in northern Thailand.

Reported by Zarni Htun and Kan Thar for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Customs workers check an inbound passenger's health information card in Shenzhen Bay Port in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, on April 3, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

High quality technologies, strong teamwork and humanistic care have contributed to the successful treatment of a critically ill COVID-19 patient at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in Guangdong province.

The novel coronavirus patient survived after a world record 111 days on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine that transports blood to a type of heart-lung device that removes carbon dioxide and sends oxygen-filled blood back to the body.

"Humanistic care is the soul of healing patients," said Liu Xiaoqing, director of the hospital's intensive care medicine unit.

Liu spoke at a ceremony organized by her hospital to celebrate the recovery of a 62-year-old COVID-19 patient surnamed Liu who was kept alive for 111 days by an ECMO machine.

The patient, who also had relied on a respirator to breathe for over 150 days, was discharged from the hospital on Thursday. He was the first COVID-19 patient to recover after having been on an ECMO machine for so long.

The patient, who was transferred to Liu Xiaoqing's hospital from another local hospital on Feb 4, was sent to the intensive care unit and connected to the ECMO on Feb 9 when his condition worsened. In addition to providing medication, the medical staff took turns caring for and looking after him in the ward.

Liu Xuesong, the doctor in charge of the patient, said the man was overweight and had cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and other health problems, making treatment more difficult. The patient, at 169 centimeters tall, weighed over 95 kilograms.

Doctors chatted with the seriously ill man, shook hands with him and touched his face on their rounds to encourage him, calming him and helping dispel fear and anxiety, Liu Xuesong said.

Liu Dongdong, another doctor. said the staff took turns helping the patient with rehabilitation exercises twice a day to prevent his joints from stiffening and his muscles from atrophying.

Chen Lihua, a head nurse, said the nursing staff kept him clean and comfortable.

"Doctors also helped clean the patient every day, so the man never had bedsores even after being in bed for months," Chen said.

Liu Xiaoqing said while preserving life is the most basic requirement, medical staff also should have the patient's future in mind. "We should not only enable them to live, but also live with quality," she said.

Zhong Nanshan, a top respiratory disease expert and an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said many of his foreign counterparts said it was a medical "miracle" for a seriously ill COVID-19 patient to recover after being on an ECMO for 111 days.

Zhong said they never gave up on the man, and Zhong himself asked about the patient's condition every day.

"As long as there is a glimmer of hope, we do it at all costs," Zhong said.
Its normal that ... we want a European solution because of the importance of the security of our communication, President Macron said.

The French government has said it will restrict Huaweis 5G technology to protect military bases, nuclear installations and other sensitive sites.

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron says France is not excluding Chinese telecom giant Huawei from its upcoming 5G telecommunication networks but favours European providers for security reasons.

The French leader spoke after meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Paris on Friday.

Macron said he had already told Chinese President Xi Jinping about his preference for companies such as Ericsson and Nokia, saying you would do the same as me.

Its normal that ... we want a European solution because of the importance of the security of our communication, Macron told reporters.

Frances information security agency ANSSI said last month that Huawei Technologies Ltd. will not be banned from France, but French telecoms operators that buy its technology will only be able to get licences limited to eight years. The French government has said it will restrict Huaweis 5G technology to protect military bases, nuclear installations and other sensitive sites.

Huawei is at the centre of a major dispute between Washington and Beijing over technology and security. US officials say Huawei is a security risk, which the company denies, and are lobbying European and other allies to avoid its technology as they upgrade to next-generation networks.

China, meanwhile, is trying to encourage Europeans to guarantee access to their markets for Chinese telecom and technology companies.
In a typical year, Welcome Inn Community Centre counts on about 20,000 hours of volunteer work.

When the pandemic hit in March, the organization had to send all of its volunteers home, leaving staff to sort and pack hampers to be distributed at the food bank  on top of their regular duties.

Thats a very real strain for organizations, said executive director Jamie VanderBerg. We have a lot of volunteer hours and theyve dropped like a rock.

In order to to cover thousands of volunteer hours with paid staff going forward, the organization would have to just about double its fundraising efforts, he said.

According to a Volunteer Canada report, about 75 per cent of organizations surveyed said the decline in volunteers amid the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their organization to some degree  19 per cent said it had no effect. Twenty-five per cent reported providing services with fewer volunteers posed a great degree of challenge to the organization.

Even though some of the pandemic restrictions have been lifted, Welcome Inn will continue with a staff-based model until further notice.

Were not comfortable with our ability to maintain a safe community space for our volunteers, given who our community is, said VanderBerg. And so were opting not to.

Many of Welcome Inns volunteers  about 350 in a given year  are from the vulnerable communities they serve, some spending upwards of 20 hours a week helping out on-site.

The vast majority of them volunteer with us and are accessing our programs at the same time, he said. Theyre vulnerable community members that you cant necessarily expect to follow the same safety protocols that others might or that staff might.

Volunteer Canada estimates about 20,000 volunteers took a long-term leave from volunteering during the pandemic. According to Statistics Canada, adults ages 55 and up are more likely to be top volunteers, people who volunteer more than 132 hours a year. This group is also one of the most vulnerable  both to COVID-19 infection and to isolation.

Organizations are feeling responsible for connecting with them and checking in on them, said Paula Speevak, president and CEO of Volunteer Canada. She said in many cases volunteering is one of their main connections to community and feeling of self-worth.

Though the pandemic has posed many challenges, it has also created opportunities. Other demographics, particularly youth who have been out of school or work during the pandemic, have stepped up to the plate, she said.

There have been other age groups and folks that have stepped in, Speevak said. Or the organization themselves has rethought how they engage and how they implement their program in a way that is safer.

In the spring, organizations were focused on day-to-day operations under the new normal of the pandemic. Now, they are facing the challenge of finding more permanent solutions as programs reopen.

It moved from Whats our temporary two-, three-week solution? to What are we going to do longer term? Speevak said.

Dundas Community Services, an agency that supports families, seniors and people with disabilities through an array of programs, has five staff  four full-time and one part-time and relies heavily on volunteer hours to run programs.

Out of 17 volunteer drivers for the seniors transportation program, just three have stayed on throughout the pandemic.

It was a huge strain on our staff because not only were they concerned about their clients and volunteers, they had to scramble, executive director Jane Allen said. We had to create a way of keeping our agency open.

The organizations Meals on Wheels program, which offers daily hot meal delivery for seniors, is set to resume in September after being cancelled for several months.

Allen estimates about half of the programs 100 drivers, the majority of whom are seniors themselves, will return.

Theyre scared, she said, adding that many have compromised immune systems and are unlikely to return until there is a vaccine.

If they cant recruit enough volunteers, they will have to reallocate staff to do deliveries.

Were all going to have to step up to the plate, she said. Because the need is out there.

Pre-pandemic, Barton Street non-profit St. Matthews House would typically have about 100 volunteers a year.

We had to cease a lot of in-person activities and therefore that meant that we couldnt engage with people in the same way, said executive director Renee Wetselaar.

The organization hopes to reinstate its volunteer programs in January, and is working to find creative ways to re-engage people in the community who want to make a difference. This might involve distanced interactions, like food deliveries, virtual fundraising and increased safety measures for in-person programs.

People really do hunger for face-to-face contact, she said. And thats certainly what were struggling with, is how we can bring some of that back again.
After receiving a good amount of rain on Friday, Delhi-NCR will be back to receiving little to no rain for the next few days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast read Saturday.

Scientists at IMD said that till Tuesday, only some parts of the national Capital are likely to receive light to very light rain.

Delhi received moderate rainfall on Friday, as the monsoon trough was passing over the city. Over the next two days, light to very light rain may take place, as the trough will be moving southwards. On September 1 and 2, another spell of moderate rain is expected in Delhi, as the trough is expected to move towards the north then, said Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of IMDs regional weather forecasting centre.

He added that there was a forecast of light rain over the past week, but the monsoon trough had moved towards the Himalayan foothills, because of which there was no rain in Delhi. On August 20 and 21, Delhi had received heavy to very heavy rainfall.

IMD had issued an orange alert on Friday morning for Delhi-NCR, warning of light to moderate rain accompanied by thundershowers. At several places across the city, there were reports of water logging. In places such as Greater Kailash 2 and Vikaspuri, the water logging led to massive traffic jams.

The Safdarjung observatory, considered representative of Delhis weather, recorded 23.2mm of rain in the moderate category on Friday, while the Delhi Ridge weather station recorded 44mm rain and Palam and Lodhi Road stations recorded 35.8 mm and 23.6 mm rainfall, respectively. The Aya Nagar station, however, recorded only traces of rainfall.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

No one has been disciplined and no charges will be filed in the fatal shooting of a homeless man last year by three Albuquerque police officers at an East Central bus stop.

The case of 57-year-old Roger Schafer recently gained attention on social media as activists around the country have highlighted use of force by officers. Police had responded to a call that Schafer was waving what turned out to be a BB gun at traffic and video shows him reaching toward his waistband immediately before officers opened fire. A clip of the shooting from a lapel camera was retweeted over 47,000 times.

Reviews of the incident by APDs Internal Affairs Force Division and a special prosecutor with the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office found the use of force by all six officers involved  officers Paul Durham, Kyle King and Randy Serrano, who shot Schafer, officer Justin Jones who used less lethal force and two who didnt fire  to be within compliance of policies and to be justified. The only follow-up action in the IA report  which was provided to the Journal in response to an Inspection of Public Records Act request  was a referral for one of the officers, Joshua Arreola, to receive more training since his gun had malfunctioned when he tried to fire at Schafer.

The decision not to discipline any of the officers concerns members of APD Forward, a coalition of advocacy groups dedicated to police reform, who said they are extremely disappointed the internal investigation didnt recommend de-escalating the situation.

Less lethal options, more dialogue  How they were yelling obviously it seemed like it was hard for Roger to understand what the officers were asking of him, said Rachel Biggs, the policy director for Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless. He was agitated and there was nothing done to decrease that level of agitation or de-escalate the situation before using deadly force or having to resort to deadly force, at least from what can be seen in the body camera footage.

The incident on Aug. 22, 2019 started when several callers reported a man was tossing a gun from hand to hand, pulling the action back and pointing it at traffic near a busy shopping center on Eubank near Copper NE. Several officers responded, set up a force array  a deployment tactic that includes a range of force options  and approached the bus stop where Schafer lay on his back, his hands behind his head. The shooting takes place 41 seconds after the officers first make contact with him.

Lapel camera video shows Schafer is confused and belligerent and cursed at officers as he refuses to obey their commands. Then he sat up on the bench and reached for his waistband.

Thats when Jones shot him with a 40 mm rubber bullet. Less than a second later Durham, King and Serrano fired their rifles. Schafer died at the scene. He had 11 gunshot wounds, according to an autopsy report.

A report by the Internal Affairs Force Division found the officers were all in compliance with APD policies. Schafers name is spelled Shafer in the documents.

Due to the allegations that Roger was pointing a firearm at passing vehicles officers had a duty to act and respond which limited their time to de-escalate the situation, the report states. Officers did give Roger verbal commands which were not followed.

However, it did recommend Arreola receive further training on operating his weapon, due to the huge safety and tactical concern of his gun not being ready to fire.

Ofc. Arreola was presented with a deadly force situation and his weapon was not readied to be operable before deploying, the report states.

The review by a special prosecutor found the officers acted reasonably and should not be charged with any crimes.

In a letter written to APD Police Chief Michael Geier on June 30, special prosecutor Michael Cox noted the pellet gun Schafer had tucked in his waistband was the exact replica of a 9 millimeter semiautomatic pistol.

At the moment the officers fired, Schafer was in the process of pulling that pistol out of his waistband with the apparent goal of initiating a shootout with police, Cox wrote. The three officers responded to a clear and imminent threat of deadly force with deadly force, based on a reasonable fear for the safety of themselves, fellow officers and the public.

The incident was also reviewed by APDs Force Review Board, but a police spokesman did not release any information on what was determined. It was one of eight shootings by APD last year, four of which were fatal.

For her part, Biggs pointed out that Health Care for the Homeless joined APD Forward following the high-profile 2014 shooting of James Boyd, a homeless man who had been camped out in the foothills. She said she would hope that APDs new use of force policies, implemented in January as part of the yearslong police reform effort, would mean officers would de-escalate situations like Schafers in the future.

However, Gilbert Gallegos, an APD spokesman, said the de-escalation policies are still being finalized.

In any case, we cant speculate how officers would respond to a situation under different circumstances, Gallegos wrote in an email. As you may recall from the media briefing following this incident, there were a number of issues that officers had to deal with, including vehicle traffic and pedestrians, that influenced how they approached the individual. I would also caution that these investigations involve much more than just the video of the incident.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX_OO-w2VZg&feature=youtu.be
More than half of the Cabinet could see a major rise in the number of houses built in their back yards under a controversial planning algorithm, a Daily Mail investigation has revealed.

Ministers have introduced a formula for deciding how many homes are needed in each local authority in a bid to meet a national target of 300,000 new homes a year.

Boris Johnson is under pressure from some Tory MPs to ditch the system following concerns that greenfield sites will be built on simply because the algorithm claims more homes are needed.

Now the Mail can reveal that 15 Cabinet ministers are facing huge increases in the number of new houses needed in their local area.

Boris Johnson (pictured this week) is under pressure from some Tory MPs to ditch a controversial planning algorithm under which more than half of the Cabinet could see a major rise in the number of houses built in their back yards

For example Foreign Secretary Dominic Raabs local district in Elmbridge, Surrey, planned to build 225 new homes a year but the algorithm states that 774 are needed. The three districts in Home Secretary Priti Patels Witham constituency see increases, including Braintree (273 to 776) and Colchester (864 to 1,612).

The London borough of Hillingdon, containing Mr Johnsons constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, sees its allocation almost quadruple from 559 to 2,026. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg and Stephen Barclay, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, are also badly affected.

The algorithm, in the housing white paper, considers projected local population growth and the affordability of homes in an area. For the first time, it will be compulsory for all local authorities to use the same methodology to decide how many homes are needed to meet the national target of 300,000 new homes a year.

For example Foreign Secretary Dominic Raabs (pictured) local district in Elmbridge, Surrey, planned to build 225 new homes a year but the algorithm states that 774 are needed

And the algorithm is fuelling a Nimby storm in the Tory party.

The term Nimby, meaning not in my back yard, was used in the 1980s by Tory MP Nicholas Ridley to describe opponents of local developments.

Planning consultancy Lichfields translated the algorithm into what it would mean for each authority. The Mail compared this to the authorities existing plans, although not all areas had one. Local authorities do not directly match on to constituencies.

Writing on the ConservativeHome website, MP Neil OBrien said outside London, the formula takes the numbers down in Labour-run urban areas, while taking them dramatically up in shire and suburban areas which tend to be Conservative controlled.

Last night the Government said the algorithm was open to consultation  indicating it could change in response to Tory anger.

A source said an areas required number of homes will only be the starting point in the process. Local authorities will still need to consider the constraints they face locally to assess how many homes can be delivered, he added.
Israel has listed an El Al flight taking off on Monday for Abu Dhabi, which would be the jewish countrys first commercial passenger flight to the UAE after the two nations agreed to a US-brokered deal to normalize relations.

The confirmation of the flight comes as the latest concrete sign of a deal that saw Israel agree to halt plans to annex land sought by the Palestinians, reported AP.

It also brought into the open a long-standing relationship between Israel and the UAE that both countries hope now will benefit their economies and strengthen their ties to the US amid tensions with Iran.

The website of the Israel Airports Authority listed the flight on Friday. It said the flight would be numbered LY971, a nod to the UAEs international calling code number. A return flight to Tel Avivs Ben Gurion International Airport on Tuesday will be numbered LY972, Israels international calling code, it stated.

Emirati officials and the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The flight was not immediately bookable on the website of El Al, Israels flag carrier.

However, US officials earlier said the anticipated first flight will include American officials led by President Donald Trumps senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Other US officials on board will include national security adviser Robert OBrien, Mideast envoy Avi Berkowitz and envoy for Iran Brian Hook.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier announced that his national security adviser, Meir Ben-Shabbat, will lead Israels delegation, said the AP report.

A number of Israeli government ministries will also send representatives, including the directors of the foreign and defense ministries and the national aviation authority, he said.

Israel and the UAE agreed to normalise ties on August 13. By August 16, telephone calls began ringing between the nations, marking the first concrete step of the US-brokered diplomatic accord.

The historic deal delivered a key foreign policy victory to Trump as he seeks reelection, and reflected a changing Middle East in which shared concerns about archenemy Iran have largely overtaken traditional Arab support for the Palestinians, it added.
(Newser)  This is one macabre auction: A lock of Abraham Lincoln's hair, wrapped in a bloodstained telegram about his 1865 assassination, is up for sale, the AP reports. Boston-based RR Auction said bidding has opened online for the items ahead of a live auction scheduled for Sept. 12 in New Hampshire. The auction house set the minimum bid at $10,000 but expects the lock and telegram to fetch $75,000 or more, spokesman Mike Graff said. Measuring roughly 2 inches long, the bushy lock of hair was removed during Lincoln's postmortem examination after he was fatally shot at Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC, by John Wilkes Booth. It was given to Dr. Lyman Beecher Todd, a Kentucky postmaster and a cousin of Mary Todd Lincoln, the 16th president's widow, Graff said.

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The physician was present when Lincoln's body was examined, he added. The hair is mounted on an official War Department telegram sent to Dr. Todd by George Kinnear, his assistant in the Lexington, Kentucky, post office. The telegram was received in Washington at 11pm on April 14, 1865. A caption typed by Todd's son reads: "The above telegram  arrived in Washington a few minutes after Abraham Lincoln was shot. Next day, at the postmortem, when a lock of hair, clipped from near the President's left temple, was given to Dr. Todd ... he wrapped the lock, stained with blood or brain fluid, in this telegram and hastily wrote on it in pencil: 'Hair of A. Lincoln.'" Dr. Todd gave a slightly different account later in life, writing in 1895 that he clipped the lock of hair himself.

(Read more Abraham Lincoln stories.)
As Hurricane Laura barreled toward the Gulf Coast early last week, Juanita Hall felt helpless.

The sensation has become familiar to the 59-year-old since Hurricane Harvey floodwaters filled her home in northeast Houstons Eastex/Jensen neighborhood three years ago. The house, which Hall inherited a few months before the storm, remains plagued by dry rot, termite damage and mold.

Hall suffers from diabetes and other ailments, and lives with her older brother Clifton, a stroke survivor. They each collect disability benefits  their lone source of income  and, like thousands of other Houstonians, have applied for federal aid to fix their flood-damaged home.

Hall has yet to see a cent of recovery money, however. Her application remains mired within the bureaucratic churn of the citys housing department, which administers the aid.

It's very hard, she said. But I trust in the Lord. He has taken me this far and I know he's not going to stop now. I didn't lose no members of my family through any of the storms, but I lost my house, which feels like I lost everything.

For Hall and thousands of others who remain displaced or stuck in decaying homes, the three-year anniversary of Harvey served as a reminder that Houston is nowhere close to full recovery.

Though sluggish disaster recovery is not a novel concept in Texas or across the country, the city has come under intense scrutiny for the pace of its single-family home recovery program, through which it has repaired or reconstructed 78 homes and sent 76 reimbursement checks to homeowners who performed their own repair work. A survey conducted over the summer by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston found that about 20 percent of those forced from their homes by Harvey remain in temporary housing, making clear that progress has not matched the scale of need.

Mayor Sylvester Turner has blamed the slow pace on the Texas General Land Office, which administers disaster recovery funds statewide, and in July took Land Commissioner George P. Bush to court over control of the citys recovery program. The intensified finger-pointing between state and local officials has frustrated residents and housing advocates, who say measurable progress matters more than who controls the recovery.

People that are desperate, at this point, they dont care how the sausage gets made, said Chrishelle Palay, the director of Houston Organizing Movement for Equity, a nonprofit focused on housing and flooding. They just want to make sure that theyre made whole in some way, shape or form.

Dueling priorities

The city launched its housing recovery effort in January 2019, 17 months after Harvey, following the months of red tape that accompany every congressional disaster appropriation. Turners administration, led by Housing and Community Development Director Tom McCasland, has set aside $428 million for repairing and rebuilding single-family homes, the largest single program in the citys plan to spend $1.3 billion in aid from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

By Harveys two-year anniversary, the city had finished no repairs and already was facing criticism. Bush cited the citys pace in April when he notified Turner of the GLOs plans to take control of Houstons recovery funds and soon opened a competing home repair program.

While Harris County allowed the state to assume control of its funds, the city sued the GLO to halt the takeover, temporarily blocking the land offices Houston program. The lawsuit remains pending before the Texas Supreme Court.

The debate is about priorities. That is what drove the citys lawsuit and Turners motivation to force a meeting with HUD officials in 2018 after the GLO initially proposed running most of Houstons Harvey recovery programs itself.

The citys program prioritizes low-income, disabled and senior residents, which Turner and McCasland say is harder and slower but necessary to ensure the most vulnerable storm victims are not left behind. They say the GLO has rushed money out the door at the expense of the residents most in need.

State officials called the critique ridiculous, saying they have managed to serve the needy while also spending their funds efficiently, adding their home repair program has exceeded HUDs minimum standard for the share of recovery funds that must go to low-income families.

GLO records show 62 percent of applicants approved for home repairs through July made less than half of the area median income, or roughly $38,000 for a four-person household.

In Houstons program, 80 percent of accepted repair applicants made less than that amount. If the citys reimbursements to homeowners who funded repairs themselves are removed, making the comparison more akin to the states repair program, the figure rises to 91 percent.

Houstons multifamily program also places greater emphasis on the lowest-income tenants.

The city is setting aside a higher share of the apartments in its program for low-income families than the GLO. That is particularly true for those making roughly half of the area median income or less. The citys program would produce more units for the regions poorest families  those earning less than a third of the area median  than the GLO program, despite the state having 40 percent more funding.

The city deals also would keep those units affordable for 40 years, whereas a majority of the GLOs affordable rental units could return to market rates after 15 years.

Though GLO officials have said they see no problem with the citys rental program, a GLO deputy director testified last month that the takeover bid would void the citys multifamily contracts.

Palay said the GLOs focus on expediting its recovery program could leave behind vulnerable Houstonians, even if the agency achieves the federally mandated benchmarks for helping low-income residents.

You have a swath of people who are in the greatest need, and thats whats troubling to me when I think about the GLO taking over the program, is those families potentially not being reached or served, she said.

City vs. GLO

City officials insist the GLO has obstructed their progress by providing inconsistent and opaque oversight of the program, changing guidelines and slow-walking its reviews of homeowners applications.

What was so perplexing about that is, wed sat down with them, wed asked them what they wanted, wed reworked our process, wed give them what they wanted, and then theyd come up with something new, McCasland said. Wed have 50 files, 60 files up there, and three-quarters of them would have this new issue, so theyd all get kicked back. It was that process over and over again.

Brittany Eck, communications director for the GLOs disaster recovery program, denied that. State officials sometimes ask the city to make clarifying updates and other changes to forms if they are deemed at risk of irking HUD auditors, she said.

For example, Eck said, GLO officials recommended the city use forms provided by the agency, such as affidavits verifying residents addresses, but the city developed its own forms instead.

The GLO provided the city with the appropriate information to implement its programs successfully. However, if the city refuses to utilize the assistance, the GLO cannot be held accountable for the mismanagement of the citys programs, Eck said.

The land office operates its own home repair program across the 48 counties outside Harris that received federal Harvey aid. Through Thursday, the GLO said it had repaired or reconstructed 1,828 homes, compared to the citys 78.

City officials argue the comparison is flawed because the GLO began its program earlier and received more overall aid, making the states home repair program more than three times larger than the citys.

Still, Eck argued, the citys points cannot fully account for the disparity in home repairs.

They've submitted less than 500 applications to us, Eck said. We are not the ones pulling them down.

Improved pace

McCasland acknowledged his department was not working efficiently a year ago, but said the pace has improved this summer, as his staff have started advancing 20 files per week to the next stage in their internal review process, if not always to the GLO for review.

In a recent letter to the GLO, he said the citys pace would let it serve 1,000 families annually, exhausting its funds before the original federal deadline of August 2024; that date has now been extended by a year. The GLO, in an email to lawmakers, countered by claiming the citys true pace would let it serve only 265 homeowners per year.

City records show Houston has submitted 40 files a month to the GLO, on average, over the last three months, an annual pace of about 475. In August, McCasland said, his staff submitted 60 files. Those figures include new files and files being sent back for additional rounds of review.

McCasland said some of the GLOs early criticism was very justified in terms of wanting a faster pace, but said, GLO wants to pretend like were still back in August of 2019 in terms of production, and we arent. The biggest difference since then is weve owned our mistakes and corrected for them  the GLO still hasnt.

All 14 Republican members of Houstons state delegation, meanwhile, have sided with the land office, filing a brief with the Supreme Court arguing that it is not worth risking the loss of federal funds.

McCasland  joined by housing advocates  argues that assessing the citys Harvey recovery only through single-family repairs obscures the efforts being made to help renters, who make up more than half of Houston residents.

The citys $350 million program to build or refurbish apartment buildings is expected to help produce roughly 3,200 affordable units, McCasland said, while the home repairs will serve roughly 4,500 residents.

Renters are left behind over and over again after disasters across this country, and one of the commitments we made early on is we were going to properly prioritize renters in our disaster recovery program, McCasland said. The conversation so far has assumed that really the only thing to focus on is helping homeowners repair. When Harvey hit, it did not distinguish between renters and homeowners.

Last October, renters filed a federal lawsuit against HUD and the GLO accusing the agencies of favoring homeowners and developers over low-income renters, many of whom are Black and Latino. McCasland, citing that lawsuit, said the focus on homeowners as the only families that need to recover from Harvey is a focus that many housing advocates have fought back against.

Zoe Middleton, the Houston and Southeast Texas co-director at Texas Housers, said the citys multifamily program contains some flaws but goes beyond the typical storm recovery effort.

The larger system of disaster recovery is broken for renters, she said. I think it's really a programmatic failure.

jasper.scherer@chron.com

mike.morris@chron.com
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Warmer weather has lured large crowds to beaches and markets in Melbourne, as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews hinted the state's strict COVID-19 lockdown measures could soon be eased.

Although the state leader warned Victorians that police and Australian Defence Force personnel would be patrolling popular beaches, the 18C sunshine proved too much of a temptation for long-suffering residents in the midst of lockdown.

Melburnians have been cooped up since July 8 under Stage 4 stay-at-home orders, only permitted to leave the house between 5am and 8pm for essential reasons like grocery shopping, health appointments, work and exercise.

Warmer weather has lured large crowds to beaches and markets in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured is Gleadell Street market in Richmond)

Crowds flocked outside to soak up the sunshine at Gleadell St market in Richmond as the mercury soared to 18C on the last weekend of winter

A number of sun-seekers are pictured at St Kilda beach. Under COVID restrictions, residents are only allowed to travel a 5km radius away from their home

Melbourne residents are seen walking along the St Kilda boardwalk. Walkers and cyclist don face masks as they take a stroll in the sun

Spring has almost arrived and Melbournians are seen venturing out of their homes in huge numbers to enjoy the sun at Southbank

During that period new daily infections reached a peak of 723 coronavirus cases.

But on Saturday, that number dropped 94, the lowest daily totals since July 5.

Premier Andrews has remained adamant that it is too soon to ease the draconian restrictions.

When asked about the weekend's warm weather forecast at a media conference on Friday, he said: 'I'm not often disappointed in a good forecast, but I am a bit about that.'

He urged Victorians to follow the health officer's directions and not flout the rules by heading to the beach unnecessarily.

'We need to defeat this properly now... I'm not admonishing, I'm appealing please despite the lovely weather forecast please let's all make positive decisions, Mr Andrews said.

'Please don't make any choices that would contribute to the spread of this virus.'

But on Saturday, he had eased his tone ever so slightly.

A couple, along with others, in the background are pictured in short sleeves and face masks soaking in the sun at Southbank in Melbourne

Melburnians have been cooped up since July 8 under Stage 4 stay-at-home orders, only leaving the house between 8am and 5pm for essential reasons like grocery shopping, health appointments, work and exercise

A man is pictured sun bathing shirtless on the grass at St Kilda as a man wearing a face mask walks by with his dog

A number of sun-seekers are pictured strolling along the pier at St Kilda wearing face masks which is now required by law in Victoria

During the lockdown period new daily infections reached a peak of 723 coronavirus cases. But on Saturday, that number dropped 94, the lowest daily totals since July 5

He stopped short at engaging in discussion about a 'roadmap' out of lockdown which is set to conclude on September 13.

But he did acknowledge crowds and gatherings could soon be part of Victoria's 'new COVID normal'.

'I think our COVID normal can involve some crowds, but that will be a matter of medical advice,' Mr Andrews said.

He added that the size of crowds would have to be determined by 'how successful we are defeating the virus'.

'It is very, very difficult to plan ahead. It's very difficult to bring certainty to something that travels so quickly,' he said.

'Certainly even at 94 cases, we are not able to open up now and we are not able to open up now and we are not able to provide a detailed road map with the sort of certainty that I would want.'

'The numbers need to be lower than they are now.'

Despite the small glimmer of hope for Victorians, Mr Andrews said: 'I don't think we will have 100,000 at the MCG for quite some time.'

A long queue of customers is pictured lining up for take away coffee at Melbourne's Southbank on a picturesque sunny day

Daniel Andrews stopped short at engaging in discussion about a 'roadmap' out of lockdown which is set to conclude on September 13

But the Premier did acknowledge that crowds and gatherings could soon be part of Victoria's 'new COVID normal'

Any changes to crowd restrictions would rely on science, Mr Andrews said. Pictured: A woman is seen taking a photograph of a couple frolicking in the water at St Kilda beach

Mr Andrews added that the size of crowds would have to be determined by 'how successful we are defeating the virus'. Pictured: A large crowd on St Kilda's boardwalk

Despite the small glimmer of hope for Victorians, Premier Andrews said: 'I don't think we will have 100,000 at the MCG for quite some time'

Meanwhile, Mr Andrews has announced plans to extend Victoria's State of Emergency to 18 months in September, giving the government the power to impose further lockdown restrictions.

Amendments are being made to change it, despite the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 only allowing a State of Emergency to operate for six months.

'It is not an unlimited extension, it is nothing more than a recognition that this virus won't be over on September 30,' the premier said on Monday, August 24.

'I would love nothing more for there to be no need for any rules on September 14, but I don't think that is the reality.'

Mr Andrews has received a lot of backlash online, with Victorians labelling his plan as 'frightening' and 'to save his own job for the next 12 months'.

'No other state has had a State of Emergency this length and had total control over every aspect of Victorian's lives. He's sounding more like the Supreme ruler by the day,' one person said on Twitter.

'This is really frightening,' another tweeted.

'We cannot let this happen. I am writing to my MPs today and you should too,' a third person said.

On Saturday the total number of coronavirus deaths in Victoria climbed to 513 after 18 more patients lost their lives.

Although Melbourne's vibrant cafe scene is on hold during the coronavirus lockdown, some residents are pictured sitting and chatting together at South Yarra

A number of people are pictured relaxing in the shade in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra, despite lockdown restricions

Mr Andrews (pictured) plans to extend Victoria's State of Emergency to 18 months in September, giving the government the power to impose further lockdown restrictions
One person has been killed in a rampage by gunmen in Kaduna State, Nigeria, in which several children were kidnapped.

Gunmen attacked the Damba-Kasaya Community in Chikun Local Government Area on motorbikes at around 7:45am on Monday local time.

They invaded the Prince Academy secondary school, where they abducted teacher Christiana Madugu.

Children abducted by the attackers have been named as Happy Odoji, 14, Miracle Danjuma, 13, her sister Favour Danjuma, 9, who was abducted from her home, and Ezra Bako, 15.

Schools had only recently been allowed to reopen in Kaduna State after lockdown so that students could sit their final exams.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said the kidnappers contacted the family of the Danjuma sisters and confirmed they were holding their children, but made no further demands.

During the rampage, the gunmen destroyed musical instruments and the public address system at Aminchi Baptist Church before setting it on fire.

Villager Benjamin Auta was killed as he and othes attempted to pursue the gunmen. He leaves behind a wife and baby.

The attackers are said to be Fulani militia.

A report this month by Mission Africa International says that "Fulani invaders" have been reponsible for displacing people from their homes across southern Kaduna.

The organisation estimates that at least 500 people were killed between January and June this year, and that 50,000 people from over a hundred communities have been displaced.

They "cannot currently go to farm and harvest their produce", and "in some of the communities, they have to pay protection taxes to invaders to get to their farms", the group said.

CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said: "The situation in southern Kaduna is pressing and increasingly desperate. We extend our condolences to the family of Mr Auta, and our prayers are with those who anxiously await the safe return of their loved ones.

"We urge the Nigerian government to address this violence and insecurity in an earnest and unbiased manner, to provide humanitarian assistance for the burgeoning number of displaced people and to guarantee their safe return to their homes and lands.

"We also call on the European Union and the governments of the UK and US to encourage the Kaduna state and federal governments to provide for these IDPs, who continue to rely on NGO and church donations for survival, and to allocate resources towards assisting them as a matter of urgency."

Reported with permission from Christian Today
Latest initiative by Tourism Alliance, Love Sri Lanka Locals Goes Live! View(s):

Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance has announced the launch of Love Sri Lanka Locals, a domestic tourism initiative to assist the industry during these unprecedented times. Silver Members of the Tourism Alliance are given the opportunity to feature their amazing resident offers on this platform developed by Tourism Alliances web and digital partner Antyra Solutions.

With the country being closed for foreign visitors since March 20 Sri Lankan hospitality and travel partners have had to rely solely on domestic travellers. Love Sri Lanka Locals connects accommodation providers with those eager to escape the confines of home following the lifting of the curfew. We host the offers on our platform and promote at no cost or commissions said Malik Fernando, Co-Chair, Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance, in a media release issued by the Alliance.

With cash flows and margins severely impacted due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a more prudent time to focus on and drive the domestic tourism market. We hope that hoteliers and travel partners will take advantage of this timely initiative by listing their offers on Love Sri Lanka Locals for free, said Shiromal Cooray, Co-Chair, Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance.

The website (https://locals.lovesrilanka.org/) which is now live features hundreds of amazing offers exclusively for domestic travellers including romantic weekend getaways, family staycations, luxury boutique holidays and fun safari experiences among others. Niranka T. Perera, Chairman and CEO of Antyra Solutions said he believes that with many unanswered questions surrounding the airport reopening and the outlook on international travel post COVID-19, Sri Lankan hoteliers and travel partners will have to rely on the local market for a longer time than originally anticipated. In this context he believes the launch of Love Sri Lanka Locals is a timely initiative by the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance to support the travel and hospitality industry.

The Tourism Alliance has ramped up its efforts to support the industry and will launch several other key initiatives shortly, such as the Alliance Jobs Portal, which will address a key industry requirement by offering Alliance members a comprehensive platform to recruit when normalcy returns.
Netflix

On a nondescript April night in 1990, 21-year-old Dale Wayne Sigler walked into a Brazoria County, Texas, Subway shop and robbed it of $400. When the man behind the counter, John William Zeltner Jr., attempted to flee into the back room, he was shot six times. The overkill nature of the crime implied that the two werent mere strangers, and the ensuing revelation that Sigler knew Zeltner helped convince a jury that not only was he guilty of the crimeto which he confessed, after being apprehendedbut that the execution had been premeditated. For this senseless slaughter, Sigler received the death penalty, which was subsequently reduced to life in prison following a change to state jury-selection laws.

A spin-off of the popular true-crime series that gives it its name, Netflixs I Am A Killer: Released (now streaming) is a three-part affaireach installment running approximately 30 minutesthat first introduces us to Sigler behind bars, talking about the religious conversion thats changed his life. Im a walking miracle, whether you want to accept it or whether you dont. You cant take that from me, he proclaims.

With tattoos decorating his arms and hands, a finely trimmed grey beard, and crooked lower teeth, the tall, stout Sigler cuts an imposing figure even when tearing up while discussing the abuse his mother suffered at the hands of his father, and the sexual molestation he endured, and which he blames for sending him down a dark path of drugs, theft, and homelessness. That descent came to a head when he took the life of Zeltner, for which he now says, I apologize with my soul and my heart.

Chadwick Boseman Became a Superhero While Battling Cancer

Even though Sigler wound up on death row, I Am A Killer: Released (which aired earlier this summer in the U.K. as A Killer Uncaged) is not an inquiry into the morality or effectiveness of capital punishment. On the contrary, its an open-ended (and formally unadventurous) non-fiction investigation into whether rehabilitation is possible, and moreover, whether states should allow its most heinous offenders to have second chances out in mainstream society.

Story continues

When his sentence was reduced to life, Sigler also received the opportunity to apply for parole after 30 years. Producer/director Itamar Klasmers series eventually catches up with Siglernow an ordained minister who preaches the gospel at every turn, and is known in prison as the Gentle Giantas he successfully attains his release, and moves into the home of Carole Whitworth, aka Mama Carole. A single 71-year-old woman living in a mobile home in rural Texas with only her cats for companionship, Whitworth comes across as a lonely Christian woman, which in turn explains why she opted to strike up a pen-pal relationship with Siglerand, ultimately, to let him stay with her in her tiny residence.

Its a strange arrangement, and one made stranger by the fact that, before making this offer, Whitworth didnt bother asking Sigler about the details of his offense. Despite the potential hazards of this situationwhich naturally makes her grandson Shannon and his girlfriend uncomfortableWhitworth excitedly greets Sigler when he emerges a free man and arrives at her house. Director Klasmer is there for these initial moments, which come equipped with Sigler discussing the strange process of reacclimating to a world thats radically changed since he last saw it first-hand, and his fear and excitement at the prospect of beginning anew are palpable. Not willing to simply paint a rosy portrait of this development, however, Klasmer juxtaposes these early scenes with interviews with Zeltners two half-brothers Forest and John, who remain bitterly angry over their siblings death, as well as with detective Tommy Lenoir and prosecutor Greg Miller, both of whom discuss the brutal cruelty of Siglers actions.

Central to understanding what Sigler did is the eventual disclosure that Zeltner was homosexual, and that everyone knew it. In a state, and era where being gay was far from safe, Zeltners sexual orientation made him an immediate hate-crime target, although at least at trial, it wasnt posited as a motivating factor for Sigler. Director Klasmer suspects otherwise, and a chat with Siglers former friend Shawn Anttilawhose house the murderer visited after the shootingraises the notion that Sigler himself might have been living in the closet, thereby contributing to his reason for gunning Zeltner down. I Am A Killer: Released, however, has a bigger bombshell to drop: Siglers supposedly real reason for committing homicide.

[Spoilers follow]

At the conclusion of the second episode, Sigler confesses that he killed Zeltner, a close friend, because the man was trying to blackmail him into consummating a love affair; fearful that Zeltner would spread an unfounded rumor about their romantic relationship lest he comply with sex, he killed him in cold blood. Its a transparent attempt by Sigler to blame a deceased man who cant dispute the allegation, and to cast himself as the sympathetic victim of a gay predator. Siglers admission that he believes the Bible teaches that homosexuality is an abomination to God further intimates that homophobia played a key role in this tragedy. And as Miller rightfully states, even if Siglers convenient and thoroughly dubious story is true, its a patheticand scaryjustification for slaying an acquaintance, and does little to make him seem like less of a menace to society.

I Am A Killer: Released has no definitive answer regarding what drove Sigler to kill, and its failure to dig deeper into his pastfor example, about his strained family tiesleaves it feeling somewhat murky. Yet in raising the question of Siglers reliability, it also throws into doubt the possibility of redemption and salvation that Sigler so desperately promotes. Discussing his newfound freedom, Sigler confidently states, Ive paid my price, more than enough. Ive changed, Ive grown, Ive matured. So yeah, I deserve it. His desire to forward a new story that, he believes, absolves him of guiltwhich it does, at least in the eyes of Whitworths grandson and fellow churchgoersstrongly suggests otherwise, and ultimately turns Netflixs latest docuseries into a case study of the limits of criminal-justice rehabilitation.

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Father of 19-y-o killed at Seattle's CHOP files lawsuits seeking $3 billion in damages

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Horace Lorenzo Anderson Sr., whose 19-year-old son was fatally shot inside the Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone in June, has filed three claims against the city of Seattle, King County and the state of Washington, seeking $1 billion from each of the three governments.

It is important to hold our government leaders accountable so this will not happen again, the Anderson family attorney Evan Oshan said, according to King 5. Those in positions of power must not be allowed to hide from their duty to act responsibly and protect citizens. With power and prestige comes responsibility!

Horace Lorenzo Anderson Jr. was killed after he went to CHOP in the early hours of June 20.

After the younger Anderson and another victim were shot at Cal Anderson Park, police were called into the zone but were met with crowds of hostile protesters (video) as they attempted to enter and clear a path for paramedics to treat and transport Anderson. Instead, so-called CHOP medics drove the gunshot victims to Harborview Medical Center. When officers arrived at the hospital, they were informed that Anderson had died and the second victim had sustained life-threatening injuries.

In July, the victims mother, Donnitta Sinclair Martin, filed a claim against the city, holding city officials responsible for allowing protesters to occupy six city blocks and alleging that police and fire officials failed to protect or medically assist her son, according to The Seattle Times.

Her attorneys have said they are planning to file a federal wrongful-death suit as well.

(What) I do know is that there was a police precinct that was given up, attorney Oshan was quoted as saying. What I do know is that EMS did not come in and take care of Lorenzo as he lay bleeding. This was a totally lawless situation. It puts him in great danger and it was just wrong.

Anderson Sr. earlier told media that he hadnt received a call from Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee, black leaders, the Seattle Police Department or the CHOP protesters who witnessed his sons murder.

He added that the only public figure who had reached out to him since his sons death was President Donald Trump.

Incredibly, Donald Trump called me, he told Fox News affiliate Q13 outside the funeral home in Kent, California, where his son was buried. The president of the United States called me today. He gave his condolences, and me, Im not a political guy. I told him, Nobody like you. Im real. Donald Trump called me and he didnt have to call me.

Durkan, who was criticized for allowing lawlessness to continue inside CHOP and accused of only taking decisive action to clear the area after protesters demonstrated outside her home, later issued an executive order to shut down CHOP. She also called Anderson to extend her condolences days after the president first called him.

Suspects involved in CHOP murders remain at large and the Seattle Police Department is urging those with information to call the Violent Crimes tip line at (206) 233-5000.
Reviving Florida Tourism has made Governor Ron DeSantis urging people to get on the plane as air travel is now safe.

DeSantis held a roundtable at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on August 28 with JetBlue and Spirit Airlines executives, and others involved with operations there and at Miami International Airport, to send a message that air travel is now safe.

Earlier this week, DeSantis held a similar event with executives of theme parks in an effort to revive Florida's economy, which is very much dependent on tourism.

According to DeSantis, the airline industry's impact on Florida's economy reaches up to more than $175 billion in a year, as per an NPR.org report.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, international travel at the two biggest airports in Southern Florida, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport, has dropped to 85 percent from last year.

From March to June, the number of people flying into Florida was down to 8.8 million from 24 million. The drop has caused airline industries and other industries, depending on it, to lose billions of dollars.

The Florida governor said he, himself, was not comfortable about air travel initially, especially that there is still the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, it is a fact that there have been no reports of wide transmissions of the disease in an airplane, declared DeSantis.

In a report by the Miami Herald, DeSantis, aiming to revive Florida tourism, said that people should understand that there have been no reports of outbreaks being caused by airplanes.

Previously, DeSantis had blamed flights to have brought COVID-19 into Florida.

Airplanes Safe, But Not Airports

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), air travel puts a person at high risk of getting infected with COVID-19 because passengers spend lining up in airport terminals and time in security.

However, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Michael Mina, an expert on infectious disease, said the concern is mostly with the airports and not so much with airplanes because they have high airflow and air exchange.

According to a report on the Sun Sentinel, the CDC also noted that most viruses do not easily spread on flights because of how airplanes circulate and filter the air.

However, the CDC further noted that air travel will still put a person at high risk of getting the disease because it will be difficult to maintain social distancing on a crowded flight.

A crowded flight would mean that passengers will not be able to sit six feet apart from each other, which means that they will be in close proximity for hours.

Public Health Sciences professor Jose Szapocznik at the University of Miami's medical school also warned about being in airports. But Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International CEO of Aviation Mark Gale pointed out that the airport terminals are clean.

There is no question that air travel is key to reviving Florida tourism, but will it be entirely safe.

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America can be proud of many things: our innovation, generosity and entrepreneurial spirit are unsurpassed. Yet when it comes to our nation understanding one of the greatest gifts ever given to humanitythe Biblewe're moving from dumb to dumber, and it's no laughing matter.
Chetana Belagere By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: On Thursday, Karnataka reported 9,386 Covid-19 positive cases, which was yet another single-day highest, taking the total to 3,09,792. But worryingly, the state has not yet hit the peak. Going by the current indicators, the virus infections are likely to peak by September-end or early October and start plateauing only by the year-end, experts said.

According to a team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in the best-case scenario, the country could see a spike with an estimate of 26 lakh total cases and 4.5 lakh ongoing cases by September 30. Prof Sashikumaar Ganesan, Chairman, Department of Computational and Data Sciences (CDS) and Head, Computational Mathematics Group (CMG), IIsc, who is one of the researchers of this model, said, We have done a six-dimensional, data-based computational model for epidemics that has been adapted for Covid- 19 in the country.

Going by the trend and with the data till August 6, we will see the peak by September-end or beginning of October nationally. Experts said that peaking means the arrival rate of new cases per week (or per day) has attained the maximum and it declines after that. A senior epidemiologist said, It is difficult for anyone to predict exactly. However, an attempt can be made to estimate it by examining certain trends in the observed data and then extrapolating the trend.

Only when the daily Covid toll comes down consistently can one say for sure that it has peaked, he said. According to Prof Ganesan, in the IISc model, state-wise results are computed with the parameters of the national trend to compare the performance of respective states with the national trend. Dr T Jacob John, professor emeritus and former head of virology at Christian Medical College, Vellore, told TNIE, We could look at peaking in three scenarios  highly urbanised, medium urbanised and rural areas.

We have noticed that in Karnataka and several other states, it has peaked in highly urbanised and medium urbanised areas. We are yet to see the rise in rural areas. If there is no intervention, the state should see a spike by September. Experts are, however, divided. While a few say that the plateau is expected towards the end of December, some claim that it could be by October-end. More than a peak, Karnataka will have a plateau that will only reduce towards mid- October, said Dr Giridhara R Babu, senior epidemiologist and member of the state advisory committee.
Theres something hiding behind all those face masks: the marks of fresh facelifts and rhinoplasties.

Demand for plastic surgery and non-surgical cosmetic procedures has soared during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people take advantage of the extra time at home to recover.

When her clinic closed at the end of March, Calgary facial surgeon Kristina Zakhary started doing virtual consultations, and was surprised when the number of people seeking consultations shot up by 300 per cent.

There was a very high demand during those three months that we were closed (from) people who were interested in learning more about cosmetic procedures, she said.

And when the clinic reopened for surgeries three months later, Zakhary had to book extra operating-room time due to a 35-per-cent rise in surgeries  in part because of the backlog of cancelled operations, but also to accommodate her new clients.

There was a big pent-up demand, she said.

Some of the most common procedures have been rhinoplasties (nose jobs) and facelifts, as well as surgical and non-surgical procedures around the eyes, which Zakhary attributes to people focusing more on whats visible when they wear a face mask.

People are also increasingly opting for surgical procedures over non-surgical procedures like fillers, she said, which she believes is an economic decision  theyre choosing a long-term solution over something that must be touched up every few months.

Zakhary thinks there are several reasons for the uptick in demand for facial procedures.

For one, she said, often the hardest part of facial surgery is the downtime, but now that people are stuck at home they are taking advantage of it, not needing to book time off work to recover.

People also have more time to research, she said, and virtual consultations have provided a new avenue for those curious about treatments, while at the same time allowing them to explore options outside their immediate areas.

Zakhary also thinks all that teleconferencing is getting to people, who are looking at their own faces for a larger chunk of the day.

The webcam acts as a magnifying mirror for many people, she explained.

And lastly, she thinks its because of the lipstick effect: People want a pick-me-up, something to help them feel better during a difficult time.

Zakhary isnt alone  cosmetic surgeons across Canada and North America are seeing demand for their services rise.

Lynn Jeffers, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, told the New York Times that demand is busier than expected nationwide, though its unclear yet how much of that is a backlog of patients.

Doctors who spoke to the Times and The Dallas Morning News reported upticks similar to what Zakhary is seeing. And Colleen Nolan, executive director of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, told the Times that patients are getting more invasive procedures than before.

Before COVID-19, patients were going for fillers and Botox because they didnt have any downtime, she said. Now they realize they can have the procedure and privately experience it.

Zakhary said for those looking to get a procedure, whether its surgical or non-surgical, its important to do research ahead of time and ask any prospective doctors for before and after pictures.

This is still a medical procedure  so its important to do your research, and know that youre having the right doctor for that procedure.

With files from the New York Times and the Dallas Morning News

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BERLIN  Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany refuses as a rule to comment on the internal affairs of other countries or pass judgment on their leaders. But that hasnt stopped her from letting her face do the talking, reflecting confusion, befuddlement or exasperation regarding President Trump as the situation required. On Friday, she was at it again.

Asked during her annual summer news conference about a claim made at the Republican National Convention by Richard Grenell, the former U.S. ambassador to Germany, that he had watched President Trump charm the chancellor of Germany, Ms. Merkel drew her eyebrows together, tilted her head and leaned toward the reporter.

He did what? she asked.

Charmed, repeated Marina Kormbaki, a journalist with the German reporting collective R.N.D.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29

Trend:

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to Sooronbai Jeenbekov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic.

"Dear Mr President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my sincerest congratulations to you and all the people of your country on the occasion of the national day of the Kyrgyz Republic, Independence Day.

I am confident that the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan relations, our traditional ties of friendship and cooperation will continue developing and expanding to the benefit of our peoples.

At a time when humanity is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, I would like to emphasize that the people of Azerbaijan are in solidarity with the brotherly people of Kyrgyzstan.

On this joyous day, I wish you the best of health, success in your work, and everlasting peace and prosperity to your country," the letter said.
The controversial planning company at the centre of the Casey land scandal has closed its doors after decades as a leading player in the development of Melbournes green perimeter after its owner, John Woodman, sold the business to his son.

Internal company documents reveal Mornington-based development consultancy Watsons Pty Ltd has sold its business to a new company that has cut official ties with Mr Woodman, Watsons allegedly corrupt sole director and shareholder.

An IBAC surveillance photo of former Casey councillor Sam Aziz (left) and developer John Woodman (right) at a Subway restaurant in April 2018. Credit:IBAC

Mr Woodman is a key figure in an investigation by Victoria's anti-corruption agency into land deals in Melbournes south-east, issues first raised by The Age in late 2018.

In public examinations running from November to March the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission heard how Mr Woodman allegedly paid Casey councillors bribes of almost $1.2 million in return for favourable planning decisions, and showered councillors and state MPs and candidates with donations.
Young Lankan scientist bags gold with copper research By Sashini Rodrigo Having won the prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Energy Sector PhD Thesis Award for 2019, Dr. Jessica Pereira of the University of Warwick hopes her research will shed light on sustainable power generation in Sri Lanka View(s): View(s):

Science and technology is a constantly growing subject. As new technologies emerge rapidly, the energy sector gets more competitive  making new ideas all the more important in the field.

As a scientist, Dr. Jessica Pereira tells us she has to constantly keep reading to familiarise herself with these new technologies and stay updated. Her studies led her to explore an innovative area that formed the basis of her PhD thesis titled Nanostructured Copper Window & Reflective Electrodes for Organic Photovoltaics which was awarded the prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Energy Sector PhD Thesis Award in 2019  making Jessica the first Sri Lankan and first student from the University of Warwick (UoW) to receive the award.

This win is simply amazing and gives me enormous satisfaction as it brought to light the fruits of my hard work, carried out throughout 3.5 years! Jessica says. As RSC is an extremely distinguished organisation in the UK and well known and recognised worldwide, an award from RSC gives my research work a boost within the scientific community.

Jessica has always been a high achiever in her academic career, having been the top student in her class since Grade 8. The youngest in a family of four, she studied at St. Lawrences Convent (SLC) up to O/Ls, and then moved to Holy Family Convent (HFC), Bambalapitiya for her A/Ls as she wanted to pursue the science stream.

Chemistry was always her favourite subject, as it had a good balance between fundamental science and application. It included some mathematics/problem solving so it was not based on memorising subject material but rather on understanding the basics and applying them. I also loved the study of elements and chemical reactions and their applications she explains.

She then graduated with a first class degree in Chemistry from the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon (IChemC) in 2014  performing exceptionally well with over 20 prizes, first graduate chemist in her batch for each year and receiving the Shireen Jayasuriya Memorial Gold Medal in 2013 for overall best performance in all four years.

Beginning her career as a Teaching Assistant at IChemC she then worked as a Research Scientist at the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC). At SLINTEC, she worked on a project with a leading local manufacturer to fabricate a coating to give rise to specialised surface properties. It gave me an opportunity to put the theory I have learnt into practice and also gave me a feel of how advanced research would be, she says.

This fuelled her interest in application oriented research, and inspired her to pursue a PhD. With the help of her mentors, she secured the Chancellors International Scholarship from UoW in 2015  an honour reserved for only 25 students per year.

Here, her research began in the area of Organic Photovoltaics (OPVs)  organic electronic devices which can directly convert sunlight into electricity without any moving parts, which Jessica tells us is an excellent renewable and low-cost alternative to conventional electricity generation methods such as burning of fossil fuels.

For an OPV to function, it is dependent on a transparent electrode typically made of indium tin oxide (ITO)  a brittle material that is unsuitable for emerging flexible applications, further complicated by the scarcity of the element indium. As Jessica discovered through her research, copper is a much more sustainable choice for many reasons. Thus, she focused on developing nanostructured copper electrodes for OPVs for her PhD, which led to the fabrication of the most efficient copper based flexible OPV device to date with a power conversion efficiency of 8.7%.

As Sri Lanka is a tropical island blessed with sunlight in abundance all throughout the year, I wondered if this technology would one day be the front runner in electricity generation in Sri Lanka, she tells us. The need for renewable, sustainable technology is at an all-time high, as the overwhelming amounts of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels contribute significantly to global warming. As Jessica points out, energy is an essential resource for the function of the modern world so any measure to reduce the carbon footprint will be massively beneficial.

Jessicas goal is for her research to contribute clean and sustainable solutions for emerging technologies. She would also like to use her knowledge and experience to explore innovative approaches to energy harvesting and new product development.

Aside from her work, Jessica feels its important to have time to relax and enjoy. This keeps her energised and gives her a clear mind. She also loves arts and crafts and finds the time to sketch birds, animals or sceneries using ballpoint pens. In my opinion I think if you plan and organise your work there will always be time for fun! she explains.

She finds that passion should be the most important thing in anything you do. Research can be competitive and when things dont go according to plan it can be quite demotivating. So you need to be able to keep going until you see that silver line in the dark clouds, she says.

Jessica is currently employed as a research fellow in organic materials for energy generation & storage at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. Here, she hopes to explore new research opportunities, broaden her skills and knowledge, and progress in her career to become an independent research leader in her field.

Many people have helped her throughout her life and Jessica feels lucky to have had excellent teachers, inspiring mentors, loving Godparents and good friends who have supported her.

She also adds that her PhD supervisor, Prof. Ross Hatton was a splendid mentor and provided her with all the guidance and support she needed. However, her father, mother and sister have and will always be her biggest blessing and source of strength.
Find all of the most important pandemic education news on Educating N.J., a special resource guide created for parents, students and educators.

As the end of summer quickly approaches, schools across New Jersey are gearing up to implement their reopening plans and strategies for the 2020-2021 school year, with the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.

In Camden County, many schools are choosing to offer both hybrid and remote options, while others are only providing remote learning.

Haddonfield Superintendent Chuck Klaus said the districts hybrid model aligns with their goal of implementing in-person instruction as soon as the academic year begins.

Our goal is to get back entirely, as quickly and safely as we can, he told NJ Advance Media.

Roughly 87% of the 2,750 students in the district will be returning for in-person learning, he said, and overall, feedback from parents has been largely positive. Theyve reached out and said they trust the decision, they want their kids back in school, he said.

The district decided to move the first day of school back a week, Klaus said, to buy a little more preparation time. But overall, faculty and staff are ready and prepared for the students to return, he said.

Further north in Pennsauken Township, Superintendent Ronnie Tarchichi has a smaller percentage returning for in-person learning, but said he believes the schools have an obligation to reopen.

If you generally think about it, we have an obligation to work. The parent has to go to work, he told NJ Advance Media. They have to pay the bills at their house.

(If they dont), they could lose their homes and not feed their families, he added. We have to put that in consideration. Thats our job.

Tarchichi said half of the roughly 4,700-student districts parents chose the all-remote option, and the other half will be attending school for the hybrid model. Since the district is using an A/B schedule, he added, the schools will only be at 25% capacity on any given day.

Some districts going virtual

However, in Collingswood and Oaklyn, administrators are choosing to start the academic year fully remote. Superintendent Scott Oswald, who oversees both districts, said they plan to gradually work back to the districts original hybrid plan, beginning Oct. 5.

The decision to start remotely was due to a couple of reasons, Oswald said: Camden County is in the southwest part of the state, which is in the yellow, or moderate activity level, phase; also, the district received many requests for medical accommodations and leave.

We need the staff (the people) to ensure that the plans weve developed are implemented appropriately, Oswald wrote in an email. Right now, I can not ensure that.

Feedback from the community has been mixed, he said, with feelings all over the map. Some families are scrambling for childcare, Oswald acknowledged, while others are grateful the district is easing back into in-person learning.

There is no doubt everyone wants whats best for the students, there is just disagreement on the best way to get there, he said.

Keep up with the latest in N.J. schools coverage. Sign up your email here:



Gov. Phil Murphy announced Aug. 12 that public schools in the state will have the option of starting the academic year with no in-person classes if they meet certain criteria. However, the plans for all-remote instruction still need approval by the state Department of Education.

The states announcement that districts may start the school year remotely came as a reversal to previously stated plans, which required all of the states 600 districts to have some form of in-person learning to start the 2020-21 school year.

On Saturday, after weeks of delays, the state education department said school districts may now officially ask the department to approve their all-virtual reopening plans. Districts have to respond within seven days of the first day of school, or as soon as practicable.

Camden County reopening plans, district by district

Heres a breakdown of the reopening plans Camden County school districts are offering this school year:

Audubon  starting remote through Nov. 4

Barrington  starting remote, with hybrid starting Nov. 9

Bellmawr  mix of hybrid and remote

Berlin Borough  starting fully in-person

Berlin Township  mix of hybrid and remote

Black Horse Pike Regional  mix of hybrid and remote

Brooklawn Public School  starting fully remote, until at least Oct.

Camden City  starting fully remote

Camden County Technicalmix of hybrid and remote

Camden Prep  starting fully remote, through at least Oct. 2

Camdens Promise Charter School  starting remote, hybrid starts Oct. 13

Cherry Hill  mix of hybrid and remote

Clementon Elementary  starting fully remote through Oct. 5

Collingswood  starting fully remote through Oct.

Eastern Camden County Regional  starting fully remote through Oct. 5

Environment Community Opportunity (ECO) Charter School  mix of hybrid and remote

Freedom Prep Charter School  starting fully remote

Gibbsboro Elementary  starting fully remote until Oct. 5

Gloucester City  starting fully remote until Oct. 19

Gloucester Township  mix of hybrid and remote

Haddon Heights  starting remote, with hybrid returning Nov. 9

Haddon Township  mix of hybrid and remote

Haddonfield  mix of hybrid and remote

Hope Community Charter Schoolmix of hybrid and remote

KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy  starting fully remote

Laurel Springs  mix of hybrid and remote

Lawnside  mix of hybrid and remote

LEAP Academy University Charter School  starting fully remote, until Oct. 5

Lindenwold  starting fully remote

Magnolia  starting fully remote through Sept. 23

Mastery Schools of Camden  starting fully remote

Merchantville  mix of hybrid and remote

Mt. Ephraim  mix of hybrid and remote

Oaklyn  starting fully remote through at least mid-Oct.

Pennsauken Township  mix of hybrid and remote

Pine Hill  mix of hybrid and remote

Runnemede  mix of hybrid and remote

Somerdale  mix of hybrid and remote

Sterling Regional  mix of hybrid and remote

Stratford  mix of hybrid and remote

Voorhees Township  mix of hybrid and remote

Waterford Township  mix of hybrid and remote

Winslow Township  starting fully remote through Jan. 21, 2021

Woodlynne  mix of hybrid and remote

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Have a news tip or a story idea about New Jersey schools? Send it here.
Wetlands again ravaged for illegal prawn farming By Tharushi Weerasinghe View(s): View(s):

The wildlife department has instructed its office in Puttalam to once again restore almost two acres of mangroves in the Anawilundawa sanctuary that had been illegally cleared overnight on Tuesday to make way for a prawn farm.

Anawilundawa is a Ramsar wetland falling deemed of international importance under the UNESCO Ramsar Convention. Six out of 2,331 Ramsar wetlands worldwide are in Sri Lanka according to a 2018 report, and Anawilundawa is one of them.

A 35-year-old prawn farmer from Udappuwa has been arrested for his suspected involvement in the illegal activity at Anawilundawa.

The government will punish the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law, regardless of the sort of power the guilty parties will attempt to throw around, Wildlife and Forest Conservation Minister C.B. Ratnayake said.

Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), Officials who found the illegally cleared area on Wednesday morning had been told curtly that it had been done with the permission of the minister.

The DWC said legal action was underway in the Chilaw Magistrates Court. Police are searching for more suspects and the heavy machines used in the rapid operation. A driver is also under arrest and a backhoe confiscated.

Officials said they had found old prawn tanks had been cleaned in readiness to restart the farm.

There had been prawn farms in the area around two decades ago but these had been shut down. For the past two years, the DWC has been working on the restoration of some 20 hectares of abandoned prawn farms in the Anawilundawa sanctuary to return the wetlands to their former state.

Department officers say they will lose no time in repairing the two acres again damaged. We received orders from Colombo to restart the restoration process of the mangroves now, WCD Assistant Director in Puttalam Eranda Gamage said. It will begin again.

The Ramsar area of Anawilundawa is 1,397ha in extent. With its unique combination of mangroves, freshwater, and the lagoon habitats, the sanctuary is home to numerous birds.

There are also six giant manmade tanks and three secondary tanks, each interconnected and working as a unit. The nine tanks store water for irrigation and cultivation and provide refuge to 150 species of water birds including threatened species. The fishermen of Puttalam are also dependent on the habitat.

Artificial digging, untreated waste and chemicals are killing mangroves and their ecosystem, conservationists say.

Fish need mangroves to breathe in, so the destruction of mangroves has a severe ripple effect on the whole system, Samantha Gunasekara, former deputy director of Customs (Biodiversity) and the current president of the Lanka Nature Conservationists, said.

He called the employment provision argument of prawn farming advocates a bogus claim. Prawn farms, he argues, generally create two jobs at most: security and drain-cutting.

We should have learned our lesson with what happened to the Mundalama lagoon, Mr. Gunasekara said. The once-beautiful Mundalama lagoon was hit by a white spot disease that obliterated entire ecosystems after prawn farms were started up there.

Now, 90 per cent of these prawn farms have been abandoned. Invasive prawn species such as wanami were introduced into the area by the organisations that had profited from the farms.

Additional reporting by our Puttalam Correspondent, Hiran Priyantha Jayasinghe
As Labour Day approaches, close your eyes and picture the typical union member in Canada. If you conjured an image of a man wearing a hard hat or working in a factory, you missed the mark.

The typical union member in Canada is actually a woman who works in the public sector. She may be a teacher, a nurse, an office clerk at city hall or a mail carrier. All of these jobs are more likely to be unionized than those in the majority-male manufacturing, warehousing or construction sectors. In fact, Statistics Canadas Labour Force Survey data reveals that, as of 2019, women made up 53.1 per cent of union members. Thats up from 45.8 per cent in 1998 and 29 per cent in 1978.

Theres no question that women benefit from unionization. Being unionized boosts womens wages more than it does mens, when both are compared to their non-union counterparts.

Unionized women also experience a much smaller gender pay gap when compared to unionized men. In other words, unions help women overcome the effects of gender discrimination in the workplace. This union advantage is even greater for women who are affected by other forms of systemic discrimination.

Despite becoming numerically dominant within unions, women are still under-represented in positions of union leadership. The number of women leading national unions in Canada today can be counted on one hand. And women currently lead only three of the countrys provincial and territorial federations of labour.

Glass ceiling persists

The under-representation of women in positions of leadership is not unique to the labour movement. We see similar imbalances in corporate and political spheres.

Although unions are doing better than Canadas corporate sector, organized labour still has a long way to go when it comes to fully shattering the glass ceiling for women.

The glass ceiling is an often-used metaphor that refers to an invisible barrier that prevents women and other equity-seeking groups, regardless of their skills or qualifications, from advancing into leadership positions within organizations. While in theory, nothing prevents a woman from being elected to a top leadership position, the glass ceiling represents the subtle ways that organizations devalue and doubt womens leadership skills based on gender stereotypes.

Despite these barriers, women have periodically risen to top leadership positions within individual public sector unions or labour federations over the years. But securing positions of leadership within unions has been a long, hard-fought struggle for women workers.

And even while being severely under-represented in positions of leadership, union women have undeniably had an impact. Their activism paved the way for the labour movement to campaign for and secure pay equity, employer-paid daycare, paid maternity leave and rules banning gender-based discrimination in the workplace.

Unions could do much more to fight gender discrimination by having more women in senior leadership positions.

Public sector unions are trail-blazers

Not surprisingly, public sector unions, where women have always been most concentrated, were the first to see women elected to significant leadership roles.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) elected Grace Hartman as its national president in 1975. She was the first woman to lead a national union in North America. In 1986, CUPEs Shirley Carr was the first woman elected to the presidency of the Canadian Labour Congress, Canadas largest labour umbrella organization.

Public sector unions continue to be trail-blazers. In November 2014, Irene Lazinger of the B.C. Teachers Federation was the first woman elected to the presidency of the B.C. Federation of Labour.

In May 2019, Jan Simpson became the first Black woman to lead a national union in Canada when she was elected president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. And in November 2019, Patty Coates of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation became the first woman to lead the Ontario Federation of Labour.

Private sector unions lag

In contrast, a woman has yet to be elected to the presidency of any major private sector union in Canada. However, there are signs that a long overdue breakthrough may be in the works.

Some private sector unions have redesigned their leadership structures to help women break the glass ceiling within their own ranks. In 2013, Unifor, Canadas largest private sector union, adopted an executive structure that guarantees the number of women on the unions executive board be at least equal the proportion of women in the union overall.

In 2017, the Canadian section of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union achieved equal representation of women and men on its national executive board for the first time after delegates to the unions convention adopted a resolution mandating the expansion of womens representation.

Two women vying for top union job

Later this year, two women  Bea Bruske of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and Linda Silas of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions  are expected to compete for the presidency of the Canadian Labour Congress. It will be the first election in the history of the congress where both major contenders are women.

Why does gender representation matter now, more than ever?

So many of the issues we now face because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting disruptions in work, home and school are borne by women. Racialized and poor women are even more at risk of COVID-19 exposure because of the service and care work they do and the lack of choices they have to engage in social distancing.

More than ever, we need a gendered and equity lens in leadership to understand how the pandemic is being experienced differently, and how union responses can protect those who are most vulnerable.

Unions must continue to enhance efforts to recruit and sustain a critical mass of women, particularly visible minority and LBGTQ women, into leadership roles in the years to come. These efforts cannot be mere tokenism. Rather, they must reflect a commitment to ensuring that the changing face of Canadas unionized workers is reflected in the leadership of the union movement.
Jessica Hathorne had little choice but to stay at home when she was called back to her job as a bartender at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Her infant son cant attend daycare because he has a heart condition that puts him at a high risk of serious illness or death from the coronavirus.

Her fiance also had little choice but to return to his job as a bartender at the airport, where he is earning just a fraction of his previous income as both customers and tips are few and far between. Now, they both worry, not only about him bringing the virus home, but also how they will keep up with rent and other bills  especially since Hathornes unemployment benefits fell by $600 a week with the expiration of a federal emergency program.

No one was planning for this pandemic to go on this long, she said. This is killer to us.

Airport workers such as Hathorne and her fiance find themselves on the front lines of both the health and economic crises created by the coronavirus, risking infection while earning far less money than they did pre-pandemic. Servers and bartenders say they arent sure what theyre doing at the airport. There arent many passengers. Theyre not making tips. Their colleagues are testing positive for COVID-19.

Schedules, too, have been turned upside down. Nicole Lockett returned to work as a server at restaurants in Bush airport in July, but was suddenly required to work a shift that starts before dawn after years of working nights. Her earnings, meanwhile, have plunged by nearly two-thirds.

I didnt sign up for this, Lockett said. I cannot switch my whole life up for this company where I am going back to minimum wage.

Not the same

Many bartenders, servers and cooks at Bush airport work for OTG, a New York airport service company that runs several restaurants at the Houston airport. For those in jobs that depend on tips, such as servers and bartenders, the base pay is a little more than $2 an hour, although companies must supplement that if the base plus tips dont add up to $7.25 an hour, the minimum wage.

In July, 946,000 passengers traveled through IAH, down 77 percent from 4.2 million during July 2019, according to the Houston Airport System. Fewer travelers, empty restaurants and sparse tips mean bartenders and servers are making the minimum wage. Before the pandemic, they said, they usually earned around $800 a week, or $20 an hour.

Larry Schwartz, OTGs chief strategy officer, said hes sympathetic to the frustrations of servers and bartenders whose pay has been sharply reduced by the pandemic (I wish everybody can be making lots of money), but the company is struggling financially, along with the entire air travel industry.

I understand that theyre not making as much money as they are used to making, but they have a job, and theyre getting paid to come to work, Schwartz said. Not everyone has a job. Not everyone has the ability to earn money. As the airlines increase their flights, there will be more passengers in the terminal, and theyll do better. Its a temporary situation.

While the company wishes it could do more for its employees, Schwartz said, its unlikely OTG would pay more to bring tip-based employees closer to what they made before the pandemic. I dont see that happening, he said.

Our revenues are way down, Schwartz said. Everyone is in the same boat. Everyone has got to band together to make sacrifices.

The airline industrys bailout from Congress has meant that major carriers, such as United Airlines, which dominates the Houston market, could ramp up flights again and keep employees on payroll. That created more demand for airport services (OTG in Houston received a paycheck protection program loan of between $5 and $10 million, according to the Small Business Administration).

On HoustonChronicle.com: United Airlines plans layoffs, details virus safety rules at IAH

But with the airlines money about to run out at the end of September, United warned that it could layoff some 35,000 workers this fall, including 3,900 at Bush. Other major airlines, including American Airlines and Delta Airlines, also have announced major layoffs coming this fall.

Airport service companies that employ baggage handlers, wheelchair attendants, servers, bartenders and cooks, may also need to cut jobs, since fewer flights and other reductions by major airlines mean fewer services needed from the supporting companies.

Analysts said uncertainty is making it difficult for airport service companies to determine how many workers to bring back and how many to layoff permanently, since theyre not sure what level of staffing will be needed in just few short months.

Arguably, staff will need to be there in the future when there is a recovery, but theres a need to get by in the near to medium term, said Jeffery Lack, an airport analyst for Fitch Ratings, a credit rating agency. Its very challenging for management right now to tread that line to figure out what the right level of staffing is. (Fitch is owned by Hearst Corp., the parent of the Houston Chronicle.)

This is not my normal

In the meantime, employees at OTG and other companies in the travel and service sectors say they live with constant anxiety about their health and their finances.

Lockett, the server at IAH, was excited when she first got the job at OTG earlier this year. The pay and benefits were good enough that she would no longer have to work more than one job. She could also afford a one-bedroom apartment, bringing an end to months of couch surfing.

I cried for two days, tears of joy, she said, recalling when she moved into her apartment in March. And then, about three weeks later, we were laid off. I was just so scared.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Furloughed airport workers may lose everything over coronavirus

She relied on unemployment benefits over the spring and summer while she waited to return to work. With the additional $600 a week provided through federal stimulus legislation, her benefits almost matched her earnings. In July, OTG began to call workers back.

Schwartz, OTGs chief strategy officer, said the company has recalled about 50 percent of staff at Bush Intercontinental Airport.

But after only a few weeks of working, she was struggling not only with her finances, but with her mental and physical health. For 15 years, Lockett had worked the night shift closing bars and restaurants. When she returned to the airport, her shift was switched to opening the restaurant and starting at 4 a.m.

Driving home at the end of her 10-hour shift around 2 p.m.  when she used to start working  she was afraid of falling asleep at the wheel. I was walking around like a zombie, she said.

This is not my life, this is not my normal, said Lockett. She tried to negotiate with the company to modify her hours, with no results. She eventually was told to turn in her badge.

The company said the schedules in place now are temporary, but it must adjust them to meet the needs of the traveling public.

Frontline workers

At least three employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since returning to work, according to interviews and internal documents provided by workers at OTGs restaurants at Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Employees say that the company hasnt done enough to protect them and rushed the re-opening. They claim it lacked robust plans for social distancing at airport restaurants.

The company disputes those claims. It says it has been more than cautious in adhering to public health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control.

Schwartz, the OTG executive, acknowledged that some employees have tested positive, but added that the company has moved quickly to isolate them and those who have come in contact with them. The company also works with airport and local health authorities to do contact tracing, he said.

We've been diligent in getting our crew members tested if they have symptoms, he said. We identify anybody who may have come in contact with that individual that tested positive and we send them home or tell them not to come to work. We don't want to see it spread among our workers. Also, we don't want to see any community spread."

Jose Guerra, who works as a bartender at IAH for OTG, tested positive for COVID-19 a few weeks after returning to the airport part-time. He was instructed by his doctor to re-test. Positive, again.

Guerra, also a representative for the UNITE HERE union, which represents airport service industry workers at Bush, thus far has been asymptomatic. Hes been out of work for weeks as he quarantines.

Hes still on partial unemployment benefits, since he wasnt back to working full-time. That has helped stabilize him financially, he said. But emotionally, hes stressed about his health and his colleagues.

People have serious concerns, he said of going back to work. Lets be real, everybody is afraid of getting sick.

erin.douglas@chron.com

Twitter.com/erinmdouglas23
Ghana's fastest rapper, Sarkodie faced a rigid history exam when he appeared on an American TV network, Vlad TV.



A video has popped up showing the rapper in something like the hot seat during the interview with the host on Vlad TV asking the musician to detail him about the history of Ghana, from all the way back in the 14th through to the 16th Century and all that transpired for Ghana to gain independence.



Sarkodie did his best to explain what he knows about Ghana's history but it was obvious the musician wasn't really comfortable with the host's persistent history interrogation.



Watch full interview below:









Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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Veteran banker Senarath Bandara appointed new MD/CEO of Cargills Bank View(s):

Veteran banker Senarath Bandara has been appointed as the Managing Director/CEO designate of Cargills Bank Ltd with effect from September 8, 2020.

Mr. Bandara will take over as MD/CEO of the bank with effect from October 1, 2020, subject to regulatory clearance. He succeeds Mr. Rajendra Theagarajah who is due to step down on September 30, the bank said in a media release.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Bandara served as the General Manager/CEO of Bank of Ceylon (BOC), retiring from BOC after a service of 30 years. During this period, he gained substantial experience in areas such as general banking, retail banking, retail credit, development banking, corporate lending, investment and treasury management and international banking operations.

Mr. Bandara, a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka, has served on several Boards of subsidiaries and associates of BOC in addition to Lanka Clear (Pvt) Ltd, Credit Information Bureau and Lanka Financial Services Bureau. He has also served on a number of professional bodies including as a member of the governing body of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka, a member of the Council of Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Chairman of Asia Pacific Rural Agriculture Credit Association (APRACA), Vice Chairman of Sri Lanka Bankers Association and was a Past President of Association of Professional Bankers of Sri Lanka.

Commenting on the appointment of Mr. Bandara, Cargills Bank Chairman Ranjit Page stated: We are delighted to welcome Mr. Senarath Bandara to the Cargills family. The wealth of experience Mr. Bandara brings to Cargills Bank will be of great value to all our stakeholders as we continue towards our vision to be the most inclusive retail bank in Sri Lanka, contributing to the upliftment of all Sri Lankans and the development of the country. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to Mr. Theagarajah for his significant contribution to the bank over the past three years, and wish him well in his future endeavours.
Mental health professionals, rather than deputies, may be the right people to respond to cases involving known mental health issues, according to Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff.

Wolff's statement Friday follows the death of Damian Lamar Daniels, 30, who was the subject of four mental health-related calls before he was killed during a struggle with three Bexar County deputies Tuesday in the 11000 block of Liberty Field.

"Based on the information I have regarding the unfortunate death of Damian Lamar Daniels, I believe this incident should have never happened. Daniels did not have a criminal history, but did have mental issues," Wolff said.

READ MORE: Sheriff: Four mental health calls received for man killed by deputy

A review of the call history showed that Daniels' family called for assistance Monday, Wolff said. Deputies went to his home, found him despondent, and gave the family information on accessing a mental health warrant.

On Tuesday, deputies returned to the home following a call from the Red Cross, according to Wolff. He wrote that "a confrontation ensued that resulted in the shooting death of Daniels. The information I have is that he had a gun and the deputies were challenged."

Activists gathered Thursday outside the Sheriff's Office to protest Daniels' death. Lexi Qaiyyim, an organizer with Young Ambitous Activists, said protestors do not believe officers are equipped to handle mental health calls.

Wolff asked County Manager David Smith to review the shooting death, recommend changes in policy, and determine the additional staff that would be required to augment the Mental Health Department.

"In cases like this, with known mental health issues, it may have been better to send crises mental health professionals rather than deputies with guns and uniforms," Wolff said.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington  Sat, August 29, 2020 09:40 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c414d104 2 Entertainment Chadwick-Boseman,obituary,Black-Panther Free

Chadwick Boseman, the star of the ground-breaking superhero movie "Black Panther," has died from colon cancer, his publicist told AFP Friday.

Boseman, who was in his 40s, had not publicly discussed his condition -- which was first diagnosed in 2016 -- and continued to work on major Hollywood films.

"It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther," said a statement posted to Boseman's social media accounts.

"He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side."

Read also: Chadwick Boseman: Why 'Black Panther' needed African accent

Boseman became the first black superhero to get his own standalone film in the record-breaking Marvel franchise with 2018's "Black Panther."

The movie, set in the fictional African kingdom of Wakanda, was adored by critics and audiences, becoming the first comic book film to be nominated for best picture at the Oscars and grossing over $1 billion worldwide.

Earlier in his career, Boseman played black icons Jackie Robinson in "42" and James Brown in "Get on Up."

He recently appeared in Spike Lee's "Da 5 Bloods" and was set to appear in a sequel to "Black Panther" due in 2022.

"A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all" and filmed projects "during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy," the family's statement said.

"It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther," said a statement posted to Boseman's social media accounts. "He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side."
(Newser)  Talk about a promotional stunt gone wrong: Pepsi ran a bottle-cap lottery in the Philippines back in the 1990s that turned into such a nightmare that riots broke out, lawsuits were filed, and five people got killed. Now Bloomberg looks back on "perhaps the deadliest marketing disaster in history." On the face of it, Pepsi goofed by announcing a winning number that was far too common in the caps of designated "Number Fever" bottles. On May 25, 1992, some 600,000 people with the number "349" thought they had won a million pesosabout $68,000 today, or 50 times the average annual salary there at the timeand many rushed to claim their winnings at a Pepsi bottling factory. Pepsi tried altering the winning number, then paid off winners with nominal sums. But protests grew, as did people's anger.

story continues below

Soon Pepsi employees were being murdered and a homemade bomb bounced off a company truck, killing a schoolteacher and a 5-year-old girl. Pepsi's "349" scheme also rekindled a deeper rage over America's colonial history in the Philippines, which included interference in presidential elections and support of a brutal regime. "It's about Third World countries being exploited by multinationals," said Vicente del Fierro Jr., a preacher who signed up hundreds of people to sue Pepsi for over $400 million in America. Fierro ultimately lost his suit and a Filipino court ruled that Pepsi hadn't been negligent, the Philippine Star reported in 2006. But Pepsi's popularity fell in the Philippines and a slang term emerged: to be "349ed." It means, of course, to get conned. Click for the full Bloomberg article. (Read more Pepsi stories.)
Four Terrorists Killed in Gunfight in Indian-Administered Kashmir

Sputnik News

Shweta Sharma. Sputnik International

13:31 GMT 28.08.2020

New Delhi (Sputnik): Terror incidents have witnessed a sharp jump in Indian-administered Kashmir, with over 150 terrorists killed in encounters by security forces in the first seven months of this year. While the Indian government has said youths joining terrorism has declined "remarkably", it admitted a spike in terrorism.

Four terrorists were shot down by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Friday, security officials said.

One militant was nabbed during the operation, confirmed sources aware of the developments.

The encounter is still underway, with more militants believed to be trapped in the area.

"Terrorist Shakoor Parray Al Badr District commander and another terrorist Suhail Bhat who abducted and killed Khanmoh's Panch [elected representative leader] neutralised in today's encounter", confirmed Vijay Kumar, a senior police officer in Kashmir

The gunfight broke out between militants and the security forces when a joint team of police and army encircled a suspected spot and fired at the terrorists. The militants then retaliated.

On 21 August, for the first time, terrorists on the Indian side of Kashmir released footage from one of the deadliest attacks on the Indian Army and police in which five personnel were killed in the Baramulla district.

The violent clip showed terrorists opening fire at the security forces. It was criticised by police as an attempt to glamourise terrorism.

The issue of terrorism in Kashmir dates back to the 1990s, when Kashmiris began demanding independence. India has accused neighbour Pakistan, which also lays claims to the region, of fueling secessionism.

Terrorists have carried out around 80 attacks in Jammu and Kashmir this year, killing 26 Indian security forces, 13 civilians, and injuring over 45 members of the Indian security forces.

 Sputnik

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Egypts flagship carrier EgyptAir said in a statement on Saturday that it is offering discounts on airline tickets for a number of international destinations to encourage air travel.

On its flights from Cairo to Paris, the company is offering a 10 percent discount for business class and 35 percent for economy class when purchasing tickets before 15 September for flights up till 10 October.

The airline is also offering a 25 percent discount for flights from Cairo to Vienna when purchasing tickets until 15 September for flights up till 20 December.

Tickets for flights from Cairo to Cyprus are up to 20 percent off if bought before 15 September for travel up till 15 December.

Egypt resumed regular international flights to and from the country on 1 July after a three-month closure due to the pandemic. Foreign tourists are currently allowed entry only into the three coastal Egyptian governorates with the lowest coronavirus infection rates in the country  South Sinai, Red Sea, and Matrouh.

More cities are planned to reopen for foreign visitors in later stages.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said 10 days ago that Egypt said it will require all travelers arriving to the country to present a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) lab test result certificate for the coronavirus starting 1 September due to increasing infections in some countries.

Egypt halted all international flights on 19 March in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus, allowing its airports to operate only for domestic, freight and special repatriation flights.

Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Manar said in June that EgyptAir has racked up losses of over $3 billion and airports have achieved zero income on the back of flight suspensions in place since March.

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Guwahati/Agartala, Aug 29 : Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, Assam government is apprehending a crisis of oxygen and is trying to import it from neighbouring West Bengal and Jharkhand, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.

On the other hand, in Tripura, with a positivity rate of 21 per cent, the Covid-19 situation under the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) areas is very alarming.

Sarma said that consumption of oxygen by Covid and non-covid patients is gradually increasing in Assam since last month and currently per day oxygen requirement is 33 MT against the state's production capacity of 37.86 MT per day.

"As on Saturday 433 patients are on oxygen support. If the number of Covid and non-covid patients increased, it would be a serious challenge for the health department to manage the oxygen. If we at all manage oxygen from West Bengal and Jharkhand, it would also be a tough task to carry the oxygen in time," he told the media.

According to the Minister, Assam's Covid-19 positive cases increased to 1,01,367 with 81,070 patients recovered from the disease and 286 people succumbed to the disease.

There are 20,008 Covid-19 infected people under treatment on Saturday across the state.

Of the total of 286 deaths took place due to Covid-19 so far in Assam, 183 people died in six of the state's 33 districts -- Kamrup (Metro 64), Dibrugarh (39), Cachar (25), Tinsuikia (20), Karimganj (18) and Kamrup (Rural 17).

With the mortality rate due to coronavirus 0.28 per cent, Sarma claimed that the fatality rate of Assam is lowest in the country though it was earlier this month 0.24 per cent.

"Assam so far completed testing of 21.47 Lakh samples. With 62,606 per million tests, Assam climbed to third position in the category in India after Delhi and Andhra Pradesh," he said.

After Assam, Tripura with 10,879 Covid-19 positive cases becomes the second most affected state among the eight northeastern states. With 96 deaths due to the coronavirus, Tripura's mortality rate is 0.88 per cent against Assam's 0.28 per cent.

In Tripura, 7,232 people have recovered from the disease while 3,529 active cases were reported on Saturday night.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who also holds the Health Department, said that Covid-19 crisis in the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) areas is extremely alarming with the positivity rate of 21 per cent against the alarming ratio of 10 per cent.

Around five lakh people reside in the AMC areas.

"Of the 49 wards in the AMC, 753 coronavirus positive cases found in nine wards. To avoid the gatherings in the government offices, 50 per cent employees of group "C" and "D" employees would be allowed to attend the office per day," Deb said in locally televised speech through the television channels.

With the rise in Covid-19 cases, the Tripura government from Saturday suspended the "Neighbourhood Classes", which was started by the education department on August 20 in open spaces (outside the class rooms) with five students in each group to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the school students.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Earlier today, officials from Harrahs Hoosier Park Racing & Casino and Indiana Grand Racing & Casino presented the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Departments Mounted Patrol Unit a $50,000 contribution to aid a capital fund for a new equine facility. Following todays donation, the unit has raised nearly $200,000 towards a goal of $1 million.

The presentation took place at the IMPDs Mounted Patrol headquarters, located on the west side of Indianapolis, with remarks from Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, IMPD Chief of Police Randal Taylor, IMPD Operations Department Chief Josh Barker, IMPD Horse Patrol Sergeant Allan Whitesell, Mounted Horse Patrol Association Board President and Executive Director Chris Golightly, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino SVP and GM Mike Rich, and Harrahs Hoosier Park Racing & Casino SVP & GM Trent McIntosh.



Pictured from left to right  Indiana Grand Racing & Casino SVP and GM Mike Rich, IMPD Horse Patrol Sergeant Allan Whitesell, Harrahs Hoosier Park Racing & Casino SVP & GM Trent McIntosh, Mounted Horse Patrol Association Board President and Executive Director Chris Golightly, IMPD Chief of Police Randal Taylor, IMPD Operations Department Chief Josh Barker, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. Pictured from left to right  Indiana Grand Racing & Casino SVP and GM Mike Rich, IMPD Horse Patrol Sergeant Allan Whitesell, Harrahs Hoosier Park Racing & Casino SVP & GM Trent McIntosh, Mounted Horse Patrol Association Board President and Executive Director Chris Golightly, IMPD Chief of Police Randal Taylor, IMPD Operations Department Chief Josh Barker, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett.

Were here to keep our community safe and improve relationships, said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. There are no better ambassadors than the horses I stand in front of today. One day soon youll see a state of the art location at this site.

I want to thank Mike and Trent of Indiana Grand and Harrahs for this $50,000 contribution, added Mayor Hogsett. These officers and these animals deserve it.

The IMPD Mounted Patrol Unit currently operates out of a small barn and three small construction trailers on the former grounds of the Central State Hospital. The current facilities were not intended for long-term use. The $1 million capital fundraising project will provide a new equine facility on 20 acres on the same grounds.

When you tour the grounds, you see a new facility is needed, noted Indiana Grand Racing & Casino SVP & GM Mike Rich. Were thrilled to be able to help kickstart this campaign.

Both Harrahs Hoosier Park and Indiana Grand teams toured the IMPD Mounted Patrol Units facility in January, and met with Sergeant Whitesell and members of the board to learn more about the capital initiatives.

Our teams are passionate about finding ways to work on projects we believe are impactful to communities, said Harrahs Hoosier Park Racing & Casino SVP & GM Trent McIntosh. These equine athletes help the IMPD do their jobs every day.

(Hoosier)
The pathogenic fungus Candida auris, which first surfaced in 2009, is proving challenging to control. It is resistant to many fungicides and not easy to diagnose. Researchers from Radboud university medical center, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital (CWZ) and international colleagues have discovered that the human immune system recognizes the fungus well. The study has been able to pin-point the fungus' Achilles heel for new, effective drugs. Meanwhile, the threat posed by this emerging public health pathogen should not be underestimated.

In 2009, an unknown fungus was discovered in the infected ear of a seventy-year-old Japanese woman; this was called Candida auris. Where C. auris suddenly came from was not clear, but soon after that, different strains appeared all over the world. It turned out to be a persistent, difficult to control fungus, which was also usually resistant to fungicides.

Last year, the New York Times published an alarming article about the growing problem. The authors cited the example of a man infected with C. auris who died after 90 days at Mount Sinai Hospital. The fungus, which in the meantime had settled in the mattress, curtains, walls, telephone, basically everywhere in the hospital room, could only be removed with a lot of effort. Only after special cleaning and removal of part of the ceiling and the tile floor did the hospital control the fungus.

Reduced immunity

We started to investigate C. auris with international colleagues because there was virtually nothing known about this fungus." Mariolina Bruno of Radboud University Medical Center's Department of Internal Medicine

The research results have now been published in Nature Microbiology. The study shows that the fungus is especially dangerous for people with compromised immunity. Bruno: "A well-functioning immune system recognizes the fungus clearly and can control it well."

A careful study of the human immune response to the C auris infection demonstrated that specific components of the cell wall of the fungus play an essential role in this recognition. David Williams, East Tennessee State University: "These are unique structures that you do not encounter with other fungi. Those specific chemical structures stimulate the immune system enough to take action and clear the fungus."

Resistant to fungicides

The fact that C. auris is considered a serious and emerging infectious disease is mainly due to its resistance to many disinfectants and fungicides. People with an invasive C. auris fungal infection have thirty to sixty percent chance of dying, precisely because of the immunity of the fungus to many fungicides. Alistair Brown, University of Exeter: "Our research not only shows that these cell wall components are important for the detection by the immune system, but also that they are indispensable to the fungus. Drugs that selectively block the production and operation of these components are currently being investigated for safety and effectiveness. Perhaps one of these is the ideal candidate to tackle the fungus."

Since these cell wall components are indispensable to C. auris, the risk of resistance to such a new drug is small. In order to develop resistance, the fungus must at least remain alive so that it can gradually adapt to the new drug.

Diagnosis and monitoring

Candida auris is related to the much better-known Candida albicans, which can cause vaginal fungal infections. In the study, C. albicans has therefore served as comparison material. Bruno: "On the one hand, we see that C auris evokes a better immunity reaction than C. albicans. On the other hand, C. auris appears less pathogenic, but once in the bloodstream, both fungi are usually life-threatening."

What makes the problem even worse is that C auris is not so easy to identify. This makes it easy to confuse with other fungi, which can lead to a delay in treatment. Jacques Meis, a physician-microbiologist at the CWZ: "You should determine the fungi type on a molecular level, enabling you to immediately see which fungus you are dealing with, but not every laboratory has the facilities for that." Earlier this year, he and Paul Verweij (Radboud university medical center) called for the nation-wide monitoring of serious fungal infections to gain a better understanding of the burden of disease and mortality rates.

Global warming?

The question why C auris suddenly appeared in 2009 has still not been answered. The fungus was not found in stored patient material from previous years, so it seems to be a new or mutated fungus. Perhaps global warming plays a role, suggests American microbiologist Arturo Casadevall in TIME. Most fungi thrive at relatively low temperatures, but due to an increase in the average temperature, it is conceivable that a fungus breaks through its thermal restriction and can suddenly colonize the human body.

"An interesting point of view," says Bruno, "but without further evidence, it is as yet highly speculative. Apart from the actual origin history or 'birth' of C. auris, the article in Nature Microbiology provides information on how the interaction between humans and the fungus C. auris occurs: how the fungus stimulates the immune system, what C. auris' pharmacological Achilles heel is and what the opportunities for immunotherapy are."
MADISON, Wis.: Jacob Blake is no longer shackled to his hospital bed, as he had been following a police shooting in southeastern Wisconsin that left him paralyzed, his attorneys said Friday.

Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey shot Blake, a Black man, seven times in the back on Sunday while responding to a domestic abuse call. Protesters have filled Kenoshas streets every night since the shooting in a demonstration against police racism and brutality.

Blakes father told the Chicago Sun-Times on Thursday that he was upset to learn his son was handcuffed to his hospital bed in Milwaukee since hes paralyzed and cant go anywhere.

Blake was wanted on suspicion of felony sexual assault when he was shot. The Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office said in a statement that all hospitalized patients in police custody are restrained unless undergoing medical procedures. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers responded hell, yes, when asked during a news conference whether he was concerned about Blake being handcuffed. The governor said Blake had already paid a horrific price.

Blakes attorney in the sexual assault case said Friday that Blake was no longer in restraints. He said the arrest warrant in the sexual assault case has been vacated, although charges remain. The Milwaukee County Sheriffs Department said in a statement that Blake was no longer in custody because he has posted bond and deputies are no longer guarding him at the hospital.

Fortunately, a man who is paralyzed and fighting for his life after being shot seven times in the back, will no longer have to deal with the pain of having his ankles and wrist shackled and the traumatic stress of being under armed guard, Blakes attorneys in the shooting case, Ben Crump, Patrick Salvi and BIvory Lamarr said in a statement.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
A youth who received pellet gunshot wounds on his face during police action against Shia mourners in Srinagar's Bemina area on Saturday being treated at City's Imam Hussain Hospital.

SRINAGAR: At least 19 mourners were injured when the police fired teargas canisters and pellet shotguns to disperse a Muharram tazia procession in Srinagars Bemina area on Saturday.

The hospital sources and witnesses said that 12 of the injured were hit by pellets and that the condition of, at least, one of them who received multiple pellet entrance wounds in the face is stated to be critical.

The police burst teargas canisters to disperse the Shia mourners in Shalimar area too on the outskirts of the city later during the day.

However, a large number of mourners took to the streets in congested Gaw Kadal area of the summer capital, and amid chanting of slogans in praise of Imam Hussain began intense self-flagellation. The witnesses said that the police and other security forces watched them from a distance and did not try to interfere unlike at Bemina and Shalimar.

Imam Hussain was the grandson of Islams Prophet Muhammad, who was martyred along with 71 of his family members and companions in the Battle of Karbala (Iraq) in October 680.

The police authorities said that only mild force was used against groups of people at a couple of places after they violated restrictions in force in parts of Srinagar in view of COVID-19 and tried to take out tazia processions, ignoring the appeals of the authorities to the contrary.

On Friday, the police detained dozens of Shia mourners to foil their repeated attempts to take out a tazia procession through the streets of uptown Srinagar. The authorities at dawn on Friday imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC on areas falling under eight police stations- Batamaloo, Shaheed Gunj, Karan Nagar, Maisuma, Kothi Bagh, Shergari, Krala Khud and Ram Munshi Bagh to hold back tazia processions.

Kashmirs Divisional Commissioner, Pandurang K Pole, on Thursday night announced a complete ban on holding of such rallies in view of the spike in COVID-19 deaths and positive cases in the Valley and urged the heads of religious organizations to use their influence and make people aware of the importance of following Coronavirus related SOPs including social distancing protocol and use of face masks while commemorating martyrdom of Imam Hussain.

Several Shia religious organizations and leaders had earlier announced that no mass rallies, processions or congregations (gatherings) would be held this year to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain in view of coronavirus and appealed the devotees to follow SOPs strictly while even holding restricted majalis (mourning assemblies) in their respective areas. However, such appeals were ignored in some areas, including the central town of Budgam where the police used force to break up a large mourning procession on Wednesday.

The authorities said that curfew-like restrictions being enforced in parts of Srinagar and some other towns will be extended to more areas from Saturday midnight to hold back tazia and zuljinah procession on Sunday, the 10th day of Muharram.

In Kashmir Valley, an official ban remains in force on organizing mourning rallies and processions along select traditional routes on the 8th and 10th day of Muharram, the first month of Islamic calendar, mainly in Srinagar ever since the separatist campaign became violent way back in 1989. Only small mourning rallies and processions with certain restrictions would be permitted in the areas having sizable Shia populations.

However this year, the authorities decided to impose a blanket ban on such rallies and procession in view of COVID-19.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 14:06:59|Editor: huaxia

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KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 44 militants have been killed in northern Afghanistan's Kunduz province over the past couple of days as security forces stepped up operations in the area, said an army statement released on Saturday.

According to the statement, three local commanders of the armed group identified as Qari Abdullah alias Hijran, Mullah Khairullah nickname Qari Ahmad and Qari Hafiz were among those killed in the operations backed by warplanes in the restive Imam Sahib district.

Citing a senior army commander General Adam Khan Matin, the statement said that 37 more insurgents had been injured during the ongoing crackdown.

Taliban militants who are active in parts of Kunduz province with Kunduz city as its capital 250 km north of Kabul, have yet to make comment on the report. Enditem
India's leading DTH player, Tata Sky, is shifting a significant portion set-top box sourcing within the country. Tata Sky has partnered with Technicolor to develop set-top boxes that will be manufactured and distributed within India. The DTH (direct-to-home) operator will begin with the manufacturing of the HD set-top boxes and the Tata Sky Binge+ (Android enabled) boxes in a phased manner.

"As the world adjusts to the rapid changes emerging due to the recent effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tata Sky and Technicolor Connected Home are realigning production of a group of set-top boxes (STBs) to India by early 2021," says, Harit Nagpal, MD & CEO of Tata Sky.

Also Read: You should read this before recharging your Tata Sky, Airtel DTH conncections

Still, in early stages, the company did not share the percentage of set-top boxes that will be sourced locally. "The exact numbers and scale-up plans over time are being worked out currently," responded the company. Even the manufacturing location is currently unknown as the company says "we will be in a position to talk about the exact location in the coming days." Currently, Tata Sky set-top boxes are sourced from Vietnam and Thailand.

According to the companies involved, this shift in production and supply chain operations will streamline the manufacture and delivery of set-top boxes to consumers in India, and further strengthen the longstanding collaboration that has been in place between Technicolor and Tata Sky. There isn't any clarification on whether the locally manufactured set-top boxes will impact the pricing or not as the costing details are currently being worked out.

Also Read: Tata Sons' Rs 1,000 cr top-up takes group coronavirus fund to Rs 1,500 cr - India's biggest

"Working with Tata Sky to move set-top box production to India will better serve this important market. It is yet another example of Technicolor's best-in-class supply chain, which remains flexible and adaptable. This is especially valuable in volatile situations, such as those created by COVID-19. Our supply chain capabilities have proven to be a strategic asset as we offer multiple options to our customers. We remain committed to minimising the risk and total cost of ownership for service providers around the world," says Luis Martinez-Amago, President, Technicolor Connected Home.

Tata Sky, a joint venture between Tata Sons and TFCF Corporation (formerly known as Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc.), launched the DTH services in 2006, and since then has been one of the leading players in content distribution through Pay TV and OTT Services. As per the TRAI report of December 2019, Tata Sky has 22 million subscribers in the country.
The U.S. Court of appeals has decided on the fate of Keith Dwayne Nelson and will allow the scheduled federal execution to take place on Friday. This was the response of the CA after the execution was stopped by a lower court judge.

The judge's comment on why the execution should be delayed is that the government should get a doctor's prescription for what drugs to use in the lethal injection. Response from the higher court came after 24 hours later.

Suspect charged with rape and murder of a girl

Last Thursday, Tanya Chutkan, U.S. District Judge, claimed that federal law says that the government needs to have a prescription for the lethal injection drug called pentobarbital. It will be used for the execution of Nelson, according to AP News.

On Thursday, all the three judges in the court of appeals ordered the execution to go on as planned. One of their comments is the findings and conclusions of irreparable injure will not be considered by the CA. Three of the judges, two who were appointed by Barack Obama, were Cornelia Pillard, Robert Wilkins, and Neomi Rao who was appointed by President Donald Trump.

Also read: Attorney General Barr Says That China Is a Dangerous Country and Wants America Out

In an email sent to Associated Press, Nelson's attorney Dale Baich stated that they are reviewing options and choosing the best one for his client, cited in US News.

Keith Dwayne Nelson is only one of the five prisoners to be put to death by the federal government, and he is scheduled as the 5th in line. The place of execution will be the prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. They are part of the Trump administration's plan last year to restart death row. Before that, the last execution was dated way back in 2003, according to Fox 23.

More death sentences to be carried out this year

The sentenced convict got the death penalty after a guilty plea for the 1999 abduction, rape, and murder of the 10-year-old Pamela Butler in Kansas.

He abducted the victim when the young girl was just rollerblading in front of her residence in broad daylight. Next came the heinous acts of raping a minor girl that was followed by him strangling her with a wire cruelly, reported by Daily Independent. For this horrific crime, Nelson had been waiting on the death row for a decades now.

The decision to stop the execution of Nelson came a few hours after the execution of Lezmond Mitchell. One comment is that the government has executed more convicts during 2020 than any other year. Scheduled in September are two more death sentences with pentobarbital.

Many of the convicts scheduled death sentences were delayed while determining the drug to used on them. According to Chutkan, a prescription is needed to fulfill all requirements lawfully.

She cited the previous ruling that the drug used for death sentences still falls under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Federal executions are set to continue, according to Attorney General William Barr.

Related article: Former MI6 Chief Hints Chinese Military Might Use Huawei for Espionage

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Saturday that it has frozen four bank accounts containing Rs 46.96 crore in a probe related to Chinese apps allegedly running online betting operations in India in a racket possibly worth over Rs 1000 crore.

Raids were conducted on Friday at 15 locations spread across Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai and Pune over suspected money-laundering. The ED launched a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on the basis of a Hyderabad police FIR against two companies Dokypay Technology Pvt Ltd and Linkyun Technology Pvt Ltd among others in which the state police arrested a Chinese national, Yan Hao, and two Indians, Dhiraj Sarkar and Ankit Kapoor, earlier this month.

Yan Hao, manager of a company named Beijing Tomorrow Power Company, was allegedly organising an online betting scam. ED said on Saturday that Chinese nationals, with the help of some Indian chartered accountants, floated multiple Indian companies. Initially dummy Indian directors were used to incorporate the companies and, after some time, Chinese nationals travelled to India and took directorship in these companies. Some locals were hired and used to open bank accounts with HSBC Bank and open trade accounts with online wallets namely Paytm, Cashfree, Razorpay, etc, ED said. It added that the accused companies launch pan-Indian operations .

Detailing the modus operandi, ED said once bank accounts were opened, the internet access credentials were couriered by the Indian employees to China and major payment instructions came from the owners in China.

Accused companies floated large number of similar looking websites which were hosted through Cloudfare, US. These websites attracted gullible persons to become members and to place bets... Further, a network of agents was hired to attract new customers/members. These agents created closed Telegram and WhatsApp based groups and attracted lakhs... Referral codes were used to privately invite new members. This also helped the sponsoring member to earn commission, ED said.

Paytm and Cashfree were used to collect money and pay commission to all these agent members. Hundreds of websites were created to promote online betting under the garb of e-commerce. All websites were not activated daily. Some were activated for placing bets and the information on daily active websites was shared to members using Telegram groups, it added.

It said that two bank accounts of Dokypay saw a collection of Rs 1,268 crore, of which Rs 300 crore came via Paytm and around Rs 600 crore was transferred out via Paytm gateway. Account analysis of M/s Linkyun Technolgy revealed a similar pattern.

Large unexplained financial transactions were also seen with other Indian companies running Chinese dating apps for Indians. There is a suspicion that apart from indulging in banned activities like online betting, this network of companies with their reliance on online wallets and their lax regulatory systems could have been used for hawala transactions as well. ED is in the process of obtaining information from online wallet companies, HSBC Bank, registrar of companies, etc, ED said. HT couldnt immediately contact the Chinese firms for comment.
Lionel Messi will boycott Barcelonas first day of training on Sunday, stepping up his efforts to force a move to Manchester City.

Players are scheduled to report to the clubs training ground for coronavirus tests on what is the first day of new coach Ronald Koemans pre-season.

But Catalan radio RAC1 reported on Saturday night that Messi had informed the club he will not be attending. The move comes 24 hours after his lawyers requested talks with Barcelona and were flatly refused.

Lionel Messi has reportedly told Barcelona that he won't be turning up for training on Sunday

New Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has a big job on his hands to hold onto the club legend

After a failed attempt to instigate a peaceful solution to his stand-off with the club, Messi was always likely to go back on the offensive. However, in communicating his no-show, he is also understood to have reiterated his desire to negotiate his departure from the club with an amicable settlement.

Messi believes beginning pre-season with the rest of the squad would contradict his stance that, having sent a burofax informing the club of his intention to leave on Tuesday, he is now a free agent.

Barcelona continue to insist that notice that he wanted to leave should have been served in June and he is back under contract with a 700million release clause.

This clause is now also being disputed after Cadena Ser reported that after the 2019-20 season it was no longer applicable to Messis contract.

Manchester City may see this news as a boost to their hopes of signing the Argentinian star

That would mean Messi could unilaterally rescind his contract and a tribunal in Spain would set a transfer fee. Linked to the players astronomical wages it would still be high but nowhere near the 700m euros mark.

With or without a release clause Messi is now in open rebellion and the pressure will be on president Josep Bartomeu to sort out an increasingly embarrassing situation for the Catalan club.

But with Messi now in open rebellion, the pressure will be on president Josep Bartomeu to sort out an increasingly embarrassing situation for the Catalan club.

Messi will be fined for his no-show and those financial penalties will multiply with every day of pre- season that he stays away, further damaging the relationship between club and player. There had been a sense among the hierarchy at Barca that by seeking talks, Messi had blinked first in this stand-off.

The board felt justified in their belief that Messi overplayed his hand in exercising the fiercely-disputed clause in his contract, which the player says makes him a free agent.

Messi was hoping the issue would be resolved quickly, that Barca would be forced to permit him to enter into negotiations with City immediately.

His contract states that the club had to be notified by him if he wished to leave by June 10, to take advantage of the clause which would let him depart as a free agent. Messi argues that the date is meant to indicate the end of the season and the exceptional circumstances of the coronavirus delay mean he fulfilled those criteria by exercising it last Tuesday.

In theory, Messi could simply sign for City and wait for a FIFA panel to adjudicate on his status. However, that would be an incendiary move, which he wants to avoid. It would also recast City as a club bent on taking on footballs authorities and elite clubs, just as they appeared to be heading for more cordial relations, having won their Financial Fair Play dispute with UEFA.

More importantly, it would run the risk of City eventually being ordered to pay the massive release clause, which is a potential liability no club could afford.

In theory, Messi could reunite with Guardiola and then wait for FIFA to adjudicate on his status

Messi must hope that City and Barcelona reach a compromise transfer fee that would leave the Catalan club with their honour intact and fulfil his desire to rejoin former manager Pep Guardiola.

Barca, however, maintain they have no interest in negotiating, nor in being compensated with what they see as City cast-offs, with Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva suggested as makeweights in a swap deal. They are interested in City defender Eric Garcia but see that as independent of Messis situation.

New head coach Koeman is intent on signing Georginio Wijnaldum, Sadio Mane - though Liverpool will resist - and Lyon forward Memphis Depay.

Bartomeu, president since 2014, has survived numerous crises and seems intent on riding out this one, which last week saw fans attempt to break into the Nou Camp to express their fury with the board.

Josep Bartomeu, the under-fire Barcelona president, seems intent on riding out this crisis too

Even Bartomeus offer to resign if Messi commits to staying seemed more of a political move designed to put the onus back on the player, given the president is standing down in March anyway.

There is no upside in Catalonia to being the man who sold Messi, just a lifetime of castigation. If the situation became so unmanageable that they had to seek a compromise with City, it would require something in excess of the 200m Paris Saint-Germain paid for Neymar in 2017.

At that level, it looks unmanageable for City, given Messis wages would be around 100m a year. A near half-a-billion euros package for a 33-year-old - albeit a great one - would be an ambitious statement of intent, even from a club backed by a nation state.

City and Messis best hope is that Barca would be forced to accept that the player exercising the clause was legitimate and that they could sign him on a free, an extraordinary transfer coup which could be justified despite the wage cost. The next-best hope is that they could use the turmoil to negotiate a reduced fee of 100m.

A near half-a-billion euros package for the superstar would be an ambitious statement of intent

Now all hangs on the meeting Messi wants with the club. Bartomeu is not standing in the March presidential election. It is likely that Victor Font will win and he has promised to replace Koeman with Xavi, the former player who is a close friend of Messi.

If Barca persuade Messi that his options are limited and that it would be better to wait seven months, it is likely he will finish his career under his former team-mate at the Nou Camp. And if Messi were to indicate in any oblique way that Fonts election would persuade him to stay, the candidate would be unbeatable.

Messi showed his displeasure with Koeman by serving notice on his contract shortly after the Dutchman told Luis Suarez he wanted him to leave.

Suarez and Messi are great friends and the Uruguayan is part of the Argentinians big plan for sorting out the dysfunction at the club, which led to the humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Messi showed his displeasure with Koeman shortly after Luis Suarez was told he can leave

That plan appears to be to reunite the old gang of Messi, Neymar and Suarez, which won the treble of Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey in 2015. Messi had urged Bartomeu to re-sign Neymar a year ago before the president recruited Frenchman Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid.

The last player involved in such a fraught stand-off with Barcelona was Neymar. He forced his way out because PSG paid a 200m release clause three years ago. For Messi, no suitor is willing to do the same with a 700m bid.

For now, the Premier League waits to see if the dream of the worlds greatest player coming to these shores can ever become a reality.
BALTIMORE  A Maryland State Police trooper fatally shot a man who police said dragged the trooper more than a third of a mile after being pulled over on Interstate 95 in Elkridge early Friday morning, officials said.

The man, identified by Maryland State Police as 36-year-old Julio Cesar Moran-Ruiz of Baltimore, was weaving in and out of lanes on the highway when the state trooper initiated a traffic stop shortly after 2 a.m. near Route 100 in Elkridge, police said. Moran-Ruiz pulled his vehicle over onto the right shoulder and the trooper called for backup to conduct a routine sobriety test, police said.

Preliminary information concerning the trooper-involved fatal shooting on I-95 in Howard Co. early today is available at https://t.co/C9qUdBLtqQ

I-95 NB remains closed from Rt 100 to Balto Co line. Traffic being diverted onto Rt 100. SB I-95 remains open. #MDTraffic  MD State Police (@MDSP) August 28, 2020

The troopers asked Moran-Ruiz, whom state police identified as a Hispanic male with no identification on him at the time, to step out of the car. He was showing obvious signs of impairment, the state police wrote in a news release, and refused to step out of the vehicle.

The trooper on the drivers side attempted to reach through the car window and take the keys from the ignition but was not successful, state police said. The driver restarted the car and put it in drive with the troopers upper body still inside.

Dragged more than 2,000 feet down the interstate, the trooper shot the driver with his agency-issued pistol, state police said.

Moran-Ruiz was pronounced dead by emergency medical personnel on the scene, state police said, while the trooper was treated at Shock Trauma for his injuries. The second officer found him in the highway median, not far from where the car stopped moving, state police said.

The trooper, who was only identified as a three-year veteran, sustained injuries to his lower extremities and has already been released from Shock Trauma, said Woodrow W. Jerry Jones III, superintendent of the Maryland State Police, at a Friday morning news conference.

He and the other trooper who responded to the scene have been placed on administrative leave, Jones said. Such leave is standard whenever a trooper is involved in a shooting.

Esmeralda Mendez, 39, who said she was married to Moran-Ruiz for 16 years, told The Baltimore Sun that her husband was a good father.

He was good. He loved his kids, she said in a phone interview.

She said Moran-Ruiz, who worked in construction, had lived in Baltimore since 2002. She has lived here since 2004. The couple have three children, ages 11, 9 and 5.

Mendez said the police came to her home this morning to tell her that her husband was dead.

They only told me that he had died and that he had been shot by police. They couldnt give me more details because there is an investigation, she said.

Devin Luqman, an attorney who represents Moran-Ruizs family, said his clients are in a state of mourning.

They have already lost a family member last week due to natural causes, he said. And to have this happen right after, theyre definitely in shock.

As for the circumstances of the shooting, Luqman said, I think we are entitled to be arrested and go to court, and go to jail, and not die.

And second, I dont believe there is a policy that police officers can reach inside of a vehicle, he said. And thats very concerning.

Jones said no policy dictates whether or not troopers can reach into a car, but we certainly dont want that person back on the highway if he was driving under the influence. He said such actions are left up to the troopers autonomy and discretion.

The incident comes as supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement highlight the disproportionate killing of Black people by the police and call for an end to structural racism. In the last week alone, protests have swelled around the country to raise awareness of the police shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake, whom police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shot in the back in front of his children during an arrest.

Franca Muller Paz, a community organizer running as a Green Party candidate for Baltimore City Council in the 12th District, called Fridays incident unnecessarily tragic.

What seems to have been an apparent DUI resulted in a death sentence, and now an officer has been severely injured, Muller Paz said. This is another sign that we need to find new strategies for public safety, one that can more effectively de-escalate situations both for the lives and well being of civilians and also a police officer.

Jones said the trooper, while being dragged by the motorist, repeatedly asked him to stop the car and warned he would shoot. The driver continued to accelerate, Jones said, and the trooper fired. He did not say how many shots were fired.

Moran-Ruiz allegedly gave state troopers a false name upon being questioned, Jones said. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, state police said.

In an email, Maryland State Police spokeswoman Elena Russo said in-car camera footage captured the incident but will not be released at this time, as it is being reviewed as part of the investigation. She did not say when it was expected to be released.

By Hallie Miller, Stephanie Garcia and Phillip Jackson, The Baltimore Sun (TNS)

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By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Special Investigation Team led by ADGP ( Headquarters) Manoj Abraham probing the fire incident in Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram has revealed that as many as 25 files were partially damaged. Of which, none were important files. The team said all the files are pertaining to the government notifications to the various departments.

The probe team has begun scanning the damaged files to store safely in the e-file system. Sources said the scanning process is being recorded in a bid to avoid allegations and controversy.

The fire broke out at the protocol division of the General Administration department on Tuesday evening, which led to the gutting of several office files.

The fire occurred at a time when the working of the protocol office was under the scanner after it emerged that officials here had made lapses while dealing with diplomatic baggage destined for the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram.

The fire was first noted in one of the computers by 5 pm. Shortly after, it engulfed a portion of the office. Due to COVID-related restrictions, only two employees were present there at that time.

While the fire was doused within 15 minutes with the help of the Fire and Rescue Department, files stored in racks nearby were gutted.

The incident triggered strong reactions from opposition parties, who claimed that the fire outbreak was staged to sabotage the ongoing probe into the gold smuggling case.

Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala had said the government and the Chief Minister were trying to sabotage the probe. BJP state president K Surendran and team rushed to Secretariat alleging foul play in the incident.

The police whisked away BJP leaders, including state President K Surendran, and denied entry to Congress MLA V S Sivakumar into the Secretariat premises, while Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta ushered the media out of the premises before taking questions from them.

The incident also led to a spate of violent protests across the state by various political parties demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The preliminary evidence indicated a short circuit from an old ceiling fan appears to have led to the fire. Meanwhile, the government came with an explanation that all important files in the secretariat are kept under the e-filing system.
After serving through 5 decades, 4 hospital name changes and two comeback tours, Peggy Scott is as part of Covenant Health Plainview as the bricks that make up the hospitals walls.

In her long career, Scott was often the first voice you heard when you called or the first smiling face you saw when entering Covenant Health Plainview. However, the 76-year-old says she is ready for a more laidback chapter of her life. Scott announced retires at the end of August.

I consider Covenant Health Plainview my second home and second family. Im going to miss everyone, said Scott.

She has been a part of the Covenant Health family for 30-years, but there were a few breaks in-between.

I stared in 1974, back when the hospital was known as Central Plains Hospital, later it became Central Plains Regional, explained Scott with a laugh.

Scott started as a switch board operator after her sister-in-law, Marline Scott, who worked in the billing office, put in a good word.

Located in a small office currently across the hospitals cafeteria, Scott sat in front of a classic phone switchboard, where she removed and inserted jack plugs to connect calls throughout the hospital.

Oh I loved it, added Scott, who remembered connected calls for physicians like Dr. John and Dorothy Long, Dr. Donald Moore, Dr. Landria Smith, Dr. Norbert Bublis and Dr. Mary Bublis and more.

I loved the activity, and the calls you would get, you never knew what was coming, she added with another laugh.

However, Scott left the hospital in 1980 after her husband started Larrys Appliance and she became an office manager for the family business.

After a decade of working in the business world, Scott admitted she started to miss healthcare and landed a job as a medical assistant with optometrist Dr. Richard Morgan in 1992.

In 1995, Scott returned to Covenant Health Plainview, then known as Methodist Hospital Plainview.

Scott worked as a PBX or Private Branch Exchange phone representative.

Until 2013, Scott mostly worked in the Emergency Room and even served as a cashier.

It was a lot different. I loved the ER. You saw so much action. You wouldnt believe what I saw there, explained Scott.

Halfway through her second stint, Scott eventually moved to the front of the hospital becoming an admissions clerk.

In 2013, Scott retired for the first time, but it was brief as she returned to her admission desk a little over a year later.

However, this might be Scotts last encore at Covenant Health Plainview as she plans to spend time with her husband, visit great grandkids as well as travel and read.

Ive loved all the people Ive worked with and the patients I was able to help through the years, said Scott.

The only reason Im leaving is because of time. Im going to miss everyone.

The feeling was mutual with caregivers.

She has an amazing work ethic and everyone loves her, commented patient access manager, Jackie Carthel.

She inspires people to do better work, she trains the new caregivers, she has a wonderful sense of humor and she is great to work with. I cannot say enough good things about her.
Japan's Abe to step down as leader owing to health concerns

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:59, August 28, 2020

TOKYO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to step down from his post owing to concerns over his health, a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) source said Friday.

Scheduled to give a press conference on the matter later in the day, Abe is believed to have already announced his resignation at an LDP meeting.

The Japanese leader has been quoted as saying that his resignation is meant to have a limited impact on the ruling party and he will continue in his role until a successor is chosen.

Rumors about the Japanese premier's deteriorating health have been swirling of late and amplified by two trips to a Tokyo hospital within a week.

Abe's first admission to hospital on Aug. 17 for what was described at the time by as a "health check up" that lasted more than seven hours stoked concerns about his health.

On Aug. 24, Abe revisited the Keio University Hospital in Tokyo again to receive the results of the checkup and to receive more tests, with the second visit lasting four hours.

The same day he visited the hospital for the second time, he became Japan's longest-serving leader with the most consecutive days in office at 2,799.

If confirmed, this would be the second time Abe has left the top post due to health issues.

Abe, 65, during his first tenure as prime minister, which started in late September 2006, abruptly stepped down from his post in 2007 due to chronic ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disease.

After a landslide victory in the lower house in 2012 he returned to serve as the nation's premier and his seven year-tenure has made him Japan's longest ever serving leader.

Abe, prior to his health condition, was set to spend one more year at the helm.

Abe's presidentship of the main ruling LDP was set to run out in September 2021.

Sparking concerns about the premier's ill health, prior to the rumors mounting in public and political spheres, a weekly magazine reported that Abe vomited blood at his office on July 6.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 18:42:21|Editor: Lu Hui

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A teacher(L) greets a first grader at Taipinglu Primary School in Haidian District, Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 29, 2020. Students of senior high schools, first and third grades of junior high schools, and first grade of primary schools returned to school in Beijing on Saturday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)
She's been in lockdown for weeks with her husband and their four children at their $7.3million Melbourne mansion.

And on Friday, Rebecca Judd revealed that her cheeky six-year-old daughter Billie sneakily decided to chop off her own hair while she wasn't looking.

The 37-year-old WAG admitted she was forced to finish the job with a pair of 'herb scissors,' after Billlie was left with a 'super mullet'.

'She cut her own hair!' On Friday, Rebecca Judd revealed her six-year-daughter Billie gave herself a 'super mullet' in isolation... forcing her to finish the job with HERB SCISSORS. Billie is pictured after chopping off her locks

'Billie cut her own hair a minute before Zoom school started today,' Rebecca captioned an image she shared to Instagram of her only daughter proudly showing off her stylish new bob.

'I walked into the study and found locks of hair all over the floor. She was chuffed. I blame iso (sic),' the Postcards presenter added.

The former model then admitted she was 'forced' to cut the rest off during Billie's five-minute break with herb scissors, before she finally decided to embrace it.

Shocked: 'I walked into the study and found locks of hair all over the floor. She was chuffed. I blame iso (sic),' Bec said. Bec is pictured

Saviour! Bec also shared a picture of the herb scissors she used

'Anyway she's totalling channelling Georgia Fowler and we've decided it's a vibe,' she concluded.

In a video Rebecca later shared to her Instagram stories, she admitted she was shocked to find her sweet girl with a 'super mullet' at first.

'Everyone is saying Billie's hair looks awesome. It does now but oh my god you should have seen,' Rebecca laughed, adding she wished she'd taken a photo.

Loving it! Rebecca was inundated with messages from her celebrity friends (pictured) who loved the chop

'She just cut the front and left the back so it was super mullet,' she added.

Luckily for Rebecca, everyone loved the short choppy 'do and she was inundated with messages from her celebrity friends.

'Love it. She looks so beautiful. Giving me Kaia Gerba vibes,' said radio host Jackie 'O' Henderson, along with two love heart emojis.

Embracing it! Rebecca decided to embrace Billie's new hairstyle (left) , rather then be upset- saying she thought it had a Georgia Fowler (right) vibe

Stylish former WAG Nadia Bartel added: 'Little trendsetter! Love it Billie xx'.

'She looks beautiful,' said former Bachelor Sam Wood.

Rebecca and her husband, retired AFL star Chris Judd, share four children, son Oscar, nine, daughter Billie, six, and three-year-old twins Tom and Darcy.

Too cute: 'She just cut the front and left the back so it was super mullet,' Rebecca explained (Billie pictured before her haircut)

On Tuesday, the busy working mother admitted on her radio show, the 3pm Pick Up, that she's over the stage-four restrictions and can't wait to travel interstate for a holiday.

'If you add three weeks prior to stage four, we were already in stage three, so six weeks in and three weeks left... we're over the hump and on the home stretch!' Bec said.

She added that she's 'done' and can't wait for restrictions to be eased on September 13.

'I'm done!' Rebecca admitted on her KIIS FM radio show on Tuesday that she's over Melbourne's stage-four lockdown and can't wait to travel

'I'm done... I'm out,' Bec said.

Bec explained that she's been researching holiday destinations in Australia, tossing up the idea of Darwin, Perth, NSW, and Noosa.

Melbourne has been under stage-four lockdown since August 2, following a spike in coronavirus cases in the state of Victoria.

Residents can only leave their homes for food and essential items, daily exercise, care for others, and work if they cannot work from home.

There's also a strict curfew being enforced between 8pm and 5am. Residents can not travel more than 5km from their home for shopping and exercise.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 19:48:25|Editor: huaxia

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By Bambang Purwanto

JAKARTA, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government has again issued a policy as part of efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic by providing subsidies to workers whose salaries are under five million rupiahs (some 341.99 U.S. dollars) to raise their purchasing power.

President Joko Widodo on Thursday launched subsidies for 15.7 million workers who are registered in the public social security agency for employment (locally known as BPJS Ketenagakerjaan).

According to the president, in the first phase, the subsidies will be distributed to 2.5 million workers and the rest will be given to other formal workers in the next stages until the number reaches 15.7 million by the end of September 2020.

In the first phase, each worker will receive 1.2 million rupiahs (some 81.90 U.S. dollars) for two months or 600,000 rupiahs (about 41.04 U.S. dollars) monthly and the rest will be distributed within the next two months.

"Among the recipients of the subsidies are honorary workers including honorary teachers, honorary fire fighters, honorary hotel employees, paramedics and janitors who actively pay dues to BPJS till June 2020," the president said.

Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah said the government will ask for validated data of 2.5 million workers from BPJS Ketenagakerjaan every week before transferring 600,000 rupiahs to each worker per month as long as four months.

"Since 24 August we receive 2.5 million validated data from BPJS Ketenagakerjaan. We plan to transfer the money to at least 2.5 million workers weekly," she said.

In response to the government's subsidies, Director of the Research Center of Reforms on Economics (CORE) Indonesia Piter Abdullah said the subsidies were given to the workers whose salaries have been cut earlier due to liquidity problems experienced by the private companies.

The assistance was given by the government to help the workers live a proper life amid the pandemic, Abdullah told Republika daily.

"As a whole, I predict that the subsidies cannot cover their salaries which have been cut. In addition, the assistance was expected to help private companies not layoff their workers," he said.

Meanwhile, Setia Mulyawan, an economic observer with the Sunan Gunung Jati University in West Java province's capital of Bandung said the government's subsidies for the workers could be a stimulus to boost the economy.

Mulyawan regretted that this program was only intended for workers in the private sector as there are also many employees who work in the government institutions, who should also need attention.

"In the future, I suggest that the government extend the program to employees who have been serving the country and the people although they are not the holders of the status as state civil apparatus. Their wages are even smaller than salaries of workers in private companies," he said.

In efforts to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, the Indonesian government has taken several measures including establishment of the National Committee on the COVID-19 Mitigation and Economic Recovery, issuance of policies on economic stimulus packages, partial lockdowns and the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Despite those measures, the number of cases and the death tally due to the lethal disease in Indonesia continue to increase.

On Saturday, the Health Ministry reported that the COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 3,308 within one day to 169,195, with the death toll adding by 92 to 7,261. Enditem
OTTAWAConservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay is apologizing for thoughtlessly spreading material about Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland from a source she said she later discovered traffics in hateful conspiracy theories.

The Conservatives environment critic retweeted a video of Freeland interviewing billionaire George Soros when she was a journalist with the Financial Times in 2009 and commented that their closeness should alarm every Canadian.

The edited two-minute clip shows Soros advocating for then-U.S. president Barack Obama to bring China into what the financier describes as a new world order, a financial world order.

Soros, who is Jewish, is a frequent bogeyman of conspiracy theories from far-right figures in the U.S., his native Hungary and beyond.

In a post Saturday morning, Findlay wrote that Freeland listened carefully to Soros like student to teacher.

Findlay deleted the retweet Saturday afternoon and apologized, saying she never meant to endorse what she called hateful rhetoric.

I thoughtlessly shared content from what I am now learning is a source that promotes hateful conspiracy theories. I have removed the tweets and apologize, Findlay wrote.

The U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy organization, says in a 2018 blog post that Soros has become a lightning rod for conservative and right-wing groups who object to his funding of liberal causes.

In far-right circles worldwide, Soros philanthropy often is recast as fodder for outsized conspiracy theories, including claims that he masterminds specific global plots or manipulates particular events to further his goals, the ADLs post reads.

Many of those conspiracy theories employ long-standing anti-Semitic myths, particularly the notion that rich and powerful Jews work behind the scenes, plotting to control countries and manipulate global events.

Newly minted Conservative Leader Erin OToole did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.
A SERIOUS accident close to a popular stables has stoked urgent calls for speed limits to be reduced.

On the 22nd June Elisha Padbury was riding her 20-year-old horse Tommy on Featherbed Lane in Wilmcote, very close to the entrance of Featherbed Stables, when she was hit by a car.

Elisha,16, managed to escape serious injury in the collision, but Tommy was not so lucky and it remains to be seen whether he will ever be able to be ridden again.

The crash has prompted Elishas mum Tara to launch an online petition calling on the speed limit of Featherbed Lane to be dropped from 50mph to 30mph.

More than 1,750 have already signed the petition and Tara hopes Warwickshire County Council will sit up and take action.

Tara and Elisha have also been placing signs around Wilmcote urging motorists to watch their speed.

Stratford North county councillor Dominic Skinner, is supporting the family's efforts to lower the speed limit and is also calling for a wider review across the town.

Cllr Skinner said: The Government are encouraging people to walk and cycle more, which is a really positive thing, but unfortunately the roads are not safe enough.

Ive been speaking to Tara about Featherbed Lane for some weeks now. The horse was quite badly injured, but this incident could have been far, far worse.

I know it is a dangerous road, people do speed. I went over to visit the stables with Tara and you have all these children taking part in a fun outdoor activity, exactly the kind of thing we should be encouraging, yet theyve got this really dangerous road right on their doorstep.

I know that getting speed limits lowered is one of the hardest things you can do, it feels like it would be easier to climb Everest sometimes, but if we can get some support behind this hopefully we can push for change.

All this got me thinking about roads in Stratford as a whole, I know that there is the national 20 is Plenty campaign ongoing at the moment and I think we should certainly look into changing the speed limits on other roads in the town. The recent lowering of the town centre speed limits to 20mph was probably the only thing about the scheme that people actually agreed upon.

Im realistic, Im not calling for every road in Stratford to be made 20mph, but there are lots of high density residential areas where in my opinion we should be looking to make changes, Clopton Road, Welcombe Road, Masons Road, Bishopton, Justins Avenue for example. When my kids were young I couldnt have them outside on Oakley Road because it was too dangerous.

Tara said: Tommy is an amazing horse, he kept Elisha on and took the whole brunt of it himself.

The vets have been treating him and hes on painkillers every day, they think the crash might have misaligned his pelvis. We just dont know at the moment whether he will ever be ridden again.

I feel so strongly about this because I could easily have got a call to say Elisha was dead in the road, its whats is going to happen if something is not done about this road. There is going to be a fatality on that road and its not just horse riders that are in danger, its pedestrians, runners and cyclists too.

Elisha added: It was very scary when it happened and its very upsetting. Me and my friends hack on that stretch of road quite often and a lot of drivers go too fast, we try to get them to slow down, but a lot of the time we just get ignored.

This has knocked my confidence a bit and that of other people at the stables. This shouldnt happen, when riders tell cars to slow down to or be careful, were not doing it to be annoying, we know our horses, we know how they react."

To view Tara and Elishas petition to lower the speed limit on Featherbed Lane, visit change.org and search for HELP REDUCE SPEED LIMITS ON ROADS FOR HORSE AND RIDERS.
The UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Friday cutting the force in southern and expanding its mandate to address US and Israeli concerns about activities of the militant group Hezbollah in the area.

The French-drafted resolution reduced the troop ceiling for the force, known as UNIFIL, from 15,000 to 13,000 under US pressure. And it also made another concession to the Trump administration and close ally Israel.

It calls on the Lebanese government to facilitate prompt and full access to sites requested by UN peacekeepers for investigation, including tunnels crossing the UN-drawn Blue Line between and Israel. And it urges freedom of movement and unimpeded access for peacekeepers to all parts of the Blue Line, and condemns in the strongest terms all attempts to restrict UN troop movements and attacks on mission personnel.

Israel has repeatedly accused Hezbollah, which is backed by its greatest foe Iran, of impeding UNIFIL peacekeepers from carrying out their mandate, a view strongly backed by the Trump administration.

In 2019, Israel destroyed a series of what it said were attack tunnels, dug under the border by Hezbollah. The militant group battled Israel to a stalemate in a month-long war in 2006.

The resolution gives the United States a symbolic victory, but it almost certainly will also be welcomed by many countries that view UNIFIL as critical to maintaining peace in the volatile region and strongly support its current mandate which is largely maintained for another year.

Today we halt a long period of Council complacency on UNIFIL and the growing and destabilizing influence of Iran and its client, the terrorist organization Hezbollah, US Ambassador Kelly Craft said in a statement after the vote.

The Trump Administration is deeply concerned these last years about UNIFIL's overall inability to contain the Hezbollah menace.

We are not going to allow this to stand, she said. The Council must join us in confronting this. Kraft urged the UN with seize the tools" in the resolution and that Lebanon's government will redouble efforts to ensure that UNIFIL can discharge its mandate.

If, however, today's action does not trigger necessary improvements, including improved access for UNIFIL and steps to diminish the vast and growing Hezbollah arsenal of weapons, council members must be prepared to take further action when the mandate comes up for renewal next year," she warned.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15 members of the council voted by email, with a 3 p.m. EDT Friday deadline. Soon after, the Security Council president, Indonesia's UN Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, sent a letter to council members, obtained by The Associated Press, saying the draft resolution received 15 votes in favor...(and) has been adopted as resolution 2539."



Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote to the council on July 29 recommending a 12-month renewal of UNIFIL's mandate, stressing the importance of maintaining high troop strength.

While the resolution reduces the troop ceiling from 15,000 to 13,000, it will not require any cuts in the current peacekeeping force. That's because UNIFIL's current strength is about 10,250 troops, well below the ceiling.

Craft, the US envoy, called the reduction an important step toward right-sizing a mission that has for years been over-resourced given the limits on its freedom of movement and access."



UNIFIL was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern after a 1978 invasion. The mission was expanded after a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah militants so that peacekeepers could deploy along the Lebanon-Israel border to help Lebanese troops extend their authority into their country's south for the first time in decades.

Israel's former ambassador Danny Danon said in May that Israel would insist that peacekeepers have access to all sites, that they have freedom of movement, and that any time they are being blocked the Security Council must be immediately informed.

US Ambassador Kelly Craft tweeted at the time that UNIFIL has been prevented from fulfilling its mandate and Hezbollah has been able to arm itself and expand operations, putting the Lebanese people at risk.

The resolution recognizes that UNIFIL has successfully implemented its mandate since 2006 and has allowed for maintaining peace and security since then, and therefore the Security Council authorizes the reduction of the troop ceiling from 15,000 to 13,000.

The council states in the resolution that the force strength can be increased in the future in the event of a degraded security situation.

According to UNIFIL, it currently has about 10,250 troops including more than 9,400 ground troops and over 850 naval personnel assigned to its Maritime Task Force.

In addition, the mission has about 900 civilian staff, both and national.

The resolution affirms the Security Council's strong continuing commitment to the existing UNIFIL mandate. And it reaffirms the necessity for Lebanon's armed forces to deploy in southern Lebanon and its territorial water at an accelerated pace to implement a key mandate provision.

It asks secretary-general Guterres to present the first elements of a plan to improve UNIFIL's efficiency and effectiveness within 60 days.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
mark zuckerberg facebook kenosha shooting jacob blake

Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before the House Financial Services Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill Oct. 23, 2019 in Washington, DC. Credit - Chip SomodevillaGetty Images

In a video posted to Facebook on Friday, Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said that the social media giant made a mistake by not removing a page and event that urged people in Kenosha, Wis., to carry weapons amid protests. On Tuesday night, a 17-year-old named Kyle Rittenhouse allegedly fatally shot two people and injured a third.

Zuckerberg admitted that a bunch of people had reported the page and said the decision to not remove it was largely an operational mistake.

The contractors, the reviewers who the initial complaints were funneled to, didnt, basically, didnt pick this up, Zuckerberg said in the Friday video, which was taken from a larger company-wide meeting. And on second review, doing it more sensitively, the team thats responsible for dangerous organizations recognized that this violated the policies and we took it down.

Protests first began in Kenosha earlier this week after video emerged of police shooting Jacob Blakea 29-year-old unarmed Black manseveral times in the back on Sunday. Blakes attorney tweeted on Tuesday that hes currently paralyzed from the waist down. Demonstrations swiftly swept the city, as protesters demanded justice for Blake and other victims of police brutality across the U.S. The officers involved were put on administrative leave.

On Tuesday morning, a page run by a group called Kenosha Guard asked if any followers would be willing to take up arms and defend the city against evil thugs, according to an analysis from the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab. (The Kenosha Guard page has since been taken down.) The group also posted a since-deleted event titled Armed Citizens to Protect Our Lives and Property, which resulted in at least 300 RSVPs and 2,300 more people responding interested, per the Atlantic Councils analysis. Buzzfeed News reports that the event was flagged to Facebook at least 455 times after it was posted.

Story continues

Both the page and event were eventually taken down by Facebook that night after the deadly shootings, per the Washington Post. Rittenhouse was arrested in Antioch, Ill., which is around 15 miles from Kenosha on Wednesday and charged with first-degree intentional homicide.

In his video posted on Friday, Zuckerberg said Facebooks investigation of the incident has not found any evidence that the shooter was following this Kenosha Guard page, or was connected to the event or invited to the event in any way.

But Zuckerberg said that, regardless, the Kenosha Guard page and event violated Facebooks new policy against militia organizations that was launched several weeks ago. He said Facebook is now working to remove all content praising Tuesdays shooting or shooter, and has designated the shooting as a mass murder. He also said the social media company had suspended the shooters Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The Plainview City Council will consider a maximum tax rate of $0.8418 per $100 valuation as the budgeting process for the 2020-2021 fiscal year continues.

The Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday night to consider that rate. Councilmembers Susan Blackerby and Larry Williams voted against and Norma Juarez was absent.

The proposed tax rate remains unchanged from last year.

As the Council prepared for that vote Tuesday night, Councilman Larry Williams proposed an amendment to consider a tax rate of $0.8566 per $100 valuation after a motion and second had already been accepted for the lower proposed rate. The $0.8566 per $100 valuation is considered the maximum rate that could be adopted without it being considered a property tax increase.

During discussions as the Council mulled it over in a work session last week, it was noted that the higher rate would offset the loss of $20 million in assessed property valuations from the previous year resulting in approximately $165,000 less in tax revenue to support City operations.

But Williams amendment failed. The Council accepted the $0.8418 as the maximum tax rate with a roll call vote.

The proposed tax rate of $0.8418 is less than the no-new revenue tax rate (previously known as the effective tax rate) of $0.9215 and the voter-approved tax rate (previously known as the rollback rate) of $0.9335. The names of the tax rates are different as a result of Senate Bill 2. City Manager Jeffrey Snyder noted to the Council that the no-new revenue tax rate is considered the benchmark tax rate needed to raise the same amount of property tax revenue for maintenance and operations on existing property as the previous year, after taking into account changes in appraised values.

He also noted that the calculation of the rollback rate has changed.

There will be a public hearing before adopting the budget and property tax rate on Sept. 8. The City Council will take action to adopt the budget and tax rate on Sept. 22 following a public hearing and final reading.

Prior to voting on the proposed tax rate, the Council approved a block consent calendar item, which included accepting right-of-way and utility easements on 24th St. moving the city another step closer to starting construction on the 24th Street project. The Council also voted to allow Mayor Wendell Dunlap and Snyder to sign audit engagement letters with Eide Bailly LLP for the citys and the community development business park audits and for procedures for financial assurance for the landfall for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30.

The Council went into executive session following the tax rate vote and closed its meeting upon members return and unanimous vote to appoint Carolyn Baker to the Civil Service Commission.
The indictment alleges bank employees conspired with Kowalski and higher-ranking bank officials to transfer and conceal at least $29 million distributed to Kowalski and others who were not named. The indictment renews bankruptcy fraud charges against Kowalski and his sister, Jan Kowalski, and adds charges against him for allegedly filing false income tax returns.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 12:15:51|Editor: huaxia

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Rescuers work at the scene of a helicopter crash in Lagos, Nigeria, Aug. 28, 2020. Two people were killed and another injured in a helicopter crash in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub, on Friday, said Gboyega Akosile, a spokesperson to the governor of Lagos state. Nigerian authorities said they have launched an investigation into the crash. (Photo by Tope Ayoku/Xinhua)
Military cargoes are delivered from Russia to Armenia, and this seriously worries the Azerbaijani side, the aide to the President of Azerbaijan, head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev said.

He noted that Azerbaijan is clarifying the grounds of Armenias intensive armament. "During the events in Tovuz, Armenia demonstrated its continuing aggressive policy. We are not satisfied with the answer that allegedly construction materials are transported by air. They can be supplied in other ways," Trend quotes Hajiyev as saying.
The Sea-Watch 4 rescue ship leaves the port of Burriana on August 15, 2020, following maintenance.  JOSE JORDAN / STR / AFP

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the International Organization of Migration (IOM) are calling for the immediate disembarkation of more than 400 rescued migrants and refugees currently on board three vessels in the Central Mediterranean.

A group of some 27 migrants and refugees, including pregnant woman and children who departed from Libya have been on board the commercial vessel Maersk Etienne for an unacceptable three-week period since their rescue on 5 August. A solution must be found, and the vessel provided with a safe port for disembarkation.

A commercial tanker cannot be considered a suitable place to keep people in need of humanitarian assistance or those who may need international protection. Appropriate COVID-19 prevention measures can be implemented once they reach dry land.

More than 200 other rescued refugees and migrants are in urgent need of transfer and disembarkation from the NGO search and rescue vessel Louise Michel, which is currently far beyond its safe carrying capacity, after having intervened in a rescue early this morning. Any delays could jeopardize the safety of all people onboard, including its crew members.

A further 200 rescued people on the Sea Watch 4 NGO vessel and should also be promptly provided with a safe port.

The humanitarian imperative of saving lives should not be penalized or stigmatized, especially in the absence of dedicated state-led efforts.

The lack of agreement on a regional disembarkation mechanism, long called for by UNHCR and IOM, is not an excuse to deny vulnerable people a port of safety and the assistance they need, as required under international law. Stalled discussion around such a proposal should urgently be revived, especially amid repeated stand-offs delaying disembarkation. Clarity and predictability are in the immediate and long-term interest of all.

It is crucial that other EU Member States provide more support to countries at the forefront of receiving sea arrivals in the Mediterranean.

Meaningful solidarity should be expressed through the pledging and implementation of relocation places as well as support for accelerated processing, in line with international standards, to identify persons in need of international protection and those in need of other forms of protection like unaccompanied children and victims of trafficking. It is also important to enable swift returns for those who wish to go back to their countries of origin and for those who are found not in need of international or other forms of protection.

UNHCR and IOM are deeply concerned about the continued absence of dedicated EU-led search and rescue capacity in the Central Mediterranean. With relatively fewer NGO vessels compared to previous years, the gap is being increasingly filled by commercial vessels. It is vital that they are permitted to disembark rescued passengers promptly, as without such timely processes, shipmasters of commercial vessels may be deterred from attending to distress calls for fear of being stranded at sea for weeks on end.

For more information on this topic, please contact:

UNHCR

IOM
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 19:21:41|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that his country deems Alexander Lukashenko the legitimate president of Belarus.

"We recognize the legitimacy of the presidential elections in Belarus. And as you know, I have congratulated Alexander Lukashenko on his victory," Putin said in a televised interview.

He recalled that Belarus had invited the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the elections, though they did not come.

"This immediately makes us think that, in fact, a position on the results of the elections had already been formulated," he said.

The Russian leader said that he "has every reason" to doubt the honesty of those who object to the results of the Belarusian elections.

Belarus has been witnessing mass protests after incumbent president Lukashenko won a sixth term in the Aug. 9 elections, with the opposition refusing to recognize the results.

The European Union does not recognize the results either and has threatened to impose sanctions on individuals responsible for violence, repression and election fraud. Enditem
Dead dolphins found in Mauritius near the site of an oil spill have wounds on their bodies but no trace of oil, says the autopsy report that came out on August 27. Reports by international media suggest that environmentalists are seeking an explanation for the mysterious deaths of 27 dolphins. Media reports suggest that more dolphins were also spotted near the shore and appeared distressed. The heartbreaking incident took place on a Mauritius coast where a Japanese oil tanker crashed last month, spilling over 1,000 tons of fuel.

Autopsy reports suggest no traces of hydrocarbon

The autopsy has been performed only on 2 dolphins as of now, suggests reports by international media. The autopsy report said that the animals have no traces of hydrocarbon in their respiratory system, skin, throat and stomach. Jasvin Sok Appadu from the fisheries ministry reportedly said that the autopsy will be carried out on other dolphins as well.

Read: Mauritius Oil Spill: Dead Dolphins Wash Up On Shore, More Appear To Be In Distress

Sunil Dowarkasing, a former Mauritian member of parliament, while talking to the press said that "it is a terrible day" as he has never experienced or seen anything like this, adding that dolphins were coming up to the shore in distress and then dying. Dowarkasing said that there may be more dead dolphins at the sea. He further suggested two possibilities behind the unfortunate deaths of the dolphins. He said that either the oil spill or the toxic materials that may have been released from the bow of the ship that was towed out to sea and sunk after the vessel broke into two pieces could have caused the mammals to die.

Read: Video Shows Dolphins Watching Squirrels Frolic, Netizens Wonder If They Are Bored

According to earlier reports, MV Wakashio, a Japanese ship owned by Nagashiki Shipping rammed into a reef off the coast of Mauritius on July 25. The ship was carrying about 3,800 tons of very low sulfur fuel oil and 200 tons of diesel oil from China to Brazil when it broke down near the island. The ship had three oil tanks and one of which is reported to have already started leaking before the vessel split into two pieces on August 15.

Read: Mauritius Oil Spill: Crew Set To Sink Ship Despite Opposition From Environmentalists

Also Read: Japanese Relief Team Leaves For Mauritius

(Image Credits: AP)
BEIJING, Aug. 28 -- China urges the US to immediately stop provocations, strictly manage and control its maritime and air military operations, strictly restrain the behaviors of its front-line naval and air forces, so as to avoid any contingency, said Senior Colonel Li Huamin, spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), in a written statement on Friday.

Snr. Col. Li said that a US guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin trespassed into the Chinese territorial waters off the Xisha Islands without permission on August 27. In response, the PLA Southern Theater Command organized its naval and air forces to conduct whole-process monitoring and verification on the US warship and warned it away.

Li pointed out that in disregard of the rules of international law, the US has repeatedly provoked troubles in the South China Sea and asserted its navigation hegemony in the name of "freedom of navigation" , which has seriously undermined China's sovereignty and security interests, as well as the international navigation order in the South China Sea.

Li stressed that China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and the adjacent waters, adding that the troops of the PLA Southern Theater Command will always stay on high alert and resolutely safeguard Chinas sovereignty and security and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea.
In the summer of 2016, two White House staffers  Brian Mosteller and Joe Mahshie  tied the knot in a rite led by one of Americas most prominent Catholics.

The officiant was Vice President Joe Biden, who later proclaimed on Twitter: Proud to marry Brian and Joe at my house. Couldnt be happier ... two great guys.

Leaders of familiar Catholic armies then debated whether Bidens actions attacked this Catholic Catechism teaching: The marriage covenant, by which a man and a woman form with each other an intimate communion of life and love, has been founded and endowed with its own special laws by the Creator. ... Christ the Lord raised marriage between the baptized to the dignity of a sacrament.

Conflicts between bishops, clergy and laity will loom in the background as Biden seeks to become Americas second Catholic president. Combatants will be returning to territory explored in a famous 1984 address by the late Gov. Mario Cuomo, of New York, entitled Religious Belief and Public Morality.

Speaking at the University of Notre Dame, he said: As a Catholic, I have accepted certain answers as the right ones for myself and my family, and because I have, they have influenced me in special ways  as Matildas husband, as a father of five children, as a son who stood next to his own fathers deathbed, trying to decide if the tubes and needles no longer served a purpose.

As a governor, however, I am involved in defining policies that determine other peoples rights in these same areas of life and death. Abortion is one of these issues, and while it is one issue among many, it is one of the most controversial and affects me in a special way as a Catholic public official.

It would be wrong to make abortion policies the exclusive litmus test of Catholic loyalty, he said. After all, the Catholic church has come of age in America and its time for bishops to recognize that Catholic politicians have to be realistic negotiators in a pluralistic land.

Cuomo also noted polls indicating American Catholics support the right to abortion in equal proportion to the rest of the population. ... We Catholics apparently believe  and perhaps act  little differently from those who dont share our commitment. Are we asking government to make criminal what we believe to be sinful because we ourselves cant stop committing the sin?

Decades later, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo offered a blunt take on his fathers logic while defending the 2019 Reproductive Health Act, legislation the New York State Catholic Conference called tragic and horrendous.

As a Roman Catholic, I am intimately familiar with the strongly held views of the church, he wrote in The New York Times. Still, I do not believe that religious values should drive political positions. ... Only by separating constitutional duties from religious beliefs can we have a country that allows all people the ability to pursue their own theological and moral principles.

The problem with these important Catholic debates is the crucial issue isnt whether Catholic politicians can be active participants in efforts to negotiate centrist policies on controversial issues, said philosopher Francis Beckwith, who also teaches Church-State Studies at Baylor University.

At Notre Dame, Mario Cuomo correctly noted Catholic politicians have to take into consideration what citizens believe and how they act. However, its something else when Catholics choose to act on these matters and work to support political movements and legislation that completely undercut church teachings, said Beckwith, who made news in 2007 when he returned to Catholicism while serving as president of the Evangelical Theological Society.

Debates about Bidens Catholic identity and practice, he added, will almost certainly focus on his actions  more than his words.

If you read the Notre Dame speech closely, Cuomo is saying he believes church teachings are true, but that, in public life, we need to cooperate with people who have other beliefs. I dont think thats what Biden is saying. When he performed a same-sex marriage, he was saying  with his actions  that this rite was good and that the churchs teachings are wrong. At that point, it would appear that Catholics are perfectly free to oppose whatever church teachings they reject.

Mattingly leads GetReligion.org and lives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He is a senior fellow at the Overby Center at the University of Mississippi.

Mattingly leads GetReligion.org and lives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He is a senior fellow at the Overby Center at the University of Mississippi.
Donal Ryan specialises in excavating rural and small-town Ireland, uncovering his characters' particularities - their alienation and urge to belong, their capacity for self-deception and love - in piercing, lyrical prose. His 2018 novel From a Low and Quiet Sea is partly the story of a Syrian refugee, and the theme of exile is also central to Strange Flowers.

A quiet epic, the novel opens with the heartbreak of Paddy and Kit Gladney, who can't understand the sudden disappearance of their 20-year-old daughter, Moll.

It's 1973 and Moll was last seen boarding a Dublin train with a suitcase. In their Tipperary village, the Gladneys attract sympathy and gossip.

"Moll Gladney was either pregnant or dead," locals think, "and it was hard to know which one of those was worse."

Five years later, Moll returns from London, followed by her husband, Alexander, who is black, and their son, Josh who is, bizarrely, white. At first Alexander experiences overt racism: stares, whispers, mockery, abuse. Eventually this becomes less overt. "There was a choice of foreigners to be looked at and wondered about all of a sudden."

Paddy and Kit grow to love Alexander and the intergenerational family live together in a cottage belonging to the Jackmans - wealthy landowners and Paddy's employers. Strange Flowers is a novel of parallels and recurrences; Josh's childhood is tragically interrupted and later, as a young man, he also disappears.

Ryan is excellent at dealing with the passage of time; key scenes unfold slowly, years are covered in a few sentences. The effect of this is subtle but consistent, a reminder that individual lives are rich and transient. Like John McGahern's That They May Face the Rising Sun, the novel captures the steadiness and flux of life in rural Ireland - the stories in between the silences, the coexistence of beauty and violence, kindness and cruelty.

Multiple points of view are included. Interestingly, Moll remains elusive - less a fully embodied woman than a catalyst for the transformation of those around her. Ryan is particularly discerning when he is inside the heads of Paddy and Kit, who allow him to expose the class and power systems at play in the village. Paddy's servility, though difficult to accept, is entirely plausible. He has never had secure tenancy. He doesn't own the land he works. He is dependent on the Jackmans' goodwill. In a memorable scene, Andrew Jackman, heir to the family fortune, brutally insults Paddy, who is left feeling "ancient and ruined and spiritless and dead."

Despite his lack of agency, Paddy is endearing; instinctively selfless and keenly observational. Evocative descriptions of place reflect his connection to the land and reverence for nature; he regrets having to break a spider web. When Moll comes back from London. she smokes cigarettes at home and Paddy smokes with her even though he is not a smoker: "lovely, foolish Paddy," Kit says, "always doing his damnedest to ease the way of others."

More self-assured, Alexander shares Paddy's big-heartedness. It's a significant decision for a white author to write from the point of view of a black character and Ryan is careful to show how Alexander is othered, even by Kit who, years after meeting him, still dwells on his appearance and skin colour. His initial isolation is acute.

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"His blackness here was as remarkable as his son's whiteness had been in Notting Hill, and all the pain of difference now was his, and this was how it had to be."

While Alexander's perspective on his adopted country - wry, bemused, ultimately fond - is part of Strange Flowers' appeal, Josh's whiteness - not impossible but highly improbable - is a stumbling block. When he and Kit first see Josh, Paddy refers to "the perfect, unblemished whiteness of this strange flower". But Ryan doesn't really use Josh's whiteness to elaborate on the novel's themes; instead it's a distraction, foregrounded without being fully worked in.

Each chapter is named after a book in the Bible. Many of the characters' lives are underpinned by faith and a sense of fate. Fervent Christians, Alexander's parents are less conservative than Paddy and Kit, not caring that their son gets married in a Catholic church. "Any place that God was loved and feared was fine by them."

It's refreshing to see such robust depictions of good fathers - Paddy, Alexander, Alexander's father, Alexander's friend who is both a real and surrogate father.

Ryan's prose is as beautiful and haunting as ever. He is not didactic, but inherent in the novel is a message about the importance of compassion and love, be it romantic, sexual, platonic, maternal, paternal or filial. Josh - an aspiring author - does actually write a parable which is included in fragments and, like the book's early chapters, is the story of a father's enduring love for a prodigal child who goes into voluntary exile.

In rethinking the parable of the prodigal son, in looking at what happens when a prodigal returns, Ryan creates an expansive and thought-provoking story that is timeless and fresh. It may begin in the 1970s, but Strange Flowers holds a mirror up to racism in Ireland today.
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A detailed analysis report of the Global Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles Market has been covered in the report coupled with a thorough description of each company profile with information on the H.Q, future capabilities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial outline, partnerships and new product launches and developments.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 20:54:06|Editor: huaxia

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TAIPEI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Showcasing landscapes and cultural attractions and offering carefully tailored travel packages, travel agencies are actively promoting cross-Strait sightseeing at the Taipei Tourism Expo, though the COVID-19 epidemic is holding back their business.

The mainland-based Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Strait has hosted a 135-square-meter pavilion at the Taipei Tourism Expo, which opened Friday and will last for four days.

Visitors are provided detailed tourism information including brochures of tailored sightseeing routes and city tours as well as the latest travel guides and promotional packages from mainland airlines.

"Although people in Taiwan cannot visit the mainland as easily as before the COVID-19 epidemic due to quarantine measures, we would like them to have a taste of the mainland's charm at the expo. When they can travel as the epidemic eases, the mainland will be their first choice," said Ren Jiayan, director of the association's Taipei office.

Compared with tourists from other parts of the world, Taiwan tourists are more familiar with the mainland, particularly the more developed eastern region, Ren said, adding that the association and travel agencies are now showcasing tourist sites in the northwest and southwest, such as Xinjiang, Tibet and Sichuan.

Several local travel agencies have joined the association to promote their mainland travel packages at the expo.

Golden Team Travel has offered travel packages to 55 world heritage sites on the mainland over the past few years.

"Some young people in Taiwan have stereotypes about the mainland. Many of them never visit or have only been to Beijing and Shanghai. We consider them potential customers," said Eric Wei, assistant manager with the travel agency. "They think the mainland is so similar to Taiwan that it is not worth visiting, but we will show them how diverse the mainland is."

Although cross-Strait travel was halted by the COVID-19 epidemic, the company continued marketing via social media and has received positive feedback, Wei said.

Taipei-based Yang Tze International Travel Service has worked with more than 20 mainland travel agencies to organize bicycle tour packages on the mainland.

"There are many bike lovers in Taiwan and they have tried almost all cycle routes on the island," said Edwina Wan, the agency's president. "With its diverse landscapes, the mainland will be a treasure for them to explore."

The travel agency has worked out five to six cycle routes across the mainland over the past two years.

"Despite the epidemic, we are marketing the bicycle tour packages as planned. I have great confidence in the mainland market," she said. Enditem
Donald Trump has angrily hit out at his niece Mary, weeks after she published a book providing a devastating portrait of the president as a psychologically-damaged liar and cheat.

Mary Trump's book, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man, refers to her uncle as a "monster" who was bullied by his own father, who paid a classmate to take his exams for him, and who never recovered from being humiliated as a child.

On Saturday morning, while flying to Louisiana to inspect damage caused by Hurricane Laura, the president tweeted: "About the only way a person is able to write a book on me is if they agree that it will contain as much bad "stuff" as possible, much of which is lies. It's like getting a job with CNN or MSDNC and saying that "President Trump is great." You have ZERO chance. FAKE NEWS!

"Even whether it's dumb warmongers like John Bolton, social pretenders like Bob Woodward, who never has anything good to say, or an unstable niece, who was now rightfully shunned, scorned and mocked her entire life, and never even liked by her own very kind & caring grandfather!"

The vicious broadside against his niece appears to tally with behaviours attributed to the president by Ms Trump, a clinical psychologist. She claims that he has never recovered from the humiliation of having mashed potatoes dumped on his head by his older brother as a child.

She writes: "It was the first time Donald had been humiliated by someone he even then believed to be beneath him. He hadn't understood that humiliation was a weapon that could be wielded by only one person in a fight.

"From then on, he would never allow himself to feel that feeling again. From them on, he would wield the weapon, never be at the sharp end of it."

Ms Trump describes her uncle as a narcissist for whom "nothing is ever enough" in a book which was published in July despite efforts by the White House to block it. It sold almost a million copies on its first day.

She says the future-president learned to be cruel and ruthless by watching his older brother Fred Jr  Mary Trump's father  driven to alcoholism and an early death by the demands of their father,

In August Ms Trump followed up by releasing audio of Maryanne Trump Barry  her aunt and Donald Trump's sister  in which she accuses him of being cruel and a liar.

Her book was the latest in a series of excoriating memoirs either written by people close to the president  like John Bolton, Omarosa Manigault Newman and the as-yet-unidentified "Anonymous"  or quoting them extensively, including works by Bob Woodward and Michael Wolff.

These have portrayed him as incompetent, interested only in his own re-election, paranoid and cruel.
United Arab Emirates president Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed issued a decree on Saturday abolishing the 1972 Israel boycott law, which banned any commercial and finance contacts with Israel.

Why it matters: The announcement comes 48 hours before U.S. and Israeli government delegations are expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi for talks on the U.S.-brokered normalization deal. The delegations will arrive on El Al flight 971  the first-ever flight to the UAE by an Israeli commercial airliner.

According to the new decree, "individuals and companies in the UAE may enter into agreements with bodies or individuals residing in Israel or belonging to it by their nationality, in terms of commercial, financial operations, or any other dealings of any nature."

The decree also says it will be permissible to enter, exchange or possess Israeli goods and products of all kinds in the UAE and trade in them.

The bottom line: The new decree has a formal and symbolic importance, but for more than two decades there were growing informal trade and business ties between Israel and the UAE.
Kristoff takes Tour de France opening stage after truce in rain chaos UAE Team Emirates rider Alexander Kristoff won stage one of the Tour de France to clinch the yellow jersey

After a late pile-up on Nice's iconic Promenade des Anglais, Alexander Kristoff of UAE Emirates won a crash-marred opening stage of the Tour de France on Saturday.

The Norwegian will now wear the overall race leader's yellow jersey, having fought back from an early fall that looked like ruling him out.

The 2020 Tour set off two months later than planned due to the coronavirus and under strict health protocols.

However, the first rain in the Mediterranean city since June turned the opening jaunt of the 21-day race into a lottery with one motorbike race official describing the road surface as an ice rink.

Key victims of the multiple crashes included French hopes Thibaut Pinot and Julian Alaphilippe, with Colombia's Astana captain Miguel Angel Lopez suffering a jaw-dropping downhill slide that saw him slam face-first into a traffic sign.

British team Ineos were left to fret over their Russian climber Pavel Sivakov, who fell twice, riding with both elbows bloodied.

- Message of hope -

Top riders, led by the Jumbo team, were shocked by the crash and a truce was called that slowed down the pace.

"That was great for me, allowed me to get right back in," said Kristoff, who had been around six minutes adrift after his own tumble.

"This is a special Tour, even I am surprised," said the 33-year-old who admitted his season's targets were the coming one-day races, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders.

Along the final flat home straight the speed had risen to around 65 km/h when the fall left 30 or so riders ahead alone with dozens of startled contenders sprawled.

The heavy Covid-19 atmosphere weighing on the seaside city was lightened slightly at the start when French government minister Michel Blanquer sent out a rare message of hope the Tour would make it all the way to Paris in three weeks' time.

"You can't rule out the cancellation of the Tour, but it has been so well prepared that the possibilities of it happening are very slim," he said.

Story continues

Prince Albert of Monaco played local game boules in the VIP village at the start line but the Italian style red-roofed city was eerily empty on the day, as fans had been asked to stay away, and even the pebbled Nice beach was semi-deserted.

Local paper Nice-Matin raised eyebrows on Saturday running a picture of the Dutch team Jumbo's leader Primoz Roglic, one of the favourites, instead of a Frenchman.

- 'A good night's sleep' needed -

But the key Frenchmen in the race both had days to forget.

After 14 days in the lead last year Alaphilippe was forced to fight back alone from two minutes down after a mechanical issue.

Meanwhile, luckless fan favourite Pinot was involved in the last of many falls as the peloton swept along the rain-sodden seafront walkway.

"That's road racing," said Pinot's manager Marc Madiot. "Nothing a good night's sleep won't put right," he added after his star stormed back to the team bus refusing to speak.

Sunday's 186km stage also starts and ends in Nice but will be run under blue skies and over the Alps in the Nice back country.

"The Tour has never gone so high, so early," Tour chief Christian Prudhomme said of the two climbs of Colmiane and Turini, both over 1500m high just a few kilometres back from the beachfront walkways.

Burly yellow jersey Kristoff is too heavyset to have a hope of coming home with the favourites on Sunday.

"I guess I'll lose the jersey," he said. "But I'm near the end of my career and I've got four kids, so I'll just try and enjoy the day."

dmc/dj/mw
| By Jena Frick

On Aug. 29, the University of Maryland, Baltimores (UMB) CURE Scholars Program hosted its annual and highly anticipated STEM Expo. The event brings together middle school and high school scholars so they can present their individual STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) research posters to their peers, medical professionals, and UMB leadership.

Like much of the programming and events this year, the STEM Expo was held virtually due to the restrictions and safety procedures put in place by the COVID-19 pandemic. The expo, which is normally held in April on UMBs campus, was instead pre-recorded and streamed on the UMB CURE Scholars Program website so the scholars and their families could watch the research presentations together. The dozens of research posters covered a number of topics ranging from How Robotics Can Help Brain Cancer to Food Insecurity in Baltimore.

Jaliyah Smith (top), a scholar in Cohort 5, and Hali Smith, a scholar in Cohort 2, delivered the keynote speeches at the CURE STEM Expo.

This years expo is the culmination of a summer of hard work and perseverance for our scholars, Gia Grier McGinnis, DrPH, MS, executive director of the CURE Scholars Program, said during her opening remarks. We had a great virtual summer program, with over 60 scholars online in the months of July and August. I want to congratulate the scholars and their families for their dedication to learning despite this difficult time. Many of our scholars faced hardship and personal losses this summer but continued to come online with us week after week.

During the STEM Expo, each scholar had the opportunity to present their research posters, which were reviewed by a panel of volunteer judges. The judging was done in a feedback-only format with no numerical scoring, and the comments to scholars were sent privately.

The scholars learned how to develop a research question and find credible sources so they could put together a poster and presentation. Jaliyah Smith, a Cohort 5 scholar who delivered one of the expos keynote speeches, did her research poster on breast cancer in African-American women. She explained that she was enlightened and inspired by the research she conducted.

At first, I was shocked by the number of people who die from breast cancer, Jaliyah said. Now that I have done the research, I think that it is important for me to share this information with as many people as possible. I want to spread awareness of breast cancer so that people seek more preventative care and screenings. Hopefully, one day, we find a cure.

The second keynote speaker was Hali Smith, a rising 10th-grade student at Green Street Academy who gave words of advice and encouragement to the rising ninth-grade scholars.

CURE is always there for you when you need them, said Hali, a Cohort 2 scholar. Ive been in CURE for four years, and I can tell you that it doesnt matter which mentor youre assigned to, because the whole CURE team will always be there for you. They are the helping hand you need to be successful in your school, career, and life.

UMB Interim President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, who also gave remarks during the expo, commended the scholars for the hard work they had put into their posters as well as their summer curriculum.

Scholars, Im proud of your resilience, especially this year, and am in awe of your dedication to this program, he said. You inspire all of us.

(Watch the full CURE STEM Expo below.)
Kangana Ranaut in an exclusive interview with Republic Media Network Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami spoke about the big Bollywood celebrities who choose to remain 'silent' on important issues and are still "quiet" on Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Kangana highlighted that "Bollywood has never hidden the fact that they are anti-Hindu or anti-Army or anti-CAA, etc. They have been vocal about it and people have idolized them for their beliefs."

Kangana Ranaut speaks to Arnab Goswami, claims '99 per cent of Bollywood consumes drugs'

"They are quiet because many people know the truth. The Police know the drug network the Bollywood biggies are a part of. I am able to speak the truth about drug mafia because I am out of Mumbai, I am in Manali. This Bollywood drug mafia would have killed me had I been in Mumbai by now. If I don't finish my enemies, they will finish me, I will not stop campaigning. Who are you to tell me to stop?" Kangana said in the interview.

"We need to set role models for our society now. A large percentage of drug usage is by 99% of Bollywood biggies. The shocking percentage of youth that is using drugs  the film industry should be held responsible for it. Why did a single Bollywood star not talk about lynchings of sadhus? Who is empowering them? Our nation is doing that? No one did say anything. Why? They are scared. Stars will never speak because they know the police know their truth. For me its do or die, I said this during Manikarnika too. No one can stop me from fighting, it is my democratic right. You can't say, "Everything is not about you". It is my life and it is about me," Kangana was heard saying in an interaction with Republic TV.

Kangana Ranaut speaks to Arnab, claims, 'Bollywood consumes drugs like food'; watch

Meanwhile, Kangana Ranaut has also claimed that a top star who she was in a relationship with was once hospitalized over drug overdose. The actor stated that the persons wife had also split with him over his drug consumption, among other issues. The Fashion star said that the 'superstar' and his family even tried to put her behind bars and label her because she knew the secrets.

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.
A 39-year-old man was struck multiple times in the lower body and transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. A 66-year-old woman was shot in the shoulder and was in critical condition, while a 48-year-old man was injured by glass and transported to St. Bernard Hospital in good condition, according to police.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday said the unemployment rate due to Covid-19 has come down to one-sixth within two months in Tamil Nadu and that the State has been recovering quickly from the economic impact caused by Covid-19.

Speaking at the District Collectors' meeting through video conference from the Secretariat, the Chief Minister said surveys had highlighted that the welfare schemes of the State government had reached the people and that cushioned them from the impact on the economy.

Despite Corona-related developments and the lockdown, the State government has signed MoUs for 42 new projects with an investment of Rs 31,464 crore which would generate employment opportunities for 69,712 persons. Tamil Nadu has been on the top in attracting investments during the period from April to June.

He also pointed out that this year, the procurement of paddy which stood at around 23 lakh metric tonnes per year has gone up to 30 lakh metric tonnes.

Tamil Nadu has contained the Covid-19 infection due to the concerted efforts taken by the District Collectors and the frontline workers. However, the infection could be prevented only if the people extend full support to the measures taken by the government. While the GDP remains at four percent at the national level, in Tamil Nadu, it stands at 8%.

ALSO READ | In Chennai's high-risk zones, even asymptomatic residents being tested for COVID-19

The State government has so far spent Rs.7,162 crore towards prevention of the spread of Corona infection, treatment and relief works. At the State level, in Covid-19 hospitals, 58,840 beds and 77,223 beds special Covid-19 care centres are ready. Besides, 26,801 beds with oxygen facilities are also ready to accommodate Covid-19 patients. There are 4,782 beds with ICU facility and 5,718 ventilators are ready. Besides, 2,882 ventilators are ready for Covid-19 treatment alone, he added.

Palaniswami said the State has the highest number of labs (146) in the country and so far, the RTPCR test has been conducted for 45.73 lakh persons, and around 75,000 samples were being tested per day.

Life-saving drugs like Tocilizumab 400mg, Remdesvir 100 mg, Enoxaparin 40mg have been procured and sent to all government hospitals. Recovery rate is highest in Tamil Nadu (85.45 percent) while the mortality rate has been the lowest in the country (1.7 percent), he added.

The Chief Minister further said that so far, 4,24,394 migrant labourers have been sent back to their native States safely from Tamil Nadu while 80,779 Tamils living in foreign countries have been brought to the state using Vande Bharat and Samudra Sethu schemes. He also advised that while doing the RTPCR test, the results should be declared on a priority basis for senior citizens and those who have co-morbidities.

The Chief Minister said at present, the government has been providing good food to the Covid-19 patients at government hospitals, "But we have to continue providing them quality, tasty and nutritious food, and the District Collectors and Health Department should ensure this.
Colorado Politics senior political reporter

Joey Bunch is the senior correspondent and deputy managing editor of Colorado Politics. His 32-year career includes the last 16 in Colorado. He was part of the Denver Post team that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 and he is a two-time finalist.
Jason Njoku, the Chief Executive Officer, IRokoTV, an online movie streaming site on Friday announced plans to lay off about 150 workers.

Mr Njoku, who revealed this in an article published on his website, said the move was partly necessitated by the devaluation of the naira which has affected his companys revenue since 2016.

There will be around 150 job losses. We are still working on the numbers, and in order to soften the blow, we are speaking with a number of companies who have taken an interest in our highly trained telesales agents.

The ambition in this terrible job market is to try and give our departing teams the best odds of success in what is, unfortunately, one of the worst job markets in decades. We wish them well on their adventures, it is no fault of their own. They definitely tried their best. We all did, he wrote.

He also noted that his firm will focus more on North America and Western Europe subscribers that account for more than 80 per cent of revenues.

According to him, the devaluation of Naira dropped the platforms subscription costs from N3,000 ($18) in 2015 to N3,000 ($8.33) by 2017.

Currently, subscription to the platform costs $6.3 with a dollar equivalent to N477.

Mr Njoku said it was rather strange to be finding out after almost nine years with IROKOtv, five exclusively focused in Africa, that the brand may be too early for Africa.

According to him, business models have attempted to crack the consumer economy in Africa to no avail.

Classifieds didnt work. Lead generation didnt work. E-commerce didnt work. Free didnt work. If we only had the Africa market (like so many before us who failed) then this post would be RIP IROKOtv. Thankfully we have an international business to fall back upon.

Interestingly, while the companys fortunes are dipping in Africa, business is booming internationally with the average revenue per user in the west between $25 and $30.

Our annual ARPU internationally is $25-30. When people talk to me about Netflix and its impact globally, and then in Africa, I always smile. My response is the same. Globally, streaming media is booming. In Africa, it is regressing. Its impacting everyone, he wrote.

iROKOtv was launched on December 1, 2011. Dubbed the Netflix of Africa, it is the worlds largest legal digital distributor of African movies.
Police have now charged 50 people in the Logan area with drug and stolen property offences after three months of raids on 20 properties, police reported overnight.

Properties in Yarrabilba, Beaudesert, Gleneagle, Tanah Merah, Jimboomba, Flagstone and Kooralbyn have been searched.

Police apprehend one of 50 people during three months of raids on 20 properties.

Two women will appear in Beaudesert Magistrates Court in October after the latest raids.

A 23-year-old Beaudesert woman will face nine charges on October 20, including supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing goods used in the commission of crime.
Playing Politics With Public Safety

Commentary

Readers of this column know Im not much for federal intervention in state affairs. Logic tells us the doctrine of states rights is the way to go, as local elected officials are the ones most in touch with what their citizens need.

But what happens when the states make a muck of it? What happens when community leaders worry more about their next election and appeasing dissidents and less about public safety?

The federal government has now inserted itselfalbeit in a backdoor wayto try to restore some sense of security to besieged communities. Too bad its not in locations where riots have become a nightly event.

For three months, the city of Portland, Oregon, has been plagued by the violence of a band of roaming criminals who are fueled by unknown benefactors. Arson fires, looting, and frightening harassment of innocent citizens and business owners are now commonplace.

Worse yet, left unchecked, this destructive Marxist- and anarchist-led revolution has emboldened rioters in other cities. Hey, when local politicians order police to stand down, whats to stop those bent on revolution?

In cities as disparate as Denver, Seattle, Baltimore, San Antonio, and Lafayette, Louisiana, criminal mobs have staged destructive rampages. Its certainly acceptable if citizens want to peacefully protest, but when those demonstrations morph into senseless storms of destruction, then authorities must stop the violence immediately.

The most recent rioting took place in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following yet another police shooting of a black man. Despite two nights of terrifying violence, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers refused the Republican presidents offer of federal troops. After the rioting escalated and two people were killed, Evers agreed his state needed federal assistance.

Can we please stop playing politics here?

Is this what Americas future looks like? How much more can average citizens and business owners be asked to endure?

In the meantime, the feds have quietly pushed ahead with Operation Legend, an anti-crime program that unleashed 1,000 federal agents to help round up violent career criminals. In just six weeks, the operationnamed for 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot as he slept in a Kansas City, Missouri, apartmenthas resulted in almost 1,500 arrests in the nine cities in which it has been deployed.

So far, the operation has taken nearly 400 firearms off the streets, and at least 90 suspected killers have been arrested. Others were charged with crimes that included drug trafficking, bank fraud, bank robbery, extortion, robbery, arson, carjacking, and illegal possession of a firearm, oftentimes by ex-cons.

The operation began in little LeGends hometown of Kansas City, and expanded to Albuquerque, New Mexico; Chicago; Cleveland; Detroit; Memphis, Tennessee; Milwaukee; and St. Louis. Indianapolis was added most recently.

To be clear, Operation Legend isnt focused on quelling the riots. Its focused on simply assisting local officers in what must seem like an overwhelming daily grind of good versus evil. At least its a start.

But not every city has welcomed Operation Legends federal assistance. Chicago Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared she wouldnt let federal troops in to terrorize the city. She later changed her mind after Chicago murders increased by nearly 200 percent. Tim Keller, the Democratic mayor of Albuquerque, a city the FBI reports has the dubious distinction of having a crime rate about 194 percent higher than the national average, derisively called the federal agents Trumps secret police.

Nonetheless, the feds activated the program to New Mexicos largest city, and the roundup of criminals began.

Again, can we stop playing politics with public safety?

I am a believer in states rights. But if riotous lawlessness continues, its entirely appropriate for the president, whoever it might be, to invoke the Insurrection Act and send in federal troops. At least 10 past presidents have deployed federal troops to states.

In 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower sent thousands of troops into Little Rock, Arkansas, to ensure school desegregation went forward as ordered by a federal court. In the 60s, President Lyndon B. Johnson dispatched federal troops several times to tamp down riots in five cities. Theres plenty of precedent for the commander in chief to intercedewhether the governor of a state wants it or not.

Deployment of federal troops should be automatic during these troubled times. The besieged population has had enough. Forget the politics. Citizens want peace.

Diane Dimond is an author and investigative journalist. Her latest book is Thinking Outside the Crime and Justice Box.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Embattled Cuisine de France owner Aryzta isn't looking for a quick sale of the business, the executive lined up by the company to be its next chairman, Andreas Schmid, has insisted.

Last night US hedge fund Elliott Management was named as a potential bidder, in a report by Bloomberg.

Reports in Switzerland, where Aryzta has its corporate headquarters, have also claimed that the company is planning to offload its US arm, but retain its Canadian business.

Aryzta, which is fighting to bolster earnings and cope with the fallout of the pandemic, has contracts with major quick service restaurant chains such as McDonald's and Subway. The group's customers also include the likes of Walmart, Lidl and Dunnes Stores.

In May, Aryzta said it had hired investment bank Rothschild to undertake a strategic review of the business. Last month, it confirmed that it had received unsolicited approaches from the group.

One of those potential suitors is reportedly Canadian bakery giant George Weston Ltd. News agency Bloomberg said that the Canadian group has been working with an advisor as it circles Aryzta.

In July, activist shareholders insisted that Aryzta needed to sell 600m of assets in order to reduce its debts more manageable levels.

The activist funds, Switzerland's Veraison and Spain's Cobas, control more than 20pc of Aryzta between them.

They've been pushing for changes at Aryzta, including new board members. They've proposed Urs Jordi as chairman to succeed Gary McGann, who'll step down from the role after an extraordinary general meeting next month.

Mr Jordi is the former boss of Hiestand International which is the company that was originally acquired by Irish group IAWS to create Aryzta.

The Aryzta board's own nominee for the post of chairman - Mr Schmid - said in an interview with Swiss business magazine Bilanz that that a quick sale of the firm is not a priority and that the board wants to strengthen the company's business. He also said that he has met representatives of Veraison and Cobas.

Aryzta declined to comment on Mr Schmid's comments or on the report it could sell off its US business but retain its Canadian arm.
The BBC is one of the world's most over-managed organisations. So at times of crisis, the cry goes up from the upper echelons of Broadcasting House, 'Assistant Heads must roll!' That surely won't be enough this time.

The row over the Last Night Of The Proms calls in to question the BBC's ability to make political, patriotic and even musical decisions. And this time, they have been wrong on every count.

It seems the BBC employs executives who have total contempt for the public they serve because they so readily confuse internet huff and puff with the will of the British people.

For ordinary Brits, patriotism matters, and Land Of Hope And Glory and Rule, Britannia are a core part of our national musical history. The BBC really do need to ask themselves a hard question: why couldn't they find within their ranks anyone who really understands licence fee-payers values?

Patriotism matters, and Land Of Hope And Glory and Rule, Britannia are a core part of our national musical history. Pictured, audience enjoying BBC's Last Night of the Proms in 2014

In a poll published on Friday, only five per cent agreed with the decision to scrap the words and to play only an orchestral version of the songs.

Sadly though, that five per cent seems to include every senior BBC figure who played a part in this fiasco.

As things stand, it's not just Tories queuing up to denounce the BBC, but Labour as well, led by Sir Keir Starmer. Quite a coup for Proms Director David Pickard and Radio 3 chief Alan Davey to unite Boris Johnson and Sir Keir against them.

What price the licence fee now, anxious people at Broadcasting House must be asking? Nice one, boys.

I was the Minister responsible for broadcasting on four separate occasions and each time I was a stout defender of the BBC. When Margaret Thatcher privately denounced the Corporation, as she regularly did, I spoke up for the Beeb which, at its best, has been a tremendous force for civilisation and unity.

Today my view is very different. And were I still a Minister, I'm sorry to say I could no longer support the licence fee, so deaf has the Corporation become to the true wishes and needs of its audience.

And I welcome the news that other media groups are planning to launch a television news service to rival the BBC and Sky.

The competition is badly needed, as even a cursory look at the past decade of BBC blunders and betrayals makes clear.

Take the case of Tory peer Lord McAlpine, falsely implicated in child abuse by BBC2's Newsnight. In 2012, the BBC was forced to settle his subsequent libel claim.

Two years later the BBC saw fit to fly a helicopter over the home of Sir Cliff Richard and broadcast live footage during a police raid as part of an investigation into historical child sex allegations.

Sir Cliff was never even arrested, let alone charged. Like Lord McAlpine, he was entirely innocent and was eventually awarded damages totalling 2 million.

In 2016, a review by Dame Janet Smith concluded that the BBC missed opportunities to stop 'monstrous' abuse by Jimmy Savile and presenter Stuart Hall. BBC culture 'was deeply deferential', she said.

The BBC really do need to ask themselves a hard question: why couldn't they find within their ranks anyone who really understands licence fee-payers values? (file photo)

But perhaps most significant was the blindness, not to an individual, but to a whole population. This was an organisation that failed to understand or reflect the fact that millions of its core viewers were Brexit supporters, a stance clearly seen as undesirable by the BBC's generally metropolitan  and Remain supporting  executives.

So I'm not alone in thinking that the Corporation  cumbersome, deferential, institutionally stupid  has completely lost its way.

Farcical as it might seem, the Proms debacle tells you much of what you need to know about the BBC today, where incompetence is blended with presumption and a near-obsessive wish to placate the twin gods of Yoof and Inclusion.

This isn't the first time the patriotic content of the Last Night has been challenged by politically-motivated agitators. A previous Proms head, John Drummond, was put under enormous pressure to change the Last Night music because the conductor didn't want to play 'jingoistic' music at the time of the Gulf War.

Drummond refused, commenting he 'had work to do' and sacked the conductor. He was well aware what huge disruption an unnecessary row would have caused.

That's called the smack of firm government. Something that was needed in abundance these last few weeks, but was not forthcoming.

If the BBC is to re-establish its relationship with the British people  as opposed to internet agitators  the axe must surely fall on the Proms Director, David Pickard, and the head of Radio 3 (who has particular responsibility for the Promenade Concerts).

Pickard used to head up Glyndebourne and was woefully under-qualified for running the Proms. He just blundered on into the biggest, and most richly deserved, public humiliation for the BBC in years. A well-placed colleague describes him as a 'reed shaken by the wind'  increasingly like the Corporation itself.

The only one at the BBC who seems to understand the viewers is the incoming Director-General Tim Davie. But he has arrived too late to help.

So much for the politics and the patriotism. But I believe the musical judgments the BBC have made are totally wrong, too.

Conducting the Last Night Of The Proms is an honour generally only afforded to distinguished conductors. And some never get asked.

Conducting the Last Night Of The Proms is an honour only generally afforded to distinguished conductors. So who is Dalia Stasevska (above), this year's conductor?

So who is Dalia Stasevska, this year's conductor? In truth, the 36-year-old Finn is a mere beginner, almost totally unknown in this country. She was Davey's tokenistic choice  based on only one previous concert with the orchestra  to become the BBC Symphony's Principal Guest Conductor.

Talk about being thrown in at the deep end. So she miscalculated by uttering a lot of woke nonsense about Black Lives Matter, when she should have kept her mouth shut, and merely waved her baton at the appropriate time.

Now she's deeply upset about the reaction she got and blames the BBC. Well, since everyone else blames the BBC for this sorry farce, I guess that at least is understandable.

They should take a leaf out of John Drummond's book and release her. Because one thing is certain: if this sorry shambles continues, it can only get worse for her.

The person I feel most sorry for is Edward Elgar, who set the music to Land Of Hope And Glory. Because his life suggests that he could be called a trailblazer for the Black Lives Matter campaign.

Elgar mentored another composer, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, who was the son of a British mother and a black doctor from Sierra Leone. Elgar did his best to promote his exceptional talent.

As it happens, Elgar much preferred the orchestral version of the big tune in Land Of Hope And Glory  formally, his Pomp And Circumstance March No 1  to the choral version. But the BBC can't even get that right.

They are not planning to play Elgar's brilliantly orchestrated March (without the words) but, in another piece of tiresome tokenism, they have asked an obscure woman composer to re-orchestrate it. What a mess.

As for this shoddy behind-closed-doors performance of the Last Night, it should surely be dumped right now before more damage is done to the BBC's flagging reputation.
The Blue Jays have optioned infielder Brandon Drury to their alternate training site and outrighted hurler Thomas Pannone, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet tweets. The Drury move clears roster space for newly acquired right-hander Taijuan Walker.

The 28-year-old Drury has been a massive disappointment for Toronto, which acquired him from the Yankees for lefty J.A. Happ before the July 2018 trade deadline. Drury, who had his moments with the Diamondbacks from 2015-17, struggled during his brief Yankees stint before they gave up on him. His issues have continued as a member of Torontos roster, as he owns a horrid .211/.254/.360 line with 15 home runs in 496 plate appearances. Drurys minus-6 wRC+ across 49 plate trips this year ranks fifth to last among 300 major leaguers who have amassed at least 40 PA.

The left-handed Pannone, 26, had been in limbo since the Jays designated him Aug. 24, but hell stick with the organization after clearing waivers. Pannone, who combined for a 5.43 ERA/5.14 FIP over 116 innings from 2018-19, hasnt pitched in the bigs this season.
Constitutional provisions cited by AG say Jayasekera cant become MP By Ranjith Padmasiri and Sandun Jayawardana View(s): View(s):

The Attorney Generals Department has written to the Justice Ministry citing Constitutional provisions dealing with disqualifications to be an elector and an MP, after the Ministry sought its opinion on the status of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP-elect Premalal Jayasekara, a murder convict.

Mr Jayasekara, who has been sentenced to death for a 2015 murder, requested the Commissioner General of Prisons to allow him to go to Parliament to take oaths as an MP. The Commissioner General had turned to the Justice Ministry for advice, and the Ministry had referred the matter to the AGs Department.

Justice Ministry sources said that in reply to the ministrys letter, the AGs Department had written back referring to Articles 89(d) and 91(1)(a) of the Constitution. The ministry has now forwarded the letter to the Department of Prisons.

Article 89 deals with disqualification to be an elector. According to Article 89(d), one of the disqualifications is if a person is under sentence of death. Article 91 refers to disqualification for election as a Member of Parliament.

Article 91(1)(a) notes that no person can be elected as an MP or sit and vote in Parliament if he or she becomes subject to any of the disqualifications specified in Article 89.

In light of this situation, either the Department of Prisons or Mr Jayasekaras lawyers may refer the matter to court in the coming days to seek clarification, sources said.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told Parliament that he had instructed the Commissioner General of Prisons to bring Mr Jayasekara to Parliament at its next sitting date on September 8 to take oaths as an MP.

The Speaker made the announcement after Government MPs urged him to immediately order prison authorities to bring Mr Jayasekara to Parliament as he had appealed against the death sentence imposed on him by the Ratnapura High Court for a murder committed in 2015.

Mr Jayasekara polled the second highest number of preferential votes from the Ratnapura district though he had been sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court only days prior to the August 5 Parliamentary election. He was sentenced to death along with two others after being found guilty of shooting dead an opposition party activist and causing serious injuries to two others during the 2015 Presidential election campaign. The victims had been decorating a stage erected for a campaign meeting of the then common candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) MP Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, who is currently indicted in the Batticaloa High Court in the murder of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Joseph Pararajasingham, did take oaths as an MP on August 20. Unlike Mr Jayasekara, however, his case is still pending in court.
For example, Animal Rescue Cooperative (ARC) co-ordinator Derek Knox says he and his team received death threats and vile abuse from wildlife carers angry they were not getting funding. This masthead has copies of emails and voice mails sent to ARC staff, calling them "c--ts" and threatening to "bash their f--ken skulls in". ARC is based in Sydney but played a key role during the bushfires distributing donations of money, animal feed and formula, equipment such as humidicribs and bandages and vast volumes of handcrafted pouches, wraps and mittens for injured wildlife. Knox says this put ARC in the firing line if it tried to do due diligence before handing over money and supplies or if it refused a request. In another example, a man was expelled from his local group in northern NSW during the height of the summer fires and another member later successfully took out an apprehended personal violence order against him. He claims he ruffled feathers by trying to organise volunteers to comb the blackened forest for wildlife survivors, while the group says it was because of concerns over the welfare of animals in his care. It brings out the absolute best in people and the absolute worst and nothing in the middle. James Fitzgerald, Two Thumbs Wildlife Trust. In Bamford's case the conflict came to a head in February when, she says, a committee member publicly accused her of stealing all the supplies donated to them during the bushfires, leaving the animals to starve. In fact, Bamford says she was acting as a hub for ARC to collect donations for groups in fire zones along the eastern seaboard  a fact Knox confirms. Bamford is still deeply hurt by the allegations and says people continued to ask about it, even after Knox tried to clear her name. A letter from Community Justice Centres dated June and obtained by this masthead confirms Bamford tried to organise mediation with an executive member who never responded.

While the bushfires brought the conflict to a head, the tension had been building over time. Another member, who requested her name be withheld in order not to invite the same treatment, says she attended the AGM last year and saw Bamford try to raise issues  while members of the executive spoke over her, tried to have her removed from the meeting and openly said they wouldn't take her calls because they didn't like her. The member says Bamford was not threatening or abusive and while she was persistent, she was not unreasonable. This masthead has also seen screenshots of chat messages describing Bamford as "paranoid" and talking "crap" for asking questions about a rumoured accident with a bolt gun. Knox says it was one of the worst examples of bullying he has ever seen. Bamford's friend Jessika Behnecke, an art therapist who has been giving her weekly counselling over the phone, says it was classic bullying and gaslighting, where the victim is manipulated to doubt themselves. A spokesperson for the charity says it has been "legally advised not to comment about internal issues" but agrees that bullying is a problem in wildlife care in general. However, the spokesperson says no group should be held accountable for things out of their control or when people refuse to follow policies or procedures. Widespread problems There have been problems with bullying and conflict in wildlife care for some time.

Take the problems of any volunteer organisation, add the emotionally charged environment of animals suffering and dying, and compound it by the monopoly held by wildlife groups over their local area. Last year the NSW Office of the Environment and Heritage, in its review of the NSW Volunteer Wildlife Rehabilitation Sector, cited conflict and bullying within groups as one of the reasons why volunteer numbers fluctuate by as much as 25 per cent. In 2018, charity WildTalk conducted an international survey that included Australia and found two out of five respondents identified bullying as a problem within wildlife organisations. Meanwhile, a report from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission in 2017 noted that animal welfare organisations have more concerns reported to the charity regulator than any other charity type. For every 100 animal welfare charities, there were 9.4 concerns raised, compared with an average of 2.1 for general charities, the report said. Some organisations had multiple complaints, including accusations of bullying and other bad behaviour, especially on social media.

The bigger groups may have a more professional approach to conflict resolution but are not immune to issues. This masthead has spoken to wildlife carers from as far afield as the Blue Mountains, Central West and South Coast who have left WIRES because of interpersonal conflict and alleged unfair treatment. A spokesman for WIRES says the charity "takes any bullying issues very seriously" and all volunteers must agree to a code of conduct. The charity has policies to require and encourage respectful conduct in the workplace and prevent or address bullying, as well as a multi-step grievance management process implemented in all branches whereby members can raise concerns in a confidential manner. "[It has] been a particularly difficult year for the wildlife sector and many volunteers are feeling quite fragile right now and still recovering from the impacts of the bushfires, which is entirely understandable," the WIRES spokesman says. The ACNC report focused on organisations dealing with domesticated animals and pets and the regulator was unable to provide figures for wildlife care. However, Knox, who is also involved in a cat rescue charity, says the issues are very similar across all animal rescue groups. "Volunteers come from all walks of life with minimal checks and balances," Knox says. "You get people who are affected by life and death in their hands and seeing all the stuff that is happening around them, and that causes emotions that then come out in other ways."

Knox says social media is a big forum for arguments, with many wildlife carers passionate about various ideologies from coronavirus conspiracy theories to vegetarianism. James Fitzgerald from Two Thumbs Wildlife Trust with Paul the Koala, named after First Officer Paul Hudson, one of the American firefighters who died in a plane crash while protecting the property. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen James Fitzgerald, a former senior public servant who now runs Two Thumbs Wildlife Trust about 100 kilometres from Canberra, says the amount of bullying in wildlife care is "horrific". "It brings out the absolute best in people and the absolute worst and nothing in the middle," Fitzgerald says. "Because there's power there to get on the committee it actually attracts people who in their professional careers would never be given authority." Frances Carleton, founder of WildTalk, which provides free counselling to wildlife carers, said bullying in wildlife care is often about a persistent need for control and micro-management.

Nowhere to go A big problem for carers is that any conflicts are resolved internally and the executive team can manipulate the outcome. The charity regulator does not mediate internal disputes, while the National Parks and Wildlife Service only licenses groups on the basis of their skill with animals rather than their treatment of humans. "You have nobody to go to to complain," Carleton says. "For most organisations, you'll have a HR department, you might have a union that you can go and talk to about your rights, but there isn't any of that in wildlife organisations. These organisations are run by volunteers and invariably they are run by people who have set them up and have surrounded themselves with like-minded people on a committee and nobody new wants to go into the committee because they know what it's going to be like." Knox says the government should take greater interest in what's happening with wildlife care. "They basically just give it to the charities and the public to look after," he says. Loading

Many, like Bamford, are calling for the establishment of a volunteer watchdog. Animal Justice Party MP Mark Pearson notes similar issues came up in the recent parliamentary committee into the enforcement of animal cruelty laws. "There needs to be accountability to a body, whatever that might be," he says. A spokesperson for the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment says the government is developing training opportunities for leaders of groups to improve their communication, teamwork and conflict resolution skills. The department also intends introducing a scheme of accreditation for the wildlife rehabilitation sector requiring organisations to meet standards of service delivery including criteria for conflict resolution, anti-bullying and harassment and the work health and safety of its members. In any other volunteering endeavour, a person can avoid a toxic environment by simply joining a different organisation. But in wildlife care, that's not always possible.

Wildlife rescue groups are licensed for particular geographic boundaries. This gives them a monopoly over their area unless they have a memorandum of understanding with a neighbouring group, and therefore power over any carers in the catchment. Tanya Odonoghue, who lives in the Central West, says she knows many cases where carers have animals taken off them because of interpersonal conflict rather than concerns over welfare. "Our Achilles heel is the animal," Odonoghue says. "You just know you're going to get the animals taken off you if you don't do what you're told, and that's how they control the masses of members." Odonoghue left her local WIRES group because of conflict and is now licensed through another group but is hoping to get her own organisation, Warrumbungle Wildlife Shelter, independently registered. The department spokesperson confirms anyone can join any wildlife organisation if they are contributing on the administrative side but active carers can only join a group operating in the area where they live. In most parts of the state, there is just one group.

Loading However, this could change. "[The department] found conflict does arise occasionally and in its Volunteer Wildlife Rehabilitation Strategy is proposing a range of measures to help groups improve the management of conflict including providing more flexibility for members to join other groups," the spokesperson says. The proposal is widely welcomed, though Meredith Ryan, the long-serving president of FAWNA on the Mid-North Coast, says it could create management problems. "We currently have a defined boundary area, we'll have records based on that boundary area and phone operators are based on working within that boundary, and the public knows what the boundary is," Ryan says.

"And quite frankly, if I had someone wanting to join our group, because they were disaffected by another group, I would actually look at that person a little bit with more scrutiny because I don't know why they can't get on with their group." Ryan says co-ordinating hundreds of volunteers and ensuring they follow the correct procedures when caring for animals and keeping records and so on is not easy. "If it requires being dictatorial to make that happen then so be it." Mental health Pearson supports the proposal to allow wildlife carers to join other groups and is also calling on Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Environment Minister Matt Kean to fund mental health services for wildlife carers. "It's the duty of the government to ensure that these people are properly looked after just like the people who were on the front line dealing with the other crises, like the bushfire fighters and those working in emergency wards," Pearson says.

The WIRES spokesman says the charity takes mental health and wellbeing of carers seriously and contacted every member over the summer bushfire period to check on their welfare and if they needed any assistance, as well as partnering with People Sense to provide free counselling and webinars. There are charities dedicated to the mental health of wildlife carers, including Two Green Threads and WildTalk. Carleton says wildlife carers witness "horrendous" trauma. Sixty per cent of every rescue that they do, don't make it; they either die on the way to help or they have to be euthanised," she says. Despite only advertising her services on Facebook, Carleton says she has taken 250 calls from 81 people since setting up WildTalk at the start of the year, with 60 per cent of calls coming from WIRES volunteers. Rae Harvey says wildlife care is rewarding but can be traumatic. Credit:Peter Sharp

Rae Harvey, who lives on the South Coast, has used the service and would like to see funding for mental health specifically for wildlife carers. She also sees a psychologist for other concerns but would rather talk to Carleton about the wildlife trauma. "She's the only person I can talk to that understands," she says. "The kangaroos are like my family." Harvey is dealing with the aftermath of the recent bushfires, which destroyed her property and many animals, and a dispute over money her kangaroo sanctuary raised through crowdfunding. She is also traumatised from an incident a few years ago where she witnessed a kangaroo bludgeoned to death because killing the animal was the kindest thing in the circumstances and they couldn't use a gun. Harvey says the rampant bullying in wildlife care is also linked to mental health issues and she even knows of suicides where this was a factor. Fitzgerald has not yet had time to seek out mental health support, though he knows it would be a good idea. The plane that crashed killing the US firefighters in January did so when it was trying to protect his property. He lost everything in the fires and he has been living in a caravan ever since, unable to abandon the animals.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Republican National Convention begged this question: Why are President Donald Trumps most fervent supporters describing the state of his union as a hellscape?

It was perhaps the central paradox for voters wondering what to believe in the rhetoric, because it defied logic to believe it all. Are Americans living in a dystopia or in an America made great again by Trump?

Four years ago, candidate Trump promised that if he won, "The crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end. Beginning on January 20th, 2017, safety will be restored.

Now? Ive never seen our streets go this bad so quickly," Pat Lynch, representing tens of thousands of New York police officers, told the GOP proceedings. We are staring down the barrel of a public safety disaster. He said this in remarks singing Trump's praises.

Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer and a former New York mayor, spoke of years of carnage and violence rising now, and implored, Mr. President, make our nation safe again."

All of the convention's apocalyptic rhetoric was in service of bashing Trump challenger Joe Biden, Democratic mayors and national Democrats both in and out of office as being soft on violence and anarchy. Yet the landscape of lawlessness they described is Trump's America now.

Hyperbole suffused the proceedings, both when Trump and his supporters hailed his record and when they denounced the other side. Outright falsehoods were heard every night on the social justice protests, the coronavirus, the economy and Biden's agenda.

A selection from the week:

PROTESTS

VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE, expressing support for people in uniform: People like Dave Patrick Underwood, an officer in Homeland Securitys Federal Protective Service, who was shot and killed during the riots in Oakland, California.  Wednesday.

THE FACTS: Pence is blurring what happened, leaving the impression that Underwood was a victim of rioters. Underwood was not killed by demonstrators in Oakland who were protesting for racial justice.

Story continues

Federal authorities say Underwood was fatally shot by Steven Carrillo, an Air Force staff sergeant they say has ties to a far-right, anti-government movement, while Underwood was guarding a federal courthouse during protests in May. Officials believe Carrillo used the protests as a cover for the slaying and his subsequent escape.

Carrillo, 32, hatched a plot to target officers with at least one other accomplice online, federal authorities allege. Over an eight-day span before his capture, they say, Carrillo fatally shot Underwood and wounded his partner, then killed a California sheriffs deputy and injured four others.

Of the two law enforcement officers killed, Pence only mentioned the one who was in the vicinity of the protest. The other is Santa Cruz County Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who authorities say was killed by Carrillo while pursuing him in June.

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RACIAL INEQUALITY

KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON: On the economy: Joe Biden couldnt do it, but President Trump did build an economy that worked for everyone, especially minorities.  Tuesday.

THE FACTS: Not accurate.

Republicans can talk successfully about the decline in unemployment rates for Black and Hispanic workers. But thats just one gauge; plenty of economic troubles and inequalities abound for minorities. Minority groups still lagged behind white people with regard to incomes, wealth and home ownership before the pandemic. But when the disease struck, it became clear that the economy did not work well for everybody as the job losses and infections disproportionately hit minorities.

Black unemployment now stands at 14.6%. Hispanic unemployment is 12.9%. The white unemployment rate is 9.2%. For every dollar of total wealth held by white households, Blacks have just 5 cents, according to the Federal Reserve. Its 4 cents for Hispanics. That is not evidence of an economy working especially for minorities.

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POLICE

ERIC TRUMP: Biden has pledged to defund the police.  Wednesday.

REP. STEVE SCALISE of Louisiana: "Joe Biden has embraced the lefts insane mission to defund them.

THE FACTS: No, Biden has explicitly rejected the call by some on the left to defund the police. He has proposed more money for police, conditioned on improvements in their practices.

Bidens criminal justice agenda, released long before the protests over racial injustice, proposes more federal money for training that is needed to avert tragic, unjustifiable deaths and hiring more officers to ensure that departments are racially and ethnically reflective of the populations they serve.

Specifically, he calls for a $300 million infusion into federal community policing grant programs. Thats more money, not less.

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BLACK LIVES MATTER

GIULIANI: Black Lives Matter and antifa sprang into action and, in a flash, they hijacked the peaceful protest into vicious, brutal riots.  Thursday.

THE FACTS: Thats a hollow claim.

Theres no evidence that Black Lives Matter or antifa, or any political group for that matter, is infiltrating racial injustice protests and injecting violence.

In June, The Associated Press analyzed court records, employment histories and social media posts for 217 people arrested in Minneapolis and the District of Columbia, cities at the center of the protests earlier this year.

More than 85 percent of the people arrested were local residents, and few had affiliation with any organized groups. Social media posts for a few of those arrested indicated they were involved in left-leaning activities while others expressed support for the political right and Trump himself.

Local police departments were forced to knock down widespread social media rumors that busloads of antifa, a term for leftist militants, were coming to violently disrupt cities and towns during nationwide racial justice protests. In June, Twitter and Facebook busted accounts linked to white supremacy groups that were promoting some of those falsehoods online.

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COVID-19

TRUMP: The United States has among the lowest case fatality rates of any major country anywhere in the world.  Thursday.

THE FACTS: Not true. Not if you consider Russia, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and India to be major countries.

The U.S. sits right in the middle when it comes to COVID-19 mortality rates in the 20 nations most impacted by the pandemic, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.

Of the 20, Mexico has the highest mortality rate at 10.8 deaths for every 100 confirmed COVID cases, followed by Ecuador at 5.8. Saudi Arabia had the lowest rate of the 20 nations at 1.2, followed by Bangladesh, the Philippines, Russia, Morocco, India, Argentina, South Africa and Chile.

The U.S. had the 10th lowest of the 20 nations, with a mortality rate of 3.1.

When the center looked at the data in another way, analyzing the COVID death rate for every 100,000 residents, the U.S. fares even worse. Only three nations  Brazil, Chile and Peru  posted higher death rates.

Understanding deaths as a percentage of the population or as a percentage of known infections is problematic because countries track and report COVID-19 deaths and cases differently. Many other factors are in play in shaping a death toll besides how well a country responded to the pandemic, such as the overall health or youth of national populations.

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TRUMP: Instead of following the science, Joe Biden wants to inflict a painful shutdown on the entire country. His shutdown would inflict unthinkable and lasting harm on our nations children, families, and citizens of all backgrounds.  Thursday.

THE FACTS: Thats false. Biden has publicly said he would shut down the nations economy only if scientists and public health advisers recommended he do so to stem the COVID-19 threat. In other words, he said he would follow the science, not disregard it.

Speaking Sunday in an ABC interview, Biden said he will be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives when he was asked if he would be willing to shut the country again.

So if the scientists say shut it down? asked ABCs David Muir.

I would shut it down, Biden responded. I would listen to the scientists. The former vice president has said repeatedly that no one knows what January would look like.

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DONALD TRUMP JR. on the coronavirus response: The president quickly took action and shut down travel from China.  Monday.

THE FACTS: No, he didn't shut down travel from China. He restricted it. Dozens of countries took similar steps to control travel from hot spots before or around the same time the U.S. did.

The U.S. restrictions that took effect Feb. 2 continued to allow travel to the U.S. from Chinas Hong Kong and Macao territories over the past five months. The Associated Press reported that more than 8,000 Chinese and foreign nationals based in those territories entered the U.S. in the first three months after the travel restrictions were imposed.

Additionally, more than 27,000 Americans returned from mainland China in the first month after the restrictions took effect. U.S. officials lost track of more than 1,600 of them who were supposed to be monitored for virus exposure.

Dr. Anne Schuchat, the No. 2 official at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also told the AP that the federal government was slow to understand how much the coronavirus was spreading from Europe, which helped drive the acceleration of outbreaks across the U.S. in late February. Trump didnt announce travel restrictions for many European countries until mid-March.

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EDUCATION

TRUMP: Biden also vowed to oppose school choice and oppose all charter schools.  Thursday.

THE FACTS: Thats false. Biden doesnt oppose charter schools. He opposes federal money going to for-profit charter companies.

Such companies are only a slice of the charter school market, meaning Bidens position wouldnt substantially alter the charter landscape that is dominated by nonprofit organizations.

Biden does oppose federal money for tuition vouchers.

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HEALTH CARE

TRUMP: We protected your preexisting conditions. Very strongly protected preexisting ... and you dont hear that.  Monday.

THE FACTS: You dont hear it because its not true.

People with such medical problems have health insurance protections because of President Barack Obamas health care law, which Trump is trying to dismantle.

One of Trumps alternatives to Obamas law  short-term health insurance, already in place  doesnt have to cover preexisting conditions. Another alternative is association health plans, which are oriented to small businesses and sole proprietors and do cover those conditions.

Neither of the two alternatives appears to have made much difference in the market.

Meanwhile, Trumps administration is pressing the Supreme Court for full repeal of the Obama-era law, including provisions that protect people with preexisting conditions from health insurance discrimination.

With Obamacare still in place, preexisting conditions continue to be covered by regular individual health insurance plans.

Insurers must take all applicants, regardless of medical history, and charge the same standard premiums to healthy people and those who are in poor health, or have a history of medical problems.

Before the Affordable Care Act, any insurer could deny coverage  or charge more  to anyone with a preexisting condition who was seeking to buy an individual policy.

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BIDENS AGENDA

NIKKI HALEY, former ambassador to the United Nations, on the Democrats: They want a government takeover of health care. They want to ban fracking and kill millions of jobs.  Monday.

REP. JIM JORDAN of Ohio: Defund the police, defund border patrol and defund our military.  Monday.

RONNA McDANIEL, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee: You deserve to know that they would ban fracking and eliminate fossil fuels, which would kill millions of good-paying jobs and raise the cost of driving our cars and heating our homes. You deserve to know that they want a complete government takeover of our health care system, so moms like me wont be able to take our kids to the same pediatrician theyve been seeing for years.  Monday.

THE FACTS: Those arent Bidens positions. A number of Republican speakers seized on proposals of the Democratic left, in some cases distorting those positions, and assigned them to Biden, who doesnt share those views.

He does not favor a government takeover of health care; instead he proposes building on Obama's law, which preserves the private insurance market while expanding Medicaid.

Biden also did not endorse proposals to cease border enforcement or even to decriminalize illegal crossings.

Biden supports banning only new oil and gas permits, fracking included, on federal land. But most U.S. production is on private land. The government says production on federal land accounted for less than 10% of oil and gas in 2018.

In a March 15 primary debate, Biden misstated his energy policy, suggesting he would allow no new fracking. His campaign quickly corrected the record. Biden has otherwise been consistent on his middle-of-the-road position, going so far as to tell an anti-fracking activist that he ought to vote for somebody else if he wanted an immediate fracking ban.

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VIRUS TESTING

IVANKA TRUMP: Our president rapidly mobilized the full force of government and the private sector ... to build the most robust testing system in the world.  Thursday.

THE FACTS: Her assertion of superior U.S. testing for COVID-19 is dubious. The U.S. repeatedly stumbled with testing in the early weeks of the outbreak, allowing the virus to quickly spread in the U.S. The president's own experts say the U.S. is nowhere near the level of testing needed to control the virus.

The U.S. currently is conducting nearly 750,000 tests a day, far short of what many public health experts say the U.S. should be testing to control the spread of the virus. Looking to the fall, some experts have called for 4 million or more tests daily, while a group assembled by Harvard University estimated that 20 million a day would be needed to keep the virus in check.

Public-health authorities acknowledge testing was a critical failure in the crucial early months. The number of tests being done has since surged but remains inadequate. Many who do get tested have unduly long waits for results, during which time they can be spreading the virus to others.

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IRAN

SEN. TOM COTTON of Arkansas: Joe Biden sent pallets of cash to the ayatollahs.  Thursday.

THE FACTS: This is a distorted tale Trump and Republicans love to tell. Yes, the U.S. flew cash to Iran in the Obama years, but it was money the United States owed to that country.

Cotton also played into the conventions pattern of attributing every questionable action of Obamas administration to Biden personally.

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ECONOMY

PENCE: Four years ago we inherited ... an economy struggling to break out of the slowest recovery since the Great Depression. ... In our first three years we built the greatest economy in the world.  Wednesday.

LARRY KUDLOW, Trump economic adviser: Trump was inheriting a stagnant economy on the front end of recession, and under the president, the economy was rebuilt in three years.  Tuesday.

THE FACTS: This is false. The economy was healthy when Trump arrived at the White House.

Even if the recovery from the 2008 financial crisis was slow, Trump took office with unemployment at a low 4.7%, steady job growth and a falling federal budget deficit. The longest expansion in U.S. history began in the middle of 2009 and continued until the start of the year, spanning both the Obama and Trump presidencies.

The U.S. economy did benefit from Trumps 2017 tax cuts with a jump in growth in 2018, but the budget deficit began to climb as a result of the tax breaks that favored companies and the wealthy in hopes of permanently expanding the economy.

Annual growth during Obamas second term averaged about 2.3%. Trump notched a slightly better 2.5% during his first three years, but the country swung into recession this year because of the coronavirus and will probably leave Trump with an inferior track record to his predecessor over four years.

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WAR

SEN. RAND PAUL: Joe Biden voted for the Iraq war, which President Trump has long called the worst geopolitical mistake of our generation.  Tuesday.

THE FACTS: Trump had no more foresight on this matter than Biden. Neither was against it when it started.

When asked during a Sept. 11, 2002, radio interview if he would support an Iraq invasion, Trump responded, Yeah, I guess so. The next month, Biden as a senator voted to authorize George W. Bush to use force in Iraq.

The next March, just days after the U.S. launched its invasion, Trump said it looks like a tremendous success from a military standpoint.

It wasnt until September 2003 that Trump first publicly raised doubts about the invasion, saying a lot of people (are) questioning the whole concept of going in in the first place. In November 2005, Biden called his Senate vote to authorize force a mistake.

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TAXES

ERIC TRUMP: The president slashed taxes and wages went through the roof.  Tuesday.

THE FACTS: Not quite. Wage growth did improve, but there is clearly still a roof on workers incomes.

The 2017 tax cuts appear unlikely to deliver on their promised pay increases. White House economists argued that incomes would surge by at least $4,000 because of the lower corporate tax rate. That has yet to occur and seems unlikely given the current recession.

But average hourly wages did improve to a 3.5% annual gain by February 2019, much better than the 2.7% annual gain in December 2016 before Trump became president. The problem was that wage growth then began to slip through the end of last year despite the steady hiring. Wage gains only accelerated again with the pandemic and layoffs of millions of poor workers that artificially raised average wages.

What workers have yet to see is a meaningful change in the distribution of income. More than half of total household income goes to the top 20% of earners, according to the Census Bureau. Their share has increased slightly under Trump with data that is current through 2018. The bottom 20% of earners get just 3.1% of total income, just as they did before Trumps presidency.

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FARMING

CRIS PETERSON, from a Wisconsin dairy family: Our entire economy and dairy farming are once again roaring back. One person deserves the credit and our vote, President Donald J. Trump.  Tuesday.

THE FACTS: Not everyone in the dairy industry views it as booming, especially as larger operations are putting smaller family farms out of business.

The Agriculture Department reported this summer that dairy herds fell by more than half between 2002 and 2019, with an accelerating rate of decline in 2018 and 2019, even as milk production continued to grow.

Part of the problem is that smaller farms face higher production costs. Farms with more than 2,000 cattle are more likely for their sales to exceed their total costs, while smaller farms are more likely to operate at a loss by this metric, according to government figures.

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SUBURBS

PATRICIA McCLOSKEY on Democrats: They want to abolish the suburbs altogether by ending single-family home zoning. This forced rezoning would bring crime, lawlessness and low-quality apartments into thriving suburban neighborhoods. President Trump smartly ended this government overreach, but Joe Biden wants to bring it back."  Monday.

THE FACTS: Thats a false account of what Biden supports. In 2015, during the Obama administration, a regulation took effect intended to ensure that communities confront racial segregation in housing.

The rule required more than 1,200 jurisdictions receiving federal Housing and Urban Development block grants and housing aid to analyze their housing stock and come up with plans to combat patterns of segregation and discrimination. It did not eliminate zoning for single-family homes in the suburbs.

Trump revoked the rule; Biden supports it. But Biden does not support requiring municipalities to refrain from building single-family homes as a condition for getting money from HUD.

McClosky and her husband have been charged with a felony for brandishing guns outside their St. Louis home as racial justice protesters passed.

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VOTING FRAUD

TRUMP, on mail-in voting: Absentee  like in Florida  absentee is good. But other than that, theyre very, very bad.  Monday.

THE FACTS: Hes making a false distinction. Mail-in ballots are cast in the same way as absentee mail ballots, with the same level of scrutiny such as signature verification in many states.

In more than 30 states and the District of Columbia, voters have a right to no excuse absentee voting. That means they can use mail-in ballots for any reason, regardless of whether a person is out of town or working.

In Florida, the Legislature in 2016 voted to change the wording of such balloting from absentee to vote-by-mail to make clear a voter can cast such ballots if they wish. So there is no absentee voting in that state, as Trump alludes to.

More broadly, voter fraud has proved exceedingly rare. The Brennan Center for Justice in 2017 ranked the risk of ballot fraud at 0.00004% to 0.0009%, based on studies of past elections.

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TRUMP, on the November vote count and Democrats: We have to be very, very careful and this time they are trying to do it with the whole post office scam. They will blame it on the post office. You can see them setting it up.  Monday.

THE FACTS: No postal scam has emerged from the Democrats. Instead Trump has given credence to suspicions that he wants to suppress mail-in voting to help his chances in the election.

Hes said as much. In an interview this month, he admitted hes trying to starve the U.S. Postal Service of money in order to make it harder to process an expected surge of mail-in ballots, which he worries could cost him the election.

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TRUMP, on defective ballots in an election: What does defective mean? It means fraud.  Monday.

THE FACTS: No, defective ballots do not equate to fraud. The overwhelming majority arent.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the vast majority of ballots are disqualified because they arrive late, a particular worry this year because of recent U.S. Postal Service delays and an expected surge in mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ballots also are deemed defective if there is a missing signature  common with newer voters unfamiliar with the process  or it doesnt match whats on file. In addition, some states require absentee voters to get a witness or notary to sign their ballots.

None of those are fraud, said Wendy Weiser, director of Brennans democracy program at NYU School of Law. When suspected cases are investigated for potential fraud, studies have borne out the main reason for defects is voter mistake, she said.

Defective ballots also disproportionately impact voters of color, and recent lawsuits have successfully challenged some requirements as posing health risks or disenfranchising voters. Earlier this year, for instance, a federal judge ruled that a South Carolina requirement to have witnesses to mail-in ballots could put voters health at risk; the requirement was suspended it for the June primary. Others states including Minnesota and Rhode Island have also suspended that requirement due to the pandemic.

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Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz in Chicago; David Klepper in Providence, Rhode Island; Bill Barrow in Atlanta; Matthew Lee, Paul Wiseman and Matthew Daly in Washington; and Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.

___

EDITOR'S NOTE  A look at the veracity of claims by political figures.

___

Find AP Fact Checks at http://apnews.com/APFactCheck

Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said here on Friday that religious places in Maharashtra should be opened as in other states. If liquor shops and malls can reopen with relaxation of lockdown, why should religious places should remain closed, the former chief minister said.

We expect religious places will be opened for the public in Maharashtra as has been done by all other states in the country," he told reporters. People are aware of the danger of coronavirus and will take all the precautions even if religious places are reopened, Fadnavis opined.

He was here to review the COVID-19 situation in Satara, which he termed as alarming. Number of cases is increasing constantly and infection rate lately is around 22 percent," he pointed out.
US secretary of state Michael Pompeo speaks during a press conference with Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein at the State Department in Washington, DC on 19 August 2020: (2020 Getty Images)

House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Eliot Engel has announced that the panel will carry out contempt proceedings against US secretary of state Mike Pompeo.

In a statement on Friday, Mr Engel said that the committee will begin drafting a resolution of contempt, after Mr Pompeo has repeatedly refused to provide subpoenaed documents as part of an investigation to determine whether he has misused government resources for political purposes, according to The Hill.

The committee is beginning proceedings against Mr Pompeo as he is still yet to hand over documents relating to Ukraine that were subpoenaed for president Donald Trumps impeachment enquiry in 2019.

Mr Engel and the committee are also drafting the resolution because Mr Pompeo provided Republican controlled senate committees documents subpoenaed by his panel, for an investigation into Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his son.

In July, Mr Engel issued a subpoena for more than 16,000 pages of documents the State Department sent to the Republican backed Senate Finance and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees, but the State Department has refused to provide them.

On Friday, Mr Engel wrote: The Secretarys ongoing defiance of two duly authorised subpoenas on matters directly linked to American foreign policy towards Ukraine has left the committee no further option but to begin drafting a resolution finding Secretary Pompeo in contempt of Congress.

The committees chairman added: He seems to think the office he holds, the department he runs, the personnel he oversees, and the taxpayer dollars that pay for all of it are there for his personal and political benefit.

Mr Engel accused the secretary of state of attempting to disrupt Novembers presidential election, by helping the Republican led committees investigate Mr Biden, but not Mr Trump.

The Senate investigation is looking into Mr Bidens son, Hunter Biden, and his position on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma, according to ABC News.

Story continues

So far there is no evidence to support corruption by the Democratic presidential nominee, but Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised Hunter as part of his reelection campaign.

In a press release issued in June, the Office of William Evanina, the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Centre, said the Russian government is taking active measures to primarily denigrate former vice president Biden.

The office added that the Ukrainian member of parliament Andriy Derkach is spreading claims about corruption  including through publicizing leaked phone calls  to undermine Biden and the Democratic Party, according to ABC.

In reference to the investigation, Mr Engel said: I want no part of it. Under no circumstances will I amplify Putins debunked conspiracy theories or lend them credence. And I wont stand by and see the committee or the House treated with such disdain by anyone.

In a response to the subpoena last week, the State Department wrote that it does not need to give the committee the documents, as the panel is investigating Mr Pompeo and not the investigation against the former vice president and his son.

The committee chair said that Mr Pompeos final response makes it clear where he stands: the Department would turn over the documents if the committee announced that we, too, were pursuing an investigation into the same conspiracy theory thats been debunked again and again.

Mr Pompeo is separately being investigated by the House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, over a speech he delivered at the Republican National Convention (RNC) earlier this week.

The subcommittee is investigating whether Mr Pompeo breached the Hatch Act, by delivering a speech to the RNC while he was away on diplomatic duty in Jerusalem.

The Hatch Act, that was brought into law in 1939, states that civil service employees cannot engage in political activity and the subcommittee alleges that his speech on Tuesday breached the federal law.

Read more

Pompeos RNC address to be investigated by House subcommittee
The clean-up has begun from Hurricane Laura in the US state of Louisiana, with officials along a shattered stretch of coast warning returning residents they could face weeks without power or water.

The US toll from the Category 4 hurricane stood at 14 deaths, with more than half of those killed by carbon monoxide poisoning from the unsafe operation of generators.

President Donald Trump plans to tour the damage in Louisiana and neighbouring Texas.

He told reporters he considered delaying his Thursday night speech accepting the Republican Party's nomination for re-election because of the storm, but said that it turned out, we got a little bit lucky. [The storm] was very big, it was very powerful, but it passed quickly.

Across south-western Louisiana, people are cleaning up from the destructive hurricane that roared ashore early on Thursday, packing 150mph (241.4kph) winds.

Many people are deciding whether they wanted to stay in miserable conditions or wait until basic services are finally restored.

Simply driving was a feat in Lake Charles, a city of 80,000 residents hit head-on by the hurricane's eye. Power lines and trees blocked paths or created one-lane roads that drivers had to navigate with oncoming traffic.

Street signs were snapped off their posts or dangling. No stop lights worked, making it an exercise in trust with other motorists sharing the roads.

Mayor Nic Hunter cautioned that there was no timetable for restoring electricity and that water-treatment plants took a beating, leaving barely a trickle of water coming out of most taps.

If you come back to Lake Charles to stay, make sure you understand the above reality and are prepared to live in it for many days, probably weeks, Mr Hunter wrote on Facebook.

Caravans of utility trucks were met on Friday by thunderstorms in the sizzling heat, complicating recovery efforts.

The Louisiana Department of Health estimated that more than 220,000 people were without water. Restoration of those services could take weeks or months, and full rebuilding could take years.

Forty nursing homes were relying on generators, and assessments are under way to determine if more than 860 residents in 11 facilities which had been evacuated could return.

The much weaker remnants of the hurricane continued to move across the southern US, unleashing heavy rain and isolated tornadoes.

North Carolina and Virginia could get the brunt of the worst weather on Saturday, forecasters said.

When the storm moves back over the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said it could become a tropical storm again and threaten Newfoundland, Canada.

Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards called Laura the most powerful hurricane to strike the state, meaning it surpassed even Katrina, which was a Category 3 storm when it hit in 2005.

He said officials now believe the surge was as high as 15 feet (4.6 metres).

The hurricane also killed nearly two dozen people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic en route to the Gulf Coast.

AP
In todays Global Bulletin, Argentina restarts production with new health and safety regulations, Sovereign Film Distribution picks up Melina Leons award-winning debut Song Without a Name, ITV preps for Black History Month and commissions The Confessions of Frannie Langton, and IDFA will honor Gianfranco Rosi.

SHOOTING

After a shutdown of more than five months, the Argentina government this week presented its General Protocol for the Prevention of COVID-19 in the Filming and/or Recording of Fiction for Film, Television and Platforms, where the measures were approved by the countrys Ministry of Culture, allowing production to resume in the country.

More than 20 leading industry organizations aided in compiling the 70-page document and endorsed the final version.

Under the agreed conditions, each production must provide to the Ministry of Culture a shot-by-shot breakdown which will be evaluated to establish if a project can be executed within the new guidelines. Scenes with physical contact will face additional scrutiny and require additional tests for cast and crew.

The document also proposes that jobs on set be rotated in shifts so specific groups will interact with the same individuals each day. No team member, regardless of role, will be allowed on set with a temperature of more than 99.5 degrees, and anyone who can work remotely is encouraged to do so. Any cast or crew member who cannot socially distance and fulfil their responsibilities will undergo the most up-to-date testing possible once a week, even in the absence of symptoms.

ACQUISITION

Andreas Roalds newly-established U.K. company Sovereign Film Distribution has picked up U.K. and Ireland rights for New York-based Peruvian filmmaker Melina Leons Song Without a Name, a 2019 Cannes Directors Fortnight player.

A black-and-white crime thriller, the feature is based on a true Peruvian story during the countrys 1980s political crisis. There, Georgina, a young Andean woman, has her newborn daughter stolen by a fake medical clinic. In her search to find and recover her child she meets investigative journalist Pedro Campos and the two work together on the case.

Story continues

Among the slate of features to play in French cinemas when they reopened in June, after Sophie Dulac Distribution picked it up, the film has also sold to Film Movement in the U.S., Trigon in Switzerland, Reading Bloom in Italy, Arc Films in Japan, Mad Distribution in MENA, HBO in Eastern Europe and Netflix for Latin America apart from Peru.

COMMISSIONS

British Broadcaster ITV will celebrate the U.K.s Black History Month with a slate of specially commissioned new programming and channel branding for the month of October.

Four programs have been announced so far. Loose Women and Strictly Come Dancing presenter Alison Hammond will host Alison Hammond: Back To School (working title), in which she will visit key British historical sites and while focusing on stories often left out of public school curriculae and shining the spotlight on important Black figures in the countrys history.

Sorry I Didnt Know is a twist on the traditional U.K. comedy panel show, hosted by Jimmy Akingbola, star of hit ITV sitcom Kate and Koji, which tests its participants and audiences knowledge of under-represented history. Black Comedy Legends is a one-hour factual special looking back on trendsetting Black comedians using archive footage and interviews. And Charlene and Friends, hosted by ITV news presenter Charlene White, will use various forms of media to examine racism from a vibrant perspective more digestible by younger audiences.

*****

ITV has also commissioned an adaptation of Sara Collins debut novel The Confessions of Frannie Langton, to be produced by Drama Republic.

The novel, a biting depiction of race, class and oppression, will be adapted into a four-part murder mystery mini-series, also be written by Collins, who was awarded the Costa Award for a debut novel in 2019.

In the book, set in Georgian London, Frannie Langton is a woman born into slavery on a Jamaican plantation who is brought across the Atlantic to work in the home of celebrated scientist George Benham and his wife Madame Marguerite Benham. Drama kicks in when the couple are found murdered, Frannie lying next to their dead bodies. Accused of a murder of which she has no memory, Frannie must fight her way out of addiction and try to recall what happened that night.

FESTIVALS

The Netherlands International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) will honor Oscar-nominated Italian director Gianfranco Rosi as this years guest of honor for the hybrid online/in-person event, running Nov. 18 to 29.

Accompanying the honor, the festival will host a retrospective of the filmmakers previous works, including 2016 Berlin Golden Bear-winner and 2017 Oscar nominee for best documentary feature Fire at Sea, 2013 Venice Golden Lion-winner Sacro Gra, Boatman, Below Sea Level, El Sicario, Room 164 and his upcoming feature, the culmination of three years of work, Notturno, which will world premiere in Venice next month.

This years hybrid version of the festival plans to screen around 200 films in 15 cinemas in the Dutch capital city, including 10 films hand-picked by Rosi from among his favorites. It will also stream three virtual cinemas which will play films and live online events featuring filmmakers and industry figureheads.

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New cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) across the United States went down around 12 percent on average for the last seven days. But experts said mitigation measures should not be relaxed and keep an eye on the upcoming flu season.

The country is still averaging more than 900 deaths per day. COVID-19 cases in states that are massively affected by the disease have started to decline steadily.

An analysis of data from John Hopkins University showed that new cases are down in Arizona by around 36 percent, while California and Texas COVID-19 cases fell by about 29 percent. Florida's COVID-19 cases are down by 26 percent.

"Everyone doesn't have to perform perfectly on every mitigation strategy; we need a lot of people doing a lot of things well," Jason Salemi, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of South Florida, said in a report.

Meanwhile, new COVID-19 cases are surging across the Midwest region, including in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, and North Dakota. Each of these states is seeing a peak in their COVID-19 cases.

Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, said that some are "getting stuck" in the yellow zone of between five and 10 percent of tests coming back positive.

"We don't need to have a third wave in the heartland right now," Redfield said. He added that we need to prevent that, especially that we are now nearing the fall season.

Salemi noted that everybody has been getting the COVID-19 fatigue, adding that the children are starting to get back in school. He said they have been seeing COVID-19 cases decline for several weeks.

"There is a strong desire to get back to our 'normal lives,' to exhale, and give our mental health a bit of a boost. But history has been telling already," Salemi said in a report.

COVID-19 Cases Decline

Report said that a decline in testing numbers might cause nationwide COVID-19 cases to decline.

A change in CDC guidelines enforced this caused concerns that testing counts could fall even lower and that infections could be missed.

In its updated testing guidelines, the CDC said that those who come into close contact with a known case of the virus but do not show any symptoms "do not necessarily need a test."

This is applicable unless they are vulnerable or their doctor or a state or a local public health official recommended one. Previous advisories said that testing everyone who came into close contact with an infected individual is needed.

The CDC noted that because of the "potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, it is important that contacts of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection be quickly identified and tested."

Several states have already announced that they will not follow the new CDC testing recommendations. Ben Lopman, a professor of epidemiology and environmental health at the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, called that the testing guidelines revision "damaging."

Lopman said that it goes against what so many public health officials have been calling for, which is not just testing, but testing people early in their infection and handing results quickly.

"That's how you use testing to help control the epidemic," Lopman said.

Check these out:

US Nears 5 Million Virus Cases as COVID-19 Evolves Into 'Behavioral Disease'

The Alarming Number of COVID-19 Cases Among NBA Players

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 06:06:33|Editor: huaxia

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Ippokratis Navridis (1st L), owner of a small bar, serves two guests outside his bar in downtown Athens, Greece, on Aug. 26, 2020. To contain the recent resurgence of the COVID-19 infections, the Greek government has introduced a series of restrictive measures on the regional and national levels, including a curfew until Aug. 31 from midnight to 7 a.m. for all cafes, bars and restaurants in the Attica region and similar measures in many other regions. However, owners of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) such as Navridis are sending out "distress signals," calling for relief to help them survive the impact of the pandemic. (Photo by Nick Paleologos/Xinhua)

ATHENS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Bar patrons in Ippokratis Navridis' small bar in the center of Athens these days have to take frequent peeks at the clock in addition to observing the social distancing while taking sips, as a curfew is in place amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

To contain the recent resurgence of the COVID-19 infections, the Greek government has introduced a series of restrictive measures on the regional and national levels, including a curfew until Aug. 31 from midnight to 7 a.m. for all cafes, bars and restaurants in the Attica region and similar measures in many other regions.

However, owners of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) such as Navridis are sending out "distress signals," calling for relief to help them survive the impact of the pandemic.

"I believe that the situation will be difficult. If this measure (curfew) will be extended beyond Sept. 1, we will face problems concerning the employees as well. The work hours will be reduced significantly," Navridis told Xinhua.

Navridis is struggling to make ends meet in autumn as the bar is losing customers and revenues.

Before the curfew, the bar opened around 7:30 p.m. and could run until 2:30 a.m. Navridis said he respects the experts' instructions but hopes for a better balance between the protection of public health and support of the economic activity.

"We do respect them and comply with them, we are trying to be extra cautious because we are serving people," Navridis stressed.

"I think the start of the curfew at midnight is unfair. It could be around 1:30-2:00 a.m. Anyway, the virus is always out there (night and day)," he said.

However, striking a fine balance in order to save human lives and keep the economy alive is not an easy task, officials acknowledged, urging people to observe safe distances and wear protective masks to facilitate the return to normalcy.

"There should be no complacency," Nikos Hardalias, deputy minister for Civil Protection and Crisis Management at the Ministry of Citizen Protection, repeated during a press conference on Friday on the course of the pandemic.

"All together we can help either accelerate or slow down the virus' spread," said Gkikas Magiorkinis, a professor of epidemiology who participates in the committee of experts advising the Greek Health Ministry regarding the management of the COVID-19 challenge.

Authorities recorded 270 new COVID-19 infections within 24 hours on Friday. A total of 9,800 infections have been registered in Greece in the past six months, including 259 fatalities. Five patients have passed away since Thursday.

The resurgence of infections aggravated the predicament facing many enterprises, whose survival is pivotal for employment.

Four in 10 employees fear for their jobs, according to a recent survey released by the umbrella union of private-sector workers GSEE.

In order to help businessmen like Navridis stay afloat, the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) and other associations request measures to boost liquidity, support entrepreneurism and employment.

The government is examining a new package of such measures to be announced in the coming weeks to help society go through the forthcoming difficult months with as few wounds as possible, the local newspaper "Ta Nea" (The News) reported this week.

After expanding by 1.9 percent last year, the Greek government expects that the economy this year will contract by up to 8 percent due to the pandemic's impact, Greek Finance Minister Christos Staikouras said on Thursday in a written statement. (1 euro= 1.19 U.S. dollars) Enditem
The 20th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement seems a long time ago now. While it was a jovial affair, there was also concern regarding institutions which had been down a year and there was advice from the older men of local politics to the younger women of local politics to get Stormont up and running again. It felt as disconnected to our present as it was connected to the past.

The truth is that the language of the peace process has not fitted into post-Good Friday Agreement politics for some time. No matter your opinion on the matters, the contest over victims' payments resulting in a court case and the tweet by Martina Anderson only serve to highlight how far from those aspirations we have travelled.

Once upon a time in politics on this island, there was a commitment to building peace and understanding, to reaching beyond one's own community and experience.

Irish presidents used words and poetry to acknowledge a painful past and create a new future. British royalty went to places that local unionism would not, extending hands of friendship and bringing laurel leaves of peace. Republican leaders acknowledged the pain and hurt of past actions and forged friendship where previously enmity existed.

We took those "set pieces" for granted, but they were historic and created environments of possibility and hope. They told a weary population on both islands that generosity was a good thing and reaching out was rewarded.

It is a long time since hands of history were extended in friendship, rather than necessity and, currently, there is little public pressure on anyone to change that.

The lack of republican appetite for renewal of these approaches is partly because of how acts of generosity and historic set pieces were treated.

Martin McGuinness led from the front by meeting victims of the IRA and British royals and by visiting sites of harm.

While he did this, there was no reciprocation from unionism.

Once Dr Ian Paisley left the stage, there was no one from unionism to meet Martin McGuinness on the fields of peacemaking; it was taken for granted and Irish identity and aspiration was still treated with contempt.

In particular, there has been no recognition of the harms unionism engaged in.

To an extent, this rejection of an outstretched hand was hidden by the Royal family's role in reconciliation. Queen Elizabeth and her family, in words and action, sought to create a new relationship between the peoples of our islands. While Orange bands marched and sang songs of insult outside St Patrick's Church in Belfast, Prince Charles visited it and met with local residents.

But those times appear over and it is notable that since David Cameron left office following the Brexit vote, all attention to building peace left with him. The dismantling of the Stormont House Agreement means further broken promises for victims, but also wider impact.

There has been a growth in a singular conflict narrative by Britain since the Brexit vote. It is an approach which ignores international legal obligations, ignores the bi-partisan nature of the agreement itself and, most crucially, disregards the imperative to heal the wounds of our shared past.

The current British Government clearly does not care that wrongs were done by previous administrations and don't care that those wrongs still harm those who survived and our transitional society today. They only care about protecting their own forces and narratives.

The political vacuum of governance has been filled since January and the signing of New Decade, New Approach, but there is no indication that the vacuum in building reconciliation and acknowledgement will be filled any time soon. But, more worryingly, it seems that there's little appetite from anyone - local parties, or from the two governments - to do anything about that.

Actions, or lack of actions, can enhance or diminish opportunities for peace-building and opportunities for healing the wounds of the past. No one party, or government, can do the work on their own.

Maybe the past few months should give us pause to think.

Andree Murphy is deputy director of Relatives for Justice
The16th Marketing Conclave organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), held on Aug 27-28 with the theme Towards The Tipping Point was inaugurated by Shri Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises. Shri Javadekar stressed on the need to counter fake news and termed fake news as more dangerous than paid news.

The marketing conclave, which is one of the biggest in India saw industry leaders share their insights on the post-covid scenario and how through responsible marketing, consumer demand can be regained. Delivering a keynote address, Harsh Mariwala, Founder & Chairman Marico mentioned that it has it is now crucial for brands to innovate on a perpetual basis. He further stated with the world facing an unprecedented crisis, and the role of innovation and purpose in brand building has drastically increased as organisations look to create a meaningful connect with their consumers.

Anant Goenka, Executive Director, The Indian Express & Chairman, IAMAI Digital Advertising Committee, said digital advertising is increasingly being adopted by brands in order to chart an effective communication strategy that involves a two-way communication process between the organisation and its consumers. The current times have taught that messaging and communication has never been more important, content has never been less monetised and the reason to look beyond the shares of customers wallets, has never been more crucial for sustaining, he added.

Ajit Mohan, Vice President, Facebook spoke about the pandemics impact on the digital world. He highlighted that the digitally influenced purchase has shot up by at least 15-20% for some of the largest consumer categories such as apparel, mobile phones packaged consumer goods that traditionally had offline chains.

Tushar Vyas, President, GroupM South Asia in his address said: Im glad MarCon 16 is happening at an appropriate time when everyone is curious to understand and decode what is the scenario going to be in the post pandemic world. There is a visible change in consumer trends along with how brands are evolving their marketing tactics. COVID-19 has given a rise to challenges and changes across the marketing ecosystem but on the other side, it has offered a fresh perspective into the new reality and help accelerate digital adoption. Digital, data and technology have a larger part to play in the post COVID world to help turn the tide said,

Sharing his perspective on Fantasy Sports, Harsh Jain Co-Founder & CEO Dream11 outlined the importance of proper marketing and gave an insight of how marketing will work if the product is good.

Girish Agarwal, Director, Dainik Bhaskar Group spoke about how regional newspaper industry is growing while English newspapers are recording a dip in readership. He however said that at the same time, digital news platforms recorded a high growth. Thus, as a change of strategy, print reporters, besides writing articles for newspapers have begun to contribute for websites.

Jagran News Media CEO Bharat Gupta stressed on the need for creating trust and credibility. He said that these two factors should be of paramount importance for content creators in the digital world. He further said that the focus should be to embrace change with new innovations as legacy alone will not help traditional companies survive.

The conference was wrapped up with a very interesting panel discussion about the challenges and opportunities that an agency faces when there is a paradigm shift in the Marketing Ecosystem. Anant Goenka, who moderated the session said brands should invest in finding a role in society and look for a larger purpose. He stated the importance of communication and how a brand should focus on building up relationship with their customers.

Ashish Bhasin, CEO APAC and Chairman India, Dentsu Aegis Network Consumers said today the consumers are very smart, particularly the younger generation. He asked brands to be responsible in their messaging and not focus only on earning a brownie point. Sam Balsara, Chairman and Managing Director, Madison World when asked about how brands go about finding a larger purpose, said younger people get attracted to a brands cause and when a brand takes up a cause, what they should look for is authenticity.

The conference had an online gathering of more than 3000+ registered delegates from across the globe with 150+ speakers. Some of the speakers at the two-day conference included Anant Goenka, Executive Director, The Indian Express; Harsh Mariwala, founder and chairman; Marico; Satyan Gajwani, vice-chairman, Times Internet; Girish Agarwal, Director, Dainik Bhaskar Group; Mark Read, CEO, WPP; Nitin Paranjpe, COO, Unilever; Harsh Jain, Co-Founder & CEO, Dream11; Sam Balsara  Chairman and Managing Director, Madison World ; Ashish Bhasin; CEO APAC and Chairman India, Dentsu Aegis Network ;Vishnu Mohan Chairman & CEO, Havas Group; Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Mediabrands India among others

The conference along with many eminent marketing maestros also saw the presence of many big Bollywood celebrities like, Neha Dhupia, Actress; Anand Tiwari, Actor & Filmmaker; Bharat Bala, Director among others.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Loose Park is one of the most popular spots in Kansas City, Missouri, to take photos, whether they are personal or professional. What many photographers might not realize is that the park has always required a permit to take professional or commercial photos on the property.
Several teachers also kidnapped by unknown gunmen following the attack on a school in North Kivu.

At least two students and a teacher have been killed and several other teachers kidnapped after a primary school holding exams was attacked by unidentified gunmen in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi said two students died when fighting broke out in North Kivu province on Thursday morning. He did not give further details.

Cosmas Kangakolo, an administrator for Masisi territory, said the Ngoyi Primary School was attacked. He said one teacher died and several were kidnapped.

Exam centres in the area are protected by the army, Kangakolo said, because of endemic security problems.

The United Nations childrens fund said the clashes took place between law enforcement officials and an armed group near the exam centre.

Exact details of the attack and the number of casualties remained unclear. It was not clear whether the students were targets of the fighting or caught in the crossfire.

Rich in fertile soil and natural resources but awash with weapons, large portions of the DRC continue to suffer from chronic instability following the 1998-2003 war in which millions of people died.

Violence has flared in recent months with armed groups killing more than 1,300 people in the first half of 2020, three times more than the previous year.
Sen. Kamala Harris is hosting the launch of a national voter outreach program for the Joe Biden campaign with Hispanic small business owners on Saturday, her first virtual Florida event since becoming the Democratic vice presidential candidate.

The new program, called Nuestros Negocios, Nuestros Futuros, will partner with Latino business owners to spread the word about Bidens plan to encourage entrepreneurship among Hispanic communities, while involving them in the campaigns Hispanic voter outreach efforts.

Saturdays virtual launch with Miamis Hispanic business owners is slated to be the first of several around the country, according to the Biden campaign  including in Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin and North Carolina. Among the participants for the South Florida small business event: Ivan Nieves, owner of La Social restaurant; Pilar Guzman Zavala, CEO of Half Moon Empanadas and Claudia Mendoza, owner of I.Q. Construction in West Palm Beach, and Bill Fuller, co-owner of Ball & Chain, which Biden visited in September last year.

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden campaigns in Miami while visiting Ball & Chain in Little Havana for a meet-and-greet with Hispanic voters on Sunday, September 15, 2019.

Small businesses ... are where we shop, where we work, and many times, where we congregate with our community,Laura Jimenez, National Latino Engagement Director for Biden for President, said in a statement. In order to truly meet Hispanics where we are, we need to be where they are, which is exactly why were launching Nuestros negocios, nuestro futuro.

The business owners who get involved in this coalition will receive campaign organizer-style training, including how to reach out to other small business owners, write op-eds for the Biden campaign and serve as surrogates for the Democratic presidential candidate.

They could also be asked to distribute voter registration information to their customers and put up Biden signs in their businesses.

The new program comes as the Biden campaign is looking to ramp up outreach among Hispanics, including in Florida. The campaign is currently in the middle of a $26 million-ad-buy rollout this week in major Latino metro markets, like greater Miami-Dade.

Story continues

Among the policies Biden is proposing for Latino-owned businesses:

 A restart package to help entrepreneurs rehire and retain workers theyve been forced to let go as a result of the coronavirus pandemics financial fallout

 Reforming Opportunity Zones to serve minority-owned businesses

 A plan to triple the federal goal for contracting with small disadvantaged businesses.
China added 23 cutting-edge technologies to a list of restricted exports items, according to a government circular posted on Friday night. The revision, initially revealed when China-US tensions erupted, strengthens the regulatory foundation for possible export controls regarding countries and regions taking a hostile stance against China, said a trade expert.

Technologies now face tighter export controls, in areas such as vegetation breeding, metal 3D printing and advanced drilling tools and software used in oil and gas extraction, according to a new catalogue issued by China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The new catalog is aimed at better regulation of such exports, boosting scientific advancement and international economic and technological cooperation and safeguarding national economic safety, an official with MOFCOM's Department of Trade in Services and Commercial Services said in a late Friday statement.

Technology exports refer to China's transfer of technologies including the transfer of patent rights and technology secrets to overseas markets though trade, investment or economic and technological cooperation.

The nation categorizes tech exports into free, restricted and prohibited exports. Free tech exports are subject to contractual registration afterward, while the export of restricted technologies requires a license.

The ministry noted that It has been more than 10 years since the last revision and China's steadily improving science and technology level has made a timely update necessary.

The original list of items for which exports are prohibited came into effect on November 1, 2008. It was not until July 2018 that MOFCOM unveiled draft revisions to the catalogue for control of both imports and exports.

A statement from MOFCOM showed the ministry was seeking public comments on the revisions through August 22, 2018.

In 2013, China's technology exports were worth $20 billion, less than half that of technology imports. In 2019, technology exports by China reached $32.1 billion, almost equal the value of technology imports, data from the ministry showed.

It could be said that the flare-up in trade tensions between China and the US in 2018 motivated the government to revise the catalogue, Gao Lingyun, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing who closely follows the China-US trade frictions, told the Global Times on Friday.

The restricted export items comprise mostly China's indigenous intellectual properties that could only come to fruition in China where its unique institutional advantages ensure hefty commitments to technologies that would be unavailable in other economies, he said.

Cutting-edge technologies used in third- and fourth-generation nuclear equipment and materials, sea-borne satellite launching pads, and engineering equipment and machinery used in building manmade islands in deep water were also included.

Technologies in which Chinese products have an edge, such as drone technology, ultra-high voltage transmission and clean coal power generation, were also among the added items.

Sensitive technologies including quantum encryption and early warning technology based on massive data harvesting were also listed.

Exporters of these technologies will have to obtain a permit for technology transfers overseas, either via trade or investment.

The revised catalog could be comparable to the US Entity List in that it offers a regulatory basis for restrictions on business deemed detrimental to China's interests, according to Gao.

Whether a ban or restriction would be activated or not is left to China's discretion, meaning that markets where a China threat is being hyped could be subject to the restrictions, he reckoned.

While the impact of the revised catalog on Chinese exports is hard to predict for the time being, the resulting increased intellectual property protection is likely to boost exports of key items on the list, as overseas buyers may only secure the items from the Chinese market, Gao added.

Also announced on the same day were nine items that were previously banned or restricted and that will now have loosened export controls.
Thousands of people, mainly women, marched through the center of Minsk on August 29 in the latest protest against Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Wrapped in red-and-white flags, which have become a symbol for the opposition, the march participants sang, held flowers, waved, and chanted slogans calling for the president to step down and demanding that those behind a violent postelection crackdown be brought to justice. Protests have been continuing in the country for weeks, despite the massive use of force by police and a wave of arrests in the days after the August 9 presidential election, which is widely believed to have been rigged in Lukashenka's favor. No arrests or violence was reported on August 29, though at one point protesters faced off with riot police who blocked the crowd's progress. On the same day, Belarusian authorities stripped accreditation from at least 17 journalists from major foreign news organizations, including RFE/RL, the BBC, AP, and Reuters. Without accreditation, journalists are not legally permitted to gather news within the country. No reason for the governments decision was provided.
The has frozen four HSBC containing Rs 46.96 crore after it raided multiple premises of companies involved in running online Chinese apps, according to an official statement.

It said the searches were carried out at 15 locations in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai and Pune on Friday under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

"Searches were conducted on the registered offices of the companies, their directors and chartered accountants involved in illegally running online apps from websites which are hosted from outside India," the federal probe agency said in the statement on Saturday.

"During the course of search, ED has seized 17 hard disks, five laptops, phones, crucial incriminating documents and has also frozen Rs 46.96 crore held in 4 HSBC Bank accounts," it said.

The money laundering case is based on an FIR filed by the Telangana Police against the accused early this year, it added.

According to the statement, the probe found out that "with the help of some Indian chartered accountants, some Chinese nationals floated multiple Indian companies."



"Initially dummy Indian directors were used to incorporate the companies and after some time Chinese nationals travelled to India and took directorship in these companies," it said.

"Some locals were hired and used to open with HSBC Bank and open trade accounts with online wallets namely Paytm, Cashfree, Razorpay, etc." the ED said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Australia is eagerly waiting to see who takes over as Japanese prime minister, with the Morrison government privately hoping Shinzo Abe's successor will not soften the country's stance on key security alliances and lean more towards China.

Abe this week resigned after a prolonged battle with the chronic illness ulcerative colitis, leaving Australia without one of its strongest political allies in the region.

Resigned: Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. Credit:Kyodo News

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and his two predecessors Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott, all praised Abe as a major figure in international affairs and a close friend of Australia.

Abe drove a number of key foreign policy initiatives in recent years, including reviving the "Quad" security alliance between Australia, Japan, India and the United States. The Japanese Prime Minister led the charge to conceive of the region as the "Indo-Pacific", rather than the "Asia-Pacific" - part of a strategy of building a broader set of alliances in the region to accommodate China, but counterbalance its growing assertiveness in the region.
No one came to help us during Hurricane Harvey. We were on our own. Left behind.

We are sisters who live across the street from one another. When Dolores house got nearly 10 feet of water, her brother-in-law hotwired a boat floating in what used to be her backyard to get us out of harms way. As we left our subdivision by boat, the water covered the top of street signs and neighbors on jet skis were checking each house for evacuees.

The absence of outside help during Harvey is part of a long pattern of neglect for our neighborhood. There are only two streetlights, which we had to fight to get. Streets dont get fixed, garbage doesnt get picked up on time and the police rarely come when we call.

A month ago, we learned that our homes in the Allen Field neighborhood in north Houston near Greens Bayou is part of a new mandatory buyout program led by Harris Countys Community Services Department.

We are not against a buyout program. While some of our neighbors are indeed opposed to it, others have been through enough floods. We know were in harms way and want to get out, but we have to speak out about how this program is being implemented. Not just for our own sake, but for the many others who will share our fate.

Make no mistake, more buyouts are coming in Harris County. Our flooding issues will only get worse with climate change.

Harris County has an opportunity to be an innovator for these types of programs. The mandatory buyout program were a part of will set the tone for how future buyouts will be handled and how people will be treated. This matters in a place that calls itself one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the country and the energy capital of the world.

Harris County officials say no infrastructure solution can solve the problem  they have to buy our house. If proper investments had been made to protect us from flooding in the first place, maybe we wouldnt have to lose our homes. If Harris County is asking some to give up their homes for the benefit of the region, it has to be done in a way that doesnt heap the most burden on the places that got the least help in the first place. All we are asking for is an equitable buyout program.

Harris Countys current mandatory buyout program covers eight areas across Aldine, north Houston and Highland Shores. The county will purchase over 400 sites, 34 of which are commercial, and turn that land into permanent green space and detention. The seven areas in the buyout program area include several residential neighborhoods, four mobile home communities, small businesses, and even the retreat center for the Missionary Carmelites of St. Teresa. The program impacts about 2,000 people and 682 households.

Our familys ties to this neighborhood run deep. Relatives on both our mothers and fathers sides make up 13 households who live in this subdivision, and every one of them is a part of Harris Countys new mandatory buyout program. Our family has lived and grown in this community for six generations. Our great-great-grandparents met here, fell in love and started a family. We all rely on one another and continuously work to make this community better.

Displaced by Zoom call

The timing of this predicament couldnt be worse. In the middle of hurricane season and a global crisis in which sheltering in place is vital, we have to face the realities of losing our home. The county says buying our homes and moving us into a new one will take about 18 months from start to finish. That might seem like a generous time frame, but the thought of losing our homes in the COVID era, when were already dealing with job loss and worried about putting food on the table, is almost unbearable.

The county program website describes the number of households and people who will be displaced along with their demographic data. In the census tract for Allen Field, 86 percent are nonwhite. Of the eight buyout areas only one is predominantly white. Because the program uses federal disaster recovery money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, non-citizen residents dont qualify for relocation benefits. They will only be reimbursed for the cost of the property, so relocation costs will be passed onto families or prorated for the number of citizen residents. Some will be forced to pay out of their own pockets for movers, rent deposits, new mortgage costs and many other expenses.

They cant get a straight answer on how much relocation money theyll get, how straightening out things like deed or title issues will be handled and how property appraisals will be fair. The circular conversation (not getting a satisfactory answer on Zoom or getting different answers depending on who you talk to) doesnt give people confidence to submit their paperwork to start the process. Dolores has all her paperwork filled out but she cant get specifics on even the range of relocation benefits she may receive.

The county has sent letters and hung fliers with information. They have held virtual meetings in English and Spanish, but thats not enough information for a mandatory buyout. When we call the number the county provides, its answered only in English, and the person who answers doesnt know anything about the program. They just take down your information and say someone will call you back. But they dont call you back. You have to call over and over to get answers about them taking away your home.

A recent town hall held over Zoom just repeated the same information weve heard before. We ask questions and get no clear answers. Nearly 80 residents in the town hall shared the same concern.

Our neighbors are confused, anxious and worried. Were not sleeping from all the stress. Were afraid well be left behind once again.

In some other places, the community is involved in creating the handbook for these kinds of programs from the start. Other counties and cities across the country take a human rights approach to buyouts. This model is working in Mecklenburg County, N.C., and a Greenway Master Plan in Des Moines, Iowa, where theyve adopted an equity lens. Harris County missed this step.

The fact that we flood as severely as we do connects back to environmental racism, systems that have put us at the bottom of the list for mitigation programs and allowed irresponsible development to increase our vulnerability after storms and heavy rains.

Harveys high waters impacted high-income neighborhoods, low-income neighborhoods, white neighborhoods and communities of color. While floods dont discriminate, recovery often does.

Relocation with dignity

As we organize with our neighbors, we have also begun working with nonprofits, including the Coalition for Environment, Equity and Resilience, a local environmental advocacy group that is connecting us to experts and engineers who know about buyout programs.

The current program fails to take under consideration the fact that our property values have been depressed by a lack of infrastructure and because of discrimination against our mostly Latinx population. The county keeps telling us they will take our homes, but they have not asked us what we need. They are only telling us what the economic calculations say they can provide. We are asking for a program based on human rights so that we can be bought out and relocated with dignity.

Last year, NPR ran a story showing how buyout programs grow inequality nationwide, making the rich richer and the poor poorer. This is especially true in communities of color. We will be repeating the same pattern here in Harris County if we dont wake up and change this program and future buyout programs.

The county is looking into creating a fund with general county dollars so that mixed-status households can be made whole. Right now, theyre conducting a study to understand how many households would need that help to determine how much money to set aside in the fund. That is the kind of solution we need.

We ask Commissioners Court to charge all departments with incorporating the 1998 U.N. Commission on Human Rights Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and immediately establish a fund for mixed-status immigrant families. Hire more bilingual case managers and benefits specialists so qualified staff can answer our calls. We also ask Commissioners Court to establish formal partnerships with nonprofits that can provide legal services and educate us about our rights.

The county should connect with the community to ensure the correct information reaches all of us. Ideally, these would be in our actual neighborhood and not just online. Many of our neighbors say, que nos den a la cara, meaning come face us. During the pandemic, we know its not safe to gather, so this makes the confusion, frustration and misinformation even worse. Communicating difficult information like eligibility of benefits or the process to relocate your entire life over a video call is so unsatisfactory.

My family has watched this neighborhood change over the course of nearly 70 years. It always flooded, but never this badly. The repeated flooding began when new development along Homestead Road and all around us left our neighborhood a low spot where floodwaters pool. Ever since Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, the flooding has gotten worse every year.

Our community is not just buildings on a map; its where lives and memories and connections exist. The home where my mother lives is the same one my great-grandmother bought in 1953. Every generation of my family has lived in that house at some point.

Its also the gathering spot for our annual Halloween party. Dolores husband fills a trailer with hay and hooks it up to an ATV to take kids on a hayride and trick or treat throughout our neighborhood. Our mom prints fliers and invites all the neighbor kids to join in on the fun. It seems those gatherings, and many others, are at an end.

My family invested in this place, even when the county didnt. We just want to make sure they keep up their end of the bargain as they move us out. No one should be left behind.

Mendoza, Luebano and their extended family are longtime residents of the Allen Field neighborhood.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) calls on education staff to take part in our online forum on Saturday September 5, 2pm, to launch the Education Rank and File Safety Committee. The aim of this committee is to unite all those opposed to the unsafe reopening of schools and provide the necessary leadership to prepare for a nationwide general strike to halt the reopening of schools.

From September 1, more than 1.4 million education staff and nearly 9 million children will have returned to unsafe schools. This takes place under conditions of an escalation of the virus, with the R (Reproduction) rate over 1 in many areas and with thousands of new infections being recorded weekly. Several cities and towns are already under local lockdowns with dozens more at risk due to spiralling infections.

The claims by Boris Johnsons Conservative government that its reopening of schools is based on a moral duty to uphold the educational rights of children and ensure their well-being is a fraud. The Tories have nothing but contempt for working class children. They were forced by popular anger to backtrack over the planned removal of free school meals for 1.3 million of the poorest children in the UK and the downgrading of A level results based on a class-biased algorithm. Johnsons earlier plan to reopen schools on June 1 also met with widespread defiance.

This is a government responsible for condemning tens of thousands of the most vulnerable to a premature and lonely death in care homes. Those designated as key workers have been deprived essential personal protective equipment (PPE), leading to the highest proportion of deaths among health and social care workers in the world.

The reopening of schools is based solely on utilising the education system as a childminding service to force parents into unsafe workplaces. It is dictated by the drive to restart the production of profit following the massive multi-billion bailout of the major corporations. It is being imposed through a campaign of public misinformation, smears against teachers, and by intimidating parents with the threat of fines and withdrawal of placements.

No opposition to the Tories can be expected from the Labour Party and trade unions, which support schools reopening and limit themselves to constructive criticism of minor issues. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that Johnson must reopen schools, No ifs, no buts, no equivocations. The education unions set five tests for the safe reopening of schools, none of which have been met. These demands have now been shelved, with the National Education Union (NEU) merely asking for a Plan B to be drawn up for the inevitable COVID-19 outbreaks being prepared by the governments criminal policy and its own surrender.

The unfolding catastrophe can only be prevented through independent class action. The rank-and-file committees will mobilise teachers, classroom assistants and other educators, make an appeal to parents and the broadest sections of workers, and adopt a programme of measures to protect their safety and lives and those of school pupils.

No effort has been spared to confuse, disorient, and demobilise an effective counterattack by the working class. The lies of the government and the media justifying school reopening must be exposed:

Lie 1: The government is acting on behalf of the educational needs of children, especially the most socially disadvantaged.

This is a cynical effort to exploit genuine concerns that exist amongst teachers and parents. This government has done its level best to destroy the public education system and to ensure that working class children are born into poverty, live lives of terrible hardship and die sooner than those who are wealthy. The damage that will be done to childrens long-term educational outcomes by the pandemic is real, but this can be overcome without putting lives at risk. A multi-billion pound injection of funds is needed to provide online learning, reduce class sizes, enable one-to-one support, build new schools, recruit teachers, provide counselling, develop catch-up programmes, and provide state of the art equipment in all schools. The government has no intention of providing any of this. All of societys resources are instead given over to the banks, corporations and the super-rich, while schools scrape around for PPE and funding for additional cleaning!

Lie 2 : Children are less susceptible to coronavirus and rarely transmit the disease.

Prime Minister Johnson and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson have insisted the reopening of schools is not negotiable, using and misusing politically selected research to claim that schools are the safest place for children to be.

In reality, comprehensive studies with large sample sizes conducted in the US, Italy, and South Korea concluded that children transmit COVID-19 more readily than adults. One study from Chicago found that babies and young children can carry viral loads in their throats and airways up to 100 times greater than adults. The spread of the deadly disease in Israel has been largely attributed to the reopening of schools. The reopening of schools in Scotland by Nicola Sturgeons Scottish National Party government from August 11 has already produced infections in nearly 30 schools. In Kingspark in Dundee, 21 staff and 2 pupils contracted COVID-19 along with four contacts in the community.

The oft-cited Public Health England (PHE) survey published in August supposedly confirming there is very little evidence of coronavirus transmission where pupils have returned does nothing of the sort. The study was based on 20,000 pupils and teachers in 100 schools monitored up to the end of the summer term. Of the 121 people affected by outbreaks, 30 were children and 91 were staff. The numbers of children in school were minimal. Social distancing was enforced, and vulnerable children and staff were shielded at home. Many children and staff attended on a part-time rota basis. Most importantly, the UK was still in lockdown with a limited reopening of the economy.

Schools will return in September with over a million adult staff present and nine million children travelling by public transport and with no real measures to contain the virus in operation. In the United States, a limited and phased reopening of schools has already led to 180,000 cases of COVID-19 in children between July 9 to August 6a 90 percent increase in total cases among children in just four weeks. When children are hospitalised, one in three need the ICU, which is as often as adults. Six percent of these need ventilators. Since May, at least 90 children have died from COVID-19 across the US, many with no pre-existing conditions.

Lie 3: Schools can be reopened safely.

None of the protections that have been provided for the broader reopening of the economy are in place for the reopening of schools. Children will be returning to classroom sizes of 30 children, with social distancing impossible. They will be in bubbles of up to 240, although many staff are reporting bubbles far greater.

The last minute U-turn on face coverings, allowing children in secondary schools to wear face coverings in corridors and only in areas where infection rates are high will do nothing to protect children or staff. Face coverings are only effective as part of broader social distancing and testing measures. The track and trace system is a shambles. Testing was meant to be available to all staff and children before schools reopened, but schools have only been provided with 10 testing kits with instructions to use them only in exceptional circumstances. One third of testing staff are to be made redundant and many areas report that only 50 percent of contacts are being traced. Weekly tests must take place of all staff to ensure that the virus is not in circulation.

There is no additional funding for regular and enhanced cleaning and schools will have to provide staffing for this from their meagre budgets. Schools have been told to use hand sanitiser sparingly! The 1.5 billion allocated for catch-up lessons doesnt come close to meeting budget shortfalls of over 5.4 billion over the last three years.

Build the education rank-and-file safety committees:

The Educators Rank and File Safety Committee will be completely independent of the education trade unions. All the education unions support the reopening of schools.

The closure of schools on March 23 was in response to the independent opposition among staff and parents. Millions took part in surveys demanding the closure of schools and many thousands of parents stopped sending their children in. Opposition to the broader reopening of schools was also led by parents, who refused to send their children to school from June 1 in primary schools. The unions called only for an extension of two weeks, to June 15, and then supported a full reopening.

A petition of over 100,00 parents has already demanded the rescinding of plans to fine those who refuse to send their children to unsafe schools. In response, the unions have only called for a case-by-case dialogue with families. Meanwhile they appeal to the Tories to be included in the governments national taskforce, which focuses on the recovery of the economy for the rich and nothing else.

There is broad-based hostility to the role of the trade unions and Labour Party and their support for the governments agenda. In a survey conducted last week by the SEP, the vast majority of respondents opposed reopening schools and supported a general strike to prevent this. The collaboration of Labour and the unions with the Tories was denounced as appalling, spineless, shambolic, scandalous, disgraceful, disgusting and pathetic.

This hostility must now take a conscious, organised form, by joining and building education rank-and-file safety committees throughout the UK.

In raising the call for a nationwide general strike, the SEP proposes the following demands for workers to raise in their schools, workplaces, and communities:

Keep all schools closed until the virus is eradicated! With the virus spiralling out of control across the UK, in-person instruction cannot be done safely.

Full funding for public education and online instruction! High-speed internet access, food distribution, mental health care, special education supports, and all other resources needed to provide the best quality remote learning, must be guaranteed to every student and education worker.

Halt all nonessential production! Until the pandemic is contained, only key industries such as food production, medical care, and logistics should remain open. Workers in those industries must be provided with the most advanced safety measures to prevent infection.

For a massive expansion of testing and contact tracing! To contain the virus, universal testing must be provided for all and a rigorous system of contact tracing established.

For free speech and the protection of whistleblowers! All those who speak out against unsafe working conditionsin schools, factories, warehouses, hospitals, or officesmust be defended against any victimisation by employers or state officials. All workers who have been victimised must be rehired with backpay.

The rescinding of the threat of fines for parents who refuse to send their children to unsafe schools! Full income protection to all parents and carers who stay home with their children! The money handed over to the rich must be used to provide full income to those who cannot work.

The catastrophic impact of the pandemic is fundamentally a social and political issue, not simply a medical one. The technology and medical expertise exist to contain the virus, but under capitalism everything is subordinated to the profit interests of the corporate and financial elite. The demands advanced by the SEP are not based on what the corporations and the politicians claim is affordable, but what is necessary to protect the lives and well-being of children, teachers and educators, and the entire working class.

The initiative advanced by the SEP is part of an international campaign. Meetings in the US, Europe, and Australia have taken place. The struggle against the pandemic is a global one and the deadly reopening of schools is taking place in every country. A unified international campaign will be blow to the plans of the bourgeoisie and will develop the self-confidence of the working class.

We call on all those who want to take up this fight to register for next Saturdays online forum, sign-up to receive our newsletter and join the rank and file committee. Help distribute this statement as widely as possible through social media and among education staff and parents.
The evidence on face coverings 'is not very strong in either direction', England's deputy chief medical officer has said, leaving Britons confused once again over experts' changing attitudes to masks.

Government guidance released late last night ahead of the return of children to classes next week said teachers and students may need to wear face coverings in communal areas.

It follows existing rules which state masks must be worn on public transport, in hospitals and in many shops, as well as leisure facilities such as cinemas, but not pubs or restaurants.

Experts' attitudes to face coverings have changed repeatedly since restrictions were first enforced nearly five months ago, and Jenny Harries' latest comments caused further confusion.

The evidence on face coverings 'is not very strong in either direction', England's deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries, pictured, has said

Government guidance released late last night ahead of the return of children to classes next week said teachers and students may need to wear face coverings in communal areas as well as on public transport, pictured

How the government's line on face coverings has changed over the months March 12: Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries: 'For the average member of the public walking down a street, it is not a good idea in fact, you can actually trap the virus in the mask and start breathing it in.' April 16: Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said: 'The evidence is weak, but the evidence of a small effect is there under certain circumstances.' April 21: Revealed in meeting minutes a month later, Sage advised: 'On balance, there is enough evidence to support recommendation of community use of cloth face masks, for short periods in enclosed spaces, where social distancing is not possible.' April 23: Dr Jenny Harries said there could be 'a very, very small potential beneficial effect in some enclosed environments'. April 24: Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'On masks, as more information comes through, the science is constantly evolving and we always bear in mind that science and then take the decision. As of today, the government position is unchanged.' April 30: Boris Johnson said: 'I do think that face coverings will be useful, both for epidemiological reasons, but also for giving people confidence that they can go back to work.' May 20: Researchers in Hong Kong found face masks reduced infection by up to 75 per cent. June 4: Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that face coverings will be mandatory on public transport from June 15. He said: 'With more people using transport the evidence suggests wearing face coverings offers some - albeit limited - protection against the spread for the virus.' June 5: Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed plans to make face coverings compulsory in hospitals for all staff, visitors and outpatients from June 15, but a furious NHS boss said the decision was made 'without any notice or consultation'. Meanwhile, Grant Shapps said masks would not be required in other settings such as shops because people spend little time in close proximity. June 12: German study suggests making face masks compulsory could slow the spread of Covid-19 by as much as 40 per cent. July 24: Face masks made compulsory in takeaways, banks and post offices as well as shops, supermarkets, indoor shopping centres and stations - though there was confusion after Michael Gove was spotted not wearing one in a Pret. August 8: The guidance was extended further to make face coverings compulsory in cinemas, museums and places of worship. August 28: Jenny Harries says the evidence on face coverings 'is not very strong in either direction'. Advertisement

In a Q&A with Boris Johnson yesterday, she said: 'The evidence on face coverings is not very strong in either direction.

'At the moment the evidence is pretty stable, but it can be very reassuring in those enclosed environments for children and for teachers as well, to know that people are taking precautions.'

Dr Harries added that the advice could change in the future.

In response, one frustrated parent tweeted: 'So face masks may .. or may not .. have any benefit or protect others in enclosed spaces .. Jenny Harries is undermining the message.. youre asking kids to wear face masks in communal areas in schools, and on public transport .. which is it?'

The Government previously made a U-turn decision in saying that face coverings will not be required to be worn in classrooms, either by teachers or pupils.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed this earlier decision, saying that wearing face masks make both learning and teaching difficult.

He said: 'There is no need for it, indeed there is a need not to have it, because obviously it is very, very difficult to teach or learn with a face mask on. And so that's out.'

Under 11s will not be required to wear face coverings at all in schools, with any restrictions only applying to secondary school students.

In hotspot areas, where there is a local coronavirus spike, face masks may have to be worn in corridors, or other areas where social distancing cannot be adhered to, in schools.

But Mr Johnson added that those who rely on lip reading, or those who have other sensory disabilities, should be able to lip read and 'to live life as normally as possible'.

Dr Harries, meanwhile, urged people to be 'very kind' to those with disabilities who were 'struggling with some of the divisions' around face coverings.

In the Q&A session, the Prime Minister was asked how safety measures in schools will protect staff who are clinically vulnerable, or teachers who live with vulnerable people.

Mr Johnson assured parents that a number of measures have been put in place to ensure that schools remain Covid secure, and that students are following safety regulations.

He said that schools have put in one-way systems and have installed hand gel stations 'everywhere that you could imagine'.

Pupils are also being given basic instructions to help curb the spread of the virus, including being told to wash their hands, try to avoid transmission and observe social distancing.

Dr Harries also stressed that transmission is relatively low in schools and reminded parents 'not to think of this as flu'.

Dr Harries added: 'There is a lot of evidence accumulating that transmission in schools is low, it can happen but it is not frequent.

'It is much more likely to be representing what is happening in your community than really being a focus in the school.

'So, if there are cases in the community, you may occasionally see one in the school.'

She said that with community transmission rates remaining low, school is a safe place for pupils to be as it is a 'very controlled environment'.

Boris Johnson has said 'absolutely every pupil needs to be back in school' starting from next week during a Q&A with parents and Dr Jenny Harries

It comes as parents and education leaders have slammed the timing of the Government's plan to tackle coronavirus in schools after guidance was announced just ahead of the bank holiday weekend.

As well as the advice on face coverings, the proposals include a 'rota system' limiting the number of pupils going to secondary schools at any one time for local lockdown zones.

The staggered approach will reduce how many people students come into contact with, helping to break transmission chains by giving enough time at home for symptoms to become apparent, said the Department for Education (DfE).

If a coronavirus case is confirmed, every pupil in the affected person's class, or 'bubble', may have to quarantine for two weeks, it added.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said any changes to school attendance 'will only ever be an absolute last resort' but it was the timing of the announcement, just before the bank holiday weekend, which left school leaders as well as families fuming.

Professor Carl Heneghan, director of the University of Oxford's centre for evidence-based medicine, said the rota plan would mean employers would need to be flexible to help manage 'disruption' for parents, who took to Twitter to express frustration.
Two more monkeys have died at the controversial OHSU Oregon National Primate Research Center in what researchers described as a tragic accident in an internal email obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

A technician put a 6-foot-tall rack of monkey cages into a cage-washing machine and started it without realizing two adult rhesus macaques, often referred to as rhesus monkeys, were still locked in one of the top cages on Aug. 13. The mistake resulted in the death of both monkeys. One had been in the facility for 12 years, the other for 18 years.

These dedicated individuals develop strong bonds with the animals entrusted to their care -- often for many years, and, in some cases, decades  so, the accidental death of any animal is deeply distressing and their passing is grieved by all -- we deeply regret that this accident occurred, an OHSU release said Friday.

OHSU Chief Research Officer Peter Barr-Gillespie is commissioning an external review of hiring, training and safety operations and said the specific incident was under internal investigation, according to the release.

The technician quickly realized the error and immediately called veterinary staff for help, but one monkey died and the second was later humanely euthanized, the release from OHSU said. All cage washing immediately ceased and the director of animal care and use, Vickie Jarrell, Ph.D., was notified.

The release, titled OHSU grieves loss of two nonhuman primates, also said the technician had successfully completed OHSUs intensive training and mentoring processes for all those involved in animal care.

OHSUs use of animals in testing, particularly monkeys, has been the subject of lawsuits, complaints and protests for years. Stop Animal Exploitation Now, based in Ohio, filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2019 after the death of a primate.

OHSUs death toll continues to climb without pause, Michael Budkie, executive director of the animal welfare group, said in a statement at the time. This laboratory has reached new heights of fatal incompetence.

In October 2018, the animal rights group PETA asked the USDA to shut down animal testing at OHSU and in 2019, PETA sued OHSU.

A Multnomah County judge ordered the facility to turn over footage of experiments being done last month, the Willamette Week reported.

Haigwood said the university posted all of its inspection reports online as soon as they are available.

The university keeps roughly a half-million animals for research, mostly rodents and fish. Nearly 5,000 primates are housed at the research center in Beaverton, where researchers conduct a wide range of animal research, including treatment for alcoholism, cardiovascular disease, new cancer therapies and vaccines against COVID-19, HIV, human papillomavirus and tuberculosis.

Kale Williams of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report.

-- K. Rambo

krambo@oregonian.com

@k_rambo_

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Chike Ernest

Gloria Ugolee, sister of media personality, Emmanuel Ugolee, has taken to social media to mourn her friend, Chika Ernest.

Chike Ernest was the pilot of the ill-fated helicopter that crashed into a wall separating two buildings in Opebi, Lagos state on Friday, August 28.

There were three crew members in the helicopter belonging to Quorom aviation, that flew into Lagos from Rivers state. While two of the crew members died at the scene, one of them who happens to be the pilot, Chika Ernest, was found alive and was rushed to the hospital.



Taking to her page to mourn him, Gloria said the pilot died as the hospital waited for a police report. She also revealed that late Chika emptied his fuel tank before crashing into the wall so as to avoid an explosion.



Captain Chika Ernest,pilot of the plane crash in opebi Lagos this afternoon. He emptied the fuel tank to avoid explosion on impact,he crashed on a fence avoiding the roofs and house. Always looking out for others. My brother and friend since primary school, said he was in pH just this week, and now he is gone. Taken to the hospital but after taking all the videos for social media, they waited for police report untill he died. I miss you is an understatement. John11:23-25 my only consolation. she wrote
Thousands of Albanians formed an enormous queue of cars at the Greek border Friday as they rushed to re-enter the country for work ahead of new virus rules, police said.

Around 4,000 cars were jammed in a 20-kilometre-long (12-mile-long) line at the Kakavia border crossing in southern Albania, in a build up that has been growing since Greece announced tougher entry requirements at the start of the week to contain a surge in infections.

The changes came as thousands of Albanians who live and work in Greece, mainly in the agriculture sector, were preparing to return after summer holidays at home.

Under Athens' new rules, daily arrivals from Albania will be capped at 750 after August 16.

Albanians will also have to have to present a negative COVID-19 test carried out within 72 hours of their arrival and self-isolate for seven days.

Currently, those entering from Albania take virus tests at the border and provide contact information in case they are positive.

Some cars have been waiting for three days already, according to an Albanian police source, who told AFP that "Greek health teams are working with a reduced number of staff" and that the border post is closed at night.

Albania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Greek authorities were trying to ease the logjam by increasing the number of tests from 200 to 300 per hour.

Police broadcast images of officers distributing water bottles to families struggling in the heat, while Albanian President Ilir Meta said he was "worried" about the situation.

Infections have been on a steady rise in Albania, where some 220 people have died from COVID-19, according to the official toll.

Doctors warn the situation is deteriorating while the authorities have blamed citizens for failing to respect safety instructions.
Motley Fool

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) may be down 22% from its 52-week high, but shares of the semiconductor stock have doubled over the past year. In contrast, the S&P 500 is up a measly 109% in the past five years, meaning had someone invested $10,000 in Nvidia shares back then, they would be sitting on well over $100,000 today versus a $20,000 or so gain in the index. Is it too late to buy Nvidia stock now?
The Anaconda Teachers Union has voted to ratify its tentative contract agreement with the Anaconda School District even though the new, one-year pact drew fire from some teachers.

If the school board approves the pact at its next meeting on Sept. 9, it would be retroactive to Sept. 1, effectively giving teachers a new contract to start the school year. Kids are set to return to in-class instruction Monday but some things will be done differently because of COVID-19 concerns.

Brian Tesson, president of the Anaconda Teachers' Union, said he expects the school board to OK the contract.

The deal came after about four months of negotiations that ended Thursday when the teachers voted to accept the administration's offer of a 1-percent base salary increase. The district has roughly 85 certified staff members.

The proposal was approved by a 46-31 vote, according to the union. But many teachers who voted for it were reportedly disappointed.

Tesson said members believe the pay raise is marginal and are dissatisfied with insurance benefits offered by the district.

In addition to a 1-percent wage hike, the district will add $60 to its monthly contribution to teachers insurance premiums. However, union members say insurance costs have gone up and teachers will still pay $120 to $140 more per month.

Tesson said they had hoped the 1-percent pay increase would at least offset the higher insurance costs for employees, but that did not happen.

The union voted to ratify the agreement because it was best for the kids. We took a great sacrifice to get kids back in school, Tesson said.

Kate Mattern, chairperson of the union negotiations committee and vice president of the union, said members previously shot down the districts proposal that included a 2-percent base pay increase because the proposed contract wouldve required teachers to work an extra four hours a month.

Even if it was a 2-percent increase, they wanted us to work every other Wednesday until 5:30 p.m. So we wouldve had to work more hours, she said. We already work more hours. Many of us work weekends. The teachers did the math. The salary would not have been equivocal to what we make now.

Mattern said a lot of teachers were frustrated when they compared their contracts with the administration and business office staff, who received a 10-percent increase in base pay in addition to their insurance benefits.

In our conversations, the teachers realize that they are not happy with the package. But theyre accepting it because they are doing this for kids, Mattern said. And most teachers feel like a strike would not be best for the kids because theyve been out of school for so long.

Meanwhile, the district will start their new school year with in-class teaching and most kids are expected to show up. But some students are opting out, choosing instead to receive lessons remotely by computer.

There will be changes for students who come to school, too.

Students will be assigned to a classroom where they will receive all of their instruction, and each group will stay together throughout the day. Each student will be given a laptop or iPad to log in daily to access lessons and complete class activities and homework.

To prevent large gatherings, students will also be eating breakfast and lunch in the classroom.

At the Anaconda Jr./Sr. High School, students will not be transferring between classrooms for different subjects. Instead, theyll stay in their assigned classrooms and receive lessons on a range of subjects via their computers.

The new circumstances add more work to teachers usual planning load, who are preparing to teach in-person and remotely.

This year is going to be rough and we are willing to do our best, said Mattern, who teaches advanced biology, chemistry, health occupations, anatomy and physiology at the high school. But the bottom line is were doing this because we care about our students.

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WARSAW, Poland (CNN)  Two African elephants are to be given medical cannabidiol  CBD  to help them relax and stop fighting at a zoo in Poland.

Warsaw Zoo announced on its website Thursday that it would conduct the experiment, which it hopes will improve the mood of the animals, with CBD oil producer Dobrekonopie.

"We have started a project during which we will check the effect of CBD hemp oils on the mood of our animals," the statement read.

"To begin with, the program included Fredzia the elephant, who after the recent death of Erna (the former head of the elephant herd) was a bit stressed and had a bit of trouble finding her position in the herd."

The oil, which does not have psychoactive properties, will be administered to two elephants: Fredzia, who is already being given it, and fellow female herd member Buba.

Warsaw Zoo zookeeper Patryk Pycinski explained in a video posted on Facebook that elephants can struggle with the loss of a herd member "for weeks, sometimes for years."

This has been the case with Fredzia, who has had difficulty readjusting following the death of the head of the herd, Erna, and has begun using a "tough trunk" mentality to try to assert her dominance over Buba.

Meanwhile, Buba, Pycinski said, uses "cleverness" and a more thoughtful approach in her tussle for the top.

"Elephants are extremely intelligent animals with very complicated brains," he said in the video.

"They're very social animals that are interdependent on each other and as a group they create a complicated organism."

Warsaw Zoo veterinarian Agnieszka Czujkowska, who is leading the project, said CBD had already been used on dogs and horses, and zoo staff hope it might work on elephants as an alternative to medication. The results could take months, she added.

Conflicts can occur among elephants, she explained in a video, and "many factors can make an elephant feel uncomfortable and stressed" including a change of weather or environment. This in turn can lead to "undesirable" behavior.

"We would like to see how CBD oil  hemp flower extract  affects elephants. Like most zoos we do research (and) we monitor the level of stress hormones. Thanks to this we will know if the substances (will) help the elephants," Czujkowska said.

The-CNN-Wire  &  2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

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'IPL Plastics will likely now be sold for CA$555m (354m) to US private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm.' (stock image)

A 30-day 'go-shop' period, when plastics company IPL was allowed to solicit dozens of prospective buyers to try to beat a CA$10 a share offer from Madison Dearborn, has ended without a better bid.

The sale of the former One51, now a mostly Canadian business, to Madison Dearborn still has to be approved at a shareholder meeting due to take place on September 28, but there is no alternative offer on the table.

Under the terms of the agreement, IPL was permitted to solicit alternative bids for 30 days after its board recommended the Madison Dearborn offer, which ended on August 27.

IPL said its financial advisor, BMO Nesbitt Burns, contacted 57 prospective purchasers. Of those, 14 entered into confidentiality and standstill agreements. They were provided access to non-public information about IPL, but none made it has far as submitting a better bid than the one already on the table.

The news will be a blow to some of the around 2,000 Irish shareholders who were hoping for an offer closer to the CA$13.50 share price the company's stock was floated at just two years ago. However, the offer price is a 153pc premium to the closing price on May 15, 2020 before the 'Sunday Independent' reported a deal was in the works.

IPL Plastics will likely now be sold for CA$555m (354m) to US private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm.

The sale is subject to approvals by IPL shareholders, and has been unanimously recommended by the board of directors.

IPL's biggest shareholder Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), will roll most of its stake into the new ownership and will emerge with a minority 24.9pc stake.

One51 emerged out of the IAWS group of companies but first entered the plastics business in 2006 when it acquired Protech Plastics. Its 200m purchase of a 67pc stake in Canadian firm IPL in July 2015 was transformational in shifting One51 from investment vehicle to plastics company that floated on the Toronto Stock Exchange in June 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 22:18:31|Editor: huaxia

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-- Efforts must be made to build a new modern socialist Tibet that is united, prosperous, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful, Xi said at a high-level meeting on Tibet-related work.



-- Xi stressed a long-term commitment to the CPC Central Committee's policy to ensure Tibet has support from the central authorities and assistance from the whole country.



-- Work related to Tibet must focus on safeguarding national unity and strengthening ethnic solidarity.

-- More education and guidance should be provided for the public to mobilize their participation in combating separatist activities, thus forging an ironclad shield to safeguard stability.

BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to build a new modern socialist Tibet.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the comments at the two-day seventh Central Symposium on Tibet Work, which ended in Beijing Saturday.

Xi underlined the need to fully implement the CPC's policies on governing Tibet for a new era.

Xi called for efforts to ensure national security and enduring peace and stability, steadily improve people's lives, maintain a good environment, solidify border defense and ensure frontier security.

Efforts must be made to build a new modern socialist Tibet that is united, prosperous, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful, Xi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks during a high-level meeting on Tibet work in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Since the sixth symposium in 2015, Tibet has made comprehensive progress and historic achievements in its various undertakings, Xi said, noting achieving sustained stability and rapid development in Tibet constitutes a major contribution to the overall work of the Party and the state.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, policies on governing Tibet for a new era have taken shape, Xi said, stressing that the CPC leadership, the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the system of regional ethnic autonomy must be upheld to carry out work related to Tibet.

Work related to Tibet must focus on safeguarding national unity and strengthening ethnic solidarity, Xi said.

More education and guidance should be provided for the public to mobilize their participation in combating separatist activities, thus forging an ironclad shield to safeguard stability, Xi noted.

Xi stressed that patriotism should be incorporated into the whole process of education in all schools.

He called for continuous efforts to enhance recognition of the great motherland, the Chinese nation, the Chinese culture, the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics by people of all ethnic groups.

Tibetan Buddhism should be guided in adapting to the socialist society and should be developed in the Chinese context, Xi said.

While stressing the implementation of the new development philosophy, Xi noted that efforts should be sped up to advance high-quality development.

More work, measures and support are needed to consolidate the achievements made in poverty alleviation, Xi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks during a high-level meeting on Tibet work in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

A number of major infrastructure projects and public service facilities will be completed, including the Sichuan-Tibet Railway, Xi said.

Conserving the ecology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the greatest contribution to the survival and development of the Chinese nation, Xi said, emphasizing that scientific research should be further advanced on the plateau.

He also stressed strengthening the building of leadership teams at all levels, cadre teams and primary-level Party organizations in order to improve the capacity to respond to major struggles and prevent major risks.

Cadres and workers in Tibet should be cared for and supporting policies regarding their income, housing, medical care and retirement, as well as education for their children, should be further improved and well implemented, Xi noted.

Xi stressed a long-term commitment to the CPC Central Committee's policy to ensure Tibet has support from the central authorities and assistance from the whole country.

Continued and increasing support will be offered to Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces in their Tibet-related work, Xi said.

Other senior Chinese leaders were at the symposium, which was presided over by Li Keqiang. Li Zhanshu, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng were in attendance, while Wang Yang spoke to sum up the event.

Xi's speech at the symposium is a guiding document on Tibet-related work in a new era, Li Keqiang said while presiding over the event.

In his concluding speech, Wang Yang also called for efforts to study Xi's speech, which laid out fundamental rules for carrying out Tibet-related work in a new era.
Jacksonville police have not made contact with a Pennsylvania man who was reported missing and do not know if the man is in their jurisdiction after he went missing Monday.

A caller reported to the Jacksonville Police Department at 5:36 p.m. Thursday that she has not been able to contact Eric W. Maltimore, 46, of Franklin, Pennsylvania. Maltimore went missing at 8:30 a.m. Monday and last was seen in Pennsylvania, according to a police report.
But in the notes of the meeting between Baker and prosecutors that were filed as evidence in the case this week, the doctor offered additional information about his findings. Baker told prosecutors he found no bruising on Floyds neck or damage to muscles or the structure around the neck  a detail seized upon by Chauvins attorney to argue that it was proof that his client had not intended to inflict harm on Floyd.
Turning the tide on unsustainable fishing By Steve Creech View(s): View(s):

There is a widely held belief that because Sri Lankas exclusive economic zone (EEZ = 517,000 km2) is eight times the islands land area (65,610 km2), the seas around Sri Lanka are full of fish. Unfortunately this is simply not true.

Coastal fisheries surpassed the estimated annual maximum sustainable yield (MSY) for coastal fish production in 2012 (MSY = 242,000 MT). According to Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry data, the catch from coastal fisheries has remained at or above MSY for the past seven years. The estimated MSY was calculated in 1980 by the Norwegian research vessel MS Fridtjoff Hansen. A survey by the same research vessel in 2019 suggested that the total biomass of all coastal fish stocks was only 170,000 Mt. If this finding is true, then the present MSY from coastal fisheries is much less than it was forty years ago and very much less than the catch reported in 2018.

The status of fish stocks within Sri Lankas EEZ and beyond is no better. Skipjack (balaya), yellowfin tuna (kelavala), sailfish (thalapath), swordfish (sappara )and marlins (koppara) harvested by Sri Lankas large fleet of offshore and high-seas multi-day fishing boats are all highly migratory species. Sri Lanka shares these stocks with all of the other countries fringing the Indian Ocean, as well as with the distant water European Union fishing nations, such as Spain, France and Italy.

In 2018 the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) called upon member states, including Sri Lanka, to reduce their annual catch of yellowfin tuna by 5 percent to 15 percent. This call was made in response to growing concerns about the status of the Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna stock. In 2018, IOTC scientists reported that the yellowfin tuna was overfished and subject to overfishing. In 2019 the Blue Marine Foundation, a UK-based environmental organisation, called for a 25 percent reduction in the catch of yellowfin tuna by all beyond EEZ fisheries. This year the Global Tuna Alliance, a US-based environmental organisation, also called for a 25 percent reduction in the catch of yellowfin tuna from all yellowfin tuna fisheries. Even the waters beyond Sri Lankas EEZ are not teeming with fish.

The current status and future prospects for Sri Lankas coastal, EEZ and beyond EEZ fisheries represents a formidable challenge for the recently re-appointed fisheries minister, Douglas Devananda. The Presidents vision for Sri Lankas fisheries includes introducing a fisheries development plan to provide nutrition to people; increase foreign exchange earnings from seafood; provide employment and livelihood opportunities and to safeguard coastal areas and the marine environment.

More or bigger boats, anchorages and harbours with better facilities and improved harvest and post-technology are obviously not going to solve the problem of overfished stocks and unsustainable levels of fishing, within and beyond Sri Lankas jurisdiction. So what then can the new Government do to deliver the Presidents vision for sustainable ocean resource management?

Fish are natural, renewable resources. Left to themselves, fish grow and reproduce, grow and reproduce and will eventually re-fill the seas around Sri Lanka and the oceans beyond. Sustainable fisheries means finding a balance between the natural potential of fish (stocks) to increase and the natural desire of fishermen to decrease fish by harvesting as many fish as possible.

A key first step towards delivering sustainable Sri Lankan fisheries is to eliminate illegal and destructive fishing practices. Illegal fishing by Tamil Nadu trawlers in Sri Lankan waters deprives Sri Lankan fishermen of US$ 40 million (LKR 6 billion) every year. Another US$ 40 million is lost by Sri Lankas seafood export industry, which is unable to process Sri Lankas fish when the catch is landed by trawlers in Tamil Nadu. Illegal trawl net fishing by Sri Lankan fishermen depletes coastal fisheries and degrades coastal marine habitats.

Other forms of indiscriminate fishing such as ring nets (laila and sirukku) in coastal waters, micro-mesh box nets and monofilament nets in estuaries and lagoons and dynamite fishing anywhere deplete coastal fish stocks and/or degrade or destroy marine habitats upon which the entire marine ecosystem depends.

Resuming the arrest of Tamil Nadu trawlers after it has been hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic; enforcement of the 2017 regulation that prohibits trawl-net fishing in Sri Lankan waters and better management of indiscriminate fishing methods under a new fisheries development plan will make significant contributions towards providing nutrition to people and increasing Sri Lankan seafood export earnings.

Improving the collaborative management of coastal fisheries  by the department with fishermen  under a new fisheries development plan will also guarantee employment and livelihood opportunities for coastal communities and safeguard coastal areas and the marine environment.

Sri Lankas South Asian neighbours  India, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Pakistan   have a shared interest in delivering improvements to the management and status of highly migratory stocks. The development of a SAARC-level fisheries management proposal for the recovery and sustainable exploitation of skipjack, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, swordfish and marlins will require a collaborative effort by the ministries of fisheries and foreign affairs.

In so doing the new Government would not only drive Sri Lankas fisheries policy and development planning firmly in the direction of the Presidents vision for sustainable ocean resource management, but also enable Sri Lanka to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14  the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

(Steve Creech is a freelance fisheries consultant and director of Pelagikos Pvt Ltd. Email: steve@pelagikos.lk)

Crimes at sea: Tamil Nadu fishermens trawlers, boats and illegal trawl nets
By Trend

A special group created under the Operational Headquarters in Azerbaijan continues to stay in touch with the world's leading companies involved in the creation of vaccines against the coronavirus, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said.

Hajiyev made the remark at the briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers held on Aug. 29, Trend reports.

He added that the focus is on the delivery of certified vaccines, approved at the world level, and their use.

The department head also said that it is necessary to conduct serious researches, and that preference will be given to internationally certified vaccines with no side effects.

---
She recently revealed she has no plans to return home to the US even though she is now able to fly back.

And it seems Kate Walsh is settling well into life in Western Australia as she attended a film screening of Dirt Music.

The American actress, 52, wowed in a pink power suit that showcased her trim figure on the closing night of the CinefestOZ Film Festival in Busselton, south of the state's capital city Perth, on Saturday.

Bringing a touch of Hollywood to WA: American actress Kate Walsh wore a glamorous pink power suit as she attended a film screening on the closing night of the CinefestOZ Film Festival in Busselton, south of the state's capital city Perth, on Saturday

She teamed the ensemble with a black top underneath and accessorised with pendant earrings.

The Grey's Anatomy star completed her outfit with a pair of animal print pumps.

For makeup, she opted for a radiant and dewy visage with a hint of peach on her cheeks, a cherry pink lipstick and lashings of mascara.

Elegant: She teamed the ensemble with a black top underneath and accessorised with pendant earrings

She styled her brunette tresses with a part down the centre and pinned it up in a bun.

Also attending the event was Adelaide Kane, the star of The CW series Reign.

The actress, 30, flaunted her sensational physique in a figure hugging navy dress, which featured a cut out detail above the waist.

Curves ahead! Also attending the event was Adelaide Kane, the star of The CW series Reign. The actress, 30, flaunted her sensational physique in a figure hugging navy dress, which featured a cut out detail above the waist

She teamed the look with gold heels and accessorised with pendant earrings.

The brunette beauty let her sleek raven tresses cascade down her shoulders.

For opted for fresh makeup look with a flawless complexion, rosy eyeshadow, bold lashes and pink lipstick.

They actors posed together for photos and at one point, Adelaide played reporter for Kate by holding a microphone and asking her questions.

The stars align! The Grey's Anatomy star posed with the Reign actress for a photo on the red carpet

Red carpet fun: At one point, Adelaide played reporter for Kate by holding a microphone and asking her questions

Kate's appearance at the screening comes after she told The Daily Telegraph earlier this month that she has no plans return to the US, after arriving in Perth for a holiday back in March

'I didn't really want to go back to New York in the middle of a pandemic when it was pretty gnarly to say the least.

'I couldn't go home initially, and now that I can, I don't really fancy going back. When I have my own mother saying don't come home, my 86-year-old mum we are in a very challenging time!'

You can watch Reign on Stan.
China has revised the catalogue of technologies that are subject to export bans or restrictions, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Friday.

The revised catalogue, released jointly by the MOC and the Ministry of Science and Technology, deleted four items prohibited from export, including microbial fertilizing and caffeine production technologies, the MOC said in an online statement.

The catalogue also removed five items subject to export restrictions, including Newcastle disease vaccine technology and information security firewall software technology.

A total of 23 items subject to export restrictions were added to the catalogue while technical parameters of 21 items were revised.

All technology transfers abroad, whether through trade, investment or other means, must strictly abide by relevant regulations on technology import and export of the country, the statement said.

The catalogue aims to standardize the administration of technology export, promote scientific and technological development, enhance economic and technological cooperation with other countries, and safeguard China's economic security, the MOC said.

It was the first time since 2008 that the catalogue was revised, the MOC said, adding that it is a common international practice to amend the catalogue as China's science and technology rapidly develops and its industrial competitiveness rises.

While further adjusting the catalogue of technologies subject to export bans or restrictions, the two ministries will work to streamline the catalogue of technologies subject to import bans or restrictions, the MOC said.

China's technology trade has seen steady and rapid development in recent years. In 2013, the contract value of China's technology export stood at 20 billion U.S. dollars, less than half of the import contract value. In 2019, the contract value of the technology export increased to 32.1 billion dollars, which was basically in line with the value of the import contracts, the MOC data showed.

Technology export not only optimizes China's export structure, but also promotes the industrial upgrading and economic development of relevant trading partners, said the MOC.

The MOC will roll out more measures that facilitate technology trade and strengthen international cooperation in the field, it said.
Sara in Warren runs an Etsy shop, which she describes as a small venture with small profits, but shes furloughed from her day job, so she relies on the affordability of the USPS to make it work.

Now, if a package is delayed or goes missing, she is paying for the replacement out of pocket. Shes also trying to order as many nonperishable food items as she can because she is at high risk for COVID-19, but now shes waiting weeks for packages, and struggles to put a whole meal together.

Elyse in Royal Oak lost her job during the pandemic. When she is charged a late fee for a bill that arrived late in the mail, shes not sure how to pay it.

Kenneth in Sterling Heights normally gets his medication in four to five days. His last delivery  nearly a month.

Julie in Beverly Hills sells items online, and normally her packages arrive to her clients in two to three days using Priority Mail. Now, it can take a week or longer, and her customers are leaving her poor reviews and feedback.

Anita in Royal Oak had her electricity turned off when her check took too long in the mail. She is over 65 with health issues and relies on her air conditioning in this extreme heat.

Pam in Warren says she has no blue mailboxes left in her neighborhood to send her bills.

Dawn from Roseville never received her ballot for the August primary.

These are just a few of the nearly 2,100 messages that have come into my office in recent days about delays in the United States Postal Service. Sadly, we are seeing the politicization of yet another formerly non-political part of the federal government. The calls started when a Postmaster General was installed, not because he was competent, but because he was a mega Trump donor and agreed to carry the presidents partisan water into this space that is supposed to be about doing the peoples business.

After hearing the outcry, I went to see for myself. I visited the Royal Oak Post Office and met with postal managers and union leaders, hearing about changes that have been implemented from above in recent weeks  machines that have already been removed, mail that is piling up  after months of difficulties they were already enduring without complaint as essential workers in a global pandemic.

That weekend, I got on a plane to Washington, D.C., carrying these stories and the chants of my constituents lined up outside that same Post Office in support of our Delivering for America Act. I was deeply gratified that 26 Republican colleagues voted with us to put the Postal Service back on its regular course of quiet  but essential  service to the nation.

How do we restore this American institution, enshrined in the Constitution? We let the Post Office be the Post Office. We give them the money requested on a completely bipartisan basis by Trump appointees. We demand they put back the machines, stop intentionally doing things that delay services, like prohibiting overtime and multiple daily mail runs, and let people vote safely.

The Postal Service is a part of daily life for Americans from the Arctic Ocean in Alaska to the Florida Keys. From little kids learning how to be a pen pal, to seniors who need their Social Security checks and veterans who get their medication from the VA. We must save the USPS.

If you have a story to share about the United States Postal Service, please fill out this survey.

Congressman Andy Levin represents Michigans 9th Congressional District in Macomb and Oakland Counties.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 23:50:59|Editor: huaxia

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YAOUNDE, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Officials of Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) have urged police of the sub-region to tighten security in a bid to curb border crime.

"The heads of states of Central Africa have emphasized on the importance of free movement of people, capital and goods in the sub-region and they can't have that free movement if we don't prevent crime," Shey Jones Yembe, CEMAC Commissioner for Infrastructure told reporters in Cameroon's capital city, Yaounde on Saturday during a ceremony to officially confirm Cameroon as the headquarters of Central African Police Chiefs Committee (CAPCCO).

"This (the headquarters) will ameliorate cooperation between the countries. It will act like a hub. CAPCCO is consultative," Yembe added.

He said, since the creation of CAPCCO in 1997, police have been working in close cooperation with Interpol as part of a strategy to strengthen police effectiveness, fine-tune strategies and seek solutions to the problems of crime and public safety in the sub-region.

CAPCCO is made of representatives from eight countries including Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, and the Republic of the Congo. Enditem
The event was attended by Politburo members the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP): Secretary of LPRP and Deputy Prime Minister Bounthong Chitmany; Head of the LPRPs Organisation Commission Chansi Phosikham; and President of the Standing Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction Saysomphone Phomvihane, alongside many other senior Lao officials.

The ceremony banquet also saw the attendance of foreign ambassadors in Vientiane, Vietnamese students in Laos and members of the Vietnamese community in Laos.

Speaking at the function, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung thanked the countries and international friends for always supporting Vietnam and the Vietnam-Laos relationship.

He affirmed that the special relationship between Vietnamand Laos actively contributes to maintaining peace, security, stability and cooperation for the development of Southeast Asia, the Asia-Pacific and the world at large.

For his part, Deputy PM Bounthong Chitmany expressed his thanks to Vietnam for providing Laos with robust support in the past, as well as at present, adding that the friendship between Laos and Vietnam has been continuously strengthened over the years.

A similar event was also held by the Vietnamese Embassy in France on August 28.
The TikTok stars Bryce Hall and Blake Gray are facing criminal charges for throwing mega-parties at their Hollywood Hills mansion in defiance of a ban against large gatherings in Los Angeles, prosecutors announced on Friday.

The two were each charged with a misdemeanor for violating the Safer L.A. health order and the citys Party House Ordinance, said Mike Feuer, the Los Angeles City Attorney. The charges are among the first filed amid the citys crackdown on social gatherings during the Covid-19 pandemic. The two could face up to a year in jail and a fine of $2,000 if convicted.

With hundreds of people attending, loud music all night long and cars blocking access for emergency vehicles, party houses are really out-of-control nightclubs, and theyve hijacked the quality of life of neighbors nearby, Mr. Feuer said in a statement on Friday. As if that werent enough, the hosts are incredibly irresponsible, with Covid-19 spreading and parties banned because of it. Weve got to put a stop to it.
The 2020 Trump looks like a man who knows his show is about to be canceled. He has to make a herculean effort to turn things around  and he is just too sick and tired of the whole thing to give it a real try. Perhaps he hoped the quantity of his words would offset the lack of forcefulness in his presentation. It backfired. A man whom even critics concede is interesting became ponderous and boring.
When you travel from your home state to a different state for college, you probably will have to quarantine because both the college and state will require it. You may also need to quarantine if you come in contact with somebody who has been identified as being infected with the coronavirus. That means staying put in your residence or dorm and going out for only absolutely necessary things, such as a doctors visit or to throw out the trash. So think ahead: Have you figured out where to buy, order or deliver food and groceries? Do you know which pharmacies deliver medications? Exercising outdoors may be an issue  do you have access to virtual workouts? Do you have a good Internet connection for schoolwork and for virtually connecting with friends and family?
DEQUINCY, La. - Hospitals and nursing homes across Louisiana evacuated on Friday after 82 of the state's water systems failed in the wake of Hurricane Laura's assault on a swath of wetlands and countryside, killing at least 10 people and causing about $25 billion in damage.

Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, told reporters Friday that he had requested a major disaster declaration from the White House to provide additional emergency funding for recovery as President Trump prepared to visit Louisiana and Texas this weekend to survey the destruction.

"The good news is, we didn't have inundation 30 miles inland, as they had predicted, from the storm surge," Edwards said at a news conference. "But that didn't mean we didn't have tremendous devastation down there."

Although hospitals and nursing homes could use generators to restore power, they couldn't operate without water, which makes it possible to have air conditioning and to sterilize equipment. Lake Charles, La., Mayor Nic Hunter said that of the city's six water plants, one was "pulverized" in the storm, two were not working and three were working minimally. In most of the city's buildings, he said water was coming out of the faucet only in a trickle.

"We have a fraction of the capacity that we normally have," Hunter said.

Laura touched down early Thursday in Cameron, La., about 35 miles east of the Texas border, as a Category 4 hurricane with wind gusts of up to 150 mph and a peak storm surge of 12 to 21 feet. Officials called it one of the most powerful hurricanes to afflict the U.S. Gulf Coast in decades.

More than 12 inches of rain had fallen in some spots as of Friday, and Laura was expected to deliver heavy storms and powerful winds across the middle of the country and into the Mid-Atlantic states over the weekend.

Photo by Callaghan O'Hare for The Washington Post)

Some of the hurricane's worst destruction came in Lake Charles and surrounding cities, where detached roofs lay in the road, gas station canopies were crumpled and some buildings were completely destroyed. Of the 10 storm-related deaths, officials said four were from trees falling on homes, one was a drowning and five resulted from carbon monoxide poisoning while trying to use generators during power outages.

Rescue officials continued to look for survivors in hard-hit coastal areas, where winds and storm surge flattened houses, peeled off roofs and left significant flooding. Crews on Friday continued to clear highways made impassible by the storm, and schools postponed classes due to a lack of electricity. Curfews were in effect in several Louisiana parishes and Texas counties, where dangerous driving conditions made it particularly risky to be out in the dark.

More than 910,000 people lost power during the storm, including many in Calcasieu Parish, where public utility officials said outages were likely to last for weeks. Most of the region was also without water, sewage and other necessities on Friday amid damage that officials called "devastating."

"It's not a pleasant place to be right now," Dick Gremillion, Calcasieu Parish director for the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, told reporters.

Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso said his office had responded to 1,660 calls for help and had completed 66 rescue missions for people who had been trapped in their homes. Many residents who evacuated came back to find severe damage.

Jenna Thrash returned Thursday to her home in DeQuincy, La., a city of about 3,000, to find that the back of her family's carport had blown off, shingles had flown off the house's roof and the area in front of the family's shed was flooded. Their house didn't have power, so she sat in the car with the air conditioning on as she exchanged messages with her insurance company.

"If they call, you need to answer it because this is about our insurance," Thrash, 30, said out the window to her husband, Josh Thrash, as he fiddled with their backup generator.

"Have them call me," he replied. "I'm trying to get some air conditioning running."

The couple had not wanted to evacuate to their cousins' house in Spring, Texas, Jenna Thrash said. But the path of the storm was uncertain, and they worried about the safety of their sons, ages 12 and 7.

Thrash said her older son has a rare genetic condition that puts him at high risk for covid-19. She had only taken him out of the house twice during the pandemic before this week, and she was nervous about evacuating.

The couple disassembled their son's new wheelchair before they left, but it didn't fit in the car. Neither did much of his other medical equipment, Thrash said, so the family had to leave without it. They drove straight to their relatives' home to avoid potentially contracting the virus at a rest stop.

Emergency alerts lit up Thrash's phone throughout Wednesday night. When the family woke up, Thrash said she used a walkie-talkie phone app to connect with neighbors who drove by their house and told them about the damage.

"It's going to take awhile, I think, to get fully back to normal," Thrash said.

The family had already endured hardships during the coronavirus pandemic: Josh Thrash, 33, said he was temporarily laid off from his job at a power plant and has yet to be rehired. The family didn't qualify for food stamps, Jenna Thrash said, so they're getting by on her husband's unemployment checks.

She said it comforts her that DeQuincy, where she has lived her whole life, is a tightknit community of people who band together to help each other. Her Baptist faith is also a source of strength. When the family forgot their Bible while evacuating, Thrash said they found another way to pray.

"That's probably the reason our house didn't get as much damage," she said. "Because I prayed over every piece of that house."

Aerial footage showed major damage to homes in Cameron Parish, near where Hurricane Laura came ashore with heavy winds and its crushing storm surge. Much of the southern end of the parish remained inaccessible by road or boat on Thursday and Friday.

James "Jimmy" Clark, 45, of Bell City, had his shop leveled in the hurricane, and there was fishing equipment, camouflage gear, and a big green boat sitting among the rubble.

As a crew began clearing the way to remove the boat and hitch it to a truck so members of the Cajun Navy could try to use it for rescues and recovery, Clark explained to his wife what was going on: "They got people stranded down there," he said. "They need to get out."

The Clarks' home, which sits in front of the destroyed shop, was missing much of its siding and pieces of the roof.

"It's totaled," Clark said. "All of the ceilings are hanging down, and the water just poured inside."

Dean Jackson, 54, tried to shelter in Clark's shop for the storm. Jackson lives in a mobile home on the Clarks' property, but he was worried it would not be safe during Laura's winds.

"I've ridden many of 'em out," Jackson said, noting that the arrival of Hurricane Laura in the middle of the night was "scary."

"I started here, but then the weather got bad," he said. "I moved when we lost the front roll-up door to the shop." Jackson jumped in his pickup truck and fled to a brick house down the street.

Jackson's mobile home flipped on its side during the storm.

Though Jackson was one of the residents who opted to stay, he said Cameron Parish officials contacted residents in advance of the storm to gather a solid tally of who planned to stay and who planned to go.

"Most people I know left," Jackson said. "I guess there were only like 150 people in the whole parish who stayed for Laura. Well 149 people, plus me."

Edwards said the death toll could climb as authorities make their way through the parish and inspect homes, some of which slid off their foundations or were crushed into debris piles.

Laura was downgraded to a tropical storm on Thursday as it moved north through Louisiana and into Arkansas, where it still carried heavy winds and dropped substantial rain. The storm tore a path through Louisiana, downing trees and destroying homes well inland, and Edwards said much of the state experienced tropical storm-force winds on Thursday.

On Saturday, the remnants of the former hurricane are expected to zip through the Washington region, bringing rain and likely including a period with heavy storms that could contain strong winds and perhaps an isolated tornado before heading out into the Atlantic Ocean.

- - -

Cusick reported from Bell City, La. The Washington Post's Andrew Freedman, Ian Livingston and Jason Samenow in Washington contributed to this report.
A man and woman have been arrested in Georgia after allegedly snatching a one-year-old boy from his mother at gunpoint, despite her brave efforts to fight them off, police said.

Mateo Alejandro Montufar-Barrera was abducted in Chamblee around noon on Saturday while his mother Leslie Bamaca pushed him in a stroller on Clairview Drive.

An Amber Alert was issued for the little boy, who was found safe by police about five hours later.

The suspects have been identified as Maynor Dario Valera Zuniga and Kristin Nicole Valera Zuniga, who are being held in Carroll County, the AJC reported.

Mateo Alejandro Montufar-Barrera was abducted by two men on Saturday while his mother Leslie Bamanca pushed him in a stroller

Authorities said the mom put up a fight with the one of the suspects and managed to pull off one of his shoes and piece of his shorts (pictured)

Initial reports had identified the suspects as two men.

Police said the pair pulled up to the mom and child in a maroon 2003 Acura MDX before a man exited the car and held a gun at her hip.

When the suspect, described as Hispanic in his mid 20s, attempted to take her son, Bamanca managed to grab his weapon and tried to shoot the man but the gun didn't go off, according to police.

During the struggle, Bamanca also tore off a piece of the suspect's shorts and pulled off one of his shoes.

Photos of the man's clothing were released by the FBI on social media as they asked anyone with information to come forward.

The second suspect, a woman, later exited the car and took the boy. The pair then sped off with baby in their vehicle towards the I-85, authorities said.

The suspects were last seen travelling in a Maroon 2003 Acura MDX, license plate RTJ0253, on the I-85.

The alleged kidnappers were located in Carroll County around 5pm after the Georgia State Patrol spotted the vehicle and pulled them over.

The two were arrested and taken into custody.

Mateo, meanwhile, was found unharmed and was reunited with his mother.

Bamanaca is now working with detectives from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation which has taken over the case.

Her sister, Jessica Bamaca told local news station the kidnappers were not known to the family.

'We have no idea who they are. It's the first time we've seen them,' she said. 'We don't know where they came from. We don't know what their intentions were.'
Some aggrieved residents of Potiskum in Yobe State on Friday protested against the building of a structure by the Nigerian Correctional Service on a disputed land.

The protest commenced after the contractor began the demolition of an old structure on the disputed land.

The contractor later withdrew from the site following the protest and the intervention of a serving senator, Ibrahim Bomoi, who appealed to the aggrieved protesters.

The lawmaker, representing Yobe South, pleaded for calm and promised to mediate.

Disputed land

A top emirate official confided in PREMIUM TIMES that the old structure located close to the Emirs palace in Potiskum town was an old prison built in 1912.

He said the building was no longer occupied following the construction of a new prison in 1986.

READ ALSO:

PREMIUM TIMES understands the dispute over the land is between the Fika emirate council, with its headquarters in Potiskum and the Nigerian Correctional Service. Both parties claim ownership of the structure.

The correctional service recently commenced the building of a female wing of the correctional centre in the old structure, but met resistance from the aggrieved residents who support the emirate.

Ali Gonki, the Secretary, Fika Emirates Council, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES. He, however, declined further comments.

Dungus Abdulkarim, the police spokesperson in Yobe, told PREMIUM TIMES the police intervened to nip the crisis in the bud during the process.

Mr Abdulkarim said the contractor was asked to vacate the area for proper documents to be issued to all parties concerned before embarking on the project.

The spokesperson said the area is now calm and no arrest was made.

Ibrahim Babe, the spokesperson, Nigerian Correctional Service, Yobe command, could not be reached for comments as his known phone line did not connect.
The Black Lives Matter protester in Kenosha who was shot in the arm by Kyle Rittenhouse says that his only regret was not killing the kid, a statement that will do wonders to help Rittenhouses self-defense argument.

Gaige Grosskreutz, who was caught on camera pointing a gun at Rittenhouse before the teenager show him in the arm, made the comments after doctors were able to save the limb from being amputated.

According to his friend Jacob Marshall, who is pictured with Grosskreutz, the BLM supporters only regret was not killing the kid and hesitating to pull the gun before emptying the entire mag into him.

In the Facebook post, Marshall also admits that Grosskreutz drew his weapon before he was shot by Rittenhouse.

Well this literally shows INTENT TO KILL, so Kyle Rittenhouses defense lawyer just got an early Christmas present, tweeted Mike Cernovich.

Well this literally shows INTENT TO KILL, so Kyle Rittenhouse's defense lawyer just got an early Christmas present. https://t.co/vce7ceMdq9  Cernovich (@Cernovich) August 27, 2020

Rittenhouse has excellent legal representation now that Lin Wood has agreed with Rittenhouses family to represent the 17-year-old.

Wood is famous for representing Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandman, forcing CNN to settle for $275 million dollars after the network defamed Sandman over his confrontation with Native American activist Nathan Phillips in January 2019.

I will not take one thin dime from #FightBack Foundation donations for my time or expenses. I have security team of Navy SEALS to provide security for me, my family, my employees, & my neighbors. I will pay those costs. I will not be intimidated by leftist tactics or threats, Wood tweeted earlier today.

As we previously highlighted, footage from before the encounter shows that Rittenhouse did not shoot first and that he was being violently pursued by numerous BLM rioters.

I will not take one thin dime from #FightBack Foundation donations for my time or expenses. I have security team of Navy SEALS to provide security for me, my family, my employees, & my neighbors. I will pay those costs. I will not be intimidated by leftist tactics or threats. https://t.co/haYQEXyDfx  Lin Wood (@LLinWood) August 28, 2020

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The complaints could be taken up by the Office of Special Counsel, a small, independent agency that issued 134 letters to federal employees warning them of improper behavior during the first three years of the Trump administration, according to an agency report to Congress. An additional 46 federal workers were disciplined, and 31 more were told to withdraw from political races or leave government to pursue them.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Heres a look at the top criminal-justice stories that made news this week:

HARROWING HOME INVASION IN WOODROW

Police are investigating a home-invasion robbery that was reported on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in the vicinity of Woodrow Road and Vernon Avenue. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

Armed robbers used pillowcases and zip ties to restrain two seniors during a terrifying home invasion in a normally quiet section of Woodrow, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

Neighbors are on edge following the violent heist that was reported at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday in the vicinity of Woodrow Road and Vernon Avenue.

The horrific ordeal began when two males wearing masks rang the doorbell and then pushed their way inside the large, two-story home, according to police.

Click here for the full story.

MAN SOUGHT FOR QUESTIONING IN CONNECTION TO GRAND LARCENY

The NYPD is seeking the publics assistance in identifying a man sought for questioning in connection to a Stapleton grand larceny. (Photo courtesy of NYPD)

The NYPD is seeking the publics assistance in identifying a man sought for questioning in connection with a Stapleton grand larceny.

It was reported to police that an unknown individual entered a Metro PCS located at 585 Bay St. on Aug. 19, 2020 at around 3:50 p.m. and asked to look at an iPhone to purchase, according to a written statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

When the worker presented two iPhones to the unknown individual, he removed them from the counter and fled the store on foot, the statement said.

Click here for the story.

BURGLARS BIZARRE RESTAURANT HAUL

Michael's Martinis & Meatballs on Hylan Boulevard in Dongan Hills was burglarized on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (Staten Island Advance Photo)

In what the restaurant owner dubbed The Case of the Missing Twizzlers, a man with an apparent sweet tooth and a craving for vodka burglarized a Dongan Hills restaurant on Wednesday.

Owner Margaret Locicero said the suspect stole the register drawer containing cash, plus licorice and other quirky items from Michaels Martinis & Meatballs at 1816 Hylan Blvd.

He obviously had a sweet tooth, she said.

Click here for more details.

RX PAD, CASH STOLEN FROM DOCTORS OFFICE

Police were seen outside the office of Dr. Azher Siddiqi located at 1147 Richmond Road Monday morning. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

A burglary at a Dongan Hills doctors office over the weekend netted a 40-sheet prescription pad and over $5,000 dollars in cash, police said.

The incident occurred on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, between 6 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., according to police, when an unknown individual entered the office of Dr. Azher Siddiqi located at 1147 Richmond Rd.

Once inside, police said the prescription pad, a safe and around $5,600 was stolen.

Click here for the story.

$2K REPORTED STOLEN FROM DOCTORS OFFICE IN CONCORD

About $2,000 was taken from a doctors office in Concord, according to police.

On Monday at about 11:20 a.m., officers responded to a 911 call of a grand larceny at Island Medical Consultants at 11 Ralph Place, according to a spokeswoman for the NYPD.

A male employee told police that five envelopes containing about $2,000 were missing, the police spokeswoman said.

Click here for more details.

2 SOUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH ATTACK AT CELL-PHONE STORE

The NYPD released photos of a man and woman sought in connection to an assault on a cell-phone store employee.Courtesy NYPD

The NYPD is asking for the publics help via social media to identify a man and woman sought for questioning in connection with an alleged assault where a worker was punched at a cell-phone store on Forest Avenue in Port Richmond.

The incident allegedly occurred at about 1:40 p.m. on Aug. 14 inside the Verizon store at 1267 Forest Ave., according to a spokeswoman for the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

A 23-year-old female employee told police that unidentified individuals punched her about the body after a verbal dispute over a bill, the police spokeswoman said.

Click here for the story.

MAN, 39, ARRESTED IN TRAVIS HOME INVASION

A 39-year-old man allegedly broke into a Travis house and demanded money from the home owner on Saturday evening.

At approximately 6:40 p.m on Saturday, 39 year-old Gregory Rossomando of Annadale allegedly broke into the alleged victims home while in possession of a deadly weapon, according to a NYPD spokesperson.

Cops say that Rossomando then allegedly encountered the victim in the kitchen and demanded money from the owner. Rossomando then fled the home, which led police to search the area.

Click here for more details.
Although that temperature hasn't broken the all-time record of the highest temperature ever recorded in the USA, it very much reminds us of it. Back in 1913, Death Valley had experienced a scorching 134 degrees. Moreover, the desert regions in the Southern West of the USA has experienced four of the five hottest days ever recorded. It is due to global warming that the climate of deserts all over the world is only getting hotter with the span of time. This will also drive towards drought and heatwaves, which can cause illness and even deaths in less developed places. Have a look at the infographic below to see how other states in the USA have ranked, according to the hottest temperatures recorded in each one.
The Yankees first public response to the police killing of George Floyd was to post a quote from South Africa president and human rights icon Nelson Mandela on social media.

That wasnt enough for some of the Yankees Black minor-leaguers, and they let the front office hear it, according to general manager Brian Cashman.
Defying curfews, National Guard soldiers, militarized police, federal agents and gun-toting fascists, protesters from across the country continue to turn out in major US cities to demand justice for victims of police murder. Protests have continued, in some cases for over 90 days, in US cities throughout the week, with major events scheduled this weekend in places such as Chicago, Washington DC, New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle and Portland, as well as Kenosha and Madison, Wisconsin.

In the largest single protest, tens of thousands gathered in Washington DC for the Get Your Knee Off Our Necks march, commemorating 57 years since the first March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, led by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963.

The turnout was substantial, given the threat of the coronavirus pandemic as well as the atmosphere of violent intimidation whipped up by Trump even before a pro-Trump vigilante gunman opened fire on protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin Tuesday night, killing two people and wounding a third.

In this August 25, 2020 file photo, a protester holds up a phone as he stands in front of riot police in Kenosha, Wisconsin [Credit: AP Photo/Morry Gash, File]

One group of about 50 people marched on foot from Wisconsin to Washington, encountering occasional hostility along the way in rural areas. One of this group was shot and lightly wounded in Bedford County, Pennsylvania by a local man using a rifle, in an incident that was live-streamed.

The politics of the protest, however, were those of its Democratic Party organizers, particularly the Reverend Al Sharpton, who has long specialized in covering up the fundamental class issues and the responsibility of capitalism for poverty, police violence and racism, and promoting a racialist agenda aimed at dividing the working class.

While the speakers included survivors and family members of victims of police violence, they also included Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris, US Representative Joyce Beatty of the Congressional Black Caucus, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and Sharpton himself.

In their speeches, the capitalist politicians and union executives painted police murder in purely racial terms, obscuring the role of the police as a repressive arm of the state, and urged a vote for the Democrats in November as the only solution. Meanwhile, Democratic mayors and governors continue to work hand-in-glove with Trump and his federal thugs from the FBI, ICE and the Border Patrol, while the police departments they run suppress protests and arrest agitators.

Despite the bankrupt politics of the speakers, the large multiracial and multiethnic crowd in attendance testified to the broad support within the population for equality and opposition to the fascistic politics being put forward by Trump and the financial oligarchy for which he speaks.

Metropolitan Police confront protesters on the ground after Trumps speech, August 27, 2020, in Washington [Credit: AP Photo/Julio Cortez]

In his acceptance speech Thursday night, Trump spoke for more than an hour without mentioning the specific events in Kenosha or acknowledging that a political supporter, acting on the basis of his political slogans, opened fire on protesters and murdered two of them.

A direct line can be drawn between the fascistic screeds delivered by Trump over the last four years and repeated endlessly at the Republican National Convention this past week and the vigilante killings in Kenosha perpetrated by Kyle Rittenhouse.

The 17-year-old fervent Trump supporter and former police cadetwho attempted to enlist in the Marine Corps in January but was turned downremains in custody in Illinois after the judge ruled Friday to delay an extradition hearing for another month in order to allow Rittenhouse to retain a private attorney.

He has been charged with five felonies, including first-degree intentional homicide for the death of 26-year-old Silver Lake resident Anthony Huber, first-degree reckless homicide for the death of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and attempted first-degree intentional homicide for the shooting of Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis. Hs is also charged with two counts of recklessly endangering public safety.

Currently, Rittenhouse is being represented by a public defender and by private attorney Lin Wood, whose Twitter profile proudly displays his allegiance to QAnon with the hashtag #WWG1WGA ("When We Go One, We Go All," a slogan of the fascist conspiracy theory).

Rittenhouse is fast becoming a symbol for fascists. He has been elevated by Fox News personalities such as Tucker Carlson, with an average nightly viewership of roughly 4 million, and Ann Coulter, who boasts 2.2 million followers. On Wednesday Coulter replied to a follower, who said that he wanted Rittenhouse as his bodyguard, stating, I want him as my president.

The night after the shooting, local Wisconsin radio personality Vicki McKenna, whose morning talk show is carried in the two largest cities, Madison and Milwaukee, asked her listeners, Do you have enough ammo? She continued, Are you going to prepare by finding that old set of white sheets so that you can raise the flag of surrender? Or are you going to be ready to defend your property, your people, against the imminent violence being unleashed by people whose end game is total destruction of our way of life?

During Wednesday nights taping of his prime time show, Carlson devoted an entire segment to defending the fascist gunman, while blaming leaders and authorities for abandoning Kenosha and allowing it to devolve into anarchy. He ended the segment by rhetorically asking, How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would?

Far from "abandoning" the city, Democratic Governor Tony Evers, along with Democratic Mayor John Antaramian, have made clear they are willing to use any and all means to suppress the protests. As of this writing, over 1,000 National Guard military police from four states in addition to hundreds of federal agents and local police have poured into the area to attack demonstrators, even as the police allow self-proclaimed militias such as the Kenosha Guard to violate curfew, intimidate and in even kill protesters.

Protests have continued throughout the week in Kenosha despite the fact that a curfew remains in effect from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Sunday, August 30. Daily emergency texts warning of civil unrest have been sent to cell phones throughout Kenosha County, ordering citizens to be off the streets for their safety.

The Kenosha murders are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to right-wing violence against the protests that have erupted throughout America since the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Critical data published in a recent article by the Huffington Post, which was collected by Alexander Reid Ross, a doctoral fellow at the Center for Analysis of the Radical Right, revealed that the bulk of the violence committed at protests throughout the summer has been carried out by elements associated with the far-right, as opposed to protesters. So far, there have been at least 497 instances of far-right actors and vigilantes confronting, assaulting and/or murdering protesters.

Commenting on the scale of the violence instigated by far-right counterprotesters, Ross told the Huffington Post, Ive never seen anything like this in my life. So far Ross has confirmed 387 incidents of intimidation, 64 cases of simple assault, 38 vehicle attacks and nine instances of protesters being shot at, of whom six were injured and three killed.

Even the specific form of the events in Kenosha has extensive precedent. Ross documented over 20 instances of police encouraging the formation of militias to help suppress lawlessness.

On July 30, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb created a civilian posse to help with widespread unrest in the central Arizona county. Sioux Rapids Police Chief Tim Porter in South Dakota was suspended for two weeks earlier this summer after posting a Facebook message in which he likened Black Lives Matter protesters to speed bumps, and encouraged fascists to HIT THE GAS AND HANG ON as they committed vehicular manslaughter.

The response of the Democratic presidential ticket to the violent attacks on protesters is a combination of identity politics and cowardice. Former Vice President Joe Biden said that Trump hoped to profit from the upheaval in Kenosha. I think he views it as a political benefit, he told MSNBC, saying Trump was just pouring gasoline on the racial flames that are burning now.

He complained that Trump was attacking the Democrats although the Republicans are actually in power and should be held responsible. The violence were witnessing is happening under Donald Trump, Biden said, Not me. Its getting worse, and we know why.

Senator Kamala Harris said, We must always defend peaceful protest and peaceful protesters, but added that we should not confuse them with those looting and committing acts of violence.

Neither Biden nor Harris pointed to Trumps role as the moral author of the Kenosha murders or to the growing danger of ultra-right violence against anyone who publicly denounces the crimes of the Trump administration or the police.
Mumbai, Aug 29 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday continued questioning Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's flatmate Siddharth Pithani, cook Neeraj Singh and another staff Keshav Bachne in his death case.

According to CBI sources, Pithani, Neeraj and Keshav arrived at the DRDO guest house earlier in the day for the grilling session.

The development comes a day after the federal agency questioned Sushant's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty for over 10 hours, besides her brother Showik.

The CBI source said that Rhea will be back for her session with the federal probe agency on Saturday.

On Friday, Rhea was asked about what happened during her Europe tour with Sushant; when she took Sushant for treatment and also to a healer; and why she avoided calls from Sushant's father when he asked for details of his son's treatment.

Rhea was also asked why she left Sushant on June 8, and why she ignored his messages and blocked his number.

She was queried about why she changed the staff at the residence of the 34-year-old actor, who was found dead at his Bandra flat in Mumbai on June 14.

She was also asked to answer how she got the pins of the debit cards and internet banking of Sushant.

The CBI team questioned Rhea about when she came to know about the death of Sushant; who gave her the information; whether she visited Sushant's flat; and how she managed to see Sushant's body when she visited Cooper Hospital.

Sushant's father Krishna Kishore Singh has made sensational allegation that Rhea had administered poison to kill his son, and demanded her arrest.

Earlier, Sushant's kin have blamed the Chakraborty family for his death and allegedly swindling Rs 15 crore from his bank account, but Rhea has denied all the accusations.

The CBI registered a case against Rhea, her brother Showik, her father Indrajit, her mother Sandhya, Sushant's ex-manager Shruti Modi, his house manager Samuel Miranda and unknown others after the case was transferred from the Bihar Police who had registered the first FIR in the case on July 25 on a complaint by Sushant's father.

The CBI has so far questioned Rhea's brother Showik, Sushant's flatmate Siddharth Pithani, his personal staff Neeraj Singh and Dipesh Sawant, among others.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General, Ghana Health Service (GHS), has expressed worry over the increasing number of people defying the protocol to wear facemasks in public places; as part of measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.



He said a survey that was conducted by the Service over a three-week period revealed that over 54 per cent of the people that they had sampled were not wearing the mask, which was a major source of worry.



Dr Kuma-Aboagye said this on Thursday at the meet the press series organised by the Ministry of Information to give an update on the COVID-19 pandemic.



He said the gains that were made in bringing down the rate of spread of the disease was due to the fact that people were protecting themselves through the wearing masks, social distancing and hand washing.



He said the wearing of mask was very crucial and the evidence was strong that for them to be able to maintain and contain the disease, there was the need to ensure that more and more people would be using or applying the protocols.



He said one of the most sensitive protocols for containing COVID-19 was the use of the mask.



He noted that there was no excuse for people to drop their guards (masks); adding that COVID is not yet gone. We have done well to keep it under control and we need to continue doing that so that we dont risk escalating it again.



He said it was extremely important that Ghanaians reset, go back and start wearing the mask, so that the cases would continue to go down.



We started with one case and weve got to 42,000. So, where we are now, we have an uneasy calm. We need to intensify the campaign for people to keep wearing the mask.



He urged the media to mobilise people to keep wearing the mask and observe other COVID-19 protocols, as part of measures to reduce the burden of COVID-19.



He said the gains that that nation had made were due to compliance with the protocols including the high level of the wearing of the mask.



He noted that the nation risked escalating the numbers if Ghanaians continue on the path of not wearing mask.



Dr Kuma-Aboagye said there was the need for people to continue wearing the mask.







Source: GNA









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With this strange summer of COVID-19 slipping away, my wife and I began plotting a safe and sane Oregon road trip. Someplace within a few hours of Portland that remains relatively uncrowded and unhurried.

The cool waters of Southern Oregon beckoned: the pristine blue of Crater Lake National Park, and the adrenaline-inducing riffles of the wild Rogue River. In between, some pretty cool experiences to match, from wine tasting to fine dining to boutique shopping.
US Sale of F-16s to Taiwan May Inflame China, But Also Keep Beijing at Bay

By Ralph Jennings August 28, 2020

Taiwan's agreement this month to buy $8 billion worth of advanced F-16 fighter jets from the United States will prompt threats from China against the island and in turn spark more anti-China action by Washington, but eventually help keep Beijing at bay, experts say.

U.S. President Donald Trump approved the sale a year ago of at least 66 late-model jets and this month Taiwan signed an agreement to buy them from by 2026 from American defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. It will be Taiwan's first such deal since the U.S. government approved a sale of 150 F-16s in 1992.

Downward-spiraling relations

The current sale marks the latest development in downward-spiraling Sino-U.S. military, political and trade relations. As part of that trend, the U.S. side has buoyed China's old political rival Taiwan since 2017 through arms sales and naval activity aimed at safeguarding the island, which is just 160 kilometers off the Chinese coast.

"Given everything that has happened between Beijing and Washington, I think the Chinese feel that this is just another measure that [the] Trump administration has held up of their anti-China trend," said Yun Sun, East Asia Program senior associate at the Stimson Center, a research organization in Washington.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory and insists that the two sides eventually unify despite widespread opposition among Taiwanese people. The dispute goes back to the Chinese civil war of the 1940s, when the Nationalists lost to the Communists and re-based their government in Taiwan. China, armed with the world's third-strongest military, has not ruled out use of force if needed to take over Taiwan.

Separately, the U.S. and China have blocked each other's internet services, shuttered consulates and, since 2018, been embroiled in a trade dispute. The arms sale is part of that struggle, experts say.

"Whenever the U.S. and Taiwan do something together, China is obligated to respond and that response naturally is going to escalate the tension, because that's the action-reaction cycle," Sun said.

Military maneuvers

China has stepped up military maneuvers near Taiwan since June. On August 10, the Chinese air force briefly sent planes across a median line dividing Taiwan's air defense zone from China's. It had flown over the line at least eight other times in June.

China's People's Liberation Army has held amphibious landing exercises off the south coast of China too "at a time when the U.S. has been frequently conducting provocative military activities near the island of Taiwan," Beijing's state-controlled Global Times news website reported August 9. It anticipated more exercises over the coming weeks.

"The U.S. should be warned and should not make dangerous moves to avoid misjudgments that neither side would like to see," the Global Times said, citing analysts.

U.S. Navy vessels pass all but routinely through the ocean strait separating China from Taiwan, and two U.S. aircraft carrier groups sailed into the adjacent South China Sea last month.

Taiwan's purchase of the F-16s shows that Washington is determined to keep pressuring China, said Sean King, vice president of the Park Strategies political consultancy in New York. The U.S. military has offered support in recent months for Vietnam and the Philippines as well, as both Southeast Asian countries vie with China over maritime sovereignty.

'So much frustration'

"There's just so much frustration in Washington with Beijing right now that nobody in the Trump administration is ready to stand in the way of whatever's good for Taiwan," King said.

China has been used to a closer economic relationship with the United States and settling political issues through diplomacy. Its "recent behavior" may mark a "new era in Chinese foreign policy, one that reflects the country's growing strength and ambitions," Council on Foreign Relations' president Richard Haass writes in an August 13 commentary.

However, China can do only so much in reaction to the fighter jet sale and other specific military moves by Washington, analysts say.

The U.S. activity reminds China that Washington could protect Taiwan if attacked, Sun said.

Communist officials would act "bluntly" against Taiwan only if they had a stronger consensus within their ruling party and freedom from domestic economic issues, including trade issues with the United States, said Alexander Huang, strategic studies professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan.

"I believe a rational decision-making body or a relatively rational [Chinese President] Xi Jinping would not like to take the risk unless there is an overwhelming challenge from Taiwan," Huang said.

Chinese officials have vented less vociferously this time compared to their reactions to previous U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, King said.

"That could be because Beijing's taking so many hits from Washington at the moment that it's not quite sure which perceived outrage to prioritize," he said.

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This weeks Republican National Convention was the best Ive ever watched.

The locations and settings were great.

Melania did a fine job in the White House Rose Garden.

Vice President Mike Pence praised President Trump remotely from Baltimores Fort McHenry.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke from somewhere in Israel.

In addition, the GOPs diversity quotient was off the charts.

The impressive speakers included Tim Scott (the U.S. Senator from South Carolina whose inspiring life story is summed up by From Cotton to Congress), Nikki Hailey (the Indian-American former governor of South Carolina) and young Daniel Jay Cameron, the first black attorney general of Kentucky.

Plus, there were so many women coming to the podium over the first three days you couldnt count them.

Along with Trumps daughters, Trumps counselor Kellyanne Conway and rising star Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota. There was also Kim Klacik, the dynamic young Republican running for Congress who filmed her remarks in the urban ruins of Democrat-run Baltimore.

Best of all were the speeches.

The speakers were not afraid to be political.

They slapped around Joe Biden and the radical Democrats who control him a few dozen times, and they stood up for unborn babies, school choice and strong borders.

But they didnt deliver a string of cliched political sermons like the ones weve had to endure at past national conventions.

The RNC speeches were what good political speeches should be  mercifully short, tight, well-written and delivered like mini-Ted Talks.

Many were emotional personal stories told by ordinary Americans who had been helped by the Trump administration or who had positive things to say about the troubled country they loved.

My favorites included a lumberjack from Wisconsin, a Cuban refugee who appreciates the priceless gift of freedom and a good-hearted cop from New Mexico who adopted the baby of a homeless drug addict.

I mean, who knew a lumberjack from Wisconsin could be such a good public speaker?

The way the Trump campaign put their convention together was not only politically effective and first class all the way, it was actually great prime-time television.

Overcoming the limitations imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, the RNC used technology, the trappings of the presidency and a diverse line-up of great young speakers in many smart and entertaining ways.

The Republican convention was a fast-moving, upbeat circus compared to the Democrats draggy snooze-fest, which looked like it was shot in an airplane hangar and felt like a Zoom meeting of angry politicians and spoiled Hollywood celebrities.

I swear it was televised in black-and-white.

The contrasting conventions prove that what my father said decades ago about the difference between Republicans and Democrats is still true.

Paraphrasing him, he said with Republicans its always morning in America and with Democrats its always darkness  midnight in a rainstorm, Id say.

The DNC was not just dull, boring and over-weighted with the dead ideas of socialism. It was a depressing and unrelentingly negative affair.

The ordinary Americans they found to speak came to tell sob stories about how evil Donald Trump was and how much his policies hurt them.

Based on how they portrayed themselves at their convention, Democrats must be the saddest human beings on the planet.

They enjoy all the great things that freedom and capitalism can bring, but theyre never happy.

Unlike Republicans who look to the future, theyre slaves to the past, guilty about Americas greatness, clueless about its founding ideals and fixated on its imperfections.

The Democrats proved at their convention they dont have any fresh ideas or policies of their own to make America better. All they can do is repeat, Get rid of Trump. Get rid of Trump.

Its the only strategy they have, but even with the corrupt liberal medias help its not going to be enough to make Joe Biden president.

Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan, a political consultant, and the author of Lessons My Father Taught Me: The Strength, Integrity, and Faith of Ronald Reagan. He is the founder of the email service reagan.com and president of The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Visit his websites at www.reagan.com and www.michaelereagan.com. Send comments to Reagan@caglecartoons.com. Follow @reaganworld on Twitter.

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The north-central Vietnamese province of Quang Binh will cancel an order for VND2.2 billion (US$95,000) worth of leather bags as gifts for participants in an upcoming provincial Party congress following public outcry.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported on Thursday that the Office of Quang Binh Province Party Committee had appointed a contractor for their bidding package of leather document bags, intended to be gifts for 400 representatives and 200 guests attending the provinces upcoming 17th Party Congress.

As quoted by the expenditure approval, each attendee of the Congress would be entitled to a leather bag, worth approximately around VND3.5-3.7 million (US$152-161), which brings the total cost to VND2.2 billion just for the gifts alone.

The lavish spending was met with public outcry following media reports.

The provincial Party chief Vu Dai Thang told Tuoi Tre newspaper on Thursday afternoon he has directed relevant agencies to cancel the order for the leather bags.

According to Thang, he has only assumed the position as secretary of the provincial Party Committee for three weeks and did not have any oversight over this spending decision when it was made.

After acknowledging public feedback and reviewing the details of the order, Thang concluded that the VND2.2 billion expenditure is unjustified.

As our economy is grappling during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, such large spending for document bags is unjustifiable and needs to be corrected immediately, said Thang.

According to Thang, the aim of his province at the moment is to be provident to the best of their ability, which means spendings will be streamlined across the board.

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A new COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme will support businesses in Fingal to expand their online presence, Fine Gael TD, Alan Farrell has said.

Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English TD, has launched a new 5.5 million Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme as announced in the Government's July Jobs Stimulus package.

Deputy Farrell said: 'Businesses with an existing online presence can now apply to the Online Retail Scheme for a grant of up to a maximum of 40,000.

'The fund is designed to help businesses to accelerate their online offerings to respond to both domestic and international consumer demand.

'The grant will cover 80% of project costs and can be used to fund fees for service providers, to develop and implement a digital strategy supported by in-house training, and to enhance the retailer's website and related systems.'

Deputy Farrell continued: 'Online trade is already so important to many businesses in Fingal. However with COVID-19, businesses really need to maximise their online presence due to the drop off in footfall in their shops. This fund is designed to help them do exactly that and hopefully will boost their business after what has no doubt been a very difficult few months in retail.

'I encourage all Fingal businesses to apply for a grant when the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme opens for applications on Monday, 31 August 2020. There is a simple application process accessible through the Enterprise Ireland website.'

Speaking at the launch of the new scheme in Great Outdoors in Dublin, Minister English said: "The Government has been listening to retailers across the country and it is clear that the Covid-19 pandemic continues to make it an urgent priority for businesses to accelerate the growth of their online offering.'
Bahains High Criminal Court has handed five years in jail to three officials of private money retailer Future Bank in money laundering cases that have also implicated the Central Bank of Iran and other banks, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) has reported.

The convicts who have been named are also fined to pay each $1 million. The court also fined the Central Bank of Iran, Bank Melli Iran and Bank Saderat Iran heavy amounts estimated at over $40 million.

Probes into the cases totaling seven revealed that Central Bank of Iran planned to launder billions of dollars through Future Bank, which was established in Bahrain and controlled by two Iranian banks, Bank Melli Iran and Bank Saderat Iran, the agency said.

The transactions, which occurred through SWIFT system according to the prosecution, were done to pass suspicious financial transactions in favor of Iranian entities, mainly the Central Bank of Iran, in violation of laws and regulations.
By Laila Kearney

NEW YORK, Aug 28 (Reuters) - U.S. energy regulators sided with pipeline operator Energy Transfer in a challenge to bankrupt oil and gas producer Chesapeake Energy's request to cancel a nearly $300 million contract, court filings show.

Chesapeake ignited a fight when it asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston to approve breaking pipeline contracts, including with Energy Transfer and Crestwood Equity Partners.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in a filing this week argued that it should have equal say with the bankruptcy court over regulated pipeline contracts. FERC recently sought to have its voice included in contract disputes including with bankrupt utility PG&E Corp.

"(A)ny court that decides the debtors' (Chesapeake's) motion to reject will have to consider the intersection of the bankruptcy code and non-bankruptcy federal law," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick, who is representing FERC in the case.

Energy Transfer wants to keep its contract, insisting it is more complex than many canceled in bankruptcy courts in the past.

It also has won Trump administration support for its fight to continue its Dakota Access crude oil pipeline. Company chief Kelsey Warren has been a donor to the president.

Chesapeake, the largest oil and gas producer to file for protection from creditors in at least five years, wants to rid itself of $7 billion in debt and expenses including the pipeline contracts.

Pipeline operator Tallgrass Energy separately has sought to prevent bankrupt Ultra Petroleum from cancelling a contract. It has asked FERC to intervene on cancellation of pipeline contracts through bankruptcies.

"It fundamentally comes down to an argument that these contracts have unique aspects and that FERC is the one that can tell the difference," said Rick Smead, managing director for advisory services at RBN Energy.

The Ultra Petroleum decision is expected to land first and could have implications for many other contract rejection legal disputes in the future, Smead said. (Reporting by Laila Kearney; Editing by Leslie Adler)
She regularly shares her sartorial selections with her almost 7million Instagram followers, particularly in her role as a brand ambassador for Marks & Spencer.

And Holly Willoughby returned to the image-sharing platform on Saturday morning to reveal that her latest set of snaps have been a true family affair, as they were shot by her children  Harry, 11, Belle, nine, and Chester, five.

In a heartwarming snap, the This Morning presenter is seen sitting before a table laden with makeup as daughter Belle adds the finishing touches with a brush.

Family affair: Holly Willoughby has revealed that her latest set of fashion snaps have been a true family affair, as they were shot by her children  Harry, 11, Belle, nine, and Chester, five

Donning a pretty patterned gown, the ITV personality smiles as she sits in front a selection of fashion items slung over a standing mirror.

Captioning the image, Holly gushed that she was 'super impressed' with her children's creative skills, as she wrote: 'So this is what we've been up to... @marksandspencer to the rescue!!!!

'Quarantine turned quaran-dream yesterday when Harry, Belle and Chester turned photographer and shot the new season's clothing drop... which M&S very kindly gave me a sneak peak of ahead of the launch.

Chic: She regularly shares her sartorial selections with her almost 7 million Instagram followers

'I'm Super impressed with the kids camera skills and the all important final checks from Belle. Here's a little teaser of what's launching at M&S mid-September in time for autumn... Best way of keeping them entertained ever!'

Holly's post comes after it was confirmed that she and Phillip Schofield will return to their This Morning presenting roles next week after their summer break.

The TV duo will be back on screens on September 1, taking back the reins back from Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford who stood in for them during their hiatus.

It comes after Holly had to cut her seven-week family holiday to Portugal short so she could quarantine for two weeks to be ready to return to the show in time.

We're back! Holly's post comes after it was confirmed that she and Phillip Schofield will return to This Morning next week after their summer break (pictured on March 10)

The show will be back with all of its regular segments and appearances from show favourites such as John Torode, Gino D'Acampo and wellness expert Liz Earle.

The autumn shows will also include a new four-part 'Best of British' series where Nigel Havers will tour around Britain.

Viewers will also be treated to a three-episode series called 'Dr Scott's Super Dogs' which will see the show's resident vet meet dogs who are helping to save lives across the country.

Last week, it was revealed that Holly was forced to end her seven-week family holiday to go into quarantine so that she could return on time to host.

Taking over: The TV duo will be back on screens on September 1, taking back the reins back from Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford (pictured) who stood in for them during their hiatus

The TV presenter had planned to fly home from the Algarve at the end of August for her summer break.

But UK government COVID-19 restrictions at the time meant all passengers returning to Britain from Portugal must self-isolate for 14 days.

As a result, the TV star flew home a fortnight early and quarantined with her husband Dan Baldwin and their three children at their London home .

A source told MailOnline: 'Holly accepts that she has to go into quarantine and will follow the rules but she isn't happy losing two weeks from her holiday.

Getaway: Last week it was revealed that Holly was forced to end her seven-week family holiday to go into quarantine so that she could return on time to host

'The summer break is her chance to re-charge after a hectic period and to spend time with her family. After all the stresses of the pandemic she had been looking forward to relaxing as long as possible.

'Instead of seven weeks away she has had to make it five  but it's what she's had to do to keep the This Morning team safe and to ensure she returns to the show on time.'

A source close to Holly said of the arrangement: 'Holly isn't ''unhappy'' to be returning, but happy to do what is necessary to keep everyone safe'.

Their return comes after Holly countered claims she is considering leaving the show after 11 years.

'Thank you': Holly thanked This Morning viewers for sticking around during 'this new way of broadcasting' before bidding them farewell ahead of her summer break last month

It was reported that the popular TV presenter was seeking other opportunities on prime time TV after setting up her own management company, Roxy Management, earlier this year.

However, a source close to the 39-year-old star told the MailOnline that Holly is happier than ever on the flagship mid-morning show and has 'no plans to leave.'

The insider said: 'Holly loves This Morning and working with Phil. She is the happiest that she's ever been on the show and has no plans to leave.'

The comments come after The Sun claimed last week that she was considering leaving to focus on new opportunities.

They reported that she was planning on focusing more on her career now her children Harry, 11, Belle, nine, and Chester, five, are getting older.

A source speaking to the publication claimed: 'Holly is unique in that women like her and want to be her friend and men are attracted to her as she's so beautiful. She has universal appeal.

'While she loves This Morning, her four-day-a-week live TV stint is a huge drain on her time and requires a lot of energy, plus she's been doing it for 11 years now.'

MailOnline has contacted Holly, Phillip Schofield and This Morning representatives for comment.

It is understood Holly and Phil are currently earning close to 1 million a year for their roles  up about a quarter from their current 750,000 annual salaries.
The Benoit family evacuated Cameron Parish in Louisiana the day before Hurricane Laura made landfall. As the storm grew and wobbled east to west, they questioned heading towards Texas or further inland in Louisiana.

We didnt know where to go or where the storm would be. We didnt want to make the wrong choice, Roy Benoit said.

In the end, they found themselves sleeping in the parking lot of a Walmart outside of Alexandria, huddled in their vehicles. As the storm took aim at the coast, a local sheriffs deputy awoke the family from their slumber and instructed them to follow him to a Red Cross shelter.

When asked about their experience at the Red Cross shelter, Benoit described the shelter as being pleasant - hot meals, a place to lay his head, and a safe place his entire family could stay together.

This is heaven compared to where we were sleeping before, he said through tear-filled eyes.

Roys wife Carolyn, daughter Bethany and four grandchildren have made fast friends with the other shelter residents. They share socially distanced meals, discuss scripture and swap stories of simpler times. The littlest grandson, Dayson, received the most attention with his tiny dimples and contagious, shining smile.

By gods help we are saved. Like everyone else we didnt know what would happen but we are okay. We have our wonderful beautiful little family and I dont ever want someone else to lose theirs.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The Benoit family are just several of thousands of people in the affected states forced to leave their homes. Here are three ways you can support those impacted by Hurricane Laura.
Rideshare drivers demonstrate against rideshare companies Uber and Lyft during a car caravan protest on August 6, 2020 in Los Angeles. ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

Right-wing news outlets, a social media mob, and public relations firms hired by Uber and Lyft are playing a role in the tech firms' attempt to keep paying drivers as contractors, per a CNET report.

Uber, Lyft, Postmates, DoorDash, and Instacart created and funded Proposition 22 to be exempt from AB5, a California law passed in late 2019 that forces them to pay gig workers as employees.

The report comes as the companies ramp up efforts to push Prop 22 past the finish line in the upcoming November election.

"This effort is an attempt to exploit workers who are without any labor protection, which is what the California Supreme Court and the legislature are concerned about. These companies are trying to muddy the waters," Stanford law professor William Gould told Business Insider.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Uber and Lyft have reportedly aggressively ramped up efforts to promote Proposition 22, a controversial ballot measure in California that would let the firms continue paying drivers as contractors, not full-time employees.

Per a Friday report from CNET's Dara Kerr, the makers of the measure  Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, and Postmates  have poured at least $100 million into their Yes on Proposition 22 campaign and have hired 18 public relations firms, three of which have a track record of working for Republican candidates and conservative causes, for opposition research, social media management, and other tasks.

Conservative news outlets and ardent online opponents to Assembly Bill 5  the law passed in September that forced Uber and Lyft to pay their drivers as employees  are also contributing to get Prop 22 over the finish line. And as one expert told the outlet, the PR firms are resorting to what seems to be "targeted harassment as a service" to get the job done. Many list social media as part of their skill set, per the report.

"It's clearly a coordinated campaign," William Fitzgerald with the strategic advocacy firm The Worker Agency told CNET. "What Uber is doing now with this is way further than anything I've seen. It's a totally different ballgame."

Story continues

Uber and Lyft did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Online users have propagated the false claim on social media that a University of California Hastings law professor named Veena Dubal authored AB5, per the report. Dubal is an outspoken supporter of the law, but the author is actually Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez. Dubal told the outlet that she's been subjected to social media harassment, and a Twitter user posted Dubal's home address online in late March. One of the PR firms also submitted a public records request to access Dubal's email communication with labor activists and unions.

Conservative news sites like Communities Digital News and RedState have written articles decrying AB5 and have incorrectly cited Dubal as the author of the law, per the report. Communities Digital News writer Jennifer Oliver O'Connell and RedState Deputy Managing Editor Jennifer Van Laar have taken part in speaking out against both Dubal and Gonzalez online along with the rest of the anti-AB5 community. A Yes on Proposition 22 campaign spokesperson told CNET that it hasn't paid or supported the outlets and their writers in their anti-AB5 reportage.

There's also a growing online network of Facebook groups and pages, websites, Twitter and Instagram accounts, and YouTube channels trained on condemning AB5, per the report.

University of Utah assistant professor Marshal Steinbaum co-wrote a letter to Congress that states how Uber and Lyft drivers should be classified as employees. Steinbaum told CNET that he's been fielding social media jabs as well from anti-AB5 activists, a community that he referred to as "a cultivated troll army."

'These companies are trying to muddy the waters'

Uber and Lyft have pushed back hard on AB5, which would dole out a serious blow to business models built around paying drivers as contractors. Doing so has allowed them to skirt hefty labor costs, and some drivers have accused the firms of exploiting them to save a buck, as Business Insider's Tyler Sonnemaker reported. Upgrading them to employee status could add up to 30% in labor fees, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The firms maintain that drivers enjoy the flexibility they have to work when and how they please, a freedom that they say is stripped by AB5. Uber and Lyft  along with DoorDash, Postmates, and Instacart  created Proposition 22 as a means to exempt themselves from the gig work law.

"This effort is an attempt to exploit workers who are without any labor protection, which is what the California Supreme Court and the legislature are concerned about," Stanford law professor William Gould told Business Insider. "These companies are trying to muddy the waters."

AB5 impacted not just ride-sharing drivers but independent contractors across the news, trucking, and other sectors. Although the law was designed so that employers would hire more contractors as employees, some freelancers in various industries pushed back on AB5. Freelance journalists, for example, claimed their careers would suffer since AB5 capped the number of submissions they could send to editors at 35 per outlet. Subsequent amendments have been made since then, including one that is currently in the works, AB 1850, that would exempt news professionals.

A group of freelancers has also formed online to advocate for the repeal of AB5, referring to themselves as the "Lollipop Guild," according to the CNET report. The lollipop reference likely harkens back to a May hearing for an AB5 amendment during which Democratic State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson said, "I appreciate the frustration people have. It's kind of taking away the lollipop that they had, the ability to decide essentially when they worked."

Caribou Barbie #RepealAB5 (My job = ?) (@dtr300) August 24, 2020

Gonzalez, the California assemblywoman who penned AB5, has admitted herself that the law wasn't perfect when it passed last September, according to CNET. And Gould similarly told Business Insider that he doesn't "think this legislation is perfect by any means."

"They made a great effort, but they didn't really provide all these exemptions," Gould said.

Uber and Lyft are now fighting tooth and nail for an exemption. But Gould said Uber and Lyft's money and connections have given them an advantage, helping them stay fairly unregulated.

"It stands to reason that some of these companies have very deep pockets and they are able to spend  you see all the propaganda they put together," Gould said.

Californians will vote on Prop 22 in the November election.

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BERLIN - Far-right extremists tried to storm the German parliament building Saturday following a protest against the countrys pandemic restrictions, but were intercepted by police and forcibly removed.

The incident occurred after a daylong demonstration by tens of thousands of people opposed to the wearing of masks and other government measures intended to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. Police ordered the protesters to disband halfway through their march around Berlin after participants refused to observe social distancing rules, but a rally near the capitals iconic Brandenburg Gate took place as planned.

Footage of the incident showed hundreds of people, some waving the flag of the German Reich of 1871-1918 and other far-right banners, running toward the Reichstag building and up the stairs.

Police confirmed on Twitter that several people had broken through a cordon in front of Parliament and entered the staircase of the Reichstag building, but not the building itself.

Stones and bottles were thrown at our colleagues, police said. Force had to be used to push them back.

Germanys top security official condemned the incident.

The Reichstag building is the workplace of our Parliament and therefore the symbolic centre of our liberal democracy, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said in a statement.

Its unbearable that vandals and extremists should misuse it, he said, calling on authorities to show zero tolerance.

Earlier, thousands of far-right extremists had thrown bottles and stones at police outside the Russian Embassy. Police detained about 300 people throughout the day.

Berlins regional government had tried to ban the protests, warning that extremists could use them as a platform and citing anti-mask rallies earlier this month where rules intended to stop the virus from being spread further werent respected.

Protest organizers successfully appealed the decision Friday, though a court ordered them to ensure social distancing. Failure to enforce that measure prompted Berlin police to dissolve the march while it was still in progress.

During the march, which authorities said drew about 38,000 people, participants expressed their opposition to a wide range of issues, including vaccinations, face masks and the German government in general. Some wore T-shirts promoting the QAnon conspiracy theory while others displayed white nationalist slogans and neo-Nazi insignia, though most participants denied having far-right views.

Uwe Bachmann, 57, said he had come from southwestern Germany to protest for free speech and his right not to wear a mask.

I respect those who are afraid of the virus, said Bachmann, who was wearing a costume and a wig that tried to evoke stereotypical Native American attire. He suggested, without elaborating, that something else was behind the pandemic.

Another protester said he wanted Germanys current political system abolished and a return to the constitution of 1871 on the grounds that the countrys postwar political system was illegal. Providing only his first name, Karl-Heinz, he had travelled with his sister from their home near the Dutch border to attend the protest and believed that the coronavirus cases being reported in Germany now were false positives.

Germany has seen an upswing in new cases in recent weeks. The countrys disease control agency reported Saturday that Germany had almost 1,500 new infections over the past day.

Germany has been praised for the way it has handled the pandemic, and the countrys death toll of some 9,300 people is less than one-fourth the amount of people who have died of COVID-19 in Britain. Opinion polls show overwhelming support for the prevention measures imposed by authorities, such as the requirement to wear masks on public transport, in stores and some public buildings such as libraries and schools.

Along the route were several smaller counter-protests where participants shouted slogans against the far-rights presence at the anti-mask rally.

I think theres a line and if someone takes to the streets with neo-Nazis then theyve crossed that line, said Verena, a counter-protester from Berlin who declined to provide her surname.

Meanwhile, a few hundred people rallied Saturday in eastern Paris to protest new mask rules and other restrictions prompted by rising virus infections around France. Police watched closely but did not intervene.

The protesters had no central organizer but included people in yellow vests who formerly protested economic injustice, others promoting conspiracy theories and those who call themselves Anti-Masks.

France has not seen an anti-mask movement like some other countries. Masks are now required everywhere in public in Paris as authorities warn that infections are growing exponentially just as schools are set to resume classes.

France registered more than 7,000 new virus infections in a single day Friday, up from several hundred a day in May and June, in part thanks to ramped-up testing. It has the third-highest coronavirus death toll in Europe after Britain and Italy, with over 30,600 dead.

In London, hundreds of people crowded into Trafalgar Square for a Unite for Freedom protest against government lockdown restrictions and the wearing of face masks. The Metropolitan Police warned demonstrators that anyone attending a gathering of more than 30 people may be at risk of committing a criminal offence.

___

Angela Charlton in Paris and Silvia Hui in London contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

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Authorities in Belarus have deported some foreign journalists reporting in the country and withdrawn the accreditation of many Belarusian reporters covering large anti-government protests that erupted after a disputed presidential election earlier this month.

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in recent weeks, rejecting President Alexander Lukashenkos landslide victory in the August 9 vote, which his opponents say was rigged. Several people have been killed and hundreds more wounded during a violent police crackdown, with thousands of protesters detained.

Ahead of another protest planned for Sunday, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said at least 17 journalists were stripped of their accreditation, which are issued by the foreign ministry. Among them were a video journalist and a photographer from Reuters news agency, two from the BBC and four from Radio Liberty.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms this stifling of independent journalism, the BBC said on Saturday.

The Associated Press news agency also said two Moscow-based journalists who were covering the recent demonstrations in Belarus were deported to Russia on Saturday. Also, the APs Belarusian journalists were told by the government that their press credentials had been revoked.

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The Associated Press decries in the strongest terms this blatant attack on press freedom in Belarus. AP calls on the Belarusian government to reinstate the credentials of independent journalists and allow them to continue reporting the facts of what is happening in Belarus to the world, said Lauren Easton, the news agencys director of media relations.

Germanys ARD television said two of its Moscow-based journalists also were deported to Russia, a Belarusian producer faces trial on Monday and their accreditation to work in Belarus was revoked.

The decision was taken on the recommendation of the countrys counterterrorism unit, AFP news agency cited government spokesman Anatoly Glaz as saying.

In comments at a government meeting on July 23, Lukashenko had threatened to expel foreign journalists, accusing them of inciting protests against him before the vote.

President Lukashenko has previously complained about foreign medias coverage of protests in Belarus, and has cracked down on foreign media, said Al Jazeeras Bernard Smith, reporting from Vilnius in Lithuania.

He noted that most journalists affected by Saturdays move were Belarusians who work for foreign media organisations.

If they continue to work without accreditation, they risk being arrested, Smith said.

Fear and intimidation

Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who is in exile in Lithuania, said on Saturday she was worried about the government targeting the media.

The only way it will attempt to cling onto power is by fear and intimidation, she said.





Separately on Saturday, several Western embassies in Minsk issued a strongly worded statement.

We condemn the disproportionate use of force and urge the Belarusian authorities to stop the violence and the threats to use military force against the countrys own citizens and release immediately and unconditionally all those unlawfully detained, the missions of the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the European Union said in the joint statement.

Intimidation and prosecution based on political grounds need to stop. We call on the Belarusian authorities to respect the countrys international obligations on fundamental democratic and human rights.

The protests, some of which drew enormous crowds estimated at 200,000 or more, are the largest and most sustained challenge of Lukashenkos 26 years in office, during which he consistently repressed opposition and independent news media.

On Saturday, hundreds of women dressed mostly in red and white  the colours of the former Belarusian flag that the opposition uses as an emblem  marched through the capital, Minsk, in a protest.

Dubbed by critics as Europes last dictator, Lukashenko has denounced a Western plot to bring him down and rejected the rigging allegations.

The results of the presidential election have been rejected by the European Union, which is preparing sanctions against high-ranking Belarusian officials.

Katsiaryna Shmatsina, of the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies, told Al Jazeera the sanctions against individuals who are guilty of human rights violations in Belarus is an important step but added that the regime considers this the cost of doing business.

This wont stop them from further intimidating the Belarusians.
New Delhi:

A committee has been prepared by Congress which will be chaired by Delhi unit chief Ajay Maken and oversee preparations for its campaigns across the city in January as part of its pan- India campaign against "anti-people policies" of the Centre. AICC general secretary and Delhi in-charge PC Chacko has set up the panel, which includes two co-chairpersons.

Chattar Singh will be the convener of the committee. Sixteen members of the committee included senior party leaders Sheila Dikshit, Kapil Sibal, Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar and Sandeep Dikshit. Karn Singh, Janardan Dwivedi and Parvez Hashmi will be among the nine ex-officio members of the committee.

The pan-India campaign against "anti-people policies" - mainly the sudden move to demonetise high-value currency notes on November 8 - of the Narendra Modi government will begin in the first week of January.

Congress has termed the exercise to demonetise Rs 1,000 and old Rs 500 notes a 'deshbandi' (lockdown of country).

























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Following the conclusion of the Republican National Convention, the far left's "fiery but peaceful" protestors had a pretty disgusting plan: instead of just yelling at the top of their lungs from the outside, or attempting to disrupt the convention from the inside, or burning and looting nearby shops to give the whole thing a bad public relations odor, they decided to physically attack Republicans as they exited the convention. That was the plan.

They certainly attacked random nobodies exiting the front, but when Sen. Rand Paul attempted to get to his hotel two blocks away on foot after waiting 45 minutes at the wrong hotel, the mobs recognized him and got really excited, first swarming him and his wife in a group of 30, and then swelling to 60, and then to a 120-sized turba mob. They made lunging attacks at the senator and his luckily spotted police escort who were trying to protect Paul and his wife and deflect the "protesters."

It was a travesty. Paul described it very well.

Some excerpts: "We cannot go outside now, it's too dangerous."

"The United States is going to become Portland."

"We'll eff you up."

"This is happening in all our cities, thank God for the police."

"I want to live the life of a normal person, where I go to the grocery store and buy groceries, or stop at the Minute-Mart."

Paul's most important statement came here:

"This also is not normal. There's something ... going on here. This is like, the FBI needs to be involved."

And more specifically, as the Fox News reporter probed:

My feeling is there is interstate criminal traffic being paid for across state lines, but you won't know it unless you arrest them. Otherwise you just think oh these are just some normal hoodlums from a big city. I promise you that at least some of these members and people who attacked us were not from D.C. They flew here on a plane, they've all got fresh new clothes, and they were paid to be here. It is a crime to do that and it needs to be traced. The FBI needs to investigate. But the only way you can do it is you have to arrest people. And usually we say 'oh, well, you didn't get hurt, so we're not going to arrest them.' They were inciting a riot, and they would have killed us had the police not been there. They all need to be arrested, and I'm not saying forever, but they need to be arrested, questioned, they need to say where you're staying, and the bills need to be subpoenaed by a judge, to say 'who paid for your bill, how did you get here on a plane and staying in a fancy hotel, and yet you're acting like a criminal.' Something's going on here and it's much bigger than people think. But the bottom line is, we can't let the United States become Portland and that's what my fear is...

This is pretty much the most important question that can be asked of any of this lunacy engulfing the country.

Two things stand out.

One, dangerously opaque foundations, such as the Tides Foundation, which takes cash in big amounts from anonymous donors and has been known to contribute to terroristic organizations such as Earth First! and the "Ruckus Society," have stepped up their donations to "social justice" and "criminal justice" and "racial justice" organizations. George Soros's Open Society Foundation, while less opaque, given that the group's money comes from Soros's vast fortune as a currency speculator, is in this category, too. Here is what the New York Post, via the Center for Consumer Freedom, noted:

Second, the Democrats, who also take money from the donors to these foundations that may be behind these riots, have been curiously silent in their failure to condemn the violence, even on people they know and work with from the Senate building. Joe Biden made a general condemnation of violence after poll numbers showed that rioter violence was not playing well with the American voters, but he hasn't said a thing about the attack on Sen. Rand Paul. His running mate, Kamala Harris, is even worse, witchily cackling that the violence will never stop, as noted in this well written blog item today by Bill Dunne here.

Paul noted the irony of his own role in attempting to get justice for Breonna Taylor, who was killed in a no-knock raid on apparently the wrong apartment, writing a bill to ban no-knock raids. But he came off as a little naive there  these mobs aren't interested in reform. They want to tear the whole edifice down, and some huge billionaires are behind them. More than tanks in the streets, there needs to be an investigation into who's funding these mobs and arrests of the foundation executives and moneybag billionaires found to be involved. We still don't know precisely which ones are doing this, and it's critical that we find out, because as Harris says, the attacks won't stop (and we need to know how Harris would know this, too). Some big swoop-downs need to happen, and one hopes the Trump administration is willing to take on the task or is already on it. Paul would be wise to initiate some Senate investigation, too, because someone's getting away with this, and the attacks are growing more brazen, targeting not just shopkeepers, but now police and elected officials.

Image credit: Fox News screen shot from shareable video.
Growing demand for zero-deforestation cacao might not help Colombian forests

When Brazil refused soy grown on deforested land in the Amazon, the movement spread worldwide. Brazil's Soy Moratorium in 2006 became the first zero-deforestation agreement. And from cocoa in Ghana to palm oil in Indonesia, now companies would have to explain: where was their product from? Did it contribute to deforestation?

But more than a decade later, there is little concrete evidence that zero-deforestation pledges have cut deforestation or carbon emissions. While zero-deforestation support has grown, companies still have no guidelines through which they may measure progress. The result is a vague nod in the direction of improvement, with little concrete evidence that it works.

"There are no one-size-fits-all, silver bullet solutions. Zero-deforestation supply chains is not one either," said Augusto Castro-Nunez, a scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. "It just doesn't work as a blanket approach for all countries and all supply chains. The proliferation of zero-deforestation pledges might creates uncertainty for small and large producers alike, without a clear roadmap to implement those pledges."

A smarter approach might be to include a raft of sustainability measures along every part of the supply chain, embedded as value addition. This is because ending agriculture-driven deforestation requires global-level commitments - like zero-deforestation pledges - to be tailored to local contexts.

Colombia is a case in point. Here, cocoa does not appear to replace virgin forest. Rather, it is used to replace illicit coca plant used for cocaine production. The research led by Castro-Nunez also shows that in Colombia, cocoa production, even if it is only for local markets, offers a pathway out of conflict and poverty.

The research, which maps cacao production in Colombia and overlays it with deforestation hotspots, was published in Applied Geography and has been used by the Colombian Cacao, Forest and Peace Initiative. The study was funded by Germany's International Climate Initiative, or IKI, as part of its Sustainable Land Use Systems (SLUS) project led by the Alliance.

Yet even though the science tells us that cocoa is not a driver of deforestation in Colombia like palm oil is in Indonesia, small producers must still adhere to zero-deforestation practices. Indeed the top prices and niche markets it attracts, continue to sweet-talk cacao stakeholders across the country.

And yet, although 90 percent of those small farmers live in poor and post-conflict areas where cocoa is produced, they risk being cut out of supply chains if they do not comply with zero-deforestation requirements. The impact: to switch to other crops, like coca - leading to an exacerbation of the conflict from which these small producers are trying to escape.

"The expectation is for producers is that because their cacao does not drive deforestation, it could reach new international markets and command higher prices," said Castro-Nunez. "This has not happened at a wide-scale but there is potential."

Castro-Nunez and colleagues say that instead of dropping producers from supply chains for not meeting zero-deforestation requirements, different value-addition strategies can be adopted along the chain. Relationships can be made and nurtured; producers can receive support, finance and information to build their businesses sustainably. Suppliers must work together to add value and help producers out of conflict and poverty.

Much of the burden for investing in zero-deforestation pledges would be carried by producers. Without access to finance, knowledge and the right networks, producers are often not in a position to invest in meeting these goals, reducing further any chances of creating sustainable markets and helping themselves out of the situation.

So investment in the value-chain approach to build peace and support zero-deforestation and other context-specific situations is critical. Since in Colombia, cocoa is promoted as an alternative to illicit coca, support must be given to help legal businesses develop and thrive, towards peace and transparency.

Reducing deforestation in agricultural production is undoubtedly a must. But first, the extent to which a product is contributing to deforestation in any specific location must be determined. We can't manage what we can't measure: we need more data about what is happening on the ground to define commitments.

In Colombia, demand for zero-deforestation cocoa might even drive up competition to produce cocoa for these high-end markets touting certification as a solution.

"Eventually, the laws of supply and demand tell us that this would drive up deforestation in the future, undermining the very goals the zero-deforestation movement was set up to meet," said Castro-Nunez.

So, while we know that we must reduce deforestation caused as a result of agricultural intensification, we still don't know how to do it. Pledges with no roadmap for implementation cannot help us meet a raft of not only zero-deforestation outcomes but sustainability outcomes in general.

"I do believe that bringing about zero-deforestation and a sustainable future is possible. But it requires more than sweet-talk," said Castro-Nunez. "We need granular data, context-specific and peace-driven motivations. And a roadmap for implementation: one which makes a real difference for every person along a product supply chain, from smallholder farmer to chocolate lover."

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This story has been published on: 2020-08-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.


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Each morning about 400 construction workers at one of the Victorian governments signature level crossing projects remove their face masks and put them into QR coded, ziplocked bags. Within six hours they receive an automated SMS telling them whether they are COVID free.

This novel, mass screening approach, the brainchild of Acciona's infrastructure boss Bede Noonan, is an example of private industry being part of the solution instead of railing against Melbournes lockdown and failures in government policy.

Bede Noonan, Matt McCann and Cameron Hunter believe mass COVID screening could help us safely return to our work and lives. Credit:Jo Armao

It represents a COVID mindshift where, instead of waiting at home for a vaccine, smart people across the city are imagining ways for Melburnians to safely work and travel and get on with our lives.

With workplace clusters at hospitals, aged care facilities, meatworks and logistics centres contributing heavily to Victorias second wave of infections, Accionas trial at four sites along the Frankston railway line is being closely watched by the broader construction industry, government, unions and science.
PM Abe Shinzo at a press conference in Tokyo on August 28 (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Hanoi  Vietnam appreciated Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzos important contributions to the development of Vietnam-Japan relations for the sake of the two countries people and for peace, prosperity, cooperation and development in the region and the world, said the Foreign Ministrys spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang.



Hang made the statement while answering reporters queries about PM Abe Shinzos declaration to resign on August 28.



PM Abe Shinzo has been trusted by the Japanese people for years, she said, adding that he is a leader who has made many contributions to the development of Japan and promotion of cooperation in different fields in the region and the world.



Vietnam wishes PM Abe Shinzo good health and happiness and continuing to make important contributions to the development of Japan as well as the cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and Japan, the spokeswoman said.
Belgian GP 2020

Saturday Team Quotes

Daniel Ricciardo, Belgian GP 2020  Renault

Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport

Lewis Hamilton (1st, 1:41.252): "I feel incredibly blessed to be able to take pole on a day like this. I woke up this morning to the terrible news about Chadwick Boseman. What a humble man he was, portraying these iconic black figures. As a kid I wanted to be Superman, and it's so important today for young black people to have a superhero to look up to, who looks just like them. It's really not easy to perform at your best when you have something weighing on your heart, and to be truthful it was so difficult to shake off that negativity and channel it into something exceptional, but Chadwick showed that was possible. I've done a lot of laps in my F1 career, but those two laps in Q3 were almost perfect. You can't see my face under my helmet out there, but I was smiling, this track is just incredible and I was totally on the limit. We decided to go out early and run in the clean air as it's so easy to make a mess of the tow if you get blocked or there's a yellow flag and we definitely made the right call. We've got a big race still to come tomorrow and the Red Bulls looked good on the long-runs on Friday, but today it was an honour to be able to dedicate that pole to Chadwick because he inspired me. My prayers and thoughts are with his family."

Valtteri Bottas (2nd, 1:41.763): "I'm quite happy with Qualifying, my lap felt good today, especially the second run in Q3. I don't think I made any mistakes in that run, so I'm not sure where the delta to Lewis came from, I'll have to look at the data. But I'm actually not too bothered about missing pole, as starting second or third can be an advantage in Spa. We've seen it before that with a tow on the first lap you can overtake the leader going into Turn 5. I hope there's plenty of opportunity tomorrow to try and fight for a good result and I'm looking forward to an exciting race."

Toto Wolff, Team Principal: "It's always good to qualify on the first row in Spa, which is a real drivers' circuit. We didn't really have a super smooth weekend so far; it was challenging to find the right set-up in Free Practice sessions, particularly in the low-speed corners. We still saw that pattern to a small degree in Qualifying, but much less so than before. I'm really interested to see how the race is going to pan out tomorrow, especially the first laps should be exciting. Riccardo has shown tremendous straight-line speed today, so he will be strong in the run up to Turn 5 tomorrow. Verstappen was very strong in the long runs yesterday, so I'm sure he will be in the fight as well. I'm looking forward to an exciting race - new game, new chance."

James Allison, Technical Director: "It was a bit closer at the front than it's been at the previous races this year. We're clearly running a bit more downforce than the Red Bull and losing a couple of tenths to them on both the long straights but we're quite a bit faster in the corners and ended up nicely ahead. Lewis put together a very good lap; Valtteri was struggling a bit in some of the braking zones and lost a bit of time there, but it's great that he's on the front row as well. The midfield is also very close behind which should make the race quite open. We expect the run to Turn 5 to be pretty exciting; it's difficult enough to hold the lead here but given that Max is a bit quicker and Daniel looks to have about 8kph on us, so it could get end up getting quite crowded towards the end of the straight. It's normally a fun race though and there's also a risk of rain to factor in."

Andrew Shovlin:

Scuderia Ferrari

Charles Leclerc (13th, 1:42.996): "I think my final was ok and that P13 and P14 was the best we could do today. We managed to improve the car balance since yesterday, but unfortunately we didn't find the performance we were hoping for there. The race will be tough but I'm always optimistic. Hopefully, with a strong start, the right strategy, and good tyre management, we will be able to fight for some points. These are tough times for all of us, including everyone who is supporting us watching from home, and I will give my all to bring home the best possible result tomorrow for them. It's important for everyone in our team to keep their heads up and stay motivated. Together we will work hard to find the cause of the issue we are having and address it."

Sebastian Vettel (14th, 1:43.261): "We need to stay strong and keep doing what we are doing as we knew this would be a tough weekend for us. We lose quite a bit on the straights and this circuit has a lot of straights. We are also struggling to get the tyres working properly. However the race is long so you never know what might happen. In the end I think today's result reflects our real level on a track like this. We are ready to do battle tomorrow, I don't think the rain can change a lot but for sure we will be trying anything, also on strategy, to bring home some points."

Laurent Mekies, Sporting Director: "A very difficult qualifying with neither driver making it to Q3. This follows on from an even more difficult Friday, when we never managed to get the tyres to work properly. With very little grip, Charles, Sebastian and the team did what they could, turning the setup on its head to try and at least to get back to the performance level we had seen in previous races. Thanks to a lot of hard work from everyone, today was better than yesterday, but it was not enough to fight with our usual competitors. We also went for an aero setup aimed at tomorrow's race, when the rain could be a factor. Tomorrow we will do all we can and then work on finding out why we never managed to get our package working properly, right from the first free practice session."

Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen (3rd, 1:41.778): "Overall, it's been a really positive weekend so far, we came here and thought it was going to be really tricky for us and actually to be that close to Valtteri and in P3 is a good result. The lap was decent and of course I always look at the fastest car and we are half a second down but I think it is the closest we have been to Mercedes in qualifying this year. For us on this track, that is not normally our type of qualifying track, I think we can all be very happy with the result and now I'm looking forward to the race. I don't think we prefer a wet or dry race but a change in weather during the race would spice things up. This track is amazing to drive in qualifying and already very exciting in the race, but if the weather comes into play a bit like last year at Hockenheim then it could be very special. I'm happy with the balance of the car and we have made a good step. Now we need to hope for a good start and then we can push Mercedes hard and maximise our result again."

Alexander Albon (5th, 1:42.264): "I'm happy with P5 and it's all to play for tomorrow. I think P4 was possible but I made a small mistake into Turn One on my final run which cost me some time otherwise I think we could have been there. My best lap was actually in Q2 so there are little bits for me to improve on but I'm happy. It's been a much smoother weekend and the car felt good straightaway from the start of FP1 and it hasn't changed much since. We've been chipping away, fine tuning it, and it's been a positive weekend. I think there's been a step forward on my side too which hopefully we can take forwards. We're on a different strategy to Max and start tomorrow's race on the soft compound. The start is obviously important here with such a short run to Turn One so we'll be looking for a good and clean getaway. After that, we'll see but with the possibility of rain it should be an exciting race."

Christian Horner, Sporting Director: "There was some great teamwork by the drivers today and they delivered a strong result for the Team. Third and fifth, so close to the front row, with Max just a hundredth off Valtteri gives us confidence at a track we know you can overtake at. Mercedes have got that advantage in qualifying but to be so close on a long track that has not been a favourite of ours marks a good Saturday. We have a slightly different strategy between the two cars with Max starting on the medium tyre and Alex on the soft, but that gives us options and of course we don't know what to expect from the Spa weather. There could be some mixed conditions and we don't know what the tyre degradation will be like so there are always opportunities. It will be hard to attack the Mercedes but with Max we have a real fighter of a driver and it's great to have Alex up there as well."

Adrian Newey, Technical Director:

Toyoharu Tanabe, Honda F1 Technical Director:

Renault Sport Formula One Team

Daniel Ricciardo (4th, 1:42.061): "I'm very happy with today's qualifying. It was so close to the top three, but Max got me by a couple of tenths at the end. My lap was clean and probably as good as it was going to get. I left it all out there and the second row is a big reward. The car works well in lower downforce and that was the same last year. Tomorrow looks interesting. We have good pace in the dry, but if it's wet, we've shown in the past we're not bad either. If it rains, it creates more opportunities, so whatever the conditions, we'll take it and aim to do the best possible job."

Esteban Ocon (6th, 1:42.396): "It's been pretty good all weekend and we've certainly looked strong with the car handling a lot better than the past couple of races. All the changes we made coming into this race has given us confidence and we've seen it's working well on track. It feels good, so I'm happy. We have a great chance to fight tomorrow. There is a chance of rain, so that could be interesting, and we'll give our best for a good team result."

Alan Permane, Sporting Director: "It was a very good qualifying session for us today, with Daniel finishing fourth and Esteban sixth. Both cars are working well and have been nicely balanced since the first runs of Friday. Looking ahead to the race tomorrow, there is more of a threat of rain than the past couple of days, but we feel confident in all conditions. We can have a very strong race and bring a good points haul home for the team."

Haas F1 Team

Romain Grosjean (17th, 1:43.838): "We knew we'd part of the six to eight last cars in qualifying. It's no secret though that here, Monza, Mugello  they're all likely to be difficult weekends. The best we can do is to get the maximum from the car, and I think I did. My fast lap was a fun lap, Spa is absolutely mega  I wish we could race more often here. Even if you're 17th if feels fast. If conditions are changeable tomorrow, then we can try different things and hopefully play to our strengths."

Kevin Magnussen (20th, 1:44.314): "It was very tight after the second run, in terms of time trying to do three runs here in Q1. After my second run though, the gap wasn't too big to the midfield guys in P13 and P14. That would have been a very good position for us. I knew I really had to come up with an extremely good lap to do it. I gave it everything I had but I just overdid it. I made a mistake at turn 14 and went off. We didn't have any tows in the first two runs and that costs you about three tenths or so. It just didn't really come together for us. We obviously don't really know much about our race pace, hopefully  as it often is, we're quicker in the race than compared to qualifying. I'm hoping that's the same tomorrow. There's a pretty good chance of rain on Sunday which could make things exciting."

Guenther Steiner, Team Principal: "It was a difficult qualifying, but then the whole weekend up until now has been difficult. We didn't have a lot of time to make up for the time we lost on Friday. We tried our best, we made progress, but it didn't work out. We had planned to have both cars do three runs in Q1  to make sure they could get as much driving time in before going for their fast lap. Romain (Grosjean) was called into the weighbridge, so we lost one of his attempts, we had to cancel it as there wasn't the time. Kevin (Magnussen), on his fast qualifying run, he just tried to get the maximum out and he just tried too much. They both did a good job, it's just difficult if you don't run on Friday to get the confidence to attack like this as it's a fast track. Kevin just tried hard because we haven't got a lot to lose at the moment. We need to try hard and not be worried about taking calculated risks, we obviously don't want to do anything stupid. If it rains tomorrow, we're not going to do anything stupid, but we'll take calculated risks."

McLaren F1 Team

Carlos Sainz (7th, 1:42.438): "A good quali for us today. We got off to a solid start with a good first lap in Q1, which allowed me to stay in the garage for the second run and carry two new sets of Soft compound tyres into Q3. There, I put together another two good laps to extract the maximum of our car today. P7 gives us a good chance to fight the Renaults tomorrow, who unfortunately were a bit out of reach for us today. We'll also keep an eye on the weather radar because in Spa the conditions can change very quickly. Today was a good day, but the job isn't done yet!"

Lando Norris (10th, 1:42.657): "I'm disappointed with P10 because it could've been more. My lap was good  I just didn't have a slipstream from anyone so I was in no man's land. That's just the way it goes sometimes. I was behind the Renaults on the out-lap and they were going extremely and erratically slowly. Therefore, I passed them but then I didn't have any slipstream in the lap. I was a long way off in Sector One, by half a second  four-tenths or something like that. I had a good Sector Two and not a bad Sector Three but, again, without slipstream it's difficult for overall lap-time. So, I'm happy I did what I could, but the bit that was out of my hands lost me a few more positions today. But we're still not in a bad position for tomorrow."

Andreas Seidl, Team Principal: "It's very positive that we have both cars in Q3 again, and we have strong starting positions tomorrow considering the tightly-packed midfield. We're slightly disappointed today because we could've finished higher up the timesheet with Lando. Unfortunately, he didn't manage to get a good slipstream on his last run in Q3, so there was little more he could do to improve. However, Carlos and his team put in a very good effort, saving two Soft tyres for Q3 and putting two strong laps together to finish in P7. The weather forecast for the race isn't clear at this point, so I'm sure we'll be in for an exciting and interesting grand prix."

Zak Brown:

Racing Point F1 Team

Sergio Perez (8th, 1:42.532): "I was a bit surprised to only be P8, so we need to look over the data and figure out why we seemed to lose some pace today, because we weren't as strong in FP3 or qualifying compared to yesterday. It was also really tight out there and the gaps between cars were very small. I don't feel we were able to show our true pace and we struggled on the mediums in Q2. We know it's going to be tight in the race tomorrow too, but I feel confident we will have good race pace. I think we can move forward and still score plenty of points. There's going to be a bit of an unknown with the weather too, so we might need to react quickly if rain arrives for the race."

Lance Stroll (9th, 1:42.603): "We weren't as competitive as we wanted to be today and we were expecting more. We tried to reach Q3 on the medium tyre, but it just wasn't possible. In Q3 I lost two tenths on my best lap by locking up at the last chicane, which is a crucial part of the lap. When the grid is as tight as it was today, that's costly and it meant I wasn't able to improve on P9. It was a frustrating day, but now it's about bouncing back tomorrow. We need to go away tonight and review because there's a lot for us to analyse and improve to try to get back to the sort of pace we were showing on Friday. All in all, I think we'll have solid race pace tomorrow and anything can happen  and there's always the possibility of rain. We're right in the mix and it's going to be a close battle, so we can still fight for good points."

Otmar Szafnauer, Chief Operating Officer: "We had hoped to reach Q3 on the medium tyres, but with all the teams so closely-matched, we had to switch to the softs to progress. This left both drivers with just one set of the softs for Q3 and we chose to run early in the session. Our qualifying pace didn't quite match our expectations from practice, so that's something we need to understand going forward. It's tomorrow that counts, though, and we're certainly well placed to compete for good points. I'm optimistic that the race pace will be strong, but there's a chance rain showers could influence the race too."

Alfa Romeo Racing

Kimi Raikkonen (16th, 1:43.743): "We tried our best and today we really had a chance to go through, but we fell a bit short in the end. There was quite a bit of traffic on the outlap and the tyres were a bit too cold when I started the lap: I struggled with oversteer in turn one and lost some time compared to my previous lap. After that the car felt good, I went quicker than before but that wasn't enough to make it to the top 15. It's disappointing but that's how it is. We'll just see how it goes tomorrow and do our race: the rain would definitely make it a hectic day but we are not going to rely on that."

Antonio Giovinazzi (18th, 1:43.950): "It was close and maybe there would have been a possibility to be in Q2, but I made a small mistake in turn eight and that was enough to lose the time we needed to make the cut. It's disappointing but it is what it is. Tomorrow's going to be another race full of battles, we will need to give our best and try to score some points. It may be wet and that would mean a chaotic race: whatever the conditions, however, we will need to do a good job and see where we end up."

Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal: "Being edged out of Q2 by such a small margin, less than a tenth, is always a disappointment, but we can still be positive about our pace. On some clean laps, we would have had the pace to make it through with both cars, and that would have been a very good result. As things are, we line up just behind the Ferraris and we take the fight on from here. We still have a chance to make up some ground tomorrow: the grid is tight and the race is going to be long. The conditions are a big question mark and they could provide some good opportunities to move up the standings towards the points."

Red Bull AlphaTauri Honda

Daniil Kvyat (11th, 1:42.730): "I had strong laps all through Qualifying and I've been feeling better and better with the car since yesterday. We made steps in the right direction with my engineering crew, so I'm happy with the progress we've made, especially from Friday to Saturday. I think we have a good chance to have a strong race tomorrow, so we'll do our best to make it happen. It will be a long one and, as it often happens in Spa, the weather can play a part. If it rains it could definitely spice up the race, so we need to stay on top of our game in these conditions, as many things can happen and we need to be there to take advantage."

Pierre Gasly (12th, 1:42.745): "I would have liked to make it to Q3 as there were only four one-hundredths of a second to Norris in P10. I didn't nail the last chicane and had a poor exit, I tried to give it a bit more and lost traction which cost me a tenth. Still, we have a free tyre choice and we will fight from there. I would like it to rain tomorrow - I come from Normandy so we have rain pretty much every single day! We have a decent starting position in P12 and anything is possible from there, it's super tight in the midfield as always, so I'll push as hard as I can and hopefully we can get a few points. Actually, it's ideal to start P11 and P12 because of the free tyre choice, but I wanted to be P11! However, Dany did a very good lap and I just had to do better today - I can only blame myself."

Claudio Balestri, Chief Engineer: "Based on what we learnt on Friday, we modified our set-ups overnight to improve the car balance, which is always tricky on this track where we run with less downforce. The changes we made brought some improvement and this was evident in FP3, where we showed quite a good performance, especially on the Prime tyre. In preparation for qualifying, we made further changes to improve the balance on softer tyres. This afternoon, both drivers were able to easily make it to Q2, but we have missed Q3 by only a few hundredths of a second, which is a shame. Our focus now switches to preparations for the race and, with the qualifying positions providing us with some useful strategy options, we will be looking to take advantage of any opportunity which might present itself. We expect it to be an interesting race, especially if the rain comes."

Williams Racing

George Russell (15th, 1:43.468): "I am thrilled, and it was probably the best qualifying of the year for us. On paper, our car does not suit this circuit because of the long straights, so we were not expecting to be close to Q2. We put a really good lap together and the car was feeling great. It was exhilarating driving around here with the car on the limit like that, so I am really pleased. We hope for rain tomorrow, as if it is wet it might mix things up a bit, so fingers crossed the heavens open."

Nicholas Latifi (19th, 1:44.138): "I am quite frustrated as the potential was there to get into Q2. We got very unlucky getting caught out by the yellow flag with the Haas so I had to lift for that on my last attempt. My lap considering this issue would have been good enough. However, the car was feeling great and we made some good changes overnight and everything was there to get into Q2. For sure in the race we will be looking to fight and challenge the other cars."

Dave Robson, Senior Race Engineer: "It was nice to be back in Q2 again this weekend and it is testament to all the hard work throughout the team that we were. The new parts that we brought here are working well, which bodes well for the future. Nicholas was unfortunate with the brief yellow flag that cost him some time in his final lap of Q1, but otherwise it was a good session and both drivers enjoyed reasonably clear laps, which is never easy at this circuit. It was a little surprising to be fighting with the two Ferraris, but it was nice to see us resume a proper battle with Haas and Alfa Romeo. Tomorrow is of course where it really counts but we have put ourselves in a good position with both cars to fight with Haas and Alfa Romeo. If we can also put some pressure on the Ferraris then we are set for a good race.""
The Government of India would be considering two options to make up for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) shortfall, it said in a statement on August 29.

"The prevailing economic situation is such that central revenues are under greater strain than GST revenue," the government said, adding that there is a very large borrowing requirement that they face this year.

On August 28, a report by economists from State Bank of India suggested three ways in which the GST shortfall could be covered.

Here what you need to know about the two options:

Under the first option, the shortfall arising out of GST implementation (calculated at Rs 97,000 crore approximately) will be borrowed by states through the issue of debt under a Special Window coordinated by the Ministry of Finance.

The attempt will be to maintain a steady flow of resources similar to the flow under GST compensation on a bi-monthly basis. The Centre will also be given special borrowing permission, over and above any other borrowing ceilings eligible under any other normal or special permission notified by the Department of Expenditure.

The interest on the borrowing under the Special Window will be paid from the compensation cess as and when it arises until the end of the transition period. After the transition period, principal and interest will also be paid from the proceeds of the cess, by extending the cess beyond the transition period for such period as may be required. The states will not be required to service the debt or repay it from any other source.

As far as the compensation cess is concerned, it will be continued even after the transition period until all arrears of compensation for the transition period are paid to the states.

The first charge on the compensation cess each year would be the interest payable; the second charge would be the principal repayment. The remaining arrears of compensation accrued during the transition period would be paid after the interest and principal are paid.

Option 2:

The entire shortfall of Rs 235,000 crore (including the Covid-impact portion) may be borrowed by states through the issue of market debt. The Centre will issue an OM committing to repayment of principal on such debt from cess proceeds.

The interest shall be paid by the states from their resources.

The principal on the amount will, after the transition period, be paid from proceeds of the cess. The states will not be required to repay the principal from any other source.

To the extent of the shortfall arising due to implementation of GST (i.e. Rs 97,000 crore approximately in aggregate) the borrowing will not be treated as debt of the state for any norms which may be prescribed by the Finance Commission etc.

The compensation cess will be continued after the transition period until such time as all arrears of compensation for the transition period are paid to the states. The first charge on the future cess would be the principal repayment. The remaining arrears of compensation accrued during the transition period would be paid after the principal is paid.

"Borrowing by states typically incurs a higher interest cost than borrowing by the Centre," the government said, adding that it has factored this into the conception of these two options with a view to protect the states so that they are not adversely affected.
It is an outrage, Mr. King said in an interview. It smacks of a cover-up of information about foreign interference in our elections. If there is foreign interference in our election, we should know about it before the election. The intelligence committee is not a history organization, it is a current events organization.

Mr. King said that the classified information that had been presented to his committee in recent sessions had been protected.

Composed of lawmakers from both parties, the House and Senate intelligence committees are highly secretive bodies that are responsible for overseeing intelligence policies and the operations of the nations intelligence agencies. Both panels were expecting additional in-person briefings before Nov. 3.

While details of the new restrictions are murky, in-person briefings to the political campaigns and the Democratic and Republican National Committees are likely to continue, according to a person briefed on the administrations plans.

The directive appears to apply to all intelligence agencies that report to Mr. Ratcliffe, though not necessarily other entities in the Justice Department, Defense Department and Homeland Security Department that are responsible for election security and that also regularly apprise Congress of their work. An official from Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which monitors the security of voting machines, said it would continue to brief Congress.

Still, the distinction may matter little. In May, the Trump administration consolidated election-related congressional briefings under William R. Evanina, the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, who reports to Mr. Ratcliffe.

That change ensured that a single voice speaks for the sprawling intelligence community, but it also effectively sidelined other agencies and officials like the election czar at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Shelby Pierson, from doing so. Ms. Pierson was appointed to the post last year, but when she briefed House lawmakers that the Russian government preferred that Mr. Trump be re-elected, it prompted widespread anger among Republicans.
WASHINGTON - Tears streamed down Brooke Morelands face as she watched tens of thousands gather on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to decry systemic racism and demand racial justice in the wake of several police killings of Black Americans.

But for the Indianapolis mother of three, the fiery speeches delivered Friday at the commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom also gave way to one central message: Vote and demand change at the ballot box in November.

As Black people, a lot of the people who look like us died for us to be able to sit in public, to vote, to go to school and to be able to walk around freely and live our lives, the 31-year-old Moreland said. Every election is an opportunity, so how dare we not vote after our ancestors fought for us to be here?

That determination could prove critical in a presidential election where race is emerging as a flashpoint. President Donald Trump, at this past weeks Republican National Convention, emphasized a law and order message aimed at his largely white base of supporters. His Democratic rival, Joe Biden, has expressed empathy with Black victims of police brutality and is counting on strong turnout from African Americans to win critical states such as North Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

As the campaign enters its latter stages, theres an intensifying effort among African Americans to transform frustration over police brutality, systemic racism and the disproportionate toll of the coronavirus into political power. Organizers and participants said Fridays march delivered a much needed rallying cry to mobilize.

If we do not vote in numbers that weve never ever seen before and allow this administration to continue what it is doing, we are headed on a course for serious destruction, Martin Luther King III told The Associated Press before his rousing remarks, delivered 57 years after his fathers famous I Have A Dream speech. Im going to do all that I can to encourage, promote, to mobilize and whats at stake is the future of our nation, our planet. Whats at stake is the future of our children.

As speakers implored attendees to vote as if our lives depend on it, the march came on the heels of yet another shooting by a white police officer of a Black man  29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Sunday  sparking demonstrations and violence that left two dead.

We need a new conversation  you act like its no trouble to shoot us in the back, the Rev. Al Sharpton said. Our vote is dipped in blood. Were going to vote for a nation that stops the George Floyds, that stops the Breonna Taylors.

Navy veteran Alonzo Jones- Goss, who travelled to Washington from Boston, said he plans to vote for Biden because the nation has seen far too many tragic events that have claimed the lives of Black Americans and other people of colour.

I supported and defended the Constitution and I support the members that continue to do it today, but the injustice and the people that are losing their lives, that needs to end, Jones-Goss, 28, said. Its been 57 years since Dr. King stood over there and delivered his speech. But what is unfortunate is what was happening 57 years ago is still happening today.

Drawing comparisons to the original 1963 march, where participants then were protesting many of the same issues that have endured, National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial said its clear why this years election will be pivotal for Black Americans.

We are about reminding people and educating people on how important it is to translate the power of protest into the power of politics and public policy change, said Morial, who spoke Friday. So we want to be deliberate about making the connection between protesting and voting.

Nadia Brown, a Purdue University political science professor, agreed there are similarities between the situation in 1963 and the issues that resonate among Black Americans today. She said the political pressure that was applied then led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other powerful pieces of legislation that transformed the lives of African Americans. Shes hopeful this could happen again in November and beyond.

Theres already a host of organizations that are mobilizing in the face of daunting things, Brown said. Bur these same groups that are most marginalized are saying its not enough to just vote, its not enough for the Democratic Party or the Republican Party to ask me for my vote. Im going to hold these elected officials that are in office now accountable and Im going to vote in November and hold those same people accountable. And for me, that is the most uplifting and rewarding part  to see those kind of similarities.

But Brown noted that while Fridays march resonated with many, its unclear whether it will translate into action among younger voters, whose lack of enthusiasm could become a vulnerability for Biden.

I think there is already a momentum among younger folks who are saying not in my America, that this is not the place where they want to live, but will this turn into electoral gains? That Im less clear on because a lot of the polling numbers show that pretty overwhelmingly, younger people, millennials and Gen Zs are more progressive and that they are reluctantly turning to this pragmatic side of politics, Brown said.

That was clear as the Movement for Black Lives also marked its own historic event Friday  a virtual Black National Convention that featured several speakers discussing pressing issues such as climate change, economic empowerment and the need for electoral justice.

I dont necessarily see elections as achieving justice per se because I view the existing system itself as being fundamentally unjust in many ways and it is the existing system that we are trying to fundamentally transform, said Bree Newsome Bass, an activist and civil rights organizer, during the conventions panel about electoral justice. I do think voting and recognizing what an election should be is a way to kind of exercise that muscle.
Monika More, the young woman from Mumbai who received the hand transplants. (Facebook)

Chennai/Mumbai: Doctors in Chennai have conducted a successful bilateral lung transplant on a 48-year-old man who was infected by COVID-19. It was the first such operation in Asia.

The transplant was performed on August 27 by a team led by Dr K.R. Balakrishnan, chairman and director of cardiac sciences and director of the Heart and Lung Transplant Program at MGM Healthcare.

The transplant was made possible by the family of a 34-year-old brain-dead man who decided to donate his lungs, heart, arms, eyes and kidney and even skin. The hands were transplanted to a young woman in Mumbai who lost her arms in a train accident six years ago.

The man was declared brain dead by doctors at Gleneagles Global Hospital in Chennai after an intracerebral hemorrhage on Thursday. With his wife's consent, the man's organs were allotted to various hospitals. While Global Hospital Chennai retained the liver, the heart, lungs, kidneys and skin were donated to different hospitals in Chennai.

The hands went to Monika More, a young woman from Mumbai's suburbs, who was using artificial hands since her accident.

The heart and lung transplant surgeries were performed at MGM Healthcare in Chennai. The 48-year-old recipient of the lungs from Delhi was a Covid-19 patient.

Dr. Balakrishnan said the patient was recuperating well and his condition was out of danger. The patient, who was infected on June 8, was airlifted to the hospital from Ghaziabad on July 20 after his lungs were severely damaged by COVID-19. The decision to transplant was taken after his condition continued to worsen in spite of ECMO support for more than one month.

With regard to the expense, Dr Balakrishna made it clear that a lung transplant was not affordable to the common man, costing at least Rs 30 lakh.

Dr. Apar Jindal, clinical director & consultant on pulmonology and chest medicine said that lung transplants would probably be the answer to many of COVID survivors whose lungs are affected by fibrosis, making them a chronic respiratory cripple.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
India on Saturday said it is withdrawing from a multilateral war game in Russia next month, a week after confirming its participation in the exercise that is also expected to be attended by the Chinese and Pakistani troops.

In a late-night statement, a defence ministry spokesperson said India has decided not to send its contingent to the exercise in view of the coronavirus pandemic and consequent difficulties".

People familiar with the development said Chinas participation in the exercise was a major factor behind the decision. India cannot be seen to be participating with China in a exercise when the two armies are involved in a standoff," said sources.

Last week India had conveyed to Russia that it will participate in the strategic command-post exercise to be held in the Astrakhan region in southern Russia from September 15 to 26.

Russia and India are close and privileged strategic partners. At Russias invitation India has been participating in many international events. However, in view of Pandemic and consequent difficulties in exercise, including arrangements of logistics, India has decided not to send a contingent this year to Kavkaz-2020," said Defence Ministry Spokesperson A Bharat Bhushan Babu, adding the decision has been conveyed to the Russian side.

It is learnt that the decision was taken following deliberations between the top brass of the military and the ministry of external affairs.

Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a bitter standoff in several areas along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh for over three-and-half months. Both the countries are holding talks at military and diplomatic levels to resolve the dispute.

Around 20 countries including all member-nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) including China and Pakistan are expected to participate in the Kavkaz exercise.

On Tuesday, Indian officials attended a meeting of representatives of the participating countries in Volgograd which deliberated on various aspects of the expercise.

Indias decision not to participate in the military drill comes ahead of Defence Minister Rajnath Singhs scheduled visit to Russia next week to attend a crucial meeting of the SCO. The SCO defence ministers meeting is expected to deliberate on regional security scenario and geo-strategic developments.

India had earlier planned to send around 150 Indian Army troops, 45 Indian Air Force personnel and a number of Navy officers to the multilateral military exercise.

Russia has been a major partner of India in the defence sector and the cooperation has been steadily growing further. In June, a tri-services contingent from India participated at the Victory Day Parade at the iconic Red Square in Moscow to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War. A contingent from China had also attended it.

Both India and China are members of the SCO, an influential regional grouping.

The SCO, seen as a counterweight to NATO, has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations which accounts for almost 44 per cent of the world population stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the Indian Ocean and from the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea.

(With inputs from PTI)
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday expressed sorrow at the resignation of the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe due to health issues. In a Twitter post, Cavusoglu said Shinzo Abe made a great contribution in the sense of improving diplomatic ties between Turkey and Japan. The Turkish minister thanked Abe for his efforts in this regard and wished him a speedy recovery, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah.

World leaders also wished the Japanese prime minister a rapid recovery on Friday and praised his contributions to bilateral relations during his years as Japan's longest-serving leader. His resignation announcement came after Abes health problems began this summer and grew this month when he visited a Tokyo hospital two weeks in a row for unspecified health checkups. He is expected to stay on until a new governing party leader is elected and formally approved by the parliament.

"@AbeShinzo has achieved great things as PM of Japan  for his country and the world," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter while Russia's spokesman for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov described the working relations between Abe and President Vladimir Putin as "brilliant."

According to German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan Abe "did a lot of good with regards just to the fact that he was one of the key promoters for multilateralism and free trade and did a lot to move to Japan back onto the world stage. Japan recovered the visibility and recognition the third-largest economy in the world deserves."

"We have FTAs and he also tackled a lot of difficult problems. Just thinking about relations with China, relations also with Russia, and also the difficult relationship with the U.S. at least since Trump came into power," it said in a statement.

Officials from the U.S. also praised Japanese Prime Minister, saying he has made the U.S.-Japan Alliance, and overall relationship, "the strongest it has ever been."

"We look forward to working with Prime Minister Abe's successor in further strengthening our nations' ties and advancing our shared goals."

Abe has had ulcerative colitis since he was a teenager and has said the condition was controlled with treatment. He is now on a new treatment that requires IV injections, he said. While there is some improvement, there is no guarantee that it will cure his condition and so he decided to step down after treatment Monday, he said.

Abe is a political blue blood who was groomed to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. His political rhetoric often focused on making Japan a normal and beautiful nation with a stronger military and bigger role in international affairs.

Abe, whose term ends in September 2021, is expected to stay on until a new party leader is elected and formally approved by the parliament.

Abe became Japans youngest prime minister in 2006, at age 52, but his overly nationalistic first stint abruptly ended a year later because of his health.

In December 2012, Abe returned to power, prioritizing economic measures over his nationalist agenda. He won six national elections and built a rock-solid grip on power, bolstering Japans defense role and capability and its security alliance with the U.S. He also stepped up patriotic education at schools and raised Japans international profile.

Abe on Monday became Japans longest serving prime minister by consecutive days in office, eclipsing the record of Eisaku Sato, his great-uncle, who served 2,798 days from 1964 to 1972.
New York City, NY, Aug. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gone are the days of simple lawyer marketing. Old school law firm marketing needs to pivot says a veteran lawyer marketing expert Rene Perras President of CEPAC Lawer Marketing. http://www.cepac.com/

If your law firm website does not pass many critical factors to growth, your law firm will be left behind in the dust of digital marketing.

Lawyer Marketing Has Changed Post COVID.

Your target audience now spends mobile searches. These people do a Google search or discuss their

tragedy on social media like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

The majority of younger people stay on Instagram and they prefer to text instead of talk. Put all those together, lawyer marketing strategies have changed and will continue to evolve as we consume content at a fast pace. But, what is your law firm doing to embrace:

If you are a lawyer looking to grow your brand online Post COVID Marketing for Law Firms, you need to change how to position your law firm branding.

In a recent test that I ran for a local law firm using Facebook Ads for my agency client CEPAC.com, I secured quality cases for a divorce lawyer utilizing Facebook ad campaigns. The average cost of lead was $1.07 per lead and the average acquisition cost of the case was $97, which resulted in a $10K per case.

If you are a law firm needing legal funding, you can see a great resource here.

https://reneperras.com/litigation-funding-during-covid-19-for-law-firms-by-rene-perras-law-firm-funding-expert_13741.html

You can read my Facebook ad blueprint here.

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About Qamar Zaman - I help lawyers not getting quality cases with my scientific & predictable marketing plan to secure "High VALUE" cases.

Qamar Zaman is a published author annd rated best Dallas SEO expert for law firms. He managed KISS PR and works with over 100+ SEO agencies helping them get secure high value leads that convert using a 100% white label SEO for law firms. Call and speak with Qamar Zaman on how your law firm can build a blue ocean marketing plan amid COVID-19 with a long term plan.

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Living in Los Angeles for nearly 30 years, Ive got used to strange bumps in the night.

They usually mean a seismic rumbling from the San Andreas Fault, something all Californians learn to live with.

But last week it was different, because the dull thuds above my head were the sound of two intruders making their way across the roof of my bungalow before clambering down to a waiting car.

Its never happened before and I hope its not repeated. But for the first time in three decades Ive installed security cameras.

Something has changed in America and for the worse. My brush with fear was mercifully brief. No one was hurt.

But the mood of conflict is spreading way beyond the televised scenes of violence in Portland or Wisconsin and day by day it feels more personal.

BLM protesters outside a restaurant in Washington DC on Monday as part of protests following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin

Even for me, after years of covering the news, its been hard to believe  just as hard as its been to take my eyes away from the surreal events unfolding on screen.

For weeks now, the nightly news has been filled with riot police and  increasingly  gun-toting militia members facing off against protesters in cities right across the biggest democracy in the Western world.

The teenage vigilante alleged to have killed two men in Kenosha, Wisconsin

What is any normal person to make of the 17-year-old vigilante who, armed with a semi-automatic rifle, allegedly shot and killed two men during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin?

These protests in turn had been provoked by an act of inexplicable violence when yet another unarmed black man, Jacob Blake, was shot and paralysed by the police in front of his three children.

There were bizarre scenes outside a restaurant in Washington DC when a baying mob was filmed yelling and screaming at diner Lauren Victor simply because she refused to raise her fist in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Its a particular irony that Victor, a 49-year-old urban planner, is a staunch supporter of the BLM movement. But she felt under attack, and no wonder, explaining: Ive been marching with them for weeks and weeks and weeks.

It just felt overwhelming to have all those people come at you. To have a crowd demand that you do this thing. In the moment, it didnt feel right.

With just 64 days until Novembers presidential election, this country has never felt more divided  or dangerous.

Over the years, I have witnessed some terrible things. Too many school shootings to count.

Mark and Patricia N McCloskey, standing in front their house as they confront protesters marching to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson's house, in the Central West End of St. Louis

The sight of tiny shoes and teddy bears under a Christmas tree after the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012 left 20 primary school children dead led to anti-gun demonstrations across the nation.

I was the first reporter inside the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans in 2005 and heard the anguished cries of those who had been left to die.

There have been plane crashes, tornadoes, bombings in Oklahoma and at the Atlanta Olympics and, of course, 9/11.

But after all those events, America came together and rose again in that only in America defiant way which epitomises the courage, resilience and optimism of this nation.

But this feels different. When riots erupted after George Floyds killing, my city was set on fire.

I could see shops aflame on Melrose Avenue from inside my living room as, night after night, police helicopters circled low overhead looking for looters.

Black Lives Matter protesters clash with police from the Los Angeles Police Department in Los Angeles, California this month

It got so bad, a group of neighbours drew up a plan to barricade the end of our street with cars to prevent rioters coming up the hill.

I still love this country, enough to become an American citizen ten years ago. But there has been a seismic shift.

Americans no longer feel optimistic or hopeful. The American Dream has died. Im not alone in feeling this way.

Friends of mine are fleeing big cities like LA and New York, heading for the apparent safety of rural areas like Montana and the hills of South Dakota.

One girlfriend had her gold chain ripped from her neck as she jogged through the once-safe streets of Santa Monica. She has since built a 10,000 panic room in her house.

My own night-time encounter was enough to prompt me to spend 3,500 on a ring of steel security system, including night-vision cameras and a monthly fee for an armed response if the alarm goes off

The woman who sold it to me confessed: Business is booming. Meanwhile, gun dealers coast-to-coast have reported a dramatic spike in sales as people seek to protect themselves and embrace their Second Amendment right to bear arms.

And all of it, of course, could be great news for President Trump.

As he formally accepted the Republican nomination in the grounds of the White House on Thursday night, Trump, a former TV reality star used to framing his political ideologies in snappy slogans (Make America Great Again), made it clear law and order  far more than Covid-19, jobs, healthcare or the economy  is at the heart of his re-election campaign.

Denouncing Democratic rival Joe Biden as a member of the radical Left who will defund police departments all across America, Trump said: No one will be safe in Bidens America. There is violence and danger in the streets of Democratic-run cities throughout America.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden are currently campaigning in the 2020 elections in the United States

'Your vote will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans or whether we give free rein to violent anarchists, agitators and criminals.

Trumps victory in the 2016 election was largely down to appealing to white, working class American men by promising to bring back blue collar jobs lost to countries like China and Mexico.

This time around, he is targeting  brazenly  increasingly fearful women like me.

Night after night during this weeks Republican Convention, the President trotted out immaculately-coiffed women  dubbed Trumpettes  from all backgrounds to hammer home his message that fear and anarchy will stalk the streets unless he is elected for a second term.

There were nurses, teachers, his own daughters Tiffany and Ivanka, and a heart-breaking procession of victims of violence.

Widow Ann Dorn told how her policeman husband was shot dead by looters during a night of rioting following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.

A tearful Mrs Dorn wept as she told how her husband David, who was black, had his murder live-streamed on Facebook.

How did we get to this point where so many young people are so callous and indifferent towards human life? she said.

This isnt a video game where you can commit mayhem and then hit reset and bring all the characters back to life. David is never coming back.

Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of Rev. Billy Graham, speaks from Washington, during the second night of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday

Cissie Graham, the granddaughter of evangelist Billy Graham  a powerful figure in Right-wing Christian America  was equally adamant Trump was the only one who would protect faith and family.

Patricia McCloskey, a lawyer from St Louis who was photographed beside her husband waving guns at protesters who walked through their gated community, said: It seems as if the Democrats no longer view the Governments job as protecting honest citizens from criminals but rather protecting criminals from honest citizens.

'They want to abolish the suburbs altogether by ending single-family home zoning  bringing crime, lawlessness and low-quality apartments into thriving suburban neighbourhoods.

Democrat voters already understand how widely these feelings are shared  particularly among the swing voters.

One of my friends, a staunch Democrat who hosted Hollywood fundraisers for Trumps opponent Hillary Clinton last time around, fears the Trumpettes could be as effective as the Make America Great slogan and crooked Hillary barbs were during the last election.

Then, as now, the Democrats led at the polls for months  but were forced to watch Trump sail into the White House.

By rolling out all these attractive women  nurses, teachers, mothers, housewives  and having them speak to the fear of violence and anarchy on the streets if the Democrats win could really resonate with undecided female voters who may well decide this election, she told me.

Its a clever tactic on Trumps part. The irony is his policies have caused many of the social injustice problems America faces today. But the protests and riots are good for Trump because he can point to cities like LA and New York which are Democrat-controlled and argue years of Democratic leadership has led to chaos on the streets.

And of course his message appeals to his base of white conservative Christians who love talk of God and guns.

In Texas last week, rival groups attacked each other with makeshift weapons including American flags with the poles still attached.

More than 68 people were arrested during protests in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday. Protesters have been shot, some fatally, in Austin, Portland, Albuquerque and Dallas.

Federal law enforcement officers confront Black Lives Matter supporters outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland this week

In Dallas, a shop owner was beaten so brutally as he tried to defend his store, he has been left with permanent brain damage.

And the stress of the pandemic, combined with an acrimonious presidential election, is only likely to escalate the violence further.

Lance Arnold, the police chief in Weatherford, Texas, where clashes erupted between far-Right militia and demonstrators seeking to tear down a Confederate statue, said: It seems like we as a country have moved right past the discussion phase of things and now we are at the stage of conflict, being at odds, distrust and disbelief. This is not who we, as Americans, are.

Social media has poured fuel on the flames of discord. The 17-year-old vigilante who is alleged to have shot two men in Wisconsin was a member of an online police-support group called Blue Lives Matter.

A new protest group called Take America Back Texas has seen membership soar to 10,000 in two months. One of its members is Wendi Rees, a suburban mother from Tyler, Texas, who said: Our constitutional rights are being threatened.

So people like me, we have had enough and we are not going to sit back and let it happen any more.

Members are encouraged to show up at protests wearing patriotic red, white and blue clothing and wrap orange tape around their arms to make it easier for the police to identify us as patriots.

The Trump camp has admitted the chaos is in its favour.

Trumps retiring special adviser and proud Trumpette Kellyanne Conway said: The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on whos best on public safety and law and order.

Trumps retiring special adviser and proud Trumpette Kellyanne Conway said: The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on whos best on public safety and law and order.

But the Presidents political rival has accused him of rooting for violence to win votes.

Biden, whose Democratic National Convention two weeks ago attracted an illustrious cast of speakers including former President Barack Obama and wife Michelle, claims Trump is trying to deflect attention away from his appalling handling of the Covid-19 crisis which has already cost 180,000 American lives.

Biden has cast the election as a choice between his promise of calm, experienced leadership and Trumps desire to inflame an America already on the brink.

Bidens running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, who could be the first black woman Vice-President, argued peaceful protesters should not be confused with those looting and committing acts of violence.

Bidens running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, who could be the first black woman Vice-President, argued peaceful protesters should not be confused with those looting and committing acts of violence

We will not let these vigilantes and extremists derail the path to justice, the former federal prosecutor said. But they could yet derail the Democratic hopeful.

While polls put Biden ahead of Trump by as much as 15 per cent earlier this year, the violence appears to be working in the Presidents favour  as do falling rates of coronavirus infection and deaths.

The gap has now dropped to 7.1 per cent in an average of national polls, down from 7.6 per cent last week. On Wednesday, a CNBC/Change Research poll of voters in six crucial swing states found Trumps approval rating has gone up to 48 per cent.

Pollster Frank Luntz studied at Oxford University and is a close friend of Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

He helped Johnson get elected as President of the Oxford Union debating society and worked in every UK Election from 1997-2015, and is today considered one of the most accurate political pollsters in the world.

Luntz says the election is too close to call, but warned Trumps speech this week introduced new and effective angles of attack.

He [Trump] spoke about anarchy and anarchism versus socialism and thats the first time Ive heard him try to define Biden with a word and language that different, he said. His best line was, How can the Democratic party lead our country when they spend so much time tearing down our country?

I say this emphatically, this election is way too close to call. The debates are going to matter.

Trump and Biden are set to debate three times  at the end of September and twice in October.

Like most Americans, I will be glued to my TV set, as I was when Trump debated Hillary Clinton in 2016. This time, though, my house will be surrounded by security cameras  a big Armed Response sign by the front door.
A local U.S. Navy veteran is raising awareness and trying to get folks on board with an ongoing effort to establish a U.S. Navy license plate in the state of Virginia, which currently only has Army, Coast Guard and Marine Corps plates available through DMV.

Pre-orders are needed to make it happen.

Longtime Culpeper County resident Stephen Falsetto, a retired federal government employee and veteran, is hoping to generate those orders in promotion of the Navy plate effort led the past three years by Retired Naval Captain Roger Hirsh at NavyPlateVirginia.com.

DMV requires 450 preorders to present the plate to the Virginia General Assembly; currently around 200 of the Navy plates have been pre-ordered, according to Hirsh.

The target audience is local active duty service members and veterans who served in the U.S. Navy, Falsetto said.

If enough orders are received and the plate approved, a portion of proceeds from sales of the license plates will benefit the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. NMCRS will receive $15 annually for every plate sold (after 1,000 initial sales), tax deductible as a charitable contribution.

The Navy MC Relief Society provides assistance to those in need, Falsetto said. State Senator Jen Kiggans of Virginia Beach is sponsoring the initiative that also has its own Facebook page at Navy Plate Virginia.

Those interested in ordering one may download the Virginia Navy license plate pre-order request form at NavyPlateVirginia.com. By DMV rules, applications must be mailed to the plate sponsor as noted on the application. Along with the application, include payment and Navy service certification.

The deadline to reach the required 450 pre-orders is Dec. 1. Refunds will be given if the project is discontinued and on request for veterans moving out of state.
The Queen is 'very keen for things to return to normal' and intends to attend Cenotaph in London in November, sources have claimed.

Her Majesty, 94, is to make Windsor Castle her main home and wont resume residence at Buckingham Palace this year, sources revealed last week.

The Queen would usually go back to the premises in London in October following her summer break in Balmoral, but instead, she will reportedly return to Windsor Castle where she self-isolated with the Duke of Edinburgh from March 19 prior to their Scottish holiday.

Sources told Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl: 'The Queen wants to get back to work, she is very keen for things to return to normal as are her staff at the palace.'

The Queen is 'very keen for things to return to normal' and intends to attend Cenotaph in London in November, a source told Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl

Royal sources said the monarch intends to resume certain official engagements in October, and intends to be at the Cenotaph service in November, which she has never missed during her reign.

In more recent years, the Queen has appeared on a balcony opposite the Cenotaph, while Prince Charles laid the wreath.

It is understood the arrangement could allow the royal to attend the event while maintaining social distance from others.

Sources working on her diary explained that the Queen wants the palace to be operational 'as soon as is appropriate' with a 'fluid' plan in place according to changing government guidance.

Her Majesty, 94, would like to commute to London for engagements if it is safe to do so, according to insiders

One source said that the royal had a 'very high' desire for her and other members of The Firm to carry out in person engagements.

But they added that it was a case of ensuring appearances 'work around official guidelines.'

Another source added that the royal maintains her belief that she needs to be seen to be believed, saying: 'Theres very much a sense on the Queens part of wanting to get back to work and normality.'

The royal's plan to 'commute' to London for engagements if it is safe to do so was reported in the Sunday Times last week.

One source said that the royal had a 'very high' desire for her and other members of The Firm to carry out in person engagements

It is believed the Queens absence from Buckingham Palace will be her longest during her 68-year reign.

A royal source said: There is a desire to get Buckingham Palace up and running again as a working palace, but only if all the relevant advice suggests that it is appropriate to do so.

But Her Majesty apparently wont be returning to Buckingham Palace again until the threat from COVID-19 is extinguished.

However, it is thought that the Queen will be spending her usual Christmas break at Sandringham in Norfolk.

She has reportedly been told that the close-knit 'bubble' of household staff who have been working with her since March is still the safest way to reduce the chance of infection.

It is believed the Queens absence from Buckingham Palace (pictured) will be her longest during her 68-year reign

It comes after reports that Her Majesty may not be allowed to return to her public duties due to the risk of catching Covid-19 'for years' to come.

Royal biographer Andrew Morton, 66, told The Sun in May that he feared the Queen may never be able to return to her regular duties and will most likely be seen on TV or video links rather than in public.

He told the paper: 'It's terribly sad but I can't see how the Queen can resume her usual job. The Covid-19 virus isn't going away soon and will be with us for months, if not years.

'It would be far too risky for the Queen to start meeting people on a regular basis.'

It comes after reports that Her Majesty (pictured in March) may not be allowed to return to her public duties due to the risk of catching Covid-19 'for years' to come

Royal biographer Andrew Morton (pictured), 66, told The Sun in May, that he feared the Queen may never be able to return to her regular duties and will most likely be seen on TV or video links rather than in public

The writer, who penned Diana: Her True Story in 1992, added that while the royal enjoyed meeting the public, such gatherings would pose a risk to both herself and Prince Philip.

The Queen has said in the past that she feels she has 'to be seen to be believed', so the measures are expected to be felt deeply by the monarch.

Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace remains closed to visitors amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The opulent State Rooms in the London residence are usually only open to the public for 10 weeks each summer and selected dates during winter and spring.

But last month, the Royal Collection Trust made the decision to keep Buckingham Palace closed 'because of the operational challenges of social distancing' in their palaces and properties.
BOSTON - In a tweet, Tesla CEO Elon Musk solved a mystery involving a 27-year-old Russian, an insider at an unnamed corporation and an alleged million-dollar payment offered to help trigger a ransomware extortion attack on the firm.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this March 9, 2020, file photo, Tesla and SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition in Washington. In a tweet on Thursday, Aug. 27, Musk solved a mystery involving a 27-year-old Russian who prosecutors say flew to the United States to offer a major-company insider $1 million to assist in a ransomware extortion attack on the firm. According to the billionaire, the scheme took aim at the electric car companys 1.9 million-square-foot factory in Sparks, Nevada, which makes batteries for Tesla vehicles and energy storage units. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

BOSTON - In a tweet, Tesla CEO Elon Musk solved a mystery involving a 27-year-old Russian, an insider at an unnamed corporation and an alleged million-dollar payment offered to help trigger a ransomware extortion attack on the firm.

Prosecutors declined to name the target, but Musk was happy to oblige. According to the billionaire, the scheme took aim at the electric car companys 1.9 million-square-foot factory in Sparks, Nevada, which makes batteries for Tesla vehicles and energy storage units.

This was a serious attack, Musk tweeted Thursday night, responding to a Tesla blog post that detailed the brazen scheme.

Defendant Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov tried to recruit a fellow Russian speaker who worked at the plant, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Nevada.

Reaching out to the unnamed worker via WhatsApp in July, Kriuchkov allegedly flew to the United States with a Russian passport on a tourist visa and sought to entice the worker to betray Tesla. Kriuchkov allegedly took the worker, who hed hed first met in 2016, on a road trip to Lake Tahoe before offering the person $1 million to plant malware on computer systems at Victim Company A. Kriuchkov floated the scheme at a Reno area bar on Aug. 3 after the two drank heavily until last call, the complaint says.

But the plant worker informed Tesla, which contacted the FBI and won the employee's co-operation. In subsequent meetings monitored and recorded by federal agents, Kriuchkov laid out a scheme to have the worker infect Tesla computers with a program that would steal valuable data before scrambling plant systems with ransomware, according to the complaint.

Kriuchkov was quoted as saying the inside job would be camouflaged with a distributed denial of service attack on plant computers from outside. Such attacks overwhelm servers with junk traffic. If Tesla didnt pay, the purloined data would be dumped on the open internet.

The complaint says Kriuchkov told the Tesla worker that his organization had executed similar special projects on other companies on multiple occasions, with one victim supposedly surrendering a $4 million ransom payment. According to the complaint, Kriuchkov added that his organization employed sophisticated encryption that would mask the Tesla worker's participation and mentioned that one hacker in his group was a high-level employee of a government bank in Russia.

The U.S. Attorneys office for Nevada would not comment on whether Kriuchkov or any of his associates may have had ties to the Russian government. Nothing in the criminal complaint suggested their motives were anything but financial.

Tesla is a lucrative target. It leads the U.S. in electric vehicle sales and the hackers could have obtained valuable information from battery chemistry to manufacturing techniques and costs. Tesla has said the factory has cut battery cell costs through innovative manufacturing.

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Kriuchkov was arrested Aug. 22 after driving from Reno to Los Angeles, where the FBI said he planned to fly out of the country, He appeared in federal court there Monday and was charged with conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer, said Nevada U.S. Attorney Nicholas Trutanich. A conviction could result in a sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Court records did not immediately reflect the name of an attorney who could speak on Kriuchkovs behalf.

It is not clear in the documents if money changed hands. The criminal complaint and a supporting affidavit by investigating FBI Special Agent Michael Hughes describe a considerable amount of haggling over whether the unnamed Tesla worker would get some portion of his promised cut of the ransom in advance.

Tesla did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Other suspected co-conspirators are identified in the complaint by nicknames including Kisa and Pasha; a person is identified as Sasha Skarobogatov.

-

AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher contributed from Saline, Michigan.
"Dr. Surrey is able to offer a broad range of advanced treatments, including: in vitro fertilization, embryology and embryo scope evaluations"

Dr. Mark Surrey has been in practice for over 25 years. He is a board-certified reproductive and endoscopic surgeon and serves as a clinical professor in the Department of OBGYN at UCLAs David Geffen School of Medicine.

He was elected President of the American Laparoscopy Society & Pacific Coast Reproductive Society and is a Clinical Director of Fellowship Training for UCLA & Cedars Sinai Reproductive Endocrinology. Also a founding member of The Society of Reproductive Surgeons. He is the associate director at the Southern California Reproductive Center, a clinic he co-founded.

Dr. Surrey is able to offer a broad range of advanced treatments, including: in vitro fertilization, embryology and embryo scope evaluations for an increased pregnancy success rate, pre-implementation genetic diagnosis to decrease anomalies and miscarriages in older patients, surrogacy and egg/sperm freezing.

Visit Dr. Mark Surrey's Haute MD Profile at: https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/mdmember/dr-mark-surrey/

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LONDON  The U.N. refugee agency urged European nations on Saturday to let in hundreds of migrants rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by humanitarian boats  including one sponsored by street artist Banksy.

The UNHCR and the International Organization of Migration said more than 200 rescued refugees and migrants needed to immediately get off the nonprofit search-and-rescue ship MV Louise Michel, which they said was currently far beyond its safe carrying capacity.

The bright pink ship was painted by renowned street artist Banksy, who released a video Saturday on Instagram confirming his involvement in the rescue operation.

Like most people who make it in the art world, I bought a yacht to cruise the Med, he wrote in captions accompanying the video. Its a French Navy vessel we converted into a lifeboat because EU authorities deliberately ignore distress calls from non-Europeans.

The subversive artist continued: All Black Lives Matter.

The Louise Michel has been picking up groups of migrants in the central Mediterranean in what appeared to be its maiden rescue voyage.

The ships crew appealed for help and a safe port earlier Saturday, saying that it had rescued so many people that it could no longer safely navigate. The Italian coast guard said it sent a vessel to take 49 of the most vulnerable people off the ship to bring them to safety.

The plea from UNHCR and IOM also mentioned hundreds of migrants on two other charity ships in urgent need of finding safe harbor. The agencies said 27 migrants who left from Libya, including a pregnant woman and children, have been stranded on the commercial tanker Maersk Etienne for an unacceptable three-week period since their rescue on Aug. 5.

A further 200 rescued people on the SeaWatch4, which has waited for days to be allowed to enter a port, also needed urgent help, the agencies added.

The humanitarian imperative of saving lives should not be penalized or stigmatized, especially in the absence of dedicated state-led efforts, the agencies said.

They reiterated concerns about the lack of dedicated EU-led search and rescue operations in the central Mediterranean, and the lack of coordination among European nations to support countries like Italy and Malta, which are bearing the brunt of migrants arriving by sea.

In a series of tweets over the past few days, the Louise Michels crew strongly criticized the European Union for its migration policy. The tone of the tweets grew more and more urgent in the past 24 hours after the crew reported that the numbers of migrants on board were getting too high and included women, children and the body of one person.

We need immediate assistance, the crew tweeted via its @MVLouiseMichel handle. We are safeguarding 219 people with a crew of 10. Act #EU now!

Another humanitarian aid ship, the Mare Jonio, said Saturday it was leaving the Sicilian port of Augusta to come to the Louise Michels aid.

___

Nicole Winfield contributed from Rome.

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Follow all AP coverage of racial injustice issues at https://apnews.com/Racialinjustice
Charleston's 350th Commemoration

In 2020, the City of Charleston and its citizens will commemorate its 350th anniversary of the arrival of English settlers from Barbados to Charles Towne Landing in 1670 and share Charlestons full and accurate story up to the present day. Throughout the year, we will honor the customs, diverse cultures, and rich heritage through a deep reflection and true representation of the citys history.
More than 50 years after hundreds of thousands of people flooded the Washington, D.C. protesting racial inequality, a small group of civil rights activists stood on the front steps of the Massachusetts State House Friday calling for the passage of several bills that have stalled in the Legislature, including a police reform proposal banning no-knock warrants and other policing tactics.

Roughly three dozen Black activists gathered outside of the Massachusetts State House Friday afternoon, sharing stories of discrimination in housing, economic relief, education and police encounters  not just historically across the country, but recently in the Bay State.

Fifty-seven years later, we still look at the indignities and the injustices that Black people in this country continue to face, said the Rev. Rahsaan Hall, an attorney and director of the racial justice program of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. Fifty-seven years later, and were still struggling for jobs. Fifty-seven years later, and were still struggling for quality education. Fifty-seven years later, and were still struggling for economic development in our communities. Fifty-seven years later, and were trying to tell yall Black Lives Matter. Weve had enough.

Nearly 450 miles away, thousands of demonstrators returned to the city where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called for Black activists to cash a check in the bank of justice. On Friday, demonstrators demanded racial equality, pushing for major reforms to the criminal justice system.

The anniversary comes days after a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer, now identified as Rusten Sheskey, shot 29-year-old Jacob Blake as police tried to detain him. Blake is paralyzed from the waist down, according to CNN. Authorities say police responded to a 911 caller who said her boyfriend, Blake, was on the premises and wasnt supposed to be there. Authorities also said Blake admitted he had a knife, but didnt say whether he had tried to use it.

Blakes attorney, Benjamin Crump, said he didnt have a weapon in the car. Crump told CBS News that Blake was trying to de-escalate a fight between two other people when officers arrived and tased him before the shooting.

Kenosha police came under scrutiny again after not arresting a young, white man who was captured on video fatally shooting two protesters with a semi-automatic rifle Tuesday night. The man, later identified as 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, was taken into custody Wednesday on intentional homicide charges.

In Boston, speakers spent nearly three hours saying the names of those injured or killed in police custody, from Blake to Breonna Taylor in Louisville to to Terrence Coleman in Boston and Eurie Stamps in Framingham. They also called for state legislators to pass several bills that would address some of the racial and class disparities that have worsened during the coronavirus pandemic.

Thousands of demonstrators braved sweltering temperatures in the nations capital on Friday to demand an overhaul of the countrys criminal justice system and push for racial equality.

The event, called the Commitment March, was held at the Lincoln Memorial, the same site where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called for those same reforms decades ago in his iconic I Have a Dream speech.

Rahsaan Hall went on to describe the evolution of the police reform bill thats sitting in conference committee, a month after the Senate and House passed their versions. The House and Senate bills would create a process to certify police and decertify problem officers, as well as ban no-knock warrants, limit the use of tear gas and, to varying degrees, limit qualified immunity for officers.

Lawmakers blew through their self-imposed July 31 deadline to enact a reform bill. Negotiations have continued quietly throughout the past month over some differences in the House and Senate versions and language that Republicans opposed  chiefly about qualified immunity. One big question that has fallen on partisan lines is whether limit qualified immunity for police officers or to take it out of the bill so it can be studied.

Police unions have come out in full force against the House and Senate bills, opposing limits to qualified immunity, bans of no-knock warrants, bans of tear gas and other restrictions. MASSCOP, a union representing 4,300 officers in the state, urged Gov. Charlie Baker in an Aug. 15 letter to avoid signing an unreasonable and radical proposal when it reaches his desk.

The majority of police reform measures contained in the bill being deliberated are constructive and positive. But we ask you: Please amend those pieces that make our jobs more difficult and unsafe, and threaten our ability to raise a family, own a home and provide an education for our children, the letter states, an allusion to the qualified immunity limitations proposed that officers argue would expose them to frivolous lawsuits alleging misconduct.

Rahsaan Hall countered the claims of police unions that the bills propose killing qualified immunity altogether, noting that it only seeks to limit the doctrine. He also took issue with the characterization that the bill could expose an officer to the point where he could lose his house if he is sued for alleged misconduct.

Andrea James, founder of Families for Justice As Healing, an organization that strives to end incarceration for women, blasted the Legislature for continuing debate on police reform that the public has expressed interest in for years. She also raised concerns about versions of the bill that avoid regulating corrections officers.

The police are using to prevent, using scare tactics to scare us all into continuation of a failed and sham system of public safety, James said. Public safety for whom?

During the debate on the policing bill, some House Republicans argued the Legislature was reacting rashly to a police killing that happened hundreds of miles away. Organizers at the rally on Friday, however, referenced allegations of police misconduct in Massachusetts as examples of how Black lives are mistreated locally.

They mentioned Stamps, Sr., a 68-year-old grandfather was killed by police in 2011 as officers executed a drug warrant at his Framingham home. The warrant was directed at his 20-year-old stepson.

Theres also Coleman, a 31-year-old Black man with schizophrenia in the South End. He was fatally shot by Boston police in 2016 after his mother called 911 for an ambulance. Authorities said Coleman had a large steak knife, but his mother, Hope Coleman, said he wasnt holding a knife, WBUR reported.

Every single person needs to understand that police reform is more than a hashtag. Its more than window dressing. It requires every single one of you to do the work, said Sophia Hall, an attorney with Lawyers for Civil Rights, who represents the Coleman family.

On Friday afternoon, Hope Coleman was in Washington, D.C., for the national march, Sophia Hall said.

Organizers also called on the Legislature to pass a bill that would extend and expand the eviction moratorium, increasing protections from renters, homeowners and some landlords. A Boston Public Schools teacher questioned the logic behind state guidance suggesting schools reopen but improve circulation by opening windows when some classrooms dont have windows and not all windows in classrooms can safely be opened.

James of FJAH called out the Legislature for not moving on a bill that would eliminate phone call fees at Massachusetts prisons. State prisons contract with companies that charge up to 12 cents a minute on in-state calls and up to 16 cents a minute on out-of-state calls with higher rates at county jails.

She said lawmakers told her they dont think they can get to it this session, which has been extended past July 31.

The no-cost bill is still viable and we expect it to be passed as a way to make the basic conditions of peoples lives better now, James said. The stalling of this simple bill by legislators and sheriffs across the commonwealth is yet another example of law enforcement organizing themselves to pushback and thwart the passing of the most basic reforms.

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Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac said a bill for police overtime totaling $2,500 that was sent to a teenager who organized a Black Lives Matter rally last month has been rescinded, and added that it should not have been sent in the first place.

The bill was mistakenly issued based on advice I received from our borough administrator who I understand consulted the borough attorney, Kranjac told NJ Advance Media. I was told that all private events requiring police overtime should be paid for by the organizers. That advice was incorrect.

Kranjac said he further researched the issue with his own attorney and said it was clear that the exercise of Constitutional Rights are treated differently when it comes to borough administration and billing.

I always want to make certain that everyones Constitutional Rights are fully respected, the mayor continued We will have to adjust the boroughs ordinances accordingly to ensure this never happens again.

Emily Gil, an 18-year-old Englewood Cliffs resident who graduated from Bergen County Technical School in June, organized a small, peaceful Black Lives Matter protest last month, she told NJ Advance Media this week.

Englewood Cliffs has dodged affordable housing requirements for 40-plus years, Gil said. I find that unacceptable.

Four days after the July 25 rally, Gil a received a letter from the mayor seeking payment of $2,499.26 for the police overtime caused by your protest.

Gil could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday evening.

The towns letter said she had not met with officials before her protest, requiring them to hastily come up with security plans.

Gil said she didnt meet with them in person over coronavirus concerns, but made an offer to meet via Zoom, which wasnt accepted, and then officials stopped responding to her. She said she had reached out to the mayor after receiving the bill but had received no response.

Kranjac earlier told NJ Advance Media that protesters rights of free speech and assembly were respected, and that Gil was wrong to link affordable housing to her protest.

As with any privately-sponsored event that takes place in the borough requiring police safety, an invoice was sent to the organizer for police overtime since it would be unfair to require our residents to financially support a private event, he said.

Four Democratic members of the towns Council said in a statement that they would seek to cancel the bill and called on the Republican mayor to apologize to the teenager.

Jeanne LoCicero, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, told The Associated Press, the idea of sending a bill to protesters is shocking.

She said while its been attempted before, she hadnt heard of any other town trying something similar over the protests of recent months.

This article contains material from the Associated Press.

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.
The Better Caviar sophomore filly Plumb, who last week at Somerset tied Shark Kosmoss 17-year-old 1:58.2 all-age trotting record at the Pennsylvania fairs, on Friday came back and smashed a five-year-old record and a 10-year-old mark by rewriting the fastest trot standard for the York Fair to 2:01.1.

Under the guidance of trainer Dave Wade, Plumb went fractions of :29.4, :59.2 and 1:31.2 en route to knocking a fifth of a second off the previous York standard set by a pair of three-year-olds, the colt Southwind Nitro in 2010 and the filly Peoplesayimnogood in 2015. The filly, owned by Wade in partnership with Gerry Brittingham and William Peel III, has now won three straight at the fairs.

Dave Wade is, of course, no stranger to handling top-notch speedy trotters. In 1995, he campaigned Older Trotting Horse of the Year S Js Photo, and in 1973, he sent out Two-Year-Old Trotter of the Year Starlark Hanover (no separate colt/filly trophy in those days), who won 21 of 22 races including some fair stops, and went up against the boys in the Harriman at eight-wide Yonkers and won  from post 13! (Think about that.)

The York track record for three-year-old pacing fillies was also lowered a tick, as the Sweet Lou filly Ginger Tree Carey won in 1:57.2 on the engine, beating the 12-year-old divisional record of Tys Artist. Trainer/driver Sam Beegle co-owns Ginger Tree Carey with Ginger Tree Ventures LLC, Henlopen Stable, and Neil Chesen.

Beegle, who in his spare time is president of the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemens Association and District Chairman for the USTAs District 7 (Pennsylvania), had a big meet with four wins as trainer/driver, tying for top on the sulky side with Todd Schadel and Dave Brickell, and on the training side with his longtime friendly rival from Bedford, Pennsylvania, Roger Hammer.

Other York 2:00 miles included wins by Full Send (1:57.2), his third magic mile at the PA fairs to lead all competitors, and last years co-champion filly pacer, Dream Dancing (1:59.2).

Driver Dave Brickell and trainer Mitchell York, also co-owners in Team Dream Dancing, may be headed for a second straight title in that category, as the Betting Line-Lazan Hanover filly Lazy Day Hanover remained unbeaten at the fairs with her ninth win, making her the winningest freshman filly in all of North America. She was also the fastest two-year-old at York in 2:00.4 while winning by as close to 20 lengths as you can come.

Fastest baby trotter, and setting a PA fairs seasons record, was the Bar HoppingChiptomylou gelding Top Me Off, driven by trainer Todd Schadel to a 2:03.1 victory.

The Pennsylvania Fair Circuit now ships 280 miles northwest to the Erie County Fair in Wattsburg, Pennsylvania for noontime racing on Monday and Tuesday.

(Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen's Association, Meadows Standardbred Owners Association & Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association)
A small mailboat that was filled with letters to mark the 80th anniversary of the evacuation of a Scottish island has been found in Norway nearly a decade after it was put to sea.

The last 36 people living on St Kilda, an archipelago to the west of the Outer Hebrides, left their island homes on 29 August, 1930, because life there was becoming untenable.

Eighty years later, an archaeologist working for the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), which has been in charge of the islands since 1957, decided to pay tribute to the islanders by posting seven letters in a boat he had made out of pine.
Kareena and Saif caught cheating together on Sunday!

And none other than a Cheese Burst Pizza.

From his favorite dessert to who is the biggest cheese lover amongst Kareena, Taimur or himself to his favorite cheat food, Bollywood superstar Saif Ali Khan reveals it all in an exclusive virtual tete-a-tete with MasterChef winner Shipra Khanna.

In between the shoot of the 12-part YouTube series of Britannia Cheese StarChef, Saif Ali Khan was subjected to a volley of rapid-fire questions in which he disclosed delicious anecdotes about his cheesy moments, his love and fondness for cooking. In Saifs own words he confessed that Taimur prefers his cooking over Kareenas. We hope Kareena agrees!

Britannia Cheese StarChef, is a 12-part YouTube series which transforms Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan into a StarChef as he learns to cook with the best- MasterChef winner Shipra Khanna and Britannia Cheese. The duo cooks 12 lip-smacking, delightfully rich cheesy dishes with Britannia Cheese.
From the frying pan into the fire View(s):

The report that the new Government is preparing to recall the labour officers attached to the various Sri Lankan diplomatic missions in 14 countries, especially in West Asia and the Gulf region is disturbing, to say the least.

This is a matter that needs serious reconsideration for it involves nearly a million and a half Lankan citizens who generate a life-saving US$ seven billion foreign exchange earner (please see more details on page 2 of our Business section). In return, a mere pittance is spent for their welfare as they toil in often inhospitable conditions. The Labour Ministry claims Rs. 900 million is spent on these officers.

In addition to these labour officers, who are senior officials from the Labour Department, designated Attaches with diplomatic credentials, there are also labour officers sent by the Foreign Employment Bureau. Together, they were tasked with overseeing a host of problems migrant workers encounter ranging from incarceration at detention centres usually for overstaying their visa, harassment by employers to pay issues, and also to offer counselling and the like. A country like Saudi Arabia that has over 400,000 Sri Lankan workers has just two such officers to handle their problems, a mission impossible.

Not all of these officers did a great job. In the absence of lady officers, some even took advantage of these unfortunate souls while some were in the pockets of unscrupulous job agents. But they cannot all be painted with the same brush. Some did yeoman service beyond the call of duty with limited facilities and little support from Colombo.

Successive Governments are culpable of paying only lip service to these workers abroad treating them merely as milch cows. One Finance Minister said they should be garlanded when they return home. A proposal to have a dedicated channel for them at the airport showing the nations gratitude and even to give them voting rights have gone nowhere.

Now they want to withdraw what little is given for their relief and welfare without any announcement of any other project for their care in the Governments plans.

Throwing the baby with the bath water

Different, often contradictory statements are being mouthed by various supposed spokesmen for the new Government on the proposed Constitutional amendments.

With no draft yet on offer, those entrusted with the task of drawing up these amendments are making their views known in public at every given opportunity. How far these views are those of the Government proper is impossible to say, at this stage.

A few snippets are in the public domain. The common factor is that the 19th Amendment (19A) will be thrown out with a 20A, and a new One Nation; One Law Constitution will be introduced thereafter. The fact that 19A is not one simple amendment, but a whole lot of them grouped into one is lost in the fog of political rhetoric.

There are certain amendments in 19A that can be considered, but to sweepingly suggest that 19A was the cause for the collapse of the former Government is sheer nonsense. It is the Executive Presidency and the power struggle with Parliament between two opposing parties and the inability of the two power-centres to share responsibility that caused it to be dysfunctional and lead to its inevitable downfall.

To blame it on the entirety of 19A is to deftly move the goal post away from focusing on whether the Executive Presidency should continue. 19A may have been a swap or a halfway house to the public outcry for years, no less from those in the seats of office today, that the Executive Presidency does not work in Sri Lanka and needed to be abolished in-toto.

It was seen as an authoritarian system of Government, though others argued that the country needed strong leadership not subject to the whims and vagaries of Parliamentary majorities. The arguments depended on which side of the political divide they came from. Today, there is a deafening silence over the issue.

The issue was basically an urban demand. The rural heartland probably agrees with the poet Pope that for forms of government let fools contest; that which is best administered is best. It doesnt, however, mean that checks and balances 19A has are mere footnotes to governance  it is the central point of Democracy (please see interview of departing HRC Chairperson on Page 2).

It will be interesting to see how the balance of power between the Presidency and Parliament is going to be handled in the new Government. At least the incumbent in office seems to have said the right thing  that he was elected for five years and that should stay and also that two terms are sufficient for a President. And there is no logic in the President not being a Minister if he can be the head of the Cabinet.

Some other 19A provisions were taken from the US Constitution including the 35-years age rule, and dual citizenship (the US says one has to be a natural-born citizen), though the term of the US President is only four years.

It was clear that these provisions were incorporated into 19A to keep a certain powerful political family from returning to public office, but likewise, prospective proposals to permit dual citizens to sit in Parliament seem to be the other side of the same coin. In the entire South Asia region only Afghanistan allows this facility and that is because after the US forcibly took control of the country, Afghan citizens who took refuge in USA during Afghanistans Taliban years were allowed back to run a pro-US administration from Kabul. Permitting dual citizens enter Sri Lankas Parliament will technically permit a foreigner enter the national legislature unless some US style safeguards are also added on even though those limitations are also fuzzy and open to interpretations.

It is hoped that the changes to the Constitution do not mean throwing the baby out with the bath water, as the saying goes. Democratic advances like the independent Commissions and even the much-maligned Constitutional Council could be improved, not abolished. This weeks appointment of a certain Minister who is facing criminal charges in court to the CC where he will have to decide on the promotion of future judges seems some kind of perfidy or a cruel irony.

Going by that appointment to the Constitutional Council this week, hopes that new provisions to the countrys Basic Law would right the wrongs of the previous Government seem dim. Still, theres a glimmer of hope that what is being drafted is the Republics Constitution, and not a party Constitution.
NEW DELHI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong has called on India to provide an open, fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in India.

In an interview with CNBC-TV18 on Friday, Sun said Huawei, a leading private enterprise in 5G technology operating in India for 20 years, has created a number of local jobs, promoted sufficient competition in India's telecommunications market, and provided high-quality and low-cost products and services to Indian telecom operators and consumers.

"Huawei has never had any security issue in its operations in India. Furthermore, Huawei is ready to enter into a 'no-back-door' agreement with India," he said. "We hope India can make an independent, fair and right judgment in this regard."

In response to a question on the recent ban of Chinese apps in India and "economic decoupling" practice, he said that suppression, self-seclusion and restrictions are not good for development. "Though the discriminatory restrictions do hurt Chinese companies, but the Indian consumers and employees suffer too. It does no good to either of us."

"Only by being open, fair and transparent can we better integrate into global cooperation," Sun added.

"We believe it is unreasonable to link boundary question with normal bilateral cooperation," he said, adding that "we hope that India will change its relevant practice and treat every enterprise and service provider from various countries equally."

He noted that China-India economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial with win-win results, and China's investment in India has contributed to India's economic development and created a large number of local jobs.

In the era of globalization, countries in the world, including China and India, are interdependent and integrated with each other, forming a pattern "where everyone has a stake," he said.

"I think the two major economies of China and India should attract each other like magnets, rather than forcefully be separated or even 'decoupled' from each other," he added.

Sun reiterated that China's basic judgment on China-India relations remains unchanged.

"China and India are partners rather than rivals to each other, and opportunities rather than threats," he said. "This is an important consensus reached by the leaders of our two countries and should be earnestly implemented."

He stressed that it would be a miscalculation to treat a close neighbor for thousands of years as "enemy" or "threat" only by one issue or one incident.

"We should respect and support each other, avoid suspicion and misunderstanding, and enhance political mutual trust," he added.
Kenya's Kenyatta University is awaiting approval to begin trials of its locally designed respirator, which it hopes can save lives and save money in the battle against COVID-19.

A team of students from different disciplines such as engineering, medicine, nursing, computer science and pharmacy have teamed up to manufacture "Tiba Vent" - a ventilator meant to solve the shortage of the equipment needed to treat those most seriously affected by the coronavirus.

There are three universities in Kenya racing to make respirators.

The students from Kenyatta University conceived the idea in March, developing a prototype.

Tiba Vent has successfully undergone quality testing under the watch of institutions set up by the Kenyan government, including the electrical safety standards certificate, calibration certificate and production certificate.

Currently the team is waiting for approval from Kenya's Ethics Review Committee, which looks into the safety of any equipment meant to be used on humans, after which they expect to take the ventilator for clinical trials.

The shortage of ventilators in Kenya inspired the students to develop their own at a much lower price.

According to Fidel Makatia, a 23-year-old student of electrical and electrical engineering, each Tibu Vent will cost less than 2 million shilling ($20,000), compared to the 4.5 million shilling ($45,000) it takes to import a ventilator.

The dean of the School of Engineering and Technology at Kenyatta University, Shadrack Mambo, said they can produce up to 50 respirators a week as soon as Tiba Vent is given the green light.

David Misango, a consultant anaesthesiologist and chair of Critical Care Society of Kenya, praised the efforts of the students, saying if their model was approved the machines could go "a long way" in helping the country deal with severe COVID-19 cases.
President Donald Trump delivers his acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Aug. 27, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

RNC Draws 147.9 Million Views, GOP Says Its Higher Than Biden

The Republican National Convention (RNC) had 147.9 million views across various TV and digital platforms, according to Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel.

She posted the data on Aug. 28 in a Twitter post confirming a media report. The spokeswoman also said that the total viewership of the RNC was 25 million more than the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

According to Nielsen ratings data, about 86.3 million viewers from 66.9 million households watched the DNC event on TV spanning from Aug. 17 to 20. While 77.5 million viewers from 57.8 million households watched the RNC between Aug. 24 and 27.

Based on the GOP statement and Nielsen data, the RNC drew 70.4 million digital viewers while the DNC digital viewership was 36.6 million.

147.9M views across TV/digital  25M more than Biden/DNC. $76M raised for RNC & @TeamTrump  $6M more than Biden/DNC.#RNC2020 told voters real stories from real Americans who benefited from @realDonaldTrumps policies  and it clearly resonated! https://t.co/1TlI6MXPBr  Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) August 29, 2020

Neither the Democratic Party nor Bidens campaign has released its total digital ratings data officially. However, Biden campaigns national press secretary, TJ Ducklo, said in an Aug. 18 Twitter post that 28.9 million people watched the fourth night of the DNC.

Based on data posted by Ducklo and Nielsen, the digital viewership of the fourth night of DNC should be around 4.3 million.

The Epoch Times couldnt independently verify the DNCs digital ratings from all four nights released by the Republican Party.

The Biden campaign didnt respond to an email request for comment.

(From L) Jill Biden, husband former vice-president and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and Senator from California and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris greet supporters outside the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, at the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention, held virtually amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, on Aug. 20, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

It was widely reported that the DNC had better TV viewership than the RNC before the Republican Party released the official digital viewership data.

However, digital viewership became a core area for dispute in the ratings comparison.

How does the Fake News not include Online Streaming Numbers where Republicans blow the Dem Numbers away? President Donald Trump said in a Twitter post on Aug. 28.

The Fake News doesnt want to report these numbers. The @latimes and others believed the Crooked Dems before the real numbers came out. Too bad we dont have honest reporting when it comes to Trump. Phony sources, they say anything and think they get away with it. November 3rd. https://t.co/gyHx898DXn  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2020

In a follow-up Twitter post on Aug. 29, he criticized some media for comparing the RNC ratings with the DNCs before the official data had come out.

Too bad we dont have honest reporting when it comes to Trump,' he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 04:39:56|Editor: huaxia

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Demonstrators gather at the Lincoln Memorial for the "Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" event in Washington, D.C., the United States, Aug. 28, 2020. Massive crowds descended on Washington, D.C. on Friday to protest police brutality and racism. A series of speakers addressed thousands of protesters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, marking the 57th anniversary of American civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech in the 1963 March on Washington. (Photo by Alan Chin/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Massive crowds descended on Washington, D.C. on Friday to protest police brutality and racism.

A series of speakers addressed thousands of protesters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, marking the 57th anniversary of American civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech in the 1963 March on Washington.

"We're marching to overcome what my father called the triple evils of poverty, racism, and violence," Martin Luther King III said in his remarks, adding that those "evils" have exacerbated four major challenges - the coronavirus pandemic, unemployment, police brutality and gun violence, and voting rights - that currently face the United States.

The event, dubbed the "Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks," came after 46-year-old African American George Floyd died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May.

Floyd's death sparked weeks-long protests and social unrest across the United States. Public anger has been reignited in the wake of the Aug. 23 police shooting of 29-year-old African American Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has led to consecutive days of protests and violence at times in the city.

"I wish George were here to see this right now," George Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, told protesters on Friday. "That's who I'm marching for. I'm marching for George ... and anybody else who lost their lives."

Jacob Blake Sr., father of Blake who was shot seven times in the back by a white police officer, also spoke to the crowds.

"I truly did not want to come see you all here today for these reasons," he said. "We're not taking it anymore, I ask everyone to stand up. No justice, no peace."

Families of other victims of police violence - Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner - were also at the Lincoln Memorial.

Blake's shooting has led to several days of protests and violence at times in the city. While Democrats are renewing calls for racial justice, U.S. President Donald Trump has sought to highlight his "law and order" message, a major theme of his reelection bid.

"Success: Since the National Guard moved into Kenosha, Wisconsin, two days ago, there has been NO FURTHER VIOLENCE, not even a small problem," Trump tweeted on Friday. "When legally asked by local authorities, the Federal Government will act and quickly succeed."

Former U.S. Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden struck a different tone.

"As we mark the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, we must continue the hard work of perfecting our union," he tweeted. "It's up to all of us to carry on the march toward equality, liberty, and justice for all."

The gathering was the largest political demonstration in the U.S. capital since the coronavirus pandemic began. Most of the attendees were wearing masks but the limited space made it difficult for them to keep social distance. Enditem
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden, back, and Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and her husband Doug Emhoff wave during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention. AP Photo

The naming of Kamala Devi Harris, an Indian-African-American senator from California, as Democratic presidential candidate Joe Bidens running mate, elicited more excitement in the United States and of course in Chennai and elsewhere in India than in ruling BJP circles.

When the external affairs ministrys spokesman was asked why no congratulatory message had gone from Prime Minister Narendra Modi or anyone in Cabinet, he incredulously replied that India doesnt interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

Why then, one could ask, did Mr Modi serenade President Donald Trump at the Howdy Modi Indian diaspora rally in Houston in September last year? Or goad the crowd by shouting Abki baar, awaiting the roaring reply of Trump sarkar.

South Blocks nervousness is understandable as external affairs minister S. Jaishankar quarreled with a US congressional committee demanding Indian-origin Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal be excluded for her critique of the Indian governments majoritarian politics.

Senator Kamala Harris and other influential Democrats rallied to berate Jaishankar. Harris is, in any case, known human rights crusader.

What then would be Biden-Harris governments foreign policy priorities and their impact on India-US relations, tailored by Modi government to keep Trumps ego massaged.

A diaspora assemblage at Houston, followed by lakhs gathered at Ahmedabad, provided Trump the stage to indulge in populist self-gratification, while irritants like trade were sidestepped.

Trump in turn ignored anti-CAA agitation, including rioting in parts of New Delhi as he settled at Rashtrapati Bhavan for the farewell banquet.

James Traub, in Foreign Policy magazine, quotes Colin Kahl, then vice-president Joe Bidens national security adviser in 2014-16, that three issues will dominate a Biden administrations agenda.

One, the inter-connectedness of the world and global existential challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic; two, democracy at threat across the world; and three, with ongoing power transition between nations the return of great power competition. Biden had earlier this year written in Foreign Affairs that the contest between democracy-liberalism and autocracy-fascism did not end in the last century. It lurks in the future again.

Biden plans a Summit for Democracy in the first year of his presidency, But his vision for resurrection of liberalism and democracy, centres on Europe.

By instinct an Atlanticist his priority would be revival of European alliance that

Trump has scorned. James Traub tellingly remarks: On many issues, emerging-world democracies like India and Brazil feel much more like the problem than a part of the solution. The smothered voices of liberalism in India would agree.

Many recent books have analysed worldwide democratic recession, seen in Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Brazil, etc. Even autocrats like Russias Vladimir Putin and Chinas Xi Jinping have eliminated term limits on their rule. How Democracies Die by Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky analyses the malaise.

The authors conclude that Trumps rise may itself pose a challenge to global democracy. Between the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Barack Obama presidency, US governments maintained a broadly pro-democratic foreign policy, except where strategic interests were dominant.

But globalisation de-industrialising the US and the rush of immigrants created by Syrian crisis, with greater effect in Europe, and through Americas porous southern border created the conditions for the rise of a populist leader playing on the sense of marginalisation of the working and middle-class white majority.

The authors conclusion, written before the pandemic hit the US, is that only President Trumps gross failure would create public disgust and desire for political reform, as happened after Richard Nixons resignation in 1974. Weighing against this is dominant social media spreading unbridled bigotry, slanted news and prejudice.

Americas founding fathers created foolproof institutions and separation of powers to counter power grab by either the executive, legislature or judiciary.

They also mandated unwritten shared beliefs and practices that enabled those institutions to work. Two cardinal principles prescribed were mutual tolerance and institutional forbearance.

Similar traditions were nurtured in Jawaharlal Nehrus India. Breached in the US, and progressively so in India, these ideals surrendered to highly polarised politics once Newt Gingrich in 1989 gained control over Republicans in two houses of US Congress. Institutional legitimacy of the US Congress got degraded, paving the way for the anti-establishment presidency of Trump.

Treating mainstream media as illegitimate interlopers, attacking political opponents to not just defeat but destroy them and stealing mandates by gerrymandering or vote suppression, as Trump is attempting by attacking postal ballots, or as in India by forming defection-based governments even after losing mandates.

All these are signs of slow strangulation of liberal democracy.

New Delhi may today downplay Prime Minister Modis unwise public political dalliance with Trump, but the latters campaign is merrily using videos of the Houston and Ahmedabad joint rallies in their publicity blitz to woo Indian-American votes, who mostly favour Democrats.

According to Pew Research, Hindus constitute about 51 per cent of the two million-odd diaspora voters, others being Sikhs, Christians and Muslims. Will the diaspora be drawn to Democrats promises on immigration laws, health insurance and a fairer economic order or accept Modis endorsement of a divisive, pro-rich Trump, hoping he is better for India?

US voters are living through mishandled pandemic, economic chaos and racial tension caused street violence.

Trump is getting traction fanning the white majoritys law and order fears, while promising a vaccine and economic turnaround is around the corner.

US leadership is critical for addressing vital issues like climate change, anti-globalisation paranoia affecting global trade and investment, and an aggressive China.

On November 3 will be known whether a reforming and pro-democracy Biden wins, compelling majoritarian populists globally to reflect and perhaps change, or the US sees the return of disruptive, autocratic and America First Trump.
Despite lockdown and shortage of components due to COVID-19 pandemic, the smartphone shipments of the premium segment (above Rs 25,000) grew 18 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2020. The top three players in the premium smartphone segment continued to be Samsung, Apple and OnePlus. While Samsung led the premium smartphone segment with 37 per cent market share, Apple took the second spot with a 26 per cent share, and OnePlus at a distant third with 15 per cent share.

"Owing to the pandemic, H1 2020 was a tough period for the overall smartphone industry in general, with multiple challenges. However, the premium smartphone segment was one of the least affected segments. The segment grew owing to strong consumer demand and good supply-side dynamics," said Anand Priya Singh, Analyst - Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR.

Samsung led the premium smartphone market with 37 per cent market share on the success of Galaxy A71 and A51, which contributed 38 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively. The Korean technology giant registered 56 per cent year-on-year growth in the premium smartphone segment. Samsung managed the lead on the back of good supply-side dynamics, attractive discounts and smart channel strategies. The smartphone maker also started manufacturing of its flagship Galaxy S20 series in India during this quarter.

Apple too continued an impressive run in the premium smartphone market, growing by 14 per cent year-on-year and with a 26 per cent market share. The iPhone 11 continued to garner some good market response in the initial part of the year. On the other hand, the all-new iPhone SE 2020 is on track to repeat the exceptional performance of the iPhone 11. It captured 8 per cent market share of the total premium smartphones shipped during the April-June period.

OnePlus was placed third with 15 per cent market share, with the newly launched OnePlus 8 contributing to a majority of its shipments.

In H1 2020, the first wave of 5G smartphones debuted in the premium smartphone segment. Many new OEMs made some strategic moves into the premium segment, including the likes of Xiaomi, Vivo, OPPO and Motorola, accounting for 22 per cent market share with 43 per cent year-on-year growth.

"In H1 2020, consumer demand in the premium smartphone segment continued to remain high, and, in fact, fuelled the market growth. This bodes well for H2 2020, and, especially, in the run-up to the all-important festive season. Beyond the incumbents - including Samsung and Apple, aspirational premium brands will seek to make in-roads into the premium segment," said Amit Sharma.

According to CMR, the premium smartphone segment - Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 - is a niche, but at the same time hyper-competitive segment. While Apple and Samsung have offered devices in this category, OEMs such as OPPO and Xiaomi too are currently competing for greater mind share and brand share. This segment accounted for 5 per cent of the total smartphone shipments in H1 2020. Samsung Galaxy A71 was the most popular, contributing to 19 per cent in this segment.

Apple dominated the super-premium smartphone segment amounted between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh, with 56 per cent market share. Samsung stood at the second spot with 34 per cent share whereas OnePlus was at the third spot with just 4 per cent share. Launched in September 2019, the Apple iPhone 11 was the best seller in this category, alone accounting for 39 per cent of the shipments. This segment accounted for about 2 per cent of the total smartphone shipments in H1 2020.

Smartphones priced above Rs 1 lakh, the uber premium segment, saw Apple with 67 per cent market share, while Samsung was placed a distant second with 30 per cent market share. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max alone contributed to around 40 per cent of the shipments in this segment.

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It's the first drama to begin filming since lockdown during the coronavirus crisis.

And Catherine Tyldesley was seen back out on set for ITV's gritty show Viewpoint, filming into the early hours in a park in Manchester on Friday.

The Coronation Street actress, 36, appeared to be in the midst of an emotional scene as she wore a downcast expression whilst filming in front of a candle-lit vigil with Dominic Allburn and their co-stars.

Moving: Catherine Tyldesley looked downcast as she filmed emotional vigil scenes in the early hours in a park in Manchester for ITV drama Viewpoint on Friday

Catherine put on an effortlessly chic display for the night of filming as she wrapped up warm in a beige wool coat and a white jumper.

She completed her character's look by stepping out in a pair of loose trousers, and accessorised with a brown handbag.

The former Strictly Come Dancing star styled her brunette locks in loose waves that fell over her shoulders, and she wore a light palette of make-up.

During the scene, Catherine -whose role is yet to be announced- was seen holding her hands as if in prayer before her co-star wrapped his arms around her in comfort.

Stylish: Catherine put on an effortlessly chic display for the night of filming as she wrapped up warm in a beige wool coat and a white jumper

Filming: During the scene, Catherine -whose role is yet to be announced- was seen holding her hands as if in prayer

Stunning: The former Strictly Come Dancing star styled her brunette locks in loose waves that fell over her shoulders, and she wore a light palette of make-up

Poignant: Catherine wore a downcast expression whilst filming in front of a candle-lit vigil with her co-stars

Viewpoint, which is headed up by Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer, follows a tense police surveillance investigation into a close Manchester community.

The five-part series will explore the nature of surveillance and whether police can observe a community with objectivity and without an effect.

In the show, DC Martin King sets up his observation post in the home of single mother and secret voyeur, Zoe Sterling, played by Alexandra Roach.

Zoe's windows look on to Westbury Square and the home of missing primary school teacher Gemma Hillman, played by Tutenkhamun star Amy Wren.

Co-star: Catherine also shot scenes with Dominic Allburn

Finishing touches: Catherine completed her character's look by stepping out in a pair of loose trousers, and accessorised with a brown handbag

Comforting: Dominic wrapped his arms around her in comfort during the scene

She shares the home with boyfriend and prime suspect in her disappearance, Greg Sullivan, played by I May Destroy You actor Fehinti Balogun.

The series is based on an idea by Emmy award-winning director Harry Bradbeer and written with Silent Witness creator Ed Whitmore.

Their day on the set comes after Noel Clarke, who plays the lead, backed down on his claim that he demanded producers 'fix' the lack of diversity on 'day one' of shooting the new ITV project.

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, the 44-year-old actor initially claimed that he had immediately called in producers and insisted upon quick action to apparently dismiss some staff and replace them with trainees.

Safety first: Catherine was attended to by a crew member who wore a mask while fixing her make-up for the scene

There for her: Catherine's character appeared to be close to Dominic's character as he supported her during the vigil

Ready to go: The cast were seen gathering in the park to film

But Mr Clarke has since backtracked on his statements, instead suggesting that nobody had lost their job and 'it wasn't as big as it was made out to be'.

He told Nihal Arthanayake on BBC Radio 5 Live today: 'I come onto set and I look around, probably wasn't day one - probably more like day two - and I'm like this is not enough. And I spoke to people and they said yeah fine you're right, we'll do something about it. It wasn't as big as it was made out to be.

'I was like 'it's a production in association with my company. I'm here leading the show, this is not how it should be.' It was a five minute conversation where the person said - I completely agree with you we're on it.

'Nobody's losing any jobs, nobody's getting replaced or anything like that. It's so there's space to get people on the ladder. And that's what's happened.'

While not revealing the name of the project, his initial comments came the same day ITV announced he would be starring in Viewpoint.

Mr Clarke had said: 'I'm on a job now which I can't mention and I came in on day one and I'm the lead actor and I was like, "The crew's not diverse enough, fix, fix it."

Honest: Their day on the set comes after Noel Clarke (pictured in March), who plays the lead, backed down on his claim that he demanded producers 'fix' the lack of diversity on 'day one'

'I don't care if there's trainees, because this job's trainees is the next job's runner, then the next job's assistant, then they're a supervisor, then in five year's time or three year's time, we have more people in the business from different backgrounds; socio-economic, not just about colour.'

ITV has not responded when asked if Viewpoint was the show in question, or if there was a wholesale change in production personnel as a result of Mr Clarke's request.

The actor has regularly spoken out about racism and previously claimed TV channels refused to back his Sky One show Bulletproof because it was led by two black actors.
After a series of complaints alleging that mangrove trees were hacked at Panje in Uran, Navi Mumbai, between Wednesday and Friday, an inspection undertaken by the Maharashtra forest department confirmed that mangroves had been destroyed at the site.

On Saturday morning, the Uran range forest officer and his team visited areas where mangrove hacking was reported. It was identified that the land belonged to the City Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (Cidco)  the planning agency for Navi Mumbai  which had leased it to a private company.

The RFOs (range forest officer) inspection revealed 11-14 trees were damaged, said Ashish Thakre, deputy conservator of forest (Alibag) adding, Two separate letters have been issued. The first one is being sent to the Uran tehsildar (revenue officer) to initiate action in the matter as an offence under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and the other to Cidco asking them to explain whether they are aware of the environmental violation.

The revenue department said they will conduct their own site visit on Monday after receiving details from the forest department.

Destruction of mangroves or any activity including reclamation, debris dumping or construction within 50m was banned by the Bombay high court in September 2018.

Destruction of mangroves offended the fundamental rights of the citizens and hence it was a mandatory duty of the state and its agencies and instrumentalities to protect and preserve the mangroves. There shall be a total freeze on the destruction and cutting of mangroves in the entire state, the order passed by the division bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla said.

At Panje, local resident and birder Parag Gharat on Wednesday and Friday found mangrove trees chopped at the site. He had alleged at least 40 trees had been cut. This was followed by a series of complaints by environment groups Conservation Action Trust, NatConnect Foundation, Shree Ekvira Aai Pratishthan and Paramparik Machhimar Bachao Kruti Samiti, requesting action against culprits.

Cidco officials said they were aware about the issue and had already drafted their response.

We have spoken to the private company and will be asking the Uran tahsildar to book unidentified persons for hacking mangroves at the site. Though a security guard has been appointed by the private company, there are multiple entry points to this area, said Pramod Patil, nodal officer (environment), Cidco adding, Similar cases have happened before too where mangroves were hacked by a group of people intending on using the tree barks for supporting nets for aquaculture purposes in this area. This seems to be the case here as well.

Located to the west of Dongri and Panje villages, this wetland is enclosed by an eight to 10-feet-high concrete wall and therefore, almost isolated from tidal influence. The western end of the site is bordered with a narrow patch of mangrove (300500m wide and 1.5 km long), where destruction was reported.

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Connecticut State Police troopers escorted a military aircraft across Connecticut roads Friday, attracting an audience along the way.

Police posted photos of the plane, a U.S. Air Force C-130 transport aircraft, on its Facebook page Saturday.

It was loaded onto a tractor trailer in CT, where troopers escorted the heavy cargo to the Rhode Island border. The plane is headed to New Hampshire, according to the State Police Facebook post.

"Many people were surprised to see this plane traveling along the interstate and through Bethel, Thomaston and other towns," police wrote in the post.

They did not specify where exactly the aircraft was headed, or where it was coming from.
Life in quarantine and lockdown during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has required everyone to make life adjustments.

And Cynthia Bailey of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta called out one particularly intimate life change on Friday, when she visited Us Weekly's Getting Real with the Housewives podcast.

The model and actress, 53, bemoaned the fact that as quarantine began, she and her fiance Mike Hill have been forced to tone down their bedroom antics since they were spending 'quarantine in a house with all [their] kids'.

'Secret sex': Cynthia Bailey of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta called out an intimate life change due to quarantine on Friday, involving her sex life with Mike Hill; seen on Instagram

'Quarantine in a house with all your kids, can you imagine trying to have sex with your man?' Bailey said on the podcast.

'You know how horrible that is to have like quiet, secret sex all the time? Its like they know its happening, but you can't, like, be loud. It sucks. It really sucks.'

As quarantine began in March, the loved-up pair were holed up at Hill's home in Los Angeles, California, along with Cynthia's daughter Noelle, 20, as well as Mike's daughters Kayla and Ashlee.

'Quarantine in a house with all your kids, can you imagine trying to have sex with your man?' Bailey said; seen on Instagram

'I was constantly doing the walk of shame in our house,' Cynthia reflected on the awkward time.

Since then, however, Cynthia and Mike, 50, have transitioned to Bailey's Georgia home, which she has coined 'Lake Bailey.'

'Were here, were free. At Lake Bailey, the only people that can hear us now are the deer and the rabbits and squirrels and the ducks,' the reality star said happily of their newfound freedom.

Since then, however: Cynthia and Mike have transitioned to her Georgia home, where they can be freer about their bedroom activities; seen on Instagram

'Sex is great right now.'

And sex is not the only thing that Bailey has gotten a handle on since returning to Georgia  She also recently told Us that she lost a bunch of weight that she had initially gained at the start of quarantine.

'I actually gained 20 pounds from the quarantine,' she said on Monday.

'I was here at Lake Bailey by myself, so I was able to, kind of, control what's in the refrigerator,' Bailey explained.

Sex is not the only thing that Bailey has gotten a handle on since returning to Georgia: She also recently fessed up to 'dropping some dead weight' that she had initially gained in the beginning of quarantine; seen on IG Stories

Meanwhile the couple, who got engaged late last year, are still gunning for an October wedding  coronavirus be damned.

'We've actually thought a couple of times about just postponing it because just even trying to make it happen has been a nightmare,' Cynthia confided. 

But she remains undeterred, for now: 'Mike and I really feel like 10.10.20 is our perfect date.'

And Hill  who recently published his memoir, titled Open Mike  also recently confirmed their October nuptials are still on.
332nd, 379th AEWs work together to expand agile combat employment in AOR

U.S. Central Command

By Tech. Sgt. Michael Battles 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

AL UDEID AIR BASE, QATAR, Aug. 28, 2020 -- In a joint effort to implement agile combat employment, F-15E Strike Eagle maintainers from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing conducted hot-pit training and aircraft arresting system certification with deployed members from the 379th AEW, Aug. 23 and 28, 2020, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

The training, which enhanced mission capabilities for mobile distribution operators from the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron for hot pitting and 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintainers for AAS certification, enables fighter aircraft to use Al Udeid as a hub to receive fuel quicker and the capability to stop a malfunctioning aircraft upon landing or takeoff.

"Certifying the arresting cables and training 379th AEW Airmen to hot-pit the Strike Eagle provides leaders from the [U.S. Central Command] commander all the way to individual aircraft commanders launch and recovery options in a variety of possible scenarios ranging from regional exercises to combat operations," said Col. Ernesto Divittorio, 332nd AEW vice commander.

According to Capt. Cole Hoopingarner, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group maintenance operations officer in charge, hot pitting speeds up the time needed to get an aircraft back in the air.

"Hot refueling is the transfer of fuel into an aircraft with one or more engines running. This capability improves the reliability of aircraft systems and mission capable time since we are less frequently shutting down/restarting systems," he said.

In 2013, portions of AUAB's flight line were certified for hot refueling; however, a new team is completing a site survey and certifying new portions of the airfield.

"Survivability and providing the warfighter with minimum aircraft down time to 'get back in the fight' are the main reasons why," Hoopingarner explained. "Having multiple hot refueling sites throughout the AUAB airfield gives the warfighter more hot refueling options if a portion of the airfield was inoperable or unusable."

The training also afforded members of the 379th EAMXS to practice and certify Al Udeid's AAS, also referred to as barrier, capabilities.

"The 'barrier' is actually called and Aircraft Arresting System that is similar to the steel cables on a [U.S. Navy] aircraft carrier," said Senior Master Sgt. Matt Castillo, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron facility systems superintendent. "That Navy system uses steam or more recently magnetism to launch and recover aircraft. The USAF system(s) use a variety of engineering methods to engage an aircraft that cannot stop safely on its own power. The basic concept is that of an energy absorber."

Inspected every day by the 379th ECES, the AAS activates a steel cable, which will catch an aircraft that is tail hook equipped and unable to stop on its own.

Divittorio explained, that both capabilities allow the U.S. Air Force to develop as a total force.

"The U.S. Air Force continues to refine its expeditionary mindset and the development of Airmen and squadrons that deliver decisive effects while operating with a smaller footprint, capable of relocating rapidly," he said. "We call it Agile Combat Employment, or ACE, and the capability puts our adversaries on notice  we will not be a stationary target."

He also stated, the capabilities allow the U.S. to work closer with our coalition partners.

"The ability to deploy, and employ, U.S. and coalition aircraft from multiple bases in the theater complicates our adversaries' targeting calculus," Divittorio continued. "Another important reason for having the ability to conduct Strike Eagle hot-pit operations out of Al Udeid is the opportunity to drop-in and train with our close partners, the Qataris, whose own Qatar Emiri Air Force will soon fly the newest variant of the Strike Eagle, the F-15QA."

The 332nd conducted the training at Al Udeid in conjunction with a two-day U.S. Air Forces Central Command bi-lateral key leader engagement called the Qatar-AFCENT Friendship Event from Aug. 23 and 24, which brought together members of the 379th AEW and the 332nd AEW with the Qatar Emiri Air Force for an F-15E familiarization flight.

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I explained that I could not be sure it was actually Mrs. Ross, that it might have been a mole-ster wearing a mask to look like Mrs. Ross and trick me into the car. After those pamphlets, I was always on the lookout for the mole-sters and junkies hiding in drug attics.

It would be years later before I learned the words were actually mo-LES-ters and addicts. And it would not be the last time Id be tripped up by a word Id read but never heard spoken.

In my adulthood, wed been invited to a gathering one afternoon, and were the only ones in attendance who had not been professional educators. I knew many in attendance, and had studied under a couple of them. I had not studied under Dr. Florence Voris, an outspoken chemistry professor, so I only knew her from the perspective of friends who had struggled under her rigorous curriculum. I had assumed she was humorless and stern, and had no idea how wrong I was in my assessment.

In the course of sitting-room conversation, the name of another educator came up and someone wondered aloud whether he was still teaching. I knew the scholar, and that he had retired. Oh, yes, I said. He is dean emeritus now. Or, more to the point, I said, he is dean em-a-REE-tus now.
It wasn't to be for Naomh Eanna as they went down fighting in the Pettitt's Senior Hurling final in Wexford Park on Sunday.

There was disappointment for the club earlier in the week when the Government announced new Covid-19 restrictions that meant spectators could not attend the big match.

However, the local community came out in force to support the players in every way that they could, both virtually online and physically, by flying their flags high and proud all over.

Originally, a limited number of tickets were to be provided to fans in a draw due to take place at the Clonattin grounds on Thursday last.

But last Tuesday's government announcement that spectators were not permitted to attend matches left club members and fans stunned.

Aoife Parle from Naomh Eanna GAA Club said that all in the club were taken by surprise by the decision but, from her perspective personally, she had felt safe at all games this summer.

'Obviously, the new guidelines have been widely criticised for being misleading. If there was a rule that there was no sport it would be more understandable than the current guidelines.

'Only 15 can train but 30 may play in a game and both from different areas, and this has led to the confusion and frustration that certain things could go ahead.

'I cannot understand how 50 are allowed in a cinema and we can't have spectators at sport. A stadium that holds 25,000 and we can't have 200 there but a cinema screen can have 50,' she said.

As a club, Naomh Eanna decided to put frustrations to one side and focus on how people could support the despite restrictions. They had over 150 flags decorating the town and encouraged people and businesses to share their club colours on social media.

'We had people send in their pictures, videos and messages to the lads and being as positive as we can in the current situation because it is not often a hurling team get to a county final. We want to acknowledge the extremely hard work the players and management have put in.'

Disappointed Naomh Eanna fan and Councillor Joe Sullivan described people feeling 'Covid fatigued' at this stage.

* See Sport section
Rescuers are continuing to search for victims of flash flooding that has left hundreds dead in Afghanistan and Pakistan.



Officials in Afghanistan said on August 29 that about 160 people had been killed in 13, mostly northern, provinces that have been struck by the flooding.

In neighboring Pakistan, at least 96 people were reported killed in flooding that was mostly concentrated in the southeastern part of the country.



"This is unprecedented [rainfall] and has broken all previous records," Murad Ali Shah, chief minister of Sindh Province, told journalists, adding that on August 27 alone, Karachi received 230 millimeters of rain.

At least 2 million people in Karachi have been affected by the flooding, with some neighborhoods virtually inaccessible because of the high water.



In Afghanistan, the Defense Ministry said security forces were helping with recovery efforts, while NATO issued a statement saying its forces were also assisting.



The monsoon season in the region lasts from June to September.

With reporting by AFP and AP
L abours shadow chancellor has suggested the UK Governments poor handling of the coronavirus crisis has increased support for Scottish independence, whilst calling for more flexible borrowing, investment and targeted extensions of the furlough scheme.

Anneliese Dodds criticised the very, very short-sighted plan to end the job retention scheme in October, which she warned will lead to even higher unemployment in Scotland.

Speaking after a visit to Summerhall - one of the main venues of the Edinburgh Festival - where she met with festival organisers, the STUC and business representatives, Ms Dodds said there needed to be an extension of furlough for certain industries.

Calling for a more flexible system of wage support, she said: The Labour Partys been saying that we dont want to see that wage support expire across the whole economy at the same time across every sector.

We think thats very, very short-sighted; doing that will just lead to additional waves of unemployment coming through.

Thats a particular issue in Scotland where weve got higher rates of unemployment already but weve also got very low rates of new vacancies coming through.

Ms Dodds said that Nicola Sturgeons clear communication through the pandemic has been in stark contrast to that of Boris Johnson and his government, who have now switched off and are taking knee-jerk approaches to the public health and economic consequences of coronavirus.

Anneliese Dodds / PA

Asked about the rising support for Scottish independence, which is now regularly polling at more than 50 per cent, Ms Dodds said: Sadly, we have currently a Westminster government which is not dealing with this pandemic well.

We have the highest rate of excess deaths in all of Europe, we also have the deepest recession in all of Europe, and I think people are looking at that and are clearly very, very worried about that, thinking is there an alternative?.

She added: Im very aware that the leader of the Scottish Government is someone who has been clear in her communications around the public health side that Boris Johnson has been, but Im also aware of some of the major issues that weve had in care homes for example in Scotland.

The Aberdeen-born MP also stressed Scotland now has the highest unemployment rate of any UK nation and referenced economic reports that warned the Scottish economy is going to be particularly hard hit because of the impacts of the pandemic.

She said: We really need to have a very focused approach, one which isnt this kind of one-size-fits-all approach of withdrawing support across all sectors.

Labour has been saying very clearly that we need to be focused on the long term, lets try and preserve economic capacity right across the UK, including in Scotland.

She declined to back Scottish Government calls for more borrowing powers for Scotland, arguing the UK Government is able to borrow at lower rates, but said there should be more flexible borrowing, so that we do get that investment absolutely where its needed.
Between their baggage fees and rescheduling penalties, airlines often get blamed for nickel-and-diming passengers  but a report from the Transportation Security Administration said travelers are also to blame for wasting money at the airport. According to the TSA, airline passengers left behind nearly $1 million at security checkpoints during the 2019 fiscal year.

In the latest Unclaimed Money at Airports report that the agency is required to present to Congress each year, the agency said it collected $926,030.44 in unclaimed money, including $18,899.09 in foreign currency, at its checkpoints.

People left behind $98,110 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, far more money than at other U.S. airports. San Francisco International Airport took second place with $52,668.70, and Miami International Airport took third with $47,694.03. They were followed by Las Vegas's McCarran International Airport with $44,401.76 and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport with $40,218.19.

"It's very easy for people to leave money behind," TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said.

She said when travelers remove items from their pockets before passing through security, they often miss loose change and driver's licenses because they're not as noticeable as bulky belongings, such as laptops and coats.

"It's not going to cause a bump," Farbstein said. "When they collect themselves after they have to divest items, they don't realize there's something in that bottom bin."

Another distraction for travelers is that the TSA's bins for your items may be covered in advertisements; your money may blend into the noisy background.

"If you glance to see if you left anything, your eye sort of sees the ad and might not see the loose change," Farbstein said.

The unclaimed money is found mostly in the form of coins and small bills, although large sums do get left behind, too. However, "it is not common," Farbstein said.

If you're traveling with a bunch of cash, take note of how you're transporting it so you can contact the appropriate TSA lost-and-found office if you leave it behind.

For example, you may need details such as what kind of envelope it's in, what is written on the envelope and what size bills you had.

Better yet, try not to lose your money in the first place.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Farbstein recommends forgoing TSA's bins at security checkpoints altogether and storing your loose change and small bills in your carry-on bag.

"You put them in your carry-on bag for two reasons now," she said. "One, so you don't leave it behind, and two, because hey, one less touch point. We're in a pandemic."

Farbstein said officers are not allowed to pocket their findings.

"They're not going to risk their jobs for that. It's all on camera," she said.

Instead, the money goes to TSA projects, such as checkpoint training requirements.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 08:46:49|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Aug. 28, 2020 shows the venue of the 23rd ASEAN Economic Ministers Plus Three Consultations in Hanoi, Vietnam. Economic ministers from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan and South Korea have reaffirmed their commitment to take collective actions in mitigating the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Attending the 23rd ASEAN Economic Ministers Plus Three Consultations via video link on Friday, the ministers underscored the importance of bringing back business confidence to facilitate post-pandemic recovery, according to a joint media statement of the meeting. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua)

HANOI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Economic ministers from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan and South Korea have reaffirmed their commitment to take collective actions in mitigating the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attending the 23rd ASEAN Economic Ministers Plus Three Consultations via video link on Friday, the ministers underscored the importance of bringing back business confidence to facilitate post-pandemic recovery, according to a joint media statement of the meeting.

They agreed to intensify coordinated efforts in promoting economic and social resilience in the region, including through signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) this year, said the statement.

Welcoming the progress on the RCEP negotiations and the preparation for its signing this year, the ministers reiterated the significance of the deal's signing in enhancing confidence and strengthening the regional economic architecture, according to the statement.

The ministers resolved to ensure macroeconomic and financial stability by keeping the markets open for trade and investment and ensuring the supply chain connectivity, and reiterated the need for cooperative efforts to facilitate the essential movement of business people across borders, it said.

In enabling post-pandemic recovery, the ministers also recognized the importance of harnessing the opportunities of the digital economy by facilitating the cross-border transfer of information and data by electronic means, the statement said. Enditem
Kannada speakers and Marathi speakers clashed in Peeranwadi, a village in Belgavi district on the Karnataka - Maharashtra border on Friday, over the installation of a statue, leading to a lathi-charge by the police to break them apart.

The two groups were fighting after the Kannadigas installed a statue of Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna at T-junction-- a landmark in Peeranwadi-- in the early hours of Friday.

Rayanna is a revered freedom fighter who fought the British as a general of Kittur Rani Chenamma. The Marathi speaking group called the installation surreptitious and claimed that the T-junction had already been named in the honor of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

There have been tensions between a section of the Kannada and Marathi speaking population in the district with the latter wanting the district to be merged with Maharashtra.

The Kuruba community (traditional shepherds) in Karnataka, who are the third largest caste group in the state after Veerashiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas, see Rayanna as their community icon.

Even as the local administration said that no permission had been taken for the installation of the statue, the issue became politicised. Former chief minister and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy tweeted that there was no need to take permission from anybody to install a statue of the unassuming freedom fighter in Kannada land and condemned the acts of some, who he described as, Marathi-speaking miscreants.

He issued a warning saying whether it was Shiv Sena or the Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi (MES) or any other party, insult of a son of the soil like Rayanna will not be tolerated by Kannadigas and they would be taught a suitable lesson.

Also Read: Karnataka govt briefs governor about the action taken to implement NEP 2020

Leader of opposition in assembly, Siddaramiah, too, said that there would be no compromise in protecting the states interests when it came to land, water, language or the honor of great leaders of the state.

Home minister Basavarj Bommai said that he had spoken to the district police commissioner and the IGP.

The police have been asked to take strict action so that the situation remains under control, said Bommai, who also consulted the deputy CM, Lakshman Savadi, who hails from Belgavi district.

Also Read: Karnataka in talks to acquire Bharat Gold Mine land for industrial park

CM Yediyurappa also said that he had spoken to the district administration to ensure that the issue was resolved peacefully.

Several Kannada organizations across the state have threatened to take to streets if Rayannas statue is removed from the installed place.

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Bosch, the German Conglomerate has big plans for India. With a complete range of products straddling 3 huge brand names, Bosch demonstrates its desire to satisfy discerning Indian consumers, across demographics. We spoke to Mr. Neeraj Bahl - MD & CEO, BSH Household Appliances, India and asked him more about the company's plans in India.

1. Bosch has been a big name in India since time immemorial. What was the real motivation to bring in these appliances recently?

BSH stepped in the Indian market in the year 2010 with the brand Siemens. At that time, our major focus was on premium built-in and freestanding products like washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators. In 2011, we launched Bosch, with a similar range of mass-premium products. In the beginning of 2015, Siemens sold its shares to Bosch and we are now a 100% Bosch-owned company.

After studying the Indian market closely, we launched our washing machines that were manufactured in our state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Chennai, followed by many locally manufactured products like dishwashers and refrigerators as well as cooking appliances like hob, hood, ovens and microwaves. Recently, we have fortified our presence in the small appliance category with the launch of our mixer grinder and other kitchen appliances including hand blenders, slow juicers, hand mixers, etc.

In the past nine years, BSH has experienced huge success in India and today we are experiencing about 35 - 40% year-on-year growth in the country. I think that the constant support from our customers has kept us motivated throughout our journey. Also, growing prospects for household appliance market with elevating living standards across towns in the country has encouraged us to introduce new appliances to our customers and tap into the aspiring buyer base. We aim to keep this momentum going and introduce more offerings fit for the Indian consumer by localising offerings and innovating products fit for the evolving social class.

2. How does a brand that is strongly associated with the auto industry in India make its presence felt in the appliance industry? Is this the reason behind the 3-brand strategy? What distinct roles do each of these brands play in the overall communication?

Given the growth opportunities in the country, in 2018, BSH introduced its triple brand strategy in India to target different audiences via its three brands - Bosch, Siemens and Gaggenau, and became the first triple brand player in India. After witnessing the success of our premium brands under Bosch and Siemens in India over the past couple of years, we are confident that BSH Household Appliances will redefine the luxury kitchen category with Gaggenau.

Bosch's core philosophy is to harness useful progress to create a better quality of life. Values that typify Bosch domestic appliances and make them unique are quality, technological competence, and responsibility. It is an India-for-India product and developed with local insights.

Siemens home appliances is synonymous with German ingenuity, world-class technological innovation and luxury. It combines the latest technology with improved functionality that results in innovative products and solutions that benefits customers.

Gaggenau is the world's first and leading brand of luxury built-in appliances in India. The brand has gained a global recognition for its ongoing commitment to providing extraordinary excellence in the kitchen. During their entire lifespan, Gaggenau appliances maintain their consistent appearance, which is based on the highest standards of German design and materials of premium quality. Gaggenau was ranked as the 6th most luxurious brand in the German Luxury Rankings by Manager Magazin and is among the world's top 10 luxury kitchen appliance brand.

BSH started off with in-built appliances and then showcased various products individually. What was the strategy behind this approach?

Back then, our major focus was on built-in appliances and washing machines with the premium brand - Siemens. However, after closely studying the Indian market, we launched Bosch appliances across categories and targeted the mass premium market. With Bosch, we entered the washing machine, dryer, refrigerator and dishwasher categories as well as cooking appliances like hob, hood, ovens and microwaves. Recently, we have fortified our presence in the small appliance category with the launch of mixer grinder and other kitchen appliances including hand blenders, slow juicers, hand mixers, etc. and have developed India-specific appliances based on local insights. Our strategy was to localise our products, especially for the Indian market, and innovate them to cater to our evolving customers.
Former chief minister Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) on Saturday held the meeting of its Political Affairs Committee for the first time in Srinagar since Jammu & Kashmir was divested of its special status and split into two Union territories in August last year.

Omar Abdullah, who was among the NC leaders to attend the meeting of the committee, said important things were discussed at the meeting without providing further details.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of NCs announcement this week that it will launch a joint political struggle for the restoration of the special status, and Jammu & Kashmirs statehood along with other major parties like one-time arch-rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The leaders of the political parties signed a declaration a day before Article 370 was nullified to strip Jammu & Kashmir of its special status last year, saying they will be united in defending the identity, autonomy and special status of Jammu & Kashmir

Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, who were released from detention in March, have held a series of meetings since their release. The two were among three chief ministers and hundreds of people detained as part of sweeping measures taken to prevent protests against the constitutional changes to Jammu & Kashmirs status last year.

There has been some resumption of political activities over the last few weeks. On Thursday, the PDP took out a protest rally from its party office against human rights violations and for the release of political leaders. The newly-launched Apni Party has also held a meeting and demanded the restoration of the statehood.

Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Ram Madhav held a series of meetings with the leaders of his and other parties during his visit to Kashmir on Thursday.

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Wyomings ferruginous hawks have taken the limelight at oil and gas major EOG Resources, Inc. lately.

An endemic part of Wyomings Powder River Basin ecosystem, ferruginous hawks can often be spotted soaring, foraging and nesting throughout the wide-open sagebrush steppe landscapes.

Theyre your quintessential Western hawk that has evolved on the Great Plains, explained Chad Olson, a co-founder of HWA Wildlife Consulting Firm. In the Western U.S. and Canada, theyre found in these big open-road landscapes.

In an effort to balance the need to protect the sensitive raptor and the advancement of energy development, EOG has been working with the Wyoming-based wildlife consulting firm for the past five years to learn more about the nesting and migration patterns of the iconic hawks swooping throughout the basin.

Ferruginous hawks are unique from many other birds in their propensity to nest on the ground. That can happen often in the Powder River Basin, where the predominately grassland and sagebrush steppe ecosystems make nesting substrates limited. The birds can sometimes be found on artificial nesting platforms, energy infrastructure, power poles and trees.

But making a home on the ground has made the hawks especially vulnerable to human disturbances.

EOG partnered with HWA Wildlife Consulting to conduct a multi-year study of the bird because of the firms history in completing avian and other wildlife studies in Wyoming and across the Mountain West.

For this particular study, HWA collected data using trackers, called Argos satellite transmitters. Since 2016, the scientists have tagged 16 birds and gathered countless other data points from monitoring the behavior of several raptors in the region.

According to EOG, the wealth of research so far has enabled the company to implement more effective strategies to protect the hawk before drilling even begins.

For instance, the study has helped the company identify where occupied nests are located on the ground with more precision. Knowing nest locations allows the operator to institute buffer zones during nesting season and time drilling to avoid disturbing nearby hawks.

EOG is committed to the safe and responsible development of oil and gas in Wyoming, which includes our efforts to better understand wildlife and their habitats in the state, said Creighton Welch, manager of government relations and communications at EOG.

EOG remains the leading oil and gas company in Wyoming, producing over 20 million barrels of oil last year. The scale and reach of EOGs operations means any advancements made in their approach to wildlife management could have sizable repercussions.

We take a very data-driven approach to development, and our ferruginous hawk study has become an important component of our planning efforts, Welch continued. This information allows us to make more informed decisions about the location and timing of our operations in the Powder River Basin.

In addition to tracking nest locations, Olson and his team at HWA have mapped the territories used by each bird.

The birds territories arent nice, neat round circles around a nest, Olson said.

That means developers also need to be aware of where the hawks forage, perch and generally move about in a landscape.

HWA collects the GPS data using the trackers that transmit location points through cell phone tower networks. After that, Olsons team maps and analyzes the various points.

The transmitters, theyve become amazingly small and light, Olson said. You can get an enormous number of locations on these birds, down to two to three meters. So the detail you can get in terms of habitat use and patterns is just phenomenal.

Its not just nesting season behaviors that the wildlife management group and EOG are interested in. They also have tracked the migratory patterns of the hawks to find out where birds spend their winters.

EOG said it has shared its findings with the Bureau of Land Management to help inform resource planning.

Some studies have shown signs of a decline in the ferruginous hawk population in Wyoming, with many citing a variety of disturbances and a loss of habitat. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department have long kept an eye on the bird, especially as energy development, in the form of oil, natural gas and wind, has exploded in the past decade.

But conservationists assert theres still more work to be done.

The Bureau of Land Management recently published a final environmental review for a large oil and gas project proposed in Converse County. A group of energy firms, including EOG Resources, submitted the proposal to develop oil and gas in the eastern Wyoming county years ago and an environmental review began in 2014.

If they receive approval after a public comment period, several energy firms would have the green light to drill upwards of 5,000 new wells on about 1.5 million acres of land. A revision to the areas resource management could provide operators with the option to drill year-round, which has some conservationists worried for raptors, including ferruginous hawks.

Thats because the proposed amendment to the Casper resource management plan would lift some timing limitation stipulations, currently in place to protect non-eagle raptors, thereby allowing operators to maximize the use of horizontal development from multi-well pads.

EOG said its review of the final environmental impact statement is still ongoing, but the company will maintain its commitment to operating in Wyoming while also upholding strong wildlife management standards that protect raptors, regardless of what the final environmental impact statement requires.

Follow the latest on Wyomings energy industry @camillereports

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In the middle of the night, in the depths of sleep, our unconscious is playing pandemic dreams behind our eyes. We wake with a feeling of uncertainty, the vivid images seeping into our days.

Toronto artist Mikael Sandblom used his minds nocturnal output to create the work above, The Way Back Home. Its based, he says, on a recent dream where I am in town, but I cant find my way home. Buildings have disappeared and been replaced. I turn a familiar corner, but it leads to streets Ive never seen before. I have a map, but I cant find my place in it. Its a dream about trying to find my way back to the way things were.

The medium he uses is as important as the message. His new work, he says, combines photography and digital illustration.

The pieces are printed on photo paper and laminated between an aluminum dibond backing and one-eighth-inch acrylic. The images are based on my photos of clouds and waves. Outlines, tracings, maps and diagrams are layered over the photos in a way analogous to how we interpret, map and analyze our environment. Throughout the surface, fragments of images float into focus and then recede as the eye moves on to other elements.

The work reflects a world where nothing is solid or permanent. Its our act of perception that brings elements into being and dissolves them again. What we see in the world is not what is objectively out there; most of it is a projection of ideas that weve formed or learned.

This piece is part of an exhibition titled Coming Home now online at Gallery 1313, curated by gallery director Phil Anderson, assisted by Mariah Lamont-Lennox.

Home took on new meaning during COVID-19. In mid-March, after COVID-19 started to seem like something very real, the Canadian government announced that Canadians should come home. Front-line workers lived in fear that returning home could mean spreading this virus. As people were advised to stay home and only go out for groceries, home became even more important. Now, Anderson says, we are anxious to return to some kind of normal life and present some hope for the future.

And so we dream of home, shifting and changing shape to become a place to hold our hopes and fears, all that we are and all that weve become.

We hope that this online exhibition will give the public an opportunity to see and share creative experiences, says Anderson.

You can see more of the exhibition online at g1313.org
The United Nations is concerned about more than 50,000 people who have been displaced from their homes due to violence in Afghanistans Kunduz province.

The Taliban has recently captured four army bases, despite talks with the government to end the fighting.

Al Jazeeras Osama Bin Javaid reports.
The lecture delivered by historian Joseph Scalice on August 26 exposing the politics of the Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has led to an outpouring of comment on social media and in response to the posting of the video on YouTube. Overwhelmingly the posts have been supportive of the lecture and opposed to the slanderous attacks of CPP founder Jose Maria Sison on Scalice.

The lecture entitled First as tragedy, second as farce: Marcos, Duterte, and the Communist Parties of the Philippines was hosted by Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. In opening his lecture, Scalice provided detailed and unanswerable evidence refuting Sisons claim that it was a big lie that he and the CPP had supported the fascistic Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his murderous war on drugs.

Since the lecture, the video has now been viewed over 2,000 times. Many of the comments, including on Scalices Facebook account, expressed hostility to Sisons totally unsubstantiated allegation that Scalice was a paid CIA agent. In some cases, they referred to their own experiences of the CPPs intimidation and thuggery.

Some comments expressed their appreciation for Scalices explanation of the theoretical roots of the CPPs repeated betrayal of Philippine workers and peasants that lie in the nationalist ideology of Stalinism and Maoism. Sison and the CPP have time and again subordinated working people to bourgeois politiciansDuterte is just the most recentwho have invariably turned on and repressed social unrest and protests.

Many applauded Scalices courage in standing up to Sison and the CPP and speaking the historical truth about its treachery.

We publish here a selection of the comments, with minor editing. We also encourage our readers to express their support for Scalice and opposition to the lies of Sison and the CPP.

David D

What a great presentation! The bankruptcy of Stalinism is proven by history.

Pablo C

What an absolute betrayal of the Filipino proletariat. Id like to thank you. Mr. Scalice, for this lecture and the hard work you have poured into the noble and monumental project of exposing Sisons blatant opportunism.

So many of us young Filipino socialistsmostly students who genuinely care for the impoverished and disenfranchised proletariatfall for Sison and his lies. The old guard has to step down, and a new movement must arise, a movement untainted by treachery, dogmatism, and corrupt expediencies with the ruling class. For that, the knowledge youve imparted will doubtless be a pillar [of] this movements foundation. It may not be today, in the next month, or in the next year, but your work will surely shift the winds of our history. No longer shall the Filipino proletariat suffer from the injustices of both the fascist right and the Stalinist left.

On behalf of us all, I thank you for courageously carrying the torch of truth. May you someday be honored when the Filipino proletariat finally become the masters of their own destiny.

Howler

Thank you, Dr. Scalice. Your passionate support of the working people of the planet and of historical truth informed every word in your outstanding lecture. Also, thank you to the WSWS for bringing this event to our attention and for their defence of your work against the slanders of the CCP.

Douglas J

Typical Stalinist, the ancestors of whom drink from the same counterrevolutionary, falsifying well.

Robert G

Very informative and insightful lecture! Congratulations!

Marian R

Thanks. Appreciate your surgical precision at lancing bullshit.

Mar O

Thank you for the lecture. It is greatly enlightening especially on the political issues surrounding the Duterte administration and its faction with the CPP considering their war of words. I cant wait for your next lecture about Manilas opposition to the formation of Malaysia? I hope I heard it right. I was reminded of the Sabah crisis and your lecture may again give an enlightening perspective on this issue.

Guhbi V

Thank you for this, sir Joseph Scalice! I was there at your talk and find it very astounding. I learned many things from you and Im looking forward to attend future webinars with you as their speaker.

John K

They can say what they like. History records their trajectory from Stalin to now. They cannot escape the truth. Thats why they, like the fascists turn to hysteria, unqualifiable character assassination and violence. As world capitalism goes into another historical crisis they shake hands with fascism and all its methods once again.

Sylvia

Hi Joseph. As you bravely came to my support with so much evidence and facts when I and my son were being attacked by this group (I sometimes dont really see much of a difference as both Duterte and CPP, NPA [New Peoples Army] and NDF [National Democratic Front] people use the same gaslighting, name calling and refusal to confront facts tactics).

I just wanted to come by here and reassert our common principles. The truth can be found in well documented sources. Criticism of the CPP, NPA and NDF does not mean we are not progressives or CIA or Trotskyists. (Cult speak much? To JMS [Jose Maria Sison] and his followers they seem to see Trotsky as the ultimate signifier of evil but only they see it this way. Its a bit like climate change deniers labelling me a tree hugger, no?).

Anyway, yes Duterte is evil. Yes, the military is killing CPP, NPA and NDF activists. Yes, this formation supported Duterte and, until they fell out with him, were silent as thousands of poor were massacred.

I look forward to your lecture. And just as I am honored to have been threatened and trolled by Dutertes fanatics, I am also honored to have been trolled and threatened by this group as you are now.

Max P

Sadly, brainwashed loyalists of Joma [Jose Maria Sison] and the CPP would concoct any reason to discredit any perceived challenge to their Holiness. It is a sort of defense mechanism to their own worldview, pretty much like what religious and right-wing fanatics do inside their heads.

This prevents meaningful discourse. Instead of ruthlessly criticizing everything, they exempt their own worldviews, the Party and Sison in it! Instead of assessing the evidence you will present objectively, they will just harp on their pre-judged magnanakaw [robber] tag to justify them not listening to a word you will say.

Honey A

Joseph Scalice, [It is] not just Joma. This is a practice most folks from their movement do every time you critique them. I have a friend who was previously ND [National Democratic Front] and called them out for harboring abusives/predators in their movement. He tried to address the issue internally but was dismissed, numerous times. When he called them out on socmed [social media], they started spreading rumors that hes an intel. Its either youre part of the government or a reactionary neo-liberal.

Mark J

Ive seen charges from some of my natdem friends that the lecture is probably sanctioned by Loraine Badoy of NTFELCAC. Thats just another baseless accusation. As far as the ruling order is concerned everyone to their left (including classical liberals like myselfwhich is relatively pretty right wing compared to everyone else in this comments section) are their enemies. Accusing a historian who is only doing his job of being a state agent or trotskyite is not only counterproductive, it hurts honest people who wants to learn from the mistakes of the past.

Alex J posted a quote from the CPPs newspaper Ang Bayan again concretely demonstrating its alliance with Duterte:

The alliance between the national democratic movement and the incoming Duterte regime continues to be forged. It is expected to further take shape over the next few weeks until Rodrigo Duterte is formally inaugurated as the next chief of the reactionary regime.

(Ang Bayan, June 7, 2016)

Mark B

Workers have paid the ultimate price of aligning themselves to such forces. The pedlars of popular front politics rightfully deserve to be exposed. Well done and thank you!

Andy H

This lecture is of immense importance, it should be made available for a long time to come. I am tremendously impressed with Dr. Scalices grasp of the material. He has clearly put his heart and soul into this.

The implications of this go far beyond the situation in the Philippines. The betrayals of Stalinism are breathtaking, not to mention the arrogance and stupidity of their leadership. Dr. Scalice, please watch your back. You have made some serious enemies.
Sen. Hawley: Democrats, Biden on the side of rioters Widow of fallen police officer condemns violence during RNC; Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley weighs in.

He's made a career out of being a MAGA cheerleader . . . At the expense of developing deeper alliances among Conservatives in Missouri. Now check the latest for Senator Hawley who is doubling down on his arguments forRead more:
AYODHYA: The Supreme Court-mandated Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Saturday (August 29, 2020) submitted the map of the Ram Temple being constructed in the holy city of Ayodhya to the Ayodhya Development Authority for its necessary approval.

According to reports, the Ram Temple map is likely to be approved by the authority soon.

Dr Anil Mishra, one of the trustees of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra, handed over the map and other necessary documents related to the construction of Ram temple to the Vice President and Secretary of the Ayodhya Development Authority for approval.

The members of the Trust had met in New Delhi on Thursday (August 20) and held discussions over the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Trust members discussed the temple roadmap and modalities and the master plan for the development of 70 acre land of Ram Janmabhoomi premises for discussion. On this land, the temple complex has to be constructed.

After the meeting, Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said that the construction of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir has begun in Ayodhya and engineers from CBRI Roorkee, IIT Madras along with Larsen and Toubro are currently testing the soil at the mandir site. The Ram temple trust expressed hope that the construction work would be completed in 36-40 months.

According to Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be built as per India's ancient and traditional construction techniques. The Trust said in a tweet that the temple will be built to sustain earthquakes, storms and other natural calamities and no iron will be used in the construction of the historic temple.

"For Mandir construction, copper plates will be used to fuse stone blocks with each other. The plates should be 18 inches long, 30 mm wide & 3 mm in depth.10,000 such plates may be required in total structure. We call upon Shri Rambhakts to donate such copper plates to the trust," the Trust said in another tweet.

"Donors can engrave family names, place of origin or their community temples' names on these plates. This way, the copper plates will not only symbolize the unity of this country but also be a testament to the entire country's contribution towards Mandir construction," it added.

It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conducted the 'Bhoomi Pujan' of Ram temple and laid the foundation stone of the temple at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya on August 5.
A Black man was freed from North Carolina prison on August 28 after serving 44 years in jail for a rape he maintains he never committed. US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Ronnie Longs sentence, ruling that his due process rights were violated through deliberate police suppression of material evidence.

An all-White jury had found Long guilty of raping a white woman and committing burglary in 1972 and sentence him for life. US state of North Carolina filed a motion in the appeals court and asked it to send the case back to the district court, which entered to writ to vacate the conviction.

It's been an honor to walk with Ronnie Long as we fought for his freedom. Welcome home, Ronnie! #RonnieLongIsFree pic.twitter.com/oULmuH1Wz9  Jamie Lau (@LauDurham) August 27, 2020

US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephanie Thacker wrote that a trickle of post-trial disclosures has unearthed a troubling and striking pattern of deliberate police suppression of material evidence. She noted the evidence from the crime scene that did not match Long was deliberately withheld by law enforcement.

Read: Man Shot Near White House By Secret Service Was Holding A Black Comb: Report

Read: Chadwick Boseman Death: MLB, NFL, NBA Players Mourn The Sudden Death Of Black Panther Star

'It's over'

Long was a client of Duke Law Schools Wrongful Convictions Clinic and his lead attorney, Clinical Professor Jamie Lau, helped him get the sentence vacated. Speaking to the reporters outside Albemarle Correctional Institution, Long said, It's been a long road but it's over with now, adding that hes going to enjoy every minute he has been left with.

"You keep that hope because I felt like one day [God] is going to send me somebody that's going to make it happen. And that's him," said Long, pointing toward his attorney, Jamie Lau.

Longs release comes at a time when the United States is witnessing protests against racial injustice and police brutality against people of colour. The death of George Floyd in police custody sparked outrage and rejuvenated Black Lives Matter movement. Another wave of protests have started in the US after Jacob Blake, an African-American, was shot seven times in the back point-blank by a white police officer, leaving his lower body paralysed.

Read: Boeing Seeking To Increase Black US Employees Throughout The Company By 20%

Read: Black Lives Matter Over Tennis? Naomi Osaka Amazes Netizens With US Open Warmup Withdrawal
First Direct Flight Between Israel, Abu Dhabi Set for Monday

By Linda Gradstein August 28, 2020

The first direct flight between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi is scheduled for August 31, with a return flight the next day. It is the first concrete expression of the normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates signed earlier this month.

The flight will be operated by Israel's National Airline El Al, which stopped flying because of the coronavirus pandemic. It is listed as Flight 971, which is the area code of the UAE, and will carry an Israeli delegation led by National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabbat and a U.S. delegation headed by U.S. President Donald Trump's adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

The following day, there will be a direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv, this time labeled 972 for Israel's area code.

The idea of direct flights between the two countries would have been unthinkable just a month ago. Flights were one of the first measures Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of after signing Israel's third peace treaty with an Arab country earlier this month, following Egypt and Jordan.

He said that Israel is working to enable direct flights from Tel Aviv to Dubai that will fly over Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu said it is only a three-hour flight, yet will change the Israeli aviation industry and the Israeli economy.

It was not clear if this inaugural flight would fly over Saudi Arabia, which would indicate a tacit Saudi acceptance of the peace deal.

Israelis have already begun investigating vacation options in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Gadi Hitman, a professor of Middle Eastern studies at Ariel University, said the UAE wants to play a larger role in the region.

"They see themselves as a new regional political power, and they want to be part of the mediating between Israelis and Palestinians in the future," he said. "They see themselves as the pioneers who want to break the glass ceiling, and they are looking forward to being mediators, just as Egypt tried to do many years ago, and Qatar and many other Arab states."

Kushner and the rest of the U.S. delegation are expected to travel to several other Arab states to encourage them to sign peace deals with Israel.

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While Peter Szick is looking forward to returning to school, the Grade 6 student is also more than a little anxious.

The 11-year-old Niagara Falls boy has Type 1 diabetes. If he was to contract COVID-19, he fears he may not be able to recover as quickly as his classmates.

I am very concerned about my health, he said. If anyone gets it, they could get really sick, but I would get it worse because my immune system doesnt work that well.

Peter and his younger brother Aaron are scheduled to return to Father Hennepin Catholic Elementary School in mid-September.

Peter recently launched an online petition on Change.org calling for smaller class sizes.

His petition urges Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce to ensure there is at least one metre of distance between students and a maximum of 15 students per class.

We deserve to be in class learning with our teachers and socializing with our friends, the petition said.

It is our right to be in our classrooms and it is not wrong to ask our government leaders to protect us. We are just kids who want to be kids again and need our adults in powerful government positions to protect us so we can have a future.

To date, more than 1,700 people have signed his petition.

His mother, Dana, helped Peter create the petition as a way to give a voice for children experiencing anxiety as the new school year approaches.

He was really having a hard time  he was really nervous about going back and, after speaking with his doctor, I thought we need to give him something in order to have some control over a situation where he has no control, she said.

This has given him so much more confidence, she added. And, at the same time, its like nobody is asking kids what they want or how they feel. Now, hes giving voice to those kids.

Peter enjoys school and is looking forward to being with his friends, but wants to make sure that everyone is protected.

We should have the right to go back to school, but we should also be safe and the governments not doing that, he said.

The petition has been shared on social media by several local politicians including Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates and Jennie Stevens, MPP for St. Catharines.

Stevens is pushing the province to cap class sizes at 15 students at both the elementary and secondary school levels. She said more provincial funding is needed to help ensure the safety of staff, students and the families of those students.

The Szick family also sent the link to Montreal Canadiens forward Max Domi. The NHLer has the same form of diabetes as Peter and uses the same continuous glucose monitor.

According to Niagara Region Public Health, there have been 62 reported cases of people under 20 getting the virus out of 935 total cases reported since March 13.
Five subsidiaries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have denied the Federal Government multibillion naira in taxes, according to Dataphytes analysis of their 2018 financial statements.

The analysis of the financial statements of the firms showed that Integrated Data Services Limited, Duke Oil Company Inc, Wheel Insurance Limited, N-Gas Limited, and National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) failed to make tax payments to the government despite making profits.

For instance, despite making a pre-tax profit of 18.68 billion ($61.03 million) in 2018, Duke Oil Company Inc (Duke Panama) paid no taxes anywhere.

Other subsidiaries with no record of tax in 2019 include Integrated Data Services Limited with 3.21 billion pre-tax profit, Wheel Insurance Limited, N-Gas Limited, and NAPIMS with $18.1 million (5.53 billion), $6.38 million (1.94 billion), and 1.06 billion profits, respectively.

This means that the subsidiaries earnings valued at 30.42 billion went untaxed in 2018.

NNPC Subsidiaries Tax Income Integrated Data Services Limited Nil 3.21 billion Duke Oil Company Inc. Nil $61.03 million (18.68 billion) Wheel Insurance Limited Nil $18.1 million (5.53 billion) N-Gas Limited

Nil $6.38 million (1.94 billion) National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS)

Nil 1.06 billion Total

30.42 billion

Source: NNPC 2018 Financial Statements / Dataphyte analysis

Other irregularities on tax compliance by subsidiaries

A look at the other subsidiaries showed that some of them paid less tax despite a large profit book. At the end of 2018, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company  NPDC owed the government 342bn in taxes.

The Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) paid little tax (minimum tax) at 255 million for the period. The company said it did not make a taxable profit for the period, an approach allowed by the Companies Income Tax Act.

The subsidiary also carried forward 94 billion in tax losses from prior years. The amount was an overdue tax payment owed to the Federal Government.

For 2018, the retail arm of the NNPC paid no tax for the year. It got a 1. 18bn tax credit, despite making 236.6 billion in revenue pre-tax profit. In 2017, it also got 1.29 billion as a tax credit.

Another alarming irregularity in the NNPC Retail account is that almost all profits were consumed by 212.4 billion cost of sales and 16.325 billion in administrative expenses.

Subsidiaries

Tax



Profit Duke Global Energy Investment Ltd 68.96 million (Deferred Tax) 41.67 million NNPC Retail



1.18 billion (Tax credit)



2.28 billion NPDC 80.7 billion (Deferred tax) 179.14 billion Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC) 47.09 million (Income tax expense)







158.5 million (Minimum Tax)



11.12 billion 11.12 billion Nigerian Gas Company Limited





4.15 billion (Deferred Tax) 16.62 billion Nigerian Gas Marketing Limited





10 billion (Deferred tax) 19.99 billion NIDAS Marine Limited 16 million (Deferred tax) 761 million

Nigerias Tax Administration in Oil and Gas Sector

Nigerias tax administration classifies taxation in oil and gas companies into two categories. While the Upstream sector (companies in the exploration and production) pays Petroleum Profits Tax (PPT), the downstream and others pay the Companies Income Tax (CIT).

So for Joint Venture and sole risk production companies, within the first five years, the government expects a rate of 65.75 per cent on. The rate is 85 per cent from companies in operation for over five years, according to the Petroleum Profits Tax Act Cap P13 LFN 2004 (as amended). For the companies under the Production Sharing Contract, it is 50% of the chargeable profit.

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The Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), and National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) are examples of companies in the upstream sector.

The downstream sector set aside 30 per cent of total profits for deductions as Companies Income Tax. The Finance Act 2020 also introduced some changes to the Companies Income Tax, but mostly on the digital economy and distribution of dividends to shareholders.

It was not clear whether these companies enjoyed any tax waivers granted by the government.

NNPC, FIRS Decline Comments

To get a clearer picture on how the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) enforced tax compliance, Dataphyte reached out to the Spokesperson of the Service, Abdullah Ahmed.

When asked why some subsidiaries failed to pay taxes despite making profits, he requested for the names of the subsidiaries. You need to send the names of the subsidiaries to my WhatsApp account so I can check the office and give you feedback, he said.

Days after sending the names, Mr Ahmed did not comment or reply to chats and text messages to his phone.

The spokesperson of the NNPC, Kennie Obateru, also failed to make a comment on the non-payment of tax by the subsidiaries. At first phone conversation, he requested the reporter to call or drop a message. After dropping a message about the enquiries, Mr Obateru has since not responded to any correspondence.

Experts call for proper tax framework for government agencies

Despite believing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will change the landscape in the oil and gas sector, stakeholders called for full compliance to various tax policies in the country.

Ronke Onadeko, an oil and gas consultant, said the passage of the PIB should address many of the challenges, giving us varying degrees of success.

As for Taiwo Oyedele, West African Tax Leader at PwC, speculation was ill-advised as tax provisions are an accounting issue, while tax payments were a matter of the law.

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However, where tax provisions or tax payments are due based on the relevant accounting standards and tax laws, there should be full compliance by all affected entities, whether private or government-owned, he said.

Mr Oyedele also alluded to the fact that MDAs adherence to tax payments is low.

Unfortunately, the level of tax compliance by MDAs is low, and this needs to change. Non-compliance goes beyond tax provisions in the financial statements to include other taxes such as VAT, PAYE.

Atiku Samuel, a policy analyst, describes the situation of non-compliance to tax payments by the government agencies as a systemic problem. He said the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) needs overhauling and a control system.

First, the Auditor-General report of 2017 revealed how over 200 agencies of government failed to submit their statements, and nothing has happened to anyone since then, he said.

According to Mr Samuel, the FIRS was also setting a terrible precedent in refusing to pay tax or open its accounting book; making it difficult for the organisation to demand accountability from other government agencies. More so, there is no clear cut defined framework for taxing government entities. We need to take a quick look at that. It is a question of transparency.

And while the planned Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) should, in theory, address some of these challenges, we need more than the Bill to make the oil and gas sector a sane environment.

Mr Samuel also highlighted the need for special courts that will solely deal with transparency and accountability issues in government; this would address financial misconduct.

From the preceding, it is clear there is a need for mechanisms that ensure NNPC and its subsidiaries remit revenue to the FG account. As a result, Nigeria may yet fund its budget, reduce local and foreign borrowings, and facilitate developmental programmes.

The Auditor-General has also described non-remittance of revenue by government agencies as a factor responsible for Nigerias debt burden. Through its audit reports, the office of the Auditor-General had recommended appropriate sanctions to defaulting agencies and a workable template for the NNPC and its subsidiaries.
Photo: The Canadian Press South Surrey-White Rock Conservative byelection candidate Kerry-Lynne Findlay smiles while campaigning with then-Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, not shown, in Surrey, B.C., Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. Findlay, a Conservative MP, is apologizing for "thoughtlessly" retweeting an anti-Semitic post by a conspiracy theorist in an attempt to criticize Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay is apologizing for thoughtlessly spreading material about Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland from a source she said she later discovered traffics in hateful conspiracy theories.

The Conservatives environment critic retweeted a video of Freeland interviewing billionaire George Soros when she was a journalist with the Financial Times in 2009 and commented that their closeness should alarm every Canadian.

The edited two-minute clip shows Soros advocating for then-U.S. president Barack Obama to bring China into what the financier describes as a "new world order, a financial world order.

Soros, who is Jewish, is a frequent bogeyman of conspiracy theories from far-right figures in the U.S., his native Hungary and beyond.

In a post Saturday morning, Findlay wrote that Freeland listened carefully to Soros "like student to teacher."

Findlay deleted the retweet Saturday afternoon and apologized, saying she never meant to endorse what she called "hateful rhetoric."

"I thoughtlessly shared content from what I am now learning is a source that promotes hateful conspiracy theories. I have removed the tweets and apologize," Findlay wrote.

The U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy organization, says in a 2018 blog post that Soros "has become a lightning rod for conservative and right-wing groups who object to his funding of liberal causes."

"In far-right circles worldwide, Soros' philanthropy often is recast as fodder for outsized conspiracy theories, including claims that he masterminds specific global plots or manipulates particular events to further his goals," the ADL's post reads.

"Many of those conspiracy theories employ longstanding anti-Semitic myths, particularly the notion that rich and powerful Jews work behind the scenes, plotting to control countries and manipulate global events."

Newly minted Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.
It is undeniable that the aviation industry has contributed greatly to the development of the global economy, accounting for roughly 3.6 per cent of total global GDP.

However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the aviation industry across the globe has suffered unprecedented damage. International flights are disrupted and domestic flights have decreased, putting many airlines at risk of bankruptcy.

Aviation traditions crumble as airlines take on new restructuring approaches

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the worldwide demand for air travel in March decreased by 52.9 per cent compared to the same period last year, which was an unprecedented drop in aviation history due to the social distancing measures practised by many governments to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

The total number of aviation passengers in China, the first country to experience the outbreak, decreased by 84.5 per cent from February to March compared to the same period last year. The stock price of major Chinese airlines such as Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern Airlines all fell at least 15 per cent on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

In mid-April, Virgin Australia became the first major airline in Asia to collapse due to COVID-19, and control of the business was handed over to Deloitte.

The following month, Thai Airways International filed for bankruptcy protection after six years of losses, with the pandemic being the final straw. In fact, by the end of 2019, Thai Airways total assets were 257 billion ($8.26 billion) while its total debt was 245 billion ($7.88 billion).

Not to the level of bankruptcy like Thai Airways, but other airlines in Southeast Asia have also been struggling during the pandemic. Garuda Indonesia laid off about 800 employees in May, while Singapore Airlines issued additional shares and bonds to raise more capital.

Also in May, many major airlines in Europe such as British Airways, and Spanish outfits Vueling and Iberia, had to announce drastic cost-cutting to maintain operations. Another British airline, Flybe, even declared a halt in operations as it experienced unendurable losses by March. Lufthansa, Germanys flagship airline, also had to apply for bankruptcy protection.

Avianca, the national airline of Colombia and the worlds second-oldest airline, was driven to bankruptcy. It closed its business not long after the coronavirus pandemic broke out, with more than 140 aircraft shut down and 20,000 employees losing their jobs when Colombian President Ivan Duque closed the countrys airspace in March.

Vietnamese aviation damage

As reported by the Ministry of Transport, from April 1 to 23, the social distancing duration, the fleet exploitation ratio was only around 1-2 per cent. Despite having initially recovered, 70-80 per cent of total aircraft are still grounded.

Pham Viet Dung, chairman of the Board of Members at Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM), anticipates that the groups total flight management output for 2020 is only 436,000 flights, decreasing more than 537,000 flights compared to 2019 and only equal to 44.8 per cent of total flights operated last year.

At the end of the second quarter of 2020, Vietjet  a local budget airline  also saw a great fall of its revenue from air transport services. Revenues were at VND1.97 trillion ($85.65 million), down 54 per cent compared to equal term in 2019, and losses recorded at VND1.1 trillion ($47.8 million).

Duong Tri Thanh, CEO of Vietnam Airlines said that the epidemic has dragged the airline back by three or four years and has stroked out the progress that the company made in the last four or five years. Due to the effects of the pandemic, the national carrier has asked the Vietnamese government to provide a financial bailout up to VND12 trillion ($521.7 million) to secure its viability.

States bailout

In late May, the German government and Lufthansa reached a preliminary agreement on a bailout of 9 billion ($9.8 billion) after weeks of negotiations. The plan includes Germany taking a 20 per cent stake in Lufthansa, which it plans to sell by the end of 2023. As part of the rescue package, the government will also inject 5.7 billion ($6.74 billion) in non-voting capital into the company.

Part of these funds can be converted into an additional 5 per cent equity stake, which would enable the government to veto any potential hostile takeover bids. Separately, Lufthansa will receive a 3 billion ($3.55 billion) loan from KfW, the German state-owned development bank, and private banks with a term of three years.

Also in May, Thai Airways received approval from the Thai government for reorganisation under a bankruptcy court. The airline is currently 51-per-cent owned by the Thai government and is managed by its State Enterprise Policy Committee. However, along with the approval for the restructuring, the Thai cabinet also approved the divestment of the governments stake to bring it below the 50 per cent majority.

At the same time, eight other airlines (Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Lion Air, Thai Vietjet Air, Thai Smile, NokScoot, and Nok Airlines) applied to the Thai government for a support loan of $770 million, with a preferential lending rate of 2 per cent and instalment payment within five years.

Restructuring

As the effects of COVID-19 continue to unfold, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have been taken as a resolution to save companies that are operationally healthy and were profitable before the coronavirus outbreak, but had got into trouble because of the pandemic.

In Vietnam, national carrier Vietnam Airlines and its Australian partner Qantas Group agreed to carry out restructuring to Jetstar Pacific to improve the operations and profitability of the low-cost airline and promote the scale and brand of Vietnam Airlines in the domestic market.

Particularly, Qantas Group transferred all of its 30 per cent shares in Jetstar Pacific to Vietnam Airlines and will withdraw from the Vietnamese market. Also, the low-cost carrier will be set to officially operate under the new name Pacific Airlines and feature a new logo and livery inspired by Vietnam Airlines brand colours and design.

On July 23, Jeju Air, after months of negotiations and trading barbs, finalised its decision to scrap plans to purchase 51 per cent of shares in Eastar Jet for 54.5 billion ($46 million), even though the deal had been signed in March.

Eastar Jets debts, estimated at 170 billion ($143 million), include the companys delayed payments for fuel and the use of airport facilities as well as the unpaid wages that total about 24 billion ($20.3 million).

A Jeju Air official said although it was regrettable that the airlines acquisition plan has failed, this decision is necessary as the M&A deal could put Jeju Air at uncertainty and probably hurt its shareholders and other interested parties.

Considerations

The restructuring has been taking place around the globe during the pandemic as a necessary resolution for the airlines that are already at the edge of bankruptcy. However, large-scale M&A transactions may affect the aviation market of many countries so that they would primarily be subject to merger filing with local competition authorities. It seems unlikely that competition authorities will take a more relaxed approach to airline merger reviews in light of the current crisis.

Canadas Competition Bureau, for example, has announced that Air Canadas proposed acquisition of Transat is likely to weaken competition in the sale of air travel or vacation packages to Canadian consumers.

Although the bureau stated that the impact of COVID-19 may be relevant to the merger review process, it has still taken a traditional approach to its analysis by focusing on the possibility of consumer harm in the form of increased prices, decreased consumer choice, drop in service, and a reduction in travel on a variety of routes.

The Law on Competition of Vietnam requires enterprises proposing to participate in an M&A (except for those engaging in credit, insurance, and securities sectors) to notify the National Competition Commission prior to carrying out the economic concentration in any of four cases.

The first case is when total assets in the Vietnamese market of the enterprise or group of affiliated enterprises of which such enterprise is a member was VND3 trillion ($130.4 million) or more in the financial year immediately preceding the year of proposed implementation of economic concentration.

The second case is if total sales turnover or input purchase turnover in the market of Vietnam of the enterprise or group of affiliated enterprises of which the enterprise is a member was VND3 trillion ($130.4 million) or more in the financial year immediately preceding the year of proposed implementation of economic concentration.

Third is if the transaction value of the economic concentration is one VND1 trillion ($43.48 million) or more.

Lastly, it is required if the combined market share of the enterprises proposing to participate in the economic concentration was 20 per cent or more in the relevant market in the financial year immediately preceding the year of proposed implementation of economic concentration. VIR

Tieu Quang Khanh

VN aviation, railways fall into distress again Passenger transportation units, especially airlines and railways, had not yet recovered fully from the first COVID-19 outbreak when the second outbreak occurred and dealt another blow.
We discussed with the President of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)], Arayik Haroutyunyan, the great agenda of Armenia-Artsakh cooperationfrom the normal development of the Armed Forces to the stimulation of the economy. Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote about this on Facebook and posted the video of this meeting on Saturday.

"Sadly, the politico-military processes in our region continue to be tense; we are witnessing provocative actions [by Azerbaijan]. But on the other hand, our strategy and tactics and our cooperation, development strategy do not change because those provocations that have taken place and are taking place are predictable for us," Pashinyan said.

He highlighted the normal development of the armies of Armenia and Artsakh. "Of course, we [Armenia] have also undertaken certain obligations to fulfill in Artsakh. We have a rather broad agenda in the economic, energy spheres, too. Sadly, the [COVID-19] pandemic changed the economic mood to some extent. Now we must make more efforts not only to return that mood, but also to give it a broader impetus to," said Armenias PM.

In his turn, Artsakh President Arayik Haroutyunyan noted: "The opportunity created by Armenias leadership will allow us to try to sum up the year without a decline; that will be quite a huge success, and next to have double-digit growth rates, based on the programs that we have started to implement today (). Our biggest project, modernization of irrigation, has already started. We plan to finish it in 1.5 years.
The Houston region has always be plagued by major rain storms  a fact the Meyerland community takes very seriously after dealing with the devastating effects of flooding over the past half decade.

Although Houston escaped the impacts of Hurricane Laura, Meyerland residents knew not to let their guard down. According to the Meyerland Community Improvement Association, neighborhood leaders and the homeowner resilience has had the greatest impact on flood mitigation in the area.

PHOTOS: Looking back at Harvey 3 years later

As Hurricane Laura was gaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico, Meyerland homeowners were quick to secure their property and instinctively checked on their neighbors.

It takes a village, and it takes all of us, said Houston City Councilmember Abbie Kamin. Flood mitigation and prevention cannot be successfully done without residents. Weve had residents go out and clear their drains before major storms. We have residents checking on neighbors to make sure theyre okay.

According to Kamin, greater Meyerland residents have been tested more than anyone should in a lifetime, but they continue to do everything right in partnership with the city.

Kamin is the chair of Houstons Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee and saw firsthand how the city and residents prepared for Hurricane Laura. According to Kamin, the response was strong and decisive.

Kamins office reached out to civic clubs, civic neighborhoods, neighborhood leaders and others to provide consistent updates. They also worked with different city departments to make sure any city or county related construction was secured, scaffolding was removed, high water rescue vehicles were set in place around the city before the storm made landfall and to make sure all city agencies work together.

For Meyerland residents, as well as any homeowners who live along Houstons bayous, preparations before rain storms have become personal, said Amy Hoechstetter, the General Manager of the MCIA.

Do you know where your documents are? In the event you lose power, do you know where youre going to go? Where youre going to stay? How are you securing your property? How are you going to look after your family? said Hoechstetter.

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As a result of the painful years for Meyerland residents, these questions become second nature to area homeowners, she said.

Fortunately, the city and county are also working on long term solutions to a long standing issue.

Flooding in neighborhoods adjacent to Brays Bayou has been a problem since 1843. The first major flooding along Brays Bayou left bridges leading into the city underwater. It took until 1985 for the US Army Corps of Engineers to start studying Brays Bayou and come up with a plan for flood mitigation.

What resulted was Project Brays, which, as of 2020, is nearing completion. However, residents have historically expressed discontent with the plans speed and some residents questioned if the 2015 flood should have even happened.

I think looking back, we can sort of judge some of the actions or inaction of the city, county, and federal efforts in order to do what they needed to do, said Vice President of the Meyerland Community Improvement Association, Eddy De Los Santos. They have now since done it.

Project Brays, a 20 year flood mitigation initiative, has included about 75 relief projects across a 31 mile stretch. The projects will also bring greenspace amenities to the area as it comes to completion next year.

However, Project Brays is not a magic bullet for Meyerland flooding, Kamin said.

Project Brays will help a lot, and its not a fix-all for everything, said Kamin. There are still areas of Meyerland that could flood. There are still homes that need to be elevated. Theres no one size fits all to flooding in Houston.

More from Ryan Nickerson: West U set to install automatic license plate readers at every entrance

The flooding problem has been exacerbated in the last five years, residents said.

Every Meyerland homeowner knows about the recent three-years, three floods phenomenon that started with the 2015 Memorial Day flood, continued with the 2016 Tax Day flood, and finished with Hurricane Harvey, dropped trillions of gallons of water on the Houston area in 2017.

When 2015 hit, we were really caught off guard, said Hoechstetter. The anticipation of devastation was considerably less than what the actual devastation was.

Through all of the trepidation for Meyerland homeowners, the concurrent flooding became exponentially heartbreaking when residents felt powerless to protect their homes, Santos said.

Although a sizable amount of Meyerland residents and business owners had enough of the flooding and decided to pack up and leave after 2017, many residents elected to stay and rebuild their community without waiting on flood mitigation efforts to materialize.

People arent leaving. People arent vacating in mass  in fact, theyre doubling down, said Hoechstetter. Theyre not leaving, theyre coming back. Because thats the community thats here. Thats the community that we support, and were not leaving.

ryan.nickerson@hcnonline.com
ALBANY  State aid cuts are forcing Albany city schools to suspend all in-person learning for grades 7-12 in this fall, a plan that school officials say will result in layoffs at every level  teachers, administrators and support staff.

The school district is expecting a budget shortfall that could range from $18 million to $26 million for the coming academic year due to aid reductions related to the COVID-19 crisis.

The district had previously offered one-to-two days of in-person classes to middle and high school students per week. The hybrid learning model consisted of a teacher or supervising adult assisting the teens with their virtual school work.

Albany schools will move forward with its plan to provide virtual and in-person options for all students in K-6th grade, according to school officials.

"We are at a worldwide pandemic, education all over the country is going to have gaps. That is something we have to acknowledge and accept... we will feel it for years to come," Albany Schools Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams at a press conference on Friday. "It is our responsibility to look at the best ways to close those gaps."

The district's restructuring plan, which has yet to be approved by the Board of Education, includes closing two specialized schools that serve vulnerable populations. The Albany International Center (AIC) enrolls middle and high school students who are refugees and immigrants and the Tony Clement Center for Education is an alternative high school track for at-risk youth.

"These programs have been beneficial to us, but we have noticed that enrollment has declined," Adams said. "We are looking at ways to restructure so that we can embed those practices and continue with wrap-around services within our schools."

Juma Ekyochi is a native of the Congo who moved to Albany with his family four years ago from a Tanzanian refugee camp. His 12-year-old son Amisi Juma didn't feel safe until he started going to school with other African children at AIC who understood his culture, he said.

"It will be hard for a lot of kids from Africa," Ekyochi said. "Here we have seven families from Africa and they all go to that school together. If other kids make trouble for our kids, they don't know enough English. Our kids don't know how to explain to the teacher."

In June, the state started withholding 20 percent of all payments  including to school districts  to offset state revenue losses state budget officials say will amount to $62 billion over four years.

A spokesman for the Division of Budget said whether the cuts continue throughout the year depends on the actions of the federal government.

"The Federal government has delayed funding for states for five months, and whatever funding  if any  it ultimately provides will determine the level of funding available for the schools, hospitals, police and fire departments, and services that support our most vulnerable neighbors in New York State," State Division of Budget spokesman Freeman Klopott said. "Once the State has clarity from Washington, if necessary, we will develop a formal spending reduction plan for the legislatures review that takes district need into account."

As districts across the Capital Region are awaiting more details from the state, the uncertainty around state aid has heightened anxiety about the upcoming school year.

On Thursday, the Lansingburgh school district in Troy made a similar decision, announcing that classes will be taught online for all students in grades 3-12. The district's superintendent, Antonio Abitabile, also blamed 20 percent cuts in state aid for the decision. No date was offered for when in-person classes could be resumed.

Schenectady City School officials at a recent board meeting floated the idea of fully virtual model for all students next year, in part, due to high interest from parents in the remote option. Roughly 60 percent of surveyed families indicated they would choose the remote option for the upcoming academic year.

The Cohoes, Rensselaer, Troy and Watervliet city school districts on Friday said they are sticking with their opening plans that include instruction in the schools for now.

The small city school districts are poorer than the neighboring suburban school districts and rely more on state aid to educate their students. They dont have the financial reserves that the suburban districts do and draw upon to offset state aid cuts.

Troy Superintendent John Carmello said his district could lose between $9 million to $13 million in aid depending on how the state carries out its cuts. Carmello said the district monitoring the situation. While it waits, its planning to reopen its doors.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

A 20 percent across-the-board cut for all districts would be a disaster for a high needs district like Troy or Albany, Carmello said.

Plans are to reopen, ensure the students connect with their teachers and build a relationship to improve any virtual instruction that may have to be undertaken due to COVID-19 infections or severe aid reductions, Carmello said.Were opening. Its a dire situation, said Cohoes Superintendent Jennifer Spring.

Cohoes faces an estimated $4.8 million reduction if the state cuts aid.

The Cohoes district has concerns about the accessibility its students have to computers for remote learning. A recent survey answered by 1,000 households found that only 63 percent had a laptop or desktop computer. Spring said the district has launched a campaign asking local businesses to donate computers that can be given to students.

Cohoes considers it important to have the children back for in-person instruction. The district also worries about impacts on its own teaching staff if the districts in which they live dont open and the Cohoes teachers have to take care of their own children who would be learning from home.

I feel like Im standing on quicksand, Rensselaer Superintendent Joseph Kardash said about what could happen.

Rensselaer plans to stick to its current class schedule for district students despite the state aid cuts, Kardash said. The small urban district is opening the 2020-21 school year with a contingency budget after voters rejected two spending plans.

I dont know what we would do, Watervliet Superintendent Lori Caplan said. Regarding a 20 percent education aid cut, Caplan said, it would have unimaginable adverse consequences for the education of the districts students. The district has reduced spending before it finished its 2020-21 budget.

We have a revenue problem, Caplan said. The district intends to reopen to get the students acclimated. After that, Caplan said, Its plan and wait to see what happens."

The suburban East Greenbush school district doesnt expect any impacts on its reopening from state aid cuts.

We are not planning to change our reopening plan based on state aid reductions. We will continue to monitor our expenses and cash flow and advocate for federal monies for states like New York that have been hit hard financially due to COVID-19, East Greenbush spokesman Mark Adam said.
A request for proposals by the province for a private call centre to investigate COVID-19 cases is causing grave concern among Winnipeg nurses.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A request for proposals by the province for a private call centre to investigate COVID-19 cases is causing "grave concern" among Winnipeg nurses.

On Wednesday, nurses who support coronavirus contact tracing efforts sent a letter to Premier Brian Pallister and Health, Seniors, and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen warning private call centres lack the public-health expertise required to contain the virus.

"Its alarming to see an RFP come out for private industry to do COVID-19 case investigation, contact tracing and daily monitoring when there was no consultation done whatsoever with the public health nurses," said a nurse, who requested anonymity and works closely with COVID-19 public health investigation team.

Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, said giving contact tracing responsibility to the private sector is short sighted in a pandemic thats anticipated to last a year or more. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free press files)

"The province, without consulting us, has totally circumvented a system that is already well established."

Last week, Friesen said the province intends to hire outside help for COVID-19 contact tracing and to add capacity in the event cases spike severely and overwhelm the system.

Currently, contact tracing is based out of the provinces Public Health COVID-19 Contact Centre, and each health region has a team of communicable disease coordinators, medical officers and public health nurses responsible for investigating new cases, teasing out all the contacts, health counselling and ensuring everyone isolates as they ought to.

On Friday, the province reported a five-day test positivity rate of 2.3 per cent and 32 new cases of COVID-19, including seven in Winnipeg. An employee at the Safeway at 600 Sargent Ave. reportedly tested positive on Aug. 25, according to Sobeys Inc., and a staff member at the A&W at 1078 St. Marys Rd. tested positive, the fast-food chain told CTV.

Eighteen new cases are located in the Prairie Mountain Health region, which includes the city of Brandon. Two employees at the Safeway located at 18 Street North in Brandon tested positive for the virus. The employees last worked Aug. 19 and 20, according to the company.

To effectively investigate cases as they come up, COVID-19 public health nurses must collaborate with other facilities and sectors, the nurse said, including provincial laboratories, corrections, emergency medical services, Canada Border Services Agency and alternate accommodation centres.

The nurse believes positive cases will slip through the cracks and contact tracing efforts could be delayed because a call centre couldn't match the communication chain in the public health system.

"We believe the workload is going to get bigger, but I firmly believe to do that contact tracing and to mitigate the spread of the virus in our communities, we have to have the skilled, trained individuals doing the contact tracing."  Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union

"Were looking at not only COVID-19 cases and contacts going up, were looking at more COVID-19 deaths, because a private call centre cant manage that," the nurse said. "A call centre doesnt have that overall high-level analysis, looking at a map at whats happening in the community, a call centre cant do that."

Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, said giving contact tracing responsibility to the private sector is short sighted in a pandemic thats anticipated to last a year or more. Provincial dollars would be better spent hiring nurses and training current health care providers, or students in communicable disease control who can be called on when needed, she said.

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"We believe the workload is going to get bigger, but I firmly believe to do that contact tracing and to mitigate the spread of the virus in our communities, we have to have the skilled, trained individuals doing the contact tracing," Jackson said.

And while public health nurses outside Winnipeg are stretched as community transmission and cases climb, especially in Brandon and the Southern Health region, Jackson says untapped capacity remains in other health authorities.

"I think that weve gone to an RFP, to a privatization, when we dont need to. I think theres other solutions," Jackson said. "I say this is a long-term issue. We know COVID is here to stay and this is not going away in the next week or so. Lets invest in our public health system."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the provincial government said work is underway internally to manage public healths contact tracing capacity, but did not answer questions related to the nurses' concerns.

"This RFP is being issued to ensure additional contact tracing capacity is available should case numbers increase further in the fall," the spokesperson said.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
MINSK (Reuters) - Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Friday ordered half of the country's the army enter combat preparedness in response to what he said were threats from the West, the Belta state news agency reported.

"(NATO) have launched exercises right by our borders. What am I supposed to do? I also rolled out some divisions, put half the army into combat preparedness mode. That's not cheap," Lukashenko was cited as saying.

(Reporting by Andrei Makhovsky; Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Three teens had a lucky escape after they were swept down the Avonmore River for over 2km after entering the water on inflatable rings just as Storm Ellen was starting to rage.

The reckless youths were staying in a nearby caravan park and to be rescued in a joint operation involving the Gardai, Ambulance Service, Fire Services, Mountain Rescue Swift Water Unit and the Irish Coast Guard helicopter.

The Avonmore River was exceptionally swollen at the time due torrential rainfall from Storm Ellen which resulted in exceedingly fast flowing water. The three teenagers were spotted in difficulty in the water at the Mill Bridge in Rathdrum late in the afternoon.

Frantic efforts to rescue the visitors eventually resulted in them being successfully rescued after being in the water for up to an hour. They were removed form the water 2km from the Mill Bridge and were treated by members of the Ambulance Services for hypothermia. None of the trio suffered any serious injuries.

Cllr Pat Kennedy said the youths were extremely lucky to have survived their ordeal.

'I was talking to a member of the Emergency Services and he said they were "extremely fortunate". The waters would have been raging very fast. The lads involved were lucky that the water was high enough to get them over the stones, but not so high that they would be banging themselves of hanging branches.'

'These three teenagers are extremely lucky to be alive. Any body of water can be dangerous but, given the conditions of the river at that time, they are extremely lucky to have survived. Anyone going near water should be looking at Irish Water Safety Advice.'

Cllr. Kennedy also praised the emergency services for their swift response.

He said: 'I want to thank all of the emergency services involved for their quick actions and the manner in which they responded. We are extremely lucky to have such dedicated and professional teams and we should always be grateful for everything that they do.'
Photo taken on Aug. 28, 2020 shows the venue of the 23rd ASEAN Economic Ministers Plus Three Consultations in Hanoi, Vietnam. Economic ministers from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan and South Korea have reaffirmed their commitment to take collective actions in mitigating the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Attending the 23rd ASEAN Economic Ministers Plus Three Consultations via video link on Friday, the ministers underscored the importance of bringing back business confidence to facilitate post-pandemic recovery, according to a joint media statement of the meeting. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua)

HANOI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Economic ministers from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan and South Korea have reaffirmed their commitment to take collective actions in mitigating the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attending the 23rd ASEAN Economic Ministers Plus Three Consultations via video link on Friday, the ministers underscored the importance of bringing back business confidence to facilitate post-pandemic recovery, according to a joint media statement of the meeting.

They agreed to intensify coordinated efforts in promoting economic and social resilience in the region, including through signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) this year, said the statement.

Welcoming the progress on the RCEP negotiations and the preparation for its signing this year, the ministers reiterated the significance of the deal's signing in enhancing confidence and strengthening the regional economic architecture, according to the statement.

The ministers resolved to ensure macroeconomic and financial stability by keeping the markets open for trade and investment and ensuring the supply chain connectivity, and reiterated the need for cooperative efforts to facilitate the essential movement of business people across borders, it said.

In enabling post-pandemic recovery, the ministers also recognized the importance of harnessing the opportunities of the digital economy by facilitating the cross-border transfer of information and data by electronic means, the statement said.
A soldier of the Indian Army was killed and three terrorists were gunned down on Saturday during a gun battle in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

One AK and two pistols recovered. One soldier was critically injured and succumbed to his injuries. A joint operation is in progress, Colonel Rajesh Kalia, the armys spokesperson, said.

Police officials said that the encounter started at around 1am on Saturday in Pulwamas Zadoora area when army and police personnel launched a joint operation.

Three terrorists were killed in an encounter in Shopian district on Friday, which has taken the total number of terrorists killed in the Valley to six in less than 24 hours. One terrorist was captured alive.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 16:57:42|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Two Russian fighter jets intercepted a U.S. strategic bomber over the Baltic Sea on Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a press release Saturday.

On Friday, Russian airspace control systems spotted an air target approaching the Russian border over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, and two Su-27 fighters took off in response, the ministry said.

Crews of the Russian planes approached the air target and identified it as a B-52H strategic bomber of the U.S. Air Force at a safe distance, it said.

After the U.S. military aircraft flew away from the Russian border, the Su-27s returned safely to their home airfield.

The entire flight of the Russian fighters strictly complied with international rules for the use of airspace, it added. Enditem
A high-profile lawyer representing the 17-year-old shooter charged with killing two protesters and wounding another during demonstrations on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin said on Friday that his client had acted in self-defense.

Atlanta-based attorney Lin Wood said video footage of the altercation would vindicate Kyle Rittenhouse despite what he described as misinformation being spread by the media.

Kyle Rittenhouse acted in self-defense. Murder charges are factually unsupportable. An egregious miscarriage of justice is occurring with respect to this 17-year old boy, Wood said on Twitter.

Rittenhouse, who prosecutors say traveled 30 miles to Kenosha from his home in Antioch, Illinois before the shooting at about 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday, is charged with six criminal counts, including homicide and attempted homicide.

The criminal complaint accuses Rittenhouse of firing an assault-style rifle at three protesters who tried to subdue him, killing 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, 26.

It references several videos recorded by witnesses, including one in which Rittenhouse is seen calling a friend from the scene and telling them: I just killed somebody.

A Lake County, Illinois county judge on Friday postponed his extradition to Wisconsin while the teenaged defendant arranged a private legal team. Rittenhouse, a former YMCA lifeguard who is being held without bond, did not appear at the livestreamed hearing.

SUMMER OF PROTESTS

The shooting of Blake in front of three of his children has turned Kenosha, a predominantly white city of about 100,000 people on Lake Michigan, into the latest flashpoint in ongoing nationwide protests over police brutality and racism.

It also galvanized protesters who gathered in Washington on Friday to commemorate the 1963 march where Martin Luther King Jr made his historic I Have a Dream speech.

The summer of protests ignited after video footage showed a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of a Black man, George Floyd. Floyd later died and the since-fired officer has been charged with murder.

Blake, who was left paralyzed by the shooting, had been handcuffed to a hospital bed because of an outstanding arrest warrant. The handcuffs were removed on Friday and officers guarding Blake stood down after the warrant was vacated, his attorney, Pat Cafferty, told Reuters.

The warrant was based on a criminal complaint filed against Blake in July by his ex-girlfriend, the mother of three of his children, that was released to Reuters on Friday.

In the complaint, the woman told police Blake broke into her home on May 3 and sexually assaulted her before stealing her truck and debit card.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said earlier this week that police had been seeking Blake in connection with his former girlfriends complaint at the time of the shooting and that investigators recovered a knife from the floor of the car that Blake was leaning into when he was shot.

Blakes lead attorney, Ben Crump, has said his client had no knife in his possession and did not provoke or threaten police.

WE LOVE KENOSHA

In Kenosha, volunteers helped business owners clean up after days of rioting and arson that followed the shooting in the back of a Black man, 29-year-old Jacob Blake, by a white police officer, some painting Black Lives Matter or We Love Kenosha on boarded up storefronts.

Im angry, said factory worker John Hall, as he helped paint messages on a storefront. Some people who did this dont even live here. This is the only stores that we have.

Hall, a father of three who moved to Kenosha from Chicago eight years ago to raise his children in a safer community, said the painted messages were meant to signal hope, adding: Slowly but surely we will get this back and rebuild.

More than 1,000 National Guard members were on the ground in Kenosha on Friday in case of further violence, Major General Paul Knapp told a news conference.

Demonstrators have demanded that criminal charges be filed against three police officers involved in Blakes arrest and shooting. Authorities say officer Rusten Sheskey fired all seven shots at Blakes back. Sheskey has been placed on leave.

The Wisconsin Justice Department, which is handling the investigation, said on Friday that Sheskey and another officer, Vincent Arenas, attempted to stop Blake with Tasers before Sheskey discharged his gun.

It was the first time the identity of Arenas, a Kenosha police officer since February 2019, was disclosed. The department identified the third officer as Brittany Meronek, who joined the force last January.
MUMBAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to interrogate Rhea Chakraborty, who is accused of abetting actor Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide, for the second time on Saturday (August 29). According to reports, Rhea has been asked to appear before the agency again for questioning.

The report came a day after the central probe agency grilled the actress for over 10 hours on Friday in connection with Sushant death case.

According to CBI sources, agency officials questioned Rhea about her relationship with Sushant. Her statement was recorded by CBI`s Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Superintendent of Police Nupur Prasad.

The questioning comes a day after Rhea gave interviews to multiple news channels. Besides Rhea, her brother Showik Chakraborty was also questioned separately. The agency will now study the statements of the brother-sister duo to check if there is some inconsistency in their versions.

CBI sources said that Rhea was asked about what happened during her Europe tour with Sushant; when she took Sushant for treatment and also to a healer; and why she avoided calls from Sushant's father when he asked for details of his son's treatment.

Rhea was also asked why she left Sushant on June 8, and why she ignored his messages and blocked his number.

She was queried about why she changed the staff at the residence of the 34-year-old actor, who was found dead at his Bandra flat in Mumbai on June 14.

She was also asked to answer how she got the pins of the debit cards and internet banking of Sushant.

The CBI team questioned Rhea about when she came to know about the death of Sushant; who gave her the information; whether she visited Sushant`s flat; and how she managed to see Sushant`s body when she visited Cooper Hospital.

This comes a day after Sushant`s father Krishna Kishore Singh made the sensational allegation that Rhea had administered poison to kill his son, and demanded her arrest.

Sushant was found dead in his rental duplex flat in Mont Blanc building in Bandra west on June 14, sparking a furore in Bollywood and political circles with multiple agencies entering the fray. His family blamed the Chakraborty family for his death and allegedly swindling Rs 15 crore from his bank account, but Rhea has denied all the accusations.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 03:10:43|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The bodies of two Iranian fishermen killed by the coast guards of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were delivered to Iran, semi-official Fars news agency reported on Friday.

"The dead bodies of the two fishermen were delivered to Iran in Bandar Abbas city on Thursday and were transferred to their hometown in Sistan and Baluchestan province," Ahmad Ali Goodarzi, Iranian border police commander, was quoted as saying.

Also, a number of Iranian fishermen detained by the UAE guards returned to the country, said Goodarzi.

The Iranian commander urged the fishermen to use modern equipment for navigation to stay away from the marine borders of other countries.

Last week, the UAE coast guards opened fire at the Iranian fishing boats which were claimed to enter the waters of the Arab state in the Gulf. They killed two Iranian fishermen and seized one of the boats. Enditem
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
A fresh-faced high school student who looked remarkably like film star Sienna Miller is now a very outspoken political activist.

Alice Wicks, 27, was a hard-working student with a bright future but has since spent time before the courts for her beliefs.

Since graduating from Kenmore High School, Wicks has attended numerous Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matter protests.

Alice Wicks (left) was a fresh-faced high school student ten years ago who looked remarkably like Sienna Miller (right)

She has also been part of action against the controversial Adani coalmine and Aurizon coal trains.

But recently her political views have landed her in hot water with the law.

In April last year Wicks was charged after attending a five-hour protest at the Port of Brisbane.

Since graduating from Kenmore High School, Wicks has become a very vocal political activist

The protester locked her arm into a 500kg weighted cement drum while seated on a railway line so authorities would be unable to remove her without injuring her

Wicks locked her arm into a 500kg weighted cement drum while seated on a railway line so authorities would be unable to remove her without injuring her.

She was ordered to pay $61,00 to Queensland Rail for obstructing coal trains from entering the Port.

However she managed to avoid paying the fine after her lawyer argued it would be 'crushing to her financially', reported the Courier Mail.

Wicks also fined after pleading guilty to charges of obstructing police and public nuisance on June 12.

The former University of Queensland student has worked for a number of organisations since graduating. She is now employed as an environmental officer for Lantrak Resource Management.

The 27-year-old once resembled film star Sienna Miller but now looks very different
In the second of our features on 'coronababies' we talk to new mothers about their experiences of isolation and loneliness in the hours and days after their child's birth.

Also, as numbers continue to spike, we focus on their fears and concerns as they bring their new-born out into the world for the first time.

Michelle and Daniel:

Michelle Howlin was six months pregnant and a first-time expectant mother when news broke that the Covid-19 pandemic had reached Ireland.

And she admits that, with limited data on the effects on mothers and newborns, those early days and weeks were a time of great anxiety and worry.

'It's natural for the mind to run wild with worst case scenarios, especially with a life growing inside of you that you'd do anything to protect from harm,' she says.

'At the same time, we know from research that stress and anxiety are not healthy for babies in utero. My initial thought was that my baby is, or will be, at risk.

'Even if my husband, Barry, and I take every recommended precaution, others may not, and my baby may suffer. Secondly, if I contract Covid-19 I may be separated from my baby after birth.'

Having assessed the situation, Michelle took the decision to cocoon completely, the support of her employer and extended family allowing her to do so.

'I had planned to spend the last few months of the pregnancy with family and friends, sharing in the excitement of our first baby; baby showers, shopping trips to decorate the nursery and buy all the important equipment for this new life we were due to welcome in June. None of this came to fruition of course,' she says.

With the majority of businesses closed another fear quickly surfaced; what if they couldn't get the essential goods required during the first weeks of a child's birth?

'Most necessary items were purchased in a sheer panic online. We needed to prepare for the eventuality that retail outlets may not open again before our baby was born.'

As the virus tightened its grip on society, Michelle says she and Barry were dealing with new fears and anxieties on an almost daily basis.

'Health measure restrictions were put in place in ante-natal centres and maternity units which meant that only the expectant mother could attend all visits.

'Barry missed out on the majority of these visits, however, as tough as this new restriction was, he knew that his absence was a price worth paying to keep our baby, myself and those caring for us safe from harm.'

The couple also had to deal with the news that Barry would not be able to spend much time with his wife in the lead-up to the birth and even less with the newborn once it had arrived.

But on June 13 all Michelle and Barry's fears were cast aside.

'We welcomed our beautiful healthy baby boy Danny into the world together,' says Michelle. 'All our worries and fears were cast aside the moment he was born. We were thrilled to have shared that magical moment together.

'Barry was not allowed into the labour room until it was confirmed that I was definitely in established labour. Luckily we had a good stretch of quality time together before Barry had to leave, for this we were truly grateful.

'We then spent two days apart as fathers were not allowed to visit again until it was time for mother and baby to go home. 'During this time, the maternity staff made every concerted effort to care for and support both myself and Danny.'

Michelle and Barry were reunited upon her departure from the hospital, now with a new life in tow.

'As I walked through those doors for the first time with my baby in my arms. I breathed a huge sigh of relief, but I also found myself wondering about the type of world that lay ahead for my son. Would life ever fully return to "normal" as we know it?'

Aoife and Erin:

Aoife Maloney's birth differed in that she had a caesarean section, and then ended up returning to the hospital for an unscheduled visit. 'My daughter Erin was born on June 26 by C-section. I was in there for four days, completely alone, it's horrible. You just cry, the nurses are great but it's tough, they don't want to have too much interaction with anyone,' says Aoife.

'My husband (Keith) was bringing in fresh clothes for me, but getting in or out of the ward was like Fort Knox. I didn't understand how I could go down to see him, hug him, but he couldn't come up to see us.

'Then I ended up back in the hospital after two weeks with an infection, so Keith was at home with the two children for four days.'

Her experiences at Wexford General have made Aoife more cautious in how she and Erin interact with the outside world.

'Even when my parents came around they were afraid to touch her. You end up not wanting people to touch her, you're very cautious.'

And with that caution, that lack of communication, comes loneliness.

'It's been the most lonely experience, the loneliest time. The pandemic really took away from the giddiness and excitement I should have been feeling.

'I roared my eyes out last week because my husband was going back to work. I'm on my own completely. Although I'm lucky, my family are close by, an hour away.'

Yet upon reflection, Aoife reasons that this will ensure she has plenty of stories to tell Erin when she gets older.

'In years to come I'll say to her, "you'll never guess what happened when you were born?" Or I might be saying, "did you know there was a time when we didn't have to wear face masks?"'

Grace and Elizabeth:

The prospect of spending hours in a hospital ward without visitors or loved ones coming to see you after giving birth is one thing, but for those who had opted to have a C-section before the pandemic began that period of time was extended significantly.

Grace O'Brien was booked in for hers on May 14, meaning she and her daughter spent the first five days of her life almost completely alone.

'I had a caesarean under a general anaesthetic so I was in the hospital for five days,' says Grace. 'My husband literally left me at the door the night before.

'He was allowed in for about half-an-hour at the birth and then sent home. I was in there on my own for five days; no visitors, the wards were very quiet, there were only three of us on the ward - and when someone came in they were in and out very quickly.'

Ordinarily these early stages of motherhood are made a little easier by nurses and midwives, their assistance allowing mammy to get some rest, maybe even some sleep.

But Grace didn't have that luxury.

'Being on my own, some people might say I was getting lots of rest, but the nurses didn't want to be handling the baby so I had the baby all the time, and you weren't allowed off the ward, to go to cafe or anything,' she says.

'It was very lonely. We were doing Zoom calls but it was hard as there were other mothers there and you don't want to disturb them, you're on speakerphone and trying to keep it private.'

Getting out of the hospital was an ordeal in itself, something which Grace describes as 'a circus'.

'We had to bring our passports because the HSE buildings weren't open so we couldn't register the birth there,' she says.

'We had to get those photocopied, then I had to fill in a form and the nurse had to bring it down to him to sign, the luggage had to be brought down to him, then the car seat brought up to me.

'But at the end of the day it was all done for our safety and we did feel very safe throughout.'

Upon returning home, Grace not only had to deal with bouts of loneliness and isolation, but also a further medical issue which was allowed to go unchecked.

'I didn't get my appointments, my check-ups, so I was very annoyed about that. I should have been seen at six weeks, my scar was infected and I ended up back in the hospital.

'They kept prescribing me antibiotics, I felt let down by the doctors, it was eight weeks before it was seen.'

Peer support, sharing her experiences with other new mothers, was also something which Grace missed, something she feels is vital for those in her position.

'That was one of the things I found hardest; I breastfed my first son and I had difficulty so I joined Cuidiu and got fantastic support there.

'But this time I couldn't go into the group, make friends with other mammies. I didn't get to make new friends and talk to other mothers. It's very, very lonely having a baby during Covid-19.' Now, with figures on the rise again, Grace says she is reluctant to bring Elizabeth into shops, preferring to go for walks outdoors and keep human interaction to a minimum.

'Even walking places you feel unsafe, there's an instant sense of panic when you go anywhere. I can't bring her in to shops, she hasn't been anywhere.

'When people see me out walking and they come over for a look I have to ask them to do so in a nice, respectful way.'

That rise in numbers and subsequent increase in restrictions has led to Elizabeth's christening being postponed. But in years to come Grace says she will use the pandemic to explain just how important her daughter was to the family.

'I'll tell her she was very, very precious and very well protected when she was born.'

Tina and Jake:

It was only after his birth that Tina Black began to worry about the impact of Covid-19 on her first child, Jake.

'I wasn't really nervous about the virus until after Jake was born (on July 7), it didn't really hit me until he wasn't inside me anymore, it felt a bit like I couldn't protect him anymore,' Tina says.

'Then it was a case of should we let people in to see him, restrictions had eased a bit by then, but you're still concerned.'

Jake's arrival was made that little bit less stressful by the presence of Tina's partner, Adrian, who perhaps stayed a little bit longer than he was supposed to.

'Adrian was only allowed in when I was in active labour, but he stayed a few extra hours, he was hiding behind the curtains, I think they forgot he was there,' Tina laughs.

Enjoying life as a mother, Tina says she and Jake go out every day but have thus far avoided the shops where possible. And when it comes to explaining to her son what life was like when he was born, Tina thinks that will all be covered in the classroom.

'In years to come he'll probably be learning about the coronavirus in school.'

Emma and Mossy:

Having a child in the middle of a pandemic and then being left on your own after the birth would prove taxing for most new mothers.

But Emma Barnes took it all in her stride, so much so that she was almost reluctant to leave Wexford General Hospital in May of this year.

'Mossy was born on May 23, he was my first baby so I didn't know any different,' Emma says.

'I actually didn't mind it all, I wasn't nervous because I know a few people in the hospital and they'd reassured me everything was safe and it would be okay.

'And after the birth while I was in there I kinda enjoyed the peace and quiet, it was really relaxed, I didn't mind not having any visitors - I wouldn't have minded staying in there a couple of days longer actually.'

Although restrictions lifted on the day Mossy was born, Emma and partner Rodney went without the usual check-ups and appointments for the first two months of their son's life.

They also missed out on another important moment, something which they won't get the opportunity to do again.

'We didn't get that first family photo, there's no photos of the three of us from when he was born.'

Thankfully, Mossy's grandparents did get to visit within a few days of his birth, providing plenty of photo opportunities for the new arrival.

Mary * and Niall*:

Not every mother had such a relaxing experience at WGH during the pandemic. Here Mary describes what it was like bringing Niall into the world earlier this year.

'My waters broke at 7.30 a.m. and I had to go to the hospital without my partner. I was there from 8 a.m. in the morning on my own without any nurses or doctors until 9.30 p.m.

'I was left there in the ward with another woman who had just given birth, I was terrified. The nurses didn't seem to be around, I only got to see them when I was moved to the labour ward.

'The other woman in the room was kind of sleeping, she had given birth and her child was asleep too. I didn't want to make noise and wake her up. I had the curtains pulled and was trying to stay quiet.

'I didn't get any pain relief until they gave me the epidural that night, all I was given were two paracetamol. I was ringing my partner as I was having the contractions, at one point I was sitting on the floor crying, they didn't come to check on me, to see how dilated I was.'

However, once Mary was moved to the labour ward things improved.

'The labour itself was brilliant, the midwife was great. My partner came in at around 11 p.m. and Niall was born in the early hours of the morning.'

Since returning home, Mary admits she's been 'paranoid' to have too many people over lest her son contract the virus.

'We haven't really had many people over since we came home, his grandparents have seen him but we haven't had a lot of family or friends over.

'My partner's working so I'm here on my own most of the time. I'm just paranoid about having people in the house.'

Despite her worries, Mary says her son is doing well.

'Niall is doing great, some of his check-ups were cancelled, but I have had my six-week check. In years to come I won't let him live it down for putting me through such an ordeal.'

Lorraine and Grace:

Grace Iannetta was born on March 21, just days after Ireland went into lockdown. The first child of Lorraine and Pasquale Iannetta, she came into the world at one of the most uncertain times in recent history.

Yet, according to Lorraine, it wasn't all that bad.

'I thought it would be worse, having a child in a pandemic, but it was okay.'

Indeed, the biggest difficulty was acquiring clothes for the new arrival.

'Because most of the shops were closed it was hard to get clothes for her, but luckily I had friends back home in Clare who had recently had children and they were able to send on their old clothes,' Lorraine says.

One person who had to wait longer than most to see Grace was her grandfather, Lorraine's dad.

'It was three months before my father got to see her. He came to New Ross to meet her, had been chatting on video calls but it's not the same.'

*Names changed to protect interviewee's identity.
Braving the pandemic, Chileans begin campaigning Wednesday for a referendum on amending their dictatorship-era constitution -- for many a symbol of entrenched social and economic inequality.

The referendum to decide whether to change the constitution established under the military rule of General Augusto Pinochet (1973-90) was originally due to take place in April but had to be postponed as the country of 18 million reeled from the deadly virus.

When violent protests broke out last October, one of the key demands of demonstrators pushing for greater social justice was a change to the constitution.

For those supporting a yes vote -- notably the leftist opposition -- a new constitution would allow for the establishment of a new and fairer social order in one of the Latin American countries most marked by economic and other forms of inequality.

Those in favor of a no vote -- essentially conservative groups -- believe that change can occur without tearing up a document that they say helped bring stability to Chile.

On October 25, more than 14 million Chileans will decide whether to amend the constitution.

The poll will come more than three decades after an historic 1988 referendum that opened the way for an end to the Pinochet dictatorship and a path towards democracy.

"The most relevant political fact is to remove the legacy of the dictatorship that continues to act like a straightjacket on the possibility of political and social change in Chile," Claudia Heiss, an academic at the public affairs institute at the University of Chile, told AFP.

A new constitution could open "a conversation that has been closed until now," according to Claudia Heiss, an academic at the public affairs institute at the University of Chile /  AFP

She said a new constitution could open "a conversation that has been closed until now," such as on the necessity for public policies aimed at redistributing wealth and increasing democratic participation.

On November 15, a month after the social unrest that left 30 dead broke out, the government and opposition parties agreed to hold the referendum.

- Two questions -

Voters will face two questions: one on rewriting the constitution and the other on who should do so.

The second question will decide whether existing legislators will join a specifically elected body to write the new charter.

"There are two paths and what I want is that whichever is the chosen path, we arrive at a constitution that effectively recognizes and protects the fundamental rights of Chileans, like the right to life, freedom and equal opportunities," said President Sebastian Pinera in an interview on Sunday with La Tercera daily newspaper.

- Virus fears -

There remain fears, though, that the referendum could fuel a surge in coronavirus cases that have stabilized recently, although only after leaving more than 400,000 people infected and 11,000 dead.

The coronavirus pandemic forced the postponment of the original April referendum date /  AFP

"As opposed to what happened in March, now we have a lot more experience in relation to managing the pandemic and we also have the internationally accumulated experience," Jose Miguel Bernucci, the general secretary of the Medical College, told AFP.

Both the president and Congress have the power to postpone the referendum up to one day before it takes place if the health conditions demand such a move.

"We're all working to hold a safe referendum," said Patricio Santamaria, the president of the Electoral Council.

It remains to be decided how those with the coronavirus will be able to vote.

The election campaign will primarily take place on social media and radio announcements.

The referendum campaign is due to take place primarily on social media and the radio /  AFP

A pair of polls this week showed that most Chileans intend to vote, although around half the population fears that by doing so they could catch the virus.
In pics: Devotees stand knee-deep in toxic foam in Yamuna for Chhath Puja

Yamuna continues to flow near warning mark

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 29: The Yamuna was flowing precariously close to the warning mark in Delhi on Saturday morning, but the water level is expected to recede, officials said.

"The water level was recorded at 204.23 meters at the Old Railway Bridge at 10 am. It was 204.41 meters at 5 pm on Friday and 203.77 metres at 10 am on Thursday," an official of the irrigation and flood control department said.

Water was being released into the Yamuna at the rate of 7.173 cusec at 8 am from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana's Yamunanagar district. The flow rate was 13,871 cusec cusec at 4 pm on Friday, the maximum in the last 24 hours.

Heavy rains likely in north India; Orange alert issued in 3 states: IMD

Suresh Raina returns home, to skip IPL | Blow to CSK | Oneindia News

"The flow rate has remained between 10,000 cusec to 25,000 cusec over the last two days, which is not very high," the official said.

One cusec is equivalent to 28.32 litre per second.

The water discharged from the barrage which provides drinking water to Delhi normally takes two-three days to reach the capital.

The water level rose on Friday due to rains in Delhi and neighbouring areas, the official said.

The East Delhi district administration has deployed 24 boats, each with two divers, to monitor the situation.

More boats and teams of divers are on standby.

The river had swelled to 204.38 metres on Monday, which was just a metre below the danger mark of 205.33 metres.

Normally, the flow rate at the Hathnikund barrage is 352 cusec, but the discharge is increased after heavy rainfall in catchment areas.

Last year, the flow rate had peaked to 8.28 lakh cusec on August 18-19, and the water level of the Yamuna had hit the 206.60 metre-mark, breaching the danger mark of 205.33 metres.

The Delhi government had to launch evacuation and relief operations after the overflowing river submerged many low-lying areas.

In 1978, the river had swelled to the all-time record water level of 207.49 metres.

In 2013, it had risen to 207.32 metres.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, August 29, 2020, 12:17 [IST]
Dr. Givens, who is Black, said that he and others had been frustrated by the universitys failure to drop Dr. Bards name sooner given that his slave ownership was detailed several years ago.

He also said changing the buildings name was just one step among many that Columbia  where about 5 percent of the students enrolled last fall at what is now known as the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons were Black  needed to take to atone for its past.

It is the first part of what needs to be a much longer slate of commitments to move the university forward, Dr. Givens said.

The move was the second one in recent weeks involving a Columbia-affiliated school shedding a name over racist or other offensive ideas and actions. Teachers College at Columbia University, which has its own board of trustees, voted in July to remove the name of Edward L. Thorndike, who promoted eugenics and sexist and anti-Semitic ideas, from a building there.

Columbia is the latest top university to begin to take concrete, if modest, steps to address its ties to slavery, whether through ownership of slaves or a reliance on slave-trade revenue.

In 2003, Brown University created a committee dedicated to exploring its relationship with slavery. In 2016, Georgetown University started a project to determine what had become of 272 men, women and children who were sold in the slave trade to keep the university from financial ruin, and what the university might owe their descendants.

A year later, Yale University renamed Calhoun College, which had been named for Vice President John C. Calhoun, who called slavery a positive good.
Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre's newest volunteer is boxy, dedicated to disinfecting and worth around $115,000  oh, and it's a robot.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre's newest volunteer is boxy, dedicated to disinfecting and worth around $115,000  oh, and it's a robot.

Service robot company Solaris donated one of its Lytbots to the Iles des Chenes-based animal care centre. The Lytbot pulses UV rays to eliminate pathogens that can be life-threatening. The product is undergoing tests to see if it effectively removes COVID-19 from surfaces. A 2017 Western University study found that it eliminated a surrogate coronavirus, Solaris CEO Val Ramanand said.

Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre received the Lytbot, a donation from Solaris, last week. The robot cleans surfaces by shooting pulsing UV rays to eliminate pathogens that can be life-threatening. The wildlife centre is using the technology to clean its rooms in between animal patients. (Supplied)

Wildlife Haven's bot is the first to be used in Canada, he said.

Ramanand has known Steve Loney, the president of the Wildlife Haven's board of directors, for around 15 years. His company sponsored the non-profit's gala in the spring of 2019, and they were looking for more ways to help the organization.

Solaris asked if the rehabilitation centre could use one of their robots  and the answer was a resounding yes, according to Zoe Nakata, the centre's executive director.

Lytbots have been around for about three years, and now, over 200 hospitals in the United States are using them, Ramanand said. He'd planned to ship a Lytbot to Wildlife Haven in February, but there were production delays  and then the pandemic exploded through Canada and its southern neighbour.

"We've been backordered in equipment," Ramanand said. "We can't build them fast enough."

The donation was put on hold as Ramanand shipped his product from Toronto to hospitals in the United States. They're mainly used to disinfect operating rooms, Ramanand said.

Last week, Solaris had a spare Lytbot to send to Wildlife Haven. The orange, blue and cream machine has since been used to clean rooms that hold the centre's animal patients.

When an animal leaves Wildlife Haven, its room is scrubbed with soap and water, then with a cleaning solution that may be bleach-based. The Lytbot is a third step: it's rolled into the room and has its parameters set. The programmer leaves and pushes a button to start the machine, which is about 1.3 metres tall. A square "head" pops up from the Lytbot and pulses UV light outwards at 360 degrees. No humans or animals can be in the room when the bot is working.

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Biosecurity is extremely important in the rehabilitation centre, Nakata said.

"If an animal were to catch a communicable disease at our centre, and then we release them back into nature, there's risk of that disease being spread throughout the wildlife population," she said, adding that it's important to keep staff and volunteers safe too.

Theres another plus to the Lytbot  new revenue. Animals typically stay at the centre for two to four weeks; thus, the non-profit can rent out the robot when they're not using it. Hospitals, schools, and private commercial companies could pay to have a team from Wildlife Haven come out with the Lytbot and disinfect their rooms, if all goes according to plan, Nakata said. Organizers are still determining what the service could look like.

"When it comes to fundraising, you have to be creative sometimes," Nakata said. "Right now, with the global pandemic, people are really interested in those kinds of services."

Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre doesn't get government funding.

gabrielle.piche@freepress.mb.ca
The Lower Manya Krobo Constituency Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Mr. Fredrick Kofi Atenas has reiterated the NDCs commitment to legalize the motorcycle business when John Dramani Mahama is voted into office in January 2021.

Mr Atenas reiterated this call after interacting with some motorcycle operators also known as okada at his residence in Agormanya yesterday.

Speaking with the group in a relaxing chair, the secretary has assured them of the NDCs commitment to commercialize the operation of the business with a legal backing when the party assumes office devoid of the usual police harassment in the area.

He said the NDCs leadership in the area was resolved to protect the group from any arbitrary arrest from the police which according to him has a propensity

of hindering their operations but was quick to caution them against the overspending and non-use of the helmet in their work.

This, he hinted that the member of parliament of the area, Hon. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, would be meeting and interacting with them as an association shortly. Adding that the NDCs was ready to have their presidential candidate, John Mahama and his running mate, prof. Jane Nana-Opoku Agymang to interact with them whenever they were in the constituency

Meanwhile, the Okada group has enumerated some challenges they faced in their every days work namely; the insurance covering them, fuel price hike, among others.

The presidential candidate of the NDC has earlier made his intention known to Ghanaians the move to legalize the okada operation as a campaign promise some few weeks ago. This campaign promise has since generated ongoing debate in the public space over the operation of this group among the citizenry.

Politicians, some civil society group, the media and some public institutions were not left out in expressing their view on the matter.

Present at the meeting were the following from NDCs constituency youth wing; Adams Suleiman and others.

Story by Kodjo Evans, Odumase-Krobo
A public servant convicted in a criminal case cannot seek reinstatement in service only on the ground of suspension of his sentence by a higher court, the Bombay high court (HC) said on Thursday and dismissed a petition filed by a public servant from Chandrapur seeking the reinstatement in service.

It is not possible for us to hold that the petitioner has acquired a right to be reinstated in service upon suspension of his sentence imposed in view of the provisions of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, said the bench, comprising chief justice Dipankar Datta and justice AS Chandurkar.

The bench rejected petition filed by Shrikrushna Sinhe, who has been convicted by a special anti-corruption bureau (ACB) court at Chandrapur for bribery and sentenced to three years imprisonment, and was dismissed from service on November 14, 2018.

A few months before his dismissal, Sinhes appeal against conviction was admitted by a single-judge bench of HC, which on February 16, 2018, suspended his sentence and granted him bail.

He had, thereafter, moved Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT), seeking an order for his reinstatement in service on the ground of suspension of the sentence imposed on him, and petitioned HC after the tribunal put his plea on hold, till the final decision on his appeal.

But the HC refused to grant him any relief, observing that the suspension of the sentence had not erased the conviction recorded by the criminal court.

So long as the conviction is not reversed, the petitioner continues to be a convict and cannot have any legitimate claim for reinstatement in service, said the bench led by the chief justice. Such claim would arise after reversal of the conviction and that too if the rules so provide.
Los Angeles Angels right-hander Dylan Bundy has drawn trade interest from the Twins, White Sox, and Braves, per MLB Networks Jon Morosi (via Twitter).

After an up-and-down career in Baltimore, Bundy has put together a solid stretch for the Angels here in 2020 to make himself an intriguing trade target. Through six starts in Los Angeles, Bundy is 3-2 with a 2.58 ERA/3.08 FIP and gaudy 5.50 K/BB ratio. Bundy takes the hill tonight for the seventh time this season in what could be his final start in Los Angeles.

If the Angels are believers in Bundys progress this year, their chances of contending in 2021 would take a hit by sending him out of town. As much as the Angels have struggled to sign and develop pitching, however, Bundy has just one more season of control remaining. GM Billy Eppler may see an opportunity here to fleece a market shy on sellers and to re-stock their development pool. The Angels gave up four minor-league arms to acquire Bundy, so the price figures to be high. Still, with as much promise as Bundy showed as a prospect, he owned just a 4.67 ERA/4.75 FIP coming into this season, and the Angels could look to sell high on the 27-year-old.

In terms of their suitors, the Twins, White Sox, and Braves are all jockeying for playoff position and could use an additional rotation arm. The Braves have seen their once-strong depth depleted this season and suddenly find themselves lacking certainty in the rotation after Max Fried. Ian Anderson had a strong debut, but hes just one start into his big-league career. Theyd probably prefer to move Josh Tomlin back into a swing role, and Robbie Erlins overall numbers arent all that encouraging (6.14 ERA in three starts with the Braves).

The White Sox are known to be scouring the league for an additional rotation contributor. Lance Lynn and Robbie Ray are said to be on their list of potential targets. Chicago has a whole host of options for the back end of their rotation, but none of Reynaldo Lopez, Carlos Rodon, or Gio Gonzalez have been able to muster the health and consistency that the Pale Hose seek. Dane Dunning has looked good thus far, but the White Sox remain likely to land a starter sometime before the deadline.

The Twins reportedly reached out to the Reds about Trevor Bauer but were rebuffed. The Twinkies have stumbled of late, falling behind the upstart White Sox in the AL Central standings. Kenta Maeda and Randy Dobnak have been solid at the front of the rotation, though theres at least a bit of smoke-and-mirrors behind Dobnaks sterling 1.78 ERA. Rich Hill and Jose Berrios occupy two other rotation spots, but the fifth spot is currently up-for-grabs now that Homer Bailey and Jake Odorizzi have both landed on the injured list. In terms of targets, the Angels might be interested in prospects Jordan Balazovic and Jhoan Duran, per MLB.coms Jon Morosi. More than likely the Angels would be targeting pitching in any potential return for Bundy.
The Enugu Division of the National Industrial Court has issued interim orders restraining health workers in Enugu State from embarking on strike action.

The workers had threatened to begin an indefinite strike over conditions of service and owed salaries.

In separate orders issued on Friday, the court restrained the leadership and members of the Enugu State chapters of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANM), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) from the planned action.

The court orders were granted by Hon. Justice N.C.S Ogbuanya in suit numbered NICN/EN/31/2020, NICN/EN/32/2020 and NICN/EN/33/2020, filed against the associations by the state government.

The order was issued pending the hearing and determination of Motions on Notice for Interlocutory Injunctions filed by the Enugu State Government, on Monday.

The court also made an Order of Interim Injunction restraining the members of the affected three bodies or any other persons however so called or described acting under the instructions, direction or mandate of the Defendants from embarking on, or continuing in furtherance of, any strike/ industrial action, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed.

The court also granted the Claimant/Applicant (Enugu State Government) leave to serve the Originating Summons, Motions on Notice and all other processes in the Suits on the Defendants, respectively, along with the Interim Orders granted.
Mr. Soufan gave him a towel to cover himself and then revealed that he had earlier interrogated yet another of his brothers in Yemen, for whom he had arranged a phone call with their mother. The detainee went from arrogant and hostile to sobbing on Mr. Soufans shoulder.

He completely opened up and gave me specific information about Al Qaedas operations in Afghanistan, including who was in charge of which region and where they were based, he wrote.

The C.I.A. allowed Mr. Soufan to republish his book without the black bars that had concealed those kinds of details after a journalist and documentary filmmaker sued the agency. It then conducted a new review and deemed nearly all of the contents unclassified.

Shown a copy of the restored memoir, Daniel Jones, who led the research of millions of pages of C.I.A. files for the Senate study, said that version aligned with the agencys own contemporaneous records.

Ali has been, by far, the most consistently accurate person in his writings about this and his discussions about it, Mr. Jones said. His version of events most closely resembles the collective record of the U.S. government.

One of the most significant restored sections in the book recounts the agents interactions with Mr. Zubaydah, who was captured badly wounded. Mr. Soufan helped keep him alive and then got him talking in a hospital room, for what the agent described as a conversation that lasted about 10 days.

According to the book, the accidental act of showing Mr. Zubaydah a wrong photograph while asking about someone else helped Mr. Soufan uncover a crucial fact: Mr. Mohammed was the planner of the Sept. 11 attacks. Three years later, in 2005, the C.I.A. misled the Justice Department into believing that big break followed its use of enhanced interrogation techniques when seeking renewed legal blessing for its torture program.
The Expedition 63 crew ended its stay isolated in the Russian segment of the International Space Station this morning after an extended leak test.

Mission Control also deployed remote teams to maintain 24/7 support for the station and its crew as Hurricane Laura approaches the Texas Gulf Coast.

Commander Chris Cassidy started the day reopening the hatches to the U.S. segment to begin resuming normal station operations. He reactivated U.S. life support equipment and restowed U.S. gear used during the crew's weekend stay in the Zvezda service module.

Mission control will study the test data this week in an effort to determine the source of a cabin air leak detected in September of 2019. The rate is still well within segment specifications and presents no danger to the crew or the space station. The station's atmosphere is maintained at a pressure comfortable for the crew members, and a tiny bit of that air leaks over time, requiring routine repressurization from nitrogen tanks delivered on cargo resupply missions.

Roscosmos Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin spent the morning reconfiguring the Russian segment of the orbiting lab. The veteran station cosmonaut checked pressure valves and communications gear while opening hatches to various Russian modules.

Flight Engineer Ivan Vagner, on his first station mission, started the day resetting Russian life support equipment and sampling the air in Zvezda for analysis. Vagner also had time for science during the afternoon studying the Earth's nighttime atmosphere and exploring ways to improve locating landmarks on Earth for photography.

Meanwhile, personnel at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston are monitoring Hurricane Laura and making general preparations at the center. A small team of flight controllers germane to monitoring and sending commands for the most important station systems were sent to a backup control center hub in central Texas in advance of the storm.

A full team of station flight controllers is getting set up at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, to take over longer-term control of station systems should that become necessary. This backup activity is planned for each hurricane season or for some other extenuating circumstance and will be executed with no impact on critical station operations or the safety of the crew.

On-Orbit Status Report

Payloads

Spacecraft Atmosphere Monitor (SCRAM): The crew removed the MCA (Major Constituent Analyzer) plug from the SCRAM and powered it up. The MCA plug is used to protect the SCRAM's sensor when the unit is powered off. SCRAM demonstrates the capabilities of a small, reliable, portable gas chromatograph mass spectrometer instrument aboard the ISS to conduct major and minor elements of air measurement (Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Water, etc). The instrument transmits data back to the ground research team every two seconds, providing a continuous analysis to the ground research team. It has a mass of less than 9.5 kg, and consumes less than 40 watts of power in its nominal configuration.

Systems

ISS Leak Isolation Ops: The crew ingressed the USOS segment today after spending an extended weekend in the Russian Segment to allow ground teams to monitor module pressures. The crew closed several module hatches on GMT 234 as part of a leak isolation test. The Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) community has been tracking an increase in nominal atmosphere leakage since October 2019. The motivation for finding the leak is to reduce the amount of consumables required to maintain the ISS pressure. Following USOS ingress, the crew reactivated the Waste & Hygiene Compartment (WHC) for operations and restowed items that were transferred to the Russian segment during the USOS isolation period.

Completed Task List Activities:

None

Today's Ground Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Ground Support for USOS Ingress

MCC Swing to BCC Ops

Look Ahead Plan

Wednesday, 8/26 (GMT 239)

Payloads:

CIR-ACME Bottle Exchange

Systems:

Crew Handover Conference

Thursday, 8/27 (GMT 240)

Payloads:

CIR/ACME Configure for BRE

Food Physiology

GLACIER Desiccant Swap

Systems:

TOCA WRS Analysis/Data Record

Friday, 8/28 (GMT 241)

Payloads:

CIR-Hardware Return

MSRR/MSL SCA Exchange

Radi-N2 Deploy

Systems:

HMS AED Inspect

Today's Planned Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

 (Universal Bioengineering Thermostat). Checking - No.07 thermostat temperature and unobstructed area near - inlet/outlet vents

Combining RS and USOS volumes

Regeneration of Micropurification Unit () 1 and 2 cartridges

URAGAN. Earth imagery using still camera

USOS Ingress

DC1 + Progress 444 (76P) Hatch Opening

MRM1 Hatch Opening

PROFILAKTIKA-2. Health check of electro-pneumatic unit from [-01-] set

Galley Reactivation

Potable Water Dispenser Ambient Water Line Flush

Waste & Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Reactivation

Introducing updates to the Descent ODF and on Soyuz 745 Samsung PC

SM Atmosphere analysis using Freon Leak Analyzer/Detector ()

USOS Item Transfer

Comm Configuration from MRM2

Connecting SM - PEV valves and MRM2 Pressure Relief Valves () control circuits, and MRM2 pressure control circuits from SM

Testing pressure equalization valves (PEV) and pressure relief valves (); measuring pressure in [] and SM  from EVA Support Panels () in MRM2

Spacecraft Atmosphere Monitor Power On

USOS Isolation Restow

VIZIR. Session with Photo image coordinate referencing - smart drawers system (-)

Transfer of kits with tubes for FGB from Node 1 to RS

Countermeasures System (CMS) Cycle Ergometer w/Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Isolator Inspection

Air sample collection using Draeger tube air sampler () in SM for CO

Countermeasures System (CMS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Cylinder Flywheel Evacuation

SM air sampling using -1 sampler

UF-ATMOSFERA. Hardware and electrical connections setup; PL Activation

Spacecraft Atmosphere Monitor MCA Plug Remove

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He quit the Love Island villa after just three days saying he was still in love with his ex girlfriend, amid uproar about his inclusion in the show after images of him posing next to slaughtered animals in Africa emerged.

And, Ollie Williams - who has denied he is a trophy hunter - left fans 'traumatised' as he posed with the dead deers, which he killed while taking part in a cull in Dartmore, on Friday.

Taking to Instagram, the aristocrat, 23, who has previously branded himself a 'passionate conservationist insisted that 'hunting is conservation,' as he boasted about 'great evening' spent 'stalking' deers.

Traumatised: Ollie Williams, 23, left fans 'traumatised' as he posed with the dead deers, which he killed while taking part in cull' in Dartmore, on Friday

In one photograph, Ollie crouched down next to the beautiful fallow buck, and in the second could be seen dragging a Roebook by its hind legs.

Ollie captioned the post: 'A great evening's stalking with the legend Tom @dartmoor_deer_services...

'Chuffed to have got my first fallow buck as well as taking a Roebuck in poor condition that was good for the cull. Hats available to buy @cornishsportingagency.

'@fieldsportschannel @cornishsportingagency #huntingisconservation #deerstalking #cornishsportingagency.'

Showing off: Taking to Instagram, the aristocrat insisted that 'hunting is conservation,' as he boasted about 'great evening' spent 'stalking' deers

What happened: In one photograph, Ollie crouched down next to the beautiful fallow buck, and in the second could be seen dragging a Roebook by its hind legs

Made In Chelsea's Charlie Mills showed his support, commenting: 'Yes mate! Well done! Keep it up x.'

But Love Island's Shaunagh Phillips was shocked, and many of Ollie's fans were unimpressed, branding his post: 'sickening.'

One follower commented: 'This is horrible how you are putting this all over social media. Another beautiful animal gone out of the wild due to people like yourself. What do you get out of ending such a magnificent animals life ??'

'It's so upsetting that this is your passion, such a beautiful animal whose life you have stolen. You have no right,' wrote another furious fan.

Supportive: Made In Chelsea's Charlie Mills showed his support, commenting: 'Yes mate! Well done! Keep it up x'

Shocked! But Love Island's Shaunagh Phillips was shocked, and many of Ollie's fans were unimpressed, branding his post: 'sickening.'

'How could you just kill something so majestic?' asked someone else, while another Instagram user fumed: 'This is so horrible how can you enjoy this?'

One follower said: 'This is so evil in the first pic it's alive and in the second it's dead I'm acc traumatised.'

In March, Ollie shocked fans by taking to social video with a video of himself shooting a deer and boasting about his kill, labelling it: 'My kind of stockpiling!' amid the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe.

The Love Island star recorded a short film about how to shoot for venison, which he shared on YouTube and promoted on Instagram - leaving fans aghast.

Shock! In March, Ollie - who denied he is a trophy hunter - shocked fans by taking to social video with a video of himself shooting a deer and boasting about his kill

YouTuber? The aristocrat, who has previously branded himself a 'passionate conservationist', recorded a short film about how to shoot for venison, which he shared on YouTube

Very humane!? 'When it strikes the animal, it tends to inflict a lot of damage and tends to cause a quick and painless, death. It's obviously very humane' said Ollie while showing the bullets

The footage titled: 'Hunting Wild Venison: My Kind Of Stockpiling' starts with Ollie driving to a gun shop with his friend Eddie.

The Love Island star says: 'We are currently off to get some bullets to do some shooting and stalking this week!'

Once inside the shop he then tells his followers: 'I always end up walking away from here with something I don't need...ie, a gun.'

Back at his family's estate, he gives a lesson in the basics of shooting, explaining about the bullets he likes to use.

The hunt: Ollie found some innocent deer roaming around. He lay down and fired his gun

The kill: Ollie himself then hung up the dead venison up inside a giant fridge, before focusing in on the carcass

Backlash: This comes after it was reported that Ollie tried to sell a buffalo head for 8,000 online - five months before the star denied he is a trophy hunter after quitting the reality show

He says: 'When it strikes the animal, it tends to inflict a lot of damage and tends to cause a quick and painless, death. It's obviously very humane, which is the sort of thing we are looking at.'

The artisocrat then practices shooting at a target, before heading out into the bushes clad in camouflage gear.

Ollie says: 'Instead of stockpiling in a supermarket, I'm stockpiling in different ways.'

He then finds some innocent deer roaming around, with the sound of a pulsating heartbeat in the background.

The Love Islander lies down and fires his gun. The screen goes black - presumably for dramatic effect.

Then footage shows Ollie himself hanging up the dead venison up inside a giant fridge, before focusing in on the carcass.

Turning to the camera, he says: 'I wasn't sure whether or not in the first video I should show the shot.

'The shot was successful and we've got some venison for the larder. But moving forward, if you do wanna see the shot then let me know and I'll be happy to put it in a video.'

Claim: A photo obtained by The Sun shows a listing for a Taxidermy Cape Buffalo Shoulder Mount with an asking price of 8,000 allegedly posted by him (above with the dead animal)

The Love Island star concludes: 'But yeh, a successful harvest of wild venison. That's my kind of stockpiling for you,' before smiling and giving a thumbs up.

His shocked followers on social media commented in their droves, branding him 'a disgrace', 'sick,' and 'a weirdo.'

MailOnline contacted Ollie Williams' representatives for comment at the time.

Ollie caused outrage after images of him posing next to slaughtered animals in Africa emerged earlier this year, with his family being forced to employ security to keep a 24-hour watch on their Cornish home from animal activists.

Controversy: Love Island received 576 Ofcom complaints about Ollie Williams' inclusion on the show after posing with dead animals in Africa

Earlier this year it was reported that Ollie tried to sell a buffalo head for 8,000 online - five months before the star denied he is a trophy hunter after quitting the ITV2 reality show.

A photo obtained by The Sun shows a now-deleted listing for a Taxidermy Cape Buffalo Shoulder Mount with an asking price of 8,000 and allegedly posted by the star.

According to the website Ollie bought the buffalo head - described as used - at an auction for 648.70 and had hoped to make a healthy profit from the sale, putting the item on eBay in August.

A source told The Sun: 'Ollie had gone to Holts auctioneers in Norfolk in June and spotted this cape buffalo shoulder mount.

Outrage: The aristocrat caused outrage after images of him posing next to slaughtered animals in Africa emerged (pictured with a dead warthog)

'He thought it would be an investment and hoped he'd be able to sell it and make a profit but nobody ever bought it.'

The website also confirmed the buffalo head was taken down from eBay.

The Cape Buffalo is one of the dead animals Ollie was seen posing with in photos that sparked a furious viewer backlash and a petition calling for him to be axed.

The heir to the Lanhydrock Estate, who received 'vile' threats since leaving the show, insisted that he is 'passionate about conservation' and that he left the show on his own terms because he was still in love with his ex.

Alleged: According to the website Ollie bought the buffalo head - described as used - at an auction for 648.70 and had hoped to make a healthy profit from the sale, putting the item on eBay in August

Ollie said in a statement at the time: 'Having left the Love Island house I have become aware of the press stories circulating in the UK. I would like to make a number of comments on the various claims and accusations.

'I had no knowledge of the stories until I had left the Love Island villa and all cast members are unaware of any news stories while they are on the programme. My reasons for leaving Love Island are as communicated on the show.

'I did not shoot any of the animals shown in the photographs nor have I ever shot as a trophy hunter.

'I did volunteer to take part in the conservation and anti-poaching programme in Mozambique, a part of which involves old or sick animals being culled. I was there as an observer.

Outrage: Ollie, who quit Love Island just days into the series after claiming he was still in love with his ex-denied that he is a game hunter and called himself a 'passionate conservationist'

'The Cornish Sporting Agency was set up in 2017 and has never traded. I feel very passionately about conservation and will continue to support sustainable conservation causes around the globe.

'These benefit the natural world and the animals which live within it, even if certain elements appear controversial when viewed out of context. As I am no longer in Love Island, I will comment no further on this issue.'

Ollie was pictured posing with a dead warthog, water buffalo and a giant eland  listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The now deleted snaps were said to have been uploaded on to the Instagram account of Ollie's hunting business, Cornish Sporting Agency.

Cutting his losses: Ollie had been coupled up with winner Paige Turley before leaving Love Island because he was in love with someone else

The business is listed on Companies House as a 'hunting, trapping and related service activities' and is registered at the Lanhydrock estate, now controlled by the National Trust after being given away by Ollie's great-great uncle in 1953.

In one of the photos, Ollie is seen kneeling beside one of the animals with the caption: 'You've gotta love it when you put your binos up and see a bull like this on the other end!'

The Cornish Sporting Agency, which was taken offline in November 2018, offered hunting trips to countries like Mozambique and South Africa as well as bird shooting in the South West of England and deer stalking in New Zealand.

Sources close to Ollie claim the photos were of him 'culling sick animals' and that it was untrue that he is involved in hunting for sport.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 11:12:57|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another year, till Aug. 31, 2021.

Resolution 2539, which won the unanimous support of the 15-member council, decides to reduce the troop ceiling from 15,000 authorized troops to 13, 000, without prejudice to the possibility for the force strength to be increased in the future in case a degraded security situation requires such an increase.

The resolution commends the positive role of the UNIFIL, whose deployment together with the Lebanese armed forces has helped to establish a new strategic environment in southern Lebanon.

It welcomes the expansion of coordinated activities between the UNIFIL and the Lebanese armed forces, and calls for further enhancement of this cooperation without prejudice to the UNIFIL's mandate.

It reiterates the Security Council's call for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent cease-fire and a long-term solution.

The resolution strongly reaffirms the necessity of an effective and durable deployment of the Lebanese armed forces in southern Lebanon and the territorial waters of Lebanon at an accelerated pace.

It reiterates the call for the government of Lebanon to present a plan to increase its naval capabilities as soon as possible, with the goal of ultimately decreasing the UNIFIL's maritime task force and transitioning its responsibilities to the Lebanese armed forces.

The UNIFIL was first established in 1978 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. After the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, the UNIFIL's mandate was expanded to monitor the cessation of hostilities and to accompany the deployment of Lebanese armed forces throughout southern Lebanon as Israel withdraws its troops. Enditem
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited today Syunik province, accompanied by Minister of territorial administration and infrastructures Suren Papikyan, the PMs Office told Armenpress.

The PM visited Tsguk and Angeghakot communities as he promised at the beginning of the year.

During the meeting with the Tsghuk community residents, the PM listened to their issues of concern. After that the PM gave instructions to minister Papikyan and Governor of Syunik Hunan Poghosyan aimed at presenting concrete proposals for solving the problems.

Thereafter, Pashinyan visited Angeghakot where the locals raised the issue of renovating the main road of the village. Governor Hunan Poghosyan reported that the preliminary calculations for renovating the road are already in process and it will be implemented within the framework of subvention programs.

PM Pashinyan told the residents that he is departing for the Republic of Artsakh on a working visit and promised to visit Angeghakot again.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The Australian Border Force is approving travel requests at a much higher rate now than earlier in the pandemic and making decisions within hours that previously took weeks.

A third of Australians seeking permission to travel overseas have now been granted an exemption from the travel ban implemented to halt the spread of coronavirus, up from 25 per cent earlier in the pandemic.

Since March, Australian citizens and permanent residents have been banned from leaving the country without approval from the federal government on the basis that they could spread COVID-19 when they return.

Brooke Carman received permission to travel to Germany to be with her partner Kevin Jaeger the same day she applied.

An ABF spokeswoman said the higher approval rate was the result of a new application portal and additional staff, which had helped clear a backlog of requests.




Two South Korean nationals have been reportedly kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in waters off Ghana.







A Ghanaian-flagged fishing vessel was attacked in waters 200 kilometers southeast of the coastal city of Tema, Friday (local time), according to Dryad Global, a London-based maritime security consultancy, and Seoul officials.







A total of 50 crewmen, including two South Koreans, were aboard the vessel AP 703, and the pirates abducted only the Koreans, according to the consultancy.







The incident came two months after five Korean sailors were abducted in waters off Benin in western Africa.







They were aboard the Ghanaian vessel Panofi Frontier when it was attacked by an armed group June 24.







They were released in southern Nigeria a month later. (Yonhap)


I like that there are some darn solid offerings this year and the number of releases has been steadily growing, Warrenfeltz said. Im not glad that Im faced with a significant change in protocol and Im sure some people are going to be upset, but my gut feeling is that the aggregate of sales over three days will be close if not better than having a single day.
Keith Nelson put to death for rape and murder of 10-year-old girl in 1999 as victims mother, sister witness execution.

A Kansas girls killer became the fifth federal inmate put to death this year in the United States on Friday in an execution that went forward after a high court tossed a ruling that would have required the government to get a prescription for the drug used to kill him.

Questions about whether the drug pentobarbital causes pain prior to death had been a focus of appeals for Keith Nelson, 45, the second inmate executed this week in the resumption of federal executions by the administration of President Donald Trump after a 17-year hiatus.

Nelson, who displayed no outward signs of pain or distress during the execution, was pronounced dead at a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, at 4:32pm (20:32 GMT  about nine minutes after the execution began.

There was silence from Nelson when a prison official looming over him asked if he had any last words to witnesses behind the execution-chamber glass. Those observers included the mother of 10-year-old Pamela Butler, who Nelson raped and strangled with a wire 21 years ago.

Nelson, whose face was obscured behind a medical mask, stayed still even as the lethal dose of pentobarbital was delivered.

Protestors gather across from the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Indiana as Keith Dwayne Nelson, who was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering at 10-year-old Kansas girl, was executed Friday [Michael Conroy/AP Photo]

The relative stillness and quiet stood in contrast to the scene on October 12, 1999, as Nelson grabbed Pamela off the street and threw her into his truck. As Pamela screamed, one of her sisters who saw her abducted began screaming, too.

Pamela had been returning to her Kansas City, Kansas, home on inline skates after buying cookies. As Nelson drove off with her, he made a rude gesture to her sister as she screamed. He later raped the fifth-grader and strangled her with a wire.

Pamelas mother, Cherri West, said she did not expect Nelson to express remorse. She said, if anything, she thought he might curse at her and her family as he had done during criminal proceedings.

I wasnt expecting him to say anything because he never had no remorse, West said.

I have no remorse for him, she said.

Nelsons spiritual adviser, Sister Barbara Battista, stood inside the chamber as Nelson was executed, wearing a mask and with her hands folded. She said she talked to Nelson during the week and that he sounded subdued but not frightened.

Sister Barbara Battista was present as Nelson was executed [Michael Conroy/AP Photo]

His parting words were  I dont want to see you on Friday, but I probably will,' Battista said in an interview before the execution.

He would rather be alive after Friday. But he is facing the reality, she said.

Nelsons attorneys, Dale Baich and Jen Moreno, said in a statement on Friday that they had come to know him as someone other than a killer, that they saw his humanity, his compassion, and his sense of humour.

The execution of Keith Nelson did not make the world a safer place, they said.

A flurry of filings by Nelsons legal team over several weeks zeroed in on pentobarbital, which depresses the central nervous system and, in high doses, eventually stops the heart.

In one filing in early August, Nelsons attorneys cited an unofficial autopsy on one inmate executed last month, William Purkey, saying it indicated evidence of pulmonary edema in which the lungs fill with fluid and this causes a painful sensation akin to drowning.

US government lawyers have defended the use of pentobarbital, disputing that Purkeys autopsy proved he suffered. They have cited Supreme Court ruling precedent that an execution method is not necessarily cruel and unusual just because it causes some pain.

The execution took place after an appellate panel tossed out a lower courts ruling that would have required the government to get a drug prescription before it could use pentobarbital to kill the inmate [Michael Conroy/AP Photo]

In her overturned ruling, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan had halted Nelsons execution early on Thursday, saying laws regulating drugs require prescriptions, even for executions. Within hours, an appellate panel tossed out her ruling.

With the execution Wednesday of Lezmond Mitchell  the only Native American on federal death row  the federal government under Trump registered more executions in 2020 than it had in the previous 56 years combined.

The executions of Nelson and Mitchell were carried out the same week as the Republican National Convention, where many Trump supporters sought to portray him as a law-and-order candidate.
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President Trump and his administration facilitated a historic, world-changing peace treaty between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The Abraham Accord is the first peace treaty since the Israel-Jordan treaty signed 26 years ago. This was a stroke of diplomatic genius and I applaud the hard work of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the countless others.

I remember Egyptian President Anwar El Sadats courageous visit to Israel in 1977 and the resulting peace between the two countries. I was nearly 30 at the time, and even though I had left Egypt many years earlier, I was thrilled at the fact that a week before Sadats visit to Israel, I was invited back to Egypt for the first time in many years by President Sadat himself. I looked back with pride at the country where I grew up as it formalized peace with its ancient adversary.

Peace  albeit slowly  is on the move in the Middle East. First Egypt in 1977, then Jordan in 1994 and now the Abraham Accord between Israel and the UAE in 2020. Israel, with the guidance and help of the United States, is emanating peace throughout the historically war-torn region.

The Abraham Accord is fittingly named. As we all know, names in the Bible have great importance because they often record characteristics of the one named, reflect relationships and reveal Gods intentions with the person. Lets talk about Abraham, father of the three monotheistic traditions and for whom the Abraham Accord was named.

Abraham was named Abram, meaning exalted father, at birth, but when God made a covenant  the first covenant between God and man  with him, God changed his name to Abraham, meaning father of multitude. But Abrahams name was not the only thing that changed. Joshua 24:2 tells us that Abraham grew up in a polytheistic tradition which was the ruling culture at the time. In the ancient world, people worshipped family gods, tribal gods, city gods, state gods...the idea of a single, almighty Creator was preposterous to them. It was radical.

Courageous, faithful Abraham led an ideological and theological revolution with his acceptance of the one true God. His radical  and rightful  practice of monotheism led to such precious things as the Christian faith and, in a roundabout way, the United States of America, which was founded on Judeo-Christian values. With the transformation of his name and the transformation of his life and worldview, Abraham became the patriarch. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations (Genesis 17:5). And indeed, Abraham is looked upon as father by the worlds three great monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

For Jews, Abrahams relationship to God represents their own relationship to Him. Abraham is the prototype and exemplar of how Jews should relate to God. Christians believe they are the spiritual descendants of Abraham who is the model of salvation by faith alone. For Muslims, Abraham is a prophet who links Adam, the first man and first prophet, to Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. For all three monothesitic religions, Abraham is the father of faith, the first believer and patriarch of practitioners.

The Abrahamic Accord, like Abraham the patriarch, is shared between three nations: the Jewish state of Israel, the Muslim country of UAE and the Christian United States of America. The multitude of nations should look to the Accord as a radiant example of peace.

As Abraham totally transformed his worldview and way of life upon Gods revelation, so too the Abraham accord will transform the Middle East. UAE is the first country in the Arabian Peninsula to formalize full diplomatic relations with Israel. This is what UAE president Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan said during UAEs founding in 1971:

Israels policy of expansion and racist plans of Zionism are directed against all Arab countries, and in particular those which are rich in natural resources. No Arab country is safe from the perils of the battle with Zionism unless it plays its role and bears its responsibilities in confronting the Israeli enemy.

Look how far they have come as a nation! To grow from declaring Israel an evil empire to proclaiming it a diplomatic partner in less than 50 years is miraculous. If the UAE can make this transformation, why not other nations that have longed declared Israel an embittered enemy?

The Abraham Accord is a peace treaty signed without violence, without the white flag of surrender. The peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan both were signed after brutal battles  the Six-Day War of 1967 and the perpetual state of war between Israel and Jordan after Israels establishment in 1948.

May the diplomatic genius of the Abraham Accord initiate a radical transformation of the Middle East, just as Abraham the man initiated a transformation in lifestyle and worldview for the world. Jews, Christians and Muslims look to Abraham as a patriarch and leader, a courageous, peaceful and  most importantly  faithful revolutionary. May all of the nations in the Middle East follow in Abraham and the UAEs example.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-30 00:35:01|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The scale of China's public offering funds reached 17.69 trillion yuan (about 2.57 trillion U.S. dollars) by the end of July this year, according to data from the Asset Management Association of China.

This marked an increase of 4.67 percent from the scale seen at the end of June.

According to the association, the public offering funds were operated by 129 fund management companies, of which 85 were domestic firms and the rest were joint ventures.

China's asset management business expanded slower in recent years as authorities tightened regulations to contain risks arising from wealth management products.

In 2017, draft guidelines unified rules covering asset management products issued by all types of financial institutions, requiring them to set leverage ceilings. Enditem
Todd Knop bought his 2013 Grand Sport Chevy with a special diamond blue interior  one of 386 made  this year on Ebay.

This popped up and I looked at it and it took me seven minutes and I hit buy. At the time I didnt know it was one of 386 either. My theory is that I picked the wrong line at Walmart  finally did something right! he said.

Knop was one of the thousands that showed their car at the Corvettes at Carlisle show at the Carlisle Fairgrounds Aug. 27 - 30, though the crowds were noticeably smaller this year.

Public Relations Manager Mike Garland said they were anticipating smaller crowds from COVID-19 concerns and the bad weather through the weekend.

This is not a normal show, theres a lot of green space, which is not common for a show like this, Garland said. So not only do we have plenty of built-in opportunities for social distancing, I think the circumstances at hand between coronavirus and the weather has kind of furthered that.

The Department of Health filed a lawsuit to limit crowds at the spring Carlisle show, though the case was later dropped and the show went on without issue. Garland said the event organizers could not comment on the litigation or settlement that was reached.

About half of the visitors and vendors were wearing masks, and social distancing measures and sanitation stations were put in place.

Jim and Joyce Snyder brought their classic corvettes as well, and said most people they encountered were respectful of social distancing.

Its been fine. it really has, people dont get too close to you  if they do they have a mask on, Joyce said. Its been pretty nice, everyones been very understanding.

Garland said the show is able to accommodate crowds safely because it is fairly spread out.

Historically, the event brings in about 5,000 cars, Garland said. We are probably about 1500 or so cars down this year. He said the show usually brings in 100 or so Canadian drivers, but this year they were not able to come.

The show still drew car enthusiasts from across the Eastern United States.

Ray Daries brought his 1982 Chevy Corvette from Holten Maine along with his son who brought his own car with him.

Its all basically original. It hasnt been refurbished or repainted or anything like that. Everything is the same as it was when I bought it, except for the tires, he said.

He said he likes to be amongst Corvette People,  like his neighbor at the car show Chris Henry from Chickamauga, Georgia. He brought his 1967 Chevy Corvette to the show.

We claim it to be the most factory rich, high mileage documented in the world. One of a kind. Its survived 250,000 miles, he said. I take it to every show I can go to.

While there was a strong showing of Trump flags and hats, most participants of the show put politics aside and wanted to talk cars.

A recent lawsuit from four Western Pa counties argued the state was treating Republican candidates unfairly when it allowed car shows and outdoor events in Carlisle to exceed 250 people, but would not do the same if Mr.Trump gave his GOP nomination speech in Gettysburg.

Ultimately, Trump gave his address from the White House, though lawyers claim the state was still unfairly limiting political speech.
(L) Photo of a flammable device commonly known as a Molotov cocktail found in the bag of a 19-year-old teen Sami Horner. (R) Smashed windows of a bank that Seattle Police officers observed Horner smashing, in Seattle, Washington, on late Aug. 26, 2020.

Teen Arrested at Violent Protest in Seattle Faces Federal Charge Over Molotov Cocktail

Faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine

A 19-year-old man from Tacoma, Washington has been charged with unlawful possession of a destructive device after a Molotov Cocktail was found in his backpack at a protest on Seattles Capitol Hill that turned violent.

Sami Horner appeared in the Seattle district court on Aug. 28. Horner was arrested late on Aug. 26 in Seattle.

In his backpack law enforcement found a glass bottle with a wick, filled with flammable material, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Washington stated in a release. Horner also carried two lighters, a helmet, a mask with filters, and a walkie-talkie.

A mask with filters found in a bag of a teen at a protest in Seattle, Washington, on Aug. 26, 2020. (US District Court, Western District of Washington)

Molotov cocktail found in a bag of a teen at a protest in Seattle, Washington, on Aug. 26, 2020. (US District Court, Western District of Washington)

The glass bottle, more commonly referred to as a Molotov Cocktail, fits the legal definition of an incendiary device.

According to the criminal complaint (pdf), the teen was identified in a group that first gathered at Volunteer Park on Seattles Capitol Hill.

Officers from the Seattle Police Department saw Horner smashing multiple windows at a bank branch at 321 15th Avenue East. The damage is estimated to be more than $1,000, the criminal complaint stated.

Smashed windows at a bank amid a protest that turned violent in Seattle, Washington on Aug. 26, 2020. (via US District Court, Western District of Washington)

Horner ran away after the officers tried to arrest him, but was chased down and ultimately arrested about three blocks away from the bank.

Upon being detained, Horner blurted out, without any prompting, that the backpack was not his, that his wallet was in it, and that he was holding it for a friend, the complaint stated.

Later when officers were confirming his identity, Horner said, I said to check my ID, I said that my ID was in my bag, err not my bag, but somebody elses. The complaint noted that the comment was recorded on body camera video.

When officers checked the content of the backpack, they found a glass bottle that contained liquid inside.

The liquid tested positive for a chemical in the flammable liquid family, the complaint said.

Brendan Phillips, an officer from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) said that the Molotov cocktail would be properly identified as an incendiary bomb.

If convicted for unlawful possession of an improvised explosive device, Horner could spend up to 10 years in prison and face a fine of up to $250,000.

Protests have flared across the United States since the end of May, when George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While protests in many instances have been peaceful, many have also turned violent. Americans across the nation have seen their businesses destroyed, looted, and set on fire by anarchists and rioters.
Spotlighting that the coronavirus pandemic is spreading like wildfire, the Allahabad high court on Saturday dismissed a bunch of petitions seeking permission for Tazia procession during Muharram, adding the decision is very much in proportion to unprecedented situation.

The petitioners plea was that any restriction on the carrying out of procession during Muharram is in violation of their fundamental right of freedom to practise religion. They also cited the Supreme Court order allowing Jagganath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha.

On passing some direction to allow procession and burial of Tazia, the court observed, We have also given serious thought to working out some mechanism in order to permit the processions for Taziya burials, while imposing certain restrictions. However, no such workable mechanism could be suggested even by the counsels for the petitioners.

There is no mechanism fathomable, by the means of which it can be ensured that all such persons be permitted to take the Taziyas to the burial ground in a single day, while avoiding the risk of transmission of the contagion or following basic rules of social distancing, which are an absolute necessity in these unprecedented times.

The petitioners cited the Supreme Court order allowing Jagganath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha.

Also other religious festivals were allowed by state government during the same period but only procession of Muharram is not allowed which is discriminatory action on the part of the state government, said the petitioners counsel.

Additional chief standing counsel(ACSC), Ramanand Pandey, appearing for the state government, contended that the freedom to practise religion is not an absolute right and the same is subject to public order, morality and health. He added the state government can restrict religious activities keeping in mind the issue of public health.

State action is not discriminatory rather during the month of August, procession was not allowed during the festivals of Ganesh Chaturthi and Krishna Janamasthmi also. Public is allowed to practice religion inside their house but no public gathering is permitted surfing such events, said Ramanandey Pandey.

The court rejected the discriminatory charge against the state government.

This argument has no legs to stand on and appears to be patently misconceived. Same yardstick has been adopted for all religious communities and they have been restricted from carrying on any processions or Jhankis or activities that have the danger of large congregations, said the court.

On permission to carry out the Jagannath Rath Yatra, the court said, Apex Court had not passed any general directions, but the permission to carry out the Annual Chariot Procession (Rath Yatra) pertained to a specific place, Puri, and only from one point to another.

On restricting certain religious rituals like procession, the court observed, Prohibition of practices which are essential to our religions is an extraordinary measure, it is very much in proportion to the unprecedented situation we are faced with, owing to the pandemic. The right to practise and propagate religion has been made subject to public order, morality and health, even under the Constitution of India.

Pandemic is spreading like wildfire, despite harsh lockdowns. We are standing naked at the shore and dont know when the huge wave of Corona may sweep us into the deep sea. We really dont know what tomorrow holds. Adoption of safe practices are needed to win over the health crisis, observed the bench.
The US is sliding towards an autocracy under Donald Trump, a former Russian ambassador has warned.

Michael McFaul, who was Barack Obamas envoy to Moscow between 2012 and 2014, claimed there were a lot of familiar messages, symbols, and methods of autocracy on display at the Republican National Convention this week.

The political scientist said the White House's "cult of personality", its "blatant disregard for the law", and Mr Trump's references to the opposition as the enemy of the people were all signs that American democracy was under threat.

In a series of tweets, Mr McFaul, now a Stanford University professor, also drew comparisons between the US president and Russian president Vladimir Putin.

He accused Mr Trump of having a blatant disregard for facts, adding: As US ambassador to Russia, I found this Putin regime trait most frustrating.

Mr McFaul compared Mr Trump to Putin and other autocratic populists who cast their opponents as radicals and revolutionaries.

He said the "one difference between the two leaders was that Putin also claims falsely that his political opponents are supported by foreign enemies, the US & the West.

Trump has not gone there full-throated yet, he said. But my guess it's coming. 'Beijing Biden is a hint.

However, Mr McFaul said Mr Trump outdid the Russian president when it came to acting like a monarch, claiming the many Trump family members who performed at the convention this week went beyond even what Putin does.

The crucial difference between electoral democracies and electoral autocracies, he said, is that it is not known who will win the November US elections.

All of Mr Trumps four adult children spoke over the three-day convention earlier this week, praising his leadership and appealing for voter support in the November election.

The girlfriend of the presidents son, Donald Trump Jr, even gave a pre-recorded address broadcast on day one.

Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host, shouted loudly throughout her address, waving her arms around as she claimed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would destroy the country and enslave Americans with a victim ideology if elected.
Mary O Connor receiving her Summer Party Hamper from Liz McCormack from the Drogheda Community Services Centre

The Drogheda Community Services Centre has been providing a wonderful boost to many of its clients during tough and unsettling COVID-19 days.

Each summer, the centre at Scarlet Crescent hosts a summer party and everybody comes along, meet up for a chat and some music and the craic is mighty.

Although COVID put paid to that, the service organisers said they'd bring the cheer to the people instead.

'We delivered hampers to all the clients, so that they could party at home.

'We are very grateful to Glanbia Foods for sponsoring the cream for the strawberries, Tesco's West Street for the tea and Coca-Cola for the minerals.

'We are also very grateful to Brian and Fiona McDonnell for organising the online Bingo fundraising event on our behalf. Many other local shops and businesses also supported the hamper appeal and we are very grateful to them,' Rita Lambe from the Community Services Centre explained.
Crude prices remained in a narrow range this week as Hurricane Laura appeared to spare much of the energy infrastructure along the Gulf Coast.

That let traders return their focus to market forces such as oil demand, which has appeared to stall this month, according to Bloomberg.

After surpassing the $43 mark Tuesday, West Texas Intermediate on the New York Mercantile Exchange retreated, losing 7 cents Friday to close at $42.97 per barrel, up from $42.62 at Mondays close. The posted price ended the week at $39.50 a barrel.

Natural gas prices continued to remain near $2.50 per Mcf. Thursday the commodity jumped 12 cents, more than erasing two days of declines. O Friday, October became the new near-month contract and closed the week at $2.66 per Mcf.

The negative $38 oil price seen April 20 was a figment of a system that lets paper barrels be traded, said Steve Melzer, owner of Melzer Consulting during a University of Houston webinar examining the Permian Basins role in creating geologic value from utilizing carbon dioxide.

The Saudis said U.S. shale was taking market away, so they tried to crash the price to instill a sense of reality. Couple that with COVID and demand destruction and prices tanked. Now theyve climbed back to $40, he said. Theres a lot of feeling in Midland and in most oil centers that weve found a new normal in the $40s. The next five years or so thats where prices are probably going to be on average, so lets consider that negative a widespread anomaly.

Steve Pruett, president and chief executive officer of Elevation Resource, told the Reporter-Telegram by email that he expects the company will realize $40 a barrel prices this month after transportation fees. Natural gas liquids prices have recovered from a low of $1.83 per barrel to over $10 per barrel in July and looking better yet in August.

We had to pay our purchaser to take our gas in March and April, but the sale of wet gas is back to contributing revenue, he said. The outlook for West Texas natural gas prices is good, with the futures market predicting well over $2 per MMBtu in December. Lets pray that happens.

With the rig count remaining so depressed, the outlook for oil supplies in the Permian Basin and U.S. is declining, thus supporting the return of $50 oil at the end of the year, Pruett said. The big draws in oil inventories in the U.S. over the last few weeks supports that our markets are undersupplied, perhaps due to some discipline from Saudi Arabia not cramming more oil into the Gulf Coast.
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda will chair a meeting of all the party MPs from Bihar and senior party leaders on Saturday (today) to finalise its poll strategy for the upcoming state assembly elections.

According to sources, all the BJP MPs from Bihar including union ministers Ravishankar Prasad, Giriraj Singh, RK Singh, Nityanand Rai and Ashwini Choubey are likely to attend the meeting at the party office to discuss preparations for Bihar elections.

BJP chief wants to know the ground reality ahead of the election and will discuss the seat-sharing to know the views of the MPs for the upcoming polls. The meeting with MPs is considered to be very important as their feedback will also be used in seat-sharing for National Democratic Alliance (NDA), sources said.

The sources further said that Nadda will start his Bihar tour if lockdown is lifted in the state.

National General Secretary Bhupender Yadav was appointed as partys state in-charge in December last year.

Earlier on August 23, Nadda addressed Bihar BJP State working committee via video conferencing and said that BJP, and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will fight elections together under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and win the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar.

BJP, JDU, and LJP will fight elections together and win. We have to add value not only to BJP but to our alliance partners also, Nadda had said addressing Bihar BJP State Karyasamiti via video conferencing.

The party, aiming to retain power in the state, has asked former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to go visit the election-bound state.

Earlier, Fadnavis said that he will be visiting Bihar to help the party in the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.BJP usually sends its leaders to various states to help the party in elections and accordingly I will be going to Bihar, whatever party instructs I will do it, he said.

On the impact of Sushant Singh Rajput death case on elections, Fadnavis said, I do not find any relevance of it anywhere with the actors death case.

Bihar has 243 Assembly constituencies and elections in the state are due in October-November as the tenure of the current Assembly is scheduled to end on November 29.

The Election Commission has not yet taken a final call on poll dates in Bihar due to coronavirus pandemic and has sought suggestions from political parties.
Canadas Conservatives, the official opposition in the federal parliament, chose Erin OToole to be the partys next leader in a postal ballot of the membership, whose results were released early Monday morning.

A 12-year Canadian Armed Forces veteran, corporate lawyer, and junior minister in the Harper Conservative government for 10 months in 2015, OToole won the Conservative leadership by presenting himself as the best defender of Harpers legacy of austerity, reaction, and militarism, and by courting the partys large social conservative faction. He pledged to take back Canada from the radical left, aggressively confront China in alliance with Washington, and make Canada an even friendlier place for global investors.

OToole was endorsed by Jason Kenney, Albertas premier and the de facto leader of the partys western-based hard-right faction, after a long list of prominent Conservatives with close ties to Stephen Harper, including former interim leader Rona Ambrose, John Baird, and Pierre Polivere, declined to stand for party leader.

OToole defeated Peter MacKay, the presumed front-runner throughout the months-long COVID-19 extended campaign, on the third ballot. Although he held senior portfolios in the Harper government and has close personal ties to Brian Mulroney, who shifted Canadian politics sharply right during a nine-year stint as prime minister (19841993), MacKay was dismissed as too moderate by wide swathes of the party. This was above all due to his having led the rump that remained of the Progressive Conservative Party prior to its merger with the Harper-led Canadian Alliance in 2003 to form the new Conservative Party.

OToole seized on this, painting himself as the True Blue Conservative in the race, and by making targeted appeals to the social-conservatives and anti-immigrant xenophobes that initially backed the third and fourth-place finishers, Leslyn Lewis and Derek Sloan.

The leadership vote was open to all Conservative Party members. But the winner and ballot rankings were determined on the basis of a points system, in which each of the 338 parliamentary constituencies was worth 100 points, and the points that the candidates received were determined by their respective share of each constituencys popular vote.

Virtually unknown prior to entering the leadership race, Lewis, who championed restrictions on abortion rights and the slashing of regulations governing natural resource projects, actually won more votes than both OToole and MacKay on the second ballot. She drew especially strong support from social conservatives and sections of the partys hard-right base in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where the Conservatives hold 47 of the 48 House of Commons seats. However, due to the vagaries of the partys voting system, Lewis finished in third place on points on the second ballot and was eliminated.

Sloan, who was eliminated after the first ballot, used his campaign to champion Trump-style policies. These included quitting the Paris Climate Accord, cutting immigration, and withdrawing Canadian support for the World Health Organization. Combining racism and anti-China bellicosity, he made headlines last spring by publicly accusing Canadas Public Health Officer Theresa Tam, a native of Hong Kong, of working for Beijing.

Taken together, Lewis and Sloan secured 40 percent of the vote on the first ballot, out of a total of 174,000 votes. The small number of total votes castrepresenting less than 0.5 percent of Canadas 37 million peopleand the strength of the support for the social conservatives Lewis and Sloan, underscore just how narrow is the Conservatives base of social support, and how little popular enthusiasm the leadership contest generated. Even right-wing Globe and Mail columnist Konrad Yakabuski acknowledged that the Conservative leadership race had been a drab contest among B-listers.

The lack of widespread support for the Conservatives reflects the fact that they speak unapologetically on behalf of the most rapacious sections of Canadian capital. OToole campaigned as the natural inheritor of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, whose tenure in power between 2006 and 2015 was characterized by a vast militarization of Canadian foreign policy, sweeping attacks on workers rights, and savage austerity spending.

Since Harpers departure immediately following the Liberals October 2015 election victory, the Conservatives have shifted even further right.

OToole replaces Andrew Scheer, who touted himself as Harper with a smile in campaigning for the party leadership in 2017. An unrepentant social conservative and devotee of the arch-reactionary Opus Dei, Scheer nonetheless successfully portrayed himself as a compromise candidate in defeating Maxime Bernier, who had topped each round of voting prior to the 13th and final ballot. Little more than a year later, Bernier quit the Conservatives and founded the Peoples Party of Canada (PPC). Combining virulent anti-immigrant chauvinism with ruthless neoliberal policies, Bernier has modelled his PPC on the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Frances National Rally, and other European far-right parties.

Berniers departure did not slow the Tories march to the right. Scheers campaign manager and other advisers had longstanding ties to Rebel Media, the Alberta-based news outlet that has become a mouthpiece for far-right and fascistic forces.

After the Conservatives failed to unseat the Liberals in last Octobers election, there was a groundswell of opposition from within the party and corporate Canada, and Scheer was soon drummed out of the leadership. Sections of the party charged that Scheers evident hostility to gay marriage and abortion rights had made it difficult for the Conservatives to gain votes in urban areas.

While Scheers social conservative views and indifference to climate change undoubtedly did cost the Conservatives votes, a far more important factor in their defeat was Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus ability to posture as an opponent of the brutal austerity measures being implemented by Ontario Tory Premier Doug Ford. Popular opposition to Ford translated into a disastrous Conservative electoral performance in Canadas most populous province, with their share of Ontarios popular vote actually falling from 2015.

Trudeaus anti-Ford posturing was facilitated by his allies in the trade unions and by the social-democratic NDP, which repeatedly proclaimed its readiness to serve as the Liberals junior partner in a coalition government. No sooner were the elections over than Trudeau publicly kissed and made-up with Ford and, in the name of national unity, moved to placate Kenney and his hard-right Saskatchewan counterpart, Scott Moe.

With the support of the trade unions, which have been ever anxious to promote the Liberals phoney progressive credentials, the Trudeau Liberal government, in its five years in office has slashed health care funding, further expanded the repressive powers of the national security apparatus, vastly increased military spending, and expanded Canadian imperialist involvement in US-led wars, military operations, and intrigues around the globe.

The Trudeau government worked closely with the unions, New Democrats, and big business to orchestrate a massive bailout of the banks and financial markets during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now pursuing a reckless back-to-work campaign that includes slashing financial support for working people so that they have no choice but to return to unsafe workplaces.

Even so, important sections of the ruling elite are increasingly frustrated with the Liberal government. They fear it lacks the political strength and ruthlessness to enforce a new round of savage austerity and aggressively pursue Canadian imperialist interests in the face of mounting working class opposition.

Hence the attempts to remould the Conservatives, the ruling class other traditional party of national government, into a viable alternative.

In his victory speech, OToole appealed for big business support, by declaring it time to rein in public spending, slash environmental regulations, and ratchet up tensions with China. Capital and jobs have been leaving Canada and large deficits were being run before the COVID crisis led to record debt and deficits, he declared. He then went on to accuse the Trudeau government of making Canada a risky place for investors.

OToole and the Conservatives are determined to defend the interests of the financial elite with the full force of the state. This was the meaning of his leadership campaign pledge to follow the example of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and criminalize protest blockades of railways and other public infrastructure. Such anti-democratic measures have been justified as a response to last Februarys blockades in support of Wetsuweten opposition to pipelines through their traditional landsactions that prompted Scheer and much of the corporate media to demand the military be deployed to smash the protests.

OToole has vowed to restore Canadas place in a tough world, by strengthening Canadas alliances with the western imperialist powers, above all Washington. He is particularly adamant Canada take an even more prominent role in US imperialisms incendiary military-strategic offensive against nuclear-armed China. The new Conservative leader is demanding Ottawa immediately ban Huawei from Canadas 5-G network, work to decouple Canadas economy from China, and impose sanctions on China citing its treatment of the Uighur minority and its attacks on democratic rights in Hong Kong. Echoing the bellicose statements of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, OToole has used apocalyptic language to accuse Beijing of seeking to impose its own model of authoritarian governance on the world, adding, for Canadians, there is no greater geopolitical issue.
On Friday, the second day of the informal Gymnich meeting in Berlin of the EU foreign ministers, Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, spoke about the situation in Eastern Mediterranean and EU relations with Turkey, as well as EU-Russia relations.

The geopolitical implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and the EU's strategic response was rescheduled for the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, due to lack of time, according to a press statement released by Romania's Foreign Ministry (MAE) on Friday.

In his remarks on Turkey, Aurescu reiterated his concern with continuing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and once again called for relaxation, calm and direct dialogue between the parties involved. He expressed solidarity with Greece and Cyprus, as well as support for EU's ongoing efforts to de-escalate and re-start dialogue with Turkey.

He said that any dispute over maritime boundaries should be settled exclusively in a peaceful manner and in accordance with international law. In the same context, he expressed "Romania's openness to share, with both Greece and Turkey, its expertise acquired on the matter of maritime delimitation, following the trial before the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the Maritime Delimitation in the Black Sea, in accordance with the applicable international law."

Aurescu also proposed, as a first step towards de-escalation, the introduction of a moratorium on explorations in disputed areas in the Eastern Mediterranean until the maritime boundaries in question are reached either through negotiations or through recourse to an international court, such as the International Court of Justice.

At the same time, he reiterated the need to maintain a comprehensive EU dialogue with Turkey, given the wide range of topics of common interest, such as migration, trade and the fight against terror.

The EU-Russia relations were approached in terms of the objectives of the European Union, as well as the way in which Russia meets its international commitments, including the implementation of the five EU guiding principles: full implementation of the Minsk agreement as an essential condition for any substantial change in the EU's position toward Russia; strengthening relations with the EU's eastern partners and other neighbours, including those in Central Asia; increasing EU's resilience to Russian threats such as energy security, hybrid threats, and disinformation; selective engagement with Russia on issues of interest to the EU; increasing support for the Russian civil society and promoting people-to-people contacts.

The minister also stressed the need for "a firm, consistent, coordinated and comprehensive policy" in order to achieve results in the relationship with the Russian Federation, a relationship that remains "a strategic challenge to the EU and its member states."

The Romanian official stressed the need to define a long-term EU strategy on that issue. He emphasised the urgent need to maintain as a priority for the EU the course of developing relations with the Eastern Partnership states in order to promote stability and prosperity in the region, strengthen member states' resilience, continue sanctions policy, and also better coordination to implement the principle of selective engagement with Russia.


The screenshot of the notice on the website of the Maritime Safety Administration of the Peoples Republic of China on August 26

BEIJING, Aug. 28  According to the notice released by the Maritime Safety Administration of the Peoples Republic of China on August 26, the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) will hold military exercises in central Yellow Sea from August 29 to September 3, 2020. During this period, no vessel shall be allowed to navigate within the water areas bounded by the lines joining 35-02N 122-43.5E35-02N 121-53.5E34-39.5N 121-53.5E and 34-39.5N 122-43.5E.

LYG0045MIDDLE YELLOW SEA MILITARY MANEUVER FROM 29 AUG TO 3 SEP IN AREA BOUNDED BY THE LINES JOINING 35-02N 122-43.5E35-02N 121-53.5E34-39.5N 121-53.5E AND 34-39.5N 122-43.5EENTERING PROHIBITED. LYGMSA CHINA.
Greek soldiers and tourists disembark from a ferry at the port of the tiny Greek island of Kastellorizo, the most southeastern inhabited Greek island in the Dodecanese, situated two kilometers off the south coast of Turkey on August 28, 2020.

The European Union is preparing sanctions against Turkey that could be discussed at the bloc's next summit on Sept. 24 in response to the eastern Mediterranean dispute with Greece, the EU's top diplomat said on Friday.

The measures, meant to limit Turkey's ability to explore for natural gas in contested waters, could affect individuals, ships or the use of European ports, Josep Borrell said. The EU would focus on everything related to "activities we consider illegal", he added.

Borrell spoke in Berlin where EU foreign ministers met to discuss support for Greece after Athens ratified a pact on its maritime boundaries to counter Turkey's claims to energy resources in the region.

In a fresh sign of tensions, Turkey's Defense Ministry said Turkish F-16 jets on Thursday prevented six Greek F-16 jets which took off from the island of Crete from entering an area where Ankara is conducting maritime activity.

Greek media reported that Turkish fighter aircraft had harassed Greek jets which were returning to base on Crete.

Accusations and counter accusations on military issues are common between the two NATO allies.

In Berlin, Borrell said the bloc was ready to sanction Turkish vessels, block their access to EU ports and cut off supplies.
Debjani Dutta By

Express News Service

PUDUCHERRY: Puducherry health minister Malladi Krishna Rao on Saturday cleaned a toilet in a COVID-19 ward at the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) after patients complained that it was not maintained well.

During his inspection of COVID wards at the hospital, the minister received complaints of unclean toilets. Immediately he asked for a cleaning brush and liquid, went inside the toilet and started cleaning it himself.

Though the toilets are cleaned three times a day, with 75 patients in a ward, maintenance becomes difficult as there is a shortage of sanitary personnel. Hence he advised the young patients to maintain the toilets after use so that they remain clean.

The government has moved to engage 458 health workers on a contract basis which include doctors, nurses, sanitary workers and other categories of staff. By next weekend, the government hopes to have the manpower in place, said the health minister. Another 80 staff nurses have been engaged who would join duty on August 30, he said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS  Some of the finest thoroughbreds have raced around the Saratoga Race Course this summer, mainly under warm, sunny skies, but in front of largely empty stands.

Thanks to the ongoing pandemic, racing fans have resorted to cable TV and the NYRA Bets app to watch the races. And while New York Racing Association officials would much prefer to have people in the stands, they've managed to minimize the loss of on-site revenues.

Get the latest from the Saratoga Race Course and the upcoming Kentucky Derby. Sign up for the Saratoga newsletter.

One of the largest successes has been NYRA Bets, its betting app that was introduced in 2016. A promotion with Stewart's Shops has also been a big boost.

This summer, NYRA and Stewart's Shops teamed up to offer NYRA Bets gift cards, expecting to sell about 2,500 of the cards, which are loaded with $50 in betting funds that recipients can deposit into their NYRA Bets account to wager on races throughout the country. As of Friday, nearly 10,000 cards had been sold, more than triple NYRA's expectations, said Stewart's Shops President and CEO Gary Dake.

"We have seen multi-card transactions," said Dake, who added that regulations prohibit purchases by credit card. Instead, purchases must be in cash. "How often do you see people spending $300 cash on anything? One person spent $1,000. It could be somebody who's giving them out, (such as) restaurants hosting watch parties."

Watch parties have become a popular alternative in Saratoga Springs to actually being at the race course. While social distancing limits how many people can attend such an event, once there you're with other fans, cheering on their choices to win. And typically, you're outside.

NYRA Bets is one of a number of advance-deposit wagering, or ADW, platforms that give fans a way to bet on races nationwide. NYRA seeks to encourage fans to use its platform, because the value it receives from each NYRA Bets wager is about three times as valuable to it as the ones made on other platforms.

It's the second fastest growing platform in the sport, NYRA President and CEO David O'Rourke told the state Franchise Oversight Board last week, although it's from a relatively smaller base than TVG, the largest online platform.

"We want to encourage people to bet with NYRA Bets," said Tony Allevato, NYRA's chief revenue officer and president of NYRA Bets. The strong gift card sales, he added, "show the power of the Saratoga and NYRA brands" in the region.

Stewart's and NYRA previously teamed up to sell season passes to Saratoga Race Course. But with the pandemic, that wasn't possible this year.

And NYRA has felt the financial impact of the coronavirus, posting a $20.1 million operating loss in the year to date, officials told the Franchise Oversight Board last week.

Even before the gift cards, NYRA was moving into televising racing activity on Fox and MSG. That move has served it well during the pandemic, when the stands at Saratoga are empty. Fans continue to watch the programming on TV and the NYRA Bets platform enables them to participate almost as if they were at the track.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

For this year's Runhappy Travers, which was run three weeks ago, Allevato said just under 1.3 million viewers tuned in. In a normal meet, the Travers would have been run this weekend. Instead, NYRA officials are hoping to sell more NYRA Bets gift cards as the Kentucky Derby, normally run in May, will be run next Saturday, Sept. 5, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The Preakness Stakes, which would have been run on May 16, instead will be run on Oct. 3. With the Belmont Stakes, which was run June 20, they make up the Triple Crown races.

Tiz the Law handily won the Belmont, normally the longest of the three races. This year, however, the Belmont was shortened to 9 furlongs, or 1 1/8 miles, and the Derby will be run at its traditional 10 furlongs, or 1 1/4 miles. That's the same length as this year's Runhappy Travers, which Tiz the Law, who has spent the summer training in Saratoga, won in a "runaway," according to some descriptions.

Owned by the locally based Jack Knowlton anad Sackatoga Stables, he's favored to win next week's Derby.

To honor him, Dake said Stewart's will introduce on Monday its Tiz the Law ice cream.

Dake said he finds his NYRA Bets account is an easy way to control how much he spends each season on the races.

While the Saratoga season is winding down with just another week to go, the NYRA Bets gift cards may continue to be popular. After all, as Dake points out, two legs of the Triple Crown still remain to be run. And Tiz the Law is a third of the way there.

eanderson@timesunion.com
WASHINGTON - The Republican National Convention begged this question: Why are President Donald Trumps most fervent supporters describing the state of his union as a hellscape?

It was perhaps the central paradox for voters wondering what to believe in the rhetoric, because it defied logic to believe it all. Are Americans living in a dystopia or in an America made great again by Trump?

Four years ago, candidate Trump promised that if he won, The crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end. Beginning on January 20th, 2017, safety will be restored.

Now? Ive never seen our streets go this bad so quickly, Pat Lynch, representing tens of thousands of New York police officers, told the GOP proceedings. We are staring down the barrel of a public safety disaster. He said this in remarks singing Trumps praises.

Rudy Giuliani, Trumps personal lawyer and a former New York mayor, spoke of years of carnage and violence rising now, and implored, Mr. President, make our nation safe again.

All of the conventions apocalyptic rhetoric was in service of bashing Trump challenger Joe Biden, Democratic mayors and national Democrats both in and out of office as being soft on violence and anarchy. Yet the landscape of lawlessness they described is Trumps America now.

Hyperbole suffused the proceedings, both when Trump and his supporters hailed his record and when they denounced the other side. Outright falsehoods were heard every night on the social justice protests, the coronavirus, the economy and Bidens agenda.

A selection from the week:

PROTESTS

VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE, expressing support for people in uniform: People like Dave Patrick Underwood, an officer in Homeland Securitys Federal Protective Service, who was shot and killed during the riots in Oakland, California.  Wednesday.

THE FACTS: Pence is blurring what happened, leaving the impression that Underwood was a victim of rioters. Underwood was not killed by demonstrators in Oakland who were protesting for racial justice.

Federal authorities say Underwood was fatally shot by Steven Carrillo, an Air Force staff sergeant they say has ties to a far-right, anti-government movement, while Underwood was guarding a federal courthouse during protests in May. Officials believe Carrillo used the protests as a cover for the slaying and his subsequent escape.

Carrillo, 32, hatched a plot to target officers with at least one other accomplice online, federal authorities allege. Over an eight-day span before his capture, they say, Carrillo fatally shot Underwood and wounded his partner, then killed a California sheriffs deputy and injured four others.

Of the two law enforcement officers killed, Pence only mentioned the one who was in the vicinity of the protest. The other is Santa Cruz County Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who authorities say was killed by Carrillo while pursuing him in June.

-

RACIAL INEQUALITY

KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON: On the economy: Joe Biden couldnt do it, but President Trump did build an economy that worked for everyone, especially minorities.  Tuesday.

THE FACTS: Not accurate.

Republicans can talk successfully about the decline in unemployment rates for Black and Hispanic workers. But thats just one gauge; plenty of economic troubles and inequalities abound for minorities. Minority groups still lagged behind white people with regard to incomes, wealth and home ownership before the pandemic. But when the disease struck, it became clear that the economy did not work well for everybody as the job losses and infections disproportionately hit minorities.

Black unemployment now stands at 14.6%. Hispanic unemployment is 12.9%. The white unemployment rate is 9.2%. For every dollar of total wealth held by white households, Blacks have just 5 cents, according to the Federal Reserve. Its 4 cents for Hispanics. That is not evidence of an economy working especially for minorities.

___

POLICE

ERIC TRUMP: Biden has pledged to defund the police.  Wednesday.

REP. STEVE SCALISE of Louisiana: Joe Biden has embraced the lefts insane mission to defund them.

THE FACTS: No, Biden has explicitly rejected the call by some on the left to defund the police. He has proposed more money for police, conditioned on improvements in their practices.

Bidens criminal justice agenda, released long before the protests over racial injustice, proposes more federal money for training that is needed to avert tragic, unjustifiable deaths and hiring more officers to ensure that departments are racially and ethnically reflective of the populations they serve.

Specifically, he calls for a $300 million infusion into federal community policing grant programs. Thats more money, not less.

___

BLACK LIVES MATTER

GIULIANI: Black Lives Matter and antifa sprang into action and, in a flash, they hijacked the peaceful protest into vicious, brutal riots.  Thursday.

THE FACTS: Thats a hollow claim.

Theres no evidence that Black Lives Matter or antifa, or any political group for that matter, is infiltrating racial injustice protests and injecting violence.

In June, The Associated Press analyzed court records, employment histories and social media posts for 217 people arrested in Minneapolis and the District of Columbia, cities at the centre of the protests earlier this year.

More than 85 per cent of the people arrested were local residents, and few had affiliation with any organized groups. Social media posts for a few of those arrested indicated they were involved in left-leaning activities while others expressed support for the political right and Trump himself.

Local police departments were forced to knock down widespread social media rumours that busloads of antifa, a term for leftist militants, were coming to violently disrupt cities and towns during nationwide racial justice protests. In June, Twitter and Facebook busted accounts linked to white supremacy groups that were promoting some of those falsehoods online.

___

COVID-19

TRUMP: The United States has among the lowest case fatality rates of any major country anywhere in the world.  Thursday.

THE FACTS: Not true. Not if you consider Russia, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and India to be major countries.

The U.S. sits right in the middle when it comes to COVID-19 mortality rates in the 20 nations most impacted by the pandemic, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.

Of the 20, Mexico has the highest mortality rate at 10.8 deaths for every 100 confirmed COVID cases, followed by Ecuador at 5.8. Saudi Arabia had the lowest rate of the 20 nations at 1.2, followed by Bangladesh, the Philippines, Russia, Morocco, India, Argentina, South Africa and Chile.

The U.S. had the 10th lowest of the 20 nations, with a mortality rate of 3.1.

When the centre looked at the data in another way, analyzing the COVID death rate for every 100,000 residents, the U.S. fares even worse. Only three nations  Brazil, Chile and Peru  posted higher death rates.

Understanding deaths as a percentage of the population or as a percentage of known infections is problematic because countries track and report COVID-19 deaths and cases differently. Many other factors are in play in shaping a death toll besides how well a country responded to the pandemic, such as the overall health or youth of national populations.

___

TRUMP: Instead of following the science, Joe Biden wants to inflict a painful shutdown on the entire country. His shutdown would inflict unthinkable and lasting harm on our nations children, families, and citizens of all backgrounds.  Thursday.

THE FACTS: Thats false. Biden has publicly said he would shut down the nations economy only if scientists and public health advisers recommended he do so to stem the COVID-19 threat. In other words, he said he would follow the science, not disregard it.

Speaking Sunday in an ABC interview, Biden said he will be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives when he was asked if he would be willing to shut the country again.

So if the scientists say shut it down? asked ABCs David Muir.

I would shut it down, Biden responded. I would listen to the scientists. The former vice-president has said repeatedly that no one knows what January would look like.

___

DONALD TRUMP JR. on the coronavirus response: The president quickly took action and shut down travel from China.  Monday.

THE FACTS: No, he didnt shut down travel from China. He restricted it. Dozens of countries took similar steps to control travel from hot spots before or around the same time the U.S. did.

The U.S. restrictions that took effect Feb. 2 continued to allow travel to the U.S. from Chinas Hong Kong and Macao territories over the past five months. The Associated Press reported that more than 8,000 Chinese and foreign nationals based in those territories entered the U.S. in the first three months after the travel restrictions were imposed.

Additionally, more than 27,000 Americans returned from mainland China in the first month after the restrictions took effect. U.S. officials lost track of more than 1,600 of them who were supposed to be monitored for virus exposure.

Dr. Anne Schuchat, the No. 2 official at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also told the AP that the federal government was slow to understand how much the coronavirus was spreading from Europe, which helped drive the acceleration of outbreaks across the U.S. in late February. Trump didnt announce travel restrictions for many European countries until mid-March.

___

EDUCATION

TRUMP: Biden also vowed to oppose school choice and oppose all charter schools.  Thursday.

THE FACTS: Thats false. Biden doesnt oppose charter schools. He opposes federal money going to for-profit charter companies.

Such companies are only a slice of the charter school market, meaning Bidens position wouldnt substantially alter the charter landscape that is dominated by non-profit organizations.

Biden does oppose federal money for tuition vouchers.

___

HEALTH CARE

TRUMP: We protected your preexisting conditions. Very strongly protected preexisting ... and you dont hear that.  Monday.

THE FACTS: You dont hear it because its not true.

People with such medical problems have health insurance protections because of President Barack Obamas health care law, which Trump is trying to dismantle.

One of Trumps alternatives to Obamas law  short-term health insurance, already in place  doesnt have to cover preexisting conditions. Another alternative is association health plans, which are oriented to small businesses and sole proprietors and do cover those conditions.

Neither of the two alternatives appears to have made much difference in the market.

Meanwhile, Trumps administration is pressing the Supreme Court for full repeal of the Obama-era law, including provisions that protect people with preexisting conditions from health insurance discrimination.

With Obamacare still in place, preexisting conditions continue to be covered by regular individual health insurance plans.

Insurers must take all applicants, regardless of medical history, and charge the same standard premiums to healthy people and those who are in poor health, or have a history of medical problems.

Before the Affordable Care Act, any insurer could deny coverage  or charge more  to anyone with a preexisting condition who was seeking to buy an individual policy.

___

BIDENS AGENDA

NIKKI HALEY, former ambassador to the United Nations, on the Democrats: They want a government takeover of health care. They want to ban fracking and kill millions of jobs.  Monday.

REP. JIM JORDAN of Ohio: Defund the police, defund border patrol and defund our military.  Monday.

RONNA McDANIEL, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee: You deserve to know that they would ban fracking and eliminate fossil fuels, which would kill millions of good-paying jobs and raise the cost of driving our cars and heating our homes. You deserve to know that they want a complete government takeover of our health care system, so moms like me wont be able to take our kids to the same pediatrician theyve been seeing for years.  Monday.

THE FACTS: Those arent Bidens positions. A number of Republican speakers seized on proposals of the Democratic left, in some cases distorting those positions, and assigned them to Biden, who doesnt share those views.

He does not favour a government takeover of health care; instead he proposes building on Obamas law, which preserves the private insurance market while expanding Medicaid.

Biden also did not endorse proposals to cease border enforcement or even to decriminalize illegal crossings.

Biden supports banning only new oil and gas permits, fracking included, on federal land. But most U.S. production is on private land. The government says production on federal land accounted for less than 10% of oil and gas in 2018.

In a March 15 primary debate, Biden misstated his energy policy, suggesting he would allow no new fracking. His campaign quickly corrected the record. Biden has otherwise been consistent on his middle-of-the-road position, going so far as to tell an anti-fracking activist that he ought to vote for somebody else if he wanted an immediate fracking ban.

___

VIRUS TESTING

IVANKA TRUMP: Our president rapidly mobilized the full force of government and the private sector ... to build the most robust testing system in the world.  Thursday.

THE FACTS: Her assertion of superior U.S. testing for COVID-19 is dubious. The U.S. repeatedly stumbled with testing in the early weeks of the outbreak, allowing the virus to quickly spread in the U.S. The presidents own experts say the U.S. is nowhere near the level of testing needed to control the virus.

The U.S. currently is conducting nearly 750,000 tests a day, far short of what many public health experts say the U.S. should be testing to control the spread of the virus. Looking to the fall, some experts have called for 4 million or more tests daily, while a group assembled by Harvard University estimated that 20 million a day would be needed to keep the virus in check.

Public-health authorities acknowledge testing was a critical failure in the crucial early months. The number of tests being done has since surged but remains inadequate. Many who do get tested have unduly long waits for results, during which time they can be spreading the virus to others.

___

IRAN

SEN. TOM COTTON of Arkansas: Joe Biden sent pallets of cash to the ayatollahs.  Thursday.

THE FACTS: This is a distorted tale Trump and Republicans love to tell. Yes, the U.S. flew cash to Iran in the Obama years, but it was money the United States owed to that country.

Cotton also played into the conventions pattern of attributing every questionable action of Obamas administration to Biden personally.

___

ECONOMY

PENCE: Four years ago we inherited ... an economy struggling to break out of the slowest recovery since the Great Depression. ... In our first three years we built the greatest economy in the world.  Wednesday.

LARRY KUDLOW, Trump economic adviser: Trump was inheriting a stagnant economy on the front end of recession, and under the president, the economy was rebuilt in three years.  Tuesday.

THE FACTS: This is false. The economy was healthy when Trump arrived at the White House.

Even if the recovery from the 2008 financial crisis was slow, Trump took office with unemployment at a low 4.7%, steady job growth and a falling federal budget deficit. The longest expansion in U.S. history began in the middle of 2009 and continued until the start of the year, spanning both the Obama and Trump presidencies.

The U.S. economy did benefit from Trumps 2017 tax cuts with a jump in growth in 2018, but the budget deficit began to climb as a result of the tax breaks that favoured companies and the wealthy in hopes of permanently expanding the economy.

Annual growth during Obamas second term averaged about 2.3%. Trump notched a slightly better 2.5% during his first three years, but the country swung into recession this year because of the coronavirus and will probably leave Trump with an inferior track record to his predecessor over four years.

___

WAR

SEN. RAND PAUL: Joe Biden voted for the Iraq war, which President Trump has long called the worst geopolitical mistake of our generation.  Tuesday.

THE FACTS: Trump had no more foresight on this matter than Biden. Neither was against it when it started.

When asked during a Sept. 11, 2002, radio interview if he would support an Iraq invasion, Trump responded, Yeah, I guess so. The next month, Biden as a senator voted to authorize George W. Bush to use force in Iraq.

The next March, just days after the U.S. launched its invasion, Trump said it looks like a tremendous success from a military standpoint.

It wasnt until September 2003 that Trump first publicly raised doubts about the invasion, saying a lot of people (are) questioning the whole concept of going in in the first place. In November 2005, Biden called his Senate vote to authorize force a mistake.

___

TAXES

ERIC TRUMP: The president slashed taxes and wages went through the roof.  Tuesday.

THE FACTS: Not quite. Wage growth did improve, but there is clearly still a roof on workers incomes.

The 2017 tax cuts appear unlikely to deliver on their promised pay increases. White House economists argued that incomes would surge by at least $4,000 because of the lower corporate tax rate. That has yet to occur and seems unlikely given the current recession.

But average hourly wages did improve to a 3.5% annual gain by February 2019, much better than the 2.7% annual gain in December 2016 before Trump became president. The problem was that wage growth then began to slip through the end of last year despite the steady hiring. Wage gains only accelerated again with the pandemic and layoffs of millions of poor workers that artificially raised average wages.

What workers have yet to see is a meaningful change in the distribution of income. More than half of total household income goes to the top 20% of earners, according to the Census Bureau. Their share has increased slightly under Trump with data that is current through 2018. The bottom 20% of earners get just 3.1% of total income, just as they did before Trumps presidency.

___

FARMING

CRIS PETERSON, from a Wisconsin dairy family: Our entire economy and dairy farming are once again roaring back. One person deserves the credit and our vote, President Donald J. Trump.  Tuesday.

THE FACTS: Not everyone in the dairy industry views it as booming, especially as larger operations are putting smaller family farms out of business.

The Agriculture Department reported this summer that dairy herds fell by more than half between 2002 and 2019, with an accelerating rate of decline in 2018 and 2019, even as milk production continued to grow.

Part of the problem is that smaller farms face higher production costs. Farms with more than 2,000 cattle are more likely for their sales to exceed their total costs, while smaller farms are more likely to operate at a loss by this metric, according to government figures.

___

SUBURBS

PATRICIA McCLOSKEY on Democrats: They want to abolish the suburbs altogether by ending single-family home zoning. This forced rezoning would bring crime, lawlessness and low-quality apartments into thriving suburban neighbourhoods. President Trump smartly ended this government overreach, but Joe Biden wants to bring it back.  Monday.

THE FACTS: Thats a false account of what Biden supports. In 2015, during the Obama administration, a regulation took effect intended to ensure that communities confront racial segregation in housing.

The rule required more than 1,200 jurisdictions receiving federal Housing and Urban Development block grants and housing aid to analyze their housing stock and come up with plans to combat patterns of segregation and discrimination. It did not eliminate zoning for single-family homes in the suburbs.

Trump revoked the rule; Biden supports it. But Biden does not support requiring municipalities to refrain from building single-family homes as a condition for getting money from HUD.

McClosky and her husband have been charged with a felony for brandishing guns outside their St. Louis home as racial justice protesters passed.

___

VOTING FRAUD

TRUMP, on mail-in voting: Absentee  like in Florida  absentee is good. But other than that, theyre very, very bad.  Monday.

THE FACTS: Hes making a false distinction. Mail-in ballots are cast in the same way as absentee mail ballots, with the same level of scrutiny such as signature verification in many states.

In more than 30 states and the District of Columbia, voters have a right to no excuse absentee voting. That means they can use mail-in ballots for any reason, regardless of whether a person is out of town or working.

In Florida, the Legislature in 2016 voted to change the wording of such balloting from absentee to vote-by-mail to make clear a voter can cast such ballots if they wish. So there is no absentee voting in that state, as Trump alludes to.

More broadly, voter fraud has proved exceedingly rare. The Brennan Center for Justice in 2017 ranked the risk of ballot fraud at 0.00004% to 0.0009%, based on studies of past elections.

___

TRUMP, on the November vote count and Democrats: We have to be very, very careful and this time they are trying to do it with the whole post office scam. They will blame it on the post office. You can see them setting it up.  Monday.

THE FACTS: No postal scam has emerged from the Democrats. Instead Trump has given credence to suspicions that he wants to suppress mail-in voting to help his chances in the election.

Hes said as much. In an interview this month, he admitted hes trying to starve the U.S. Postal Service of money in order to make it harder to process an expected surge of mail-in ballots, which he worries could cost him the election.

___

TRUMP, on defective ballots in an election: What does defective mean? It means fraud.  Monday.

THE FACTS: No, defective ballots do not equate to fraud. The overwhelming majority arent.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the vast majority of ballots are disqualified because they arrive late, a particular worry this year because of recent U.S. Postal Service delays and an expected surge in mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ballots also are deemed defective if there is a missing signature  common with newer voters unfamiliar with the process  or it doesnt match whats on file. In addition, some states require absentee voters to get a witness or notary to sign their ballots.

None of those are fraud, said Wendy Weiser, director of Brennans democracy program at NYU School of Law. When suspected cases are investigated for potential fraud, studies have borne out the main reason for defects is voter mistake, she said.

Defective ballots also disproportionately impact voters of colour, and recent lawsuits have successfully challenged some requirements as posing health risks or disenfranchising voters. Earlier this year, for instance, a federal judge ruled that a South Carolina requirement to have witnesses to mail-in ballots could put voters health at risk; the requirement was suspended it for the June primary. Others states including Minnesota and Rhode Island have also suspended that requirement due to the pandemic.

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Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz in Chicago; David Klepper in Providence, Rhode Island; Bill Barrow in Atlanta; Matthew Lee, Paul Wiseman and Matthew Daly in Washington; and Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.

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EDITORS NOTE  A look at the veracity of claims by political figures.

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Find AP Fact Checks at http://apnews.com/APFactCheck

Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck
Street artist Banksy affirmed ``All Black Lives Matter`` on Saturday in explaining why he is sponsoring a search-and-rescue ship that picked up dozens of African migrants adrift in the Mediterranean Sea this week.

The ship, the MV Louise Michel, appealed for help and a safe port Saturday, saying that it had rescued so many people that it could no longer safely navigate. The Italian coast guard said it sent a vessel to take 49 of the most vulnerable to bring them to safety.

Banksy confirmed his involvement in the operation in a video released on his Instagram account.

``Like most people who make it in the art world, I bought a yacht to cruise the Med,'' the artist wrote in captions accompanying the video. ``It's a French Navy vessel we converted into a lifeboat because EU authorities deliberately ignore distress calls from non-Europeans.''

The subversive artist continued ``All Black Lives Matter.''

The video featured footage of migrants at sea and clips of the MV Louise Michel, which is painted bright pink and features a mural depicting a young girl holding on to a heart-shaped safety float.

The ship's crew has said it is sponsored by Banksy, whose real name remains a mystery. Details of his financial involvement were not available. The crew has in recent days reported picking up several groups of migrants in the central Mediterranean in what appeared to be its maiden rescue voyage.

In a series of tweets over the past few days, the ship's crew strongly criticized the European Union over its migration policy.

The tone of the tweets has grown more urgent in the past 24 hours after the crew reported that the numbers of migrants on board were getting too high, that the ship was essentially stranded and that the crew was seeking a port to disembark the passengers. It reported women and children were among the dozens on board and in an adjacent dinghy, as well as the corpse of a migrant.

``We need immediate assistance,'' the crew tweeted via its (at)MVLouiseMichel handle. ``We are safeguarding 219 people with a crew of 10. Act (hash)EU now!''

The crew said later Saturday that it welcomed the Italian coast guard's decision to take off 49 vulnerable migrants, and said another humanitarian rescue ship, the SeaWatch4, was also on site to help with the remainder. The SeaWatch4 has had more than 200 migrants on board for days waiting to be allowed to enter a port.

Another humanitarian aid group ship, the Mare Jonio, said Saturday it was leaving the Sicilian port of Augusta to come to the Louise Michel's aid. The Mare Jonio, which has been active in the Mediterranean for years, said it was moving up its departure by 48 hours to help the Louise Michel out.

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Peoples Organization for Progress Chairman Lawrence Hamm yelled out the names of New Jersey residents who were fatally shot by police: Abdul Kamal, Jerame Reid, Kashon Ashford, and Earl Faison.

What do I have to do to get your attention? Hamm shouted as he fell to his knees and recounted how Breonna Taylor, a Black EMT, was killed by Lousiville police in March while she slept in bed.

Hamm joined other activists and clergy, and about 20 people at the Abraham Lincoln statue in Jersey City on Friday for a rally to coincide with the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, and a simultaneous national rally held at the same time in D.C. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made his I Have a Dream speech to hundreds of thousands of protesters in front of the Lincoln Monument in Washington D.C.

Lawrence Hamm, founder and chairman of Peoples Organization for Progress speaks at a protest held by the Progressive Leaders of Tomorrow (PLOT) and Peoples Organization for Progress (POP) groups at Lincoln Park in Jersey City on Friday, August 28, 2020John Jones | For NJ Advance Media

The names of people fatally shot by police that were recounted during the rally were just a few examples of why racial justice has not yet been achieved more 57 years after King gave his speech, activists and clergy said.

Hamm also shouted out the name of a 15-year-old Jersey City resident, Michael Anglin, who was fatally shot by police in 2000. The teen was killed by Jersey City police officer Vincent Corso following a pursuit, the Jersey Journal reported, but he was not charged. Corso told investigators his gun accidentally went off during a struggle.

The city later settled a civil suit brought by Anglins family for $2.4 million. He was later promoted, but pension records show he retired in 2019.

The rally on Friday was also a bit of a history lesson.

Rev. Jamal Johnson, who preaches at the Zion Baptist Church in Jersey City, read Kings Letter from a Birmingham Jail, which he wrote to other clergy while imprisoned. Kings letter criticized clergy for calling his activism unwise and untimely, something that Johnson noted is still said today.

There are lives of young people across this state and across this county that have been taken senselessly, Johnson said. I can say this because I am of the faith. I am of the cloth: where is the church? Where is the church in times of injustice? Where is the church when people are fighting for peace? Where is the church when people are fighting for equality?

Dont hide behind the sacred desk.

Reverend Jamal Johnson speaks at a protest held by the Progressive Leaders of Tomorrow (PLOT) and Peoples Organization for Progress (POP) groups at Lincoln Park in Jersey City on Friday, August 28, 2020John Jones | For NJ Advance Media

Guazabara Insights CEO Dennis Febo, whose organization provides health and educational services, noted that New Jersey was not one of the 27 states in 1865 to ratify the 13th Amendment, which abolished traditional forms of slavery but not for those convicted of a crime.

It says that slavery is illegal except as punishment for a crime for a party who have duly been convicted, Febo said. Which means that there is an exception to anything in there but ending. Slavery never ended in the United States of America.

An amendment to the New Jersey Constitution proposed by State Sens. Ron Rice, D-Essex, and Sandra Cunningham, D-Hudson, would prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude in state prisons. The amendment would ensure that no prisoner in the state would be forced to work, even if theyre compensated for it.

Former Gov. Jim McGreevey, who now works in the field of prisoner re-entry, said the United States has one of the highest rates of incarceration in the world. Black residents in New Jersey are put behind bars at 12 times the rate of white residents, yet made up just 15% of the states population, according to a 2016 study.

Dennis Febo speaks at a protest held by the Progressive Leaders of Tomorrow (PLOT) and Peoples Organization for Progress (POP) groups at Lincoln Park in Jersey City on Friday, August 28, 2020John Jones | For NJ Advance Media

The sad reality is well spend $55,000 a year at a maximum security jail cell, but we wont spend a fraction of that cost at quality pre-kindergarten education, McGreevey said.

Jersey City Councilman at-Large Rolando Lavarro Jr. did not attend the rally on Friday, but his assistant, Isaac Smith, noted that he voted no to a city budget that did not divert $5 million from the police department to social services. Lavarro and Ward E Councilman James Solomon made a proposal to do so, but it was rejected by other council members.

Former New Jersey governor James McGreevey speaks at a protest held by the Progressive Leaders of Tomorrow (PLOT) and Peoples Organization for Progress (POP) groups at Lincoln Park in Jersey City on Friday, August 28, 2020John Jones | For NJ Advance Media

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Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com.
Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where the Martin Luther King Jr. famously laid out a vision for harmony between white and black people 57 years ago, his son issued a sobering reminder about the persistence of police brutality and racist violence targeting black Americans.

We must never forget the American nightmare of racist violence exemplified when Emmett Till was murdered on this day in 1955, and the criminal justice system failed to convict his killers, said Martin Luther King III, speaking to thousands that gathered Friday (local time) to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Martin Luther King III speaking at the National Action Network (NAN) Commitment March at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall. Source: AAP

Sixty-five years later (after Tills murder), we still struggle for justice  demilitarising the police, dismantling mass incarceration, and declaring as determinately as we can that Black lives matter, King said.

Even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, many felt compelled to join civil rights advocates in Washington to highlight a scourge of police and vigilante violence that gave way to what many feel is an overdue reckoning on racial injustice.

Some stood in sweltering temperatures in lines that stretched for several blocks, as organisers took temperatures as part of coronavirus protocols.

Thousands gathered as Martin Luther King III spoke at the National Action Network (NAN) Commitment March. Source: AAP

Organisers reminded attendees to practice social distancing and wear masks throughout the program, although distancing was hardly maintained as the gathering grew in size.

They gathered following another shooting by a white police officer of a Black man  this time, 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Sunday (local time) sparking demonstrations and violence that left two dead. As peaceful protests turned to arson and theft, naysayers of the Black Lives Matter movement issued calls for law and order.

The Reverend Al Sharpton, whose civil rights organisation, the National Action Network, planned Fridays commemoration, had a message for naysayers.

Some say to me, Rev. Al, yall ought to denounce those that get violent, those that are looting, Sharpton said.

Story continues

All of the families (of victims of police and vigilante violence) have denounced looting. What we havent heard is you denounce shooting.

Sharpton asked, We will speak against the looting, but when will you speak against wrong police shooting?

Sharpton and King stood with relatives of an ever-expanding roll call of victims: Blake, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner, among others.

Arbery and Martin both were killed by white men who pursued them with guns and whose arrests were delayed until residents protested.

There are two systems of justice in the United States, said Jacob Blake Sr., the father of the man whose shooting by police in Kenosha left him paralysed from the waist down. Theres a white system and a black system  the black system aint doing so well.

No justice, no peace! he proclaimed.

Were going to hold court today. Were going to hold court today on systematic racism, he said.

Racism against all of us: GUILTY!

Racism against Trayvon Matin. We find them guilty.

Racism against George Floyd. We find them guilty.

Were not taking it any more.

Jacob Blake Sr., father of Jacob Blake, raises his fist in the air while speaking at the March on Washington, Friday Aug. 28, 2020, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. Source: AP

People gather at Lincoln Memorial to attend the March on Washington. Source: AAP

George Floyds brother says he wish he could see this

Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, stared out at the massive march audience and said he wished his brother was there to see it.

Fridays march shaped up to be the largest political gathering in Washington since the pandemic began. Many attendees wore T-shirts of the late John Lewis who, until his death last month, was the last living speaker at the original March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It went on to become one of the most famous political rallies in US history, and one of the largest gatherings with over 200,000 people in attendance.

Organisers said they intended to show the urgency for federal policing reforms, to decry racial violence, and to demand voting rights protections ahead of the November general election. A handful of satellite marches were held in South Carolina, Florida, Nevada, Utah and Colorado.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, in a video, said the original conveners would be disappointed that Black Americans are still marching for justice and equality under the law.

I have to believe that if they were with us today, they would share in our anger and frustration as we continue to see Black men and women slain in our streets, and left behind in our economy and justice system that has too often denied Black folks our dignity and rights, she said.

Protesters and activists carrying portraits of George Floyd attend the 'Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks' march. Source: AAP

Former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted his support for the march.

Although President Donald Trump did not comment on the march Friday, the Republican National Committee marked the events anniversary by highlighting the presidents record as a champion for the Black community.

While there is more work to be done, Donald Trump is the leader to make it happen, Paris Dennard, an RNC senior communications advisor, said in a statement.

With rain subsiding here in DC, the number of protesters is growing as they march the streets past midnight #DCProtests #DC pic.twitter.com/LDJ55BT8Cw  Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) August 29, 2020

Man walks 1200 kilometres to Washington march

Activist Frank Nitty, who said he walked 1200 kilometres for 24 days from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Washington for Fridays march, spoke to the audience about persistence in the fight for justice.

Are yall tired? Because Im tired, Nitty said. They think this is a negotiation, but I came here to demand change. My grandson aint gonna march for the same things that my granddaddy marched for.

Navy veteran Alonzo Jones-Goss, 28, who traveled from Boston to participate in the march, said the nation has seen far too many tragic events that claimed the lives of Black Americans and other people of colour, and that needs to come to an end.

A demonstrator is seen at the Lincoln Memorial during the "Get Your Knee Off Our NecksO Commitment March. Source: AAP

Following the rally, participants marched to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in West Potomac Park, next to the National Mall, and then dispersed. Some participants headed toward Black Lives Matter Plaza, right outside of the White House, which was renamed from Pennsylvania Avenue during protests in June.

Chants of Black lives matter and No justice, no peace echoed through downtown Salt Lake City Friday morning, as about 200 people marched from the state Capitol to Washington Square Park for Utahs March on Washington.

If people still cant see why were out here and why were marching and why people are loud and angry then theyre blind, said Joshua Chamberlain, a realtor from Holladay, Utah. Theres racism happening every day and  especially by police brutality  people are dying from it.

In Colorado, several dozen people rallied at a prominent statue of Martin Luther King Jr. in Denvers City Park. Democratic US Senator Michael Bennet cited the names of George Floyd, Elijah McClain and victims of police brutality.

You know and I know what happened to them would never happen to me, said Bennet, who is white.

Demonstrators stand in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as thousands rallied. Source: AAP

Sharpton instructed those in other states to march on their US senators offices and demand their support for federal policing reforms and reinvigorated voter protections, in Lewis memory.

In June, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, which would ban police use of stranglehold manoeuvres and end qualified immunity for officers, among other reforms.

A Republican-authored police reform bill, introduced in June by South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, who is Black, failed a procedural vote in the Senate because Democrats felt the measure didnt go far enough to address officer accountability.

In July, following Lewis death, Democratic senators reintroduced legislation that would restore a provision of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 gutted by the US Supreme Court in 2013.

The law previously required states with a history of voter suppression to seek federal clearance before changing voting regulations. Both measures are awaiting action in the Republican-controlled Senate.

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Former Chairman for the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), Dr Steve Manteaw has called on the Auditor-General, Mr Daniel Yao Domelovo to look into how the government spent the Ghc1.5 billion Cedis oil money.



According to him, he doubts that the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu who should have investigated the oil money will be able to live up to this responsibility.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Dr Steve Manteaw reiterated that the Ghc1.5 billion Cedis should be accounted for, but added that he does not know how since the person who could have done the job perfectly has been asked to proceed on his accumulated leave.



He stressed that the Deputy Auditor-General cannot deliver to satisfaction as there is a petition by some of the workers that they cannot work with him.



If the Auditor-General will look into the Ghc1.5 billion Cedis taken by the government from the Oil Fund I will be happy . . . the Auditor-General has been asked to proceed on his accumulated leave and the deputy too is being fought by his own people. I have seen a petition written by some of the workers that they cannot work with the deputy and they cannot trust him, he stated.



Touching on his reason for Mr Domelovo to be a better candidate for the position of Special Prosecutor, Dr Steve Manteaw claimed that the Auditor-General is very encouraging in terms of accountability and the fight against corruption.



To him, Ghana would have been an interesting country to have Mr Daniel Domelovo as the Special Prosecutor even though Martin Amidu has the character to deliver justice for the country.



Domelovo is encouraging in terms of accountability and the fight against corruption, he should have been made the Special Prosecutor if he was a lawyer; Ghana would have been an interesting country with Domelevo as the Special Prosecutor, he asserted.



Maybe Martin Amidu is working but we have not seen his work publicly and that is why we perhaps dont see his work and so I dont know if he is working or not. I know Special Prosecutor very well because he is a friend; I know his character and his principle and so I have trust in him, but I dont know what has become a barrier to his mandate as a Special Prosecutor . . . he has become slow in his delivery of justice for the country. He is a man of integrity though, he indicated.



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After more than five months of closure, schools all over the country took the first tentative steps in re-opening on Tuesday morning.

Operating in the uncharted territory of these unprecedented times is hugely challenging and staff have been complimented on their hard work in preparing our schools for the return of pupils this week.

The Corkman visited Boherbue Comprehensive, which was one of the first schools in North Cork to welcome First Year pupils on Tuesday morning. 76 students from all over the school's large catchment area began their first chapter in second level education wearing a mandatory new piece of school uniform - the face covering.

It was quite a surreal experience to see a classroom with desks set well apart and both pupils and teachers wearing face masks.

Principal Vera Leader, speaking to the Corkman, said that the past five months have been challenging for students, teachers and parents. "However, it's great to see a return to normality, even if it is a 'new normal'," Ms. Leader said. "We are delighted to see the school once again full of students eager to start the new school year and embark on their journey of learning together."

Ms Leader further commented that students were delighted to receive their diaries and timetables and that staff would initially 'be slowing down to catch up', thereby enabling students to settle in and become familiar with the 'new normal'.

"The school is operating in accordance with Department of Education and Department of Health guidelines and procedures," she added.

The Corkman chatted to some of the newcomers to get their take on starting at their new school in this strange and challenging time.

Grace Keating, Rockchapel: "It was exciting starting school this morning, the four of us who finished in 6th class in Rockchapel National School started here, so I'm very happy about that.

"It was very hard being off school for the past few months, so it's great to be getting back to normal".

Sophie Reidy, Newmarket: "I was a little bit nervous starting school this morning because of the virus, but I felt very safe when I came in and saw how the desks were spaced out and that everyone was wearing masks".

Padraig O'Keeffe, Boherbue: "I feel that it's great to get back into a routine and I didn't feel nervous or anything like that. I found being off since March tough enough, but once the lockdown lifted we were able to get out and about again. I missed my friends but we were doing Zoom calls so we were able to keep in touch".
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has called a meeting with all managing directors of metro rail corporations on September 1 to finalise the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the functioning of metro trains allowed under the Unlock 4 guidelines, an official said.

There are 17 metro corporations in the country. Once the detailed SOPs are issued by the ministry, they can issue their details keeping in mind local requirements, the official.

The SOPs already circulated with all metro corporations will be discussed on September 1 through video conferencing, the official said.

All managing directors have been asked to look into the SOP prepared by MOHUA earlier because of the current realities. All suggestions will be considered in the meeting and accordingly, SOP will be finalised, the official added.

According to another official, The Union Housing and Urban Affairs ministry will reconsider its earlier prepared SOP given the current situation and issue fresh SOP soon. The Union Home Ministry issued the Unlock 4 guidelines on Saturday under which metro trains will be allowed to resume services from September 7 in a graded manner.

Also read | India enters Unlock 4: What is open, what remains closed

Officials said that wearing a mask and social distancing norms will be strictly followed once metro trains start operating.

Metro passengers will be encouraged to follow anti-Covid-19 measures, they said, adding fines will be imposed on those violating the guidelines.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said it will resume services for the public from September 7 in a calibrated manner.

Taking to Twitter, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was glad that the metro will resume operations in a phased manner.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A boy was sexually abused decades ago in a community residence overseen by the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin at Mount Loretto, a new lawsuit alleges.

The boy revealed some of the abuse to a doctor and priest at Mt. Loretto during the time period when he was being sexually assaulted in the early 1980s, but the charity took no action to protect the victim, who eventually left the home and ended up living on the streets, the filing alleges.
When she hit the ground, Nicole Kramm remembers thinking to herself: Not my eye. The 29-year-old photographer was in central Santiago in Chile on New Years Eve, documenting as well as celebrating alongside others in a plaza that had been the heart of months-long protests.

Since 18 October, Chiles uprising had been brutally repressed by police and the military. Human rights groups have accused the state of deliberately injuring protesters using crowd control weapons like tear gas and rubber bullets.

By New Years Eve, 359 people  including protesters, bystanders and journalists  had been shot in the eye with these so-called less-lethal weapons and two people were blinded completely. As the months went on, the number of eye injuries rose to more than 460.
The Central governments argument was based on two factors  one, the promise that it made to states to make good its revenue loss on account of the GST rollout, and two, a contraction that the Indian economy is expected to witness this financial year. PTI Photo

During the GST Council meeting on August 27, the government of India has invoked the force majeure clause (a phrase in French for superior force or the act of God) to renege on its statutory obligation to make good the loss incurred by states on account of switching over to the Goods and Services Tax.

The Centre argued that the shortfall in revenue collection was because of an extraordinary situation caused by a pandemic and that it is not bound to make good loss caused by an act of God.

The Central governments argument was based on two factors  one, the promise that it made to states to make good its revenue loss on account of the GST rollout, and two, a contraction that the Indian economy is expected to witness this financial year (FY2020-21).

The Narendra Modi government believes that the revenue shortfall would be considerably more because of the Covid-19 drag on the economy and should not be attributed to the GST.

According to the Union finance ministrys estimates, the loss to states on account of GST rollout is Rs 97,000 crore, while the overall shortfall in revenue is Rs 2.37 lakh crores. Since the overall loss of revenue is more than double the loss caused by the GST rollout, the Centre refused to bail out states using funds from its coffers. This argument, however, glosses over one crucial point.

While agreeing to the GST regime, the states had sought compensation for the loss caused to them on account of relinquishing their financial independence. If the states had not acceded to the GST regime, they would have been free to raise revenue depending on their local circumstances.

They would not have been forced to stand before the GST Council with a begging bowl.

The Centre also cannot wash its hands of the revenue shortfall because of the decline in the economic growth had started in the last financial year itself.

It would, therefore, be entirely wrong to blame God because coronavirus did not emerge in the country suddenly out of blue.

Even if we accept that God has sent coronavirus to punish us, he has given enough opportunity for India to take steps to protect itself from the most infectious pathogen.

However, it was overconfidence of the Narendra Modi government that was busy in welcoming US President Donald Trump and unseating the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh which brought the country to this pass.

Since the Narendra Modi government has invoked force majeure to escape its responsibility, one wonders if the ordinary citizens too would have an opportunity to escape their contractual responsibility to pay loan instalments without attracting legal action by banks.

Why should there be different yardsticks for the Central government and its citizens?

After all, the Bhagavad Gita says, Whatever actions great persons perform, common people follow. Whatever standards they set, all the world pursues. Will Sangh Parivar ideologues advise Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to let citizens follow examples set by them?
The outbreak of COVID-19 initially looked like a gift to autocrats around the world. What better pretext for a state of emergency than a pandemic? It was a golden opportunity to close borders, suppress civil society, and issue decrees left and right (mostly right).

Donald Trump in the United States, Viktor Orban in Hungary, Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, and others took advantage of the crisis to advance their me-first agendas and consolidate power. Best of all, they could count on the fear of infection to keep protestors off the streets. However, as the global death ...
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Molson Coors Brewing (TAP). Shares have added about 1.2% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Molson Coors due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.

Molson Coors Q2 Earnings & Sales Beat

Molson Coors has reported second-quarter 2020 results, wherein earnings and sales beat estimates. Moreover, adjusted earnings improved year over year, while sales declined.



While the company began witnessing positive trends in the on-premise channel in some markets in June, its U.K. business remained affected until early July. Further, it expects uncertainty to prevail in the quarters ahead regarding the return of its business to normalcy. It continues to expect significant adverse impacts on top and bottom lines for the third quarter as well as 2020 and beyond.



Molson Coors underlying adjusted earnings of $1.55 per share was up 2% year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 65 cents. Despite the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak on top-line growth, the companys earnings benefited from favorable net pricing, cost savings, and lower marketing, general and administrative (MG&A) expenses.



Underlying EBITDA rose 2.4% to $692.3 million year over year. Further, underlying EBITDA improved 2.2% year over year in constant currency.



Net sales declined 15.1% to $2,503.4 million but surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,438 million. The year-over-year decline was mainly caused by unfavorable global mix and a decline in financial volume due to closure of on-premise channel across the major markets on impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. This was partly offset by higher net pricing in the United States and Canada. On a constant-currency basis, net sales fell 14.3%. Notably, net sales per hectoliter inched up 0.3% on a brand volume basis.



However, Molson Coors worldwide brand volume declined 11.6% to 21.5 million hectoliters and financial volume declined 12.5% to 22.6 million hectoliters. The declines in the worldwide brand and financial volumes were mainly attributed to the impacts of the pandemic and the related closure of on-premise outlets. Moreover, market share declined partly due to the prioritization of some key brands and packaging to meet the off-premise demand. Additionally, unfavorable shipment timing in the United States due to aluminum can supply and other packaging material constraints, and lower contract brewing volume hurt financial volume.

Story continues

Segmental Details

The company operates through the following geographical segments.



North America: Molson Coors North America net sales declined 8.3% to $2,002.2 million on a reported basis and 7.9% in constant currency, driven by a decline in financial and brand volume, offset by higher net sales per hectoliter (brand volume basis). North America brand volume declined 7.8%, while financial volume fell 8.3%. Financial volume decline was attributed to lower brand volume, a decline in contract brewing and unfavorable shipment timing in the United States due to aluminum can supply and other packaging material constraints.



The segments brand volume was hurt by the closure of on-premise outlets and market share declines. In the United States, brand volumes fell 5.2%, while domestic shipment was down 6.5%. In Canada and Latin America, brand volume declined 9.8% and 48.1%, respectively, in the quarter.



Meanwhile, net sales per hectoliter rose 0.9% on favorable geographic and package mix as well as higher net pricing in the United States and Canada, offset by negative brand and channel mix due to the shift of volume from on-premise to off-premise. Underlying EBITDA increased 13.8% on a reported and constant-currency basis to $651.8 million.



Europe: The segments net sales on a reported basis declined 44.6% to $307.1 million and 42.4% in constant currency. The net sales decline was attributed to lower volume and drop in net sales per hectoliter due to the closure of on-premise channel. Net sales per hectoliter (brand volume basis) for the segment were down 12.7%, resulting from an unfavorable channel and geographic mix as well as unfavorable net pricing.



The adverse mix mainly related to its high-margin U.K. business that has greater exposure to the on-premise channel, which remained closed until early July, while the other European markets started to re-open gradually by the end of May and early June. The segments financial volume fell 24.8% and brand volumes were down 21.4%. The segment reported underlying EBITDA of $31 million, reflecting a decline of 67.3% on a reported basis and 66.9% in constant currency.

Other Financial Updates

Molson Coors ended the second quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $780.8 million, and total debt of $8,686.7 million. This resulted in net debt of $7,905.9 million at the end of the quarter.



The company had cash flow from operating activities of $1,059.9 million at the end of the second quarter, with an underlying free cash flow of $796.4 million.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?

It turns out, estimates revision have trended downward during the past month. The consensus estimate has shifted -11.06% due to these changes.

VGM Scores

At this time, Molson Coors has a nice Growth Score of B, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with an A. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Outlook

Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, Molson Coors has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.



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Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was under fresh pressure last night after critical lockdown guidance for schools was issued just before midnight on Friday evening.

Unions reacted with fury over the reprehensible timing of the advice, which said that secondary pupils could be kept home on a rota every two weeks in areas that are locked down.

To add to the confusion, the Department for Education amended the guidance shortly after publication to remove a passage that said that if a single case in school is confirmed, an entire year group might be asked to isolate for 14 days.

One teachers union, the NAHT, said that issuing the advice at 11pm on a on a Friday evening before a bank holiday was nothing short of reprehensible and demonstrates a complete lack of regard for the wellbeing of school leaders and their teams.

Unions reacted with fury over the reprehensible timing of the advice, which said that secondary pupils could be kept home on a rota every two weeks in areas that are locked down

And Mary Bousted, general-secretary of the National Education Union, said that the 23,000-word lockdown guidance document should have been ready months ago.

Last night a Whitehall blame game broke out over the chaos, with some sources pointing the finger at Health Secretary Matt Hancock for the bizarre timing.

A source said: It obviously was not our plan to release it then, but Health was involved and it took a long time to clear.

The row overshadowed an attempt by Mr Williamson today to stabilise the Governments handling of the issue by writing an open letter to parents.

Referring to new term nerves, Mr Williamson  whose Cabinet position is already under threat after the A-level results chaos said: I would urge you to keep in mind that all four of our countrys chief medical officers, including Chris Whitty, are unanimous in believing the health risk posed by Covid-19 to children is extremely low, adding: I want to reassure you that huge lengths have been taken to prepare all our schools for this moment.

'If a child is not in school, they stand to lose far more than just a few months of learning. It could well put a huge dent in their future life chances.

'Education is a birthright, so lets make sure we get all children back  back to learning, back to playing and back to being kids again.

The lockdown advice said that the rota system, with each pupil spending a fortnight at school then a fortnight learning remotely to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission, would only happen after all other measures have been exhausted but that if cases continued to increase, all students might have to move to remote learning apart from those in vulnerable groups or whose parents were key workers.

Mr Williamson said the document was a contingency plan for a worst-case scenario.

If there is a local lockdown, the guidance said there would be four stages of response, depending on virus cases in the area: Tier 1 levels of infection would mean all pupils attending school as normal; Tier 2 would mean secondary schools and colleges moving to rotas, with students alternating a fortnight attending and a fortnight at home, and primary schools remain open to all; Tier 3 would see most secondary pupils learning from home; and Tier 4 would see all schools switching to remote learning in the area, except for vulnerable children and the children of key workers.

The guidelines were published as a leaked scientific paper prepared for the Government suggested that as many as 85,000 people could die in the UK in a second wave of coronavirus this winter

If a school confirms a case of coronavirus, health protection teams will advise the school how many pupils need to be sent home to isolate for 14 days.

Boris Johnson has insisted that failure to reopen schools was not an option.The Prime Minister has said he would force shops and restaurants to close before schools, which would shut only as a last resort.

The guidelines were published as a leaked scientific paper prepared for the Government suggested that as many as 85,000 people could die in the UK in a second wave of coronavirus this winter.

The report, by the PMs Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) said some lockdown restrictions may have to be reintroduced and kept in place until March 2021.

If a school confirms a case of coronavirus, health protection teams will advise the school how many pupils need to be sent home to isolate for 14 days

Research shows the risk to children of becoming severely ill from the virus is very low, and there is no evidence that they transmit the disease any more than adults.

Paul Whiteman, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: You dont need a crystal ball to see that there will almost inevitably be some disruption in some areas in the coming weeks.

He said heads had been asking for weeks for this Plan B for what happens in the event of an outbreak  and another late-night publication is fairly typical of what weve become used to.

His comments were echoed by Geoff Barton, general-secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was under fresh pressure last night after critical lockdown guidance for schools was issued just before midnight on Friday evening

Asked how teachers would respond, he told the BBC: I think, probably, the most polite response is a weary, resigned sense of inevitability that here we are again.

Right at the last minute, something that we have been accused of expressing treachery in asking for  wheres the Plan B in case of local lockdown  has arrived.

Professor Carl Heneghan, an Oxford University epidemiologist, said cold and flu cases mean more pupils would have to self-isolate until they are tested. If your child has any symptoms theyre going to have to stay off school.

In the past theres been a tendency to say, You can have some Calpol, maybe you can go in. Theres going to have to be a sea-change in how parents behave, he said.

Labour education spokeswoman Kate Green said it was unfair to school leaders to release the guidelines so close to the start of term.

Last night an opinion poll put the Conservatives and Labour neck and neck on 40 per cent each  the first time the Tories have not been ahead since July 2019. The Opinium survey found that 47 per cent of people disapproved of the Governments handling of the Covid-19 crisis compared to 31 per cent that approve.

The poll also found 63 per cent of parents with school-aged children think it is safe to reopen primary schools, and 60 per cent say the same about secondary schools.

At a glance: What parents need to know Schools welcome children back to the classroom in England and Wales full-time this week  but what exactly do parents need to know? Here, The Mail on Sunday details the very latest Government guidance... Schools are staggering lunch, break and start times and stepping up cleaning, with strict hygiene and cleaning protocols in place. Nearly all have created bubble groups of pupils, erected signs to direct pupils and parents around the school, as well as installing extra hand washing and sanitisation stations. A small number of home test kits are being distributed to all schools for anyone who develops symptoms and is not easily able to get tested. In the event of local lockdown restrictions, secondary school pupils and staff will wear face masks in communal areas where they cant easily socially distance. Face coverings will not be worn in classrooms. Primary school children will not need to wear a face covering. lf a pupil or staff member has a suspected case, classes will continue as normal while the affected person self-isolates and is tested. But if a case is confirmed, health protection teams will advise the school how many pupils need to be sent home to isolate for 14 days and study online depending on the level of contact between the infected person and pupils in their bubble. In a smaller bubble, such as a single class, all the pupils might have to be sent home to isolate. For a bigger bubble, such as an entire year group, there is the option to send home all other pupils, but it could be just those who were in close proximity with a pupil with the virus. If there are a significant numbers of infections, a school may as a last resort bring in a rota system. This would involve pupils spending two weeks in the classroom and then two studying remotely. Schools should base their plans on a four-tier system to respond to changing levels of cases. The default setting will be Tier 1, where all pupils attend full-time. If health and education officials decide levels of infection are too high, schools could move to Tier 2, in which secondary pupils would go on to the part-time rota. Tier 3 would see most secondary school pupils study from home. Tier 4 would see all at home, except the children of key workers and vulnerable youngsters. Advertisement

Get on your bikes! GRANT SHAPPS urges parents to get their children to walk or cycle to school as they return for the start of the autumn term

For many kids, school is not only a place of learning but a centre of stability, offering support to those who face testing circumstances at home

The Shapps household is like millions of others preparing for the start of the school autumn term. New clothes, new books and a new year  a flurry of activity. This is a crucial moment in youngsters education.

Children have paid a heavy price in the coronavirus pandemic, deprived of teaching and separated from their friends for months.

Rightly, we think of those who have had their lives snatched away, or their health damaged, by this invisible foe.

But as we rebuild from the initial emergency to something resembling normal life, we must put our children first. And that means getting them back to school.

The Prime Minister has spoken of the need to re-establish classroom teaching for all children as a moral duty. It is.

Missing out on education is a bigger threat for youngsters than this horrible disease.

For many kids, school is not only a place of learning but a centre of stability, offering support to those who face testing circumstances at home.

They in particular have had to cope with isolation, physical and psychological, that has starved them of the teaching and care meant to improve their prospects for the future. We cant allow this to continue.

This means bringing them back into the school fold, in a safe environment that marries the needs of education with the overriding priority of preventing a re-emergence of the Covid epidemic.

For many kids, school is not only a place of learning but a centre of stability, offering support to those who face testing circumstances at home (file photo)

Teachers have worked through the summer to prepare schools for the autumn influx. Not everything will look the same, with schools putting new measures in place such as extra hand-washing, staggered breaks and lunchtimes.

But on the road back to normality this is a crucial milestone, one we have to reach.

We in government have a responsibility to facilitate that return, to calm fears through practical and proportionate measures.

For my part, as Transport Secretary, that means doing everything possible to ensure that the journey to and from school is as safe and efficient as possible.

Over the past few months, along with my team at the Department for Transport, local authorities up and down the country, and transport operators, Ive been focused on doing just that.

First, weve rolled out some major investment. This includes more than 218 million to help councils keep buses running over the coming weeks, as well as 40 million for dedicated services to take children from their home to school.

For my part, as Transport Secretary, that means doing everything possible to ensure that the journey to and from school is as safe and efficient as possible (file photo)

We are also giving councils 225 million to introduce measures swiftly, such as segregated cycle lanes and wider pavements.

These should give pupils and their parents more confidence to choose to walk or cycle on the school run.

Second, we have concentrated on getting the transport network back in shape.

This has meant resurfacing 319 miles of road during lockdown and using data gathered by delivery firms to detect and fix potholes.

From September 7, were ramping up train services to 91 per cent of pre-lockdown capacity during peak hours, while ensuring that services regularly used by pupils are up and running before that date.

We have coordinated preparations for this surge in public transport use with councils and bus and train operators.

Local authorities will be largely responsible for overseeing the return to school in their areas, and we have been in constant communication with them to understand where problems could arise.

Ive also set up a dedicated unit within my department to monitor the national transport network closely during the first weeks of September.

This should allow us to troubleshoot emerging issues at an early stage.

But while were doing our utmost to make the great return to school a success, we need your support, too.

So I am asking everyone to help. Where possible, please try to get your kids to walk or cycle to school.

Its not only the greenest and healthiest way of getting around, it also frees public transport for those who need it the most. We are making it as safe as possible for you to do this.

Also, be even more than usually considerate when driving on roads close to schools. There could be a lot more children walking and cycling around them. And please, avoid transport that is aimed at school children. If you can stagger your commute to avoid the school rush-hour, it would be a major help.

Employers, too, can play their part in making this possible for their staff. Everyone over the age of 11, unless they have a reasonable exemption, should wear a face covering on public transport.

And we all need to remember to wash our hands before and after every journey, keeping hand sanitiser with us if possible.

This will help keep the network safe for all. I know its been said before, but it really does help.

Finally, if you are a pupil heading back to school, I wish you the very best for the new term and year ahead.

As Covid lingers in our midst, do your best to help your teachers and the transport staff. In trying times, courtesy and consideration are a wonderful help.

And if you are a parent, be assured that we are pulling out the stops to make sure their journey goes smoothly.

After these past six months, our children deserve brighter and happier times. Ones they can look back on with fondness, as school days should be.
MP Marc Baum from the leftist party "Dei Lenk" based his enquiry on a report from 2017, which concluded that the situation for female prisoners in Luxembourg left a lot to be desired.

The new Sanem penitentiary is expected to be operational by the autumn of 2022, and will allow authorities to renovate the prison infrastructure in Schrassig. The latter is not yet up to current standards. In a parliamentary question to Minister of Justice Sam Tanson, Dei Lenk MP Marc Baum expressed his concerns over unfair disadvantages faced by female prisoners.

Baum based his enquiry on a report from 2017, which was put together by the mediation of ombudsman Claudia Monti. The report concluded that female prisoners do not receive the same advantages as male prisoners, citing unequal access to therapy as an example.

In her answer to the MP's question, the minister admits that female prisoners in Schrassig do not have access to the entirety of therapeutical treatments. Tanson explains that this is due to the rooms in question being too small as well as regulations stipulating that male and female prisoners must be strictly separated for safety reasons. However, since the infrastructure is to be modernised anyway, the ministry intends to work with the responsible administration to expand therapy services available to female prisoners. Professionals within the Schrassig facility are also currently working on a similar project. The minister promises the MP that once the prison is fully upgraded, female prisoners will receive better treatment.

In her report from 2017, the mediator also stated that it was not easy for prisoners to receive visitors from their family.

In fact, so-called "intimate visits" do not exist at all in Schrassig. Tanson acknowledges this as well, again pointing out that the prison does not have the necessary infrastructure yet but will have once its modernisation is complete.

However, the minister almost completely rules out the possibility that female prisoners might become victims of sexual abuse by other prisoners, the reason for that being that they are strictly separated from the male prisoners.

The mediator also emphasized that women do not have the same job opportunities that men have during their time in the penitentiary. The only tasks available to female prisoners are activities like ironing and sewing, according to the report. Baum thus also enquired as to whether gender diversity has increased in the prison's various workshops during the three years since the report was published. The minister again admits that the answer is no, stating that while the responsible administration is currently assessing which workshops female prisoners could potentially participate in, there have not been any tangible results due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The minister's answers to this line of questioning seem to indicate that the authorities are expecting major change once the Sanem facility is operational, which will in turn allow for the prison in Schrassig to be upgraded. This despite the fact that only men will be put into pretrial detention in the Sanem penitentiary. The block reserved for female prisoners will remain in Schrassig, even though it can be expected that more space will be available there once a significant number of prisoners have been transferred to Sanem.

In 2017, 34 women were incarcerated in Schrassig and an additonal 6 in Givenich.

The entire answer by Minister of Justice Sam Tanson to the parliamentary questions by Dei Lenk MP Marc Baum (in French) can be found here.
Amid a hostile situation on its borders with China and Pakistan, India on Saturday decided not to take part in a multilateral strategic command post exercise in Russia next month in which its two neighbours were also participating.

An Indian military contingent was to take part in "Kavkaz 2020" ("Caucasus 2020"), exercise next month where various countries, including China and Pakistan, were participants.

The Indian government on Saturday decided it would not take part in the exercise. It stated, "...in view of the pandemic and consequent difficulties in the exercise, including arrangements of logistics, India has decided not to send a contingent this year to Kavkaz-2020. The same has been informed to the Russian side."

The government reiterated that Russia and India are close and privileged strategic partners.

The exercise in Astrakhan region of south Russia between September 15 and 26 would witness the participation of over 12,500 troops, including from Russia.

China is sending an army contingent, and also a naval deployment of three ships to the exercise.

The aim and scope of the exercise is improving cooperation. The idea is for militaries to prepare for joint action with units of armies of foreign states.

Apart from India's fellow Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members China, Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the other counties participating were Mongolia, Syria, Iran, Egypt, Belarus, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

Contingents from Abkhazia, and South Osetia, which are partially recognised by states by Russia and a few other nations, will also be present.

The exercise comes amid an over three month long standoff between India and China at the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. Despite several levels of dialogue, there has not been any breakthrough and the deadlock continues.

There have been several clashes between troops of both sides and the most brutal took place on June 15 in Galwan Valley where India lost 20 of its men while there was an undisclosed number of casualties on the Chinese side.
Musician and activist, Kwame Asare Obeng, has described as cowardly and hypocritical the heavy deployment of police and military officers to Dome Faase near Obom in the Greater Accra Region, over the assault of two military officers during a land dispute in the area on Tuesday, August 26.



While condemning the assault on the officers, A Plus said the security services by virtue of the heavy deployment of men in the wake of the incident shows the security agencies have lost focus in executing their duties.



He said there have been incidents of political hoodlums going as far as threatening uniformed officers in the exhibition of their notoriety, something the security agencies have been silent about but have found it necessary to terrorise a community filled with women and children.



In this country nobody wants to speak the truth. I condemn the assault on the military officers. It was the same way Major Maxwell Mahama was lynched so it is very wrong and I condemn it.



For the soldiers who went to the village causing the residents to run out of town out of fear, you havent done anything worthy. Ghana Police, Ghana Military you are disgraceful. The remaining officers who are in good standing need to start redeeming the image of the military and the police, he lashed out in a live video on Facebook.



Citing an incident reported in the Ashanti Region during the recent voters registration exercise, A Plus lamented how security officers have almost become helpless when it comes to dealing with political hoodlums who flout the law.



You were there during the recent registration exercise when a civilian pointed a gun at police and military officers and the stood there without doing anything. It is not even up to a month. Ghana Army, Ghana Police you were in this country when a civilian pointed a gun at your officers. You couldnt do anything about it just because the person is a party foot soldier; you were scared of him. Now you hear some villagers have beaten up your people and you go beating them up causing the villagers to run away, he said.



He furiously challenged the military and the police to go after political hoodlums who break the law, stating that the perpetrators cut across both the ruling party and the opposition.



Ghana Army and Ghana Police if you have power in this country, party foot soldiers are the ones you should be attacking because they break (and) they take the law into their own hands and they misbehave. It is not only the NPP. When NDC is in power, it is the same thing...You have been disgraced and if nobody is going to say it I will say it. Because there are some good ones in the military who dont like the way things are going, he stated.



He warned that activities of political thugs engaging in criminal activities is going to be on the increase heading into the December polls. The outspoken A Plus urged the security agencies to start clamping down on them and redeem their image and constitutional mandate.



On Tuesday, August 26, 2020, some residents of Dome Faase near Obom in the Greater Accra Region were accused of assaulting two soldiers over a land dispute.



Two guns belonging to the officers were said to have been seized by the residents in the process.



Following the incident, over 300 military and police personnel were deployed to the area to restore order.



However, the deployment resulted in widespread fear which caused most of the residents to flee the area. Reports indicate some of the residents who remained were subjected to beatings by the officers.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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A South African conservationist was killed by two white lionesses while he was taking them for a walk on the morning of Wednesday, August 26. The 69-year-old wildlife conservationist, West Mathewson, had raised the lionesses himself ever since he rescued them as cubs many years ago, as per BBC reports. Mathewson was walking with the animals on the grounds of his Lion Top Lodge in Limpopo, South Africa when the incident took place.

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Conservationist mauled to death

According to the reports, he was attacked by one of the two white lionesses which he rescued from a hunting farm. His wife was reported to have witnessed the incident, on what was supposed to be a routine morning walk, when one of the animals became aggressive and injured West Mathewson.

Mathewsons wife who was following closely behind in her car tried her best to rescue her husband by distracting the animals but was unable to do so, their family attorney Marina Both was reported to have said in a statement.

READ: Marine Conservationists Send Back Rescued Turtle Into The Sea Near Canary Islands

Mathewson died from his injuries on the premises on Wednesday morning, according to a local newspaper. As per reports, he is fondly called Uncle West by the locals. He kept the two lionesses, named Demi and Tanner, on his property at the safari lodge.

After the incident both the lionesses are reported to have been tranquilized and sent to an endangered species centre. The family is shattered by the loss and haven't decided on the fate of the two lionesses. Mathewson is reported to have rescued the animals from a 'canned lion' hunting farm where animals are pursued by hunters in a closed enclosure.

Image: Pixabay

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Australia will be treated to a weekend of unseasonably gorgeous weather as sun-seekers bask in warm temperatures across the country.

The nation will enjoy days of sunshine in what will be the warmest weather since April, with temperatures well into the mid-twenties.

But the warm weather has already brought destruction to some areas, with a raging bushfire breaking out in the Gold Coast, with warnings also in place for Darwin.

Alex Majchrowski, from the Bureau of Meteorology, told Daily Mail Australia a high pressure system would bring a hot weekend for the whole of New South Wales.

Australia will be treated to a weekend of sunny weather and warm temperates as summer makes an early start across most of the nation (pictured, a woman swimming in Bondi)

Sydney will be treated to perfect beach (pictured, Sydney's Coogee Beach in February) temperatures reaching up to 25 degrees thanks to a high pressure system

'This high pressure system will drift across the state during the weekend, reaching the Tasman Sea by Sunday, and that's going to leave some warmer days.

'For Saturday we are forecasting a maximum of 21 degrees for Sydney, with sunny conditions, and up to 25 degrees on Sunday.

'Temperatures are warming up all around New South Wales, we'll be getting close to 30 degrees in the northwestern parts as well,' he said.

Mr Majchrowski said would experience 'a nice warm weekend and then things will cool down a bit before they start to warm up again.'

'We've got a cold front that's entering the western part of the state late on Sunday evening, so temperatures will drop back down early in the week.

'We're forecasting for Sydney a maximum of 19 degrees on the Monday and the Tuesday before things start to warm up again,' he explained.

Meteorologists said all of Australia (pictured) would be experiencing a pleasant Saturday with temperatures reaching into the mid twenties over most of the country

Northwest NSW will see temperatures up to 30 degrees (women pictured a Sydney beach)

Parts of Australia (Bondi beach pictured) will experience the warmest weather since April

BOM meteorologist Dean Narramore said all of Australia would be experiencing a pleasant Saturday.

'No matter where you are in the country it's going to be a beautiful day.

'It's a warm and sunny day for much of southeastern Australia and right along the east coast as well.

Many areas are likely to see their warmest day since about April earlier this year with many places getting into the twenties,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Narramore warned that severe weather warnings would accompany the summery weather in parts of the country.

Sydney (pictured, Bondi beach) temperatures are expected to drop on Sunday evening

Bushfire season started early with a blaze breaking out in the Gold Coast hinterland (pictured)

'We do have a front moving through parts of Western Australia.

'Very little rain with this front, more just a wind change, but we do have fire dangers for inland parts of Western Australia,' he said.

Mr Narramore said the fire danger extended up to Darwin in the Northern Territory.

His warning comes after firefighters battled against a raging bushfire in the Gold Coast hinterland.

The blaze broke out near the Visitor Centre in Springbrook, west of the Gold Coast, on Thursday afternoon.

The fire (pictured above) broke out in Springwood, west of the Gold coast, on Thursday

Firefighters continued to fight the blaze (pictured) on Friday and Saturday

Fire warnings (Springbrook fire pictured) have been issued in WA and NT

It continued to burn throughout Friday and Saturday, with firefighters using back burning and waterbombing aircraft to try and control the blaze.

A statement from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said firefighters remained on scene and the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk was closed.

Mr Narramore said the conditions and risk of fire danger in Queensland would ease.

'We had a bit of a wind front Thursday and Friday in the eastern parts of the country but for the weekend and early next week there's no risk of severe fire dangers.

'You might see things pick up a bit in northern NSW early next week as we get some fresher westerly winds,' he warned.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah who was under medical supervision at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has recovered from COVID-19. He is likely to be discharged shortly.



Home Minister Amit Shah has recovered and is likely to be discharged in a short time. He was admitted at AIIMS, New Delhi (on August 18) for post-COVID Care: AIIMS Delhi pic.twitter.com/9wIo4tg3r4

 ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2020

AIIMS released a statement on August 29, that says, "Amit Shah has recovered and is likely to be discharged in a short time."

The union minister was admitted to the hospital after complaining of fatigue and body aches on August 18. The hospital had released a statement informing that he has been admitted to AIIMS for post-COVID care.

On August 2, the Union minister had tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection and admitted to a hospital. On August 14, he said that he had tested negative for COVID-19.
Simon McEvoy who will run in Blackrock to raise for AWARE pictured with his family

Blackrock will be the Louth port of call for a man who will attempt to run 5km in each county of Ireland to raise money for mental health charities.

Simon McEvoy, Banbridge, with be in the seaside village at 11.30am on Saturday, 5 September as part of his personal challenge which he plans to complete over the course of a week.

Setting off on Sunday next, 30 August, Simon will start in Co. Antrim and traverse the country, driving on average 4 hours a day to visit and run in up to 5 counties before completing his 32 county challenge on Saturday, 5 September on his home turf in Co. Down.

'I'm quite new to running. I ran my first 5k in 2019 when I took part in a Born2Run race in Castlewellan, Co. Down. Since then I've been interested in getting a bit faster and going a bit further, but I didn't have any real goals, until recently when running the Atlantic Drive in Donegal had the idea to run in every county in Ireland.

'Before having the opportunity to think it through or back out, I discussed the challenge with my family who were very supportive and decided that I would do it before the end of this summer whilst raising money for a worthy cause in the process.

'I have previously taken part in fundraising events for AWARE, so it was important for me to raise funds for both AWARE NI and AWARE Ireland.

'This year has put a strain on the mental health of many across the island. The respective AWARE charities carry out amazing work in the mental health sector and their support is so vital at the moment with the current covid-19 pandemic'.

Simon concluded, 'I am glad I didn't give myself too much time to consider the challenge as it has been quite an intense few weeks training and organising the logistics of the 1,800km drive but it has kept me focused.'

He has so far raised over 6,000 and to tie in with his challenge has been in contact with all the provincial rugby and county GAA boards so that he has enough tops to run in and hopefully plans to get them signed by players to auction.
PULWAMA: A joint operation by Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army and CRPF was launched against terrorists at Zadoora area in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to reports, the encounter broke out at around 1 am in the wee hours on Saturday (August 29). It, however, remains unknown how many terrorists are holed up in the area.

Earlier on Friday, four terrorists were killed while one was captured alive in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district. The J&K Police confirmed that terrorists have been killed in the encounter in Kiloora area of the district.

The slain terrorists were identified as Al Badr founder and district commander Shakoor Ahmed Parry, Suhail Bhat, Zubair Nengroo and Shakir-ul-Jabbar. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes. There was no injury to civilians or loss of property during the said encounter.

In 2018, Parry had escaped with four weapons of the SDPO Awantipora and formed Al Badr. Shakoor was self-styled commander of Al Badr and had recruited 10 more, most of them have been eliminated. Another is Suhail, who has been involved in killing and abduction of Khanmohs Sarpanch Nasir has been also killed. They were also involved in the abduction of TA soldier namely Shakir Manzoor Wagay resident of Shopian who has been reportedly killed. Two AK rifles and three pistols have been recovered.

During the encounter Police and security forces while exhibiting extreme professionalism also arrested one active terrorist identified as Shoiab Ahmad Bhat resident of Awantipora. "Capturing one terrorist alive during an ongoing encounter will send a right message to the youth who are joining terrorism," said IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar. He is being questioned.

The same group is involved in the abduction of Army jawan whose dead body has still not been found.

As per police records, Parray was made SPO in 2014 in Kulgam Police. On operational grounds, he was converted as a constable in the police department and was adjusted in Police District Awantipora. Later on, he was transferred district Anantnag, where he took away 4 rifles (weapons) from the other officials and joined the terrorist outfit.

After joining the terrorist groups, he got active in the area and distributed the snatched weapons among his close associates. He was the main handler of proscribed terrorist outfit Al Badr and was involved in recruiting youth into terror ranks.

All the killed terrorists had a long history of terror crime records. They were involved in planning and executing several terror attacks in the area including attacks on police and security establishments.

A police official said that exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces happened in apple orchards of Kiloora village. On a specific input regarding presence of terrorists in village Kiloora area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 178 BN Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the said area.

During the search operation as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter.
Chandigarh, Aug 29 : Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Saturday requested Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot to recommend a CBI inquiry into the Rs 63 crore SC scholarship scam in Punjab.

In a letter to Gehlot, she said a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry was necessary to recover the funds which had been embezzled allegedly at the instance of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Backward Classes Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot so that they could be disbursed to the genuine beneficiaries.

She also requested that since the Congress government had clearly failed to distribute the SC scholarship funds in a bonafide manner to the beneficiaries, the Centre may take over this responsibility pending an inquiry into the case.

Harsimrat Badal, while requesting Gehlot to forward the case to the Union Home ministry for institution of a CBI inquiry, said aside from the criminal offence the scam amounted to committing an atrocity against the Scheduled Caste community of Punjab.

She said the scamsters were also playing with the future of Dalit students of the state.

"Moreover the issue has widespread ramifications and the scope of the scam could be much more than what has been revealed in the inquiry report." Giving details, Harsimrat Badal said minister Dharamsot had been indicted by his own Principal Secretary, who was an officer in the rank of Additional Chief Secretary, of presiding over a Rs 63.91 crore scam.

She said as per the report Rs 39 crore was misappropriated as there was no official record of the same.

She said the minister was also accused of disbursing Rs 24 crore to private educational institutions against whom the government had ordered recoveries.

She said this was not all. "As per the report the minister also signed files bypassing departmental procedures and even objections by the Principal Secretary were removed from the file." "The senior bureaucrat has indicted the minister along with a deputy director in the case. Deputy Director Parminder Singh Gill was suspended last year also in connection with anomalies in the disbursement of the SC scholarship but his suspension was revoked at the instance of Dharamsot," she said.

The Union minister said in the letter that recently minister Dharamsot had announced that he had not distributed Rs 309 crore received from the Centre since 10 months under the SC scholarship scheme.

"It seems the minister wants to disburse this amount as per his whims and fancies and having been thwarted from doing so by the departmental head he is sitting on this money. This is leading to prolonged suffering among SC students with thousands of them not being given their degrees by private colleges as their scholarship amounts have not been received by the colleges," she said.
As waves of schools and businesses around the country are cleared to reopen, college towns are moving toward renewed shutdowns because of too many parties and too many Covid-19 infections among students.

With more than 300 students at the University of Missouri testing positive for the coronavirus and an alarming 44 per cent positivity rate for the surrounding county, the local health director Friday ordered bars to stop serving alcohol at 9pm and close by 10pm.

Iowa's governor has ordered all bars shut down around the University of Iowa and Iowa State, while the mayor of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, did the same in the hometown of the state's flagship university.

What we're seeing in our violations is they're coming late at night, said Stephanie Browning, head of the health department for Columbia, Missouri. Big groups gathering. They're not wearing their masks, they're not social distancing.

In Utah, the city council in Provo overrode a mayoral veto to pass a mask mandate, which includes a $500 (374.5) fine for organising large mask-less gatherings, days before students return to Brigham Young University (BYU) from around the country.

Recommended College towns fear semester will cause uptick in coronavirus cases

But the council was nevertheless worried that college students sharing dorms, bathrooms and showers could become super-spreaders and bring the virus off campus, council chair George Handley said.

We're already seeing what's happened across the country at other universities, he said.

But a recent warehouse party organised by a BYU student's promotional company called Young/Dumb also raised concern when pictures of hundreds of revellers without masks surfaced online.

BYU, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has its own rules requiring masks on campus. Requirements for indoor public spaces in town will help people stay healthy and businesses stay open, Mr Handley said.

This is actually about preserving our way of life, it's not about destroying it  contrary to what some people say, Mr Handley said.

The outbreaks since students began returning to campus in the past few weeks have heightened tensions between colleges and their towns and led to recriminations between local politicians and university officials.

Meanwhile, California announced a four-tiered, colour-coded plan Friday for gradually reopening businesses after abandoning a reopening attempt earlier this summer. It requires counties to meet certain benchmarks showing progress in controlling the virus.

In Arizona, another deadly hot spot this summer, a drop in transmission numbers allowed the Phoenix and Tucson areas to reopen gyms and some bars.

The US has recorded over 180,000 deaths from the coronavirus and 5.9 million confirmed infections. Worldwide, the death toll is put at more than 830,000, with at least 24.5 million cases.

Drugmaker Gilead Sciences said Friday that US regulators are now allowing use of experimental antiviral drug remdesivir for all patients hospitalised with Covid-19.

It said the Food and Drug Administration has expanded its emergency use authorisation, which lets doctors administer the IV drug during the pandemic. Until now, that was limited to patients with severe Covid-19.

Remdesivir previously was shown to shorten treatment by about four days for hospitalised patients with severe disease, compared with those getting standard supportive care.

Surging infection numbers around the US have been blamed in part on young people ignoring mask and social distancing requirements.

In Iowa's Story County, home to Iowa State, 74 per cent of new cases over the past seven days were among people ages 19 to 24, Governor Kim Reynolds said Thursday. In the same time period, 69 per cent of new cases in Johnson County, the home of the University of Iowa, were in that age group.

It is increasing the virus activity in the community, and it's spilling over to other segments of the population, Ms Reynolds said.

Fuelled in part by clusters where college students are returning to classes, Kansas has had its highest seven-day increase in coronavirus cases.

Governor Laura Kelly said outbreaks on college campuses and fraternities and sororities are at least a factor in the surge.

We cannot continue to go down this path, she told reporters Friday.

The University of Alabama has recorded over 500 cases on campus since the fall semester began last week. In closing the town's bars Monday for the next two weeks, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said that an unchecked spread of the virus threatens both the health care system and the local economy if students have to be sent home for the semester for remote learning.

Three of North Carolina's largest public universities have abruptly halted in-person undergraduate instruction and directed students to move out of the dorms after hundreds tested positive following their return to campus. More than 800 have been infected at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and over 670 at North Carolina State.

Leaders at UNC-Chapel Hill, which has shifted to online classes, wrote an open letter on Thursday to the mayor outlining steps the university is taking to curb off-campus parties.

We recognise the very real problems with the behaviours of some of our fraternities and sororities, the letter said.

Oyeronke Popoola, a 17-year-old freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill who moved out of her dorm, said that administrators, not students, deserve most of the blame for the virus-related problems after they ushered students back to campus.

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They should've put everything online from the beginning, but they wanted the money, she said. And she said fraternities and sororities weren't the only ones at fault among the students: I feel like Greek life gets a lot of blame, which is understandable, but there are other students who were meeting without masks.

The problems did not change the thinking of other schools around the country.

The University of Virginia announced Friday that it is moving ahead with plans to offer in-person instruction for the fall semester, after delaying the start of classes for two weeks to assess the spread of Covid-19.

We know some will be delighted to hear this news and others will be disappointed, a university statement said. To be frank, it was a very difficult decision, made in the face of much uncertainty, and with full awareness that future events may force us to change course.

AP
Hakim Ziyech's Chelsea debut started perfectly but came to an early end on Saturday, with the winger forced off due to injury.

Playing in front of 2,500 fans to test some small steps back to normality amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Blues travelled to Brighton and the Amex Stadium for a pre-season friendly.

The fixture gave Frank Lampard a chance to see his new signings Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, who arrived for a combined 90m this summer.

Hakim Ziyech was forced off with a knock after half-time in his Chelsea debut on Saturday

The 37m signing face Brighton in a pre-season friendly with fans in attendance at the Amex

Ziyech was wrong-footed and twisted uncomfortably, asking Lampard to pull him off early

Both exciting signings had an instant impact, with Ziyech floating the type of pin-point ball Ajax fans loved, finding Callum Hudson-Odoi whose botched attempt at a header fell to Werner, who slotted in cooly for his first Chelsea goal.

After the break Ziyech's involvement ended though, as the Moroccan was wrong-footed by the touchline and appeared to twist awkwardly.

The 27-year-old rejoined the action in discomfort but didn't last long, asking Lampard to haul him off as the English boss sent 20-year-old Conor Gallagher on in his place.

Lampard later admitted Ziyech will require further assessment, saying he had suffered a 'little twist to the knee'.

Blues fans will hope Ziyech recovers quick after setting up the opener with a superb pass

Fellow new boy Timo Werner scored just four minutes in after Ziyech floated a glorious pass

Blues fans will be desperate to hear news that it was merely a knock, with the Premier League season set to kick off for the west Londoners in little over two weeks.

French striker Olivier Giroud also came off after suffering a wound following a clash of heads with Brighton defender Lewis Dunk.

Chelsea have dominated the transfer market this season, adding Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr to their summer business.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-30 01:35:43|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Turkey-backed rebels "kidnapped" 10 civilians in the Afrin area after a raid in the northern countryside of Aleppo Province in northern Syria on Saturday, state news agency SANA reported.

The "kidnapped" civilians included five women and a number of elderly people, said SANA.

The rebels took them to an unknown location.

SANA said the Turkey-backed rebels carry out raids and detain civilians in Afrin on an almost daily basis in order to "practise pressure on the civilians" and push them to leave their homes.

Turkey and Ankara-backed rebels captured Afrin from the Kurdish-led militias in March of 2018.

Activists have made several reports about the situation in Turkey-controlled areas in northern Syria, saying a state of lawlessness is rampant in the region. Enditem
They say good things come to those who wait. It might be true in a lot of circumstances but there's one County Wexford band that is well on its way to knocking that particular line of thought on its head.

Formed just two years ago, Gorey based, Foot Squeaker, have no intention of sitting back and waiting for things to happen.

The band has just released a new single, 'Wayside', and it's one of the most impressive tracks to be released by a local band in a long time.

There is a slight new wave, pop punk feel to the song that should endear it to a broad music fan base.

The track is set to a fantastic stop-start rhythm and there are hints of Mod-styled guitar bands like the Jam and the Blades in evidence.

The band, composed of Diarmuid Comerford, Mike Lynch and Mick Byrne, adopted one rule from the very start: 'keep it hard and fast'.

It's something that is evident on 'Wayside'.

The band are formidable musicians and that's something that is also very clear to see on this track.

The production is also worth noting as there is a wonderful, full sound to the recording.

The single has a brilliant bridge and it's obvious the band knows a thing or two about harmonies.

The chorus is very strong and will grab your attention whether you want it to or not.

Diarmuid and Mike spent 2018 sculpting their songs while the latter also took on the role of quality auditor of the riffometer.

In 2019, Mick Byrne joined on bass and the seeds were then sown for a trio that could be destined for great things.

The band rehearsed for the next few months after recruiting Mick and the overall tight feel of the rhythm is something that stands out when listening to their songs.

The band has numerous influences and while some of them are vaguely evident in the music what Foot Squeaker has done is take a myriad of influences and used them to create their own rather unique overall sound.

'Wayside' comes in the wake of another cracking song from the band, titled 'No Connection'.

That track had a foreboding feel and in many ways invoked an image of a bleak, dangerous future.

There was an anger to the track that revealed one aspect of the band's songwriting style.

Citing musical influences such as Neil Young, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Paul Weller, Queens Of The Stone Age, Pearl Jam, Weezer, Supergrass, Blur and Beck, the band wield the combined explorative sounds of the above whilst maintaining an air of individuality.

While the current pandemic has forced bands to postpone their live activity for (hopefully) the short term, the live circuit is something Foot Squeaker is eager to enjoy again and it's no wonder.

The band's songs are custom made for a live setting; the louder the better.

The band members are also no strangers to successful live gigs with their very first venture as a live act seeing them play to a packed audience as part of the Gap Arts Festival curated by Marc Aubele (Bell X1, Join Me In The Pines).

It was a moment that cemented the fact that here was a band with something special to offer the contemporary music scene.

In addition to 'Wayside', here at the Last Verse, yours truly has also been given access to the band's next single and it's a fantastic song called 'Specimen'.

It offers something different again to what has gone before.

The song begins with a lovely, intricate stepped guitar riff before the vocals come in.

The song has a lovely, melancholic feel while never being self-indulgent.

The Jam influence is definitely there but as with the band's other tracks there is a distinctive overall sound that marks it out as being Foot Squeaker and no-one else.

'Specimen' will be backed by a track called 'When They're Gone'.

It's a new wave, pop rock number that has a great upbeat tempo and great chorus.

In January, this year Foot Squeaker headed to Hellfire Studios, Dublin, to record four tracks with Ivan Jackman (Chad Channing, Sinead O' Connor, Girlband).

'No Connection' was the debut single from that recording session with 'Wayside' being single number 2.

It's a personal song, as Diarmuid Comerford explained: 'My Da always said he had gotten more hardship than me growing up. I reckon his Da said the same and now I'm saying the same to my sons. There is one thing however that has been consistent with men through time and that's the inability to talk about their feelings. Us men need to speak up when we need help, reach out to somebody, anybody, just reach out.'
HOUSTON - The U.S. government has detained children at several major hotel chains  more than previously known  during the coronavirus pandemic instead of transferring them to government-funded shelters, according to new data released Friday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 28/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Verty chats on his phone while his wife Saint Jean holds up her 1-year-old daughter at their house in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. The Trump administration has sharply increased its use of hotels to detain immigrant children before expelling them from the United States during the coronavirus pandemic. Verty says government contractors at a hotel where he was detained gave his family, including his daughter, cups of ice to eat to pass temperature checks prior to their deportation flight, even though they had tested negative for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

HOUSTON - The U.S. government has detained children at several major hotel chains  more than previously known  during the coronavirus pandemic instead of transferring them to government-funded shelters, according to new data released Friday.

Since March, the Trump administration has used hotels to hold at least 660 children, most unaccompanied by a parent, before expelling them to their countries of origin. The administration said it cannot allow children to stay in the U.S. due to the coronavirus pandemic, though opponents of U.S. immigration policy contend that the pandemic is being used as a pretext to deny access to asylum or other protections in federal law.

The hotels don't provide the same schooling, legal services, and counselling as shelters, and allegations of mistreatment have already emerged. A Haitian family said contractors at one border hotel told them to feed ice to their 1-year-old daughter in case their temperatures were checked as a screening for COVID-19. Immigration authorities denied the use of ice to circumvent screening measures.

Three Hampton Inn & Suites hotels in Phoenix and two Texas cities, El Paso and McAllen, comprise the majority of the stays up to the end of July, according to the data published Friday in federal court filings. After the Associated Press first reported the three Hampton Inns were detention sites, Hilton said it expected all of its properties to reject business that would use a hotel in this way. Hilton owns the Hampton Inn brand, though the three properties are franchises.

But other Hilton hotels have also been used to detain children since March, the data shows. So have properties at Marriott International Inc. and Choice Hotels International Inc., which was previously unknown.

A Homewood Suites in San Antonio held 12 children and an Embassy Suites in San Antonio held 10. A DoubleTree hotel in Houston was also used twice.

All of those brands are owned by Hilton, which spokesman Nigel Glennie on Friday noted had no current information that children were being detained at its properties. Hilton has reached out to immigration authorities to reiterate its opposition to its rooms being used to detain children, Glennie said.

The Courtyard by Marriott hotel near the El Paso airport was used to detain 55 children. According to the data, many of the children were held there in July, though it's unclear whether those bookings increased after the Hampton Inn near the same airport vowed to reject child detention.

A TownePlace Suites in Alexandria, Louisiana, was used for 17 children. Alexandria is a major hub for deportation flights operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Another 13 children total were detained at four other Marriott properties in San Antonio and McAllen, Texas.

Marriott spokeswoman Connie Kim said Friday that the company last month issued a policy making it clear that properties should decline any requests to use our hotels as detention facilities.

If the government is making reservations through a third party, it becomes more challenging for hotels to identify the type of business that is being booked, Kim said, adding that the company was reviewing the specific bookings revealed in the data.

Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

A Comfort Suites hotel in Alexandria was used 12 times. Choice Hotels, which owns the Comfort Suites brand, said it also opposed its rooms being used for detention and was investigating.

All told, at least 25 hotels and motels have been used since March to detain children, according to the data. The majority were used to hold fewer than 10 children.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined to comment on the data Friday, citing pending litigation, which includes a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union challenging hotel detention. The contractor MVM, Inc., which has a multimillion-dollar contract to transport and detain children in hotels, has refused to comment.

The Justice Department has fought oversight of hotel detention in court, arguing the hotels fall outside a long-running court settlement known as the Flores agreement that governs the treatment of immigrant children in U.S. custody. The U.S. government provides data on where it detains children as part of the settlement.

Melissa Adamson, an attorney with the National Center for Youth Law, said there were incredible inconsistencies in the latest data, with children listed in one set of documents not appearing in the other. Advocates said they have long worried children are being detained and deported from the United States in secret to countries where they fled danger.

If theyre missing kids from either data set, are we missing kids entirely? We dont know," she said.
This story and essay, and the accompanying art, are presented by AI Policy Futures, which investigates science fiction narratives for policy insights about artificial intelligence. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, at noon Eastern, Tochi Onyebuchi will join Holli Mintzer, author of Legal Salvage, and Yudhanjaya Wijeratne, author of The State Machine, to discuss sci-fi, artificial intelligence, bias and justice. To RSVP for the hourlong online discussion, visit the New America website.

Each month, Future Tense Fictiona series of short stories from Future Tense and Arizona State Universitys Center for Science and the Imagination about how technology and science will change our livespublishes a story on a theme. The theme for JulySeptember 2020: justice.

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A City Hall office, all wood paneling.

Robert (Bobby) Caine, age 52, mayor of :

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He left us a mess. Frank and his reparations bill, he left us a mess, thats what he did. Ima have to be mayor a hundred more years to balance this budget. At least. [Laughing.] Imagine that. A white mayor. Spearheading a citywide reparations scheme? And you really cant call it anything other than that. Because thats what it is. Dont get me wrong, as a Black man, Im all for gettin paid for what I been through. But if that stack is just a steppin stone for some white boy on his way to the Governors Mansion? Im good. I hope hes doing well for himself. He must not have liked this job all that much if he was willin to throw it away so fast.

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Sunlight cuts through the blinds of a tiny office. Bookshelves bend under the weight of monographs. More books cover the floor around a desk. Behind the desk sits a man with his glasses hanging around his neck, his mask pulled down. He wears a tweed jacket and periodically removes a handkerchief from his breast pocket to dab at his forehead.

Professor Mark Higgins, age 73, assistant professor at  State University, former member of REPAIR Project Team:

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Its impossible. Its actually impossible to pay reparations. You can look to other models across time and placethe recompense offered to slave owners, for instance, for their having been made bereft of their chattel; what Haiti has been forced to pay France for the temerity of having won its independence, etc.but theres no real analogue for reparations paid to the truly injured parties for the totality of slavery. Some people like to point to what Germany did after the Holocaust, but the injury being addressed was the extermination of a people. The orbit of hurtwhich sounds like a callous way of putting it, grantedis somewhat fixed in that example. Lets break down how exactly that plan, which looked so perfect and discrete on paper, truly unfolded.

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You have the Luxembourg Agreement of 1952 and the Additional Federal Compensation Act of 1953. What did the Germans do? They paid the state of Israel for the cost of resettlement. Half a million Jewish refugees. Thats what they paid for. On top of that, however, was the requirement that the moneys be used only to purchase goods produced within Germany. Its not until you get to the Federal Compensation Act of 1956 that moneys are being offered to German Jews who had suffered at the hands of the Nazi regime and their surviving dependents. There was a claim deadline of 1969. More groups became eligible in the interim with different pay schedules, but imagine the hundreds of lawyers and functionaries representing clients with divergent interests all vying for a piece of a finite pie trapped in red tape. By the time money gets to you, theres a nonzero possibility youre already dead.

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Now, a governmental authority could recompense people for lost property. Or, and this is something people latched onto later on, they could compensate victims for their slave labor. A few years ago, the Claims Conference and the German government announced that they would pay an amount to each of the survivors of Kindertransport. Guess what they were paid. Well, the ones who hadnt died by then. Guess. Two thousand and five hundred euros.

I wrote this and much more in a report I submitted to the team behind the REPAIR Project, and Im sure they listened, because they decided to add something more structural to that asinine personal compensation model. But they let me go ultimately.

A burger restaurant. Former City Councilman Richard Perkins (age 42) and corporate lawyer Tommy DiSanto (53) sit on the patio, a plate of fries in front of each of them. Their black face masks hang from one ear as they eat. DiSanto was an inaugural member of the REPAIR Project Team. Perkins was the teams founder and leader.

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DiSanto: How did it start? I joined after I heard about it, right? Or did you reach out to me

Perkins: I think we reached out to you. Well, I reached out to you. Nobody was supposed to know about this at first. I dont think anyone was supposed to know about it, period. But, see, Tommy and I went to law school together and

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DiSanto: And while Richie turned into a hotshot city politician on his way to the Governors Mansionhell, probably the White House with that jawline of yoursI was out here defending Halliburton. But, shit, this was easy pro bono for me.

Perkins: Except, you couldnt tell anyone at the office why you had to take a sabbatical to do it.

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DiSanto: Because it was [air quotes] top-secret. But, yeah, I got brought in because whatever was being worked on needed to be founded on solid legal footing. Now, granted, I hadnt taken a peek at the Constitution since 1L, so I wasnt nearly the most qualified on that count, but Richie and I go back. What was it, that mixer they had all the students of color go to that one summer?

Perkins: Yeah, the POC mixer. What were you even doing there? Your parents are from fucking Argentina.

DiSanto [laughing]: Anyway, all I know when I say yes is that theres some social justice thing going on and there are scientists involved or whatever. Now, get this. I tell him, I tell Richie: I hate fucking math. Dont make me do math. And he tells me, Dont worry, I wont make you do any math. [Pause] I did so much fucking math.

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They both burst out into laughter. But they turn away from each other to keep from spreading droplets.

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Open on a darkened room. Cloaked in shadows. Against the far wall, the silhouette of a potted plant. The leaves are moving. There is an overhead fan at work. A dark shape sits in an armchair.

Redacted, age 28, data scientist, member of REPAIR Project Team:

I mean, its kind of simplistic to call it the Reparations Algorithm, which is what everyone called it after the story blew upbecause, of course. If you had an A.I. built to detect which moles on a body were evidence of malignant cancer cells, you wouldnt call that the Cancer Algorithm, would you? OK, maybe you would. Bad example. But people think its just like you have this static E=mc2-type equation and you throw as much information at it as possible so that it, like, learns or whatever, then it spits out some intelligent decision. So they hear about the Reparations Algorithm and they immediately think, oh of course, a formula for figuring out reparations! Then they ask, well, what did you feed the formula? And then they expect you to say something like racism. We fed the formula 400-plus years of racism. Like its that simple. Theres nothing simple about racism.

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Voice of Wendy Guan, age 27, statistician, member of REPAIR Project Team:

I dont know if I joined the Project at a late stage or early on, but I do know that our viability was tied directly to the release of funds resulting from the abolition of the city police department. During my interview, they were very vague about what exactly I would be doing, and they kept emphasizing the projects interdisciplinary nature. I think if theyd been a bit more forthcoming, I mightve been too excited to be coherent. There was a real sea change happening throughout the country. Every industry, every locale, was experiencing a reckoning. I even saw in my own community the new ways in which anti-Blackness was being discussed and reckoned with. So to have the chance to be on the forefront of this new effort, this pilot project, and hopefully provide an example of what truly restorative justice looks like, I mean, who majors in statistics and expects to wind up there? Should we have expected what happened after? Maybe. But you have to understand the moment. It felt unprecedented. And, to be honest, I wouldnt take any of it back.

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On a porch of a two-story house in the  suburb, northwest of , there are two rocking chairs that allow their occupants to look out over a recently manicured lawn. Flanking the porch are plots of recently turned dirt and the beginnings of a garden.

Billy [last name withheld], 52, nurse:

Whered that money come from? Came from us cops. Thats where it came from. They abolished the fucking police department, fired everybody. No job assistance, no more pension, nothing. The whole fucking thing was drained dry. And our union. Strength in numbers, right? Its all bullshit. Once the protests started, it was open season on us. Get this, you know those robot dogs that company out of Boston was making? You remember those, right? Well, they were gonna start mass-producing them to replace us. Fake dogs. Union didnt have any pull because those tech wizards were already angling for our jobs on the cheap and we lost all our bargaining power. And the way the defunding was set up, it was reverse seniority, so the younger, more diverse force got clipped first. Then when it was all us white devils left, we were easy pickings, far as the court of public opinion was concerned. Im just over 50. Spent my life on the force. What the hell am I gonna do with the time I got left? Far as work, things had dried up, but with the virus, folks in hospitals were droppin like flies. So I decided that was where I could help. Had to go to nursing school and everything. Paid out the ass to sit in a classroom with fuckin kids my daughters age. [Laughs.] But I did it. Got my degree, got my license. Now, I push a cart in a hospital. Social justice, right? I hope its fuckin bedlam over there without us.

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On the corner of Willow and Main Street stand a group of anti-violence activists handing out cards listing candidates for an upcoming municipal election. On the back of each is a Know Your Rights checklist. Down Willow, grill smoke billows out from behind a church while older residents eat fried fish by the front entrance. Shaneika Thomas wears a mask with a clear mouth panel to enable the hard of hearing to lip-read.

Shaneika Thomas, age 27, crisis management systems worker:

This corner, right here? We used to practically sit on top of cops basically. Plainclothes cops would yoke up some kids here or across the street, and folks would get it on video. It would go viral, and wed get on the cops ass. But then hed be back out as a white-shirt, terrorizing folks. You walk around this community and you have credibility just from having been here for long enough and from people seeing your face, so you can walk up to a group of dudes and be like, hey, if youre out here, and hes out heremeaning the copcall this number.

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Two mechanical, jet-black greyhounds with backward-jointed legs prance down the middle of the street. At each stop, they gather the nearest residents and eject thermometers that the residents use to take their temperatures. Some of the residents glance at their results. Another shakes the thermometer as if its broken before trying again. Afterward, they all deposit the thermometers, coated in their saliva and DNA, into an attached pouch and drop the contained thermometer into an opening on the greyhounds backs.

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"It didnt last, but Im pretty proud of what we were able to do with what we had."

When the REPAIR Act went into effect, we got an infusion of cash because of where we were headquartered. But we werent ready for that. We werent nearly ready for that. All of a sudden, money was showing up, and people just figured it was City Hall redistributing what got freed up when they abolished the police department. At some point, I started doing the math and I realized, as big as the PDs budget was, this was more money than that. But we didnt have too much time to think on where exactly this money came from. We just knew that we got lucky and we had work to do.

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Of course, it didnt last, but Im pretty proud of what we were able to do with what we had. I just wish some of that money went toward painting those dogs a different fucking color.

Inside a Dunkin Donuts on the corner of Arcade Street and Pine Street. Just outside the entrance is a waste bin and, above it, a one-time-use mask dispenser. At the top of the door frame is a scanner, taking note of the biorhythms and temperature of each entering and exiting customer.

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Denaun Smith, age 63, resident of :

Hell, I couldnt believe it. At first, we didnt know what the fuck was going on. But suddenly, they announce that [Redacted] Highs getting what?! Millions of dollars just pouring in. Where did that money come from? How can I get a piece of it?

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Lyle Brown, age 32, history teacher at [Redacted] High:

It wasnt millions. But it was  a lot. Imagine my surprise when the principal calls me into his office and tells me how much money weve been given. And my immediate thought is, OK, I can finally afford to get enough pencils and pens and notebooks for my students! To be honest, I was just glad I could make sure the hand sanitizer dispensers in the hallways stopped running out.

Smith: You could see it in the kids, though. Thats true. It wasnt like they was walkin around with Jordans or anything or like they was flashin money around and whatnot. Matter of fact, I started seeing them less. Turns out they was spendin more of they time at school.

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Brown: A visual arts program, a theater program. Hell, we pooled with another school and built an actual theater! Kids were using actual hand-held cameras to turn what wouldve been TikToks into Oscar-eligible short films.

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Smith: Those damn TikToks. If Im keepin it real witchu, I miss those kids. I mean, good for them stayin out of trouble, but the neighborhood done changed when you aint see them around. Its summer and aint no 13-year-olds chillin on they front stoop in the Fayetteville housing projects in quadruple-XL white tees and baggy jeans with they coco-mango-cherries and do-rags. A place loses its character when it aint got that anymore.

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Voice of Wendy Guan: One of the first things I was told upon joining the project was that we were to focus as much as possible on tangibles. Essentially, we would look at discernible racial disparitiesin housing, in education outcomes, in the number and location of grocery storiesand work backward. Our goal was to find a number. What number did we need to generate that would render all material things equal? Focusing on the racial wealth gap seemed like the most concrete way of going about things, and we operated on the assumption that housing was the most appropriate vector of analysis. So, our number would essentially be coded to a dollar amount. The data was relatively easy to come by. Much of it was public already. The tax assessors office had home values, and then we could bucket them by ZIP code. But very quickly, we noticed something strange.

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Redacted: The tax assessors office had been overvaluing homes in predominantly Black neighborhoods and undervaluing homes in predominantly white neighborhoods. And the reason they were doing this was to fund police brutality settlements. How do they get their money? Raise the property tax. The city was literally making poor people pay for every time a cop shot a Black kid.

Perkins: Your average American city doesnt have the budget to pay $150 million or so in yearly settlements for officer misconduct. Yet another reason police are so expensive. What ends up happening is that the city issues a bond to a bank. Bank charges handling fees and interest that the citys on the hook for. But in return, the city now has the cash on hand to pay the victims and/or their families for the officers misconduct. And the more money in the city budget that goes to that, the less there is for handling lead poisoning or funding schools.

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In Stanley Quarter Park, children climb over a jungle gym while wearing surgical gloves and giggling behind single-use face masks.

Dr. Athena Davis, age 74, abolitionist and professor emeritus at  University, member of REPAIR Project Team:

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Chicago is illustrative, and I think a more appropriate analogue than Professor Higgins Holocaust example. Between 1972 and 1991, some 125 Black Chicagoansat least, that is the number of cases that are knownwere tortured by police officers in a building on Chicagos South Side. Beaten, electrocuted, sodomized. Chained to boiling radiators. And they were tortured into confessing to crimes that led to prison sentences, sometimes to death row. Discrete instances of a harm. A bracketed period of time. A reparations bill eventually did make its way through the Legislature. It was revolutionary for a number of reasons, not just because it included an actual reparations fund. The amount was $5.5 million, a fraction of the $100 million that previous claims related to police torture had cost the city. But in the bill was an acknowledgement that torture had indeed taken place. There was to be a monument to the victims of police torture erected somewhere in the city. A psychological services center for survivors would be built. And there was to be a unit on police torture taught in eighth and tenth grade history classes throughout the city.

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Interviewer: You mentioned the racial wealth gap and housing earlier.

Voice of Wendy Guan: Yes! In the aggregate sense, wealth is the value of your assets minus your debts. If we were going to focus on financial compensation, we needed something concrete as a  prism for our analysis, so to speak. Economic disadvantages can harm your ability to accumulate wealth. And in the United States, at least, the surest way to accumulate wealth is through homeownership. And that is how we came to focus on a location-based analysis for the algorithm.

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Redacted: Wed programmed the algo to produce a number per ZIP code based on the values we input. That output would correspond to a scale we cooked up of dollar amounts. A lot of numbers we had to figure out beforehand. Tax assessments and foreclosure rates. Not just the number of schools, but also the number of school closures. Then theres the police part. It took forever, but through arrest records, we could trace the incarcerated back to where they had initially been arrested. We then took the settlement amounts from police brutality cases as well as the number of cases that went to trial but plaintiffs lost. Legal took care of that part. And together we extrapolated what the incarcerated might have lost in wages and married that to unemployment data. That was hell to disaggregate by ZIP code. But we had our inputs that we turned into superinputs, and then we could generate our output: the amount in dollars that would be apportioned to each ZIP code. Its If, Then with a super complicated If.

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Other than that, we had no idea where the money would go. But that wasnt up to us. All that decision-making was a bit above our pay grade. You gotta talk to the big guy about that, and I dont think anybody knows where he is. After everything that went down, Mayor Gaetzor, rather, former Mayor Gaetzkinda just vanished. Which  I dont blame him.

When we ran that algo for the first time for a single ZIP code, we thought there had to be a mistake. Double-checked the inputs, the superinputs, ran it again. And again. And again. We ran that algo maybe 300 times. Figured we broke the scale. But, no. That first dollar amount  to make all things equal  was just that huge.

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Former City Councilman Richard Perkins and corporate lawyer Tommy DiSanto are finishing their lunch.

Perkins: I put the team together to figure out if this reparations program was financially viable. Not just that, but whether these disbursements were something that we could keep going. This wasnt going to be a one-time check to Black folk. The REPAIR Act was sustained investment. Funds disbursed to individual households, but also location-based budget allocations for school districts. More schools and better schools. Investment in diversion programs and mental health programs. Increased sanitation. Infrastructure repair. Parks. Printer paper for libraries. Job training programs across industries. And it all had to keep going. I knew there wasnt gonna be enough money in the budget to suddenly make things right on the property end. So we co-opted the bond system. Instead of using it to finance police brutality settlements, wed use it to fund our plan. It was gonna be impossible to get the mayor on board with this if we had to come up with a new system from whole cloth to base our funding on. But if we could use what was already there and flip itwe already had the data operation going from his campaignthen he could see where we were coming from and where we were going.

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DiSanto: Ive never done so much math in my whole entire life.

Voice of Wendy Guan: We were already thinking to the distant future. A city changes. The algorithm needed to be able to change with it.

I was watching a little girl ride her bike the other day, and I think this provides the best example for what Im trying to explain. I dont have to explain that a bicycle has two wheels or even that you ride the thing by pushing your feet to the pedals in a circular motion. The girl just knows these things. But figuring how to ride a bicyclehow to balance without falling off, how to deal with ruts in the roadthats a different kind of knowledge. Skill-based. Youre learning. This little girl kept trying to get up this tiny, tiny hill. She would stall at the steepest part, then fall backward. Then, at one point, as shes trying to make her way up, she leans forward. Just a little bit, then a little more. Finally, after she crested the hill, she goes back to how she was sitting before. No one told her to do that.

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Before, algorithms had been operating toward the knowing of a specific thing. Knowing that, so to speak. But machine learning is focused on knowing how. A basic algorithm recognizes the thing in front of it as a bicycle. But machine learning is what gets you up the hill. We had the algorithm for the initial disbursement, but we needed it to recognize that a city changes. Would our algorithm know what to do with a new refugee population moving into a targeted neighborhood? When the districts are inevitably redrawn, will it still operate with the same sophistication? If half of a ZIP code is replaced with luxury condominiums? What would the algorithm decide to do?

We didnt have the time or resources to program A.I. to do that, so we took those decisions on ourselves. How much of the dollar amount would go to schools? What to do with home valuations? Maybe  maybe if we couldve got the algorithm to handle all of that, things would have turned out differently. Maybe the algorithm couldve decided better than us.

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The REPAIR Act was signed into law in February of 20 and disbursement of funds began on June 19 of that year, traditionally the holiday known as Juneteenth.

Sandra Ewing, 37, former resident of :

That first check come, I called my sister. She lives on the other side of town, and I asked her where this came from. She aint heard nothin bout a check, but pretty soon, I found out everyone on my block got one. Same amount, too. It wasnt unemployment. Wasnt a tax refund or nothin either. You had a job or you didnt, you got a check. Found out just about everyone in my neighborhood got a check. There were a couple other neighborhoods like that too, but not everyone in the city got one. There was some letter in there about a new law got passed, but I just wanted to see what the catch was, you know what I mean? It was a blessing, though.

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First chance I got, stocked up on food and fixed the microwave. Still had money left over, so I got to have someone come through and deep-clean the apartment. Was supposed to be regular, because of city health regulations, but cant nobody in that building afford to completely sanitize their homes once every week. I figured the check was a one-off, so I was just focused on keeping my son, Jeremy, fed and safe.

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But the checks kept coming, several months in a row. So I started socking some away, and suddenly, you turn around and look at your bank account just [blinks dramatically and laughs]. You know what Im sayin? Im still countin every penny I spend on this family, but I aint gotta worry about eviction if suddenly the toaster break or theres a leak in the apartment that needs to be fixed or this or that or whatever thing. Your thinking changes. Before, Im just trying to make it to the 1st or 15th without my boy starving. But then you get to thinking about things like moving, like Jeremy being in a better school. The schools here seemed to be gettin some money, but its nothing like what they got just outside the city. So Im finally able to take some time off from work, after not having missed a day in 21 years. And I go looking at apartments. Condos. That sort of thing. Imagine that! Me! Shoppin for condos!

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The neighborhood was starting to change too. I think we figured out pretty quickly that the checks were comin to specific neighborhoods. And, yeah, money was goin to the community, but fixin up a school building, making sure there are enough soap dispensers in the halls, improving the curriculum, the school lunch program, all that takes time. Thats time a lot of us dont have. So I got out. Couldnt get out quick enough. Landlord saw the market and started jackin up the price soon as he could. So we moved. Me and my Jeremy picked up and set out. He loves his new school, but the checks stopped coming. Im working two jobs instead of three now, but its getting harder to keep Jeremy in that school. We aint even talking about college.

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Theyre saying the checks back home stopped coming too. Money was comin for about a year, then stopped. By then, everybody done up and moved, and now the rents too high to move back. So were stuck.

Professor Higgins: You need to understand that reparations are a national redemption project. A government can print money, as much as it wants. Dont listen to economists. Theyre wrong. But a place built on the backs of others needs all of its decision-makers to acknowledge the totality of the wrong. It goes beyond money. Thats why the Project ended the way it did. Were reparations a simple game of numbers, all youd need is the magic number, and youd be fine. But everyone on that team was so besotted with the whole thing that they failed to see just what they were truly up against. For such a redemption project to work, you need this country to admit that it was wrong. And someone will always come along and see Black Americans being given their due and want nothing more than to destroy it. They cant countenance any other reality. I tried to tell this to Councilman Perkins team. But no one wanted to acknowledge just how deep the problem went.

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Asking an algorithm to do what they wanted it to do would be to assume racism is logical. If, then. Now, racism has its own internal logic, sure, but it is the logic of nightmares. You cant automate its reasoning.

Councilman Perkins and his team thought others would see what this city did and want to follow suit. But I knew that others would see what this city did and want to turn it to dust.

Nine months after the REPAIR Act was signed into law, following a series of protests at the state Capitol led by prominent conservative activists, the governor released a statement disavowing the legislation. A recall effort against Mayor Gaetz was initiated, and, six months before the end of his term as mayor, Frank Gaetz was removed from office on the grounds of misallocation of government funds.

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The City Council selected Councilmember Robert Caine to finish Gaetzs term. Caine was subsequently reelected.

In a modest backyard, a white man in rolled-up shirt sleeves packs the soil behind a fence from which light green sprigs poke. He does this with care for several silent minutes, rises, then dusts his hands off and walks up his back porch. The body scanner framing the back entrance beeps as he passes through, then announces his temperature in red analog numbers.

The inside of the sitting room is just as modest. Sunlight shines through the west-facing windows to bounce off the glass covering a table designed to look like a hollowed-out tree trunk, gilding half of the man sitting in the chair facing the camera in profile. Hes still wearing the dirty overalls and the shirt sleeves from earlier. His gloves lie on his lap. The pose looks practiced.

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Frank Gaetz, 47, former mayor of :

"He knew it had to be me. It had to be the white guy."

This may sound trite and I dont mean it to, but writing the statement announcing the initiative was actually the most difficult part. Im not discounting the work the team did. But it all falls apart if the statement isnt right. You only get one shot at this. I remember the presidential primaries. And the reason the socialist lost to the centrist among Black voters in South Carolina in 2020 was, as told to me by a Black Carolinian, that voting for the socialist would require the Black community to believe that white people were capable of doing something theyve never done before: willingly and openly share in the economic bounty of this country. I needed to convince them that we were there. But I also needed to convince my white constituents. And if this whole effort was dressed in machine neutrality, if I could say blame the algorithm, then maybe we could get away with the whole thing. Maybe it would feel a little bit less like a heist.

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I was prepared to be the meat-shield here. If anything, it almost seemed like that was the point of the job. The team that Richie Perkins put together was formed sort of ad hoc. It was very Avengers. [Chuckling.] All of us from these different disciplineslawyers, statisticians, historians, activists, politicians, even the medical professionals we consulted withwhen they realized what Richie was doing, none of them balked. None of them thought it was impossible or too difficult. They all had the imagination for it. And it was my job to have the stomach for it.

Richie had brought the team together on his own, and they worked in secret, then prepared a report that landed on my desk. Richie and I talked for a long time. About the contents, then about the rollout, about who would get what and when. Before I knew it, Id bought in. I didnt even realize, but hed converted me to the cause of reparations. And he knew it had to be me. It had to be the white guy.

It wasnt just that white constituents would listen to me with less resentment than they would feel if it were coming from a Black mayor. It was the righting of things. A white guy does it and it feels less like theft and more like penance.

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You look at the state the country was in at the time, it seemed like everything was getting torn down. And theres me: young, rising star in the Democratic Party, not yet so progressive that the Establishment cant sink its claws into me, but not so far bought that I cant be pulled further to the left. And this opportunity lands on my desk in the form of this report. I used every bit of political capital I had to get the other city council members on board. Comptroller, all of them. Reminded me of that Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education. You know why Chief Justice Warren worked so hard to get a unanimous decision? Anything less mightve led the South to start another Civil War.

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So there it is, all laid out there. How the dollar amounts were calculated. The mechanisms through which the funds should be disbursed. Further funding methods. All of it. And all I had to do was take credit.

During the recall effort, the names of the participants behind the initial REPAIR report were leaked. As a result, statistician Wendy Guans visa was revoked. She now lives in her native China.

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Death threats were issued against Dr. Athena Davis and the team of data scientists with which she had worked after they were doxed.

Councilman Richard Perkins was charged with corruption and misuse of public funds. The charges were subsequently dropped. Shortly thereafter, he resigned from his position on the City Council.

Tommy DiSanto is currently a managing partner at Kittle & Loving and head of its pro bono practice.

Redacteds whereabouts are currently unknown. They participated in this documentary on the condition of anonymity.

The disbursement of funds to communities and individuals designated by the REPAIR Act lasted for 10 months.

JPMorgan currently holds $3.2 billion in bonds from the City of 

In Stanley Quarter Park, a girl in a blue-and-white striped dress makes a slow turn on her bicycle, leaning in the opposite direction.

Dr. Davis smiles and walks over to congratulate her great-granddaughter.

Over the two of them in the middle distance, roll credits.

Read a response essay by Charlton McIlwain, a historian of technology and race.

This story and essay, and the accompanying art, are presented by A.I. Policy Futures, which investigates science fiction narratives for policy insights about artificial intelligence. A.I. Policy Futures is a joint project of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University and the Open Technology Institute at New America, and is supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Google.

More From Future Tense Fiction

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The Truth Is All There Is, by Emily Parker

It Came From Cruden Farm, by Max Barry

Paciente Cero, by Juan Villoro

Scar Tissue, by Tobias S. Buckell

The Last of the Goggled Barskys, by Joey Siara

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Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Heads of state of the E3 group of countries: (L) French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on April 25, 2019. (Philippe Wojazer/Reuters), (C) German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Germany, June 18, 2018. (Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters), (R) Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson in London on Oct. 29, 2019. (Toby Melville/Reuters)

European Allies Fail to Support US Effort to Reinstate Sanctions on Iran

'To side with the Russians and the Chinese on this important issue ... is really dangerous': Pompeo

The U.S. effort to renew the arms embargo against Iran set to expire on Oct. 18 met with opposition from its European allies, France, Germany, and the UK. However none of them supports giving Iran the opportunity to buy and sell weapons, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an interview with Fox News.

For almost two years, the United States has made every diplomatic effort to renew the arms embargo against Iran. On Aug. 21, the United States officially requested that the United Nations restore UN sanctions on Iran that had been lifted by a UN Security Council Resolution adopted in 2015, which also endorsed the Iran nuclear deal.

This request was met with criticism by European signatories of the Iran nuclear deal. The E3 countriesFrance, Germany, and the UKrefused to support the U.S. initiative because it withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018.

High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell holds a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, on May 26, 2020. (Pool/Getty Images)

The EU top diplomat Josep Borrell said in a statement that the United States cant request the snapback of sanctions for the same reason.

I will continue to do everything possible to ensure the preservation and full implementation of the JCPOA by all. The JCPOA remains a key pillar of the global non-proliferation architecture, contributing to regional security, Borrell said.

The United States requested the sanction snapback on Iran a week after the UN Security Council failed to pass a U.S. resolution to extend arms embargo on Iran indefinitely. China and Russia voted against the resolution while 11 of 15 members of the Security Council abstained, including France, Germany, Britain, Belgium, and Estonia. Only the United States and the Dominican Republic voted for the resolution.

Pompeo said in an Aug. 21 interview with Fox News that every world leader, every one of my counterparts tells me that America is doing the right thing with regard to not allowing Iran to obtain conventional weapons after the arms embargo expires.

So for them not to stand up and tell the world publicly at the United Nations, yep, this is the right thing, its incomprehensible to me. To side with the Russians and the Chinese on this important issue at this important moment in time at the UN, I think, is really dangerous for the world, he said.

The Trump administration, however will make sure that the Islamic Republic of Iran doesnt have the hundreds of billion dollars that would flow from being able to sell weapon systems to become an arms dealer around the world, Pompeo said.

Why Did Europe Not Support Sanctions Snapback?

A display featuring missiles and a portrait of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is seen at Baharestan Square in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 27, 2017. (Nazanin Tabatabaee Yazdi/TIMA via Reuters)

Alex Vatanka, director of Iran program and senior fellow of the Frontier Europe Initiative at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, told The Epoch Times that the European reaction could have been prevented.

Everything that we knew for months in advance suggested that Russia and China certainly would veto it. And the Europeans were saying they will not support, he said. The United States does not have the legal right to do snapback because it left the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

The Trump administration wants to kill the nuclear deal, Vatanka said, but the Europeans dont because they believe there is no better alternative to it. Therefore they didnt support U.S. efforts.

Everyone knows that Iran is a player in the region that is often acting in a way that undermines stability in the Middle East, Vatanka said.

But the Europeans also know there are other countries in the Middle East that are acting like Iran, and therefore, the Europeans are taking more of a holistic and big picture view of all the countries in the region that are involved in the various conflicts, not just Iran, Vatanka said.

Europeans believe the JCPOA was the best deal that could have been reached and want to preserve it, he added.

The Europeans can hope from their perspective that after the election, either President Donald Trump will change his policy toward Iran or Joe Biden will go back to the Iran nuclear deal, Vatanka said. And then the Americans and Europeans can  get together and put pressure on Iran and  its import or export of the weapons.

President Trump, Europeans, others who are concerned about Iranian behavior in the region need to realize that they need to get together, the Western alliance needs to get together. Thats the only way the Iranians really take it seriously, when they feel that the West is united.

The approach by the United States has been very muscular, too muscular, Vatanka said. The United States needs to soften the language and realize that it needs to reason and say why it is good to work together against Iran. And that was missing.

European countries maneuver between their concerns about Irans intentions and their efforts to save the JCPOA and its potential benefits, Robert Czulda, an assistant professor at the University of Lodz in Poland and an Atlantic Council contributor, told The Epoch Times in an email.

The JCPOA was the first international accord negotiated by the EU, he said, and it proves the EUs emerging ability to be a party in international agreements and an important actor in the international arena. Therefore the agreement is particularly important for leaders of the EU.

If the Iran nuclear deal fails, the project to build the EUs ability to act as a global actor will also fail, Czulda added.

In addition, the European embargo on supplying conventional weapons to Iran will expire in 2023 after the presidential elections in Iran and the United States, Czulda said.

Regardless of the sanctions, European armaments producers would rather partner with Americans than sell weapons to Iran due to political reasons. Irans insufficient financial resources and lack of respect for intellectual property rights will also discourage them from selling weapons to Iran, he said.

However, Europeans prefer not to strain their relationship with Iran and hope that preserving the JCPOA will make developing economic cooperation with Iran possible, Czulda said. Consequently, they didnt vote on extending the arms embargo on Iran.

I would not expect significant arms exports to Iran any time soon, so Europe does not see this issue as important, Czulda said. European countries have more serious problems.

In the past, European countries did not have any dilemma to sell weapons to Arab states in the Persian Gulf, which later used those weapons in the controversial war in Yemen, he said. The EU can however exert pressure even without sanctions on European countries not to cooperate with Iran on the military technology.
Kingsley Agyemang

29.08.2020 LISTEN

THE Ghana Scholarship Secretariat (GSS) has opened a nationwide validation process for scholarship applicants from all tertiary institutions across the country at a workshop in Ho, the Volta Regional capital.

The Registrar of GSS, Kingsley Agyemang, who performed the official opening ceremony of the validation process at the University of Health and Allied Sciences, said the workshop was, among other things, to introduce participants to the new reforms regarding scholarship application and administration, as well as the scholarship value chain.

Besides, the occasion was used to assure applicants of the government's commitment to ensure transparency in the process of the award of scholarship, as it retools the GSS to be more efficient to deliver on its mandate.

Mr. Agyemang warned persons parading themselves as officials of GSS to desist from extorting money from prospective applicants, while urging students not to fall for the fraudulent activities of these goro boys.

He pointed out that all official information would be communicated either through the GSS official application website or the office lines.

The GSS recently introduced new operational reforms to the education financial aid programme to deepen public trust, ensure transparency and restore public confidence in the awards of scholarship.

Mr. Agyemang told Ghanaian students in the United Kingdom recently that the GSS had been better placed to offer more scholarships to students at the tertiary level who are either studying in the country or abroad.

Decentralized Process

He said the GSS was liaising with the regional coordinating councils and the metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies to establish a district scholarships review committee (DSRC) to decentralize the scholarship awarding processes to guarantee accessibility to all Ghanaian students.

The objective of this initiative is the systematic decentralization of scholarship awarding processes with the view to increasing transparency and accessibility to available funding opportunities, he stressed.

Daily Guide
The Ministry of National Defense spokesman Wu Qian. [Photo/mod.gov.cn]

Defense Ministry vows to uphold peace as Washington ramps up provocations

The Chinese military opposes the United States ramping up its pressure and provocations against China, and promises to take "every measure necessary" to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests as bilateral relations face an "unusually severe and complicated situation", the Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday.

When asked at a news briefing about increased US military activity around China, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, the ministry's spokesman, said that some US politicians are sabotaging China-US relations for selfish reasons and even deliberately want to create an accident or military conflict.

By doing so, Wu said, the US is disregarding the safety of front-line servicemen, the interests of people from both countries, and aspirations for peace around the world. "It will not win over any hearts," he added.

"The Chinese military will adamantly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and resolutely maintain peace and stability in the region and the world," he said.

"We hope some US politicians can see the truth, be levelheaded and stop these provocations, so that China-US military relations and bilateral ties can return to their correct course."

China-US relations are facing an "unusually severe and complicated situation", Wu said. For some time, the US has kept stirring up trouble and provocations, which has seriously undermined China's sovereignty and security, as well as military-to-military relations and bilateral ties.

"China's military will not dance to the US' tune, but also we will not bow to its reckless behavior," the spokesman said.

While commenting on remarks by US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper about his possible visit to China later this year, Wu said the defense departments from both countries are still in contact and coordinating the event.

"We hope the US side can take concrete actions, and create a positive atmosphere for the visit," Wu said.

Wu stressed that it is currently very important for the two militaries to maintain communication. Both sides should enhance dialogue and prevent risks, and work together to maintain stable relations.

"We hope the US can genuinely expand its strategic vision, view China's development with rationality and an open mind, and pull itself out of the swamp of anxiety and paranoia."

In response to the US contemplating the deployment of intermediate-range ballistic missiles in Asia, most likely in Japan, Wu said that China has repeatedly voiced its opposition on this subject.
The Delhi Metro was shut down in late March when the nationwide lockdown was announced.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on August 29 gave the go-ahead for reopening of metro rail services with effect from September.

The Metro rail will be allowed to operate with effect from September 7 in a graded manner, the Unlock 4 guidelines issued by the MHA said.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that he was "glad" the metro services will resume operations in a phased manner.

"As per the latest guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs under Unlock-4, the Delhi Metro will be resuming its services for public from September 7 onwards in a calibrated manner," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a statement.

Further details on the metro's functioning and its usage by the general public will be shared once the SOPs are finalised.

The SOPs already circulated will be discussed on September 1, 2020 through video conference by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) with all metro companies and finalised, the MoHUA said in a statement.

The DMRC had last week said it shall be prepared to resume operations whenever directed by the government.

Limiting number of people in lifts and longer halting time for trains at stations to allow commuters to board and alight with social distancing norms, are among the measures the Delhi Metro intends to put in place to ensure safer travel for its passengers.

Wearing of masks will be mandatory and social distancing norms will be followed as per government guidelines inside the stations.

New smart cards with auto top-up facility and stickers on social distancing norms will be pasted on seats and platform floors.

Services of the Noida-Greater Noida Metro rail, which were also shut for the last five months following the pandemic, will also resume from September 7, officials said.

"Aqua Line services will resume as per norms issued by the central government," Ritu Maheshwari, Managing Director of the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC), said in a statement.

The Aqua Line, connects the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida in Gautam Buddh Nagar.

The lifeline of Delhi and its suburbs, which carries 1.8 million passengers a day, the Delhi Metro was shut down in late March as the country was put under a lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Shut for more than four months following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Delhi Metro, the lifeline of the National Capital Region, has lost approximately Rs 1,500 crore in revenue, sources have told Moneycontrol.

The DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) normally earns Rs 300 crore every month, a source said.

Normally, the DMRC has 300 trains running on eight lines, making 5,000 trips a day and carrying around 1.8 million passengers. But with the trains halted in their tracks, it hasnt earned a penny in the past four months.

The transporters income from other sources, such as commercial and retail leases, has also dried up during the pandemic.
The devastating economic impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented disaster for global markets, with the world almost certainly plunging into a yearslong worldwide recession. This almost entirely unanticipated interruption to business as usual has some silver linings, however. For decades, world leaders and environmental and climate scientists have been paying a lot of lip service to the need for a global energy transition toward cleaner forms of power, but the momentum of the economic status quo has proven extremely difficult to slow. There have been some strides made, yes, but as a global community, we have missed every mark set by the Paris climate accord and experts like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. So when the global economy and nearly all of international industry and its globe-spanning supply chains were derailed earlier this year, many world leaders saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redesign our future. The World Economic Forum has written think piece after think piece advocating for a new energy order and a great reset.

With this backdrop, lots of industries have received increased and renewed scrutiny as to the greenness of their own business practices and overall ecological footprints. One such company is the quintessential cryptocurrency wunderkind Bitcoin, that has recently come under fire for its staggeringly large--and growing--levels of energy consumption.

Related: Is Argentinas Shale Too Expensive To Drill?

Earlier this year Oilprice reported on Bitcoins Shocking Energy Consumption, writing that the company has an annual energy footprint slightly larger than the entire nation of Switzerland. Unfortunately for Bitcoin, this era of increased criticism for over-consuming companies happened to coincide with the creation of an online tool that allows users to compare the mind-boggling energy consumption of Bitcoin to other entities (such as Switzerland), released by the University of Cambridge last year. At the time that this platform debuted, the tool estimated that Bitcoin is using around seven gigawatts of electricity, equal to 0.21% of the world's supply, according to a BBC report.

Now, just this week, Engadget released another damning report on Bitcoins energy footprint--which is still increasing. Turns out that plugging a bunch of computers into our electrical grid that do nothing but draw current and hash through algorithms has had some negative environmental impacts, the article begins with a wry smirk. Recent studies suggest that Bitcoin-related power consumption has reached record highs this year  with more than seven gigawatts of power being pulled in the pursuit of the suspect digital currency.

The Engadget article references a brand new study released Monday from the Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance, which estimates that the global bitcoin mining industry uses 7.46 GW, equivalent to around 63.32 terawatt-hours of energy consumption. The study also notes that miners are paying around $0.03 to $0.05 per kWh this year. Given that a March estimate put the cost to mine a full bitcoin is around $7,500, the average miner still stands to make over $4,000 in profit from the operation.

Related: Two Major Shale Drillers Plan Layoffs

This report takes into account Bitcoin mining operations as small as one computer in some nerds basement to 50,000 state-of-the-art rigs installed in a Kazakhstan warehouse, which all suck up a huge amount of power from the grid when added together. The current total amount of processing power dedicated to mining, known as the hashrate, is currently hovering around 120 exahash per second (EH/s). However, industry analysts argue that that figure is soon to increase. To put this in perspective, that is the mind-blowing equivalent of seven nuclear plants, or 21.8 million solar panels worth of production.

And thats just for now. By our assessment, the Bitcoin network can exceed 260EH/s in Hashrate in the next 1214 months, a July study from Bitooda reads. Led by a modest increase in available power capacity from 9.6 to 10.6GW and an upgrade cycle that will replace older generation S9 class rigs with newer S17 and next-generation S19 class rigs.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
<! Krizbeatz & Tekno  Toe Toe >

Nigerian record producer Chris Alvin Sunday professionally known as KrizBeatz the drummer Boy, best known for producing Teknos first single Pana, joins forces with the Skeletun crooner on a banging single entitled Toe Toe.

Toe Toe was performed by Cartel boss Tekno and Produced by Krizbeatz.

[embedded content]

Kriz is an award winning 25 year old producer born in Lagos, while Tekno hails from Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria. Sing along to the lyrics here:

Its Krizbeatz the drummer Boy

I dont want no stress

I just want to flex

Can we have sex oo

I dont have no time to waste oo

I just want your toe toe

Toe toe, toe toe

I just want your toe toe

Toe toe, toe toe

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 13:17:45|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military will not play a role in this year's election, according to the country's top general.

"In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, by law U.S. courts and the U.S. Congress are required to resolve any disputes, not the U.S. military," Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, wrote in a letter released on Friday responding to questions from two House lawmakers.

"I believe deeply in the principle of an apolitical U.S. military," Milley continued. "I foresee no role for the U.S. Armed Forces in this process."

The answers came as presidential nominees stoke questions about military involvement in this year's election.

U.S. President and 2020 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has raised the prospect that he won't accept the results in November, claiming without providing any evidence that mail-in voting could lead to widespread voter fraud.

"I have to see," Trump told Fox News's Chris Wallace last month when asked if he would accept the election results. "No, I'm not just going to say yes, I'm not going to say no, and I didn't last time either."

Former U.S. Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said in June that he's "absolutely convinced" that the military would step in if Trump rejected the results. Enditem
Mark Zaretsky / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo /

EAST HAVEN  At least one person was seriously injured in an early Saturday morning crash near the intersection of Main Street and Kimberly Avenue, police said.

The occupants of a single vehicle were treated on scene by East Haven Fire Department crews and then were taken to Yale New Haven Hospital, Capt. Joseph M. Murgo said.
Recent polling by the Pew Research Center conducted June 16-22, 2020 has captured partisan divides in perceptions of censorship on social media platforms as well as significant changes in sentiment in the last 2 years. The polling data from 4,708 adults reveals a stark divide between Republicans and Democrats on a number of issues including censorship bias and the extent of social media censorship. In addition, the data shows clear ideological trends on many questions.

In recent years, although Americans appreciate the advances and services provided by big tech companies, they have grown increasingly wary of these companies and their executives. This mistrust has been a large issue in politics, with many critics accusing companies of political bias and preventing open discussion.

The Pew Research Center survey conducted in June finds that roughly three-quarters of U.S. adults say it is very (37%) or somewhat (36%) likely that social media sites intentionally censor political viewpoints that they find objectionable. Just 25% believe this is not likely the case. The survey conducted in June finds that about three-quarters of American adults think that it is very (37%) or somewhat (36%) likely that social media sites intentionally censor political viewpoints that they find objectionable. On the other hand, only 25% believe that this is likely not true. The majority of both political parties also finds this to be true. However, this sentiment is much more widespread and growing quicker among Republicans. 9 in 10 Republican leaning adults answered that it was at least somewhat likely that censorship of objectionable viewpoints occurs on social media. This is up slightly from 85% when the center asked this same question in 2018.

Public debate about social media censorship grew this summer as Twitter began placing "fact-checks" and warnings on unsubstantiated information tweeted by President Trump. In addition, fact-checks were commonly placed on misinformation related to COVID-19 and 5G. Twitter's labels link to a page curated by Twitter staff or "external trusted sources" with further information about the claims made in the tweet.

The center's survey indicates that the American public is split on whether or not social media companies should use these fact-checks, but there is little confidence that these companies could accurately flag false or misleading content. Partisanship is key on this issue, as far more Democrats (73%) at least somewhat approve of social media companies engaging in fact-checking than Republicans (27%).

When asked about social media companies fact-checking elected officials, liberal Democrats are the most likely to be supportive: 85% say they approve, compared to 64% of moderate Democrats, 38% of moderate Republicans and 21% of conservative Republicans.

A similar trend was observed when participants were asked if they had confidence in social media companies' ability to determine which posts on their platform to label as misleading. 9 out of 10 conservative Republicans had no confidence, compared to 34% of moderate Republicans and 11% of both liberal and moderate Democrats.

As a whole, the public does not trust that social media companies will be able to accurately label posts as misleading. 66% of Americans say that they have not too much or no confidence.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Beijing  Sat, August 29, 2020 17:08 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4163f0d 2 Science & Tech WeChat,China,Apple,united-states Free

Chinese consumers could boycott Apple if the United States bans WeChat, China's foreign ministry spokesman warned Friday, as the clock ticks down on a US order to block the popular social app.

US President Donald Trump this month announced a ban from mid-September on WeChat and another Chinese-owned app, TikTok, accusing them of threatening national security, further stoking tensions between Beijing and Washington.

But foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted Friday that "If WeChat is banned, then there will be no reason why Chinese shall keep iPhone and apple products".

Zhao had already on Thursday said "many Chinese people are saying they may stop using iPhones if WeChat is banned in the US", and accused the US of "systematic economic bullying of non-US companies" by targeting the Chinese app.

The comments mark a rare direct reference by Beijing to boycotting an American product and come as the superpowers spar on multiple fronts including military activity in the South China Sea, Hong Kong and blame for the coronavirus.

Chinese social media users on Friday responded with mixed feelings to Zhao's warning on Twitter, which is blocked in China but accessible through virtual private network software.

"I use Apple, but I also love my country," one user on the Twitter-like Weibo platform. "It's not a conflict."

"No matter how good Apple is, it's just a phone. It can be replaced, but WeChat is different," another user argued. "Modern Chinese people will lose their soul if they leave WeChat, especially business people."

Wechat, known in mainland China as Weixin, has more than 1.2 billion active users.

Trump's executive order against WeChat forces the platform to end all operations in the United States and bans Americans doing business with it.

Apple accounted for eight percent of China's smartphone market in the second quarter of 2020, according to Counterpoint Research, far behind domestic leader Huawei.
Azerbaijan has extended until September 30 the special quarantine regime imposed in the country over COVID-19.

Some restrictions are lifted in the country`s cities and regions where strict quarantine regime has been introduced since August 5 amid sanitary-epidemiological situation, Azernews reports referring to the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers.

Azerbaijan's cities of Jalilabad, Ganja, Mingachevir, Yevlakh and Barda, Goranboy, Goygol, Khachmaz, Salyan have been excluded from the zone of strict quarantine regime from August 31, 2020

However, some restrictions will remain in Baku, Sumgayit as well as Absheron district with the hight number of infection cases.

Restrictions on the functioning of museums and exhibition halls in the country will be lifted as well.

As a result, it will be possible to provide individual educational and tutoring services in groups of up to 10 people in compliance with the rules of a special quarantine regime.

Moreover, the issue of entry-exit to Azerbaijani regions will be reconsidered.

Public transport will not work on weekends in cities and districts with strict quarantine regime, including Baku, Sumgayit and Absheron district.

The public transport movement will be suspended from 00:00 on September 5 till 06:00 on September 7; from 00:00 on September 12 till 06:00 on September 14; from 00:00 on September 19 till 06:00 on September 21; from 00:00 on September 26 till 06:00 on September 28.

Citizens must comply with the requirements of the quarantine regime and medical-preventive rules in order to prevent new infection cases, maintain social distance and use medical masks.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
New Delhi: India's defence minister Rajnath Singh will visit Russia next week for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Minister's meet. Russia is the chair of BRICS and SCO grouping for this year which means it will host all related meetings throughout the year.

The Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu, who met Indian envoy to Russia D Bala Venkatesh Varma on the sidelines of Russian government's Army 2020, told the latter that he looks forward to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh next week in Moscow.

This will be Singh's second visit to Russia, he had visited Moscow earlier this year in June for the Victory Day parade. Back then an Indian Tri-Service contingent took part in the Victory Day parade at Moscow's Red Square.

Russia on September 10 will host SCO Foriegn Minister's meet and India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar is expected to visit Russia then.

While the Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that it has received invitation from Russia for the meet, it has not formally announced any news on the departure of the minister to Russia.
New Delhi:

The parents of the December 16 gangrape victim voiced their displeasure after the government named the "one-stop" crisis centres for women 'Sakhi' instead of Nirbhaya.

They alleged on Thursday that it was a bid to erase the memory of their daughter from public discourse.

"Initially, the women and child development ministry had announced setting up one-stop crisis centres across the country and name them 'Nirbhaya centres'. But as the project rolled out, they named them 'Sakhi'. It's not done!" said Asha Devi, mother of the victim. "What happened with my daughter had sent a message to the society and government that crimes against women has crossed all boundaries and that we need to wake up and act. How can you just forget her," she asked the government.

Nirbhaya centres, or Sakhi centres, are a one-stop crisis centre for women in distress and are funded by Union government. They are to be set up in all 640 districts and 20 additional locations across the country.

The programme to launch such centres was conceived as a tribute to the victim of the December 16, 2012 gang-rape case. But Asha Devi alleged the government was trying to wipe off the account of their daughter's sufferings.

"Government and society can forget her, but how can I? Her face flashes before my eyes the moment I close them, and then I look deeper in her eyes and I could feel the pain she endured on that fateful night and I wake up with a soul-shattering chill."

The victim's father, Badri Singh Pandey, rued that the Nirbhaya Fund, a corpus announced by Union government in 2013 budget, was not being "properly utilised" and that there still were several dark spots in the city, which needed to be lit.

"A substantial amount of Rs 500 crore from the Nirbhaya Fund is being used on installing CCTV cameras at railway stations, but that should have been done by the Railways. Tell me, how many victims of rape have been benefited by the fund," he said.

The parents visited 'Gandhi Samadhi' to remember their 23-year-old daughter, who died on December 29, 2012, at a hospital in Singapore where she was airlifted from Delhi.

Four of her six rapists have been lodged in jail as they have appealed against their death penalty. One committed suicide and another, a juvenile at the time of the crime, was released after spending three years at a correctional home.

According to Delhi Police statistics, 2,199 rape cases were registered in the capital in 2015 and till November 30 this year, 1,981 cases of rape have been reported. As per National Crime Records Bureau, Delhi has highest rate of crimes against women among all cities in India. Last year, the total number of cases of crime against women in Delhi was 17,104.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexico Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce said Friday he does not think President Donald Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic will be a major factor in the November election, provided case levels remain on a downward trajectory.

Democrats have in recent weeks repeatedly criticized Trumps handling of the virus outbreak that has now killed more than 180,000 people nationwide.

But Pearce said a recent decline in new cases  after a sharp increase in June  could cause voters focus to shift.

The numbers are falling and, as they fall, people move on to other issues, Pearce told the Journal.

Specifically, he predicted voters could be swayed by the economy and civil unrest that has flared up in response to high-profile cases involving police treatment of African Americans.

Those things make people feel unsafe and they want someone who can handle it, Pearce said.

With just over two months before the November general election, both Republicans and Democrats recently held their national conventions.

Pearce traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the Republican National Convention, and posted a picture on social media of himself with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.

Neither was wearing a face covering in the picture  despite a North Carolina mask mandate for public places  but Pearce said he wears a mask in businesses that require it.

He was non-committal about whether he would self-quarantine for 14 days after returning to New Mexico, as required by a state health order, but said he abides by the law as a general rule.

While Trump delivered his speech accepting the GOP presidential nomination before a live audience at the White House, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden delivered his speech remotely.

And both Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., delivered prime-time addresses to the Democratic National Convention remotely from New Mexico.

State Democratic Party chairwoman Marg Elliston this week accused Trump of ignoring the pandemic and failing to develop an effective plan in response to it.

Donald Trumps leadership has left our economy, our health care system and our nation in chaos, and we cannot afford another four years of this destructive presidency, Elliston said in a statement.

While Trumps campaign has said it believes New Mexico could be in play this year, the state has voted for Democratic presidential candidates in each of the past three presidential election years: 2008, 2012 and 2016.

The last Republican candidate to win the states five electoral votes was George W. Bush in 2004.
The Centre is considering deferring the deadline by two more years for thermal power plants to comply with norms to reduce air pollution by 2022 because of the economic slowdown linked to Covid-19 pandemic and difficulties due to curbs on imports from China in sourcing systems that help control toxic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, officials aware of the matter said.

Thermal power plants are one of the largest sources of particulate matter (PM) pollution and SO2, which can harm the human respiratory system. Superior emission standards for thermal power plants were notified in December 2015 for implementation by the 2017 end. The deadline was revised to 2022 nationwide because of resistance from the thermal power industry. The Supreme Court also ordered an extension.

The officials said the power ministry has sought further deadline extension citing the economic slowdown and Indias Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan (self-reliant India campaign), which is making it difficult to source flue gas desulphurization (FGD) systems to control SO2 emissions. The power ministry has approached us [Union environment ministry]. They are finding it difficult to meet the 2022 deadline both because of Covid-19 and curbs on imports from China. We are considering the matter. We may have to give the thermal power plants time to deliver on the deadline, said Union environment ministry secretary RP Gupta.

Power ministry officials said nearly 300 thermal power plants out of 441 are to award bids for FGD. One of the main problems is that FGD, which is an aggregated unit, is manufactured in China, and hence has to be imported from there. Since we have curbs on importing Chinese equipment, it is a difficult situation, said a power ministry official, who did not want to be named.

The India-China ties have been strained since 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese troopers in Ladakh in June. The killings prompted India to tightened rules to restrict Chinese investments in India and to curb trade with China.

The power ministry official cited above said since the matter also is sub-judice, they either need to get an extension from the Supreme Court or the environment ministry will have to amend its 2015 notification.

The Supreme Court in June rejected a request by power producers to extend the deadline to install equipment to cut emissions by two years to 2024.

Centre for Science and Environment executive director Anumita Roy Chowdhury said it is not just power plants. All sectors are trying to delay standards and deadlines now. But you cannot delay an environmental regulation which has huge public health implications. Globally, there is a move towards green recovery. We need a clear fiscal policy for the implementation of the norms within the deadline.

According to a Centre for Science and Environment assessment, the implementation of the emission norms can cut down emissions of PM by 35%, SO2 by 80%, and NOx by 42%. They can also bring down freshwater use by the industry.

The National Green Tribunal, in an order on a case related to the implementation of the National Clean Air Programme on August 21, said 175 air quality monitoring stations need to be completed within the next six months. It also directed state pollution control boards to conduct carrying capacity and source apportionment studies by utilising their environmental compensation fund.

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AMHERST  The Town Councils annual performance review of Town Manager Paul Bockelman gave him high marks for strong fiscal management and for his relations with them.

A final draft of the councils evaluation of Bockelmans performance over the past year was posted Friday on the municipal website. The body is scheduled to discuss the evaluation during Mondays meeting.

Eight of the 13 councilors determined Bockelmans financial management of the town has been commendable, four said satisfactory and one did not weigh in on it.

Eleven councilors rated his relationship to the council commendable, one said satisfactory and one said it needs improvement.

In the job category titled Expand Community Engagement and Strengthen Intergovernmental Relations, seven councilors rated him commendable, five satisfactory and one said he needs improvement.

For economic development, four councilors said Bockelmans performance was commendable, seven said satisfactory and one said unsatisfactory, with one unable to judge.

Related Content:
Ram Singh Charlie

Cast: Divya Dutta, Akarsh Khurana, Kumud Mishra

Director: Nitin Kakkar

You can take the performer out of the circus but can you take the circus out of him? Thats one of the questions at the heart of Ram Singh Charlie, in which the wonderful Kumud Mishra gets a role deserving of his talent.

Mishra, who has consistently stood out in supporting parts, most recently as a sincere sub-inspector to Ayushmann Khurranas senior cop in Article 15, and as Taapsee Pannus supportive father in Thappad, has an Everyman quality that serves this film well. He stars as Ram Singh, a Charlie Chaplin impersonator at a circus in Kolkata, who struggles to make ends meet when the circus shuts down.

Ram Singh, or Charlie as he has come to be known, was born into the circus and knows no life outside it. When the tent is pulled down because its no longer sustainable, his kind boss warns him that life in the real world is a bigger circus than the one he has been a part of all these years. He experiences it first hand as he struggles to find a job, a roof over his familys head, and dignity for his craft.

Mishra imbues Ram Singh with both decency and self-respect. He bristles when people refer to him as a joker, because Chaplin was a true artiste and he regards himself as one too. He asks if he can keep his costume when the circus folds up; his boss says of course he can  its hardly a costume, its his second skin.

The film is both a bittersweet ode to the artiste, and also a loving postcard to what a circus means to its performers. Its shutdown amounts to the disbanding of a family. We watch as the Chaplin impersonator, the violinist, and the clowns all struggle to find their place in the world when the tent comes down. Once masters of the ring, theyre now mocked as freaks.

Director Nitin Kakkar who has co-written the script with Sharib Hashmi sets up a moving premise. But the film is unsubtle in the way that it tugs at your heartstrings. After failed attempts at finding a job worthy of his skills, Ram Singh becomes a rickshaw puller on the streets of Kolkata.The look on his wifes face when she discovers how far behind he has left what he loves is heartbreaking. Divya Dutta is solid in the role of his wife, and their little moments together are lovely.

Ram Singh Charlie has its heart in the right place but the screenplay is entirely predictable. Yet the film doesnt completely derail because the artiste at the center of it anchors it with a performance that is riveting. Like Chaplin, Mishra plays Ram Singh as a man who smiles through his tears and its impossible to turn away from that.

This is a sweet film thats oozing with sincerity. I recommend that you make the time for it.

Rating: 3/5
Baghdad, Aug 29 : The US will cut one-third of its military presence in Iraq, bringing the number of American troops in the country down to 3,500 from about 5,200.

Citing several US officials, The Wall Street Journal said in a report on Friday that the Pentagon over the next two or three months would reduce military presence in Iraq by roughly one-third, reports Xinhua news agency.

That would bring force levels roughly back to where they were in 2015 when the US was in the early phase of its campaign against the Islamic State (IS) terror group, according to the report.

The report said the actual number of troops might be slightly more than 3,500, due to Pentagon counting rules that often exclude personnel on temporary assignments.

Currently, there are over 5,000 US troops deployed in Iraq to support domestic forces in battles against remnants of the IS.

The US and Iraq held a strategic dialogue in June, the joint statement of which said that Washington would reduce forces from the war-torn country over the coming months.

Commander of US Central Command Kenneth McKenzie said earlier this month that he expected the American military to maintain a long-term presence in Iraq to help fight Islamic extremists and to check Iranian influence in the country.

As the presidential election looms, US President Donald Trump has recently doubled down on the effort of pulling American troops out of "endless wars".

Last week, he reiterated his intention to withdraw US troops from Iraq, but no detailed timeframe has been released yet.

"At some point, we obviously will be gone. We've brought it down to a very, very low level," Trump told reporters in the White House during his meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on August 20.

Earlier this month, Defence Secretary Mark Esper confirmed that US troops in Afghanistan would be reduced to less than 5,000 by the end of November.
The National House of Chiefs has implored Ghanaian youth to play an active role in ensuring a peaceful election in December this year.



Togbe Afede XIV, President of the House, who gave the advice at an emergency meeting in Kumasi, encouraged the youth to conduct themselves in ways that would preserve the peace and unity of the country to ensure uninterrupted development.



He said they should not allow themselves to be used to cause mayhem which may not only jeopardize their future and also plunge the nation into chaos.



"The future of the youth is important so whatever Nananom will do to preserve a peaceful future must be supported by the youth", Togbe Afede observed.



"We also want to urge our politicians to remember that while campaigning for votes to get our mandate, they should preach peace and engage in healthy conversations that will facilitate development" he entreated politicians.



He said politics was about a contest of ideas and policies to improve the lives of the people and must not degenerate into violence particularly when it could endanger the lives of the very people they sought to serve.



The President of the NHC also urged Chiefs to take steps to ensure peace in their communities as their contributions towards national peace and development.



He thanked members of the house for their support in the last four years when he took over as the President of the House and announced that he would be seeking re-election in November.



"I and my deputy have worked with unwavering commitment in the best interest of this house for the past four years in close collaboration with you all", he pointed out.



Mr. Samuel Kofi Kofi Dzamesi, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, thanked members of the House for their unflinching support for the government in its efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.



He urged them to continue their partnership with the government and even forge greater collaboration in deepening the governance process to bring development to the people together.



The Minister announced that the President would soon cut sod for the construction of office complex for the six new Regional Houses of Chiefs, adding that each would receive a Land cruiser and pick-up vehicles.



"Traditional authority with its impact and reach is an important pillar in deepening values and ethics that enables citizen participation in community and national development ", he observed.

Source: GNA









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

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The West Bengal government has requested the railway board on Friday to resume metro and local train services in the state in a limited manner, maintaining physical distancing among passengers.

State home secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay sent a letter to the ministry late on Friday intimating the state governments views.

This is to bring to your notice that state government is of the view that metro and local train services can be resumed in Bengal in a limited manner maintaining the norms of physical distancing and health hygiene protocols, Bandyopadhyay wrote in the letter.

Also read: Covid-19 Unlock 4.0 - What to expect from September 1

On Wednesday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said that the state has no issues if local train and metro rail services are resumed. She even allowed resumption of flight services from six cities to Kolkata that had been suspended since July 6.

From September 1, flight services to Kolkata from the six cities may resume and can operate on three days, Banerjee said after a cabinet meeting.

Flights to Kolkata from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai and Ahmedabad were stopped from July 6 as the state government stepped up efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The dates were extended multiple times.

The centre is likely to allow the resumption of metro services from September when the fourth phase of unlocking economic activities will begin.
Anannke Foundation, the CSR arm of Saba Group Holdings (a commodity company headquartered in Asia) & an advocate for underprivileged, partners with Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and donate 10,000 kg of dry white Rice in the first phase amid COVID-19 response.

Anannke Foundation will continue supporting DSGMC programs with 10,000 kg of dry white rice every month and make sure no one goes hungry in the national capital Delhi while it fights the coronavirus pandemic.

In the program 'Langar on Wheels' trucks carrying cooked meals from Gurdwaras in Delhi are parked outside slums, government hospitals, old age homes, shelters, etc. and people queue up to get a free meal for themselves & their families.

India is the third-worst affected by COVID-19, which has claimed around 62,700 lives and infected more than 3,461,240 people so far. The pandemic affected more than 1,68,000 people and took over more than 4,370 lives in Delhi.

As per the 2015 report by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Delhi has about 6,343 slums with 1.02 million households, 'Langar on Wheels' is favourable for people who cannot make it to a Gurdwara or don't have one nearby.

In the fight against the COVID-19, one of the tools is social distancing which is not feasible inside the Gurdwaras hence the food is delivered to people directly while taking necessary precautions, till now DSGMC is been able to feed more than one crore people in Delhi.

"Rich people can stay home, as they have a store well-stocked with food, the vulnerable population that does not have savings to last even for a day are completely dependent upon external help as they are the hardest hit due to the pandemic. This is the need of the hour; where many people becoming jobless, it doesn't matter what you have, what matters is what you give. I am confident this partnership will help people to overcome hunger and humanitarian crisis in this medical emergency," said Dr Malini Saba, Founder & Chairman, Anannke Foundation.

"We promise Delhi; no one would sleep empty stomach; this generous support from the group will enhance our initiative towards feeding the needy and helpless in different parts of Delhi. We serve meals to all, regardless of caste, class, religion, gender, social or economic status or political consideration - especially at a time when it is most critical," said Manjinder Singh Sirsa, President, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.

Apart from the immediate response, 'Anannke Foundation' will continue giving long-term support for the most affected communities and help gradually move towards normalcy.

The goal of the foundation is to help at least one billion people around the world to gain access to basic healthcare, give education and opportunities that allow them to break the cycle of poverty and eradicate illiteracy about human rights issues.

To honour her father, Dr Malini Saba laid the foundation of 'Anannke Foundation' (previously known as Saba Family Foundations) in the year 2002, fuelled by her humanitarianism. Since then, it has been dedicated to a single mission to give access to underserve and promoting the well-being of humanity throughout the world.

The foundation is proficient in analyzing and addresses the root causes of the emerging socio-economic challenges faced by developing and underdeveloped countries. Moreover, they believe in creating unlikely partnerships to span across sectors and taking risks.

This inter-sectionality acts as a catalyst and helps them to achieve their vision of advancing health, re-valuing ecosystems, securing livelihoods, and transforming schools and communities timely.

Website: www.anannkefoundation.org.

Dr Malini Saba exemplifies the concept of using business to serve humanity; she is a self-made businesswoman, a psychologist, philanthropist, human & social rights activist, and a global advocate for women & girls.

She has helped millions of underserved women and children in South and Southeast Asia, South America, Africa, and the U.S. and gain access to life-saving medical, educational services and achieves economic stability.

Website: www.malinisaba.com.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee or DSGMC is an autonomous organization that manages Gurdwaras in Delhi state. DSGMC also manages various educational institutions, hospitals, old age homes, libraries, and other charitable institutions in Delhi.

It is headquartered in Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, near Parliament House. In 1971, the Government of India entrusted the management, through an ordinance, to a five-member Gurdwara Board.

Website: www.dsgmc.in.

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.)
Jim Boorsch

Hamden, Conn.

To the Editor:

The chess clock model allowing each candidate to have a total of 45 minutes of speaking time is a great suggestion, but one slight modification would make the debate format even better: The speakers microphone should be on, and the opponents should be turned off. Nothing is more inimical to a respectful, rational and informative discussion than allowing the opponents to interrupt and speak over each other. Even without the chess clock model, the debate format should ensure that the speakers take turns, one at a time.

Paul Martin

Seattle

To the Editor:

Thanks to Michelle Cottle for highlighting the benefits of doing away with the circuslike atmosphere of political debates. Having no live audience is a good start. Sticking to issues instead of baiting candidates is also a good thing. But in this time and place in our nation, I think the best way to improve the debates is to not have them.

Really, is there anything new we could learn from seeing and listening to Joe Biden and Donald Trump? Havent we seen and heard it all? Over and over again? As for a Harris-Pence debate, replace it with a block of airtime, to let each outline her or his vision of the nation and the way to to accomplish this  or answer, without interruption, a set of identical questions posed before going on the air.

The virtual Democratic convention got positive reviews. It was thoughtful and dignified and could be the blueprint for future events, debates included.

Gail Minthorn

Wilton, Conn.

To the Editor:

Instead of reconfiguring the debates, lets just get rid of the third party. The moderators continue to ask inane questions and seem to have no problem when theyre not answered. Let each candidate ask questions of the other one. The question can last 30 seconds, the response can be two minutes, and comments on that response should be one minute.
In India, the power held by godmen is common knowledge. While weve read a lot about the shady dealings of these ungodly godmen, weve never had any conversation about the societal problems which have led to their rise to prominence.

Prakash Jhas Aashram is an honest look at society at large which paves way for these conmen to strengthen their empires. Jhas first full-fledged dive into the web content space comes with a brilliantly woven story which highlights the societal problems and how this cycle of suffering never ends for the oppressed.

Here's what makes it an engaging watch:

A Gripping Storyline:

The show is pretty upfront with its showcase of casteism. In fact, the show starts with a local incident where people from the lower caste are beaten up. What follows is a great maze of subplots, shady characters, grand schemes and a whole lot of politics.

Aashram, at its core, is about the faith of the masses. When the common folk have their trust in the system broken, they start believing a godman over those who are supposed to protect them. With such blind faith, people are quick to overlook the obvious traps they are walking into.





A lower-caste girl, Pammi (Aaditi Pohankar), is a champion wrestler but she is constantly discriminated against. When the safety of her family is put at risk, she finds justice in the form of a godman. The godman and his followers become a symbol of hope. Even the good guys in the plot have some deep flaws. For example, Sub-inspector Ujagar Singh (Darshan Kumaar) is an honest cop who is contemptuous of a colleague because he is said to have benefitted from the reservation system.

Unparalleled Performances:

All the characters fall in the perfect grey area for Prakash Jha to explore as the audience is treated to one of the most engaging bits of storytelling in the Indian webseries space.

Bobby Deol (Monty/Kashipur Waale Baba) has made a comeback to the mainstream as he plays a godman in Aashram. His innocent yet unsettling smile adds to his character.

MX Player

Other actors include Chandan Roy who plays Bhupinder alias Bhopa, Babas trusted aide who doubles up as his trouble-shooter, hitman and key interlocutor. With strong performances by Aaditi Pohankar (last seen in the web-series She), Chandan Roy Sanyal, Anupriya Goenka, Tridha Choudhury, Sachin Shroff, Tushar Pandey and Vikram Kochchar, its great to see the webseries ecosystem thrive with a bunch of recognisable actors.

Direction And Production That Keep You Hooked:

One of the major challenges for a show set in a small city is to not let the immersion of the setting break. Prakash Jha manages to keep this show on track with his brilliant direction. The way he manages to steer our attention to a lot of significant sub-plots is commendable.

The use of natural lighting produces great results and the sequence in the police station highlights that. The dialect is on-point and the world created in the show is a reflection of our society.

MX Player

There are nine episodes in the series - each roughly an hour long. With around nine hours of content, Aashram manages to give us a satisfying end to sub-plots and character arcs. With tense cliff-hangers, it was difficult to not start the next episode right away.

The good thriller always reveals its plot in layers. With little chunks of information dropping every few minutes, the overarching sense of despair makes for a riveting watch.

Prakash Jhas Aashram is nothing but binge-worthy and deserves your dedicated attention this weekend, so start streaming it on MX Player now!
Mary Berry's Foolproof Cooking Credit:

MARY BERRYS FOOLPROOF COOKING

New series 

9pm, SBS Food

The British octogenarian shares her go-to recipes for those occasions when one would like to impress. After carefully setting the table, she demonstrates a baked salmon dish that involves rather a lot of cream cheese. It turns out to be a colourful addition to the spread. Later, she acquires some lobster from the Isle of Wight, and sits down to a meal with an old colleague, to reminisce about the 1960s when they were featured in a womens magazine with a newfangled Chinese recipe. Not done yet, Berry bangs out a beef Wellington.
Care homes are being offered increased payments to take in people who have had coronavirus.

This is despite the death toll from the virus in care homes topping 15,000 and after the government changed the rules to stop homes being forced to take in coronavirus patients back in April.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock promised to throw a 'protective ring' around care homes following the reports.

The government has also made 1.3 billion available to help find alternative places for residents who test positive for the virus.

Jane Ward (left) and Rachael Peacock (sitting) talks to Alan Venn and Joan Woods, residents of Ashwood Court residential care home in Lowton, Warrington, on July 20

However the Daily Telegraph has reported that care home manages are being 'pressured' into accepting coronavirus patients into their facilities.

Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are reportedly offering payment bumps of up to 50 per cent.

Cumbria County Council and Morecambe Bay CCG wrote to care home companies earlier this month asking them to take people who had the virus but no longer had symptoms.

An additional payment of 1,500 per bed per week was offered to help cover any additional costs.

Susan Mckinney, Operations director at Wellburn Care Homes, which runs more than a dozen homes in the north of England, said her company was asked to take coronavirus patients.

She told the Daily Telegraph: 'We have been approached with offers to [receive] more money if we would take Covid-positive patients into our homes'.

Care worker Cath Roe talks to residents William Buxton and Neil Fox on her rounds at Ashwood Court residential care home in Lowton, Warrington, on July 20

Wellburn chairman Rachel Beckett told the Telegraph: 'I know there is still a lot of pressure there. Some who have different facilities to us could set up a Covid-19 ward and have nursing facilities but we don't, and there are a lot of homes that don't.

'We had conversations with a couple of authorities in the North and they were trying to encourage us with a higher monetary value for residents, but we refused.'

The managing director of Saint Cecilia's a family-run care home in Scarborough, Michael Padgham, said his home was offered a ten per cent fee boost to take in coronavirus patients, with the cash paying for more staff and PPE;

He told the Daily Telegraph: 'If someone is Covid-19 positive, you have to think 'I'll have to staff the home more or have more PPE, and I might have to zone them off '.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'All patients are required to be tested for Covid-19 prior to being discharged to a care home and no care home should be forced to admit an existing or new resident to the care home if they are unable to cope with the impact of the person's Covid-19 illness.'
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday lashed out at the police for using force to crack down on protesters over the installation of a statue of Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna at Peeranwadi in Belagavi. The police are using force and caning people who want the statue to be installed. This is unacceptable and I condemn it.

I spoke to district incharge minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, the jurisdictional district collector and the police commissioner to sort out this issue carefully, he said. I urge all supporters who want the statue to be installed to conduct themselves peacefully, he added. Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had given clear directions on the issue.

Ramesh Jarkiholi held a meeting on Friday with the groups concerned and urged them to sort out the issue amicably. On Friday, two groups with conflicting interests gathered and the police had to take control. I have spoken to the jurisdictional commissioner, deputy commissioner and police officials. Police bandobast is elaborate and the district authorities have spoken to community leaders on either side.

We need to remember Sangolli Rayanna and Shivaji Maharaj were both patriots who fought for this land. Let us not dishonour their names, Jarkiholi said. Senior minister R Ashoka said, We took up the issue and discussed it a couple of days ago. No one should take the law into their own hands. Kannada and Culture minister C T Ravi said, I would like to ask the people protesting against the statue what their issue is. The CM has given permission and also assured of assistance to install the statue. Sangolli Rayanna was a freedom fighter. I strongly suspect the motives of the protesters. I also suspect the forces that were trying to destabilise the government through the DJ Halli riots are at work here as well.

The protest by Marathi supporters over the installation of Sangolli Rayanna statue is unpardonable. Its our land, and we dont need anyones permission to honour the great warrior Rayanna. Its an assault on Kannadiga pride and those defaming our heroes should be taught a lesson. There is no question of compromise on the issue of our land, language and waters

H D Kumaraswamy, JDS leader
It was November 1933, and Mrs. Thomas Perkins of Kingdom, Saskatchewan, was desperate  like so many people in Canada during the Great Depression.

So she picked up a pen and wrote directly to the prime minister, asking R.B. Bennett to please send her husband some new underwear from the Eatons catalogue.

I have patched and darned his old underwear for the last two years, but they are completely done now. If you cant do this I really dont know what to do, she wrote.

A few weeks later, she wrote Bennett back to thank him for sending the garments along.

That was what passed as income support the last time the Canadian economy suffered so much pain. Bennett received letter after letter, replying to them personally and opening up his own wallet to pay someones mortgage, give $5 here or $20 there.

Fast-forward to now. New figures published on Friday broke records for their awfulness. The economy contracted 11.5 per cent in April, May and June compared to the previous three months  the worst since such numbers have been kept. Household spending dropped 13.1 per cent, also the worst ever. Business investment was down 16.2 per cent.

Canadian companies stopped trading and selling. Workers stayed home. Few of us spent much money.

The spring, as we can recall all too vividly, was lonely and scary with the pandemic on our doorsteps.

But we werent darning our shredded underwear, and its worth remembering why. While the numbers published Friday are dreadful, they also show how government largesse made a world of difference.

A few new numbers:

Canadians incomes took a huge hit this spring, declining $27 billion in the second quarter compared to the first, according to Statistics Canada data crunched by Scotiabank economists. But at the same time, government transfers to households  such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit  rose by more than double that amount, up $56 billion.

As a result, household disposable income  spending money  climbed $36 billion compared to the first three months of the year, a 10.1 per cent increase, quarter over quarter.

We saved a lot of it. The savings rate, normally its in the single digits, climbed to a sky-high 26 per cent.

But at the same time, the federal deficit exploded in April, May and June to $120 billion, compared with just $85 million a year earlier.

In short, the pandemic spring saw us stay home, shut down our businesses, stop our spending, hunker down and collect government income support. The various programs far more than offset our personal losses so that we wouldnt be tempted to venture out to work, running up government deficits to eye-popping levels.

Many of us tucked that money away, especially if we were well-off to begin with.

The fiscal spending had a big role here, says Rebekah Young, fiscal economist at Scotiabank. From an economic position, we certainly averted the worst.

Now, things are turning around quickly, surprising even the optimists about the recovery. More than half of the lost jobs have returned, stores and businesses are reopening, homebuyers are flocking into the market.

At the same time, billions more in government support is still gushing into households and businesses. The federal wage subsidy will run until the end of the year. The $19 billion in federal safe restart money for the provinces has yet to flow, not to mention the $2 billion in back-to-school money announced this week. And just last week, the federal government announced a $39-billion plan to extend and then replace the Canada Emergency Response Benefit with a revamped Employment Insurance program.

Did the government overdo it?

Its hard to see how it could have worked any other way. The pandemic has hurt low-income and precarious workers the hardest, and the federal government had to move swiftly and generously to make sure those vulnerable groups were not penalized twice. Pausing to income-test and fine-tune government support would have meant a tragic spring for those already struggling.

And the government support and savings should stand us in good stead to face some subpar times ahead.

Despite recent signs of a quick, initial recovery, it will still take many more months to completely climb out of the hole the pandemic dug into our economy, economists say.

Deferred mortgage payments, emergency loans are coming due, and rent support is falling off. Business investment is still tepid. Some experts fear a second wave of unemployment, regardless of whether theres a second wave of the pandemic. And of course, if the second wave of pandemic requires a retrenching, all bets are off.

At some point soon, the federal government will need to decide how and when to turn off the taps, how to calibrate income support so that it only goes to those who need it, and how to solidify the reopening of businesses and the jobs they bring.

But in the meantime, officials in the Prime Ministers Office say Canadians are still writing to Justin Trudeau by the thousand, thanking him, criticizing him, asking for more, telling their personal stories. But we can be sure we wont need to ask him to make sure were fully clothed.
KHABAROVSK, Russia -- Locals in the Russian Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk have held their 50th protest against the July arrest of the regions popular former governor, Sergei Furgal.



According to local media, "thousands" of people participated in the August 29 demonstration in the center of the city, while the authorities estimated the crowd at about 1,200 people.



Protesters continued to demand that Furgal, who was sent to Moscow following his arrest on suspicion of involvement in several murders more than a decade ago, be returned to the Khabarovsk region for "a fair trial" by jury.



There were no reports of arrests or other conflicts between protesters and police.



The protests highlight growing discontent in the Far East over what demonstrators see as Moscow-dominated policies that often neglect their views and interests.



The pro-Furgal demonstrations have attracted tens of thousands of protesters on weekends since they started on July 11.
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A two-storey restaurant in China collapsed this morning killing seventeen people, according to state media.

Some 28 other people were injured in the accident which happened during a gathering. This includes seven people who are in serious condition, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

The restaurant was in Shanxi province's Xiangfen county, about 400 miles southwest of Beijing.

The cause of the collapse was not immediately clear.

A two-storey restaurant in China collapsed this morning (emergency services pictured) killing seventeen people, according to state media

Some 28 other people were injured in the accident which happened during a gathering. Pictured: Emergency services at the scene

Medical workers carry an injured person out of the rubble of a collapsed restaurant in China. At least seven people are in critical condition

The restaurant (the remaining rubble, pictured) was in Shanxi province's Xiangfen county, about 400 miles southwest of Beijing

The cause of the collapse was not immediately clear. An aerial shot shows rescuers searching through the rubble (pictured)

Hundreds of rescue workers, wearing hardhats and face masks, searched for trapped people in a daylong operation

Rescue workers search for survivors in the debris after the two-storey building collapsed during a gathering today

A crane can be seen at the site of a collapsed two-storey restaurant in China today. Emergency workers desperately searched for survivors

Rescue workers searched for survivors in the debris after dark at the site of a two-story building which collapsed earlier today

Huge pieces of concrete are seen in the remains of a collapsed two-storey restaurant in northern China's Shanxi province

Rescuers can be seen searching for victims amid enormous slabs of concrete in the destroyed remains of the restaurant today

Hundreds of rescue workers, wearing hardhats and face masks, searched for trapped people in a daylong operation.

Video posted on social media by state broadcaster China Central Television showed them hefting heavy pieces of concrete.

In March, a five-star hotel in China collapsed, sparking a desperate rescue attempt to save 30 people trapped inside.

Xinjia Hotel in Quanzhou City was converted to a quarantine facility for people who had recent contact with coronavirus patients, the People's Daily state newspaper reported.

At least 62 people were rescued from the hotel, including 20 who had died.

A rescue force of over 1,000 people - including firefighters, police forces and other emergency responders - all rushed to the scene.

One man was pulled out after being buried under the wreckage for some 69 hours.
Wastewater testing samples from the dorms on the University of Arizona campus came back positive for COVID-19, said university president, Dr. Robert Robbins.

The University of Arizona is regularly testing wastewater from each dorm, searching for traces of COVID-19. Officials said the techniques worked and possibly prevented a COVID-19 outbreak at the University of Arizona.

According to the school officials, when wastewater testing samples came back positive, the school quickly tested all 311 people who live and work there. By testing, they found two asymptomatic students who tested positive for COVID-19.

The students were quickly quarantined. Richard Carmona, a former U.S. surgeon general directing the school's reentry task force, said that they have managed to jump on it right away with the early detection. He added that they got them the appropriate isolation where they needed to be.

Dr. Ian Pepper, Director of the University of Arizona West Center, and his team are doing wastewater testing from dorms to determine if someone is positive for COVID-19, even if they do not show any symptoms.

Pepper said that sewage water testing is a leading indicator of cases, compared to deaths, which is a lagging indicator.

"That's the last thing you see," Pepper said in a report.

Wastewater Testing

Researchers worldwide have been studying the ability of wastewater testing to determine COVID-19 cases early and prevent coronavirus outbreaks.

Countries like Singapore, China, Spain, Canada, and New Zealand have programs doing wastewater testing. Meanwhile, the United States has more than 170 wastewater facilities in 37 states that are being tested.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) earlier partnered with the nation's Department of Health and Human Services to test sewage systems for COVID-19.

Some experts said that wastewater testing should not replace clinical testing. But it is believed to help communities where COVID-19 tests are unavailable.

University of Arizona

Carmon said the two asymptomatic students could have further spread the virus before it was even detected without the sewage testing.

Carmona also said that if they had waited until they started showing symptoms, and stayed in the dorm for days, several people could have been infected.

Kevin Thomas, director of the University of Queensland's Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, noted that wastewater was also used for years to test for other viruses and study illegal drug use.

It was also done to understand the socioeconomic status of a community based on its food consumption. Thomas has been cooperating with a federal research agency to develop techniques to best track the virus in Australia.

He said that sewage water testing is effective because fragments of the virus stay in feces.

"I really do think it's a good demonstration of the technique and technology because all the researchers working in this space internationally have come to the conclusion that is a very good early warning system," Thomas said, referring to Arizona's experience.

Thomas added that the process used to test is the same as those used for nose swab tests, including fragments within the sample and then extracting the ribonucleic acid (RNA).

Check these out:

Abbott Laboratories' 15-Minute COVID-19 Test Receives FDA's Approval

CDC Wants Sewage Systems Across the Country Tested for COVID-19

Travel During COVID-19 Pandemic: Can You Safely Travel Now?
Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. famously laid out a vision for harmony between white and Black people 57 years ago, his son issued a sobering reminder about the persistence of police brutality and racist violence targeting Black Americans.

We must never forget the American nightmare of racist violence exemplified when Emmett Till was murdered on this day in 1955, and the criminal justice system failed to convict his killers, said Martin Luther King III, speaking to thousands who gathered Friday to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Sixty-five years later (after Tills murder), we still struggle for justice  demilitarizing the police, dismantling mass incarceration, and declaring as determinately as we can that Black lives matter, King said.

Even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, many felt compelled to join civil rights advocates in Washington to highlight a scourge of police and vigilante violence that gave way to what many feel is an overdue reckoning on racial injustice. Some stood in sweltering temperatures in lines that stretched for several blocks, as organizers took temperatures as part of coronavirus protocols. Organizers reminded attendees to practice social distancing and wear masks throughout the program, although distancing was hardly maintained as the gathering grew in size.

They gathered following another shooting by a white police officer of a Black man  this time, 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Sunday  sparking demonstrations and violence that left two dead. As peaceful protests turned to arson and theft, naysayers of the Black Lives Matter movement issued calls for law and order.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, whose civil rights organization, the National Action Network, planned Fridays commemoration, had a message for naysayers.

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Some say to me, Rev. Al, yall ought to denounce those that get violent, those that are looting, Sharpton said. All of the families (of victims of police and vigilante violence) have denounced looting. What we havent heard is you denounce shooting.

Sharpton asked, We will speak against the looting, but when will you speak against wrong police shooting?

Sharpton and King stood with relatives of an ever-expanding roll call of victims: Blake, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner, among others.

Arbery and Martin both were killed by men who pursued them with guns and whose arrests were delayed until residents protested.

There are two systems of justice in the United States, said Jacob Blake Sr., the father of the man whose shooting by police in Kenosha left him paralyzed from the waist down. Theres a white system and a black system  the black system aint doing so well.

No justice, no peace! he proclaimed.

Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, stared out at the massive march audience and said he wished his brother was there to see it.

Fridays march shaped up to be the largest political gathering in Washington since the pandemic began. Many attendees wore T-shirts of the late Rep. John Lewis who, until his death last month, was the last living speaker at the original March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. That march went on to become one of the most famous political rallies in U.S. history, and one of the largest gatherings with over 200,000 people in attendance.

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Organizers said they intended to show the urgency for federal policing reforms, to decry racial violence, and to demand voting rights protections ahead of the November general election. A handful of satellite marches were held in South Carolina, Florida, Nevada, Utah and Colorado.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, in a video, said the original conveners would be disappointed that Black Americans are still marching for justice and equality under the law.

I have to believe that if they were with us today, they would share in our anger and frustration as we continue to see Black men and women slain in our streets, and left behind in our economy and justice system that has too often denied Black folks our dignity and rights, she said.

Former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted his support for the march.

Although President Donald Trump did not comment on the march Friday, the Republican National Committee marked the events anniversary by highlighting the presidents record as a champion for the Black community.

While there is more work to be done, Donald Trump is the leader to make it happen, Paris Dennard, an RNC senior communications advisor, said in a statement.

Activist Frank Nitty, who said he walked 750 miles for 24 days from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Washington for Fridays march, spoke to the audience about persistence in the fight for justice.

Are yall tired? Because Im tired, Nitty said. They think this is a negotiation, but I came here to demand change. My grandson aint gonna march for the same things that my granddaddy marched for.

Navy veteran Alonzo Jones-Goss, 28, who traveled from Boston to participate in the march, said the nation has seen far too many tragic events that claimed the lives of Black Americans and other people of color, and that needs to come to an end.

Following the rally, participants marched to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in West Potomac Park, next to the National Mall, and then dispersed. Some participants headed toward Black Lives Matter Plaza, right outside of the White House, which was renamed from Pennsylvania Avenue during protests in June.

Chants of Black lives matter and No justice, no peace echoed through downtown Salt Lake City Friday morning, as about 200 people marched from the state Capitol to Washington Square Park for Utahs March on Washington.

If people still cant see why were out here and why were marching and why people are loud and angry then theyre blind, said Joshua Chamberlain, a realtor from Holladay, Utah. Theres racism happening every day and  especially by police brutality  people are dying from it.

In Colorado, several dozen people rallied at a prominent statue of Martin Luther King Jr. in Denvers City Park. Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet cited the names of George Floyd, Elijah McClain and victims of police brutality.

You know and I know what happened to them would never happen to me, said Bennet, who is white.

Sharpton instructed those in other states to march on their U.S. senators offices and demand their support for federal policing reforms and reinvigorated voter protections, in Lewis memory.

In June, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, which would ban police use of stranglehold maneuvers and end qualified immunity for officers, among other reforms. A Republican-authored police reform bill, introduced in June by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who is Black, failed a procedural vote in the Senate because Democrats felt the measure didnt go far enough to address officer accountability.

In July, following Lewis death, Democratic senators reintroduced legislation that would restore a provision of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. The law previously required states with a history of voter suppression to seek federal clearance before changing voting regulations.

Both measures are awaiting action in the Republican-controlled Senate.
The insurance industry has hardly covered itself in glory in recent months, refusing to pay out on claims made by owners of small firms who understandably thought their business interruption policies would kick in as a result of the pandemic.

Yet its reputation has not been entirely left in shreds. While providers of such cover nervously await a High Court judgment due next month on whether they should (rightly) be required to pay such claims, there is a cohort of insurance companies determined to do the right thing by customers. They are providers of financial protection insurance.

This cover comes in many forms, but typically pays policyholders who suffer a serious illness such as cancer or a stroke a lump sum (critical illness cover) or regular monthly sum (income protection), or a lump sum upon death (life insurance).

Hope: Peter Tompkins, who has a rare cancer, with his wife Bethan, Charlie and Ella

All payouts are tax-free and major providers include Aviva, Aegon, Legal & General and Zurich.

Although this hasn't always been the case, the overwhelming majority of claims made on such plans are now met by insurers.

Tomorrow, insurer Zurich will demonstrate the renewed robustness of this cover when it releases its claims statistics for the first six months of this year. Like most  but not all  financial protection insurers, Zurich publishes data regularly to prove the cover is worth buying and that it accepts far more claims than it rejects.

The figures will show that Zurich paid more than 154million in life insurance claims  a jump of more than 14.2million on the same period last year  with Covid-19 claims accounting for a third of this increase. Just 1 per cent of claims were rejected, a result of customers not revealing key medical details (for example a history of alcohol abuse) when they took out cover, it will say.

The data for critical illness cover will show that 86 per cent of claims were met  with nearly one in five claims being breast cancer related. Of the 42million paid out, 575,000 related to claims for children  typically resulting from leukaemia.

Of the 14 per cent of claims rejected, the main reason cited is the non-disclosure of key medical data when cover was purchased.

While all new claims under income protection cover were paid, the number of claims on both income protection and critical illness plans were sharply down on the same period last year.

MY 200,000 PAYOUT TO FUND CANCER QUEST Peter Tompkins, 37, is determined to find a treatment that will keep his lung cancer at bay  long term. Helped by his wife Bethan, he has researched a host of new possible remedies for the rare form of cancer (mucinous adenocarcinoma) that has already resulted in a fifth of his right lung being removed  and he has tried many of them. 'I'm determined to fight the cancer,' he says. 'I've never smoked and until the cancer struck I was a keen runner and a rugby player. I also want to enjoy my children and see them grow up.' Ella is seven and Charlie four. His quest to find a treatment has been made easier by a 200,000 payout from a combined critical illness and life policy that he and Bethan took out when buying their home in Cardiff 11 years ago. The Zurich policy paid out late last year, enabling him to test treatments he wouldn't otherwise have been able to afford. It has also allowed the family to spend some money renovating their home, where Peter spent most of lockdown shielding. 'The prognosis for my cancer is not good,' he admits. 'More surgery may be necessary but I'll keep going.'

This was a result of many hospitals postponing diagnoses and treatments as they dealt with the intake of Covid-19 patients.

Peter Hamilton, head of retail protection at Zurich, told The Mail on Sunday: 'Our claims data shows we have seen a marked increase in the number of customers and their families needing to claim on their life insurance policies, with this jump driven in part by the Covid-19 pandemic.

'This is exactly why we're in business  to help families at the most difficult times in their lives.

'We've also seen fewer critical illness claims towards the end of the first half of this year, so we urge customers to seek medical advice to ensure they are accessing any treatment they may need.'

As reported in The Mail on Sunday last month, many protection insurers and advisers have seen an increase in the number of households buying financial protection.

This continues to be the case. Roy Mcloughlin is a director of the wealth manager Cavendish Ware. He says: 'The last six months have seen many people examine their own mortality and financial security in a manner never seen before. This has resulted in an increase in queries and questions from individuals and small business owners. Coronavirus has put a spotlight on financial protection insurance.'

Yet advisers believe the tide could turn as workers are laid off and household finances come under increasing pressure  leading to policies being cancelled.

Ben Burgess, senior adviser at the protection specialist LifeSearch, says: 'It's clear that disposable income is getting tight as people begin to experience the full impact of the recession. We have seen an increase in people asking to make changes to their policies, including cancellations. Yet this is not always the best option.'

Burgess is 'pleased' that some insurers allow policyholders to take temporary payment holidays without compromising their cover. Others have permitted the amount of existing cover to be decreased, thereby reducing the monthly premium that a customer must pay.

Mcloughlin implores customers struggling to keep their cover going to talk to either an adviser or their insurer before cancelling.

Cover is not cheap. According to Alan Lakey of the critical illness comparison service CIExpert, 200,000 of critical illness cover for a 30-year-old that would remain in place until they reach age 65 ranges from 61.70 to 90.45 a month. The same amount for a 40- year-old costs between 95.44 and 127.26 a month.

This would pay out in the event of death or one of a list of specified serious illnesses.
An orange-yellow orchid that has eluded botanists for almost two decades has been rediscovered in the state of Massachusetts. The rare, endangered plant has been the subject of speculation since falling off the radar in 2001, and botanists remain so concerned for its preservation that the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has made an impactful decision.

They decided not to reveal the exact location of the orchids 2020 reappearance.

It was rare-plant expert Dr. Robert Wernerehl of MassWildlifes Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program who came across eight crested fringed orchidPlatanthera cristataplants growing wild in August. Wernerehl claimed that the rediscovery of this striking plant took his breath away.

While the botanist was happy to publicize that the diminutive orchid with striking orange blooms was found growing on partially protected public land in Bristol County, specific location details remain closely guarded.

Given the condition of the site, and the knowledge that many botanists have searched fruitlessly for this rarity for years, I was not at all expecting to find it, Wernerehl told WWLP. But while forcing my way through dense shrubby thickets laden with poison ivy, I kept reminding myself to move slowly and keep looking.

Glancing down, he continued, describing his discovery, a bright orange spot in the tangle of branches caught my eye, and as I bent over the plant, I knew immediately I had found it.

Wernerehl claimed he experienced momentary disbelief before confirming that the orange-yellow orchid in front of him truly was the elusive flora of almost 20 years.

The botanist further described the location of the orchids reappearance as a shrubby wetland thicket of sweet pepperbush, swamp azalea, and poison ivy but did not divulge place names or coordinates for the sake of the immediate preservation of this reemerging species.

Prior to its last appearance in 2001, the orange-yellow blossoming orchid had only been documented in the state in 1905, 1908, and 1987, reports MassWildlife. State botanists had conducted repeated survey efforts over the years, but to no avail.

The eight plants newly identified in Bristol County represent the northernmost known population of the crested fringed orchid in the United States and the only known appearance of the flowering plant in New England. Its closest known neighbors are growing wild on Long Island, New York.

The crested fringed orchid typically begins blooming in August, according to a Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife fact sheet, preferring the damp, acidic soil of bogs, wet meadows, and swamps. The striking orange-yellow blooms can reach between 1 and 5 inches in length, and slim, nectar-filled spurs attract bumblebeesthe orchids primary pollinator.

The crested fringed orchids that have emerged in Bristol County remain at risk of environmental turbulence, invasive species, fires, and predation by the local deer population. The species is still registered Endangered by the state.

However, Wernerehl, discussing his discovery with MassWildlife, noted that the timing of the rare speciess reappearance was truly notable, as 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the Massachusettss Endangered Species Act.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
Germany has been praised for the way it has handled the pandemic, and the countrys death toll of some 9,300 people is less than one-fourth the amount of people who have died of COVID-19 in Britain. Opinion polls show overwhelming support for the prevention measures imposed by authorities, such as the requirement to wear masks on public transport, in stores and some public buildings such as libraries and schools.
I think most Americans initially supported the protests that objected to police brutality against Black citizens. But most Americans dont support arson, looting and deadly mayhem. They question why cops werent ordered to shut down the violence immediately and why mayors didnt call on the National Guard or ask for federal assistance. But Democratic mayors sought to appease the mobs. Taxpayers watched their cities get trashed and looted in Chicago, Portland, New York, St. Louis, Kenosha and elsewhere.
Only a week earlier, the opposition coalition known as M5-RFP that includes Dicko had publicly backed the coup, with thousands of their supporters taking to the streets after the juntas overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. M5-RFP had led several months of demonstrations calling for his resignation three years before his final term was due to end.
Overcoming the nation's opioid epidemic will require clinicians to look beyond opioids, new research from Oregon Health & Science University suggests.

The study reveals that among patients who participated in an in-hospital addiction medicine intervention at OHSU, three-quarters came into the hospital using more than one substance. Overall, participants used fewer substances in the months after working with the hospital-based addictions team than before.

The study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.

We found that polysubstance use is the norm. This is important because we may need to offer additional support to patients using multiple drugs. If someone with opioid use disorder also uses alcohol or methamphetamines, we miss caring for the whole person by focusing only on their opioid use." Caroline King, M.P.H., lead author, health systems researcher and current M.D./Ph.D. student in the OHSU School of Medicine's biomedical engineering program

About 40% of participants reported they had abstained from using at least one substance at least a month after discharge - a measure of success that isn't typically tracked in health system record-keeping.

Researchers enrolled 486 people seen by an addiction medicine consult service while hospitalized at OHSU Hospital between 2015 and 2018, surveying them early during their stay in the hospital and then again 30 to 90 days after discharge.

Treatment of opioid use disorder can involve medication such as buprenorphine, or Suboxone, which normalizes brain function by acting on the same target in the brain as prescription opioids or heroin.

However, focusing only on the opioid addiction may not adequately address the complexity of each patient.

"Methamphetamine use in many parts of the U.S., including Oregon, is prominent right now," said senior author Honora Englander, M.D., associate professor of medicine (hospital medicine) in the OHSU School of Medicine. "If people are using stimulants and opioids - and we only talk about their opioid use - there are independent harms from stimulant use combined with opioids. People may be using methamphetamines for different reasons than they use opioids."

Englander leads the in-hospital addiction service, known as Project IMPACT, or Improving Addiction Care Team.

The initiative brings together physicians, social workers, peer-recovery mentors and community addiction providers to address addiction when patients are admitted to the hospital. Since its inception in 2015, the program has served more than 1,950 people hospitalized at OHSU.

The national opioid epidemic spiraled out of control following widespread prescribing of powerful pain medications beginning in the 1990s. Since then, it has often been viewed as a public health crisis afflicting rural, suburban and affluent communities that are largely white.

Englander said the new study suggests that a singular focus on opioids may cause clinicians to overlook complexity of issues facing many populations, including people of color, who may also use other substances.

"Centering on opioids centers on whiteness," Englander said. "Understanding the complexity of people's substance use patterns is really important to honoring their experience and developing systems that support their needs."

Researchers say the finding further reinforces earlier research showing that hospitalization is an important time to offer treatment to people with substance use disorder, even if they are not seeking treatment for addiction when they come to the hospital.
Bollywood actor Vaani Kapoor, who is all pumped up for her next movie 'Bell Bottom' has opened about the several preparations that are being taken for the movie. Directed by Ranjit M Tewari, the movie is set in the 1980s, and the 32-year-old star shared how she has been getting into the skin of her character for the same.

Bollywood actor Vaani Kapoor, who is all pumped up for her next movie Bell Bottom has opened about the several preparations that are being taken for the movie. Talking about how she prepped for Bell Bottom during the lockdown, the actor said: Prepping in lockdown has been all about Zoom calls and readings on digital platforms. Its been all about getting back in the zone in a new way! We are making do with what we have. So, I cannot complain.

Directed by Ranjit M Tewari, the movie is set in the 1980s, and the 32-year-old star shared how she has been getting into the skin of her character for the same. Well, I am particularly excited about the 80s look and feel and we have been working on some interesting looks from that era. I have been making my notes, watching old films, doing a bit of research. Its been a fun process to soak in the 80s era, she said. For the Befikre actor the era of the 80s is, as she says, is super colourful, super cool.

Also Read: Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman dies due to cancer

Its amazing that our film is set in that period. As a part of my research, its been really fun to catch on Hindi films set in that time and read about the era to just pick up mannerisms, style, and life. Rest, I will improvise given the script and my character. I wish I could give more details but at this point, I really cant, she added.

Kapoor will be seen paired opposite to actor Akshay Kumar in upcoming espionage thriller, whose principal shooting began in the United Kingdom on August 21.

In October, the War actor will be starting her next project  a love story opposite Ayushmann Khurrana.

I am just excited right now to start work again after a lockdown. Its going to be hectic but I also know its going to be very fulfilling. I am glad I have gotten to be a part of two very interesting projects said Kapoor. The much-anticipated thriller, Bell Bottom has been slated to hit the theatres on April 2, 2021. (ANI)

Also Read: Sadak 2 is an unbearable and tiresome affair
For a second consecutive day  this time on the day designated by Major League Baseball to honor Jackie Robinson  the As did not play Friday as their scheduled game in Houston was postponed in a demonstration against racial injustice.

Manager Bob Melvin said the Astros approached the As before the teams series opener at Minute Maid Park about a postponement and: We were totally supportive of it. We did the same thing the night before.  Its another day of silent protest.

Ten major-league games were postponed between Wednesday and Thursday as the sporting world reacted to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. The Astros did not have games scheduled for either day and thus were not involved in those demonstrations. The As chose not to play Thursdays game at Texas amid the protests.

On Friday, both the As and Astros took the field for pregame ceremonies wearing the No. 42 jerseys reserved for MLBs annual commemoration of Robinson breaking the color barrier on April 15, 1947  with this years celebration delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Both teams lined up for the national anthem and Melvin and Astros manager Dusty Baker met at home plate with umpires as usual before the Astros starters took the field. Players on both teams then emerged from their dugouts and lined the warning track dirt.

The teams observed an extended moment of silence, holding their hats, before departing the field. A Black Lives Matter T-shirt was left on home plate with an As and an Astros jersey in the batters box on either side. Members of both teams waved or extended their caps toward the other side, a different visual than their previous meeting, one in Oakland that involved a benches-clearing incident.

Baseball is a brotherhood and no more so than right now, Melvin said. So, no thought about when we played them last time. Just sympathy for the situation and total understanding. Everybody just tipped their caps to each other knowing whats at stake here tonight. And then we get back on the field and play tomorrow.

The As and Astros will play a doubleheader Saturday, Melvin said, which will consist of two seven-inning games. The teams are first and second in the AL West, with the As holding a 4 -game lead entering this weekends series.

Before the game, Baker, the former Giants manager in his first season managing Houston, told Astros reporters a postponement would be something that cant come from me necessarily, it has to be something that the players feel in their hearts to do. Baker has spoken up previously about racial inequity and told reporters Friday the message has often fallen on deaf ears.

For years, weve been having Jackie Robinson Day and its been kind of squashed under the rug and we dont talk about it until next year, Baker said. Or African American history month, we make a big deal out of it and then you sweep it under the rug and you talk about it next year. Until people put their money where their mouth is, youre really wasting my time.

I love what the basketball players are doing, the hockey players. Theyre putting their money where their mouth is. Im proud of these young people in America because theyre doing something about it.

Also Friday, As second baseman Tony Kemp said he is among major-league players donating their salaries from Thursday and Friday through the Players Alliance  a group started this year by current and former Black major-leaguers  to initiatives helping to fight racial injustice. Kemp said all players can contribute and he is hopeful some funds raised will be directed to Oakland.

Kemp, on a video call Friday afternoon, said reaction to the As decision to postpone Thursdays game had been mostly positive. I think people really understand that this is bigger than sports right now, he said. These issues that are going on in the world just cant be ignored right now.

Hopefully a kid asked their parents whats going on right now, why is there no baseball, Kemp said. And they have a real conversation with their kid of whats going on in America. And thats where it starts. Because this generation is being able to speak up and the players are understanding how big their voices are right now. We have huge platforms, why not use them.

On Wednesday, the Brewers and Reds announced MLBs first postponement as Mike Fiers was getting ready to start for the As at Texas. Fiers said he told teammates he was backing them up whatever they want to do  I was fine not pitching that day. After playing, the As made a group decision to not play Thursday, Fiers said.

We all talked about it, had a great conversation, Fiers said. There are topics that are touchy and not comfortable. But we talked about it like men and came to a conclusion of not playing.

Fiers noted the As have three Black players in Kemp, Marcus Semien and Khris Davis and that: I dont think every team has the guys to talk to like we have with Marcus and Tony and KD. I think thats why were so close is were very multicultural here, we have so many backgrounds and guys that are willing to talk. It does get tough at times, but these guys know how to handle it.

The timing with Jackie Robinson Day falling on Friday resonated with Kemp, who said that as a sixth-grader he did a class project on Robinson.

I told the guys, I said look, Were all activists, whether you like it or not, thats making a stance, Kemp said. I was on Twitter and I saw, I think it was Jackie Robinsons daughter, saying that he would be proud to see what weve been doing. And thats what its all about. Being able to give people hope that these issues can end and we can be better as a nation.

Matt Kawahara covers the As for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: mkawahara@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthewkawahara
Storyful

A small but mighty icebreaking boat was in action on Maines Penobscot River as part of a program to support Northeastern communities through the winter months.Footage posted by the US Coast Guard Sector Northern New England shows the USCGC Tackle breaking ice on the Penobscot River as part of OPRENEW. Ice can be heard cracking and breaking as the boat moves down the river.Operation Reliable Energy for Northeast Winters (OPRENEW) is an annual Coast Guard program that supports communities in the Northeastern United States. Goals include helping prevent loss of life on the water and making sure communities have fuel, food, and medical supplies. Credit: US Coast Guard Sector Northern New England via Storyful
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 29

By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-In spoke on the phone, Trend reports with reference to Turkmenistans State News Agency.

During the telephone conversation, S.Korea expressed its interest in strengthening cooperation with Turkmenistan in a number of areas.

The parties agreed to further improve mutually beneficial partnership.

The trade and economic cooperation has a special place in the development of Turkmen-Korean relations. Thus. an example of this is the implemented projects for the construction and modernization of oil and gas and gas chemical complexes, in particular, the construction polymer plant in the village of Kiyanli in Turkmenistan.

One of the results of the interaction is also 400 buses of the Hyundai brand (Korea), which is currently being delivered to Turkmenistan as part of a project to modernize the Turkmen transport fleet.

Also, the presidents highly appreciated the cooperation within the framework of the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum.

It was noted that the forum makes a significant contribution to strengthening mutual trust and enhancing contacts between the participating countries in various fields, including energy, transport, ecology, health and culture.

Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea discussed prospects for setting up Business Council of Korea and Central Asia countries during a videoconference held with participation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum Secretariat on May 28, 2020.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva
U.S. Attorney Thomas Cullen on Friday challenged his college fraternitys longstanding affiliation with Robert E. Lee, saying he supports calls to end the legacy.

Virginia-based Kappa Alpha, which Cullen joined during undergraduate studies at Furman University, identifies the Confederate general as its spiritual founder.

It sells books about Lee online and warmly tweeted out word of what would have been Lees 210th birthday in 2017. Such trappings as Confederate flags and Confederate army uniforms were a part of the legacy, although not for Cullen personally, he said.

Its time for KA and other fraternities with similar founding ties to step back from this history and focus on friendship, inclusion, and service, Cullen, 43, said by email. He went public with his position in response to an inquiry from The Roanoke Times.

Thats coming not only from the highest law enforcement officer in the western part of the state, but from someone likely to become a federal judge. The U.S. Senate is set to vote next month on whether to confirm Cullen for a federal judgeship.

In a letter to the fraternitys national office last month, a group of Furman Kappa Alpha alums asserted that the association with Lee and the Confederacy cannot be separated from the primary motivation for the [Civil] war  upholding the institution of slavery. We must consider what message this adulation of Lee sends to our brothers and sisters in the black community and fully separate KA from this association.

The process should include the publication of a forthright written account of fraternity history and unspecified steps to begin to make amends, the letter reads.

Cullen, who is known professionally for successful criminal prosecutions of white supremacists who gathered in Charlottesville in 2017, called the proposal a good idea.

The fraternity, which has 6,100 undergraduate members and 135,000 alumni, has not formally responded to the proposal, which has 115 co-signers. Cullen said he did not know about the letter campaign and has not co-signed.

A native of Richmond, he attended Furman from 1997 to 2001, graduated with a bachelors degree and headed to law school. He said he maintains no formal ties to the fraternity.

President Donald Trump nominated Cullen for a federal judgeship in December 2019.

Kappa Alpha was formed as a social fraternity in 1865 at Washington College in Lexington, then an all-male school; it is known today as Washington and Lee University. At the founding, Lee had recently accepted the presidency of the college following the Souths defeat in the Civil War. He held that job until he died five years later.

Kappa Alphas website says Lee was a renowned military strategist who became an important national figure in healing the divisions cleaved by the Civil War. Lees religious convictions, exemplary ideals, values, strong leadership, courtesy, respect for others and gentlemanly conduct shaped the student body and the men who formed KA, according to the online testimonial.

His requirement for all students was, We have but one rule  that every student must be a gentleman. It is in this spirit that Lee is noted as the Orders Spiritual Founder, it said.

Although often held up for such virtues, Lee also described Black people in 1865 as immeasurably better off here, enslaved in the United States, than in Africa, and he called slavery a painful discipline ... necessary for their instruction as a race, according to Encyclopedia Virginia, a project of the state humanities council and Library of Virginia.

Although Lee was not a member of the newfound fraternity, Kappa Alpha named Lee its spiritual leader in 1923.

The Confederacy does not occupy the same place in Kappa Alpha fraternity life today as it did at one time. A 2001 action prohibited the display of the Confederate flag at any chapter house or fraternity function. In 2010, Kappa Alpha banned the wearing of Confederate uniforms at events such as the Old South Ball, a yearly social function whose stated mission was to celebrate the values of courtesy, graciousness and hospitality. Later, the name was dropped, too.

Nevertheless, the letter contends, the fraternity still holds firm to its roots in the Confederacy because of the association with Lee.

Cullen said by email that he did attend two Old South events but did not wear a Confederate uniform. I have never worn a Confederate uniform in my life, his email said.

Nor did he wear any apparel displaying the Confederate flag, nor display the Confederate flag in his residence, he said. At Furman, the Kappa Alphas did not have a chapter house and lived in off- and on-campus housing.

Larry Wiese, who directs Kappa Alpha, drew a distinction in an email to The Roanoke Times between Lees military period and his leadership of the college, claiming the latter years had the greatest positive impact on the country at that time. That is the context in which Lee is remembered today in KA.

Wiese added: Like any of us, Lee was flawed, he made serious mistakes, and errors in judgment. This is an increasingly important lesson for developing tomorrows leaders. ... We can take steps to learn from the past and work to build a better future.

Kappa Alpha has brought in Marlon Gibson, former director of Greek life at Emory University and a higher education veteran, to lead an exploration of values and diversity for members and chapter leaders that includes examining Kappa Alphas relationship with Lee.

Regret and embarrassment were a factor for Jay Anthony and a handful of fellow Furman Kappa Alpha alums who drafted the disassociation letter, which has 115 co-signers.

A lot of us who signed this letter feel pretty foolish about what we did, in term of wearing t-shirts with Confederate generals on them and going to some formal and wearing Confederate uniforms, said Anthony, a South Carolina attorney, who is white and a 2005 Furman graduate.

Speaking of the uniform, which he recalls renting, he said, Im embarrassed to say I wore one.

Anthony added: I did things like that without giving them any serious thought, which is something else were trying to bring about some change on, help some of the undergraduates understand the seriousness of things like that.

Looking back, he said, all it might have taken to cause a shift would have been for someone to question how such activities affected members of the Black community, but no one did.

Another signer, Dodd Caldwell, a Greenville entrepreneur, who is also white and whose years at Furman overlapped some of Cullens, said he posted a small Confederate flag in his dorm room for a portion of freshman year and, in a later year, participated in a toast to Lee.

Its almost even hard to talk [about] it because its so antithetical to whom I hope that I am today and would want to be, Caldwell said.

He later passed on attending the Old South event, he said.

I was already starting to believe, in college, Wait, hold on a second. This is offensive to some people. And I think other people were in the same boat.

Disassociation is the right thing to do, he said. Continuing those ties would likely only perpetuate the Lost Cause narrative. And I completely denounce and renounce the Lost Cause narrative or the idea that the Confederacy was somehow noble, a good cause. I want to own my own past and participation in that, repent of it and seek change.

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By Josh Moyer, Centre Daily Times

Twenty-seven Penn State students attending the University Park campus have tested positive this week for COVID-19 with more than 1,000 tests still pending results, according to the universitys COVID-19 dashboard.

According to the data Penn State released late Friday afternoon, which includes results from Aug. 21-27, 14 students were positive out of 125 symptomatic tests  meaning the students showed clear symptoms  and another 13 were positive out of 2,825 asymptomatic tests, which were given randomly to students who showed no outward signs of infection.

Nearly 30% of test results are not yet accounted for  1,195 asymptomatic tests and 35 symptomatic tests  so the positive cases are expected to rise.

We must all remain extremely vigilant and continue to adhere vigorously to the safety protocols that have been put in place to mitigate the spread of the virus, Penn State President Eric Barron said in a written statement.

According to the dashboard, since Aug. 7, 30 total students now have COVID-19. No Penn State employees or volunteers have tested positive.

Centre County, home to Penn State, has largely avoided the more severe repercussions of COVID-19, as there have been an average of about 20 cases per week between May and July, based on data from the state Department of Health.

Its difficult to know what percentage of the countys cases are from Penn State in a given week because its likely the DOHs numbers lag behind at least 24 hours. During the same Aug. 21-27 time frame, for instance, the county had just 30 cases compared to Penn States reported 27  meaning, on paper, it appears the university has accounted for 90% of the countys cases. Which is highly unlikely.

Penn States coronavirus cases come on the heels of several incidents last week that drew the ire of Barron and other officials. Two fraternities faced summary suspensions for holding gatherings, and hundreds of freshmen in East Halls gathered outside for an impromptu hour or so of twerking, dancing and partying  which led to a petition where more than 4,500 called on the university to send the freshmen home.

According to the university, additional testing at those dorms and frats has not revealed concerning outcomes at this time.

It is very early, and we have to take care in interpreting the results, Kelly Wolgast, director of the COVID-19 Operations Control Center, said in a written statement. Of course, well be looking closely at the surveillance testing data, which currently has a 48-hour or earlier turnaround time. Its important to remain vigilant and understand more data is coming and will continue to come in.

Based on reports, the university is able to test more than 400 symptomatic students per day  about 100 via its own equipment and another 320 through Quest Diagnostics  while testing about 1% of the university population daily via asymptomatic tests with the help of Vault Health. The symptomatic tests can have rapid sample results ready within a few hours, while the asymptomatic tests take about 48 hours.

According to Penn States dashboard, 25 students are currently in isolation while another 19 are in quarantine.

Only one commonwealth campus, Penn State Behrend, saw a positive case this past week  with one student.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a series of relaxations by allowing to resume flights operations from six Covid hotspot states, but extended the closure of educational institutes till September 20.

Announcing complete Lockdown across West Bengal on September 7, 11 and 12, Banerjee said Metro Railway can resume services by observing social distancing and other precautionary norms.

We have received several requests to resume flight operations from six Covid hotspot states. So from September 1, flight services from these six states can resume thrice a week, she said after a Cabinet meeting.

To combat the spread of coronavirus, the state government had imposed a ban till August 31 on passenger flights to Kolkata from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, Nagpur and Ahmedabad.

Schools, colleges and other educational institutes would remain closed in the state till September 20. The other existing restrictions would be in place. There would be complete Lockdown in the state on September 7, 11 and 12, she said.

Banerjee also demanded that the Centre distribute money from PM CARES fund to states to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. P
Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in four days. If you purchase the stock on or after the 3rd of September, you won't be eligible to receive this dividend, when it is paid on the 25th of September.

Bank of America's next dividend payment will be US$0.18 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of US$0.72 per share. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, Bank of America has a trailing yield of approximately 2.7% on its current stock price of $26.3. Dividends are a major contributor to investment returns for long term holders, but only if the dividend continues to be paid. That's why we should always check whether the dividend payments appear sustainable, and if the company is growing.

View our latest analysis for Bank of America

Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. That's why it's good to see Bank of America paying out a modest 34% of its earnings.

When a company paid out less in dividends than it earned in profit, this generally suggests its dividend is affordable. The lower the % of its profit that it pays out, the greater the margin of safety for the dividend if the business enters a downturn.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Stocks in companies that generate sustainable earnings growth often make the best dividend prospects, as it is easier to lift the dividend when earnings are rising. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. That's why it's comforting to see Bank of America's earnings have been skyrocketing, up 38% per annum for the past five years.

Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. Bank of America has delivered 34% dividend growth per year on average over the past 10 years. Both per-share earnings and dividends have both been growing rapidly in recent times, which is great to see.

Story continues

Final Takeaway

From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid Bank of America? Companies like Bank of America that are growing rapidly and paying out a low fraction of earnings, are usually reinvesting heavily in their business. This strategy can add significant value to shareholders over the long term - as long as it's done without issuing too many new shares. Overall, Bank of America looks like a promising dividend stock in this analysis, and we think it would be worth investigating further.

Ever wonder what the future holds for Bank of America? See what the 18 analysts we track are forecasting, with this visualisation of its historical and future estimated earnings and cash flow

If you're in the market for dividend stocks, we recommend checking our list of top dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
Eileen Flynn had only spoken in the Seanad about half a dozen times when she stood up to make a brief speech about direct provision. It was July 30, a little over a month since 30-year-old Flynn became the first Traveller ever elected to the Irish parliament after she was appointed to the Seanad by Micheal Martin.

Standing between the polished wooden benches and plush green leather seats of the chamber, Flynn stood in a grey hoodie and black jeans. She was talking about asylum seekers in a hotel in Kerry who had gone on hunger strike in protest at conditions they had been forced to live in. Standing in front of the justice minister and rocking slightly from one foot to another, Flynn was reading from a sheet of paper which shook in her hands.

"I'm sorry, minister, I'm a little bit nervous reading," she said. Flynn suffers from dyslexia and has mentioned a number of times that she struggles with reading aloud. She continued: "We have a long history in Ireland of treating unwanted people a certain way. As an unwanted person, I know what that feels like."

Speaking to Weekend weeks later, Flynn reveals that she seemed nervous because she had been near tears throughout the whole speech.

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"I'm a very soft-hearted person. But I don't see it as a weakness, I actually see it as a strength," she says.

"I can get very emotional. If only more politicians were like that, I think that Ireland would be a better place."

There is almost nothing about Flynn that fits the stereotype of a generic, empty suit style politician. Since being elected to the Seanad, she's been reading up on the list of words that are forbidden in the upper house. "I say most of them every day," she says, dryly.

I told him: I got this seat on my own merit. I am not just a 'token'.

A popular human rights activist who fought to defy almost every barrier put in her way as a Traveller woman, Flynn "never thought" she would end up in Leinster House. There was effusive support across the political spectrum for the Taoiseach's decision to appoint her to the Seanad. Usually, party leaders use the 11 spots to look after unsuccessful general election candidates from their own parties. Flynn was the only non-political party person picked. Yet hers was the seat some people decided to focus on. She describes how, after starting her new job, a male independent politician walked up to her in Leinster House and told her she was a "token seat".

Expand Close Chain of command: Hazel Chu is Lord Mayor of Dublin and the first person of colour to hold the office. Photo: Kyle Tunney / Facebook

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Whatsapp Chain of command: Hazel Chu is Lord Mayor of Dublin and the first person of colour to hold the office. Photo: Kyle Tunney

"I told him: I got this seat on my own merit. I am not just a 'token'. I am going to work hard while I'm in here," Flynn recalls.

"I want to work well with everyone in there. But I will not put up with any bullsh*t from any man that tells me I was a 'token seat'."

Being the first Traveller ever to serve in the Oireachtas is a big deal that comes with big headlines. It also comes with big problems.

"People just see me as 'the Traveller senator'. I'm Eileen Flynn, a person who is a Traveller and a senator. Pigeonholing me in one specific area undermines my own talents as a woman who grew up in a working class area of Dublin," she says.

Expand Close Senator Yemi Adenuga. Photo: Kyle Tunney / Facebook

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Whatsapp Senator Yemi Adenuga. Photo: Kyle Tunney

She now gets treated like the sole spokesperson and authority on the Traveller community. Flynn is nervous about the media, having watched the way it has written about and depicted her community for years. She is regularly contacted on social media, and asked to account for or explain the actions of apparently every Traveller in Ireland.

"I think it's an awful lot of responsibility to hold the weight of 40,000 people on your shoulders," she says.

"Being a Traveller and suffering inequality, it's at the heart of me. It is my main focus, people who are marginalised in Ireland. But that includes Roma people, refugees, migrants, homeless people."

Because she's seen how the Traveller community has been excluded from politics, she tries to make sure her political campaigns include other excluded groups. For example, she believes political feminist campaigns should not just be "for rich, white, middle-class women".

"We need to look around and see who isn't in the room. Where are the migrant women? Where are the disabled women?" she says. Flynn isn't too celebratory about her inclusion in national politics, because she believes there is still so much work left to do to make the system diverse.

"I have never seen a black person in Leinster House, we need much more diversity," she says.

"I would genuinely encourage any member of the Travelling community, especially Traveller women, to get involved in politics and get involved in this political system that has more of a say about us than we do ourselves, as a community."

The most challenging aspect of her new role so far is not because she is a Traveller woman but because she is based in rural Ireland. Flynn lives in Donegal with her husband and her 10-month-old daughter. (She had to use a different surname on social media ahead of their wedding, in case the venue realised she was from the Traveller community and cancelled.)

"The hardest part of the job for me is walking out the door on a Monday morning, leaving my child, and coming back to see her on a Friday," Flynn says.

"I would never take on a job I can't handle, but I think that's a very difficult part of politics for women in rural Ireland."

She says that caring for her baby and working as a first-time senator is combined with a ferociously demanding cleaning regime at home. "My house is spotless," she says, and explains that Traveller women are so afraid of being stereotyped as dirty or unclean that the pressure to prove the opposite is immense. Flynn is starting in Leinster House from a point where she has to prove people wrong. Diversity in Irish politics is so paltry at the moment that anyone who is in any way diverse, like Eileen Flynn, risks being defined solely by their identity despite what their other political ambitions or aspirations may be.

Hazel Chu, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, is the ninth woman to hold the role and the first ever person of colour. Chu is Irish and both of her parents are Chinese immigrants. She is an ambitious and successful Green politician, who became the first Irish-born Chinese person called to the Bar of Ireland. But she says she is at risk of being defined only by the racist abuse she has suffered since entering politics.

"It's not trying to be flippant but it's like Mark Hamill saying he'll never play anyone else other than Luke Skywalker... That's my worry, people will say: she never talks about anything other than racism," Chu says.

Chu has endured vicious racial abuse on social media, abusive letters and has even been harassed on the street. But she speaks about all of this in a casual way which suggests she has maybe developed a higher threshold for abuse than white politicians.

"The Twitter stuff and the mail stuff I can handle, even the through the door stuff," she says, referring to people hand delivering abusive messages to her family home.

The first time this happened, she had to call the gardai. But now the only thing that "gets" to her is when she is abused on the street while she's with her daughter.

"It's when you're with your child, it gets a bit different," she says.

Chu speaks out against this racism, but it is not what she wants to be remembered for. She talks about how Anna Lo, the former Alliance Party MLA in Northern Ireland, did the same when she was racially abused and many people only ever associated her with racist abuse after that.

"I would like, if anything happened to me, to be remembered for something other than that," she says.

"There are many days I wish I kept my mouth shut. But there are plenty of days when I realise that changing it will involve not keeping my mouth shut, as much as people want me to. So there are days when I wish I never spoke about racism. But it's like the days when I used to look in the mirror as a teenager and wish I didn't look Chinese. I can't change it, so I'd rather challenge it."

Catherine Martin, the deputy leader of Chu's party, has spoken to Chu about how having children made her see climate justice as a more urgent issue. In a similar way, Chu says having a child made her hyperconscious of the need to eliminate racism. She explains how she doesn't want her daughter to end up in A&E, like Chu's brother did, or with an ashtray smashed across her head, as Chu's mother did, because of the colour of her skin. In the midst of the abuse, her own mother has asked Chu: "Is this worth it?" By way of response, Chu says she could, "in good conscience", recommend politics to a young girl who looked like her but with a clear warning.

You will get hounded," she says. "There have been times when I've been scared.

She explains that it hasn't escaped her notice that she's one of the few people of colour in her own party, and that there are still no elected people of colour in Leinster House. She singles out the appointment of Eileen Flynn as a positive development, but says there's more to be done.

"Would it have been really hard for the three guys to put someone of colour into the Seanad? Please?!" she says, criticising Micheal Martin, Leo Varadkar and her own party leader Eamon Ryan.

Chu is speaking while sitting at a grand dining table in an ornate room in Dublin's Mansion House. Displayed around her are extravagant portraits of former lord mayors - all the male ones. One lonely woman sits in a smaller frame above the door. Chu gestures at it and explains she had "hoped" the woman would be one of the few former female lord mayors. But she turned out to be an attractive friend of a former mayor instead. Chu has now commissioned a portrait of Kathleen Clarke, the first female lord mayor, to redress the balance. Before politics, Chu had a lot of experience in corporate Ireland - which she explains prepared her for some of the sexist tropes that she endures now. A recent radio ad for a current affairs programme featured Chu laughing extremely politely while a male presenter asked her questions. When asked why she's so polite during interviews, Chu says the pressure is always on women to "provide the laugh, provide the politeness".

"I don't think there is any woman who hasn't been called some name or another - like 'bossy'. When you're called that, you take up a different tactic. You decide you're going to laugh at the jokes, or be calmer in your tone or add a notch up to my voice," she says.

"I do it, because you have to."

She notes that women in politics, particularly left-wing politics, face harsher criticism than their colleagues.

"There is a certain strength that you need to have when you're young, and when you're a woman, and when you want to make a change within politics. You will inevitably get bullied, no matter what party you are in," Chu says.

Her own party has recently suffered the loss of a number of young members, many of them women. Chu says there is a "layered" approach to criticism of women in the Greens, and there is plenty of it at the moment now that the party has gone in with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. "People look at the Greens and say, 'I expected better of you', and then they look at women in the Greens and say 'I definitely expected better of you'," Chu says.

At the moment, Chu has a bit more autonomy than her colleagues in Leinster House - which includes her other half Patrick Costello, the Green Party TD. Chu was against the new coalition Government, and believes the Greens should have been aspiring to be in power but "not at any cost". Despite having to watch her colleagues being whipped to vote for deeply unpopular policies that she doesn't agree with, it hasn't stopped her amibitions for a seat in the Dail.

"I think if you want to instigate change, you need to be there," she says.

Chu started out in local politics, which is where Yemi Adenuga is at the moment. Adenuga became the first black woman elected to a county council in Ireland when she won a seat on Meath County Council in 2019. The Fine Gael councillor says she wasn't thinking about race at all when she first ran. She hadn't even been thinking about politics for that long, either.

Adenuga was born in Nigeria to a father who had seven wives and 27 children. She was number 16.

"I grew up in circumstances where, as a girl, I wasn't given a chance," she says.

Her mother was told that Adenuga and all her sisters would end up working as sex workers, on the street. At the age of 13, Adenuga remembers consoling her crying mother.

"We are going to work so hard that our uncles and aunties will wish that we were their daughters," she told her mother. "We'll make you so proud that their sons will wish they were girls."

All Adenuga knew was that she wanted to "be somebody". She moved to Ireland in 2000. She became a star of the Irish version of Gogglebox, and was eventually approached by Fine Gael and asked to run. "I didn't want to say yes just because I was asked," she says.

"I'll be very honest with you: when I ran, race wasn't an issue.

"I felt in myself that if as a person I can deliver something to the community, and the opportunity is there to do that, I will be very happy and proud to do it."

But during the campaign, racism quickly surfaced. On the doorsteps, someone asked her if she thought as a black woman she would be "intelligent enough" for the job.

Another remarked with surprise that she had "good English" for a "black lady". She was accused of stealing Irish jobs by running for the council, and she has had people challenge her pronunciation.

"That in itself was the very reason why I was even more determined to win," she says.

When she was elected, she read headlines about herself making history as the first black woman to win a council seat. She hadn't thought about that title at all, and only realised what a big deal it was when young black people told her she was "an inspiration".

"If people see this as an inspiration, then it is an inspiration. It is what it is, even if I didn't see it originally," Adenuga says.

Initially, she didn't really want to talk about racism but she describes it now as "a monster".

The last Government, led by her own party, set up a committee that was tasked with designing an action plan against racism over the course of a year. But it seemed to Adenuga to start from the point of investigating if racism was even a problem.

"I was just livid. What are they going to be doing for a year? We have heard people's lived experiences, seen situations on social media and yet we want to take a year to put together an action plan?" she says.

Adenuga says racism is "nearly worse" than Covid-19 - because at least with Covid-19, people agreed there was a problem and a need to deal with it. The existence of racism is still, apparently, up for debate.

The mother of four, who describes herself as a Christian, took matters into her own hands and designed a motion to make Meath County Council more proactive against racism.

Her plan includes a public information campaign. Her 11-year-old son came home from school one day and told her how his white friends had asked him for "an N pass" - permission from a black person to use the N-word.

"Where did they pick that up?" Adenuga asks.

"We need to educate people and engage with them if we are going to change anything."

Local politics is many things, but it's not often portrayed as exciting. But the grandmother, who is turning 50 next year, is absolutely effusive about the power of local councils.

"Being a councillor is a big deal," she says.

"The essence of politics is people centred. We're the ones who understand directly where people are coming from, they engage directly with us."

The pay, she says, "leaves a lot to be desired." It is supposed to be a part-time position, but that doesn't happen in reality. "If you don't answer someone when they need you, they won't be there when you need them at the ballot box," she says.

A constituent once called Adenuga late on a Sunday night, expecting an immediate response. The constituent complained that Adenuga was being paid "a lot of money" on her 70,000 salary. "I told her, I think you're mistaken," she says. "It's 17,000."

It's a modest income but Adenuga isn't motivated by money. Her main motivation, she explains, is passion. "Good representation is so important," she notes. "We are the catalysts for change in Ireland's society."

Hazel Chu and Yemi Adenuga photographd by Kyle Tunney, assisted by Liadh Connolly.

Eileen Flynn photographed by Lorcan Doherty
CITIC Telecom CPC Achieves VMware Cloud Verified Status

HONG KONG, Aug 27, 2020  (ACN Newswire)  CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited (CITIC Telecom CPC), a wholly owned subsidiary of CITIC Telecom International Holdings Limited (SEHK: 1883), today announced it has achieved VMware Cloud Verified status.

The Cloud Verified designation indicates that a VMware Cloud Provider offers their customers consistent infrastructure and operations through a complete set of software-defined services for networking, storage and compute. The Cloud Verified badge means customers achieve unmatched levels of consistency, performance, and interoperability for both traditional or containerized enterprise applications, and the confidence that the service is based on the most advanced VMware cloud technologies available.

\Attaining VMware Cloud Verified status is a milestone achievement for CITIC Telecom CPC. This designation demonstrates that we can provide our customers with services and solutions consistent with the standards of advanced VMware cloud technologies. Working with VMware significantly strengthens our network and cloud offerings,\ said Taylor Lam, SVP of Product Development & Management, CITIC Telecom CPC. \Market demand for hybrid, multi-cloud, and virtual network solutions is rising rapidly. The VMware Cloud Verified badge signifies that our SmartCLOUD(TM) Cloud Computing solutions can keep up with expectations by providing customers with VMware Cloud Infrastructure. With this, we can not only provide our customers with reliable IaaS service but can also deliver flexible virtual network (NSX), virtual storage (vSAN), and SD-WAN solutions that suit our customers\-\- digital transformation needs. It further showcases that the combination of VMware products with our full-fledged ICT portfolio, certified Professional Services and years of managed service experience can provide a unique value to our customers.\

\Partners that are VMware Cloud Verified provide organizations with complete and advanced VMware Cloud technologies, along with interoperability across clouds for greater advantage for their customers\-\- businesses,\ said Vijoo Chacko, VMware Cloud Provider Program Leader, APJ, VMware. \Cloud Verified services delivered by VMware Cloud Providers can provide the efficiency, agility, and reliability inherent in cloud computing. We look forward to supporting CITIC Telecom CPC as it empowers organizations with a simple and flexible path to the cloud.\

VMware\-\-s global network of more than 4,300 cloud providers leverage VMware\-\-s consistent cloud infrastructure to offer a wide array of services in over 120 countries, provide geographic and industry specialization, and help customers meet complex regulatory requirements

For information on how to become a Cloud Verified partner, please visit: https://www.vmware.com/partners/service-provider/vmware-cloud-verified-logo.html

About CITIC Telecom CPC

We are CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited (\CITIC Telecom CPC\), a wholly owned subsidiary of CITIC Telecom International Holdings Limited (SEHK: 1883), serving multinational enterprises the world over by addressing their specific ICT requirements with highly scalable tailored solutions built upon our flagship technology suites, comprising TrueCONNECT(TM) private network solutions, TrustCSI(TM) information security solutions, DataHOUSE(TM) cloud data center solutions, and SmartCLOUD(TM) cloud computing solutions.

As a leading Global Local ICT Solutions Partner with worldwide footprint across East to West and native presence, we truly live our motto, \Innovation Never Stops.\ Being a preferred Digital Society Enabler, we lead our key markets at the forefront of pioneering ICT development, embracing AI, AR, Big Data, IoT, and other cutting-edge emerging technologies to transform technical potential into real-world value for our customers, helping them achieve higher productivity, agility, cost-efficiency, and ultimately, Digital Globalization.

As one of the first managed service providers in Hong Kong to achieve ISO 9001, 14001, 20000, 27001, and 27017 ICT-related certifications, CITIC Telecom CPC delivers on our superior quality commitment through a broad global self-managed infrastructure encompassing some of the highest growth markets in Asia, Europe and America, with over 140 points of presence, 18 Cloud service centers, 30+ data centers, and two dedicated 247 Security Operations Centers.

For more information please visit www.citictel-cpc.com

VMware, VMware Cloud, VMware Cloud Verified and VMware Cloud Provider are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions.

Media contact:

Rowena Leung

CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited

rowena.leung@citictel-cpc.com

(852) 2170 7536
Fire crews on Friday were still battling a chemical fire that erupted at a chlorine plant near Lake Charles after Hurricane Laura pounded the area.

The blaze at the BioLab Inc. chlorine production facility in Westlake was temporarily extinguished Thursday afternoon, several hours after the storm passed, but leapt back to life during the evening, prompting an expanded shelter-in-place alert and warnings to avoid contact with chlorine gas and other harmful emissions. State officials had urged people near the plant to stay indoors with windows shut and air conditioning off. At 8:30 p.m., the alert was expanded to a mile around the facility.

By Friday morning, the vast column of smoke that dominated the sky over Lake Charles had been greatly reduced and the fire was limited to a warehouse at the BioLab complex, said Capt. Chavez Cammon of the Louisiana State Police, the agency leading the fire response.

Its still burning so were applying more water to try to put it out, he said. The plume has decreased to just the area over the plant.

Fire officials predicted the blaze would be extinguished by Friday evening.

The facility, which produces chlorine products for swimming pools, released an unknown quantity of chlorine gas into the air and possibly nearby water bodies, including Lake Charles, according to the Louisiana Fire Marshal's office.

State police say there were no injuries from the fire. No symptoms of chlorine gas exposure have been reported by local hospitals.

The state Department of Environmental Quality has been monitoring air quality near the site since Thursday afternoon. No harmful levels of chlorine releases have been detected outside the facilitys grounds, but much of the gas may have dissipated once the monitors were in place.

DEQ did not respond to repeated inquiries about potential water contamination or whether the lake is being tested.

Witnesses on Thursday said they saw a gray-green gas cloud drifting from the facility and smelled chlorine shortly after the fire was reported at about 9 a.m. Heavy winds following the hurricane may have dispersed the gas for miles.

The area within the radius of the shelter-in-place alert is dominated by industrial complexes, undeveloped green space and casinos. There are few residences within a mile of the facility.

BioLab and most of the businesses and homes in the area evacuated before the storm. If that had not occurred, the fire and gas releases likely would have affected more people.

While the cause of the fire is under investigation, state police said it appears that a product in the facility began to react and breakdown, a process known as decomposition, shortly after the storm struck.

As it decomposes, it generates heat and began to burn, releasing chlorine gas into the atmosphere, State Police Superintendent Col. Kevin Reeves said Thursday.

+75 'Nothing like this': How Hurricane Laura's devastation has stunned Lake Charles residents LAKE CHARLESLonnie LaGrange spent his 38th birthday hunkered down in a Lake Charles churchs recreation center as Hurricane Laura tore throug

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Chlorine is not flammable on its own, but trichloroisocyanuric acid, an organic compound the facility produces in large quantities  upwards of 100 million pounds per year  can generate heat and toxic chlorine funes when combined with another organic chemical or water, potentially rain from Thursday's storm.

Rain triggered a similar fire at a pool disinfectant manufacturer 32 years ago in Springfield, Mass. Water that blew in through an open window caused a reaction with chlorine products and set nearby materials on fire, according to a report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The resulting blaze produced a vast greenish yellow plume of chlorine smoke and the evacuation of nearly 30,000 people in a two-mile area. About 250 people, including firefighters, were treated for chlorine gas exposure. Their symptoms ranged from skin rashes and irritated eyes to more serious respiratory problems.

BioLabs Westlake facility is owned by Toronto, Canada-based KIK Corp., a large producer of household cleaners and pool disinfectants, including Comet, Clorox and BioGuard. The complex has had smaller uncontrolled chlorine releases, including one in 2009 triggered by an accidental chemical reaction, according to DEQ documents.

Thursdays fire required a specialized response led by the state police hazardous materials unit.

They were assisted by the Lake Charles Fire Department, BioLab personnel and US Fire Pump, a contractor specializing in industrial fires. The EPA, DEQ and state fire marshals office also assisted.

Battling the fire was complicated by several factors. The first was getting to the scene.

Downed power lines, broken tree limbs and other debris created a maze for fire trucks and other emergency vehicles.

They had to work extremely hard to figure out how to get to the facility  because of all the obstructions and live power lines that were down, Gov. John Bel Edwards said at a Thursday press conference.

Cammon said the first responders on the scene had to do several U-turns because every other road was impassable.

Then there was the matter of containing the facilitys chemicals. According to DEQ, fire crews had to wait while all outfalls on the property were closed to prevent firehose water from mixing with chlorine and flowing off-site.

Once the property was secured, the areas water pressure dropped due to complications from the storm. Additional pumps were brought in and full pressure was restored Friday morning.

In a statement, KIK thanked emergency responders for tackling the fire.

"We are enormously grateful to the state police and other first responders, as well as local authorities ... for their collaboration and thank them for their heroic efforts," the company said.

Cammon said several people have asked to return to the area, but officials are urging them to wait until the fire is extinguished, the shelter-in-place alert is lifted and responders have left the area.

I know its hard not being able to get back and checking on properties, he said. But right now, its not safe.
Parliament risks failing in its duty of care to staff if a Tory MP accused of rape is allowed to return to Westminster after the summer break ends on Tuesday, a union has warned Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Representatives of Prospect, which represents parliamentary staff, met with Sir Lindsay to discuss the issue and said the failure to exclude the unnamed former minister sent entirely the wrong message.

The MP, in his 50s, was arrested and interviewed by police earlier this month over allegations of rape and sexual assault made by a female former parliamentary aide. He has been released on bail until November, and is understood to have agreed not to return to the Palace of Westminster to work while the police investigation is ongoing.

His alleged victim is reported to be urging MPs and peers to use parliamentary privilege to put his name into the public domain, despite fears that this could result in her identification. She has reported four incidents alleged to have taken place between July 2019 and January 2020 in Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney including an assault which left her so traumatised that she had to go to hospital.

In a letter sent to the Speaker ahead of the meeting, Prospects Ken Gall said reports that the MP had voluntarily agreed not to attend Parliament were "wholly unsatisfactory" and that taking no further action would be "allowing Parliament to avoid taking responsibility for its own duty towards its employees".

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The letter, seen by The House magazine, said that suspending the MP would be a "neutral act" to "protect" staff rather than a punishment or indication of guilt.

Exclusion from parliament during the investigation would be "the most appropriate means of minimising risk" to staff, said the letter, adding: "In any other employment context, the employer would have the option of suspending an employee in these circumstances.

A spokesperson for Sir Lindsay said: "The Speaker cannot comment on individual cases or allegations. Sexual harassment has no place in the House of Commons. We take the safety of our staff seriously and are ensuring that any necessary measures are taken in respect of our employees.

"Members of Parliament are elected to represent constituencies. They are office holders, not employees of the House Service, and are elected by the citizens in their constituency.

The Speaker and the House of Commons Commission have no power to suspend an MP. A member can only be suspended via a resolution of the House, which is voted on in the chamber by MPs. It is not within the Speaker's power to prevent an MP from attending parliament when the House is sitting."

Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy told the Daily Telegraph: "The agreement that the MP shouldn't come into Westminster is no replacement for a policy. The unions definitely think that the House needs to set an example in this. We need a policy.

A failure to have a policy that at least permits the exclusion of an MP facing sexual misconduct charges is a failure in their responsibilities to all staff, and it sends entirely the wrong message outside."
Tehran, Aug 30 : Iran's Covid-19 cases on Saturday rose to 371,816 with the registration of 1,905 new infections over the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education reported.

Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for the ministry, said during her daily briefing that out of the new cases in the past 24 hours are 857 hospitalised, Xinhua reported.

The pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 21,359 Iranians, up by 110 in the past 24 hours, she added.

Besides, 319,847 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals while 3,791 remain in critical condition.

According to Lari, 3,184,857 laboratory tests for Covid-19 have been carried out in Iran by Saturday.

She said 13 provinces out of 31 are still at high risk of infection, while 15 others in alert situation over the disease.

Iran announced its first cases of Covid-19 on February 19.

Iran and China have offered mutual help in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.

In mid-February, at the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak in China, Iran lit up the Tehran Azadi (Liberty) Tower to show its solidarity with China, and donated 3 million masks to China.

In return, China has delivered several shipments of medical supplies to Iran. On February 29, a five-member Chinese medical team visited Iran for a month-long mission to help Iran fight the pandemic.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
It may be hard for diplomats to digest, but the Indian Street has often displayed better instincts than Lutyens Delhi when it comes to assessing opportunities and risks abroad. Their geopolitical understanding may not be formal. But they intuitively know with whom to trade and where to travel. Their choices in emigration and education were made well ahead of policy shifts by Indian diplomacy. A game-changing event like 9/11 was seen for what it was. The sharp popular imagery of nations has also captured the complexity of diplomacy. Say what you will, but the Street has a well-developed instinct, whether it is about Russia or America, China or Pakistan.

Now, this is not to suggest that the measured deliberations of statecraft are less important than the passions of society. But it is also a fact that we have entered a different era where the availability of information, tools of technology and cultural identities drive contemporary nationalism. The democratization of societies that bring to the fore more grounded politics also contributes to this process. Therefore, convolutions of policy and the accumulated weight of experiences sometimes struggle to meet the demands of society, particularly on issues where public opinion is exercised. The challenge today is to strike the right balance between societal dynamics and the mechanics of policy making. Mandarins can no longer be impervious to the masses.

An inability to reconcile the two can only come at the cost of political credibility, a phenomenon that we have seen in so many other countries. India is obviously not immune to this paradigm shift and the changed discourse reflects a newer era with its own driving forces. How to capture Indian nationalism in policy terms is a complex task that must simultaneously address issues of history, identity, interests and politics.

Among the more arrogant assertions of an era of hubris was that of the end of history. The complacency of this

pronouncement is only matched by its limitation as a Eurocentric analysis that disregarded what was happening in Asia at the same time. But nevertheless, we were supposedly staring at a universal and invincible globalized order led by the US. However, what appeared then as permanent was a transient moment of American unipolarity, as it was with other powers in history before. Larger competitiveness and political contestation proceeded to return the world to a more natural diversity.

The real truth about this revival of nationalism is that it has actually been a very durable basis for organizing societies. At various times, it has defeated conflicting ideologies that appealed to both larger and narrower loyalties. Multinational empires struggled with nationalist sentiment and by and large, lost out.

But national entities that encountered sub-national dissensions have usually won. Western imperialism was eventually undone by nationalist sentiments awakening in their former colonies.

Communism was the next of the transnational ideologies on a global scale. This too eventually foundered when socialism acquired national characteristics.

Faith-based movements have also attempted to cut across national divides. Being outcomes of high emotion and exceptional circumstances, nationalism eventually returns them to business as usual. The globalization of our era represents yet another effort at transcending an entrenched organizational principle of modern politics. But because it rests on a deeper technology basis and stronger economic interests, its tension with nationalism will continue for the foreseeable future.

Contestation between two such powerful rationalizations is not unnatural. So, rather than visualize either of them as an event, we should see them as currents of history.

Coming in different sizes and shapes, nationalism can be assertive, reactive or just expressive. The confident category reflects the real and psychological outcome of shifts in the world power hierarchy. It is represented by the rise of nations like China and India, of a continent like Asia and the consequent rebalancing of the global order. A second driver of greater nationalism is its very opposite: the reaction in more privileged societies to this rebalancing. The offshoring of manufacturing and creation of extensive global supply chains has inevitably had an impact on the West. A third category is the accumulated impact of how sharper cultural identities across the world have played on each other. The epicenter for that has been West Asia; and other regions have reacted to it over time. We should expect uneasy coexistence and shifting equations between globalist and nationalist forces as neither can prevail. And the world it will produce will be very contentious.

India is no exception to the larger trends that have strengthened nationalism. In emotional terms, nationalism obviously contributes to a stronger sense of unity. In political terms, it signifies a greater determination to combat both sub-national and supra-national challenges to it. In policy terms, it focuses on how to maximize national capabilities and influence.

In Indias current situation, that has a particular relevance to security. Overall, a nationalistic foreign policy outlook is likely to approach the world with more confidence and greater realism. What may be different about India is that unlike in many other powers, that sense of nationalism does not translate into an us versus the world mentality. For reasons that derive from our innate pluralism, there is a tradition of reconciling the nationalism with global engagement. Not driven by victimhood, it has the potential to serve as a bridge between the established and emerging orders.

At a time when most are pursuing interests narrowly, it is to Indias benefit that it takes a more expansive view of the world. By stepping forward in difficult situations, it can not only underline its greater capabilities and confidence but also build its unique brand as a generous power. This imagery fits in well with the embrace of the world that is inherent in Indian thinking and reinforces its positioning as a power that can bridge divides.
On Saturday, 14 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in the Wyoming Department of Healths daily update. The department announced seven new probable cases.

Twenty-nine new confirmed recoveries were announced. One new probable recovery was announced.

There are now 3,210 confirmed cases, 574 probable cases, 2,637 confirmed recoveries and 479 probable recoveries in Wyoming.

Thirty-seven Wyomingites have died after contracting COVID-19.

In Natrona County, 243 confirmed cases and 43 probable cases have been recorded.

Probable cases are defined by officials as close contacts of lab-confirmed cases with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

A patient is considered fully recovered when there is resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and there is improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath) for 72 hours AND at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.

Cases plateaued in Wyoming in late spring before beginning a spike in mid-June. That surge brought about an increase in the rate of reported coronavirus patients not yet seen here since the pandemic began. As a result, state health officials decided against their plans to eliminate almost all coronavirus restrictions. State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist has extended the current restrictions through the end of the month.

Cases tapered off somewhat in August but have gone back up and down since then.

While Gov. Mark Gordon has said he is not considering a statewide face mask requirement, he has urged the states residents to wear them.

The symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, fever and shortness of breath. Symptoms appear within two weeks. Health officials recommend self-isolating for two weeks if you have contact with a person who has the illness.
WATERLOO REGION  Local supply teachers say they feel left out of the provinces back-to-school plans and worry about a lack of guidelines and assurances for the precarious work they do.

The main stressor is all the uncertainty. The lack of information is what creates the anxiety, said Ramzi Abdi, a supply teacher in Waterloo.

Abdi is already concerned about the number of people his family will be exposed to. His wife is a teacher and he has two school-aged kids. As a supply teacher, he could be teaching in different classrooms each day. His family could be exposed to up to 200 other people in any given week.

If there are mechanisms in place to manage the risk without impacting occasional teachers financially, then I will be a little more comfortable, Abdi said.

But so far the province has not indicated any guidelines for whether occasional teachers should limit the number of schools they work in, and if any extra funds will be available to provide them with sick days if they need to isolate due to symptoms or an outbreak in a school. The Region of Waterloo Public Health has not released any direction either.

As daily workers, we dont have sick days. No work means no pay, Abdi said.

What he and other occasional teachers want is safe, consistent work.

There are 1,150 occasional teachers in the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontarios occasional teachers local union chapter who work for the Waterloo Region District School Board.

Waterloo Region Occasional Teacher Local president Nathan Core said he is unsure how many of them will return to work this fall, and he worries about a shortage of teachers if replacements are needed for those teachers who may need to isolate in case of an outbreak.

Core said he has heard from some teachers who are eager to take as many assignments as they can to make ends meet. Others are cautious and only want to work in a small number of schools to minimize risks to themselves and to the students they will teach.

Its a real risk to balance that risk with the risk of not having an income, he said.

Ashleigh Tuite, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Toronto, said the ideal situation from an epidemiological perspective would be to have occasional teachers assigned to a school or a small number of schools, to limit movement between schools.

The reason I say that is because it is very similar to the situation we had with long term care homes where personal support workers tended to work at multiple homes, Tuite said.

You can imagine, if you have a teacher who is working in a school that has an outbreak and they get infected and then they go to work at another school, they act as a bit of a bridge, Tuite said.

So rather than have that outbreak contained in one school, they have spread it to another school.

Tuite said she thinks the Ministry of Education needs to develop guidance for school boards to come up with policies for occasional teachers that will reduce risks while ensuring they have a sense of financial security.

Abdi said he has decided to accept work at fewer schools to reduce the risk to his own family, but he knows other teachers are not financially able to make this decision.

He said he supports the idea of limiting the number of students a teacher is exposed to, but he doesnt want it to impact his ability to earn an income.

If I can get consistent work in the same school, that would be ideal, Abdi said.

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board said it will stick to its existing plan for deploying occasional teachers for now. Teachers have always had the ability to choose the schools they are willing to work at, and which days of the week they are available to work.

As with everything we have in place right now, well continue to review what is and isnt working on an ongoing basis and will make the required adjustments accordingly, John Shewchuk, chief managing officer with the Catholic board, said in an email.

The public school board does not have an updated policy for occasional teachers in place yet.
Kangana Ranaut continued to make startling revelations in the wake of Sushant Singh Rajputs death. After slamming the mafia for nepotism and favouritism, the actress hit out at the film industry over alleged narcotics link, amid the investigating agencies probing Rhea Chakraborty. The Tanu Weds Manu star claimed 99 cent of the stars consumed drugs and that there was a need for Bollywod to get Swachch as she highligted her own experiences related to drugs involving a character actor and a top star.

READ: Kangana Speaks To Arnab About Sushant; Opens Up On Why Big Bollywood Stars Are Quiet

Kangana Ranaut speaks to Arnab on Sushant, Rhea & more

In an interview with Republic Media Network Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, Kangana Ranaut posed questions to Rhea, "She admits Sushant was depressed after meeting her. He didn't have depression before meeting Rhea. Depression doesn't mean you will commit suicide. Why did nobody in the industry realise he was depressed and why did they not stop attacking him. Is it murder or is it abetment of suicide?"

On Bollywood-drugs link

Kangana claimed that the film industry was gutter referring to the alleged prevalent practice of consumptions of drugs at parties. She claimed 99 per cent of the Bollywood were involved in this.

At some point, 99 per cent of them. Some might have faced health conditions, or because of age, or after being admitted or having repercussions, they have quit now after doing it throughout their youth. Even if I count them, there are 99 percent people. Everybody without fail, at some point is doing it, and if there is a party, everyone is indulging in it, she stated.

Kangana also stated that Bollywood stars consumed drugs like water and that she had seen how vulgar this had got. "Many young actors, my age, they individually snort drugs and do shows. Dealers are the same. Everything is handled in a systematic manner. Their wives also host these parties. It is a different environment altogether. You will find people who only do drugs and indulge in debauchery in such parties," she said.

The three-time National Award-winner claimed that many governments had also helped it flourish. "Many governments have helped this Bollywood-drug mafia grow. These people promote nepotism, many of them do drugs from childhood and then become actors or directors. Many of these actors, I dated one of them  they go to a place, start with a drink & then go on with drugs. It all starts with a drink, then a roll, and then a pill, then they snort - it's a secret sign. These actors, their wives move to houses & do drugs, debauchery is unimaginable. I've seen how vulgar it becomes and things get out of control at these drug parties."

She claimed even politicians and police were Bollywood stars 'friends' when it came to consumption of drugs, "All the stars campaign for these politicians so how can they not be there. It is like a symbiotic relationship, you scratch my back and I will scratch yours, that's how this works. Whenever we see politicians with stars we see them campaigning only, what else do they do together?" She asked

She continued, "When parties happen there are people who want to appease these big stars and supply them with whatever they want. These people are generally from the restaurant business or they own clubs, all the stars I'm talking about are always at these places and are prevalent there, its not only movie stars even non-movie stars are there, who are serving to these stars and when the stock finishes they disappear in their Ferraris to get more stock."

On 'mentor-turned-tormentor'

Kangana revealed a character actor became her self-appointed husband, drugging her and even assaulting her. When I got the break, he was agitated. He started telling me after drinking that he never expected that I will get a break so soon. After that he started sedating me with injections, so that I am not able to go to shoots, I told my director about it. If he would hit me and Id have bruises, my director would make me stay at his office for many nights, to protect me," Kangana stated.

READ: Kangana Ranaut Alleges, 'Politicians & Cops Are Drug Mafia's Friends In Bollywood'

On 'top star'-ex-boyfriend/co-star

Kangana witnessed a top star consuming drugs at parties during the shoot of a film abroad. Later, when she got into a relationship with the person, he and his family tried to put her behind bars. She also claimed that the person had been hospitalised for overdose once.

Every night there used to be parties and drugs used to flow like water. Drugs like LSD, cocaine, and ecstacy pills theyd even consume during the day, she said. Kangana also stated, "This person who considers himself a superhero got a big attack of drug overdose. He was admitted to the Hospital and this is a known fact. He got a reaction into his lungs I think, however, the hospital wont reveal it and the matter was done and dusted there itself. She claimed that after her split with the actor, his family threatened her, "If they are mighty and powerful, how can I harm them? Then why do they want to put me behind bars? They know that I know these secrets so they tried to discredit me, termed me bipolar, or get me killed, she added.

She also opened up on how outsiders were exploited in the film industry. "I want to tell you how outsiders are exploited here. This (Bollywood) is a loose structure and there is no interference of law and order here. This place operates like a mafia or underworld. And if ever you go to the cops or you seek help from law and order, you are called 'mental' and discarded or you are murdered," Kangana claimed.

Questioning the silence of Bollywood stars on the Sushant-Rhea and the drug link, the Queen star said, "They are quiet because many people know the truth. The Police know the drug network the Bollywood biggies are a part of."

Kangana has been in Manali since the lockdown. The actress her life would have been in danger had she been in Mumbai now, "This Bollywood drug mafia would have killed me had I been in Mumbai by now. I am able to speak the truth about drug mafia because I am out of Mumbai. For me, it's do or die. If I don't finish my enemies, they will finish me, I will not stop."

The actor stated that it was important to conduct blood tests for the presence of drugs in the body before a brand signed a star, because she felt it was important to know who was being made a role model for the countrys youth. "Brands that decide youth icons - the government must regulate who is chosen. A blood test should be done for artistes before endorsements. Why don't young heroes do a blood test? Why just corona test, do drug test before big brand endorsements. These actors flaunt drug use & brands endorse and love them."

On Rhea Chakraborty

Kangana had a stong response to the Justice for Rhea movement and claimed that she was just a pawn and there was a mastermind behind her. "Rhea is just a pawn who may have been used him for money, to get films or might have given him drugs, but who is the mastermind behind Rhea? If she jailed for abetment to suicide or murder, that is a different point, but who empowered Rhea and what are their motives? What did these people want from Sushant? Did Sushant know something because of which they felt threatened?"

"When the country is going through Swachch Bharat, why is Bollywood hyped up so much, who will clean the Bollywood gutter? Through Rhea, we have to reach them. Sushant will get justice when we know who broke his mind or drugged him. We should stay together. Bollywood is a very big project in that reform for new India," Kangana signed off.

Watch the full interview above

READ: Kangana Ranaut Speaks To Arnab: Says 'I Have A Few Questions For Rhea Chakraborty'

READ: From Sharing School Pics To Announcing 'Tejas'; A Look At What Kangana Was Up To This Week

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.
Tanzanian President John Magufuli has pledged to improve the economy and complete unfinished projects during a speech that marked the launch of his re-election campaign.

Magufuli is due to face 14 challengers in his bid to secure a second term in the October 28 election. Some of his opponents include Tundu Lissu, who returned to the country from Belgium in early August where he had sought treatment after surviving a 2017 assassination attempt in which he was shot 16 times.

During his speech on Saturday, the 60-year-old Magufuli promised supporters that, should he get re-elected, his administration will focus on boosting the countrys gross domestic product and completing several projects aimed at making Tanzania a great nation.

We have the capability to implement these projects. And we will implement them with speed using local resources, Magufuli said, adding that some of the initiatives include the purchase of five new planes for the national airline, creation of jobs for eight million people and increasing tourism earnings.





Disqualified for unfair reasons

Separately, Tanzanian opposition parties on Friday said widespread irregularities had taken place in the enrolment of their candidates for elections.

Lissu said dozens of candidates from his party for both parliament and local councils had been disqualified for unfair reasons.

We had 3,754 local council candidates  We have lost 30 percent of them, he told crowds during a rally in Dar es Salaam as he called for peaceful demonstrations.

Lissu also said that out of 244 candidates presented for parliament, 53 had been disqualified and that he had demanded that the electoral commission reinstate them.

Another opposition party, the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo), also denounced on Friday that most of their candidates had been objected to.

Members of the opposition have called for the formation of an independent electoral commission, expressing fears the elections will take place in a climate of violence and intimidation. Magufuli has pledged free and fair polls.

The president, who took office in 2015 promising to crack down on corruption and expand the countrys road and railway network, has been accused of narrowing freedoms and increasing authoritarianism.

During his first term, newspapers have been shut down, and the work of non-governmental organisations has been severely restricted, with rights groups and opposition parties accusing Magufulis government of curbing human rights. The government has denied seeking to stifle dissent.
As pubs face yet another wait to re-open, there are mixed feelings among publicans about the issue.

Pat Collins, the owner of Tully's bar in Kinvara, Co Galway, has resigned himself to the painful reality of his business's ongoing closure.

"I don't complain. I appreciate we have a Government and Nphet who are acting in all our interests.

"I seem to have an alternative view, but I think it is a legitimate view that we should all comply with the recommendations, and that's what we are doing," he said.

"We were hoping to open, and we were very disappointed naturally the last two times that we couldn't. I was particularly disappointed because I miss our customers and the craic and the work very much.

"My son and his wife and I run the pub together, which has been very good to us.

"I have been in the pub business 20 years, and prior to that I had a different existence entirely, I spent 31 years in the guards.

"We are part of the community here in Kinvara, and we live only 200 yards from the pub.

"The parish, the town, and the people have been particularly good to me, and I miss them greatly.

"I have had to busy myself doing DIY and bits of carpentry, I hate being idle.

"I want to get back and have the pubs open, and we are all ready to go.

"During the lockdown, my son and I built an open-air pavilion outside in readiness to give us more space and do the social distancing properly.

"I'm not complaining, though, we are thankful that we are alive and well.

"When it does open, we will be delighted to serve our customers and have the fun and the craic with them.

"We're not angry, we are just disappointed.

"We are not blaming Nphet or Micheal Martin or any of the politicians.

"My view is, and I can speak for my son and his wife, is that these people are acting in our interests and they want us to survive and be alive.

"If a day came soon and I wasn't able to work because I contracted Covid, I would have something to complain about then."

Pat doesn't feel hopeful he will be able to open soon.

"If I'm honest, I know they are not going to say we can re-open because the figures are not good.

"If you look at some of the scenes recently, you can see there is a reason why pubs are not allowed to open. It is hard, but we are all alive and well. When it is all clear to re-open, we can all go out and enjoy it even more than ever we did before," he said.

With the news emerging on Thursday that Nphet has advised 'wet pubs' to remain closed, the Vintner's Federation of Ireland said a temporary ban on the sale of "cheap alcohol" in supermarkets and off-licences should be "considered".

"All of these things should be considered, but the real issue is people taking personal responsibility. The real issue is that pubs are a controlled environment and the one thing that pubs are used to, they are used to regulation and controlling people and implementing regulation that people mightn't be very happy with," said Padraig Cribben of the Vintner's Federation of Ireland on RTE Radio One's Today with Claire Byrne.

"If [the sale of alcohol in off-licences] is the source of the problem, then they [a temporary ban] should be considered."
After seeing the collapse of its mining and textile industries, Mansfield is in no mood to suffer another devastating blow to livelihoods from the coronavirus.

The plucky Nottinghamshire market town is leading the national charge to get Britain back on its feet by going back to work, recording the highest percentage of workers to return to their offices since the lockdown eased.

A report by the Centre for Cities charity found that 40 per cent had now returned to their desks  more than double the national average of 17 per cent. In London that figure is just 13 per cent.

While Mansfield has so far seen remarkably low coronavirus rates, with only 370 cases in all, locals and business leaders hail the towns can do community spirit for the rush of returners.

The towns biggest employer, Linney, a marketing, printing and packaging firm, said it was delighted productivity was at 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Pictured: Miles and Charlie Linney of the towns biggest employer, Linney, a marketing, printing and packaging firm

Conservative MP Ben Bradley said many of his constituents  Mansfield has a population of just over 100,000  were chomping at the bit to resume their pre- lockdown lives. He said: We should all be trying to get back to that as quickly and as safely as we can.

Mansfield certainly shows that its doable. There are powerful economic drivers behind that as well  town and city centres will suffer if people dont return to the office. There just seems to be a huge sense of relief that things are moving back towards normal.

The towns biggest employer, Linney, a marketing, printing and packaging firm, said it was delighted productivity was at 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

Managing director Miles Linney, the sixth generation of the family to run the firm, said he was buoyed by the vibrancy of the office since the firms 1,100 staff began their return. He said: Its great. You can just see the whole place pick up. Its vibrant again  everyone laughing and enjoying each others company.

Although staff have had quiet encouragement to go to team meetings, some still work from home a few days a week, Mr Linney said. The great thing about Mansfield folk is that they do actually stick their hand up and will offer to help out with different parts of the business. They cant wait to get back to bounce ideas off each other.

The plucky Nottinghamshire market town of Mansfield is leading the national charge to get Britain back on its feet by going back to work

Jono Edwards, who employs 234 staff at his seven restaurant and nightclub venues in Mansfield, hailed Chancellor Rishi Sunaks Eat Out To Help Out scheme as a phenomenal success  an absolute lifeline for our food businesses.

He said: Mansfield is a very resilient town and theres a very strong community spirit. In times of crisis, people do stick together.

Malcom Hall, owner of family-run store Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies, set up a new business during lockdown selling masks and safety gear. It raised over 3,000 for the NHS, donating 1 for every mask sold.

We worked 16-hour days, sometimes seven days a week, to get products in place to help businesses get their staff back to work, said Mr Hall. Mansfield is sometimes a misunderstood place. Its full of hard-working and diverse businesses. Perhaps the fact Mansfield has had setbacks in the past  from the miners strikes to the decimation of the textile industry  maybe theyve learned the way to get through things is to diversify and, to be frank, work bloody hard.
(Newser)  Police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, were on alert after days of protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake by one of their colleagues, and they'd recently gotten a tip about "suspicious vehicles" from out of state. So, after watching a group of people fill cans at a gas station Wednesday and then hop into a minivan with Oregon plates, the officers sped in. A bystanders video shows officers leaping out of black SUVs with guns drawn. About 25 seconds later, an officer shatters the van's passenger-side window with her baton, unlocks its door and pulls a person out. The AP reports that the group turned out to be members of Riot Kitchen, an organization that serves food at demonstrations. A member of its board of directors said they were filling up gas cans to power a generator for their food truck.

story continues below

The nine taken into custody in the SWAT-style operation Wednesday were among dozens of people arrested this week in Kenosha. The arrests have highlighted activists complaints that police have been responding to protests over the white officer's shooting that left Blake, a Black man, paralyzed, even as they've tolerated armed militia groups. The Riot Kitchen members were charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, but all were free by Friday morning. Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said at a Friday news conference that "just under 50" people had been arrested during the protests. The department later provided a list of 58 charges, more than half of them for curfew violations, but declined to specify the number of people arrested or provide names. (Meanwhile, Blake is no longer shackled to his hospital bed.)
Several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Saturday staged an agitation outside temples in Pune and other parts of western Maharashtra, including Shirdi and Kolhapur, demanding reopening of places of worship across the state, which have remained shut due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Pune, the BJP leaders and party workers held a ghanta-naad (ringing of bells) agitation at Sarasbaug temple.

The government has allowed liquor shops to function. However, temples and religious places are still closed. This is not acceptable, said Jagdish Mulik, city party president. Mulik was accompanied by mayor Murlidhar Mohol and legislator Madhuri Misal.

The state government should allow people to go to places of worship. If the government does not take any decision now, citizens will break the rule on their own and start visiting temples, said Mulik, adding that the state government is confused and is unaware of how to handle the Covid-19 pandemic.

Criticising the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government, mayor Mohol said, The state government must allow reopening of places of worship soon, as almost everything is now limping back to normalcy.

Over the past few weeks, there has been growing a chorus in the state for reopening of places worship. Besides the BJP, AIMIM Member of Parliament from Aurangabad Imtiaz Jaleel and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi president Prakash Ambedkar have also threatened to launch an agitation.

Jaleel has threatened to offer prayers inside a mosque on September 2 if the government does not decide on the reopening by September 1. Sensing pressure, Shiv Sena MP in Rajya Sabha Sanjay Raut said that the state government is likely to take a call on the issue in the first week of September.

Pune MP Girish Bapat led the agitations by workers in front of Omkareshwar Temple near Balgandharva.

Ruling parties criticised BJPs agitations, saying that the party is busy fanning flames of religious politics, when the city and state is facing bed shortage and the highest number of Covid-19 positive cases.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Parvati constituency president Nitin Kadam, said, We had appealed to the BJP to allow immersion tanks near water bodies, but the party did not allow citizens to perform Ganesh immersion in the city. Now, the same party is demanding reopening of temples. This shows their dual stand on the same issue.

Aam Aadmi Partys Pune leader Mukunt Kirdat said, There are many critical issues which the citizens are already facing like job loss, incomplete medical facility, bed shortage and enormous electricity bills. However, instead of addressing such development issues, the BJP is diverting the attention of citizens.
President Trump with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos at the White House on Feb. 14, 2017. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)

To the editor: While your editorial delineates Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' callousness and indifference to the pandemic, it is your observation that President Trump is "not all that interested in education" that resonates most.

As reprehensible as DeVos is, she is only doing the bidding of a man who doesn't care about education and who risks lives in order to win the election.

The secretary is complicit in Trump's insistence on reopening schools so that he can tout success at putting people back to work, many of whom are women and people of color who were forced to quit jobs because they had no child care.

As a former teacher, I find it tragic that DeVos and Trump are using children as cover in his attempt to get elected regardless of the toll.

Elizabeth Triana, Mission Viejo

..

To the editor: The Times couldn't be more right about how our nation is still waiting for a real secretary of Education. Consider how DeVos, with no public-school experience, became Trump's pick to head the U.S. Department of Education.

Trump owed his improbable election to the overwhelming support of the evangelicals to whom he relentlessly pandered. DeVos, a prominent evangelical, famously believes that education's purpose is to "advance God's kingdom." She moreover has ardently championed government funding of private K-12 schools, most of which are faith-based endeavors.

Trump of course doesn't much care whether public school students get a quality education  not when he finds low-information voters so easily manipulated.

So, putting a notorious evangelical private school fox in charge of the secular public school henhouse has served Trump well. DeVos inspires evangelicals to back him and keeps our pubic schools churning out middling students. What more could Trump want from her?

Robin Groves, Pacific Palisades
The province announced 32 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba on Friday, including a jump of 18 fresh cases in Prairie Mountain Health.

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This article was published 29/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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The province announced 32 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba on Friday, including a jump of 18 fresh cases in Prairie Mountain Health.

Preliminary investigations show 14 of the new cases are close contacts of active cases, according to Manitoba Health. The total number of cases in Manitoba is now 1,096, of which 418 are active.

A graph showing the distribution of COVID-19 cases in Prairie Mountain Health by health district. The darker the colour, the more positive cases in the district.(The Brandon Sun)

While the Prairie Mountain Health region leads the province with the greatest number of new cases, there were seven new cases in Winnipeg, six new cases in Southern Health and one new case in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority.

There are now 223 active cases in Prairie Mountain Health, up from 212 announced on Thursday. The current five-day test positivity rate is 2.3 per cent, down from three per cent on Thursday.

During the City of Brandons Thursday COVID-19 livestream, Dr. Amy Frykoda, a medical officer of health for the region, said the majority of new cases are connected to known clusters or cases, but there is a trend toward more community transmission.

"We have noted multiple clusters since (Aug. 13), we have noted more clusters that are not connected to one another.  As well, there have been various events and acquisition type exposes throughout Prairie Mountain Health," she said.

Frykoda encouraged residents in the region to return to the fundamentals, including physical distancing, hand washing, wearing masks in public places and staying home if you feel unwell.

"Perhaps, as weve heard it mentioned in our province, we may have lost touch with that or lost focus with that," Frykoda said.

Five people are currently in hospital and one person is in intensive care. The number of deaths remains at 14.

Prairie Mountain Health medical officer of health Dr. Amy Frykoda speaks during a recent City of Brandon livestream. (Screenshot)<

The Brandon School Division is also working on protocols for what happens if and when a student is diagnosed with COVID-19 during the school year. Supt. Marc Casavant said the division expects the protocols will be ready before the beginning of the school year.

"Other health orders could be implemented as a result of cases in any one of our schools," he said. "Were fully aware that that could happen and we certainly want to remind staff, parents and students that they need to be prepared, that change could occur throughout the school year."

On Friday, the Manitoba Liberals offered their support for the Safe September MB campaign, which calls for more safety measures in the provinces schools than the government has currently planned for.

Party Leader Dougald Lamont called remote learning the "ultimate in social distancing" in a prepared release Friday. A distance learning option would reduce class sizes and allow staff and students with immune challenges the ability to work and learn safely, according to the Grits.

Among the partys other demands  in line with the non-partisan parent and teacher collectives back-to-school asks: allowing school boards to delay back-to-school; requiring masks with reasonable exemptions; assessing and upgrading ventilation systems; providing paid leave to employees who have to take sick leave or self-isolate; and ensuring divisions have enough substitute teachers this year.

 dmay@brandonsun.com, with files from the Winnipeg Free Press

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
Update: state police have identified the victim.

----------------

A 53-year-old Wilton, Connecticut, man has died after crashing into a truck while merging onto the highway in Raynham, Massachusetts State Police said.

The man, whose name has not been released, was driving a 2006 Honda motorcycle around 3:40 p.m. Friday, trying to merge from Route 44 onto Route 24 south, state police said in a statement.

As the driver went to merge, he struck the rear passenger side tires of a 2016 International truck that was on Route 24, the statement said.

The motorcycle driver suffered serious injuries. Though life-saving efforts were performed, the man died of his injuries at the scene, state police said.

The truck driver, a 32-year-old man from Baltimore, Maryland, was not injured in the collision.

State police said the crash remains under investigation. No further information was available.
Protesters across Canada rallied on Saturday to spotlight police violence and demand reform.

The demonstrations come amid unrest in Kenosha, Wis., over the Aug. 23 police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot by police in the back seven times as he attempted to enter his vehicle.

Protesters in Canada say that fatal police confrontations involving Black and Indigenous people in this country also must not be ignored.

In Toronto, protests were held on Saturday just days after the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) cleared police officers of wrongdoing in the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet. The 29-year-old died after falling from her 24th-floor apartment balcony while police were inside her home.

"In a lot of people's eyes, especially people in the Black community, [police] are a fear tactic, and they aren't anything more than that," said demonstrator Shaela Nathan-Turner, who is Black. "I don't look at the police as being safe, that's fear in my eyes. I don't think that's a way for anyone to live."

Kelda Yuen/CBC News

Nathan-Turner said funding for police should be funnelled into community associations that are better equipped to address issues like mental health, addiction and people experiencing homelessness.

"The police, there's so much that's on them. They have so many roles and things they aren't specialized in that they are expected to do. That money could be much better spent in training other people to do a lot of the things that they are doing," she said.

In Montreal, Melissa Calixte of the local community group Hoodstock pointed to the death of 58-year-old Pierre Coriolan in June 2017. Police were responding to calls about a man in distress and entered Coriolan's apartment in Montreal's Gay Village in an intervention that ended in a fatal shooting.

"I can't help but wonder how the outcome would have been different had it been a mental health professional or social worker who answered that day," Calixte said.

Story continues

About 200 people marched through the rainy streets of downtown Montreal demanding extensive cuts to police budgets and increased spending on social services. As the march was ending at Place du Canada, a small group of demonstrators climbed on top of a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald before unbolting it and toppling it to the ground.

WATCH | Montreal protesters topple statue of Sir John A. Macdonald:

Calls to defund the police were also echoed in Calgary at a rally organized by the Defund YYC and Black Lives Matter.

"First, we want people to rally behind Black trans lives, because they matter," said LJ Joseph, vice-president of Calgary's Black Lives Matter chapter. "And then, obviously, the police sometimes aren't keeping them safe, and that's why it's important for them to have this defund movement behind them."

Defunding the police, Joseph said, means redistributing funds from policing into underfunded social programs. Calgary's police budget is more than $400 million annually.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians  from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community  check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.
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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, August 29, 2020 17:19 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c41646e5 1 National COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-korona-indonesia,health-ministry,outbreak,pandemic,COVID-19-Jakarta,East-Java Free

Indonesia has recorded another record daily high in confirmed COVID-19 cases with 3,308 new cases confirmed on Saturday, bringing the national tally to 169,195 confirmed cases.

It is the third day in a row Indonesia has recorded a record daily high after the Health Ministry confirmed 2,719 and 3,003 new cases on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

The country also saw 92 new deaths from the disease, bringing the total number of fatalities to 7,261. The total number of recovered patients had also increased to 122,802.

According to official records, the 3,308 new cases were detected after the government tested 21,166 people, bringing the national positivity rate, the percentage of positive results from all tests, to 15.6 percent.

Indonesia has recorded the second highest number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia after the Philippines, which had recorded 213,131 COVID-19 cases as of Saturday. Indonesia is also ranked 23rd worldwide.

Since early August, health authorities have confirmed more than 1,000 new cases every day.

Read also: Contact tracing the missing link in Indonesia's battle with COVID-19

Jakarta, the initial epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, recorded the highest number of new cases on Saturday with 861. The capital was followed by East Java, the countrys second epicenter, with 641 new cases, West Java 287, East Kalimantan 200 and Central Java 180.

Epidemiologists have suggested that the recent surge in cases was caused by the two long weekends for Independence Day on Aug. 17 and Islamic New Year on Aug. 20, which saw increased mobility among the public.

They raised concerns that the spike in infections could lead to a crisis at health facilities across the country, and urged the government to take serious measures to control the outbreak.
George Galloway was asked on LBC about his nickname Gorgeous George. He claimed that it attached itself to him because he was quite handsome then: it was 40 years ago.

We will have to take his word for it that the nickname dates from the mid-1970s, because the public record goes back only 28 years, to the year when he first arrived in Parliament as Labour MP for Glasgow Hillhead.

Not long before his election, he had been accused by a tabloid journalist named Alastair Campbell (yes, same person) of living the high life at the expense of the charity, War on Want, of which he was General Secretary.

An internal inquiry cleared him of the charge, but the press interest in Galloways lifestyle did not die away. On the contrary, it took off anew when he confirmed that one of his trips abroad, to Athens, had included a spot of extra-marital rumpy-pumpy with an old school chum.

Rarely has a newly elected MP hogged the tabloid headlines as he did in 1987. That is when the nation first heard of Scotlands Gorgeous George.

Chip off the old block

In the same interview with James OBrien, Galloway said he had kind of given up on blocking people on Twitter. If there is any way he could find it in his heart to unblock me, I could watch his Twitter output as he storms to victory  or defeat  in the London mayoral election.

Answers, not questions

The Labour MP Paul Flynn has a suggestion for improving Prime Ministers Questions  and discouraging David Cameron from firing counter-questions in place of answers.

Would it not be a good idea perhaps to change the name of Prime Ministers Questions to Prime Ministers Answers so at least the Prime Minister will get the point? he suggested. The Speaker, John Bercow, agreed that there needs to be a change in PMQs, but  as the saying goes  dont hold your breath.

Kens pro-EU, Im pro-Ken

As that inveterate Europhile Ken Clarke was speaking in the Commons yesterday  with John Redwood, who wants us out of the EU, sitting behind him shaking his head in disgust  contributors to social media argued over whether the nations longest-serving Tory MP would be an asset or a liability to a pro-EU campaign.

No good asking me: I am far too biased in Clarkes favour. I love the contemptuous way the old bruiser deals with the anti-EU case, such as the line he used on Sunday Politics to explain why there is no point in returning control over fishing regulations from Brussels to Westminster: The trouble is, he explained, the fish dont know theyre British.

The lows of defining a high

Legal highs are to be made illegal under the Psychoactive Substances bill trailed in the Queens Speech  which has thrown up questions about what the authorities mean by a legal high. People get a kick out of all sorts of things.

As the Home Office minister, Lord Bates, was introducing the bill yesterday, a Labour peer, Lord Howarth, inquired: If the Bill were already on the statute book as presently drafted and he felt moved today to send Lady Bates a bunch of flowers  the perfume of which would make her feel much more benevolent towards him and much happier about his absence on ministerial duties  would he be in breach of the law?

The answer, basically, was that the government has not yet worked out exactly what they are banning, but they are sure going to ban something. And it will be something more dangerous than a bunch of flowers.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed the government to establish the Association of Motor Transport Enterprises. The head of state signed a decree to this effect at a government meeting via video link.

The document authorizes the Ashgabat Passenger Motor Transport Enterprise and the Association of Driving Schools of Turkmenavtotransport agency to establish Open Joint Stock Company Association of Motor Transport Enterprises with a share in the authorized capital of 40 and 30 percent respectively.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan was instructed to ensure state registration of the new OJSC in accordance with the established procedure. According to the decree, the Association of Motor Transport Enterprises is tasked with improving motor transport operations and ensuring favorable conditions for creation of market relations in this area.

 TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2022
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 03:47:41|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Friday saluted outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for his distinguished career and his constructive engagement with the world body.

Abe announced Friday that he would step down for health reasons. He would remain in office until his successor is chosen by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

"The (UN) secretary-general has been following the situation. He wishes Prime Minister Abe a full recovery, and we salute the Prime Minister's distinguished career as the longest-serving Japanese prime minister and his consistent and constructive engagement with the UN to address global challenges," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The secretary-general has had a very productive relationship with Abe. They have worked closely on a number of issues, notably, on the universal health care initiatives, said the spokesman. Enditem
The 2021 Toyota Corolla is now available at Hesser Toyota

The Toyota Corolla has been around for more than 60 years and has a long history in the sedan segment. After releasing its all-new 2020 Toyota Corolla with updates to its style, technology and a newly added hybrid powertrain, Toyota had a few more changes to make for the second installment of the sedans 12th generation. For 2021, the Corolla receives a few more updates that shoppers are bound to be pleased with, which can be read about on the dealerships website and blog. Those interested in getting the 2021 Toyota Corolla in Janesville can now find it at their local dealership, Hesser Toyota.

The staff at Hesser Toyota is excited to show off the new Corolla to shoppers and has created an informational model research page on the 2021 Toyota Corolla to help better inform online shoppers. The research page, like many others on the dealership website, covers updates for the model year, along with key information about the vehicles performance, technology and design. These pages also provide visuals of each vehicles interior and exterior to help shoppers gain a better understanding of what they have to offer.

Anybody interested in learning about or seeing the 2021 Toyota Corolla in person can visit Hesser Toyota at 1811 Humes Road in Janesville. The dealership also allows customers to schedule a test drive online, so they can show up at Hesser Toyota and drive with ease and convenience. Interested parties can learn more at https://www.hessertoyota.com/ or by calling 608-754-7754.


Dear Editor,

The proposed rezoning of 2-16 Montrepose St. from RRR to RT, backed by the Kingston Planning Board, was tabled by the Common Councils Laws and Rules Committee to evaluate public comments prior to voting. We thank the committee for taking time to evaluate public concerns, as a major flaw in the review process cannot be ignored.

Theres been an attempt to segment the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) by evaluating the rezoning independently from the 14-unit apartment complex described on the Short Environmental Assessment Form (SEAF) attached to the zoning request. The Planning Board indicated a separate review would be done after formal site plan submission.

Segmentation is contrary to SEQRs intent, which requires whole actions be evaluated. The holistic and early approach prescribed by SEQR allows for plan modification to avoid adverse environmental impacts.

The SEAF ignored the presence of a stream and state-mapped habitat for threatened or endangered species. The project claims consistency with Kingstons Comprehensive Plan, but is outside of identified core density areas and is partially noted as physically constrained, for which restricting development is recommended.

Upon its review, we hope the committee does the right thing and rejects the rezoning application for contradictions with the Comprehensive Plan and erroneous information provided by applicant. Wed like to see this lot redeveloped and utilized in a manner fitting its environment. We recognize the need for more housing, but subverting the state-prescribed environmental review process is an unacceptable means to foster development.

Jennifer Armstrong

Kingston, N.Y.

The writer is a member of Hill Residents for Responsible Development.
Alice Marie Johnson hits back at media after RNC speech, Trump pardon: 'I'm not a prop or puppet'

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Criminal justice reform activist Alice Marie Johnson, a grandmother whose life sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump on Friday, responded to a controversial tweet by Politico against her speech at the Republican Nation Convention, saying she is not a prop or puppet.

Im not a prop and Im not a puppet. I make my own choices as do what Id like to do, Johnson, a 65-year-old black woman who was serving a life sentence on drug charges, said during an interview on Fox News' "The Story" with Martha MacCallum.

Johnson, who was convicted of drug conspiracy and money laundering in 1996 and whose story caught the attention of Kim Kardashian, was responding to a tweet by Politico after her address at the RNC on Thursday.

Shes been propped up as one of the most prominent beneficiaries of the terms of the First Step Act, read the tweet which was taken from a reporter live chat on the media outlets website.

In her RNC address, Johnson, who spent 22 years in prison, praised Trump for his criminal justice reform efforts and thanked him for the presidential pardon she received.

My Christian faith and the prayers of so many kept hope alive, Johnson said in the address. When President Trump heard about me, the injustice of my story, he saw me as a person, he had compassion and he acted. Free in body, thanks to President Trump, but free in mind thanks to the almighty God.

Trump signed the First Step Act into law in December 2018, months after commuting Johnsons sentence. Kardashian personally met with Trump to plead on her behalf.

In her interview on Fox News, Johnson said, What amazes me about the things that are being said is that another former prisoner spoke at the DNC last week, and she was not called a prop for choosing to speak there, yet I dont have the choice to speak where I want to.

She said her speech was meant to give hope to prisoners and talk about how important criminal justice reform is.

I was in a very dark place, a very dark, hopeless situation. But Id never lost my hope, and instead of turning inward and being bitter about my situation, I decided to help the women who were there and not just myself but what I could do for others, she said.

Nan Hayworth, a former Congresswoman from New York, responded to Politicos tweet, saying it was the outlets bitter and desperate partisanship on full display.

How dare you disrespect this amazing and powerful woman. You reveal yourselves in your derision. How petty, small, and pathetic you are, Hayworth added.

In a statement from the White House on Friday, the Trump administration said in part: "Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Grant of Clemency (Full Pardon) for Alice Marie Johnson. ... While incarcerated, she completed numerous training and education courses, volunteered in a hospice, contributed her talents to art and theater programs, and held steadfast to her Christian beliefs. Although sentenced to life with little hope for freedom, Ms. Johnson nonetheless worked to better herself, those around her, and her community.

"Since President Trump commuted her sentence, Ms. Johnson has shared her story of redemption and has worked with lawmakers on landmark criminal justice reform efforts. ..."

In June 2018, when Trump commuted Johnson's sentence, the White House said: Ms. Johnson has accepted responsibility for her past behavior and has been a model prisoner over the past two decades.  While this administration will always be very tough on crime, it believes that those who have paid their debt to society and worked hard to better themselves while in prison deserve a second chance.

Johnson responded by saying, Im free to hug my family. Im free to live life. Im free to start over. This is the greatest day of my life. My heart is just bursting with gratitude.

Trump this week also pardoned prison reentry activist Jon Ponder, describing him as a beautiful testament to the power of redemption.

At the age of 38, he was arrested for bank robbery, Trump said in a ceremony held at the White House, according to KLAS. While Jon was in prison, he began reading the Bible and listening to Christian radio, Trump added. One day, he heard Reverend Billy Graham on the radio proclaim Jesus wants to be Lord of your life. On that day, Jon dedicated his life to Christ.
On Friday, the Government announced that pubs and bars that are currently closed can apply for a new restart grant, which will give a 40 per cent top up to businesses which plan to reopen.

They can now receive a minimum of 5,600 and a maximum of 35,000 under the plan.

Donall O'Keeffe, chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association, said the support package was "completely underwhelming".

"Every business in the country can get a restart grant between 4,000 and 25,000, including pubs, and that's very welcome.

"But we're now going to be dealing with a sector that has been closed for a minimum of six months. So an additional 40 per cent simply doesn't compensate those pubs for the cost of a six-month closure," he said.

"It's woefully inadequate".

Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae said the 16 million package was an insult to publicans.

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He said: "Publicans up and down the length and breadth of Ireland are reeling in shock at the way this Government has treated them. They've been sold out and they're being treated really, really badly."

"On the one hand, they can't open their doors, and on the other hand, what has been offered to them is nothing, virtually nothing."

Announcing the funding on Friday, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar acknowledged that it had been a "difficult few months" for pub owners.

This package, in addition to the grants and subsidies already available, will help pub owners with expenses to do with getting ready for re-opening. We want to make sure that our pubs are in a position to reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, he said.

The Government also agreed on Friday evening to give greater enforcement powers to gardai for pubs that do not comply with Covid-19 public health guidelines.
When wildfires rage, hurricanes bear down, floodwaters rise, and that big earthquake finally strikes, at this time its critical that you and your family members are ready to evacuate.

Perhaps the most important thing to bring with you is a go bag full of emergency supplies. Go bags exist to save you from having to run around and gather items when a threatening situation is imminent.

These bags are designed to provide everything a family of four needs to survive for several days after a disaster, especially if tried-and-trusted services arent available.

The bags dont have to be bags at allthey can be boxes, cartons, or crates, so long as they contain all of the important supplies.

The contents of a familys go bag could mean the difference between life or death, depending on how bad a situation becomes, according to Jonathan Sury, project director for field operations and communications at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia Universitys Earth Institute.

Having yourself and your family be prepared will ease the burden on our response system but also make you more mentally ready for what lies ahead, Sury said. Preparation is the difference between being panicked and being calm, collected, and cool.

Larry Pierson, from the Isle of Palms, S.C., purchases bottled water from a Harris Teeter grocery store in preparation for Hurricane Florence at the Isle of Palms, S.C., Monday, Sept. 10, 2018. (Mic Smith/AP)

Disaster preparedness certainly is an important topic; a 2015 NCDP survey indicated that only 35 percent of respondents had an adequate disaster plan and supplies.

And as September happens to be National Preparedness Month, this means that now is a great time to put a plan together.

Your Must-Haves

Most of the items disaster preparedness experts suggest you to include in a go-bag are things you can find around your house. You also can purchase items separately or as part of package kits designed to offer one-stop shopping.

Whichever strategy you choose, the FEMA website says a basic emergency supply kit should include the following:

 One gallon (approx. 4 liters) of water per person, per day

 Three-day supply of non-perishable food per person and per pet

 Your familys prescription medications

 Battery-powered or hand-crank radio

 Flashlights

 First-aid kit

 Wrench to turn off utilities

(Illustration  Roger Brown Photography/Shutterstock)

Some of the items on extended lists include emergency blankets, extra cash, solar cell-phone chargers, and a multipurpose tool such as a Leatherman or Swiss Army knife.

Meanwhile, people also should include digital copies of all their important documents such as birth certificates, insurance policies, and passports, said Sury, as well as ample supplies of over-the-counter and prescription medications for every person in the family.

Are the Roads Clear?

Another key component: Good maps.

Samantha Montano, assistant professor of emergency management at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Boston, said it is critical to have printed maps of the area with two exit routes marked clearly.

Have plans on how you would evacuate your home including what type of transportation you would use, how you would afford it, and where you would stay, Montano wrote in a recent email.

This is particularly important to think about early on because the pandemic may have made your existing evacuation plans obsolete, she added.

Covid-19 Considerations

Experts said that the pandemic has necessitated other precautions and changes to the emergency items you should bring if you evacuate your home.

Perhaps the most important pandemic-specific rule: Be sure to have N95 masks with two-way ventilation. Sury said its important to make sure youve got the right masks since those with valves on them dont filter outflow and therefore could leave you vulnerable to Covid-19.

People dont realize how dangerous the wrong respirator can be, he said.

There are other ways to make a go-bag COVID-proof. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its guidelines last spring to include the following items with all emergency bags:

 Cloth face coverings (at least two per person per day)

 Mess kits

 Hand sanitizer

 Personal protective equipment (masks, gloves, goggles, gowns)

 Prescription eyeglasses

 Infant formula

The American Red Cross also published a checklist that echoes these sentiments.

Is It Time to Leave Yet?

During the pandemic, families may rethink their go plan and consider leaving before an official warning, if for no other reason than to get out of harms way and stay physically distanced, suggested Eric Alberts, corporate director of emergency preparedness for Orlando Health, a health care system in Florida.

Due to COVID-19 a lot of authorities will not be asking people to leave their homes unless their homes are not safe or they are in a mandatory evacuation zone, Alberts wrote in an email.

If people are in a location that requires them to evacuate, they should be proactive and leave before it is too late. When people rush, they make errors leading to exposures, injuries, and other illnesses, he further added.

A Recorded Video of Your Home

If you have time to prepare, do a walk-through of your home and take a video of the contents. If the structure is destroyed, your insurance company will want to see what your home was like prior to the disaster.

Sury, the expert from Columbia, said that while this isnt a must, its always a good idea to have.

Anything that can be required for your identification or compensation after disaster, he said. If youve got a way to make formal record of everything with value, it will help you in the long run with recovering from a disaster.

Surys organization has put together an app to help people determine how ready they are to respond to a disaster. The tool, dubbed the Preparedness Wizard, is fun and educational but also offers important practical information and input about how to maximize readiness and minimize risk.

Dont Forget the Stuffed Animals

In addition to whatever medicine and other basic supplies your children will need, remember their teddy bears, blankie, favorite books, tablets (and chargers), or other things that will help calm their fears as you leave your home.

(Illustration  Dragana Gordic/Shutterstock)

Always Be Ready

The bottom line: Always be ready, even beyond the bag. Just because someone puts together a go bag does not mean that person is prepared, Montano warned.

We know from the research that its much more complicated than that, she said. Your social network, your economic situation, the preparedness of your local government (and) other factors all influence how ready you are to go through a disaster.

(Illustration  Aliaksandra Post/Shutterstock)

The CNN Wire contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 00:21:06|Editor: huaxia

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OSLO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- There is no factual basis to shift the blame to China for one's own responsibility of ineffective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said in Oslo.

Wang made the statement Thursday at a joint press conference with Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide, when a reporter asked for Wang's comments on an allegation that China has failed to share information of the novel coronavirus, which the reporter said had originated in China, in a timely manner and that has led to the spread of COVID-19 to other countries.

"What you have said is not the fact. China is the first country to report the epidemic, which does not mean that the novel coronavirus epidemic originated in China," Wang said.

A lot of information and investigations, he said, have discovered the existence of the novel coronavirus in multiple countries around the world, and some of them had emerged before China reported the virus.

So where the epidemic originated and who is "patient zero" is a scientific question that requires scientists and medical experts to reach a conclusion through scientific research, Wang said, adding that no one has the right to politicize the origin-tracing, let alone to label the virus.

The novel coronavirus was unknown to all before the epidemic. China carried out an epidemiological investigation at the very beginning of discovering unknown pneumonia cases, identified the pathogen, and shared the whole gene sequence timely with the world, Wang said.

After confirming the human-to-human transmission of the virus, the Chinese side also made a decisive decision to close the passage out of Wuhan in central China. This was not an easy decision, Wang said, as Wuhan is a city with a population of 10 million. "But we took this decision nonetheless on the principle that people's lives and health are paramount."

In the meantime, the top diplomat explained, China activated first-level emergency response in all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, quickly cut off the chain of virus transmission, and finally effectively overcame the epidemic.

The World Health Organization team of experts visiting China agreed that the measures taken by China were very timely and effective. They not only prevented the spread of the epidemic in China, but also bought time for the rest of the world. That is the basic fact, he noted.

Wang said there is no factual basis for the U.S. to try to blame China for its own ineffective response to the epidemic.

On Jan. 23 when China closed the passage out of Wuhan and implemented first-level emergency response nationwide and took comprehensive precautions in line with Class A infectious diseases, there were only nine confirmed cases in countries and regions outside China and only one in the United States, Wang said.

On Jan. 31, the U.S. suspended direct flights with China. On Feb. 2, it closed its borders to all Chinese citizens when only 10 plus confirmed cases were announced in the United States. "The timeline is clear," he stressed.

After China cut off the spread of the epidemic to the rest of the world, the reason why the epidemic has spread so dramatically in certain country is a question that deserves serious consideration and in-depth investigation, Wang said.

"I believe that as time goes by, the truth of the matter will become clearer," he noted.

Norway is the third leg after Italy and the Netherlands in Wang's first foreign tour as the COVID-19 epidemic eases. The official visit in Europe from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 will also take him to France and Germany. Enditem
One of the country's most respected asset managers has criticised investment groups that have jumped on the ethical bandwagon offering portfolio services and funds that do not fit the bill.

Alan Miller, co-founder of wealth manager SCM Direct, accuses them of labelling products as 'socially responsible' when a big chunk of their underlying holdings are anything but. He says buyers of such services, typically labelled as ESG  Environmental, Social and corporate Governance  are being cheated.

He told The Mail on Sunday: 'If an investor buys an ESG fund or portfolio service  or for that matter an ethical fund  they have a right to expect that all the assets held within it were selected for their ethical and socially responsible attributes. Sadly, this is not the case.'

'Socially responsible': Investment groups that have jumped on the ethical bandwagon offering portfolio services and funds that do not fit the bill

Research conducted by SCM Direct shows that some products have more than 50 per cent of their assets in non-ESG securities or funds.

Socially responsible investing has become one of the most popular ways of getting into the stock market in recent years, as investors become more aware of the impact businesses can have on global issues such as climate change, pollution, fair pay and employment rights. In theory, only companies that strive for best practice  be it in products or services they offer or the way they treat employees or suppliers  make the ESG grade.

Some 25billion is now invested in such funds in the UK and financial advisers have seen a rise in demand from clients wanting their money to be invested this way.

Wealth manager Nutmeg says one in five investors is now considering socially responsible investing while a third said they would stop investing in a firm if it was not adopting sound ESG principles  even if it meant forgoing higher returns.

Investor interest has spawned a splurge of new funds and portfolio management services with various labels  'ethical', 'socially responsible', 'sustainable'  and they often come with higher fees than traditional investment products.

Late last year, Miller published a hard-hitting report into the industry, saying many investors were being taken for a ride. 'Whether it's deliberate or accidental,' he said, 'clients who wish to satisfy their twin goals of investment return and having regard for the planet and society are being taken advantage of.'

Stating that many managers were doing no more than 'green-washing'  marketing funds as eco-friendly when in fact they weren't  he called upon the City regulator to conduct an 'urgent review'.

This time around, he has investigated the growth in ESG portfolio management services provided by many leading investment houses and 'robo' advisers  which select funds using algorithms and are bought directly by investors.

The portfolio services are commonly used by financial advisers dealing with clients who want all their investments managed in an ethical or ESG-friendly way. Money is allocated across a range of investment funds with an ESG slant.

His research indicates that in some instances, such portfolios are 'stuffed full of plain vanilla funds that do not appear to have any ESG tilt or bias'. He says: 'In any other field apart from fund management, the providers of such services would be prosecuted under the Trade Descriptions Act. But thanks to a regulator that turns a blind eye to virtually any form of unethical behaviour, these companies will never face a fine or reprimand.'

The biggest issue, says Miller, centres on ESG portfolios offered to investors who do not want to take too much risk with their wealth.

Often labelled 'cautious' or 'conservative', these portfolios have a concentration of assets in bonds rather than shares. But rather than invest in 'green' bonds, 'social impact' bonds or corporate bonds with ESG credentials, some invest in basic UK or US government bonds. Such government bonds, says Miller, may well be used to raise money for positive activities, such as healthcare and education, but they also provide funds to be spent on arms  a no-no for most ethical investors.

On that basis alone, he says their inclusion in an ESG portfolio is indefensible. The SCM Direct Ethical ESG Portfolio does not invest in government bonds.

Miller adds: 'Governments worldwide are involved in many activities that ESG managers would automatically screen out if choosing appropriate equities and bonds to invest in. Typically, they exclude defence stocks, companies involved in alcohol, tobacco, gambling and the nuclear industry.

'Yet governments routinely finance military activities, receive large amounts of their income via taxes on tobacco, alcohol and gambling  and often operate nuclear power plants. So, it cannot be right as an ESG manager to include government bonds in a portfolio.'

Miller is not a lone voice. Adrian Lowcock, a chartered financial planner with investment platform Willis Owen, says he 'struggles to see how a socially responsible investment fund can invest in US or UK government bonds'.

He adds: 'These bonds raise money for the government to spend and the investor has no choice as to how the money is allocated. So if 10 per cent of government spending goes on defence, then 10 per cent of an investor's money is being used to support this. The nature of government means the bonds they issue cannot meet socially responsible investing targets.'

The box above shows a number of funds or portfolio services where exposure to such government bonds exceeds 20 per cent. It includes responses from providers as to why such bonds are held. Miller calls these 'intellectually disrespectful and duplicitous', adding: 'Investors expect all investments in an ethical portfolio to be selected on ethical or ESG criteria.'

Ethical funds that invest in government bonds, he says, should be appropriately labelled  for example ESG Tilted or ESG Lite.

On Friday, the Financial Conduct Authority said it had its 'eye' on the appropriate labelling of ethical funds and portfolio services.
Opposition on the part of students, teachers, parents and nursery staff is growing in Germany to the life-threatening consequences of the governments school opening policy. As the countrys various state governments, in close cooperation with the unions, rush ahead with the policy of opening schools, growing numbers of people are expressing their opposition to the move on social media and in schools and neighbourhoods.

The World Socialist Web Site spoke with Tatyana from Iserlohn, a single mother of three children. I think the school openings are totally insane, she said. My school-age 13-year-old child is seriously and chronically ill. I had to fight for weeks here in the state of North Rhine Westfalen (NRW) to get my child out of classes. Just one day before school started I was able to excuse my child from attending classes until further notice.

Tatyana has launched an initiative against school openings among her friends and on the internet. We are fighting together to ensure that anyone who so desires can have their child taught remotely, she said. Unfortunately, the schools are not being closed, so we have to fight for our rights.

Yesterday I learned that an action committee has been set up by students in Dortmund. I think thats greatI come from Dortmund myself. Several members of our group would like to see students come to us and report on the situation in the schools.

Referring to the fact that German courts have regularly rejected petitions by parents that their children not be forced to go to school, Tatyana said: The Constitutional Court ruled in May this year that children cannot be forced to attend school during the pandemic. But it is being done anyway. It is horrific and human rights are being profoundly undermined and violated. Mrs. Gebauer, Minister of Education in North Rhine-Westphalia and other education ministers are, in my opinion, committing serious, inexcusable crimes! Doctors are being put under pressure and Mrs. Gebauer is putting pressure on the health authorities not to close schools.

On Monday, the school directors association of NRW published an urgent letter to the state premier Armin Laschet, who has called the ruthless school opening policy a field test. The letter declared that the government was not fulfilling its responsibility for precautionary measures and health protection for students, teachers and school directors in the state.

And why are they doing all this? asked Tatyana. Because of the duty to educate? What about the duty to care, what about the law that says every person has a right to health? The whole thing stinks to high heaven, its frightening. I do not want to have to visit my child in intensive care!

Where are the computer terminals for digital learning promised by the MSB [Ministry of Education] for groups at risk? Before the summer vacations, the government complained that students were not available for home schooling! And how could that be without internet for everyone? Did any of those in charge ever think about that? Who thinks about those families who cannot afford an internet connection because they have too little money to live on, but too much to enable them to die? During a pandemic the federal government must make the internet accessible to every household.

It is a policy with fatal consequences, declared Alexandra Paul, a nursery school teacher from Lower Saxony. Protection is simply not possibleyou cannot force small children to stay apart. The fact that children are increasingly not being tested is as catastrophic for us as it is for teachers. I believe the risks for teachers and nursery school staff are not that different.

Alexandra wrote a letter to the World Socialist Web Site earlier this week on her experiences with smaller nursery school groups during the previous period of emergency care: I think the only way [to prevent coronavirus outbreaks] is to minimise the size of groups, to keep them as small as possible and avoid constantly mixing the children, she wrote. Under the current conditions, she said she could bet on the number of infections that will badly affect me!

Ily M., a mother with pre-existing health problems, joined a group including other parents and a teacher to resist the dangerous school openings. She told the World Socialist Web Site she was shocked by the unscrupulous way in which the lives of children and teachers were being put in danger, all on behalf of the capitalist economy.

I have never been so desperate in my life because I am being denied the law-given right to self-determination and integrity. I can find no trace of the liberal democratic values of our society in the type of dictatorship being enforced by the ministers of education. This is a shock I will never forget and which has massively and lastingly harmed my opinion and trust in Germany.

The massive media campaign and the unanimity of all political parties about the need to rapidly open up schools, Ily said, makes it seems as if we are irrational and frightened weirdoes. As an already disabled person, one ends up in the position of a petitioner, and as a parent in the role of an incapacitated citizen. I am in a situation in my life that I could never have imagined.

On the other hand, the founding of the Dortmund School Committee and the widespread resistance across social media has encouraged her, Ily said: I am glad and grateful that so many people are also opposing these decisions. I think there should have been a strike a long time ago.

Milla B. lives in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg with her nine-year-old son. So we still have the complete opening up of schools ahead of us, she told the WSWS. For the time being, her child will continue to take online lessons with a teacher who is herself at-risk, but in March everything was chaotic. I had already reported my child sick at school at the beginning of March, when Mr. Wieler from the Robert Koch Institute said in a press release that children can have also be severely affected and die. The school was closed until June 15 and in the meantime the teacher sent material for working at home.

When the school reopened in June, according to Ily, hygiene had not been thought through: It was complete chaos. Her child was scared and never wants to go to school again. Her child said: Mom, there is Corona at the school, if I bring Corona home, you wont be there anymore. This was an alarm call for me as mother revealing that the opening of the school had an affect on the psyche of my child.

So I spoke to my doctor, who is Italian and had dealings with coronavirus in his own family. He gave me a sick note, but the school tried to dissuade me. The school principal also took a more direct approach and tried to label me as overly anxious.

A teacher from Berlin, who wants to remain anonymous, confirmed similar incidents. He reported on Twitter about a colleague who was told to present herself to the principal at the next opportunity after she pointed out that the virus has not become less dangerous and that there were now more active cases than in March.

I am shocked to see so many families scared and desperate, as I was. In my opinion, what is never mentioned publicly is how the whole chaotic situation is psychologically disturbing for children at school. Especially the thought of infecting ones own family. There is real psychological terror being exercised in Germany, I would never have dreamed of such a state of affairs in Germany!
File photo used only for illustrative purpose

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested a 35-year-old teacher, Ibrahim Mohammed, of Unguwar Kadawa Quarters in Kano State for allegedly sodomising two underaged boys.

Mr Shehu Umar, the NAPTIP Zonal Commander in charge of Kano, who confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Kano, noted that the command on August 25, received information that Mohammed sodomised his two underaged students at Unguwar Kadawa, Kwanar Dillalai Quarters in Kano.

On receiving information, we swung into action and arrested the suspect and rescued the two victims.



He alleged that the suspect was married and has been an Islamic teacher for the past seven years.



The offence is punishable under the NAPTIP Act. An investigation is ongoing, and when completed, the suspect would be charged to court, he said, adding that the victims will also be united with their parents.

Meanwhile, the command confirmed that it rescued six victims and arrested one suspect for human trafficking in Kano.

Umar explained that the NAPTIP Joint Board Task Force (JBTF) received intelligence information on the movement of the victims and suspect.



On receiving information, the command carried out an operation on August 23, raided New Paradise Hotel in Sabon Gari Kano, which led to the arrest of the suspect, one at large and rescued the victims.

The victims were camped at the said hotel for onward movement out of Kano to Libya.

The victims are from Ogun, Oyo, Imo and Abia. The offence, external trafficking, is contrary to section 15(b) of NAPTIP Act.

Umar called on the general public, especially parents, to ensure they know the whereabouts of their wards and to always check on them periodically at the various Almajiri schools.
TRENTON  New Jerseys municipal cops, state troopers and remaining law enforcement officers must receive cultural diversity and implicit bias training beginning next year.

Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday signed legislation finally requiring sworn officers to learn about implicit bias, a form of ignorance defined as the unconscious or subliminal stereotyping of others.

To build upon on our progress to reshape policing, Murphy said Thursday in a press statement, we must address the systemic and implicit biases that too often negatively impact relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

The primary sponsors of the legislation, including State Sens. Shirley Turner and Linda Greenstein, celebrated the implications of the new law.

New Jersey has taken a proactive approach in addressing the racial injustices hampering our country, and this new law is a step in the right direction, Turner, a Democrat who represents parts of Mercer and Hunterdon counties, said Thursday in a press statement. It will result, ultimately, in better policing in our diverse communities.

Greenstein, a Democrat who represents parts of Mercer and Middlesex counties, said New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the nation in terms of race and ethnicity.

Forty-five percent of our residents are people of color, and this collection of cultures is one of our states greatest strengths and attributes, she said in a statement. We must continue to strengthen the cultural diversity and implicit bias training so our law enforcement officers are fully equipped to serve our diverse communities.

This new legislation, formerly known as Assembly Bill No. 3641, requires the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety to develop training course materials and an online tutorial with clear instructions on understanding implicit bias and employing strategies to eliminate unconscious biases that shape behavior and produce disparate treatment of individuals based on their race, ethnicity, religious belief, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics.

After establishing an implicit bias training regimen, DLPS must make those materials available to every state, county and municipal law enforcement department in New Jersey, including campus police forces appointed by institutions of higher education.

The new law takes effect next March and requires law enforcement agencies to provide cultural diversity and implicit bias training once every five years.

Implicit bias is the automatic association people make between groups of people and stereotypes about those groups, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson said Thursday in a joint statement with fellow Assembly members who sponsored Assembly Bill No. 3641. It has been shown to have significant influence on the outcomes of interactions between police and residents. Implicit bias can be expressed in relation to non-racial factors, including gender, age, religion, or sexual orientation and not only racial incidence.

Reynolds-Jackson, a Democrat who formerly served on Trenton City Council, suggested cops should always operate with utmost professionalism in all interactions with the community.

If there is any profession that cannot afford to have or show bias or discrimination in the act of doing their jobs, she said in her joint statement with Assemblywoman Carol A. Murphy and Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake, its law enforcement.

The police-involved killing of Black man George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this year has fueled nationwide anti-racism protests and moved the New Jersey Legislature to consider a variety of police accountability and reform measures.
Fans across the globe were shocked when news of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman's death was revealed Friday night.

Now, a clip from a 2018 interview with Sway Calloway and the cast of Black Panther has resurfaced that shows Boseman speaking movingly about two young fans he met who had terminal cancer.

The actor, who died at age 43, had been diagnosed with his own cancer in 2016, two years before he tearfully recited the story of the boys.

Heartbreaking: Chadwick Boseman, who died Friday at age 43 of colon cancer, was featured in a recently resurfaced video from 2018 in which he tearfully recounted meeting two young fans with terminal cancer; shown in 2018

Boseman recounted meeting 'two little kids,' Ian and Taylor, with whom he was staying in touch throughout the production of Black Panther, which was released in February 2018.

'What they said to me, and what their parents said, they're just trying to hold on until this movie comes,' he recounted.

The Da 5 Bloods actor said that knowledge spurred him on to work harder on Black Panther.

'Its a humbling experience because youre like, "This cant mean that much to them," you know?' he said. 'But seeing how the world has taken us on, seeing how the movement is, how its taken on a life of its own, I realized that they anticipated something great.'

New fans: Boseman recounted meeting 'two little kids,' Ian and Taylor, with whom he was staying in touch throughout the production of Black Panther, which was released in 2018

Holding out hope: 'What they said to me, and what their parents said, they're just trying to hold on until this movie comes,' he recounted

'Its a humbling experience because youre like, "This cant mean that much to them," you know?' he said. 'But seeing how the world has taken us on, seeing how the movement is, how its taken on a life of its own, I realized that they anticipated something great'

Emotional: Boseman was overcome with tears as he recalled that the two boys had both died before they were able to see the completed film. 'Yeah, it means a lot,' he said through tears; still from Black Panther

Boseman was overcome with tears as he recalled that the two boys had both died before they were able to see the completed film.

'When I found out that they...' he began before let out a long sigh and pushing back from the microphone while his costars Lupita Nyong'o and Danai Gurira both tried to comfort him he.

After along pause, he spoke again as tears rolled down his cheeks.

'Yeah, it means a lot,' he said, before the video cut out.

Farewell: Boseman's family confirmed his passing in a statement on Friday, saying the actor had been diagnosed with stage III cancer in 2016 which later progressed to stage IV

Unbelievable strength: The actor's family also confirmed that many of his greatest movie roles were filmed 'during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy'; shown in February 2019

Boseman's family announced Friday night via his social media accounts that the actor had died.

In their note, they wrote that he had been 'diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016,' which later 'progressed to stage IV.'

'A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much.'

The actor's family also confirmed that many of his greatest movie roles were filmed 'during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy.'

In June, he appeared in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods as a fallen soldier who was killed in Vietnam. Decades later, his squad mates return to find his body and give him a proper burial, while also stealing a supply of gold that was left with him.

One of his roles: In June, he appeared in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods as a fallen soldier killed in Vietnam. Decades later, his squad mates return to give him a proper burial, while also stealing a supply of gold that was left with him

Honored: 'It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther,' the statement said. 'The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time'; pictured in June 2019

'It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther,' the statement said. 'The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.'

Boseman is survived by his wife Taylor Simone Ledward and a parent and had no children, his publicist said.

The couple were first linked in 2019 and had secretly married, which wasn't reported until after his death.

Boseman resisted mentioning his cancer diagnosis in his final years, though many fans became concerned after seeing photos of him looking unusually gaunt.

Stepping forward: Later on Friday, a Twitter user named Brian Hammond tweeted that one of the boys mentioned by Chadwick in his 2018 was his late son Taylor

Later on Friday, a Twitter user named Brian Hammond tweeted that one of the boys mentioned by Chadwick in his 2018 was his late son Taylor.

'Chadwick was talking about my son when he broke down and cried. He was heartbroken that Taylor didn't get to see the finished product. When all of the world's eyes were on him, his heart & mind was on our angel,' he wrote, adding the hashtags '#RIPKing,' '#FightOn' and '#ForTaylor.'

He followed it up with a short video message sent to Taylor which was edited with footage of his son gushing over getting to hear from the Avenger.

After introducing himself as 'T'Challa, a.k.a. Black Panther,' the actor said, 'A good friend of mine was just telling me how courageous and how strong you are,' before wishing him a pleasant holiday weekend.

Taylor gushed in the follow-up clip from the back of a car while thanking the actor for sending Black Panther items, while wishing Chadwick love from the rest of his family.

Moving: 'He was heartbroken that Taylor didn't get to see the finished product. When all of the world's eyes were on him, his heart & mind was on our angel,' Hammond wrote












By Park Si-soo







Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has helped rescue two women in difficulty at an Algarve beach after their kayak capsized, according to

.







The president, 71, was pictured on Saturday swimming over to the kayakers who were struggling in the water.







Video footage caught the moment he swam into the sea to help them. Another man was already there, trying to help turn the kayak over while a person on a jet ski also approached to offer help.







The man on the jet ski then managed to tow the kayak back to the shore.







Rebelo de Sousa later told reporters that the women had been swept by currents from a neighboring beach into the bay.







"As there is a very large west current, they were dragged out, turned around, swallowed a lot of water and were not even able to turn [the kayak], nor to climb [on it], or swim, such is the strength of the current," he told local media.







The president is reportedly spending his holidays visiting different areas of the country to promote tourism.


Fronce Wardlaw, 58, had come from Fredericksburg, Va., to the Lincoln Memorial with her 17-year-old daughter, Erin, carrying memories of Erins grandfather fighting for racial justice. He was part of the lunch counter sit-ins in Greensboro, N.C., and took part in the 1963 March. The lesson Fronce Wardlaw took from her father was this: Whatever it took. If they got pulled off the chairs they went back on. If people spit on em, they stood there. If they got sprayed, they just took it. You know how when water is hot it boils? Thats whats happening now. You cant get out of your car or watch TV  someone could come shoot you. . . . You can only kick a dog so much before it bites, she said.
Turkey says it will hold live-fire exercises in the eastern Mediterranean on September 1 and 2, the latest in a series of military drills that have fuelled tensions with Greece, Al Jazeera reports.

The Turkish navy issued the latest advisory, known as a Navtex, on Thursday saying it will hold the shooting exercises in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Iskenderun, northeast of Cyprus.

The two NATO states have been locked in a bitter dispute over control of eastern Mediterranean waters that escalated after Ankara sent a seismic survey vessel to the disputed region this month - a move that Athens called illegal.

Turkey accused France of stoking tensions after Paris said it would join Italy, Greece and Cyprus in three-day air and sea military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said Ankara would not be deterred by the show of force.

"To believe that it would be possible to thwart the Turkish armed forces' operations with exercises and similar activities is nothing more than a pipe dream," Akar said in an interview with state-run Anadolu news agency.
Mom, youre killing me. It falls to your son  the columnist who has covered politicians for 30 years and who has learned to ignore what they say and focus on what they do  to set you straight.

Ive been watching Harris for many years, and I can tell you that Harris only looks out for Harris  except when she is looking around the corner for her next job. She is a lawyer with only one client: her ambition. And shell defend it at all costs.

Of course, women have the same right as men to be ambitious. But when a public figure  man or woman  lets ambition get in the way of doing the right thing, he or she needs to be called on it.

Voters havent heard much from Harris on the timely issue of rioting and social unrest in response to police shootings like the one that recently occurred in Kenosha, Wis. Jacob Blake  who is 29 years old and (stop me if youre heard this before) African American  was shot in the back by white police officer Rusten Sheskey.

Harris has plenty of woke talking points to share about the scourge of police violence. Thats an easy case for Democrats to argue.
The Hollywood star produced 21 Bridges, the crime thriller he also starred in as a detective.

Im a storyteller. I wouldnt say that Im just an actor, he said in an interview in November last year.

Being able to touch other parts of the story, other departments and help the film, is what I want to do.





The Black Panther star, who had colon cancer and has died aged 43, told Simon Mayo how he picked the roles he wanted to play.

I think I had questions about the character (in 21 Bridges). What makes him tick?

Very often, thats what makes you want to do a role youre trying to figure a person out, he told the BBC radio host.

Does he have a higher moral compass? Where does that come from? Who is this guy?

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Boseman attended the British American Drama Academy in Oxford as part of his directing course at Howard University in Washington.

Wed come to London to see plays on some of our weekends, and just party.

Asked whether publicising his film in London reminded him of his past, he said: This is not like the old times. It reminds me of what I was trying to get to.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- An off-duty state conservation officer helped rescue a woman from a burning mobile home when her walker could not fit through a door frame.

The rescue happened Wednesday, Aug. 26 about 5:30 p.m.

Conservation Officer Robert Slick was jogging along 148th Avenue about 5:30 p.m. when he saw smoke in the distance.

He was not far away and continued running. He arrived at the Country Estates Mobile Home Park to find the front of a mobile home engulfed in flames.

Someone already had called 911, but Slick was told a disabled woman might be trapped inside.

He then went to a rear door and discovered that a neighbor was there trying to open a jammed door. They worked together and were able to open the door and get inside the smoke-filled residence.

They then found the woman. She was alert and talking, but her walker would not fit through the door frame to escape.

The two men then picked her up and carried her outside.

Slick took the woman to a nearby porch and waited with her for emergency medical staff to evaluate her.

The department is proud of officer Slick and the gentleman who assisted him, said Gary Hagler, chief of the DNR Law Enforcement Division. They risked their own lives to save another. A conservation officer is never truly off-duty and is trained to respond to situations like this.

Slick started with the state Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division in 2015.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-30 00:55:19|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- More than 27,700 Ethiopian migrants have been repatriated home since April this year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

Between April 1 and August 27, Ethiopia received over 27,700 returnees. The returnees include 6,944 from Djibouti, 6,696 from Somalia, and 5,329 from Sudan, the UN migration agency said in its latest COVID-19 response update for Ethiopia on Saturday.

The IOM also noted that it has registered some 912 new migrant returnees in the last week in Ethiopia.

As the designated lead agency for supporting the Ethiopian government in the management of migrant returnees, the IOM stressed that it has continued to support the government in coordinating support for quarantine facilities in Addis Ababa and the regions, with 35 in total.

The UN migration agency also revealed that it has provided COVID-19 screening for 2,732 individuals in quarantine facilities and government health posts.

In coordination with Ethiopia's Disaster Prevention and Food Security Program Coordination Office, the IOM has also provided orientation on COVID-19 preventative measures and provided personal protective equipment to volunteers working in arrival areas for migrant returnees.

Amid the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the East African country and the eventual preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus, the UN migration agency provides direct assistance to returnee migrants in quarantine facilities, including registration, food, water and onward transportation assistance, it was noted.

It also distributes non-food items in quarantine facilities in the capital, Addis Ababa and across various regional states, including soaps, dignity kits, medications, kitchen sets, clothes, bed sheets and mattresses.

As of Saturday morning, Ethiopia's confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 48,140 as the death toll rose to 758, according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health.

According to the ministry, the number of recoveries is also increasing as some 17,415 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 had so far recovered. Enditem
Bengaluru, Aug 29 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Higher Education C.N. Ashwath Narayan met Governor Vajubhai Vala to apprise him of the steps taken to implement the new National Education Policy (NEP).

"Karnataka wants to be the first state to implement the NEP," said Narayan to Vala when they met on Friday evening.

The Deputy Chief Minister told the Governor about the task force constituted to deliberate on how to implement the NEP.

Narayan explained the administrative and legal amendments which the state is intending to make to facilitate NEP implementation.

"The implementation would start as soon as the task force submits the final draft, which is expected to happen very soon," he added.

Vala expressed happiness over the steps taken to implement the new education policy and also offered his suggestions to the Deputy Chief Minister.

The southern state is taking a number of steps to implement the NEP as soon as possible.

The government is waiting for the final recommendations of the high-level task force constituted immediately after receiving the draft of the NEP.

Earlier, Narayan had said the state will establish 16 universities and 34 autonomous educational institutions in the next three years, aimed at attaining the goals set by the NEP by 2030.

The Karnataka government has set a deadline of 10 years to achieve the goals mentioned in the NEP, calling it 'Target-2030'.
Foreign Minister Of Saudi Arabia, Iran's Chief Rival, Visits Iraq To Expand Ties

Radio Farda August 28, 2020

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan visited Iraq on Thursday, August 27, for the first time since he was appointed the kingdom's foreign minister last year.

Referring to the visit on his Facebook page, Faisal bin Farhan also mentioned his meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who recently visited the United States.

Saudi Arabia wants to enhance relations with Iraq and prevent the Islamic Republic of Iran's influence in the Arab country. Baghdad also seeks more economic ties with Riyadh, especially in the energy sector.

Iraq has serious electricity shortages and partly relies on Iran for natural gas to power its electricity generating plants.

The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) newspaper, The National, reported that energy contracts were expected to be signed as a result of the Saudi foreign minister's visit to Iraq.

In 2018, Riyadh offered Baghdad to supply Iraq with very cheap electricity instead of importing it from Iran.

Speaking to Bloomberg at the time, Iraqi Ministry of Electricity spokesman, Musab Serri al-Mudaris, confirmed that Riyadh had agreed to build a 3,000-megawatt solar power plant (three times the size of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant) in Saudi Arabia within a year and sell the electricity to Iraq at a steep discount.

Saudis offered Iraq $ 21 megawatt per hour, which is a quarter of the price of Iran's electricity exports to Iraq.

Faisal bin Farhan's visit to Iraq comes a week after Mustafa al-Kadhimi traveled to the United States. During the visit, U.S. companies signed an $ 8 billion energy contract with Iraq.

The United States is working to end Iraq's dependence on Iranian natural gas and electricity imports.

After meeting his Saudi guest, al-Kadhimi referred to Saudi Arabia as "a true partner of Iraq," adding, "Iraq is looking forward to building distinguished relations based on the deep legacy of the two countries' historical ties."

For his part, the kingdom's chief of diplomacy said that his country was looking forward to the upcoming visit of al-Kadhimi to Riyadh to strengthen cooperation and activate the agreements concluded between the two sides.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/foreign-minister -of-saudi-arabia-iran-s-chief-rival-visits -iraq-to-expand-ties/30806930.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.

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(Philadelphia, PA, USA) The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has announced grants totaling $10M to 23 entities to develop effective COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and therapies. The selection from the 70+ applicants was a competitive process that required matched funding in order to be considered. In addition to Governor Wolf, Secretaries Dr. Rachel Levine (Health) and Mr. Dennis Davin (Department of Community and Economic Development) collaboratively made the awards. Secretary Davin hosted a press call to announce the awards. Representing Thomas Jefferson University on the call were Drs. Heather Rose and Donna Gentile O'Donnell, two members of the proposal development team.

The award to Thomas Jefferson University, which received the required matching funds from partner Bharat Biotech (Hyderabad, India) and The Philadelphia Foundation, was granted for the development of CoraVax, a novel Jefferson-developed COVID-19 vaccine, with a strong pre-clinical data profile. The DCED grant funding will significantly accelerate CoraVax formulation optimization, a final step needed for development and implementation of the vaccine for human trials. CoraVax has already been shown to induce high levels of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2--the virus behind COVID-19--in hamster and mouse models, without triggering any serious adverse events. In viral challenge experiments, animals given CoraVax were fully protected against the viral disease, while all control animals showed infection at the expected levels.

Bharat Biotech is currently manufacturing the vaccine for a human Phase 1 safety and immunogenicity study, expected to begin within the next several months. The Bharat Biotech - Jefferson collaboration was announced on May 20.

"With this grant from the Commonwealth, we can generate data as rapidly as possible," said Dr. Rose Ritts, Jefferson's Innovation EVP. "Now, we can work toward an agreement for commercialization, licensure and distribution opportunity with an additional partner for the U.S., Europe, and other countries outside Bharat's distribution map."

Dr. Matthias Schnell, the inventor of CoraVax, directs The Jefferson Vaccine Center and chairs Jefferson's Sidney Kimmel Medical College's Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He is well-known in the field of vaccine development around the world, with 13 patents and more than 120 peer-reviewed publications, which have been cited over 9,000 times. Dr. Schnell predicated the CoraVax formulation on other vaccines he has developed in his lab over the years, which have proven effective in pre-clinical animal models for various other viral pathogens, including a coronavirus highly related to SARS-CoV-2, the virus of COVID-19. Those vaccines include ones for Rabies, Ebola, Nipah, Lassa Fever and Lyssa viruses.

Says Dr. Schnell, "CoraVax is built on a rabies platform, which is safe and effective in all groups, including pregnant women and children--an important consideration. This vaccine can be mass produced quickly and cost effectively, and it can be stored at simple refrigerator temperature, compared to other vaccines in the pipeline, which translates into cost-effective storage and distribution. CoraVax will stand the tests of science and time."

"To date, much of the public's attention has been drawn to several vaccine platforms yet to be validated for inducing effective long-term immunity--with questions relating to safety, affordability, and feasibility of distribution," noted Dr. Mark Tykocinski, Provost of Thomas Jefferson University and Dean of its Sidney Kimmel Medical College. "CoraVax is distinctive in this regard, as it is configured around a validated viral vaccine platform, which addresses those questions, and this COVID-19-directed version has so far generated a compelling pre-clinical profile."

"We are grateful for this important vote of confidence by the Commonwealth in CoraVax, in Dr. Schnell's mission critical work, and in Jefferson," echoed Dr. Stephen Klasko, President and CEO of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health. "We believe this will be a scientific game-changer, with global impact."

###
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

B.S. writes: Great Rail Journeys, which is based in York, cancelled our 10,000 railway tour of the southern US because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and has told us it will not even consider giving us our money back until after the end of March next year.

We paid by credit card, so we made a claim to Barclaycard but this was rejected as it appears the rail company, or its bank, told Barclaycard we had been given a refund credit note.

Out of steam: Couple paid 10,000 for a cancelled rail trip to the southern Unites States

If there are two industries that have suffered particular damage to their reputation during the Covid-19 outbreak, they are travel firms and insurance companies  and you have suffered at the hands of both. Great Rail Journeys wanted to give you a credit note for use next year  if travel proves possible. However, you pointed out that you and your wife are well into your 70s, so forking out for another travel insurance policy for next year would be prohibitively expensive, particularly given the cost of medical treatment in the US.

Your planned railway tour was expensive enough at 9,970, but it would certainly have been impressive, taking in stops at Nashville, Atlanta, Memphis, New Orleans and  perhaps best of all for railway fans  Chattanooga, the city made famous by the Glenn Miller Orchestra's recording of Chattanooga Choo Choo in 1941, the first song to be awarded a gold disc for over a million sales.

Sadly, your own Chattanooga choo choo never left the station. Great Rail Journeys agreed that you were entitled to your money back. It told you: 'Under the 2018 Package Travel Regulations, there is a 14-day window within which to make that refund.'

But it added: 'However, these are unprecedented times, and rather than one tour being cancelled, the restrictions put in place by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other equivalent bodies worldwide, have hit a significant part of our and other tour operators' programmes for 2020.'

So, along with other travel agents and tour operators, Great Rail Journeys wanted to kick the refund can as far down the road as possible. It was offering you a credit note with the incentive of a separate voucher for 15 per cent off the cost of a holiday. If Great Rail Journeys went bust, the credit note  but not the discount voucher  would be covered by its tour operator's bond.

Barclaycard honoured your chargeback claim and returned the 9,970 to your account, but the York company objected and reinstated the charge. Great Rail Journeys told me it had written to you with the offer of a credit note and discount voucher, and it explained: 'Having not heard to the contrary, we wrongly assumed that Mr S was happy with that.'

The company now says it accepts that you are not happy. Barclaycard had already got the message and started a second chargeback. Great Rail Journeys told me on Wednesday last week that it had dropped its objections, and your 9,970 would be refunded immediately.

It will also let you keep the 15 per cent discount voucher in case you are tempted by a future trip.

Barclaycard has confirmed that, after hearing from you, it did not agree with the rail company's position so was happy to continue with the second chargeback claim. And, very fairly, staff at the card company also issued a temporary credit to your account so you would not be charged even one day's interest on the 9,970 while the payment was in dispute.

Isn't 1,528 credit enough?

J.R. writes: An elderly couple who are friends of mine have been trying for months to get Scottish Power to sort out their bills.

They are both over 80 and totally confused and worried. They have been told their direct debit is to increase to 221 a month, yet they have not had a proper bill for several years.

From what I can make out, Scottish Power has not been charging them for electricity. In December last year they were told they were 1,528 in credit.

Problems: No utility company can claim top marks for administration, and Scottish Power is certainly no exception.

You have done a grand job, helping your friends. Judging by my mail bag, no utility company can claim top marks for administration, and Scottish Power is certainly no exception.

After I asked staff what had gone wrong with your friends' bills, they admitted the whole problem went back to 2012, when they mistakenly used the same meter reading for both day and night meters, and then carried the mistake forward to every bill that followed. Scottish Power told me: 'We corrected the meter readings in December, but did not clarify any overcharges at that point  this was an error on our part.'

The firm has issued an apology and says it collected 597 incorrectly.

This has been credited back to your friends' account, and Scottish Power has added 100 by way of saying sorry.

WE'RE WATCHING YOU Serial fraudster Sami Raja has finally swapped a life on the beach for eight years behind bars, more than a year after he jumped bail in London and fled to Dubai. Raja, 33, from Grays, Essex, was part of a gang that cheated investors out of 2.4million. Between January 2012 and August 2013, their companies Harman Royce Ltd and Kendrick Zale Ltd sold almost worthless carbon credits for up to 6.50 apiece, with claims they could double in value. In fact, there was no market that would allow investors to turn their carbon credits back into cash at any price. Raja was convicted in January 2019 of six counts of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering, but absconded to Dubai and was not in court to hear his sentence. Since then, he has posted photos on social media of his luxurious lifestyle, including trips to the Maldives. Officers from the City of London Police secured a European Arrest Warrant and Raja was detained when he travelled to Athens last month. He was brought back to the UK on Wednesday and appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, where he was ordered to begin his sentence. Hayley Wade, who led the investigation for the police, described Raja as 'a callous and greedy individual'. She added: 'Raja cruelly targeted elderly individuals with the intention of defrauding them of their life savings.' Raja has been on The Mail on Sunday's radar for years. He was a salesman with corrupt stockbrokers White Square Investments, and was also behind investment firm Elite Gems Ltd, which I exposed as a scam in 2015. And he was a director of ripoff company Gallisard Ltd, which marketed rare earth metals with false promises of 60 per cent profits.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Archbishop of Lindisfarne, Apostolic Nuncio Michael Francis Crotty blessing the new community Hall in Ballyhea last Sunday watched by Fr. Tom McDermott and Rt Rev. James Monsigneur OBrien, P.P. Ballyhea

The new community hall at Ballyhea, Charleville was officially blessed and opened by the Most Rev. Michael Francis Crotty, Titular Archbishop of Lindisfarne, Apostolic Nuncio on last Sunday morning.

The official opening was followed by Mass in the hall which was concelebrated by Archbishop Crotty and Very Rev. Fr. Tom McDermott, Administrator, Cobh, assisted by Right Rev. James Monsigneur O'Brien, P.P. Ballyhea, Right Rev. Denis Monsignor Reidy (ret'd) Carrigtwohill and Archdeacon Gerard Casey (ret'd).

Paul Cronin, the Principal of Ballyhea National School, in whose grounds the new hall has been built, addressed the mask wearing congregation in the hall, who were appropriately seated, observing the government guidelines for the Covid-19 virus.

In his address Mr. Cronin said: "On behalf of Ballyhea National School, I would like to extend a warm welcome to those present here today on which is a historic occasion for both the school and the parish. Also, I want to mention people not present here due to current Covid-19 restrictions and we look forward to the time when we can have an open day for the local community to give us an opportunity to thank them for their enthusiasm and positivity which was much appreciated by the school and parish committee during the construction period.

"Since plans were made for the hall the response from the local community has been phenomenal. I also wish to acknowledge the people of the parish and beyond for their generosity in fundraising and local business for their sponsorship.

"The school had a pressing need for an indoor multipurpose facility, a place to play on wet days and to provide space and a safe environment to cover all aspects of the curriculum, be it Music, Drama or P.E. It is essential that Ballyhea N.S provides a modern and comfortable learning environment for the pupils and this wonderful resource will further enhance the learning experiences and enjoyment of our children.

"The hall will also be of benefit to the general community and will be made available to parish groups for recreational, cultural and sporting activities.

"The new hall represents a pooling of resources to cater for a wide range of community needs.

"Many thanks to those who have contributed in bringing this project to fruition. I would like to sincerely thank the present and past Board of Managements of the school for their commitment and support.

"A special mention for our Parents Association for their herculean efforts in making a profit of over 70,000 when they organised a hugely successful Ballyhea Goes Dancing event.

"I also wish to thank our Finance committee, Hall committee and our local community council. To our builders John& Ray Ronan, their excellent workmanship and professionalism is much appreciated. Thank you also to our engineer Donal O'Donovan for his valuable input and expertise.

"I am proud to have worked alongside all of the above committees in conjunction with the combined efforts of this proud community and delighted that their vision, hard work and commitment can be seen here today.

"Thank you for being part of this wonderful experience. We hope it's a day that will live long in the memory," said Mr. Cronin.
The United Nations' Human Rights body and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) have called for safe disembarkation of more than 400 refugees, who are currently on board of three vessels in the Central Mediterranean.

The UN agencies issued a joint statement on August 29, calling for urgent transfer of these refugees to dry land. The agencies also said that lack of agreement on a regional disembarkation mechanism cannot be an excuse to deny vulnerable people a port of safety and the assistance they need.

Read: Greek Coast Guard Rescue Migrants In Aegean Sea Operation

'Delays could jeopardise safety'

Over 400 migrants are currently stuck on three different vessels, Louise Michel, Sea-Watch 4, and Maersk Etienne. Louise Michel, which is funded by British street artist Banksy, is alone holding over 200 people, more than its safe carrying capacity.

The UN agency for migrants said, "Any delays could jeopardise the safety of all people on board, including its crew members." Some 200 people are on board another NGO-funded vessel Sea-Watch 4, which the agencies said should be provided with a safe port.

More than 400 refugees and migrants on #MVLouiseMichel #SeaWatch4 and #MaerskEtienne must be allowed to disembark.



A mechanism based on cooperation between states would avoid these situations always and unnecessarily becoming human and political crises. https://t.co/DrCoqpTKDR  Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) August 29, 2020

Banksy, who is known for being anonymous, posted a video of his rescue vessel on Instagram, criticising EU authorities for turning a blind eye on the crisis. The video of people being rescued with the help of the former French Navy boat also has a message at the end that reads, "All Black Lives Matter".

Read: Hundreds Of Migrants Remain Stranded In Bosnia

Meanwhile, some 27 people who had departed from Libya have been aboard a commercial vessel Maersk Etienne since being rescued on August 5. Describing the situation as "unacceptable", the UN agencies stressed that a commercial tanker "cannot be considered a suitable place to keep people in need of humanitarian assistance or those who may need international protection", adding that "appropriate COVID-19 prevention measures can be implemented once they reach dry land."

The UN agencies also expressed concern about what they described as the continued absence of dedicated EU-led search and rescue capacity in the Central Mediterranean.

Read: Greek Coast Guard Rescues 96 From Yacht Carrying Migrants

"With relatively fewer NGO vessels compared to previous years, the gap is being increasingly filled by commercial vessels. It is vital that they are permitted to disembark rescued passengers promptly, as, without such timely processes, shipmasters of commercial vessels may be deterred from attending to distress calls for fear of being stranded at sea for weeks on end," the agencies said.

Read: German NGO Ship 'Sea-Watch 4' Rescues Migrants In Southern Mediterranean Sea


CARLISLE - About 30 protesters brought the flavor of Fridays Get Your Knee Off Our Necks March on Washington D.C. to downtown Carlisle Friday, marching from the Square to Union Cemetery, the last resting place for many of Carlisles African-American residents, and airing grievances with the local department and community attitudes all along the way.

The marchers themselves moved peacefully through the streets, met with a constant stream of supportive honks from motorists passing by. But as if to underline their cause, a white man driving a dark pick-up truck cruised by the line of march several times, and one point even started driving through the group, organizer Victoria Opilo-Hamil said, causing several of the demonstrators to scatter to avoid being hit.

A report was filed with police but the truck was not located by responding officers. Officers shadowed the group in unmarked vehicles for the rest of the night for their security.

The marchers, most of whom were white, were undeterred.

I feel like I could just sit at home and do nothing, said Scot Whiskeyman, 33, and a Carlisle resident who said this was his fourth protest here in the wake of the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. But the people that were doing this for cant. I mean, they cant take off their skin.

Gathering at the end of a day in which thousands of protesters from across the country gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to call for criminal justice reform and racial equality while honoring the 57th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream address from the same location, demonstraters here were clear Friday that the work continues in south central Pennsylvania, too.

In one case, survivors of recent homicide victim Paul Laney complained about what they said has been a lack of information from police about the still-open case. Laney, a Carlisle native who was residing in Harrisburg, was shot to death on July 2, in what appears to have been the end of a running feud that Laney himself was airing out on Facebook Live earlier that evening.

Alicia Murray, speaking outside Carlisle Police Department headquarters - where the group had paused to kneel for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the time that videos show Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis officer charged with Floyds death, knelt with his knee on Floyds neck - blasted the department for failing to take pro-active steps to stop the July 2 shooting in the face of what Murray alleged were advance warnings about the potential for violence that night. She also criticized the pace of the investigation into Laneys killing.

No charges have been filed in Laneys death to date. Carlisle Police Sgt. David Miller said Friday night the investigation is still very active, with police continuing to evaluate all available forensic evidence. Miller invited anyone who has information that may be relevant to the case to help out by contacting the department.

As the marchers pressed on, other members voiced broader concerns about criminal justice in Carlisle.

Members of the group Carlisle for Justice Transparency recited statistics from the departments 2019 arrest records showing that Black men and women represented 36 percent of the departments 862 arrests last year, even though Blacks account for less than 8 percent of Carlisles population.

Opilo-Hamil, the organizer, said its critical that white citizens be active in the fight for equal justice, arguing their voices are an amplifier that is needed to focus the attention of state and local officials, none of whom attended Fridays event.

Change for the better, speaker Don Martinez said, is the ultimate goal.

Were not just trying to make noise. Were trying to bring awareness until there is a resolution, Martinez said, urging marchers to follow up on Fridays protest by attending borough meetings and staying involved. Just like any relationship in life, youve got to communicate... If you want any relationship to work, whether it personal, whether its business, you have to communicate to find a resolution.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 18:11:15|Editor: huaxia

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WINDHOEK, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Old age homes in Namibia's capital Windhoek are implementing a range of stringent measures to protect their residents from contracting coronavirus following a surge in cases.

The homes have since closed their doors to visitors while movement out of the homes has been restricted except for emergencies.

"I have lived a full life and I am not scared of death. What is meaningful to me at this moment is to see my children and grandchildren frequently. That is all that matters," Bekkie Bolster, a resident said.

The 86-year-old who lives at Susanne Grau Heim, one of Windhoek's oldest retirement homes is finding it very difficult to adjust to the new normal especially the lack of visits from her loved ones.

Last week, the Health Ministry instructed old age homes to close doors to visitors as well as limit the movement of residents, a situation that has left most residents in despair as they long for their loved ones.

According to Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula, most of the coronavirus fatalities recorded in Namibia are people of the older generation thus residents of elderly homes should not be allowed to go out till the situation normalizes.

"It is recommended that at this juncture, all people working at old age homes should be accommodated at the facilities wherever possible so that they do not mingle with others. This is to avoid putting the elderly at more risk as they are highly vulnerable," Shangula said.

The country has so far recorded 65 COVID-19 related deaths out of 6, 906 positive cases.

According to the home's secretary Marcele Kroll, the home that houses about a 100 residents has since closed its doors while the staff members are subjected to screenings every morning when they report for work.

"From this week none of our senior residents are allowed to leave the premises unless they have to do so for medical reasons," Kroll said.

She said they have made arrangements with supermarkets to have groceries delivered at the home.

Kroll added that the residents are well catered for but the only problem is that they miss their families and this is taking a toll on their overall mental health.

The government owned Katutura old age home has also implemented the same measures with residents not receiving visitors but can still receive parcels from loved ones which are left at the gate.

According to Alex Kano, the senior caretaker, they encourage their residents to practice social distancing, wear masks and wash their hands regularly.

Since the outbreak, the home invited experts to educate the residents about the disease and the precautions to take to protect themselves.

"We had a team of epidemiologist from the University of Namibia to teach our residents about what COVID-19 is and how they can protect themselves. In terms of being informed, everyone is informed. We have a clinician who comes to check blood pressure and all the vitals," Kano said.

He added that the residents are also struggling to cope with the new situation and they have social workers who come to speak to them to calm them down.

"You can imagine, it is not a normal life. People are not happy about the arrangement. As human beings we are naturally not meant to be isolated," Kano said.

The hope is for the situation to normalize soon, Kano said. Enditem
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is seeking new powers to veto or scrap agreements that state governments reach with foreign powers, in a move aimed at weakening China's ability to gain influence in the nation through its Belt and Road Initiative.

The legislation will be introduced next week by Morrison's conservative government, which is in the midst of a deepening diplomatic spat with China. It will cover a broad range of sectors, including infrastructure, trade cooperation, tourism, cultural collaboration, science, health and education, including university research partnerships.

It comes after the Victoria state government signed an agreement last year to join President Xi Jinping's signature infrastructure-building BRI. The federal government may seek to use the new law, which is expected to pass this year, to override the plan, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said Thursday.

"There's been discussions between the prime minister and Victoria" regarding the law's impact on the BRI deal, McCormack said. "We want to make sure that if there are arrangements being put in place that they are done in the national interest."

While China remains Australia's largest trading partner, relations have markedly deteriorated since the government in Canberra banned Huawei Technologies from participating in its 5G network and passed a law to stem foreign interference.

In April, ties nosedived after Morrison's government called for an independent probe into the origins of the coronavirus. On Tuesday, a top Chinese diplomat told reporters in Canberra that China felt unfairly "singled out" by Australia's push for the inquiry. In the briefing, deputy head of mission to Australia, Wang Xining, provided no clear answers to questions on whether Beijing's subsequent trade sanctions on beef and barley exports were reprisals.

China's cooperation with Victoria on BRI has brought benefits to both sides, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular briefing in Beijing on Thursday. "Australia should have an objective view of such cooperation and BRI, and not set up impediments for China-Australia cooperation."

The new law would ensure that all levels of government would act consistently to safeguard Australia's national interest, Morrison said in a statement.

He declined to say whether he would seek to overturn Victoria's agreement, but told reporters "it's never been our government's policy, under myself or the previous prime minister, that we signed up to or endorsed the BRI."

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Thursday that his attention was focused not on the new law but on combating his state's recent coronavirus outbreak, which has sent his largest city Melbourne back into lockdown.

"If the prime minister has got time to do these things, then that's fine for him -- I don't, I'm exclusively focused on fighting this virus," Andrews said, adding he expected Morrison to soon announce a list of other markets in which Victoria could export its products.

The law will give the foreign minister the power to stop new and previously signed agreements between overseas governments and Australia's eight states and territories, and bodies such as local authorities and universities.

There is mounting concern in intelligence circles about China's influence in universities, and a program under which academics sign over intellectual property rights to their work in return for research grants, the Australian newspaper reported this week.

Beyond the BRI deal signed by Victoria, which aims to increase Chinese participation in new infrastructure projects, the law may allow the federal government to review and overturn memorandums of understanding between Beijing and the governments of Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania in sectors ranging from investment, science cooperation and access to the Antarctic.

The states and territories have at least 130 agreements across 30 nations that could be affected by the new law, Morrison said.

Under the law, Morrison won't be able to scrap deals between state governments and commercial companies or state-owned enterprises. That means the lease of a strategic port in Darwin, used by the U.S. military, to a Chinese company by the Northern Territory government in 2015 could not be overturned.

The law will establish a public register to provide transparency to the foreign minister's decisions and states and territories will be given six months to deliver a stock-take of their existing agreements. The main opposition Labor party has indicated it will support the law, meaning it should pass parliament.

It's the latest move by the government to safeguard national interests. Morrison also plans to toughen foreign investment screening, regardless of the size of the deal, for sectors such as telecommunications, energy, technology and defense-manufacturing.
Northern Minnesota was a Democratic stronghold roughly since time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary. The late DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar represented Minnesotas Eighth Congressional District encompassing the area for 18 terms, from 1975 to 2011. He went down in the anti-Obama wave in the 2010 midterm elections. In 2012, however, Obama carried the district 51-46. In something of a seismic shift in 2016, candidate Trump carried the district by a 54-38 margin. The Duluth Tribune took a look at the omens in its post-election analysis. In 2018, Republican Pete Stauber picked up the Eighth District seat.

Vice President Pence made a campaign stop at Clure Public Marine Terminal yesterday in Duluth. Republican senatorial candidate Jason Lewis was on hand. As John has noted, Jason is working outstate Minnesota hard. Duluth itself, in St. Louis County, remains a Democratic bastion, but Pences stop sought to play to Trumps strength elsewhere in the district.

In Bob Dylan country on the Iron Range, the times they are a-changin. Pence made news  news featured in the Alpha News story on Pences visit, although buried in the Star Tribune story. After an appeal to Democrats for their support, Pence revealed that six Democratic mayors from northern Minnesota have endorsed Trump for reelection: Ely Mayor Chuck Novak, Two Harbors Mayor Chris Swanson, Virginia Mayor Larry Cuffe, Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich, Chisholm Mayor John Champa, and Eveleth Mayor Robert Vlaisavljevich. For good measure, Pence also thanked former Duluth Mayor Gary Doty and his family for supporting Trump. The mayors letter of endorsement is posted here.

Democrats will carry Minneapolis and St. Paul massively. The state will be won or lost in the suburbs, where Trump has turned off women voters. In the 2016 presidential election, 43.7 percent of votes in Minnesota were cast in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area excluding Minneapolis and St. Paul. Greta Kauls analysis for MinnPost does an excellent job of clarifying the lay of the land. As Minnesota becomes a somewhat improbable battleground state this year, Kauls analysis makes a good guide to the action.
Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman dies at 43

Chadwick Boseman, the actor and star of the blockbuster film Black Panther has died of stage IV colon cancer at the age of 43.

Boseman appeared in Spike Lees Da 5 Bloods, Get on Up, 42 and Draft Day.

Bosemans twitter account reported the news.

ADVERTISEMENT

Here is the statement released on Bosemans twitter page:

It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman.



Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV. 



A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilsons Ma Raineys Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. 



It was the honor of his career to bring King TChalla to life in Black Panther. 



He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side. 



The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time. 


It sounded like a freight train about 8:15 p.m. Thursday along the western side of Williams Township, as a storm roared through before disappearing as quickly as it arrived.

Mature evergreens were snapped like twigs. A few trees smashed into homes. Utility poles were thrown about, pulling power from residents on Texas, Stouts Valley, Buttermilk and other roads not far from Lower Saucon Township.

Nearly 190 Met-Ed customers and 26 from PPL Electric Utilities remained without power on Friday afternoon, but 146 of the Met-Ed customers were from a previous incident involving a truck and wires, a spokesman said. Crews were doing everything they can to restore customers, a PPL spokeswoman said, adding she didnt immediately have a restoration time. Neither did Met-Ed.

Trees and power poles were torn apart the evening of Aug. 27, 2020, by a weather event in Williams Township.Photo courtesy | Brian Monahan

Some roads remained impassable Friday and at least four were closed, a township official said.

It looks like a bomb went off, attorney Brian Monahan said about his neighborhood.

But it wasnt a tornado, the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, determined after looking through photos of the scene. The early determination is straight-line winds, a meteorologist there said. Northampton County Emergency Management Services went to the scene to get photos for the weather service, who couldnt immediately get anyone there, county EMS Director Todd Weaver said.

Trees and power poles were torn apart the evening of Aug. 27, 2020, by a weather event in Williams Township.Photo courtesy | Brian Monahan

EPAWA Weather Consulting meteorologist Bobby Martrich did a radar analysis of the storm for a customer and said it indicates the damage was caused by a microburst. That describes a sudden and powerful downdraft of wind over a relatively small area -- such as 3 miles -- that in this case was accelerated by a downpour, as a storm that recorded a 56 mph gust at Lehigh Valley International Airport rushed across the region.

Straight-line winds, likely 60 to 70 miles an hour, tore down over a hillier portion of the township -- and the elevation likely made the result worse, Martrich said. Thunderstorms usually exist several thousand feet up, and the winds are diminished by friction as they work down to the surface, he said. So any rise in elevation results in the chance of contacting a higher velocity of wind, he said.

Once all the rain poured from the storm, it quickly dissipated, Martrich said.

The storm was actually formed when thunderstorms along the New York State border collapsed and the remaining energy rushed out in all directions on an outflow boundary like a pebble hitting a pond, he said. As the pace slows and the energy decreases, storms can pop up along the boundary and quickly smack a region before running out of juice, he said. And thats what happened Thursday, he said.

Township Manager Mikal Sabatine toured the damaged area around Stouts Valley, Gaffney Hill, Texas and Buttermilk roads. Tree companies were out trying to clear the streets, he said. Power company trucks in some cases had to wait until a space was created to get through, he said.

Trees and power poles were torn apart the evening of Aug. 27, 2020, by a weather event in Williams Township.Photo courtesy | Brian Monahan

A few homes had tarps over top and a few others had trees actually on them, he said in describing what he saw. Some trailers were moved by the wind.

No municipal property was damaged, he added.

Neighbors told him they heard what sounded like an approaching train and then a loud crash. It appeared to move along a path. And then it was gone.

The best comparison of damage Sabatine could arrive at would be to Superstorm Sandy in 2012, although the debris area, which also included parts of Durham Road, was far smaller.

No one was hurt and that had Monahan rejoicing despite the property damage.

Trees and power poles were torn apart the evening of Aug. 27, 2020, by a weather event in Williams Township.Photo courtesy | Brian Monahan

A PPL crew cut some logs so he could drive away from his home, he said.

It feels like I won the lottery, he said, adding that his home and vehicle were spared but a backyard shed was torn to pieces. Somebody was looking out for me -- and my neighbors.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.
Trumps rise has led to unity in the ranks opposing his foreign policy .





by Marshall Auerback and James Carden





The emergence in recent weeks of a coalition of neocon Republicans and former national security officials who have thrown their support behind the candidacy of Joe Biden is an ominous development to those who believe U.S. foreign policy should be guided by the principles of realism and military restraint, rather than perpetual wars of choice.









In early June, a group of former officials from the George W. Bush administration launched a PAC in support of Joe Bidens candidacy. The group, 43 Alumni for Biden, boasts nearly 300 former Bush officials and is seeking to mobilize disaffected Republicans nationwide.





The mobilization appears to be having an impact: More recently, more than 100 former staff of [recently deceased Senator John] McCains congressional offices and campaigns also endorsed Biden for president, according to NBC News, as well as dozens of former staffers from Senator Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign.





That GOP support comes in addition to the more than 70 former U.S. national security officials, who teamed up and issued a statement urging Bidens election in November. Citing what they believe is the grave damage Trump has done to U.S. national security, the group does include some mainstream Republicans like Richard Armitage and Chuck Hagel, but also features notable neocon hardliners like Eliot Cohen, John Negroponte and David Kramer, who, perhaps not incidentally, played a leading role in disseminating the utterly discredited Steele dossier prior to Trumps inauguration.





These are not merely grifters or desperate bids for attention by unscrupulous and avaricious Beltway swamp creatures. Though there are those too: the so-called Lincoln Project, helmed by neocon operative Rick Wilson, which is an outside group of Republicans (including former RNC Chair Michael Steele) devoted to defeating Trump in November.





As the historian David Sessions recently tweeted, Basically nobody in liberal circles is taking seriously the consequences of the fact that the exiled cadre of the Republican Party are building a massive power base in the Democratic Party.





The merger between Democrats and neocons is not merely confined to the world of electoral politics; it is already affecting policy as well. Over the summer, in response to the New York Times dubious Russia bounty story, Democratic Congressman Jason Crow teamed up with Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney (daughter of the former vice president) to prohibit the president from withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. Republicans and Democrats in the Senate and the House Armed Services Committee also collaborated to pass an amendment that imposed restrictions on Trumps plan to withdraw troops from Germany, showing, if nothing else, that the bipartisan commitment to the new cold war is alive and well.





It is noteworthy that while there has been considerable pushback to economic neoliberalism within the Democratic Party in recent years, thanks, mainly, to the candidacy of Bernie Sanders, the advocacy of reformers like Elizabeth Warren and the increasing popularity of economists like Stephanie Kelton, the same cannot be said for foreign policy. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has evinced an openness to being pushed left on social and economic policies, but on external affairs he still largely operates within the standard Washington foreign policy playbook.





If anything, on foreign policy Democrats have moved rightward in recent years, having fallen not only under the spell of Russiagate but also increasingly under the influence of neocons and other former Bush officials who have pushed that discredited narrative for their own ends. The Democrats have also displayed a rather supine obeisance in regard to the countrys intelligence community, in spite of a multiplicity of well-documented lies or half-truths that would at the very least justify some skepticism about their claims or motivations.





Nobody should be surprised.





The neocons had been signaling their intention to flee the GOP as early as 2016 when it was widely reported that Robert Kagan had decided to endorse Hillary Clinton and speak at a Washington, D.C., fundraiser alongside other national security fixtures worried about the alleged isolationist drift within the Republican Party. Indeed, the Democrats welcomed the likes of Kagan and fellow neocon extremist Max Boot with open arms, setting the stage for where we are today: A Democratic nominee running to the right of the Republican nominee on foreign policy.





Missing: Whither the Progressives?





Over the past few election cycles, progressive Democrats have increasingly challenged the partys prevailing neoliberal bias on domestic economic policy. Equally striking, however, is that they have been delinquent in failing to provide an alternative to the hegemonic influence of militarists and interventionists growing within their party regarding foreign policy.





As it stands today, the so-called progressive foreign policy alternative is really no alternative at all. To the contrary, it evokes Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusas seminal work, The Leopard, whose main character, Tancredi, sagely observes to his uncle, If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change. So it is with much of what passes for a genuine foreign policy alternative: the rhetoric slightly changes, the personnel certainly change, but in substance, the policy status quo largely remains.





Consider a recent interview with the socialist Jacobin magazine, featuring Matt Duss, a foreign policy adviser to Senator Bernie Sanders. Duss, who seeks to articulate the foundations of a new progressive foreign policy, told the Quincy Institutes Daniel Bessner that:





We have neither the right nor the ability to transform other countries, but we should do what we can to protect and expand the political space in these countries for local people to do that work. We can also provide funding or resources for American civil society actors to work in solidarity with their international counterparts. [emphasis ours]





That sounds anodyne enough, but in reality, it is nothing but a form of liberal imperialism. Historically, seemingly benign initiatives conducted under the aegis of local people backed by so-called democracy-building programs have often planted the seeds for more malign military intervention later. Who makes the decision as to which local people to support? How does one (purportedly) protect and expand that political space? We have seen how well that worked out in Afghanistan, Iraq, or, indeed, in the mounting human tragedy that is Syria today.





Comments like that of Matt Duss amount to this: We dont have the right to transform other countries but were going to try anyway. Forswearing preemptive military action (wars of choice) isnt enough. Change will only come about when U.S. foreign policy adheres to the principles of the UN Charter, and above all, the ancient Westphalian principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. American policymakers need to learn that less is more.





That used to be a guiding principle of Democrats, for example, Franklin Delano Roosevelts good neighbor policy that repudiated intervention in the domestic affairs of Latin America. Of course, as subsequent events such as World War II illustrated, there may be a point at which external assistance/intervention in other parts of the world might become necessary; but the United States should not perpetually arrogate to itself the role of sole judge and jury in determining when that line should be crossed, no matter how benign its intentions might appear.





The broader point is that explicating a foreign policy somewhat less hawkish and merely paying lip service to international law that transcend the norms established by the Bush-Cheney neocons isnt enough. That is the foreign policy equivalent of the GOP lite economic agenda embraced by New Democrats such as Bill Clinton, Robert Rubin, Barack Obama, and Timothy Geithner, whereby the Democrats internalize the GOPs market fundamentalist paradigm, but simply promise to implement it more fairly, rather than do away with it altogether.





That appears unlikely to change under a future Biden administration: As American Conservative editor Kelley Beaucar Vlahos has noted, Democratic interventionists and Blob careerists now [sit] at the right hand of [Biden] like [Antony] Blinken, Nicholas Burns, Susan Rice, Samantha Power and Michele Flournoy, who has been touted as a possible Secretary of Defense. They would sooner drag the country back into Syria, as well as position aggressively against China if the military pushed hard enough and there was a humanitarian reason to justify it. Nowhere in Bidens foreign policy ambit do we find mainstream figures warning about the dangers of a new cold war with Russia or China, nor to the broader problems posed by Americas overall propensity toward militarism. In fact, Biden does just the opposite.





The Shape of Things to Come?





With the notable (and noble) exceptions of a few anti-war Democrats like Barbara Lee, Tulsi Gabbard, Ro Khanna and Jeff Merkley, the opposition party has spent much of the Trump era turning themselves into the party of war. Meanwhile, one could envision a future where the GOP, under the influence of national conservatives such as Josh Hawley, Rand Paul, or even Trump advisers such as Colonel (Ret.) Douglas Macgregor (recently nominated to be U.S. ambassador to Germany), becomes the party of realism and restraint abroad.





To the limited extent that President Trump has been guided by any kind of restraint (which has been capricious at best), it has paid dividends for the United States. In the Middle East, for example, given that the United States is now largely energy-self-sufficient, it no longer needs to play policeman in that part of the world. That fact, writes David Goldman, has induced the Gulf states to act responsibly as a matter of self-preservation. As long as the Gulf States remained de facto US protectorates, they could claim that the Arab Street stood in the way of relations with Israel. Now that they have to take responsibility for their own defense, they look to Israel for help. As Goldman concludes, this consideration played a key role in the United Arab Emirates recent agreement to normalize relations with the State of Israel, almost certainly the first of several Arab states [likely] to make such agreements.





Likewise, there is little to be gained via aggressive American intrusion into the affairs of countries that have historically been in the domain of Russia. That mistake was made in Ukraine in 2014, when prominent members of U.S. officialdomfrom the State Department, Congress, and the Obama administrationpublicly and privately urged the removal of Viktor Yanukovych, even though he was the constitutionally elected president. As Professor Stephen Cohen has persuasively documented, that ill-advised intervention contributed to Crimeas annexation by Russia and to the still ongoing U.S.-Russian proxy war in eastern Ukraine. It is also worth noting that Ukraines largely IMF-funded economy continues to fail.





In Belarus, the same predictable pattern has reasserted itself. Even though much of the evidence points to the falsification of the countrys August 9 election result, there is little to be gained by replicating the Ukraine formula: advocating mass uprising is unlikely to engender a stable, democratic post-Lukashenko government. What is required is U.S. policy cooperation with Russia, which becomes problematic when leading Democrats, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, mindlessly persist in perpetuating Russophobia: All roads lead to Putin. Working with Putin, rather than instinctively attacking him for sustaining an authoritarian regime, is more likely to ensure a relatively stable transition to a new government, especially if it continues to avoid the economic shock therapy treatment that destabilized so many post-Soviet regimes. To his credit, Belarussian President Lukashenko has at least avoided inflicting that particular form of misery on his people.





In external affairs, Donald Trumps erratic conduct makes profound change in U.S. foreign policy unlikely in the near term. The attempted normalization of the neocon Bush/Cheney administration is a sign that for many, the old normal (which was largely a failed normal) will be enough. Unfortunately, this reassessment obscures the fact that Trumps shattering of many existing shibboleths in foreign policy helped get him elected in the first place. These policies should be separated from the man himself, and force a long-overdue discussion of the countrys increasingly costly international engagements.





The more modest aspirations that used to characterize U.S. foreign policy realism appear to have gone AWOL. There may indeed be times when international engagement and a corresponding reliance on international institutions, such as the United Nations, is wise. However, it is worth recalling that a vibrant nation-state with robust democratic checks and balances provides the best defense against unnecessary foreign policy expansionism. Constitutional brakes have been increasingly undermined (through the acquiescence of both parties), and an imperial presidency has taken hold. It is the very hollowing out of many of those traditional checks and balances that has sustained and expanded Americas increasingly militaristic foreign policy, in spite of ample evidence that domestic opposition to such policies is growing. In their eagerness to defeat Trump, the Democrats seem to have overlooked that fact, as they enthusiastically embrace their newfound neocon allies (whose past policy failures should preclude their return to government, let alone allow for any kind of influence).





Being one of the victors of World War II does not give the United States carte blanche to be the worlds global cop in perpetuity. The American foreign policy establishment needs to respect the boundaries set by national sovereignty, both at home and abroad. Endless interventionist efforts aimed at reshaping other nations as America sees fit give us a world of chaos and blowback, not peace and stability.





This article was produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute.





Marshall Auerback is a researcher at the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, a fellow of Economists for Peace and Security, and a regular contributor to Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute.





James Carden is a contributing writer on foreign affairs at the Nation. He served as a policy adviser on Russia in the U.S. State Department under President Obama. His work has also appeared on the American Conservative.
More than 1000 volunteers of RSS are reaching out to young minds through study centres-- Balgokulamset up in more than 31 districts of Madhya Pradesh, as per RSS functionaries.

RSS Madhya Bharat arm is helping students in their studies,--affected by Covid 19--while also introducing them to Sanghs ideology, thoughts on patriotism and also moral and cultural values by introducing at least 600 study centres in villages of Madhya Pradesh in August, as per functionaries of the organisation.

The schools are closed and students are being educated through online classes due to Covid 19. There are many students in MP who are lagging behind in online classes as they dont have smart mobile phones. To help such students up to class 8, more than 1000 volunteers have started teaching at Balgokulam centres for three hours daily with the help of books and community radio, in which special educational programmes are being run to teach students, said Satish Pimplikar, a leader of the RSS and in-charge of the programme.

In this initiative, women volunteers of Rashtra Sevika Samiti are also participating in good numbers. The volunteers pay extra attention to weak students and if required, they teach them for extra hours, he added.

While covering the syllabus, we are also instilling a feeling of patriotism in the students by telling them stories of our freedom fighters and also trying to educate them on our countrys rich culture, said a volunteer from Guna, who didnt wish to be named.

The classes are being conducted to ensure that students maintain social distancing to avoid contracting the disease.

Also Read: Former RSS ideologue Govindacharya wants parliamentary probe in workings of social media platforms

The class starts with Saraswati vandana (worship of Goddess Saraswati) and ends with Vande Matram. In the class, students maintain social distancing. The students come with their books, which have been distributed by school teachers during a door to door campaign. We explain one topic each of two subjects daily to students and also give them homework to see if they understood the topic, said the volunteer quoted above.

Most of the centres have been started in backward areas. In all, 1000 centres will be started in the next two weeks in the most backward areas of the state, said another leader, who didnt wish to be named.

Also Read: BJP used social media to spread religious hatred: Shiv Sena

Pimplekar said The decision was taken after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat guided us to help students in their studies amid the Covid-19 situation, during a meeting held in Bhopal in July last week.

However, opposition Congress alleged that the real motive of RSS is not to teach students but to spread their saffron ideology.

Congress spokesperson JP Dhanopia said, This is more an expansion plan of the RSS to spread their saffron ideology in MP. They chose school students because they could be brainwashed easily.

BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal, however, praised the initiative.

This is a very good initiative to help the students. The volunteers of RSS are doing welfare work across the nation. Congress leaders have made it their habit to get involved in criticism as they are pessimistic people.
Private equity barons at KKR are sniffing around BT.

The US giant is said to be monitoring developments at the troubled telecoms company, which has seen its share price almost half this year, and is now valued at just 10.4billion.

The slump in shares at BT has put it on the radar of a number of suitors looking to snap up bargains in the Covid-19 pandemic.

BT chairman Jan du Plessis and chief executive Philip Jansen (pictured) had already hired advisers at Goldman Sachs to draw up a defence strategy, but this has not dampened interest

Interest from KKR, one of Americas oldest private equity firms known for its shrewdness and ruthless cost-cutting abilities, will cause alarm in the BT boardroom, the City and Westminster.

While BT shares are languishing around decade lows, the company is the middle of a major upgrade of Britains broadband network, a critical part of national infrastructure.

BT chairman Jan du Plessis and chief executive Philip Jansen had already hired advisers at Goldman Sachs to draw up a defence strategy. But this has not dampened interest from potential bidders, with KKR among those looking at the firm, according to the Financial Times.

Despite its poor financial performance, analysts believe BT could be valuable in the right hands.

Openreach, the division of BT which owns and manages its broadband network, is thought to be worth around 20billion alone  double the value of its parent on the stock market.

This raises the prospect that any buyer, including KKR, could break up BT and sell its parts.

There would be obstacles for any potential buyer of BT  not least the companys huge pension scheme deficit, as owners could face demands to plug the estimated 9billion gap.

Other potential buyers are thought to include BT shareholder Deutsche Telekom, while Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund has been building a stake in BT this year.
During a state of emergency this spring, the government urged companies to allow employees to work from home, but an analog, paper-based office culture hampered many people. Recent surveys show that only about one out of five employees have continued working from home.

Kathy Matsui, chief Japan equity strategist at Goldman Sachs in Tokyo, said she hoped the next prime minister would propose a rigorous digital strategy for the government and urge companies to adopt more advanced technology.

Demographics are challenged, so how are you going to boost productivity without investing in a very clear IT transformation strategy? Ms. Matsui said. We absolutely need a productivity revolution in the not-so-distant future, so turning this pinch into a change for digital transformation is crucially important.

Technology that enables more people to work from home could also help women, said Barbara G. Holthus, deputy director of the German Institute for Japanese Studies in Tokyo. She said she wished that a new leader would remind companies and employees that teleworking could help not only to contain the coronavirus but also to empower working mothers in particular.

To have people all of a sudden be able to work from home, when its always been said that its not possible  I thought, OK, now, were finally going to have a trend which allows women to work from home and throw in a load of laundry while working in front of their computer, Ms. Holthus said. If I were prime minister, I would have said, We have to stay with this.
Total of 32 people detained at protests in Belarus on Friday - Interior Ministry

A total of 32 people were detained at protest rallies in Belarus on Friday and 42 "hotspots of political activity of citizens" were detected in the country, the Interior Ministry said.

"Political and social events took place in the country yesterday, August 28. A total of 42 hotspots of political activity of citizens were detected," the ministry said.

A total of 32 people detained in country until their cases of administrative offenses are heard by courts, it said.
 Close Trump 'profoundly' accepts GOP nomination for president of the United States

President Donald Trump is visiting Louisiana and Texas to inspect damage from Hurricane Laura.

Travelling on Air Force One, the president took to Twitter to rage about the numerous books published by former officials and his niece, Mary Trump, that cast him in an unflattering light.

He also railed against claims the Democratic National Convention got higher TV ratings then the Republican equivalent.

Mr Trump's outbursts came amid the continuing coronavirus crisis in the US, which has now seen more than six million confirmed cases - far more than any other country worldwide.

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Last years two-year-old Quebec-Bred champion Babidibou was able to outkick race favourite Frido PV to the wire in capturing Fridays $10,000 division of the Breeders Trophy Series at the Hippodrome 3R.

It took a lifetime-best record for Babidibou and driver Stephane Gendron to beat Frido PV in the second race, second leg of the series for three-year-old colt trotters.

Frido PV (Richard Simard) cut all the fractions and they were fast in the one-mile event. Leaving from post three, Frido PV took the field to the opening quarter-mile in :27.3, the half in :56.3 and the three-quarters in 1:26.2 before Gendron pulled from third-place to go after the race leader.

Those two ended up locking horns as the field came down the stretch with Babidibou eking out a neck triumph at the wire in 1:57.2, with the pocket-sitting Laval Titan (Pascal Berube) third.

The win was the third in six starts this year for reigning champion Babidibou, a gelded son of Royalty For Life. He is trained by Maxime Velaye for co-owners Isidoro Russo of Montreal and Guy Corbeil of Mirabel, Que. He paid $6.90 to win.

The $10,000 filly division featured nine starters in the fourth race with the red-hot stable of Denitza Petrova taking top honours.

As expected, Anotherdeal and driver Sylvain Lacaille were the first ones on the lead from post seven with Kinnder High Class and driver Pierre-Luc Roy making the most of the rail to sit the pocket trip early in second-place.

Roy wasted no time in moving Kinnder High Class to the lead after an opening half-mile in 1:00.4. For the rest of the race, no one could pass Kinnder High Class as Lindas Pride (Richard Simard) tried coming first-over, but by the three-quarters in 1:30.4, they ended up dropping into the two-hole spot.

On the final turn, Roy let Kinnder High Class have her head and she trotted away from the field, winning with ease by nearly three lengths in 2:00.3. Lindas Pride was second with the race favourite, HP Starlette (Stephane Brosseau), third.

Also sired by Royalty For Life, Kinnder High Class earned her fourth win in six starts this year. She was bred and is owned and trained by Dentiza Petrova of Melbourne, Que. The winner paid $5.40.

Unbeaten Enavant ($2.50), the winningest horse at H3R this season, notched his seventh straight win at H3R on Friday taking the seventh race pace in 1:54.4 with Stephane Gendron driving for trainer Maxime Velaye and owners Determination and Guy Corbeil.

Track Notes: Stephane Gendron had the hot hands Friday scoring a driving triple. Both Maxime Velaye and Francis Richard had training double. Live harness racing resumes at H3R on Sunday with first race post time at 1 p.m. The second round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacers will be contested with four divisions, two for colts and two for fillies. For a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Hippodrome 3R

(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)
A series of attacks on horse and ponies across France have left police baffled and struck fear into the countrys equestrian community.

Agriculture minister Julien Denormandie said there had been up to 30 attacks, from the mountainous Jura region in the east to the Atlantic coast, in what are thought to have been ritual mutilations.

Many have taken place this summer although one attack was registered in February, according to the news magazine Le Point. Most often, an ear  usually the right one  has been cut off, recalling matadors taking trophies in a bullring.

We are excluding nothing, Mr Denormandie told France-Info on Friday, before heading to a riding club in the Saone-et-Loire region, in east central France, where a horse was attacked a day earlier.

Ears are cut off, eyes removed, an animal is emptied of its blood, he said, spelling out the injuries suffered by the animals.

All means are in motion to end this terror, the minister tweeted.

After the first solid sighting of an attacker, officers in Auxerre, in Burgundy, released a composite sketch this week based on a description by a man who confronted two attackers at his animal refuge in a village in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region.

Nicolas Demajean, who runs the Ranch of Hope refuge, told regional TV station France 3: I used to have confidence putting my horses out to pasture. Today, I have fear in my gut.

Alerted by his squealing pigs, Mr Damajean faced down two attackers last Monday.

He himself was injured in the arm in a struggle with one intruder who wielded a pruning knife, as the other slashed the sides of two ponies, who are now recovering, but traumatised, he said.

The men fled in a vehicle.

The following day, an attacker or attackers attacked a young pony in the Saone-et-Loire. In another case, some of a horses organs were removed.

A donkey who had reportedly participated in the Christmas market in Paris was killed in a gruesome attack in June.

Theories abound as to whether the acts are the morbid rite of an unknown cult, a chilling challenge relayed by social media, or copycat acts.

Speculation is widespread as to how such barbaric acts, some surgical in nature, could be perpetrated without solid knowledge of equine anatomy or on a horse in a pasture which was presumably able to flee.

Veterinarian Aude Giraudet, chief of the equine division at the prestigious National Veterinary School of Alfort, outside Paris, said: A fearful horse in a pasture wont get caught.

The horse who feels confident with people  hell come, find it normal that you put a harness on it or a rope around its neck.

Im not sure you need great knowledge of horses.

She said an ear can be slashed off while the horse is standing, but the animal would need to be prostrate for grislier mutilations.

The veterinarian stressed that she did not want to describe how to put a horse on the ground so as not to give the least sort of tools to make it easier for those out to kill them.

If I were in Normandy, I think I would be very, very worried about this epidemic, she said, adding that security measures should be taken  at the very least, installing cameras.

Two mutilations have been reported in Normandy, Frances horse country.

Pauline Sarrazin, the owner of one victim, Lady, mounted a private Facebook group, Justice for our Horses, after the savage June 6 killing of her horse near Dieppe, on the Atlantic coast.

Aimed at sharing stories and advice, the group now has nearly 17,000 members.

Frances horse world is increasingly gripped by fear.

On Friday, the president of the French Federation of Equitation offered to help police investigating the scattered cases. Serge Lecomte said earlier that the federation would be a civil party in each case.

Were all afraid, said Veronique Dupin, an official of a riding club in the Yvelines region west of Paris, asking that the exact location of the stable not be identified.

Her club installed cameras last year because of intruders, and someone sleeps there each night.

Despite that, were not at ease, she said, stressing how vulnerable horses can be.

They may be big, but theyre lambs.

With reporting by the Associated Press
The endangering of workers safety and lives by corporations in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic was further exposed on Thursday as it was revealed that there are at least 40 active outbreaks in food processing plants in England alone.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) disclosed that this was the situation as of Tuesday this week, with outbreaks in plants manufacturing both meat and non-meat products. The FSA is the government department responsible for protecting public health in relation to food in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The information is not available in the news section of the FSAs website but is buried among the minutes and reports of its August 26 board meeting. Nor is it available on the FSAs social media accounts. The figures were first made public Wednesday in an article on the foodmanufacture.co.uk website.

Foodmanufacture reported, The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has revealed that it is monitoring 40 outbreaks of coronavirus at food plants in England.

Speaking at the FSA board meeting on 26 August, its chief operating officer Dr Colin Sullivan said that this was a small number of sites considering the size of the sector.

For example in England yesterday we were looking at approximately 40 food processing plans in both meat and non-meat with active outbreaks, he said.

He did admit that there was some evidence that food processing plants were more likely to be impacted by outbreaks. But said he said he had no figures to hand.

Given the resurgence of the virus in recent weeks, as Boris Johnsons Conservative government continues its reopening of the economy, the real figure of plants impacted is likely to be much higher.

On Thursday, the Daily Mail reported that Sullivan, admitted the figure is not comprehensive, and may be higher, but said: The number that I mentioned, was one we are content to make public. It is a small number of a big total.

It reported more comments from Sullivan aimed at playing down any threat. To put the figures in context, across England, Wales and Northern Ireland there are more than 20,000 food processing plants. Only a very small number have been impacted.

We are always going to have a number of these as long as Covid is present, given the many factors that are present in food processing plants; the conditions, the aerosol issues, the way people work close by each other, the fact that staff in plants sometimes live together, sometimes travel together. All those issues need to be managed.

The Mail piece included a further statement, this time from FSAs chief executive, Emily Miles. The pro-Tory newspaper said she stressed there is no need for alarm, saying: The risk of transmission of Covid-19 through the consumption or handling of food, or food packaging, remains very low.

Workers should reject with contempt the portrayal of outbreaks of a deadly disease in at least 40 food processing workplaces as no big deal, and the implication that workers cannot remain safe from infection in food processing plants because of the horrendous conditions that exist in them as standard.

The argument that the problem is minor because there are outbreaks at 40 plants out of a total of 20,000 is spurious. In the UK, there are 7,000 supermarkets that deal with tonnes of fresh and processed food on a daily basis and not a single one has been forced to close. This is because they are required to prove to the public each day that they are safe and so have to have social distancing measures in place, hand sanitiser available and staff and customers legally required to wear masks.

No such safety demands are placed on food processing plants, which are essentially being allowed to self-regulate.

Everything is being done to downplay the enormous spread of COVID-19 since the government moved to end the lockdown on July 4.

As a result of the lockdown, by mid-July, cases had fallen to an average of 540 a day, but this has since more than doubled to an average of 1,138 new cases daily. Over six weeks until this month, there were fewer than 1,000 new cases each day. Yet just in August alone, over 1,000 new cases have been reported on 15 days. On Thursday 1,522 new infections were recordedthe highest level for 11 weeksalong with 12 deaths. Yesterday, 1,276 cases were announced and nine deaths.

As a result of the entirely predictable resurgence of cases, the government was forced to put a vast section of the north of England under local lockdowns. Cases are rising so quickly in the UKs second largest city, Birmingham, that it is now classed as requiring enhanced support, in order to avoid the same measures.

At the same time, in order to ensure the flow of profits to the corporations, the government and its agencies, including the FSA, are doing everything they can to restrict information about the spread of the virus. Nothing will be revealed about which food plants are affected or how many workers are infected, despite the major danger to public safety posed.

In response to questions from the Nottinghamshire Live media group, who asked the government if two local factories, Bakkavor Desserts in Newark and Riverside Bakery, were part of the 40following recent outbreaks at these factoriesthe government went into radio silence.

We will not be providing a running commentary on, or sharing details of, individual businesses affected. It is likely such a list would be incomplete and to publish names could impact on commercial activity, said a government spokesperson.

A Greencore delivery truck (credit: Richard Says A1(M) TRUCKS, FlickR)

The most graphic illustration of how the major food processing corporations are given free rein to do as they please can be seen in the events at the Greencore sandwich plant in Northampton. Last Friday, the plant, with over 2,000 workers, was forced to close after a COVID outbreak infected nearly 300 employees. The surge in cases in Northampton centred on the Moulton district where the plant is located. The firm reported that it would close for 14 days for a deep clean.

Despite Greencores claim to have closed the factory, it was revealed just four days later that dispatch and maintenance workers were still working at the site. George Attwall, a regional officer for the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, which represents workers at the factory, commented People have been saying what about us? We are still working? They have previously been travelling in with production workers in the same cars, they have been sharing smoking areas, canteens. Some families even work togetherhusband in dispatch, wife in production.

Greencore kept its facilities open with government permission. Lucy Wightman, Director of Public Health Northamptonshire, said the Department for Health and Social Care were in agreement that some parts of the operation could continue as long as long as staff had not returned a positive test for the virus. This is being allowed under conditions in which cases have continued to mount. Yesterday, it was revealed that a second round of testing took the total number of workers infected in Greencores outbreak to 324.

In a statement issued Tuesday, a Greencore spokesperson confirmed its operations were back up and running. A small number of colleagues who have completed their self-isolation periods are now beginning to return to the site, and production is therefore gradually restarting on a limited basis. They added, This process is of course being carried out in close consultation with the Department of Health & Social Care, Public Health England and other government bodies.

Plants are being kept open until dozens of workers start to be struck down with COVID infections. This week, one of the largest chicken processing factories in the country, Banham Poultry in Norfolk, was forced to close after 75 workers tested positive for coronavirus. As a result, 350 families are now in self-isolation. Last Friday, a worker at the plant fell ill and by Monday this week seven out of 15 workers tested were also infected.

In their lust for profits, the food conglomerates can only proceed to recklessly endanger workers lives in their plants and in the wider communities around them due to the perfidious role of the trade unions. As is the case with the bakers union and every other, these organisations will not lift a finger to mobilise their members to strike and shut down plants that are operating unsafe environments. Even more criminally, despite the unions having tens of thousands of health and safety representatives in workplaces nationally, they are colluding with the companies, local authoritiesmainly Labour Party-runand government agencies in concealing the scale of outbreaks and workers infected.

These developments underscore the urgency of the Socialist Equality Partys call for the formation of rank-and-file safety committees to be established in all workplaces, independent of the trade unions. These committees will represent and fight for the safety of workers, in opposition to the demands of management and the profit principle. They will draw up detailed regulations and standards that must be monitored and enforced. Where conditions are violated, there must be a stoppage of work.
A federal grand jury investigation into the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is now digging for information on the re-elections of tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell, according to records obtained by MassLive.

Roughly three months after a grand jury requested that the tribe hand over information related to its finances, MassLive has learned that federal officials are requesting that the tribe turn over documents and records related to the 2013 and 2017 elections for tribal council chairperson, according to a copy of an Aug. 10 subpoena obtained by MassLive.

The letter attached to the subpoena is dated Aug. 10 and is signed by U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers.

According to the subpoena, federal investigators are seeking voter records, election results and campaign-related materials in the tribes possession, including mailers, brochures, photographs, videos, policies on campaign contributions or expenditures and complaints received by the tribe related to the election, any candidate or any candidates campaign.

Officials are also requesting tribal information identifying the number of enrolled tribal members between 2011 and 2020, as well as copies of all contracts entered into with the former architect of the tribes proposed casino project in Taunton  Robinson Green Beretta Corp. Officials are also requesting all meeting minutes of the committees that selected Robinson Green Beretta Corp. to work on the project, called the First Light Resort and Casino.

During an emergency meeting on Friday, sources tell MassLive that the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council motioned to remove Cromwell from power. That vote was unsuccessful, however, with three council members voting in favor and five against.

Grand jury proceedings are largely secret. Roughly two dozen citizens serve on a grand jury, receiving documents and hearing testimony  usually presented only by government attorneys  to determine whether there is probable cause to indict someone on criminal charges.

In June, federal prosecutors requested all records and documents related to the tribes finances. A little more than a year ago, a federal grand jury issued subpoenas for the tribes sitting treasurer, Gordon Harris, and his predecessor, Robert Hendricks.

It is unclear whether the subpoenas issued in 2019 are related to the requests for information issued in June and in August.

Cromwell, who has led the tribe since 2009, has more recently come under fire for his handling of the tribes finances. Sources tell MassLive that the 2,600-member Mashpee tribe has accumulated a debt burden that has spiraled to more than $500 million  money that is owed chiefly to its financier, Genting Malaysia.

That scrutiny reached a boiling point last year when a group of tribe members attempted to oust Cromwell, his vice chairman and treasurer, through a recall process written into the tribes constitution. Tribe members cited, among other things, the out-of-control debt and the secrecy surrounding tribal finances. Ultimately, the effort was stymied after the tribes Election Committee abruptly canceled the planned recall election in September.

The grand jury subpoena comes several months after the U.S. Department of the Interior told the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe that its reservation will be disestablished and the land taken out of trust in what felt like a death blow to a tribe locked in a prolonged legal battle over 321 acres of land in Taunton and its proposal to build a casino there.

A federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in a separate lawsuit in early June that the Interiors decision to take the land out of the trust was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and contrary to law, and remanded the matter back to the federal agency.

Cromwells predecessor, Glenn Marshall, spent several years in federal prison in connection with a wide-reaching corruption probe. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in federal prison in 2009 for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the tribe to pay his own bills, making illegal campaign contributions, filing false tax returns and fraudulently receiving Social Security benefits while holding a full-time job.

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The Kaduna State Government has banned tricycle operators from plying major roads within the metropolis, in line with the ongoing transport sector reform.

Hajiya Aisha Saidu-Bala, Director-General, Kaduna State Transport Regulatory Authority (KADSTRA), announced the ban in a statement in Kaduna.

She said all tricycles, Keke, are banned from the Kawo-Ali Akilu- Ahmadu Bello-Command Junction routes with effect from Aug. 31.

She said the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Agency (KASTLEA) would ensure strict compliance to the new Keke regulations.

Sadu-Bala said the State Government has developed new regulations for commercial transport operators in the state.

She said that a Route and Tricycle Licensing System was being introduced to allow buses and tricycles to operate in designated areas of the metropolis.

This is amied at regulating and improving transport operations for increased safety, decongestion of traffic and bringing order in transport operations for passengers and operators alike, she said.

The director-general said that KADSTRA began registration of Keke operations in July and would end in September.

She advised all commercial transport operators to ensure they are duly registered to operate.

However, a crossection of commercial tricycle operators noted with concern the ban.

Some of the operators told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the regulation would further truncate their sources of livelihood,

Mallam Danjuma Isa, a commercial Keke operator, said although, he resides at Unguwar Dosa, he operates mainly on the Barnawa-Kasuwa axis and Ahmadu Bello way.

But with this development, operators will be restricted to their neighborhood meaning, those who reside at Kaduna North can only operate there and same with those who leave at the Southern part of the city.

Also, Simon Dauda, a commercial Keke operator, said the development would grossly affect his income, adding, as a father of four, this is my only source of income that caters for my family.

Dauda said the development would also compound traffic flow as parts of the metropolis would be overcrowded with vehicular movement since Keke operators can no longer ply the major roads.

He said the Government should reconsider its decision bearing in mind the imminent implications.

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With only two months until ballots are tallied, the intelligence community informed lawmakers that it would cease in-person election security briefings, citing concern over "unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information."

"For clarity and to protect sensitive intelligence from unauthorized disclosures, we will primarily do that through written finished intelligence products," an Office of the Director of National Intelligence official told ABC News.

Newly minted Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe informed a bipartisan group of congressional leadership and intelligence committee chairmen on Saturday that "this approach helps ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that the information ODNI provides the Congress  is not misunderstood nor politicized."

"In the last few months alone, the [intelligence community]  have provided Congress with more than a dozen briefings," Ratcliffe continued. "While many of these engagements and products have been successful and productive, others have been less so."

PHOTO: John Ratcliff testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee nomination hearing for director of national intelligence on Capitol Hill in Washington, May. 5, 2020. (Gabriella Demczuk/AP, File)

The development was met with swift and stern backlash from congressional Democrats.

"This is a shocking abdication of its lawful responsibility to keep the Congress currently informed, and a betrayal of the public's right to know how foreign powers are trying to subvert our democracy," wrote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., in a statement reacting to Ratcliffe's letter.

In their statement, Schiff and Pelosi said the Office of the Director of National Intelligence had previously planned to brief the House and Senate intelligence Committees and full House in mid-September, before abruptly canceling those plans.

President Donald Trump echoed that the briefings were being altered due to leaks.

"Director Ratcliffe brought information into the committee, and the information leaked," Trump told reporters Saturday following a tour of damage from Hurricane Laura in Texas. "Whether it was 'Shifty Schiff' or somebody else, they leaked the information before it gets in. And what's even worse, they leaked the wrong information. And he got tired of it. So, he wants to do it in a different forum."

Story continues

MORE: House committee begins work to hold Pompeo in contempt, accusing him of amplifying 'Putin's debunked conspiracy theories'

Earlier this month, a senior ODNI official confirmed that malign foreign actors, including Russia, China and Iran "continue to use covert and overt influence measures in their attempts to sway U.S. voters' preferences and perspectives, shift U.S. policies, increase discord in the United States, and undermine the American people's confidence in our democratic process."

According to CNN, which was first to report the news, "other agencies supporting election security, including the Department of Justice, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security, intend to continue briefing Congress."

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., acting chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, supported Ratcliffe's move and called divulging information "not only an abuse" but a "serious federal crime with potentially severe consequences on our national security."

"This situation we now face is due, in no small part, to the willingness of some to commit federal crimes for the purpose of advancing their electoral aims," Rubio continued. "Yet, this grotesque criminal misconduct does not release the intelligence community from fulfilling its legal requirements to respond to Congressional oversight committees and to keep members of Congress fully informed of relevant information on a timely basis."

Rubio said briefings would continue on all oversight topics, including on election security, just not apparently in person.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump listens during a briefing about Hurricane Laura with first responders at the emergency operations center Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Orange, Texas. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Even so, John Cohen, a former undersecretary for intelligence at the Department of Homeland Security and an ABC News contributor, said that "by refusing to brief Congress on a significant threat facing this country, administration officials are placing this country at grave risk."

"The House and Senate intelligence committees have a long history of receiving and protecting our nation's most sensitive secrets," Cohen continued. "We've heard repeatedly over the past several years of the serious threat facing our nation from hostile foreign actors seeking to influence the outcome of the 2020 election."

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., slammed the decision in a statement.

"DNI Ratcliffe has made clear he's in the job only to protect Trump from democracy, not democracy from Trump," he said. "Our intelligence officials have said there's an active, ongoing assault on our democratic process from Russia. President Trump is simply using John Ratcliffe to hide the ugly truth from the American people -- that the President is again receiving the help of the Kremlin."

MORE: The Note: Polarization is the point as Trump moves on from convention

In concluding their statement, Pelosi and Schiff said they "expect the Administration and Intelligence Community to keep us fully and accurately informed, and resume the briefings."

"If they are unwilling to," the lawmakers warned, "we will consider the full range of tools available to the House to compel compliance."

Former Vice President Joe Biden's campaign reacted to the ODNI's decision to cease in-person briefings on election security in a statement on Saturday, with campaign spokesman Andrew Bates calling the announcement "deeply alarming," given Trump's "unprecedented welcoming of these assaults on our democracy for his own gain," by countries like Russia, China and Ukraine.

The Biden campaign also called on the decision to be reversed "immediately."

ABC News' Elizabeth Thomas, Ben Siegel, Trish Turner and John Verhovek contributed to this report.

Citing concern over leaks, intel community will cease in-person election security briefings to Congress originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Shivaji Nagar police on Friday arrested a 34-year-old man for sexually assaulting his 21-year-old sister-in-law.

The survivor told police in her statement that last year in June she and her brother-in-law, a resident of Govandi, were alone at home when he took advantage of the situation and sexually assaulted her.

Later, the accused molested her and threaten to throw her out of the house, if she revealed the episode to anyone.

However, he continued to harass her. The accused then decided to approach the police.

Following her complaint, on August 27 police registered first information report (FIR) under section 376 (punishment for rape), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code against the womans brother-in-law and arrested him.
Financial concerns and stress for some families continues growing during the ongoing pandemic.

Nonprofit and community organizations in Cy-Fair, such as Northwest Assistance Ministries and Cypress Assistance Ministries, have worked to fill in gaps for local families with food, school supplies, financial assistance and mental health services for all ages.

Food Assistance

Cy-Hope volunteers will distribute food to Cy-Fair community members at Lone Star College-CyFair on Friday, Sept. 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., or until the food  provided by the Houston Food Bank  is gone.

LSC-CyFair is located at 9191 Barker Cypress Rd. in Cypress.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/CyHopeTx.

Cypress Assistance Ministries, a nonprofit for low-income families in need of assistance is seeking donations and volunteers in order to continue providing to the local community.

In order to serve the people who find themselves in crisis we need the money to help them with their rent, mortgage or utilities, plus money to continue to pay the rent and utilities on our buildings and personnel costs, said Janet Ryan, director of development for Cypress Assistance Ministries. The community continues to be generous in their donations of food. CAMs greatest need at this time is money and volunteers.

CAM is also serving an extra ZIP code that lost their local assistance ministry, Bear Creek Ministries.

With BCM closed, people who are struggling in that area have no local ministry providing assistance, so CAM makes food available to that zip code, 77084, as well and that is the area demonstrating the most need, Ryan said.

CAM is also in need of financial donations to help clients with bills and food.

Families in the 77065, 77095, 77429, 77433 and 77084 ZIP codes can receive free food with an ID and proof of residence at the food pantry from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday. The CAM food pantry is located at 11265 Huffmeister Rd. in Cypress.

Cy-Fair Helping Hands , a nonprofit dedicated to homeless and low-income communities, is also providing food for Cy-Fair area families. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and the first Saturday of the month Cy-Fair Helping Hands provides perishable and non-perishable foods from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a drive-thru model.

For more information, including how to donate, visit www.facebook.com/CYFAIRHELPINGHANDS.

Northwest Assistance Ministries , or NAM, serves hundreds of in-need families a week through their onsite food pantry with both nonperishable and perishable foods and is using a drive-thru model.

Northwest Assistance Ministries and Spring ISD partnered with Houston Food Bank to host Neighborhood Super Site Food Giveaway events to provide for food-insecure families in the northwest Houston area.

The Houston Food Bank provided food for the distribution including meat, produce and dairy. NAM volunteers deposited food into families vehicles from drive-thru stations, following social distancing protocols.

The next mega distribution from the three entities will be at Planet Ford Stadium, 23802 Cypresswood Drive in Spring, Sept. 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until food runs out.

NAM is in need of food and financial donations. Frozen meat, fruit and vegetables, and canned and dry goods are needed for the food pantry.

Northwest Assistance Ministries has seen a consistent increase in requests for rent and food assistance, Chief Advancement Officer Brian Carr said. NAMs pantry is getting dangerously low on food. We are seeing a great need from the Greenspoint area and the zip codes nearest 77090.

NAM is located at 15555 Kuykendahl Rd. in northwest Houston. For more information, visit www.namonline.org.

Financial services

NAM also provides financial assistance for clients needing help with bills or other expenses after losing their job due to COVID-19.

Because of the way our funding is structured, our advice to our clients is to use to use the unemployment (payments) for your utilities, for your prescriptions, for some groceries and allow us to subsidize the rent because we can make that one payment to the landlord and get that caught up, Carr said.

NAM has launched an online application process for rent and mortgage assistance, where applicants can submit all appropriate documents without visiting the nonprofit.

We are very proud of this client centered innovation to our client intake process, Carr said. We will be able to handle a hundred or more completed applications every Monday without the clients leaving the safety of their homes.

For more information, visit www.namonline.org.

The Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce has a community resources page, www.cyfairchamber.com/wearecyfair, where small businesses can apply for SBA loans, catch up on the most recent mandates on COVID-19 from the state government and individual instruction for navigating loan and benefits application.

The chamber of commerce also hosts community luncheons, committee meetings and seminars over Zoom, open to the public per an RSVP. For more information, visit www.cyfairchamber.com.

Mental health assistance

Shield Bearer counseling sessions are being held through remote tele-therapy sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The nonprofit works with different financial situations to provide counseling for a variety of mental health challenges including grief, abuse, addictions and relationship issues.

According to the organizations Facebook page, Shield Bearer has experienced an increase in the demand for mental health services and is seeking financial donations to help the organization continue meeting clients needs.

For more information, visit www.shieldbearer.org.

Cy-Hope also offers counseling and speech therapy both in-person and through telehealth. In-person appointments require clients to wear a mask, practice social distancing and wait in their car until the beginning of the appointment.

To schedule an appointment, call 713-466-1360. For more information, visit www.cy-hopecounseling.org.

chevall.pryce@chron.com
CNN  Turquoise waters, beaches of golden sand, dolphins swimming lazily offshore. The Fernando de Noronha archipelago off the coast of Brazil is one of the most beautiful destinations anywhere in the world

And now it's open to travelers again -- but with an unexpected catch. You can go only if you show you have had Covid-19.

Fernando de Noronha, home to Baia do Sancho, named the world's best beach by Trip Advisor's Traveler's Choice Awards this year, will reopen next week, according to authorities in the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco.

"To land on the archipelago, the tourist will need to present the result of a positive PCR test that is at least 20 days old, or the result of the serological test showing the presence of antibodies against Covid," its administrator, Guilherme Rocha, told a news conference on Thursday.

During the news conference, Rocha didn't explicitly explain why Brazil would accept only tourists that had already had the disease.

A PCR test shows whether someone has the virus; the serological test shows whether the body has already developed antibodies for coronavirus.

Fernando de Noronha, a group of 21 volcanic islands, has been closed to tourists since mid-March because of the pandemic. On July 31, it was reopened just for people with homes there and local researchers.

The archipelago is a national park and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Brazil. Last year, it received 106,000 tourists, 90% of whom were Brazilians. The national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

This story was first published on CNN.com Paradise islands reopen only to visitors who've had COVID-19
An off-duty New Orleans Police Department officer hit and killed a bicyclist who rode in front of his car in Algiers on Thursday night.

Officer Derrick Williams took a drug and alcohol test following the fatal crash and showed no signs of impairment, a department spokesperson said in a statement Friday. Williams has been placed on desk duty until the completion of the full investigation into the accident, the NOPDs statement said.

According to police, Williams was driving an agency-issued car east on General De Gaulle Drive when a 54-year-old man riding a bicycle northbound crossed an intersection at Westbend Parkway around 9:45 p.m. The bicyclist entered Williams lane, and Williams hit him, police said.

The bicyclist was taken to a hospital where he died. Williams was not physically injured, police said.

Authorities did not immediately release the name of the bicyclist, saying an autopsy and notification of his family were pending.

Williams is assigned to NOPDs 6th District, which patrols areas such as Central City and the Irish Channel. The NOPD hired him in April 1996.

An attorney for the Black Fraternal Order of Police, of which Williams is a member, declined comment on the case Friday.

The NOPD said anyone with information can call the agency's traffic fatality investigations unit at (504) 658-6208.
DicKy Senior - BHPian



Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Thiruvanthapuram Posts: 2,447 Thanked: 5,118 Times

Re: Rumour: Toyota India to offer 16 vehicles by 2023 Quote: ChoosetoCruze Originally Posted by



https://paultan.org/2020/03/19/2020-...-in-indonesia/



Why they havent brought it to India... Toyota already has its own version of the Alto. Its called the Toyota Agya.Why they havent brought it to India... would have been our 800 if Osama Suzuki was not eager and if Daihatsu didn't double cross Maruti.

Other than the DNGA platform, with the Maruti partnership now, Daihatsu is pretty much out of India.



Quote: ChoosetoCruze Originally Posted by Why the Sienta, out of curiosity? Its more of a competitor to the Honda Freed/Honda BRV/Suzuki Ertiga. It does have sliding doors though which work brilliantly in tight spaces.



Also, if Im not wrong, the 2020 Yaris is just a rebadged Mazda 2. Which may or may not be a good thing.

Though it would be a misfit for India. Too old a platform, too expensive for the Indian market (and size) and too cramped for a 7 seater of that price.

Same with the Corolla hatch/station wagon. Would be a bad fit for Indian consumers.



The Yaris and Toyota's myriad versions.



The Mazda 2 rebadged Yaris is a North American only model.







The 2020 Yaris I meant was the JDM, Europe model. The smallest model on the TNGA platform, and hence deemed too expensive for India.



It is a Daihatsu, more like the successor of the model thatour 800 if Osama Suzuki was not eager and if Daihatsu didn't double cross Maruti.Other than the DNGA platform, with the Maruti partnership now, Daihatsu is pretty much out of India.Sienta is just a personal choice. Funky and practical.Though it would be a misfit for India. Too old a platform, too expensive for the Indian market (and size) and too cramped for a 7 seater of that price.Same with the Corolla hatch/station wagon. Would be a bad fit for Indian consumers.The Yarisand Toyota's myriad versions.The Mazda 2 rebadged Yaris is a North American only model.The 2020 Yaris I meant was the JDM, Europe model. The smallest model on the TNGA platform, and hence deemed too expensive for India. Last edited by DicKy : 25th August 2020 at 18:46 .
Bankrupt department store chain Lord + Taylor said this week that it will close all 38 of its stores  an announcement that signals the end of its standalone establishment in Stamford, after announcing earlier this month shutdowns that included its stores in Danbury, Trumbull and Farmington.

Lord + Taylors departure would vacate the approximately 157,000-square-foot building at 110 High Ridge Road in Stamford, where it is the sole occupant. About four years ago, it completed a nearly two-year renovation of the property.

A message left Friday for Thomas Madden, Stamfords economic development director, was not immediately returned.

When Lord + Taylor filed, with parent company Le Tote, for bankruptcy at the beginning of the month, it had announced that it would close 19 stores, including three of its four Connecticut establishments  at the Danbury Fair, Westfield Trumbull and Westfarms malls. At the same time, it had indicated that it would keep open its other 19 locations, including Stamford, as it pursued a going concern buyer.

But Lord + Taylor subsequently decided to hold going-out-of-business sales at all of its stores. Deep discounts and departmental promotions would be enacted throughout the sales in stores and online, according to company officials. Lord + Taylor also plans to sell in-store fixtures, furniture and equipment.

While we are still entertaining various opportunities, we believe it is prudent to simultaneously put the remainder of the stores into liquidation to maximize value of inventory for the estate while pursuing options for the company's brands, Ed Kremer, the company's chief restructuring officer said in a statement this week.

The company said it would continually update stores status and hours of operation at https://locations.lordandtaylor.com.

In its latest closing announcement, the company did not specify the number of resulting job losses.

The demise of a business founded in 1826 does not come as a surprise after reports in recent months that it had been weighing liquidation sales as soon as its stores reopened from temporary closings sparked by the coronavirus crisis.

Its travails contributed to Hudsons Bay Co.s decision last year to sell the business to Le Tote, which is a rental-clothing company.

In January 2019, it shuttered its flagship store in Manhattan, ending a 104-year run for the midtown establishment. The property was sold for $850 million to co-working firm WeWork and partner Rhone Capital.

About a year and half ago, however, Lord + Taylor officials were still sanguine about suburban locations such as Stamford.

At this point, we believe that Stamford represents, quite frankly, the bread and butter of who Lord + Taylor is, then-Lord + Taylor President Vanessa LeFebvre said in an interview last year. A freestanding store is where we can have a more intimate relationship with our customers.

But COVID-19 dashed hopes of a turnaround for Lord + Taylor and many other retail companies.

Tailored Brands, which owns Mens Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank, filed for bankruptcy on the same day as Lord + Taylor.

Last month, Brooks Brothers, the 200-year-old company that has dressed nearly every U.S. president, filed for bankruptcy.

Other recent bankruptcies include J. Crew, J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus, Stage Stores and Ascena Retail Group, which owns brands including Ann Taylor, Justice and Lane Bryant.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 18:21:50|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- South Korean politicians and media hoped for the improvement of relations with Japan, which some domestic media described as the worst-ever, after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's announcement of resignation.

Abe said Friday that he would step down from his post for the recurrence of the same intestinal disease that ended his first tenure, causing uncertainty over the Seoul-Tokyo ties that fell into the worst under Abe's premiership owing to historical issues from the 1910-1945 Japanese colonization of the Korean Peninsula.

Hope emerged here for better relations between the two neighbors, but optimism and pessimism were mixed given that nobody still knows who will be elected as the next Japanese leader.

WORST BILATERAL RELATIONS

The South Korean presidential Blue House issued a diplomatically decent statement, saying that Abe, as the longest-serving Japanese prime minister, left behind several meaningful achievements and especially played lots of roles in developing the South Korea-Japan relations.

The ruling Democratic Party was a bit more honest and direct. Choi Ji-eun, the party spokesperson for international affairs, said in a statement that the new Japanese government should create a new history via the continuous talks and communications.

The main conservative opposition United Future Party was more straightforward, saying the South Korea-Japan ties were tougher than ever during Abe's tenure.

South Koreans believe that Abe has never expressed his apology and repentance over the Imperial Japan's atrocities, including the sexual slavery of Korean women and the forced recruitment of Korean people into heavy labor before and during World War .

The Japan-funded foundation in Seoul for the South Korean victims, who were forced into sexual slavery in Japan's military brothels before and during the Pacific War, was officially dissolved in July last year as the victims denounced it for Abe's failure to sincerely apologize and take legal responsibility for the wartime atrocities.

Trade dispute between Seoul and Tokyo was launched after the South Korean top court's ruling in 2018 that ordered some of Japanese companies to pay reparation to the South Korean victims who were duped or coerced into harsh labor without pay during the colonial era.

In July last year, Japan tightened control over its export to South Korea of three materials vital to producing memory chips and display panels that are the mainstay of South Korea's export. The following month, the two sides removed each other from their respective whitelists of trusted trading partners that are given preferential export procedure.

Local liberal newspaper Hankyoreh said in a commentary that Japan turned rightist during Abe's premiership citing his efforts to amend the constitution and legalize the self-defense forces. It noted that Abe significantly worsened the South Korea-Japan relations by refusing to face up to the wartime history and disturbing the Korean Peninsula peace process.

Calling the Seoul-Tokyo relations under the Abe leadership "the worst," Yonhap News TV ascribed the frayed bilateral ties to Abe's historical view. A Kookmin University professor was quoted as saying that a fundamental change would not come into view in the bilateral relations following Abe's resignation.

HOPE FOR BETTER RELATIONS

The Blue House said the South Korean government will continue cooperation with Japan's new prime minister, who will be elected, and the new Japanese cabinet for the friendly, cooperative relations between the two countries.

The governing Democratic Party expressed hope for a forward-looking, responsible attitude of Japan's new cabinet, while the opposition United Future Party hoped for the opening of a new path to the bilateral ties based on Japan's repentance over the wartime history under the new cabinet.

Rep. Lee Kai-ho of the Democratic Party said in his social networking service (SNS) message that the Abe cabinet made South Korea's people and government more troubled than ever, hoping that a better successor to Abe take the helm.

Citing local experts, domestic media News1 reported that it needs to see what would happen in Japan as possibility for improved Seoul-Tokyo relations depends on who will be elected as the next Japanese prime minister.

A Sungkonghoe University professor was quoted as saying some of contenders for the next Japanese premier were known to have no negative bias towards South Korea in contrast to Abe, whose prejudice was greatly deep.

The professor said there was a possibility for Seoul and Tokyo to renew relations, but he noted that trade tensions between the two countries may continue as no difference between Japan's people and ruling party has been found over the issue on the South Korean victims of wartime forced labor.

Local conservative newspaper Chosun Ilbo forecast that Abe's resignation would not have a meaningful effect upon South Korea-Japan relations. A senior research fellow in Sejong Institute was quoted as saying that Japan attributed the worsened bilateral relations to South Korea, not to Abe. Enditem
The Liberal government recently announced new income support measures, including an extension of the CERB program until September and easing EI eligibility criteria through 2021.

The package, estimated to cost $37 billion, is important  providing much-needed relief to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic  but to reignite the damaged Canadian economy, it can only get us so far.

Canadas unemployment rate is still extremely high. According to Statistics Canada, it stands at 10.9 per cent, down somewhat from Mays record high of 13.7 per cent.

Despite this small decline, almost 2.2 million Canadians were unemployed in July, nearly twice as many as in February. Clearly, the country needs jobs, and for jobs, real investments are required.

This comes at a time when another front is in urgent need of action  the fight against climate change.

Since first elected, Trudeaus government has often spoken about the need to invest in Canadas transition to a zero-carbon economy, but no meaningful action has been taken.

Even the assignment of a special green recovery task force didnt result in any concrete action for emerging from the pandemic through sustainable investments.

Canadas actions are disappointing when compared to other countries. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, France and Germany, for example, have committed $36.7 and $27.1 billion (U.S.) respectively in funding for clean energy projects. Democratic candidate Joe Biden also revealed a $2-trillion (U.S.) climate plan over four years.

At the same time, Canada has committed only $2.4 billion (U.S.) for clean initiatives.

But it seems that finally, five years after Trudeau came to power, the stars are aligned for his government to make bold investments in the spirit of a Green New Deal that would tackle both crises at the same time.

Helping it first is the current composition of the government. Bill Morneau, who clashed with Trudeau over the scope and scale of proposed green initiatives, is now out of the way.

Chrystia Freeland, the newly appointed finance minister, seems on board, telling reporters just a few days ago: All Canadians understand that the restart of our economy needs to be green. It also needs to be equitable and inclusive.

And behind the scenes, it is going to be climate-champion Mark Carney, who was hired as an informal adviser to the prime minister. The former central bank governor will provide economic expertise through a climate-change prism.

The second piece of the puzzle is the fact that Canada can take advantage of historically low borrowing rates to finance its Green New Deal investments.

Sure, the deficit its running is massive, and will have to be dealt with in future years. But real investments are an absolute must to get people back to work, and we can take comfort in the fact that the country can borrow money almost for free.

For example, Canada can now issue 30-year government bonds and pay its debt-holders just over 1 per cent in annual interest.

In fact, Canada can lock in historically low borrowing rates for a period as long as 50 years. It already once before (in 2014) issued ultralong bonds (maturing in 2046), which at current prices pay only 1.03 per cent in annual interest.

With the cabinet on board and cheap financing readily available, what kind of investments should the government pursue as part of its green recovery plan?

One such project could be introducing a high-speed rail between Toronto and Montreal. A few months ago, I argued on these pages that such a service is a great idea not only environmentally but also financially.

A Toronto-Montreal connection (potentially linking Ottawa) would hit the sweet spot of city-to-city high-speed routes that can be operationally profitable.

Hence, a project like this has all the desirable features that the government is seeking. It will create thousands of jobs and support Canadian companies; it is green by definition; it is a long-term investment that has many positive externalities; and it can be financed cheaply. Whats not to like?

For additional ideas the government may consult the Task Force for a Resilient Recovery, an independent group of Canadian finance, policy and sustainability leaders who recently published a preliminary report with suggestions for $50 billion of green investments mostly in the areas of climate-resilient and energy-efficient buildings, zero-emission vehicles and renewable energy.

The upcoming speech from the throne is scheduled for September 23. Lets hope that it will include a commitment to build a Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal high-speed rail as part of a radical green plan.

Trudeaus government must deliver on its promise to transition Canada to a zero-carbon future, making sure this transition is inclusive and equitable, to use Freelands words.

Financed at 1 per cent for 50 years? Now thats also a bargain.

Amir Barnea is an associate professor of finance at HEC Montreal and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. You can follow him on twitter: @abarnea1

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Some students will take 20 years to pay off their university debts under the government's overhaul of fees, with the financial burden of humanities and communications degrees to drag on for twice as long as it does under the current system.

The new modelling by the independent Parliamentary Library, commissioned by the Greens, has found that women will feel a disproportionate impact, taking longer to pay off the larger HELP debts than their male counterparts in a range of disciplines.

University students face many more years of debt under the government's funding shake-up. Credit:Eddie Jim

According to the projections, men who study a degree made up entirely of social science subjects will take 12.3 years to pay off their HELP debt, up from 6.2 years  a 98 per cent increase. Women studying social sciences will take 14.2 years to repay their debt, up from 7.1 years  a 100 per cent increase.

Men who study a communications degree will take 19.7 years to pay off their debts, a 98 per cent increase from the current 9.8. Women who undertake a communications degree will take 16.7 years to pay off the debt, up 100 per cent from the current 8.5.
TDT | Manama

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa yesterday performed Friday prayer at the Al-Sakhir Palace mosque along with Royal Family members signalling further easing and gradual reopening of mosques. This blessed day has brought joy and happiness to the hearts of citizens and residents by returning to prayer in the mosques of Bahrain, coinciding also with the end of the commemoration ceremony of the Ashoora, HM the King said, wishing the success of the annual ritual.

May Allah the Almighty protect our country, Muslim countries, and the whole world from the evil of epidemics, diseases and illnesses, for He is the All-Hearer and one who answers supplication, said HM the King. HM, the King and the other worshippers listened to the Friday sermon during which the Khateeb praised Allah the Almighty for blessing the Kingdom of Bahrain and its loyal and devout people with security, safety, stability and prosperity, led by HM the King.

HM, the King expressed praise to Allah Almighty for the blessing of health and wellness and the success in performing prayers in mosques. King Hamad also thanked authorities for their full compliance and adherence to preventive measures set by the National Taskforce for Combating COVID-19.
A report highlighting the harmful environmental impact of coconut oil production by a researcher with links to the palm oil industry has sparked a heated debate over coveted green credentials in the multibillion dollar industries.

The palm oil industry has received international negative attention, including consumer boycotts, in recent years for clearing biodiversity-rich tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia in its production process.

Coconut oil, conversely, has been increasing in popularity as a healthy superfood with fewer cultivation concerns.

But a study published in respected scientific journal Current Biology in July appeared to upend that dichotomy, highlighting the impact on native animal species because of coconut oil production deforestation.

The paper said that coconut cultivation threatens 18.6 species per million tonnes of oil produced, nearly five times more than its palm cousin.

The coconut industry, however, was more interested in the lead author of the report, Erik Meijaard, who has carried out work for the global palm oil sustainability body and an Indonesian palm company. Meijaard continues to head the oil palm task force of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In the coconut community, [Meijaards] article was initially not taken seriously, Indonesian Coconut Processing Industry Association (HIPKI) secretary-general Donatus Gede Sabon told Reuters. However, they clearly intend to sneak in a negative campaign against coconuts.

Indonesia is heavily invested in both industries - it is the worlds biggest grower of palm oil, followed by Malaysia, and is also the worlds second biggest coconut producer, after the Philippines.

Both products are found in everything from cookies to soap, but palm is more widely used as it is cheaper and more versatile. Global sales for palm oil were about $43 billion last year, with coconut oil sales lagging at around $2.72 billion, according to Reuters estimates.

Production of both crops is destructive when it originates from the wrong areas, such as forests, peatland and high conservation value areas, said Chandra Panjiwibowo, Rainforest Alliance Indonesia Country Director. For now, there is much more palm than coconut cultivated globally, and its production is growing much faster, so palm undoubtedly has more impact.

Estimates by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and industry analysts put global palm oil production at around 75 million tonnes over 20 million hectares, while coconut oil production stands at about 2.91 million tonnes over 12.01 million hectares.

Taken over the whole area and volume of oil production, oil palm is more than three times as threatening as coconut, the International Coconut Community (ICC), which represents producing countries, said.

ORANGUTANS AND FLYING FOXES

While the impact of the palm oil industry on deforestation and the viability of species like the orangutan has been heavily documented, Meijaard argued there was not enough research into other edible oils such as coconut, olive and soy.

His research linked the extinction of the Solomon Islands Ontong Java flying fox, last seen in 1945, directly with coconut cultivation and listed other threatened species such as the Balabac mouse-deer that is endemic to three Philippine islands.

As long as we dont understand what more of the other crops means, we should be very careful in saying no to palm, especially because it is the high-yielding crop, Meijaard told Reuters in a telephone interview from Greece in mid-August.

He denied any bias and said he did not receive funding for the research from the palm oil industry.

In Malaysia, which relies on palm oil for billions of dollars in foreign exchange earnings and hundreds of thousands of jobs, the palm oil council said it worked with coconut oil producers in the region through the ASEAN Vegetable Oils Club (AVOC) and had no reason to discredit them.

The question is, why has the campaign to discredit coconuts come back recently, asked HIPKIs Donatun.

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

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By Lisa Lambert

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Senator Rand Paul on Friday called on the FBI to investigate a crowd of protesters that swarmed him as he departed the White House after listening to U.S. President Donald Trump accept his party's nomination for re-election.

Paul told Fox News Channel he believes the group chanting his name and pushing against his impromptu police escort was paid to incite a riot. He did not say who he believes financially backed them or offer any evidence for his contention.

"I believe there are going to be people who were involved with the attack on us that actually were paid to come here and are not from Washington, D.C., and are sort of paid to be anarchists," Paul said. "The FBI needs to investigate but the only way you can do it is you have to arrest people."

Trump on Friday called the protesters "thugs."

Addressing supporters in Manchester, New Hampshire, Trump said people attending his speech at the White House on Thursday night "walked out to a bunch of thugs ... That wasn't friendly protesters. They were thugs."

"Hed either be in very bad shape, or dead, and that would include his wife, if those policemen didn't happen to be there," Trump said of Paul, while also accusing the Democratic mayor of Washington, Muriel Bowser, of giving police "bad instructions."

Paul, his wife and two guests scrapped plans to walk to their hotel near the White House after Trump's speech to the Republican convention when they saw large crowds demonstrating.

Instead, they rode a bus with others to the Trump International Hotel and then attempted to take an Uber back. When protesters blocked the car, they walked. Demonstrators recognized Paul and immediately drew close. His group then found police for protection.

Video posted online shows a crowd surrounding Paul and his wife and the police. One man yells repeatedly, "say her name," a reference to Breonna Taylor, a Black woman killed by police in March in Kentucky, the state that Paul represents.

Story continues

One officer appears to use his bicycle to push a protester and stumbles into Paul after the protester shoves him. At no point does it show Paul being physically attacked.

Paul said protesters also threatened "to f you up" and "to kill you."

Convention attendees could hear hundreds of anti-Trump protesters gathered just beyond the White House gates shouting and blowing horns as Trump spoke. As some attendees left, they were confronted by masked demonstrators, social media postings show.

Republican Representative Brian Mast shared a video of protesters stopping him outside the White House, where one repeatedly shouts, "What do you think about police killing Black people in this country?" and drowns out his answers.

Fellow Representative Jim Jordan told Fox the demonstrations were so thick when he left the White House that he decided to get a ride with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who had Capitol Police protection.

Lafayette Square, across from the White House, was the site of protests earlier this summer, following the police killings of Taylor and African-American George Floyd. Washington's local government later changed the name of the street leading to it to Black Lives Matter Plaza.

(Reporting by Lisa Lambert, additional reporting by Jeff Mason in Manchester, New Hampshire, and Ann Maria Shibu in Bengaluru; Editing by Michael Perry, Rosalba O'Brien and Sonya Hepinstall)
The donor was young and from Western Australia. For now, that's all Yvonne Wilson knows.

She'll write the family a letter when she can find the right words. It's hard just so soon, amid the heavy drug regime and deep emotional conflict of being an organ recipient  a gift of hope from the despair of others.

Leigh and Yvonne Wilson at their Indented Head home. Yvonne's kidney transplant amid the coronavirus pandemic was a "miracle". Credit:Medibank

Other words are easier. "Miracle" is how the 67-year-old describes getting the interstate kidney to Melbourne late last month, even as Victoria's second wave COVID-19 cases were surging and hopes for easing border restrictions were already weeks gone.

"Wonderful people" is for the army of physicians, nurses, pilots, drivers and administration staff who juggle the risks of patients contracting COVID-19 while ensuring life-saving organs are identified, tested for safety and moved quickly across state lines so as not to be wasted.
Talks to resolve a political crisis in Mali remain at a standstill after military commanders toppled president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in an August 18 coup. West African leaders want power ceded to a civilian government within a year but the ruling junta proposes waiting until 2023. FRANCE 24 met with de facto opposition leader and Imam Mahmoud Dicko, who led the movement to oust Keita.

Many Malians see Mahmoud Dicko, a conservative imam and an important player in mass opposition protests earlier this year, as a possible future leader. But Dicko himself insists he is not a president-in-waiting.

"I know what I do best: lead people in prayer. That is my vocation and, insh'allah, I will remain an imam. I have no ambition to be president of Mali," he told FRANCE 24 reporters who went to meet him.

Dicko said there was no reason not to trust Mali's soldiers but that trust doesn't mean giving them carte blanche to do whatever they wish.

FRANCE 24's Nadia Massih filed this report. Click on the video player above to watch the report in full.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana were married in 1981 and welcomed their first child Prince William a year later. But their marriage began to crumble publicly and privately and the Prince and Princess of Wales separated in 1992.

Princess Diana and Prince William | Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images

RELATED: Was Prince William Angry With His Mother, Princess Diana, After Her Tell-All Interview?

Two years later, when William was 14 his parents divorced. And before Diana was involved in that fatal car accident on Aug. 31, 1997, she was dating Dodi Fayed. Given that William was a teenager at that time, many have wondered what he thought of his mothers new relationship.

Heres more on if the prince approved of Diana and Fayeds relationship. Plus, what William thought of his fathers relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles.

What Prince William thought of his mothers relationship with Dodi Fayed

When Diana went on a holiday with the Fayed family she brought William as well as her younger son Prince Harry along.

(L) Princess Diana, (R) Dodi fayed | PA Images via Getty Images

The Express noted that royal editor Robert Jobson wrote about their trip in his book titled Williams Princess.

In July 1997, Diana and the boys enjoyed what was to be their last holiday together, Jobson stated. They spent it in the South of France. They stayed at the villa Castel Ste Therese, set high on the cliffs above St. Tropez, in a 10-acre estate complete with its own private beach and the Conical, a luxury yacht, at their constant disposal. Diana and her boys had been at the Castel Ste Therese for a few days when Dodi arrived, and it wasnt long before the chemistry kicked in.

Jobson added, If it was Williams blessing for her relationship with Dodi that [Diana] wanted, then she got it. Dodi made his mother laugh; he seemed to make her genuinely happyAnd William, so keen to see his mother happy, witnessed it. It was, according to those close to the young prince, a source of some comfort to him in the dark days that followed.

Princess Diana, Prince William, and others of Fayeds yacht | Michel Dufour/WireImage

A month after Williams stamp of approval for Fayed, he died along with the princes mother following a car crash at the entrance of Paris Pont de lAlma tunnel.

What William thought of his fathers relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles

Prior to Princess Dianas death, Prince Charles planned on introducing his sons to Camilla. But that plan was put on hold when Diana passed away.

William was especially resistant to meet Camilla and reportedly did not want anything to do with the lady his mother referred to as Charles woman.

Over the years, however, both William and Harry began to accept her. And ahead of Charles and Camillas 2005 wedding, Harry even said that he and his brother loved her to bits.

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles | Hugo Burnand/Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images

At some point though, many noticed that their relationship with her seemed to change. In 2017, the brothers were expected to say a few nice things about their stepmother at her 70th birthday party. But instead chose not to speak at all.

In 2019, royal biographer Christopher Wilson claimed that things between the princes and Camilla have always been a bit icy despite how they act toward each other in public.

Dealing with the family she married into hasnt always been plain sailing, Wilson wrote in the Daily Mail. Though to all outward appearances she has the support and friendship of Prince William and Prince Harry, privately there is a distance.
Waverley mayor Paula Masselos said she is confident beaches will remain open, but is "absolutely" concerned about large crowds flocking to Bondi and Bronte as temperatures rise.

Sunbathers stretched out on the sand and grassed areas, swimmers braved the chilled water and the promenade along Bondi Beach was filled with walkers and joggers on Saturday under the watchful gaze of police, lifeguards, rangers and council ambassadors.

North Bondi's outdoor gym was busy with muscle-bound men flexing and posing on Saturday. Credit:Steven Siewert

Cr Masselos said "everyone seemed to be behaving well", but with warmer weather forecast on Sunday, she said beachgoers should avoid the beach if it looks busy.

"We need to remember that we are still in a pandemic and we need to adapt our behaviour to

that reality," she said.
Gets crazier by the day View(s):

I say, hell of a thing no, my neighbour during our college days used to say falling back on the colloquial when puzzled by political and bureaucrats actions cause him and others unnecessary confusion and the nation deprivation.

Being badly governed and inured to lying (though I used to call them prevarications) are consequences for little people, he used to say with the wisdom of a seasoned plebian battered and bruised by those who steal his vote and then steal the public purse.

In the last several days I have been wondering what he would have said if he and his friends closeby had been confronted by the ongoing saga of the Sinharaja desecration that began some eight years or so ago but since had the curtain drawn across it.

That was until the middle of this month when bulls and bulldozers were destroying sacred ground that once this country treated and respected with pride when international honour was bestowed on it.

Today that same ecologically-sacred land is being trampled upon with such condescension and cleared of its precious treasures in the name of road building and development. As the old saying goes even the way to hell is paved with good intentions, if that is what this is all about.

But there are thousands who have doubts about the so-called benefits of this road building. Even if this does not benefit the many, they will certainly benefit the few who are already paving the shortcuts to prosperity.

Why deny the benefits to those who see virtue in aggrandizement and will readily sing hallelujas to self, politics and nation  in that order if you please  as they close the counting house after counting out the money

As someone here still under corona isolation said the other day, the Sri Lankan nation of 22 million people is filling with patriots, nationalists, ultra do-gooders, Hitler admirers, Nazi sympathisers and pandankarayas of various types, shapes and sizes.

Why, there are even pseudo-Buddhists who insult the Buddha by quoting his words and scripture to buttress the crooked and vulgar, as an aggrieved Vihara-going ardent Buddhist here in London said in anger.

It is not just in what they once called home that peoples ire has risen at the stench of hypocrisy that surrounds this Sinharaja drama. It is the growing profusion of patriotic predators carving their way across what were such pristine forests of fauna and flora that brought international fame to Sri Lanka.

Today the genuine inhabitants of that forest such as those lovely monkeys shown on video must surely wonder at what sort of two-legged animals with four-wheeled machines have invaded their habitat, felling trees and destroying undergrowth and contributing to the global ecocide which concerns the world and future generations but seemingly not the destroyers of the forest.

Instead of the precious species that inhabited the Sinharaja reserve that was once home to disappearing endemic fauna and flora it is today turning into a roadway for marauding man.

Despite news conferences by political newcomers and statements by state authorities, vital questions remain unanswered by those who rise to the defence of the road builders.

How is it that a road project which was stopped in 2013 after protests by environmentalists and complaints to UNESCO suddenly sprouted to life in mid-August with rumbling bulldozers and other machinery appearing within a few days of the parliamentary election?

Media reports including video coverage indicate that this construction machinery belonged to the engineering division of the army. Whether this is true or not I am unable to say. But so far I have not seen any official reports that contradict the media contention or the remarks of environment experts.

A person with average intelligence would be  or should be  aware that ordering military equipment  if it is indeed military machinery was in use just days after the election  is not like walking into a supermarket, dumping a couple of bulldozers into a grocery cart and pushing it to the till to pay the bill.

To be ordered to release the equipment and then have them released in a few days is not a simple task.

The A5News video quoted in this column last Sunday poses some questions to the new Matara District MP Nipuna Ranawaka, Chairman of the Matara District Development Committee.

It was perhaps in response to this that Ranawaka held a news conference. His approach then might have acquired greater legitimacy had it been more convincing. Ranawaka says those widening the road had not obtained the permission of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA). This surely is egregiously irresponsible conduct. He said President Rajapaksa had called for a report on this imbroglio. Environmentalists and a concerned public more conscious of future ecological degradation would hope that a president acutely where of our religious and archaeological heritage would be equally conscious of the enormous value of our environment.

Experts know that environmental surroundings get to be divided when technological advancement breaks up areas of land such as roads that slice through forests and woods.

Ranawaka made no mention of who are those widening the road? Are they the same individuals or lot who were widening roads way back in 2013 and had the project stopped following complaints to UNESCO as the Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a World Heritage Site under the care of UNESCO?

Now, if according to Ranawaka, the present road builders had not obtained the permission of the CEA to do the road works that requires widening of a road/roads then was this omission by accident, ignorance or design?

Since this is an issue that concerns more than the Sri Lankan authorities but also the Sri Lankan public and UNESCO, a world body, surely the public has a right to know who the person is or persons are responsible for this project without having obtained the necessary legal requirements from the proper authority.

This is particularly so for several reasons.

Are they the same persons who violated the laws some eight years and had to be stopped after UNESCO intervention? If so how were they allowed to restart the project without permission as admitted to by Nipuna Ranawaka?

Since President Rajapaksa has rightly stated that Sri Lankan society must be a law abiding one and should adhere to the rule of law this is not a simple offence like stealing a coconut.

It is tantamount to the destruction of a world recognised heritage site. So should the public and other concerned not be made aware of how this society is destroying an internationally recognised heritage while paying pooja to protecting and preserving our heritage.

Ranawaka, an old Royalist I am told, claims that this was just road expansion and not new construction. Mr Ranawaka is right of course. This is not construction, it is destruction. How could one expand a road without disturbing and digging up the earth by the roadside, cutting trees and foliage on both sides and affecting the ecological balance?

Who actually benefits from it, pray? Perhaps he should name them so the public would know the beneficiaries and how many of them.

Sinharaja is the best know of the forest reserves facing ecological damage and destruction. During the last government there was a major hue and cry about the involvement of politicians and of their relatives in encroachments into Wilpattu.

While writing this I came across an investigative video by Ada Derana exposing the deforestation of a wetland in Anawilundawa sanctuary in Puttalam where already several acres have been cleared apparently for shrimp farming.

How this could happen so blatantly at the expense of the environment of this country can only be with the help of the politically powerful and influential. The fact that this criminal tragedy occurs in various parts of the country is proof of this.

(Neville de Silva is a veteran Sri Lankan journalist who was Assistant Editor, Diplomatic Editor and Political Columnist of the Hong Kong Standard before moving to London where he worked for Gemini News Service. Later he was Deputy Chief-of-Mission in Bangkok and Deputy High Commissioner in London before returning to journalism.)
World No1 Novak Djokovic will meet Milos Raonic in the final of the Western & Southern Open in New York today.

The Serb struggled early with an apparent neck complaint against eighth seed Roberto Bautista Agut before finishing 4-6 6-4 7-6 (0) over the Spaniard in three hours and one minute, the longest match of the tournament.

Djokovic, unbeaten so far in 2020, described the match to reporters afterwards as very strange, adding: I dont know how I won it, to be honest. He was the better player.

The 33-year-old called on his mental toughness and strong serve in the win at Flushing Meadows, serving just three times in the final-set tie-break but with each an ace.

Djokovic, who is also aiming to win his fourth US Open, is one victory away from tying Rafael Nadal for the most Masters 1000 titles with 35.

But to do it he will have to beat former world No3 Raonic after the Canadian upset fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (5) 6-3.

Raonic, who conquered Andy Murray on the way to the semi-final, won 90 percent of first-serve points across one hour and 37 minutes on court.

The 29-year-old, who is ranked 30th, will attempt to become the first unseeded player to lift the trophy in the Open era when he meets Djokovic in the final.

Both players will then face a quick turnaround, with the US Open beginning at Flushing Meadows on Sunday.

PA
A 70-year-old woman, her partner, and his son all lost their lives when a California wildfire devastated their property in Napa County. On Aug. 25, the womans grieving son shared his immeasurable loss while imploring others to pay heed to evacuation orders in their area.

The family, Mary Hintemeyer, Leo McDermott, and Leos son Tom, perished in the blazing Hennessey Fire, part of the spreading LNU Lightning Complex wildfires, which engulfed their land near Lake Berryessa. The blaze trapped the three family members inside a makeshift underground fire shelter in which they had sought refuge.

Local residents sit next to a vineyard as they watch the LNU Lightning Complex fire burning in the nearby hills of Healdsburg, Calif., on Aug. 20, 2020. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Heartbroken son Robert McNeal told KNTV that his mother had driven out to the roadblock near her home before changing her mind and returning home, where McDermott was confined to his wheelchair. Hintemeyer and McNeal were texting back and forth, the mom keeping her son updated on her situation and assuaging his fears for her safety.

She even texted McNeal a photo of the fire in the distance before telling him that she may seek refuge in their root cellar, dug into the hillside, with her partner and his son. Then suddenly, she ceased replying to McNeals messages.

The banks around Lake Berryessa in Napa, Calif., smolder on Aug. 18, 2020 (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Lake Berryessa in Napa County, California (Screenshot/Google Maps)

A search-and-rescue team later found the familys remains inside the shelter, which had proven no match for the ferocity of the blaze.

They called the planes off, said McNeal. The next thing you know, it erupted. Nobody had a chance.

Through tears, the grieving son revealed that his mothers greatest fear had been burning. She didnt even want to be cremated. [But] thats how things ended up, he said.

Pacific Gas and Electric firefighters extinguish spot fires as the LNU Lightning Complex fire hits Fairfield, Calif., on Aug. 19, 2020. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

McNeal described his mother as his best friend and one of the most caring people he had ever met, adding, I hope I can get half of that in myself. The only memento that McNeal was able to salvage from his mothers scorched property was a small brown porcelain trinket in the shape of a treasure chest.

The LNU Lightning Complex wildfires started in the early hours of Aug. 17, 2020, according to Cal Fire. The flames were ignited by lightning strikes in Napa and Sonoma counties, and spread quickly.

To date, fires have engulfed 369,000 acres of land and crossed into five California counties. Napa County and Lake Countys Hennessey Fire, the blaze where McNeals mother died, is 33 percent contained.

A home that was destroyed by the LNU Lightning Complex fire in Napa, Calif., on Aug. 24, 2020 (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

At least five people are reported to have lost their lives in the wildfires in all, and four have been injured. Yolo County, reports KCRA-3, is the latest area to issue mandatory evacuation orders.

In the wake of his personal tragedy, McNeal implores others to take action if, and when, evacuation orders are sounded in their areas.

Dont worry about stuff, he told KNTV, clutching his mothers trinket in his hand. Your family is going to have to deal with the aftermath, and thats worse than losing your property.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Londonderry, New Hampshire on Aug. 28, 2020. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

Trump Pays Japans Abe Highest Respect, Plans to Call Him

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONEPresident Donald Trump said on Friday he considered Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a great friend and expressed concern over his decision to step down for health reasons.

I want to pay my highest respect to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe  a great friend of mine, Trump told reporters on Air Force One. I just feel very badly about it.

Trump said Abe loved his country very much and said he planned to call him.

Abe announced on Friday he was resigning because of poor health, his long-running battle with ulcerative colitis ending a tenure as Japans longest-serving prime minister.

Abes team is arranging the call for Monday Japan time, with the prime minister informing the president directly about his resignation, Kyodo news agency said, citing unnamed government sources.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) meets with US President Donald Trump, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Sept. 26, 2018. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

A Foreign Ministry official declined to comment.

Abe, the first foreign leader to meet with Trump as president-elect, forged close ties with him engaged in frequent phone calls and meetings.

He said in his resignation announcement that strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance helps boost Japans deterrence.
City Editor

Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has covered statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids.
This is a column by MLive reporter Steve Marowski.

ANN ARBOR, MI  Around 10:30 p.m. Friday at the University of Michigan Diag, a few skateboarders were attempting tricks, trying to clear the stairs leading up to the UM library and maneuver the board with their feet all at the same time.

None of them were able to land the trick and had to collect their board, only to ride again and contemplate completing a new trick.

Will this be the fate of UM and its plan to have an in-person fall semester? A trick that many other institutions like the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the University of Notre Dame have tried and failed as well?

Only time will tell, but as I walked around UMs Ann Arbor campus Friday night, I saw both positive and negative signs. Most people out and about on State Street were wearing masks, and those venturing south toward Packard Street and Burns Park also had some sort of face covering.

There were groups, though, of more than a dozen people walking to various parts of downtown in search of social activities with other UM students. Many porches had a yellow glow with red Solo cups scattered on a table, and others had Christmas lights strung around them with chairs in a circle, inviting people to engage in conversation.

Reports of student gatherings have been making the rounds on social media. One house on Oakland Avenue  the same street where one widely circulated photo was taken  presented a bedsheet sign claiming with a related (though opposite) sentiment as the original Oakland Avenue bedsheet.

Neither statement is appropriate to republish here.

On what is traditionally a huge party night, I didnt see any large parties of more than 25 people. Its very possible that some off-campus houses had gatherings that exceeded the county limit, but they werent visible to my eye.

Ann Arbor City Council has been concerned about large gatherings and enacted an emergency ordinance to make clear the citys rules and expectations regarding face masks and restrictions on social gatherings amid the pandemic. UM has also created a Michigan Ambassador Program to communicate and remind students about public health best practices.

Citing concerns about UM student gatherings, Ann Arbor enacts emergency ordinance

I did not see any of the Ambassador Program groups walking around, but that doesnt mean they werent out there. Many students, I noticed, made the walk from South Quad through the law school quadrangle, where Tim Devine and a group of his friends were sitting in a socially-distanced circle.

I attempted to speak with several other students throughout the night, all of whom declined to comment. Devine, however, agreed to speak with me.

Devine, a law school student, said he can see a lot of green space from his front door, and there have been large groups of undergrads that he personally is not comfortable with.

There seems to be a sizeable minority that seems to be flaunting the masks and focusing on socializing and parties, Devine said. ... I think a lot of people, whether theyre undergrads or law students or other graduate students, have invested a lot in their education, and what their education is supposed to be for other people.

The idea that people are going to jeopardize that by going to parties is discouraging, Devine said.

There have already been two cases confirmed in UMs West Quad, and officials said both students have gone to their permanent residences to recover. On UMs COVID-19 dashboard, a message from Friday says there have been four positive tests reported in students living off campus. Since Aug. 23, there have been 18 confirmed cases from University Health Services and Occupational Health Services.

2 coronavirus cases identified at University of Michigan dorm

Its unclear how many of those cases  11 of which are students  can be traced to off-campus activities. We know there will be cases at UM, but who should and will be held responsible for any major outbreaks is another question.

I dont think the administration necessarily wants to send students home, Devine said. I think it would be a hassle and bad PR, but the idea of individual responsibility as the be-all, end-all in this coronavirus moment is simply inconsistent with the required interventions I think to really curb this disease.

READ MORE:

University of Michigan students talk safe socializing: You basically have to start ranking your friends

Central Michigan University now has 110 coronavirus cases related to students

Eastern Michigan University delays move-in 3 weeks, citing other campus coronavirus outbreaks
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 29 : The Congress in Kerala has expressed doubts whether the ruling parties in the State and the Centre are hand in glove in covering up the controversial gold smuggling case.

Speaking to the media here on Saturday, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala alleged it's now come out in the open, that though these two parties appear they are on different routes, when the need comes, they are one.

"It was the other day that, Anil Nambiar, a senior editor of Janam TV -- billed as the TV channel of the BJP -- was questioned by the Customs department in connection with the gold smuggling case. Earlier the top official of the CPI-M backed TV channel Kairali, John Brittas openly said that the prime accused in the case Swapna Suresh got Rs 4.25 crores as commission, a charge that was confirmed by State Finance Minister Thomas Issac. Swapna's statement now reveals that Nambiar knew of this," said Chennithala.

"Joining the issue was Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, who in the first few days said the gold was not found in the UAE diplomatic baggage. How can he say that," asked Chennithala. He also targeted State Law Minister A.K. Balan who the other day threatened to take legal action against all those who spread canards against their government.

"He also cautioned the media that they will approach the Press Council of India against baseless news. How can such a thing happen in a democracy. He should apologise for making such threats. The CPI-M is now using their time-tested strategy, either they come out with threats against the media and if that's not successful, they extend 'carrots' by way of advertisements . Now what we hear is that the state government is coming out with advertisements on their KIFBI module, which is now become a big burden as loans are being taken from all around and the next government will have a tough time," added Chennithala.

Chennithala said that when the Left was in opposition they mercilessly targeted then chief minister Oommen Chandy in the Solar case. "The public memory is not that short. They all will remember how and what happened then," added Chennithala.

However State Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran told the media that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, as soon as this case surfaced, said that many will come under the scanner once the probe gets into high gear.

"Now it's surfacing with Nambiar being questioned. In the coming days, big sharks will be fished out in the probe. Numerous people have been arrested in the case and one section of those arrested are aligned towards the BJP, while the other section is aligned with the Congress-led UDF. It's a matter of time before things come out," said Surendran.

The image of the Vijayan government took a beating when the gold smuggling racket was unearthed after P.S. Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, was arrested by the Customs Department on July 5 when he was facilitating smuggling of 30 kg of gold in diplomatic baggage to Thiruvananthapuram from Dubai.

The NIA took into custody Swapna, a former UAE Consulate employee and a close aide of the now suspended senior IAS officer M. Sivasankar, who held the dual posts of principal secretary to Vijayan and also the IT state secretary. Since then the Congress has been on the warpath against Vijayan, who has been avoiding the media.
There are currently more than 14,000 firefighters struggling to battle roughly 7,000 blazes in California, many working 24-hour shifts. Among those pushed to the limit, as this years fire season in California burns an area now the size of the state of Delaware, are approximately 3,100 inmates trained as wildland firefighters.

Video Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MICHAEL THOMAS: Sometimes we don't even get to sleep or, like, take a break or anything. You-- you got to, you know, protect that land, you know, got to protect that house or put that fire out.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

My name's Michael Thomas. I'm 27, and I was in the fire camp for about 11 months [INAUDIBLE] San Luis Obispo over by Santa Barbara area. It was a-- a crazy experience for me because, one, you go to the fire camp, and it's like a-- a percentage of your time. So let's just say, if I'm doing five years, I can get my time knocked in half just by being on the-- on the fire squad, you know, helping putting these fires out to get a-- an early release date.

So that's why people are really risking their lives to do that was just to get out early. Or, you know, some people want to be productive. They don't want to be sitting in a cell or-- or, you know, just being around those crazy kind of people out there. So me being as productive as I like to be, and, you know, I'm just a hardworking person naturally. And I wanted to go home. I didn't want to be sitting in no prison cell, so I took the initiative to get on that fire crew to-- so I could get that early release date.

It was a fun experience, though, you know, just being the front line of the fire. You know, as a little kid, you know, oh, a firefighter. You know, people look up to that type of thing. So it was a great experience. I learned a lot. And I had the high hopes of coming home and, you know, thinking I've got some type of career chance with being a firefighter. But it didn't go as-- as planned.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

FRANCIS LOPEZ: My name is Francis Lopez from Richmond, California, and I was in the Konacti fire camp from 2015 to 2017.

Story continues

DAYANA CONTRERAS: And my name is Dayana Contreras. I am his partner, mother of his child, and we were together-- I was actually pregnant during his sentence. So we were together during that time that he was in fire camp.

FRANCIS LOPEZ: I was a 85-percenter or, so there were no benefits for me going to fire camp. I didn't get any time reduction. This is before prop 47 passed. So all of the 85-percenters that ended up at fire camp, we were just there because we wanted to do something with our time to be productive. And I think that's what it was for me at first. It kind of gave me just a sense of purpose, to be able to impact the world positively in-- in the lowest point of my life.

And, you know, going through the experience for me was more of like a self-journey because you-- you were able to see the work that you put in. And it was a crazy dynamic because on one side, you still are incarcerated, but on the other side, you're help-- you're literally saving people's homes, saving lives, saving, you know, whole communities. It was, like, self-healing.

But on the other side of it, I mean, as far as, like, the work, the work was strenuous. We didn't get paid much. And mind you, even if you do get paid, the amount that you do get paid, restitution still comes out of that. So for lack of better terms, you're working your [BLEEP] off, you're really not getting compensated for it.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MICHAEL THOMAS: When there wasn't a fire, we was probably getting a dollar a day. When there was a fire, we was getting $2 a day. It was bad, too. Like, food-- we would be out on these fires weeks at a time, months. Sometimes we wouldn't even come back to the prison for months. We were spending all our energy and time. And we'd come back exhausted, and they wouldn't give us a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Something you would give to, like, an elementary school kid when he first gets to school, giving us those little things every single day.

Like, they expected us to just be OK with that, and we're firefighters. And the food we're getting when we're out on the fires is OK, but, you know, [INAUDIBLE]. We got people [INAUDIBLE]. The slave work and the labor was not worth what I went through. The health, they don't take care of us health-wise. Like, it's poor. They just throw us out there. They just-- that's it.

FRANCIS LOPEZ: I mean, there were times I thought it was going to be over. You're battling wildfires. So it's like, think of it like this. You in the back of a truck. You can't see out of it because they don't allow the inmates to look out of the vehicles. So, you know, you're driving, you're just pothole after pothole, and you see-- you just start smelling smoke, smelling stuff burning.

And as soon as you-- you hop out the back of the [INAUDIBLE], helicopters flying, water everywhere, radio chat. It's a crazy scene. I remember one time, one fire specifically, we were, like, on a hill that was probably about-- it was, like, this steep, and we're going down. And mind you, I-- I was the sawyer on my crew. So what that means is I had the chainsaw.

So we're going down, and I'm going down a hill like this chainsawing, you know, like, brush out the way and, like, holding myself up while we sliding down. And it-- and it's just like, you know, I mean, it's crazy, man. I can't really put it in any other words. But it was times of having me tell her before, I said, man, I don't know how we made it out because, you feel me, it was-- it was bad.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

DAYANA CONTRERAS: That photo specifically that he sent me, I was pregnant during his last time on fire camp. And so I dealt with high anxiety of, is he going to make it home, you know, to be here for me and-- and our child? And the only reason that I got myself to be OK with it was because I saw that-- what it was doing for him mentally and how it was helping him. And he'd go weeks without contacting me because he's out on fires. And so I could have had an ultrasound or I could had an update with my pregnancy, and I had to wait days at a time, if not weeks, to let him know.

And realistically, if we're putting value on lives, I understood that the inmates' lives were less valuable than those of the official, you know, firefighters. And just living with that every day was a little torturous. So, you know, I was just impelled to-- compelled to post a tweet and kind of give a shoutout to anyone out there that maybe has a family member or a loved one out there right now, just, you know, let them know that they're appreciated.

FRANCIS LOPEZ: You know, when you first touch down in prison, I sign a life waiver. You know, you-- you sign where-- where your belongings are going to go to and who they going to contact if you die right when you get booked into the prison. So my mentality in prison was, I could die on the yard. I could die, you know-- you could die anywhere. And-- and I think that's part of the trauma that people deal with when they're incarcerated because you know that really any day could be your last, because all it takes is one little thing to go bad, something to pop off, and it's about to go up.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MICHAEL THOMAS: Yeah, I would do it again because I know mentally I'm strong enough for it. Like, if you're not mentally strong, there is really nothing at all. I've never have been to boot camp, but I think it's pretty close to that. They actually had this program called the Ventura Program, which is a firefighter reentry program. So, you could, you know, leave parole and can go into the fire program and actually become, like, a-- a real firefighter with these guys. But there's so many, like, loopholes you have to do.

I did my application, and when I got out-- because you do the application 90 days before you go home. I did-- I made sure I was on top of everything. I got home, and these guys asked me, oh, did I turn in the application? I'm like, here's the start of their bull crap again. So I just kind of just felt unmotivated after that, and I didn't want to pursue it no more.

FRANCIS LOPEZ: If you're a felon, you can't apply to be a city firefighter at all. And-- and then for me, like, I came home to a daughter, so I just had to get back right away. And-- and with that being said, it's-- it's hard because, I mean, I told her, I said, I'll do it definitely. I had no problem with it. I really liked the work, and I was actually really, really good at what I did.

But it's just like, there are no resources, and I feel like the least they could do is at least set up people with interviews. You know, we went through this program. We did all of this for communities. I mean, they're thanking us for being heroes and all of this. But when we get out, it's just we're the felons. And that's kind of what it always is.

[MUSIC PLAYING]
Sebastian Vettel has dropped a big hint about his future.

Although reports that he will definitely sign a 2021 Aston Martin contract this weekend at Spa appear to have been wide of the mark, the Ferrari refugee is at least now suggesting that he will not retire.

When asked by Sky Deutschland if this weekend is his last visit to Spa-Francorchamps, the quadruple world champion smiled: "I think I can come here at any time.

"We'll see if I will be driving a fast car. But I don't think it will be my last time here.

"I still have many years ahead of me."

Ferrari's 2020 crisis hit a new low in Belgian GP practice when the two red cars slumped to 15th and 17th on Friday.

When asked how frustrating that is, Vettel answered: "There are always two approaches - get frustrated, or stand up and get on with it.

"That's what I'm here for - I'm always optimistic," said the 33-year-old German.

(GMM)
Sushant Singh Rajputs Dil Bechara co-star Sanjana Sanghi has responded to the late actors girlfriend Rhea Chakrabortys claims, saying that she has nothing more to add. Rhea had said that Sanjanas late response to MeToo claims levelled against Sushant had troubled the actor and started the pressure on him.

To be honest, No, as a woman, I have said more than everything, Sanjana told India Today on Saturday, adding, I literally cannot entertain that right now. I have said everything in over 25 interviews. I have nothing new to say.

Sushant was found dead at his apartment in Mumbai. Even as the CBI, among other agencies, investigate the case, it is alleged that causes like nepotism and toxic rivalries may have played a part in the case. Mumbai Police had said that the actor died by suicide and were investigating the angle before the Supreme Court asked the CBI to take over the case. The MeToo allegations against Sushant have also been under the focus, with Sanjana often asked questions about it when she promoted Dil Bechara.

I feel the MeToo allegations are what started the pressure. He believed someone was behind it. He used to refer to the people as them. I dont know who they are. He believed someone was behind Sanjana Sanghi, Rhea Chakraborty had told NDTV.

Demanding to know why it took Sanjana so much time to clear up the allegations, she had said, Sanjana Sanghi had alleged that Sushant Singh Rajput harassed her, and those #MeToo allegations haunted him. Sanjana hadnt given any clarification, she finally came out 1.5 months later, but that destroyed Sushants mental sanity. Later, Sushant had to come out and reveal their personal chats himself.

She also responded to Sanjanas claim that she was in the US, which delayed her reaction. Wherever she [Sanjana Sanghi] was, be it America or anywhere on Earth, she would have had Google. Every budding actor checks news about them. So, did she not know about such a big piece of news?

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NGOs Demand Cambodia Scrap Draft Law Citing Potential Abuse of Women's Rights

2020-08-28 -- Three dozen organizations working to promote gender equality in Cambodia have called on the country's government to scrap its Draft Law on Public Order (DLPO), expressing concern that dress codes for females and other provisions within the bill violate women's human rights.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the 36 national and international groups said they are "disturbed" by the DLPO's potential to subject women to criminal sanctions for dress and behavior that allegedly violate "arbitrary and discriminatory social norms related to women's dress and conduct."

The bill, which will take effect next year if approved by several government ministries and the National Assembly, would ban men from going out shirtless and stop women from wearing anything "too short" or "too see-through."

"We wish to emphasize that the government cannot uphold its commitment to achieving gender equality on one hand, while demonizing and criminalizing women who they deem to be harming society by not conforming to arbitrary, conservative standards of dress and morality," the groups said in Thursday's statement.

"Similarly, the RGC (Royal Government of Cambodia) cannot tackle high rates of sexual violence and harassment without promoting women as being in control of their bodies and entitled to their own sexual autonomy, and without condemning and prosecuting perpetrators of all forms of sexual violence."

According to the groups, the DLPO restricts women's right to freedom of expression and reinforces harmful gender stereotypes. They said it denies women the right to choose their own attire, claiming that "revealing" clothing has an "adverse effect" on "national tradition and dignity."

While men's clothing choices are also restricted, the groups said that given Cambodia's socio-legal context, and in light of recent threats against and arrests of Cambodian women while selling products online, the law is more likely to be applied against women.

During a speech to the Cambodian National Council for Women in February, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered authorities to take immediate action against women who wear "revealing" clothing while selling products on Facebook, saying their actions were lowering Cambodian cultural values and causing sexual violence.

Shortly afterwards, Cambodian police arrested a female Facebook user named Thai Srey Neang who had been previously cautioned for posting "revealing" images online, saying she had breached an earlier agreement in which she apologized for her behavior and promised to stop.

Thai Srey Neang was convicted of "producing pornography" in April and handed a six-month suspended sentence, which was reduced to two months and 15 days.

'Discard the DLPO'

On Thursday, the 36 groups said the DPLO "would entrench in law sexist attitudes about women's dress and conduct and give legal authority to abusive social policing of women's bodies and choices and a broader culture of discriminatory gender norms," while also warning that the draft law would likely be disproportionately applied against members of the LGTBQ community.

Additionally, the groups said, the DLPO discriminates against at-risk groups in society, particularly through disproportionately criminalizing domestic, social, and economic activities that are mostly conducted by Cambodian women.

They noted that the workforce in the informal sector is largely made up of women, including sex workers and street vendorsprofessions they said will be subjected to prohibitions and penalties.

"While the DLPO does not single out women and girls in this regard, the DLPO will de facto have more adverse and disproportionate impacts on women than men as well as their ability to enjoy a wide range of human rights as set out in international human rights law," they said.

The groups welcomed an Aug. 13 joint statement from 79 civil society organizations calling on the government to abandon the DPLO due to "an extensive array of provisions that effectively criminalize the legitimate everyday activities" of Cambodians, but said they felt the need to highlight gender-specific concerns with the proposed legislation.

"We therefore call on the Cambodian government to immediately discard the DLPO," Thursday's joint statement said.

"The government should instead make it an urgent priority to address the forms of gender discrimination it has identifiedincluding gender-based violence and discrimination in education, economic, social and political participationthrough legislative reforms and policy change."

Draft law 'cannot be fixed'

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for New York-based Human Rights Watchwhich was among the groups that had signed on to Thursday's statementcalled the DLPO "an appalling violation of women's rights in Cambodia" and questioned the mindset of the officials at the Ministry of Interior who drafted it.

"In some ways, it appears that one hand of the Cambodian government doesn't know what the other hand is doing because the draft law, as currently written, blatantly violates the Cambodian government's own policies and strategic plans on the promotion of gender equality in Cambodia," he said in a note supplementing the statement.

"This draft Public Order Law reveals a dark government vision of rigid, rights abusing social controls against the Cambodian people. While the draft claims to recognize women as the backbone of Cambodian society, the draft law seeks to strip women of their liberties and further entrench Cambodia's widespread gender-based violence and discrimination against women in socio-economic and political aspects of life."

Robertson said the DPLO is "so bad that it really cannot be fixed" and urged the government to dump it.

"Instead of adopting further repressive laws, the government [should] make good on its pledges to protect women's rights, which include protecting everything from a woman's right to free speech to what she decides to wear," he said.

Government response

Ministry of Women Affairs spokesman Sar Sineth refused to comment on Thursday's statement, instead asking RFA to submit written questions to the ministry for answers.

However, deputy head of the Ministry of Interior's legal team Mony Virak told RFA on Friday that the DPLO had been drafted "to maintain social order and protect the people's dignity."

He noted that the draft law is at "a very early stage," adding that the ministry had yet to consult with other stakeholders about its contents.

Ouk Kimlekh, an interior ministry secretary of state who is leading the drafting process, has said the law is needed to preserve traditional culture.

Blaming outfits

Mu Sochua, the deputy president of the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and Cambodia's former Minister of Women Affairs, told RFA Thursday that the draft law will directly impact the rights of women guaranteed in the country's constitution.

She said that if the law is adopted, women can be punished solely because of their clothing preferences.

"Can't a human decide which clothes they should wear?" she asked.

"Allowing this kind of law to condemn women who are wearing short skirts will encourage men to abuse women."

In an op-ed in the Washington Post last week, Menghun Kaing, an Obama Scholar and a recent master's graduate of the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, and Sievlan Len, a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University, warned that illegalizing women's clothing choices legitimizes blaming victims of sexual violence for their outfits, rather than punishing perpetrators.

"In the era of the #MeToo movement, when women around the world are speaking up against injustice, Cambodia is about to further oppress its women by taking away their fundamental right to choose what they wear," the two Cambodian women wrote.

"We join the thousands of Cambodian women to urge the legislature to kill the bill. Let's begin a new tradition, in which the dignity of our nation is based on the equality of our women and men."

Reported by RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.

Copyright  1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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A man who allegedly stole the wallet of a firefighter combating the CZU Lightning Complex fires in California has been arrested, officials said Thursday.

Brian Johnson, 37, of Live Oak, was arrested in connection with the theft of a firefighters wallet after tips from the community flooded in, the Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post.

Chief Mark Bruton announced the theft during a briefing on Sunday, McClatchy News reported, and said that someone had broken into a fire commanders department vehicle while he was directing crews to battle the fires in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties.

The person drained the commanders bank account along with stealing some of his personal effects, officials said.

Its saddening, its sickening and we are doing everything we can to try to help the community and unfortunately, this happens, Bruton said.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavys administration has been ordered to change the language of the ballot summary for a proposed act that seeks to raise taxes on the oil industry.

The Alaska Supreme Court upheld a ruling by Superior Court Judge William Morse, who found in June that Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer did not provide an impartial summary of the measure as required by law, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

The Fair Share Act is designed to make the tax filings of the states major oil producers a matter of public record. The legislation is expected to bring in about $1 billion extra in production taxes, targeting producers with the largest oil fields, including Prudhoe Bay.

Meyer had proposed a summary that claimed if the act passed, tax fillings would allow the states normal process for the public records act. Morse ruled that the summary implies the act would allow the state to deprive the public access to the records.

Meyer and the state Division of Elections were named in the lawsuit in November by ballot measure group Vote Yes For Alaskas Fair Share Act.

It is unfortunate we had to bring suit against Lt. Gov. Meyer to get him to fulfil his duty to provide a true and impartial summary of the Fair Share Act, but this is a victory for the voters, initiative chair Robin Brena said. The Supreme Court upheld their right to an unbiased ballot summary.

In the ruling, the state Supreme Court partially approved a request from Meyer to add the line: The act does not specify the process for disclosure of the public records.
ram.iyer95 BHPian

Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: KL-09 Posts: 121 Thanked: 285 Times

Re: Honda Hornet 2.0 launched at Rs. 1.26 lakh For just 10k more, Yamaha's MT-15 makes more sense over this, if pillion comfort is not a requirement. It should be as reliable, offers a more involving ride and is equally feature-laden as well, if not more.



Of course, if pillion comfort is important, then I see this Honda as a decent alternative for the price, judging by the way that pillion seat looks in the pictures. News channels were speculating that the Hornet would be priced at around 1.4 lakhs which would have been disastrous; good that they did not go overboard with the pricing, though I wouldn't call this VFM either. This is just around 5k more expensive than the Suzuki Gixxer 150. Since the peak torque of 16.1 Nm comes in relatively early at 6000rpm, I guess the engine might have been tuned with a bias towards low and mid range grunt, which is what a city bike like this needs. Even the compression ratio is a very conservative 9.5:1.



I hate those golden coloured forks, too loud for my taste. And those oversized "Hornet" and "2.0" stickers ruin the looks as well, in my view. In the highly unlikely event that I end up purchasing this, they would be the first to go off.



If I were to purchase from this segment, I would add another 30k and get an FZ-25.
Karen Pence, who has focused much of her initiatives as second lady on military families, used her spotlight at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday to praise them as heroes.

She spotlighted two military spouses who created R. Riveter, a handbag company named after the Rosie the Riveter campaign used to recruit women workers during World War II.

Another military spouse hero, Jilan Hall-Johnson of Montana, worked with the Small Business Administrations Development Center to start a restaurant, the Sassy Biscuit.

These men and women, like our daughter, Charlotte, and our daughter-in-law, Sarah, are the home front heroes, she said of military spouses.

Here's what you should know about Karen Pence:

Audrey Pence, Second Lady Karen Pence, US Vice President Mike Pence and Charlotte Pence Bond stand on stage at the end of the third night of the Republican National Convention at Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore, Maryland, August 26, 2020.

Military mom

The Pences son, Michael, is a pilot in the Marine Corps. Their oldest daughter, Charlotte, is married to a Navy pilot.

Karen Pences efforts to support military families has included pushing states to make it easier for military spouses to transfer professional credentials.

In this image from video, Karen Pence, wife of Vice President Mike Pence, speaks from Washington, during the third night of the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.

Shes also a lead ambassador for a suicide-prevention initiative initially created by the administration to help veterans but also being used to reach out to all Americans struggling with the coronavirus pandemic.

Pence has also used her position to bring attention to the art therapy profession. When she was Indiana's first lady, Pence played an instrumental role in the development of the art therapy program at the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. But at the annual American Art Therapy Association meeting in 2017, some art therapists questioned whether Pence should be allowed to promote their profession, arguing that some policies of the administration don't mesh with art therapys code of ethics.

More: Here's why some art therapists are in a heated debate over Karen Pence

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence arrive with turkey to serve to troops at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019.

Teacher at Christian school

A watercolor artist, Pence teaches art part-time at a Christian school in Northern Virginia.

In a Fox News interview before her convention speech Wednesday, Pence emphasized that her school is 100% kids at school. The Trump administration has urged schools not to teach students remotely despite the pandemic.

Story continues

We have ways that we can take precautions, she said of the novel coronavirus.

Pence's part-time job previously drew scrutiny because of Immanuel Christian Schools policy of not allowing gay teachers or students.

Pence sees the criticism of her teaching at the school as an attack on her faith  and a violation of the religious liberty tenet on which she said the nation was founded.

"Im just a person who believes in the Bible, so it shouldnt be right for someone to attack me for my beliefs," she told USA TODAY last year.

Fact check: Does Mike Pence really call his wife 'Mother'?

Pet lover

"Today is #NationalDogDay!" Pence tweeted Wednesday. "We love our furry best friend, Harley! Throwback to when he was just a little puppy."

In addition to Harley, the Australian shepherd that the vice president got as a Father's Day present in 2017, the Pences have a cat, Hazel.

(Both pets' names begin with "H" as do their "parents'' Secret Service code names. The vice president's is "Hoosier" and his wife's is "Hummingbird.")

Today is #NationalDogDay! We love our furry best friend, Harley! Throwback to when he was just a little puppy. pic.twitter.com/LjZfxkOA8f  Second Lady Karen Pence (@SecondLady) August 26, 2020

Their most famous pet is "Marlon Bundo," a rabbit that Charlotte Pence Bond acquired in college that has starred in children's books illustrated by Karen Pence and written by her daughter.

Comedian John Oliver created a parody version of the first book to criticize the vice presidents record on gay rights.

Charlotte Pence Bond bought a copy, saying people should support both books since the proceeds from both go to charity.

HANDOUT --- Second Lady Karen and Charlotte Pence. Marlon Bundo sits on Charlotte' lap. [Via MerlinFTP Drop]

More: Marlon Bundo, Vice President Mike Pence's bunny, explains coronavirus guidelines

Hoosier touches

One of the home state touches Pence has added to the vice presidential residence is a half basketball court.

It was installed primarily to have a level platform to help with catering outdoor events. But when it was done, the Pences wheeled onto it the portable basketball hoop that had been in the driveway.

They also had the logo from the vice presidents favorite sports movie  the story of an underdog Indiana basketball team  applied to whats now called the Hoosier court. The logo, however, isnt permanent.

The next guy probably isnt going to want that, Pence said in 2018. Unless hes from Indiana.

Vice Presidential residence: How Karen and Mike Pence  and their pets  have left their mark

Increased campaign role

While Pence was a regular presence at her husbands side during the 2016 campaign, she has taken on more of her own duties for the re-election effort.

Although shes referred to herself as kind of the low man on the totem pole, her outreach to Republican women and fellow Christian conservatives has helped the campaign  as well as helped dispel any doubts about her own commitment to the president.

A book about Mike Pence published last year suggested his wife agreed to stick with the 2016 campaign after the release of the Access Hollywood video out of the expectation that Trump would probably lose, setting up Mike Pence for his own 2020 bid. Pence has disputed that, saying she loves "being part of this ticket, part of this administration.

Second Lady Karen Pence talks to USA TODAY from the sun room of the Vice President's residence.

"I want to go and do what I can and do my part," she told USA TODAY in November. And they are things that Im like, 'I can go. I can go do this. Put me in, coach.' "

Financial concerns

In addition to detailing Karen Pences unhappiness with Trump in 2016, the book Piety & Power: Mike Pence and the Taking of the White House, described her concern over how winning would affect the familys tight finances.

What are we going to do Mike?? We dont have any money! Whos going to pay for my inaugural gown?? author Tom LoBianco quoted Karen Pence as saying.

Pence's office declined to comment about the book.

Trump ended up arranging for the inaugural committee to cover some updates to the vice presidential residence and to buy Karen Pence two ball gowns  an original and the cost of altering that dress into one she liked better, according to the book.

Financial disclosure reports show that the Pences have a modest bank account and are paying off loans taken out to help pay for their children's educations.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence takes the oath of office next to his wife Karen Pence during the 2017 Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administered the oath of office.

The 'D.C. Hillbillies'

Before the Pences became the Second Family, they were the self-dubbed D.C. Hillbillies" when Mike Pence served in Con They gave themselves that name after over-enthusiastically participating in a Capitol Hill event for congressional families called Pet Night. It was a chance for the children of lawmakers to meet famous pets, such as the cat from "Stuart Little" or the dog from "Men in Black." The Pences thought it an experience that should be shared with their actual pets  a dog, two cats and a lizard.

I dont know when exactly our mother found out that we had misjudged Pet Night, but it was most likely at some point after Bud (the dog) tried to run away and before Madeline (the cat) threw up a hairball next to Dads foot as he discussed legislation with another freshman congressman, Charlotte Pence Bond wrote in her 2018 book about her family.

The lesson the Pences took away: If you take yourselves too seriously in D.C., you miss all the fun.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RNC: What to know about Karen Pence
Samsung has long been rumored to expand its foldable smartphone line even more, with a more affordable device to complement the Z Fold2 in a similar form factor.

We'll call this Galaxy Z Fold Lite for now, although that name is just an assumption on our part. This phone has so far been rumored to sport the model number SM-F415F, which makes sense because in Samsung's naming scheme, the first "F" stands for "foldable", while the low number implies this will be lower-end (and lower priced) than the original Galaxy Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold 2.

This model number has now been spotted among the support pages of Samsung's official website for India. While this doesn't give us any sort of details about the smartphone, the listing confirms the fact that the 'Lite' Fold will launch in the subcontinent.

Previous rumors said this model would launch with the Snapdragon 865 on board, but would lose the 5G connectivity and the Ultra Thin Glass layer. There are likely to be many other cuts too, because past mumblings had it launching at just $1,100, which is a lot less than either the original Fold, or the Fold 2, or even the Z Flip. Expect to see the Galaxy Fold Lite appear in Mirror Black and Mirror Purple color options.

Via
A California chicken plant has been ordered to shut down after eight employees died from COVID-10 and another 350 tested positive for the virus.

Foster Farms, located in Livingston, southwest of San Francisco, has 48 hours to close its doors, following an order from the Merced County Health Department issued on Thursday.

'In view of increasing deaths and uncontrolled COVID-19 cases, the decision was made to order Foster Farms Livingston Complex closed until acceptable safety measures are in place,' Merced County health officer, Dr. Salvador Sandoval, stated.

Around 3,750 people work at the Livingston plant, meaning that close to 10 percent of all employees are infected.

Despite Thursday's order, Foster Farms told its Livingston employees to show up for shifts on Friday, according to an email obtained by The Los Angeles Times.

The Fresno Bee reports that trucks 'with Foster Farms' logos, were seen entering and exiting the Livingston facility' after the shutdown order was issued, but before the 48-hour grace period lapsed.

Foster Farms, located in Livingston, southwest of San Francisco, has 48 hours to close its doors, following an order from the Merced County Health Department issued on Thursday

Some were left angered by the decision to have employees continue to show up at the sprawling plant. A majority of its employees are reportedly Latino and Punjabi Sikh.

'I'm highly disappointed that Foster Farms would continue with tonight's shift. That puts workers at danger and at risk of infection despite the expert medical opinions provided by county public health and other professionals,' one community member stated.

A COVID-19 outbreak at the plant was first reported two months ago. The virus spread quickly among staff, despite Foster Farms saying they put safety protocols in place.

Officials from the Merced County Health Department subsequently advised Foster Farms to 'conduct widespread testing among its employees'.

However, at the time of the shutdown order, not all workers had been tested for the virus, meaning more than 350 could be infected.

Around 3,750 people work at the Livingston plant, meaning that close to 10 percent of all employees are infected

Foster Farms is one of the leading poultry companies in the US.

The multi-bullion brand also has chicken factories in Oregon, Washington, Louisiana, and Alabama. They further have a turkey processing plant in Turlock, California.

In a written statement, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said he supports the shutdown order.

'Foster Farms' poultry operation in Livingston, California, has experienced an alarming spread of COVID-19 among its workers. Nobody can ignore the facts: It's time to hit the reset button on Foster Farms' Livingston plant,' he stated.

Meat processing plants have become COVID-19 hot spots since the virus began spreading through the country back in March. Infections and deaths of workers caused the temporary closure of other plants.

Meanwhile, California as a whole is struggling to contain the cornavirus outbreak.

The state has reported more than 695,000 cases of the virus, and more than 12,000 deaths.

Despite Thursday's order, Foster Farms told its Livingston employees to show up for shifts on Friday, according to an email obtained by The Los Angeles Times. A stock image from outside the facility is seen above
American expat Richard Sears, 70, holds one of the cards from Chinese Character Origin Cards, a product featuring augmented reality and animation showing the evolution of 108 Chinese characters. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

Learning hanzi (Chinese characters) can be a hard undertaking for foreigners and even for young Chinese.

The good news is that Chinese Character Origin Cards, a newly-launched product, can make learning them easy and fun.

Picture 108 hanzi such as ren (person), niao (bird), and lei (thunder) coming alive right in front of your eyes, telling you how they have evolved from the pictographs carved on ancient oracle bones all the way to what they look like now.

This may sound surreal, but it's just what the cards promise their users.

Featuring augmented reality and animation, the cards were co-developed by American expat Richard Sears, better known as Uncle Hanzi in China, and Shiwangme, a Nanjing-based company specializing in AR and AI applications.

Sears went viral online in 2011 after his website, hanziyuan.net, was promoted by Chinese bloggers and local media. The continuously updated database of ancient Chinese characters boasts more than 104,000 ancient Chinese character forms from various archeological sources.

"I liked the idea of using 2D animation and combining it with 3D AR to show the correct etymology of Chinese characters to Chinese children," said the 70-year-old, who decided to work as a special expert with Shiwangme to develop the product in 2018.

Sears found that hanzi primers featuring ancient pictographs are aplenty in the market but they are usually inaccurate or even wrong, not to mention without a proper explanation of cultural connotations behind the characters.

Chinese Character Origin Cards featuring augmented reality and animation shows the evolution of 108 Chinese characters.[For chinadaily.com.cn]

"Tapping the wealth of Uncle Hanzi's decades-long research and his strong database, we are able to show learners the evolution of Chinese characters correctly," said Shiwangme founder and CEO Zhang Shuai.

The augmented reality featured in the cards "would definitely offer users high-tech thrills and make the interactive learning experience much more fun", Zhang added.

Released under the brand Chinese Book Store, co-created by Sears and Zhang in 2018,Chinese Character Origin Cards has received positive market feedback.

Launched July 1 on Modian, a Chinese platform specializing in crowd-funding cultural creative projects, the Chinese Character Origin Cards project raised more than 113,000 yuan ($16,385) within a month, nearly five times higher than its original fundraising goal.

The evolution of Chinese character Wei from a pictograph to its modern form is depicted through animation in Chinese Character Origin Cards. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

Nearly 1,000 users on the platform supported the project, which combines AR and etymology.

"I ordered one for my first-grade nephew who's learning hanzi basics; I'm sure these AR cards will add fun to his learning," a supporter commented.

"The concept is so cool! I ordered one despite the fact that I'm in my 30s," commented another user.

Because of the joint project with Shiwangme, Sears won the Jinling Friendship Award, a biennial award set up by the Nanjing municipal government to recognize foreign experts' contributions to local economic and social development, on June 22.

However, Zhang and Sears won't rest on their laurels.

"It's only the first batch of cards. We will roll out two more. A total of 324 hanzi will be included to help hanzi learners lay a solid foundation," Zhang told China Daily Website. His team will put out the cards in more languages so that both Chinese and international Chinese learners can benefit from their creation. The English version will hit the market soon.

The AR technology enables Chinese Character Origin Cards users to see more digital information that comes with a card. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

Yet, making AR cards is far from what Zhang and Sears have envisioned about their co-built brand, whose mission is to make the Chinese language easy for learners around the world

They will develop online courses and games, besides AR cards and books.

They also will upgrade Sears' website, whose resources are accessible to all internet users.

As the website mainly deals with ancient Chinese character forms and their meanings, it falls short of offering materials for further elaboration.

To solve the problem, illustrations and animation will be included, Zhang said, adding, "We'll also help upgrade the technology so that searching characters on the website with a shared component will be much easier."

Chinese Character Origin Cards is paired with 108 one-minute animation videos to show the evolution of 108 Chinese characters. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

Chinese Character Origin Cards features 108 commonly used Chinese characters in the first batch developed by Shiwangme, a Nanjing-based high-tech company. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)
Lucknow:

The ruling SP was on the precipice of a split on Friday with party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav expelling his son and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and general secretary Ramgopal Yadav for six years after they put up candidates against the official nominees and summoned a party meet on Sunday.

The action, dubbed by a defiant Ramgopal, Mulayam's cousin, as "unconstitutional", as the party plunged into an unprecedented crisis raising questions over the fate of the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

On a day of fast-moving developments, hordes of frenzied Akhilesh supporters, especially the youth, thronged his residence to express their support.

Making the announcement at a press conference in Lucknow, Mulayam said the new chief minister will be chosen by the Samajwadi Party.

With his brother Shivpal Yadav, who has been at loggerheads with the Akhilesh, by his side, Mulayam said he had taken the action against Akhilesh and Ramgopal to save the party which he had built through hard efforts.

"We have to save the party. The party comes first. That is why we are expelling both Akhilesh and Ramgopal," Mulayam said.

He explained that the decision was taken after Ramgopal, in his capacity as general secretary, called an emergency meeting of the party on January 1 and Akhilesh "supported" it.

Want to urge party workers to come to RM Lohiya University on Jan 1 at 11am to discuss as to how to stop those doing wrong in party-RG Yadav pic.twitter.com/kdfzVdRvzO  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016

Ramgopal called the meeting after a showcause notice was issued to him and Akhilesh by Mulayam for releasing a list of candidates, parallel to the one issued officially by Mulayam.

"How can he (Akhilesh) release the list when the party has declared its candidates? Both Akhilesh and Ramgopal want to finish the party. I will not let it happen. I have built this party through hard work," Mulayam said. "I had made Akhilesh the chief minister with much fanfare," he added.

With regard to the emergency meeting called by Ramgopal on Sunday, Mulayam said only the party president has the power to convene such a meeting. "The party cannot run on Ramgopal's whims," Mulayam said.

Here are the key developments:

#Akhilesh Yadav to hold meeting with Samajwadi Party MLAs on Saturday at 9am. Will address party workers at 12pm

#You must have heard 'baap bada na bhaiya,' but in this case it is 'beta bada na bhaiya': S Trivedi on UP CM's expulsion from SP



#More than 100 MLAs throng CM Akhilesh Yadav's residence

Lucknow: Protesters tear down the posters of Shivpal Singh Yadav after Akhilesh Yadav was expelled from the party for 6 years pic.twitter.com/MivvuqJpQa  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016

#An Akhilesh supporter attempts suicide by pouring kerosene on himself: Reports



#Raj Bhawan on high alert following Mulayam's announcement: Source



#Security tightened outside the residences of Mulayam, AKhilesh and Shivpal: Source



#Lucknow Police put on alert in view of the political turmoil in Uttar Pradesh: Source

#There is situation of pol instability in UP,it's worrisome for democracy;we dont comment on internal division of any party: RS Surjewala, Congress

Lucknow: Protesters tear down the posters of Shivpal Singh Yadav after Akhilesh Yadav was expelled from the party for 6 years pic.twitter.com/MivvuqJpQa  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016

#UP people had already waved Akhilesh off, his expulsion doesn't have much impact: Shrikant Sharma

#Lucknow-Supporters gather outside Akhilesh Yadav's residence, raise slogans in his support after SP Chief expelled UP CM for 6 yrs frm party

#It is unfortunate. However it is their internal matter: Sharad Yadav, JD (U) on Ram Gopal and Akhilesh Yadav expelled from party

#In family-centered parties, if the family breaks up, the party also falls apart: Shrikant Sharma, BJP



#WATCH Supporters gather outside Akhilesh Yadav's residence, raise slogans in his support after SP Chief expelled him for 6 years from party pic.twitter.com/x5OFePsLVD  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016

#Want to urge party workers to come to RM Lohiya University on Jan 1 at 11am to discuss as to how to stop those doing wrong in party-RG Yadav



#It's unconstitutional to expel someone without listening to them just hours after issuing show-cause notice-Ram Gopal Yadav on his expulsion



#This is unconstitutional as both of us were expelled 2 hours after they gave the notice & without listening to our answers: Ram Gopal Yadav



#UP CM Akhilesh Yadav expelled for six years from Samajwadi Party; Supporters gather outside his residence



#I have worked really hard to make this party, what was their role in this? I work hard and they reap the fruits?: Mulayam



#To save the party, we have expelled both Ram Gopal and Akhilesh Yadav for six years from the party: Mulayam



#For us party is the most important and our priority is to save the party: SP Chief



# Akhilesh Yadav has been expelled from the party for six years: Mulayam

# Chief minister is indulging in groupism within the party: Mulayam

# Akhilesh is putting his own existence at risk: Mulayam

# Akhilesh should be a neutral entity as a chief minister but he has failed to read the situation: Mulayam

ALSO READ | Live updates: SP feud escalates, Mulayam expells Akhilesh, Ram Gopal from party for 6 years

# Ram Gopal Yadav has been expelled from the party for six years: Mulayam

# Akhilesh has indulged in indecipline and this is an attempt to hurt the party: Mulayam

# I am the national president of the Samajwadi Party: Mulayam Singh

#WATCH Akhilesh kya maafi mangega woh toh ladta hai, pita (father) manta hoga toh dekha jayega, says SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav pic.twitter.com/3RODK9uQKQ

 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016

(With inputs from PTI)
A former Tyrone GAA star accused of being a "high level drug dealer" was refused bail yesterday.

Peter Loughran (45) made the unsuccessful application at Belfast's High Court, where a Crown barrister alleged he was involved in the consignment and movement of "multiple kilos" of drugs.

The father-of-four, from Tamnamore Road in Dungannon, has been charged with eight drugs offences on dates between March and June this year.

The charges include supplying Class A and B drugs, and entering into an arrangement to acquire criminal property.

A barrister for Loughran, who was part of the 2003 Tyrone All-Ireland winning squad, told the court "he strenuously denies the offences".

Crown barrister Robin Steer told Mr Justice McAlinden that bail was opposed due to concerns Loughran may interfere with the investigation, and a risk that he may abscond.

Mr Steer said the police investigation centred on data obtained from an encrypted mobile phone, which included messages and images associated with a user calling himself 'Billy Boots.'

Saying the prosecution attributed this username to Loughran, Mr Steer said the messages and images showed his role was "at the highest level" concerning large consignments of drugs.

Mr Steer said there were other messages that suggested Loughran had a "leading role over others" regarding drugs and collecting cash.

Turning to objections to bail, Mr Steer expressed concerns Loughran may flee. He said it was noted that earlier this year, Loughran spent six weeks in Dubai, and that as part of the current police investigation it emerged that large sums of money were being transferred to an account on Dubai.

Defence barrister Michael Chambers said his client was a family man with no criminal record, who "denies the offences". Expressing concerns of a risk of flight, Mr Justice McAlinden dismissed the application.
Police released the name of the man who was shot and killed while walking his bike last week in a Northeast Albuquerque neighborhood.

Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos identified 34-year-old Daniel Collins as the man killed on Aug 21.

Police responded around 2 a.m. to the intersection of Buena Ventura and Shirley NE, near Juan Tabo and Central.

Officers found Collins lying in the road beside a bicycle. He had been shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses reported hearing several gunshots and a vehicle speeding off and police are now looking for a truck believed to be involved.

A Crime Stoppers release said the suspects pulled up next to Collins in a white truck and shot him.

Authorities released a surveillance photo of the truck, believed to be a full-sized Dodge Dually with fog lights on top of the cab.
The Delhi High Court on Saturday refused to vacate its stay on the telecast of a programme on Sudarshan TV about a big expose on conspiracy to infiltrate Muslims in government service". In an interim order on Friday, the high court had restrained the channel from airing the programme Bindas Bol which was scheduled for telecast at 8 pm last evening.

A special hearing was held on Saturday post 7 pm by Justice Navin Chawla on a plea filed by Sudarshan TV and its editor-in-chief seeking to vacate the stay order on telecast of the programme, a lawyer said. The channel submitted that the Supreme Court, on another petition, on Friday has refused to restrain pre-broadcast ban on Sudarshan TV from telecasting the programme.

An advocate associated with the case said the judge asked the channel to first respond to the notice issued to it by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which has sought a clarification after receiving several complaints. The court asked the channel to submit by September 1, its reply to the ministry, represented through central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia, which will decide it within 48 hours and place the decision before it.

The advocate said the court was also of the opinion that while in the matter before the Supreme Court the transcript was unverified, here the video clipping has not been disputed by the channel. In the high court, the main petition was filed by former and present students of Jamia Millia Islamia University, contending that the proposed broadcast sought to defame, attack and incite hatred against JMI, its alumni, and the Muslim community at large.

The high court had issued notices seeking replies from the central government, Sudarshan TV, and its Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke on the petition, which has been listed for further hearing on September 7. The petitioners counsel had shown a video clip of the trailer that was released by the TV channel for Bindas Bol and said it shows the programme could be in complete violation of the programme code.

He had said an irretrievable damage would be caused to the petitioners if the programme is allowed to be telecast. In the apex court, the petition was filed by advocate Firoz Iqbal Khan. The top court had said it has to first circumspect in imposing a prior restraint on publication or the airing of views. In the high court, the petition by Syed Mujtaba Athar, Ritesh Siraj and Aamir Subhani sought a direction to prohibit the telecast of the programme and to take down the trailers and all videos of the broadcast which are uploaded on the Internet by them.

It said the trailer was uploaded by the channels editor-in-chief on August 25 on social media and the petitioners came to know about it on August 27 when it went viral. The respondent no. 4 (Chavhanke) has openly incited his target non-Muslim audience by fearmongering that jihadis or terrorists from Jamia Millia Islamia would soon hold positions of authority and power like that of collector and secretary," it said.

The plea said if the proposed broadcast is allowed to go ahead, it would present a clear danger to the security of the petitioners as well as that of other students and alumni of Jamia Millia Islamia including those who cleared the Civil Services Exam in 2020 as well as the Muslim community at large. It claimed that this would leave them open to the imminent threat of violence, including the possibility of lynching.

This would amount to an extremely egregious violation of the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed to the petitioners under Article 21 of the Constitution," the plea said. It said a prima facie case is made out that the proposed broadcast amounts to hate speech and criminal defamation and fatally compromises the right to life and liberty of the petitioners.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed PREMIUM TIMES exclusive report, saying it recently quizzed some top officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over various allegations of corruption.

This newspaper had on Friday broken the story that the anti-graft agency arrested and questioned some NDDC officials for alleged graft.

Azuka Ogugua, the spokesperson of the Commission, confirmed the report in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Ms Ogugua said the allegations included diversion of funds, procurement fraud and misappropriation of the agencys COVID-19 funds.

The ICPC spokesperson said some directors of the NDDC, who she did not identify, were arrested and quizzed at the ICPC headquarters recently.

According to her, this came after months of intelligence gathering, following the receipt of petitions from Nigerians on the alleged illegalities and contracts fraud by some officials of the agency.

Top officials of the agency are being investigated for their complicity in an alleged diversion of N5.474 billion meant for the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers handling the COVID-19 pandemic in the nine states of NDDC.

The commission is also investigating the payments of millions of Naira to staff of the agency for foreign training during the COVID-19 full lockdown which were never attended.

As well as the non payment of entitlements to students on foreign scholarships.

Other allegations being investigated by ICPC include the selling of backdated contract award letters for projects and awards of contracts that were not captured in the budget of the NDDC, she said.

She added that the ICPC had already retrieved relevant documents with which to continue investigations towards the recovery of diverted funds and prosecution of breaches of the law.

The NDDC had dominated headlines in recent times following a corruption probe launched by the National Assembly.

During one of the hearings, the Acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Kemebradikumo Pondei, admitted that the commission spent N1.5 billion as COVID-19 palliatives for its staff.

The Senate later disclosed in a report that top management of the commission paid themselves N85.6 million to attend a graduation ceremony in the United Kingdom during the lockdown in Nigeria.

The legislative investigation became controversial when the commissions management accused some senators and members of the House of Representatives of benefiting from several NDDC contracts.

(NAN)
Unrest in Malmo city after copy of Muslim holy book is burned during a far-right rally in a mainly immigrant district.

At least 10 people were arrested in southern Sweden and several police officers injured in violence triggered by an illegal protest where a copy of the Quran was burned.

Protesters in Malmo city threw stones at police and burned tyres on the streets late on Friday, with violence escalating as the night wore on, according to police and local media.

The demonstration of about 300 people was connected to a rally earlier on Friday in which far-right activists burned a copy of the Muslim holy book in Rosengard, a largely migrant neighbourhood, police spokesman Rickard Lundqvist told Swedish tabloid, Expressen.

Anti-Muslim Danish politician Rasmus Paludan was expected to attend that rally, but was stopped by the police at the Swedish-Danish border, police said.

Between 10 and 20 protesters were arrested late on Friday for the violence and have all been released, police spokesman Patric Fors told AFP news agency.

The violence had subsided by Saturday morning. Its not right, Malmo resident Shahed told the SVT public broadcaster. But it wouldnt have happened if they hadnt burned the Quran.

Demonstrators burn tyres during clashes with police in the Rosengard neighbourhood of Malmo, Sweden [TT news agency/AFP]

Earlier on Friday, Paludan, who leads the far-right Danish anti-immigration Hard Line party, was stopped at the border with Denmark and subsequently banned from entering Sweden for two years.

Paludan was due to travel to Malmo to speak at Fridays event. But authorities pre-empted his arrival by announcing the ban and briefly detaining him near Malmo.

We suspect that he was going to break the law in Sweden, Calle Persson, spokesman for the police in Malmo told AFP. There was also a risk that his behaviour  would pose a threat to society.

But his supporters went ahead with the rally, during which six people were arrested for inciting racial hatred.

Paludan later put up a scathing message on Facebook. Sent back and banned from Sweden for two years. However, rapists and murderers are always welcome! he wrote.

Paludan last year attracted media attention for burning a Quran wrapped in bacon  a meat banned in Islam.

In June, Paludan was sentenced to a three-month prison sentence in Denmark over various violations of that countrys hate-speech laws.
(Newser)  Roughly a thousand people gathered Saturday in Kenosha for a march and rally against police violence, about a week after an officer shot Jacob Blake in the back and left the 29-year-old Black man paralyzed, the AP reports. Marchers chanted "No justice, no peace!" and "Seven bullets, seven days"a reference to the number of times Blake was shot on Sunday. Those leading the march carried a banner reading "Justice for Jacob" as they made their way toward the Kenosha County Courthouse, where several speakers encouraged demonstrators to vote for change in November. "There were seven bullets put in my son's back. ... Hell yeah, I'm mad," said Blake's father, Jacob Blake, Sr. He said he wants to ask the police "what gave them the right to attempted murder on my child?"

story continues below
The much-anticipated Celera 500L 'bullet' plane which is set to revolutionize private air travel has been revealed.

Developed by California-based Otto Aviation, the Celera is a six-person craft they say boasts groundbreaking fuel efficiency with eight times less consumption.

Yet, it can still fly at jet speeds with a maximum cruising speed of 460 miles per hour, while having a range of more than 4,500 miles, twice that of other aircraft the same size.

Powered by a RED A03 engine, the aircraft is expected to be on commercial sale by 2025 but the cost is not yet known until main production begins.

Scroll down for video

The first official images of the Celera 500L were launched this week. Its developer Otto Aviation claims is will revolutionize private air travel with its low costs and speed

It has the capability to run at 18 to 25 miles-per-gallon fuel economy compared to the 2-3 miles-per-gallon used by a comparably sized jet aircraft, driving hourly operating costs down to at $328 per hour.

According to a press release from Otto Aviation Wednesday, this makes it the 'most environmentally friendly airplane in its class and presents a major leap forward in the effort to develop a zero-emission air transportation system'.

The company additionally hopes the decreased costs will make private travel more competitive with commercial options and open the market up to a large segment of new travelers.

It says it could supply direct access to over 5,000 regional airports, allowing passengers to avoid airport congestion and arrive closer to their destinations.

It claims the range and speed makes the aircraft a suitable option as an air taxi also, that can ferry travelers between any two cities in the continental United States without needing to refuel.

'Innovation at its core is solving a problem without conventional bias. Our goal was to create a private aircraft that would allow for direct flights between any city pair in the U.S. at speeds and cost comparable to commercial air travel,' said William Otto Sr., Chairman and Chief Scientist of Otto Aviation in a statement.

'In many cases, individuals and families will be able to charter the Celera 500L at prices comparable to commercial airfares, but with the added convenience of private aviation.

'We believe when the price of private air travel is competitive with commercial air travel, an enormous market opportunity will result.'

The main cabin features six first-class customizable seats

The aircraft can travel more than 4,500 miles without needing to refuel

How the Celera compares to a jet of the same size

Otto Aviaton believes the jet could also be used for commercial operations with low costs per pound of payload and its ability to transfer between US cities at high speeds making it an option for next-day delivery freight.

The company believes this aspect has massive potential, especially given the large demand for online shopping and delivery during the coronavirus pandemic.

'We believe the Celera 500L is the biggest thing to happen to both the aviation and travel industries in 50 years,' Otto adds.

'Beyond using our aircraft for passenger travel, it can also be used for cargo operations and military applications. Since the results from our prototype test flights have been so promising, we're ready to bring the Celera 500L to market.'

To date, the Celera 500L has complete 31 test flights that appear to have proven the capabilities of its unusual design.

It is powered by a RED A03 engine with a liquid-cooled V12 twin six-cylinder bank and is certified to operate on Jet A1 and biodiesel.

The company claims that the impressive speeds are all down to laminar flow, which it explains on its website as the minimum drag solution for aircraft surfaces, featuring smooth layers of airflow with little to no mixing of adjacent layers.

Laminar shapes were used for the wing and tail sections and the fuselage takes advantage of an optimum length-to-width ratio.

Inside the cabin, the aircraft does not shirk on comfort as the teardrop design opens up space. There are six first-class customization seats and the cabin stands 6 foot 2 high.

The Celera 500L runs with eight times less fuel consumption.

The current version does not come with windows in the passengers' cabin but owner William Otto said the design would be the same. Pictured, a design for the model with windows

The current version does not have windows in the cab but Otto told CNN Travel that they will come.

'The windows will not have an impact on laminar flow, as they are mounted flush and have the same contours as the exterior shape of the fuselage,' he explained.

There had previously been a remarkable amount of secrecy surrounding the aircraft that was spotted undergoing tests as far back as 2017 and led to much curiosity over its unusual design.

In 2019, it was also spotted doing taxi tests with NASA pilot Scott Howe at the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, which is northeast of Los Angeles.

Otto Aviation, founded in 2008 as an offshoot of Bill Otto's Otto Laboratories, launched the aircraft's website and first press release on Wednesday, however, as they revealed their plans for the next stage of development.

While the aircraft has been designed with civilian and commercial operations in mind, the website also notes that it could also eventually have military applications and be used as a drone.

Otto Aviation believes the aircraft could be used for air taxi services

'Superior cruise speed, range, and loiter time opens the Celera 500L to a wide range of military missions including personnel travel, ISR and cargo capabilities,' it states.

'The unique long-range capability of the Celera 500L allows for efficient transportation to remote bases and communities previously only served by larger and more costly aircraft.

'The Celera 500L has significant potential as a drone because its combination of range, speed, service ceiling and cost are unattainable by existing unmanned aerial vehicle,' it adds.

The company also has plans to expand further, stating that the current design of the plane could be increased by 20 percent to allow for more passengers and cargo.

The Celera 100L would double the cabin volume and have the ability to fit five D-sized shipping containers, a standard in larger scale air cargo.

The next step for the company is now another round of funding, to begin the FAA certification process and to establish a manufacturing facility before they can begin to sell.

Otto believes that the the first commercial deliveries of the Celera 500L could begin by 2025.

It all comes as a difficult time for air travel as the coronavirus pandemic dectimates the travel and tourism industry.

Yet Otto Aviation remains hopeful that it remains an ideal time for the Celera 500L to launch, with travelers more open to spending money on provate travel rather than risk the chance of infection from strangers on a commercial flight.

'Launching amid the current aviation landscape has only bolstered what we aim to provide with the Celera 500L,' Otto told CNN Travel. 'We believe that when the price of private air travel is competitive with commercial air travel, an enormous market opportunity will result.'

'Of course, we didn't anticipate Covid-19 but there are enhanced market opportunities in being able to afford to fly with only those you choose to. Being able to avoid crowded airports and lines is another big benefit,' he added.
Sunday, August 30th, 2020 (12:01 am) - Score 10,190

The elephant in the room of the UK Governments broadband centric Universal Service Obligation (USO) has always been the fact that it isnt truly universal and tens of thousands of premises have fallen outside of its scope. In other words, getting a minimum speed of 10Mbps can become very expensive for some.

Assuming you were all following the development of the new USO on ISPreview.co.uk, then you probably already know about the pricey catch-22 of its design, but since the obligation was implemented in March 2020 many people are now finding out about this for the first time. Needless to say, the high cost of deployment is quickly being brought into a sharp focus.

NOTE: Ofcom s spring 2020 coverage data found that around 2% of the UK or 608,000 premises fall into the USO ( here ), which drops to 189,000 premises when 4G (mobile) is included as a solution.

Before we get started its important to understand what the USO is and how it works. Essentially, those who live in an area where download speeds of at least 10Mbps (1Mbps upload) arent achievable have gained the legal right to request a 10Mbps+ capable connection from BT (or KCOM if you live in Hull). Meanwhile areas that are due to benefit from a publicly funded broadband rollout plan within the next 12 months remain excluded.

A cost threshold of 3,400 per premises applies to the USO. In other words, if the cost of building or upgrading your share of the network connection is 3,400 or less, then you wont have to pay for this work to be done. If it costs more than that to connect your home, and you still want a connection, then you can choose to pay the excess costs or forget it. The build itself is expected to take 12 months, but may take up to 24 months for some.

Originally the expectation was that this would be delivered using fixed line broadband ISP solutions, such as FTTC or FTTP, but Ofcoms decision to allow 4G (mobile broadband) into the mix has changed things (see above). Despite this, there are still some areas where neither 4G nor fixed lines can reach at 10Mbps. BT previously estimated that 110,000 premises could end up being too expensive for even the USO to solve.

Expensive Civil Engineering

In order to understand how expensive it is to connect remote communities we have to look back at a few practical examples, including some by other operators. One such scheme was the excellent Balquhidder deployment in rural Scotland (here), which aimed to connect c.200 premises (mostly homes) around Loch Doine and Loch Voil with FTTP. This cost over 400,000 (2,000 per premises) due, in part, to the sparse and rugged terrain.

Other recent examples include the Michaelston-y-Fedw community project in rural Wales (here), which at the time was working to a budget of around 260,000 (300,000) in order to connect roughly 70 properties, but theyve since raised this to 200 with FTTP  this equates to a per premises cost of around 1,300-1,400.

At the cheaper end of the spectrum there are examples like the Openreach (BT) based Community Fibre Partnership (CFP) in the rural Welsh village of Llancarfan (here), which was quoted about 67,000 to cover 129 properties (519 per premises). Meanwhile another Openreach build to connect just 5 remote rural homes around Morton Farm (here), just south of Tayport in Fife (Scotland), was quoted around 23,000 (4,600 per premises).

Crucially some community projects can save a lot of money by involving volunteers to help build the network and encouraging local land owners (e.g. farmers) to waive their right to wayleave fees, but other locations arent so lucky. Suffice to say that every area is different, but its a well established fact that connecting up smaller rural communities is a slow and expensive business (hence why theyre usually the last to benefit).

Openreach has previously estimated that some rural communities in the final 10% of areas could require an outlay of around 4,000 each to pass with FTTP (here), which compares with build costs of 300-400 for the first 50% of more commercially viable UK premises. Meanwhile Ofcoms more optimistic model indicated that the capital expenditure needed to do FTTP for the first c.20 million UK premises is under 500 per premises, but above that point it quickly rises to around 2,500 (here).

Costs for the USO Excluded

The above examples seem to indicate that a cost threshold of 3,400 per premises should be enough to help cover the bulk of costs for many USO communities that exist without access to either a viable fixed line or 4G solution, although clearly BT expects that quite a few areas will still be more expensive than this to tackle. Indeed some extremes will exist that go way above that level.

According to one of Ofcoms documents on the USO design from March 2018 (here), The final 1% of UK premises are materially more expensive to connect than premises in the rest of the country, and within this, that the most expensive premises to connect could cost 45,000 or more (a specific broadband technology isnt mentioned for this estimate).

The regulator also stated that a 3,400 threshold should achieve 99.8% coverage while avoiding the exponential costs of the most expensive to reach premises, which the Local Government Association (LGA) estimates would leave c.60,000 unserved by the USO (this is below BTs estimate but still in roughly the same sort of ballpark).

The USO has now been in operation for several months, albeit at reduced effectiveness due to the COVID-19 crisis, and as a result were starting to see a growing list of USO requests that seem to fall outside of the cost threshold. The following examples represent those that cost more than the per premises threshold (i.e. the quotes have already subtracted the cost threshold, leaving a bigger bill left to pay).

NOTE: Quotes will often only apply to SOME of the community (clusters), particularly if its already partly served by an existing 10Mbps+ capable connection ( Quotes will often only apply to SOME of the community (clusters), particularly if its already partly served by an existing 10Mbps+ capable connection ( FTTC ADSL , 4G etc.).

Example USO Quotes (those not fully covered by the 3,400):  Llangwm (Monmouthshire), home to about 20 properties within a 200 metre radius of the quoted premises (100+ properties across the entire area), was quoted 30,000 to one resident.  Pandy (Ceiriog Valley, Wrexham) saw 11 individual properties each being quoted figures between 11,000 and 30,000. Most were about 4km from the nearest known fibre, but only two got the 30k quote and oddly they were 2km closer to that fibre than the others. USO Quotes Received

11,782

11,000

11,782

11,782

12,000

11,782

12,000

11,782

11,782

30,000

30,000

TOTAL: 165,692.00 Locals were later informed that the community partnership (CFP) scheme was their only way forward  instead of the USO  and they, by comparison, had an initial quote of 150k for 58 properties. Residents noted that many of those 58 properties were miles away up in the hills on completely different circuits (often also with good 4G) and other properties did not exist (i.e. just plots or old sheds). Residents have since updated Openreach with the correct information and added a few premises they missed. Once gigabit vouchers are added (only under a CFP) then the final quote is expected to be less than half the original, which just goes to show that you can never fully rely on the first quote to be accurate (i.e. if you can, do your own checking as a community first).  Brentor (Devon), home to around 400 people (100+ premises), saw some individuals being given quotes of 42,000 to 45,000.  Strathconon [general area] (Highlands), an extremely remote location in Scotland with 21 premises (mostly holiday cottages), saw one individual (John) being given a quote of 1.1m (let that sink in!). Despite this John was previously given a separate CFP quote by Openreach for the same area and that came in at 535k, although it also included two other nearby communities (80+ premises). Meanwhile a neighbour about 2.8 miles away (via road) got a USO quote for only 160k, which reflected about 18 properties and is similarly remote. However, its hoped that Scotlands 4G Infill Programme will soon complete a new mobile mast, which looks as if it may serve the area (it remains to be seen if that delivers 10Mbps+).

We have also seen various other quotes, but we dont yet have enough information about all of them and in any case the trend is often similar to those listed above. Crucially, the process for handling these has revealed that BTs messaging still needs some significant improvement.

In order to better illustrate these issues were going to pick out one example from Colin Dawes, who lives in the rural village of Brentor (mentioned above) on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon and take you through some of his story. A lot of what Colin has experienced is shared in common with others who have found themselves in this same boat.

Example USO Complaint from Rural Devon

Colin lives across an area of moorland currently served by a buried copper cable that also serves the rest of the village, but at present the best fixed broadband speed at his location is less than 5Mbps and theres no viable mobile signal. Airbands fixed wireless network is also nearby-ish but, due to tall trees, that isnt an option for everybody.

Please click to continue reading on page 2..
Say no to plastics: What is single-use plastic and why has Modi called for a war against it?

Sharp rise in plastic waste crime, need to fight crime driven pollution: Interpol

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 29: The Interpol has said that criminal networks are exploiting the legitimate pollution management business. There has been an alarming increase in illegal plastic pollution, a Strategic Analysis Report on the emerging criminal trends in global plastic waste markets since 2018 has said.

Since January 2018, indicates that there has been a considerable increase over the past two years in illegal waste shipments, primarily rerouted to South-East Asia via multiple transit countries to camouflage the origin of the waste shipment.

Other key findings include an increase in illegal waste fire and landfills in Europe and Asia, a significant rise in the use of counterfeit documents and fraudulent waste registrations, with case studies from each of the contributing countries illustrating the extent and complexity of the problem.

Based on open sources and criminal intelligence from 40 countries, the report provides a comprehensive global picture of emerging trafficking routes and crime threats in the plastic waste market, and recommends tailored enforcement responses, the report also said.

Further the report says that there is a link between the crime networks and legitimate pollution management businesses which are used as a cover for illegal operations, with criminals often resorting to financial crime and document forgery to carry out their global operations.

It also refers to the murder of a mayor of a small French town. He was murdered for trying to prevent illegal waste dumping in his area.

Difficulties in treating and monitoring the plastic waste surplus have opened doors for opportunistic crime in the plastic waste sector, both in illegal trade and illegal waste treatment.

Last May, Malaysian authorities began the process of returning almost 4,000 tonnes of plastic waste to 13 countries, a sign of the country's determination to tackle the illegal trade in plastic waste, the report noted.

"The Chinese government is committed to fighting plastic waste crime. In recent years we have changed legislation to address it, establishing stronger administrative procedures and launching national campaigns to tackle it, particularly as it relates to cross-border smuggling," said Daqi Duan, China's Head of INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) and International Cooperation Department Deputy Director General (Ministry of Public Security).

Suresh Raina returns home, to skip IPL | Blow to CSK | Oneindia News

The report calls for the world's police community to work together across borders in monitoring this crime, becoming more proactive in waste enforcement, scanning risks earlier, and carrying out financial investigations and intelligence-led operations. LSW is a capacity building initiative led by SEPA with funding from the LIFE programme of the European Union to help law enforcement tackle waste crime.

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Story first published: Saturday, August 29, 2020, 12:38 [IST]
A man was disemboweled after he asked a group of people why they were staring at him. He was in New York City in the Bronx when the unfortunate incident happened.

According to the police, the 28-year-old male, whose name was kept private, faced a horrible incident which started when a group of men were not looking at him in a friendly way. This happened around 1 a.m. on June 18, reported New York Post.

There was no exact reason given for the savage attack, or why the group acted in such a violent manner. No information was given if the assailants were black or Latino.

Based on reports, the victim was minding his own business when a group was eyeing him in an unsavory manner. He made the mistake of asking what was the matter which urged one of the men to draw a knife and slashed the victim's belly violently, reported The Sun. The cut was so deep that he spilled his intestines.

Despite his abdomen cut, he survived with his guts spilling out. The victim was able to survive the slash and was able to reach a nearby firehouse for assistance. An ambulance was summoned just in time, said the New York Police Department (NYPD).

The news outlet confirmed through the police that the hapless victim was better and stable at the Lincoln Hospital in Mott Haven.

The exact location of the knife attack by unknown assailants is at Washington Avenue and East 167th Street in Morrisania. Suspects have not been identified. Many of the perps have been identified as black who have figured in deadly and violent incidents of late.

Also read: Joe Biden's Family Record Show Drug Usage, Drunk Driving, and Other Charges But No One Was Jailed

Crimes are surging in New York City and are rampaging out of control. One issue in the city is the call to defund police which is making law and order worse, notwithstanding the policies of the mayor's office.

From a month that ended on June 14, the worst crimes and felonies have been committed that was worst from 2019. Murders are now rampant in NYC as there is more than a 25% rise than in 2019 and the same duration, reported by CNN.

Most of the crimes related to murder have risen, but the occurrence of rape, stealing, and grand larceny has been getting less from last year.

Sources release these crime stats were given as the problems that came with the lockdown from COVID-19. Events then came to threatened law and order.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said after the stats came out that the NYPD will not assign plainclothes policemen. They will be rotated to other roles instead.

De Blasio cuts police funding

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said that funds from the police will be moved to other sectors, like youth and social services, noted PIX11.

Some city council members are thinking of a $1 billion cut from the NYPD's $6 billion, but his press secretary says De Blasio is against the cut of police funds. It is an unsound way to keep public safety.

The knife attack disemboweling the victims is only one of the rampant crimes turning NYC into an unsafe city.

Related article: Black Americans Want Police Presence in Their Neighborhoods, Recent Poll Reveals

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A teen who organized a Black Lives Matter rally in her northern New Jersey town has said she was sent a $2,500 bill from officials for police overtime.

Emily Gil, 18, of Englewood Cliffs received a letter earlier this month from Mayor Mario M. Kranjac looking for payment of $2,499.26 'for the police overtime caused by your protest,' NJ Advance Media reported Friday.

A civil liberties advocate called the move 'shocking' and a potential infringement of free speech rights.

Gil, a recent high school graduate, had organized a protest on July 25 in the town, just across the Hudson River from the uppermost parts of Manhattan.

Emily Gil, 18, of Englewood Cliffs received a letter earlier this month looking for payment of $2,499.26 'for the police overtime caused by your protest'

A New Jersey teen organized a Black Lives Matter rally (above) that lasted 90-minutes - and days later, was handed a bill from the mayor for $2,500 to cover 'police overtime'

Gil, a recent high school graduate, had organized a protest (above) on July 25 in the town, just across the river from the uppermost parts of Manhattan

She said she called for action like increasing affordable housing in the town, and chastised Engelwood Cliffs for not implementing it over the years.

The town's letter said she had not met with officials before her protest, requiring them to hastily come up with security plans.

Gil said she didn't meet with them in person over coronavirus concerns, but made an offer to meet via Zoom, which wasn't accepted, and then officials stopped responding to her.

She said she had reached out to Kranjac after getting the bill, but has gotten no response.

Mayor Mario M. Kranjac that protesters' rights of free speech and assembly were respected, and that Gil was wrong to link affordable housing to her protest

Gil said she called for action like increasing affordable housing in the town, and chastised Engelwood Cliffs for not implementing it over the years

Gill says the protest was small and peaceful, with 30 to 40 people attending

'I was shocked when I read the letter,' she told WPVI-TV. 'I felt a little disrespected because the tone of the letter was kind of condescending.'

Kranjac told NJ Advance Media that protesters' rights of free speech and assembly were respected, and that Gil was wrong to link affordable housing to her protest.

'As with any privately-sponsored event that takes place in the borough requiring police safety, an invoice was sent to the organizer for police overtime since it would be unfair to require our residents to financially support a private event,' he said.

An email was sent to Kranjac by The Associated Press seeking comment.

Protesters attend the July 25 rally outside of the Englewood Cliffs police department

The rally mixed Black Lives Matter messages with demands for more affordable housing

City officials said that organizers did not give them enough notice to prepare for the rally

Four Democratic members of the town's Council issued a statement opposing the Republican mayor's decision, and said they would seek to cancel the bill. They said he owed the teen an apology.

Jeanne LoCicero, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, told the AP, 'the idea of sending a bill to protesters is shocking.'

She said while it's been attempted before, she hadn't heard of any other town trying something similar over the protests of recent months.

'People have the right to speak freely,' the group said in a tweet on Friday. 'Towns can't charge protesters for police or insurance for exercising their constitutional rights.'
Want to make $1,000 off the coronavirus?

Well, if one economist had his way, you would get the cash in exchange for taking a vaccine for the virus.

If we dont get herd immunity, were not getting our economy back and were not getting our society and our lives back, Robert Litan, an economist with the Brookings Institution, told Yahoo Finance. If you paid $1,000 a person  so for a family of four youre talking $4,000. In these hard times, thats a lot of money and I think a lot of people would take the vaccine for $1,000.

According to the story, about 70 percent of the population would need to be vaccinated to reach the threshold for herd immunity needed to sufficiently slow the spread of the virus. Dr. Anthony Fauci said the country would not reach the threshold if as much as 25% of the population chose not to be vaccinated, Yahoo reported.

Litan proposes giving folks $200 when they are vaccinated, and the rest when the country hits the herd immunity threshold. He said the plan would provide incentive for those who receive the vaccine to go on social media (and) talk to their friends, talk to their family, talk to their church colleagues, work colleagues and say, Hey, take the vaccine because you and I will both get that extra $800.

Yahoo Finance said the plan would cost around $275 billion.

But Litan said its better than forcing people to take the vaccine which he said would create a backlash.

The alternative is as long as people stay home and we have massive unemployment, he said. Were losing trillions of dollars annually in lost economic output because our economy is not at full employment. And so, to get a shot for $275 billion to get our lives back and our economy back seems to me the best investment you can make and its cheap in comparison to the alternative.
She is a passionate fitness devotee after undergoing a lifestyle overhaul where she has even launched her own branded online gym.

And Davina McCall, 52, looked sensational as she flaunted her washboard abs in a set of colourful bikinis to her Instagram on Friday which she had planned to wear in France over the weekend.

The inaugural Big Brother presenter displayed her taut abs after returning home from the holiday location where she had planned to celebrate her daughter Tilly's, 16, GCSE results.

Amazing: Davina McCall, 52, looked sensational as she flaunted her washboard abs in a set of colourful bikinis to her Instagram which she had planned to wear in France over the weekend

A fresh-faced Davina looked radiant as she posed in her bedroom in the vibrant two-pieces gifted by fashion designer Melissa Odabash.

With her signature chestnut brown locks styled in a sleek centre parting, Davina accessorised with layered gold necklaces as she smiled broadly at the camera.

In her first look, Davina slipped into a plunging mustard yellow bikini which showcased her ample assets and incredibly-toned stomach.

Fun: The TV presenter put a playful display as she appeared to giggle in front of the lens while posing in a navy two-piece which featured a bow in the centre of her bust

With her hands on her hips, the mother-of-three oozed confidence in a frill red bardot number which complemented her bronzed complexion.

The TV presenter put on a playful display as she appeared to giggle in front of the lens while posing in a navy two-piece which featured a bow in the centre of her bust.

In a fourth shot, Davina opted for a red-and-white printed set which featured a full-length zip top and hipster bottoms.

Sweet: Davina opted for a red-and-white printed set which featured a full-length zip top and hipster bottoms

Putting her all into a final pose, Davina looked every inch the fitness star as she flaunted her jaw-dropping physique in a silver set featuring a V-cut neckline with frill detailing.

Captioning the snaps, Davina wrote: 'I was supposed to be in France this weekend celebrating end of gcses with my daughter ... @melissaodabash (who I am mildly obsessed with) gifted me these costumes.

'I would have paraded around in these on the beach and posted on here ... to say thank you to her for being so lovely ... but instead I shall parade around my bedroom.

Stunning: Davina looked every inch the fitness star as she flaunted her jaw-dropping physique in a silver set featuring a V-cut neckline with frill detailing

'Thank you Melissa u make me feel fab x the last one is a proper pose ...'

It comes as Britain added France to its 'red list' of banned countries on August 15 after a spike in coronavirus cases.

All travellers returning from the country to the UK must stay at home for a fortnight.

Grateful: Davina thanked fashion designer Melissa Odabash for the gifted bikinis

Davina had been soaking up the sun in France with her three children, Holly, 18, Tilly, 16 and Chester, 13, from her former marriage to presenter Matthew Robertson.

The presenter spent lockdown self-isolating with her children in their West Sussex home, and seemed to be revelling in the freedom eased restrictions have afforded.

The Making the Cut podcast presenter had been making the best of the extra time at home by varying her fitness regime and avoiding processed foods, sharing her progress in a series of Instagram snaps.
The global race for a COVID-19 is well under way. Above, a technician at an Argentinian company works under an agreement between Argentina and Mexico to produce an experimental vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Two Charleston sites are enrolling a total of 3,000 patients in the same trial. File/AP
What are the effects of Poliovirus?

The role of WHO in the fight against poliovirus

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It is no news that Africa has undergone many disasters, including famine and several widespread polio cases all over the African region. The spread of polio cases first began in the year 2000. The rate of these cases kept soaring by every passing year, and by the time, it entered 2005, the cases took a massive spike and reached around 1200. The continent of Africa has now become completely free of this virus after extreme measures.The people of Africa have been fighting this battle since the day it entered into their lives because of its deadly results. Poliovirus is a contagious virus that only attacks the children of age under 5. This virus causes severe infection in their spinal cords or breathing muscles of the child to which eventually results in extreme paralysis. With the help of several organizations, including the World Health Organization, the epidemic of Poliovirus in Africa was finally restrained, and the increased number of cases was reduced to just a few.While fighting the battle against the polio-stricken continent, the regional director of WHO Dr Matshidiso Moeti commented that Its been a momentous, massive undertaking, with amazing persistence and perseverance, coming in the face of moments when we thought we were just about there, then wed have a reversal. After 15 years of extreme struggle and fight against this virus, Africa was finally free from the shackles of Poliovirus. Similarly, many countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan, have yet to recover from this virus.
On March 15, as the novel coronavirus was beginning to surge in the United States, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci accomplished a rare Washington feat: He appeared on all five major Sunday talk shows.

But the White House worried that Fauci might upstage (and sometimes contradict) President Donald Trump, and soon his media handlers were no longer approving his high-profile interview requests.

So Fauci found another way to get his message out: He said yes to pretty much every small offer that came his way: academic webinars, Instagram feeds and niche science podcasts as well as a few celebrity interviews.

Thats how Fauci, the countrys leading infectious disease scientist, found himself talking to the American Urological Association in June; the Economic Club of Chicago in July; and the Brazda Breakfast briefing this month.

And it may be how he ended up with a polyp on his vocal cord. Essentially I was talking all day without interruption for six months, he wrote in an email message Friday, the day after he had surgery to remove it.

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 coronavirus pandemic has turned Fauci, a career government scientist first propelled into public view in the early years of the AIDS epidemic, into a genuine celebrity. There is now all manner of Fauci swag  Fauci socks, T-shirts, coffee mugs, buttons, stickers and masks. When the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame made a doll in his likeness, it quickly became our best-selling bobblehead of all time, said Phil Sklar, the groups chief executive officer.

That renown has pushed him into the higher echelons of media interest. Most people need a slot on a major show to have a better chance of reaching a huge audience. But reporters track all of Faucis appearances, however obscure.

He can talk anywhere, and if he has something he wants to say, people will notice it, said Brendan Buck, who was the communications director for former House Speaker Paul Ryan, another man who could make news even in obscure places. Fauci, he said, could talk to a PTA newsletter if he wanted to, and it would be covered, and there would be follow-on eyes for it.

Asked about his rules for media appearances, Fauci said (by email) he frequently says yes. His only automatic nos are for fundraisers or anything remotely political.

Whether by design or not, Fauci has effectively circumvented efforts by the White House to mute him. Since Mark Meadows took over as chief of staff on March 31, White House communications officials have approved very few requests from major outlets. But there is no such review process for smaller ones, like the weekly podcast of the Journal of the American Medical Association or the KC ODea radio show.

In recent weeks, Fauci has been joining as many as five such shows a day. On Aug. 13, he appeared on ODeas show, which serves the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, market; a podcast affiliated with the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center; The Pat McCrory Show with Bo Thompson; a National Geographic special on pandemics; and a local Fox affiliate in High Point, North Carolina. He also appeared on NewsHour, the PBS evening news show.

His appearances are widely watched by reporters from larger outlets, who then quote him in their news reports.

Peter Staley, an HIV/AIDS activist who has been close to him for years, said Fauci had always been a skilled public communicator, able to promote public health messages through any available channel.

He would prefer to go on Andrea Mitchell and Sanjay Gupta, but he has marveled that this lower-level stuff kind of ends up the same way, Staley said. He does the little Zoom with Harvard, and its on CNN that night.

In July, Fauci appeared on a weekly video news conference that Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., hosts for local media on his Facebook page. Fauci made news when he directly contradicted Trump by saying it was a false narrative to take comfort in a lower rate of death, comments that rippled across the national media that day.

Fauci has rarely appeared on CNNs prime-time broadcasts, but he did grant an hourlong interview to The Axe Files, a CNN-backed podcast hosted by David Axelrod, who was a top adviser to President Barack Obama. Tony is the personification of the nagging reality that science presents, Axelrod said. What he understands is that it really doesnt matter where you say what you say. Were in a digital age, and you will be heard. And hes right. I mean, you know, when Tony Fauci speaks, people find him.

Journalists with major news broadcasts are frustrated they cant book Fauci during a public health emergency. Margaret Brennan, host of CBS Face the Nation, told her audience in July that the White House had not approved any interviews with Fauci since March, inhibiting public understanding of the pandemic. We will continue our efforts, she said. Mary Hager, executive producer of the show, said they asked for Fauci and other government scientists every week.

We have this genius and this gold mine of a guest, she said. And we cant use him to his absolute maximum capacity at a time when people are dying.

Yet Faucis accessibility is a boon for smaller outlets that cant always book such a prominent guest. In July, Vincent Racaniello, a Columbia University professor and the co-host of a podcast, This Week in Virology, inquired about an interview. Fauci agreed almost immediately.

I was surprised because I know hes been very busy, he said. I figured he wouldnt have time to do it, and I also wondered whether he would be allowed to do it.

Fauci spoke on the podcast for 30 minutes, sharing his assessments of the latest science on COVID-19 and the strategies that various pharmaceutical companies were using to investigate vaccines. The audience for the 12-year-old This Week in Virology has been growing since the pandemic hit, but the Fauci episode has been its most popular one, with close to 100,000 combined podcast downloads and YouTube views.

Given the urgency of the situation and the need to get correct information out, I was doing as many as humanly possible, Fauci said. He mentioned he had a soft spot for commencement addresses, of which he had done several, even though he knew the audiences would be small. He spoke to the graduating class of the College of the Holy Cross, his alma mater, among other colleges.

He is keenly aware of his media profile; he knows, for instance, that the March 15 string of Sunday shows amounted to a full Ginsburg. (The reference is to William H. Ginsburg, a lawyer for Monica Lewinsky, who appeared on all five Sunday shows in 1998.)

But his inclination to say yes  and his friendships with prominent journalists  has sometimes gotten him in trouble, as it did when his friend Norah ODonnell interviewed him for InStyle magazine. Fauci was photographed by his backyard pool wearing sunglasses  an image that did not sit well with Republicans and one he now says he regrets.

Not really me, and anyone who knows me understands that this is not my style, he wrote. I can understand the criticism, and like I said, I wish I could take it back. My bad.

His friends say he has overextended himself; Staley said he had lately been encouraging Fauci to take an ax to his schedule. The polyp surgery has done that for him. He cant do extended interviews until September.

c.2020 The New York Times Company
The tens of thousands of protesters who took to the National Mall Friday, marking the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, showed the power of the movement against police brutality that has mobilized across America this summer. But the demonstration was tinged by concern that efforts to suppress and intimidate supporters will hamper their ability to turn protest now into votes in the fall.

Many demonstrators said their concerns start at the top with President Donald Trump. Trump has threatened to send law enforcement to the polls, raising accusations of voter intimidation. His administration pursued cost-cutting measures at the postal service that experts said could slow the delivery of mail ballots. Hes pursued lawsuits in multiple states over the expansion of vote by mail and drop boxes. Hes argued without evidence that the election will be full of widespread fraud. And hes previously refused to commit to accepting the results.

In one recent survey by Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project, more than 40% of Americans said they had doubts about the fairness of the presidential election.

If he can get enough people to mistrust the system by sowing seeds of doubt in the integrity of this coming election, then people wont vote. People who would have otherwise voted [and] tried to vote him out will say, Eh theres no point in even bothering, says Abena Gyebi, a finance communications manager from New York City. Gyebi plans to vote in person.

Berthilde Dufrene, a nurse at a New York state prison who attended the march on Friday, says she is concerned her vote may not be counted. She has requested a ballot through the mail and plans to fill it out at home and deliver it to the ballot box on election day. The Trump administration is a corrupt administration, she says. I see what they are doing with the Post Office and voter suppression, so I am concerned that they will cheat, they will steal, they will lie to keep this man in power.

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Rev. Al Sharpton, center, marches next to Yolanda King, Andrea Waters King and Martin Luther King, III during the "Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" protest against racism and police brutality, in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 28, 2020. Jonathan ErnstPool/AFP/Getty Images

The theme of the march matched those sentiments, with leaders urging the assembled protesters to remain focused on getting out the vote between now and Nov. 3.

We didnt come out and stand in this heat because we didnt have anything to do, said Rev. Al Sharpton, one of the leaders of the march. We came to let you know that we will come out by these numbers in the heat and stand in the heat. That we will stand in the polls all day long. And he admonished the demonstrators to hold accountable lawmakers who have not responded to this summers protests by passing police reform measures. Demonstration without legislation will not lead to change, Sharpton said. With police reform bills deadlocked in Congress, Black men and women are among the voters with the most at stake in this years election.

Trump is not the only concern among those seeking to turn protest into votes. Across the country, voting-access advocates and election officials have also been realistic about the possibility that the COVID-19 pandemic, by necessitating extraordinary adjustments to the nations patchwork election system, will further hamper voter turnout in the fall. Many of the primaries held after the surge of COVID-19 cases in March were riddled with problems.

The voting advocates and election experts advice to voters includes voting as soon as they know who they support in order to avoid a build-up at polling locations on Election Day, and having a plan in place for how they are going to cast their ballot.

For their part, many of the protesters appeared to have voting plans and several said they had already begun researching their options for how they would return their ballot. What I think people should do is absolutely go and drop your ballot into the [drop] box, or go and take it to the election folks yourself. I do not trust anything about this post office at this point. Not the postal workers, but the folks who are in charge, says April Dyson, a lawyer from Washington, DC, at the march. Dyson noted she hadnt received mail in five days.

Ultimately, the motivation to vote may come not from the exhortations of Sharpton or voting advocates, however, but from the cause that sparked Fridays march, titled Get Your Knee Off Our Necks, and the other organized demonstrations throughout the summer: continuing racial injustice and police brutality against Black Americans. What we need is change. And were at a point where we can get that change, but we have to stand together. We have to vote, said Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, one of the speakers at the march. Taylor, an unarmed Black woman, was shot by police in her Louisville home when they entered it on March 13 this year with a no-knock warrant.

The crowd erupted into call and response chants:

Say her name.

Breonna Taylor.
I reported previously that Black Lives Matter Global Networks was campaigning openly against President Trump on its web site, and also in a CNN appearance by BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors, while accepting 501(c)(3) tax exempt resources from fiscal sponsor Thousand Currents. BLM also has a donation page that goes through ActBlue Charities, which also is 501(c)(3) tax exempt. Thousand Currents recently handed off BLM's fiscal sponsorship to the Tides Foundation.

BLM Knows or Should Know it is Not Allowed to Campaign with 501(c)(3) Resources

Elle Reynolds' "BLM Co-Founder Appears To Violate IRS Laws On CNN" at The Federalist (June 26, 2020) reports, "The Black Lives Matter Global Network and the IRS did not return requests for comment." It is no surprise that the Internal Revenue Service did not respond because, as stated in the instructions for Form 13909, "Tax-Exempt Organization Complaint (Referral)," "Federal law prohibits the IRS from providing you with status updates or information about specific actions taken in response to the information you submit."

More to the point is however BLM's apparent failure to modify its behavior after Reynolds brought this issue to its attention. On or about August 20, more than seven weeks later, Cullors appeared in another video as reported by the Washington Post: "Patrisse Cullors: We can cheer Biden and Harris  but still must challenge their problematic past." Cullors does make remarks critical of the Democratic nominees but focuses explicitly on working to defeat President Trump: "I think we can call for Biden and Harris to be challenged for their past, while also being the cheerleaders for them to win the election Nov. 3. There are so many reasons why we must beat Trump. Our work to defeat Trump also helps us defeat the white supremacists he has galvanized" (When last I heard, by the way, white nationalist Richard Spencer endorsed Joe Biden who, to his credit, rejected the endorsement.)

The National Council of Nonprofits explains how fiscal sponsorship works. "The fiscal sponsor must first determine that serving as a fiscal sponsor is consistent with its mission (and does not jeopardize its own tax-exempt status)." The same organization adds that a "hot button" issue with the Internal Revenue Service is, "Not to participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office" This suggests that BLM's open campaign against President Trump is to the IRS what a waving red flag is to a bull.

If BLM did not know previously that it is not allowed to campaign while using 501(c)(3) resources, it knew or should have known this when The Federalist's columnist contacted it for comment. Cullors nonetheless went ahead and made the video that appeared on the Washington Post's web site and, as of August 27about two months laterBLM's web page that calls openly for Trump's defeat is still online. "As disheartening as this was, we are reminded that the 2020 election is around the corner. We can make our voices heard by voting this Administration out of office." So is the page that compares Trump to "a Nazi trying to hide a neck tattoo."

The Tides Foundation itself explains further, "In a typical fiscal sponsorship relationship, a nonprofit organization confers its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to groups that are engaged in activities that serve the hosts mission, typically for a fee." This suggests that Tides is allowing BLM Global Network to use Tides' own 501(c)(3) status. While Tides' mission and vision statement says "We embrace risk," I doubt this extends to the potential risks associated with funding campaign-related activities with tax-deductible money.

This is emphatically not legal or tax advice from me, as I am not an attorney or tax professional. The Federalist however consulted Cleta Mitchell, "an expert on campaign finance regulation and tax laws governing charitable organizations." I am assuming from context that this is the same Cleta Mitchell who " advises nonprofit and issue organizations, corporations, candidates, campaigns, and individuals on state and federal campaign finance law." The Federalist quotes her as saying that Black Lives Matter "must comply with all the rules that govern 501(c)(3) organizations" which it does not appear to be doing.

The IRS's "How to lose your 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (without really trying)" adds explicitly, "All 501(c)(3) organizations are prohibited from participating in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate running for public office. The prohibition applies to all campaigns at the federal, state and local levels."

The IRS's "The Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations" adds, "public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes. voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention."

I was unable to find a sample fiscal sponsorship agreement at the Tides Foundation but they did host a white paper by Attorney Joshua Sattely. "The activities of all nonprofits, not just those practicing fiscal sponsorship, must operate in accordance with a stated tax-exempt purpose. If a projects mission is not compatible with that of its sponsor, that sponsor is not serving its exempt status and its 501(c)(3) classification could be jeopardized."

The Internal Revenue Service might not be the only agency to have issues with BLM's anti-Trump campaign under the fiscal sponsorship of the Tides Foundation and previously Thousand Currents, both of which are headquartered in California. "California AG Becerra Hints at Crackdown on Nonprofit Political Activity" by Andrew Garrahan (May 2017) warned that Becerra intends to " pursue nonprofit organizations that he believes 'abuse' their nonprofit status for political purposes." CalNonprofits adds that nonprofits can tell people to "vote with your mission" but also "A charitable nonprofit organization cannot tell people  directly or indirectly  for whom they should vote."

ActBlue and ActBlue Charities (the latter is the tax-exempt entity) are however in Massachusetts.

How BLM Could Deliver a November 3 Catastrophe to the Democrats

The Washington Post reports "The Democratic Party fully embraced the imagery and themes of the Black Lives Matter movement on its convention's first night Monday," thus tying its own fortunes to that of BLM. If it turns out that BLM Global Networks' anti-Trump campaign does in fact constitute misuse of 501(c)(3) tax exempt resources, this issue could expose the entire movement as a fraud on the trust of the American people and make the entire Democratic Party a party to the fraud in question just in time for Election Day. We must all publicize this issue as widely as possible to make this happen.

Civis Americanus is the pen name of a contributor who remembers the lessons of history, and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. He or she is remaining anonymous due to the likely prospect of being subjected to "cancel culture" for exposing the Big Lie behind Black Lives Matter.

Image credit: Government logo // public domain
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 17:26:40|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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MOSCOW -- Russia registered 4,941 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking its national caseload to 985,346, the country's COVID-19 response center said in a statement Saturday.

Meanwhile, 111 new deaths were reported, taking the death toll to 17,025.

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MANILA -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines surged to 213,131 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 3,637 new daily cases on Saturday.

The DOH said that the number of recoveries rose to 135,101 after it reported 655 more patients have survived the disease.

- - - -

WELLINGTON -- New Zealand reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

According to the ministry, two cases were imported, wh arrived in New Zealand from India on Aug. 23. The other 11 cases were community transmissions, 10 of whom were clearly epidemiologically linked to the existent Auckland cluster. The remaining case was still under investigation.

- - - -

NEW YORK -- The United States and Britain have handled the coronavirus pandemic poorly, according to a survey released Thursday.

Only 46 percent of Britons and 47 percent of Americans think their government has coped well with the coronavirus pandemic, far lower than Denmark with 95 percent. They're the only two countries where a minority of people said the government had done well.

- - - -

NANNING -- South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region reported one new imported asymptomatic COVID-19 case on Friday, the provincial health commission said Saturday.

The case from the Philippines was found as the flight crew underwent health checks upon arriving in China, and all the crew have been put under quarantine. Enditem
The Luxembourg Science Center in Differdange has been awarded a grant of $10,000 from the US Embassy to build a new interactive hydrogen rocket exhibit.

US Ambassador J. Randolph Evans presented the award during a visit to the Center on 27 August.

The new exhibition, which will aim to teach students more about the physics behind space exploration, will begin construction in January 2021, with a provisional date of April 2021 for its opening.

Ambassador Evans said:

The Luxembourg Science Center does an incredible job capturing the imaginations of students of all ages - including me - and making science accessible and enjoyable.

The Embassy is honored to partner with them on this new interactive and understandable exhibit that will demonstrate the highly complex, but incredibly exciting scientific concepts that make spaceflight possible, putting the power into the hands of young minds and launching the dreams of future generations of scientists and engineers right here in Luxembourg.

This grant is yet another example of the strong bond between the United States and Luxembourg to build our futures together through education, particularly in the fields of science and space.

Ambassador Evans (L) with Luxembourg Minister of Finance Pierre Gramegna in 2019. /  Ministry of Finance / RTL Archives

Nicolas Didier, President and General Manager of the Luxembourg Science Center, said:

"We are honored by this grant from the US Embassy which allows us to extend our collection of diverse engines. Hydrogen is one of the most promising fuel sources of the future, a technology also used in the most recent NASA Space Launch System.

The proposed Hydrogen Rocket station, co-financed by the US Embassy, will play a major role in our Exploration, Science Shows, as well as a number of Workshops.

I have no doubt that our visitors will enjoy and learn from the new addition!"
(Newser)  Belarus, shaken by three weeks of massive protests against its authoritarian president, on Saturday cracked down hard on the news media, deporting some foreign journalists reporting in the country and revoking the accreditation of many Belarusian journalists, the AP reports. Two Moscow-based Associated Press journalists who were covering the recent protests in Belarus were deported to Russia on Saturday. In addition, the AP's Belarusian journalists were told by the government that their press credentials had been revoked. "The Associated Press decries in the strongest terms this blatant attack on press freedom in Belarus," said Lauren Easton, the AP's director of media relations. "AP calls on the Belarusian government to reinstate the credentials of independent journalists."

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The Belarusian Association of Journalists said accreditation was also taken away from 17 Belarusians working for several other media. Germanys ARD television said two of its Moscow-based journalists also were deported to Russia, a Belarusian producer faces trial on Monday and their accreditation to work in Belarus was revoked. The BBC said two of its journalists working for the BBC Russian service in Minsk also had their accreditation revoked and US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said five of its journalists lost accreditation. The program director for ARD's biggest regional affiliate, WDR, which oversees coverage of Belarus, called the treatment of its camera team "absolutely unacceptable."

(Read more Belarus stories.)
By Associated Press

BEIJING: About one-third of students returned to school in the Chinese capital on Saturday in a staggered start to the new school year because of the coronavirus.

The first batch of 590,000 students in Beijing included all three years of high school, the first and third years of middle school and the first grade of primary school. Another 400,000 students are to start school on Tuesday, and the final 520,000 on September 7.

Both students and teachers are required to wear masks.

China reported nine new coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, bringing its official total to 85,022. All the new cases were overseas arrivals. The countrys death toll remained at 4,634.




Nick Sandmann from Covington Catholic High School stands in front of Native American activist Nathan Phillips while the latter bangs a drum in his face in Washington on Jan. 18, 2019. (Kaya Taitano via Reuters)

Covington Grad Nick Sandmann Joins Mitch McConnells Campaign

Nick Sandmann, the Kentucky teen who was subjected to negative press coverage in a viral video, has joined Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells (R-Ky.) reelection campaign.

Were excited to have Nicholas on Team Mitch, Team Mitch Campaign Manager Kevin Golden said in a statement to media outlets on Friday. Along with our already strong team, his efforts to bring people together all across Kentucky will be critical to Senator McConnells victory this November.

On Thursday, Sandmann appeared to hint the news, posting to his Twitter finally got to add more to my bio than just my schools. McConnells campaign responded to the post, stating Welcome to #TeamMitch!

Sandmann, who will remain a student at Transylvania University, will work as a grassroots director for the campaign where he will assist with coalitions and field operations.

The Kentucky teen was among a group of Covington Catholic High School students who attended the anti-abortion March for Life in Washington in early 2019.

While they were waiting for their bus near the Lincoln Memorial the students were approached by several Native American activists led by 64-year-old Nathan Phillips, drumming and chanting.

A video of the incident quickly became viral. Sandmann was seen standing close and smiling to Phillips, a Native American man, while wearing a Make America Great Again hat.

News outlets and Twitter users then accused Sandmann of harassment and of being a racist, but a longer version of the clip showed a different story.

An investigation carried out by the Catholic Diocese of Covington later revealed that the students made no offensive or racist comments about Phillips.

The biased coverage against Sandmann led to intense criticism of the teen. Sandmann eventually sued CNN and Washington Post for defamation.

Last month, a spokesperson for the Washington Post told news outlets that the suit was settled. We are pleased that we have been able to reach a mutually agreeable resolution of the remaining claims in this lawsuit, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, CNN had settled with Sandmann in January.

Earlier this week, Sandmann spoke at the Republican National Convention, where he spoke about cancel culture and the media.

I wouldnt be canceled. I fought back hard to expose the media for what they did to me and won a personal victory. While much more must be done, I look forward to the day that the media returns to providing balanced, responsible, and accountable news coverage, he said during his address. I know President Trump hopes for that too.
Two new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients and two virus-related deaths were reported in Vietnam on Saturday, the Ministry of Health announced.

Among the two new patients, one is a local case in the central city of Da Nang while the other is an imported case from Germany.

Patient No. 1039 is a 20-year-old man with a permanent address in the north-central province of Quang Binh.

He arrived in Ho Chi Minh City from Germany on the flight VN5063 on Thursday, August 27, and was immediately transferred to a centralized quarantine facility in neighboring Binh Duong Province.

He tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday and is being treated at Binh Duong Province General Hospital.

Patient No. 1040 is a 55-year-old man in Hoa Vang District, Da Nang.

He was an inpatient at Da Nang Hospital between July 23 and August 13, before being transferred to the 199 Hospital under the Ministry of Public Security.

He tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday.

Vietnam also reported the deaths of two COVID-19 patients on Saturday  a 28-year-old man battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia in central Quang Nam Province and a 67-year-old woman in Da Nang with chronic kidney failure and diabetes.

The Southeast Asian country discharged 14 COVID-19 patients from hospitals on Saturday, bringing the number of full recoveries to 677.

Vietnam has logged a total of 1,040 COVID-19 patients since the pandemic first hit in January, including 690 local cases.

A total of 550 local infections have been reported in the country since July 25, when Da Nang reported a local case after Vietnam had gone 99 days without transmission in the community.

Thirty-two COVID-19 patients, aged 28 to 93, have died in Vietnam, most of whom have severe underlying conditions. Two other patients died after having tested negative for the coronavirus three to four times.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Graduates from various Tertiary Institutions who are serving the Nation at respective departments and agencies in the Asunafo North Municipality, under the auspices of National Service Secretariat, earlier today, the service personnel organise a clean-up exercise at the Ahafo Regional Capital, Goaso.

They collaborated with Zoomlion, one of the renowned waste management agencies in Ghana. Some of the scavengers from Zoomlion helped them during the exercise. They went to the main principal street of Goaso and other important Areas like the Lorry terminals, Hospital Junction, eating joints etc. The personnel kept the environments clean.

In an interview with the Asunafo North NASPA President, Mr Osei Ebenezer, he stated emphatically that if water is life, then a clean and green environment is healthier for our living.

That is why the NASPA Executives and the entire members decided to embark on a clean-up exercise. Mr Osei Ebenezer further postulated firmly that every individual has a role to play in keeping the environment clean particularly, at this era of the novel Coronavirus Pandemic.

In addressing the media, he used the opportunity as a voluminous conduit and advised the general public to stop relying solely on the Government to make the environment clean but it is a high time Ghanaians have to cultivate the habit of communal labour at this critical hour. Nation building needs a collective responsibility.

Nana Boakye Yiadom who is an executive member of NASPA also tackled afforestation.

He charged the media to educate people on the indiscriminate cutting down of trees which is one of the major canker of degrading the environment.

He stated categorically that when the environment is dirty, human life will be shortened that is why Nana Akufo-Addo,the president of the country has stopped illegal mining (Galamsey). Asunafo North NASPA is ready to serve Ghana at all levels.
Threat claims of China's missile launch 'groundless'

Global Times

Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/28 20:03:40

China's Foreign Ministry slammed the US as a "troublemaker" in the South China Sea, and said US' accusations that China fired missiles into the South China Sea which threatened regional peace are groundless and unreasonable.

The spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, Zhao Lijian, said during a media briefing on Friday that China's training activities near the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea are routine arrangements conducted by the Chinese military off China's coast. The activities were not targeted at any country and have nothing to do with the disputes in the South China Sea.

The US Department of Defense said on Thursday that they were concerned about Chinese military exercises, including the "firing of ballistic missiles." The department said that "conducting military exercises over disputed territory in the South China Sea is counterproductive to easing tensions and maintaining stability."

Zhao, however, said these accusations are groundless and unreasonable.

He pointed out that the US has shown its own military strength by engaging in military provocations through the sending of warships, fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft to the South China Sea on a large scale, actions which undermine China's sovereignty and security interests.

"The international community can see that the US is a destroyer and troublemaker of peace and stability in the South China Sea," Zhao said, adding that the US should stop stirring up trouble and sowing discord in the South China Sea and instead try to play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Thursday expelled a US warship that trespassed into China's territorial waters in the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, nearby an ongoing Chinese military exercise zone that reportedly featured live-fire anti-ship ballistic missile launches.

The USS Mustin, a US Navy guided missile destroyer, trespassed into China's territorial waters in the Xisha Islands on Thursday, and the PLA Southern Theater Command dispatched naval and air forces to track, identify and warn it to leave immediately, said Senior Colonel Li Huamin, a spokesperson for the PLA Southern Theater Command, said early Friday morning.

China has undisputable sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and their adjacent waters in the region, and command troops are always on high alert to resolutely protect the country's national sovereignty and safeguard peace and stability in the region of the South China Sea, Li said.

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Vehicle import ban drives motor traders off the road By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s):

With the governments extension of vehicle import ban till December 31 this year, around 32,000 people directly and indirectly employed in the motor trading sector would lose their earnings and even jobs as motor vehicle dealer companies move towards closure within months, motor traders warned.

Vehicle sales revenue of motor traders was zero during the countrywide curfew period during COVID-19 between mid-March to May 2020 and there was a significant drop in sales of all vehicle dealers up to now.

As the COVID-19 pandemic situation is still uncertain, it is difficult to predict the future business impact on auto trading companies, they added.

To remedy the ailing industry, the Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) has urged the government to impose CIF restriction for all imports (maximum of US$30,000) and allow imports based on LC method where the bills will be paid after one year or six months.

It has also suggested the government to introduce a quota system for vehicle imports based on the number of company employees.

Presidents Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera recently stated to the media that the vehicle stock in the country had risen significantly between 2015 and 2019; to the extent that it would be sufficient for 2 1/2 years.

In a letter to Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, CMTA chairman Yasendra Amerasinghe noted that while high levels of vehicle stocks may be available for 2 1/2 years with private or parallel importers, franchise holders, who import directly from their respective manufacturers, possessed stocks sufficient for less than two months of sales.

Franchise holders import vehicles according to customer orders/demand which are designed and recommended for Sri Lanka by manufacturers, he informed the Premier.

He added that with vehicle sales revenues quickly dropping, motor traders are facing great difficulties in sustaining their employee base at a cost of Rs. 538 million per month.

Members of CMTA contribute Rs. 69.30 billion to government coffers as customs duties/taxes, port charges, registration fees, income taxes, stamp duty, and municipal council rates etc, official data showed.

The total contribution of motor vehicle franchise dealers to supporting industries such as banking/finance industry (charges, interest, etc) insurance, leasing and lubricant industries as well as lubricant industry etc is in the region of Rs.139.40 billion.

Franchise holders spend Rs.8.09 billion to maintain their employee base and they are trying their best to minimise salary reductions and/or job cuts so far, Mr. Amerasinghe said.

The latest Central Bank data showed that for the first six months of 2020, Sri Lanka spent US$273 million to import vehicles.

The government has lost over Rs. 68 billion in revenue due to the suspension of vehicle imports of franchise dealers which is only about 30 per cent of total vehicle imports.
Stephanie Ridard Indochine

Indochine frontman Nicola Sirkis and bandmates Boris Jardel, Olivier Gerard and Ludwig Dahlberg are celebrating their upcoming 40th anniversary as a band the best way they know how: with new music.

On Friday, the French rock band released their new Singles Collection album, which features 56 of their singles that have gone No. 1 on French radio since 2001, as a treat for fans ahead of the milestone.

"It was the perfect time to bring back that music for the fans," Sirkis, 61, told PEOPLE recently through a translator. "It made sense for us to celebrate the 40th anniversary since we don't know whether we'll all be here to celebrate the 50th ... Fingers crossed!"

Formed in 1981 in Paris, Indochine rose to fame in 1982 with their single "L'Aventurier," off their album of the same name. They went on to become one of the best selling French bands with more than 10 million albums and singles sold throughout their career.

"It's strange to think that when we started, people said we wouldn't last six months," Sirkis said. "Now we've been here for 40 years, and we're continuing to thrive."

Stephanie Ridard Indochine

Indeed, just three months ago, the band released their latest single, "Nos Celebrations," to much acclaim.

"It's a miracle," Sirkis said. "It feels like we're the survivors with everything that has been going on for the past 40 years and now with COVID."

Currently at home in France amid the coronavirus pandemic, Sirkis said things are "slowly getting back to normal" in the country.

"People have been traveling, trying to avoid and forget a little bit about the virus, but the virus is still there," he said. "We're much luckier in France and in Europe than in America, for the moment, and we're very privileged not to be on the front lines."

RELATED: Tour de France Postponed Due to Coronavirus Pandemic, No New Dates Set

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In May 2021, Sirkis and his bandmates will set out on their five-date Central Tour across France.

"I am very looking forward to having live shows back," Sirkis said. "It's one of those moments where you can be happy, free, smoking and drinking and celebrating all together. We're really looking forward to being together again."

"It's the first time in 40 years that we're going to be playing in the center of the stadium," he added. "So that's why the name Central Tour."

But in the meantime, Sirkis said he and his bandmates are just "living in the moment."

"It's a long career, but it went pretty fast," he said. "We're very lucky."
Ivanka Trump, daughter and Advisor to the US president, speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, on Aug. 27, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Says Ivanka Should Become First Female President, Calls Harris Not Competent

President Donald Trump said Friday that he would like to see a woman in the countrys top leadership position and that his daughter, Ivanka, is more fit for this role than Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

Trump made the remarks at a New Hampshire campaign rally, during which he emphasized a law and order theme in the face of nationwide protests punctuated by outbreaks of looting and violence, and criticized his political opponents on a variety of fronts, insisting that in his bid for another four years in the White House, were going to win.

Does anybody have any doubt? Trump asked the crowd, assembled at an airport hangar, and his prompt was met with a loud No!

Trump then breached the issue of the prospect of the first female Commander-in-Chief in U.S. history.

I want to see the first woman president also, but I dont want to see the first woman president get into the position the way [Harris] would do it, and shes not competent, shes not competent, Trump said in reference to Harris.

Theyre all saying, We want Ivanka! he continued, pointing to his supporters, who cheered the presidents words. I dont blame them, Trump said.

The president referred back to Thursdays event at the White House, during which he gave an acceptance speech in the wake of his formal nomination as the 2020 presidential candidate of the Republican party.

You saw some tragic situations, some really great endorsements, you saw everything, Trump said, calling the people who sought to harass people leaving the convention thugs and saying that when Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and his wife were swarmed by protesters after they left the event, their safety was threatened.

These incredible people from all over the country, all over the world, that were there last night, and they walked out to a bunch of thugs, Trump said, adding, and that wasnt friendly protesters, they were thugs.

Paul said on Friday he was attacked by an angry mob of more than 100 people near the White House.

Hed either be in very bad shape, or dead, and that would include his wife, if those policemen didnt happen to be there, Trump said of the Republican senator.

Videos posted online showed dozens of people confronting Paul and his wife, who were flanked by police officers. At one point someone appeared to briefly clash with an officer, pushing him and his bike backward, sending the officer into Pauls shoulder. Other attendees were also confronted by protesters after leaving Trumps event, videos posted on social media showed.

They get accosted, they get abused, they get spit onits a disgrace, Trump said of the treatment guests leaving Thursdays event were subjected to.

The demonstration outside the White House took place amid a heavy police presence and was significantly smaller than the protests that rocked the nations capital this past spring after George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis, which sparked a wave of demonstrations, many of which have been marred by violence.

During the rally, Trump also criticized former vice president Joe Biden.

Joe Bidens agenda is made in China. My agenda is made in the USA, Trump said, referring to the Democrat nominee for president as Sleepy Joe and calling into question his mental fitness.

The guy barely knows hes alive! Trump said, seeking to portray the former vice president as a puppet for some nefarious overlords.

Its not Biden. Its his masters. His masters tell him what to do, Trump said.

In his remarks at the rally, Trump also touched on the U.S.-Mexico border wall and rebuked Democrats for what he said was their intention to slash funding for law enforcement.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.29

Trend:

Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Ali Asadov signed a decree to prolong the special quarantine regime until 00:00 (GMT +4) on September 30, Trend reports citing the Cabinet of Ministers.

According to the decree, the period for suspending the work of the Baku metro will be extended until September 15, 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 19:38:11|Editor: huaxia

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WELLINGTON, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese war epic "The Eight Hundred" won applause from New Zealand moviegoers on Saturday. Professionals believed that the two countries have great potential for cooperation in film industry.

"The cinematography and visual effects were incredible real, " said Linda Zhang, Co Chair of New Zealand Chinese Culture & Arts Association, who came here from China's central Hubei province over 20 years ago.

"The dialect of Hubei, Sichuan, Guangzhou and Shanghai in the film replaced the traditional Mandarin, which made people feel friendly, especially the Hubei guys who stayed overseas like me."

Chris Payne, Head of International Relations of New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC), New Zealand's national film agency, acknowledged the film as "amazing" after he saw it. "China and New Zealand film relationship is growing every kind of years. There is a lot of more cooperation that is happening."

John Minford, a British sinologist and literary translator, primarily known for his translation of Chinese classics such as The Story of the Stone, The Art of War, and the Tao Te Ching, said this film is a successful collaboration between China and New Zealand.

"We have a very lovely New Zealand actress who's taking part in this in this film", he said, "A creative collaboration between people in New Zealand and people in China is so important, it must go on."

New Zealand Actress Augusta Xu-Holland, who stared in the "The Eight Hundred", noted that the film has shown the potential for an exchange of talent between countries.

"New Zealand is the southern hub of wider Asia-Pacific, also with great creative talent. I'm under the impression that New Zealand is very supportive of the film industry as a whole and New Zealand has a lot of technical skills to offer."

"I'm seeing many collaborations popping up such as Weta and Pukeko Pictures completing a pilot project with Shambala Hengxin supported by the Wuxi Government on Louis Cha's Legends of the Condor Heroes. I think it's very exciting," she added.

Shot entirely with IMAX cameras, "The Eight Hundred" is the first major Chinese film to land in New Zealand since the COVID-19 outbreak. The film is currently screening in New Zealand 's main cities including Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch.

Directed by Guan Hu, "The Eight Hundred" depicts Chinese soldiers' defense of a warehouse against the invading Japanese army during the Battle of Shanghai in 1937.

Overseas, it was released in North America, Australia, and New Zealand on Aug. 27, a week after its formal release in China. Enditem
Editor's note: John Bengan teaches at the Department of Humanities in UP Mindanao.

Davao City (CNN Philippines Life)  Last Thursday, August 27, Gilda Cordero-Fernando died at the age of 90. She is described online and on social media as luminary, iconic, a quirky grand dame of Philippine literature. Those who have had the pleasure of knowing her attest to her charm and eccentricity. She was well-liked by socialites  the burgis whom, according to the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, Cordero-Fernando believed needed to understand their Filipino identity. But to someone who only knew her through her short stories from the 1960's, Gilda Cordero-Fernando could have disappeared after that period, never to be heard from again, and yet her name would still inspire awe.

In a gilded generation of Anglophone short story writers that included Kerima Polotan and Gregorio C. Brillantes, Cordero-Fernando more than held her own. Her fiction is humorous, sometimes strange, but always compassionate. In her best work, she could construct entire landscapes that shimmer and vibrate with life. Her stories are crowded with characters who appear briefly but are no less arresting: a school superintendent brown as a sampaloc seed;; a couturiers new muse/widow of a fish-seasoning manufacturer who had built a fortune bottling the essence of anchovies; a stranger named Lazaro who endeared himself to housewives by soldering their leaking pots and pans; and of course  the bright and irreverent Badel with his grayish blue skin.

The literary critic Miguel A. Bernad called one of Cordero-Fernandos stories a triumph in understatement, noting how her straight-faced narration renders vividly events and grim details. However, apart from her manner of telling a story, it is what catches Cordero-Fernandos gimlet eye that, to me, makes her a brilliant fiction writer.

In the The Visitation of the Gods, a story that continues to resonate, a group of district supervisors descends on a public high school for an annual assessment. The principal and teachers prepare a feast charged to cuts from the teachers pay envelopes. When the guests arrive, four pairs of hands [fight] for the singular honor of wrenching open the car door. The teachers flowered soup plates and bone china are even loaned for the occasion. They orchestrate a grand welcome to appease the gods of public education, if only for a good review or a permanent position for the highest bidder. Miss Noel, the storys young principled heroine, steels herself when, at the end of the day, she sees a student who aspires to become their towns first lawyer.

In People in the War, a family flees from Japanese soldiers. While they are hiding, someones baby starts to whimper. As they try desperately to silence the infant, a horrific thing happens. To the last sentence, Cordero-Fernandos eerie deadpan never lets up. Nevertheless, compared to what is arguably her best story, this one feels like a prototype.

A Wilderness of Sweets is about a girl named Joy who was ten years old when the Japanese invaded and sixteen when the Americans were done carpet-bombing Manila. Set in Singalong, the story is no less than an intricate panorama of that period. It begins famously with Joy declaring her affection for her neighbor: he was Paris and Apollo and Adonis, and each day I died a thousand deaths for him.

Joy describes how her surroundings gradually change: the Japanese anthem playing during flag ceremony, Emilio Aguinaldo speaking on behalf of the enemy in a frightened little voice, their bodega turning into a meeting place for the resistance. Her brother hides from the Japanese, her father gets arrested, and Badel reneges on his promise to elope with her. The story is teeming with details, but what has stayed with me is the medicine Joys mother takes to her father in the garrison in Intramuros  mongo beans which she roasted in the charcoal oven and ground into bits and mixed with powdered milk, which were later wrapped in little squares of white paper and placed in a shoebox.

There are other moments that snatches ones breath. A fever dream, Joy and Badels confrontation, the unflinching violence that Cordero-Fernando doesnt get much credit for. But nothing quite assaults the heart more than the storys ending. Its hard to find a piece of Philippine short fiction in English as capacious and moving as this story from 1964. Even though Gilda Cordero-Fernando had stopped writing fiction half a century ago, her absence would only now be felt.